Merry Monday #279 {Season's Greetings}

Christmas two days in a row? You betcha! I'm sharing my card for this week's Merry Monday Christmas Challenge! It combines some of my favorite techniques; gold embossing paired with watercoloring. I love the way the color pools up in each of the raised embossed "cells" if you will. 

This week, JoAnn has asked us to create a Christmas card using a poinsettia. I have been dying to use this Botanical Blocks IV stamp set and it works perfectly for this week's challenge! There are some lovely samples on the challenge blog today, so I hope you'll head over to check them out. (link at top)

I found this beautiful pattern paper at Hobby Lobby the other day, so I was super excited to use it on today's design. To begin, I heat embossed the botanical block image onto a piece of Strathmore cold pressed watercolor paper and then heat embossed it using Antique Gold embossing powder. Once that was done, I got to work watercoloring it using regular dye inks. I chose to use those rather than watercolors, because I was in a time crunch and didn't have time to mix colors.

I took all of my color cues for the watercoloring from the pretty pattern paper. I also added some Wink of Stella over the Poinsettia petals and leaves for some sparkle.

The sentiment is heat embossed in the same gold and then foam mounted on top of the focal piece. A few sparkling clear sequins finish it off! Thanks for fluttering by!

Keeping Christmas {The Sweetest Christmas}

Welcome to this month's installment of the Keeping Christmas Blog Hop! Grab a cuppa and relax as we hop along for some fabulous Christmas inspiration!

Kelly Lunceford

Lesley Croghan

Anita Madden

Broni Holcombe

Claire Broadwater

Julee Tilman

Kim Heggins

Lori Tecler

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth

Vicki Finger

I'm sharing a project today that is a little unconventional, only in the fact that it isn't actually finished. Let me explain. Last year, before I decided to start my monthly Keeping Christmas series, I had put together a project that really was a lifesaver this past holiday season. I had created a set of 6 boxes and coordinating tags that would be stored flat and unassembled until I needed them. I was able to quickly put them together when I needed them, which ended up being a last minute treat box for the secretaries at my boys' school. I decided to make a new set of boxes this year.

All of the supplies I am using for today's project are from Papertrey Ink and I will link the supplies that I use throughout the post. To begin, I created the coordinating tags. I stamped them onto Stamper's Select White cardstock using Pure Poppy Ink for the red portion and Palette Noir ink for the "sweetest Christmas" sentiment. I used the Candy Cane Christmas stamp set and coordinating dies for this project. Once they were all stamped, I used a circle punch to cut them and then a circle die to cut out the larger pink circle. Before I assembled the two circles together, I added an eyelet and some Pure Poppy Baker's Twine. When I was organizing my studio, I realized just how many eyelets I own and these tags are the perfect place to use them! I just love how they give the tags a polished look.

As much as I love getting two boxes from one piece of cardstock, it just isn't possible with a box of this size. The front panel is 3 3/4 inch with the sides measuring 1 1/2.  You can see here that I have them all scored, folded and cut. I also added some ScorTape on the edges and bottom so that I don't even have to fuss with that when I am ready to put them together. I will only need to remove the backing on the tape and assemble them. The base of the box is made using Kraft cardstock and the die cuts are mounted onto a piece of Pure Poppy cardstock that has been die cut using the Mix and Mat Scallops Die. 

I did all of my cutting first and then got to work stamping all of the images. I added the white steam and peppermint stripe along the bottom BEFORE I adhered the cups using Fresh Snow ink. The other little peppermint twists stamped in white, were added after everything else for proper placement.

I bought the cello bags, and the ribbon so that they will be ready to go! There's nothing worse then getting ready to put a project together and realize that you don't have the right supplies!

Since everything is flat, it is really easy just to slip it all into a ziploc bag for protection and to keep all of the little pieces together! I hope you enjoyed this project and thanks for fluttering by!

ETA: Here is a sketch of how to create your own box! Once you have it scored, cut the vertical black lines at the bottom up to the solid horizontal line so you can assemble the box. Remove the small piece just under the side tab that I X-ed out.

