I hope you were able to check out my other most recent posts here and here and here, as the cards featured in this post came out of a marathon of inspiration over the last few days!  I was working thematically and really enjoying the process!  Now to get these filled out and in the mail!

First up is the card that is connected to the one featured in my last post.  I am going to submit it to CAS-ual Fridays for their current challenge–

Though it is a bit hard to see, and not necessarily the focal point, I purposely chose the wonderful Graphic 45 button because it says “Create,” which is a goal of mine in 2014 and something I plan to do every day of this year.

As you can see, similar design  to my last card, but definitely more clean and simple.  I had been dying to use the Tim Holtz brick embossing folder and it seemed the perfect background for this version.  Here the wreath was cut from woodgrain paper and then dyed with the Distress Inks.  The button die cut is from Papertrey Ink and also dyed.

Here you can see more of the wreath’s colors.

And for the inside of the card:

Next up, a more wintery wreath with some of my clustering.

I mixed a little bit of mica with white Flower Soft for the bird’s nest.  My mom sent me the K & Company woody snowflake stickers, which were a perfect addition for the cluster.  The metallic stars were cut from POW glitter paper with Lawn Fawn star dies.  The sentiment should look familiar– Paper Smooches– it never gets old!

I realize I did not take a photo of the inside of the card!  The scalloped edge is a Martha Stewart punch, and I punched the green paper overlay the same way and adhered to the inside of the card, so it is the same as the outside of the card!  Papers are a combination of Amuse Studio, Ellen Hudson, Gina K, and Bazzill.

And one more!

Last up for this post, a card I made specifically for a student who gave me a really cool mug that looks like lined paper, since I am a writer and his writing teacher! You can click on it to link to a local store here in Seattle!

I love it!  So here is his thank you:

I absolutely love how this turned out!  I was able to use my brand new Memory Box Tiny Mug dies, which I had hoped to use for a Seattle Christmas tree, but that idea didn’t come to fruition just yet!

The logs were stamped in cocoa ink and embossed; I have once again mixed Melissa Frances mica flakes and some Flower Soft.  The background is embossed with Tim Holtz’s woodgrain folder.  Paper Smooches features prominently for the outside and inside sentiments– but there’s a twist!

The original stamp says “from the bottom of my heart”, but I just inked part of the stamp and die cut a mug from notebook paper cardstock (how awesome!!) and voila!  Looks almost like the mug I received!

That’s it for me today!  I have to get down to business and prep for teaching.

Thanks is also a watch-word for 2014, as I am so thankful to be able to work for myself with wonderful kids and families, have a partner who supports my creative pursuits, and have viewers and fellow creators like you out there with whom I can share my work!

Keep creating & keep in touch!  Head over to CAS-ual Fridays for some great words & work to get you thinking about your mantra for 2014!