The Price is Right

It has all been about Christmas for the past few months which is a great thing, but I am in the mood to stamp and create projects that are not red and green or cherry and artichoke.  Where I live there are still trees dropping their fall leaves and right next to those trees are trees with budding blossoms, go figure.  To really put a spin on that, it's raining and super windy.  So, is it fall, winter, or spring?  With that in mind I am in the mood to bust out bright and cheery colors of spring.

I love the color palette and layout of this card.  It is soft and bright at the same time.  I do not normally mix designer series papers, but in this case I did.  A small piece of Greenhouse Gala is layered over a textured piece of Newsprint.  Not only have I used two different packs of dsp, but I also used three different Big Shot products.  Now that I look at the card I used three stamps sets.  How much did this card cost to make?  We should make this a guessing game.  Who can be the first to give the correct US price is the winner of a brand new car(d)!!!  Leave a guess in the comments.

A Perfect Pairing

I just got a new stamp set and it's a good one.  I really like greeting stamp sets and this set, You're A Gem, is new in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  In thinking about what I wanted to do with this greeting image which says "Queen for a Day" I new exactly what I wanted to pair it with.  What better stamp to set the saying off but the single stamp called Elizabeth.  Do you get where my brain went?

I made a crinkly flower using a series of different size punches to punch out scallops from the new First Edition encyclopedia designer series papers.  These papers are lightweight and super cool.  You get 24 pieces of 12" x 12" double-sided papers.  For the ribbon detail I cut the striped grosgrain down the middle to give it a distressed finish.  One of my latest favorites is linen thread.  I seem to be adding it to everything I make.  At the very end of finishing my card I couldn't help myself, but I just had to spritz the card with shimmer paint.

 

All supplies are from Stampin' Up!

• Elizabeth & You're A Gem stamps
• Very Vanilla, Basic Black, and Brushed Gold cardstocks
• First Edition dsp
• Crumb Cake and Black Staz On inks
• Linen Thread
• 1 1/4" Black Striped grosgrain ribbon
• 2 3/8" and 1 3/4" Scallop Circle punches
• 1 3/8" Circle punch
• Scallop Oval punch
• 1 3/4 x 7/8" Large Oval punch
• Antique Brads
• Champagne Shimmer Paint (mixed with rubbing alcohol)

One Last Ornament

 This is another ornament I made using the Top Note die to cut out a piece of balsa wood.  Check my earlier post for directions.  To decorate this ornament I used a piece of the Join in the Cheer die and covered it with glass glitter.  I used the Peaceful Season stamp set and Always Artichoke seam binding to make it super special.

In CASE You Didn't Notice

It's a card CASE straight from the Stampin' UP! Holiday Mini catalog.  With time being so precious during the holiday season a great time saver is to case or copy cards you like.  This one is a copy of colors, layout, and stamp set.

Jolly Old Man

This Jolly Old Man card was made by my good friend Julie B.  I think this bright and cheery masterpiece is a great Christmas card.  You have to study this card as there are several subtle details.  Glitter fills Santa's fur hat band, a special touch on the edge of the greeting plus a bit of red bling, and rosey cheeks all combine to take this card to max.  May I say thanks and happy birthday to Julie B. and cheers to all of you.  Enjoy this last week before the big day.

A Total Beauty

While this tag is small, it's packed full of beauty.  Beauty tips that I'm goin' to share.  My first tip is to use at least two inks on a greeting to create depth, focus, and interest.  To make the inking up quick and easy I first use a pad (lighter color) to ink up the entire image.  Then I use a brush marker in a darker color to swipe a bit of ink here and there. 

My second beauty tip is festive and a great addition to dress up a holiday tag or card.  Just use a scrap of designer series paper to make a ruffly paper ribbon.  I crimp the paper over and over in any direction which makes the paper soft and easy to ruffle.  To secure my paper ribbon ruffle I use a piece of sticky strip.  My third beauty tip is a quick spritz of shimmer paint and a few spots of dazzling diamonds glitter.  The tip with the glitter is, less is more.

