Warm Winter Wishes

Happy Hump Day!  Half way to the weekend...wahoo!  I hope you are having a good week.It's also the last day of September...wow that month went fast!

Today I have a project I designed for my October Christmas card buffet using the Winter Wishes stamp set:

Christmas card featuring the Winter Wishes stamp set.

This is another rustic Holiday card! You'd think I lived in Canada, or something ;)  This one reminds me of Christmases at my parents' place up north where you can always count on a white Christmas with a roaring fire to keep you warm.  To create this look I stamped the various images from the Winter Wishes set using Early Espresso ink on a piece of Crumb Cake card stock. I added snowy highlights to the images using my Chalk Marker and then added a frosty border around the edges using Whisper White Craft ink.

The DSP is from the Merry Moments pack. I layered it on a piece of Crumb Cake card stock that I embossed using the Woodgrain TIEF. By way of embellishment, I added some (retired) 3/8" Natural Ribbon, a wooden Snowflake Element, some Gold Cording Trim and an Iced Rhinestone.

Inside view with sentiment from Reason for The Season.

On the inside I stamped a sentiment from the Reason for the Season stamp set in Early Espresso ink and the pine bough from the Winter Wishes set in Mossy Meadow ink.

Here are the supplies I used to create this project.  Clicking any one of them will take you directly to my online store for easy ordering.

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Faux Metal Vintage Ornament

Happy Monday!  I hope you had a fantastic weekend!  Mine was busy, but we actually squeezed in some quality family time, which has been rare since school started.
Today I have a project AND a new tutorial video for you!  It has been far too long since I last published a video and I'm excited to share this project with you.  First, here's a look at the card:

Christmas card featuring the Delicate Ornaments and Christmas Greetings Thinlits

Can you believe there is *gasp* NO stamping on this card???  It is all about the die cuts.  I love the vintage metal look of the ornament paired with the modern colour scheme of Tip Top Taupe and gold.

I used the Softly Falling TIEF to emboss the card base. The background strip behind the ornament is Winter Wonderland Designer Vellum...soooo pretty!

So, without further ado, here is my tutorial video on how to create this look.  I hope you enjoy it!

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Merry Little Trees

Did you realize that Christmas is just three months from today??  It's time to get going on Holiday projects! This weekend I have my first Christmas card buffet of the season, so I thought I would show you one of the designs that will be available for my guests to create at the event.

Rustic Christmas card featuring the Peaceful Pines stamp set and coordinating Perfect Pines Framelits with sentiment from Embellished Ornaments.

I really like the rustic look to this design. I began with a piece of Season of Cheer DSP which I layered on a piece of Mossy Meadow card stock. I ran a piece of Kraft card stock through the Big Shot with the Woodgrain TIEF, tore one long edge, and adhered it below the DSP panel. The trees are created from Pear Pizzazz and Mossy Meadow card stock and gold glimmer paper. I stamped the Pear Pizzazz tree using ink of the same colour and an image from the Peaceful Pines stamp set.  All of the trees are die-cut using the Perfect Pines Framelits...even the texture on the Mossy Meadow tree!

The sentiment is from the Embellished Ornaments stamp set and is heat embossed in gold and die-cut using the Lots of Labels Framelits.  The whole card is built on a Kraft card base. The only embellishments, besides the gold glimmer paper, are a bit of Burlap Ribbon and a wooden Snowflake Embellishment.

On the inside, I stamped another of the tree images from the Peaceful Pines set and die-cut it using the coordinating Framelits. I added another card stock tree, embossed using the Decorative Dots TIEF.


Have a fantastic weekend!!

Sunday Stamps Sketch Revisited

Happy Wednesday....it's hump day! Downhill to the weekend...woohoo!!

Today I have another take on this week's sketch challenge over at Sunday Stamps.  In case you missed it on Sunday, here is the sketch:

I posted a Christmas take on it on Sunday, but today I have a Fall version:

Fall-themed Thank You card featuring the Acorny Thank You stamp set with sentiment from One Big Meaning.

I decided to let the gorgeous Into the Woods DSP do all of the talking on this card. What's not to love about the beautiful autumn colours and fall patterns? I matted the DSP on a piece of Tangelo Twist card stock and layered that on an Early Espresso card base.

