MELE KALIKIMAKA & HAU'OLI MAKAHIKI HOU!!!!!

That's "MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!"  being sent to all!  

We are off to Phoenix, AZ to spend the holidays with my Dad.  We are looking forward to the change of climate - temperatures down into the 30's at night and mid 60's during the day!  I'll be able to wear jeans, sweaters, sweat shirts and jackets!  That may not sound too great to many of you, but for me it's a FUN change!   

I hope that you are all blessed with a wonderful holiday season, and I send lots of good wishes for a wonderful and Happy New Year!   See you all next year!

Aloha nui loa, a hui hou!  HUGS!

GIFT CARD HOLDER

I wanted to make a gift card holder like one I saw on the Cricut message board.  Problem was, I didn't have the cartridge that had the Christmas stocking on it.  So, I drew one free hand and cut it out.  Also hand cut the glitter paper parts which I put through the CB.  The pretty pine greens are real - I clipped them off of my Christmas wreath I made.  (I want a MS pine leaf punch!)  If you pull the present upward a piece attached comes out holding the gift card!  I think it's such a cute idea!

WARMTH!

I entered this card for a challenge over at 2 Red Bananas.  It had to reflect warmth, and I think hot chocolate fits that just fine!

LAST CHRISTMAS CARD!

Finished at last!!!  This was my last design for my holiday cards, so glad they are all done and in the mail!!!

 

Mele Kalikimaka

Here is one more simple card done in different colors.  More stamped heat embossing and a touch of ribbon and a little bling.

 

ORNAMENTS

More simple cards...  The first one has more sparkle, as I used glitter paper  that I put it through the CB.  The ornament was cut with SCAL and I used a plumeria stamp, and gold heat embossed, then added the touch of ribbon.  The second one is about the same, but plain white paper through the CB, and the ornament was too.  I also cut out the plumeria and raised it and the ornament with pop dots to give them more depth.  I Also added a bit of gold sponging over the CB design.  It has a little more Hawaiian flair to it because of the background Hawaiian paper that says, "Mele Kalikimaka" and "It's Christmas in aloha land".

 

 

GETTING BUSY...

OK, at last I am getting my Christmas cards finished up!  As I said before I am keeping them simple as I have so many to do.  I ended up with 3 main designs, and here is one of them.  Simple layers with a nice Hawaiian stamp that is gold heat embossed.  I'm not sure which color I like it in the best.....

 

PEACE 2

I have had this angel stamp for many years - I also have not used it for many years, lol!  I decided it was time to get it out and use it.  I want to do cards that are simple, as I need to get them done quickly.  But I also want them to be nice.  I appreciate the comments on the last card, They said, "simple and elegant", and that is what I am aiming for.  So mahalo ladies, I guess I am on the right track!  Not much else to explain, just simple silver heat embossing, some bling and a touch of some pretty ribbon!

PEACE

This card is a lot more traditional.  It was done with a stamp that was silver heat embossed then raised with pop dots.  Then I used a wide piece of silver wrapping ribbon for trim and added the three rhinestones for some bling!

HAWAIIAN CHRISTMAS TRI-FOLD

Living here in the islands, most of my cards I send for the holidays are with a Hawaiian theme. This is the card I've done for my Dad for Christmas.  I embossed some of the pieces with the CB, the shaped ornament pieces I did with SCAL,  and I heat embossed the gold images.  The plumeria flowers are a stamp that I cut out.  I am very happy with it!

 

DOUBLE DUTCH CHALLENGE

I had the idea for this card in my head for quite some time.  I was waiting for the weather in the mid-west to get cold and have some snow before I made and sent it to my son & and daughter in law.  Then by chance I found a challenge over at "Double Dutch"  that required you do a card that could hold packets of hot chocolate!  Perfect!  I used glitter paper for the background, punched out snowflakes and a snowflake charm attached to the ribbon.  The snowman on the cup has "Picket Fence" distressed Stickles on him, then I glued on the eyes, nose, mouth and large button.  I colored it with my Copic's.

The inside right background is snowflake stamps.  The snow couple is a stamp done with Copic's, then I added Liquid Applique' for the snow.   The left dark blue holding the packets of hot chocolate are from the front of an old Christmas card.  I just added some glitter Stickles to the snowflakes, fun!

ANNAUL WREATH MAKING PARTY

Every year the Sunday after Thanksgiving, I go to a friends house where about 15 to 20 of us make our annual Christmas wreaths for our homes.  We also include a potluck with lots of delicious Hawaiian style "ono grinds" (good food!).

The day before, we go out into the rain forests and gather all kinds of ferns, leaves and plants to make the wreaths.  Some ladies bring things they have growing in their yards.  All the gathered pieces are piled on a tarp and everyone takes whatever they are going to use and away we go!  

The variety of things to use are beautiful, so many different possibilities of what type of wreath you can make!  We start with a straw wreath form from the craft store and wreath pins.  Take your piece of plant , lay it on the form  closest to the center inside edge that will show, and tack it down with the pin.  Continue laying more pieces overlapping them at the stems that are showing.  (Each person may start in a different place depending on their own technique...) When you complete the circle, you start again laying pieces closest to the ones already tacked down and repeat the process.

The patterns and designs are so beautiful!  Endless ways to be creative and have a beautiful decoration for your home.  Here are some of the wonderful wreaths that were made.

 

 

 

 

Here are the two wreaths that I did.  I always make one for around a a large candle.  I love to use it for a centerpiece on my coffee table.  The other is hung outside our front door.  They are so fun to make and have become an important tradition of my holiday season.  Sharing a day with friends doing a wonderful craft I love is the best way to start my Christmas season!

 

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.  I hope that you find many things in your life to give thanks for - I sure have a lot of them.  Enjoy and blessings to all.  Aloha nui loa.

CRYSTAL & PEARL SNOWFLAKE

I usually send all Hawaiian style Christmas cards, but I saw this card some time ago and saved the picture to scrap lift it (so sorry, I don't remember who or where it is from).  I thought it was so pretty and I decided to give it a try to send to my special Aunt.  I stamped and embossed the 3 back panels with gold embossing powder.  Raised them and then added the snowflake layer.  The crystals are from the $ Store and were on ribbon - used to hang around the bottom of a light shade, lol.  Cut them off and mounted them on a gold embossed snowflake I cut using SCAL.  Added the tiny pearls and the large one in the middle.  The gold strip on the bottom is a Martha Stewart border punch, put on the ribbon and called it done!

CARD MAKER'S CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!!

A lady on the Cricut MB posted this cute poem this morning.  I laughed OUT LOUD!  It sure suits me!  You crafting ladies will sure appreciate the humor and completely understand the humor!  Enjoy!!!


CARD MAKER'S CHRISTMAS EVE

T'was the night before Christmas, I'm glued to the tree,
I'm wondering what Santa has brought just for me.

Could it be card stock or chipboard or lace,
Or maybe a Cricut, I said with a smile on my face.

And that's when I heard him, "Hi Santa," I said.
He responded "You know... good little girls should be in their beds."

I know I should Santa, and now I've got caught,
But I was just so escited, to see what you brought.

Well, let's take a look in this room where you work.
He shook his head quickly and left with a jerk.

I heard him exclaim as he put it in gear'
"You've got enough crap, I'll see you next year!"

THANKSGIVING CARDS

I haven't  been posting because I've been busy getting my Thanksgiving cards finished. At last they are in the mail to family and friends!  I sure hope they enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.  I love the Autumn colors, they are my favorites.  Here are some of the designs I did:

 

 

WE GIVE THANKS

Two new cards using the same sentiment; first one on the left was stamped with copper colored ink and embossed with "Fall Oak" embossing powder as was the sentiment. The cuts are from SCAL and are called Linus' 3D Fall Cards SVG Kit . There are some GREAT cuts in this kit and I will be making and posting more of them soon.

The second card is an acorn stamp using a mixture of a golden yellow and coffee bean colored inks. I did the sentiment and leaf in the same colors then used copper embossing powder for the glimmer. I also added some color with my Copic's and the ribbon. Very simple, but I really like it!

AUTUMN

MMMMMM yummy! I am baking home made pumpkin pies and my house smells soooo good! We are going to our annual Pumpkin Carving part tonight and I always do the pies. I'm in such a Fall mode with doing my cards for Thanksgiving and pies in the oven. Only there are no Autumn leaves, wood smoke in the air or cold weather. Oh well, fake it till ya make it!

The top card reminds me of PA where I lived as a small child. Covered bridges and country lanes... I used nestabilities on the scallop cuts, inked the edges and added some ribbon and a few embellishments. I love the burnt orange colored paper and have been using it a lot.

The second card is a simple one. I saw one very similar a long time ago and saved the idea. Just used my CB to do the bacground embossing and then I added the ribbon, leaf and acorn embellishment to spiff it up a bit. It's simple, but elegant. Again that purty burnt orange paper.

MR. SCARECROW

Well, here I am creating outside of my comfort zone again - and I'm starting to like it! This card took a lot of time and I really had fun with it. All cuts are done with SCAL with their Harvest Hill Farm set. I love the goodies in that set! Again I used "me & my BIG ideas" pack of Autumn paper for the background. It's a beautiful olive green that is raised flocking, like velvet. I didn't have any gingham paper so I searched on-line and downloaded some digi paper. Then I put the piece I used for his shirt through the CB to give it a bit more texture. I inked the edges of Mr. Scarecrow, sponged his face and shirt to give him a bit of an older look. Also used some raffia for his straw, real buttons from my stash and a couple stickers for embellishments. The leaves are ones that you scatter on tables for decoration. I've had them for years and used to use them as sprinkles inside of my cards. Now their ON the cards!

JUST MAGNOLIA CHALLENGE: WEEK 28 Martine's Sketch

This card is a bit more ornate than I usually do, and I'm a bit nervous about it. I usually do more plain and tailored type cards, but I need to break loose! This is a large card - it measures 6.50 x 6.50 inches. I love the paper and colors, but I think I may have gone a bit overboard with the embellishments. What ya think? ANYHOW, it was for a challenge over at Just Manolia, following the above layout. I love the cards the ladies do over there. Since I am doing Autumn cards I wanted to keep on that track, and I can send it as a Thanksgiving card. Paper is from "Me & My Big Ideas"pack, cut oval with SCAL and added all the goodies from my stash.

AUTUMN THANK YOU

I'm in an Autumn mode... Sure wish I could have some Fall weather for a bit. To compensate I'm working on my cards for the season and for Thanksgiving. This was for a friend of mine in NJ. I know she is getting Autumn weather! A simple stamp that I really like with "Fall Oak" embossing powder I got at the convention in Tucson. Added a little coloring with Copic's. A couple artificial leaves and paper from "Me & My Big Ideas", a touch of ribbon and Voila!

GOLF CARD

A friend of mine wanted a birthday card for his son. He's an avid golfer, so of course that was a perfect theme! I used SCAL and some clip art that I gathered. I love the "tracing" feature in that program! I didn't have the right Cricut cartridge to do a golfer, but these came out great. I really like the little golf bag charm. I ordered a great selection of card charms from Fancifuls, Inc. I think they are a neat embellishment.

SNOWMAN SERIES

Here is the finished group. I did the four different designs with 5 cards of each. I sure my client likes them!

FUN, FUN, FUN!

It feels so good to be crafting again! I finished the 4th (and last) set of cards for my Christmas snowman series! I'm really happy with how they came out. I sure hope my client is too. I used lost of silver stickles on the snowflake embossed background done with my Cuttlebug. Silver embossing powder for the snowman and Martha Stewart snowflake border punches, then added the little candy cane. I got carried away on the poinsettias.... They had gold glitter centers and I wanted silver, sooooo, I picked off all the gold and dipped them in glue and silver glitter - VOILA'!

ALOHA...

I know I haven't been on here much lately. My daughter was here visiting and also some other good friends. We had so much fun at the beach snorkeling, picnics and running around the island. My time for my card making was limited - in fact I hardly had any, lol. But it was worth it. She flew home to Oregon today, and I miss her so much. Living on an island so far away has its disadvantages... So now, I need to get back into the swing of things and get my creative juices flowing again. I'm working on the final card for the Christmas card order and am really liking what I came up with. I'll be posting it soon. Take care all, and hug your loved ones today!

STILL WAITING. . . . .

My replacement Cricut has not arrived yet, so I am keeping busy doing cards without using cut outs. Here are a few Halloween cards that I did. Sure hope that FedEx delivers to me today!!!