Tags 4 You #3 - Christmas

Whew! We made it to Wednesday and to card #3 in my series of 4 featuring the Tags 4 You stamp set...today we are celebrating Christmas!

Each card has been so much fun to make and I have enjoyed the special details of each. For this card I chose to use the old stand by of Old Olive and Cherry Cobbler, why? for the simple reason that they WORK. I just loovvveee this patterned paper from the Season of Style Designer Series Paper.

I also wanted to continue with the same general layout of my previous cards but, well, I really lack stamps that would work well...until I realized that in the Happy Hour stamp set is a little mistletoe stamp...PERFECT!!

So I inked the stamp up and then used my blender pen to clean away the Old Olive ink from the holly berry. I stamped the stamp and then went back in and added the holly berries with Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details. I think that the sparkle of the berries and of the Red Glimmer Paper peeking out from behind the sentiment are the perfect bits of jewelry.

I felt that since the accents of the holly berries were so small that I should go with a bow instead of a simple knot...seems to balance the card out with the added bonus of looking like a wrapped present!

I'm really pleased with the final result and I very much hope you like it as well!

Thank you for hanging in there with me, tomorrow is the final card and I hope you will be back to check it out! Here's a bit of a teaser...

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Tags 4 You (131820), Happy Hour (126642)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Old Olive (100702) Cardstock; Season of Style (132340) Designer Series Paper, Red (121790) Glimmer Paper

Ink: Cherry Cobbler (126966), Old Olive (126953) Classic Stampin' Pad,

Tools: Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stampin' Trimmer Rotary Addition (129407), Small Scallop Rotary Cutting Blade (129410), Label Bracket Punch (132153), Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049), Blender Pen (102845), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments: Cherry Cobbler (123125) Baker's Twine, Cherry Cobbler (125585) Dazzling Details

Thanks for stopping by!

Snowflake Season - Freshly Made Sketches #103

This sketch by the crew over at Freshly Made Sketches has me humming Christmas carols again with this sketch...

But this time I am "Dreaming of a White Christmas"...

Because as long as I live in Southern California, dreaming of a white Christmas is all I can do!

I digress...

This turned out to be a fun and fairly easy card to put together. I embossed the greeting in Smoky Slate to give it some dimension. I stamped the snowflake in Smoky Slate and then again with Versamark so I could emobss it with Clear embossing powder mixed with just a touch of Dazzling Diamonds for some shimmer.

A bit of the Silver 1/8" Ribbon and a Frosted Finishes Embellishment from the Holiday Catalog are the perfect shimmery finishing touches! I can't quite capture the sparkle of these embellishments, trust me, they are just fabulous...and the paper...well, I love paper but this particular one is just soooo pretty!

Are you humming Christmas carols yet? Lol. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Greeting of the Season (128033), Festive Flurry (131781)

Paper: Whisper White (101730), Smoky Slate (131202) Cardstock; Winter Frost (132341) Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ink: Smoky Slate (131179) Classic Stampin' Pad, Versamark (102283) Ink Pad

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Envelope Liners Framelits Dies (132172), Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049), Festive Flurry Framelits Dies (132193)

Embellishments: Silver 1/8" Ribbon (132137), Frosted Finishes Embellishments (132150)

Merry Little Christmas - In a Jiffy!

Have you seen the Merry Little Christmas Simply Created Card Kit in the Holiday Catalog? Let me help, it's page 27 :) What a fantastic idea! All the pieces you need to whip those Christmas Cards out in a flash...no designing, measuring or cutting! Even pre-cut envelope liners, and don't those look snazzy! Whoo Hoo!

Here's a closer look:

Coastal Cabana, Real Red, and Gumball Green make for a delightful Christmas color combination, crisp and hip! And just look at what I was able to accomplish in just one lunch hour yesterday at work!

You could easily hand craft your entire season of Christmas cards in one afternoon! And I have an afternoon set aside for you to do just that!

Mark September 28th on your calendar and pop on over here for all the details and to sign up for my class! Or make your own at home and simply pop on over here to order your supplies! 

Stampin' Supplies:

Bundle: Merry Little Christmas Wood Stamp Set +Merry Little Christmas Simply Created Card Kit (133286)

Ink: Real Red (126949), Coastal Cabana (131175), Gumball Green (126861) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: SNAIL (104332), Stampin Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments:  Included in Kit!

August Pals Blog Hop - Holiday Catalog Favorites

Thank you for joining us for the August Pals Blog Hop. Even though it's only August we want to provide some inspiration for your upcoming holiday projects. This month's blog hop will showcase new products from the 2013 Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog. We hope you enjoy seeing how we use the new stamps, new punches and other accessories! 

You should have just left stop number 12 on the Pals Hop - Amy Williams at Stampin' on the Range. If so, you are in the right spot.  If you get off track, the full blog lineup below will help you move along from blog to blog so you see all of the amazing creations.

Today I have a simple Christmas card to share with you:

The products in the Holiday Catalog really make creating handmade cards quick and easy! This card features a wonderful dove image from the Calm Christmas stamp set. I admit, when I first went through the catalog I passed right over this set. Several weeks later, no kidding, I work up in the middle of the night with an image in my head of this card stamped using the silver glitter also found in the Holiday Catalog. I got up and ordered the set...who am I to argue with inspiration, right?

In the end, because of the beautiful details in the dove, I chose to go with the new Silver Metallic Encore Pad, also found in the Holiday Catalog. It has SUCH a beautiful and elegant finish to it, I really, really love it! I also sponged the edges of the Island Indigo cardstock using the Silver Metallic ink, it just softens it up and adds a nice touch! A simple rhinestone adds a nice detail too!

A bit of linen thread showcases the absolutely beautiful Frosted Finishes Embellishment. These embellishments are a must have!

Here's one more angle to show off the sparkle of these embellishments! And please look at the pattern in the dove and then look at the pattern in the Winter Frost Specialty Designer Series Paper that I used to line the envelope with...they coordinate! How awesome is THAT?!? I can't say it enough, the coordination of Stampin' Up! products continually amaze me!

I am loving getting my Christmas cards early...have YOU started yet?

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Calm Christmas (132739)

Paper: Island Indigo (122923), Smoky Slate (131202) Cardstock; Winter Frost Specialty (132341) Designer Series Paper 

Ink: Silver (132142) Metallic Encore Ink Pad

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Envelope Liners Framelits Dies (132172), Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stampin Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments:  Frosted Finishes Embellishments (132150); Linen Thread (104199)

The next stop is Nicole Watt at Pixel Maven's Retreat, stop number 14 on the Pals Blog Hop! Thanks for visiting – and I hope to see you next month!

1. Colleen Mollema at My Crafty Habit
2. Peggy Noe at Pretty Paper Cards
3. Lisa Ann Bernard at Queen B Creations
4. Angie Blake at Angie's Musings
5. Debbie Mageed at Secret Stamper
6. Diane Roberts at Score at Four and a Quarter
7. Barb Furlong at The Love of Stamping
8. Mary Fish at Stampin' Pretty
9. Debra Simonis at Deb's Stampin' Grounds
10. Laurie Chilton at Stampin' Ink
11. Penny Nichols at Sierra Stampin!
12. Amy Williams at Stampin' on the Range
13. Shannon Jaramillo at Ezpeasycards
14. Nicole Watt at Pixel Maven's Retreat
15. Nancy Gleason at MyStampinSpace
16. Beth Beard at My Little Craft Blog
17. Linda Callahan at Stampin' Seasons
18. Patti MacLeith at Papercrafts by Patti
19. Sherrie Gross at Stampin' Sunshine
20. Kerry Willard Bray at Stampgoodness
21. Brian King at Stamp With Brian
22. Nicole Picadura at Scraps & Stamps
23. Kim Czenszak at Live Love Stamp
24. Rae Harper at Wild West Paper Arts
25. Michelle Gleeson at Stampin Mojo
26. Shannon Hokanson at Paper Works
27. Dawn Tidd at Tiddbits from Dawn
28. Lynn Kolcun at Stampin with Avery's Owlery
29. Susan Itell at Simple Stampin'
30. Martie Pollard at The Crafty Bandit

Merry Little Christmas...in August!

In honor of the Holiday Catalog release I want to share a card with you that has me humming Christmas carols!

The inspiration for this card came from a delightful sketch over at The Paper Players. I just love clean and simple so this spoke to me immediately! I also decided to play along with the Merry Monday "Month Long-Anything Goes Christmas" Challenge.

My goal this year is to create my Christmas cards beginning NOW and continuing through the fall with the goal of having them complete and ready to mail by Halloween...I will keep you posted on my progress:)

The Designer Series Paper I have used here can be found in the "Season of Style" Designer Series Paper pack. The colors featured here are classic Christmas all the way...Old Olive and Cherry Cobbler! The stamp set is called "Merry Little Christmas" and has three stamps that coordinate beautifully. I have stamped off on another piece of Whisper White card stock in Old Olive to add a little banner for contrast. Three Candy Dots in Old Olive add the perfect finishing touch. Candy Dots have become a staple around my crafting table!

I featured the Envelope Liners Framelits Die again today. I can't tell you enough how easy it is to add a HUGE touch of elegance to a card with this simple tool. It is so easy to use and not only is it beautiful to look at, it also adds a heft to the envelope that just screams "style"!

So...one Christmas card down and a stack to go...who's with me to get started and finished and enjoy a more stress-free holiday this year?

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Merry Little Christmas (131829)

Paper: Whisper White (101730), Old Olive (100702) Cardstock; Season of Style (132340) Designer Series Paper

Ink: Cherry Cobbler (126966), Old Olive (126953) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Envelope Liners Framelits Dies (132172), Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049)

Embellishments: Brights Candy Dots (130931)

Thanks for stopping by!