12/18/2007

Embrace Life

Here is a sample using one of the sets from the NEW catalog! I got it today BTW, and it's great! Didn't have a whole lot of time to look, but what I saw is very cool!

Anyway, back to the card using the Embrace Life set. This is one featured in the Preview Catty.

Colors are Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant & Very Vanilla. For the background I used the "leaf" image, first in Elegant Eggplant and then over that, offset, with Craft Vanilla. The "flower" image is stamped with Black Stazon and colored with Elegant Eggplant ink using the blender pen. I applied Dazzling Diamonds glitter using 2-way glue. 'embrace life' was stamped on the black layer also using Craft Vanilla. Eggplant ribbon was tied around the black layer, and a cream ribbon tied around the know.

Have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I'll be back sometime between then and New Years, hopefully with more new creations! I have several of the sets and new DP from the Preview!

12/16/2007

Retiring Accessories List

ETA: 1/2/08, 2:14 pm. I have removed the retired Accessories list and accompanying notes as we are now past that sales period. If you have any questions about it, please contact me as I have a saved copy.

Thanks!

12/15/2007

Christmas Current, Year 9

Wow, I've been doing this 9 years?!? I've already posted this year's card, but I'll do it again here. It was my creation for the Holiday Mini swap, using the Snow Burst set.

This color (Purely Pomegranate) is absolutely wonderful, and I LOVE this wide satin ribbon. I hope we see more of it in the future! The white layers here are Shimmery White. I randomly stamped the smallest 4 flakes from Snow Burst around the top 3/4 of the card. "Season's Greetings" is stamped at the bottom. The Large Snowflake in the center was also stamped on Shimmery White. First I did the Bold image snowflake using Purely Pomegranate. Next I stamped the larger Outline snowflake using Versamark and heat embossed with Hologram Highlights. Too bad the "sparkle" doesn't scan well! I added a Half-Pearl from the Pretties kit in the center. Tied the ribbon around the Shimmery White layer using a square knot.

I am doing half in Vanilla and half in White for the cards we're mailing. The Pretties kits come with both Vanilla & White pearls. SU! doesn't have Vanilla Shimmery CS, but it is available other places!

Hopefully you've enjoyed all these Holiday cards! I produce these each year assembly line style. Once your card is determined, just break it down into manageable steps. For instance on this one, I started by cutting the White (and Vanilla) layers. I then took the smallest layer and stamped the Bold Purely Pomegranate snowflake, then went back and embossed the second flake. Next I cut all the PP CS in half for card bases, folded each in half, and stamped my "Hand Stamped By" on the back. Seasons Greetings was the next step on the larger White (and Vanilla) layers. Currently I'm working on the random snowflakes around the top. Ribbon will be next, followed lastly by pearls. I will stamp a greeting of some sort inside (haven't figured that out yet!). Address labels will be used on Shimmery envelopes, and most will include a family picture and computer generated Holiday message.

Seasons Greetings to you all! Thanks for stopping by.

12/14/2007

Christmas Flashback-Year 8

Last year, 2006. Inspired by a card received in a Holiday Mini swap.


The card base is Real Red, the blue is Ballet Blue. On that layer, I stamped the Dotted Background with Craft White. I overstamped some of the dots with flakes from the Snow Flurries set with Ballet Blue. The White is layered over the Ballet Blue, and was cut free-hand with the Cutter kit. I had never tried this before, but once you get rolling it goes pretty well. Each will be just a little different! I stamped the Merry Christmas in Ballet Blue, and tied the Red Gingham ribbon around the top of the White layer. I added 3 Snow Flurries where the white & blue meet. I first stamped the Flurries (2 red, 1 blue) and punched with the 3/4" circle punch. I then stamped more Flurries (2 blue, 1 red) and punched with the 1/2" circle punch. I layered the 1/2" onto the 3/4" of contrasting color with a dimensional.

12/13/2007

Christmas Flashback-Year 7

2005. Again a set from the mini, and I can't think of the name at the moment. I'll dig up a mini (it didn't make the catty) and edit that in. This was the year that SU! changed our colors, so I went with one of my new favorite combos-Certainly Celery & Elegant Eggplant.





The card base is Elegant Eggplant. The Certainly Celery layer is stamped with the On the Spot background stamp. The tree was stamped in Certainly Celery on Shimmery White CS. This set was a two-step with several options for decorating the tree. I first did the dots by stamping Elegant Eggplant Craft and embossing with Hologram Highlights. Next I did the "garland" by using Versamark and Silver EP. A silver star eyelet was added at the top. The tree was layered onto Elegant Eggplant and a Celery organdy ribbon tied around the Eggplant. I added just a bit of Metallic Silver ribbon into the knot.

12/12/2007

Christmas Flashback-Year 6

2004 was our first year out here in the country, and I went a very different way this year (no snowflakes)! That was the year that SU! had the metallic cards available, in Silver, Gold and Copper if memory serves. I went with the Silver for the base.

This one is very sparkly in person, but that doesn't scan well! The stars and swirls on the Night of Navy background are from a jumbo wheel (Swirling Stars) that I rolled across the top and bottom and embossed with Hologram Highlights EP. The silver edged tag has the star block from Happiest of Holidays layered on in Night of Navy. I embossed "tis the season" across the block with Silver EP and added a silver star eyelet near the corner. The tag is tied onto the card around the Night of Navy layer with Silver organdy ribbon. I did secure the tag with a dimensional near the bottom corner.

