Snowy Fun

What a gorgeous day it was today! Sunshine and in the 40's without too much wind. Now that kind of weather I can deal with all winter long. What's that you say? It's not even winter yet? Oh oh, and it's going to get really nasty out there? Oh bummer. Well, at least I can enjoy the great days when we have them. The bad weather will make me appreciate the warmer days even more! But getting back to my card, I've been thinking ahead to the snowy weather and making snowmen with our grandson. Now, that's going to be fun I'm sure! I wanted to make a card that would showcase that event. This card seems to fit the bill. What do you think?

Stamps: Snow Much Fun and Petite Pairs

Cardstock: Marina Mist, and Whisper White

Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz, Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie, and Basic Gray

Accessories: Big Shot with Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Aqua Painter, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Large Oval Punch, (retired small oval punch), White Gel Pen, Marina Mist Scallop Dots Ribbon, Tombow Multipurpose Glue, Mica Flakes, and Dimensionals

Yep, that's a lot of stuff used on this card, but I love the different punched pieces popped on it. And isn't that snowball the bird is rolling just too cute with the Mica Flakes added? It makes it look like there's lots of flakes of snow. I purposely left the snowman glitter-free to draw attention to the snowball and bird. Actually, the card just makes me smile when I look at it. And this time around, that's what really matters. Hope someone loves getting this snowy snowman card for Christmas 'cuz I sure had fun making it!

Thanks for popping in. Hope you enjoyed your visit. Ya'll come back now, y'hear?

Sharon

Joyous Sunday

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart, down..... ehem. All right, no more singing. (at least not right now!) Yes, it was an uplifting service today. And with the holidays coming up I'm filled with thankfulness and joy for the many ways God has blessed me. So today I'm sharing a little bit of that joy with you too! I've had The Sounding Joy stamp set since the Holiday Mini came out, but just couldn't decide what I wanted to do with it. I thought about gold or silver embossing and making it really elegant, or the other end of the spectrum and using more country-style colors and papers. What I ended up making seems to be a melding of the two different looks into something all my own. Here's the card...

Stamps: The Sounding Joy
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, and Naturals Ivory
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, and Gold Encore
Accessories: Big Shot with Striped Embossing Folder, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Very Vanilla Velvet Ribbon, Dimensionals, and Sponge Daubers


First I need to apologize for the background in the pictures. I thought there would be more contrast between it and the Crumb Cake cardstock for the base of the card. Ah, not so much! I'll have to keep that in mind for future picture taking sessions.

I love the contrast of richness of the velvet ribbon and country of the Crumb Cake and Naturals
cardstocks. They seemed to play very well together. To add to the richness factor (is there such a thing?), I heavily sponged gold ink on the edge over the sponged Cherry Cobbler. I'm sitting here thinking the next one of these I make might be distressed on the edge before (or maybe after too) adding the sponged edges.

Do you have that problem too? Every time I think I'm happy with a card and I'm adding it to my blog, I start thinking of other possibilities I could have tried to give it a different look. Oh well, never satisfied. Or is that actually a good thing? If I was always satisfied, I guess we'd never try anything new or different. And that would sure cut down on the fun and excitement of stamping.

Okay, that's enough rambling on today. Thanks for stopping by for a peak. I hope you're enjoying your day as much as I am! Sharon

Two fer Tuesday

Here I go again! I couldn't decide on how I wanted the components of this card to fit together. So why not try both versions and see what you think? I so enjoy using the Pines and Poinsettias stamp set. The images are fabulous colored with markers and then giving a little 'huff' and voila! Instant gorgeous! Especially the pinecones that look covered with snow! Love it sooooo much, and I've been using it for so many cards lately. Here, let me show you two of them...

Stamps: Pines and Poinsettias, and Petite Pairs

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi with Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Series Paper

Ink: Real Red pad and Early Espresso, Real Red, and Wild Wasabi markers

Accessories: Big Shot with Petals Aplenty Embossing Folder, Ornament Punch, (small oval punch-retired), Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Real Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Sponge Dauber, Mini Glue Dots, and Dimensionals

I chose this embossing folder to coordinate with the poinsettias in the paper background. All the colors of ink also coordinate with the DSP. That makes it so easy when you're planning on what to use. The only problem is how you want to do the layout!

Here's the other version of today's card. I changed the embossing folder to the Snow Burst, gave it a 'fish tail', and laid it on it's side. I also changed the sentiment to one from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set. It was stamped with Wild Wasabi, punched with the Word Window Punch, then layered with the Modern Label Punch.

That's it for today - short and sweet. Glad you found time to stop in to see what's new. Have a great day.

Sharon

Oooh, A Challenge

I'm so excited that I had time to even look at the Stampin 411 Challenge here before the week had gone by. And I actually came up with an idea for the challenge too. How fun is that?! Well maybe you don't think it's such a big deal, but when you haven't done it for a while - it's big! I knew I wanted to use the lovely Spice Cake Designer Series Paper and the little girl stamp from the Gift Givers set together for a Christmas card, so that's where I started. With all the parameters I had set for myself it was a little harder than I thought it would be. After walking away from it at dinner-time, I wasn't sure it would ever make it to the challenge. But after sleeping on it, I knew just what needed to be done to finish it up. Here's the final card idea. Hope you like it...

Stamps: Gift Givers, and Punch Pals

Cardstock: Pool Party, Very Vanilla, and Early Espresso with Spice Cake Designer Series Paper

Ink: Basic Brown (retired), Pool Party, and Lucky Limeade pads, and Early Espresso marker

Accessories: Big Shot with Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Aqua Painter, Multi purpose Liquid Glue, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, and Dimensionals

When I started putting the layers together, the Early Espresso looked too dark with the overall lightness of the rest of the card, so I started to add skinny layers of it everywhere to balance it out.

For some reason I had this idea of a thick crusted ridge of glitter going around the scalloped layer looking like snowbanks or some such thing. I like the way all the ideas meshed together to make this cute little card. It actually worked!

Thanks for stopping by today for a peek, and hope you enjoyed it! Have a great week. Sharon

Two for One Today

I guess this is what happens when I have time to play around with my stampin' stuff all day! No babysitting today, so all afternoon was spent designing cards. Oh, I'd almost forgotten how much fun that is!! I had an idea to do a mostly white card with just a little pop of accent color. Since I hadn't even inked up my Gifts of Christmas stamp set this year, I thought it would be perfect for what I had in mind. Well, I did a little boo boo when I embossed the first stamping by using gold glitter instead of gold embossing powder. Hmmm, slightly messy when it all came off on my fingers. Oh yeah, I really make dumb mistakes every once in awhile, and that was a really big one! But not to despair, just rethink the idea and go on from there. Here's the two cards that came from that one idea...

Stamps: Gifts of Christmas

Cardstock: Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler

Ink: Encore Gold Ink

Accessories: Big Shot with Snow Burst Embossing Folder, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, Dazzling Details Glitter Glue, and Dimensionals

This is the first version of the card that I accidentally used the gold glitter instead of embossing powder. I'm still not sure how I made such a big mistake, but anyway... After brushing off the glitter (that didn't want to be heat set at all!), the gold ink looked really soft and pretty, so I just went with that. I had to change my layering color and ribbon to work more with the softer look which I'm now happy with. Just a touch of Dazzling Details to the flower centers and this one was done.

Then I decided to try it one more time the way I had originally planned with the gold embossing and glitzy Red Glimmer Paper. Ooh la la! That really took it up a notch. I'm still not sure about the Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon for an accent. Maybe it's not quite dark enough or not shiny enough? It still might get popped off of there and replaced with something else. We'll have to think on that a bit more.

As you can see, this card also has the Dazzling Details on the flower centers for a little more glitz. Hope you like these ideas today. And just for your information, my gold glitter is now labeled as such so there hopefully won't be anymore mistakes like that! Enjoy your weekend! And make sure you've got a few minutes to get your fingers inky. Sharon

Blue Snowflakes for Christmas

What is there about snowflakes that always has me reaching for my blue cardstocks and ink? They just fit together so well. It reminds me of quiet, winter nights with the moon glistening on the freshly fallen snow. Everything is so silent and peaceful. At least for awhile anyway! So every year I make at least one (sometimes a half dozen different ones!) snowflake card with lots of blue and white. This year is no different. I had seen an idea that I could expand on and thought it would go very well with the snowflake theme. But it was a struggle coming up with blues that I liked together. Here's what I finally did for my blue snowflake idea for this year...

Stamps: Snow Swirled, and Four the Holidays
Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, Island Indigo, and Marina Mist
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist pads and Whisper White Craft Pad
Accessories: 1 3/8" Square Punch, and Dazzling Details (iridescent glitter glue)

After trying all the different blues that Stampin' Up! has to offer, these are the ones that appealed to me. I would have like to have them go darkest to lightest in order, but I didn't care for the two outside colors next to each other. So there you have it - which colors and why I arranged them as I did. I know, you were just dying to know all that, weren't you?

There was also the dilema of rhinestones or not. After thinking about it, thought I'd give the new Dazzling Details glitter glue a try on this. What a great choice! I loved how it turned out just a little less glitz than a rhinestone, but still with a touch of shine to draw your attention.

