Holiday Cards - Many Options

Have just a few holiday rubber stamps, and a small assortment of cardstock or ink pads?   That does not mean you can’t create a variety of fun holiday cards for your friends and family!   This set of cards uses just one set of stamps (this great floral stamp was from The Stamping Studio), two colors of inkpads, white and one color of coordinating card stock.   Keep it simple with just basic supplies, or take it a step further like I did and use a Krylon gold leafing pen, some gold tone Toner wire, a bit of gold trim, Ranger Inkssentials Crackle, and some twists on shapes and sizes to add interest.  

Simple square with a pop - plum cardstock cut into a square card, edged with a gold Krylon leafing pen - layered with the flower (used as a poinsettia here) stamped with black and plum ink on mottled off white card stock also edged in gold.  The plum petals are layered with Ranger Inkssentials Crackle for a bit of shine and texture. A coiled wire center adds dimension, as do the bottom petals which were cut from the card stock with an X-Acto retractable craft knife and then allowed to extend over the gold ribbon and stamped verse.

Tag time!  Create the same flower as above, then cut it from the backing for a poinsettia tag.  Add a stamped verse on a card stock mat an a gold ribbon tag topper.

Curving door - The card was made with the off white mottled card stock, edged in gold leafing pen.  On the inside back of the card, the image was stamped and embellished as above.  From the front of the card, cut the top portion and remove so the flower shows, leaving a small front to open.  Add the stamped verse and gold ribbon.







Backwards action - Create the card using mottled off white card stock.  Add a layer of plum card stock to the inside back.  WITH THE OPENING ON THE LEFT, from the front of the card, cut into triangle as shown.  Edge front and back with gold leafing pen.  Stamp floral image and embellish as above.  To back inside of card, add gold ribbon trim and stamped verse.







Tri-flold - create a traditional tri-fold card (8 1/2" x 5 1/4"high - fold in two ends to meet in center, creating opening.  Edge with leafing pen.  Layer onto plum card stock mat.  Stamp and embellish image as above, allowing the coiled wire to extend over the opening and help hold the card closed.  Add gold ribbon and stamped verse.

Here Come the Seasonal Decorations!

This was the first of a series of 4 articles I did last year for the WCK Jingle Bells Journal - as we head into the season of seasonal decorating again - I thought I'd take a minute to share it here too - It's a simple, affordable way to add to your stash of holiday decorations! 

Time for holiday decorations, and time for my creative muse to go into major overtime!  While shopping with a friend this past weekend, some of the decorations at the local mall inspired me to get creative at home.  For WCK's annual Jingle Bells Journal series I’ll be sharing a new version of these fun, simple, holiday trees each week to inspire your creativity!

Over the years, I have amassed quite a collection of old-fashioned Santa’s and ornaments with the darker tones of burgundy and evergreen being prominent.  I wanted to create some fun, whimsical trees for my mantle, but they needed to stay within the overall color scheme of my other decorations.  Out came my Graphic 4’s Christmas Past collection of papers and I got busy.  Three different sized cones were decorated to create this trio of trees.   (Hint….. these cones have a secret inside…… I’ll reveal the secret on December 10^th!)  Begin by selecting double sided paper and cutting it into 1 ½” squares.  How many squares will depend entirely upon how large your cone/finished tree will be. If you are purchasing paper I’d recommend getting a few sheets of each of your chosen patterns.  Gently roll one corner of each square outward/upward to reveal the pattern on the back side (I used a pencil to roll my corner).   Then simply begin at the bottom and hot glue them to your base, overlapping each layer above the one beneath slightly as shown.    If desired, spray finished tree with a clear sealant, give it a coat of Plaid Extreme Glitter for a little shimmer, or add additional charms and embellishments as desired. 

I found these fun, colorful whimsical trees created by fellow designer Lolly Chessie on her blog recently (www.LollyChops.com) Lolly created her trees using Brenda Pinnick’s Flower - Beauty Bloom Sizzix die and a combination of fun, colorful papers.  I just love Lolly’s version of these trees!

Ice Resin - Super Star Saturday

I am honored to be featured in this week's Ice Resin blog in their Super Star Saturday feature!


You can read my interview here:  http://iceresin.com/icequeen/2011/11/daring-to-be-different-with-cindi-bisson/

If you haven't tried Ice Resin - try it!  Amazing resin, easy to use - a million creative opportunities

Ice Resin - Super Star Saturday

I am honored to be featured in this week's Ice Resin blog in their Super Star Saturday feature!  

http://iceresin.com/icequeen/2011/11/daring-to-be-different-with-cindi-bisson/

If you haven't tried Ice Resin - try it!  Amazing resin, easy to use - a million creative opportunities

Feeling Thankful!

I've got a new project posted on the home page at Rit Dye - Custom dyed burlap, string and buttons coordinate perfectly with autumn patterned paper - Find the full instructions here.

http://www.ritdye.com/blogs/posts/thankful-you-thanksgivings-day-card

Feeling Thankful!

I've got a new project posted on the home page at Rit Dye - Custom dyed burlap, string and buttons coordinate perfectly with autumn patterned paper - http://www.ritdye.com/blogs/posts/thankful-you-thanksgivings-day-card

Mixed-Media Workshop at CHA in Anaheim!

I am thrilled to announce I am hosting a workshop at the upcoming CHA show in Anaheim this January.  I am working the Independent Manufacturing Partners group and am combining products from 8 manufacturers to create a unique mixed-media art project.  Registration for the class was sold out for 75 participants the first day.  There is a chance that it will be opened to 100 participants, if you are attending CHA and would like to learn sign up for the waiting list to attend - click here:

https://www.craftandhobby.org/eweb/dynamicpage.aspx?webcode=CHASessionDetail&ses_key=ED0805BF-AFAD-42E8-91AB-8DEC925B6FE0


This workshop will provide an exciting hands-on experience exploring the broad range of possibilities working with products from eight different manufacturers! Participants in this workshop will create a mixed media keepsake using an extensive collection of high-quality art and craft products. Cindi Bisson has designed a perfect project which is ideally suited for prominent display in your home, office, or for retail display. Participants will be working with products from the 2012 Independent Manufacturing Partners: ClearSnap®, Globecraft Memories, Justrite Stampers, Makin’s Clay®, Robin’s Nest, Rubber Stamp Concepts, ScraPerfect, Westcott Brand Cutting Tools. Professional artists/designers Cindi Bisson, Becky Conley and Deborah Mahnken will be facilitating the workshop, sharing with participants distinctive highlights of the products, and will demonstrate the many creative ways these products can be used collaboratively. This workshop is ideal for retailers aiming to increase sales by cross promoting inventory, and those who would like to learn about a wide range of innovative products from the sponsors.

Capturing Autumn

Capturing Autumn - My latest Cindi's Simple Solutions project for When CreativityKnocks is published.  See how simple it is to capture a bit of the season with Ranger Inkssentials, Tsukineko Kaleidacolor inks, rubber stamps, foil tape and more....and share it with a friend -

Here's the link:

http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=296&Itemid=265

Enjoy!

Flannel & Corduroy Leaves

Here's a warm & cozy fall project from a WCK Creative Journal last autumn - but since it's time to start thinking warm and cozy again this year, I thought I'd share for anyone who didn't see it the first time.  The first thing that always pops into my mind when I hear the words warm and cozy is flannel!  I love curling up in flannel pj’s in front of the fireplace (or woodstove when we lived in Maine!) and reading or watching a movie with my family.  I love hugging my sons and husband when they are wearing a flannel shirt.   Since raiding my husband’s flannel shirt stash was highly discouraged (I did try…trust me), I decided to check out one of my favorite sources for items to repurpose – the local Goodwill Industries Store!  As always, I wasn’t disappointed and came home with two cozy baby shirts in great flannel plaids, a  girls flannel plaid skirt, and a pair of tiny brown corduroy pants I couldn’t resist adding to the mix for a bit more texture.  For less than $3 I had enough fabric to make a lot of leaves and I helped out those in need!

Once home, I sketched maple and oak leaves onto scrap paper and cut them out (you could  print off a pattern from the internet, or even trace a real leaf!).   The paper patterns were pinned to the fabric, and then the leaves were cut.  I purposely cut some of the leaves on seams, included buttons, etc. for added homespun texture.   Once the leaves were cut, I used extra embroidery thread I have stashed in my studio (see, keeping scraps of everything does pay off!) and roughly stitched approximately ¼” from the edge of each leaf, and to create the veins in the leaves.

The result is a set of almost whimsical, homespun decorations with a warm and cozy feel.  They look great mixed in a basket of pinecones collected from our yard and set outside our front door, or displayed around a pumpkin in our entry way.

While this project would work with any fabric – I think the flannel and the corduroy just add to the warm and cozy fun!