Baby Card Using Owl Punch Builder

Hi there. Being a Mom is an amazing - sometimes exhausting - experience. It is a constant learning process. I love to spend time with my son, home school him, and watch him grow physically, emotionally, and spiritually every day. One thing we enjoy doing together is to watch DVDs that I recorded when he was a baby/ toddler. Those memories are so important and special. The other day we decided to watch the DVD I have with my baby shower. That inspired me to create a card for a young lady who's expecting, and whose baby shower was last week. Here is the card.

Supplies and techniques used
Paper: Light blue, white, mustard, gold, and green cardstock. Pattern scrap paper.
Tools: Embossing/cutting machine, clouds embossing folder, circle die, precision scissors, owl builder punch
Embellishments: bakery twine for cloth line, white and black miniature self-stick pearls, 'Welcome Baby' 3D sticker, overalls.
Techniques: dry embossing, fussy cutting (used for car on blue overall, sheep on plaid overall, to make the leg opening on overalls, grass)

Celebrate babies everywhere. If you have one, enjoy him/her every minute. Don't let the (much) work that parenting requires worn you out. Laugh at whatever goes wrong, and try, try, try again. Be the best parent you can be, and try to relax and create beautiful things. Babies are and always will be an inspiration.

Thank you for stopping by, and my the creator of all human beings bless you and yours. 

Vanías Reed   

Gate Fold Get Well Card

Hi there. Are you an active person? One of those people who will only be happy if you are doing something, especially for others? I have a friend who's like that. She is constantly helping someone, always doing something. Unfortunately, setting up a volleyball net for a game in our church, she hurt both feet. I feel so sorry for her because I know how hard it is for her to stay in bed instead of being out there working, helping, doing the things she likes. So I made her a card, and that's the card I'm posting today.

Supplies and techniques used
Paper: Plum and white cardstock
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine, tulip frame embossed folder (Sizzix)
Stamp: Get Well Soon
Embellishments: black self adhesive pearls, "foot" wrapped with gauze.

Techniques:
Dry Embossing and fussy cutting


Find the tutorial for the Gate Fold card here. 

Thank you so much for visiting my blog. Have a wonderfully blessed week.

Vanías Reed   

One stamp - Two cards

Hello. Is it just me, or is everyone amazed by how the time is going by fast? July is almost over people!!! Soon I will be enjoying a cooler weather. Yay!! So today I'm posting my last Christmas in July card, better yet, CARDS - two of them.  The reason why I'm posting two cards is because I used the same stamp to make them. So, here they are.

Supplies used for this card

Paper: Red, white cardstock

Tools: cutting/embossing machine, snowflakes embossing folder, rectangle embossing diffuser, border die, colored pencils, gold glitter gel pen

Stamp: Christ is born

Embellishments: gold ribbon, medium self stick pearl                              

Supplies used for this card

Paper: White cardstock, midnight blue scrapbook paper

Tools: Cutting/ embossing machine, stars and swirl embossing folder, rectangle embossing diffuser, stars border punch, colored pencil, glitter silver and gold gel pens

Stamp: Christ is born!

Isn't it great when one idea triggers another one? That's what happened to me when I made the first card. 

Thank you for checking out my blog. I hope my Christmas in July ideas inspired you to get ahead of the game and get your Christmas crafts going.

                                                        God bless you, 
                                                                                                                  Vanías Reed

 

Helpful Tips (Revised)

When I started this blog 2 years ago, I never knew I would be led to start a small business. It is amazing how God directs us to ways we don't even think about. My second post two years ago was about some tips I was given which have helped me to this day. After reading that post, I decided to revise it and re-post it. Here it is.

1. Don't buy stickers, or any material just because they look cute, or are on sale. You will be spending a lot of money on things you won't use.
2. Start slow and simple. There are so many choices out there on what to use on a scrapbook page or to make cards, and that can be a bit overwhelming. So, before you start buying, and buying, and buying... make a list to see what you need. Look for clearance, sales, and COUPONS!!! 
3. Sign up to receive craft stores emails. They will send you coupons. Why pay $120.oo for a cutting/embossing machine, when you can pay half of that? Why not buy two embossing folders for the price of one?
4. Always check your craft store sales first. DO NOT buy anything on Ebay or Amazon unless the price is much better, and  the seller's feedback is at least 99.8 POSITIVE.
5. Stock up what you know you WILL USE more than once.
6. Look for items in your home. You will be amazed with the amount of different material you can use that you ALREADY HAVE! Such items can be well-used dryer sheets, grocery- store paper bags, fabric, ribbons, laces, etc.
7. Remember, creating something to give to that special someone is about doing what you like, enjoying the process, thinking of another human being, and having fun.

