Stamps, Paper, and Ink

Soft Sympathy

I need a sympathy card for a man whose mother passed away and the color combo challenge at SCS gave me just the soothing shades for a serene winter card.

The Beautiful Season set is intended for Christmas but I think it can be used for many occasions. I really like it for the sympathy theme and even thought about using just the "Thinking of you" portion and omitting the "at Christmas." But since I am playing along with the great Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, I added the banner strip and chose the sentiment from Thoughts and Prayers.

I stamped the image on Whisper White card stock with Basic Brown ink (it's retired, but I LOVE it for it's soft look) and colored with inks and my Aquapainter.

I really resisted adding a bow or even a button, but that was not without trying a bit of Linen thread and twine. No sparkles either. Now you know why this is not my favorite card,lol!

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Beautiful Season, Thoughts and Prayers

Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz

Ink: Pear Pizzazz

Accessories: Taffeta ribbon, Lattice Squares EF, Antique brads, Northen Frost die

Red, green and a little {{pink}}

I want to thank everyone who visited my blog yesterday - you made me feel as if my posts had been missed! I read every comment as well and so many brought a smile to my face. I appreciate you!

I was in the mood for a lighthearted Christmas card in non-traditional colors today. It absolutely tickled me pink to make this card! I love pink and green together with just a hint of red, don't you?

 
The Season of Joy stamp set is the perfect choice for a whimsical style card. My search resulted in no pink DSP to use, so I stamped the background with the words image from the set. (It was a DUH! kind of moment, lol!) The tree is stamped and cut out to add to this circle card, bedecked with pearls that were colored with my red Sharpie.

At MOJO Monday a circle or square card was the theme and here's the great sketch that inspired my layout.

I learned a new trick when making circle cards. Instead of die cutting or folding one sheet of card stock that is hinged at the top, I now cut out two separate circles. I score the one for the card bottom about 3/4 " from the top and fold it down to make a flap. Then I match the two pieces up and adhere them together. Makes the card a bit sturdier and I find it easier to make as well.

It's a rainy day today, but I'd best me on my way. Thanks for stopping by!

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Season of Joy

Paper:  Pretty in Pink, Designer Paper Stack Subtles,

Ink:  Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi

Accessories:  Northern Frost and Tasteful Trim dies, Pink taffeta ribbon, Basic Pearls, Nestabilities

O Christmas Tree

If I had known I'd be MIA from my blog for a couple or three weeks, I would have given you advance  notice. But it took me by surprise too.

Quite honestly, I was busy at first with work for my stamping club and classes, and just couldn't get time to make projects or blog. But that's only half of the story.

The main reason is that I've been discouraged by my stamping for my blog. Ever feel like maybe you're losing your MOJO? Have you felt as if you can never come up with another original creative idea? Or do you see all the fresh new stampers blogging and on design teams out there and wonder if you are crazy to try to keep up? I'm here to say that I'm not giving up yet and hopefully my little break has eased the burnout a bit. Just sayin' in case you'd want to know!

Now for today's card which I humbly share. Time to sing along..."O Christmas Tree.... how lovely are thy branches."

The focal image features the tree from the Christmas Lodge stamp set and is decorated with some die cut Little Leaves. The small flower from Fabulous Florets was stamped with Early Espresso ink on Real Red Textured card stock and cut out. Looks a bit like a poinsettia, do you think? I layered an embellishment of silver Glimmer Paper punched with the Triple Blossom punch, and added a button and Baker's Twine. Rhinestone jewels brighten the circle panel and the treetop for a bit of sparkle.

My choice of a Christmas tree was inspired by the challenge at Our Creative Corner. For sketch inspiration, I played along with the versatile and pretty layout from Freshly Made Sketches.

That's all from me today. If you have a moment, won't you pop in and let me know what you think of today's card? I'd love to hear from you!

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Christmas Lodge, Fabulous Florets

Paper:  Real Red Textured, Berry Bouquet DSP, Glimmer Paper, Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Garden Green

Ink:  Early Espresso, Garden Green

Accessories:  Button, Baker's Twine, Triple Blossom Punch, Little Leaves Sizzlet, Big Shot, Basic Jewels Rhinestones

Shouting out about Online Extravaganza!

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"The Stocking is Hung" Vintage Christmas

Here's a window card with a cool twist - it's a unique type of suspension card too!

I cut a window in the card base and DSP using the 2-1/2" circle punch. I stamped the sentiment from Pines & Poinsettias (oh,I love that set!) and fussy cut it. Using Crystal Effects to make sure it holds real tight, I adhered the outer tips of the sentiment banner to the edges just outside the window. All that was needed was to "hang" the stocking by attaching it to the banner strip with glue dots. Easy and fun!

You can see the details in this close up. It's great being able to make your own cute embellishments with the Stocking Builder Punch from Stampin' Up! I also used the Beau Chateau DSP and punched a star accent out of Glimmer paper.

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Shimmering Pines & Poinsettias

I don't usually post on the weekends but I had a couple of ideas for cards that came as I reflected on techniques shared at my online class and I actualy had time to make them. Kristina Werner made an adorable card that featured two panels of the same card stock. Using supplies to alter one of the panels, she placed them side by side in the layout. Here's my take on it!

I cut two strips of Pool Party card stock (each is 1-3/8" x 5-1/2"). I altered one by inking it with VersaMark, then heat embossing with Iridescent Ice. It gave a great sparkle and changed the hue just the tiniest bit. Beginning with a Crumb Cake card base, I stamped the delicate leafy image from the Pines & Poinsettias set using White Craft ink along each side.

The focal panel was inspired by our monthly magazine for demos, Stampin' Success. So many beauituf projects in there! I used Red Craft ink to stamp the floral image, and using Heat 'n Stick Powder I added Dazzling Diamonds glitter. I love the frosty shimmer.

All wrapped up in a red satin bow. (ETA - which I straightened up after taking the photo. Looks better now. <g>)

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Pines & Poinsettias

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Pool Party

Ink:  Real Red Craft, Real Red, Versamark, White Craft, Pool Party

Accessories:  2-1/2" Circle punch, Perfect Pennants Die (scalloped circle), Heat and Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Satin Ribbon, Linen Thread, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder

Warmest of Wishes

I played with some fancy folds today!

 

I've experimented with making these origami folded trees and decided to pull out some of last year's (or has it been two years?) beautiful flocked Christmas Cocoa papers to make today's card. I made a row of ruffled paper for the trees to nestle in and added Basic Rhinestones that I colored with a red Sharpie.

Making this little scene was so much fun! Speaking of fun, I'm taking the online Holiday Card Boot Camp Class, and the folded trees are one of the many fun ideas I've learned. The fun and inspiration will continue through next week. It's cool to be in school!

I inked up the Warmest Wishes stamp set for the sentiment, and stamped it in Early Espresso. I love the impact of this bold image. Soft Suede ink was sponged around the edges of the trees.

   All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Flirtacious Doilies and Lace Ribbon

I know you won't be surprised to know that today's card began with the MOJO Monday Sketch. I think you will laugh when I tell you my first inclinations were to follow the bold lines and shapes of the sketch to make a masculine card. NOT!
 Here are some girly doilies and lace, just for you. Pearls and glitter too!

The sketch had a vertical accent and I began with the idea of using the Lace Ribbon Border punch threaded with ribbon. Rifling through my vast collection of designer papers I hit upon the Flirtacious Specialty papers, and then the process took off.

Along the way I added a third pattern of paper just so I could play along with The Paper Players Challenge to use 3 patterns of paper, 2 different ribbons, and at least one punch. Check. Check. Two punches. Good. The card was made and assembled completely when I noticed the last challenge requirement was a sprinkling of glitter. I took that quite literally! I had already added the pearls, but I masked the card and sprayed the punched Lace Ribbon strip with spray adhesive. Literally - I added a sprinkling of glitter that covers the ribbon too! You can see the sparkly detail if you enlarge the photo.

I'm off now to have a busy day, beginning with going to vote and then walking Josie, and then....well, I'll let you guess the rest! If you live near Fayetteville, Raeford, or Hope Mills, NC, I'd love to have you join us for my Make and Take Tuesday this afternoon. Contact me if you'd like to stamp with me!

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Tagstastic

Paper:  Flirtacious Specialty Paper, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White

Ink: Wisteria Wonder

Accessories:  3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, 1/8" Taffeta ribbon, Rhinestone Brad (I topped it with a pearl), Basic Pearls, Decorative Label and Lace Ribbon Border punches

Nifty Notepad Gift

Happy Monday!

I am so excited about what I have to share with you today, because it's the kind of gift I know is really practical and very easy for you to reproduce. This was one of my club projects last month and the ladies loved this clear mount stamp case holding a notepad inside.

We used patterns from the Santa's Helper Designer Series Paper and the variety of designs was fabulous! Inside the case is a notepad where you can keep all those holiday lists you need and a handy pocket for receipts is made by adhering an open-ended envelope.

This is such a great way to use your extra sheets of double-sided patterned paper! Cut a piece at 10-1/2" x 7" and slip it inside the plastic cover. It stays put, I found no need to adhere it. For the notepads you can buy inexpensive packs of Jr. Legal pads at an office supply store. You will need to have these cut at the store to 6-7/8" otherwise they're about an inch too long to fit in the case.

You'll need a 2 x 5" strip of paper to wrap around the top of the notepad, and another piece to line the envelope. "My receipts" was stamped using the Empire Alphabet Lower stamps and Early Espresso ink.

The cases (#119105) come in a pack of four for $5.95. Do you have children on your gift list? Imagine their delight to receive a personalized notepad with their name spelled out on the front. Adding a pocket for stamps, or a loop for a pen instead of the envelope are other ideas and I'm sure you have more. Hope this inspires you today.

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Sparkle and Shine!

Happy Friday!

I'm just a bit smitten with today's card. All that sparkle makes me smile!

At first I wanted to use red glitter on the die cut candy cane, but I tried it and ditched it. Using the Glimmer paper for the background piece worked well. Love all that sparkle and shine!

The JOY image from the Welcome Christmas stamp set is the only stamping. See you Monday!

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Welcome Christmas

Paper: Glimmer Paper (silver), Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Santa's Helper, Whisper White

Ink: Riding Hood Red

Accessories: Stocking Accessories Die, Old Olive Grosgrain, button, Dotted Scallop Ribbon punch