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Snowman Easel Card

Snowman Easel Card published on 6 Comments on Snowman Easel Card

All this week I have had a Christmas Wow Class for my local stampers.  We made three cards that are a bit more over the top with details.  When I am planning a Wow Class, I look to techniques or folds in addition to more accessories.  The first card we made was an easel card.  Until I made the one for the Creative Crew, I had no idea how easy they are (and with such impact)!

Last Wednesday I talked to you a little about the pros and cons of feet on a snowman.  In this card, the feet work perfectly so here they are.  I stamped this fellow in Stazon Black onto Whisper White paper.  With my blender pen I followed the shading lines using Crumb Cake ink on the snowman’s body and face.  Then I added his Tangerine Tango nose and went to work on the rest.  Don’t forget to use light and dark shading to add visual depth!  I tied the little Mini Jingle Bells onto Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine to add more texture.  Since this is an easel card it can fold closed.  The jingle bell on the bottom could present a bit of a problem if mailing so just use a plain bow if you want the postal service to handle it.  I think mine is likely to go in a package or gift bag so I am set.  The final little thing to do was add a little extra dimension to that snowball.  I cut out a second one and popped it up on a Mini Glue Dot that was rolled up.

A wow card doesn’t have to be overly busy.  It just has a lot of little details that make it special.  You might not want to make 60 of them but 5-10 might be lots of fun.  For the record…my five year old son who is really taking off on his reading looked at the sentiment and found it hilarious because the snowman was throwing snow.  What better gift for a card maker than to have someone find so much humor in it??!!

I should be back on Monday with another of my projects but also be on the lookout for an early post with the details about the Online Extravaganza!!  Have a great weekend!

Stamp:  Snow Much Fun; Paper:  Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Whisper White; Ink:  Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Tangerine Tango; Accessories:  Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Blender Pen, Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine, Mini Jingle Bells, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals

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Get ready to shop!!

Get ready to shop!! published on No Comments on Get ready to shop!!

Sorry that I didn’t post my promised card yesterday.  School activities for my children have taken more time than I expected.  But the Kindergarten Feast was great and a fun run/fundraiser went really well!  I don’t have the pictures ready so I will try to get them up tomorrow.  Instead, I have great news from Stampin’ Up that I want everyone to know about!!

Online Extravaganza is coming to Stampin’ Up on Monday.  How do you take advantage??  Just log into my online store by clicking here or on my shop online airplane icon on Monday, November 21st.  There will be all kinds of things like free Digital Downloads valued at $40 with you purchase of MDS Express, 60% off select designer fabrics, and 30% off an exclusive ribbon bundle.  Additionally, there will be two items on sale for 24 hours only (Nov. 21st from 12:01a – 11:59p).  I don’t know the details until Monday but be on the lookout.  I’m sure they will be great!!

Ok, off to see if I can get some pictures ready for posting!  Have a great Friday!

Freshly Made Sketches #11

Freshly Made Sketches #11 published on 13 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #11

Welcome back for another Wednesday challenge from Freshly Made Sketches!  This week’s sketch is courtesy of Linda Callahan from Stampin’ Seasons.  She is a remarkably talented stamper and her sketch has so many fantastic possibilities.

I figured it was time to pull out a Christmas card for you so here is my tall snowman from Snow Much Fun.  I will warn you about the hazards of stamping with people like the design team at FMS.  I had resisted this set all the way until my last order.  After I saw SO MANY cute cards, I realized that “resistance is futile”!!  So…here he is!  The best part is that the watercoloring takes almost no time at all.  Fabulous!  Now in order to make this guy work for the sketch, I had to, um, cut off his legs.  There are some (Karen Barber – who also had a hilarious set of cards about the two snowmen) that believe snowmen should not have legs.  Frankly, I can see the virtues of both but today losing them worked.  I made this card with Basic Black, Real Red and Baja Breeze.  I find that I don’t use black nearly enough and since it was already out from yesterday’s card, it seemed perfect.  I added a little dimension by embossing the Real Red layer with the Snow Burst Embossing Folder.  Some little snowflakes finished it up (another enabled purchase…these ladies are dangerous!).  I colored a Basic Pearl with a Sharpie Marker to make it coordinate.  Cool!

I’ll be back tomorrow with a card from my Christmas Wow Class this week.  Yep…another snow man!  Thanks for dropping by today.  Don’t forget to drop by the Freshly Made Sketches challenge to see the amazing cards from the whole team.  Hope you can play this week!