Color Throwdown #481 and SFYTT {Baby, it's Cold Outside!}

We're having the most beautiful snowstorm today and I couldn't be happier! The roads were okay when I took the boys to school and I've been able to just be home getting things done around the house. I was itching to get inky with this week's Color Throwdown Challenge as well as try this month's Reverse Confetti SFYTT. I was, much to my surprise, last month's winner, so I was able to get this adorable Happy Winter set and coordinating Confetti Cuts! Thank you so much, Reverse Confetti! Now...disclaimer here...I DID  use purple ink...I promise! It just looks very pink in the pictures for some reason. I used Wine Ink for the blended background as well as on the two hats. I also added in some old SU! Pale Plum ink as well.

I really love this color combination and I REALLY like it for this winter card! I don't think I normally would have thought of these particular hues for a card like this, but I do! If it wasn't for the new stamp set, the current SFYTT and the current Color Throwdown, I definitely would not HAVE made this card!

To begin,I set out blending some Wine Ink onto a panel of Bristol paper for a nice smooth blend. I wanted it to have an Ombre look, so I softened it at the bottom and added in some of the lighter purple. Do you like how I layed out the ink? LOL! I just couldn't resist making it look like the sketch! After I liked how it was blended, I spritzed it heavily with Frost Shimmer Spray. Once it was dry, I dry embossed it using THIS embossing folder for some fun texture! I thought it would work nicely with all of the images from the Happy Winter stamp set.

Next, I got to work on the hats! Aren't they adorable? I love how you can mix and match all of the fun pieces! I chose one with a pattern and one with a sentiment. I then decided that I'd probably better add a square, ha ha! I layered the knit image onto a square of Dark Roast cardstock. The image running down the left side as well as this knit piece are embossed using Wow! Puff powder for maximum snowy effect!

I cut off just enough of the blended piece so that you could see the embossed detail on the left side. I matted this entire piece onto a base of Dark Roast cardstock as well. I just love these colors together, but I think I already mentioned that!

As you can see, I definitely took a few liberties in the sketch...as I always seem too! I also added a few sequins for some added shine! Thanks for fluttering by!

Mix it Up Challenge #40 {Congratulations}

Thanks for joining me today! I'm sharing a sweet card I made using this month's Mix it Up challenge over on the SugarPea Designs Blog! I couldn't wait to use some of the new products from the Winter release last week! Did you place your order? I hope so, because there are SO many must-haves for every stamper! I have an annoying habit of NEEDING to play with both sides of the challenge! LOL! I feel it really stretches me as a designer and I want to be "all in" so to speak! Ha ha! And...to be honest, both sides are pretty awesome!

For my card, I used the newly released Topiary Garden and the coordinating dies. I just love how these topiaries look popped up for maximum detail and effect. All of my color cues are from the inspiration photo. I probably would NEVER have come up with this card if it wasn't for the challenge, which is why I love them so much! I also used the Large Stripes Coverplate as well as the new Card Front Element Builders. The patter papers are from the ever-useful Spots and stripes Pastel paper pad.

This card proved VERY difficult to photograph for some reason, but I did my best. I literally took gobs of pictures with different light, but they all looked pale and washed out. Must be something in the air! LOL!This was super fun to create and I hope you get a chance to join us this month!

Tuesday Ideas {that moment}

 I'm over on the Precious Remembrance Shop Blog today sharing this fun card! If you're interested in how I made it, head there for all of the details! I created it for the photographer who took my daughter's head shots and performance photographs while she was in The Nutcracker this past Christmas season! She did such a beautiful job! I so wish that I could share some of them here, but of course they are copyrighted! 

I incorporated a lot of fun details, like the film strip stamped on acetate as well as the shrinky dink images. The two sets that I used are Journey Stamp set and Daily Thoughts. I love how they complement each other!

It is such a fun way to incorporate many larger images onto a design that you otherwise wouldn't be able to! Thanks for fluttering by!

Merry Moday #278 O'Tannenbaum, O'Tannenbaum

O'Tannenbaum, O'Tannebaum...how lovely are your branches! Welcome to this week's Merry Monday Christmas Challenge! I had so much fun putting this card together, pulling in little bits of this and that!

This week Debbie has challenged us to create a card using this inspiration photo! It is a visual treat jam packed with little bits of inspiration here and there! My mind was racing with the possibilities, but really, I don't have any dog images, I had recen used a wreath,etc. etc. So...I just decided to focus on the fabulous Christmas tree that is front and center! I chose to use the traditional red and green color scheme that is used in the photo as well.

