Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Blog Design

A Little Pickup...

Here is a card I made for a co-worker who has been battling cancer.  It seems that so many people I know or are related to have been fighting this awful disease the past few years.  When there is nothing I can do for the person, I've made cards to try and cheer them up.  I hope it helps them to know that they are in my thoughts and prayers.  If I can bring a smile to their face I feel that I have done something.

Supplies

Stamps:  Loads of Love, Season of Friendship

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Basic Black, Melon Mambo

Ink:  Melon Mambo, Basic Black Classic Ink; Melon Mambo, Bordering Blue, Green Galore Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories:  Ticket Corner Punch, Spiral Punch, Heart to Heart Punch

Sue

From My Downline

 had to share the beautiful Christmas card I received from my downline (and best friend) Dee.  Didn't she do a great job!?!  The first image is the front of the card:

Next is the inside of the card:

Supplies

Stamps:  Holy Triptych, Christ is Born

Cardstock:  Brilliant Blue

Accessories:  Platinum Shimmer Paint, Sponge Dauber

Sue

Christmas Card Parade--Day 8

What would a Christmas Card Parade be without a snowman?  Isn't he a cutie!?   This fellow comes from the Holiday Mini hostess stamp set Snow Buddies.  I wanted to make a simple card with a little extra texture so I took some strips of Whisper White cardstock and tore the edges and layered them to create the look of snow drifts at the bottom of the card.

Supplies

Stamps:  Snow Buddies

Cardstock:  Whisper White,Bordering Blue

Ink:  Basic Black, Chocolate Chip classic ink; Real Red, Not Quite Navy, Only Orange Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories:  Signo White Gel Pen, Corner Rounder Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Now I couldn't let just one of the snowmen skate and get all of the attention without featuring the other snowman on a card, too.  So, I used the smaller Snow Buddy on this card:

Supplies

Stamps: Snow Buddies

Cardstock: Whisper White,Bordering Blue

Ink: Basic Black, Chocolate Chip classic ink; Real Red, Not Quite Navy, Only Orange Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories: Signo White Gel Pen, Corner Rounder Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Today's post is the final installment of the Christmas Card Parade.  I hope you've enjoyed viewing the various cards and packaging items I've been sharing with you!  I'd appreciate any comments you'd like to leave!

Sue

Christmas Card Parade--Day 7

Merry Christmas!!!

Today I'm featuring the Christmas card I made for my parents.  They like cardinals so I just had to use the hostess stamp set Holiday Best.  I think they'll like it!  I also used another print from the Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper pack.  This paper is so pretty!

Supplies

Stamps:  Holiday Best

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Real Red, Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ink:  Real Red

Accessories:  Silver Elastic Cord, Ornament Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Big Shot, Stampin' Up Textured Impressions Folder Petals-a-Plenty, Stampin' Dimensionals, Glue Dot

Now I also have to share the cardinal tag I made for one of my dad's presents.  My dad feeds the birds every winter and enjoys watching them out the diningroom window so on the back of the tag I wrote "Please Feed Me and My Friends" and put it on a paper bag with bird seed inside. 

Supplies

Stamps:  A Cardinal Christmas

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Real Red

Ink:  Basic Black

Accessories:  Small Slot Punch, Tag Corner Punch, Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pen

I hope you've enjoyed the Christmas Card Parade!  Tomorrow's post will feature the end of the Christmas Card Parade, so be sure to come back and check it out!  I guarantee that the cards will bring a smile to your face!

Sue

Christmas Card Parade--Day 6

Welcome once again to my Christmas Card Parade 2009!  As you can see, I've been a very busy little elf making so many different designs of Christmas cards this year!  This card was easy to make!  I used a piece of this beautiful flocked paper from the Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper in the Holiday Mini catalog layered on Whisper White cardstock.  You might think "Hmmm, this design looks familiar".  There is a good reason for that... I originally posted a card of similar design here. 

Supplies

Stamps:  All Holidays

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ink:  Real Red

Accessories:  Silver Elastic Cord, Large Oval Punch, 1/16" circle punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Come back tomorrow to see what I made for my co-workers!

Sue

Christmas Card Parade--Day 5... Take 2

WOW!  2 posts in 1 day!  A bonus just for you!

While this picture isn't of a "card", it was a treat that I made for my co-workers this year.  This little holder for the Ghirardelli chocolate square may look familiar as I made a similar one that I featured in this post.  I changed up the paper and punch on this one, trying to simplify it a bit as I had to make 16!  Everyone was quite surprised that I went to all of the trouble to make these.  However, they were pretty simple to assemble once I stamped and punched out the pieces (I LOVE my Big Shot!).  A couple of people said that they were going to eat the chocolate and then hang the pocket on their tree as an ornament!

Supplies

Stamps:  Delightful Decorations, Simple Snowflake

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Soft Suede, Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ink:  Soft Suede, Real Red

Accessories:  Big Shot, Petal Card Die, Snowflake Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

I think using the Simple Snowflake stamp with the snowflake punch really enriched the look of the punched paper.  Keep coming back as I have a couple more goodies to share with you!

Sue

Christmas Card Parade--Day 5

Here is my "elegant" entry to the Christmas Card Parade.  Dasher appears in all of his shimmering glory as he awaits Santa's call to pull the sleigh on Christmas night.  The Serene Snowflakes were applied using the Champagne Shimmer paint with a sponge dauber.

Supplies

Stamps:  Dasher, Serene Snowflakes

Cardstock:  Soft Suede, Whisper White, Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ink:  Soft Suede

Accessories:  Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, 1/16" Gold Brad, sponge dauber, stampin' dimensionals, stampin' sponge

Tomorrow I'll be posting another Christmas card for you to enjoy.  See you then!

Sue

Christmas Card Parade--Day 4

I hope you're enjoying the Christmas Card Parade here!  Today's entrant features more products from the Holiday Mini.  I can't believe that these products are only available for a couple more weeks!  Yes, that's right... the items in the Holiday Mini are only available until January 4, 2010.  Be sure and contact me ASAP if there is something you'd like to order before these exclusive products are retired!

Back to today's card... I wanted a different color combination than the traditional "red" and "green".  I really like the "richness" of this year's In Color Rich Razzleberry.  When I put it next to Old Olive I thought "WOW" and knew I had to create a card using those two colors together.  I hope you like it, too! 

The little bird in the wreath was cut out using the Big Shot and Stampin' Up's Merry Details Sizzlet.  Can I just say that "I LOVE my Big Shot!"?!  I feel that a person can truely create magic using the textured impressions folders with ease!  

Supplies

Stamps:  Berry Christmas

Cardstock:  Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White

Ink:  Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories:  Big Shot, Stampin' Up Sizzlets Merry Details, Stampin' Up Textured Impressions Folder Petals-a-Plenty, ticket corner punch, stampin' dimensionals

I'm glad that you stopped by today!  Please come back for the next installment of the Christmas Card Parade tomorrow!

Sue

Christmas Card Parade--Day 3

Welcome back for the 3rd entrant for the Christmas Card Parade!  Today's card features one of the hostess sets from the Holiday Mini.  I thought the trees looked a little forlorn so I used some Frost White Shimmer Paint spray to liven them up a bit.  The faux stitching on the piece of Soft Suede adds some country charm, don't you think?

Supplies

Stamps:  Patterned Pines

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Real Red, Soft Suede

Ink:  Real Red

Accessories:  Frost White Shimmer Paint (mixed with alcohol for the spray), Signo White Gel Pen, Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Big Shot, Stampin' Up Textured Impressions Folder Petals-a-Plenty

Remember to check back tomorrow to see the next parade entry!

Sue

Christmas Card Parade--Day 2

Welcome back to the Christmas Card Parade!  The 2nd entry features the cute little penguin from the Holiday Mini stamp set Cold and Cuddly.  I placed the little guy in the snow globe (created with the sweet treat cup).  I think his presence provided just the right element of quirkiness for the intended recipient.

Supplies

Stamps:  Cold and Cuddly, Serene Snowflakes, Sweet Centers

Cardstock:  Bordering Blue, Real Red, Whisper White

Ink:  Basic Black Classic Ink; Encore Silver; Summer Sun, Real Red, Basic Black Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories:  Frost White Shimmer Paint, Organza Ribbon, Sweet Treat Cup, Chunky Essentials Stampin' Glitter, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, 1 3/4" circle punch, sponge dauber

Be sure and come back tomorrow to see the next entry in the Christmas Card Parade!

Sue

Christmas Card Parade--Day 1

I've been busy creating various Christmas card designs to send to my friends and family so I haven't posted for a while.  The first entry in my Christmas card parade is for one of my aunts whose favorite color is blue:

Supplies

Stamps:  Delightful Decorations

Cardstock:  Bordering Blue, Not Quite Navy

Accessories:  platinum shimmer paint, sponge dauber, ornament punch, silver elastic cord, eyelet border punch, Big Shot, Stampin' Up Textured Impressions folder Petals-a-Plenty, stampin' dimensionals

As you can see, the next card is the same design in a different color combination.  My other aunt's favorite color is purple.  I think the platinum coated ornaments really "POP" on the darker cardstock, don't you?

Supplies

Stamps:  Delightful Decorations

Cardstock:  Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant

Accessories:  platinum shimmer paint, sponge dauber, ornament punch, silver elastic cord, eyelet border punch, Big Shot, Stampin' Up Textured Impressions folder Petals-a-Plenty, stampin' dimensionals

 I hope you enjoyed Day 1 of the Christmas Card Parade!  Come back tomorrow to see the next entry!

Sue

Easy Gift Card Holder

I wanted to make a gift card holder that wasn't too complicated and came upon this idea on Rosemarie's blog.  She had modeled this version after a gift card holder she found at Baby Gap. 

Supplies

Stamps:  Berry Christmas, Delightful Decorations

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Real Red

Ink:  Real Red

Accessories:  Ornament Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Mistletoe Ribbon Originals, Silver Elastic Cord

Sue

Ornamental Note Holder and Notes

This cute little box holds 3 love notes that could be used as "thank you" notes for the Christmas goodies you receive this season.  I found the original idea on Kristin's blog here and she even posted a tutorial on how to make the box using the scallop envelope die in this post.  I liked her idea so well that I had to make my own version.  Assembly of the little box was easy and quick.  The hardest part about this project was tying the bows on the cards with the gold cord!

Supplies

Stamps:  Delightful Decorations

Cardstock:  Real Red and Very Vanilla Cardstock; Merry Moments Designer Series Paper

Ink:  Garden Green Classic Ink

Accessories:  Big Shot, Scallop Envelope Die, Ornament Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Here are the little 3x3" cards I made to go inside the little envelope box.  Using the Ornament punch from the Holiday Mini Catalog made decorating the cards a snap!

Supplies

Stamps:  Delightful Decorations

Cardstock:  Very Vanilla and Real Red Cardstock; Merry Moments Designer Series Paper

Ink:  Real Red, Old Olive, Garden Green

Accessories:  Ornament Punch, Elastic Gold Cord, Eyelet Border Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Circle Punch

Come back again tomorrow for more holiday inspiration!!!

Sue

Beautiful & Simple Creations for Christmas Packaging

This adorable little bag is made with the Big Shot and the Fancy Favor Box die from Stampin' Up.  It was so simple to make!  Just choose a piece of Designer Series paper and run it through the Big Shot, fold on the crease lines, and adhere on one side and the bottom flaps and you're done!  Since I used the Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series paper, I had to use Dasher as a compliment.  I think it turned out simply elegant!  You can put candy or a little gift inside the bag and you've got a great homemade gift package!

Supplies

Stamps:  Dasher

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ink:  Soft Suede

Accessories:  Soft Suede Ribbon, Big Shot, Fancy Favor Box Die, Sponge

Here is another simple gift you can make to let someone know that you are thinking of them.  This little pocket was made using the Big Shot and the Petal Card Die.  After choosing the Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series paper, I ran it through the Big Shot and folded 3 of the petals in and adhered them to each other where they met.  I took a piece of coordinating Designer Series paper and made a "belly band" to go around the petal pocket.  I cut out the bird and snowflake with the Big Shot and the Stampin' Up Sizzlets Merry Details die and layered them on top of the belly band.  To complete this little package, I slipped an individually wrapped Ghirardelli square of chocolate inside.  You can't go wrong with chocolate!

Supplies

Cardstock:  Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper; Whisper White, Soft Suede Cardstock

Accessories:  Big Shot, Petal Card Die, Stampin' Up Sizzlets Merry Details

I hope these ideas inspire you to create some awesome packages for Christmas!

Sue

Sweet Treat Cups

This card was inspired by Karen Fontinelle's card as found here on her blog.  I liked her idea for filling the sweet treat cup with the white Chunky Essential Stampin' Glitter  from Stampin' Up, as this gives the appearance of snow.   When the card is shaken the chunky glitter moves around and is reminiscent of a snow globe.  I used the Frost White Shimmer Paint to stamp Serene Snowflakes on the background layer.  Can you tell that the shimmer paint is one of my favorite new products in the Holiday Mini Catalog?!

Supplies

Stamps:  Snow Buddies, Serene Snowflakes

Cardstock:  Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Real Red

Ink:  Basic Black, Basic Gray

Accessories:  Sweet Treat Cup, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Sponge Dauber

Even though it's a little early for Valentine's Day, I just had to play with the heart stamp in the Sweet Centers stamp set to see if my idea for using red hots candies in the cup would work.

Supplies

Stamps:  Sweet Centers

Cardstock:  Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Real Red

Ink:  Real Red

Accessories:  Sweet Treat Cup, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Big Shot, Perfect Details Texturz Plate, Stampin' Dimensionals