Happy New Year

We've had a wonderful Christmas, it went by so fast that it all seems a blur now.

Christmas morning...

.....we've been so happy to have my mom visiting us for the holidays.

And I even managed to make a couple New Years cards...

Stickers are from SRM, embossing folders are from Stampin' UP! (elegant lines) and Cuttlebug (Swirls).

And here is a card using stamps from Clear and Simple Stamps...a wonderful Christmas gift as I won this set on their Facebook page.

Embossing folder is from Cuttlebug, I stamped all over the front with a Palette (Stewart Superior) stamp and stick gluepad, heated it till tacky and then applied Art Glitter (Barbara Trombley).  Although I've had the glue pad and glitter for a while, this is the first time I've done this technique.  So this is perfect for  The Kraft Journal challenge to try something new.
I stamped the sentiment with VersaMark and embossed it with Detail White embossing powder from Stampendous.

I'm entering these in Create Blog challenge to make New Years cards and ColourQ's #117 challenge to use black and white and one more colour.

So Happy New Year 2012!  Wishing you and your family all good things in the New Year.
Off I go to spend time with my mom before she leaves.

Ivanka

One More Last Minute Card

I had an email from a friend last night and she needed a few last minute cards.  Since I had already sent most of mine out, I reworked the two mini cards I made the other day.  Here's one of them. It turned out pretty cute for a last minute card.  I'm entering this into this weeks Play Date Cafe (PDCC112) challenge.  

I used two Cuttlebug embossing folders, the red snowflake paper was inked with white ink.  Sticker is from SRM.

This next card is for CardMaker Challenge Corner, to make a card recognizing and thanking someone.  This is for one of my coworkers.  I really have the best job in nursing and am very grateful to work with a wonderful friend.  The job wouldn't be near as good or as fun if I didn't have here there everyday.

Another Cuttlebug embossing folder here and a SRM Fancy Sentiments sticker.

And look who showed up waiting for me at my computer today!!  Barb has been piggy shopping again!  See here for how my piggy collection started!

Thanks for dropping by today.  It's winding down, isn't it?  Hope you're finishing any last minute details so you can enjoy Christmas with your family and friends.
Ivanka

More last minute cards/gift

Today, I'm finishing up a few projects then am immersing myself in final Christmas preparation.  

This first card is for Moxie Fab World Card Creations, Get Inspired by fashion challenge, here is the inspiration piece:

Here is my card.  The stamp is from impression obsession, stamped with VersaFine onto handmade textured paper.  The hounds tooth paper is from Making Memories, Lace and button are from Stampin' UP!, sticker is from SRM and embossing folders are from Cuttlebug.

This is a gift for a friend, I first saw the idea on Pinterest.  It's a post it notepad frame using a $ store frame  with patterned paper in the middle.  The paper is from K&C0.

This little cutie is 3 1/2 x 3 1/2".  The stamp and label are from Stampin UP! colored with Tombow marker. The adhesive rhinestones are from Recollections, the patterned paper is from Pink Paislee (Father Christmas).  Twine was a gift from my friend Barb.  I m entering this in The Ribbon's Carousel Twine challenge.

That's it for me today.  A wrapping I will go...
Ivanka

Last Minute Cards

3rd post today??  You know what that means, don't you?  I am doing a really good job of avoiding wrapping presents!

Oh well, it will all get done before the big day and I've had a really fun day creating.  This card is for this weeks' music challenge at Less is More.  I'm also entering these in Paper Crafts December Gallery Challenge.   and the anything goes challenge at Really Reasonable Ribbon.

I've had this Christmas Clef stamp from Serendipity Stamps for a few years now and have used it for Christmas cards in the past, yet I still love it every time I pull it out to use.  This is for Julia's piano teacher and when I got on a roll with this stamp and color combo, I made 2 more cards.

The sticker is from SRM, We've Got Your Sticker (Merry), ribbon is from Offray.  There's is a vellum panel on the left hand side that is hard to see.  I punched 2 holes in the side of the card and tied the ribbon in a bow.

The patterned paper here is from Authenique.

So that is probably the end of my studio fun for now, there is wrapping, baking not to mention cleaning all waiting for me.  My mom comes to visit in a few days...so looking forward to that.

Thanks for dropping by.
Ivanka

Clean and Simple

It is a busy time of year and I've done some cardmaking, just haven't had too much time to update my blog.  Since it's quiet this am and the teenagers are still sleeping, I thought I'd post a few things I've been working on.

This weeks  Clean and Simple Stamping sketch was perfect to help me make a couple of needed cards.  Love this simple yet versatile sketch.  I hope they forgive me for not using stamps on my cards.
Their post also has a PDF of all their sketches for the year, a great resource.

 Patterned paper is from Authentique (Blissful), sticker is from SRM Quick Cards, Hanukkah.

The sticker here is also from SRM Quick Cards, Sympathy, paper is from Stampin' UP!, embossing folder is from Cuttlebug.

Hope your holiday preparations are going well.  I need to wrap and finish off the Christmas cards to mail...yes, late.

Signed, Sealed and Delivered

CAS-ual Fridays' challenge this week is to make a card and a coordinating envelope.  I usually try and create a matching envelope for most of my cards, especially the ones I hand deliver.  

This is for my mother-in -law.

Sentiment stamp is from Papertrey Ink, patterned paper is from Stampin' UP!, embossing folder is from Cuttlebug, Chipboard letters are from American Crafts.

Thanks for dropping by today,

Ivanka

Dasher

I found a sheet of my all time favorite K & Co. Christmas paper at bottom of my Christmas box.  When this Elizabeth Brownd collection came out (probably 2005), I was in love with the whole line.  I hoarded it.  I just loved the richness and the elegance of the designs.  Finding this piece of paper was like running into an old friend.

Also near the bottom of my Christmas stash, was this gorgeous piece of red/gold embossed paper from The Paper Co.  

Stampin' Up's Dasher image embossed with gold just fit this paper combo perfectly.  The ribbon was from a long ago swap.

My cards today were based on this week's sketch challenge at the CardMaker Card Swap Board.

Thanks for dropping by...Ivanka

The Box

So it's time for 'the box' to make it's way to work with me. 

I've spent the last few days filling it up with Christmas cards.  I swear, the girls at work at the cheapest therapy around.  I could be having the worst day ever and the fuss they make over my cards...well, it warms the heart!  And there's nothing like making cards for 'the box'...it's like free time, I can pull out any supplies around and just go to it.  There's no limitations like when I'm creating for a challenge or submitting to a magazine. This is like cardmaking recess.  And the money from the sales...more supplies for more cards.

It's all good...me and my box.

Here's my card for today.  This one was made for the November sketch challenge at the Authentique Blog and the button challenge at Lily Pad cards.

I used the 6 x 6 pad from Authentique's Wonder collection, chipboard tree from Magistical Memories (inked) Amercian Crafts rub on sentiment and wooden button from Michaels.

Thanks for visiting today.  I am off to peddle some cards...

Bo Bunny Christmas Cards

Finally the sun is shining.  I'm going to whip through my cleaning so I can get out this afternoon for a walk; I love walking when it's sunny out.

Today I'm sharing two Bo Bunny Christmas cards.  I was so happy when I came across the Tuesday card challenge on the Bo Bunny blog yesterday.  This was just the thing I needed to pull these papers out.  I altered the sketch a bit.
I'm also entering this in a challenge blog I just found, The Ribbon Carousel challenge (RCC30) to make a card celebrating a holiday and to use ribbon, twine etc. on your card.

This card uses papers from the Father Christmas 6 x 6 pad of papers.  The rub on sentiment is from an older collection, not sure which one.  Wreath is from Sandylion.  I used the snowflake embossing folder from Cuttlebug.

Since I had the BoBunny paper out, I made another card with the Father Christmas paper and some back to Basics paper.  The embossing folder and lace trim are from Stampin' UP, chipboard tree is from Magistical Memories, jingle bell is re-purposed from Lindor chocolates.

Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you're enjoying some sunshine today too.

Ivanka

'Tis the season

Just a quick post tonight, I've been working on some Christmas cards and wanted to upload this for a couple of challenges.  There has been no sun for the last couple of days, so I'm stuck taking pictures in my studio.

This card is based on the sketch at CAS-ual Friday Blog.  It's also for the silhouette challenge of the Less is More Challenge blog.

