Ornament Christmas Cards + 2 New Tips

In my last post I mentioned what my amazing husband got me for Christmas/wedding anniversary. Today I'm posting a project I made using my Cricut. It was interesting because my sister came over to see my machine. In order to show her how it works I decided to cut something simple like a Christmas ornament. Then she said, "oh no, I don't want you to waste paper just to show me how the machine works."  I just smiled and told her not to worry. So here are the two cards I made using both the diecuts and the paper from which I cut them.

For the first card I used 
Tools: Cricut Explore Air, scoring board, stylus scoring tool (for the dots imitating a chain holding the ornaments), Sizzix embossing machine, swirl snowflakes embossing folder (Darice),
Paper: White, brown, and the same mint green cardstock
Stamp: merry Christmas
Ink: black
Embellishments: ornament diecuts, red ribbon, pearls and clear gemstones in different sizes. 

For this card I used:
Tools: Cricut Explore Air, Cricut Design Space, 3D glue dots
Paper: Brown and mint green cardstock, brown patterned scrapbook paper
Stamp: Christmas Blessings (Stampabilitties)
Ink: Espresso brown
Embellishments: red 1/8"wide ribbon  

You can use an ornament punch instead of a cutting machine. In this link, a lady teaches how to make a card similar to my second one, using a punch.  
When it comes to save and recycle, I get excited. This time, instead of throwing away the piece of paper from which I cut the ornaments, I decided to use it on another card.How about you? How do you recycle while creating and crafting?

Thank you so much for stopping by, and have a wonderful CHRISTmas!

 

Inspiring Glitter Snowflake Card

Hello everyone. Getting ready for Christmas? I just love this time of year. Everybody, or most of everybody, seems to be nicer, kinder to one another. They don't even cuss as much in traffic! LOL 
Today I found out what my Christmas/wedding anniversary gift will be. Yep, our anniversary IS in December, and I am very excited. As a matter of fact, my husband is in the store picking it up right now. What an inspiration. No wonder I sat here and wanted to write another post. Hehehehe. So here is an idea for you to make and get someone to smile as big as I am smiling right now.

Supplies used
Paper: Gray, dark blue, and glitter white cardstock for the outside, white cardstock for the inside of card
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine, snowflakes dies, heat gun, white embossing powder, white glitter pen
Stamp: Merry Christmas
Ink: Versamark
Embellishment: large pearl

Now you are probably asking, "What is she getting for Chirstmas?" or "What does the card have to do with the gift she's getting? ", etc.
Well, my amazing husband got me a Cricut Explore Air, and is picking up a nice computer to go with it today. So now I can cut way more than these two snowflakes, and create even more things that require a cutting machine. This was the very last card I made before I got the Cricut. Am I going to stop using my Sizzix or the dies? NO. Absolutely not. But it's nice to have other means of creations and execution, don't you think? - I bet you too are smiling now. ;)

Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderfully blessed Christmas.

Vanías Reed    

 

Hanging Mittens Christmas Card

Wow!!! Can you believer we are in November? Is 2015 flying by or it's just my impression because I've been as busy as a bee? Thank God I've been selling my items very well, which means orders to fill, and lots of work. I'm definitely not complaining, but I am sorry I haven't posted much lately. Anyway, today I decided to find some time and post another Christmas card idea for you. Here it is.

Supplies needed
Paper: Red, white and patterned cardstock
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine, frame embossing folder (I used Sizzix "Tulips"), snowflake embossing folder, heat gun, mittens die
Stamp: Merry Christmas (Stampabilities)
Ink: Versamark, embossing powder in red
Embellishments: red and white twine, fuzzy white yarn, red, green and white pearls in different sizes.

This is card is not complicated at all. Actually you can make it in about 10 minutes. I hope you got inspired to create something new today.

Thank you for stopping by, and may the Christ of CHRISTmas bless you and yours.

Vanias Reed 

A Christmas Tree by the Window

When my husband and I were looking for a house to purchase, one thing I really wanted to have was a big front window by which I could place our Christmas tree. Don't you love to see a Christmas tree by the window? I do. It makes me imagine what kind of family is in that house. Maybe it's a big family. Maybe they have small children, or maybe it's a couple of retired people who will have their children and grandchildren for Christmas... and my imagination keeps going. With all of that in mind, I made the card I'm posting today. I truly hope it will open the window of your imagination. 

 Material used for this card
Paper: White, black, and grey cardstock, gold paper
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine, rectangle embossing diffuser (Tim Holtz), brick embossing folder (Sizzix), Swiss polka-dots embossing folder, window die (Sizzix), small star punch
Stamp: Merry Christmas (The Paper Studio)
Embellishments: holly border, Christmas tree sticker, gold star

Thank you so much for stopping by, and may God bless your creativity and your imagination. Be blessed.

 Vanías Reed 

Christmas Card With Blue Vellum

Today I was listening to the songs my son will sing in the Christmas program at school. One of the songs' lyrics says, "Love reached down to me. Reaching to earth, through humble birth, love reached down to me." Isn't that amazing? The Bible says God IS love, and He, the Almighty God, humbled himself and came to earth so we could be reached with his love. What have we done to deserve such an awesome love? NOTHING! He loves us because HE IS LOVE. Wow!!!! The card I'm posting today has a nativity scene, but I don't think that scene even begin to describe what Jesus has really done for us.

Supplies used for this card
Paper: White cardstock, blue vellum 
Tools: heat gun, winter wonderland embossing powder (Recollections), white gel pen, gold glitter pen
Stamps: "Glory to the Newborn King" phrase, and nativity scene with trees (both from SU)
Ink: black, and Versamark for heat embossing
Embellishments: small clear gemstones, silver pearls

When you celebrate Christmas this year, think of the enormous amount of love that was poured on mankind on that cold night in the Middle East, and take a moment to thank God for that. 

Thanks for stopping by, and may the wonders of CHRISTmas fill your heart with joy.

Vanías Reed

 
 

Thanksgiving Card + Tips + FREE Template

Hi there. I absolutely love this time of the year. The temperature is lower, it is not so humid, and we can go back to enjoy outside. Besides, it tells me that Christmas is coming. Yay!!! So today I'm posting a last idea for Thanksgiving before I start posting Christmas ideas. Here it is.

Supplies needed for this card
Paper: Red, light brown, aqua green, and white cardstock, transparency
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine, bricks embossing folder, wood embossing folder, door die or use the template below
Embellishments: handmade pumpkin sticker, fall wreath sticker, brown self-adhesive brown pearl (for door knob)

Tips
1. The wood embossing folder from Sizzix embosses very deeply. If you have a light weight paper, it will tear it. So, emboss it without the flaps on the base for the cutting machine. Like if you were going to use a die to cut a shape. If you paper is really thin, place a piece of velum inside the embossing folder with the paper you will emboss. You will still see through the velum, and have a beautifully embossed image
2. You don't have the sticker, stamp, or picture that you'd like to have? No problem, cut out pictures from magazines. Glue them on heavy weight cardstock, cut out, and if you want a glossy effect, cover them with Glossy Accents. 

Door Template

Right click on picture to save in your computer to print.

Thank you so much for stopping by, and have a wonderfully blessed week

Vanías Reed 

Easy Thanksgiving Card + Tips

Hi there. I'm so carried on making Christmas cards for children who live below poverty level, that I forgot to post another Thanksgiving card like I said I would. Oops. You can make a child smile with a simple card too. You can make your cards and send to 
Compassion International, ATTN: Christmas Cards for Unsponsored Children Colorado Springs, CO 80997-0004
Just sign your cards,  and write a Bible verse that will encourage the children. Place each card in an blank envelope, then send them to the address above. The dateline is November 2nd.  If you have any questions, please ask them in a comment, and I will answer them as soon as possible. Meanwhile, here is another Thanksgiving card.

Supplies used for this card
Paper: Rusty red, white cardstock, patterned brown, green, golden yellow, and orange scrapbook paper
Tools: Scoring board and scoring tool, maple leaf punch, corner round punch
Stamp: Grateful (Stampabilities)
Ink: Expresso

Tip# 1: The embossing lines on the side, bottom and top of the card were made with my scoring tool on the scoring board. You can use a click pen (with the point inside), and a cutting board to score too. Like seen in this FREE video class

Tip# 2 I made this card without any 3D embellishments because it's going to be mailed. You can use a snowflake punch, for instance, and a Christmas sentiment phrase, to turn the card into a Christmas one. 

Thank you so much for checking out my blog. Enjoy crafting, and don't forget to share your creativity with those in need. ;)

God bless you,

Vanías Reed