Encouraging

Hello, how are you all doing? Sorry I haven't posted anything in a while, but I'm back, and I would like to share a little bit of what has happened. One of the things my family and I did this summer was going on a missions trip. That was awesome! I found out how much I needed to learn about loving unconditionally, and being kind no matter what.  I've decided then to use more of the creativity God gave me to bless and encourage others. The card I'm posting today is a result of that. A lady we know and love went through a difficult time in a hospital. What was supposed to be an outpatient surgery, became 4 days of hospitalization. So here is what I made for her.

Supplies used
Paper: White and patterned cardstock
Tools: cutting/ embossing machine, roses embossing folder, tag die, sharp fine point scissors for fancy cut.
Stamps: "sending you a little prayer..."(front), that God will keep you in his care. (inside), Get Well Soon, and your are Inscribed on the palm of his hand... (all stamps by Stampabilities)
Embellishment: pink ribbon and pearls

I also decorated the envelope cutting one of the flowers from the patterned cardstock paper to create a set.

God bless us in so many different ways. If we have been blessed with creativity and talent for crafts, why can't we use them to bless others?

Thank you for stopping by. I hope this has inspired you to go out there and encourage others using whatever is the talent you have.

Vanías Reed   

Mrs. Claus in July Dress Card with Free Template

Hi there. Last week I had a baby shower to attend, and I made a little dress card to go with the gift. I liked that so much, that I decided to make a Mrs. Claus dress card for the Christmas in July series. So I created a template and made, not one, but three cards. And today I'm sharing them and the template with you, just to thank you for stopping by.

As you can see the style is the same, I just changed the apron a little bit.
Supplies used
Paper: White and red cardstock
Tools: cutting/embossing machine, polka-dots, and falling snow embossing folders, crochet hook size G (4.25mm), 1.5" circle punch, snowflakes border punch
Embellishments: fuzzy yarn, poinsettias stickers, red glitter glue, white ribbon and bow, self-adhesive pearls

Here is the template. Just right click on the image and save in your computer. Then choose the size you want, and print on a cardboard. To make the red front of the dress, print a second image on red cardstock and cut in half.

 Here is another dress card made with the same template. This time without the apron.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog. I hope you check out my shop on etsy.com too. God bless you, and have fun crafting.

Vanías Reed   

Winter in July CHRISTmas card

Hi there.  Did you know that I grew up in Brazil, and it's summer there in December? That's why I enjoy so much celebrating Christmas in July. When I do so,  I "travel back in time" and daydream about my childhood. So, I use the quiet time I have while making cards, to go back to sweet memories of Christmases by the swimming pool with my parents, sibilins, and lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins. But the card I'm posting today is more like Christmas in America, especially in the northern states. See why:

 Supplies used
Paper: White cardstock, clear velum
Tools: Cutting/emossing machine, clouds embossing folder, stitched landscape, cloud and rabbit sledding dies (Lawn Fawn), colored pencils, heat gun, white embossing powder
Stamps: Large pine tree (Stampabilities), rabbit sledding (Lawn Fawn), small snow flakes, 'Let it snow' sentiment
Ink: Forrest green, clear embossing ink (Versamark), black 
Embellishments: white self-adhesive pearls

Thank you for stopping by, and letting me share some of my Christmas story with you.

May the Lord of the most wonderful season of the year bless you and yours, 

Vanías Reed  

First Christmas Card 2016

It's Christmas in July!!!! Yay!  Today, as I was watching Mrs. Miracle, one of my favorite movies at Hallmark channel, I realized it's July already. Which means, it's time to start posting some of my cards. Yes, I do begin making Christmas cards in July. It's fun, and it helps me to get ahead of the game. So here is the first card.

Supplies used
Paper: dark red, and white cardstock
Tools: cutting/embossing machine, snowflakes, decorative oval embossing folders, oval embossing diffuser template, snowflake border punch
Stamps: "Glory to God...", mini snowflakes
Ink: black
Embellishments: mini self adhesive pearls and red gemstones, white ribbon and bow.

Thank you so much for stopping by, and let the CHRISTMAS BELLS RING!

Vanías Reed  

Beautiful Card for Mothers Day (Too)

Hi, how are you doing? How are you going to celebrate Mothers' Day this year? This is a bitter-sweet occasion for me. Sweet because I can celebrate the blessing that is to be a mother, bitter because I'm so far away from my Mom. Anyway, I made this card for my sister's birthday, but I thought it would make a good card for Mothers' Day too. I decided to post it today, so you will have plenty of time to make it. 

What you will need: 
Paper: Peach pink, white, and leaf green cardstock
Tools: cutting/embossing machine, embossing and stamp set (Textured Impressions), leaf punch, peach pink, baby pink, and green markers (I used water based markers)
Embellishments: Sentiment stamp, pink bow, vintage 'brooch' brad, butterfly sticker

Here you can see better how the embossing folder makes the stamped flowers pop.

 Thank you for stopping by. Make something special for your Mom, grandma, aunt... and have a very blessed Mothers' Day.

Vanías Reed  

Handmade Cards, Envelopes, and Box

Hi there,
How are you doing? I hope you are all doing great. Here we are getting ready for summer, and for a missions trip we'll be taking in the beginning of September. In order to raise funds for our trip, I'm making sets of cards in a box and selling them. Today I want to post for you one of the sets I made. I'm also going to post the links for the boxes, so you can make them too, ok?

 

Supplies needed for the cards
Paper: White, pastel pink, blue, yellow, and green cardstock for cards. Pastel pink, green, blue and yellow 24lb paper for envelopes.
Tools: Cutting/ embossing machine, embossing folders, heat gun, white embossing powder, envelope punch
Stamps: Happy Birthday, Get Well, Congratulations
Ink: Versamark
Embellishments: Decorative self-adhesive strips, butterfly sticker

Envelope instructions here
Box directions for English speakers here 
Instruções em português para a caixa aqui 

One of the cards in the box

Make a box and a set of cards for Mothers Day. I bet your Mom will love it.

Thank you for stopping by, and may God bless you.

Vanías Reed

Vintage Masculine Card + Free Tips

Hello there, how are you doing today? I hope very well. Have you ever felt so blessed that it's almost overwhelming? I did last week. It was my birthday, and my friends, extended family, husband, and son just poured their love on me. I received so many amazing messages that truly blessed my weekend. God is awesome like that. He places people in our lives who can do and/or say things to make us feel really special, doesn't He? So I decided that I wanted to be a blessing in someone's life too. One way I can do that is to make some greeting cards, put in a cute box and give to someone just because. The card I'm posting today is one of them.

Supplies I used for this card
Paper: White, wood brown, cream cardstock, sand cream silk paper ("accordion"folded)
Tools: Cutting/ embossing machine, gift tag die, wood embossing folder, brown fine point marker, 3D adhesive foam (for clock sticker)
Stamps: text background (The Journey- Tim Holtz), Happy Birthday (Stampabilities)
Ink: Espresso, black
Embellishments: Fabric self-adhesive patterned tape, brown and withe twine, gift tag, antique clock sticker, chain used in mini key-chains.

Tips: 
1. use an ink pad to distress the sides and corners of card and tag
2. when stamping the background on tag, stamp a paper first then stamp the tag. You want to have that 'fading' effect.
3. with fine point marker, write over a couple of words of the background stamp

Thank you so much for stopping by. You too make me feel special when you take time to read my blog.

Vanías Reed  

Football Helmet Birthday Card + Free Template + Free tip

Hi there. Did you watch the Super Bowl? I didn't (smile). I'm not really into football at all, but my husband is. His favorite team is actually a college team - Michigan Wolverines. So, for his birthday this year, I decided to make a card in the shape of his favorite team's helmet. I used my electronic cutting machine with the print and cut setting, but I'm sure you can do it using a craft knife too. Just print a picture of your team's helmet the same size you decide your template will be.I'm posting the template I created, so you can make the card with your team's colors. Here is the card.

Supplies used
Paper: white cardstock
Tools: Cutting machine, computer, printer, banner die, cutting/embossing machine, template, scoring board, scoring tool
Stamp: Happy Birthday (Stampabilities)
Embellishment: Self- adhesive silver gemstone

Template

I left the background of the template pink on purpose, so, when you print the picture, you'll easily know where tho cut. 

TIP: If you are going to use an electronic machine, download the picture to your computer, then upload it to your machine program, and choose the cut setting.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderfully blessed week.

Vanías Reed    

Box Shaker Romantic Card

Hi there, how are you doing during this cold winter (for us on the north hemisphere), or not so hot summer (south hemisphere)? Today we are getting some really low temperature here in Florida. 48 degrees -actual temperature - but it feels like 41. Or for those who use Celsius, 9 degrees - feels like 5. So we are staying inside, having some hot cocoa, watching a movie... no, wait. That's my son. I am working, cleaning the house - hahahaha. But I have my breaks too (smile). During one of my breaks, I decided to have some fun, so... I MADE A CARD, of course. (smiling again). Here is what I made.

  I saw that sentiment phrase - or something similar - on the internet the other day which gave me the idea for this card.

Supplies used
Paper: White, glitter red,  and red cardstock, transparency film
Tools: cutting/embossing machine, hearts embossing folder, large heart punch, little hearts dies (Avery Elle More Stories set), label die (Die-namics Framed Greetings Die), computer and printer, red gel pen
Embellishments: bakers red and white twine, glitter (red and clear), glittered hearts, label with sentiment phrase

Sometimes I don't have the stamp with the exact sentiment I want. Does that happen to you? What do you do? Change the sentiment? I just use my computer, write and print what I want on cardstock and voilá...

Thank you so much for stopping by. Stay warm, or cool, and have a very blessed weekend.

 Vanias Reed 

 

Not Any Valentine's Day Card

One of the things I love about my husband is that he does not wait for Valentine's Day to show his love for me. Sometimes he leaves a note on the kitchen counter, before going to work, to tell me how much he appreciates everything I do for our family. Other times he will bring me a little something like my favorite candy bar or a single rose. And sometimes he'll just do things at home like washing the dishes, or making the bed, etc. He makes me feel special all the time and not only one day a year. But we still celebrate Valentine's Day, and we still exchange cards. So here is the card I made for him this year. The original idea belongs to a Craftsy instructor. I just put my own spin on it. 

Supplies I used
Paper: White cardstock, clear velum, and blue -patterned with some white - scrapbook paper
Tools: cutting/embossing machine, little fox and moon dies (Avery Elle), stitched hillside border (Lawn Fawn), computer and printer, watercolor markers, white glitter gel marker, colored grey pencil
Stamps: Little fox, stars, and moon (Avery Elle), pine tree (Stampabilities), snowy hillside
Ink pads: Black, forest green, and white
Embellishments: heart shaped gemstones, speech bubble with sentiment phrase "I love you to the moon and back"

So, even if you don't celebrate Valentine's Day, this is a card you can give to that special someone in your life at any time. 

Thank you for stopping by. May God bless you and yours with His abundant love.

Vanías Reed    

Thank You Note + Easy Distress Technique

How was your Christmas celebration? How about your New Year? Did you make any resolutions? If you made any, how's it going? We don't do new year's resolutions in our family, but one thing we do is send thank you notes to those who blessed us with gifts during the Holiday season, even if we can only send them in January. Not only is it appropriate to do so, but I'm sure the person who receives a nice, handmade (or not) thank you note smiles as they realize how appreciated their gifts were. It is always a good idea to take time to make someone's day special by letting them know they are appreciated. I got the idea for the card I made here,
and put my own spin on it.  

Material needed for this card
Tools: cutting board, stamping pad, 3D self-adhesive foam
Paper: white, brown and cream cardstock, patterned scrapbook paper
Stamp: thanks
Ink: espresso
Embellishments: "gift boxes", 1/8" (3mm) brown ribbon and bow

Distress technique: rub the edges and corners of cream color cardstock piece, and patterned paper with stamp pad - the same one you're going to use to stamp the sentiment phrase.

Measurements- Card: 4" x 5.5
                                 Bigger box: 2 1/8" x 3/4"
                                 Medium box: 1 5/8"x 3/4"
                                 Small box: 1" x 3/4"
This card is not difficult to make. I made 6 of them in an "assembling line". It was fun to do it, and it didn't take long. You can actually make a card similar to this for any occasion.

Thank you for stopping by, and have a very blessed 2016.

Vanías Reed