Card Indulgence

Have you ever made a card and just took your time having fun and enjoying the process?  That was me last night.  I really really liked the Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge this week so I thought I would make a card.  It has been a while since I have made a card just for the thrill of making a card.  While this is a Christmas card, this is not a design to mass produce--too much fussy cutting.  To steer my ideas which were all over the place I decided to use this week's Mojo Monday layout.

I stamped my focal point on Shimmer White cardstock for two reasons.  One because I love the shimmer and two because that cardstock holds up well with watercoloring.  After I finished painting the pointsettias I painstakingly cut out the image.

I am drawn to using at least two colors on stamps.  It creates dimension and interest

There is a bit of glass glitter in the centers of the pointsettias

At the end I felt the card was not balanced so I added the piece of Gold Cardstock punched with the Decorative Label punch.  I tucked it under the focal panel and was then happy with the balance.   

Stampin' Up! supplies:

Bells and Boughs Stamp Set

Deck the Halls Designer Series Paper

Brushed Gold, Shimmer White, and Blushing Bride Cardstocks

Black Staz On Ink,

Blushing Bride, Pretty in Pink, Pear Pizzaz, Crumb Cake, and Old Olive Classic Inks

Aquapainter

Champagne Glass Glitter

Basic Pearls

Always Artichoke Seam Binding

Decorative Label Punch

Mistletoe Home Decor

I really, really enjoy coming up with projects which highlight the Decor Element line of Stampin' Up! products.  Just take a look at this Christmas beauty.  

I found an old frame in my garage which was almost the perfect size for the Mistletoe Decor Element.  Because the size of the frame was larger than what I wanted it forced me to figure a way to make it work.  Sure I could have gone out and bought a new frame and glass, but I was feelin' cheap.  Anyway, I decided to add the ribbon and star detail.  It makes things more interesting to me when dimension is included--and this has it.

The five-point star is definitely a highlight for me.  It is colorful and very "punchy" in person.  In fact, these photos do not do this piece justice.  The only thing inside the frame/under the glass is Silver Waffle Paper.  I had to do two rows of it, but because I kept the crinkle and added a bit more scrunch you can't even tell where the seam is--I am good ;0) 

What do you think of the added bits of bling?  There are two Candy Cane Big Buttons wrapped with Silver Tinsel that make me smile.

Enjoy making all of your holiday decor.

Tag or Ornament?

This Christmas project can either be a tag or an ornament.  I used a piece of balsa wood to make this project nice a sturdy.  I cut two Top Note pieces with my Big Shot; one from Deck the Halls dsp and one from balsa wood.  I used the balsa wood so I had a sturdy base to run silver tinsel around.  First, I edged the balsa wood Top Note with sticky strip and then I carefully ran the tinsel around the entire piece.  Once that was done I covered all the not so pretty parts, what I call the "mechanics," with the Deck the Halls Top Note.  I had a few scraps of Deck the Halls fabric on my stamp table so I used my Big Shot to cut a few scallop circles to make a flower.  I got them wet to easily fray up the edges and to give the flower more depth.  A small Antique Brad gives a center to the flower.  I also got the Vanilla Seam Binding wet to crinkle and distress the ribbon.

Wreath Tutorial PDF for Sale

I have a beautiful step by step tutorial for the paper cone wreath for sale.  Purchase the pdf for $5 by clicking on the paypal link below,

or get it for FREE.

That's right place an online order with me for $50 between now and December 25th and get the tutorial for FREE.

Star of Wonder, Star of Deck the Halls Fabric

 

This beautiful dimensional star ornament is super, super cool in person.  I used the Deck the Halls fabric, but to give it stability I backed all the pieces with cardstock.  First I cut cardstock and fabric pieces the same size and then used the Sizzix adhesive sheets to bond the two together.  Then I cut the star pieces using the 5 Point Star Bigz die in my Big Shot.  Because I wanted the star to be two-sided I cut ten pieces, five for the front and five for the back.  The entire star is edged with clear tinsel.  That step was a royal pain in my back side!  I used two stars at the top of the ornament to cover my mechanics of how I added the holder loop.  That added touch is the thing that made me really like the entire project.  I repeated the glitter that I used on the top star around the edge of the tag.  A big button in the center really brings out the dimension of whole thing.  I wish you could see these (I made three) in person, they are really cool.