Stamp:  Snow Much Fun; Paper:  Basic Black, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Real Red; Ink:  Stazon Black, Real Red, Basic Black, Baja Breeze, Basic Gray; Accessories:  Big Shot, Snow Burst EF, Northern Frost Die, Basic Pearls, Sharpie Marker, Dimensionals

SUOC32 – Gratitude

SUOC32 – Gratitude published on 10 Comments on SUOC32 – Gratitude

I am continuing my trend of non-Christmas cards (although I do have some to show you soon) with the challenge from SU Only Challenges this week.  Our theme this week is “Thankful”.  Let’s face it, many of us have so much to be thankful for that it is nice to be able to share that gratitude with others.  A handmade card speaks volumes about how much someone means to you!

I knew I wanted to use my Day of Gratitude set again for this card.  The variety of projects you can make from this is seemingly endless!  This particular leaf is so great when it is cut out and even better when you have a bunch of them.  Fortunately, it is also very easy to cut out!!  I decided on a really clean presentation for this one and love the results!  The leaves are attached to the card with Mini Glue Dots.  I created a banner for the phrase (the one word inked with a Stampin’ Write marker).  A Basic Black button finishes it off with thread colored with a marker.

Color Coach-016The colors for today’s card are from Create with Connie and Mary.  Yes, that is SU Only Challenge’s very own Mary Brown.  These strong colors were perfect for my leaves!

I’ll be back tomorrow with another Freshly Made Sketches layout!!  Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Stamp:  Day of Gratitude; Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black; Ink:  Basic Black, More Mustard, Cherry Cobbler; Accessories:  Neutrals Buttons, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Freshly Made Sketches #10

Freshly Made Sketches #10 published on 20 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #10

It is time for the Freshly Made Sketches latest challenge.  Oooh, take a look at this one!!  The fabulous layout is courtesy of the super talented Rita Wright at Rita’s Creations!  I love her style and her choice of the sketch shows why.  Just look at all the possiblities with this one!  If you have any questions, you just have to see the variety of projects from the team this week.  Lots of inspiration there!

Normally by November I am making all Christmas cards all the time.  Somehow this year, I continue to be inspired to make fall cards.  It might be because I LOVE fall in Virginia.  It might be because we are having lovely cold crisp mornings with warm afternoons.  Or it might be the Spice Cake DSP.  Hmmm!  I leave that to you to figure out!  More Mustard is, I admit, not a go-to color for me in general.  But this pattern called out to get used in this cool sketch this week.  I looked at my leaves (and I have lots), I looked at my flowers (lots there too) and then I realized that my Every Moment stamp was at the back of the stack.  That clearly had to be remedied!  I love this stamp set and the little bird here is awesome.  I have made him into several types of bird but today he is an orange fronted yellow finch.  Yep, look it up!  Of course I just colored him how I wanted and then figured out what he looked like but now we can all recognize a new kind of bird.  *smile*  I watercolored him with my Blender Pen after stamping him with Stazon Ink.  I added a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes and a button to finish it.

The sketch does all the work here so it is perfect for beginning and advanced stampers alike.  Hope you will give it a try this week!  My boys are have some days off from school this week so I will be enjoying the beautiful weather with them.  I’ll be back next week though with lots of fun new things.  Thanks so much for stopping in today!

Stamps:  Every Moment, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper:  Spice Cake DSP, Early Espresso, Watercolor; Ink:  More Mustard, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, River Rock, Always Artichoke, Stazon; Accessories:  Blender Pens, Neutrals Buttons, Linen Thread, Dimensionals

Creative Crew Scrapbook Challenge

Creative Crew Scrapbook Challenge published on 10 Comments on Creative Crew Scrapbook Challenge

I told you on Friday a little more about the Creative Crew at Splitcoaststampers and I am back today with the scrapbook page challenge for the month of November.  We were to take this pocket card tutorial and utilize it on our page (or make a whole page based on it).  During the last two months I have escaped the scrapbook challenge because they were 3-D projects instead but there was no more hiding this month.  Yes, I am not a scrapbooker.  I don’t know why but it scares me…the whole permanent nature of a page thing, finding the right picture, actually choosing a picture, something.  I have made pages in My Digital Studio (MDS) which have been my lead-in to making a traditional page.  I confess that I needed inspiration and went to one of the best possible sources…a Stampin’ Up Artisan Award Winner.  Jenn Picard is inspirational and I looked to this page as a starting place.  I’m sure you can see the influence on my page.

I started with the picture and took it over to MDS.  I added the Define Your Life digital stamp and then adjusted the picture to sepia.  This really seemed to set the tone for the rest of the page.  I figured the safest thing to do was stick with colors and stamps that are squarely in my happy zone so I went with the Well Worn DSP and French Foliage.  I am so in love with those leaves!  I created the little pocket like the challenge asked for out of Cajun Craze and wrapped some Linen Thread around the fold.  I was still missing something so I added some Early Espresso Satin Ribbon (retired) and the Antique Brad.  The little pull-out tag got a Mini Library Clip and some more Linen Thread.  Funny how this wasn’t nearly as hard as I was making it out to be.  I may even end up with a whole scrapbook one day…

Well, off to work on my cards for a “Wow Christmas Card Class” I am holding next week.  I’m sure I will have lots to share from that one.  I’ll be back on Wednesday with another fun layout from Freshly Made Sketches.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps:  French Foliage, Day of Gratitude; Paper:  Well Worn DSP, Natural Ivory, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso; Ink:  Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede; Accessories:  Mini Library Clip, Antique Brad, Early Espresso Satin Ribbon (retired), Linen Thread

Stocking Easel Card

Stocking Easel Card published on 8 Comments on Stocking Easel Card

I’m here today to share one of my projects from the Creative Crew at Splitcoaststampers.  For those not familiar with the Creative Crew, it is a group of designers that are chosen to provide inspiration with Stampin’ Up products.  Each month we have four challenges to complete and then you have all month to join in the fun.  This month the overall focus is fancy folds and each of our projects incorporate something a bit unique in the design.  You saw my tall/long card on Tuesday and today I am going to give you a bit more information about the Easel Card I made.

The basic tutorial for the easel card is here.  Now mine is modified a bit and made lots simpler because I have the new Stampin’ Up Simply Scored Scoring Tool.  My card front is 5 1/4″ x 5 1/4″.  This made my base 5 1/4″ x 10 1/2″ with score lines at 5 1/4″ and 7 7/8″ (really quick with the 1/8″ spacing on the tool).  I chose the Old Olive pattern from the Brights Designer Paper Pack since we were also asked to use colors from the Letters to Santa DSP.  I cut a stocking out with the new Holiday Stocking die and ran it through the Big Shot again with the  Snow Burst Embossing Folder.  The toe, heel and cuff are cut from Early Espresso card stock.  I ran a really thin line of Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombo) along the dotted perforations and attached the Early Espresso Baker’s Twine to it.  Next came some snowflakes from my brand new (to me) Northern Frost Die.  Oh, how I love these snowflakes!!  In the center of each I attached some Mini Jingle Bells using Crystal Effects as the glue.  I created the sentiment using a small part of the collage stamp from Season of Joy.  This is my first easel card and I have to say there will be more!

You know, I was a slow adapter to the whole Big Shot trend but wow, I’m not sure what I would do without it now!  If you have considered becoming a demonstrator, Stampin’ Up has extended the Big Shot offer until November 11th.  When you sign up, you will get your Big Shot free!

I will be back next Monday with another project from the Creative Crew.  Until then, have a great rest of your week and weekend!  Thanks for stopping in today!

Stamp:  Season of Joy; Paper:  Brights Designer Paper Pack, Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Whisper White; Ink:  Old Olive, Early Espresso; Accessories:  Big Shot, Snow Burst EF, Holiday Stocking Die, Northern Frost Die, Simply Scored, Mini Jingle Bells, Early Espresso Baker’s Twine, Crystal Effects, Mini Glue Dots, Tombo Multi

All products are Stampin’ Up!

FMS9 – Olive Pear

FMS9 – Olive Pear published on 18 Comments on FMS9 – Olive Pear

I am so happy to show you this week’s great sketch from Freshly Made Sketches!  This one was chosen by the amazing Tui Nathan and it is awesome!  I am also thrilled to tell you that the team is join by two guests for the month of November, Christy Q at SchnauzerCrafts Creations and Lauri Ingram of Paperville.  You are going to love what they bring to the team!

I am still working on replenishing my supply of thank you cards (always good before the holiday season) and today’s sketch kind of led me there.  I was looking through my stamps and realized that I had yet another stamp that needed ink.  My poor little pears had apparently been neglected.  This pear is the stamp that drew me into this hostess set and I knew it was perfect for this layout.  I inked it with Versamark, the Early Espresso (just like yesterday) and embossed it with Clear Embossing Powder.  This allows you to watercolor without blending the words of the stamp.  I colored the pear in with Old Olive ink, starting light and adding a bit more to darken the edges.  The inside is left plain or barely colored to give the illusion of depth.  For the ribbon, I ran a line of Sticky Strip across the card and scrunched the Early Espresso Satin across on top.  I left enough to tie on the end.  The thread is simply colored with my Stampin’ Write Marker.  An Espresso button conceals the other end.  Of course the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder was put to work again to add a little something to the base layer.

