Simple Snowflake - Stampin' Up! Holly Jolly Greetings

  Back to real life on this Monday morning!  Cold and rainy and getting up in the dark was a big shock this morning for our family.  No one wanted to get moving to start another week.  We got a bit lazy over the Thanksgiving break I think...lots of fantastic food, fabulous warm weather and good times with family.

  But there was some time for stamping so I decided to play along with the Freshly Made Sketches challenge that's closing in a few hours so I'm just in the nick of time.  Using challenges really helps me this time to year to come up with some more Christmas card designs when time can be a bit short.

   I wanted to use up some precut pieces of the Kraft cardstock that I had leftover from a class project from earlier in the year.  I like the the combo of Kraft, white and a little splash of shiny red.  There is a little bit of sponging on the edge of the Kraft panel with Whisper White craft ink.

  The large snowflake, little specks of snow and "Christmas" are embossed in white and the mini snowflakes are retired sequins just glued on.

  I cut out the Merry using the Christmas Greetings thinlets and the red foil paper.  And the ribbon is the classic 5/8" Organza ribbon which adds a little bit of extra shine.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Holly Jolly Greetings

Ink: Versamark, Whisper White craft

Paper: Whisper White thick, Kraft cardstock, Red foil paper

Accessories: Christmas Greetings thinlets, organza ribbon, candy dots, dimensionals, white embossing powder, snowflake sequins (retired), corner rounder 

  

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Cardinal & Gray Christmas - Fab Friday 78

  Welcome to another Fab Friday challenge!  I hope you had your fill of good food and time with friends and family yesterday!  Maybe you have the day off of work and can sit down and stamp with our challenge today!

 Check out this sketch:

  Since I need to get going on my Christmas cards I went with the sketch as shown but I'm curious to see what other shapes you are going to use on your card that aren't tree shapes. And maybe not even a Christmas theme.

  I saw this picture of bedding from The Company Store and thought, "Hey I have a tree stamp like that!  And those colors are cool together!"  And I think I also like this color combination because they are my college's colors: Cardinal & Gray.  I'm always partial to grays and deep reds together.

    It was fun creating the background panel.  I stamped the Hardwood background in Smoky Slate and then layered on the stars using the Stars decorative mask and sponge daubers.  Some stars are sponged in Smoky Slate ink and others in Whisper White Craft ink.  Then I cut a quick stencil using the smallest of the Stars framelits and sponged a few larger hearts in silver ink.  The silver stars are very subtle but when they catch the light just right add a nice bit of shine.

  The banner is retired Cherry Cobbler linen ribbon from a few years back of which I'm trying to use up the excess that I bought so I think I may make a few more of this design.

  One tree is stamped in Smoky Slate onto Shimmery White cardstock and punched with the Tree punch.   The second tree is also punched from Shimmer White but then run through the Big Shot using the Softly Falling embossing folder.

  I layered some silver thread behind the trees for some more subtle sparkle.  The sentiment is from the Holly Jolly Greetings stamp set.  I embossed it in white onto Smoky Slate cardstock and then punched it out with the 1 3/8" circle punch.  It is layered on top of a slightly larger circle cut with the Circles framelits.  The Glimmer paper is the retired silver color but the current silver or Dazzling Diamonds colors would be great as well.

  The star on top of the white tree is also punched from the same retired silver Glimmer paper.  You can see in this photo how all the elements are layered.  Some are popped up with more than one layer of dimensional.

 I hope you'll be able to play along with our challenge at Fab Friday.  Remember you have 2 weeks!

 Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Festival of Trees, Hardwood background, Holly Jolly Greetings

Ink: Smoky Slate, Whisper White craft, Versamark

Paper: Smoky Slate, Shimmery White, Silver Glimmer paper (retired style)

Accessories: Hearts & Stars decorative masks, linen ribbon, circle punch, star punch, Softly Falling e.f., white embossing powder, circles framelits, stars framelits, silver thread, dimensionals, Tree punch

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Coffee Cup Gift Card Holder - Stampin' Up! Holly Jolly Greetings

  As much as we all want to make our Christmas gifts personalized sometimes there just isn't time and a gift card will just have to do.  Or someone REALLY likes coffee so you want to get them a Starbucks gift card but you don't want to give it to them in the chintzy little folder that comes with the gift card.

  I designed this gift card holder after noticing that the window sill/mantlepiece framelit in the Hearth & Home Framelit set looked an awful lot like a lid to a disposable coffee cup.  Just flip it upside down!

  I then went about creating a tracing template that was the right size to fit the "lid" and also would hold a gift card.

  When we did one last week at my stamp club my ladies teased about it not being "The Red Cup"!  Lol!  We made the white version in class and I had the Crumb Cake version to show it with the white Corrugated paper cuff.  I love that Corrugated Paper!

  The white one uses Thick Whisper White cardstock for the base and the Crumb Cake/kraft Corrugated paper for the cuff.   I designed a quick template to trace and then cut out with the paper trimmer for nice crisp edges.  Next we stamped stars across the front in Real Red using the cute background stamp from Holly Jolly Greetings.

  We simply decorated the cuff with a scallop circle of Merry Moments DSP, stamped and punched "Joy" also from Holly Jolly Greetings, a metal rimmed pearl and a little 1/8" striped ribbon flag finish off the embellishment.  The cuff slides off of the cup just like real life!

  We cut 2 of the mantlepiece/window sill pieces out of Thick Whisper White and adhered one to the front of the cup and the second one was attached to the Old Olive sleeve that holds the gift card and slips into the top of the cup.

  The cup is about 4 1/2" tall and about 3 inches wide.  It fits well into our regular envelopes and is a great way to jazz up a gift card.  And you can easily change out the color scheme to account for a birthday or just thinking of you.  It doesn't have to be just for Christmas.

  Don't forget Stampin' Up! is having their Online Extravaganza from now until next Monday.  Head over to my online store to do some shopping and if you use HOST CODE: PBAUSA7T I will enter you to win some free products!  I have an exclusive host stamp set (Best Thoughts) and DSP (Color Me Irresistible) to give away.  And if you're a new to me customer I will send you a Cardstock Sample ring with all of the Stampin' Up! color collections included.  Even the In Colors!  Shop now and don't miss out on these great deals!

 Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Holly Jolly Greetings

Ink: Real Red

Paper: Whisper White, Corrugated paper, Old Olive, Merry Moments DSP

Accessories: Hearth & Home Thinlets, scallop circle punch, oval punch, metal rimmed pearls, 1/8" striped ribbon, dimensionals

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Peace Ornament - Stampin' Up! Christmas Greeting Thinlets

   It was a bit brisk on my walk this morning; frost on the grass, birds huddled up in the trees and all of us faithful walkers and runners bundled up against the chill.  Now that my fingers have thawed out and I've got the pot roast going in the crock pot it's time to share a Christmas card.

  We made this card at the October stamp club and while there isn't any stamping we used lots of fun tools to put this one together.

  The Softly Falling embossing folder was used on the background panel.  It is such a nice subtle look and I am so happy that it is returning in our spring catalog. I think it would be fun to use on Easter egg shapes!  

  The ornament is made with my favorite double use framelit set Balloon.  I've used it to make a few ornament cards already and I think I see more in my future!  Check this one out for more inspiration.

 Before cutting out the top balloon/ornament we punched the Pool Party cardstock with the Stars border punch. Then we cut another ornament out of Gold Glimmer paper.

  A little sponging along the edges helps define and give more depth to the ornament and then we layered the Gold Glimmer paper behind it using Tear Tape to adhere them together.  We used more Glimmer paper to cut out the word Peace with the Christmas Greeting thinlets.  Add a bit of gold cord to make a hanger and a bow.

  All of this is layered over a piece of Very Vanilla Subtle Stripe ribbon.   This is such a shimmery pretty card and I'm so glad I got to make a few extras for my Christmas card stash.  Go ahead and cut into that Gold Glimmer paper!  I promise it will be awesome!

  Don't forget Stampin' Up! is having their Online Extravaganza from now until next Monday.  Head over to my online store to do some shopping and if you use HOST CODE: PBAUSA7T I will enter you to win some free products!  I have an exclusive host stamp set (Best Thoughts) and DSP (Color Me Irresistible) to give away.  And if you're a new to me customer I will send you a Cardstock Sample ring with all of the Stampin' Up! color collections included.  Even the In Colors!  Shop now and don't miss out on these great deals!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: None

Ink: Pool Party

Paper: Pool Party, Very Vanilla, Gold Glimmer paper

Accessories: Christmas Greetings thinlets, Balloon framelits, gold cord, dimensionals, Very Vanilla Stripe ribbon,  Softly Falling e.f., Stars border punch, corner rounder punch

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Thankful for You - Stampin' Up! Sheltering Tree

  I think I've finally hit the bottom of the barrel with seasonal fall cards in my files.  We made this a few weeks ago at stamp club.  I totally got inspiration from this card I found on Pinterest.  I just changed out the colors.  It was such a cool design with the leaves on the edges.  I called it the oversized spotlighting technique since instead of just one small spot it was most of the image.

  Even though Sheltering Tree has been out for a while people still get surprised at what great cards you can make with it.  It covers all four seasons and so many occasions.

  Dig out all of your thankful/Thanksgiving/fall cards and pop them in the mail to your loved ones today.  My stack of cards is all addressed and stamped and ready to go.  Don't be stingy with your cards people!  Make someone's day!

  Also, today is the first day of the week long Stampin' Up! Online Extravaganza Sale.  There are so many great items being offered at a discount up to 50% off.  To do some shopping for yourself or to check some people off your Christmas shopping list head over to my My Online Store and click shop now to get started.  If you place an order use Host Code: PBAUSA7T to be entered in a drawing for free products.  If you are a brand new customer to me I will also send you a cardstock color swatch ring as a thank you from me!  All colors from the color collections included!  Make sure to not check the box about not wanting contact as then I can't see your information.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Sheltering Tree

Ink: Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Tangelo Twist, Soft Suede

Paper: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede

Accessories: dimensionals, candy dots

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Leaf Collage - Stampin' Up Vintage Leaves

  The maple trees in my front yard are finally changing and they look gorgeous! Nice bright reddish orange.  And since the sun is finally shinning after a few cloudy days they look even better.

  Since our fall days are almost gone I'm trying to share the last few seasonal cards I have in my files.  I made this card a while back and it fits in with my maple theme today!

  I didn't use quite as much red on my card as my real maple leaves but it's not too far off.  I cut a maple leaf out with the Leaflet Framelits and used the negative as a stencil and sponged the leaf in Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze and a tiny bit of Cherry Cobble on the edges.

  Next I stamped the smaller leaves right over the top in Tip Top Taupe ink.

  The sentiment is small and simple to keep the focus on the leaves.  A bit of lace trim, thick vanilla baker's twine and a pearl finish this card off.  

  I have created quite a few fall cards lately and on my agenda for today is to get a bunch written out and mailed to family and friends who we won't be seeing next week for Thanksgiving.  Even though they'll get a card in a few weeks for Christmas I want to let them know how thankful we are to know them.  

  Don't let your cards sit in a box waiting for the perfect time to send them.  Get them addressed and mailed out today!  No excuses!

Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Vintage Leaves, And Many More

Ink: Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Tip Top Taupe

Paper: Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla, Tip Top Taupe

Accessories: Leaflets Framelits, Lace trim, baker's twine, pearl, dimensionals

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Night Sky Village - Stampin' Up! Jingle All the Way

  Goodness am I behind in blogging!  I keep telling my stamping ladies that our class projects will be up on the blog to jog their memories of techniques, colors etc. but I can't seem to make the time to sit down and write them up!

  The card for today was just a quick card I made as a sample to show off the Sleigh Ride Edgelits and coordination Jingle All the Way stamp set a few months back.

  I used the Northern Lights sponging technique that I used on this card from a while back.

  Using a bit of emboss resist to get the snow falling down.  Just emboss before sponging on the ink.

  The edge of the village die cut has a thin layer of Dazzling Diamond.  And don't mind the leaning houses!  It is either very windy in this particular village or they are very old structures and taking on some lean in their old age!

  The sentiment is stamped in Rich Razzleberry.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Jingle All the Way

Ink: Versamark, Rich Razzleberry, Night of Navy

Paper: Whisper White

Accessories: Sleigh Ride Edgelits, Dazzling Diamonds, white embossing powder, dimensionals

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More Fall Leaves - Stampin' Up! Leaflet Framelits - Fab Friday 77

  There is not much more time left to make fall cards!  The leaves are dropping like crazy here in Central VA and I imagine they are mostly gone the more north you go.  And I heard something about snow in other parts of the country??!!  I like snow and winter but let's not rush things too much.

  To help you out with a few more autumn cards before it's too late the Fab Friday Challenge has a wonderful color challenge this time around.  And I'm looking forward to seeing what cards are made with these colors that aren't fallish.  It was all I could see when I made my card so I'm hoping to get more inspiration!

  Here is my no doubt about it fall card:

   I cut out the leaf shapes with the Leaflets framelits using the Kraft cardstock, rounded the corners and then stamped the Hardwood background in Crumb Cake ink.  The background is very light as I stamped it off once.  I like how it gives a nice faded look.  The edges are also sponged in Crumb Cake.

 To make the leaf colors I simply brushed them onto small scraps of watercolor paper and dried it with my heat gun.

  Once I attached the watercolor paper behind the leaf openings I carefully stamped the coordinating leaf image inside.  The photopolymer stamps make it easy to line up.  I also stamped off once for each stamp so they ended up not full crisp images just like the background.

  The sentiment from Good Greetings is stamped in Blackberry Bliss and punched with the Decorative Label punch.  Linen thread, a scrap of Very Vanilla seam binding and gold baker's twine finish off the sentiment.  I added some gold sequins around the leaves to tie in the twine and add some sparkle.

 I hope you'll check out the rest of the Fab Friday Design Team cards and play along with your own creation!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Vintage Leaves, Hardwood, Good Greetings (retired hostess set)

Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Cajun Craze, Hello Honey, Crumb Cake

Paper: Very Vanilla, watercolor paper, Kraft cardstock

Accessories: linen thread, gold baker's twine, Decorative Label punch, Leaflet framelits, sequins, corner rounder, Very Vanilla seam binding (retired)

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Thankful Fall Leaves - Stampin' Up! Vintage Leaves

  Today's card is one we made last month at stamp club.  As we come up on the end of the year holidays and are reminded of all the things we have to be thankful for I like to have some projects at class that reflect the season.

  As with yesterday's card  this one doesn't need a lot of fancy supplies.  It's what we in the biz call a SIP card.  That means Stamps, Ink, Paper.  No fancy die cutting (though we do love our Big Shots!), no fancy ribbon or over the top embellishments.  Just basic supplies.

  While you can make a beautiful SIP card with fancy techniques just using stamps, ink and paper this one is also a CAS (clean and simple) card.  And that means you can crank a bunch of these out in no time at all! Go ahead and stamp a whole sheet of Whisper White cardstock with the leaves, covering it all up and then cut it up in the size/sizes you need and add to a card front.  Done deal....you have Thanksgiving cards to send to family and friends!

  The colors used for the leaves are Cherry Cobbler, Smoky Slate and Delightful Dijon.  The leaf layer is backed by a slightly larger piece of Basic Gray for contrast against the thick Whisper White card base.

  The sentiment layer has one Delightful Dijon leaf stamped off once with the sentiment from And Many More stamped in Smoky Slate.  This layer is popped up with dimensionals across the card front.

  You can't get any easier than that!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Vintage Leaves, And Many More

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Smoky Slate, Delightful Dijon

Paper: Whisper White thick, Basic Gray

Accessories: dimensionals

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Purple Flower Birthday - Stampin' Up! Garden in Bloom

  I made this card a few weeks ago for my Mother-in-laws birthday.  She loves purple so I always try to incorporate some purple into cards I make for her.

  I used the Garden in Bloom stamp set to make this clean and simple (CAS) card.  The trick to this one is to stamp the flower and outline 3 times without reinking so you get 3 levels of color.

  I used Rich Razzleberry ink and then cut each flower out and popped it up with a dimensional.  The Happy Birthday is embossed in black embossing powder and is from the Remembering Your Birthday set.

  I added a small rhinestone to each flower center because really who doesn't like a bit of bling on their birthday!?

Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Garden in Bloom, Remembering Your Birthday

Ink: Rich Razzleberry,Versamark

Paper: Whisper White thick

Accessories: dimesionals, rhinestones, black embossing powder

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