Author: Jean Manis

Holiday Card Workshop Day 1

The Holiday Card Workshop taught by Kristina Werner and Jennifer McGuire kicked off today. I’ve taken every one of their Online Card Classes classes – the instruction and inspiration never disappoints. Today’s cards were both fabulous, but  as I was running short on crafting time, I created them digitally with the Hero Arts “Holiday House” kit.

My variation of Jennifer’s card pairs some holiday brights that I’ve recently enjoyed playing with. The digitally created panel was printed and mounted onto Hero Arts cardstock.

Holiday Card Workshop Day 1

 

For my take on Kristina’s card, I colored one of the kit’s houses digitally, printed and fussy-cut it. I glued the house onto a cardstock panel that was created digitally as well. The card base uses the Hero Arts cardstock.

Holiday Card Workshop Day 1

 

Welcome to Hogwarts

I wanted to create a Halloween-themed card that wasn’t strictly Halloween. My card depicts the “Sorting Ceremony” scene from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Professor Minerva McGonagall summons Harry to be fitted with the “Sorting Hat” which determines that he will be in the House of Gryffindor. The ceremony takes place in the Great Hall at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I used the book-themed patterned paper from the Basic Grey “Oxford” collection to depict a library wall. The professor holds a list of the students in her hand. 😉

Welcome to Hogwarts - Paper SmoochesSupplies: Basic Grey “Oxford” patterned paper (retired)

Bats in the Belfry

For reasons unbeknownst to me, the phrase “Bats in the belfry” popped into my head the other day while I was walking Ginger.  I decided it would be fun to see if I could create a card with the phrase.

According to The Phrasefinder, “‘Bats in the belfry’ refers to someone who acts as though he has bats careering around his topmost part, i.e. his head.”

Paper Smooches “FOLKal Points” has a cute looking church/school/tower building that I used for the belfry. I added bats from both “Halloweenies” and “Spookalicious.”

Paper Smooches Halloween

 

Supplies: Spellbinders circle dies; My Mind’s Eye patterned paper; Stampin’ Up cardstock

Sparks Picture Perfect Challenge

I was captivated by this week’s Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge image. It took awhile for me to get my creative juices flowing, however, because I just wasn’t sure where to start.

I was especially drawn to the colors and to the yellow birds, so I focused on those in my card. I added glossy accents to the birds (from the Paper Smooches “Hang Ups” set) for some shine.

Sparks Picture Perfect Challenge

Supplies: Stampin’ Up cardstock (gray, yellow); Spellbinders circle die cuts

Pirate Owl

I recently read the Happiness Project and Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin. (I highly recommend both titles.) Rubin mentions how she enjoys children’s literature aka kidlit, and I realized how much I do as well. As a result, I’ve recently been rediscovering children’s picture books.

This card, featuring the owl from the Paper Smooches “Spookalicous” stamp set, is inspired by such illustrations. As you can see I’ve added origami to the card, for which the Hero Arts newspaper background stamp works well to create a textured sail.

Paper Smooches Pirate Owl

 

Supplies: Bazzill gray cardstock; Hero Arts pirate digital kit (pirate’s hat); Echo Park Letter stickers; origami paper