Peaceful Flurries

Here's a simple holiday card. . . . This was a card we made at my Holiday Stamp a Stack, and I'm making up a few more to send out this year too.  

I ran Shimmery White card stock through the Big Shot with the new Northern Flurry Embossing Folder (in the Holiday Mini Catalog).  I mounted that on a Marina Mist base and added a few of the Rhinestones to the center of the snowflakes.  For the sentiment I stamped with Marina Mist on Shimmery White (stamp set is All Holidays) and then punched it out with the Decorative Label punch.  I punched a second Decorative Label piece from Marina Mist card stock, and then cut the piece in half lengthwise.  I adhered the pieces to the back of the white piece so that the Marina Mist shows a bit on the top and bottom to give a nice framed edge.  

I hope that all of your holiday preparations are going well!  This week I'm working on my Christmas cards.  :-) 

Stamps:  All Holidays

Ink:  Marina Mist

Paper:  Shimmery White, Marina Mist

Accessories:  Rhinestones, Decorative Label punch, Marina Mist grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals

Stampin' Celebration #30

Isn't this a pretty inspiration piece this week at Stampin' Celebration?  I'd love to attend a dinner party that looked like this.  :-)  For the challenge this week, I made some little magnets.  

As I've been decorating for Christmas and putting everything out, I had the memory of my Mom always having cute little magnets on the fridge for different holidays throughout the year.  I especially loved the Christmas magnets.  When we go to my parents' house this year, I'll have to check and see if she still puts them up.  :-)  Anyway, so it was from this memory that came the idea to make these little magnets.  

 

I started with a 2" by 2" piece of Magnet Sheet (p 205 of the catalog), peeled off the backing (that side not shown in the picture) and adhered the Perfect Plum card stock.  Then I peeled off one side of the backing of the Multipurpose Adhesive Sheet (p 17 of the Holiday Mini Catalog) and stuck it to the the card stock. 

At that point I ran everything together through the Big Shot with the Scallop Squares Duo die to get the little scallop square.  The I peeled off the remaining Multipurpose Adhesive sheet backing and poured Dazzling Diamonds Glitter over the top.  That gives the awesome sparkle.  :-)  

The snowflakes came from the Northern Frost Decorative Strip (also in the Mini Catalog) and Whisper White card stock run through the Big Shot.  The last thing I added were a few Rhinestones for a little more bling.  

These were a simple project to make. . . . so simple that I think I may make some more with my children--letting them customize a bit.  Maybe we'll even make some for Grandma to add to her collection.  ;-)  These would also make great gifts or stocking stuffers.   

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Make sure to head over to Stampin' Celebration to see what the other members of the Design Team are up to this week!  

Paper:  Perfect Plum, Almost Amethyst DSP (discontinued), Whisper White 

Accessories:  Magnet Sheet, Multipurpose Adhesive Sheet, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Scallop Squares Duo Die, Northern Frost Decorative Strip, Big Shot, Rhinestones

Stampin Celebration #29

This week at Stampin' Celebration we're getting ready for Thanksgiving!  Another great inspiration piece too!  I wanted to make up some little Thanksgiving treats (teacher gifts, etc) so I used this as my starting point.  

 

I pulled out my Candy Wrapper Die and some More Mustard card stock.  After I assembled the candy wrapper I added ribbon (remember to add your candy first!) and a strip (1 3/4" by 6") of Autumn Spice Specialty Designer Series Paper.  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I stamped and then punched out with the Word Window punch and layered it onto the Early Espresso that was punched with the Modern Label punch.  Two of the mini Pearls add a little elegance.  

For the leaves, I stamped in Versamark with the Day of Gratitude stamp set.  I stamped only so that I could have a guide to cut out--on the final project, the stamped side of the leaf is facing the box so that you don't see it.  Next I ran the leaves through the Big Shot with the Spider Web Impressions Folder to add the 'veins' to the leaves.  This isn't my original idea, although unfortunately I don't know where to give credit--it's one of those ideas floating around the web.  But either way, don't pack away that Spider Web folder quite yet--it's useful for Thanksgiving and fall too.  :-) 

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure to head over to Stampin' Celebration to see the other projects for this week.  And then play along with us--we'd love to see what you create!  

