another quilt card, and more fun!

Since I know how much you just loved yesterday's quilt card, I thought I would share another one with you! 

This is one of my Christmas projects for Tuesday's class at the bakery. There are so many things I love about this card. For one thing, I love the greeting (More Merry Messages). It says exactly how I want others to feel - happy! And it's so... British.  :}  Perfect for a Christmas card since the sending of Christmas cards originated in England.

After adhering the four strips of DSP to a 4"x5-1/4" piece of Very Vanilla card stock, I gave the whole layer a "quilted" look - and feel! - by dry embossing it with the Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder. 
I die-cut a scrap of Garden Green card stock with one of the Framelits in the Labels Collection. Then I used a template from the Festive Paper Piercing Pack to add the pierced details.
Apparently I tried to use all of my Framelits on this card! I used two other sets to complete my layered focal point... one of the Apothecary Accents Framelits for the Crumb Cake layer, and the smallest from the Window Frames Collection (after stamping) for the Cherry Cobbler layer.

I hope all of you have had an enjoyable Saturday so far. I've had a great day with my boys! We woke up to find that "Elfie" had returned to stay with our family for December. 

And, he brought very cool Advent calendars with him - yay!! I'll bet he was planning on writing us a message on the memo board, but had a hard time finding a dry-erase marker  ;) 

We also started a new family tradition this December - a family Advent calendar. Each day, we will spend time together doing the activity stated on that particular day's card. I created all of the cards as a swatchbook using MDS2. (We will be looking at them on my computer until the printed version arrives!) I'm leaving space on some of the cards to add small photos and journaling after we complete the activities. 

 I created a simple swatchbook cover that includes the year... 

 ...and here is the page for December 1st.  Not only will we have fun enjoying the Christmas season together as a family, we will have a mini scrapbook album, too!

I'm looking forward to sharing the rest of our family activities with you. Do you have any special Christmas traditions that you love sharing with your family? 

Season's Greetings

Happy Friday!!!! Boy, am I happy to see the weekend! We had a busy schedule this week, and I think it felt even more crazy since I have this darn cold. I am feeling better, so hopefully I will be able to enjoy some "down time." 
I like to spend my free time stamping and digi-scrapping. While I have many friends who enjoy these hobbies as well, I know several others who enjoy quilting. Today's project, a "quilt card," brings them together. 

Isn't that just neat??! I know it's a star pattern, but I don't know which one. Quilters: feel free to leave a comment and clue me in. The best part, is that it's easy to create. I started with a Baja Breeze card base and added a 1-1/2" wide strip of Snow Festival DSP. I love how all of Stampin' Up!'s Designer Series Paper coordinates within each package. It makes a project like this simple, since I don't have to hunt for matching papers! My greeting (More Merry Messages) is stamped in Baja Breeze ink.

The star-quilt design is built on a 3" square of printer paper, and matted with a 3-1/4" square of Gumball Green card stock. 

To create this star pattern, choose three coordinating papers. 
Punch out five 1" squares from "print A" (snowflakes). Set four aside; cut one into four triangles.  
Punch out two 1" squares from "print B" (stars). Cut in half, diagonally. 
Punch out one 1" square from "print C" (flowers); cut it into four triangles.
Pick a corner, and adhere the first square (print A). Adhere the two adjacent triangles. Continue to adhere adjacent triangles until you reach the remaining corner squares.
*** note: The center square is empty, since I knew I would be stamping and punching out the ornament.  
***TIP: I find it easier to use a liquid adhesive on a project like this. It gives me a second to scoot the paper pieces together for a perfect fit.  :} 
 
So what do you think... something you would try? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Have a wonderful weekend!!  :}

a one-layer card???!!!

Those who know me "in real life" or who've been reading a long time, know that I love using tons of layers and embellishments on my hand-stamped projects. I'm happiest when fussy-cutting stamped images and playing with ribbons. So today's card should come as quite a surprise to you!

Yes, you can make a card using only one layer of card stock!!! I'd heard the rumors, but I needed to find out for myself.  ;)  And I am in love with the finished card! 
My Simply Scored Scoring Tool was hard at work to make this card. Using a half-sheet of Crumb Cake card stock (4-1/4" x 11"), I first scored a fold-line at 5-1/2". Then I scored three lines at 8-7/8", 9", and 9-1/8". The final three score lines are at 10", 10-1/8", and 10-1/4". 
I stamped my greeting (Greetings of the Season) in Soft Suede ink between the sets of scored lines. A Vintage Faceted Button holding a tiny Linen Thread bow is the perfect embellishment.

