Check Out These Upcoming Events!!!

Just a quick update to let you know that my upcoming events page has been updated to include information about a couple of upcoming holiday craft sales in which I'll be participating, as well as December stamp camps.  (Click HERE to visit the page and view details.)

Be sure to also check out my Current Promotions page for an important message regarding Stampin' Up!'s 2017 Online Extravaganza.  Today is the last day for the special deals posted . . . but tomorrow celebrate Cyber Monday with a full day of FREE SHIPPING!!!  (Click HERE to visit the page and view all of the details.)

Beginning Friday, December 1, watch this page for a countdown to Christmas with a new holiday post each day.

Cathy  ;D

Feeling of Christmas

Happy Day After Thanksgiving!  Today I'm sharing with you a card we made at my table at Stamp Camp North on Saturday, November 11.  This card is very quick to make . . . with dramatic results.

Thanks to UK Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Teri Pocock for the design.  You can view Teri's original card, as well as her other magical creations HERE.

Click on image for closer look.

Materials

Stamp Set
* Feeling of Christmas (2017 Holiday Catalog)

Paper
* Cherry Cobbler card stock (8-1/2" x 5-1/2"; 3-3/4" x 3-1/2")
* Basic Black card stock (5-1/4" x 4")
* Whisper White card stock (3-1/2" x 3-1/4")
* Merry Music Specialty Designer Series Paper ("DSP") (5-1/8" x 3-7/8") (2017 Holiday Catalog)

Ink
* Basic Black Archival Stampin' Pad OR Tuxedo Black Memento Ink
* Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad
* Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad

Accessories and Tools
* Blender Pen
* Rhinestone Basic Jewels or Metallic Enamel Shapes (shown on sample)
* Adhesives: SNAIL Adhesive; Stampin' Dimensionals

Instructions

1. Score 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" card stock at 4-1/4"; fold away from score line to create card base.

2. Adhere Basic Black card stock to card front; adhere DSP over Basic Black card stock.

3. Use Lemon Lime Twist ink to stamp "smeary" wreath shape on 3-1/2" x 3-1/4" Whisper White card stock.  (NOTE: the wreath is slightly wider than tall, so be sure you have your card stock turned to the correct orientation:  3-1/2" horizontal; 3-1/4" vertical.)

4. Use Black ink to stamp detailed wreath over Lemon Lime Twist wreath and sentiment in center of wreath.

5. Adhere stamped Whisper White card stock to Cherry Cobbler 3-3/4" x 3-1/2" card stock.

6. Use Blender Pen and Cherry Cobbler ink to color wreath.  (TIP:  Stampin' Up! stampin' pads have flexible lids.  If you squeeze the pad together before opening, you will leave a smudge of ink in the lid that you can use to pick up the ink with your Blender Pen.  An alternate method is to place a drop of refill ink onto a stampin' block and pick up the ink from there.)

7. Locate the four round ornaments on the wreath image (there are four of them) and cover each of them with a self-adhesive Rhinestone or Metallic Enamel Jewel.

8. Use Cherry Cobbler ink and the stamp with three little circles to add holly berries between the Rhinestones.

9. Use Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere finished piece to front of card.

See my instruction board below for illustration of how this card went together at the stamp camp.  (We used my MISTI stamp positioning tools to position the stamps because there were a lot of people making the card and it just went faster that way . . . note that Stampin' Up! has now come out with a new stamp positioning tool -- the Stamparatus -- should have one in my hands early next year.  Check my blog next Tuesday for additional information.)

NOTE at the bottom of my board is a photo of the inside of the card.  I used some of the DSP scraps to cut a piece 5-1/4" x 1/2" to adhere across the bottom of the Whisper White card stock, which is 5-1/4" x 4".

Click on image for closer look.

I hope you try this card . . . quick and easy and way fun!

Happy Holidays and Happy Stampin'!

Cathy  ;D

Deck the Halls Christmas Card

Today I'm bringing you the card we made at my table at Rose Hill Stamp Camp on October 28.  It's using one of the first techniques I learned when I started with Stampin' Up! more than 12 years ago -- masking.

Click on image for closer look.

Materials

Stamp Sets
* Seasons of Whimsy (2017 Holiday Catalog Hostess Set)
* Sheet Music (background stamp)

Paper
* Soft Sky card stock (8-1/2" x 5-1/2")
* Wild Wasabi card stock (5-1/4" x 4")
* Whisper White card stock (5" x 3-3/4"; about 3-1/2" x 1-1/2" for banner)

Ink
* Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad
* Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad
* Basic Black Archival Stampin' Pad OR Tuxedo Black Memento Pad

Accessories and Tools
* Big Shot Die Cutting Machine
* Bunch of Banners Framelits Dies
* Stampin' Sponge
* 1/8" Silver Ribbon
* Metallic Enamel Shapes
* Wink of Stella (Clear)
* Adhesives:  SNAIL Adhesive; Glue Dot; Stampin' Dimensionals

Instructions

1. Score 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" Soft Sky card stock at 4-1/4"; fold away from score line to create card base.