The stamp is from Me and my Big Ideas, sticker is from SRM, ribbon is from Offray, glitter yarn is from Darice and the flower center is from Prima.

Thanks so much for dropping by.  I hope those of you who are celebrating Thanksgiving today have had a wonderful day with your family and friends.

Holiday Boot Camp

My friend Barb raved about an online card class she took in the fall so I decided to join her in the next class held by Jennifer McGuire and Kristina Werner, Holiday Card Boot Camp.  I am loving it.  I wish I had time to do all the cards shown, but was happy with finding this reproducible card in Kristina's day 10 class.  The great thing about this class is that the information will be available forever, so I can go back to the videos and make the cards as I have time.  

So, this is one of the designs for my cards this year.  Easy, fun and I have 10 of them made and ready to go.

I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder,  Penny Black stamp, SU cardstock and ink (Old Olive), Fiskars Treading Water Punch, Papertry Ink sentiment, Offray ribbon, EK Success star punch pop dotted and glittered with Stickels and Recollections bling.

This is also for Lily Pad Cards Texture Challenge.

Thanks so much for dropping by,

Ivanka

Autumn Blessings Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to my stop on the Autumn Blessings Blog Hop at CardSwaps.  The crop runs from November 16-19, 2011 so I hope you make some time to come by and join in the fun...and get in the running for some fun prizes.

You should have arrived here from Teresa's blog. If not, you should consider starting the hop from the beginning, which is Lora's blog.  This blog hop has a theme. The theme is: I have been blessed! 


I'd like to share one of my blessings by starting with this plain old American Greetings card.  I recently received it from a patient and his wife...and it made me realize the blessing my nursing has been to me.  I have not always been in love nursing, it was just a job.  Sometimes a hard and thankless job.  But this card made me truly pause and think about this 'job' of mine.
Nursing has given me a job through 3 provinces, allowed me to work casual part time when my girls were small, make amazing life long friends, and it has allowed me to touch lives and make a difference, as in the case of this family.  All of this insight brought on by a plain old American Greetings card!  It probably one of the most meaningful cards I've ever received.

The project that I'm sharing today is a set of coasters that I made for our Canadian Thanksgiving in October.

The coasters are from the $ store.  I stamped the Hero Arts sentiment onto the coaster with Maya Road ink and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.  It was an easy and fun project.

Next you are hopping over to Jane's blog.

If you get lost on the hop, here is the list where you can find yourself again. 

Lora

Meredith

Judy L
Golda

Ana

Traci

Angelina

SusieQ

Tina

Teresa

Ivanka ---You are here.

Jane

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today.  Hope you enjoy the rest of the hop.

Ivanka

Clean...for now!

It has taken me weeks, on and off.  I would start cleaning and organizing one corner of my studio, only to be distracted by a card or a project.  Then the piles started collecting...and I got overwhelmed.

But now it's purged and shiny and I love it.  I'm almost afraid to go and mess it up.

Thought I'd share the pictures now, because I know that it will not last!  

All cabinets and countertops are from California Closets.  The Expedit cube in the last picture is from Ikea.

So, in my nice clean room, I finally got a couple of challenges done.  The first card is for The Play Date Cafe color splash challenge to use black and white with a splash of orange.

I used Elegant Lines embossing folder from Stamin' UP, old 7 gypsies gaffer tape, SRM sticker, Fiskars Threading Water Punch and felt flowers.

With the leftovers from the card, I made this tag for the CAS-ual Friday blog's  'Tag you're it' challenge.

Thanks so much for dropping by.  Off I go to admire the clean studio while it lasts....

Happy Halloween

So it's Halloween again!  It seems to come faster and faster each year.  We still get excited about it at our house even though our girls are older.  The decorations come out, the scary music is on and the treats are ready by the front door, just waiting for the trick-or-treaters.

We made some fun treats for Dana's classroom.  She's student teaching in a grade 4/5 class this year.  I saw this on Pinterest and loved this idea! 

Aren't they cute?  All she needed were chocolate covered cookies, Hershey Kisses and orange icing to make these fun witches hats.

