Tag: Christmas cards

Art Inspiration, Cards, Classes, Gina K Designs, Penny Black

Christmas Holly Twist

Ruth Cooper

Hi Friends!

I’ve managed a wee bit of creating everyday this week. I signed up for Eileen Godwin’s Christmas Creations Class. If you are familiar with Lavinia Stamps & Sweet Poppy Stencils, she creates for them.

I am waiting for my Sweet Poppy Stencils to cross the pond so I can do all 5 cards from class a bit more proper but in the meantime I created with what I had on hand for card #1. It was designed with non-traditional colors.

I didn’t have any holly stencils at all so I took my Penny Black Holly Flourish die, cut it out and used it to stencil my card. The sentiment is from Gina K Designs Seasonal Greetings set. I added Stickles dots to the background for a bit of sparkle.

The Sweet Poppy Holly Wreath stencil is a bit more delicate and will be fun to try when it arrives. In the meantime, I think I’ll try this card in a softer color palette.

We will be going on fall retreat in just a few weeks, I’m planning on taking several Christmas items to work on. I kinda skipped Christmas in July this year.

Are you looking forward to anything crafty this holiday weekend, a weekend trip, a quiet weekend?

Blessings!

Art Inspiration, Cards, Lawn Fawn

Snowflake Fun – Get Cracking On Christmas

Ruth Cooper

Hi Friends!

Today started with wind chills around 1 degree…..brrrr! and a trip to the eye doctor for my final after cataract surgery check-up. I can see at 20/15 so for someone who was very near sighted, that’s really good.

Another goal this year is to participate in Jenn Shurkus’s Get Cracking On Christmas monthly events. It’s a great way to tackle a couple of Christmas cards each month, play with some Christmas supplies I haven’t gotten to yet & be ahead of the game for Christmas cards for 2022.

Tonight I was going to finish up a couple of unfinished cards from the Creative Journey Art Retreat but Jenn was playing with alcohol inks, something I haven’t done in quite awhile so I dug them out to create with.

It’s always fun to try & capture photos in the evening of shiny objects but I think I got enough of the silver foiling over the alcohol ink to see how it gives a beautiful marble vein effect. The snowflakes are the Stitched Snowflakes dies from Lawn Fawn and the sentiment is from the infamous Bits & Pieces box. I have 2 more cards to finish from tonight’s playtime.

So is it too early in the year to make Christmas cards or can you roll with anytime of the year?

Blessings!

Art Inspiration, Cards, Catherine Pooler Designs, Memory Box, Simon Says Stamp

Joyful Ornament

Ruth Cooper

Hi Angels!

It’s been a long 2 busy days but my one week eye check-up went great and my other check-up went well too.

I designed this card as an alternate version to the tree card I shared a couple days ago. The tree I shared as a shaker was supposed to have strips of vintage washi tape so I tried the red and white but it didn’t go with the tree. As not to waste such a pretty background, I did an ornament instead.

The ornament shape is cut from Memory Box’s Drop Ornament die. the background is Pine Forest from Catherine Pooler Designs and Joyful is CZ Designs from Simon Says Stamp.

I hope you’re listening to lots of Christmas music & enjoying the holiday festivities. Share a little holiday spirit with those around you too.

Art Inspiration, Cards, Hero Arts, Simon Says Stamp, Sizzix

Silver Snowflakes

Ruth Cooper

Hi Angels!

These first 2 days this week are fairly busy so I’m posting much later than planned.

I created the following card design for the Angels Christmas party tonight. Simple elegance.

Sizzix Jeweled Snowflakes on a brushed silver background, Simon Says Stamp Lea Snowflake die in Silver Mirror cardstock, Hero Arts Merry Christmas Message embossed in silver sparkle custom mix.

Enjoy tomorrow & spread some Christmas kindness!

Art Inspiration, Cards, Concord & 9th, Creative Journey Art Retreat

Merry Tree – Creative Journey Art Retreat

Ruth Cooper

Hi Angels!

I was nominated a couple days ago by my friend Carole to a 10 day art post challenge. I decided that since I only have to post my nominated post without explanation to my main Facebook page, I could still do a break down on my studio page. The good thing about the challenge is that I can keep working my way through my unfinished retreat projects.

The original design of this particular card just wasn’t in my wheel house so I came up with this variation.

I loved the Distess ink watercolor smoosh background so I found some close in my stash for the background, stamped Taylored Expressions Backstory – Christmas background and turned it into a shaker card. The merry die was in our retreat kit from Concord & 9th so a bit of glitter of course with the shiny sequins was perfect.

I hope everyone has had a blessed weekend and you are looking forward to the 2nd week of Advent & holiday joy.

Art Inspiration, Cards, Catherine Pooler Designs, Honey Bee Stamps

Snowflake Noel

Ruth Cooper

Hi Angels!

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving holiday and you’re looking forward to Christmas.

While we were on retreat last weekend, I created a Christmas card to go with a small gift I picked up for our retreat hostess.

This came out so beautiful. I used Honey Bee Stamps Pierced Fancy Flakes A2 Cover Plate with Noel Buzzword die set and Catherine Pooler Designs Winter Frames Slimline Die set. I ink blended the background & word then added glittering snowflakes.

I’m busy resetting the studio from retreat & so I can work easily after my cataract surgery Tuesday. I’m still debating if I want to do a December challenge or not.

Have a Fabulous Weekend and spread some holiday kindness wherever you can.

Art Inspiration, Cards, Lawn Fawn, Purple Onion Designs

Gather Round The Tree – Creative Journey Art Retreat

Ruth Cooper

Hi Angels!

Sometimes it’s a good thing that I have items already created to share. Today was errand day & I didn’t get to spend anytime working on art. Fortunately I’m still pretty much just running errands once a week.

I finally got these cards assembled from the Creative Journey Art Retreat 2 weekends ago and some glitter accents added.

These are so fun. The first card features Lawn Fawn Joy To All, Stitched Snowflake Backdrop and the sentiment is from Newton’s Nook Designs Holiday Home. The second card features Purple Onion Designs Stacey Yacula Chestnut – bear, Tinsel – squirrel and Sparkle Tree and Warm Winter Thoughts sentiment set.

I hope you are having a great week and sharing some kindness along the way.

Art Inspiration, Cards, Concord & 9th, Hero Arts

Sparkling Christmas – Creative Journey Art Retreat

Ruth Cooper

Hi Angels!

Busy day in the studio between my classes & sorting more.

Today’s card brings on all the sparkle using Concord & 9th’s All the Merrys and Hero Arts Poinsettia stencil.

We did an ink blend fade on the background, then I added Bo Bunny Sugar Glitter Paste through the stencil. If you do this be sure to clean the ink off your stencil before adding the paste through the stencil. Most stencils line up again easily.

An awesome part of this retreat was that most of the stamping & die cutting was done for us & sent in card kits to complete each card. We added our card bases & any extras we wanted.

Have a really awesome day & share some kindness along the way.

Art Inspiration, Cards, Creative Journey Art Retreat, Reverse Confetti

Holiday Bough – Creative Journey Art Retreat

Ruth Cooper

Hi Angels!

I didn’t get as much art as I wanted done today but I did get most of the weekend “craftermath” cleaned up. I not only had the retreat classes but also was creating with the granddaughters.

I fell in love with the holiday florals for this card as soon as I saw them in the kit & made sure I ordered the Holiday Bough stamp & dies from Reverse Confetti right away.

I colored with Prismacolors. Copics were recommended this weekend but A. I have asthma & alcohol markers & I don’t go together very well and B. I only have a few because of A. The background was done with Evergreen Bough Distress Ink & water droplets were added.

Call me crazy but I have 3 classes that started today. I popped into 2, will check the 3rd tomorrow. Lots of creating going on for the month of November.

The holiday season is the perfect time to spread extra kindness. Brainstorm some ways you can bring smiles the next couple of months.

Art Inspiration, Cards, Colorado Craft Company, Honey Bee Stamps

Snowflakes Blizzard – Creative Journey Art Retreat

Ruth Cooper

Hi Angels!

I had another great event this weekend participating in the Creative Journey Art Retreat with Jenn Shurkus!

So much fun & a wonderful variety of sponsor companies making 12+ holiday cards.

Tonight’s card features Colorado Craft Company Snowman and Bunnies & Trinity Stamps Snowflake Kisses.

It’s my first full front Shaker card but I daresay it won’t be my last. We did lots of fun inking techniques including adding some background snowflakes with the exclusive event Season to Sparkle stamp set from Honey Bee Stamps.

Stay tuned this week for more retreat designs. Since the granddaughters were visiting, I have to still work on most of Saturday’s cards. Have to finish because next weekend is the Pinkfresh Studio Create & Connect event. Then in 3 weeks I’ll have the Crop & Create Holiday event. November is full of classes & events!

I hope you have a fabulous month full of blessings & thanks!