Oh my goodness, I wish you could see the shimmer on this card in real life! I spritzed the card front - a lot - with my shimmer mist (rubbing alcohol and a few drops of Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint in a spritz bottle). It is absolutely gorgeous!! 
For all you busy Moms out there... this just might be your Christmas card this year.  :}  You can finish one in seconds! 
 
Don't forget that today is the last day for the Online Extravaganza! There are so many good deals, including MDS2+ for half off... that's $39.98plus tax for over $500 worth of digital content. Oh, and be sure to check out the super bargains for today only!  Have fun shopping  :}

Lovely As a Christmas Tree

I'll bet you have a few "oldies but goodies" in your stamp stash. You know, the ones that are just so perfect... too good to ever part with. For me, Lovely As A Tree is that stamp set. It's a classic! And that's why it works so well for a traditional Christmas card. 

Remember this template from the vintage Christmas card? It's such an easy card layout that we used it on two cards in my class at the bakery. 

For the background, I used a layer of Cherry Cobbler Core'dinations card stock. It adds just a hint of texture to my card. I chose not to add another layer in the background, allowing more of the Garden Green card base to show. 
The pine tree is stamped in Garden Green ink onto a 2"x4" layer of Whisper White card stock. My greeting (Petite Pairs) is also stamped in Garden Green. The 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon is the perfect compliment to this card. 

Don't you just love Garden Green and Cherry Cobbler together? I'm using this color combination in another class at the bakery on December 4th. I'd love for my local stamping friends to join me! 

 

There's a sign up sheet inside Wildflour Artisan Bakery & Cafe (256 West Main St, Decatur). If you're not too full after indulging in some sweets, be sure to check out the new renovations in the Root Cellar! 

simple, modern Christmas card

Hello stamping friends! Sorry for the inconsistent posting the last few days. Between traveling out of town for the holiday and fighting this cold, my head is "in the clouds." The cold, which started Thursday night, is winning the battle - grrr!  And while I really wanted to pound my phone into the floor when the alarm went off this morning, life goes on, and I didn't want to wait another day to share this cute card with you. 

This is my modern style Christmas card from my class at the bakery. To create that modern feel I used a clean design, eye-popping and unexpected colors, and lots of "white space." 

The Whisper White layer has two scored lines an 1/8" apart, a little strip of  Primrose Petals DSP folded over the top edge, and is adhered with Dimensionals. 

I stamped the greeting (Curly Cute stamp set) in Lucky Limeade ink, and then adhered the images. Those cute little Christmas images from the Merry Minis stamp set are stamped in Lucky Limeade, Primrose Petals, and Island Indigo ink, then punched out with the Merry Minis punches.    ***TIP: to adhere the images as evenly spaced as possible, I attached the center image first, then the outside images, and then the remaining two. 

While you are burning up the keyboard this Cyber Monday, don't forget all the great deals in the Online Extravaganza in my online store. Happy shopping!  :}

Vintage Ornament Christmas Card

My most recent class that I taught at the bakery was a Christmas card class. I wanted the participants to see a variety of styles they could try when stamping their own Christmas cards. So I brought cute, traditional, modern, and vintage cards. I already showed you the cute card, and today I'm sharing my vintage style card. 

I created the background using both DSP and embossed card stock. The Cherry Cobbler DSP layer is from the Be of Good Cheer package, and I used the Fancy Fan Embossing Folder to create that great texture on the Baja Breeze card stock.  

After stamping the ornament in Baja Breeze ink, I used a template in the Festive Paper Piercing Pack to help me add the pierced details. The Very Vanilla layer is adhered with Dimensionals so that those details stand out.

After tying on some Baja Breeze Seam Binding and attaching the focal point layers (more Dimensionals), I spritzed on my shimmer mist, a mixture of Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint in rubbing alcohol.  
 
I even whipped up a simple sketch for my card, so you can add it to your template library. And stay tuned... I'll be posting another card using this same template very soon!!  :} 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes, a day late, but no less heartfelt! I am thankful for so many things, including all of you who stop by and read my blog.  :) 
I was having coffee with a friend on Tuesday and I took her this card to express how thankful I am for our friendship - 

I created a really subtle background by inking the Parlor Prints background stamp in Crumb Cake ink, stamping off onto scratch paper, and then stamping onto my Crumb Cake card base. 
The Marina Mist layer is distressed along the bottom edge and punched with the Scallop Edge Border punch along the top edge. 