It's All in the Packaging

My favorite bit about this cute Christmas box is the tissue, and it's not even tissue.  I used the scallop square die to cut a piece of Candy Cane fabric to wrap my gift.  My tag is stamped with "A Cute Christmas" stamp set and the box is cut from the Party Favor Bigz XL die on my Big Shot.  From the Tasteful Trim Big XL die I cut a strip of striped Candy Cane dsp and ran it around the box. The hardest thing to do on this package was to get the pink ribbon through the button holes.  By the way I have gone through more than two packs of the big buttons.

The Belt Theory

I just adore this pillow box.  It makes for a gorgeous package or a Christmas tree ornament.  The belly band is a ruffled strip of Deck the Halls fabric.  Always Artichoke and Cherry Cobbler markers were used to ink up the holly stamp from the Peaceful Season stamp set.  Cherry Cobbler seam binding and Clear Tinsel detail the belly band.  And for the finishing touch a bitty pennant with a greeting from the Bright Christmas stamp set.  There is something about adding text to a project that just makes me think things look complete.  I call that the "belt" theory.  What's that?  Well here it is according to moi.  You don't always wear a belt to hold up your pants.  You wear it because it formalizes your appearance--well for me the same is true with a bit of text.

Seeing the Entire Collection

Take a peek at the rest of my Candy Cane designer series paper and fabric Christmas tree ornament collection.  You can check back to a few earlier posts to see a couple other ornaments that I had made for this tree by clicking here or here.

Another Candy Cane fabric ornament

An accordion medallion ornament finished with a big button

The perfect tree topper - a five point star made with Candy Cane DSP edged with Silver Glass Glitter

Why is it so hard to take a picture of a tree?  This is the perfect tree for a narrow space.  I wish you could see it as it sparkles with lots of tinsel, rhinestone bling, and glitter.

Paper Wreath

There were many who made wonderful comments about my wreath which was hung in our booth at the Sacramento Scrapbook Expo.  I used two packages of Deck the Halls dsp to finish this wreath.  I think there are about 92 paper cones.  I quickly cut the cones using the Scallop Square die in my Big Shot.  The banner is made with Brushed Gold cardstock which I distressed big time.  Champagne Glass Glitter edges the banner which for me adds an amazing touch.  I am offering kits for the wreath which will include a FREE tutorial for $47 plus shipping (US only).  Or, you can attend a class to make the wreath on Thursday, December 9th at 6:00 p.m. 

PDF tutorial for sale - click here to view the post

Special Details

We made this card at my last Technique Time! class.  This is one of those cards that is simple yet so, I mean soooo, pretty in person.  It has been blasted with champagne shimmer paint which makes it sparkle.  The Merry Christmas greeting tag on the card is my favorite image from the Bells and Boughs stamp set.  I added the tag after spritzing with the shimmer paint.  If you spritz vellum cardstock which has been stamped with Classic dye based ink it will bleed.  The center of the snowflake includes an antique brad which was wrapped with silver tinsel.  What do you think of this card?

Big BIG Stampin' Up! Sale

Click here to view the Spectacular Savings

This is so exciting, by clicking on the link above you can view the flyer.  By clicking here you can shop now right from your own home.  You will find the "Shop Now" button in the upper right corner of my website.  So you don't miss out, make sure to go to my online store and click "shop now" and save 30% to 40% to 50%. 

What a Deal!

Have you heard the word?  Well here is the scoop -- The Started Kit for joining Stampin' Up! is 50% off, but only for a short time, from right now until November 30, 2010.  You can purchase the Standard or Digital+ Starter Kits for only $87.50.  The regular price of $175 includes over $310 worth of paper or digital crafting and business supplies.  That's a lot of good stuff!

Email me today at ebeth9267@hotmail.com--and I'll answer any questions you have about being a hobby or business demonstrator.  This offer ends on November 30th at 11:59pm.

