#TGIF397 All Things Bright and Bold

#TGIF397 Give it a try. Try mixing vibrant bold colors; it's like a punch to the senses to see these Christmas cuties. The impetus for this trio is the Celebrate Everything DSP. It's the host paper from the July-December Mini Catalog and I LOVE IT.

For this card I used both clashing reds by mixing Real Red and Poppy Parade along with Granny Apple Green and Shaded Spruce. This palette is an explosion of happiness. All three cards feature the Merriest Moments Stamp Set and matching Dies. I also pulled in Fabulous Frames and Stylish Shapes Dies.

I love how the Sweet Sorbet twine bow lends a final finishing touch to the card. Did you notice the background? I used the Whimsical Trees 3D Embossing Folder and a sanding block. It's a cool effect when you sand the raised edges of a design to reveal the white core of the paper.

This card used the same products as the first. This time I added a some Basic Black Cardstock for the greeting to give it a good pop and to allow a place for the "eye to rest."

Now buckle up because this third card is like eating a handful of sour candies! On a card base of Pacific Point I adhered a panel of Pool Party and Pacific Point chevron patterned DSP (from the Celebrate Everything pack). Next are the two largest dies from the Merriest Frames Hybrid Embossing Dies cut from a layer of Granny Apple DSP on top of Shaded Spruce DSP. I think that was a crazy bold move to layer those three patterns but it somehow worked.

Bringing it all together is the Basic Black panel for the greeting and a zig zag of ribbon to soften the arrangement of focal elements.

Night in Bethlehem

Do you enjoy inspiration board challenges? I do as there is usually lots from which to choose and be inspired by for a new hand-stamped project. I'm positive you can tell which image was the inspiration for my Christmas card that I'm sharing today.

Are you wondering what stamp set I have used? I pulled out a retired stamp set and dies and gave them a revisit. The stamps are called Night in Bethlehem and the dies are called Bethlehem Edgelits. Do you remember that bundle?

In keeping with the mood set by the inspiration board scene, I created a starry sky background paper. I started with Balmy Blue cardstock which I stamped a large greeting from the stamp set with Versamark and then heat embossed with clear powder. Next, I blended on Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape, Pacific Point, and Night of Navy Inks. Water, Whisper White Ink, and Wink of Stella Splatters fill the inked background and last once everything was dry I die cut the piece with one of the Stitched Rectangles.

With the Bethlehem Dies I cut two of the colors from the Silver Foils Specialty Pack. The front die cut was dry embossed with the Timeworn Type 3D Folder.

#TGIF396 Peaceful Deer Tags

Dear, moose, elk... all those large beautiful animals remind me of winter. This inspiration challenge at #TGIF396 includes lots of wintery and icon Christmas images. I like making tags for Christmas, infact I have made more than 50 this season.

All of these tags are made with the same products. I used the following SU! products:

• Peaceful Deer Stamp Set
• Deer Builder Punch
• Wintry 3D Embossing Folder
• Celebrate Everything DSP
• Stylish Shapes Dies
• Basic White, Pool Party, Sweet Sorbet, Tahitian Tide, Granny Apple Green, & Basic Black Cardstocks
• Versamark, Granny Apple Green, Pacific Point, Polished Pink, and Tuxedo Black Memento Inks
• Iridescent Trim
• In Color Baker's Twine
• Simply Elegant Trim

Scroll down and take a closer look at each tag.

#TGIF395

#TGIF395 is totally cool. It's all about "chillin' with my gnomies." Isn't that fun? I've made a couple Christmas tags which feature the Storybook Gnomes DSP along with greetings from the Peaceful Deer Stamp Set.

I started by cutting Basic White tags that measure 2 3/4" x 5 1/2". Next, and used the Very Best Trio Punch to shape the strips into tags. Then I fussy cut images from the Storybook Gnomes DSP while I cranked up some Christmas music. I also cut snowflakes using the Chic Dies along with circles and banners from Stylish Shapes Dies. Once I had all my elements I then played around with arranging the items into fun groupings.

I used a mix of three trims for both tags. A bit of Iridescent Trim, Starry Sky Metallic Woven Ribbon, and White Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon which I colored with a Balmy Blue Stampin' Blend.

Great Christmas Colors

Our newest color challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments is all about cool traditional Christmas tones. Of course they don't have to be for the holidays, you could stamp whatever you desire, for me it sings Christmas so that's what I created. I've made three projects here all that feature the Boughs of Holly Suite form the July-December Mini Catalog.

These three hand-stamped projects were made with the Boughs of Holly Suite Collection and the Stylish Shapes Dies.

Our Final Day of 7 Days of Christmas

It's our last day of #sevendaysofchristmas and I am sharing a favorite card I made a while back. I cased a fabulous card by Cindy Schuster. Her card was totally my muse for this one.

My favorite part of the card to create was the background. I blending Shaded Spruce and Evening Evergreen Inks on a panel of Shaded Spruce. Next I splattered plain water, Whisper White Ink, and Wink of Stella. For the main images I used the Leaves of Holly Stamp Set and Holly Berry Dies.

Homey Greeting Cards for Day 6 of 7 Days of Christmas

It's day six of #sevendaysofchristmas and I am giving you a look at two cards created using the Ringed with Nature Bundle.  The first includes a piece of the Gingham Cottage DSP and the second has a layer of Rings of Love DSP from Sale-a-bration.