Keeping Christmas {Merry and Bright}

It's the 25th and that means it is time for this month's installment of the Keeping Christmas Blog Hop! Summer has almost slipped away which means that Christmas is definitely on its way! Once autumn arrives, the months seem festive and fun with all kinds of things to celebrate! I have a few simple projects to share with you today; just perfect for mass producing!

Before I get started sharing my projects, you'll also want to head to the other designers' blogs to see what they have created!

Kelly Lunceford 

Anita Madden 

Broni Holcombe 

Claire Broadwater 

Julee Tilman 

Kim Heggins

Lori Tecler

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth 

Vicki Finger 
Nancy Guse 

I recently purchased a new cable knit embossing folder and have been itching to use it. I pulled it out for today's set of 4 cards. Last month I toyed around with the idea of using this Merry and Bright die and die cut one and then set it aside. I decided to revisit the idea paired with the cable knit embossing folder. These cards were super easy to put together; I first embossed the 4 panels and layered them onto a piece of red and white striped paper from The Paper Studio that I picked up at Hobby Lobby last year. It measures 4 by 5 1/ 4 inches and the red piece is just a quarter inch smaller on each side.

I die cut the "Merry and Bright" piece out of True Black cardstock and layered it onto the card using a two way glue pen. On one of the cards I glued two die cuts together for a sturdier piece, but decided that it really didn't add too much, so I omitted that step on the other 3. 

I die cut the holly leaves and berries and glued those on with liquid glue. I also added some clear Nuvo drops to the center of each berry to give it some realistic dimension.

I spritzed the entire piece with Shimmer Spray to really make them "Merry and Bright"! LOL! I added each panel to a standard A2 Kraft cardbase.

My 2nd project is a quick pair of gift card holders using a few of my favorites! The Essentials Pillow Box die is always a quick way to make easy work of gift card holders. I love that I can store them flat until they are ready to be filled! I popped them up for photography sake, but they are now folded and tucked away ready for Christmas!

I didn't get my fill of this cute Fawn and Flora stamp set last year, so I decided to use it for these gift card holders.

I die cut the pillow boxes using some pattern paper from the Fairy Tale Christmas pattern paper collection. I love that you can buy the paper separately just in case you use up what came in the original Fairy Tale Christmas Make It Market kit. 

I adhered the boxes together using ScorTape and then placed the folded box in my MISTI to stamp the sentiments. Once that was done, I added the deer to the center of the box using foam squares. A few sequins finish these off! So super easy and quick, but they will look so cute under the tree! Thanks for fluttering by!

Saturday Showcase {Thankful}

My daughter came home from school the other day and said,"Mom, the house smells like fall!". Yes, indeed, it did! I had put a Rum Raisin Cookie Scentsy cube into the warmer! As much as I am loving these last few weeks of summer, I couldn't help myself by making my house smell like fall! Maybe it's partly because I'm out of summer scents! LOL! Anyway, for this week's Ink to Paper Saturday Showcase, a few of us are creating autumn inspired projects using the new Birdie stamp set.

I was so excited to incorporate so many of my new favorites from the August release. To begin this design, I die cut the branch twice out of Stamper's Select White cardstock using the Birdie die collection. I stamped one of them using Cocoa Bean ink and then glued them together using liquid glue. I wanted a nice sturdy piece that would give the card a bit of dimension as well. 

I also stamped a few of the leaves from the Lovely Leaves stamp set. Most of the larger leaf dies in the Lovely Leaves die collection are solid, so I die cut them first and then use my MISTI to stamp them. I stamped 5 leaves, but only ended up using 4. I added the vein image to three of the leaves, and left two without. I really like the look of the two together; one with veins and one without. 

Once the leaves were done, I heat embossed the "from the bottom of my heart" sentiment, which is from the new Inside Greetings: Gratitude stamp set, in gold on a double panel of Fresh Snow Linen cardstock. I doubled it up because it is thinner than regular cardstock and I didn't want it to warp during the embossing process. 

I die cut the "Thankful" word 3 times out of Canyon Clay cardstock and glued them together with liquid glue. 