2. Adhere 5-1/4" x 4" Wild Wasabi card stock to front of card.

Steps 3-4

3. Use Black ink to stamp images of ornaments and hanging strings as shown above.

4. Stamp ornament images post-it notes and cut out shapes.  Place shapes on card stock over stamped ornaments and stamp Sheet Music image over the entire piece with Soft Sky ink.  DO NOT REMOVE POST-IT NOTES YET.

TIP:  To get the best image with this large background stamp, place stamp on table with rubber side up; ink up rubber and place card stock on top of rubber; cover entire surface of stamp with a piece of scrap paper and rub gently.  (The scrap paper is just to protect your hands from getting inky.)  Remove scrap paper, and use tweezers to remove card stock from stamp.

Steps 5-6

5. Before removing post-it note shapes, use Stampin' Sponge to apply Soft Sky ink around edges of card stock; use another Stampin' Sponge to apply Wild Wasabi randomly over entire image.

TIP:  Stampin' Sponges are really big and hard to handle.  I cut mine into four wedges to make sponging easier.

6. Remove post-it notes and apply Wink of Stella on images (kind of hard to see in the photo above, but it adds a festive shimmer to the ornaments).

Steps 7-10

7. Adhere Whisper White card stock to card over Wild Wasabi card stock.

8. Use Black ink to stamp "deck the halls" on scrap of Whisper White card stock.  Use Big Shot and Banner die to cut out shape.  Use Stampin' Sponge to apply Soft Sky ink around edges, and adhere to front of card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

9. Adhere Metallic Shapes randomly on front of card.

10.  Make a tiny bow with Silver Ribbon and adhere over stamped image of bow as shown above with a Glue Dot behind the knot.

That's it!  Your festive and whimsical holiday card is complete.

Happy Holidays!!!

Cathy  ;D

Stampin' Up! Online Extravaganze Begins Today!

Today is the big day!  Stampin' Up!'s annual Online Extravaganza begins today with some really good deals on their great products!

Visit my Current Promotions page for details.

Cathy  ;D

Christmas Ornament/Tag (FRS 11/13/2017)

Today I'm sharing a sweet little ornament/tag I made for a swap with my Front Range Demo group this evening.  This idea came from a YouTube video by Jenny Hall (view Jenny's tutorial by clicking here).

Click on image for closer look.

Materials

Stamp Set
* Merry Patterns (special promotion October 2017)

Paper (sizes approximate to accommodate dies)
* Early Espresso card stock (4-1/4" x 2-1/2"; scrap for deer)
* Glossy White card stock (3-1/2" x 2-1/8")
* Garden Green card stock (2-1/4" x 2-1/4")
* Wild Wasabi card stock (2-1/4" x 1-1/2")
* Soft Suede card stock (scrap for deer)
* Whisper White card stock (2-1/4" x 1/2")

Ink
* Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad
* Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad

Accessories and Tools
* Big Shot Die Cutting Machine
* Lots of Labels Framelits Dies
* Card Front Builder Thinlits Dies (2017 Holiday Mini Catalog)
* Bunch of Banners Framelits Dies
* Sponge Dauber
* Rhinestone Basic Jewels
* 1/8" Silver Ribbon (about 12")
* 1/8" Handheld Circle Punch
* Adhesives:  SNAIL Adhesive; Stampin' Dimensionals; Tombow Liquid Glue

Instructions

1. Using Big Shot and Lots of Labels Dies:
* Cut one label (I used the second from largest size) from Early Espresso card stock;
* Cut one label (I used the third from largest size) from Glossy White card stock
(NOTE:  If you want to make this a gift tag, cut an additional label -- third from largest size -- from Whisper White card stock to add to back.)

2. Using Big Shot and Card Front Builder Dies:
* Cut two trees shape from Garden Green card stock;
* Cut single tree shape from Wild Wasabi card stock;
* Cut one deer from Early Espresso card stock;
* Cut one deer from Soft Suede card stock.

3. Use Cherry Cobbler ink to stamp Merry Christmas on scrap of Whisper White card stock.  Use Big Shot and Bunch of Banners dies to cut out banner as shown.

4. Use Sponge Dauber and Soft Sky ink to daub some color around top of Glossy White label -- this is just to give the feel of some sky behind the trees.  Use SNAIL Adhesive to adhere Glossy White label to Early Espresso label.

5. Assemble winter scene:
* Use Liquid Glue to adhere two trees shape to Glossy White label; 
* Use Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere single tree over and slightly below two trees;
* Apply Liquid Glue to back of Early Espresso deer and tuck behind tree in foreground (see photo );
* Use Liquid Glue to adhere Soft Suede deer to front of tree in foreground (see photo above);
* Use Stampin' Dimensionals (one at each end) to adhere banner over trees as shown.

6. Add self-adhesive Rhinestone Jewels (I used the smallest size in the package) wherever they make you happy.

7. Punch a 1/8" circle near top of label through both thicknesses of card stock and string hanging ribbon through.  (NOTE:  If you plan to use this as a gift tag, adhere Whisper White label to back before punching hole.)

That's it!  This would make a very sweet gift tag that can then be hung on a tree as an ornament.  Hope you make one (or several)!

Cathy  ;D

Polished Stone Challenge

This is a card I made this afternoon for a technique challenge sponsored by my Stampin' Up! Demonstrators Online Group (SUDSOL).  The technique is called Polished Stone and is one I haven't done in a long, long time!  It's so much fun!  See details below.

Click on image for closer look.

Materials

Stamp Set
* Bunch of Blossoms

Paper
* Early Espresso card stock (8-1/2" x 5-1/2"; 4-1/4" x 3")
* Whisper White card stock (4" x 2-3/4")
* Glossy White card stock (one 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" sheet)

Ink
* Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad
* Cajun Craze Refill Ink
* Crumb Cake Refill Ink
* Crushed Curry Refill Ink
* Old Olive Refill Ink
* Sahara Sand Refill Ink
* Soft Suede Refill Ink

Accessories and Tools
* Big Shot Die Cutting Machine
* Leaflets Thinlits Dies
* Stampin' Sponge
* Linen Thread
* Gold Metallic Thread
* Copper Trim
* Adhesives: SNAIL Adhesive, Glue Dot

Miscellaneous
* Cotton Ball
* Rubbing Alcohol

Instructions
(NOTE: SNAIL Adhesive used throughout unless otherwise indicated.)

1. Score 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" Early Espresso card stock at 4-1/4".  Fold away from score line to create card.

2. Cut one 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" sheet of Glossy White card stock in fourths.  You will use the following technique for each piece, but each piece has different ink combinations.

Add rubbing alcohol to cotton ball.  You want enough alcohol to semi-saturate the surface area of the cotton ball, but not so much as to make it drippy.  To the alcohol, add two or three drops of each color.  Daub the cotton ball randomly across the Glossy White card stock to completely cover it.  This piece will dry very quickly as the alcohol evaporates.  Each piece will look slightly different, but each will have this marbled -- or polished stone -- effect.

• For the first piece (background), use a few drops each of Crumb Cake and Sahara Sand refill ink.  Cut to 5-1/4" x 4".
• For the second piece (oak leaf), use a few drops each of Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, and Soft Suede refill ink.  Cut oak leaf with die and Big Shot.
• For the third piece (maple leaf), use a few drops each of Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, and Crushed Curry.  Cut maple leaf with die and Big Shot.
• For the fourth piece (don't know what kind of leaf this is, but refer to photo above for the shape, or use any other leaf you may like better), use a few drops each of Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, and Old Olive refill ink.  Cut leaf shape.

3. Use Stampin' Sponge to apply Early Espresso ink around edges of the background piece, each of the leaves, and the Whisper White card stock. 

4. Adhere background piece to card front; adhere 4-1/4" x 3" Early Espresso card stock over background; adhere 4" x 2-3/4" Whisper White card stock over Early Espresso.  Then adhere each leaf as shown in photo.

5. Stamp sentiment as shown with Early Espresso ink.

6. Stretch out (widthwise) a short piece of Copper Trim and adhere in upper left-hand corner over leaf stems.  (NOTE:  I would have added more of this awesome trim; however, I had just used all but this tiny piece at my last stamp camp and haven't yet reordered.  The piece I added here was simply to hide the stems a little bit and soften the area behind the bow made in Step 7 below.)

7. Make a 4-loop bow (about 2-1/2" wide) from Linen Thread and Gold Metallic Thread held together.  Use a Glue Dot to adhere over Copper Trim.

This was a very quick card to make.  As mentioned above, the alcohol dries the ink so quickly that you can almost immediately start using it to cut the shapes.  I literally made this card in 20 minutes, from start to finish.  (I had been running errands all morning, and early afternoon and lost track of the time, so I needed to finish it by 3 p.m. Mountain Time, but I already had the idea in my head before I started.)

Hope you try this fun technique (or try it again if you've done this with me in my early Stampin' Up! years. . .).

Cathy  ;D

Stampin' Blends Alcohol Markers Now Available!

Visit my Stampin' Up! Current Promotions page for details.

Cathy  ;D