I hope these tips were helpful to you as much as they have been to me.
Feel free to ask any questions.

Thank you so much for stopping by. 
God bless you,

Vanías Reed  

Cute Christmas Card

Hi, what do you do when you feel you are out of inspiration? Your creativity is pretty much 'stuck'?  Have you ever felt like that? I have. Many times. First time I felt like that, I thought I wouldn't ever be able to create anything again. But then I realized that there is so much around me that can inspire my creativity. A good walk in a nature preserve helps a lot, but when I stop and 'smell the coffee' - as my husband tells me to (smile), I notice God's awesome creativity in everything: a child's laugh, an elderly lady, flowers, even coffee itself. There is so much color and beauty out there. Sometimes I find my inspiration just by going through things that I have at home. You would be amazed by the number of items we collect and forget about. Another way that helps me to get 'unstuck' is to take a look at other people's ideas. There are so many ladies who are very creative, and willing to share their ideas on the internet. The idea for the card I'm posting today came from one of the moments when I got 'unstuck' by watching a video about embossing diffusers, and finding a sheet of cute stickers that I have had for the longest time, and completely forgot about it.

Supplies used
Paper: Light blue and white cardstock
Tools: Cutting/ embossing machine, snowflakes embossing folder (the Paper Studios), oval embossing diffuser (Tim Holtz), oval frame embossing folder (Sizzix Textured Impressions), computer, printer, banner die.
Embellishments: clear gemstones, black tiny pearls, Christmas stickers, banner with printed sentiment

It is raining hard right now, which made me have an idea for a "Get Well" card for someone "under the weather". As you can see, you can get inspiration from pretty much anything, anywhere, or anyone.

Thank you for stopping by. God bless you, 

Vanías Reed   

One Card - Two Versions

Hello, how's your summer going? Hopefully full of fun and family time. Of course, if you are in the southern hemisphere, you are enjoying - or not- winter. Either way, we are celebrating Christmas in July, and I'm posting as many Christmas cards ideas as possible, so you can get ahead of the game. Today I'm posting two versions of the 'same' card. The reason why I do that sometimes is because I mail cards to friends and relatives, and, in order to do that, I have to have a kind of assembly line. But I don't like to send the exact same card to everyone, so I change things up a little, and... voila :)  high speed production without loosing quality. Let's see those cards, shall we?

Supplies used
Paper: White, blue, glitter silver (1st card), red, gold (2nd card) cardstock paper
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine, Christmas tree embossing folder (Darice), small star punch
Embellishments: blue and clear gemstones in different sizes, and "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" sentiment sticker, silver star (1st card)
colorful gemstones (same size), golden star, and gift stickers (second card)

Neither of these cards is difficult to make, and yet, they look cute and can me mailed without too much trouble. 

Thank you for checking my 'Christmas in July' ideas. 

God bless you,  

Vanías Reed   

Vintage Box Shaker Christmas Card

Isn't it interesting how some people affect our lives in ways we don't expect? There is this young lady who loves vintage, and whom I describe as sweet, beautiful, kind, discrete, elegant, and everything that is good. She possesses the very characteristics which describe someone who truly loves God. First two things I noticed when I met her was her beautiful smile, and her nostalgic look. My family and I met her because her parents attend the same church we do. Because of her I learned to include the vintage style in my crafts, and even some pieces of decor in my home. So here  is a card that could well be inspired by Caylee. 

Supplies used for this card
Paper: Christmas patterned cardstock (MME - kit sold here ), white and natural cardstock, transparency sheet
Tools: Paper cutter, 3D foam adhesive, heat tool, glitter (for shaker box), white glittered embossing powder, embossing pal (find the video tutorial for the embossing pal here)
Stamp: Merry Christmas (Stampabilities)
Ink: Embossing pad (Top Box)
Embellishments: self adhesive pearls

To make the picture frame and box shaker, cut the patterned paper in the middle - 3/4in from each side. Adhere the transparency in the back to cover the rectangle. Use 3D foam adhesive strips all around the rectangle. Don't leave any gaps or the glitter will fall out. Put some glitter on the card, and adhere the frame tight on it. 
Get inspired by someone, or go outside, look around and get inspired by something. Nature is so beautiful. 

 Thank you for stopping by, and Happy Christmas in July.

Vanías Reed