For the focal point I created three fun little paper flowers, and adhered them to a layer of Very Vanilla card stock that I spritzed with a Crumb Cake marker. I just love the Spritzing Tool, don't you??! 
After stamping the sentiment in Cajun Craze ink, I punched it out using the Jewelry Tag punch and tucked it behind a flower.

Aren't those layered paper flowers gorgeous? They are so easy to make!! Using the 1-1/4" Scallop Circle punch, I punched out five layers for each flower. After piercing a hole in the center, I used a brad to hold the layers together. Then I spritzed the top layer with a bit of water, and scrunched it up around the brad (so that it stuck straight up from the other layers). Spritzing and scrunching one layer at a time, I continued until all five layers curved upward around the brad. The layered paper flowers require a little bit of drying time, but they are so worth the wait! 

Because I know you are as thankful for card sketches as I am, here's my sketch for you to Pin or add to your collection - 

It doesn't get much easier than this, does it?  ;}   Have a wonderful weekend, and if you aren't too shopped out, don't forget about the Online Extravaganza, where you can score some amazing deals on the best craft supplies!! 

Lebkuchen anyone?

I love creating Lebkuchen in my stamping space... not so much in my kitchen. What are Lebkuchen?? Gingerbread!  :}   I think they are so stinkin' cute! Why would I reference these little guys in German? Because it's one of the few words I remember in German!! That's right - I can speak German... well a little anyway. Ich kann nur ein bischen erinnern. Seriously, it's depressing how much I've forgotten after 4 years in high school and a minor in German in college. Perhaps it was the "beginning of the end" for me in my last class for my minor - German literature. If you thought Nietzsche was confusing in English, try reading his works auf Deutsch! 
Anywho... I'm teaching a Christmas card class at the bakery tonight, and well, it's at a bakery!! I had to create a card with baked goods as a focal point, right?! 

Adorable  :}  And easy, too. I took a 3" wide strip of Gumball Green Core'dinations card stock, and just tore along the top and bottom edges. Over that I layered a 2" wide strip of Snow Festival DSP. 

My Lebkuchen cuties are stamped (Scentsational Season stamp set) in Soft Suede ink onto the same color card stock and die cut (Holiday Collection Framelits) through the Big Shot. After adhering them to the card with Dimensionals, I added Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details to create the look of candy buttons. The sentiment (More Merry Messages) is also stamped in Soft Suede ink.

This card's too cute to not give you the sketch to go with it! It's one of my most favorite, easy-to-use card sketches. 

Ich wünsche deiner Familie ein gesegnetes Weihnachtsfest! 

Christmas in the heart

I'm feeling a tad guilty posting Christmas cards before Thanksgiving, especially since I have a few opinions on how early the stores start pushing Christmas. BUT, I've pretty much mailed/ delivered all my Fall and Thanksgiving cards for the year, and I've started working on Christmas cards - a little here, a little there. 
I found another neat blog that posts card sketches, and the current sketch challenge - and by current I of course mean that I am posting this at the last minute ;) - made me think of one of the "single" stamps in the Holiday catalog - Heart of Christmas.

I stamped a simple background in Always Artichoke ink (same color as the card stock) using two of the snowflake stamps from the Snowflake Soiree stamp set. 

The sentiment is used as the focal point on this card. I stamped it in Always Artichoke ink - once onto the Lucky Limeade Layer, and then again onto Whisper White which I trimmed after stamping. 
Two punched hearts (Small Heart punch, and the tiny heart in the Owl Builder punch) and some Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine are all the embellishments this card needs. 

So, just curious... when do you start making your Christmas cards? Are you an early bird or a procrastinator like me?  :}
If you still have some stamping to do, be sure to check out the amazing deals in my Online Store. There are some cute Christmas stamp sets at GREAT prices!!

simple, pretty snowflake

Sometimes, you need a simple but elegant card for the holiday season. 

I started with a simple background - a Crumb Cake card base covered with a layer of Baja Breeze card stock. To add elegant texture, I dry embossed the Baja Breeze layer using the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder.

Believe it or not, I used one of the "flower" stamps from the Mixed Bunch stamp set, and punched it out with the coordinating Blossom punch. When stamped in Baja Breeze ink, I think it makes the most gorgeous snowflake!
For some easy "wow," I added those pretty little Pearls - six of the tiniest size in the package, and one large pearl (from the same package) in the center. 
For some extra "wow," I spritzed the entire card front with my shimmer mist - a mixture of rubbing alcohol and Frost White Shimmer Paint. It looks really pretty in real life, but I just couldn't get it to show up in a picture.  :(

Speaking of WOW...  

The Online Extravaganza promotion (Nov. 19-28) is Stampin' Up!'s biggest online sale of the year! You can get incredible discounts -up to 50 percent- on some of your favorite products!
In addition, there will be three products 20 percent off for 24-hours only on both the first and last days of Online Extravaganza-our very own doorbusters! 
 
Monday, November 19, midnight - 11:50 PM (MT)

Page	Item	Description	Retail Price	24-Hour Sale Price
181	125586	Simply Scored Diagonal Plate	$11.95	$9.56
186	113439	Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine	$99.95	$79.96
186	113474	Big Shot Doctor's Bag	$69.95	$55.96

Wednesday, November 28, midnight - 11:50 PM (MT)

Page	Item	Description	Retail Price	24-Hour Sale Price
7	118941	Clear Block Bundle (Blocks A-I)	$66.95	$53.56
7	120279	Clear Block Storage Caddy	$16.95	$13.56
175	109127	Stack & Store Caddy	$34.95	$27.96

You can visit the Online Store to see all discounted products or view this PDF.

***   WOW!!!   ***

*******

a simple card sketch - four ways!

Sometimes I like to give the creative side of my brain a little kick... either to get things started or to get my creativity to move in a different direction. I like to read paper crafting magazines, look through the photo gallery in Stampin' Up!'s online forum for demonstrators, and browse blogs. Earlier this week, a card sketch on the Clean & Simple blog caught my eye. I liked it so much, that I made quite a variety of projects using the same sketch. Today I'm sharing three cards and a  gift tag, all inspired by the sketch.   :} 

stamp sets: Circle Circus, A Word For You

stamp sets: Pleasant Poppies, Friendly Phrases

stamp set: Curly Cute          Embossing Folder: Lacy Brocade

stamp sets: Merry Minis, Tiny Tags 

Creating the scalloped-edge rectangle was super easy! Using the Scallop Squares Duo Bigz Die, I simply die-cut two of each square. For the card fronts, I adhered the larger squares together with five scallops overlapping. For the tag, the smaller squares are adhered together with three scallops overlapping. 

Speaking of die-cutting, have you ever wished you could see all of Stampin' Up!'s products for the Big Shot in one place??? Your wish has been granted!  :}  

Big Shot PDF      http://bit.ly/BigShotUS

Don't have the Big Shot (yet) but want to create those beautiful embossed textures (like on the thank-you card) with the Embossing Folders??? Another wish granted!! The Texture Boutique Embossing Machine is here! 

whew... That turned out to be quite a long post! Thanks for sticking around to the end.  Now go stamp!!  ;}

attitude of gratitude

It's no secret that I love social media (totally addicted). And while I really do enjoy reading all the posts in November of what everyone is thankful for, I never could quite get into it. I certainly agree with expressing thankfulness for the blessings in our lives, but does typing it while waiting at all the red lights on your commute really count? Is it enough?   
One of my stamping friends introduced me to an interesting blog a while back. And one of the posts on the blog is encouraging an "attitude of gratitude." She encourages card-makers to create a card expressing their thankfulness. I thought it was a fabulous idea! You actually tell a live person in your own words exactly why you are so thankful to know him/ her. Old fashioned? Maybe. Needed in today's world? Desperately. 
I thought I would start with a group of people - the teachers at the grade school. I am so blessed that my boys can attend such a great school with high expectations and a dedicated staff.  

To my River Rock card base, I added only one layer (Very Vanilla) and one embellishment. I scored two vertical lines 1/4" apart for the tiniest hint of texture. The leaf from the Wonderfall stamp set is stamped in River Rock, More Mustard, and Cajun Craze ink for a sort of ombré effect. And the sentiment (Blessings From Heaven) is absolutely perfect for this card. 

I've used this card sketch before - I just love how easy it is when you want a clean and simple card that you can create quickly. You might be wondering why I would want to stamp such a simple card to carry my message...  Well, I like the idea of sharing the "attitude of gratitude" so much, that I thought I would stamp a whole basket of these (therefore needing a quick design!) to leave in the teacher's lounge, so that others can continue the message of thankfulness. I hope they like them :) 

For those of you who would love to design a digital card right from your iPhone and send it to your loved ones... now you can!!! 

The new Simply Sent App from Stampin' Up! is now available in the iTunes store... and it's FREE!  Waiting for the school bus just got a lot more fun!!  ;} 

THANKS is for giving

I love making hand-stamped thank you cards. It's such a wonderful, personal way to show someone you are really thankful. I get especially happy making fall-themed thank yous. I think it's because you can create so many pretty details with fall "leaves."

A strip of Comfort Cafe DSP gave me my color palette for the leaf colors. And I love the extra details on the greeting stamp (Seasonal Sayings). 
Using a technique always makes a card extra special, and for my leaves I used two easy stamping techniques. 

All the leaves use the technique called two-step stamping. The Gently Falling stamp set comes with both a solid and an outline stamp for each image.  
Onto Very Vanilla card stock, I stamped the solid maple leaf in Summer Starfruit ink. Then, I stamped the outline maple leaf in Early Espresso ink right over the top. This stamp set is very forgiving - an easy one for beginners who want to "step up" their cards. You don't have to stamp the outline exactly lined up with the solid image - I aim for close enough. 
For the second technique, take a look at the oak and the aspen leaves (far left pointing downward; top on a dimensional pointing to the right). The solid image oak leaf is stamped in Soft Suede ink, and the outline image is stamped over it in Early Espresso ink. I wanted the aspen leaf to be a slightly different shade, so I inked the solid image with Soft Suede ink, stamped first onto scratch paper, and then stamped onto the Very Vanilla card stock. This technique is called "stamping off" or "2nd generation stamping." It's a great technique to use when you don't necessarily want to add another color to your project. I find myself using this technique a lot when working on masculine, vintage, and monochromatic cards. 
I hand snipped all of the leaves... it takes some time, but looks oh so pretty.   ***TIP: when snipping images that use the two-step stamping technique, don't try to cut around the outside edge of everything stamped. Follow the lines of the outline image. You might cut off bits of the solid image - that's ok. Trust me, your snipped image will have a cleaner, more professional look by snipping around just the outline image. 

This card will be perfect for Aaron's teacher to thank her for all of the awesome art projects she does in her classroom. Aaron brought home the cutest project yesterday... I just have to share it! 

This sunflower has earned a permanent spot on my desk  :} 

The bottom yellow paper-plate is cut into the sunburst shape, and the top plate has been trimmed to just the center circle with four slits cut towards the center to create petals. Aaron's school picture is in the center, with sunflower seeds glued all around. Don't tell Aaron, but I had to add a bit more glue to some of the seeds. A pencil is hot-glued to the back for a stem. LOVE it!!

Thanks for dropping by. I get a whole day to stamp today, so I'm uber excited. If only I could get my brain to focus on one or two projects, instead of the hundreds I want to work on!!! 

BLING!!!

Hold on to your stocking caps... I have a "wowza" card to share today. Remember last week when I told you about this cute blog I found? Well, the Cupcake Craft Challenges blog posted a sketch challenge for this week, and I love the sketch - I just had to whip up this card. 

Not my usual style, eh? But this penguin needed to play on a FUN card, with fun colors!! She's such a cute little penguin, and she picked out her Melon Mambo stocking cap all by herself!  ;}   I like all the images in the No Peeking stamp set, but she's my favorite. And have you ever seen me use so much "bling" on a card???  The Rhinestones are perfect for this one! 

I used the Northern Flurry Embossing Folder to add some texture to the die-cut Gumball Green 3-1/2" circle. My little penguin sweetheart is stamped in black StazOn® ink onto Whisper White card stock. I stamped her again in Melon Mambo ink so I could snip out the stocking cap, and then I used markers to color her scarf. 
For my sentiment, I inked the stamp in Gumball Green. Before stamping, I used a Blender Pen to remove the green ink from a few letters, and then colored them with a Melon Mambo marker.  The Extra Large Oval and Decorative Label punches are perfect for dressing up this cute greeting. 

And of course a card this fabulous needed some shimmer mist! I added a liberal dose to both the die-cut circle and the punched greeting. If you don't already have a spritz bottle filled with rubbing alcohol and a few drops of Frost White Shimmer Paint, you need to make one... now! 
Well, that's it for today, stamping friends. May you all have a wonderful day!   :}