Wreathes All Around - Stampin' Up! More Wishes

   I know I sounds like a broken record but I just love participating in challenges because they really do make me stretch creatively and try out colors and layouts that I never would have worked with otherwise.  And they also keep me from dithering around trying to decide where to start! And let's be honest I need to have some stamping focus a lot of the time!!

  I'm playing along with he Hand Stamped Sentiments crowd today.  I never would have brought these colors together on my own and I'm liking the end result!

  We're to use Berry Burst, Mossy Meadow and Pebbled Path.  And since I'm in full on Christmas mode I am turning every card that I can into a Christmas theme whether or not they might be considered traditional Christmas colors.

  The layout is a closed challenge at TGIF Challenges that I didn't get to in time to enter but it was a sketch that I wanted to try out.  This cards starts with a Pebbled Path base then a layer of 2023-2025 In Colors DSP in a polka dot pattern.

  The next layer is a piece of Basic White embossed with the Snowflake Sky embossing folder and then backed with a piece of Berry Burst.

  I cut 2 wreaths out of Mossy Meadow card stock using the Wishes All Around dies and stacked them together.  Then I cut a few sprigs out of Berry Burst Soft Shimmer paper and tucked them around the wreath.

  I stamped the sentiment with the More Wishes stamp set with the Christmas in Berry Burst and the wishes in Mossy Meadow and then cut them out.  I popped both up on dimensionals to the side of the wreath.

  Finally I added some retired  faceted gems to the wreath for a bit more sparkle and a Mossy Meadow cotton twine bow on the side.

  All of the current products used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: More Wishes

Ink: Mossy Meadow, Berry Burst

Paper: Pebbled Path, Basic White, Mossy Meadow, Berry Burst, Soft Shimmer paper, 2023-2025 In Color DSP

Accessories: Snowflake Sky embossing folder, Wishes All Around dies, dimensionals, gems (retired), cotton twine (retired)

Classic Christmas - Stampin' Up! Brightest Glow

   I've been playing around the last few days to design my projects for an upcoming class and while this one won't be a design my stampers make I was able to combine 2 challenges for this classic red, green and gold Christmas card.  The layout is from Freshly Made Sketches and the color palette is from The Paper Players.

  The base is Real Red and then another layer of Real Red embossed with the Cane Weave embossing folder.  The bottom strip is Basic White topped by a piece of Textured Shimmer paper in Shaded Spruce.  The other strip is a piece of Cherry Cobbler topped with a pattern of the Joy of Christmas DSP.

  For the element that goes across the card I used the Timeless Arrangements dies to cut the panel for the sentiment and the greenery bits.  I did add a tiny bit of Old Olive for some contrast with the Shaded Spruce and reds.

  The sentiment from Brightest Glow is stamped in Shaded Spruce and the whole arrangement is backed with a piece of retired gold shimmer ribbon.  I popped the whole element on dimensionals and added some faceted gold gems around it.

  All of the current products used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Brightest Glow

Ink: Shaded Spruce

Paper: Real Red, Shaded Spruce, Basic White, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Joy of Christmas DSP, Textured Shimmer paper

Accessories: Cane Weave embossing folder, Timeless Arrangements dies, dimensionals, gold shimmer ribbon (retired), gold faceted gems (retired)

Merry Christmas Ornaments - Stampin' Up! Merry Bold & Bright DSP

   Are you looking for a fun, colorful Christmas card design to make multiples of?  Have I got the card for you today; or rather 3 cards!!  I was playing around yesterday and ended up with these cards that are so easy to make and use the fun Merry Bold & Bright DSP but of course any paper could be used that you want!

 I am just loving this super simple card!  This one has a Melon Mambo base with a layer of Basic White embossed with the Snowflake Sky embossing folder.  I cut 3 Stylish Shapes circles, the 2 largest with the Merry Bold & Bright DSP and the smallest in Melon Mambo foil.  The silver foil "hangers" are cut with the lightbulb base in the Merry & Bright dies.  The sentiment from Brightest Glow is embossed on the foil with white embossing powder. And finally some silver twine tied in bows decorates the top of each ornament ball.

  

  The second version is in greens and blues with a Shaded Spruce base and the Merry Bold & Bright DSP in the Christmas tree and striped patterns.  This time I used he Granny Apple Green foil for the smallest ball with the same sentiment.

  And now the third version with a Crushed Curry base and patterns in pinks, red and Crushed Curry.  Instead of using the embossed foil on this one I stamped the 'joy' in Melon Mambo ink right onto the star pattern.

  All of the smallest ornaments are popped up with dimensionals for interest.  I loved mixing and matching the different patterns and finding the best combos!  

  Just a reminder for all those stampers out there starting to tense up a little about making Christmas cards; Remember, it's supposed to be fun making the cards and sending them out to friends and family.  It shouldn't be an added stress to an already busy time of year.  Do what you can and make multiples of designs like this.  Not every card has to be over the top!

  All of the products used to make these cards can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Brightest Glow

Ink: Versamark, Melon Mambo

Paper: Melon Mambo, Shaded Spruce, Crushed Curry, Basic White, silver foil, Merry Bold & Bright DSP, Melon Mambo foil, Granny Apple Green foil

Accessories: Stylish Shapes dies, Merry & Bright dies, dimensionals, white embossing powder, silver twine(retired)

Buzzy Bee - Stampin' Up! Bee My Valentine ***PREVIEW***

     One of the many benefits of being a Stampin' Up! demo is that you get to attend demonstrator only events!  Imagine thousands of other people who are as excited about stamping as you??!!  At these events we get to learn about new products that are coming, fun stamping demonstrations and business training not to mention swag and prizes!  I attended an online event this past weekend and had a great time and today I'm going to show one of the projects we made with an upcoming set that will be released in the Jan.-Apr. 2024 Mini catalog.

   The Bee My Valentine stamp set and coordinating Bee Builder punch are just adorable and you will certainly see more of it as we get closer to the new mini catalog release date.  

  The patterned paper is new also and is called Bee Mine DSP.  The suite also contains the little shape embellishments and ribbon too!  The whole set of products is very sweet and cheerful.  I can't wait to make more cards for all occasions with it!

  While some of the products used to make this card are not yet released(*) the cardstock and inks are available for purchased through my ONLINE STORE.  If you're interested in getting access to these products now just let me know and I'll tell you how you can get this and other benefits!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Bee My Valentine*

Ink: Pool Party, Memento Black, Daffodil Delight

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Pool Party, Bee Mine DSP*

Accessories: Bee Builder punch*, adhesive-backed hearts & flowers*, dimensionals

*products will be available in the Jan.-April 2024 Stampin' Up! mini catalog coming Jan. 4, 2024

2023 Seasonal Sale!

 Seasonal Sale Starts Tomorrow!

November 14-16 Only!

• 10% off Ribbons and Trims
• 15% off Inks, Ink Pads, Refills, Markers & Blends
• 20% off Card Stocks, Designer Series Papers & Specialty Papers

 Order from my ONLINE STORE using my monthly Host Code to be entered to win door prizes!  Host Code: N2NPZ2UT

Cozy Winter - Stampin' Up! Ringed with Nature

   Sometimes I wish I had a stamp room that was big enough to keep all of the retired Stampin' Up! products from over the years.  Every once in a while I could use some of those retired stamps or dies or embossing folders to make the card I have in my mind come to life.  Alas, my room is only about 10x10 and certainly doesn't have enough storage capability to hold 15 years worth of retired items so I have to make do with what is current!  

  I saw the adorable inspiration photo over at the Inspired By challenge and wished that I had some old gnome sets as well as some knitted embossing folders because this photo is just so cozy that I wanted to re-create it.  I decided to try and make a cozy feeling card with things I did have handy.  Everything is current except for the paisley DSP and he ribbon both of which retired several years ago.

  The gray color palette was pretty so I wanted to capture that in my card as well.

  I started with a Basic White thick base, then cut a piece of Basic Gray and topped it with the paisley DSP from the retired Well Suited pack.  A length of Basic Gray shimmer ribbon (which I believe was a SAB reward a number of years ago) goes around the rectangle layer.

  I cut a basic White Deckled Rectangle then added my stamped and fussy cut house and embossed hearts. The house is Basic Gray and Smoky Slate and the hearts are embossed in white on Basic Gray cardstock. All images are popped on dimensionals. Both images are from the Ringed with Nature stamp set.  Hopefully you get that the hearts are little puffs of smoke coming from the cozy little house's chimney!

  The sentiment is stamped in Basic Gray and punched out and is also popped.  The last thing to be added is the fork bow made from the shimmer ribbon.

  All of the current items can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Ringed with Nature

Ink: Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Versamark

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Basic Gray, Well Suited DSP (retired)

Accessories: Deckled Rectangle dies, dimensionals, circle punch,  white embossing powder, shimmer ribbon (retired)

Frosty Snowflake - Stampin' Up! Snow Crystal

   My card today is using the colors over at The Color Hues challenge.  I love the purple and light blue pairing and thought the frosty colors would be perfect for some snow.  Snow is probably a long way off for us here in central Virginia so I'll just have to make do with it in ink form for now.

  I started with a Basic White base then used a smaller layer of Basic White and embossed the big Snow Crystal snowflake in white.  Then using blending brushes and Balmy Blue and Highland Heather ink I blended from the top left corner starting with the Balmy Blue and ending with Highland Heather in the opposite corner.

  A length of white iridescent ribbon  anchors the right side of the card.  The sentiment from More Wishes is stamped in Balmy Blue and is fussy cut and then popped on dimensionals in the lower corner.

  I found a few stray iridescent adhesive sequins in my retired stash so I scattered some of those across the card front as the final embellishment.

  All of the current products used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Snow Crystal, More Wishes

Ink: Versamark, Balmy Blue, Highland Heather

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White

Accessories: white embossing powder,  iridescent ribbon, sequins

Autumn Layers - Stampin' Up! Layering Leaves

   I made today's card for the Color Throwdown challenge.  When I saw these colors all I could think of was "autumn".  I even tried pulling a few Christmas sets to go in a different direction but autumn was cemented in my brain so I stopped fighting it and created a seasonal thinking of you card.

  I paired up Layering Leaves bundle with carryover products from last year; Ringed with Nature stamp set, dies and embossing folder.

  Since I re-discovered this nice Pecan Pie plaid from the Let's Go Fishing DSP last week I wanted to use it again as a nice neutral background for the other elements of the card.  We're to use Kraft (Crumb Cake), Brown, Yellow Gold, and Red for the challenge.  So I thought the browns would be the main colors with pops of the yellow and red.

  

  The Crumb Cake layer is embossed with the Ringed With Nature embossing folder.  The sentiment from Ringed With Nature is stamped on Very Vanilla with Pecan Pie ink and die cut with the Stylish Shapes dies.

  I stamped several of the Layering Leaves branches in Pecan Pie ink onto Crushed Curry and Poppy Parade and punched them out with the coordinating punch.  I layered the stamped branches with some die cut branches from the Ringed With Nature dies behind the sentiment and popped the whole thing on dimensionals.

 

  I added a linen twine bow to the side and some Crumb Cake adhesive-back speckled dots under the sentiment.

  All of the products used on this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Ringed With Nature, Layering Leaves

Ink: Pecan Pie

Paper: Let's Go Fishing DSP, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Pecan Pie, Poppy Parade, Crushed Curry

Accessories: Ringed with Nature dies/embossing folder, Stylish Shapes dies, Bough punch, dimensionals, linen twine, adhesive-backed speckled dots