More Christmas

I have lots of Christmas cards to show you over the next few days.  I guess hanging out in my cool basement and thinking of December helps deal with the heat and humidity outside.  This card uses the new set, Ornament Keepsakes.  I was so happy to see this set in the Holiday Catalog, because my favorite ornament set retired in May.  This one is very similar, only better, because there are a lot more stamps, in a lot more sizes!  And there is a coordinating set of Framelits, so you know I love that!  If you look closely, though, you can see that I need a little more practice using them. :)  Oops!  Actually, after making this card, I realized that by putting a bit of removable adhesive (I used Dotto, which retired) on the card stock, the Framelit will stay in place, and it does a much better job of perfectly cutting out the stamped image.

There are only three colors here:  Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, and a tiny little piece of Crumb Cake.  I used a new embossing folder, plus the new Core'dinations card stock, then sanded it.  The ornament is embossed with Cherry Cobbler embossing powder, and hung with a piece of linen thread.  And then I went crazy with my new favorite finishing touch:  Champagne Shimmer Paint.  I know, it's not a new product, but believe it or not, I've never used it.  I decided to open my brand new bottle and go to town.  Everything is covered in it, and it is so pretty!  I think I avoided it because I thought it would be too gold.  Nope!  It's absolutely gorgeous, and adds such a pretty, yet subtle effect.  I kind of wish I hadn't waited so long to use it!

Stamps:  Ornament Keepsakes, Tiny Tags

Ink:  VersaMark, Cherry Cobbler and Crumb Cake Classic Ink, Champagne Shimmer Paint

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake

Accessories:  Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, Crochet Lace, Holiday Ornaments Framelits, Big Shot, Lacy Brocade embossing Folder, linen thread, Jewelry Tag punch, sponge daubers, sanding block, paper piercing tool

The Olympics are Here!

This was a quick card I threw together...I just wanted to do something Olympic-y.  Yes, I realize that's not a real word.  We were supposed to go to an Opening Ceremonies party, so I was thinking this would have been a fun invitation for something similar.  The party sort of got canned, since we all decided that if our kids were going to stay up really late, it should probably happen in close proximity to their own beds. 

The rings were easy to create using the 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" circle punches. I cut across the yellow and green ones so that I could link them with the rings above.  I embedded them into the white by running them all through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder.  I also added three retired eyelets (I couldn't find my brads, but those would look even better!) in gold, silver, and bronze.  OK, it's copper, but it's close and I think you get the idea. :)

We're loving watching the Olympics.  My kids don't really remember the last summer Games, so this is fun, because I know they'll remember these.  I still remember watching the 1980 Games, when I was ten, the same age that my oldest is now.  My kids are surprising me with which sports they like to watch.  Who knew that fencing would be such a hit around here?

Stamps:  All Year Cheer (retired)

Ink:  White Craft Ink

Paper:  Real Red, Basic Black, Pacific Point, Gumball Green, Daffodil Delight, and Whisper White card stock

Accessories:  1/4" Real Red grosgrain ribbon (retired), eyelets (retired), 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" circle punches, Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder

It's Back!

The Carry On Hostess set is available again!  I was so excited to order this, only to find out by the time it reached me, that it was no longer available.  I'm happy to report that it's available again, and the only way to get it is to be a hostess.  Call or email me to schedule a workshop so you can get your very own set!

Stamps:  Carry On 

Ink:  Midnight Muse Classic Ink

Paper:  Naturals White, Midnight Muse, and Summer Starfruit card stock

Accessories:  Apothecary Accents Framelits Collection, Chevron Embossing Folder, Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Hot Chocolate, Anyone?

OK, I know.  I used more retired DSP on this card.  I desperately wanted to use plaid on this card (remember how I love plaid?)  but I don't have the Festival of Prints DSP pack.  That somehow got left off my last order, but I will quickly remedy that with my next one!  So, even though I'm using a plaid from last year's Frostwood Lodge DSP, it is easily substituted with the plaid in Festival of Prints (which is only $6.95!!!!)

Aside from my beloved plaid, this card uses my newest favorite, the Woodgrain embossing folder.  You'll notice that the woodgrain really stands out on the Cherry Cobbler.  It's because I used the new Core'dinations card stock.  Simply run it through the Big Shot with an embossing folder and you normally would, but when it comes out, whip out your sanding blocks and sand off a bit of the top layer.  The inside is a lighter color and makes the textured design pop.  I can't wait to get this in the other colors!

The mug and steam both come from Scentsational Seasons, and are embossed with the Peppermint Sticks embossing powder.  I'm not a coffee drinker...that's peppermint hot chocolate in that mug, folks. :)  The sentiment is stamped right on the cotton ribbon...doesn't it look great on that?  I love how easy it is to stamp on this ribbon.  And then a bit of Early Espresso baker's twine completes the card.

Stamps:  Scentsational Season, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Timber Wheel

Ink:  Early Espresso and Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink, VersaMark

Paper:  Naturals White, Whisper White, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler Core'dinations card stock, Festival of Prints DSP (not shown, but makes a great replacement!)

Accessories:  Woodgrain Embossing Folder, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle, Early Espresso Baker's Twine, 7/8" Cotton Ribbon

Christmas in July

I've been holding out on the Christmas cards, because I just can't bring myself to start thinking about winter just yet.  I have no problem making fall cards any time of the year, but Christmas...it's a bit of a stretch.  But I finally caved and made a couple of Christmas cards.  This one is very candy caney.  Not a word, I know.  But the red and white (well, vanilla, actually) and all the stripes scream candy canes.  Once again, I used retired product (shame on me!)  The striped paper is from last year's Christmas DSP, but it's so similar to one of the papers in the Be of Good Cheer DSP pack that's on it's way to my house right now.  I actually think the newer striped paper is going to look better, because there's a bit of green in it, and this card needs a third color.  I embossed the red in the background with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  The ribbon is more of the 1/4" grosgrain from my vast stash. :)  The candy cane is from the Scentsational Season stamp set...it is ADORABLE!  And, much to my delight, it has a coordinating Framelits set!  I love my Framelits!  I embossed it with the new Peppermint Sticks scented embossing powder.  It's smells fantastic!  The piece of Naturals Ivory card stock behind it was cut out with the Window Frames Framelits and then embossed with Iridescent Ice embossing powder to give it some sparkle.  Fun!

Stamps:  Scentsational Season, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  VersaMark, Real Red Classic Ink, Whisper White Craft Ink

Paper:  Naturals Ivory, Very Vanilla, and Real Red card stock, Be of Good Cheer DSP (not shown, but it makes a great substitution!)

Accessories:  Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Window Frames Framelits, Holiday Collection Framelits, Bitty Banners Framelits, 1/4" grosgrain ribbon (Very Vanilla and Real Red, both retired)

Perfectly Preserved

How cute are these apples?  Have I mentioned how much I love this set?  And the Orchard Harvest DSP?  And the Cannery Framelits Set?  And the Woodgrain Embossing Folder?  Too much?  Sorry. 

The colors in the Orchard Harvest aren't necessarily ones you'd think to combine for fall, especially the Raspberry Ripple, which is what I used as the base of the card.  But you know, they work.  In fact, I really like the More Mustard on top of it.  The little apples in the DSP coordinates with the apple stamps in the Perfectly Preserved set.  They are so cute!  It's hard to see, but I used the Dazzling Diamond Dust technique on the apples.  So even though they don't really look it, they are all sparkly.  I also tied a piece of linen twine around the lid to the jar, just to give it a finishing touch.

Stamps: Perfectly Preserved

Ink:  More Mustard, Raspberry Ripple, Old Olive (I don't have a Lucky Limeade marker, so I used Old Olive...either will work!), and Early Espresso markers, Early Espresso Classic Ink Pad

Paper:  Raspberry Ripple, More Mustard, Lucky Limeade, and Very Vanilla card stock, Orchard Harvest DSP

Accessories:  Cannery Framelits Set, Bitty Banners Framelits Set,  2 1/2" Circle Punch, 7/8" Cotton Ribbon, Sponge, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Big Shot

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!)