Artistic Thanks

 Happy Wednesday! Are you surprised to see me twice in one week? Today is the 15th of the month, which means it is time for our monthly Stamping Symphony Blog Hop. This month we are all about saying "Thanks"...after all, it's only polite to send thank you cards after receiving Christmas gifts, right?

Since I am featuring the Expressions in Ink Suite this week, I thought it would be fun to make a pretty almost-Christmasy thank you card. Check this out...

I absolutely LOVE the splotchy background stamp in the Artistically Inked stamp set...it is so much fun to layer colour and get amazing depth and shading. That is how I created my background on this card. I started with just a plain piece of Basic White card stock and then layered Petal Pink, Flirty Flamingo, and Calypso Coral. The effect is uh-MA-zing and so stinkin' easy!

To create my focal image, I stamped the flower once in Pale Papaya and then in Poppy Parade. I didn't spend any time trying to line up the two stamped images, as I wanted a bit of a blurred effect. Then I blended the two shades with my Wink of Stella. Not only is it a pretty watercolour effect, but it is sooooo sparkly! The leaves are stamped in Just Jade. I cut one of the detailed branch and a part of the detailed flower from the Artistic Die set from Brushed Gold Specialty Paper, cut them down and then arranged them behind my flower. I also added some gold foil leaves from the Expressions in Ink Ephemera Pack for a bit of contrast in texture. A little gold cord and some gold metallic pearls, as well as a gold-embossed sentiment make this card rich and luxurious. A perfect way to express your thanks to someone special.

On the inside of my Poppy Parade card base I added a Basic White panel on which I stamped the splotch image again in the same shades I used on the front. I left out a sentiment to allow space to write a heartfelt message. 

I demonstrated this card in this week's Facebook Live @ Five over on my Facebook business page. You can catch the replay on my YouTube channel here:

Before you go, be sure to check out the next blogs in our hop...there are some super-talented stampers in our group!

Leena - A La Cards (You are here!)

Sandy - Lolly & Sand

Barb - Just B Stamping

Jen - Stamping Jen

Laurel - Laurel Davis Crafted

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a wonderful week!

Product List

Artistically Inked Bundle (English) [155456] $72.75	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229] $11.25	Poppy Parade 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119793] $12.00	Gold & Rose Gold 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Metallic Specialty Paper [156844] $6.75
Expressions In Ink Ephemera Pack [155465] $9.50	Petal Pink Classic Stampin' Pad [147108] $10.25	Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad [147052] $10.25	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad [147101] $10.25
Poppy Parade Classic Stampin' Pad [147050] $10.25	Pale Papaya Classic Stampin' Pad [155670] $10.25	Just Jade Classic Stampin' Pad [153115] $10.25	Versamark Pad [102283] $13.00
Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder [109129] $8.25	Heat Tool (Us And Canada) [129053] $41.00	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897] $11.00	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] $163.00
Seasonal Labels Dies [156299] $52.00	Simply Elegant Trim [155766] $10.25	Metallic Pearls [146282] $9.50

Easy Expressions in Ink Fun Fold

 Happy Tuesday...can you believe we are less than two weeks away from Christmas?? I have to admit I am especially looking forward to the holiday break...we finish this Friday and I have an entire week to enjoy the lead up to Christmas this year. That is something we rarely get and I intend to make the most of it!

Since Christmas is so close, I have decided to shift gears for a couple of weeks back to some fantastic products from the Annual Catalogue that I didn't get a chance to showcase before the Holiday Mini launched. One of the drawbacks of having so many new products launch all at once is that there just isn't time to give them all the love they deserve. So, this week and next, I'll be shining the spotlight on the Annual Catalogue before I start my countdown to Sale-a-bration and the new Mini after Christmas. 

This week I am all about the Expressions in Ink Suite, This is, hands down, my favourite suite in the Annual Catalogue and I am only now really having a good play with it; o much so that I am offering a Virtual Zoom class featuring this suite in January. You can learn more about it under the Upcoming Events tab in the right sidebar.

Check out this gorgeous (but super-easy) fun fold...

Doesn't that just make your eyes happy?? I don't know what I love more...the beautiful Designer Paper or the FABULOUSLY detailed die-cut!