The focal point is a pair of darling little acorns from the Acorny Thank You stamp set, stamped in Crumb Cake and Early Espresso ink. They are punched using the coordinating Acorn Builder punch. I embellished the acorns with a bit of twine I pulled out of the burlap ribbon...I like the rippled texture of it! The sentiment, which is stamped in Early Espresso ink, is from the One Big Meaning stamp set.

If you haven't yet done so, be sure to check out this week's challenge at Sunday Stamps...this sketch is a great one!

Here are the products used to create this card:

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Snow Way...

...it's Monday already??  How do the weekends fly by so quickly?  It was a hectic one around here...I hope yours was a little more relaxing!

Here is a little smile to start your week off on the right foot...

Christmas card featuring the Snow Place stamp set.

Isn't that little penguin just the cutest?  I decided to play up his cuteness by having him peeking into the centre of the card. The sentiment, which is also from the Snow Place stamp set, suits him just perfectly. I stamped both the penguin and the sentiment in the new Basic Black archival ink. The Santa hat is stamped in Real Red ink and then die-cut using the Snow Friends Framelits.

I used some Holidays Fancy Foil Designer Vellum layered on the Whisper White background which was embossed using the (retired) Northern Flurry TIEF. The only embellishment this cute little guy needed was some 1/8" Striped ribbon in Real Red.

On the inside I stamped another of the sentiments from the Snow Place set and that sweet little penguin again in Basic Black Archival ink. Too cute!

I hope you have a fabulous week!!

Here are the products used to create this card:

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Peace & Joy for Sunday Stamps

Happy Sunday!  It's time for a new sketch challenge over at Sunday Stamps.  Check it out:

Here is my project for the Design Team:

Christmas card featuring the Flurry of Wishes stamp set with sentiment from the Good Greetings (retired) set.

I just can't get enough of the gorgeous Holidays Fancy Foil Designer Vellum!  It sooooo pretty!  I used it here as the background for my design. I layered it on a piece of Whisper White card stock so that the beautiful silver foil snowflakes would show. In the lower right corner I used some silver foil sheets that I embossed using the Softly Falling TIEF. Because I hate seeing seams on my projects, I added a piece of  white 3/8" glitter ribbon...I love the bit of sparkle it adds.

The stamped snowflakes are from the Flurry of Wishes stamp set. I heat embossed the largest one in silver and punched it using the Flower Medallion punch. The medium one is stamped in silver on silver foil sheet and punched using the Snow Flurry punch. The smallest snowflake is stamped in Night of Navy ink and also punched with the Snow Flurry punch. I added a Winter Wonderland embellishment in the centre for some sparkle.  The sentiment is from the Good Greeting set which is, sadly, retired. The entire card is built on a Night of Navy card base.

On the inside I added a Whisper White panel that I stamped with the snowflake images in Night of Navy, as well as a sentiment that is also from the Flurry of Wishes set.

This sketch is super-versatile, as is evidenced by the amazing ideas showcased by my fellow Design Team members. I'll have another project to show you later in the week that also uses this sketch.  In the meantime, why not try your hand at it and share it with us over at Sunday Stamps? We'd love to see what you come up with!

Here are the products used to create this project:

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Merry Friday

Happy Friday!  I am SOOOO glad the weekend is almost here!  It has been a ca-razy week!  So much going on both at home and at work...I am ready for it all to stop for a couple of days :)

Today I have a Christmas card I created for one of my upcoming Christmas card buffets using the new Holly Jolly Greetings bundle:

Christmas card made using the Holly Jolly Greetings stamp set and coordinating Christmas Greetings Thinlits

I began with a thick Whisper White card base on which I stamped the large snowflake from the Holly Jolly Greetings stamp set using Island Indigo ink. I also stamped the confetti stars image from the same set using Smoky Slate ink.  Then I layered a strip of Holidays Fancy Foil Vellum across the middle of the card front.  I added a piece of (retired) Island Indigo chevron ribbon and die cut circles in Smoky Slate card stock and Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper.

The sentiment is a combination of a die cut from the Christmas Greetings Thinlits in silver foil and a stamped sentiment from the Holly Jolly Greetings set done in Island Indigo ink.  I added a wooden Snowflake Element that I coloured white using Whisper White Craft ink and embellished with an Iced Rhinestone in the centre. The final touch was a scattering of silver sequins that I adhered using the Fine Tip Glue Pen.