And for those of you that hate cutting those 'fishtails' in the bottom of cardstock, the square punch worked out great! This is something my class ladies will love to hear 'cuz it's a finish I like to add to cards. See, there's always something new to learn. It could be a new trick, or a faster, easier way of doing something.

Hope you enjoyed today's card idea. And thanks for stopping by today to see what's new. Have a great day. Sharon

Plaid Christmas Lodge

Ever since I saw the awesome Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper, I've had this idea of using the little plaid print on a smallish square card. I love the look of the plaid design just peeking out around the stamped main layer. I had been working on a different card with the lodge and greeting stamped with the Cherry Cobbler, but the size wasn't working out. So I set it aside, cut a larger piece of white cardstock and started over. Much better for that project. But that meant I still had this smaller piece all stamped up and waiting for me. This is what became of it - quite simple but cute I think!

Stamps: Christmas Lodge
Cardstock: Whisper White with Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, 2-Way Glue Pen, and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter



It was wonderfully easy to get this card together - especially after the struggle with yesterday's card!! That little bit of green from the plaid is just enough peeking out around all the edges. You can't get a simpler card then adding a little sprinkle of glitter on the snowy areas and adding a ribbon. I just love how quick and easy this was to make. I can see a few more of these being made in my future.

Thanks for stopping by today. Hope you're having a great week. And get started on those Christmas cards while there's still time. Enjoy the day! Sharon

Happy Holidays

Finally getting back here with another Christmas card idea. I've been seeing so many nice ideas using printed paper pleated on cards to look like fabric ruffles. So I thought why not give it a try. Now first of all, you have to understand that anything to do with math is totally foreign to me. It's been a major struggle since grade school. And let me tell you, that was a heck of a long time ago!!! So after struggling with this idea for a good long while, I've finally got a card to share. Now, that ruffle/pleated thingy is not perfect, but it's going to have to do for now until I can figure out an easier way to make this. Any math brains out there that want to share the secret for doing this right??? If so, please take pity on me and give me some pointers. TIA

Stamps: Christmas Lodge
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Early Espresso, and Very Vanilla with Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper
Ink: Early Espresso and Garden Green ink pads and Whisper White Craft Pad
Accessories: Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Big Shot with Snow Burst Embossing Folder, Cherry Cobbler 3/8" Quilted Satin Ribbon, Sponge Daubers, and Dimensionals

I simply love all the textures on this card! Along with the pleated paper, you have the new quilted satin ribbon that is really gorgeous! Then add the embossed and sponged layer of snowflakes and it really stands out. Not glitzy at all, but more country chic with the colors and little bit of plaid.

Like I mentioned earlier, I really struggled with the paper pleating. I couldn't get it to fit across the card the way I wanted with the pleats ending the same on both sides. Other than that little factor, I really liked making the pleats and will definitely give it a go again soon. Any pointers out there???

Hope you had a lovely weekend. I really should have been outside raking, but was just too cozy inside to bother. That just means there'll be many more leaves to rake later on, right? Here's to cozy afternoons inside just relaxing (and doing a little stamping too!). Sharon

Glittery Snowflake

What a week it's been with Halloween on Monday and stamping at church on Tuesday night. We were working on Valentine cards for our soldiers and the ladies did a fabulous job of making over 180 cards that night! Wow, that's quick stamping and real dedication. Thanks to all of you who came out on Tuesday for this event! But you're here to see a card, not just hear a lot of talking. So let's check out a card I made last night. I'm not sure if it'll be for class yet or not. It depends on some other ideas I have kicking around in the old noggin!

Stamps: Four the Holidays, and Many Merry Messages

Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Marina Mist, and Whisper White with Silver Glimmer Paper

Ink: Rich Razzleberry and Marina Mist Classic Ink and White Craft Ink

Accessories: Big Shot with Northern Flurry Embossing Folder, Doily Triple Layer Punch, Subtles Brads, Paper Snips, and Sponge Dauber

Don't you love the look of the glittery snowflake 'doily' added to this card? (I know it's not a snowflake, but I thought it looked close enought for me!) Even a small amount of this Silver Glimmer Paper really adds a pop of glitz to any project you make. I love how easy it is to punch through. And all the glitter stays on the project, not on my hands, or my face, or even my cat that decided to lay down right on the card! Yes, I love this glittery paper!!

Thought you'd like to see the inside of the card too. I added some snowflakes from the Snow Swirled set as an accent because it looked so bare. I'll use more of the snowflakes on the envelope too. I think they look so much more interesting with a little stamping on the outside of the envelope than just boring plain ones.

Well that's it for today. Hopefully I'll be back with more Christmas ideas soon! Have a great day! Sharon