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, Day of Gratitude

Ink:  Early Espresso, Versamark

Paper:  More Mustard, Old Olive, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Autumn Spice Specialty DSP

Accessories:  Candy Wrapper Die, Spider Web IF, Big Shot, Early Espresso grosgrain ribbon, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Basic Pearls, dimensionals

Simply Amazing

Have you ever thought about becoming a Stampin Up demonstrator? 

Whether you are looking for a business opportunity, or a discount on your crafting supplies, Stampin Up has a place for you! If you join the Stampin Up family before the end of November, you can purchase the starter kit for $87.50!  That's 50% off the regular price and means that you get over $310 of crafting and business supplies for less than $90! 

Not only is this a wonderful (never before seen) price, it is also a wonderful opportunity.  I have enjoyed every minute of being a demonstrator, and look back amazed at the wonderful opportunities it has provided for friendships, travel, and more.  

Contact me today so we can chat about the wonderful support and opportunities that Stampin Up provides for its demonstrators.  I'd love to have you join my team!  

Visit my website for more info!

Contempo Christmas

I'm back and trying to get back into the swing of blogging again.   :-)  If you haven't heard about it already, there's a great Handmade Holiday promotion going on right now with Stampin' Up!  You can purchase holiday bundles at a 20% discount!  Check out the flyer HERE. 

These cards showcase the Contempo Christmas Card Bundle.  The bundle consists of the Contempo Christmas stamp set (you can choose wood mount or clear mount) and a pack of the Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper. The idea for this card came from Claudia Perry's card that is posted on Stampin' Connection (a website for Stampin' Up demonstrators). 

Tips:  I used the clear mount stamp set and mounted both the tree and sentiment images onto block E at the same time.  That way I could line up the images once, and ink and stamp multiple cards.  I used markers to ink the images.  

I used the Glimmer Brads on these cards.  And I must say they are prettier in person than how they look in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  :-)  I opened the brad wide, slipped the ribbon between the prongs of the brad, and then used some needle-nose pliers to wrap the prongs of the brad around the ribbon.  Then a glue dot keeps the brad in place on the card. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Contempo Christmas

Ink:  Real Red, Old Olive
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Real Red, Very Vanilla, Jolly Holiday DSP

Accessories:  Glimmer Brads (Brights), Old Olive and Real Red Satin Ribbon, Scallop Edge punch, Corner Rounder punch

Stampin' Celebration #27

It's already Thursday again, and what a pretty Stampin' Celebration inspiration piece! I just love all the colors associated with fall!  So here's what I made for this week:  

 

It seems I'm always in need of little note cards.  I like simple ones that I can either make quickly as needed, or that I can easily mass produce and have on hand.  So, this week I took the color scheme of the inspiration piece and went to work.  

I used my new Northern Trim Letterpress Plate from the Holiday Mini Catalog and my set of Brights Craft Spots. I inked up the letterpress plate, positioned the note card, ran it through the Big Shot, added a few Basic Pearls to each card, and that's it!!  Perhaps the fastest cards I've ever made.  :-) 

It's hard to see in the photo, but the letterpress plates give you a debossed, inked impression.  So it's a fun new technique to add to your cards. 

A couple of hints when using the letterpress plates:  The craft inks do work better than the classic inks.  I needed to use a shim with my Big Shot (you may not need to with yours).  Also, a thicker paper gives you a crisper images--Whisper White worked ok, but water color paper, textured paper, or even the Crumb Cake I used here work better.  It took me a couple times to get the hang of using these new plates, but they are really easy and produce professional looking results once you get the hang of it. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure to head over to Stampin' Celebration to see what the Design Team has been up to this week.  And then make sure to play along--we'd love to see what you are inspired to make.  :-)  

Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, and Tangerine Tango craft ink spots. 

Paper:  Crumb Cake

Accessories:  Northern Trim Letterpress Plate, Big Shot, Basic Pearls