My Favorite Cards 2016 Part Two

I have gone back through all the cards I blogged in 2016 and picked three per month to share with you. If you want to see details on any of the cards, simply click the date below the card to go directly to the blog post. Thanks for all your kind comments and encouragement in 2016, and I hope to see you all back here in 2017.

May 15, 2016

May 29, 2016

May 31, 2016

June 8, 2016

June 15. 2016

June 29, 2016

July 13, 2016

July 18, 2016

July 28, 2016

August 4, 2016

August 10, 2016

August 23, 2016

My Favorite Cards of 2016

I have gone back through all the cards I blogged in 2016 and picked three per month to share with you. If you want to see details on any of the cards, simply click the date below the card to go directly to the blog post. Thanks for all your kind comments and encouragement in 2016, and I hope to see you all back here in 2017.

(1 of 3 posted on January 14, 2016)

(1 of 2 Tonic music cards posted Jan. 19, 2016)

Jan. 30, 2016

Feb. 4, 2016

Feb. 14, 2016

Feb. 28, 2016 front and inside

March 10, 2016

March 29, 2016

March 30, 2016

April 3, 2016

April 9, 2016

April 21, 2016

Stencilled Ombre' Tonic Wishes Duo

Almost time to wish everyone a Happy New Year!  I made a couple cards using Tonic Studios dies and stencils and Nuvo Moonstone Glimmer Paste and am happy to share how I achieved the glittery ombre' look. Here is a close up and some pictures of the process: 

I sponged on several colors of blue distress ink through the openings in Tonic's Splayed Feathers Stencil (1480e). After cleaning off the stencil, I applied Nuvo's Moonstone Glimmer Paste over the ombre' blues. The result is a beautiful sparkly textured accent for my New Year's card. I added some stars die cut out of silver mirror card with Tonic's Mini Wreath Decorations (1384e) and the year 2017 die cut from the Advent Treat Squeeze Box Die Set (621e). I also created a different kind of celebration card with the same technique:

I changed the alignment of my birthday card and added the Birthday Wishes Miniature Moments sentiment and some die cut and punched stars out of silver mirror card

Hope you have a healthy and happy 2017!

Merry Christmas Wishes for All!

I finally gave this card to my bff yesterday and so I can share it here on Christmas Day. I used real Swarovski crystals and a layered stamp from Stamplistic to created the poinsettia which can be used as an ornament. Here is a close up look at the sparkle of the crystals and Nuvo glitter on the green leaves. I am entering this card in the Make it Sparkle challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.

Santa has come to our house and all the stockings and presents are ready for my kids and grandsons when they come tomorrow! Grandma can't wait! 

Wishing you all a blessed holiday season! I will be back after our Christmas visit with more cards and ideas to share.

Kings Cross Gift Card Suitcase from Tonic Studios

Merry Christmas everyone! I am excited to share this cute way to give a gift card using Tonic's Kings Cross Case Die Set. When I receive a new die from Tonic Studios, I always check the Tonic YouTube channel for tips from the pros on how to cut out and put the pieces together. I found a great video on the Kings Cross Case die set here. I created mine with green cardstock and the perfect patterned paper from Tonic's Christmas Wishes Premium Paper Pack. I decorated the gingerbread men, stars and ornaments with Nuvo crystal drops.

On the inside of the box, I added a few more cute gingerbread men and a gift card holder made from the sentiments in the back of the Christmas Wishes Paper Pack. Here is a look with a gift card I am giving to my husband- shhhh- don't tell him...

The Kings Cross Case die was so fun to play with and perfect for small gift giving. After watching the video, it was easy to die cut and put together and I am sure I will be making many more soon.

Make It Sparkle Celebration Card

Make it Sparkle is the theme at my favorite challenge this week - Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge. IRL this card is full of sparkle but it is hard to capture that with a photo. I die cut Tonic's beautiful snowflake and attached that with temporary tape to a white card front. I attached Tonic's Beveled Diamond stencil over it all and applied Nuvo Moonstone Glimmer Paste over it all through the stencil. When it was dry, I popped up the snowflake and added a Celebrate sentiment and another snowflake die cut out of silver mirror card with Tonic dies. I added some Nuvo Glitter Accents in the center of the smaller snowflake. Here is a close up of the sparkle:

Hoping you are celebrating the holidays with family and friends!

My Gingerbread Village Post on Blog Tonic USA

I am proud to share that my gingerbread houses have posted on the Tonic Studios USA Blog here. Here is a sneak peak at the Gumdrop Candy house which is my favorite. I am entering this in the Make it Sparkle challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. 

For all the details on how I made this gumdrop house and to see the other two gingerbread houses, please visit the Blog Tonic USA.

Spring Pond Water Scene Card with Die-Versions Dies

Are you ready for some Spring inspiration? I am already tired of all the snow and bitter cold! It's my turn to post a card on Die-Version's blog and mine, and I am sharing this card I made with the beautiful Spring Pond background die from Die-Versions and a fun soap bubbles technique I learned how to do on this video. All you need is dark Distress Inks and soap bubbles created with dish soap. I chose a medium blue distress ink because I knew for this card I wanted a background that looked like water. After it dried, I simply attached the lovely Spring Pond background die and layered it on an A2 card. CAS card but fun for any occasion for someone special.

**Remember you can get a 15% discount on any of Die-Version’s great dies by simply using my discount code karen15 when you check out at the Die Versions website unless the dies are already on sale.

Oh No Santa- I can never have enough!

With tons of snow and wind chills 20-35 below zero today, I thought I would share some winter crafts and a funny poem I found:

Twas the night before Christmas, I'm glued to the tree.
I'm wondering what Santa brought just for me.
Could it be cardstock or inkpads or lace?
Or some dies, I said, with a smile on my face.
And that's when I heard him......
"Hi Santa, “I said
He replied, "You know....good girls should be in their beds".
"I know I should Santa, and now I've been caught.
But I was just so excited to see what you brought."
"Well, let's take a look in this room where you work".
He shook his head quickly, and left with a jerk.
I heard him exclaim as he put it in gear.
"You've got enough crap,
I'll see you next year!"

As you can see from the first picture, there was no sunlight in central Wisconsin and we have a ton of snow. I made some wine bottle and folded book crafts, but they are very hard to photograph at their height and with no sun. Here are individual pictures:

I watch Tonic Live out of the UK all the time and recently they shared a video on how to make an easy Christmas tree using an old book. Here is a link to the video if you want to try it. I sponged the edges after I folded all the pages and then added Christmas decorations using Tonic's Mini Wreath Decorations and some red cord. The wine bottles were created after watching a short video on Facebook. It showed how to soak and clean them, then spray with silver spray paint and decorate. I used snowflake dies from Lawn Fawn and my favorite Christmas words from W plus 9. Here is another picture of the Winter Wonderland in my back yard: