CAS Christmas.....

Yup....you guessed it, CAS Christmas CARDINAL ;)  He he he....  Hope that this CAS card inspires you.  I had fun trimming off the edge of the Whisper White CS Top Note die cut piece and then distressing it too.  Can you see that?  Enjoy!!!

You would think I'm a Louisville fan or something!!!

Yes, here is another Cardinal card, but it's a CHRISTMAS Cardinal ;)  I am a University of Kentucky fan through and through.  My blood runs blue in spite of the very Red-White color scheme to this card.  I wanted it to be monochromatic.  Hope you like it!

Another Christmas Cardinal

Here's another card for your viewing pleasure (all 3 of you that are still with me - LOL!!!) :)  No commentary.  I hope you are all having a wonderful week!!!

Hugs!

I'm Alive :)

I am still here.  I've been having some dental issues and it has been very stressful.  My little one also got sick, and the husband has been home and then gone again several times since getting back from his deployment.  I finally got to stamp because I had a new round of Stamps in the Mail coming up.  To get inspired, I started with a CASE of a card that I really liked.  I liked using the "A Cardinal Christmas" stamp set and not use either of the images included, but only the sentiment.  Anyway, the card I CASE'd was by card crazy over at SCS.   I will probably space out the other cards I made just because I don't see much stamping time in my near future.  I hope you like this one!

 

My Digital Studio - the best thing since die cut SU! stamps!!!

So, I am just loving My Digital Studio (MDS) if you can't tell!  :)  I decided today that I would start playing around with possible Christmas photo cards.  This card is not the one I will send - can't share that until it gets mailed!!!  We still have to take a new family picture, but I wanted to get an idea for how it might look.  The great thing about MDS is that you can make your own Christmas photo card.  You know, the ones that are like a card on a picture - like a postcard, and people usually get them from Wally-World and other such places?  Well, I got so many last year that I thought maybe it's time I jump on the bandwagon and do something easy so that it's not just one more stress at this time of year that's supposed to be about something else - not about the shopping and to-do lists....  I am going to look into how much it will cost to send the finished card to a photo shop to have them reproduced so that I can do it locally and do it one at a time until I get one that I like.  I am fairly certain that they do make 5x7's in most stores that print pictures, so that's the size I'm sticking with in MDS.  We'll see how it turns out!!

PS - this was one of the "Designer Templates" in MDS so all I did was insert my picture, add some stitching to the ribbon and add the text!!!  Gotta love that!!

Oh, oh, oh!!

 

I haven't stamped, but I found this card that I hadn't posted on here yet and thought I'd put it up so that there's something pretty to look at rather than my lame-excuse-post that you can see previous to this one ;)  No time to post the exact details, except that everything used is SU! and it's all current so either in the Idea Book & Catalog or the Holiday Mini Catalog.   The trees are that lovely Patterned Pines Hostess Level I stamp set in the HMC and I finally inked up SU!'s fabulous Woodgrain Background stamp.  Enjoy!!!

PS - I'm out of town for this week and will be back on Saturday and hope that my husband has finally made it home (this is a pre-scheduled post) so that maybe some stamping time is in my near future ;)

Holiday Card Swap

I was recently in a Holiday Mini card swap and all of the ladies have received theirs by now, so I thought I would share mine.  I'm sorry if you don't like CAS because that's what the bulk of my cards are.  I venture into more layered/embellished card-making realms every now and then, but as you'll see, this one is not too fancy.  I really like it and could easily make it as my Christmas cards as it was pretty easy to duplicate quickly 10 times for the swap.  That's the beauty of the new Ornament punch and the Big Shot (for the Top Note die layers).

Enjoy!

Stamps:  Delightful Decorations (Holiday Mini Catalog), Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Kraft and Whisper White CS, Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP (Holiday Mini Catalog)
Ink:  Real Red classic ink
Accessories:  Ornament Punch (Holiday Mini Catalog), SU! Top Note Bigz Die, Big Shot, Silver Elastic Cord (Holiday Mini Catalog), 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals



Delightful Decorations   #116517   $21.95

Make the holidays a little brighter with cards, gifts, tags and decorations made with the Delightful Decorations stamp set! No matter what you want to make, this set can help you make it.

 

 

 

{Shimmering Pines}

First, I would like to say to please excuse the odd color-cast on this photo and some of my recent/future ones.  I took pictures with a great light, but somehow the overhead "regular" light still cast that yellow-ish hue on the background.  I couldn't get rid of it.  I guess I should stop being lazy and start using my photo tent again!!

I am in the midst of some fun family stuff this week, so all of these posts were pre-scheduled, but it's been awfully quiet out there (at the point I'm typing this) so I'm assuming everyone is super busy.  I do appreciate your comments though when you're able to take the time to leave them.

For the details on this card, see the recipe.  I thought I would explain a couple of things though. 

First, I used my Soft Suede marker on one of the lovely trees on the tree-trio stamp in the Patterned Pines Level I hostess stamp set that you can earn between now and January 4th.  It's a special hostess set that's offered in the Holiday Mini Catalog (HMC).  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!!  After using the Soft Suede marker to color the tree, I used a small paintbrush and just a couple of drops of Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (also available until Jan 4th in the HMC) to dab the Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint over the top of my inked pine.  Hopefully you can see the detail of how it shines in the right angle of light via the two pictures I've attached below.

Also, for the snowflake background, I used my Whisper White Craft Ink with the three-snowflake stamp from the Serene Snowflakes stamp set - also found in the HMC until Jan 4th.

Can you tell I'm LOVING the HMC?!?!?  :)  Let me know if you want to order or earn for free any of the items I used on this fun card!!!

I hope you're having a great week!



Stamps:  Patterned Pines Level I hostess stamp set and Serene Snowflakes (both are Holiday Mini Catalog items), Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Kraft, Soft Suede and Whisper White CS, Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP (Holiday Mini Catalog item)
Ink:  Soft Suede Stampin' Marker and Classic Ink, Whisper White Craft Ink
Accessories:  Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (Holiday Mini Catalog item), 1/2" Soft Suede Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Vintage Brads (antique brass), Scallop Edge and Modern Label punches, Latte Button (Whisper White), Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals 

Patterned Pines   #116525   FREE 

The bold images in the Patterned Pines stamp set help add strong colors and beautiful patterns to your holiday projects. This is a level 1 Hostess stamp set, so it cannot be purchased, but it can be earned for free! Contact your Stampin' Up! demonstrator and book your workshop today.

 

 

 

 

 

Serene Snowflakes   #115438    $20.95

They say no two snowflakes are alike. Why shouldn’t your projects be just as unique? With the Serene Snowflakes stamp set, they can be! These stylish snowflake images can be used for backgrounds or focal points for cards, pages or tags, and coordinate perfectly with the Icicle Rub-ons and Snowfall printed window sheets.

Digi Card!!!

Well, I've been playing around with the lovely new My Digital Studio (MDS) software.  I thought it might be beneficial to start planning some Christmas cards.  If the past repeats itself, I might start them in the beginning of December...but usually I start them around the end of the first week so that I can get them mailed about 10 days before Christmas.  So, I'm not much fun there I guess as far as getting a card early from me :)  Well, with MDS, not only can you make actual greeting cards, but you can use it as an extremely helpful planning too. 

As has been said by others before me, you can save yourself the consumables and sit and design a card on your computer and get it just right before you decide to make it.  Well, the card above is the first fruits of my labor, and I will definitely be planning more cards with this program.   I actually used one of the designer templates and then made the changes that you can see by looking at the original card as it is in MDS, below.

Enjoy!

WOW!!!

So, have you gotten a chance to see what is inside this FABULOUS Mini Catalog?!?!?  Are you going to place your order right now using my Ordering Button to the right?  Well, in addition to the amazing seasonal stamps, papers, and accessories, Build-a-Bear die cuts, necklaces and more, is ‘My Digital Studio’–an amazing digital scrapbooking software.  This software is for so much more than just scrapbooking.  You can make greeting cards, calendars, flyers, photobooks, story books for your children, hybrid projects and even blog headers and backgrounds!!  The possiblities are vast.  It will be available on October 1st for customers to order, but one of the perks of being a demonstrator for SU! is that I already ordered it so that I can play with it before I open my home to let YOU come check it out!!! 

One other note, the Simply Adorned Charms are currently unavailable to order. There were some quality issues and Stampin' Up! only accepts the very best for us. I will keep you posted when they become available.

I want to mention the fantastic special going on NOW for hostessing a workshop which will make you want to schedule one with me right away!  From September 1st – November 30th, host a workshop totaling $250 or more and choose any one item* from the Holiday Mini Catalog for only $10! 

After My Digital Studio is released on October 1st… host a workshop of at least $400 and get My Digital Studio for 50% off the retail price (retail price: $79.95; promotional price: $39.97)!

Has it been a while since you’ve hosted a workshop in your home?  I would love to WOW you and your friends with some holiday projects!  I live in Delaware, but am willing to drive a bit for a workshop… ask me about where you live!  There are (almost) no bounds for me when I'm asked to help get some creative juices flowing!!

 

*This offer excludes hostess sets and My Digital Studio.

It's HERE.

It's GREAT.  Check it out.

Just click on the picture to download and view the BRAND NEW Holiday Mini Catalog or find it located in my right side-bar when you come back and visit in the future.

Enjoy.  Contact me to order.  Have it shipped straight to your door by clicking on the "Order SU! Online" button to the right.

A Merry Little Christmas to you

I really miss having workshops, classes and stamp camps.  I have my fingers crossed that one of these days I'll finally find someone here who doesn't already have one of the dozen other SU! demonstrators as their demo (I wouldn't ever "steal" a customer) or that just plain WANTS to or LIKES to stamp!  My own friends, other than my neighbor, don't really enjoy it and it's not something you can MAKE someone like.  They either do, or don't.  I have run out of ideas for meeting new customers.  Anyway, before we moved here last year, I used to do a Christmas in July where I would get all decked out in Christmas-looking clothes, I would make Christmas treats, and play Christmas music and even put out some Christmas decorations.  My customers would always have a blast making some Christmas cards and other projects.  I made this card for my only little "personal" Christmas in July.  I used the Hostess Level II stamp set from the new IB&C called Christmas Punch.  I used some of that gorgeous new Real Red 3/4" Polka-Dot Grosgrain ribbon and I think it's a great CAS (Clean & Simple) card that I could easily mass-produce as a Christmas card this year.  What do you think? 

All supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps:  Christmas Punch
Paper:  Old Olive and Very Vanilla CS
Ink:  Real Red and Old Olive classic ink
Accessories:  Wide Oval punch, Real Red 3/4" Polka-Dot Grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip

Last of my Christmas Cards

These two cards are the last ones of the batch of clean and simple Christmas cards that I made this year.  Batch, meaning 86 that I ended up mailing!!! 

 
This third card is one that I thought I would show you the "final" version of.  After making and posting it HERE I really felt like it needed a ribbon at the top.  Since I didn't want the ribbon to distract from the clean and simple stamped images I used Whisper White Taffeta so that it added a more subtle element to the card.  Enjoy!

 

I hope everyone has a very happy New Year!!!

I LOVE Lovely as a Tree!!

 

I do love this stamp set - I say that often, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE anything that glitters or sparkles, so I tend to cover this tree in glitter or stickles or seomthing.  I made this card for my sister to hold a gift card for my sister.  I know, what an impersonal gift, but like most people right now she and her husband who have just bought a house probably don't need another candle in their house, or even a handmade gift (she and I have VERY different taste anyway and it's hard for me to pick gifts for her) so I figured she could buy something she needs rather then get some silly gift from me that I think she would like.  I did make her an ornament (one of my "famous" domino ones and of course it's got some glitter on it!!) that I'll share with you tomorrow.  They're super fun to make, pretty easy too, and everyone always gets a kick that they're made on a domino.  Anyway - I just LOVE this stamp set.  It's perfect for so many different occasions, but one of my absolute favorites is to use it for Christmas cards (can you tell from all the other ones I've shown you? ;)  LOL)!!  If you click on either of the pictures, they should open up full-size and you can see the pretty glittery tree on the second one. 

I "made" the white brads by heating some silver brads and touching the "head" of them to the white embossing powder (ep).  Next, I would re-heat it and dip it again and do this at least one more time - until I had even coverage on the brad.  Of course, make sure to use some metal tweezers to hold the brad in the heat from the heat tool.  You can do this to make your own brads in any color that you have in embossing powder!! 

Inside the bottom of the card is folded up (the completed size of the card is a standard A-2 size (4-1/4" x 5-1/2") and a brad is on either edge so that it formed a pocket for the gift card.  I used a piece of 12" x 12" textured Real Red CS to make the card so that I could fold the bottom up and keep the card "standard" sized. 

PS - FeedBlitz users - you may want to click on the title of my blog and go to it to see the posts you've missed.  I subscribe via the various feed services to my blog to monitor them, and FeedBlitz has been acting up again.  It's missed several post updates.  Thanks!

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree
Paper:  Real Red textured and Whisper White CS, Summer Picnic DSP, Real Red Prints DSP (retired hostess reward item)
Ink:  Real Red classic ink
Accessories:  Chit Chat rub-ons, 2-way glue pen (SU!), Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Fire rhinestone brads (SU!), silver brads, White ep, heat tool, SU! tweezers from the SU! tool kit, stamping dimensionals

Shameless CASE

I will always "CASE and tell" as you might say.  My card was totally inspired by THIS one by Babsnelson over at SCS.  I just loved the simple layout (I am a HUGE fan of single-layer cards!!!) and I even omitted the ribbon.  I obviously changed the colors and the sentiment too.  What do you think?  Yes...it's another of my Christmas cards.... :)

Stamps:  Snow Swirled
Paper:  Whisper White
Ink:  Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze classic inks

Red and White Christmas

This card came together rather quickly.  I really like cards with a lot of white space, so I tried to incorporate that here along with some texture and a tiny bit of bling.  This is the most complex "looking" card I've made so far for those I'm sending Christmas cards to this year, but it was NOT the most time consuming.  That would have to go to either the Top Note cards or either of the reverse-masked cards at this point.

The inspiration for this card yet again came from SCS.  I love that site!!!  I got my layout idea from kimcrafts and you can see her card HERE.

I will not be posting until next week due to having to get ready to make a drive (possibly in bad conditions - hopefully not!!) to get my middle DD back from a visit she made to my parents' house.  We drive tomorrow to get her and come back Sun.  I've got cards to finish, holiday preparations, wrapping, mailing, cleaning, etc. to do all before we leave TOMORROW.  Aaack!!!  So...until we blog again, take care!!

Stamps: Snow Swirled, Holidays & Wishes
Paper:  Whisper White and Real Red CS
Ink:  Real Red classic ink, White StazOn
Accessories:  Whisper White Taffeta ribbon, Snowflakes CB embossing folder, Big Shot, adhesive-backed rhinestone from Michael's, dimensionals

A Not-So-Quick CASE

 

So, I saw THIS card by Amy over on SCS and LOVED it - as I do all of her cards - and I thought "oohh...that would make a great card to CASE for a few of the TONS of cards I have to make in 5 days....."

Well....even after leaving off some of her details (sponging, buttons) I found it difficult to mass-produce.  Cutting the top notes into thirds and then getting the patterned paper to match up with the colors I WANT, in the order I WANT, didn't exactly happen.  So, after just 6 cards, I had to stop.  The OCD in me couldn't take that I couldn't get the strips in the exact order I wanted.  It is only possible to cut about 3 layers of DSP at once, so you have at most 3 Top Note die cuts that have the exact same cuts, BUT THEN to get the strips in the order you want it's just messed up.  If this doesn't make sense, just take 3 pieces of paper/CS, whatever, and cut it into a irregular shape (so that there is a definite left, right, up and down) and then try to piece three new shapes with the strips of paper in the exact same order from left to right.  Doesn't work....

So, enough of that.  I loved her card, mine are pretty, but I will not try to mass-produce a cut-up Top Note anymore.  They are super fun to make though and Amy has some others that I'm dying to CASE and play around with.  Have a great day!

Stamps:  To You & Yours
Paper: Holiday Treasures DSP, Chocolate Chip and Ruby Red CS
Ink:  Chocolate Chip classic ink
Accessories:  Little Felt Flurries in Baja Breeze, silver brad, dimensionals, Top Note Bigz Die, Big Shot 

Another Reverse-Masked Christmas Card

 

So, I decided to keep right on going with the rectangle template I had made out of a piece of CS to create another Christmas card.  Of course - it's no different than any of the others will be - simple, yet (hopefully) still beautiful.  I hope you like it, and to the left you'll see a close-up (click on either pic to enlarge) of the glittered bird.  I couldn't get a good shot of yesterday's tree to show you a close-up of the glitter on that card.  I tried not to go overboard, but I do love my glitter!!!!  I think that glitter has to be my favorite embellishment.  I was definitely a magpie in another life!! ;)

If you need ideas for color combos, or sketches. I would again encourage you to check out SplitcoastStampers.com  This week's Limited Supply Challenge was to make a "blue" holiday card - so mine hopefully fits that bill.  To see this week's SCS LSC challenge, click HERE.  To see the other SCS challenges, check out my left-hand sidebar where they are always listed with links to find them.

Stamps: To You & Yours
Paper:  Whisper White and Baja Breeze CS
Ink:  Baja Breeze classic ink
Accessories:  2-way glue pen (SU!), Dazzling Diamonds glitter, stampin' sponges

I Promised....

Here is one of the Christmas cards I have made recently.  Since I've got so many to make, I'm not making any that are very complex.  Plus, unfortunately about 90-95% of the people I send them to will trash them because they're not obsessed with stamping like me ;)

I've done cards like this a couple of times - always with ovals as the reverse-masked area.  This time I decided to go with a rectangle.  I like the straight lines, maybe even more than my shaded ovals from before.  If you check out my "Lovely as a Tree" category in the category cloud in my left-hand sidebar you will see all the ones I've done before because I've always used this stamp set.

Hope you (and the people who get this card) like it!  I'm making anywhere from 6-8 of each card I'm creating because I find that I get too bored with mass-producing.  Hopefully I'll be able to knock out the other 80 or so that I have to make - all while the husband is off in another country on a mission and I have to pack to go on a short trip this weekend with my 2 kids to pick up my middle daughter so that we can all be a family again.  Of course, my middle DD was with my parents so it was all fun for her, but boy did we miss her!!

Have a great night!

Stamps:  All Holidays, Lovely as a Tree
Paper:  Confetti Cream CS
Ink: Always Artichoke
Accessories:  Sponges, rectangle mask cut into CS, 2-way Glue Pen (SU!), Dazzling Diamonds glitter

To You & Yours

I really like this Christmas stamp set.  The images are sweet and just right for the holidays.  This card was also for my Stamp Camp and it was an easy one to make.  What do you think about it?

Stamps:  To You & Yours
Paper:  Kiwi Kiss CS and Ski Slope DSP (2008 Holiday Mini Catalog)
Ink:  Kiwi Kiss and Chocolate Chip Classic Ink
Accessories:  Riding Hood Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch