Wednesday, December 19, 2012

One More Barn Star + Christmas Cards


Here's another barn star, this time with a patchwork treatment, as showcased by Papertrey's MIM feature. By cutting the facets of the star from different dies, you could limit it to two colors, have all different colors, use the same color but with different patterns, mix up solid and patterned papers, etc. So many ways to mix it up! Plus then you'll have extras available for making additional stars. 

The sentiment is in between the masked dotted line. The green layer ended up being slightly tilted when I lined it up with the dotted line so I was going to redo it, but I think it like it this way.

This also fits in with the CASology cue word of Star


And finally, I can come out of hibernation ...


Christmas cards are in the mail, all 90 of them! It seemed like it was going to be a quick design, all I needed was to cut the base on the Silhouette, stamp and emboss the front, add the photos inside, and print the word tree on the back. 
 

Well, as I'm surprised by each year, anything times 90 takes a looong time. Sending the paper through the Silhouette became problematic after about the 30th time ... it started cutting the letters in odd places. My computer was pretty hot at that time too, not sure if that had anything to do with it. Has anyone had this issue with the Silhouette?

Also, my photos from Shutterfly (which were free due to a printing issue last year) were cut 1/8" crooked. It took me awhile to figure out why my cards weren't square when I put the photo in ... it was the actual photo!! Who would have guessed. So both of the photos had to be manually cut on the top and bottom. I have a feeling next year's photos will also be free ...


Here's the inside. We loaded the chair and the pillow into the car and stopped at our local forest preserve. It was late afternoon on a warm, sunny, winter day ... that timing is never going to happen again for us. The boys are smiling so well here. You would never know I had a mini-melt down just 10 minutes earlier (how hard is it to sit there, look at the camera, and smile, people?!) They recovered nicely and after telling some fart jokes that didn't make sense at all, we ended up with some really great photos. You do what you have to do.


On the back, each year instead of a newsletter we send a word tree. So much easier for me to write phrases, and it's quick for people to read. I scroll through our photos for the year and jot down the notes.


Here's a better feel for the card. 

Thanks so much for looking, and hopefully I can start getting to your blogs to catch up on what I've missed!
-Kelly


Supplies used (Barn Star Happy Birthday): 
stamps:  Papertrey Ink Mat Stack II
dies:  Papertrey Seeing Stars

34 comments:

  1. Awesome cards all the way around, I love the idea of a word tree. Congrats too on you MFW win.

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  2. Love the way your barn star turned out, so FUN! And wow to the 90 card extravaganza!!!

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  3. This is a FABULOUS card! I am in love with the word tree idea--may have to "borrow" that one for next year, if you don't mind. Thanks so much for the inspiration. (Hopping over from the Silhouette blog.)

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  4. Wow--what an awesome card design, and to see 90 of them, is truly impressive. Love your word art tree. That's such a great idea. I also wanted to say that I've seen your name and your creations all over as winners, shout outs, etc. lately and I am so happy for you for that--congratulations.

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  5. What beautiful Christmas cards! Amazing!

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  6. Kelly you know your star is stinkin' gorgeous don't you? Love your fabulous Christmas cards, that word tree is so creative and thoughtful.

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  7. Love the barn star - especially the way you masked the sentiment! If I had any clue how to copy your Christmas cards, I would have completely done this! Love the Merry silhouette & can only imagine your frustration with the cutting problems. My design was much simpler, but involved die-cutting 160+ wreaths (an idea I regretted around wreath 30 LOL).

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  8. Your barn star card is AMAZING. I LOVE your family photos...hee hee...you DO WHAT YOU HAVE to, to get the smiles. Such a great shot of your adorable kids. Your word tree is incredible also.
    I am asking for a Silhouette now...you pushed me over the edge!!! ;) I saw your awesome mention at Moxie..I'm not surprised your neon was a winner Kelly!

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  9. I love everything about this post, the star, the card, the word tree. Lots of love in this post!

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  10. KELLY! WOW!!!!! These are awesome! I'm sending my address so that next year you can make 91! I love every well-planned detail. The perfection of the front - the way the die cut is open to woodsy space and the kids are on the bottom of the photo so that their 'cut up' faces don't show through, but are a surprise when you open it. Then a final surprise on the back - the precision of the tree/letter (what a cool idea!) and even the point form of it - a great summary of the year!

    Oh yeah, I forgot the star card - way to take an idea to the next level. This star is gorgeous! Thanks so much for playing along with CASology this week! You are definitely a STAR!

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  11. PS - Is that a Gymboree snowflake sweater? My kids both had that one one Christmas - I'll have to dig out the photos!

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  12. Um, I am SO impressed with your cards, so so cool! They are gorgeous, and I'm loving that fun star card too, so bright and cheerful!

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  13. Oh I love your christmas card. Can´t believe you made 90 of them . They look so awesome and love the pictures!
    Thanks for sharing
    Tascha

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  14. This is amazing!!!!!! I love your Christmas card!!!! I can't believe you made 90 of this either! WOW! :)

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  15. Your cards are amazing, Kelly! I especially love your word tree--might steal that idea from you! Your star card is dazzling as well!

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  16. Absolutely stunning Kelly! LOVE this pieced star in all its colorful glory! Beautifully CAS! :) Thanks so much for joining us at CASology!

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  17. your CASology card is absolutely fantastic and your Christmas cards... wow!!! so very cool!! thanks for playing along with CASology this week!

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  18. awesome cards. love your star card and your holiday cards are fantastic.

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  19. Kelly you Christmas cards are beautiful!!! You are great at making the star cards, oh I can't forget your word tree, what a grand idea!!! Merry Christmas to you and your family!!

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  20. Love the bold star! And lots of admiration for making 90 cards - they looks fantastic.

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  21. OMG! Linda @ The Paper Boutique recommended your site and she was right! You are amazing! I love your Christmas Card, I love your Christmas Tree, loved the pic of your boys. Thank you for sharing...I will be following your site! Thank you for the great dose of motivation! Merry Christmas!

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  22. Where to start? Amazing star ... love what you did with the 'patchwork' for a different twist ... just fab! Family card ... 90??? Chapeau (as we say here), the last as good as the first ... fantastic! Word tree ... wonderful idea and so beautifully executed! I am in awe! Happy Christmas to you and yours Kelly! Anita :)

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  23. Wow, Kelly! I love your barn star card and your Christmas card/photo card is amazing!!

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  24. This barn star is absolutely fantastic ~ so very colorful! And your Christmas cards are amazing! You are really on roll lately ~ I have seen wins at MFW, Runway and CAS-ual Fridays! Congrats, Congrats, Congrats!!!

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  25. Loving all of your barn star cards Kelly! This patchwork one has such a wonderful look. Your Christmas cards are FANTASTIC!!! Love them!

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  26. totally awesome your photo christmas card

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  27. Just poppin' by to congratulate you on your CASology HM win, and wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

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  28. MERRY XMAS TO YOU!
    COngrats on the CASology win and I love your Christmas card!
    So much work though! wow!!
    what a keepsake!!

    Hugs~

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  29. Congratulations, Kelly, on another barn star win with the honor this time coming from CASology for your stunning quilted star!

    You are something else, little one. Don't tell your mother, but from now on, I'm telling everyone in the crafting world that you're my daughter. I can't think of a better way to express how amazingly brilliant I think you are.

    When I saw not one, but two, ridiculously genius creations you made for the PTI blog hop, that's when I decided to adopt you. I tried following along with how you did the card, saying to myself, oh, like, I'm so sure I would ever think of something that intricate and then when you said it took less than ten minutes, well ... shut my mouth!

    You're from Stepford originally, though, right? That's what I'm putting on your birth certificate.

    Love,
    Mom

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  30. P.S. I forgot to say that Papa and I LOVE your original Christmas card and the boys are adorable. Papa will send more fart jokes. We appreciate all the hard work you put into this treasured keepsake!!

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  31. STUNNING CHRISTMAS CARDS KELLY!!! You continue to amaze me every time I visit your blog! Wow!!! And I love the photo and how you got it!

    The barn star card is gorgeous!!! :)

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  32. Love your card! What a clever idea... I'm going to tuck that idea away for next year. Happy New Year!

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  33. What can I say? These are awesome! (No surprise there:) Top to bottom, back to front awesomeness!

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  34. Fabulous! this is just so absolutely awesome!

    Susan

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I absolutely love reading comments. Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave one! - Kelly