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

#TGIF237 Takes a Right Turn

Howdy friends!  Is today a craft day for you?  Do you need a creative boost to your stampin'?  Here's a sketch for you from #TGIF237 to get your imagination flowing.  

This is a basic sketch that offers tons of possibilities for designing just about anything.  I chose to turn the layout to a vertical orientation to best fit my card elements.  

My process was that I had the pattern paper layers glued together and all my other pieces planned and cut.  I manipulated them in a variety of positions and finally decided the most effective placement for everything was up and down rather than side to side in a horizontal format.

A super cool detail included is the spotted texture on the deer.  To achieve the look I brayered the Snowfall Accents Puff Paint on a piece of Crumb Cake Cardstock.  Next, I heat set the puff paint which gave the paper a thin-thin layer of subtle texture.  I wasn't totally thrilled with that so I brayered another layer and even pounced the sponge brayer back and forth.  Then I heat set that layer and was much more impressed with the look.  Last, I cut the deer shape.

Beautiful Boughs and Stripes

Try creating with a mix of traditional and modern colors for a spirited and fresh holiday charm.  Combine aqua, red, and green, or in Stampin' Up! terminology, Coastal Cabana, Real Red, and Shaded Spruce for your very next project then you could join us as Hand Stamped Sentiments.

Just take a look at these Christmas cards and tag that I made using these great colors.

This first card showcases the awesome Beautiful Boughs and Merry Christmas Dies.  Setting the tone for the diecuts is a panel of striped Let it Snow Specialty DSP.

This cute tag and second card also feature the Let it Snow Specialty DSP.

Monday Montage Pretty with Pink

I am so glad you are here and checking out this Monday Montage Blog Hop.  Today I thought I would share a Christmas card I made a few days back featuring the Beautiful Boughs Dies.

I love this card!  Every now and again I make something that just turns out extra special.  This is one of those moments.  In real life this card is gorgeous.  The embossed vanilla background shimmers and Blushing Bride pink tone enhances the beauty of it all.

Things I used to make this card include the Winter Woods Stamp Set for the greeting, Beautiful Boughs Dies for the cut pieces, Stylish Scroll Embossing Folder for the background, White Embossing Powder to add snow to the pinecones, Holiday Rhinesone Basic Jewels for the reds berries (super pretty in person), and Ice Glitter for the tips of the boughs.

to Cheryl

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