Customized New Year/Birthday Card

Hello friends!

First of all, thank you for being here to through thick and thin till the very end of 2017! 

I have a fun project to share today to bid adieu to 2017.

 A while a go, I was commissioned to create a customized card for my daughter's friend.

So, there are a few criteria to be met:

Nour is her name who will celebrate her birthday in the New Year.

Nour loves feminine floral touches and also loves baking.... 

With all that in mind, I came up with this.

The sentiment was stamped and die cut. The name Nour was die cut with Altenew's Inline Alphabet Die Set and Avery Elle's Alphas Set.

I had a lot of fun coming up with the design and kept adding details.


I even add some stenciled paste for the dotted background.
Apparently, Nour already received the card and has it proudly displayed in her place in Montreal.
It's truly is a HAPPY NOUR YEAR!
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👉Simon Says Stamp Clearance 
Seriously, this is SSS's biggest STAMP clearance for a long while now...

Stamp Sale (must check it out) ---> here<---have fun browsing!

Die Sale----> here
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today also marks the last day for the Warehouse Sale over Altenew.
👉👉Save up to 50% in our Warehouse Sale Collection of more than 180 items including stamps, dies, inks, stencils, and more. Valid 12/28/2017 through 12/31/2017.

$7 off on all orders over $100 with code SHIP70FFFREE 
U.S. shipping on orders over $200 with code SHIPFREE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spellbinders has a New Years Party Sale! 

Thanks so much for stopping by! See you in 2018!

Same Sketch and Stamps, Two Cards ( Winner Announcement)

Hello friends! 

How was your Christmas? 

I had my fair share of entertaining and now I am happy to back making cards! 

Today's cards are based on a sketch.

Sketches are my weakest link.
A while a go, I was invited to submit sketch cards for a well-known publication.

I didn't make it to the publication as my cards were
 too blah...
colors don't pop..

So, I am shamelessly sharing them here.
Haha, you are lucky to see the "rejects"!

I must say that my ego was slightly bruised after these two. LOL.

I still think these two aren't that bad, but for publication purpose, they do not stand out.
That's something to keep in mind when making submissions for publication.
Oh well, I am happy to do what I create for my blog.
 I love it when I don't to worry about meeting the criteria.
It is very freeing to share my creations here whether they are awesome or... just so-so.
 LIFE is pretty much like that, right? It is a bit of a roller coaster ride itself.

Last but certainly not the least,
I am announcing the winner of the Altenew A Year in Review Blog Hop.

The $20 Altenew Gift Card goes to....
#10

Karen H said...

Virginia, I love seeing your creativity and your gorgeous projects. You and Altenew are a beautiful match. Thank you for sharing your ideas. Merry Christmas to you and yours and Happiness in the New Year.

December 22, 2017 at 1:58 PM

 Congratulations, Karen H.
 please email me at becr8ive2@gmail.com to claim your prize by Jan. 5, 11:59pm. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

👉Simon Says Stamp Clearance 
Seriously, this is SSS's biggest STAMP clearance for a long while now...

Stamp Sale (must check it out) ---> here<---have fun browsing!


Die Sale----> here

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
👉Save up to 50% in our Warehouse Sale Collection of more than 180 items including stamps, dies, inks, stencils, and more. Valid now through 12/31/2017.

$7 off on all orders over $100 with code SHIP70FFFREE 
U.S. shipping on orders over $200 with code SHIPFREE
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Spellbinders has New Year Party sale, too!

Thanks for stopping by!

Create a Layered Design

Hello friends!

I am not sure about you, but sometimes I am overwhelmed about the choices that I have with products. I know...first world problem. 😉

I always find it a challenge to use as many products as I can in one card.

One thing to do is remind you is...

Ding--> don't forget to use the negative die as part of your layering. It really helps to create extra interest and adds a layered look without the bulk.

 Artsy Shape (Simon Says Stamp)
Today's project is one of those examples.

This card may not look like much, but it actually took a lot of thoughts and planning.

What do you think? I am keeping this post short and sweet.

👉👉 Check out the clearance sale over Simon Says Stamp.
stamps here (Brush Stroke Messages!!),
&
Die Cut Sale here
👉👉Save up to 50% in our Warehouse Sale Collection of more than 180 items including stamps, dies, inks, stencils, and more. Valid 12/28/2017 through 12/31/2017.