Before I attached anything to the embossed panel, I blended some Spring Rain ink around the edges using a blending brush. I also spritzed some blue ink around the edges using a Color Spritzing Tool. At this point, I was able to get started adhering the rest of the stamped pieces. I added the branch first so that I could stamp the leaves here and there. I added the "thankful" word above the embossed sentiment and then added the large leaves using foam squares. I trimmed the edges of the large leaf at the bottom and the stems at the top, but I left the one on the right as is. I layered the entire panel onto a top folding A2 Canyon Clay cardbase using foam squares. 

I had a lot of fun putting this card together! Thanks for fluttering by!

Inspired By...Nautical Party {Welcome to the Neighborhood}

It's Thursday and that means it is time for a brand-new Inspired By Challenge! My card is actually doing double duty today; I'm over on the SugarPea Designs Blog sharing this card as well!

I was inspired by the mandala pattern plates, the color combination, the yellow striped table runner, and the lemons!

To begin this design, I spritzed the Spirograph Mandala stencil with Pixie Spray and pressed it onto a panel of white cardstock. I used a blending brush to blend the Chipped Sapphire Distress Oxide ink. Once that was done, I added a smooth layer of Nuvo Moonstone Glimmer Paste over the top. I carefully removed the stencil and set the piece aside to dry. I immediately washed my stencil and knife with soap and water.

The lemons are from the Tutti Fruitti stamp set. I die cut them first using the Tutti Fruitti SugarCuts and then stamped them in my mini MISTI. If a stamp has two steps, especially one like this with a leaf or stem, I find it is helpful for placement.

The lemons are adhered to a circle that was die cut using one of the elements from the Card Front Element Builder II using foam squares. I also die cut the "welcome" word using the Welcome SugarCut die three times and glued them together using liquid glue. I added them over the top of the lemons and then added a light coat of Crystal Glaze.

I stamped the "to the neighborhood" portion of the sentiment, which is from the Warm Welcome stamp set, in blue ink onto a white strip of cardstock. I used some fine point scissors to cut the notches at the ends. 

Once the stenciled panel was dry, I added it to another piece of white cardstock, leaving a small border. At this point, I was able to add all of the other elements of the card.

I die cut a piece of yellow and white striped paper from the Life is a Carnival Paper Pad using one of the dies from the Card Front Element Builder SugarCut. I was able to add all of this to a standard top folding A2 cardbase using  Tombow adhesive. The finishing touch is a trio of dew drop gems added with liquid glue. I had a lot of fun putting this card together using the inspiration photo. I hope you get a chance to join us this week! Thanks for fluttering by!

The Greetery August release day 3 {Blessings...Just for You}

Hello and welcome to day 3 of The Greetery's August release countdown! First of all, I want to thank you for all of your sweet comments on yesterday's post; you know how to make a girl's day! If you leave a comment today, you will be eligible for a chance to win a $50 dollar gift certificate as well. You can read all about the products that are being showcased today on The Greetery Blog. I am smitten with today's products just as much as yesterdays, so make sure you head to each of the designers' blogs to see how they have used them.

Kay Miller

Laurie Willison

 Dawn McVey

Heather Nichols

Keeway Tsao

Angelica Conrad

Lizzie Jones

Kelly Lunceford

Norine Borys

First up is a gorgeous new set called "Bottled Up" paired with the new "Budding Beauties Autumn"! These two sets are a match made in heaven! There is also a new set being showcased today called "Sentiment Suite: Thank You" which I accidentally used on yesterday's card! oops! Anyway, it is gorgeous and one of those "must haves" to complement any thank you card!

I couldn't resist pulling out the paper crimper once again for this card. It is such a simple addition but adds so much texture and dimension. I also did some ink blending around and ink splatters around the perimeter of the focal panel to bring in some color and detail.

For me, when I stamp the mason jar image and these bottles, I find it's easier to die cut the shapes first and then add the 3 step images. It helps give me a visual guide as to where to keep each of the edges of the images, if that makes sense. Also, you may feel that you need multiple colors of ink to achieve a dimensional and realistic looking bottle or jar, but in reality, you don't! Let me explain; many of you have probably incorporated or heard about "generation" stamping. This technique works amazingly well for these bottle images.

The brown bottle only uses one color of ink. I used my MISTI so that I could get the coverage and saturation that I needed to achieve the look that I was going for. The blue bottle DOES use two ink colors, but the 2nd and third step are the same color. The way "generation" stamping is done is by simply adding layer after layer of the same color to get a deeper and deeper color because of the saturation level. I hope that makes sense.

These bottles are holding clusters of wheat and Autumn berries. The Budding Beauties Autumn set also has a Bittersweet stem as well, which is a beautiful addition. I stamped one, but ended up by not using it because of balance and color. I love how the "Bottled Up" stamp set also includes a label and TONS of different sentiment combinations to make your cards unique and specific to the recipient. I also used one of the beautiful sentiments from the "Bountiful Wreath" stamp set that was showcased yesterday. I just love the beautiful font, which is no doubt, Betsy's gorgeous handwriting!

My second card features a fabulous new stencil set called "Mason Jar Fillers"! It is so much fun and so easy to use! It gives instant volume and depth to your projects using the Just Mason Around stamp set. It has this two step stencil that looks like Lavender to me as well as a 2 step stem and leaf ensemble that will be awesome as well. So, you get a total of 4 stencils in this new collection.

I wasn't quite ready to put the BotaniCuts Sunflower Dies away, and they are the perfect companion to the sprigs of stenciled Lavender! 

To begin this design, I cut a piece of white cardstock to 4 by 5 1/4 inches and then taped the "stem" portion of the stencil using Washi tape over the panel, placing it where you want your bouquet to be. I think I actually already had the jar all ready to go so that I could get a better visual for placement.

I blended in some green ink and then added the second stencil and blended in the purple. You could stencil over the jar as well so that you can see the stems down in the jar. I probably should have done this, but I was so excited to get my card put together I thought of doing that after the fact! LOL Oh well, I hope you get the idea!

I added some simple ink blending and ink splatters around the perimeter and then added the jar using foam squares. Once that was all done, I added the Sunflowers using foam squares for LOTS of dimension. 

I can't wait to try using these stencils with Glimmer Paste to have a sparkly flower bouquet! Wouldn't that be fun? I also added one of the new sentiments from the "Sentiment Suite: Thank you" stamp set which was die cut using the Sentiment Suite Basic Die. I was lucky enough to get these fabulous dies when I helped Betsy with the launch back in April! They are amazing and are tailored to coordinate perfectly with the Sentiment Suite collection! I hope you've enjoyed today's projects! I won't be participating in day 4 tomorrow, but you're going to love what is being showcased! Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win today's $50 gift certificate! Thanks for fluttering by!

The Greetery August release countdown {Gather and Give Thanks}

Eep! I'm so excited to be welcoming you all here for the 2nd day of The Greetery's August release countdown! I'm so thrilled to be a part of this amazing design team and to share the gorgeous products that Betsy has to offer! I had SO much fun working on these projects {despite the horrible back pain I am experiencing} and I can't wait to use them again and again! I know that all of these gorgeous stamps and dies will be the focus of many of my personal projects for years to come!

You'll want to head over to The Greetery Blog to read all about the new products being showcased today! Also, don't forget to stop by the other designers' blogs to see the unique and beautiful ways that they have used these products as well. And...one last thing before I dive into the details of my projects; The Greetery is offering a $50 gift certificate to one lucky blog commenter each day of the countdown, so make sure to leave a comment to be eligible to win! The winners will be announced the morning of the release!

Here are the list of designers in today's hop:

Kay Miller

Laurie Willison

 Dawn McVey

Heather Nichols

Keeway Tsao

Angelica Conrad

Lizzie Jones

Kelly Lunceford {you are here}

 

First up is a charming and delightful stamp and die set called "Harvest Home" which I am in love with! I used it for this first card paired with the previously released Botanicuts Sunflower Dies. I fell in love with the idea of this cute barn perched on the hill with a beautiful field of sunflowers down below! 

To begin this design, I die cut the leaves, barn, and silo and got to work stamping them. Once they were all done, I set them aside and die cut all of the pieces I needed for the sunflowers.

I chose three shades of yellow cardstock; one for each of the pieces of the flower portion. The centers are die cut from Kraft and dark brown cardstock. I used liquid glue and foam squares to assemble the flowers and leaves. I added some striations to the petals of the flowers using a light hand and a white gel pen.

I used a piece of Linen cardstock for the main panel and it measures 4 by 5 1/4 inches. I used some soft blue ink to blend around the edges to give some contrast and to hint at a blue sky. Once that was done, I used my mini MISTI and stamped the sentiment directly in the center of the panel.

After that came the assembly of the card using all of the stamped and die cut pieces. I love how this came together! The finishing touch is a few ink splatters around the edges using my color spritzing tool. I layered the entire linen panel onto a standard A2 top folding card base using foam squares for some added dimension. 

My second and final card for today's countdown showcases the new "Bountiful Wreath" stamp and die set and the previously released Just Mason Around stamp set and the coordinating Just Mason Around die collection. I purchased these as a "The Greetery customer" before I joined the design team and haven't had a chance to use them. How thrilled I was to be able to utilize this beautiful jar on today's project!

Yesterday, some of the team showcased this amazing "Halfsies Diamond Die", which I'm sure you saw. I used it on this card to help set the stage for this beautiful wreath! To begin, I die cut the diamond 4 times out of Scarlet cardstock; I glued two together to create the two panels; actually, I used three {I had an unfortunate mishap on one of the panels and I needed to keep them even}. But, if I created this again, I would only use 2 and not make any mistakes! LOL!

I used a piece of Kraft cardstock that was crimped using a Paper Crimper to go behind the two scarlet panels. I love the little bit of detail peeking out behind the wreath and jar. I also used some black acrylic paint to add some paint splatter to the crimped piece. You can see it a little bit better in some of the other photos.

Once the background was done, I got to work stamping and die cutting the wreath. Betsy has created an AMAZING acetate stamping guide that made stamping this wreath a breeze. While the MISTI has revolutionized the way we can use multi step stamps, this acetate stamping guide was awesome.

Here's how I used it. I die cut the wreath first, then I placed the die cut in the negative space that the die left and put it in my MISTI. I layed the stamping guide directly over the wreath die cut and then layered the stamp over the top of the acetate guide. I actually didn't use it for the first few steps because they were pretty easy, but I did LOVE it for the rest of the steps. However, I am NOT saying that it is impossible to use this stamp and die set without the acetate guide. It just makes it so nice and easy! 

I layered the wreath onto the card front using foam squares. I also added the jar directly in the middle. As much as I LOVE the beautiful sentiments included in the new Bountiful Wreath, I couldn't resist using some of the new "Sentiment Suite:Thank You" sentiments. I used the Sentiment Suite Basics Die collection to die cut them. I especially love the little tag that can be added to the Mason Jar!

I can't wait to use this wreath for tags and 3 D projects as well!

I hope you've enjoyed today's countdown! I absolutely love everything! Join me again tomorrow for day 3 and don't forget to leave a comment to be eligible to win! Thanks for fluttering by!

Saturday Showcase {Sending you Congrats}

Yay! It's the weekend and today I'm sharing a card and tag for this week's Ink to Paper Saturday Showcase using the Bon Voyage stamp set and the new Swirling Clouds die collection! I love creating unconventional baby cards with the interests or likes of the new parents; in this case, airplanes!

To begin this card, I blended some ink on a panel of Fresh Snow Linen cardstock measuring 4 by 5 1/4 inches. I also blended the same ink around the edges of a tag that was die cut using the new Tagged and Labeled die collection. I smooshed my ink pad onto an acrylic block and added some water. I picked up the ink with a fine point paint brush and tapped it onto the panel.

I die cut quite a few of the Swirling Clouds and stacked them together for chipboard weight pieces. I added them to the tag and the card front using foam squares or directly to the card with a tape runner. I stamped the airplanes and helicopter outlines using black ink and then added the coordinating solid image using Orange Zest, Enchanted Evening, and Simply Chartreuse ink. I also stamped the trailing banner images and sentiments in black ink. The "sending you" sentiment is from Bon Voyage, but the "Congrats" portion is from the Simply Sentiments I stamp set.

I used the coordinating Bon Voyage die collection to die cut the images. Once that was done, I arranged them on the card and tags using foam squares for dimension.

The thing I like about this set is that is has the coordinating solid image to stamp over the line art, BUT you could also use Copic markers to color them if you like. 

I love banners and buntings, so I decided it would be fun to add the banner from the Garden Party stamp set to the corner. I die cut it using the Garden Party die collection and then stamped each of the triangles using both the solid image and the pattern images on the green and orange pieces.

A few sparkling clear sequins finish of this tag and card combo! I had a lot of fun working on this and I hope the new parents enjoy it as well! Thanks for fluttering by!