Last time, I showed you a 3-D card, one that I had to hand cut each piece out with a small pair of scissors.  Here are several 3-D foil cards that were die-cut: one only had to punch out each piece and assemble.  Much easier and less time consuming!

There are 5 layers on this card.

You can see the layers here.

I later did a set of four 3-D foil Horse cards.  There are 3 layers to each design.  I love these cards!

Background Grass paper "Nurture" (Reminisce). Rope is of the Jute Burlap set (The Paper Studio).

Grass paper is Spring Greens (Colorbök).  Cream Paper String by Tim Holtz Idea-ology set.

Same base paper as the first Horse card above.

What more can you really do with these cards?  They look lovely as they are.  The foil-based punch-out 3-D horses are by Dufex Crafts.

Where's the fourth card?  Oh, I guess I did say four horse cards.  The fourth one was so gorgeous, I just had to keep it.  After I put the fourth 3-D foil set together, I did not make it into a card.  I kept it as is and is on my window sill where I keep all my favorites (yes, I am running out of window sill space).

Since I did these cards, black pop squares have come out on the market, so I might switch to those in hopes they won't show up as much as the white.

Now, on to cross stitch greeting cards:

Cross stitch greeting cards are slow to sell, simply because they are more expensive, anywhere from $10 and up -- depending on how detailed the stitching is.  This Pegasus Gold card is done in DMC Metallic Gold with matching Yellow Cotton floss; Metallic Black used for outline.  The base paper is from The Stardust Matstack (DCWV).  The Autumn Tinsel Twine is by Tim Holtz idea-ology.

All my cross stitch cards are hand-done, not machine, and are counted cross stitch, not stamped cross stitch.

Periodically, I will do a different type of card, such as this one.  Notice the seam in the front center...Open the card, and...

A nice Dragon greets you!  This handsome creature is done with DMC Cotton floss on white fabric with glitters (unfortunately, cannot be seen in any photo I could take).  The outside front and inside side flaps paper is from Oriental Papers (The Crafts Paper Library).  The inside center papers are from Glitz Pack (Afternoon Muse) paper pack.  A "coral" ribbon adds the finishing touch.  

Close-up of the stitching.

I learned to do Blackwork a few years ago and really enjoyed it.  I have found it is difficult to find good designs, so when I saw these in a new book I purchased, I just had to give them a try.  This Gothic Owl alphabet C was easy to do.  He is done in DMC Metallic Black with Metallic Gold and Cotton Yellow for the C.  (Remember, these are gothic letters.)  To keep attention on the design, I did not decorate the card stock.

The Gothic Dragon alphabet N is from the same set as the Owl above, using the same DMC materials.  I plan on doing more of these designs.  Both card stock is from Yarn Tree Designs.

And now, back to traditional greeting cards:  (can we say that?)

I actually colored this cute card over the summer, but did not put it together until this weekend.  Dino Baby & Stork is hand colored and edged in Gold (Basics color box cat's eye ink set).  Base paper is from the Debbie Mumm paper pack.  I have had this paper pack for a long time, but have not used any paper from it.  I thought of it when I was making this card, dragged it out and found the perfect paper for this card. This paper pack is not your usual baby paper. It is a huge paper pack, so I will have to share some with my sister Jan next time she is over.  Diaper pin brad and Baby rub-on sentiment (Scrapperware) on pop dots complete the card.  Definitely going to our holiday craft shows.

Another card I colored over the summer and did not get put together until this weekend.  Trick or Treat Little Tiger is hand colored.  Base paper is Fall into Winter (Wübie Prints). The two fall leaves embossed and die cut with my Cuttlebug.  Candy Corn brad adds a nice touch.  The Halloween Express Yourself sticker sentiment (SRM Press) is adhered with pop dots.

I will put this card up on I Did It Creations website as I do not have a craft show until after Halloween.

I love purple roses. You get the right real Purple Rose plant, and they have a great scent!  This Rose design (Stampa Rosa) is colored with Copic Markers and Glitter Glue.  There are 4 small purple Rhinestones (Mark Richards) and 2 larger purple Rhinestones (Queen & Co). Design is edged with Blue Lagoon (Primary Elements color box cat's eye ink set).  Base paper is from The Luxury Stack (DCWV). There is one Leafy Vine die cut (Cheery Lynn Designs) behind the roses.  The right edge of card has been punched with Scallop Trim edge punch (Stampin' Up)!  Two Bee brads complete the card.

For some reason, I always have trouble coloring this rose design (Stamp Land). It is colored with Copic Markers, Glitter Glue and 1 Yellow Rhinestone (Kaiser Scrapbook).  Design is edged with Merlot (Rich Rustics color box cat's eye ink set).  The background paper is from Serene - Express Yourself paper pack (Creative Memories).  The right edge of the card is punched using Scallop Trim edge punch.  There are two Leafy Vine die cuts behind the Rose design.  Bee and Lady Bug brads added for a finishing touch.

I love this Rose design (Laurie Anderson). It is so easy to work with.  The design is colored with Copic Markers, Glitter Glue and 2 pink Rhinestones (a'muse) to enhance.  It is edged with French Blue (color box cat's eye Misty Meadow ink set).  Base paper is Print Poetry (Stampin' Up), which is edged in Brown (Rich Rustics color box cat's eye ink set).  There are two Leafy Vine die cuts behind the roses.  The card's right edge is punched using Scallop Trim edge punch.  Notice the Lady Bug and Bumble Bee brads as a finishing touch.

Irises are a favorite of mine and my customers.  This Iris set (Art Impressions) is hand-colored with pencils; edged with Merlot (color box cat's eye Rich Rustics ink set).  Base paper is Paper Stash Kraft Resist (Tim Holtz Idea-ology).  Blue "coral" ribbon and Yellow Butterfly brad complete the card.

Many of these cards today will be sold at our holiday craft shows this November and December.  Other cards are listed on a new artists' website, I Did It Creations!  (Yes, opening was delayed.)  This site should be open for business tomorrow, October 1.  Feel free to pop over and see what you need to buy.  When looking at Greeting Cards, be sure to think about all the birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and holiday events in your life.  Many cards are also suitable for Just for You / Thinking of You and Sympathy.

If you love any of these cards and they are not on the above website, just let me know you want it and I'll pull it out of our craft show stock; I accept PayPal.  I sold 6 cards last week this way (actually, those cards never made it into the show stock!).

Here is an interesting card -- 3-D.  Have you ever tried to do a 3-D card?  They really are not that difficult -- well, for the most part.  In the past couple of years, many 3-D greeting card die-cuts come pre-cut, so all you have to do is punch out each section and put them together.  Not so with this particular one.

A couple of years ago, I received a packet of 8½ X 11-inch scrapbooking paper from our Belgium friends; the papers covered various holidays and themes.  Or so I thought they were scrapbooking paper.  I had taken the packet out several times to see if there was anything I could use on a project I was working on.  Nope.  I took the packet back out again this past weekend, and for the first time, obviously, took a REALLY GOOD look at the paper.  There is something that has always bothered me about the paper.  Well duh!  It is 3-D designs!

Here is my first 3-D card I made for special friends of ours:

And a side view so you can see the multiple layers. There are 5 total layers on this card.  Each layer had to be hand cut out instead of punched out like many of the 3-D sets in the United States.

The 3-D Flower Watering Can is by Art Talent (a European company).  Card stock is from DCWV "The Cafè Mediterranean" box of cards.  Ribbon is part of Darice Finishing Accents trim.  Sentiment is from KaiserCraft Friends set.

Now that I finally actually know what this "paper" is all about, I will be putting together more of these fun little 3-D cards.

I started (and actually completed) a new batch of greeting cards this past weekend.  I tried a few new things -- what do you think?  Of course, these will be available for sell at our holiday craft shows/bazaars and at http://ididitcreations.com/showroom/, click on Earth Dragon Creations.

