Simple Snowflake Christmas Card

Looking for a simple Christmas card to whip up at the last minute?  This is just the card for you.  We made this at club last night, and I think most people completed it in five minutes or less. 

Tips & Tricks

• It doesn't show up well in this picture, but check out the all-Crumb Cake version I made below...you'll see that there is a slight shimmer to the card.  I used to love to use shimmer paint and alcohol to create a sparkly look.  Unfortunately, Stampin' Up! no longer sells shimmer paint.  However, you can get a very similar, although a bit more subtle look using the Illuminate refill ink with alcohol. Simply fill a spritzer mostly full with rubbing alcohol and add some refill ink.  I don't have specific measurements...you'll just need to experiment until you get the look you desire.  The spritz the entire card front for a shimmery finish to your card.

• The rhinestones give this card the added touch of elegance that takes it from pretty to beautiful.  Those four little rhinestones pack a big punch for a small investment!

Supplies

Stamps:  Christmas Greetings (retired)
Ink:  Illuminate refill and Silver Encore Ink
Paper:  Crumb Cake and Naturals White card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Northern Flurry embossing folder, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Crumb Cake seam binding ribbon, spritzer

Winter Frost Circle Flip Cards

As I mentioned last week, I'll have a bazillion kids coming to my house this week to make all kinds of fun Christmas gifts.  These cards are one of the items they'll be making.  I didn't have enough supplies for all the kids to make the same thing, so half will be making the top one, and the other half will be making the bottom one.

Tips & Tricks

• These cards both use non-traditional Christmas colors, but I love them both.  I guess they are more of a winter look than a Christmas look, but a simple "Merry Christmas" on the front conveys the message. :)  Don't be afraid to use colors other than red and green!  It's good to think out of the box, but also nice that Stampin' Up!'s Designer Series Papers help you do that.  I was really surprised to discover that the gray card is one of my favorites this year.

• I mentioned on Friday how stamping tone-on-tone adds just the right amount of interest to one of the panels on a flip card.  Well, embossing does the same thing!  I put the extra flap on the right into the Northern Flurry embossing folder and fell in love with the look.  It's subtle, but perfect.  

Supplies
Stamps:  Christmas Punch (retired), Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Silver Encore Ink and Basic Gray Classic Ink
Paper:  Pool Party, Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, and Whisper White card stock, Winter Frost DSP Stack
Accessories:  Big Shot, Circle Card Thinlits, Northern Flurry Embossing Folder, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

So, which card is your favorite?  Do you make Christmas cards that aren't red and green?

Scentsational Season of Style Christmas Card

Do you like that title?  It's like one of those Jeopardy categories where they mash two phrases together, although for the life of me, I can't remember what that category is called.  For this card, I combined the retired stamp set Scentsational Season with the Season of Style Designer Series Paper.  I've already admitted that I'm a tad obsessed with making these flip cards...I can't help myself, they're so fun!  I'll also admit that a lot of my cards this month will be using some retired products.  That's a bummer for those of you looking for fun new stamps and tools to add to your collection, but a bonus for those who are looking for ways to use the things that have collected a bit of dust in recent months (or years).  It just seems a shame to me to use only current products when I have so many fun things sitting on my shelf!

One of those items is Scentsational Season, which in my opinion, was the cutest Christmas stamp set that Stampin' Up! sold last year.  I can't believe they retired it.  One of my most viewed and pinned cards of all time uses this set, which obviously proves that lots of people love this set as much as I do! :)

Tips & Tricks

• I only make flip cards with the extra flap on the right side...it just makes sense to give yourself a bit more room to write and not to waste card stock.  Cut your card stock 5 3/8" x 8 1/2" and let the right side stick out on top of the Circle Card Thinlits Die.  This will give you a nice score line instead of cutting the card stock.

• For a fun look, stick that extra flap into an embossing folder and run it through your Big Shot.  It adds a bit of interest without using more paper!

• Remember all the scented embossing powder that was available last year?  I have tons of it, and it is fun to use, since it makes my stamp space smell so yummy!  Did you know that you can combine colored embossing powder with the clear scented powder?  Play around with amounts to see what you like...the gingerbread man shown here was embossed using equal parts of Early Espresso and Sugar & Spice Scented embossing powders.