#TGIF241 Snowman Star

This color challenge comes just in time for a cool Christmas tag.  #TGIF241 is all about these three colors: Whisper White, Seaside Spray, and Silver Glitter.  As always with challenges I take liberties and make minor adjustments to fit my stampin' stash of supplies.  I went with silver glimmer and I have itty bitty pops of color.

In several earlier posts I have shared Christmas tags.  I also mentioned that I make a huge pile of tags during the season.  Not only do I make them for me, I've noticed in past years my family comes to the stampin' area where I wrap and they scavenge for handmade tags (and tape and scissors...).

This tag started with a base of Whisper White cut with the largest Stitched Nesting Labels Die. Next, a large star which I hand cut out of Seaside Spray.  I love this shade of blue for Christmas. It's a perfect compliment to any snowman or when you want to give a cool wintery feel to a project. Then an adorable snowman made with the Snowman Builder Punch.

Topping this tag is a Seaside Spray Metallic Ribbon bow and a Silver Cord tie.  You can get the ribbon from the Holiday Catalog; the cord was leftover from November's Paper Pumpkin Kit.

A Santa Style Hand Stamped Sentiment

I used some creative license with this sketch from Hand Stamped Sentiments.  I didn't turn the sketch, instead I elongated the layout to fit this really adorable Santa Claus graphic card.  

This card came together quick and simple.  But that doesn't mean it's missing my style and love for details.  Look close and the fur on Santa's coat, hat, and trousers have been sanded with Ice Glitter.  And for even more sparkle his beard and mustache are painted with Clear Wink of Stella.

Monday Montage 153

Can you believe it's the beginning of December?  My how time flies now days.  I remember as a kid and making advent calendars and thinking the countdown took forever, now it comes and goes in a flash.  For this Christmas season one new bundle that I bought was the Still Scenes Stamp Set and the Snow Globe Dies.  The variety in the set of dies is what sold me--I love them.

I have enjoyed using all the prints in the Toile Tiding Designer Series Papers and with the Garden Green patterns I love mixing it with Copper Foil.  I also love the text printed on the 3/8" Twill Ribbon.  The copper in that is a perfect match with the foil.

While my supplies were out I made a complementing tag.  There are details, textures, and interest to this tag, but there is also an ease, no two much fuss, that I really like.

Next up in our is is Julie Warnick.  Pop over and see what fun things she has been up to.  Or, if you are working backwards click on over to Charlet's.  She is always making great paper crafts.

to Charlet

to Julie

Monday Montage Hoppers

Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts

Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs

Charlet Mallett - Painted Orange

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run

Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc

Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations

Creation Station Put a Ring on It

It's the first Sunday of the month and that means is Creation Station Blog Hop time!  This month our theme is "Put a Ring On It" which translate to whatever we want or belly bands for cards, boxes, bags, or whatever suits our creative process.

When I design packaging I always construct it to be easily accessible and easy to rewrap.  With that said, I make lots of custom belly bands to slide on and off boxes.  This one is a band that includes a handle to resemble a min gift bag or tote.

I started with a 2" x 10.5" strip of Real Red Cardstock.  I stamped it with the Buffalo Check background stamp and Basic Black Ink.  Then I punched each end with the Delightful Tag Topper Punch and then a 1.25" Circle Punch.

Next, I wrapped the strip around a Pillow Box and glued the ends to make the handle.  My favorite part is adding all the decor.  For this box I tied three ribbons and then added a clean and simple deer tag.  Dies for the tag include the Snow Globe set and Layering Circles.  A layer of Ice Glitter finishes the tag for a perfect touch.

With a happy heart I say thanks for being a part of our hop this month.  Coming to you next is the uber-adorable ultra-talented Mikaela Titheridge.  She will most surely knock your socks off!

Product List

Buffalo Check Stamp Set | Snow Globe Dies | Layering Circles Dies
Delightful Tag Topper Punch | 1.25" Circle Punch

Real Red, Basic Black, Soft Suede, and Very Vanilla Cardstocks
Basic Black Ink (retired) | Kraft Pillow Box | Ice Glitter
Burlap Ribbon | Scalloped Lace Ribbon | Classic Weave Ribbon
Linen Thread | Jingle Bells

A Paper Pumpkin Thing Blog Hop

Good news alert ... I am thrilled to be stampin' and creating with some amazing paper crafters in the "A Paper Pumpkin Thing" Blog Hop.  If you're a Paper Pumpkin subscriber and love to find alternative ideas featuring elements of the monthly kits then this is just for you.  Hop along with the team for lots of inspiration.

I will say that the tags designed for this Winter Gifts kit are super SUPER impressive.  All the bits and pieces captivated my creative mojo.  I had fun decorating boxes, making cards, and putting together tags--this kit is GREAT!

My first idea for an alternative spin on this kit was to use two tags to create a belly band around a pillow box.  I scored the bottom of one tag 1/4" and folded it back.  With the second tag I trimmed off 1/4" and glued the two together to make one long strip.  Then I simply wrapped the strip around the pillow box and glued the tops together.

For the bow I used the green twill and the silver cord from the kit along with some leftovers on my stamp table.  Layer a handful of ribbon strips and tie tight with the cord and there you have what I call a junque bow.

To make this card I used a half sheet of Crumb Cake to make a top fold card base.  I splattered Whisper White Ink and Wink of Stella for a quick background to set the stage for the sled.  Can I say this sled is my favorite piece in this kit?

So, I have to ask, did you find the angel hair in your kit?  If you pull the inner threads from the silver cord you will find these wispy-delicate pieces you can include on your projects to add an angelic texture.

I grabbed a Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Blend to color the white sequins in the kit to make the berries.

This card includes a half sheet of Old Olive cardstock to make a side fold card base.  I splattered it just like the first card I shared.  And like the gold pizza box I added more of the inner threads for a special touch.

There is lots more Christmas Gifts Alternatives coming up.  Be sure to hop through all the stops for lots of inspiring ideas featuring the latest Paper Pumpkin Kit.

#TGIF239 Dry Embossed Vellum

Hey folks I'm glad you're here checking out my latest post.  Today's creation is all about featuring dry embossing on vellum which just happens to be the current challenge at #TGIF239.

I started with a quarter sheet of Vellum Cardstock which I embossed with the Stylish Scroll Folder. Next, I grabbed a Sponge Roller Brayer to add ink to the back side of the textured vellum.  My ink colors include Seaside Spray, Bermuda Bay, Pacific Point, and Night of Navy which I blended in a stylish ombre fashion.

I went for texture on texture when adding the focal and finishing pieces for this card.  For the oval frame I used the Woven Heirlooms Bundle to get the cut and embossing.  Then, Ice Glitter and Snowflake Sequins were perfect additions to make it a shaker card for cool moving texture.  And last, I spritzed Frost White Shimmer Paint all over for sparkling texture. 

I have to say I love the blue Noble Peacock Foil Paper reindeer.  He's so charming and he wears the "merry and bright" bulbs with total style.  It's a bit tricky to see but each of the bulbs has a Holiday Rhinstone on top of the Night of Navy Sahara Sand Baker's Twine.  For the twine I only used the navy strands which I pulled apart from the Sahara Sand.

A Blue Fancy Friday Christmas

It's a Blue Christmas here with Fancy Friday!  To be more specific, it's a Blueberry Bushel Christmas. My very most favorite blue Stampin' Up! color is Blueberry Bushel.  While it's a deep, rich, dark tone it's also bright and vivid making it an ultra versatile hue of blue.

I was busy making Christmas cards featuring the Let it Snow Specialty Designer Series Paper. When I saw how these winter prints looked so cheerful and awesome layered on Blueberry Bushel I continued to pump up the bright blue color theme with ribbons, die cuts, sparkle, and shine.

One of the absolute best sets of dies in the Annual Catalog is the Word Wishes Set.  There are lots of holidays represented in the set and they are sized just right--not too large and not too small.  For this card, to get the shiny look on the "Merry Christmas" Word Wishes greeting I added a smooth layer of Fine Tip Glue.  When dry it looks so fancy!

The dimensional details on this last card make it extra special.  While it's pretty flat and mailable it's not lacking in visual texture and layers.  The scarf, the fussy cut hat, and the ribbon tie all help to balance the sparkling die cut layered greeting.

There's lots more Blue Christmas inspired hand stamped projects coming your way.  Next along the hop is the ultra clever and talented Cindy Schuster at Nutmeg Creations.

Product List

Stamp Sets:  Snowman Season

Punches:  Snowman Builder, Tag Topper

Dies:  Word Wishes, Beautiful Boughs, Layering Ovals, and Stitched Rectangle

Cardstocks/Paper:  Blueberry Bushel, Whisper White, Red Glimmer, Silver Glimmer, and Basic Black Cardstocks along with Let It Snow Specialty Designer Series Paper

Inks:  Black Staz On

Accessories:  Let It Snow Embellishement Kit, Real Red Curly Ribbon, Seaside Spray Metallic Ribbon, White Baker's Twine, Nature's Poem Twine, and Fine Tip Glue

Hand Stamped Sentiments Christmas

The inspiration board challenge below is being hosted by Hand Stamped Sentiments.  I saw tons and tons of ideas in my mind when studying each of the individual images and had all kinds of ideas.  In the end I chose the thought of Santa and giving gifts, the pom poms, and the winter greenery boughs along with the ornaments. 

Giving gifts that are wrapped with style and detail brings me tons of joy.   I have said it before in holiday blog posts that I "love giving presence to presents!"  These presents are preened with pretty pieces in a pleasing plaid palette that playfully parade persons of snow. ;0)

I enjoy the "semi-homage" creative approach.  For these gifts I found plaid zippered cosmetic/jewelry pouches in the Dollar Spot at Target.  They came with a fur ball embellishment on the zipper which we begging to be enhanced with even more cute details. 

All added supplies are from Stampin' Up! current and past catalogs which include:

• Snowman Season Stamp Set & Snowman Builder Punch
• Let It Snow Embellishment Kit
• Buffalo Plaid Stamp
• Basic Black, Whisper White, & Real Read Cardstocks
• Black Staz On Ink
• Red Rhinestones
• Stitched Nesting Labels Dies
• Layering Circles Dies
• Real Red Curly Ribbon
• Cherry Cobbler Diagonal Stripe Ribbon
• Retired Real Red Baker's Twine, Black Crochet Trim, Ornament Baubles, and Green Sprigs

Let It Snow for Monday Montage

Talk about cute!  This card is charming, adorable, spunky, playful--it's all that and it makes me smile.

So, I mixed quite a few die cut sets for this card.  It used to be that I tried to create cards that made business sense.  Meaning one stamp set or bundle to keep tools and accessories at a minimum to be able to sell the stamps and things to make the card.  Now, I use whatever the heck I want.

For this card I used three die cut sets and a punch to include:  Stitched Nesting Labels Dies, Layering Circles Dies, the Snowman Builder Punch, and the Artis and Crafts Dies.

I get a kick out of adding the unexpected.  The button chain die cuts are a total departure from the typical list of elements for a Let It Snow kind of card.  I am loving how the buttons are a riff on snow but relate to "button eyes made out of coal" or "button up its cold..."

Get ready for a bit more inspiration from Melissa Stout, the Stamp Doc!

to Cheryl

to Melissa

Monday Montage Hoppers

Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts

Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs

Charlet Mallett - Painted Orange

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run

Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc

Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations