3 CAS Christmas cards in slightly different layouts

Over last weekend I managed to make some more Christmas cards to cope with the fact that I simple do not have time to make them in mid-November.  Reality is, I'll be travelling to Kuala Lumpur, Dubai and Australia in November and December, plus at the beginning of January we'll be moving to Dubai!  And I haven't started any packing yet!  And I'm still not freaking out. That is remarkable.


So here are the three cards I made - as always I do not put too many elements on the card to maintain a simple visual balance, and they are actually simple to make.  I also put two of these cards in the challenges.  These are my first ever challenges!  Oh and it's simply a joy just to view so many other beautiful cards listed there.

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog !!  

•  CAS-ual Fridays challenge! 

Tools used: Cuttlebug and embossing folder, Spellbinder dies, and Martha Steward doily punch

Distressed Style

Tools used: no special tools required except Croc-A-Dile to punch the little holes. I did distress the panel a bit to make it look a bit vintage but not too much.

I also put this card in Sparkle Creations' Christmas Card Challenge! 

I put the card on a photo frame so it shows the washi tape lining on both sides. And as usual you can see the lacking of my photo-shooting skill.

And there's still more card to make...  BTW I just got my first order from my friend, who needs a birthday card for her sister-in-law, and it has to be finished today. And off I go to make more cards - hey ho!

Best Wishes Card for a dear Friend

Singapore is a place where you can have a full-on sunny day in one hour but the next hour turns gloomy and dark then the rain starts to bucket down and pour the entire city, with stormy wind blowing trees sideways. This is probably why people get sick all the time, colds and flu all year round.  Dengue, which is terrible and could kill a person.  Kids get HFMD and have running nose three out of ten in a kindie.  Perhaps that's why I've noticed myself been particular busy making Get Well cards recently.  One of my friends, Ting Ting just recovered from her flu and I thought I make her a Best Wishes card for a change.  

To be honest I am not hugely crazy about distress styles, albeit I have the tools needed.  I always use distressed embellishments sparingly, such as on this card.  Distress styles to me is artistic, but if using too much it creates a bit of gloominess, something you don't want to put all over the card to cheer up your sick friends. This is why I like to show an up-lifting spirit in all my cards because cards are supposed to cheer people up.  (Except if you have very artistic friends and they love that style. That's another story)

Method:

1. Make card from card stock. Round upper-right corner.

2. Make patterned panel and affix with chevron washi tape. Affix to card.

3. Cut doily and affix to card. Cut a long strip same length as the card. Affix.

4. Affix already-made pocket and scalloped circle border with glue. Adhere distressed tea-cup die-cut (see below picture) with foam dot.

5. Stamp sentiment, round upper-right and lower-left corners. Punch hole and affix mini brad. position it close to card base's upper-right corner and affix with foam dot.

6. Tie with baker's twine.

I die cut tea cups with Silhouette Cameo. Distress then stick two layers together. I use Ranger Distress Ink: Tea Dye, and Prima Marketing 6*6 card stock.

A closer look at the card. For the envelop it's actually super easy. Just fold a piece of patterned paper and glue the edges, then border punch top and then you can put a tea bag in it. Cute.

Happy crafting! 

Thank You Card - For the International Volunteer Managers Day

Last week I met Renee Tan, a Singaporean mum whom I was chatting with when checking out at Made With Love, a popular and re-opened scrap-booking store in Singapore.  It makes me realize just how friendly (and chatty, HA!) scrap-booking people are in general.  Scrap-booking people are usually generous too, and so is Renee.  

During chatting she mentioned there's a Make a Card for the Needing group founded by her friend that I may be interested.  To be honest, I've heard of International Volunteering Day, but not International Volunteer Managers Day.  But this lady is someone Renee knows so should be ok. And with all the money spent on card-making it's really time to make some cards for a good cause.  So I said to myself to make four of the same Thank You cards and send to the founder.  

However, when starting making a second Thank You card I realize I don't really like making same cards. (Not good for business if I ever want to start one. But now it's still a vague idea so meh) So I went along and made 2nd and 3rd cards, of different designs.

First Card 

With the first card the only thing requiring a tool to make is the old typewriter, which I used the "sketch" function of Silhouette Cameo. It's really cool to see the machine work its pace and come up with a beautiful drawing, and then cuts it out flawlessly! I also used a glitter sketch pen so the drawing has really cool shimmer in the lines.

Second Card

With the second card, there was not any special tool needed to make, The only thing is the flower tag, which I made it myself using a Crop-a-Dile to punch smalls, and the flower washi tape from mt. (a Japanese washi tape manufacturer)  

Third Card

I'm happy with the layout of every one of them. But I'm particular fond of the third one simply because the tag tail is just too cute especially with the the twine tangles!  And that was an idea I thought would be fun to make, and it turned out great.


As my plan goes, I should be able to make the fourth one (in progress) within deadline.  Maybe I'll copy one of the previous designs to save time.  But anyways, Hip hip hooray!

Wedding card - Congratulations!

A week ago I was asked by my niece to make a card for her teacher, who is getting married next week. And since my niece is Taiwan, she then asks her brother, my nephew, who's visiting this weekend to get it back to her.

I love making cards for people I care. But do you have similar situations whereas you're asked to make free cards for people to give to their own friends?  How do you feel and how do you respond to this sort of requests?   I'm curious.  For me I'd like to know that at least this person appreciates the card and the time & effort taken to make it.  A warm message saying Thank You or a coffee would be nice in my thinking.

Most of our fellow card makers and scrap-booking artists understand that making cards and crafts can be quite personal and they don't want to do it for a friend of a friend of a friend at all. I understand completely. Anyways, I hope my friends and relatives don't make it into a habit of asking me to make cards for them for free.  Otherwise I'll be happy to make them for money!

With this card I use Silhouette Cameo to sketch and draw the flowers and then colour with distress ink.  Then I use glitter pens to accent flower pedals with some shimmer. (which is not visible through photo)  I use Perfect Pearls to brush Congratulations then affix it to the card.
Overall it looks a bit old-school so it's not my kind of style.  But it gives me a chance to use the sketch pens and perfect pearls I bought so it's pretty cool.