Top six 2017

Hello my crafty friends,

It is time to share my six favourite cards for 2017

I have fun this year making completed cards, decorating the inside also, so I have chosen 6 special occasion cards all featuring dies from various companies. If you click on the photo it should take you to the orginial post.

 

 

I would like to thank everyone who has stopped by to look at my blog.
I hope everyone had a wonderful 2017 and a Happy New Year in 2018
Cheers
Maryann

Mistletoe Kisses

It is now Boxing Day here and I am sure everybody ate way too much and had a lovely time with Family and friends.

I just wanted to share just a couple of cards with you using some more House Mouse images, it sounds like a fun tradition kissing under the mistletoe, however it is so warm here at Christmas about the only thing you would do with mistletoe here is wave it like a fan or use it to swat the flies. LOL

My two cards use the same image and layout just with different colours. They make cute square cards, however that meant an increase in postage costs something I will have to remember for next year. 

Thanks for looking.............

Noel

Today I have used my favourite way of using glitter with the Pretty Quick Stained glass Noel die set.

I added double sided tape to white card stock and using black card stock I die cut the panels, I then peeled off the release sheet and added the die cut to the sticky side, being careful not to leave fingerprints, then using the release sheet I pressed the die panel firmly into place. Removing the release sheet again I used Micro fine glitter in warm diamonds all over the panel and burnished it into the card. I then coloured the stained glass panel with copic pens. Then attached the panel to designer paper along with the extra frame using double sided tape and a card base.

Best Wishes for a safe and Merry Christmas to all.

Peace Dove

Okay, I have pulled out another retired die set to create this card. I received this Tonic Studios Peace Dove die, free in Die-cutting essentials magazine - issue 28

I had this designer paper that looked like the night sky and used the Oval Pull card die to create an interactive card.

Wishing you Peace and Joy........

Someone Special

Today I am just sharing a couple of cards that I have made for my Christmas just in case stash.

I love these Christmas House Mouse images and always create a few cards with them each year.

The die that I have used inside is also a favourite and although it is now retired I will still keep using it as adding a pop up center just adds a little of the wow factor to the card.

The next card is just the same layout in a different colour and with another House Mouse Image.

Thanks for looking....

Holiday stamps

This is the last 2017 challenge with the CCEE Stampers team. But the team will be back in 2018 with lots of fun challenges.

Let's keep things simple for our final challenge for the year. Use your favorite holiday stamps to create a card.
I first fell in love with these cute house mouse stamps 18 years ago ( wow that is age telling) they were wood mounted and I could only afford the smallest ones. Now the are manufactured under the Stampendous banner and are cling stamps and are so much more affordable.

I chose  Karen Burniston designed dies to create a pop up card, sadly they are now discontuined, or may still be available is some stores, however Karen has lots of new dies that make fun and interactive cards, from her own website, just click on her name to follow the link.

Don't forget to check out the CCEE Stampers blog to see the rest of the creations the CCEE Stampers have created this week. You can also see more details of their creations on their individual blogs.

Anne Harmon
Joanne Grzelak
Liz Williams
Lois Bak
Lynn McAuley
Frances Byrne
Vicky Gould
Kelly Santi

Maryann Einam- Thats me

Hope everyone has a peaceful holiday season.

Thanks for stopping by....

Season's greetings

Welcome to the last Crazy challenge for 2017, the tradition is that for this challenge you use one of the past sketches. 

I chose September sketch C4C403 that I had missed out on.

I have used this cute stamp from Penny Black along with some spellbinders dies, brads and designer papers.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the “Crazies” cards over on the Crazy 4 Challenges blog and also their individual blogs for more details.

Frances Byrne
Anja de Regt
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak
Karen Aicken
Raquel Mason
Rebecca Endie
Cas Counsell
Bonnie Sharp
Judy Rozema
Amber Trubiak
Amy Ottmers 
Kathleen Adams
Maryann Einam- Thats me

Have a safe and Happy Holiday season, I hope to see you all back with the challenges in the New year.

Thanks for stopping by....

Star of Wonder

Who doesn't love singing or humming along with a Christmas Carols at this time of year. For our challenge this week, take you inspiration from any Christmas Carol.

This is our challenge on the CCEE stampers blog.

For my card  I used stamps that came free in a magazine and was inspired by the words " Star of Wonder Star of Night." I have to admit that I had to hum them to come up with the song title. 

We three Kings of Orient are

I used the boy in the window image and layered it with foam tape to create a shaker card, filled with glitter. I used the star and the tree also included in this set for the view out of the window.

My Magazine is the Creative Stamping Magazine issue 48, with the Wild Rose Studio - Away in the Manger stamps.

Don't forget to check out the CCEE Stampers blog to see the rest of the creations the CCEE Stampers have created this week. You can also see more details of their creations on their individual blogs.

Anne Harmon
Joanne Grzelak
Liz Williams
Lois Bak
Lynn McAuley
Frances Byrne
Vicky Gould
Kelly Santi

Maryann Einam- Thats me

Thanks for stopping by....

Bee-utiful friend

Time for this weeks challenge with the crazies team on crazy 4 challenges.

Colour your day!
December is a busy month for most of us, it is always good to sit down and do something relaxing , for me that is what colouring is....For today, I challenge you to colour something on your card/project. It does not have to be a big, just something. You don’t colour, try using some different colours of ink, or even some accents....

I love the range of Penny Black flowers, I chose the rose in this set with the bees and sentiment. I turned the inside into an interactive card with the Karen Burniston designed Anita Frames Pop up

Don't forget to check out the rest of the “Crazies” cards over on the Crazy 4 Challenges blog and also their individual blogs for more details.

Frances Byrne
Anja de Regt
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak
Karen Aicken
Raquel Mason
Rebecca Endie
Cas Counsell
Bonnie Sharp
Judy Rozema
Amber Trubiak
Amy Ottmers 
Kathleen Adams
Maryann Einam- Thats me


Thanks for stopping by....

On your Wedding Day

Today is the last challenge with my friends on the CCEE stampers blog for November.

I was asked to make a few wedding cards this month, so here is the last one before I start on the Christmas list.

As the last of our celebratory month, I would like you to make a baby card OR a wedding
card……your choice. (If you have lots of time, you could make both….lol!!!)

Supplies: 

Stamps: Clearly Besotted sentiment, free sentiment stamps

Dies: Tattered Lace - couple, Elizabeth Craft Designs - fishtails

Don't forget to check out the CCEE Stampers blog to see the rest of the creations the CCEE Stampers have created this week. You can also see more details of their creations on their individual blogs.

Anne Harmon
Joanne Grzelak
Liz Williams
Lois Bak
Lynn McAuley
Frances Byrne
Vicky Gould
Kelly Santi

Maryann Einam- Thats me

Thanks for stopping by....

Winter snow

Continuing on with the FGM challenge for this month and considering I still had this die set out on the table I made another card with these scenic winter border dies, free in the Simply Cards and Papercraft Magazine - issue 168.

The background sky was created by just sweeping copic pens in several colours across then card until I was happy with it.
I apply double sided adhesive sheets to white card stock, with the backing sheet face up I then cut the border dies to create a layered scene. Peeled of the backing sheet and applied the micro fine glitter and used a copic pen W1 to shade the edges. I placed a piece of yellow card behind the windows and foam tape under the house and figures for more dimension. As an after thought I stamped the sentiment with permanent ink, but as you can see it bled into the glitter before it dried, it is not something I will try again.
 I originally had plans for a shaker card but just went with the foam mounted frame.

Thanks for looking........

Snow fun

It is time for this weeks challenge with the Crazies team.

 “Christmas or Winter Card” - It’s only 1 month until Christmas, so make a Christmas or Winter themed card today to get a jump on your stash. (If you don't celebrate the major winter holidays, remember you can make a project with a winter theme too.)

I recently received these scenic winter border dies, free in the Simply Cards and Papercraft Magazine - issue 168.
I created the background sky with distress inks, tumbled glass, salty ocean and chipped sapphire.
I then die cut the borders in white, highlighting the edges with copic pens and glitter glue. Once it dried I positioned the layers where I wanted them and die cut with the rectangle die. Because it was four layers the die cut the top 2 and just scored the other 2, so I just separated the layers and die cut the scored ones. I then glued them back together, placing foam tape behind the top of each layer for dimension. Once I completed the whole card I thought the card just needed a bit more.
 I had seen a few tutorials creating snow scenes with a white gel pen. Well every time I buy a gel pen it is always dry after a few uses, I vowed never to buy another. What I did have was a glaze pen in white, so I had a go with it, the only problem was I could see the spots until the ink was dry so I think my scene looks a little like a blizzard scene.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the “Crazies” cards over on the Crazy 4 Challenges blog and also their individual blogs for more details.