Candy Cane Ornaments - Part Two

I had mentioned in an earlier post that I would share more of my Candy Cane dsp, fabric, and big button inspired Christmas ornaments. In all I made about 45 ornaments to fill my six foot silver branch tree. I made three of the one I am showing today, one of each fabric pattern. What I did was to sandwich the Sizzix adhesive between a piece of cardstock and a piece of fabric. Once I did that I ran it through the Big Shot using the Candy Wrapper die. To add a bit of fluff I added the Merry tag embellished with the snowflake and bling.

Sleigh Ride

I didn't think I was a fan of the stamp set Merry Crittermas--but I am. Cute line art images are usually not my style, but every now and then I am drawn in by what others have done with them. My card was inspired by me very awesome friend, who is a fabulous stamper, Julie B. I am jazzed by the bright and fresh color combination of Real Red and Bashful Blue with touches of Pear Pizzaz. What is tricky to see is that the card base is on Shimmer White cardstock. That cardstock is the most gorgeous white paper on the planet. It is spendy, but worth it for Christmas and special occasions. The other detail that may not jump out at you is the shimmer paint that has been "buffed" on the snowflakes.

How Did You Do That?

I can't tell you how many people ask how I got the star inside the ornament. It was really simple--I just took off the topper, curled the arms of the star, and then popped it in. With a pencil I carefully uncurled the star and voila. The star was die cut using the Stars #2 die from Candy Cane designer series paper. The coordinating button is from the Holiday Mini Catalog. If you have not bought these big buttons, I say "get some, they are super fabulous." Another great must have item from the mini is the Silver Tinsel--it is very easy to work with and adds a great "wow" to your projects. Check back for more Candy Cane ornaments over the next few days.

Send in the Clowns

For the longest time I had a package of "nesting" paper mache boxes. I mean we're talking years, in fact I don't even remember where I bought them.  I do know I had the perfect plan for them, which I can't remember, but never got to it. But, last month while on our beach house vacation I finally found a cute use for them. I covered each of the boxes using the Candy Cane designer series paper from Stampin' Up! That was super easy to do, but they needed a focal point. So, I came up with the clown topper. The clear ball used for his head is a plastic ornament from Michaels (the topper is hiding in the hat). The red pom pom nose is also from Michaels, but the rest of the supplies used are from Stampin' Up!

Supplies for this project:
Candy Cane DSP
Candy Cane Big Designer Buttons
Candy Cane Christmas Designer Fabric
Silver Tinsel Trim
Silver Waffle Paper (top of the hat)
Basic Rhinestone Jewels
Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack
Blushing Bride & Basic Black cardstock (cheeks & eyes)

Bitty Buttons

Anywhere Gluestick
Hot Glue Gun

Final Inspection

Isn't this Candy Cane designer series paper inspired house the cutest? This house was in our booth in Sacramento and lots and lots of people had to pick it up and check it out. They were surprised to learn how easy they can be made with the Design-a-House kits from Stampin' Up! I wish all houses could come together and be finished as fast as these.

Last week we had our final inspection on our home. Hooray everything passed! I asked the inspector when our first inspection was and guess what........it was in February of 2004. It has taken almost eight years to add on 1000 square feet to our house. It has been worth the wait (although grout and a shower door in my bathroom would be nice--maybe I'll put that on my Christmas wish list).

Pretty in Pink

I think Christmas can wear pink really well. Who says it has to be red? This card is simply gorgeous. The stamp set from Stampin' Up! combined with pink, green, and kraft takes this card to the top of my "I love it" list. Thanks Julie B. for sharing it with me.

Supplies from Stampin' Up!
Peaceful Season stamp set
Pink Pirouette cardstock & marker
Garden Green cardstock & marker
Crumbo Cake cardstock
Scallop border punch
Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder
White 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon
Dazzling Diamonds glitter

Sacramento Scrapbook Expo Winner

And the winner of the $100 Stampin' Up! shopping spree is.............Betty W.

 

We had lots of fun this past weekend at the Sacramento Scrapbook Expo and we had an absolute great time chatting with paper craftersfrom all over Northern California. I was thrilled to hear how much people enjoyed looking at all the fabulous samples. There were four of us who have been busy making samples for the booth: Julie Beltramo from Hollister, Chari Brooks from Lincoln, Tami Waddell from Walnut Creek, and myself.