On to today's card...Not too long ago, I joined The Card Swap forum at CardMaker Magazine.  It has been a lot of fun to get involved in another group.  This really reminded me of the Simply Sentiments magazine board from years ago.  The ladies are friendly and there are a lot of fun and creative things going on.  Check it out if you get a chance.

I made this card for one of the challenges on the forum.

Since it's Oldie Moldie Monday (where I give love to some long forgotten supplies), I found some good oldies in my Halloween stash!  The green paper is from Karen Foster, the pumpkin face and sentiment are old My Mind's Eye.  I googled the Jack-O-Lantern image and then did my best to copy it.   The googly eyes are from our craft stash.

And if you want to hear all about my favorite Halloween costume (and who doesn't?? :)), check out the CardMaker Magazine blog.  They were very nice to ask me to share a few memories along with some of their regular contributing  designers.

Thanks for dropping in.  I hope you have a fun Halloween!

Happy Birthday Card

I don't know if you're like me on this, but making cards for guys is not always easy.  Mainly because supplies for making masculine cards are so limited...and most men that I know don't appreciate a handmade card as much as women do.  So I always find it challenging to make one.  I've even been known to *gasp* buy a masculine card on occasion! 

But recently a co-worker asked me to make a card for the guy in her life and here is the card I made.  It actually wasn't too hard to create...lots of texture, black and brown!

Embossing Plate:  Sizzix
Suede Paper:  Karen Foster
Stamp:  Inkadinkadoo
Rub on dots:  Chatterbox
Brads:  Hot Off the Press
Twill Tape:  Martha Stewart

The good thing?  I got to use some supplies that have been in my stash forever.  I'm entering this into this week's challenge at Less is More, to use polka dots on your card.

Thanks for dropping in today.  Hope you're having a wonderful weekend so far.

Ivanka

Cupcake Card

Cupcakes seem to be all the rage at our house right now.  Are you finding that as well?

This past summer a mobile 'cupcake diner' started up and it became an obsession with my daughters and her friends.  The diner tweeted their location for the day and the girls would run off in search of it.  I don't really know how good those cupcakes were, my guess is that the biggest part was the novelty of it.  It's not nearly as fun to eat mom's home made cupcakes as it is to chase after a truck, is it??!!

And so here's my cupcake card...

Pink paper:  My Mind's Eye

Polka Dot Paper:  Pink Paislee

Cupcake and stand:  Petaloo

Ribbon:  Offray

Other:  Wooden tag, painted white.

One thing is for sure, cupcakes are so darned pretty, aren't they?!

Thanks for dropping by today,
Ivanka

Happy Birthday Card

I  have the most wonderful family.  I know we all feel that way, but sometimes I tend to take them for granted.  I really do have the best extended family.  The downside is that they are a long plane ride away so visits are once a year, if we're lucky.  Email, Skype and phone calls make them feel a bit closer, though.  I had a great phone visit with one of my cousins on Friday evening.  Two hours later, the family connection felt very near...made me smile.

My card today is for another cousin...a 40th birthday.

I'm linking this to Really Reasonable Ribbon 'Fun 4 Fall' challenge to make a fall card with ribbon.

Patterned paper:  Authentique (Blissful)

Die Cut:  Circle and scallop, Spellbinders

Sticker:  SRM, Fancy Sentiments

Ribbon:  Michaels

Brad:  Recollections

Thank you for dropping by today.  I hope you enjoy some family time soon, weather your family is near or far.

Ivanka

Moxie Fab, Clean and Simple

We were able to spend Thanksgiving in Victoria, BC with my husbands' parents.  It was a wonderful weekend, the weather was perfect for this time of year...some cloud, some sun and no rain!  It was so nice to be able to spend Thanksgiving with family. 

The Empress Hotel, Victoria, BC

For my card this week, I'm playing along with Moxie Fab's Tuesday Trigger.

and Clean and Simple Stamping blog FTL 161 

The stamps are from Hero Arts (clear) With Sympathy, stamped with VersaMark ink and heat embossed with Stampendous PEARLustre Hermatite Opaque embossing powder.  Ribbon is from Offray.

Thanks so much for dropping by today.  I hope you're having a great start to this short week.

