Quilted Gingerbread Christmas

I'm all about simple Christmas cards this week.  And while this one makes use of some retired Designer Series Paper I had in my stash, any paper could be used to make this card.  It really is a great way to use up some scraps!

To make this card, I simply punched out six different patterns of DSP with my square punch.  I adhered them to a piece of Garden Green card stock, then ran it through my Big Shot using the Argyle embossing folder.  I also love the now-retired Square Lattice embossing folder, but when I made this card, I wanted to use something current.  While nothing gives a quilted look the way the Square Lattice folder does, the good news is that the Argyle folder is a great alternative.

I used an old (but much loved!) stamp set called Gingerbread Christmas, and colored in the image with Aquapainters and ink.  I punched it out with the Decorative Label punch, added some seam binding ribbon, and that's it!  I did offset the quilted piece intentionally, but as I study the picture, I think it might look better if it's centered.  If you try it that way, I'd love to see a picture!

Supplies
Stamps:  Gingerbread Christmas (retired)
Ink:  Garden Green and Real Red ink, StazOn Jet Black ink
Paper:  Real Red, Garden Green, and Naturals Ivory card stock, Holly Berry Bouquet DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Argyle embossing folder, Decorative Label punch, Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon

Stitched Stocking Flip Card

I pulled out some retired items to make Christmas cards this year.  So many of my old stamps don't get a lot of use anymore, which is a shame, because I have so many, and I really like them all!  Stitched Stockings was a set that retired way to early, in my opinion.  It was great because the Stocking Builder Punch coordinated with it, making it so easy to punch out those little pieces for the heel, toe, and cuff of the stocking.  

For this card, I used it along with the Circle Card Thinlits, because really, who doesn't love a good flip card?  The white circle behind the stocking was embossed using the Argyle embossing folder.  I loved that it tied in perfectly with the argyle pattern on the stocking.  Argyle always makes me think of middle school, where there was a (very strict) dress code, and my friends and I wore knee socks every day.  It was always fun when we wore our argyle socks on the same day.  Oh, to be twelve again.  No, wait.  That would mean I'd have to be 13 and 14 again.  No thanks.  

Getting back to the card...I chose a pattern from the Trim the Tree Designer Series Paper Stack that looked like knitting.  I figured that it kind of went with the stocking theme.  The little strip across the bottom is embossed using the now retired Needlepoint Border embossing folders (another one that retired too quickly!)  The little "Merry Christmas" comes from Teeny Tiny Wishes, which is probably my most used stamp set.  If you're looking for a basic sentiment set that covers just about every occasion, this is it.  Let me know if you'd like to order it!

Supplies

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, Stitched Stockings

Ink:  Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler

Paper:  Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, and Trim the Tree Designer Series Paper Stack

Accessories:  Big Shot, Circle Card Thinlits, Needlepoint Border embossing folder, Argyle embossing folder, Stocking Builder Punch, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine,  2 1/2" Circle Punch

Blendabilities Butterflies

Have you tried the new Blendabilities yet?  It was quite out of character for me to get these markers as soon as they were released, but I'm so glad I did!  They are so much fun to color with.  The color goes on so smoothly, and it really is a piece of cake to get the colors to blend without that tell-tale line that our regular markers would leave.  Don't get me wrong, I still love those, but Blendabilities serve a different purpose, and I love having options when it comes to coloring!

One issue I did have, however, was that I don't have a lot of line art images.  It took some digging through my current stamp sets to find something that I could color.  I adore Papillion Potpourri, so I was more than happy to color in these lovely butterflies.  I like to start with the darker shade and blend to light, but you can choose to go from light to dark.  Check out the video below for more tips on coloring with Blendabilities.

 

Supplies

Stamps:  Papillion Potpourri, Thoughts & Prayers

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, and Rich Razzleberry Blendabilities

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Naturals Ivory, and Whisper White Card Stock

Accessories:  Big Shot, Argyle Embossing Folder, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Sponge

Sneak Peek: Sketched Birthday

Want to see a sneak peek of a BRAND NEW stamp set that will be coming out in the 2013-2014 Catalog?  You just did. :)  That adorable piece of cake is part of a set called Sketched Birthday.  I received this set when I was at Stampin' Up!'s Leadership Conference.  It was at the very end of the day, and we had to leave the convention center by a certain time in order to meet the car that was going to take us to the airport.  We thought we'd allowed enough time, but the session went longer than planned, and we were getting very close to needing to leave.  However, we could see Stampin' Up! employees standing at the doors with boxes, so we just knew we were going to get one more fabulous give-away.  There was no way we were going to miss out on that, so as things started winding down, we edged over to the door, and were the first ones to get this adorable set.  And then we were out the door, sprinting over to our hotel.  We got there with two minutes to spare, although the car service seemed to think that we had already left.  I'm not sure how we would have done that, since they were providing our ride!

Anyway, this set is SO CUTE!  I'm not allowed to show you a picture of the set, just samples, but take my word for it...it's adorable!  And remember the other day when I said that I don't really like line art style images?  Yeah, well, that apparently doesn't hold true when it comes to this set.  The more I look at it, the more I like it.  Oh, and the cute little banner at the bottom...it's just one of three in the set, which all coordinate with the Bitty Banners Framelits.  Other images in the set coordinate with other punches and Framelits as well.  That just increases my love. :)  Be sure to check back later this week, when I'll have another sneak peek of this set!

Stamps:  Sketched Birthday (available on June 1!)

Ink:  Jet Black Staz-On Ink (101406), Whisper White Craft Ink (101731), Regal Rose (126947), Soft Suede (126978), and Basic Gray (126981)

Paper:  Soft Suede (115318), Crumb Cake (120953), and Pink Pirouette (111351) card stock, Watercolor paper (122959)

Accessories:  Bitty Banners Framelits (129267), Big Shot (113439(, Argyle Embossing Folder (127750), White Embossing Powder (109132), Heat Tool (129053), Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon (122332), Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon (120999), Aqua Painters (103954), 2 1/2" Circle Punch (120906), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Thanks a Bunch!

I've been having fun playing with all my new goodies this afternoon!  I used loads of new products on this one.  It's kind of hard to see in the picture, and actually, it's sort of hard to see in real life, but I used the new Timber wheel and VersaMark ink on the background piece of Early Espresso.  On top of that are two pieces of Orchard Harvest DSP.  I love every single piece of paper in that pack!  On top of that, the leaves are both embossed with embossing folders...Argyle and Square Lattice.  I'll confess, though...those leaves were cut out with the retired Leaves #2 die.  BUT, you can recreate this by using the new Autumn Accents Bigz Die that's in the Holiday Catalog.  The shapes are close, and I actually like the Autumn Accents better, but my wallet didn't let me get it.  Yet.

The Thanks a Bunch sentiment was stamped in VersaMark and embossed with white embossing powder on Raspberry Ripple card stock.  I cut it out using the Window Frames Framelits Collection.  Behind that is a piece of Sahara Sand that was cut out with the same set of Framelits, then pierced, using the new Paper-Piercing Pack as a guide.  The ribbon is the retired More Mustard 1/4" grosgrain ribbon.  How I wish that it was the Scalloped 1/2" ribbon instead, but I'm not letting myself buy much new ribbon until I use up what I have...which is a LOT of retired 1/4" grosgrain.  Expect to see more of that. :)

Stamps:  Friendship Preserves

Ink:  VersaMark

Paper:  Sahara Sand, Early Espresso, Raspberry Ripple, More Mustard, and Lucky Limeade card stock, Orchard Harvest DSP

Accessories:  Window Frames Framelits Collection, Festive Paper-Piercing Pack, Paper-Piercing Tool and mat, and Leaves #2 Die (but use the new Autumn Accents Die instead!)