On the inside I stamped a few more snowflakes in Island Indigo ink, some confetti stars in Smoky Slate and another of the sentiments combinations from the Holly Jolly Greetings set.  So happy with the way this one turned out!

Be sure to stop by on Sunday for a new sketch challenge from Sunday Stamps.  In the meantime, have a fantastic weekend!!

Here are all of the products I used to create this card.

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Thank You Leaves

Happy Tuesday!  Can you believe we are already halfway through September?!? 

I just have to share how much I truly love what I do!  I had my monthly Tri-City Stampers team meeting last night and it was SO good to spend time with friends who share my love for all things Stampin' Up!. I was really tired after working all day and, to be honest, wasn't feeling like holding a meeting, but I drew energy from my amazing circle of stamping friends and by the end of the night I was energized and inspired.  Isn't it amazing how spending time sharing what you love with others feeds your soul?
Today I want to share one of the make-n-takes we did last night.  We were all about the Lighthearted Leaves set and fall colours...

Thank you card featuring the Lighthearted Leaves stamp set with sentiment from One Big Meaning

I began with a piece of Into the Woods DSP...I often forget that you can stamp on DSP just as easily as you can on card stock (and wanted to remind my team of that too). I used stencils I created with vellum and the Leaflets Frameltis to sponge my various leaves.  I played with fall hues: Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie and Early Espresso.  I so love these rich, earthy tones!  Ones I had sponged my leaves I stamped the various leaf images over top using Early Espresso ink. I love the way the patterned DSP gives subtle texture to the leaves.

The sentiment, from the One Big Meaning stamp set, is stamped in Early Espresso ink on Whisper White card stock and die cut using the Circles Collection Framelits. I layered that on a 2" circle punched from gold foil sheets.  I added some gold metallic thread and then layered the sentiment on a Mossy Meadow label die-cut using the Lots of Labels Framelits. The card is built on a Mossy Meadow card base.

On the inside I simply stamped the leaf images again using Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze and Crushed Curry inks.

Just a reminder that today is the day new Weekly Deals post.  Be sure to check them out in the upper right side bar of this page.  Remember that sale prices are good until next Monday at midnight.

Here is the complete list of products I used to create this card.  Clicking any one of them will take you directly to my webstore for easy ordering.

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Thanks and Giving

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend!  Mine was crazy-busy, but in a good way.  My parents were visiting from out-of-town and we celebrated my nephew's fourth birthday.  I made him a really fun Thomas the Tank Engine punch art card, but sadly forgot to take pictures!  Argh!
I did, however, photograph one of the make-n-takes for my team meeting tonight.  We're all about the Lightheared Leaves stamp set this month...

Fall-themed thank you card featuring the Lightheared Leaves stamp set

I truly can't get enough of this amazing stamp set! I love the whimsical leaf images and heartfelt sentiments.  Here I used my Leaflets Framelits to die-cut a stencil from vellum and then used the stencil to sponge the leaf shapes on my front panel. I used Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler and Crushed Curry ink for the darker leaf and Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie and Crushed Curry ink for the lighter one. Then I stamped one of the spatter images from my go-to Gorgeous Grunge stamp set in Early Espresso ink.  Then I stamped and heat embossed the maple leaf images from the Lightheared Leaves set in gold right over top of the stenciled leaves.  The front panel is matted on a piece of gold foil sheet and mounted on an Early Espresso card base.

I love the way those images look heat embossed in gold! So pretty!!

The sentiment, which is also from the Lighthearted Leaves set,  is also heat embossed in gold.

On the inside I stamped another of the sentiments from the Lighthearted Leaves set in Early Espresso ink and heat embossed another maple leaf in gold.

I love the way this turned out...hope my Tri-City Stampers do too!!

Here are the products I used to create this card:

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Fa La La Friday!

Oh, how I miss the carefree days of summer when I could spend the entire day in my studio creating beautiful things.  This first week back at school has been KILLER!  So glad it is almost the weekend!

Today I have a Christmas card that features more Holiday Catalogue products.  So many fantastic new things to play with in this catty!!

Christmas card featuring the Delicate Ornaments and Seasonal Frame Thinlit Dies

Can you believe this one has no stamping on it *gasp*! I die cut the ornament from Dazzling Diamonds glimmer paper using the Delciate Ornaments Thinlits and the new Precision Base Plate.  I have to say it certainly helps make cutting intricate designs such as this one easier.  The background of the ornament is die cut from Red Foil Sheets, also using the Delicate Ornament Thinlits.  The sentiment is die cut from Gold Foil Sheets using the Seasonal Frame Thinlits.

