White Christmas

Ok, here we are with a Christmas card idea.  I loved the White Christmas stamp set as soon as I laid eyes on it.  Of course it didn't hurt that I loved each of the ideas shared with this set in the Holiday Catalog either!  So I went with those same soft colors from the Catalog and made my first card with this set.  Here's what I came up with.  What do you think??

Stamps:  White Christmas and Good Greetings
Ink:  Stazon Jet Black, Soft Suede, Real Red, Pool Party, and Sahara Sand
Paper:  Whisper White and Pool Party
Accessories:   Big Shot with Lucky Stars TIEF, AquaPainter, Glue Dots, Frosted Sequins, and Dimensionals

This turned out to be a soft and serene winter scene.  The color washed into the background is so delicate.  I kept the color softer on the trees and bird too.  All the sequins are attached with Glue Dots.  That seems to be the easiest way to attach them.

This set is so easy to use because it's made from photopolymer.  That way you can easily see where you're placing different items, like the bird and bear.  So simple - wish we'd had photopolymer to work with years and years ago!!   Hope you give this set a try - it's fabulous!!

Thanks for stopping by again.  I want to wish you all a fantastic fall!  Sharon

Winter Skaters in Reds

Well, after perusing my stamp shelves, I realized I've have been ignoring many of my Christmas stamps. It was really time to get busy and get them down from those cobwebby shelves. Today's plan was to use the Winter Post set. Ah, yes, those vintage skaters. You remember them, right? I decided to do something simple without a lot of fuss and little touch of the old fashioned to it. Here's what I came up with.....

Stamps: Winter Post

Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla

Ink: Riding Hood Red

Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, Victoria Crochet Trim, Antique Brads, and Striped Red Ribbon

As you can see, there just isn't too much fussing around with this card. Pretty straight forward, but interesting looking anyway.

Last year a stamping friend, Terry Makelim used this frame idea for a card swap. I thought it was really classy looking and thought I'd use it for this. If you want to make something similar, the biggest challenge is gettting the size of the red frame right so the punching and the stamped image all works together. If you want to try this, the red cardstock measures 3" x 3" and the Vanilla piece is 2" x 2". That simple. Now go out and give this idea a try. It's always a classy look to frame up your main image like this.

Thanks for stopping by today. Hope to be back soon!

Sharon

Another Sneak Peak

Oh, I'm so dog-gone excited! Guess what I figured out? Oh, first I'd better explain... A new Stampin'Up! Bigz Die that will be showcased in the Occasions Mini Catalog is call Mini Milk Carton. Sounded interesting to me, so I just had to get it during the pre-order because I had to play with it. Oh, it's just darling! And look what I made with it!!!

Doesn't it make just the cutest little birdhouse? I've got ideas swirling in my brain for spring and/or Mother's Day. I can hardly wait! Which is so funny since Christmas is still a whole week away! Yikes, I'd better quit playing around and get finished with my Christmas shopping, baking, and card sending pretty soon!!!!

Anyway, I thought you'd like to see that this die makes the cutest little box. I punched a hole for the birdies to get in, then promptly put in a window sheet so they couldn't get in. But I did fill it with blue and silver Hershey Kisses instead. Chocolate is always good!

Stamps: Serene Snowflakes

Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Whisper White Craft Ink

Accessories: Winter White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Big Shot with Mini Milk Carton die, Bashful Blue Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, 1/4" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Sponge Dauber, Window Sheet, and Adhesive

Looking at the little birdhouse, I'm thinking it needs a bit of glitter on the snowy roof so I'll do that before I give it away. And maybe one of our retired small snowflake punch to add 1 dimensional snowflake to the roof too. What do you think? I guess when I did this late last night, I just wasn't thinking it through to a great finish. I know it's the little touches that really make something special, but I wasn't thinking clearly anymore by that time! Ah well, that's one of the great things about this - it's only paper and I can keep playing around and making adjustments and additions! lol

Have a great weekend. Hope you get all your Christmas planning finished so you can really enjoy the holiday! Happy holiday hugs...

Sharon

Snowman Collection

The weekend is coming and I can hardly wait! My downline and friends are coming for a Christmas Brunch and Shoebox Swap tomorrow. It's going to be fun spending time with some of my favorite ladies, eating, and stamping. Yummy! What could be better than that?! One of the things I've been doing to get ready this week, has been making all these little snowmen boxes. Each one was watercolored on watercolor paper and is very individual. No matter how hard I try to paint them the same, each one seems to have a life of it's own and takes on it's own personality. (Or else I've just been spending way too much time with them!) lol


Each of the boxes are made out of one 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of Chocolate Chip cardstock. The sides of the box are scored at 2 1/2" intervals. The top is scored at 1 1/2", and the bottom is scored at 1".

Stamps: Serene Snowflakes and Snow Buddies (Hostess Level 2)
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip and Watercolor Paper
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic, Whisper White Craft
Accessories: AquaPainter, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, White Gel Pen, Sticky Strip, and Circle Punches (for the snowflake on the bottle lids that you can't see!)


They've been stamped with the Serene Snowflakes in both Chocolate Chip and Whisper White inks to give the box some detail.

And I love how the Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint looks painted over the watercolors on the stars! So shimmery and pretty - very subtle! I hope each of my ladies likes the boxes. If not, they can always re-gift them!! LOL

Oh, I forgot to mention that each box has a 'Starbuck's coffee' bottle inside filled with hot chocolate mix and marshmallows. It's to keep them warm on those cold winter nights that we have here in Michigan!

Thanks for stopping by today. Enjoy the rest of your evening. Wish you could join us for stamping, eating, and fun tomorrow! If you'd like to be part of our group - Carr's Crazy Stampers, get in touch with me and I'd be happy to give you all the details!
Sharon

Today's Stamping 411 Creation

Can you believe I'm posting twice today? That tells you I'm not getting done everything that needs to be done before leaving on Tuesday. I just needed a break from swaps for a little while. Thought I'd go check out what the operators at Stamping 411 have for the Saturday Sketch. It looked a little intimidating with that large circle in the background, but after fussing with it and thinking about it for awhile I was able to create this....

I'm not sure if I really like it or not. I chose the Bella Bleu DSP because I thought the geometric shapes would play off the snowflake. But either the snowflake is too delicate, or maybe the paper is too busy. Let me know what you think. I'm open to any and all suggestions on this. If you think I need to take it apart and start over from scratch, well that is a possibility too.

All stamps and materials are by Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Snowflake

Cardstock: Old Olive, Brocade Blue, and Very Vanilla cardstock, with Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper

Ink: Brocade Blue

Accessories: Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Ticket Corner Punch, Big Shot with Scallop Circle Die, Piercing Tool and Mat Pack, Ice Round Rhinestone Brad, Vintage Brad (retired diamond shape), Dimensionals, and Silver Glitter Glue (by Gary Burlin & Co)

Don't forget to let me know what should be done with this card. I'm really frustrated with it!

Maybe I should get back to what really needs doing instead of playing! Just too much to do and too little time......

Sharon

Where, oh where is spring?

It's been awhile since I've been back here, what with Easter and all the services leading up to it, taxes, and then classes this week. Whew, it's been busy around here. Hope your Easter was wonderful and you enjoyed the time with family. Mine was great - family is all fine and the food was scrumptious and filling. And the taxes were all mailed yesterday. Classes started last night. So I think we're on track finally. At least for now anyway! Now comes the problem. Here it is, the middle of April. Ladies coming in last night for class all said it was sleeting outside. That's just a small step away from snow - horrors! I shudder to even speak the word! When are we going to get a bona fide spring? I really need to know! There have been too many false promises that I'm leary of believing the weatherman any more. Maybe it's time for a new one if this one can't deliver the goods. Time to revolt - no more weather channel for me until it truly is warm again! Who's with me on this? It's time to take a stand!



So since we still have awful weather, I thought it appropriate to post one more winter themed project. This 8x8 scrap page was one of the projects we made at the London Regional I was lucky enough to attend. Isn't this a cute page? And the colors are perfect for the cold winter weather.
All stamps and materials by Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Best Wishes and More
Cardstock: Pacific Point, Ruby Bed, Bashful Blue
Ink: Pacific Point Classic Ink, Old Olive and Whisper White Craft Inks
Accessories: Metal Edge Tag, VersaMarker pen, Clear Rhinestone Brad, Mini Libraary Clips, Crafters Tool Kit, On Board Timeless Type Chipboard Letters, Dimensionals, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, and 3/4" Circle Punch


I hope you can see on this picture how we used the 3/4" Circle Punch on the left side of the page. It was a very subtle play on the metal edge circle tag with the snowflake. And can you see where the snowflake was outlined with the VersaMarker pen? I was surprised at how much that showed up after it dried. And the little arrow on the left came from the inside of the W.
So many little touches really make up a cute page. SU! really outdid themselves with this page in my opinion. Hope this gives you some ideas for all those winter pictures you have stashed away. Guess I need to go through my own stash and find a pic for this page and actually get a page done! Naw, that would mess up my unfinished page streak!
Happy stamping and stay warm,
Sharon

Good to be back in the saddle...???

Yes, it's good to be back stamping again. Forget about the saddle - I wouldn't know what to do with it anyway! I managed to pull a muscle in my back last week and it's taken awhile to get back to stamping. Too much twisting and turning, bending and lifting those heavy stamps, ya know.
Last night was my downline meeting, so I had to make my swaps (Wednesday) and plan for the evening. Not too many ladies showed up, but we had a good time and the swaps were awesome!! We actually had more people swapping than expected so I didn't get one of everyone else's swap. Boo hoo... I didn't want to deprive anyone else! Anyway, I always make extra of my cards to use later. Forget it, they were all gone. I couldn't remember exactly what I'd made, but I tried to make anyother as close to the original as possible to share with all of you.

Ta Da!! I just love this little penguin guy. I didn't put any Christmas words on this card, so it can be used in January when you're celebrating skiing or snowman making. How fun is that idea?

Of course, all products are SU! (except for that little white plastic snowflake thingie that I've had forever!)

Stamps: Punch Pals, Best Wishes and More
Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Baja Breeze
Ink: Baja Breeze, Basic Black Classic ink and White Craft ink, Going Gray, So Saffron, and Certainly Celery Markers
Accessories: Sponge, Snowflakes #2 Dies, BigShot, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Mini glue Dots, Dimensionals

I thought it was surprising how airy the sky looked after adding the white craft ink snowflakes. I had just used the Baja Breeze at first. Adding white just opened it up and gave it a much nicer look. Way too dark without the white touches.

Hope you enjoy the card today. I'll be back sooner than last time - I promise!!
Hugs,
Sharon