Ivanka

Oldie Monday

Here it Monday again and it's time to dig into my stash and give some love to those long forgotten products. This one was easy, I got to use my last few PSX rose stickers.  Love these, but once they're gone, that will be it since PSX is no longer around.  This was for a co-worker...I made a coordinating envelope as well.

Patterned paper:  My Mind's Eye (Wild Aspagarus)

Sentiment sticker:  SRM, Fancy Sticker Sentiments, Birthday, Fancy Sticker Sentiments, Birthday

Embossing plate:  Sizzix

Ribbon:  Making Memories

Bobby Pin:  Junkitz

Flower:  Unknown

Here's one of the harder ones for me to make...a masculine card.  When I found this great image from The Graphics Fairy though, it wan't nearly as hard as I thought it would be.  Isn't that a great image, it would be perfect for a Father's day card.

I'm linking this up to Brag Monday on the Graphics Fairly blog.

Patterned paper:  Around the Block

Embossing Plate:  Sizzix

Twill Tape:  Martha Stewart

Sticker Sentiment:  SRM, We've Got Your Sticker, Happy

Label Punch:  EK Success

Brads:  Hot Off the Press

Well, I've managed to use a bit of my stash today, I'll keep at it...thanks for coming by to have a look.

Ivanka

Happy Halloween

I wish I had more time to participate in all the fun going on this weekend in honor of World Card Making Day.  I did manage to play along with Simply Rae's sketch challenge, though.  Got it done just under the wire.

The spider web paper: K&Co.

Green:  Karen Foster

Magic Mesh  (I forgot I still had some!)

Stickers:  SRM (We've Got Your Sticker, Treats)

Acrylic Frame:  Making Memories

Ribbon:  Offray 

Boo charm:  Unknown

Thanks so much for dropping by.

Ivanka

Happy WCMD!

Happy World Card Making Day!  I hope you've had some time to create today and celebrate this wonderful hobby of ours.

My card today is for the challenge over at the SRM blog to make a card using their stickers and upload it to their Flickr gallery for a chance to win some of their wonderful stickers. I love using SRM sticker sentiments, they just add the right finishing touch to any card.

Sticker sentiment is Fancy Sentiments from SRM. Background paper is from 7 gypsies, textured paper handmade is from an art store, ribbon is from Offray, brad is from Recollections.

Thanks for stoping by today,

Ivanka

Happily Ever After

I haven't made a wedding card for quite a while; no weddings recently.  But a couple of days ago, a friend asked me to make one for a family wedding this weekend, and then I remembered how much I love making these kinds of cards.  

I'm entering this into Lily Pad cards month long bling challenge!

  

Inside Sentiment:

In storybooks, marriage is a Happy Ending,

In real life, it's a Happy Beginning.

The wedding glitter die cut tag is from Making Memories.  Sentiment sticker is from SRM, We've Got Your Sticker.  Ribbon is from Offray, embossing template is Vintage Wall Paper from Stampin Up, I used the negative side.  The rhinestone on the ribbon is self adhesive and just beautiful, but I don't have a manufacturer for it, sorry.

Hope you're having a wonderful Friday.

Ivanka

It's Tuesday...

Lately, I'm all mixed up with my days.  My work schedule has recently changed and I keep having to remind myself what day it is.  Funny how a small change in routine can mess you up like that!

My first card is based on the challenge at CAS-ual Friday blogspot to use monochromatic color scheme with 3 different shades of the same color and brown.  It's also based on the sketch challenge this month at Lily Pad Cards.

The tag is from K & Co, embossing folder is from Stampin' UP!/Sizzix, stamp is from Papertrey Ink.

The next card for the color challenge at The Play Date Cafe (PDCC 100), the Kraft Journal blog to use witches, ghosts or goblins with Kraft paper.  It's also for the Create: blog to use 3 different edge border punches.

Patterned paper is form Stampin UP!,  My Mind's Eye, and Echo Park.  Stickers are from SRM.  Border punches are from Stampin' UP!, EK Success and Fiskars.  The image...well I wish I knew where it came from.  It was loose in my Halloween pack of supplies.  If I find the source, I'll add it here.

Thanks so much for dropping by today...oh and I wanted to share that CardMaker Magazine has just introduced a new blog.  Check it out CardMaker Blog.

Ivanka