Cards

Santa’s Sleigh

by

santas-sleigh-1016It’s definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Denver.  We had a little snow overnight and woke up to temperatures in the teens.  Brrrrr!  We don’t usually get that cold!

This is another one of my favorite cards that we made in class this fall.  My favorite part is the tree.  It’s a really cool tree!  🙂

The embossed falling snow is perfect because it’s still lightly snowing.  One nice thing about Denver is that even though it’s cold and snowy today, tomorrow it will get up to 50 degrees and the snow will be gone!

All of the images are die-cut with the COORDINATING Santa’s Sleigh Thinlits.  Boy does that make things easy!  One of the tips I have for you on this card is to remember to stamp the sentiment on the white card stock BEFORE running it through the Big Shot!  It’s makes things SO much easier!  🙂

The other tip would be to cut a little slit in the wreath in order to get it around the deer’s neck.  It will go over the head but with a lot of work and you could bend the antlers.

I’m all ready to snuggle up in my warm and cozy house on this chilly day.  I’d love to read a book all day but there’s too much to do!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Hang Your Stocking

by

hang-your-stocking-1-0816Christmas stockings are so much fun!  The Hang Your Stocking stamp set and the COORDINATING Thinlits were some of my first purchases from the Holiday Catalog.

Christmas stockings come in all shapes and sizes.  When I go to someone’s house over the holidays I love to see what their Christmas stockings look like.

When my oldest son was born I made Christmas stockings for the three of us.  I cross-stitched the tops of all of them and sewed them together.  We each have a different little design next to our names.  They turned out pretty cute and I made another one for my younger son after he was born.  However….my poor daughter-in-law doesn’t have her own yet.  When my parents were cleaning out their house before they moved my mom gave me my stocking from my childhood that my grandmother had made for me.  It’s felt with a felt design on it and all sorts of sequins and such.  I use that one for me now and my DIL gets to use my cross-stitched one with a little tag with her name pinned to it.  It’s pretty lame.  One of these days I AM going to make her a stocking!  🙂

But back to paper crafting!  What do you think of the cable knit background?  Don’t you just love the new Cable Knit Dynamic Embossing Folder.  It gives such a deep, dimensional impression!  I knew I had to pair it with the Christmas stocking!

I bet you’re wondering how I made my hand-drawn stitches so perfectly….well, its your Tip of the Day!  I first die cut my oval.  Then I took the next smallest oval die and laid it on top of the die cut oval.  The outside of the smaller die lined up perfectly with the outside of the die cut image.  Then I was able to use the inside of the smaller die as my template and drew my little stitch marks!  How clever is that?!  🙂

Send me a photo of your Christmas stockings!  I’d love to see them!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping.

Jolly Santa Hat

by

hat-builder-1116At Stamp Camp in October my friend Jan had decorated all the gift bags for the participants with this adorable design.  I knew the design itself was simple enough for a Card Buffet class but I also knew that die-cutting the “jolly” would be a little more time consuming for people and might not work for the class.

So…I came up with design #2.  It had the same basic layout:  hat, jolly, and layers.  At first I thought “Hmm…this could work”.  But you know what?  I was missing the sparkle!

How can you not use Glimmer paper on a Christmas card?  Sheesh!  It was no contest.  I had to use design #1 in the class so I pre-cut all the “jolly” elements for people.  It really wasn’t too bad.  Tip:  I used wax paper between the die and the glimmer paper along with using the Precision Base Plate on my Big Shot and the Big Shot Die Brush and the words popped out easily.   I even used this card in a couple parties because it is TSC!  Too Stinkin’ Cute!  🙂

Tip:  When using the Glimmer Paper you need to use either Fast Fuse, Tear & Tape or Mini Glue Dots to adhere something to the Glimmer Paper or to adhere the Glimmer Paper to something else because of the glitter and the thickness of the paper.

Which card do you like best?  Leave a comment and let me know.

Have a jolly day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Simple Saturday: Twinkle Trees

by

twinkle-trees-1116Yep!  It’s time to start thinking about Christmas.  I finally have my Thanksgiving things put away and it’s on to Christmas.  I’m not sure if we’ll put the tree up this weekend but I will get the space cleared for it.

When do you all put your tree up? We don’t have a specific time/weekend or anything.  It goes up when we get around to it.  I’d love to know your traditions so leave a comment and share!

This is a nice and simple card for Simple Saturday.  A few layers, some baker’s twine and the option of some falling “snow” run through the Big Shot.  The “garland” is simple to line up over the tree because the Twinkle Trees stamp set is photopolymer.  I’m really liking photopolymer lately.  The only bad thing about it is that it stains but even then you can still see through it..  I did pop up the red layer to add a little dimension to this easy card.

I hope your Saturday is simple.  Don’t fret or worry.  Just do your thing.  I’m going to get ready for my Christmas tree as well as design some cards using new products for my team gathering next Saturday.  Have a great day! Take care and Happy Stamping!

Cookie Cutter Reindeer

by

cookie-cutter-christmas-1116TSC!  Too Stinkin’ Cute!  I love this little reindeer!  I was pretty tickled with the way that this card turned out.  I needed a simple card for my Christmas Card Buffet but I still wanted a card with a little something extra.  I think I hit the mark with this one.  My philosophy is that you can’t go wrong with layers and a little ribbon (baker’s twine).  I popped up the Early Espresso layer as well as the reindeer head.

I’m still amazed at how if you can punch out this little guy using the Cookie Cutter Builder Punch which looks like a gingerbread man.  That is pretty darn creative if you ask me.

It’s Year-end Closeout time at Stampin’ Up! and I’m happy to say that the Cookie Cutter Christmas stamp set and the Cookie Cutter Builder Punch are sticking around for a little while but if you want the Cookie Cutter Halloween stamp set you better order it before December 21st.  After that it will only be available while supplies last and who knows how long that will be.

yearendcloseout_shareables_eng_6If you haven’t had a chance to shop the Closeout Sale hop on over to my online store and check it out!  There are some great deals.  The Closeout Sale has items from the Clearance Rack, items from the Holiday Catalog that won’t be carrying over as well as items from the Annual Catalog with excessive inventory.  Don’t miss out!  Some items are available only while supplies last!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Easy Christmas Pines

by

christmas-pines-0916I designed this card for my first Card Buffet class a few weeks ago where you could come and make as many cards of any design as you like.  It’s a simple card but it’s one of my favorites of all the Christmas cards I’ve designed this fall.

The Presents & Pinecones Designer Series Paper works perfectly for the card.  There is a holly design that works too.  Designer paper, sentiment, ribbon and layers.  That’s all you need to whip up this beautiful and simple card.

The Cherry Cobbler layer is popped up with Stampin’ Dimensionals to give the card a little added dimension.  Have you started (finished?) your Christmas cards yet?  If not this one will take you no time at all.  You can check out the products I used below.  Last night and this morning I had my Christmas Tags class so while my guests were working on their tags I was working on Christmas cards.  I didn’t design a special card to send out.  I just cut extra cards from all of my Christmas card classes this fall and now I’m stamping them and putting them together.  I’m off to a good start.  How about you?

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Last Day!

by

onlineex_shareable-2_nov2116_na

Today’s the last day!  Don’t miss out!  There are some really great deals out there!  Since it’s the last day of the sale there are some new items that are only available today!  Check out the picture below:onlineex_flash-shareable_nov2816_na

flurry-of-wishes-1116Here’s a gorgeous card that’s made using the Snow Flurry Bundle (stamp set and COORDINATING punch!) that’s on sale TODAY!  Get on over to my Online Store and get these products while they’re on sale!  If you’d like to recreate this card just check out the supplies below.

I’ve got my order all ready to put in today.  Do you?

Happy Cyber Monday!  Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Seasonal Bells

by

seasonal-bells1-1116Silver Bells….Silver Bells….It’s Christmas time in the city…..

Sorry…I’m one of those people who will start singing a song when they hear words that can be lyrics to songs.  I can’t help myself.  I love to sing!

But I digress….I wanted to tell you about this beautiful Christmas card.  It’s made with the Seasonal Bells stamp set and the COORDINATING Bell Punch!  Woo Hoo!  COORDINATION!  My favorite word when it comes to crafting!

All of the stamped images you see on the card are from the Seasonal Bells stamp set.  I love all the swirly designs.  There are actually four different bell images in the stamp set.  There are even sentiments/images to make wedding cards!  Versatility!  My second favorite word when it comes to crafting!

So what are your favorite words when it comes to crafting?  Leave a comment and let me know!

I’m off to get ready for our annual Thanksgiving Leftover Night.  We usually do it on the Saturday evening following Thanksgiving but a few of our regulars had plans so we moved it to Sunday this year.  We’ll eat early enough so that we can watch the Denver Broncos football game on Sunday Night Football.  I can’t think of a better way to spend my Sunday evening.  Can you?

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Jolly Friends Christmas Moose

by

jolly-friends-swapThanksgiving is over.  Black Friday is over and I guess it’s time to really start thinking about Christmas.

If you need a smile this moose will do it.  He’s so stinkin’ cute!  I bought the Jolly Friends stamp set just for the moose….really, I did!  Then you put the Santa hat on him and you’ve got ADORABLE!  🙂

I CASEd the idea for this card from the internet.  The original was a regular size card but I made mine into a 4 1/4″ x 4 1/4″ card.

jolly-friends-swap-2First you die cut the scallop circle in the designer series paper.  Adhere it to the front of the card and then you die cut the circle in the front of the card.  This way everything is all lined up.

I adhered a piece of Whisper White card stock to the inside of the card and then, with the card closed, I stamped the moose onto the white card stock through the die cut circle.  I used my blender pen and So Saffron ink to color the antlers.  Then I stamped another moose on Crumb Cake card stock, cut it out (no antlers) and adhered it over the stamped image inside jolly-friends-swap-3the card.

Punch out a hat with the Jolly Hat Builder Punch, put it together and put it on your little moose head.  Ta Da!  You have an adorable card!  🙂

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Cookie Cutter Halloween for Fall!

by

cookie-cutter-halloween-treat-1116When I saw this cute treat holder online I wanted to try to recreate it for my Thanksgiving table.  The original (from the talented Lori Heiling) was a Christmas design.  I searched my stamp sets for something that said Thanksgiving or Fall and finally decided on the adorable little scarecrow from the Cookie Cutter Halloween stamp set.

The little treat holder is SO simple.  Just start with a piece of card stock that is 2″ x 8″.  Score at 3 1/4″ and 4 3/4″ and then punch the ends with your Scallop Tag Topper Punch.  Fold along the score lines and add some ribbon to keep it closed!  That’s it!!! So simple.  So cute!  🙂

I wrapped my Hershey nuggets with the Petals & Paisley Designer Series Paper.  I put down a little strip of Tear & Tape and then placed two Hershey Nuggets side by side on the bottom of the treat holder (vertically).  Then I put a little piece of Tear & Tape on the bottom of a third Nugget and placed on top of the other two going in the other direction (horizontally).

To tie my wrapped Nuggets in with the focal point I punched out a 1 3/4″ circle of the same designer paper and adhered it to the front of my treat holder.  Then it was time to stamp, color and punch out my adorable little scarecrow with the Cookie Cutter Builder Punch.  The little crow finishes the project off perfectly, although I did have to fussy cut him!  🙂

So not that I’ve shared this adorable little treat holder with you I have to confess that I’m not using him on my Thanksgiving table.  I’ll show you that tomorrow.

cookie-cutter-halloween-1116But look!  I used the same design on a card!  I sent this card to some of my team members who helped with Stamp Camp last month.  Simple and cute!  My favorite type of card to mass produce!

Have you checked out Stampin’ Up!’s Online Extravaganza yet!  Oh my!  So many fabulous products on sale and so little time!  You better get that order in soon so you don’t miss out!  🙂

Have a great day!  Be Thankful!

 

 

Simple Joy

by

joyful-nativity-1016Are you still looking for ideas for this year’s Christmas card?  Here’s a simple card perfect for the season.

I designed this card a while ago.  It’s quick, it’s easy and it describes the season perfectly.  It’s the season of joy!  We all need to remember that while we’re rushing around getting ready for the holidays.  Stop.  Breathe.  Remember that this is suppose to be the season of joy.  Don’t stress.  If that batch of cookies don’t get made or you’re a few minutes late for something just remember that life will go on.

I’ve barely thought about Thanksgiving (which is in just a few days!  Yikes!) and I know everything will be fine.  I don’t need to impress anyone.  The people that will be joining me are friends and family and I’m pretty sure they’ll love me even if I forget to put something on the table or make it at all!  OMG!  That reminds me of a funny story….my dear friend passed away this fall and after the service we all gathered at the house.  One of the things I brought was spinach dip….not one person bothered mentioning that I had forgotten to actually put the spinach in the spinach dip!  Yikes!  I didn’t even realize it until I got home and was putting the leftovers in the refrigerator.  Too funny!

So, just remember that this is the Season of Joy!  Keep things simple like this card I made using the Joyful Nativity stamp set.   A couple layers and some blue ink was all I needed.  OK….I’ll admit it….I needed to spice it up a little so I went over the stamped images with my Wink of Stella Glitter pen! 😉

Have a wonderfully simple day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Christmas is Coming

by

greeting-from-santa-0816Yep.  Even though it still doesn’t feel like it here in Colorado I do believe that Christmas is on it’s way.  Since it’s coming despite what the thermometer says I guess I need to start sharing more Christmas projects!  🙂

This is a fun and easy card using Greetings from Santa stamp set and the Detailed Santa Thinlits.  Isn’t this intricate Santa gorgeous?  He’s really easy to cut out…especially if you’re using the correct “sandwich” on your Big Shot.

You definitely want to use the Precision Base Plate when using intricate dies like this one.  When you use the Precision Base Plate you exchange it for the bottom clear Standard Cutting Pad.  So your “sandwich” would be:  platform, Precision Base Plate, paper, intricate thinlit, clear Standard Cutting Pad.

I think that the hardest part of using the Big Shot is figuring out what your “sandwich” should be.  I had a class a few weeks ago and on every card we used the Big Shot at least once and I swear that each time someone came up to use the Big Shot it was a different “sandwich”.  I definitely had to supervise the Big Shot on that day.  It was a little crazy.  Of course the cards were all fabulous!  🙂

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

It’s Time to Color!

by

dragonfly-dreams-onstageYep!  Stampin’ Up! has finally got on the coloring bandwagon!  One of the new Sale-a-bration items that you’ll be able to earn for FREE with a $50 order during Sale-a-bration is the fun Inside the Lines Designer Series Paper!

And guess what?!  You need something to color with so why not try Stampin’ Up!’s new Watercolor Pencils!  Yep!  Watercolor pencils!  Woo Hoo!  You’ll be able to find them in the new 2017 Occasions Catalog.  I was able to bring a set of these pencils home from the On Stage event so I can’t wait to sit down and play with them some more!

If you haven’t been able to tell over the past few days I’m a little excited about all of the fabulous new products in the upcoming new catalogs!  I love new stuff!  I know you will too!  January will be here sooner than we think.  (Yikes!)

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Balloon Adventures!

by

balloon-adventures-onstage-1You can never have enough birthday cards or birthday stamp sets on hand.  Someone you know is always having a birthday.

Balloon Adventures is a birthday stamp set that you’re going to want to add to your collection.  There are 8 fabulous sayings as well as balloon and banner images.

How many new items do you see on this card?  Besides the stamp set there is the Party Animal Designer Paper, the Party Animal Embellishments (little hats and balloons) and the Emerald Envy 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon.

Of course, don’t forget the wonderful Balloon Pop-Up balloon-adventures-onstage-2Thinlits Dies!  Too fun!  Who doesn’t love a pop-up?!

You’ll definitely want to put the Party Animal Suite of products from the upcoming 2017 Occasions Catalog on your wish list!

Don’t forget to email me your street address if you’d like to receive a copy of the 2017 Occasions Catalog in the mail.  I’d be happy to send you one!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Sealed With Love Mini Cards

by

sealed-with-love-onstageAre you tired of Christmas already?

What?  Who am I kidding?  I just freaked out yesterday when I realized that Thanksgiving is only 2 weeks away.  Yikes!  I can’t be tired of Christmas yet because I haven’t even begun to think about it!

These fun little 3″ x 3″ cared are made with a brand new stamp set called Sealed With Love that will be premiering in the 2017 Occasions Catalog.  We made these cards at the On Stage event in Phoenix on Saturday.  Guess what?  This stamp set has coordinating Framelits!  Yep!  The Love Note Framelits coordinate perfectly with the Sealed With Love stamp set.

Check out the adorable little glassine envelope on the card in the upper right.  It’s SO cute!  You can even die cut the little insert that fits perfectly in the envelope.  Too fun!  Yep!  The Sending Love Suite in the 2017 Occasions Catalog is pretty darn cute and I know you’re going to love it!

The bases of the cards are made with the fun red & white Sending Love Designer Series Paper Stack.  There are all sorts of different designs in this pack.  Some with hearts and some not so that you can use it for occasions other than Valentines Day.

Would you like to receive a hard copy of the new 2017 Occasions Catalog and the 2017 Sale-a-bration Brochure?  Send me your street address and I’ll get you on my list.  I know you’ll want your own copies of these fabulous new publications.

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!