The Thinking of You sentiment is Metallic Gold embossed on grey-white toned paper. The outer design is hand dry embossed; leaving it colorless adds a little class to the card.  The base paper is from the LaCreme stack by DCWV (paper with black flocking). The Pink, Red and Lavender paper flowers are from Urban Scrapbooker; the Green paper flower is from Art Talent of The Netherlands.

These Roses and Bee are a new design (Gracious stamp set by Basic Gray). I colored with Copic markers, and used Pine, Thistle, Green Yellow and Magenta glitter glues to enhance the design (unfortunately now easily seen in the photo); a yellow rhinestone was added to the center of the large rose. Base plaid paper is from Modern Chic stack by Recollections. The yellow paper is embossed with the Honeycomb embossing plate by Stampin' Up!.   The sentiment was done in Glossy Blue embossing paste and adhered to the card with pop dots.

I was playing with the Silver embossing powder (I prefer embossing paste over the powders, but I'm getting the hang of it).  I did two Doves sets -- found out I was heating the embossing powder too long and it look horrid!  These two designs came out just perfect, so made them into two different cards.

The Dove rubber stamp is by Inkadinkadoo (#60-00121).  The base paper is from The Mariposa stack by DCWV.  I inked the Paper Doily using Salty Ocean distress ink by Tim Holtz.  The stock flowers are adhered with brads at their center.

This second Dove card is sitting on green Swirls paper from the Fabulous Flair-Swirls paper pack by Marianne Richmond. The Paper Doily was inked with Picked Raspberry distress ink.  The two stock flowers are adhered with a red Glitter brad and a green Butterfly brad.

Since I am a big-time (postage) stamp collector, I love seeing stamps in rubber stamp form.  This Asian Bird rubber stamp set is from Magenta, and hand colored.  The base paper is from Oriental Papers from the Crafter's Paper Library.  This is the first time I have used the Fuchia "coral" ribbon.  Definitely unique!

Every once in a while, a stamp image just doesn't need anything more to it, such as this master Owl.  I stamped him in white ink on dark blue paper. What more could I do with him?  The smaller trio of Owls were colored with Copics and adhered to the card with pop dots.  All four Owls are from the Hooters set by Local King Rubber Stamp out of Canada (got the set when we were in Victoria, BC, a few years ago).  The base paper is from The Luxury Stack by DCWV.  The ribbon is an Acrylic Little Bits by Janlynn.  This is a touchy piece of ribbon -- it easily sheds during handling.  The Thank You is a rub-on by KaiserCraft. 

You know, I love rub-on sentiments and designs, but I have a heck of a time with them sticking to their backing paper.  Any idea of how to prevent this or is this just the nature of rub-ons?  Such a big shame considering how much we pay for these rub-ons!

 Lastly, this is the first time I have used the Swan and Butterfly from the Patterned Birds & Bugs (#99120) rubber stamp set by Inkadinkadoo.  They are embossed with Silver and Gold embossing powder.  For the Swan, Salty Ocean and Squeezed Lemonade distress inks were used to enhance the design a little.  Base paper is from the La Bella Rouge stack by DCWV (each paper has Glitter and/or Foil -- glitter for this card).  Stock blue ribbon.  Sentiment adhered with pop dots.

Over the past several weeks, I cross stitched several card designs.  Come on back later this week when I've washed, dried, ironed and mounted these designs to see what they look like.  I also have close to a dozen other greeting cards started on my desk.  Not sure if I will finish those this week -- company coming on Saturday and we have to get groceries sometime.

In the meantime, have a great week!

A huge Thank You to Sue Sizemore Designs for designing our logo!  She did a great job!

You can see more of her work at:  

http://www.etsy.com/shop/suesizemore

http://www.picturetrail.com/suesizemore

http://www.picturetrail.com/gourdart

I love her gourd art.  I contracted her to do a Peacock Gourd for me.  It was gorgeous!  Okay, here's a photo of it:

The front of the gourd.... 

And the back side of the gourd.

When I save up enough money, I'm going to have her do an Owl gourd for my husband.

Now back to greeting cards....See you next time!