This year started a new trend where I used a set from the Holiday Mini catalog. I usually do a swap for that mini, and either the card I come up with, or an inspiration from one of the ones I receive ends up being "THE" card! Guess that is why we swap-for inspiration!

12/11/2007

Christmas Flashback-Year 5

2003 brought more snowflakes! Seems like a pattern?? I went with blue this year, and the Flaky Friends set.




The card base is Brilliant Blue, wheeled again with the Blizzard wheel, using White Craft Ink. The snowmen are stamped in Basic Black on a layer of Glossy White Cardstock that had been brayered using the Blue Frost spectrum pad. Behind the Glossy layer, is a layer of Sticker paper . I punched the swirls thru the glossy before adding the sticker paper to the back. This meant I could then apply Dazzling Diamonds glitter and have it stick just to the swirls! I don't believe we still have sticker paper,but you could get a similar result just by using Two-Way glue in the punched area.


Snowflake eyelets (non SU!) were set above the embossed Happy Holidays and a double-strand silver cording bow was tied.


Flaky Friends is also on the Retirement list! Get it now! Who doesn't need a saying that says "some of my best friends are flakes"??

12/10/2007

Christmas Flashback-Year 4

Year 4 was 2002. Repeated theme of snowflakes, & embossing, but a very different look!

The card base is Pale Plum, and was rolled in Perfect Plum ink with the Blizzard wheel. The white layer was first stamped with Warm Winter Wishes in Perfect Plum. The large snowflake from the Snowflakes set was then embossed over it with clear EP. Pale Plum ink was then stippled over the snowflake. The corners were punched with the Deco Corner punch, and a silver cord bow was added at the top left.

12/09/2007

Christmas Flashback-Year 3

Year 2 (2000) is not to be found apparently as I've checked boxes of cards & old computer files too! I can tell you what I did though. I used the Celebrate the Season set and embossed the large Celebrate the Season in gold on Forrest Foliage CS, and used Versamark to add branches around it. A simple gold organdy knot bow was added.

Year 3 (2001) I may have been insane!!! I do still love the card though, but it was lots of work!

The card base is Not Quite Navy, the layer under the vellum is Going Grey and is stamped on the edge with large snowflakes & swirls in Not Quite Navy. The vellum has been rolled with white ink using the Snowflake wheel. Then I embossed Frosty & the Happy Holidays onto the vellum. And Frosty was colored with markers to get the different color effects! Lastly the white organdy bow ties the vellum to the Going Grey layer.

I must admit that I traded Frosty not to long after completing these cards! I just couldn't bring myself to use him again! But he is such a happy snoman isn't he??? He's on the current retirement list. If you don't own him-get him NOW!!!

12/08/2007

Christmas Flashback-Year 1

I found almost ALL of my previous year's Christmas Cards! Year 2 seems to be AWOL, and last year, but all others have been accounted for!

Let me first start by explaining that I mass produce one card each year. And our "list" averages right around 100 people. With family, co-workers, college friends, neighbors, etc. it adds up fast! Creativity is the biggest challenge, and I tend to me a "Last Minute Lucy!", so multiples of 1 idea works best for me! I believe these cards are from 1999. There are 3 versions, with the background being different one each one.

Let me also point out that I was not a demo at this time, and I'm pretty sure this was my first year stamping. I attended a workshop early in the year, and started with Valentine's project for my older son's preschool class. It snowballed from there!

The set was called Stitched Santa. I parted ways with him long ago, but I would bet he's still available out there somewhere! Colors are Glorious Green and Real Red, or was it "Rocket Red" back then??? Santa was stamped in Green, and accents were done with a marker. The ribbon must have been from Michaels or Hobby Lobby.

Enjoy! Year 2 is missing, so I'll be back tomorrow with Year 3!

12/07/2007

Elf Names

I should be working on Christmas cards, but I took a little break and picked up the computer (it's a laptop!). Found this on another blog, thought it was cute so I thought I'd share!!

Your Elf Name Is...
Minty Mc Flurry


Give it a whirl!

And, here's a hint: if you don't like the name that comes up, back up and try again!

12/06/2007

News Update

I have nothing stamped to share, can't seem to find the time, but thought I'd pop on and share some things that Stampin' Up!® has going on right now!

We are approaching the end of the current catalog and the retirement list is available. You can see it here in the alphabetical format, or here numerically by page number. These items are available thru December 31. A list of retiring accessories will also be available on Monday, December 10. Check in here on Monday, or at the Stampin' Up!® website for the list!

The Preview Mini should be arriving in your mailboxes. This a sneak peak of new sets that will be available in the new catalog. You can view it online here. These items are not available until January 2, 2008.

The Holiday Glitz kits are only available thru December 15. Get your order in NOW if you're interested!


If you need a project idea, check out the Stampin' Up!® customer home page. They have changed the format and are now featuring a new project each month with a supply list! This month is Dashing Decorations. Check it out!

Need a gift idea? Under $25? Click here-Stampin' Up!® has some suggestions for you!

I hope to be back soon, but I'm not making any promises! I'm way behind on Holiday things this year. My cards aren't made yet, no decorations are up, etc. We've undertaken a room cleaning project with the boys and we're hoping to motivate them by telling them no decorations, etc. until the rooms pass inspection! And, I decided to reorganize my stamp room a bit. I stumbled onto some storage cubes at Michaels last week and I've put them to good use, but that means lots of chaos as I move things around. All of this means I've had no time to stamp! I did find a couple of my old Christmas cards though that I do plan to share this weekend if not before. I was hoping to find them all, but so far have only located 2.