Or maybe it is the fact that this fun fold is a serious WOW but comes together in about 15 minutes?? Yep...I think that's the part I love most ;)

I started with a simple 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" card base and added four score lines...at 2", 3-1/8", 5-3/8" and 6-1/2". That's it...its really THAT easy!

The two side panels are layered with Expressions in Ink DSP that measures 1-3/4" x 5-1/4" and the centre panel is layered with a 2" x 5-1/4" piece of Basic White card stock that I embossed using the Pretty Flowers embossing folder (another easily-missed Annual Catalogue item!). I die-cut the gorgeous focal image from Rose Gold Metallic Specialty paper...that stuff is THE BOMB and another hidden gem in the Annual. The sentiment is heat embossed in gold on a label die-cut from Expressions in Ink Designer paper using the Seasonal Labels dies. I added a gold foil accent from the Expressions in Ink Ephemera pack and some gold metallic pearls. A little bit of crinkled white seam binding completes the bridal vibe of this WOW card. 

I demonstrated this card and two others in the video below...check it out:

Thanks so much for stopping in today. Be sure to come back tomorrow...it's blog hoppin' time!

Product List

Artistically Inked Bundle (English) [155456] $72.75	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229] $11.25	Gold & Rose Gold 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Metallic Specialty Paper [156844] $6.75	Expressions In Ink 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper [155464] $20.00
Expressions In Ink Ephemera Pack [155465] $9.50	Versamark Pad [102283] $13.00	Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder [109129] $8.25	Heat Tool (Us And Canada) [129053] $41.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] $163.00	Pretty Flowers Embossing Folder [155428] $10.25	Seasonal Labels Dies [156299] $52.00	Metallic Pearls [146282] $9.50
Whisper White 1/4" (6.4 Mm) Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon [151326] $10.25

Penguin Place Gift Card Holder

 Happy Tuesday...and happy December! I hope this most festive of months is off to a smooth start and that your holiday preparations are well under way. Speaking of holidays, I have a super-easy gift card holder to share with you today that will make giving gift cards a little extra-special. I don't know about you, but I always feel like gift cards are a bit of a cop out...the easy way to shop for gifts. But with a 14-year old in the house, whose tastes are NOTHING like mine, a gift card is the best way to gift something that I know he will like (because he'll choose it himself!). So I came up with this super-cute and easy gift card holder...

I have been waiting for what feels like FOREVER for the Penguin Place bundle to come back in stock before showcasing it...and it finally has! I am absolutely in love with this little penguin playing Rudolph! So stinkin' cute! I set him against a wintry scene created using the Layering Diorama dies and Evergreen Border punch. Such a quick and easy way to create an easy background for this little guy. I added some die-cut Stitched Snowflakes (one of which acts as a fastener to hold the card shut) and my favourite sentiment from the Penguin Place stamp set.

Now, as cute as this little guys is, he isn't the best part of this project...it is a gift card holder...and a super-easy one at that! All it took was one extra score line at the 2" mark on my card base to create a perfect pocket to hold a gift card. Ya gotta love easy...especially at this time of year!

Join me this afternoon at 5 ET over on my Facebook business page for my weekly Live @ Five when I will demonstrate how to make this cute project. If you miss me live you can catch the replay on my YouTube channel shortly afterwards. All of the scoring and measurements will be included in the video description so you can easily replicate it and wrap up your gift cards in style this season!

Now before I go, I need to tell you about our FREE SHIPPING flash sale, happening tomorrow, December 8th for 24 hrs only. Your order of $65 CAD or more ships free all day long. Shop the Last Chance Sale, the Clearance Rack or pick up some holiday stocking stuffers and it will ship to your door free. Gotta love free!! Click the image below and get shopping!

Product List

Penguin Place Bundle (English) [156789] $42.25	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276] $13.25	Shaded Spruce 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146981] $12.00	Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [102482] $12.00
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $8.25	Shaded Spruce Classic Stampin' Pad [147088] $10.25	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [147084] $10.25	Bumblebee Classic Stampin' Pad [153116] $10.25
Heartwarming Hugs Designer Series Paper [153492] $15.75	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] $163.00	Wintry 3 D Embossing Folders [155433] $13.50	Layering Diorama Dies [155565] $39.00
Stitched Snowflakes Dies [156455] $46.00	Evergreen Border Punch [153603] $31.00