Frances Byrne
Anja de Regt
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak
Karen Aicken
Raquel Mason
Rebecca Endie
Cas Counsell
Bonnie Sharp
Judy Rozema
Amber Trubiak
Amy Ottmers 
Kathleen Adams
Maryann Einam- Thats me
November Guest Designer - Kelly Booth


Thanks for stopping by....

FGM Magazine Challenge

My card for today is made for a challenge that I have with my crafting friends. Generally we have a challenge each month but we have had a few changes in our lives, so our challenges have missed a few months.

Recently we have noticed several of the magazines at the news agents have free stamps or dies with them. Well we all seem to have some of them so this is this months challenge is to create something with a free set.

My Magazine is the Creative Stamping Magazine issue 48, with the Wild Rose Studio - Away in the Manger stamps.

I coloured my image with copic pens in pastels, die cut the circle and with the die in place I sponged the edges with tumbled glass distress ink. I created the sentiment the same way. The base card was made with a sizzix framelits stand up die.

Thanks for stopping by........

Treat Yours-elf

It is time to join the challenge with my friends from the CCEE stampers blog.

This week we are going to make a card for our holiday stash. You can make a Christmas card, a
New Year’s card, or a winter card…..whichever you think you need the most for your stash.

I have chosen the Christmas theme for my card. A combination of Elizabeth Craft Dies and Kraftin Kimmie stamps.

Don't forget to check out the CCEE Stampers blog to see the rest of the creations the CCEE Stampers have created this week. You can also see more details of their creations on their individual blogs.

Anne Harmon
Joanne Grzelak
Liz Williams
Lois Bak
Lynn McAuley
Frances Byrne
Vicky Gould
Kelly Santi

Thanks for stopping by....

African Silhoutte

My card today was made especially for a work colleague's  special birthday. Her home town is in South Africa, can you guess her favourite animal?

The front of the card was made with Couture creations African Silhouette die with some designer paper, I placed some foam dots under  the tree and giraffes to give them a 3D look.

I have just added the twist panel pop-up die designed by Karen Burniston to my collection of Karen designed products. Previously to create this type of card you had to adapt another die.
The panel twists up when you open it but folds flat for postage.

Here is a closer look at the twist panel, to decorate my pages I used the dies that came in the set, 2 different sentiments, partial piece of the African die and some giraffes from designer paper.

The Twist panel pop up set has 15 pieces, that includes the border die plus the tag die on the bottom of the card.

Have a great day.
Thanks for stopping by......

C4C412 November sketch

It is time for this weeks sketch challenge with the team on Crazy 4 Challenges.

Since it is the third Saturday of the month, the challenge this week is a sketch challenge. It's an easy sketch but there is lots of opportunity to embellish if you desire.

 I wanted the circles large enough to thread the vines and butterflies through so my card ended up a bit on the larger size.

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampendous butterfly- Build a bouquet set, words - magazine free set.

Dies: Elizabeth Craft Designs- ready to bloom, fishtails and circles.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the “Crazies” cards over on the Crazy 4 Challenges blog and also their individual blogs for more details.

Frances Byrne
Anja de Regt
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak
Karen Aicken
Raquel Mason
Rebecca Endie
Cas Counsell
Bonnie Sharp
Judy Rozema
Amber Trubiak
Amy Ottmers 
Kathleen Adams
Maryann Einam- Thats me
November Guest Designer - Kelly Booth

Thanks for stopping by....

Floral Happy Birthday

Today's challenge on CCEE Stampers is to create a feminine birthday card with flowers.

I started with the floral background, it was made with a hydrangea stamp set and distress inks. The die cut Happy Birthday, was cut twice out of card and the top layer out of shimmer sheet with double sided tape on the back to make stickers and then just joined them together to make the layers. I finished the card with some spots of liquid pearls.

