Christmas in the Old Country

Growing up in Croatia, I remember Father Christmas looking much like the 2 images on my cards today. And just like the little girl in the first card, I remember being just a 'little' unsure of the strange bearded man. Until the gifts, of course, then it was all good. I don't remember getting toys though. It was mostly chocolates, candy and oranges. They made us happy and they were devoured in seconds!

These cards, that have taken me down Memory Lane were made for the Moxie Fab's Christmas in the Old Country challenge. The images are from a Tuscan Rose CD. Love this, and I've used it a ton over the past few years.

The red background paper is from 7 Gypsies. I Love coming across old paper in my stash that fits in perfectly with what I'm creating at the time. I used the Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder, Stickes, Prima poinsettia and an old Nunn Design stick pin. Love these too, wish they were still around. This card also fits in with The Cuttlebug Challenge Blog's to use glitter or bling along with an embossing folder.

Another image from Tuscan Rose, Prima Poinsettia, MM brad, Martha Stewart leaves.

I have very few pictures of my childhood but since I've been reminiscing today, I went in search of one I could share. Here's me with my sister and my dad in the background.

Check out all the great entries for this challenge on Moxie Fab World and today is the last day to enter your card for the challenge.

Thanks for travelling down Memory Lane with me today...Ivanka

A Golden Christmas

Here I am, still going through my stash and having so much fun. If only I had more hours in a day. Today, I found these gorgeous Anna Griffin 3 D stickers and paper. I think I bought those last year, but never got around to using them. They're so pretty, I don't know how I could have left them in my stash. This card is for the Cuttlebug Challenge blog. The challenge is to glitter it up. The 3 D glitter stickers are from Anna Griffin, the word paper is from K&Co. and the gold paper is actually a wall paper sample from Maya Romanoff I've had some gorgeous samples for quite a while now and am finally using them. They are just beautiful when embossed with the Cuttlebug folders. The gold plate is from K&Co. also...have had it for years too. Feels great to finally use it. Here, I cut the words out from the K&Co. paper to make the sentiment. The background paper is handmade, not sure who it's by. Sentiment rub on is from American Crafts. And this is a version of one of my cards that was published in the Nov/Dec issue of Paper Crafts Magazine. As I've been going through my stash, I found more of these snowflakes from Target that Barb sent me last year. I just love these snowflakes, they're ornaments, but with being flat, I think they're perfect on cards.
And check out Moxie Fab World today, Teri Anderson has created a stunning card using my card as inspiration. I'm always excited to have a card published, but when it inspires someone...well, that's just the best!

While you're there, enter their contest for cards that have been inspired by the cards you've seen in Paper Crafts.

Thanks for stopping by today. I'm off to try and squeeze out a few more cards and use a bit more of my stash.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I've been having a lot of fun making Christmas cards in the past few weeks. Thought I'd play along with a couple of the sketch sites too. They are always a great way to get some inspiration.

My first card is for 2 Sketches 4 You. The cards and ideas over there are out of this world. Every week Kazan, Laura and the design team come up with amazing ideas for the sketches. This week Kazan has created a simply stunning card for this sketch. Mine is like a distant cousin to hers!!


This gorgeous paper is from K&Co. Brenda Walton's Evergreen paper pack. I got it a few weeks ago with an M's coupon and I have to say it's the best pack of paper I've bought in a long time. I'm systematically going through it, I think I'm up to 30 cards so far and have barely made a dent in the pack. You'll be seeing more of this paper soon. The poinsettia and leaves are from Prima.

This card is for Mojo Monday. I do a lot of envious lurking over there! The cards that they make are just so gorgeous. As I'm not much of a stamper, I hope they don't mind that I've created a card without a stitch of stamping on it. The image here is from the K&Co. Evergreen paper pack, the snowflake paper is from Sei and the music paper is form Cosmo Cricket.

The rest of the cards are made using a pack of 3 D sticker ornaments from K & Co. that I've had for a few years. They finally came together with the new pack of K&Co. paper and I just love the

result.

I looked at these stickers in my stash often, but somehow never found a way to use them. Sometimes it's worth hanging on to things for a while...don't you think?

Thanks for dropping by...Ivanka

Christmas Cards

Funny, but right after Halloween, it's starts to feel like Christmas is around the corner. I guess that's because it is. It'll come before I know it!

We had another card day in my studio this past week and got some Christmas cards made.

This card base is from Making Memories and the image is from Tuscan Rose vintage image CD. Super easy card and so cute.

This is using up some Basic Grey from last year. Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder and a Fluffles stamp embossed in gold.

The gold paper is from K&Co. and the Poinsettia is from Martha Stewart. Don't know who makes the brown snowflake paper, I've had it for a few years.

Hope your cards are underway, I'm off to make a few more. Thanks for stopping by.

Ivanka

Halloween Sketches

Finally got around to making some Halloween Cards. Don't know why I leave it so late, I really love making them once I get into it. It's hard to believe that Halloween is only a few days away though. It doesn't seem to be as big of a deal as when the girls were little and we were scrambling for costume ideas. Now we worry about Halloween parties. Yikes.

So on to my cards...the first one is for CPS.

The paper is from Bo Bunny and My Mind's Eye. Don't know who makes the sticker. It's been in my stash a few years now. Ribbon is from Martha Stewart.

The next card is for The Cuttlebug Challenge blog. The challenge is to scrap lift one of the designers Halloween Cards. Mine was inspired by Karen Maldonado.

This is also for an image swap on Cuppas and Cards. The image was drawn by Gregory J. Griffin, one on the member's (Connie) husbands. I love the image, and think Connie's husband is very talented! The paper is from Bo-Bunny and Karen Foster, brad is from Queen and Co. and I used the Argyle embossing folder inked with white in for the background.

Any plans for a Halloween party this weekend? We haven't made any yet, but you never know what will come up. I came across these drinks on Martha's blog

They look devilishly good don't they?

Hope you've had a good start to your week.

Ivanka

ETA...thanks Beth for stopping by to tell me about a new (to me) challenge site where the challenge is to share your Halloween image cards. The site is:
Sunflowers and Dragonflies

Check it out...great tutorial section. Ivanka

Hiro and Tomomi's Wedding Card

If anyone still remembers Simply Sentiments magazine, one of the features that I loved the most was 'The Last Card' which appeared on the last page of the magazine and talked about the story behind the cards we create. I love hearing stories, especially stories that inspire us to make the cards we do.

So here's the story behind this wedding card, made for a couple in Japan. Hiro was a foreign student my mom had staying with her a few years ago. He fell in love with Canada during his year here and has been back several times since. He recently got married and in August was bringing his bride to Canada for their honeymoon. Unfortunately, a typhoon made it impossible for them to get out of Japan and they had to cancel the trip. This is their wedding card.

Paper is SEI, Christmas Mint, bird is from Prima and glitter die cut is from Making Memories.

Sad that they didn't get their honeymoon, we're all hoping they come next year so we can meet the bride.

Hope you're having a great weekend,
Ivanka

Almost Friday

Boy it's been another busy and fast week. How do the days slip by so quickly??

The weather has been beautiful here. We've been raking leaves and enjoying all the beautiful fall colours outside. I'm going to have to remember to take my camera with me tomorrow and try and capture some of the gorgeous leaves before they're all gone.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow, coffee with a friend and then we hit a craft show in town. It's just a small church one, but there is always something that amazes me at this show. And there are yummy baked items for sale and I always pick up some homemade jam too.

While delicious pies are dancing in my head, I'll tell you about my card for today. The patterned paper is from Making Memories, Sabrina collections, felt trim is from Queen and Co., flowers are from Bazzill (pink) and Prima (beige with script).

I'm still hoping to do a sketch challenge or two this week, keeping my fingers crossed. But cleaning and laundry await me after the craft show...hmmm.

Anyway, have a great Friday and I'll talk to you soon.

Ivanka

Happy Thanksgiving!

So what are you up to this Thanksgiving weekend? It's been a beautiful couple of days so we'll probably go out for an afternoon walk. I got my groceries yesterday and we're having our big meal tonight. I'm so looking forward to the pumpkin pie.

For my card today, the sentiment is from Melissa Frances, flourish is from Prima, brads are from Imaginisce, flowers are from Paper Studio (large) and Prima (small). The textured paper is actually a wall paper sample from Maya Romanoff, very cool.

Another cool thing I have to share today is that one of my Christmas cards was featured on the Grapic 45 blog!

Hope you're having a great long weekend. Thanks for sharing a bit of your day here with me.

Card Patterns

There’s another fun sketch at Card Patterns this week. I haven’t been able to participate for a while, so I was glad to get some time to play along this week.

The image is from Crafty Secrets, Patterned paper is from Making Memories, dots embossing folder from Cuttlebug, Flowers from Hero Arts and flourish and gems from Prima.

Hope you’re having a great week so far. We’re gearing up for Thanksgiving this weekend. Not sure what we’re up to, but I’m sure it will be yummy! Ivanka

2 Sketches 4 You

Well, World Card Making Day was a lot of fun. I did a lot of blog surfing, but didn't get a chance to do anything creative. Hope you did.

Oh and my movie star daughters? They had a lot of fun but at the end of a long and rainy night, they were tired and glad to be home. They got to see the Jonas Brothers but not meet them as they had been dreaming. I don't think that I have to worry that the bright lights of Tinsel Town will lure them away anytime soon!

Yesterday I got to play along with Laura's sketch 36 on 2S4Y. Another fun sketch.

I used K & Co. Wild Saffron Mat Pad and Die Cut Tags, QuicKutz label die cut, ribbon from Waste Not Paper, Basic Gray and Michaels. Rub on is from Melissa Frances.

Thanks for stopping by...have a great evening. Ivanka

Happy Card Making Day!

Good Morning! I hope this day finds you doing exactly what you want to do. I think that's a wonderful way to spend any day.

It's actually just past midnight here, but I'm up waiting for my daughters to come home so I thought I'd get my post done for today. They've gone to Toronto to be extras in the latest Camp Rock movie. It is supposed to be a concert scene and they needed a ton of screaming fans (no problem there!) for the movie so my girls and 2 of their friends have gone to be in the movies!! I can't wait to hear all about it when they get home. I'm sure there will be excitement about this for many days to come!!

So what are you up to for World Card Making Day? I need to start my recipe page for a swap I'm in and I'm hoping to be able to visit a few of the blogs at the WCMD Blog Tour.

What I worked on this week to share today are Christmas cards made with Graphic 45's Christmas Past papers, frames and tags. Love, love, love this line. The frames and tags are so easy to work with and I love that I can get so many cards made from just a few sheets of paper.

The felt flower is from Hero arts, brad is from Imaginisce.

Rub on is from American Crafts, ribbon is from Martha Stewart.

Metal 'joy' is from Making Memories.

'Believe' is from Deja Views, brads are from Lasting Impressions.

Sentiment is computer generated.

Script paper is from 7 Gypsies, rhinestones are from Kaiser Craft.

Thanks for dropping by today and I hope you enjoy the rest of WCMD! I'll just continue to wait for my movie stars to come home!! See you in the morning. Ivanka

Blue Christmas

The Christmas cards continue here. It’s been fun since I got my push to start making them last week.

This time I used SEI's Winter Song line for the background paper and Graphic 45 Christmas Past for the images.

For this card I used Cuttlebug's Snowflake embossing folder and Stickels. Trim is from Making Memories, ribbon is from May Arts.

Here I used the script embossing folder, the sentiment is from American Crafts.

Crystals are from Prima and the sentiment is Deja Views.
Thanks for stopping by...if you have time...check out Moxy Fab World Today Cath is featuring blogs from Canada. There are a lot of very creative ladies here in the 'True North Strong and Free'!

Oh What Fun...

Ok, so this really was fun! I got to play along with 2 Sketches 4 You again this week. Love the inspiration I get from the sketches and the design team, so much fun wrapped up in one little blog!

This is for Kazan’s sketch # 36. I used Cosmo Cricket’s Jolly by Golly line, Tiny Bubbles Cuttlebug folder, trim was sent to me by my friend Barb, stick pin and metal sign are from Making Memories, ribbon is from Waste Not Paper.

Thanks so much for dropping in…Ivanka

Cards from our Card Day

So I thought I'd share the cards that we made at our card day. It's been a while since we had gotten together for a card day. I made some cards ahead of time to help them get back into it. Teacher I am not, but it was fun to share a few techniques that they hadn't seen before. The Cuttlebug embossing folders seemed to be a favorite.

We made these 2 cards using SEI's Winter Song collection. Sentiment is from Hero Arts (thanks to my personal shopper, Barb!)

Here the super cute girl image is from My Mind's Eye, Colorful Christmas collection.

It was such a fun day and it is so great to have friends to share this hobby with!

Till next time...Ivanka

World Card Making Day

Now here is a holiday I can really get into!! World Card Making Day is Oct 3rd, only a few days away. What are you doing to celebrate this wonderful hobby of ours??

Cath, over at Moxy Fab World started off a week of celebration by featuring amazing cards from talented ladies from all around the world. Paper Craft Connection blog has fun things planned all this week. And the Blog Tour on the WCMD website is definitely worth checking out! You'll find amazing inspiration from PC designers as well links to fabulous blogs from all around the world.

Here in my little studio...I'm celebrating WCMD by sharing what I love to do with two of my friends. We spent a day making cards, sharing ideas and just having fun being together.

Here are a few pictures of Card Making Day in my studio...forgot that my camera was on macro...but here they are...

The door into my studio...

Getting ready to create with some fab Graphic 45 paper.

We used SEI's Winter Song to make 3 Christmas cards.

Here's Misty loving her new tape runner...

...and Janet adding Stickles to her card...

...good friends and great times...what better way to celebrate the holiday?!

Hope you find some time this week and especially on Saturday to make a card and share some good times with friends.

Ivanka

Another 2S4Y card...

I'm sneaking in this quick post before I head off to bed. I used this weeks 2S4Y sketch to make this card. This was one of the cards we made in a card day I had at my house on Friday. More on that and pictures tomorrow...

Sorry for the indoor picture. It was dull and rainy today and then I just ran out of time. I used sei's Winter Song line for the patterned paper and die cut shape. The sentiment is Hero Arts heat embossed, QuicKutz label one die cut as well as the Fiskars treading water punch.

Hope you're having a great weekend, more tomorrow...Ivanka

It's Monday...time to get back into it!

Well, I think it's about time I got back into making some cards! It's been a wonderful and busy summer. And I don't know about where you live, but our September has been just gorgeous so far. Except today...it's raining and that's ok...because I got to spend some time in my craft room...crafting!
Since it's been so long since I've done anything productive, I wanted to start off slowly with this week's 2 Sketches 4 You by Laura.

I made this card for a coworker who is leaving us. The paper, journaling square, and sticker are from the Poppy line from sei. The rub ons are from One Heart, One Mind, flower is from The paper Studio and the gems are from Prima.

Thought I'd share this little gem my daughter made recently. She's 17 and she dabbles at making cards when the mood (or need) strikes! Usually it's a last minute card for a friend so I don't get to photograph it. I nabbed this one before it went out the door this weekend! The paper is from Fancy Pants Delight line and the rub on is Melissa Frances.

Thanks for stopping by today...Ivanka

Cards for a Cure

One of my coworkers was recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Yep, out of the blue. Really makes you realize how fragile life truly is.

At work, Barb is such a treasure, friendly and helpful to the end. After collecting for a group gift, visiting and keeping in touch through email , I felt that I wanted to do more to support her in this battle. I've supported causes and charities in the past, but this one was so close to home, I knew I had to get involved.

So I'm starting off by doing a 5k walk in support of Breast Cancer research. Since I find asking for donations not such an easy task, especially after just having done the MS walk in the spring, I needed to come up with a different way to raise money. Hence the Cards for a Cure idea. I spent a couple of days going through scraps and leftover projects and making a bunch of fairly quick cards. All the proceeds are going toward Breast Cancer research.

Here are some of the cards....

Thanks for stopping by...it's been a busy summer and I haven't been here much. Hope to rectify that in the next few weeks. It felt so good to get back to my 'happy room' and just make cards. And the fact that they're helping me to support a friend, well it's even better.

Ivanka