I hope you have as much fun with this sketch as I did.  Just look at the variety of cards from the team and you will see how much you can do with it!  I’ll be back tomorrow with another project from the Creative Crew.   See you then!

Stamp:  Faith in Nature (hostess); Paper:  Early Espresso, Old Olive, Very Vanilla; Ink:  Old Olive, Early Espresso, Versamark; Accessories:  Big Shot, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Blender Pen, Sticky Strip, Neutrals Buttons, Dimensionals

SUOC31 + Creative Crew Challenges

SUOC31 + Creative Crew Challenges published on 8 Comments on SUOC31 + Creative Crew Challenges

Happy November!!  I hope you have recovered from the sugar overdose of October!!  Today we have another SU Only Challenge that I know you will love – Thinking of You.  I love cards made with this sentiment because they can be used in a variety of ways.  When I don’t have anything specific in mind for a card, this is a lovely way to go!

When I need a pretty card, one of the first sets I turn to is Day of Gratitude (especially in the fall).  The images in the set are so wonderful!  As I was playing around with some paper to put in the background, I noticed how similar the design in the Spice Cake DSP is to this flower.  Well, that was all I needed to get going!!  I stayed with Spice Cake colors when I chose the Stampin’ Write Markers for the image.  I love them together!  All that was needed was a Scallop Edge strip and a button.  The thread in the button is also colored with the Espresso marker.

My second card today is for the Creative Crew Challenges (CCREW1111CF, CreativeCrew) over at Splitcoaststampers.  One of the challenges is to create a tall/long card (about 6 1/2″ x 3 1/4″).  We were given inspiration pages from the catalog and I chose pg. 167 (the Cheers card).  You can see that both of my cards today use the same layout but really feel like totally different cards (and are both different than the catalog sample).  This is a bit what I was talking about last Friday in my Christmas 101 post.  I am completely in love with the Holiday Mini set Always Thankful.  I chose the pear basket because it hadn’t seen ink yet (horrors!!).  I inked the image with Versamark Ink and then with my Early Espresso Classic Pad and stamped onto Watercolor Paper.  It was then embossed with Clear Embossing Powder and colored with my Blender Pens.  I finished it with the Color Spritzer Tool to give it a little more detail.  The beautiful paper from Well Worn DSP provided the perfect background!

I hope you have liked both of these.  I look forward to seeing you join both challenges!  You have about 10 days for the SUO Challenge and a whole month for the Creative Crew Challenge.  There are 3 more projects in my gallery for the Creative Crew and I will be giving more details on those as the month goes on.  Come back tomorrow for a new Freshly Made Sketches challenge!  You are going to like it!

Card 1:  Stamp:  Day of Gratitude, Silhouette Sentiments (hostess, retired); Paper:  Spice Cake DSP, Early Espresso, Pool Party, Very Vanilla; Ink:  Pool Party, More Mustard, Early Espresso; Accessories:  Scallop Edge Punch, Regals Buttons, Dimensionals

Card 2:  Stamp:  Always Thankful; Paper:  Well Worn DSP, River Rock, Early Espresso, Watercolor; Ink:  Versamark, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Old Olive; Accessories:  Blender Pen, Color Spritzer Tool, Scallop Edge Punch, Regals Buttons, Linen Thread

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More Christmas 101

More Christmas 101 published on 8 Comments on More Christmas 101

My Christmas 101 class this week was so much fun.  The point of the class was cards that are easily duplicated but that still feel special.  Yesterday’s card had the sparkle of the wreath.  Today we are working in a more subtle but elegant palette.

This card is perfect for the new stamper or if you want to limit your costs on creating your cards.  The beautiful detail on the Bright Hopes tree adds a certain elegance that is elevated by the bow.  The bow is created with my trust potato masher (instructions here).  My class looked at me with a bit of skepticism when we started these but all their bows ended up looking just like mine.  I may have some converts!  We talked a lot about visual triangles and how they make a card look complete.  We also discussed layouts that can use interchangeable stamps.  Imagine this card with Dasher in Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso or in this same color set using the tree from Season of Joy and the matching sentiment from the set.  The card would feel different but you haven’t had to do any extra work.  All these are elements I use when designing my own Christmas cards.

I hope this helps you as you approach the holiday card making season.  It is not too late to start!!  I’ll be back next week with lots more…a new SUO Challenges, the Creative Crew November Challenges and of course a new Freshly Made Sketch.  Off to work on finishing those projects….  Have a great weekend!

Stamp:  Bright Hopes; Paper:  Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke, Natural Ivory; Ink:  Always Artichoke; Accessories:  Artichoke Seam Binding, Dimensionals

All products are Stampin’ Up!

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