A Christmas Case

I made two versions of the card pictured on page 45 of the 2011-2012 Stampin' Up Idea Book & Catalog featuring the stamp set Beautiful Season.  This first version is just like the card in the catalog with one exception... no pearls as I needed to mail this card to Florida and wanted to keep it fairly flat.

This version of the card includes the pearls.  I did emboss the base card layer using my Big Shot and the Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  I think the embossing really made the card more elegant. 

Stamps:  Beautiful Season

Ink:  Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzaz, Soft Suede, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie

Cardstock:  Soft Suede, Pear Pizzaz, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Curly Label Punch, Big Shot, Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Stampin' Dimensionals, Blender Pen, Basic Pearls

 

Christmas Stockings Galore!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!!  Better late than never, here are my Christmas cards for 2011.  As you can see I made 5 versions of the same layout using the Stocking Builder Punch and Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder from the Holiday Mini Catalog and the rectangular Designer Frame Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and the Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine from the 2011-2012 Stampin' Up Idea Book & Catalog.

Stamps:  Stitched Stockings

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Soft Suede

Accessories:  Big Shot, Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Dazzling Details, Stocking Builder Punch

Stamps: Stitched Stockings

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Cardstock: Whisper White, Soft Suede

Accessories: Big Shot, Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Mica Flakes, Crystal Effects, Stocking Builder Punch

Stamps: Stitched Stockings

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzaz

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pear Pizzaz

Accessories: Big Shot, Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Stocking Builder Punch

Stamps: Stitched Stockings

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Cardstock: Whisper White, Soft Suede

Accessories: Big Shot, Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Mica Flakes, Crystal Effects, Stocking Builder Punch

Stamps:  Gift Givers

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, Basic Black

Cardstock: Whisper White, Soft Suede

Accessories: Big Shot, Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Stocking Builder Punch

So, which stocking is your favorite???  By the way, you only have until January 3, 2012 to purchase the Stocking Builder Punch as it will retire when the Holiday Mini Catalog ends!

 

Happy Turkey Day!

This cute little Thanksgiving card uses the stamp set Gift Givers from the Holiday Mini.  This stamp set is so versatile as it coordinates with several of Stampin' Up's punches and features several holidays.  This little turkey image fits the Curly Label Punch, one of my personal favorites.  I punched a piece of More Mustard cardstock and cut it in half to layer behind the Naturals Ivory layer.  I used my bone folder to emboss the criss-cross pattern on a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" piece of Island Indigo cardstock folded in half.  I used Linen Thread to accent the card, also.

Stamps:  Gift Givers

Ink:  Basic Black, Island Indigo, More Mustard, Poppy Parade, Chocolate Chip, Pear Pizzaz, Pumpkin Pie

Cardstock:  Naturals Ivory, More Mustard, Island Indigo

Accessories:  Bone Folder, Curly Label Punch, Linen Thread, Needle, Stampin' Dimensionals

 

Happy Thanksgiving... Part 2

Here is another Thanksgiving card I made using the Holiday Mini catalog stamp set Always Thankful.  Since the image was of pears I thought I should use the In Color Pear Pizzazz.  I really like this color combo... Pear Pizzaz with Soft Suede.  I distressed the edges of both the Soft Suede and Naturals Ivory layers.  However, I turned the distressed edges down toward the card base and attached with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Stamps:  Always Thankful

Ink:  Basic Black, More Mustard, Pear Pizzaz, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake

Cardstock:  Pear Pizzaz, Soft Suede, Naturals Ivory

Accessories:  Bone Folder, Blender Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals

 

Happy Thanksgiving... Part 3

This Thanksgiving card again features the stamp set Always Thankful from the Holiday Mini catalog.  I distressed the edges of the Naturals Ivory layer with my bone folder.  I also used my bone folder to emboss the criss-cross pattern on the Soft Suede card base.  I really like the added effect!