Summer garden vegetables, summer flowers, visits from family, summer cold and bronchitis -- so much going on, I am lucky to get a few cards done.  Today's cards actually took several days to do.  Normally, gold leafing cards are a two-day process, but some I had to do over as they did not come out right (hate when that happens!). Then it took SOOOO long for me to choose the right papers and bling for these designs.  It is like the creative brain went on vacation and I just had a difficult time deciding on the supplies.  Ever have one of those days?

So, let's see what we have.....

Rooster varigated Red Leafing

Varigated gold leafing is best done in smaller designs, but sometimes, with fingers crossed, you can get a larger design to work.  Base paper blue card stock on Swirls from Fabulous Flair block by Marianne Richmond.  Green "fence" ribbon by Ribbon Inspirations (just picked up this 4-yard roll from JoAnn's Arts & Crafts for 99¢!). Finished off the card with Purple, Green and Blue Flower Rhinestones by K&Company.  Very simple card, but you want your eye to land on the focal point -- the Rooster.

Lion varigated Red Leafing

Base paper is black on zig-zag paper from Safari by The Paper Studio.  Love this pack.  If you are into African safari animals, you need to add this pack to your paper supply.  Finished the card with Dark Green "coral" ribbon.

Giraffe varigated Red Leafing

This design is very difficult to add gold leafing due to the tiny openings for the embossing paste and varigated red gold leafing to adhere.  I actually had to go back and reapply the leafing a second time to the baby giraffe's hind leg -- a standard problem for this design.  Base paper yellow card stock on giraffe paper from Safari paper stack by The Paper Studio. Green "coral" ribbon.  Completed with 3 Pearls by Kaiser Scrapbook.

Dragonfly varigated Green Leafing

(notice we changed varigated colors)

You know how much I make the background papers work with the main design in my greeting cards.  In many Varigated Gold Leafing cards, you do not want the paper to make up too much of the design, or the viewer will miss the main design.  This card is an exception.  I embossed the base two-toned green-white paper with Rosa embossing folder and added 5 Green Rhinestones by Mark Richards into flower centers.  The green paper under the dragonfly is a shimmer green card stock.  Final touch is the Teal "coral" ribbon on the right.

African Ladies varigated Green Leafing

As you can see, I love African themes.  These three ladies are a natural fit with the Giraffe and Lion above.

Base brown paper is from Safari Chic stack by DCWV, another must-have for your paper stash if you love African-themed papers.  The patterned paper is Fossil by Basic Grey.  Finished card with Black and Grey paper string - Solids by Tim Holtz Idea-ology twined together.

Happy Thanksgiving varigated Green Leafing

I used a copper embossing paste as the basis for the green leafing on this card.  When I did the leafing, I left the Happy Thanksgiving untouched.  The leafing did not adhere to the corn kernels or grape branch, and that is okay.  Base papers are Autumn Layored Pad by Me & My Big Idea.  Finished the card with Brown, Green, Yellow buttons.

Dragon varigated Blue Leafing

(another leafing color change)

Base papers are from the new The Far East Stack by DCWV.  I have both stacks and love them both!  Two paper flowers by Urban Scrapbooker complete the card.  Simple, but almost exotic.

Winged Horse varigated Blue Leafing

The white paper the horse is on is edged with Vintage Photo distressed ink (Tim Holtz).  Base paper is from the Stardust matstack by DCWV, and card is edged with Shaded Lilac distressed ink.  (This is what you do when the paper slips at the last second and the adhesive will not allow you to re-adjust it.)  Lace edge punch (by Martha Stewart) on the right side of card.  Complete the card with Autumn Tinsel Twine by Tim Holtz Idea-ology.

Butterfly varigated Blue Leafing

Lastly, we make our base paper work with the main design on our Butterfly card.  Red card stock on Noted double-sided paper pack by HOTP.  Papers are so pretty in this pack, I hated cutting it up for cards!  Completed the card with a stock Green ribbon which is tied into a bow.

I hope you enjoyed today's cards.  What have you done this summer?

Now with fall coming, there will be more rainy days to work on cards and less time in the gardens.  What have you got planned?