Christmas Three-Fold Mini Album

 Today I wanted to share another three-fold mini album with you, Christmas edition.  I shared the full tutorial with you HERE and another version HERE.  

The entire mini album can be made with a little more than two sheets of two-sided scrapbook paper.  I closed this one with vintage red seam binding. All of the elements were either printed scrapbook paper or stamped onto scrapbook paper.

  This little project will serve as a "deluxe" Christmas card for a more artsy friend.

 The busy papers make it look rich, though there are only a few elements on each tag/section.

 This is the tag that pulls out from the cover pocket, and below is the back.

I'm sharing the fun with Merry Monday for their Add a Reindeer challenge HERE and with Christmas Stamping All Year Long for their challenge #60, Anything Goes HERE.

December Daily 2015 Beginnings

Several years ago I became hooked on making junk journals from vintage book covers and two-sided scrapbook paper mixed with vintage greeting cards/ephemera.  I found it a great way to use up scrapbook paper that I was bored with.  I started this December Daily with a collection of Basic Grey paper, which I so loved but had made just about everyone I know on this planet a Christmas card with!  This year I decided I am going to dive back in and complete my journal.  It's been sitting on a little easel on my work table for a couple of weeks so I could ponder what to do with it.  Last night the inspiration hit and I dug out everything Christmas and put all the flaps and pockets and coordinating jewels in place.  I'm all ready for the actual journaling and adding of family pictures.

Here is the opening page, not finished, but a great motivator for me to jump in.  All the pretty little journal cards and stickers that are collected when hoarding paper really come in handy with these types of journals.  I have stacks of that stuff, I don't use it in my card making but it comes with the paper stacks so often.  I'm joining the gals at Let's December Daily in this exciting journaling adventure.  I've started a new December Daily Pinterest board with lots of cover ideas and free printables to get you started, won't you join in?

Angelic Mixed Media Christmas Tag

My week seven version of Linda's Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas tag, version 2.0.  I was enamored by Linda's gorgeous snowflake background and decided to give it another go.  I have one more idea and would like to do a third, but we'll see.  :)  I need to order some foil from her shop, The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

 For my background I used Frayed Burlap, Pumice Stone, and Vintage Photo Distress ink puddles.  Next, I embossed a variety of snowflake stamps in metallic aqua to try to get my colors similar to Linda's tag.  I thought the background was too dark, so I gave it a brushing of white Distress paint to tone it down.

 I really loved the Wendi Vecchi stamp Linda used, but this old as the hills Stampers Anonymous stamp was the closest I could get.  I stamped it in Frayed Burlap.  It is the definition of art, but I wish it were a little more regal, but oh well.

My friend had loaned me her snowflake rosette die and I decided to use it to duplicate the dimensional snowflakes on Linda's tag.  I love it!!!  I added a Martha Stewart snowflake punch from heavy vellum and a pearl.

For my focal point I stamped this Stampington angel Walnut Stain DI and embossed in clear powder.  I went over it with white Distress paint to soften it.  I layered her over a doily die (MFT) cut from a used coffee filter and then over some burlap paper.  For my topper I attached a brad to some metallic twill ribbon.

If you'd like to see all of my 12 Tags of Christmas click HERE.

I'm linking up with The Funkie Junkie for her 12 Tags of Christmas challenge HERE, with Stamping with Loll's 12 Tags of Christmas linkup HERE, and with HLS for their November Mixed Media Tag challenge HERE.  Thanks so much for visiting today!

Future Stampers of America Cardmaking

 I have a very special card to share with you today, made by my very own future stamper of America!  My teenage daughter, Ainsley, spent some time crafting with me the other night.  A rare treat!  We used to stamp together all the time when she was little, but it's been at least a couple of years.

 Ainsley turned this sketch sideways and followed in her mommy's steps by creating a rustic elegant card.  The snowflake garland was her own very clever idea, as was adding ornaments to the deer's antlers.  Adorable, don't you think?!  Ainsley wants to win the prize at VLV and donate her proceeds to a worth cause...  hmmm... my birthday present!  ;0

Now for my take...

 I went with a traditional design and stamped this Merry stamp by Verve in Vivid Cobblestone ink onto a foiled panel.  I used a BG floral embossing folder to give some texture, mixed with this paper it resembles a poinsettia, though I had never thought that before.

I'm linking us up to VLV for their November Week 1 Sketch challenge HERE.  Won't you play along?  Julee offers such a fabulous prize of $100 to the winner each  month.

Veteran's Day Hero Card

 Today I wanted to share a Veteran's Day card I made for my very own hero.  My husband served our country as a tank driver for six years.  He is a combat veteran from OIF.  Our oldest son was born when he was away at war, what a sacrifice he has made.  I have never made cards for the 4th of July or other patriotic holidays, but when I saw a hero stamp at HL I had a duh moment. I decided to start a new tradition of making him cards to show him my support.  This one was with everyday supplies.

 I used stickers to make the tags.  I had just picked up a cool jumbo chevron embossing folder for $2 at Tuesday Morning and decided to use it with some kraft core paper to make my stripes, similar to my Tim Holtz July tag.  I sanded it to accentuate the pattern.

I layered with some doilies, a crinkled coffee filter, and a metal star.  I hope this gives you some ideas to make a card for a veteran in your life.  To all of our servicemen and women and their families, thank you sincerely for your sacrifice.  May God be glorified in America...

SSS Thinking of You