Friday, December 1, 2017

The Spirit of the Season

Sending Holiday Wishes from the little snow family.  We hope your year was filled with happiness and memories of moments shared with family and friends.  May your Christmas be Merry and Bright.  We wish you and yours a most Happy New Year.

I cheated a bit on this card.  A few months back I colored this little family.  This month's Sparkles Christmas Challenge theme is Snowman/men. Sandra H.  picked this fun theme.    Here's where the cheat comes in....I scanned my colored image, printed it 3 times and cut it using my Scan and Cut (which by the way I love!)  Look how nicely the images cut...


I then hand cut the two snow figures from the left side of one of the images and using pop dots I placed them over the image, making that side 3-D.  I did the same thing with the mom, sister and baby.  

This is the inside of my little card....


This card was fun to make and I must say everything on this card, with the exception of the snow family, are bits and pieces left from other cards I've made this year.

Can you believe the year is coming to an end?  Seems the older I get, the quicker time flies by.  I'm looking forward to 2018 and spending time with you and sharing cards with the other designers on the Sparkles Christmas Challenge blog page.  I hope you find time to play along with us throughout 2018.  Don't forget.....to enter your creation with Sparkles Christmas Challenge.

Until next year....Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and see you soon.
Hugs,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy


Sunday, November 12, 2017

FaceBook Inspiration

I've been looking for inspiration for a quick Christmas Card and one night I was browsing through Card-Making USA on Facebook and I spotted a card made by Sue Lesar Robinson.  Her card reminded me that I have that Santa Stamp and I got to work making this card.  Since Christmas is right around the corner, I wanted a card that could be made in duplicate, and one that would be pretty, but not break the bank when posting them.  The printed background I downloaded from the internet, Santa and the 25 are rubber stamps.  I layered this to a red frame and mounted it on a piece I'd embossed.  I drop cut the frame with the Santa Stamp, which made it nice to be able to use one piece to do all the frames, inside and out.  Then I set out to make 10 more.  I love it when I can assemble cards quickly....especially at this time of the year.

I kept the inside simple with room to write a bit of a note.


I also made one using craft card stock, but decided that the white one would be easier to duplicate.  




I kept the inside very simple....

And now for the cards that inspired me....



Thank you Sue Lesar Robinson for inspiring me to use this lovely stamp.  Her two creations are beautiful.  

I'm getting ready for my daughter and her husband to arrive.  I'll have an entire week to spend with them.  My son is also coming....a full house for sure.  So......Until next time.....Happy Thanksgiving, no matter where we live, I'm sure we have plenty to be thankful for....

Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy




                    


Saturday, November 4, 2017

Happy Birthday... Party In A Card

This action card was fun to create.  My neighbor loves handmade cards and I really enjoy making them for him.  I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly this card came together.  I think it actually took more time thinking about it than it took to create.


and here is what I did to the inside:

I struggle making cards for boys and men.  I think this one works for both.

I used a white base covered in BoBunny Double Dot paper.  I can't tell you who made the candle paper because I was using bits and pieces and sadly the label was removed.  The balloons, candles, pop up for the inside and the spinner are Elizabeth Craft Dies.  The stars are Frantic Stamper and the sentiment is Just Right.

Until next time......happy crafting....

Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy


Wednesday, November 1, 2017

More Than One Fold

This month's Sparkles Christmas Challenge is "Must Have More Than One Fold".  Thank you Jane for this fun challenge.  Mine has 3 folds and this challenge was a perfect time to use my new StampinUp -  Hearts Come Home bundle.  Lots of sparkle on this card, and by the time I finished....lots of sparkle on me, on my dog, and even on my hubby!  I like it!

This post is probably my shortest.....When it goes live I will be spending time with my BFF, since pre-school, Dee Dee.  She's recovering from hip surgery, and I'm nursing a nasty knee.  We will be in San Francisco letting my son drive two Miss Daisies around town.  Lucky him!  So I'm off to get ready for Dee Dee to arrive.  

Until next time....Happy Crafting....not wanting to strike fear into the hearts of crafters, but the holidays are right around the corner....so get those cards made!

Hugs from my world to yours....
Mary Mac
AKA: Glitter Grammy

Monday, October 2, 2017

It Must Be Autumn

Autumn is in the air.  A cool spell has come and it is welcomed.  Of course here in California Summer tries to hang on and not give in easily to the crisp mornings, and warm days that are again followed by cool and what we hope will be rainy nights.  Autumn, or what I most often refer to this season as Fall, is my favorite season of all.  I'm not a fan of heat and this past summer has been warmer for a longer period of time than any summer I can remember.

The inspiration for this card is leaves.... and there are plenty of them.  I wanted to make a spinner card because leaves spinning toward the ground pretty much describes what is happening now.  The Dragon Fly symbolizes summer trying to hang on.

What papers did I use?  All the patterned papers are from one collection.  And it's an older one, Graphic45 - Botanicabella Collection.  It's from 2009...see I told you it's an older one.

These are the papers I used.  If you look at the leaves, all of them were made from the paper 3rd from the left.  I could have used distress inks to make the blended colors, but why when they are all on this paper.  You just have to move your dies around until you find them.  I used Poppystamp dies for the leaves, Elizabeth Craft for the spinner action, and Spellbinder for the die cut frames around the sentiment, which is from Hampton Arts.  I found this in a dollar bin years ago.

And here is what I've done on the inside.....
I repeated the papers from the same line.  There is room for a nice note.  I only glued the leaf across the bottom and on the right side.  That was the note can be removed easily.  

Originally, I was making this card for a birthday card for a friend.  But....It bothered me that I didn't use a Birthday Sentiment on the front of the card.  Soooo I made another card with a birthday sentiment.  I wanted to use a different spinner, and I chose one that was too big for the piece, so back to the drawing board and I repeated with one I knew would work.  I messed up the front of the card, but was able to save it (thank goodness as  the front piece was the last of the paper and I would have been sad had it not turned out.  I also chose a darker Distress Ink to outline the pieces.  I think this was a good choice.   
  
The inside will have a stamped sentiment and a personal note.  I've not yet decided on the sentiment, so it will be added later.  So it's almost the same as the original inside, with one more leaf added.  
 
So two cards done....two occasions, one kind of paper and I am happy with both.  

This was a fun project.  I was surprised how easy it is to make the spinner card, so I know I'll be making many more of these.  I have 12 Birthday cards to make between now and December 1....I guess I'd best get moving.  

Sending wishes for a wonderful Autumn.  It's so hard to say that now, when so many people are suffering the long time effects of hurricanes and earthquakes.  They are in my thoughts and prayers and also I/we need to remember their physical needs and continue to give what we can to help make their lives just a bit better.  

Not wanting to close on a down note....Enjoy your day wherever you are.  Take a moment to enjoy this day and do something that makes you happy.  Thank You for stopping by.  

Hugs from my world to yours......
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy




Sunday, October 1, 2017

Christmas Is For Kids....and the Kids in all of us!

Another month has come and gone and we are edging ever closer to Christmas.  When my kids were little, they started their Christmas Lists around this time.  Of course the list changed daily, but it was always an important part of the Christmas ritual.  As a child I remember how slowly the days ticked by, and with each passing day how excited I'd be thinking about Santa and maybe being able to catch a glimpse of him as he put gifts under the tree.

This month the Sparkles Christmas Challenge theme was chosen by Sybrina.  And she would like to see Kiddie Cards.  I chose this stamp from All Night Media - Hug for Santa.  This stamp was fun to color and gave me much playtime with my pencils.
For the inside I chose stamps from StampinUp the Versatile Christmas Collection.  I'm not sure of the paper collection, as it was part of a traded collection from a friend.  

I hope everyone is settling into the new season and I hope everyone is found healthy.  Before I go, a little wish from my honey and I.....
Until next time, be safe, be healthy, be happy....
Hugs from my world to yours,
Mary Mac
AKA: Glitter Grammy

Friday, September 1, 2017

Warm Wishes

Sparkles Christmas Challenge was picked this month by Caz.  Her challenge is to make a card using Christmas Animals.  I can't think of better animals than the little House Mice.  I haven't been coloring much lately and today I am reminded of how much fun it is to color.  I used a combination of Spectrum Noir and Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  The sentiment was created on my computer.  The paper is from a pad I've had for years and I do not know what company it belongs to.  I used Wink of Stella for a bit of glitter.

I'm trying to use items I've had for some time.  I think I accomplished my goal.  I hope to see something you've created.  You can share it at Sparkles Christmas Challenge.

Here's the colors I used:




See you again soon....it's getting closer to Christmas....I'm one card closer!

Hugs from my world to yours,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Looking Back

I like looking back at projects from the past.  Especially those created during a crop with loads of friends.
Several years ago, I made this calendar with the croppers from Paradise Scrapbook Boutique.  I have it hanging above my desk and I look at it daily.  My husband made the shadow box and his birthday is in May.  So I put a gold circle with his birthdate in it.  My birthday is in August.  I've also noted my birthdate with a gold number.  I think of my kids and grandkids, my brothers and sisters, my parents, aunts, uncles and cousins and all the crafty people I've met through the years and of course my special friends who have made life such fun. When I look at a month I am reminded of things I've done and the people I've shared those months with.  To me, this calendar is priceless.  It's not just a calendar it's a box of memories.  There were days I didn't think I'd ever finish, but Karen and Deb pushed me forward and I thank them for encouraging me.

I guess it's time to jump back to the present and give some thought to my new projects.

Until next time, happy crafting and I hope you enjoy your crafting memories as much as I have.

Hugs from my world to yours,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

I Heard The Bells


We can thank Debs for this month's Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  Your card must have a Festive Sentiment.  For mine I am using one of my older dies.  It's from Stamp Oasis and it's from 1992.  Yikes that's 25 years old!  I guess I've been playing with paper for quite awhile!  Because Debs asked for a festive sentiment...I wanted mine to be the focal point.  I love monochromatic cards.  I am using a buff colored base that was dry embossed using a Sizzix embossing folder.  I stamped the sentiment, added a bit of ribbon, popped the sentiment and the front of my card is finished.


My inside is a Quietfire Design stamp.  This stamp made the inside of this card easy.  I must say this card came together quickly and it's one of those cards that would be easy to create assembly line method.

Ok, it's your turn....get out a favorite sentiment or two and share your creation with all of us.  Hop on over to see what the other Design Team members created and link your card to this site.  It's fun, it's easy and you'll be one card closer to finishing your Christmas Cards!  Link your card HERE.

I'm sending wishes for a Super Creative Month.
Hugs from my world to yours,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy






Saturday, July 1, 2017

Sparkles Christmas Challenge


This month I get to pick the theme for the Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  I chose the theme, "It must have an ornament or be an ornament."  I love this little bear by Bugaboo Digital Stamps.  He looks like he's ready to help decorate the tree.  I also  added the graphic to the envelope.

I watched a video this week on getting the perfect window cut.  It was one of those ah ha moments followed by a why didn't I think of this..... and it really, really works well.  Easy way to cut a window frame.  Check it out.

Anyway, here's what my little card looks like open.
I printed the Bugaboo digital die, colored it and then sent it to my ScanNCut and cut it 4 times.  I layered it, and glittered it.  I used many of my favorite toys.  Poppy Stamps dies, decorative paper, my computer graphics program and a cute digital graphic.  This was a fun card to make.

Since ornaments are the theme, I also made this ornament using my ScanNCut and the canvas program to cut these snowflakes.  Then put them together and I have a little snowflake ornament.
A spray of adhesive and a bit of glitter (ok quite a bit) and I have an ornament.

I almost forgot to add the inside of the card.  Pretty sweet little fella isn't he and the layers were easy to cut.

Isn't it nice to be able to bury yourself in paper projects.  The time flies by and the worries of the day fly right along with it.  I hope you find the time to play along with the Sparkles Christmas Challenge. A great way to add one more card to your Christmas Card stash.

Enjoy your day.  I hope you find time to play.

Always hugs from me to you,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Monday, May 1, 2017

Sparkly Snowflakes and Inspiration Card

This month's Sparkles Challenge is Snowflakes.  I want to thank Joan for this challenge.  I hope you have a chance to play along.  If you want to see what the design team created, check out our creations here.    My card was inspired by a card I'd seen on Pinterest.  Now mind you....my card isn't going to look much like the inspiration card, but I was inspired none the less......and here is the card that inspired me.
Can you see the similarities?  Heather's flowers are grouped beautifully.  My snowflakes are randomly placed.  I have silver string and Heather has gold.  The stripes on the left side of the card are very similar.  I don't know how Heather made her stripes.  Mine were made by putting silver Colorbox ink on a stripe embossing folder and stamping with it.  Heather didn't have a sentiment, but I added Noel a die from Frantic Stamper.

I can only imagine the inside of Heather's card, I see flowers peeking out.  I'm sure the inside is as lovely as the outside.  Here is mine.
I always try to add elements from the outside of a card into the inside.  I repeated the stripes, added snowflakes and another Frantic Stamper Noel die.  Of course a sentiment was stamped and this card is finished.  

That's it for my May Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  I do hope you play along.  I'll be checking to see what you create.  

Until next time,
Happy May, I hope you find time to create and enjoy Spring.  It's been a long wet winter here and I am so looking forward to playing outside.  

Hugs,
Mary Mac

Saturday, April 1, 2017

Christmas Candy Canes

Sandra H chose this month's challenge and a fun challenge it is.  Who doesn't like candy canes.  My card is super simple and it's not going to break the bank to mail it.  I used Poppystamp dies and a Poppystamp rubber stamp.  And I used a snowflake embossing folder to add a bit of interest to the background.  I must admit I did have a bit of a challenge.  The snowflake background die cut really well, but when I embossed the paper, the center line of the die had some nasty rips...so, I took the snowflakes that fell from the die, and just pasted them into the torn pieces.  You really have to look to see what I'd done.  Another mistake....under the red "love" tag....well, there is a nice black ink mark.  sometimes things happen, but can be fixed.

Playing around with calendar pieces I decided to try making a Christmas card.  I thought it might be fun to use these extra pages to make a card a month.  So, this is what I made for December.... and I was able to use little candy canes......



A good way to use scraps that probably wouldn't be used for anything else.

Well that's it for me.  Until next time....Happy Crafting and Hugs from me to you.

Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Friday, March 24, 2017

Card Makers Share the Love




A quick post today.....A little girl has one Make a Wish dream.... and we can help make that dream come true.

Take a minute to watch this sweet request:  http://abc10up.com/2017/02/14/8326874/ 

Allyson's address is:  Allyson Peterson - P.O. Box 1016 - Hurontown - Houghton MI  49931 USA.

Remember the card doesn't need to be handmade, but it's nice if it could be.  And it doesn't have to be themed. any girly card will do.

More about this card later.....

Let's make a dream come true.

Hugs from me to you.
Mary Mac
AKA:  GlitterGrammy


Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Easy Easter Baskets


I want to thank May May  for creating a YouTube tutorial on this cute basket.  The finished basket size is about 4 x 4 and holds many treasures!


This basket was super easy to make and really quick.  The top basket took a bit longer because I used a border punch on all the white pieces.  You kind of play around until you get the size that will fit.

If you need a quick project....this is a good one.

Off I go.  On to more playing with paper.  I hope your day is creative no matter what you are doing.

Hugs from me to you,

Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Silver and Gold


Are you getting sick of seeing the same paper line?  I've had such fun creating with this paper line (Graphic45).  I have lots of it left...seems I purchased enough to last a lifetime.  That's ok, because I love it.  This time, I'm using scraps.  I found lots of pieces I could cut to 1 3/4 x 1 3/4 (the smallest) to make this card.  The gold trim and the die cut trees and candy canes are also made from scrap.  I really like how this card turned out.  This month's Sparkles Christmas Challenge  was chosen by Babs and the theme is Must have Silver or Gold   I don't know if you can see all the gold but I framed all the squares in gold and of course the die cuts were all gold too.

Here's the inside:


Now, I'd like to see what you make using silver or gold.  And share on the Sparkles Christmas Challenge blog page.  

Ok, I'm off to see what kind of trouble I can get into.  Have a crafty month and see you soon.  

Hugs,
Mary Mac
AKA:  GlitterGrammy

Friday, February 17, 2017

Happy Birthday


Are you surprised?  It's not a Christmas Card!  In truth, I have been making loads of cards, however, I can't show them yet because they have been made for birthdays that have not yet happened..So, for now, this is one I can share.

This is, if you haven't guessed, Blue Fern Paper. The Heartland Collection.  Locally you can find these papers at Ever After in the Paradise Scrapbook Boutique booth.  You just might find this card there too.

I'm always asked where did the inspiration come from?  Actually, lots of places.  I follow other paper crafters blogs, I follow through Pinterest and most often, I am inspired by those around me.  I am also inspired by parts of a piece of decorative card stock.  For this card I was inspired by a portion of the card stock.  The two lovers.  I fussy cut around them and started pulling embellishments that I thought would look pretty with them.  I decided to make a square card 6x6.  One of the papers in the Heartland collection was the perfect background.  Next came the torn piece that allowed the graphic a place to sit, but I needed something to separate the graphic from the background....doilies are perfect to add separation.  Next I gathered flowers to make a bouquet.  I added seam binding that I'd sprayed with water to get a crinkled effect.  I needed a sentiment, and I chose Just Rite Happy Birthday and cut it from gold paper.  When I began assembling, I thought the card looked too flat and needed something more.  I added the leaves behind the bouquet.  Nice but something more needed to be added. Can you see the gold bits in front of the doily?

I'm not sure what it is called.  I bought it to add glitz to my tiny Christmas tree.  I think it's perfect for this card.  If you want to know more about it, Kim at Ever After could put you in contact with the vendor selling the product.  It doesn't look like this when you purchase it, it looks like a cord, but when you stretch it, this is what you get. I like it!

I still wanted to add something vintage to this card, so I created the cameo and placed it below the ribbon.  The frame of the cameo is from Epiphany Crafts and it started it's life silver in color.  I didn't want silver with the gold, so I colored it using Spectrum Noir alcohol ink pens.  The graphic was cut from one of the pieces of Blue Fern card stock.


Well, that tells you what I did to create the front of this card.  Now for the inside.....


The photo isn't the best, but I think you get the idea.  I used parts of the same card stock.  I like giving my sentiments a place to sit.  These little envelopes are a great place to put gift cards.  

Most all supplies for this card were purchased at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique.  I hope you enjoyed reading about my little creation.  I love reading other blogs about how something was created.  

I'm off......I'm sending you wishes for a most happy day.  I hope you find time to sneak away to create.  