Stamps:  Always Thankful

Ink:  Basic Black, More Mustard, Basic Gray, Pear Pizzaz

Cardstock:  Naturals Ivory, More Mustard, Soft Suede

Accessories:  Bone Folder

 

Happy Thanksgiving...Part 1

Happy Thanksgiving!  Sorry I've been too busy to post lately... work has been keeping me swamped.  Here is one of the cards I made for my aunts.  The image is from the Holiday Mini stamp set Always Thankful.  I like the color combination as the Rich Razzleberry really added a punch of color.

Stamps:  Always Thankful

Ink:  Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede, Pear Pizzaz, Old Olive, Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight

Cardstock:  Naturals Ivory, Rich Razzleberry, More Mustard

Accessories:  Ticket Corner Punch

 

Birdie on a Branch

While this new stamp set is actually called Best of Everything, the little birdie image is my favorite!  I was inspired by the sample on page 103 of the 2011-2012 Stampin' Up Idea Book & Catalog as well as cards I've seen made by many other demonstrators.  I used touches of the new In Colors Lucky Limeade and Calypso Coral to accent the Daffodil Delight birdie.  I used the Mat Pack & Paper Piercer on the Lucky Limeade layer and the new Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder on the Soft Suede card base.

Stamps:  Best of Everything

Ink:  Soft Suede, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade

Cardstock:  Naturals Ivory, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Soft Suede

Accessories:  Mat Pack & Paper Piercer, Big Shot, Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Stampin' Dimensionals

 

Sweet Ice Cream Cone Card #2

Here is the other ice cream cone card I made.  As you can see, the layout is identical to yesterday's card but I switched up a few of the elements.  For this card I used Lucky Limeade as my card base and the new Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  I love how these embossing folders in the Big Shot really add a LOT to a card!  My scoops were punched out using the Cupcake Builder Punch and the new In Colors of Wisteria Wonder and Lucky Limeade this time.  The chocolate chips were added courtesy of the Cupcake Builder Punch, as was the cherry on top.  I like both cards and how just changing a couple of elements can yield such different results!

Stamps:  Pennant Parade, Sweets for the Sweet

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Wisteria Wonder

Cardstock:  Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder, Soft Suede, Whisper White, Poppy Parade

Accessories:  Cupcake Builder Punch, Jewelry Tag Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Linen Thread, Mat Pack & Paper Piercer, Big Shot, Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Sweet Ice Cream Cone Card #1

I was inspired to make an ice cream cone card after visiting a fellow demonstrator's blog last week (thanks Yapha!).  Actually I ended up making two cards similar in design but with different color combinations.  I'll be posting the other card tomorrow so be sure and check back to see that one! 

To make an ice cream cone card, you just need the Pennant Parade stamp set for the cone (which you could even punch out using the coordinating Pennant Builder Punch if you wanted to) and the Cupcake Builder Punch for the scoops and cherry.  For this particular card I added some sprinkles to the Blushing Bride scoop using the Stampin' Write Marker of the same color.  I always love the color combination of Soft Suede and any "pink".  I wanted to add a little message at the bottom of the card and found the word "sweet" in the new stamp set, Sweets for the Sweet.  I was thrilled to discover that it fit perfectly in the Jewelry Tag Punch, too!

Stamps:  Pennant Parade, Sweets for the Sweet

Ink:  Poppy Parade, Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride

Cardstock:  Blushing Bride, Soft Suede, Whisper White

Accessories:  Linen Thread, Ticket Corner Punch, Jewelry Tag Punch, Mat Pack & Paper Piercer, Big Shot, Polka Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Cupcake Builder Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

 

Sending Love Your Way

Ain't Love Grand is a stamp set that went on my wish list immediately upon seeing it in the new 2011-2012 Stampin' Up Idea Book & Catalog.  This is one of the new sets that can be purchased with hostess dollars when you have a qualifying order.  I love the versatility of the images in this set.  I used a couple of other new items on this card as well.  I embossed the Crumb Cake card base with the new Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder in my Big Shot.  I thought the card still needed a little something at the bottom but didn't want to add a lot of bulk.  I cut my pieces of Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon and criss-crossed them, then added a Poppy Parade Small Heart Punch in the center.  I added some sparkle with the new Dazzling Details from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Dazzling Details is a type of glitter glue that also adds dimension to a project.

Stamps:  Ain't Love Grand

Ink:  Poppy Parade, Basic Black, Crumb Cake

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Poppy Parade

Accessories:  Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Eyelet Border Punch, Small Heart Punch, 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, Dazzling Details

 

Thinking of You

I have loved this bench image from the stamp set Have a Seat since it debuted last year.  However, I felt that something needed to be sitting on the bench rather than leaving it empty.  Afterall, I wanted this to be a "Thinking of You" card.  I went in search of an image that would be the correct proportion to place on the bench.  At first I thought about putting just the card image from the Tote-ally Tess stamp set on the bench.  Then inspiration hit!  Why not place the bag with a card sticking out of the top on the corner of the bench!  I could easily see myself putting my own bag in this exact spot if I had such a bench in my home.  I embellished the bag with the small flower image included in that stamp set and used a strand of the Early Espresso Baker's Twine to tie around the handle of the bag.  I used the butterfly image from the Itty Bitty Bits stamp set to embellish the small card.  As you can see I used the new In Colors of Pool Party and Calypso Coral on this card and really like how well they "Popped" when paired with Soft Suede.

Here's a close-up of the bench with the bag and card:

Stamps:  Have a Seat, Tote-ally Tess, Itty Bitty Bits

Ink:  Soft Suede, Calypso Coral, Island Indigo

Cardstock:  Soft Suede, Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Naturals Ivory

Accessories:  Scallop Trim Border Punch, Calypso Coral 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, , Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Stampin' Dimensionals

 

4 YOU

Today I'm featuring the new Petite Pennants Builder Punch from Stampin' Up.  I paired two of the new In Colors on this card:  Pool Party and Wisteria Wonder.  I made this card the size to fit into a business size envelope.  I wanted to make it appear that the pennants were on a flag pole of sorts with a message the recipient can read from top to bottom.   I used letters from the new Occasions Alphabet and the number "4" from a stamp in the set Tiny Tags.  Here is a close-up view of the message:

Stamps:  Pennant Parade, Occasions Alphabet, Tiny Tags

Ink:  Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Island Indigo

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder

Accessories:  Petite Pennants Builder Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Small Oval Punch, Scallop Edge Border Punch, White Baker's Twine,  Pool Party 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, Mat Pack & Paper Piercer, Stampin' Dimensionals

 

The Gift Ensemble

As promised, here is a picture of the whole "Welcome" gift ensemble that I made for my new colleague:

I figured that paper and chocolate were a great combination to say "Welcome!"  Of course I had to decorate a gift bag to coordinate with the gifts and card.  Since Stampin' Up doesn't have an apple punch, I decided to use various sizes of circle punches to embellish the gift bag along with an image of that cute little worm again.

Stamps:  First Day

Ink:  Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzaz, Basic Black

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Pear Pizzaz, Poppy Parade

Accessories:  1/4" Circle Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (Circle), 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch

I hope I made my new colleague's first day a little easier as she learns her way around.



A Welcome Gift

I wanted to add something else to the card and chocolate I gave my new co-worker so I refurbished a paper cube... everyone needs paper, right?    The first picture shows the "before" image... a perfectly fine patriotic paper cube that I found in my stash of "things to alter some day and give as a gift".  (I'm sure all paper crafters have a box of goodies like that!)

I took some Whisper White cardstock and cut it to fit around the paper cube.  I stamped it with images from the First Day set and same In Colors to match the card I made the other day.  Here is a close-up of one of the sides.  There's that cute little worm again!

After I had stamped the images, I adhered the Whisper White pieces to the paper cube using sticky strip as I wanted a strong bond for this project.  I wrote a personal note on the top piece of paper, too.

Stamps:  First Day

Ink:  Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzaz, Basic Black

Cardstock:  Whisper White

Accessories:  Paper Cube, Sticky Strip

Come back tomorrow to see the complete gift ensemble and gift bad I presented it all in!

Gotta Have Chocolate!

I figure that a first day at a new job would go smoother if chocolate was available, so I dressed up some Hershey nuggets in these cute little wrappers using my new stamp set It's a Wrap Occasions from the new 2011-2012 Stampin' Up Idea Book & Catalog.  Since I chose the apple image and wanted the candy to coordinate with the card I made yesterday, I again used the In Color Poppy Parade.  Don't they look yummy!?! 

Stamps:  It's a Wrap Occasions

Ink:  Poppy Parade

Cardstock:  Whisper White

Be sure and come back tomorrow to see what else I created as part of the "Welcome" gift for my new co-worker!

 

Welcome!

You may recall that last week I showed you a card I made for my co-worker who was leaving our school?  Well, the new gal who is replacing her started today, so I wanted to make a card to welcome her.  I dug through my retired stamps and found the First Day set from last year's summer mini catalog.  I just love this little worm reading a book!  I used the In Colors of Poppy Parade and Pear Pizzaz to make this card bright and cheery, accenting it with matching glitter brads.  I also took this opportunity to play with the new Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and my Big Shot.  All I can say is "WOW"... I think I am going to be using this embossing folder a LOT as I love the depth it gave to the cardstock.  I also attempted to print "SPEECH" on the cover of the book, as that is our field of expertise.  I hope she likes it!

Stamps:  First Day

Ink:  Basic Black, Pear Pizzaz, Poppy Parade

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Pear Pizzaz, Poppy Parade

Accessories:  Ticket Corner Punch, 1/16" Circle Punch, In Color Glitter Brads, Big Shot, Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Stampin' Dimensionals

Come back tomorrow to see what else I created to go with the card!

 

Faith in Nature

Faith in Nature is a Hostess Set I got last month.  I like the look of images and print combined as well as the inspirational quote that comes with this set.  I decided to feature the pear image, sponging it with Pear Pizzaz of course.  I tore the edges of the Naturals Ivory and Early Espresso layers to distress them.  I didn't add any other embellishments to this card as I didn't think it needed any ... I wanted to keep it simple, like nature.

Stamps:  Faith in Nature

Ink:  Pear Pizzaz, Early Espresso

Cardstock:  Naturals Ivory, Pear Pizzaz, Early Espresso

Accessories:  Stampiin' Sponges

 

It's a Wrap 4 You

This is the little gift I whipped up to go with the card I showed you yesterday.  I had gotten both sets of the candy wraps and have been itching to try them out and this was a perfect opportunity.  The dark chocolate Hershey nuggets are concealed below the "4 You" image from the It's a Wrap Holidays stamp set in the new Holiday Mini Catalog (click on the link to the right to view it now).  I decided to use the new 2011-2013 In Colors since they coordinate so well and offer a bright and cheery pallet.

Stamps:  It's a Wrap Holidays

Ink:  Island Indigo, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade

Cardstock:  Whisper White

Miss You Already

I made this card for a co-worker whose last day was Thursday.  I wanted to do something special to let her know how much I was going to miss working with her.  It's always a bonus when a co-worker turns out to be such a good friend!

For this card I used the Up, Up, and Away stamp set and some of the In Colors.  After I stamped the birds and clouds on the Whisper White layer I sponged Lucky Limeade at the bottom of the card to represent grass and Pool Party on the top of the card to represent the sky.  I popped up the balloon with a Stampin' Dimensional.  I used the technique of "kissing" on the balloon.  That's where you ink up a solid image then place a print stamp on top of that to remove some of the ink and like magic the pattern remains.  Here is a close up of the balloon so you can see the pattern a little better.  It is from the large print image in the Clearly For You stamp set.

Stamps: Up, Up, and Away, Clearly for You

Ink: Concord Crush, Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Basic Gray, Wisteria Wonder, Soft Suede, Island Indigo

Cardstock: Whisper White, Concord Crush, Pool Party

Accessories:  Basic Rhinestone, Stampin' Dimensionals, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Stampin' Sponges