That gorgeous background panel is a piece of Holidays Fancy Foil Designer Vellum and is layered on a piece of Gold Foil Sheets.  I mounted it on a piece of Whisper White card stock that I embossed using the Stylish Stripes TIEF.  The only embellishment on this one is some gold Cording Trim.  The entire card is built on a thick Whisper White card base.

On the inside I actually stamped (!) the sentiment from the Versatile Christmas set in Real Red ink, and added another little strip of the Fancy Foil Vellum.

This one will most certainly be joining the offerings for my Christmas Card Buffets this fall!

Here are all of the products I used to create this card:

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A Quick and Easy Halloween Treat Holder

Happy Hump Day...just two more days till the weekend!  I am already exhausted and school just started! Today I have a really quick post about a really quick and easy treat holder for Halloween using the new Square Pillow Box Thinlits...

Halloween Treat holder featuring the Cheer All Year Stamp set and the Square Pillowbox Thinlit Dies.

This one really does go together lickety split. I made the box from Basic Black card stock, using the Square Pillowbox Thinlit Dies and embossed it using the Softly Falling TIEF. The belly band is a piece of Happy Haunting DSP cut to 2" wide. I used half a spider web doily (LOVE those things!) and some Into The Woods 3/8" cotton ribbon in Rich Razzleberry.

The little bat is from the Cheer All Year stamp set.  I stamped it in Basic Black Archival ink and fussy cut it out. The sentiment is die cut from silver glimmer paper using the Seasonal Frame Thinlits.
Super quick and super easy.  I'll be making more of these for my son's friends this year!

In case you missed it, I'm offering a promotion this week only!

Now here are all of the products I used to create this project:

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Happy First Day of School!

Today is the day students and teachers have been dreading all summer...the first day of the new school year. My baby boy is starting grade THREE today!

It seems like only yesterday he was heading to Kindergarten. Of course I had to make something special to tuck into his lunchbox today...

First-day-of-school card featuring the School House DSP, Hello You Thinlits and the (long-retired) First Day stamp set

For this project I cracked open my sadly neglected package of School House DSP...I'm ashamed to admit that it has been sitting untouched since my new catalogue order came in mid-June! Let me tell you, it is going to see some major attention in the next little while...I LOVE it! For this project I chose four patterns, making sure to cut a piece that featured the number three prominently so I could highlight it as part of my design.

The word "happy" is die cut twice using the Hello You Thinlits, once from Tangerine Tango and once from Daffodil Delight card stock. I layered them, offsetting the top layer slightly to create a shadow effect.  I adhered them with the new Fine Tip Glue Pen...where has that thing been all my life?!? I created a little flag for my sentiment using the Banners Framelits and a toothpick. The sentiment is from a long-retired set called First Day...so glad I held onto that one! To highlight the number three I punched a 3/4" circle and then punched around the hole with the 1" circle punch...easy and quick frame!  I added a bit of 1/8" Striped Ribbon in Garden Green from the Holiday Catalogue...it's not just for Christmas!

Inside view with sentiments from the Words of Truth stamp set.

In the inside of the card I stamped several sentiments from the Words of Truth stamp set in Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray and Garden Green inks.

I know Max will love this little surprise.  He is my biggest fan! I love being able to make special little things for him...knowing he appreciates them makes my heart happy :)

In addition to the fact that today is the first day of school, it is also Tuesday, which means new Weekly Deals.  Be sure to check them out in the top right sidebar of this page.

In case you missed my big announcement yesterday, I am offering a special this week...

And now, here is the list of products I used to make today's project:

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Wishing You Peace and a Deal!

Happy Labour Day!  Many here are enjoying a long weekend...the last one of summer and my last day of holidays before I head back to work tomorrow. As the kids head back to school and life takes on it's familiar routine, it is time to get back to some stamping!  The new Holiday Catalogue is just one week old and to help you get started on your Wishlist I am offering a special Back-to-School-Back-to-Stamping promotion.

Now for  a little inspiration to get you thinking about your Christmas cards this year...

Christmas card featuring the Dove of Peace stamp with sentiment from Holly Jolly Greetings

Don't you just love the Dove of Peace stamp from the Holiday Catalogue??  That image is simply stunning...and looks amazing heat-embossed in gold, which is what I did here. I matted the embossed panel on a piece of gold foil sheet to give just a narrow border and added some gold 1/8" metallic ribbon.

The sentiment, which is also heat-embossed in gold, is from the Holly Jolly Greetings set. I used the Softly Falling TIEF to emboss the background panel and built the whole card on a base of thick Whisper White card stock.

Here are all of the products I used to create this card:

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Grateful Leaves

Happy last Sunday of summer!  I know Fall doesn't begin for another couple of weeks, but my summer is coming to a close with the start of another school year this Tuesday. I'm not looking forward to the daily chaos that is my life during the school year, but the bills must be paid and the bell will ring bright and early Tuesday morning. To mark the end of summer I am having a special Back-to-School-Back-to-Stamping promotion next week...be sure to check back tomorrow for all of the details. In the meantime, it's time for a new colour challenge over at Sunday Stamps...

Here is my fall-themed take on it:

Thank you card featuring the Lighthearted Leaves stamp set and Seasonl Frame Thinlits

Don't you just love the gorgeous leave images in the Lighthearted Leaves stamp set?  I can't seem to get enough of them! I used them to add texture to the card base, stamping in Island Indigo ink on card stock of the same colour. I also used them to create the background layer behind the focal image and sentiment. I stamped the leaf images using Crushed Curry and Pumpkin Pie inks and then sponged using Daffodil Delight. To complete the background layer I added a hint of Island Indigo ink around the edges. I layered it on a piece of Pumpkin Pie card stock that I embossed using the Boho Chic TIEF.

The sentiment is die cut from gold foil sheets using the Seasonal Frame Thinlits and is layered on a piece of Burlap Trim and accented with two die cut leaves. To stamp the leaves I inked the image with Crushed Curry ink and then sponged on Pumpkin Pie ink around the edges using a dauber. I die cut them using the Leaflets Framelits. Peeking out behind the leaves is the centre of a Spider Web Doily that I heat embossed in gold to change the colour.

On the inside of the card I stamped one of the sentiments from the Lighthearted Leaves set and added one more stamped maple leaf.

This colour scheme lends itself perfectly to fall-themed projects.  Give it a go and then share it with us over at Sunday Stamps...we'd love to see your work!

Don't forget to check back here tomorrow for details on my Back-to-School-Back-to-Stamping Promotion.  In the meantime, here are all of the products I used to create this project:

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Monochromatic Fall

Whew! It is hot, hot, hot here this week! And so humid my laundry doesn't dry when I hang it on the line. I sure hope it breaks before school starts next Tuesday because my classroom is not air conditioned and the thought of being cooped up with a bunch of sweaty teenagers who are already grumpy because summer vacation is over is not exactly appealing! Pray for me people :)

Today I have a project I designed for an upcoming class that features the Vintage Leaves stamp set and coordinating Leaflets Framelits...

Thank you card featuring the Vintage Leaves stamp set with sentiment from Acorny Thank You

Have I mentioned how much I love Fall?  I don't so much love the back-to-school craziness, but I love the season itself. Normally when I design a Fall card I gravitate toward the rich oranges, reds and yellows, but for this project I decided to try a more monochromatice look. I heat embossed several leaf images from the Vitnage Leaves stamp set in gold on vellum, Tip Top Taupe and Kraft card stock and then die cut them using the Leaflets Framelits. I arranged them on a gold metallic doily, along with some gold metalic thread and adhered them to a Very Vanilla panel that I had embossed using the Woodgrain TIEF.

The striped vanilla ribbon is from the Holiday Catalogue and is gorgeously elegant. I gathered it and stapled it to the panel using the Mini Stapler. I hid the staples with some gold sequin trim and the sentiment banner, which is from the Acorny Thank You stamp set. The banner is also heat embossed in gold and die cut using the Bitty Banners Framelits. The whole card is built on a Tip Top Taupe card base.

On the inside I heat embosssed in gold more leaves and the sentiment, which is from the Lighthearted Leaves set, on a piece of Very Vanilla card stock.

I have to say, I'm kinda diggin' the monochromatic look for Fall...what do you think?

Here are the products I used to create this card. Clicking any one of the images will take you directly to my online store for easy ordering.

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