Cards

Lighthearted Leaves Squared

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IMG_7009I’ve been showing you Christmas cards for over a week straight and then I go and throw another fall card at you!  Ha!  I just want to keep you on your toes!  🙂

I just can’t seem to get enough of these square cards.  4 1/4″ x 4 1/4″.  Definitely my new favorite size card.

This card is one that I was going to make for my swap at the Stampin’ Up! event in Dallas until I made the valentine that I’ll share with you tomorrow.  I had made little 3″ x 3″ thank you notes for my customers using this little colored leaf.  I liked it so much I thought I should try it on a larger card.  I first tried it on a regular size card but it just didn’t look right.  Then the light bulb went off above my head (don’t you love when that happens?!) and I put the leaf on my favorite size card!  Ta-da!  A swap-worthy card!

Of course, after all that thinking and designing I decided not to use it for my swap.  I won’t even mention that I had actually cut all the card stock and THEN decided not to use it.  Yikes!  I really like the card I’ll show you tomorrow though.  Definitely worth putting this one aside.

I love the when the leaves in this stamp set are colored in.  They turn out so nice.  When I was working on this card I couldn’t decide how to color it in.  When I used markers for both colors it was just too overwhelming and if I used a blender pen and ink it looked too washed out.  So I compromised!  I used the Cajun Craze marker and the Delightful Dijon ink with a Blender Pen.  Perfect!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Joyful Season

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IMG_6997Here’s a Christmas card that you can easily change the sentiment to make it a card for any occasion.  Yes, the red berries do kind of make you think Christmas but you could have a “thinking of you” or something on the card.

I saw a card similar to this on Pinterest and thought it would make a good card for class.  It’s fairly easy (after I did the embossing and die cutting for everyone!) and just a nice card for the holidays.  This is another one of the Stamp-a-Stack cards that needed embossing.  I couldn’t stand the look of plain white card stock so I got out my Woodland Embossing Folder.  Don’t you love how the embossed trees COORDINATE with the stamped tree branch?  Ha!  Sometimes I scare myself when I notice these things!  🙂

I do want to get this stamp set out again soon and play with it.  The cute cardinal in it is just screaming to be stamped!  Unfortunately I haven’t had a lot of time to play this fall.  Hopefully I can play a little with my stamps when I return from Dallas.  Of course by then I’ll be all excited by the new Occasions Catalog that I’ll have a peek at……

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Among the Branches Christmas

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IMG_6996Today I’m off to Dallas for one of Stampin’ Up!’s On Stage Local events.  It’s their first event of this kind so it will be fun to see what they have in store for us.  The event is on Saturday but my friend Jan and I are going on Wednesday to hang out and do a little site-seeing.  Be sure to follow me on Facebook to see what I’m up to and what Stampin’ Up! has in store for us.

Today’s card is the first of the cards I designed for my Stamp-a-stack class.  Those gals that came to the class made 15 cards (3 each of 5 different designs).  The cards are fairly easy so they can get them all done.  In a Stamp-a-stack I usually don’t have any Big Shot work on the card.  However….some of the cards, like this one, just screamed to have the Softly Falling embossing folder used on them.  So…I did all the embossing for everyone.  Yes, it was a lot of cranking on the old Big Shot but it wasn’t too bad because I did it last week on Halloween while I was waiting for the munchkins to show up.

Are you getting tired of hearing me say how much I like my cards?  Well, here’s another one.  This card is just plain pretty.  I especially like the little “bow”.  Yes, I saw it on Pinterest!  Where else would I get an idea?  🙂

Have a wonderful day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Shiny Embellished Ornaments

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IMG_6977Yesterday’s card was sparkly, today’s is shiny.

I’m loving the Red Foil Sheets.  Gorgeous!  I’ve used the silver and gold foil sheets in the past and liked them but there’s something about the red.  Love it!  I’ve actually designed a valentine card using the red foil that I’ll share with you later this week.  I know….it’s not even Thanksgiving and I’m talking about valentines!  Well, on Wednesday I’m heading to Dallas for a Stampin’ Up! event and the valentine is my swap card.  I could have designed a swap using one of the stamp sets in the Holiday Catalog but I just wanted to do something a bit different.

So, I love this card too, just not as much as yesterday’s card.  I’ll be making some of these for my Christmas cards too.  Isn’t this detailed ornament beautiful?  So intricate.  This card really wasn’t difficult.  I die cut the ornament directly out of the piece of Whisper White that has the sentiment on it.  That sheet is adhered to the red foil with Stampin’ Dimensionals.  Then I adhered the ornament directly to the foil so it looks set it in.

So, how do you die cut the ornament without having to poke out all of those little bitty pieces?  Here’s my secret….dryer sheets.  Yep.  Dryer sheets.  Regular old dryer sheets.  Here’s the order of all the pieces and parts:  1.  magnetic platform  2.  cutting pad  3.  dryer sheet  4.  card stock  5.  wax paper  6.  die  7.  cutting pad.

This technique is great.  Most of the little bitty pieces stick to the dryer sheet and the wax paper prevents the ornament itself from sticking in the die.  You really need to try this.  It works great!

Have you started your Christmas cards yet?  What stamp set are you using?

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Sparkly Wonderland

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IMG_6971I.  LOVE.  THIS.  CARD!

Yep, this is one of my Christmas cards this year.  As soon as I finished the sample I knew it was “THE” card.  In fact, I’ve already made over 20 of them.

The title of this post says sparkly and I’m sure you’re wondering where the sparkles are.  First of all I started with Shimmery White card stock.  Then I used my Dazzling Details again to add sparkle to the edge of “snow bank”.  I also used it lightly on the trees.  Of course the Gold Foil Sheet and the gold ribbon add a little  shimmer too.  If I do say so myself, this card is gorgeous!  You do have to see it in person to catch all the shimmer and shine.

I am going to admit that I got the general idea for this card from my favorite source…Pinterest!  I did have to add a few more layers and such though….you know me!  🙂

Where do you get the ideas for your projects (other than my blog of course!)?  Let me know.  I’d love to hear from you.

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Saturday Share: Snow Place

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IMG_1239 (2)Adorable!!!!!  I saw this card on Pinterest yesterday and it was too adorable not to share.  I don’t usually post something I haven’t made myself (or at least attempted to make!) but why reinvent the wheel?  Doesn’t this card just make you smile?

A big thank you to Cindy Baughman for this fabulous card!  Wouldn’t you love to get this in the mail?

Have you made anything with the Snow Place stamp set yet?  I just recently got it and started playing with it yesterday (which is why I was on Pinterest looking for ideas!).  It’s a pretty fun stamp set with the little snowmen and of course this adorable penguin.  Best of all…..wait for it…..it’s got COORDINATING framelits!  Woo Hoo!  So far I’ve come up with a couple of cuter 3D items using the stamp set and can’t wait to play with it a little more today.

What would you make using this fun stamp set and framelits?  Send me a picture at cindy@stampbystampcreations.com.  I’d love to see it!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Jingle All The Way

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IMG_6983These Sleigh Ride Edgelits are SO fun!  You can make all sorts of scenes with them.  For my “fancy” card class I decided to go with your basic  snowy scene.  I wanted to use my favorite 4 1/4″ x 4 1/4″ card size because I didn’t have too much white space on my card and I just like that size of card!  Ha!

It’s a little hard to see in the picture but I used my Dazzling Diamonds to create a line of sparkly snow along the top edge of the white pieces.  It really adds some pizzazz to the card.  Who doesn’t love a little pizzazz?  🙂

I’m having a fun time creating projects for my 3D Holiday Class.  We’ll be making things like gift card holders, tags, etc.  I’m still trying to decided on projects…there’s so many cute ideas out there!  Right now I have a list of 8 possible projects for the 5 project class.  Too bad we won’t have time to make them all!

More errands this morning and then it’s off to lunch with a friend!  Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Peaceful Pines Tag Card

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IMG_6968Oh, Christmas Tree, Oh, Christmas Tree….

It is November so I’m sure that some store or radio station somewhere is playing Christmas carols.  I’m one of those people though who like to wait at least until December before I start listening to them.  Practicing for the church choir doesn’t count though.  I think we’re going to start working on our Christmas music tonight.

I like using tags on my cards.  It’s just fun!  🙂

The Peaceful Pines stamp set has COORDINATING (yep, my favorite word!) framelits.  How great is that?!  What’s so fun about these framelits is that they don’t just die cut the two different size trees.  You can also add texture and design to the trees.  Check out the tree on this card.  If first die cut the green tree.  Then I used one of the design framelits and die cut the little string of holes into the tree.  The next step was to die cut a red tree and adhere it to the back o f the green tree.  Now it looks like I have a string of berries or lights hanging on my tree.  Brilliant!  🙂

All that talk yesterday about snow and there isn’t a flake to be seen this morning.  Oh, well.  That’s the way it goes.  At least I won’t have to worry about slick roads when I’m out running errands this morning!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!  Oh….and Happy Birthday Mom!  Love ya!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

A Sparkly Flurry of Wishes

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IMG_6986Happy Day After Election Day!  Did you all vote?  In our area we only had a few things to vote on but I dropped my ballot off on Monday.  I did my civic duty and was glad to see that everything I voted for passed!  🙂

Today’s still going to be a nice day here in the Denver metro area but rain tonight will turn into those pesky little snowflakes by morning.  Don’t get me wrong….I like snow….it’s just that the first snow of the season is always a little hard to take….especially after the temperature has been in the 70’s for the past two day!

Since snow is on it’s way I thought I should post a card with snowflakes on it.  This card is from my “fancy” Christmas card class a few weeks ago.  It’s hard to see in the picture but everything sparkles!  The paper is Shimmery White.  I embossed the snowflakes and words with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder and the ribbon is sparkly!  Don’t you love the new Gold & White 3/8″ Glitter Ribbon?  It’s so fun!  I know…you’re looking at the ribbon and are trying to tell me it’s not white.  You’re correct!  I used a sponge dauber and the Pool Party ink to color the back side of the ribbon!  How fun is that?!!!

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before but I LOVE the new Softly Falling Embossing Folder!  Isn’t it great?  It doesn’t even have to be for snow if you don’t want it to.   Of course, another thing that I love on this card is the COORDINATING punch that goes with the Flurry of Wishes stamp set!  It’s great!

I don’t think I’m going to have to drag out my snow boots or snow shovel quite yet but I may have to dig out my winter sweaters for tomorrow.  Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Santa’s Gifts

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IMG_6973How many day’s left until Christmas?  I really don’t like those count downs.  They make me so nervous.  Other than Christmas stamping projects I really haven’t begun to think about the big holiday.  I need to think about Thanksgiving first.  We always have a big crowd over and my parents are flying out this year.  The nice thing about having my parents here is that they think they have to help me clean for the big dinner.  That’s ok by me!  🙂

This Santa’s Gift stamp set is another one that is in the main Stampin’ Up! catalog.  It’s so darn cute!  I just wish we still had Blendabilities…..oh, well….I just got out my Aquapainters and ink pads to color.  I stamped the image on the Shimmery White card stock with the fabulous new Basic Black Archival Ink and then colored away.  The Shimmery White card stock is a great alternative to water color paper.

This card is another one that didn’t quite make the cut for my classes.  In early December I am having more of a Christmas 3D project class so maybe I can work Santa into that one!  Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Every Blessing

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IMG_6810Well, it’s November so I don’t feel bad about posting Christmas projects.  Even though I had a Christmas class in October it just felt wrong to post a Christmas project before November 1st.

It’s not that I haven’t been making Christmas projects or thinking about Christmas projects.  I actually spent all weekend and then some cutting card stock for my Christmas card Stamp-a-Stack that happening this week.

This card is the first Christmas project that I made this year.  I think I actually made it in the summer.  This stamp set, Every Blessing, is one of the few holiday stamp sets in the big catalog.  I like how Stampin’ Up! included the holiday carry-over items and a few new holiday items in the big catalog.  I know there are a lot of people who like to get an early start on their holiday projects.

This is a fairly simple card.  You may recognize the design from my convention swap card this past summer.  I know…that was a LONG time ago!  Just some layers, a stamped image and a little lacy ribbon peeking out from the bottom.  A nice simple card that you could whip up in no time!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

 

Lighthearted Leaves Thank You

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IMG_6962Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!  Yep….another thank you card.  A person can’t ever have enough of these.  I like to put a little 3″ x 3″ thank you card in with all of my orders when I sort them.  If someone has an order sent directly to them I try (try being the operative word here) to send them a full size thank you card.  Today’s card is one that I sent out recently to people who ordered online or had their order shipped directly to themselves.

I used one of my favorite new embossing folders on this card as well as one of my favorite new stamp sets.  Who doesn’t love the Woodland Embossing Folder?  I have seen some gorgeous things done with this folder.  Maybe if I can find a little time to sit down to play I’ll make some samples to share with you!  🙂

Another thing I love (yes, I love lots of things…) is that the Lighthearted Leaves and Vintage Leaves stamp sets BOTH coordinate with the Leaflits Framelits!  It’s nice to get double the use out of a set of framelits!  Woo Hoo!

The “thanks” on this card is actually from one of the sentiments in the Lighthearted Leaves stamp set.  I just used my trusty Cajun Craze marker to color only that word and then I stamped in on the front of the card.  Versatility my friend, versatility!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Lighthearted Leaves: Z-Fold

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IMG_6975A few weeks ago I did a workshop.  I wanted the gals to be able to make 2 easy cards that had a WOW factor to them.  This fun Z-fold card was one of the cards I came up with.

From the outside it looks like your basic easy card.  Just stamp a sentiment and some leaves on the card, add some ribbon and layers and your done.

However….open it up…..and you have fun and IMG_6990unique card!  I was so excited when I found directions for this card on Pinterest.  On my card the long Very Vanilla piece on the inside that you make your “Z” with is 3 1/4″ x 11″.  You then score it 4 1/4″ and 9″.  You can probably make the width of the piece whatever you’d like but 3 1/4″ is the width the directions I found used so I went with that and had plenty of room for my various layers.  (Have you noticed that I love layers!)

IMG_6992Here’s another picture of the card where you can see the “Z”.  The key to making this card is to first attach the “Z” to the back piece of card stock.  Then make your “Z”, place adhesive on the section that will attach to the front piece of the card.  Then line up the front piece over the back piece, press down so that the “Z” adheres to the back of the front piece and your card is complete!

Be sure to let me know if you’d like more detailed instructions.  I’d be happy to share.

I can’t wait to try this type of card in class some time.  Maybe in my December All-Occasion class! 🙂

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Wicked

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IMG_6852I’ve got to stop taking all of these breaks!  You’d think I was busy or something….sheesh!  I know that I’m not busier than anyone else but I seem to have a difficult time staying on task.   Does anyone else have this problem?

I had classes last week and then I had to plan for my next class so I could order the supplies so that they’d get here in time.  I keep telling myself that I’m going to plan ahead more but it doesn’t seem to happen.  OK.  Enough whining!

My friend Jan designed this card and I absolutely love it.  Isn’t it fun?  I especially like “wicked” across the bottom of the card.  Ohhh…..speaking of wicked….on Friday evening I got to see Idina Menzel in If/Then!  Wow!  Absolutely fabulous!!!!  She’s amazing…as was the rest of the cast.  Yesterday was the final day of the show here in Denver but if the show comes to your city you definitely want to go.  Incredible!

Alright….back to the card….

My favorite parts are probably the glittery witch’s hat and the spider web doily (and the “wicked”).  I actually had to purchase the Project Life Seasonal Snapshot 2015 just for the “wicked”.  Ok…I do like the rest of the stamp set too….

Part of the reason I like the card so much is that it is totally different from anything I’d design.  That’s why I like participating in swaps where I trade my cards for other people’s.  New ideas and fun new methods.

In a few weeks Jan and I are heading to Dallas for a Stampin’ Up! event.  We’ll get a sneak peek at the upcoming Occasions Catalog.  I can’t wait!  We’re going a few days early to hang out in Dallas.  We’re not sure what we’re going to do so if you have any ideas for us to do while we’re there let me know.

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

Halloween Among the Branches

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IMG_6965What is Halloween without a spider web, a spooky spider and ghosts?!   This card has them all along with glittery paper!

I used many fabulous new products on this card.  The only things not new are the Pumpkin Pie card stock and ink!  Oh…and the Very Vanilla card stock.

Don’t you love the Spider Web Doily.  It is so fun!  Unfortunately the Spider Web Doilies are also very popular and are on back-order.  🙁  You can still order them but you won’t have them for Halloween.  There’s always next year’s projects though.  Right?  I also love the Black Glimmer Paper.  Oooo!  It goes so well with the Happy Haunting Designer Paper….Of course it does!  Stampin’ Up! loves coordination almost as much as I do!

I do have a story about this card though.  Naturally I got the idea for this card from Pinterest.  (Love that site!)  When I went to make my sample to see if it was “class worthy” I couldn’t figure out how they punched/die cut out the “spooky” circle.  I checked all my circle punches and every single circle framelit in the set and none of them fit.  I finally cut the darn thing out by hand!  I know….fussy cutting!  Yikes!

After I got the card together and had moved on to other things I thought to check the catalog to see if I was missing something.  Sure enough….did you know that Stampin’ Up! has a 2″ Circle Punch?  It’s not even new this year and I didn’t have it!  I have almost every tool in the darn catalog!  How had I missed that one?  Luckily I still had to order all of the supplies for my Halloween class so that 2″ Circle Punch was the first item on the order form.  Sheesh!  I guess I need to start going through the new catalog with a fine tooth comb so I don’t miss anything else!

I just happened to have the catalog open to the punch page while I was writing this and noticed that there’s a 1 1/2″ Circle Punch with the word “NEW” by it.   Hmmm……I better add it to my next order…

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog