Envelope Art!

We've swapped inchies, art dolls and chubby book pages. This year we are swapping envelope art!

The theme for our first envelope was Spring. I took my inspiration from a lovely sugared egg that one of my swap partners sent me several years back.

I printed the address on the lavender piece of card stock tucked inside the envelope. When pulled out, it reveals the hidden scene inside the egg.

I used an egg pattern and a stamp positioner to create the "piping" around the edge. I used Microglitz "Moon Dust" glitter by PK Glitz to create the sugar on the egg. I think I might have cheated by putting it in a clear envelope to protect it during mailing. ;o)

Final Catch Up Post!

I know what you are thinking as you have been looking at my blog... "Joy it has been three years and you still haven't figured out how to clean the gunk off of your scanner?!?!"  Well, I am happy to report that I purchased some glass cleaning wipes this week and will attempt to rectify this situation soon. However, some upcoming posts may contain cards I have already scanned which may have some spots from scanner smudges on them. You have been warned, LOL.

 

These are some cards that I have made for

miscellaneous swaps over the past several years:

 

 

The following cards are my favorites!

 

I decided to make this circus train card at the last minute for a swap. The scans shown are of my prototype (Please ignore the marker smear on the back of the lion, my hand slipped!) Sadly, I didn't scan the better final version that I made. Thankfully, you can see the final card and how it stands up in a photo that my swap partner posted on her blog. (While you are there, take time to look at all her awesome paper craft and quilted creations! She is a fabulous artist! You won't regret it!)

I have to say that this was the most fun I have ever had making a card! I may just have to revisit this idea and make more animal cars for the train!

 

Well, that is it for the catch up posts.  My next posts will show what I've been working on recently.

Thank you for being patient and thank you for looking! 

Catch Up Post - Miscellaneous Holiday Cards

I have a friend who appreciates the fact I send my Christmas cards late every year. My 2009 Christmas cards miraculously were mailed on time so I decided to make her a Christmas in July card to make up for my promptness. ;o)

 

For my 2010 Holiday cards, I went with a winter theme instead of a Christmas theme since, ahem,  they weren't actually mailed until January or February of 2011...

 

Most of my 2011 Christmas cards went out on time, or at least in December, LOL. I had been dying to attempt coloring an image in Sepia tones with my Copic Markers. This nativity scene stamp was perfect!

 

I had another holiday miracle in 2012 when I mailed my cards out early. (I made up for it by sending my 2013 Valentine's cards out late...)

 

A friend of mine found the pattern for this Cupcake gift card holder in an issue of Cardmaker magazine and asked me to help her decipher the instructions. I played around and made a quick sample for her in a Chinese New Year/Year of the Dragon theme.

 

When I saw this adorable owl stamp by Magnolia, I knew that I had to have it immediately! I couldn't wait to start using it on cards! The first was my 2011 Valentine:

 

Here is another Valentine that I made for a swap that year:

 

I started going through a tag phase in 2012. I used some favorite papers from my Graphic 45 hoard to make these Valentine tags.

 

Here are the Valentine's Day cards, tags and ATCs that I made to send out in 2013:

 

Here is a trio of cheerful Spring cards:

These bunny cards are sort of a "before and after." I wasn't too happy with how the first one turned out so I played around until I came up with the second card design which I liked much better.

 

Although my Mom and I are avid stampers and card makers, for some unknown reason, we rarely ever make each other cards. So I was feeling pretty good about myself when I made her this Mother's Day card. I cased this fabulous idea from a card I found on SplitCoast Stampers.

 

Here is my 2012 Halloween card:

 

Finally, here are some Thanksgiving cards that I have made for various swaps: