Category: craft

Posted in card making, charity, craft

Handmade with Love Craft Faire

Posted on by Be Encouraged

Willow Glen Bible Church is raising money for the Vision Trust Charity, which serves thousands of at risk children around the world, with a “Handmade with Love Craft Faire”. I’m so excited to donate handmade cards and know the proceeds are going to continue their work for the children of Liberia, here is their link: https://www.visiontrust.org/about/ . I enjoy creating cards and I love that they will go to help a great cause.

The Craft Fair will be held on November 1st and November 2nd starting at 10 am at the Peninsula Bible Church in Cupertino so drop by if you get a chance .

Posted in card making, craft

Gearing up for a birthday

Posted on by Be Encouraged

My family is filled with car guys, who enjoy discussing motors and gears in depth when out driving, at dinner, or watching tv (you get the picture) . So I was so thrilled to see gear thinlit dies in Stampin Up’s Classic Garage Set in time for my husband’s birthday. The set includes stamp images of a classic car, tool box and fuel can which will be useful for so many masculine birthday cards. But what stopped me in my tracks were the gear dies. Yes this would be lovely paired with the classic auto for a traditional card but the minimalist in me can’t wait to try a modern card with shiny silver gears, One google search later I took my inspiration for this card from CraftyKylie.com on Pinterest. Lovely job Kylie.

I wanted a sleek modern card so the Cardstock was paired down to a gray and black color combination. The gears definitely look modern in silver foil paper (See A). These were first cut with the foil side against the cutting edge producing a clean image. However when I tried to make a slightly different image by reversing the die so the cutting edge was against the paper backing the image was too rough. Any ideas on how to reverse the die cut edge with good results? Well, I will definitly try that again because I like the slightly different pattern (See B)

You probably recognize the tan cut up grocery bag under my work. When I forget my plastic sacks at the grocery store this is my way of re-using their bags.

The Card goes together quick and easy, I spent some time adjusting the silver gears on the left side of the Cardstock but then all that’s left is embossing the greeting in silver . My first try I used black ink instead of versa mark with the silver embossing powder and a fullers earth pad (my mistake but it was right next to the embossing powders at the big box store) instead of the anti static embossing buddy to stop stray embossing powder and the results are underwhelming. Did I mention I just bought my heat tool? But thanks to Brenda Keenan over at http://www.keenankreations.com/ I now know the right way.

Finally, once I had all my tools in place the card was finished in 15 minutes. At the last minute I switched gears, literally (see C below). Here is my birthday card, hope this encourages you on your next project.

Figure C – Initial idea for card and final version on bottom
Posted in card making, craft

Creating our 2018 Christmas Cards

Posted on by Be Encouraged

Woo hoo, there was no snow in Northern Cal but it was Christmas card making flurries for me this year with 14 different card designs sent to family and friends. Yes, I was like a kid in a candy store, bedazzled by new stamps, inks and shiny pearls. I enjoyed card making with a Stampin Up Group (thanks Brenda!) where I learned to emboss patterns and mask stamps. I appreciated meeting new people and having the fun of creating these cards. Afterwards, I took advantage of the January Sale-a-bration promotion over at Stampin Up, http://www.stampinup.com to fill my craft cupboard with awesome new images and colors. I can’t wait to post the fresh ideas this New Year.

Deja vous, writing this post brought to mind that last year my crafty friends from Hopkinton also upped my game a notch. Here’s a shout out to Susan B, Pat, Sharon, Danette and Susan M, I miss you ladies. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas creating beauty and joy as usual.

Blessings and a be-lated Merry Christmas

Stampin Up : Real Red & Old Olive Card Stock, Stylish Christmas Stamp & Farmhouse Christmas Paper

PS. I didn’t post last year because my blog wasn’t good enough to be on the web forever. As you know I started this blog as a journal and encouragement for some friends. Who knew that in 2017 my site traffic would pick up so I stopped blogging to consider what’s next. I’m excited to start posting again and my resolution for this year is to post a better story each time to be web- worthy.

Posted in craft

Christmas Cardmaking Fun part 2

Posted on by Be Encouraged

To spread Christmas Cheer here is a collage of beautiful cards created by my friends for the Ladies Bible Study. Susan, Pat, Danette, Sharon, and Susan B, I had a great time cardmaking with you, thanks again for the inspiration.

Susan B made twenty of these darling cards for the group using the Stampin up “Merry Christmas Stamp” and tree dies. Her tree dies were also used as an embellishment and a relief pattern in many of the cards you see above. Beautiful! I just heard about the Stampin Up tutorial workshops and could spend all day watching their Youtube videos.

Finally, here is the updated modern Christmas Card inspired by the ladies. I’m pleased now that the colors are brightened, the ribbon is switched to green and the embellishments are sparkly. Friends make everything better.

Merry Christmas All,

Posted in craft

Christmas Cardmaking Fun

Posted on by Be Encouraged

My friends at Faith Community Church in Hopkinton needed Christmas Cards for our Ladies Bible Study. So, I pulled out my Anna Griffin dies / embossers and Creative Memories scrapbook papers and joined in for some cardmaking fun. How blessed to be able to relax and chit chat with the crew while my tactile nature was fed. Here are a few of my favorite cards from our time together.

My 5×7 Christmas Card …

I pulled together some traditional elements in Christmas red and green for a card with components I liked but which lacked a holiday sparkle. In the next few days I’ll add some lightness with different shades of paper stock and add details to the text box. I do like the gold embellishment with the Lace Trim Die, however this is still a work in progress.

Susan’s 6×8 Christmas Card …

My friends created more modern cards with cleaner lines and eye catching embellishments, for example here is a 6×8 Card I love. Susan’s design is elegant and beautiful in it’s simplicity. My small contribution was the Merry Christmas text using the Sentiments Die.

My 5×7 Modern Christmas Card …

Taking inspiration from my friend’s modern layouts, here is an attempt at a playful card using the Lace Trim Embossing folder to add interest. It was a fun first effort.

These cards don’t have to be perfect to wish someone a Merry Christmas or let them know how much you care. So if it looks like fun, make something special yourself and invite a friend to join you!