$7 off on all orders over $100 with code SHIP70FFFREE 
U.S. shipping on orders over $200 with code SHIPFREE

Thank you for stopping by!

Create a Frame

Hello friends!

I am popping in with a post about creating an easy Focal Point.

 This time, with my existing stamped and embossed images, I arranged a floral arrangement.
 

The "Twig Frame" is from "Forever and A day" (all product links are at the end of the post).
I created a colorful paper with Alcohol Inks and vellum. I then white heat embossed the image and mad the die cut. The flowers are leftover" from this project.

To match the colors of the flowers, I decided to do Emboss Resist with the sentiment in blue.
To fill up the tiny spaces from the arrangement, I added Nuvo Droplets in the mix and that's it.
 

As we draw close to 2017, Altenew is clearing out products from the warehouse to make room for new exciting products, and now YOU get to get the the saving! Don’t miss out on the very First Warehouse Sale and take advantage of these incredible prices!

👉👉Save up to 50% in our Warehouse Sale Collection of more than 180 items including stamps, dies, inks, stencils, and more. Valid 12/28/2017 through 12/31/2017.

$7 off on all orders over $100 with code SHIP70FFFREE 
U.S. shipping on orders over $200 with code SHIPFREE

👉👉If you are interested in getting alcohol ink, today is the last day 
for 15% off for Ranger Products 
over Simon Says Stamp.

Use code BXDY985

Check out the clearance sale
stamps here (Brush Stroke Messages!!),
&
Die Cut Sale here

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge #453

Welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Challenge !! Thank you for joining us for the "Party Time" Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too :-)

This week the challenge is...

Anything Goes

 We are using Lawn Fawn products this week. You don't have to use them to join in but if you have some, we love to see them used :-) 

 I apologize that I mistook the date when I created this card.  I made a Christmas card for this challenge and now that Christmas is over! 

 This card is just SWEEEEEEET, isn't it?
I created the illusion of under water with the help of vellum and alcohol ink (see product links below).
 Alcohol Ink is 15% off right now---->Use code BXDY985

Steps that I took to create this card:

1. make a pencil line and stamp the otter in Merman (Lawn Fawn Ink)
2. apply Heat Wave Tool with silver foil paper to mark a line on top of the penciled line 

3. color a piece of vellum with alcohol ink (swiping motion)

4. Adhere to the vellum over the card stock

5. stamp the main otter  and colored in Altenew Artists Markers

6. make the die cut and pop the otter up

7. stamp the sentiment and hearts

8. embellish the sea water with sequins and Liquid Droplets. 

The "alcohol -inked "water really makes a huge difference, right?

 
 I had a OTTERLY delightful time creating this card. It totally makes me smile ...
That's what card-making should be, you know!?
I hope that you find otter joy in your creations. 

Don't forget the Boxing Day Sale (15% off Ranger products) is going on...
Use code BXDY985
Click photo or here to shop 

As always, Simon Says Stamp will be giving away a $50 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store!

So now it's YOUR turn ! Happy Crafting !!

There are fabulous Give Aways and inspiration from fabulous designers on a daily basis over on the Simon Says Stamp Blog . If you haven't subscribed by email, you may want to do so you don't miss out.

You have until Wed. 8am Eastern Time to join in :-)

Follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #ssswchallenge to your challenge entry uploads so we can see them on there too !

I hope you check out the DT's work!  I can't wait to see what you create!!
Thanks for stopping by!

One Layer Wonder

Hello friends! 

Hope you had a fabulous Christmas!😊
I sure did with my family and friends and had lots of yummy food.
And oh, I get to try my new Grand Calibur Die Cut Machine.
It is grand indeed! Now I will just need to get through the entire instruction booklet...

shop Simon Says Stamp here
shop Altenew here( it is now $21 $18.00)
I am popping in with a quick post on creating a one layer card.

As you can see, it is a great way to add some special touches with embossing.
In this case, I embossed the dotted details with Platinum Embossing Powder on the pink feather.
The glitter on the blue feather? Use a tiny strip of Golden Glitter tape!  It is one sale here right now!

 I decided to pop up the sentiment with embossed xoxo in Razzleberry EP (SSS, Altenew)

Lastly, I want to pass on the BIG Boxing Day Sale over Altenew. 

👉👉24 hours only!👈👈

Take advantage of low prices and stock up on your wish list items. 