Hugs from my world to yours,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy




Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Let's Make it a Krafty Christmas

It's time to Sparkle....well it's Sparkles Christmas Challenge and this month Jane picked a fun theme.  A Krafty Christmas.  Your card must use kraft paper.  I'm using the kraft card stock for my base and also for layers.  On the outside I ran the kraft stock through a Christmas Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I thought it needed a bit more dimension.  The decorative papers are all from the Graphic45 St. Nicholas collection.  They all were pieces left over from making Christmas cards and decorations.  I'm using pieces from the 8x8 and 12x12 paper pads.  I've framed them with the solid green pieces and used Tim Holtz Distress inks to outline the papers.  After doing a test layout, I thought it might be nice to add a bit of sparkle.  I outlined the decorative papers using Stickles Mercury Glass.  Well, that's the outside and now for the inside.


It's pretty much a repeat of the outside.  I did add a stamped Sentiment using my favorite Christmas sentiment.  It's from Stampability.  That's it.  Pretty simple really and a great way to use up all those bits and pieces .  You will probably see many of this type of card as I have many bits and pieces to use.

Now it's your turn....Create a Christmas project using kraft somewhere on your creation and link it on the Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  All the rules (and there are only a few) can be found on the Sparkles site.  I'll be looking in to see what you've made!

Until next time....Happy Crafting.

Hugs from my world to yours,
Mary Mac
AKA:  GlitterGrammy

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Two Cards Made for 2017

I am on a roll.  Football games must bring out the best in me.....My first card was posted earlier today.  The sequins filled ornament is my most recent.  I'm always amazed that two cards can be made using the same supplies and they look different.  If you read the previous post you will know the supplies I used.  Here's what is different.  Sequins instead of a glitter ornament and I didn't frame the card with mirror silver.  If you look really close you will see one more difference.  The background on one card is embossed, on the other it is debossed.  I was surprised at the visual difference.  I was also surprised by adding the silver border made the card look smaller.

Off to organize my dies.  So.....if you don't already know, Sparkles Chistmas Challenge would love to see what you can create using the theme lots of glitter.  My sequins card won't count for the challenge, but it was fun to make and I have another card ready for Christmas of 2017.

Again, Happy New Year!  I hope to start sharing more in 2017.

Hugs from my world to yours,
Mary Mac
Glitter Grammy





Happy New Year and My First Christmas Card of 2017

Happy New Year!  I know that Christmas cards are probably the last thing on the mind of most people, but not me.... For several years, I've celebrated the New Year making my first Christmas card for the upcoming season.  My husband watches football, and I pretend I'm watching as I sit at my craft table playing with paper.

Santa brought me this ornament die (Memory Box) and I couldn't wait to give it a try. This month's Sparkles Christmas Challenge was the perfect place.  Pat G. picked the challenge which is:  Lots of Glitter....I die cut the ornament 3 times.  The base was cut in mirror silver.  I used red glitter paper for the Ornament and the Sentiment and of course green glitter paper for the ivy.  I used a Sizzix embossing folder to give the background paper some dimension.  Almost forgot...the sentiment die is from Echo Park, Designer Dies and yes, it cut through the glitter card stock....sometimes glitter can give me a bit of a head ache.

How about playing along with this month's challenge.  And as always there is a prize.  So create your masterpiece, and post it on the Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  You might win....and better than that, everyone who visits will see your spectacular creation!

Do you make New Year's Resolutions?  I used to, but then I didn't keep them so I've decided it's better for me to make goals throughout the year.  My goal is to get my dies and rubber stamps organized and cataloged.  It is honestly quiet an overwhelming project.  I started a few years back and quit before I gave it a good effort.  So......the day after Christmas I decided to begin.  I happily found that I had given it a better effort than I thought,  I had actually die cut several of the dies and now they needed to be put into a master book.....I am now caught up with the ones I'd already cut, but there are many more that need cutting.  I'm lucky because I have an area I can leave this project set up and I am determined to not put it way until I am finished.  There will be no out of sight, out of mind this year.  When I finish the die project, I will share......

I'm off......Again, I send wishes for a Most Happy New Year.  May it be filled with Love, Peace and Health.  Until Next time......

Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy