Sunset Relaxation - Stampin' Up! Palms Dies

   Sometimes a mistake in shipping can be a royal pain and other times a happy accident.  My big mini catalog preorder mistakenly included the Palms dies instead of another die set which I ordered.  Stampin' Up! was of course very quick to fix the mistake and let me keep the Palms dies so I figured I should have some fun with it!

  In the last few months I discovered a new to me challenge which is all CAS.  The Perfectly CAS challenge is a fun one that really makes a stamper pare down a design to 1/3 or less of the card front and really keep to the spirit of a clean and simple card.  Easier said than done most of the time but I wanted to give their current challenge a go with these new surprise dies!  The theme is Sky or Sea so I decided a beautiful sky to complement the palm tree die was a great challenge.

  I started with a narrow strip of Basic White and blended colors with blending brushes starting in the lower corner with Daffodil Delight and then working my way up getting darker as I went and ending with Misty Moonlight.  I layered the colored strip onto a Basic White thick base.

  I cut the palm tree and grassy hill out of Basic Black and adhered them on top of the colored strip.  Finally I added a small sentiment from Many Happenings in black.

  In the spirit of Clean and Simple I refrained from adding any ribbon, twine or rhinestones which was hard but less is more sometimes and I'm pleased with how this card turned out.   

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Many Happenings 

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Mango Melody, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Misty Moonlight, Memento Black

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic Black 

Accessories: Palms dies, blending brushes

Celebrate 2022 - Stampin' Up! Brilliant Rainbow Dies

   When the Christmas card rush is over I always make some card to celebrate the new year.  We have some people in our circle who don't celebrate Christmas so we send them a New Years card to wish them well and let them know they are thought of.  I'm sharing this one over at Global Design Project which has a theme of Celebrations for the current challenge.

  And as always, foil is so hard to photograph.  The one line in the rainbow is not a weird yellow but gold foil.  I promise it looks better in person!  

  I had fun using the new Brilliant Rainbow dies to put this one together.  Actually I made 4 cards as the rainbow die cuts 4 pieces at a time so I used the 4 different papers and then mixed and matched and wasted no pieces.

  The card starts with a Soft Sea Foam base, then a layer of Basic White embossed with Tasteful Textile embossing folder.  Then I added my rainbow arches in Rose Gold Metallic paper, Misty Moonlight, Gold Foil and Sunshine & Rainbows DSP (Sale-a-Bration item).

  Using the Playful Alphabet dies I cut the numbers out of foam adhesive sheets and another pattern from the Sunshine & Rainbows DSP and made my year.  I embossed in gold the scripty "happy" from Biggest Wish, fussy cut and then popped it on dimensionals. 

  A few champagne rhinestones for a little more sparkle finish off the details.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Biggest Wish

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Soft Sea Foam, Basic White, Misty Moonlight, gold foil, Rose Gold Metallic, Sunshine & Rainbows DSP (SAB)

Accessories: Brilliant Rainbow dies, Playful Alphabet dies, Tasteful Textile embossing folder, gold embossing powder, foam sheets, champagne rhinestones, dimensionals

Golden Joy - Stampin' Up! Gingerbread Dies

   Only a few days left to be able to share Christmas cards so I figured I should get on it.  I designed this card for some challenge or other that had Navy and gold as the color combo.  It was fun to do a classic color combo after some of the bright and crazy colors I had been working with at the time. 

  My husband liked the design so much that he asked if he could re-create it and use it for his team Christmas cards.  He did a great job with all the stamping and die cutting and his team was very impressed when they received them.

  A bit of gold foil and gold ink and foam adhesive sheets are really the only supplies needed for this design.  Any detailed ornament or star shape would work if you don't have the Gingerbread dies.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Sparkle of the Season

Ink: Gold

Paper: Very Vanilla thick, Very Vanilla, Night of Navy, Gold foil

Accessories: Gingerbread dies, Stitched So Sweetly dies, Playful Alphabet dies, foam adhesive sheets, dimensionals, gold edged satin ribbon (retired)
 

 

Otterly Awesome - Stampin' Up! Awesome Otters

   I'm having fun breaking in my new stamps and the Awesome Otters (Sale-a-Bration reward) was the lucky one that saw ink yesterday.  I saw the new Inspire. Create. Challenges pop up and thought what great timing for a color challenge with browns! 

  It's a basic card as I was making it with the thought of giving it to one of my boys.  They don't appreciate a lot of froof on cards but they do appreciate a good pun so I let the stamps do all the work.

  I started with a Basic White thick card base then I stamped the otter in Early Espresso in the corner of another piece of Basic White that is cut 1/4" smaller than the card front.  I didn't stamp the otter directly onto the card base since I didn't want the Blends coloring to seep through to the inside.  I colored him with Cinnamon Cider and Crumb Cake Blends.

I topped that with a piece of Beauty of the Earth DSP with a circle cut from the corner to show the cute otter.  The sentiment is embossed in white and then I highlighted it with a row of the new Pebble enamel shapes in the Cinnamon Cider color.  They are such a cool new embellishment and I can't wait to see all the creative ways people with use them on projects!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Awesome Otters (SAB)

Ink: Early Espresso, Versamark

Blends: Crumb Cake light & dark, Cinnamon Cider light & dark

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Beauty of the Earth DSP

Accessories: Circle dies, white embossing powder, Pebbles enamel shapes

Sweet Hearts - Stampin' Up! Sweet Conversations

  It's always fun to have a whole box of new supplies to create with and I'm trying to go through each new set/bundle and make at least one card to get me started.  The bundle that I chose to work with today was the Sweet Conversations bundle.  Valentine's day is the next card heavy holiday on the calendar so I want to get going with all the hearts!  I'm excited for January 4 when these items will be available to all when the Jan.-June 2022 mini catalog goes live.

  I combined 2 different challenges for this card.  The colors come from The Color Throwdown and the layout is from Freshly Made Sketches.  I think it's a great combination!

   I started with a Mint Macaron base with a layer of Blushing Bride next.  I embossed a piece of Basic White with the new Gingham embossing folder.

  After stamping and cutting out the hearts and little tag I arranged them according to the sketch and popped them with dimensionals. Next I  added the sentiment strip and a few Iridescent Rhinestones for a little bling.

  I'm definitely going to have fun creating Valentine's Day cards with this bundle!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Sweet Conversations

Ink: Mint Macaron, Blushing Bride, Real Red

Paper: Mint Macaron, Blushing Bride, Basic White

Accessories: Sweet Hearts dies, Gingham embossing folder, Real Red Faux Linen ribbon, Iridescent Rhinestones, dimensionals

Friendly Birthday Wishes - Stampin' Up! Friendly Hello

  I rewarded myself for finishing my Christmas cards the other day with some stamping time getting to play around with some new products that will be out on January 4.  I used the the sketch challenge at Global Design Project for this sweet birthday card.

  I haven't done any watercoloring in a long time (probably because it isn't one of my strengths lol!) and the images in this set are perfect for it and even make my limited skills look ok!  They are from Friendly Hello which will be one of the new Sale-a-Bration rewards! I first embossed the images in black on watercolor paper.  Then using brushes and inks I colored the images and then fussy cut them.

  The sentiment is also embossed and I arranged the flowers and bird around the sentiment strip to go with the sketch.  The background paper is another Sale-a-Bration choice called Sunshine & Rainbows 6x6 DSP. I also added a narrow strip of Granny Apple Green to the edge to bring more of that color to card. 

  The final touch are a few Iridescent Rhinestone Basic Jewels sprinkled around the sentiment. These are in the upcoming January-June Mini catalog also coming in January.  

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Friendly Hello (SAB)

Ink: Versamark, Fresh Freesia, Granny Apple Green, Petal Pink

Paper: Basic White thick, Granny Apple Green, Sunshine & Rainbows DSP (SAB), watercolor paper

Accessories: Iridescent Rhinestone Basic Jewels

 

Blushing Christmas - Stampin' Up! Sparkle of the Season

 Pink, gray and silver are always a winning color combination and at Christmas even more so. I went full on Blushing Bride and silver for this card.

  The Sparkle of the Season bundle paired with a piece of the iridescent Whimsy & Wonder DSP makes this a fun layered Christmas card.  I love the double wreath with the stamped bit in Smoky Slate and then topped with a die cut wreath in silver foil.  A piece of Blushing Bride Frayed ribbon adds a bit of texture as well.

  I hope you're making your lists and checking them twice in Christmas preparations!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Sparkle of the Season

Ink: Smoky Slate, Blushing Bride, silver

Paper: Blushing Bride, Basic White, Silver foil, Whimsy & Wonder DSP

Accessories: Seasonal Swirl dies, Layering Square dies (retired), Blushing Bride frayed ribbon, dimensionals, Blushing Bride baker's twine, From My Heart faceted gems, candy dots (retired)

Snowy Stocking - Stampin' Up! Sweet Little Stockings

   I'm winding down on Christmas cards to share so I better find some time to do some stamping with my preorder or it will be radio silence here for a while!

  My card today uses some bits and pieces that I had colored a while ago and I finally put them into the form of a card.  Many of the items on this card are retiring on January 4th and are on the Last Chance list.  Check the online store for what's still available.  Many products have already sold out but you might get lucky so don't wait to shop.  My store link is in the sidebar.

  

The Whimsy & Wonder DSP makes a nice little starry night background for the stocking, snowflake and gift.  

  I colored the elements with Stampin' Blends (colors listed below) and then popped them up wtih dimensionals and added a few gems, rhinestones and snowflake sequins for accessories.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Sweet Little Stockings, Christmas to Remember

Ink: Memento Black, Fresh Freesia

Blends: Misty Moonligh light & dark, Fresh Freesia light & dark, Soft Sea Foam light & dark

Paper: Basic White thick, Whimsy & Wonder, Basic White

Accessories: corner rounder, Wonderful Snowflakes, Stocking dies, sequins, gems, snowflake sequins, dimensionals, white baker's twine

Rustic Christmas - Stampin' Up! Frosted Gingerbread

   I finally started writing out my Christmas cards last night!  I totally failed on being prepared earlier in the month by forgetting to take a photo of the boys and then when I finally remember to do it the photo printing place was a week out on delivery so that pushed it all back even further!  But it did give me time to make a few more designs to round out the supply.  It will have to be enough and anyone that misses out on Christmas cards from us will just be getting a Happy New Years card instead...no biggie, it's the thought that counts right?

  Not a cookie in sight on today's card even though I used the Frosted Gingerbread dies and one of the sentiments.  I decided to go with a rustic feel with some distressing and wood grain paper paired with a bit of gold and red foil.

   I pulled in a lot of different papers to make this one.  I even dug through my vault of retired papers and used a bit of old Typeset Specialty paper.  I crumpled it up a few times and then distressed the edges before stamping a few pine boughs from from the Christmas Season set in stamped off once Evening Evergreen.  I did the same distressing to the Evening Evergreen cardstock layer as well. The wood grain paper is in the In Good Taste DSP pack and makes a nice rustic background against the gold and red foil stars.

  I used the ornament shape from the Gingerbread dies to cut out the gold embossed sentiment and popped it up on dimensionals and added a few retired metallic enamel shapes.  A bit of gold thread tied in a bow finishes off the details on this card.

  I hope you've been better than me and have all your Christmas card made and sent out! Wish me luck with the rest of mine today!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Frosted Gingerbread, Christmas Season

Ink: Evening Evergreen, Versamark

Paper: Very Vanilla thick, In Good Taste DSP, Evening Evergreen, Gold foil, Red foil, Typeset Specialty DSP (retired)

Accessories: gold embossing powder, Gingerbread dies, dimensionals, gold thread (retired), enamel shapes (retired)

Silver & Mint Christmas - Stampin' Up! Whimsical Trees

   It seems that I shouldn't have bothered to buy any Christmas stamp set other than Whimsical Trees!  I would definitely say this was my most used set this holiday season!  I really did love the other ones but I just found so many different ways to use this one that I couldn't stop reaching for it.

  Today my card is made using the sketch from the Inspire. Create. Challenges.

  I liked the interest that the angle brought and took advantage of it by using a strip of silver foil paper to highlight it and bring the eye to the tree.  The Whimsy & Wonder DSP has a nice silver/iridescent feature on this pattern that complements the silver embossing and silver sequins.  I kept the stamping simple with just the tree, background on the oval and the tiny 'merry' sentiment.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Whimsical Trees, Christmas to Remember

Ink: Versamark, Mint Macaron

Paper: Mint Macaron, Basic White, Whimsy & Wonder DSP, Silver foil

Accessories: silver embossing powder, Stitched Shapes dies (retired), dimensionals, silver sequins, silver baker's twine, Winter Snow embossing folder (retired)

Christmas in Gold - Stampin' Up! Whimsical Trees - Paper Players 571

   I just can't get enough of designing with the Whimsical Trees bundle and I'm so sorry this is one set that isn't carrying over!  But I'm getting as much use out of it as I can before it retires in January so I'm using it yet again for a Paper Players challenge!  The newest challenge is from LeAnne and she has given some fab colors to work with for this last challenge of 2021!  We are using Merry Merlot, Shaded Spruce, Vanilla and Gold!  So gorgeous!

  I used the layout from the TGIF Challenges as that tag element worked perfectly for my tall Christmas tree.

  There is a lot of gold on this card and I hope it's not too much lol!  I've got gold embossing along the edge of the Shaded Spruce DSP as well as on the tree and the sentiment.  Gold edged ribbon and some gold star sequins on the sentiment are some nice shiny accessories.  And I lightly sponged gold ink onto the raised pattern on the Merry Melody embossed panel.  The tree topper star and backing layer on the tree are made with the gold from the Gold & Rose Gold specialty paper from the annual catalog.

  Check out what the awesome Paper Players design team did with these colors and then play along with us!

Jaydee
 LeAnne
Claire
Joanne
Laurie
Anne Marie
Ann
Nancy
Debbie 

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Whimsical Trees, Frosted Gingerbread

Ink: Versamark, Gold ink

Paper: Merry Merlot, Shaded Spruce, Very Vanilla, Gold & Rose Gold Specialty Paper, 'Tis the Season DSP (retired)

Accessories: Merry Melody embossing folder, Stitched Stars die, Tasteful Labels dies, Christmas Tree dies, gold embossing powder, Gold Metallic Edged ribbon (retired), dimensionals, star sequins (retired)

Frosty Tree - Stampin' Up! Whimsical Trees

   My card today is playing along with the Freshly Made Sketches challenge (of which I took a small liberty with where I placed my sentiment).  I liked this layout a lot because I don't tend to use the landscape orientation nearly as much as portrait so I need to be reminded that I can indeed turn my card base and design the long way too!

  I made this blue and white card to show off the pattern of Beauty of the Earth DSP that I had almost forgot about!  When I got this pack of paper over the summer I was really focusing on using the summer and fall patterns and this one with the kind of frosted pine tree look got set aside "until it was closer to Christmas".  And here are almost at Christmas and I just cut into it now! Story of my stamping life!

  The white layers on this card are Shimmery white so it's got a nice subtle sheen to it that doesn't pick up in the photo.  The dots on the tree are made with the retired Illuminate ink we had a few years ago.  I was pleasantly surprised that my pad was still juicy when I opened it.

  The retired Winter Snow embossing folder gives a nice texture to the bottom of the card and some iridescent sequins, adhesive pearls and crinkled seam binding ribbon finish off the details.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Whimsical Trees, Holly Jolly Wishes

Ink: Misty Moonlight, Illuminate (retired)

Paper: Misty Moonlight, Shimmery White, Beauty of the Earth DSP

Accessories: Christmas Trees dies, crinkled seam binding ribbon, Winter Snow embossing folder (retired), sequins, pears, dimensionals

Classic Christmas Stocking - Stampin' Up! Sweet Little Stockings

   I'm still working on my Christmas cards.  I think I have ones for all the "must send" people but I always like to have a few extras to go with some gifts and last minute needs. 

  I had a few of these stockings colored from a while ago and I just hadn't gotten around to getting them on a card.  The current challenge over at the Color Hues Challenge is red & green so that was the perfect time to get my butt in gear and use these stockings before it was too late!

    

  Paired with a Real Red base and a piece of Heartwarming Hugs DSP this card comes together really quickly (especially because I had the coloring already finished!).  I tucked a few candy canes in the top before popping the stocking up on dimensionals.

  I added a Real Red baker's twine bow and some Wonderful Gems to finish off this Christmas classic.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Sweet Little Stockings, Holly Jolly Wishes

Ink: Memento black

Blends: Real Red light & dark, Old Olive light & dark

Paper: Real Red, Basic White, Heartwarming Hugs DSP

Accessories: Stockings Dies, dimensionals, Wonderful Gems, Real Red baker's twine

Merry x 3 - Stampin' Up! Christmas Trees Dies

 Just a really quick post this morning to share a card I made for the current Global Design Project color challenge.  They are using Garden Green, Mint Macaron and Cherry Cobbler this week.  Perfect colors for me to make a few more Christmas cards.

  I used the snowflake pattern from the Adorning Designs Decorative masks and white craft ink to make the snowflakes on the card base.  

 The Stitched So Sweetly scalloped rectangle is embossed with the retire Subtle embossing folder just for some added texture.

  The trees are cut using the 2 smallest tree dies in the Christmas Trees dies.  The sentiment is embossed in white 3 times on the challenge colors and hand trimmed and added with dimensionals.  The final touches are a Cherry Cobbler baker's twine bow and small gold star sequins at the tops of the trees.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Christmas to Remember

Ink: white craft, Versamark

Paper: Garden Green, Basic White, Mint Macaron, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Stitched So Sweetly dies, Christmas Trees dies, Adorning Accents masks, Subtle embossing folder (retired), bakers twine, star sequins, dimensionals

Tab Closure Card - How To VIDEO - Stampin' Up! Christmas Season

   My stampers made this Tab Closure card last week at class and it's such a classy looking Christmas card!  I had fun designing this one and then doing a video to show how to put it together.

Look at how it opens!

  Check out the video to see how easy this card is to make!  I've listed the relevant cutting and scoring information below as well.

 

  The card base is 7 1/2" x 5 1/2" and is scored at 4 1/4"

  The tabs are scored at 1 1/4"

  Once you've got the tabs attached you can go ahead and add whatever elements and embellishments you want.  Check out the video for a start to finish look at putting this card together.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Christmas Season

Ink: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler, Evening Evergreen

Paper: Evening Evergreen, Basic White, Painted Christmas DSP

Accessories: Seasonal Labels dies, dimensionals, gilded gems, linen thread, velcro dots

Sweet Little Christmas Kitty - Stampin' Up! Sweet Little Stockings

   I had my last class of the year last week and we had fun making Christmas cards.  I always preorder way more products than I can ever hope to show to their fullest but I try to use each stamp set at least once in class.  Maybe I need to add a few extra Christmas card classes in next year??

  The Sweet Little Stockings set and matching dies caught my eye not just because of the sweet pets included but also because the little stockings and gifts were just so colorable!  They can be stamped on colored cardstock for a cute look but they really shine when colored with Stampin' Blends markers.  Also, the images aren't so big that it takes forever to color which in a class setting is a good thing too!  But at home stampers can zip through coloring a bunch of images in no time.

  For the class my stampers had a choice of pet to use as well as what colors to use to color them.  It was fun seeing them customize the pets to match their own dog or cat or to make them match the intended recipients pet.

   Some things to note on this card; the embossing is done with the Merry Melody embossing folder which I'm happy to say will be carrying over.   For the holly berries we used the Red Velvet paper which even in small amounts is a really cool element but is not carrying over.

  The Sweet Little Stockings and Stockings dies are on the Last Chance list.  The bundle is not on sale but the Stockings dies are on sale for 50% off on their own so order the dies and stamp set separately and save $10! 

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Sweet Little Stockings, Holly Jolly Wishes

Ink: Memento Black

Blends: Real Red light & dark (Shaded Spruce light & dark were also a choice), Smoky Slate light & dark, (various other neutrals were also available for the pet coloring)

Paper: Real Red, Peaceful Prints (SAB), Shaded Spruce, Basic White, Red Velvet paper

Accessories: Stockings dies, dimensionals, Merry Melody embossing folder, red rhinestones

Whimsical Wonderland - Stampin' Up! Whimsical Trees - Paper Players 570

   It was a busy week and I'm glad to be starting fresh today!  I worked smarter, not harder (I hope!) last week and was able to design this card to work for my stamp club as well as for the newest Paper Players challenge which opens today.  Jaydee has given us the fun theme of 'Winter Wonderland' to work with.  It's the perfect inspiration if you still have some more Christmas cards to make.  

  My card is definitely winter and it's certainly a whimsical wonderland with these fun non-traditional Christmas colors.  

  The 3 trees in the center of the cluster were all embossed with clear embossing powder and then using the emboss resist technique the 3 ink colors were blended on with blending brushes letting the embossing just pop against the colors.

  I added 2 skinny trees for balance; one in Granny Apple Green and the other cut from Whimsy & Wonder DSP.  All the trees are mounted on a Basic White panel with a stitched border from the Stitched with Whimsy dies.  Some Coastal Cabana ink is lightly blended in the middle to give the trees an area to be grounded upon.

  The sentiment banner is stamped in Coastal Cabana and then popped.  A Polished Pink ribbon and some sequins and gem finish off the details.

  The Paper Players Design Team always has wonderful ideas so definitely check them out and then come play along with us.

Jaydee
 LeAnne
Claire
Joanne
Laurie
Anne Marie
Ann
Nancy
Debbie 

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Whimsical Trees

Ink: Versamark, Coastal Cabana, Granny Apple Green, Polished Pink

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Coastal Cabana, Granny Apple Green, Whimsy & Wonder DSP

Accessories: Christmas Trees dies, Stitched with Whimsy dies, clean embossing powder, blending brushes, dimensionals, sequins, In Color gems, Polish Pink ribbon

Last Chance List & Discounts!

   Don't miss out on items from the Stampin' Up! July-December Mini Catalog!  One month left to order these products before they're gone!  From now until January 3 while supplies last!  Shop Last Chance Products HERE!

  Shop with me online using Host Code: PTSH7XB7 and get entered to my monthly door prize drawing! Every $25 ordered (before tax/shipping) gets you one chance!  Orders over $150 don't use the code but still get the chances!