Save up to 50% on BOXING DAY SALE COLLECTION.

More then 120 items including stamps, dies, inks, stencils, and more. Valid

12/26/2017 at 12:00 am EST through 12/26/2017 at 11:59 pm EST.

Click here or photo to shop.

Also, Simon Says Stamp is having 15% off all Ranger products.

 Use code: BXDY985 
Last chance for the Die Cut Sale here.

All the products I used are listed below for your easy reference.

 Thanks so much for stopping by!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Hello friends!

We Wish You  ( Penny Black)

 I just want to pop by to wish you a very Merry Christmas...

I did some inlaid die cutting and underneath it, I added a strip of glitter paper.

I found it a bit too glaring with all the glitter... (haha, I know, is that possible...?).
So, I decided to add a piece of vellum on the star.
I think this gives interest and a balance.

Dr. John and I will be spending some quality time with our adult children.
And yes, David is bringing back my NEW Grand Calibur Die Cut Machine from Michigan.

👉👉👉In case you are interested....
there is still a die cut sale going on here over Simon Says Stamp.
Code : MERRY573 to get $5 off

Last but certainly not the least.... I want to wish you and family a very Merry Christmas.
I am having 11 adults over for a dinner party...gotta get cooking!
 Thanks for stopping by! 

Altenew: A Year In Review Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello friends!

Here we are nearly at the end of 2017! 

What better ways to look back and reflect? 

Today we are having a fun blog hop over Altenew to celebrate what we have done this year.

For details, please visit Altenew Card Blog Hop and Altenew Scrapbook Blog  
You may be arriving from Laurel Beard's blog. If not, come right in and join the fun hop.

It was hard for me to pick out a few favorites since I created so many Altenew projects this year.
However, I did narrow it down to a few:

Please note, all products I used are listed at the end of this post (LinkDeli).
Affiliate links are applied at no additional cost to you. Thank you.
Card #1 
This January marked my start as the Altenew Card Designer. This card was my inaugural card as a member... I adore it then and I adore it now.


Card #2
Altenew achieved new heights with many sophisticated cover dies this year. This cover dies make great all occasion cards, especially for guys!


Card #3 
Altenew came up with stencils and sprays this Spring and I was super happy to have these awesome supplies to help stretch my creativity.


Card #4
I was excited when Altenew came up with Embossing Powder. This card shows how the embossing powder is the great arsenal for a stamper.



Card #5
Altenew's hand drawn images are second to none. This card is truly a great example of that.




#6
Altenew cares about paper crafter all over the world.  The "Night Before Christmas" stamp set comes with many different languages and it certainly pays homage to the world.



Card #7
With the new Mini Blossom, I was happy to create such a beautiful result with the little die cut machine.



Card #8
As always, Altenew has fabulous simple designs that produce great results.

 PRIZES:Altenew is giving away a $40 Gift Certificate to FIVE lucky winners. Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and Altenew Scrapbook Blog by Jan. 3rd for a chance to win. Five winners will be announced on on Jan. 6, 2018.

Giveaway: Yay, a random comment winner form this blog post will receive a Altenew $20 gift certificate . I will announce the winner on Dec. 30th.

FREE U.S. shipping with code GOODBYE2017 
or
 $5 OFF international shipping 
with code WELCOME2018 at checkout. 
Shop HERE 

Blog Order:

Altenew Card Blog 
Kristina Werner 
May Sukyong Park  
Anna Komenda 
Sveta Fotinia 
Galina Filippenko 
Therese Calvird 
Laura Bassen 
Erum Tasneem 
Olga Moss 
Enza Gudor 
Chari Moss 
Svitlana Shayevich 
Kymona Tracey 
Yana Smakula

Altenew Scrapbook Blog

Jennifer McGuire

Debby Hughes

Terhi Koskinen

Nina-Marie Trapani

TaeEun Yoo

Vicky Papaioannou

Kristina Pokazanieva

Laurel Beard

💚------->Virginia Lu <--------💚

Laurie Schmidlin

Heather Ruwe

Sandra Dietrich

Justine Hovey

Isha Gupta

Anna Kossakovskaya

Lilith Eeckels

Hussena Calcuttawala

Barb Engler

Dana Gong

Emily Leiphart

Laura Jane

Kelly Latevola

Your next stop is Laurie Schmidlin.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Enjoy the rest of your hop.