Feeling Festive

Well I have finally succumbed to one of the many bugs that have been flying around at work and am off today with a fever, aches and chills.  I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later, but it had sure better pass quickly...I don't have time to be sick!  The only good thing about being home today is that I get to lie on the couch and enjoy my Christmas decorations.  I got everything but the tree put up yesterday (which is probably why I'm sick today...I kinda over-did it!  Anyhow, it is certainly looking festive and feeling much more like Christmas in our house.  To celebrate the upcoming season I have a simple holiday card for you...

Simple Christmas card featuring the Christmas Lodge stamp set.

To start, I stamped the tree using Sahara Sand ink and then die cut it out using my Labels Collection Framelits.  I sponged the edges of the label and then stamped the sentiment in Versamark and heat-embossed using pewter embossing powder.  The DSP is from the Festival of Prints pack...by the way if you like that DSP format, you're going to LOVE what's coming in the Spring Catalogue!  I added a bit of Always Artichoke seam binding ribbon for texture. Simple, quick yet oh, so traditional.

On another note, just a reminder to RSVP for my Customer Appreciation Holiday Open House coming up this Saturday, December 1st from 2-5 pm.  Drop by for an hour or so to enjoy some festive fun and allow me to thank you for your support of my business this past year.

Scenic Embossed Season

This week is a busy one!  I have my Stamps-A-Latte club on Thursday, Stamp-A-Stacks on Friday and Saturday and my Gift Tags class next Monday!  Talk about a lot of cutting to do!  Not to mention designing some of the projects!  My Stamps-A-Latte Ladies like to learn techniques, so this month we are doing two.  Today's project uses multi-coloured embossing and I love the way it turned out.  Check it out...

Holiday card using the Scenic Season set and multi-coloured embossing technique

Inside view with image from the Christmas Lodge set.

Isn't that a cool effect???  I used gold, pewter, silver and iridescent ice embossing powder on the trees...I'm not sure if all the variations in colour show up in the photo.  In looks pretty cool in real life.  I kept the rest of the card clean and simple to highlight the image.  The sentiment and the inside of the card are stamped in soft suede.  I used a bit of quilted satin ribbon in cherry cobbler and a neutrals glimmer brad to finish it off.   I sure hope my club ladies like this one as much as I do!

Its Digital Scrapbooking Day!

Stampin' Up! is celebrating Digital Scrapbooking Day from Nov. 4 -7th.  This event is designed to highlight some of the fantastic projects you can create using My Digital Studio.  Check out the Event page at MyDigitalStudio.net to learn how you can access FREE digital content during this special event.  Hurry...the event ends Monday, November 7th!

Now on to today's post.  This is another card I designed for my Christmas Club last month.  It uses my favourite set from the Holiday Mini, Christmas Lodge, and makes use of the coordinating DSP called Frostwood Lodge.  See what you think:

Rustic Christmas card using the Christmas Lodge stamp set and Frostwood Lodge DSP from the Holiday Mini

Inside of card using sentiment from Christmas Lodge.

I have to say that this is one of my favourite Christmas cards that I've created this year.  I really love the images in this stamp set but have found it a challenge to use them effectively because they are quite large.  I saw a card online where someone had stamped on the birch-bark-patterned DSP and a light bulb went off.  The result was the focal image on this card.  I added the quilted satin ribbon for richness and embossed the background for additional texture.  I absolutely love the  way Stampin' Up's products all coordinate.  It makes it so easy to put together a cohesive project with very little effort.  The products in the Frostwood Lodge Suite are a perfect example of this (and my  current favorites!)

All Stamped out!

I never thought I would ever say this, but I am truly stamped out!  I have inked more rubber this weekend than I ever have in my life!  My fingers actually hurt!  It was a very productive weekend, though!  I got a ton done in preparation for my booth at the Rockton Fair next weekend.  I have lots to show you but I need to pace myself...I likely won't have much stamping time this week and DEFINITELY won't have any next weekend!  So, for now, I have this cute little box to show you.  It is really just one of our Kraft gift boxes from the Mini that I dressed up a little...see what you think:

Christmas gift box using a Kraft box from the Holiday Mini and Frostwood Lodge DSP as well as the Christmas Lodge stamp set.

EASY paper bow...I'm definitely making more of these this year!

 Cute, huh?  This was so quick and easy to do and that bow...a piece of Christmas cake!  I used a tutorial from Splitcoast Stampers but changed it a bit.  Instead of using a different brad to assemble each layer, I used one long one and added all the layers but the final loop in the middle to it.  It made for less bulk and super-easy assembly.  I also changed the width of the centre loop, increasing it to 1 1/4" so that it filled in the centre more.  I LOVE this...my hubby and four-year-old were even impressed!  Here's hoping the fairgoers will like it and sign up to take my class!

Holiday Mini Sneak Peek #2

Here is another card I created using products from the upcoming Holiday Mini.  This one uses my FAV set from the new mini...check it out:

Christmas card using the Christmas Lodge stamp set and Frostwood Lodge DSP

The products in the Frostwood Lodge suite are so homey and cozy.  The patterns in the DSP remind me of flannel nightgowns I wore as a child and the images in the Christmas Lodge stamp set are just so detailed and beautiful!  The tree on this card is from that set...isn't it gorgeous??  I combined it with a sentiment from the Merry & Type set in the IB&C for a vintagey, homespun look.  The quilted satin ribbon adds that final, cozy touch.
Have you entered my Bloggaversary draw yet?  If not, what are you waiting for?  There is some quality blog candy up for grabs!  Just leave a comment on THIS POST to enter.  I'll be choosing the winner when I get back from my week up north on the 21st.