Supplies:

Elizabeth Craft Designs dies, Stampin up - Blossoms Abound, distress inks, liquid pearls.

Don't forget to check out the CCEE Stampers blog to see the rest of the creations the CCEE Stampers have created this week. You can also see more details of their creations on their individual blogs.

Anne Harmon
Joanne Grzelak
Liz Williams
Lois Bak
Lynn McAuley
Frances Byrne
Vicky Gould
Kelly Santi

Maryann Einam- Thats me

Thanks for stopping by....

Rememberance Day

Welcome to this weeks challenge with the crazies team on Crazy 4 challenges.

Karen has issued this week's challenge with some help from her team sister.
Team sister Frances Byrne helped me with the challenge wording this month:  “Lest We Forget.” In Canada and Australia, today is Remembrance Day. From Wikipedia: Remembrance Day (sometimes known informally as Poppy Day) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth of Nations member states since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Following a tradition inaugurated by King George V in 1919,[1] the day is also marked by war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November in most countries to recall the end of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month", in accordance with the armistice signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. Include Poppies on your card today, or make a card of gratitude and/or respect.

To create my card this weeks I have used several dies available from Elizabeth Craft Designs.

I continued the theme inside the card as well.

When I see poppies I am inclined to remember all the generations of people that were before me. This was especially true this year, when I saw a field of poppies right next to Stonehenge. Even though it was in early summer, they were amazing, before I had only seen a few in a garden.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the “Crazies” cards over on the Crazy 4 Challenges blog and also their individual blogs for more details.

Frances Byrne
Anja de Regt
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak
Karen Aicken
Raquel Mason
Rebecca Endie
Cas Counsell
Bonnie Sharp
Judy Rozema
Amber Trubiak
Amy Ottmers 
Kathleen Adams
Maryann Einam- Thats me
November Guest Designer - Kelly Booth

Thanks for stopping by....

Set Sail

For this weeks Challenge card on the CCEE Stampers Blog, we are asked to create a masculine themed card.

This week is for the guys……make a masculine card of any type….does not have to be a birthday
card.

Today's card was made using a free set found in a magazine.

Celebrate

Karen is the hostess this month for the Crazies team, Karen has some fun challenges in the weeks to come.

Since making One Layer Cards freak me out, I went to the opposite end of the spectrum with my challenge this week "LAYER IT UP. Go ahead and pile on the layers for your project this week."

I am with Karen when she says one layer card freak her out, sometimes the simplest form give us the most challenges.
I even went as far a creating the layers inside my card.

Supplies:
Dies: Elizabeth Craft Designs, Tattered Lace
Stamps: Clearly Besotted


Don't forget to check out the rest of the “Crazies” cards over on the Crazy 4 Challenges blog and also their individual blogs for more details.

Frances Byrne
Anja de Regt
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak
Karen Aicken
Raquel Mason
Rebecca Endie
Cas Counsell
Bonnie Sharp
Judy Rozema
Amber Trubiak
Amy Ottmers 
Kathleen Adams
Maryann Einam- Thats me
November Guest Designer - Kelly Booth

Thankyou

On CCEE Stampers, Joanne will be issuing this month's challenges.

This month I am going to keep it simple. The holidays are coming, and times will be busy. This will be a month of celebrations. This week I would like you to make a Thanksgiving card OR a card of thanks.

Thanksgiving isn't an option for me so I just went with the thank-you theme. I have used the Altenew stamp and die set that was a freebie in a magazine. I used the triple time stamping technique, I think the next time I make it I will add a bit more open space, after I completed the card I felt it was a little busy.

Supplies: 
Altenew Christmas Rose - free set in Australia Simply Cards issue 10 Magazine
Distress inks Picked Raspberry, twisted citron.
Crafter's Companion Thankyou die.

Don't forget to check out the CCEE Stampers blog to see the rest of the creations the CCEE Stampers have created this week. You can also see more details of their creations on their individual blogs.

Anne Harmon
Joanne Grzelak
Liz Williams
Lois Bak
Lynn McAuley
Frances Byrne
Vicky Gould
Kelly Santi

Maryann Einam- Thats me

Thanks for stopping by....