Winter Butterflies

Just because it’s winter, doesn’t mean we can’t have butterflies.

For this card, my final project for Just Imagine Crafts — Kreaxions, I chose to use their glitter paper as the background of my card front. I embossed it with Elizabeth Craft Designs embossing folder.

Then, I added a strip of navy glitter paper and a strip Two-Tone paper, which I stamped with an Elizabeth Craft Designs stamp.

Next, I used the Kreaxions Butterfly Die to cut out two butterflies from the two-tone paper. I embossed one of them with a folder from Cuttlebug. I adhered the butterflies together and to the card with dimensional foam adhesive squares in the center. This allows their wings to be free and gives them a bit of height.

I then used Kreaxions Punch #902 with the A plate inserted to punch little flowers from the navy glitter paper. I adhered these to the card front and added tiny gems from Queen & Co. Finally, I attached the card front to a navy card base.

What do you think?

There is Still Time to Make Christmas Cards

There is still plenty of time to create homemade Christmas cards, if you use a few shortcuts.

For this one, I cut paper from Prima’s Sweet Peppermint Collection to fit the front of my card. I added a bit of ink to the edges.

Then, I took another piece of paper and punched each corner with the Kreaxions 4-in-1 Punch #311, using the C insert included in the set.

Then, I stamped the word Merry Christmas (from Elizabeth Craft Designs) in the middle and inked the edges.

Quick and simple, but beautiful, just the same!

Kreaxions Christmas Blog Hop

Welcome to the Just Imagine/Kreaxions Blog Hop.

So glad you could join us!

We’ve kept it short and sweet so hop along to each blog, leaving a comment along the way. One participant will be chosen from the comments for a $10 Just Imagine Crafts gift certificate. The designers have tips, tutorials, and/or prizes so don’t miss out! The winner will be posted on the Just Imagine Blog and Facebook Page on Dec. 7. The punches the designers used will also be on sale for two weeks in the Just Imagine Store.

If you arrived here from Laura Cox’s page, you’re in the right place. If not, click here and start at the beginning!

My card features papers from Prima’s Sweet Peppermint Collection. I created a card base and then layered cardstock and printed papers as shown. (I added Distress Ink to most of my edges for additional depth.)

Next, I used Kreaxions Punch 902 and the Kreaxions Punch Mate to punch a short border. (If you flip over the punch, you can easily line up the punches.)

Then, I trimmed the paper, so I was left with just this …

I used scissors to cut the paper so I had two borders.

I then inked each border and added them to my card front.

After adding the final piece of paper, it looks like this …

Thank you so much for stopping by!

There is one more stop on this blog hop … click here to see what Charity Hotrum created!

Are you thankful?

Today, I’m on the Just Imagine Kreaxions blog with this card …

I  love how it turned out. And, although I didn’t take step-by-step photos, I can tell you how I made it.

So, I started with dark green cardstock, which I turned into the card base.

Next, I cut a piece of paper for the front and used my Kreaxions punch #902 with the A inserts … The inserts snap in and out easily and actually change the portion of the punch that punches. They come with each punch, so you get three options from one punch!

Personally, I have been struggling with these punches. A severe case of tennis elbow years ago has caused me to lose some strength and abilities in my right arm. So, although there is nothing wrong with the punches, my arm wasn’t cooperating and I couldn’t punch very many times — until I got the Kreaxions Punch Mate! It is amazing how easy the punches work with this tool! So, I am back to punching.

Next, I layered the card with some coordinating paper and stickers and I have this beautiful Thanksgiving card …

There are more Thanksgiving cards on the blog today … click here to see them.

Falling Leaves

This month’s designer challenge for Kreaxions is to create something with a fall theme.

I started with an opal paper … it has a shimmer to it and the ink went on a bit lighter.

I used an embossing folder and then Distress Inks and water to create the background, then trimmed it up to fit my card. I added a bit of brown cardstock behind to emphasize it a bit.

I had a metal acorn in my stash and thought it would be cute to emphasize it on a circle. I used the Kreaxions Circle Cutter to cut out the circles. Because you can adjust it to any size, it is easy to make mats for the circles.

Just Roll With It

A few months ago, I started riding a bike again after 25 years … and I love it! Now I am paying attention to, and buying, all of those adorable stamps and papers decorated with bikes.

I fell in love with this adorable bike paper from Photoplay and thought it would go well with the new stamps from Fun Stampers Journey.

I used the circle cutter from Kreaxions to create a variety of circles. One tip … if you cut the circle out upside down, you don’t see the tiny hole the cutter creates in the paper.

Then, I stamped the image and sentiment on one of the circles and assembled the card.

I think its perfect for reminding someone not to get ruffled by life … just roll with it!

I Love the Great Lakes

If you are in Michigan, you are never more than 85 miles from one of the Great Lakes.  I visit them every chance I get.

Whether we are swimming, rock hunting, watching ships, exploring lighthouses or just sitting with our toes in the sand, I enjoy every minute of my time at the lakes.

I made this tag to showcase my love of Michigan’s Great Lakes.

I found the cork tag at Michael’s. I coated the backside with a very thin layer of Picket Fence Distress Paint. It helped soften the deep orange-brown color and I think it looks similar to tree bark …

I used Kreaxions Punch 902 with the “A” plate inserted in the punch. The plate comes with the punch and prevents the corner from punching out — nifty, eh!?!

I trimmed my strip of paper down so it was close to the edges of the punched out areas. I placed another strip of cardstock behind to create contrast.

I took the tiny flowers that came out of the punch and colored them with Fossilized Amber Distress Ink.

Then I glued them on top of the white strip, turning the flower so the blue petals still showed underneath. I added some tiny gems to the centers and then adhered the entire strip to the heart tag and trimmed off the edges.

I punched two additional flowers from the blue paper and added them and gems to the strip. And, finished it off with letters cut from a Tim Holtz die.

What do you think?

Don’t Miss the Fun

When I teach papercrafting classes, I remind students that they are artists. They may not have a degree that says so, but if you can take a concept out of your head, send it through your fingers, and create something that moves another person, you are an artist.

One of the benefits of not being professionally trained, is that you may not know the “rules,” so you are free to simply create without anyone telling you you cannot do something. Things may not work or they may come out beautifully, but it does not matter. It is all about making what your mind calls “art.”

That freedom to create is the inspiration for this card I created for my newest design team — Just Imagine Crafts — Kreaxions Punches.

I started with a circle cut out using the Kreaxions Circle Cutter and stamped the saying with Archival Ink.

Then I trimmed the circle with the cutter and added a few more.

I colored all of the pieces with Distress Ink and then ran the circles through my Xyron. And I made a card base with black cardstock and cut some glitter paper to use as the front.

I ran a brayer over the circles to make sure they adhere well to the glitter paper.

Finally, I used dimensional foam adhesive to adhere the saying.