I used this same "seed packet" idea for one of my Keeping Christmas projects from last year that you can see HERE. The funny part is that when I made those tags, it was because I had been wanting to make a card using the "Christmas Tree seeds" idea. Now...here I am making a card based off of my tags! I guess it all comes full circle sometimes! All of the stamps and ink for this project are from Papertrey Ink with the exception of the Always Artichoke ink that I added around the edges of some of the foliage.

To begin, I got to work creating the tag portion of the card. I die cut the seed packet piece using the Garden Variety stamp set and the coordinating seed packet die. The Christmas tree image that I used is from the O'Tannenbaum stamp set and is one of my favorites! The tree, and most of the foliage is stamped using Simply Chartreuse Ink and the berries and pot are stamped using Pure Poppy Ink. After I was done making the seed packet portion of the card, I got to work making a bundle of greenery from the Spruce and Sprigs stamp set and then die cut them using the coordinating dies.

While I was organizing my craft area for THIS challenge over at Papertrey Ink, I found this old Christmas paper that I thought would work nicely for this card. I don't remember the manufacturer, however. I layered it onto a Kraft card base and then layered all of the greenery underneath the seed packet focal piece. I also added a bow of red baker's twine and a gold jingle bell to accent the "O' Tannenbaum sentiment strips. I didn't intend to add both of them but as I was deciding which color strip to use, I ended up liking both of them! And...the song does say it twice in a row! LOL! They are both stamped using Versamark ink and then embossed using gold powder. One is Kraft and the other is Ripe Avocado cardstock. Our numbers were small last week,so I urge you to play along with us if you get a chance this week! It really does make the holidays less stressful when you've made a beautiful stack of handmade cards all through the year! Thanks for fluttering by!

SugarPea Designs February release Day 5

Well friends, we've reached day 5 which means this is the last day of the release! I have had so much fun and I LOVE today's set! It is called Better Together and it is beyond adorable! 

As you can see, there is an awesome new Coverplate called Diagonal Striped CoverPlate, which I didn't get a chance to use, but rest assured, it will definitely be getting a workout soon!

I made two cards using this new set, because I just love the Peanut Butter & Jelly AND the cookies and Milk! How could I have chosen? LOL! The peanut butter and jelly sample is below. I also used the new Cardfront Element Builder as well, because they are just too fun!

I gave this little number to my sweet little 6 year old for Valentine's Day! He absolutely LOVES peanut butter and jelly and I knew he would love it! I hope you've enjoyed this fun week of peeks and don't forget to head over to the SHOP tonight at 6:00 pm EST to grab all of your favorites! You better hurry, too, because I have a feeling that some of these won't last long! Thanks for fluttering by!

SugarPea Designs February release Day 4

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day! I sure did! Today is Day 4 of the SugarPea Designs winter release! I hope you are loving this release as much as I am! I was positively giddy when I saw this Topiary Garden stamp set! I LOVE all of the coordinating sentiments! This is definitely going to be a new go-to set!

Make sure to check out what the other designers have created for this amazing set!

Amy Kolling

Amy Rohl
Amy Tsuruta
Ardyth Percy-Robb
Becky Pearce
Lea Lawson
Kelly Lunceford (you are here)
Kerin Sylvester
Stéphanie Beauchemin
Vera Yates

Guests:

Lexa Levana
Raluca Vezeteu

As soon as I saw this set, I knew that I HAD to create a front door design! I was even more thrilled to see how the heart topiary translated beautifully into a wreath as well! The sentiment is the door mat! I also was able to incorporate the Card Front Element Builder SugarCuts as well. I just love how sweet the scallops look paired with these topiaries.

I decided to make a second card as well, because I knew that I could create a cute background with a few of the images. To begin, I cut the white paper and then used the Card Front Element Builders AGAIN...surprise, surprise! I used the same cut for the pink paper. 

After they were cut, I was able to easily stamp the background. I also used the same elements to create an actual topiary using the stamps and coordinating SugarCuts. I just love how it looks popped up on the card!

The finishing touch is a few sequins surrounding the sentiment, which I am in love with! I have some fun ideas for lots of projects with this set! Eep! I can't wait! Thanks for fluttering by!