"We Wish You a Merry Christmas" from Crackerbox Palace

"We wish you a Merry Christmas.. and a Happy New Year"! The top part of this card flips open to reveal that wish for everyone from Crackerbox Palace and from me too. Here is what the card looks like closed:

I stamped the carolers silhouette stamp on a piece of blue cardstock and cut the top with a scalloped scissors. The top darker blue piece is crinkled cardstock and is longer than you see in the picture, so you can attach the two pieces with a snowflake brad. When you attach the front to the white card base, you do not put any adhesive on the top part or around the brad, so the top can slide open to reveal the sentiment. I added a snowflake punched out with a Martha Stewart punch and a gem to complete the card.

The website at Crackerbox Palace is down temporarily while it is being updated. If you want any of the stamps you see here or on any of the cards we have blogged, just send them an email at crackerbox@crackerboxstamps.com or call 608-755-4638.

Crackerbox Palace smiles, Karen

Peaceful Holiday Card

I have seen some absolutely gorgeous cards by Heather Telford using masking fluid for snowflakes and I just had to rush right out and get some to try. I am a newbie at the technique and my first attempt is no where near as good as hers, but I still like how the card turned out. I also did sponging of snow levels and added tree silhouettes in the snow lines. The trio of deer diecut is by Memory Box.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at Paper Playtime and Crafting From the Heart.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Designer Choice Challenge at Repeat Impressions

It’s another Designer’s Choice Challenge at The House that Stamps Built, Repeat Impression’s blog. It’s Joy’s turn and the theme of her challenge is “Christmas Card with a Tree”.   After you make your card, you can enter it for a chance to win some awesome Repeat Impressions rubber! Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the other Rock Star's cards for this DCC challenge. 

Edited to add: Due to circumstances currently beyond their control, the Repeat Impressions' blog "The House That Stamps Built" is experiencing technical difficulties and is unavailable. Please follow the Rock Star links in my sidebar to see all the other wonderful design team creations.

I love quilt cards and decided to try a quilt shape I had seen on Pinterest. I started with the Snow Tree Flip Stamp set from Repeat Impressions. These sets are so versatile- you can use them for so many other cards besides flip cards. I stamped each piece of the flip set on white squares and centered them in the middle of a square white piece. I cut red squares the same size, cut them in half and added the triangles to create the quilt look. Then I embossed the whole piece with an embossing folder from Sizzix.

I am entering this card in the Christmas challenges at Through the Purple Haze and Lexi’s Creations.

Stamping smiles, Karen 

More CAS Christmas Star Cards

Did I mention I love the new SU Christmas Star stamp? I stamped it on patterned paper this time with a light blue ink, then cut out and scored all the lines. I attached it with two pop dots for dimension. I embossed the white piece with a Darice embossing folder, then layered on the same dp and then on a white card base.

I made a similar black and white version, but guess what the star is? When I put on the sticker from Stampin' Up that shows what the stamp is onto their cling stamps, I have trouble getting it to cling to the acrylic blocks. Since this was not the type of stamp where it really matters what is up and what is down, I did not apply the sticker to the stamp. So I made a card with it instead. Can you tell I forgot I had a snowy embossing folder by Cuttlebug that was just along one side when I bought the new Darice one recently? Compare the two cards and tell me- did I really need another one? Oh well- I can share with someone less crazy about buying embossing folders:)

I am entering the first card in the Anything Goes challenges at Challenges 4 Everybody and  Scribble and Scrap. Also in the Christmas challenge at Crafty Hazelnut's since I just got such a lovely invite and don't want to back date the one she commented on.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Christmas Star Triple Time Card

One of my favorite new holiday stamps this year is the Christmas Star from Stampin' Up. The minute I saw cards with it on Pinterest, I contacted my SU demo and ordered it immediately. I will be sharing more cards with it before Christmas to be sure. I used that stamp and my favorite ink (VersaFine Deep Lagoon) and the triple time layering technique to make this card. So easy to make, but I like how it turned out.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at 2 Sisters and Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Warm Fall Card on Silhouette Sunday

I know it is winter here now in Wisconsin, but I just now had a chance to play with this card cutting file from Silhouette America with leaves and a tea cup and came up with these two cards. The first one I did turned out OK, but I layered under the openings on the front and also on the inside of the card so that the leaves stand out and the card did not lay flat. Also the cup stands out so far from the front of the card that it will be very difficult to mail. So I played some more and came up with this:

I cut off the front of the card and layered it onto a dark brown card, eliminating one of the inside layers so the card lays flat. I also created my own cup and it still has some dimension, but will fit into an envelope much easier. I sponged the leaves and like the color combo on this card better too.

I am entering the second card in the Anything Goes challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Creative Fingers.

Stamping and Silhouette smiles, Karen

P.S. There is a fantastic sale going on at the Silhouette website right now, so if you want a Silhouette for Christmas, now is the time to shop! If you have one, all supplies and cutting files are on sale too!

Christmas Card with New Dies and Stamps

I am not buying many dies these days because I have sooo many and can cut just about anything I want for 30- 99 cents a die with my Silhouette Portrait. But when I saw this new die from Memory Box, it reminded me of Christmas sweaters and mittens, and I just could not resist. I cut it twice on a large kraft square and layered onto a red card. I added a red poinsettia (Marianne Designs) with green pine needles (Martha Stewart punch.) The sentiment is a new one from Penny Black and is very large, so the card had to be too. I finished the sentiment on the inside:

And I wish you the same:)

I am entering this card in the Die Another Day challenge at Songbird Challenge and the challenge at Top Tip Tuesday to use kraft paper on our cards.

Stamping smiles, Karen