Year in Review- Fav 6 with Stamp Simply

 

Hi Friends! This week the Stamp Simply blog is featuring each Designers favorite six cards from 2020 and today is my turn to share :-). 

Since I started with the Stamp Simply DT in late October (with a broken left wrist, lol!) I did not have as many designs to choose from as my teammates, but luckily, I had created more than six cards!  

I have listed my six favs below (in order of my preference) along with the original blog post links for your reference. 

Wonder of Christmas-  featuring 

A Godly Man and Wonder of Christmas Sentiments

Taste and See-  featuring 

A Cup of Java and Coffee or Tea?

Clean and Simple Christmas-  featuring 

Floral Clusters- Winter Poinsettia and Jesus

Merry Christmas Poinsettia Wreath-  featuring 

Seasonal Wreaths- Fall and Winter and Typewritten Year Round Greetings

Merry Christmas and Warm Wishes- Set of Four Tags  featuring 

A Godly Man and Typewritten Year Round Greetings

Echo Park Silent Night- Blue and White Card Set  featuring 

Jesus stamp set and Silent Night 6x6 paper pad

I hope you will take a moment to stop by the Stamp Simply Blog  this weekend and check out what the rest of our talented Design Team chose as their six favorites.  I am thrilled to be designing with such a talent group of ladies!

 Plus, don’t forget to check out the wonderful Christmas special at 

 Stamp Simply- the special is available through December 31st!

Thanks again for taking the time to visit my blog- I hope all of you stay safe and healthy during this Christmas and New Year season! I think we are all looking forward to 2021!

A Merry Christmas

 Merry Christmas, Sweet Friends!

This past year has been a different (and difficult) year for all of us with the social distancing and staying home due to the pandemic.  While we may not be able to celebrate Christmas in person with our family, our thoughts and prayers are with them, and hopefully, we will be able to get together in person soon!

The card I am sharing today has two versions- one that is very shabby and vintage and the other style, while still vintage due to the image, is more of a clean and layered style. 

I started with the vintage version, but since it was so time consuming to distress all the paper, color the images, etc. I only created one vintage style, lol!  

Thus, the black and white version was designed, and I did create 25 of this simpler style:

 My shabby chic heart normally prefers the vintage style, but I think I may like the black and white one better.  So, which one do you prefer? 

I am linking a version of this card to the Make My Monday #138 "Create Your Own Inky Background" Challenge along with the Word Art Wednesday Christmas Blog Hop #470-#472 and the Watercolor Wednesday #302 "Marsha's Special 3 Week Anything Goes" Challenge.

Stamp Sets: Christmas Collage, Bells and Boughs

Ink/Medium: Versafine Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Black and White version- Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler; Vintage version- same as B/W plus Tim Holtz Distress Ink- Vintage Tea, Walnut Stain; Extra Fine White Paint Pen, Clear Glitter Pen, Silver Paint Marker

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black

Tools/Acessories: Gemini, Jr., Stitched Circle STAX Dies (My Favorite Things), Circle Dies (Sizzix), Distressing Tool, ½” Black Seam Binding

I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas day reflecting on the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!   We are so amazed at His love for us and the free gift of salvation!  He willingly came to earth to be born of a virgin, died on the cross for your sins and mine and rose again on the third day (the reason for Easter) and is seated at the right hand of God in Heaven.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16 NKJV

Jesus wants all of us to to believe in Him and receive forgiveness for our sins.  This is the reason He came to earth- without His sacrifice on the cross, sins could not be forgiven.  Have you trusted in Him as your Savior?  We are not guaranteed tomorrow, today is the day of salvation!   

I pray that if you have never accepted Christ as your Savior, today will be the day of your salvation!  It is as easy as A, B, C- Admit that you are a sinner  (Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God), Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and Confess (Romans 10:9  "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord  Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved")- it is that easy and you just have to accept the gift!  

If you have not accepted the free gift of salvation, I pray that this will be your prayer today.

Echo Park Silent Night- Card Set #2

 Hi Friends! 

Today I am sharing two more Clean and Simple (CAS) card designs from the Echo Park Silent Night 6 x 6 Paper Pad, along with the Merry Christmas  stamp set and Gold Mirror Cardstock, all from Stamp Simply.

I love this Silent Night 6x6 paper pad by Echo Park!  So many images to create plenty of quick cards :-)  In one afternoon, I was able to create fourteen cards using mainly the Silent Night paper pad, a few stamp sets for sentiments and gold mirror cardstock. 

I did incorporate a few Splitcoaststampers sketches into the layouts (I have a goal of creating a card for each of their over 800 sketches and having a sketch can help immensely when creating multiple cards). 

This set of cards features a few fussy-cut pieces of the Silent Night paper- there are several pages in the pad that have sentiments and cut-a-parts that are easy to use for quick cards. 

For the above card, I used only the Silent Night 6 x 6 Paper Pad  layered onto Gold Mirror Cardstock  and the Fishtail Sentiment Banner Dies along with the Splitcoaststampers SC102 Sketch for the layout (modified slightly with the banner connecting the 3-B, C and D layers).  

I will also be linking this card to the Word Art Wednesday #470-#472 "Christmas Blog Hop- Anything Goes" Challenge.

For the second card, I used the same elements from the

Silent Night Paper pad along with a gold heat embossed sentiment from the stamp set, Merry Christmas. I also incorporated the SC147 Sketch (flipped) into the layout. 

I hope I have inspired you with this set of CAS Christmas cards- so quick and easy!

Also, Stamp Simply is also offering a Christmas gift to you!  All orders $65 and above (not including tax or shipping) will receive a free surprise gift valued at over $25 retail from 12/16/20 to 12/31/20.  

Stamp Sets:  Merry Christmas  (Stamp Simply)

Ink/Mediums: Versamark

Cardstock/Paper:  White and Gold Foil Cardstock; Echo Park Silent Night 6x6 Paper Pad

Accessories/Tools: Embossing Powder Tool Applicator, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

I hope all of you have a great weekend and stay as healthy as possible. 

May the Lord bless you this Christmas Season and into the New Year!

Floral Clusters- Winter Poinsettia Background

 

Hi Friends!

Today I am sharing another Christmas card designed with stamps and dies from The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.

I love the sweet poinsettia image from Winter Poinsettia as well as the beautiful fonts used for the sentiments in Christmas Peace, don’t you? 

I decided to create a monochromatic card and used the poinsettia image to create my own background “paper”.

I enjoy playing along with online challenges an
d will be linking this card to the Tic-Tac-Toe #093 Challenge (middle row across- Red, Winter Holiday, Spotlight Technique) along with The Spot #140 "Over the Top Holiday Cards" and Simon Says Monday "Favorite Technique" Challenge.

My favorite technique is an “oldie”- Heat Embossing. I use Heat Embossing on almost every card I design- I still love watching that powder melt, lol! 

If you have not had a chance to visit any of the challenge sites or The Stamp Simply blog yet, I encourage you to do so.  Wonderful inspiration from the galleries as well as from my Design Team “sisters” on the Stamp Simply DT!  

To create this card:

Ink the poinsettia image from Winter Poinsettia with Versamark ink and repeatedly stamp onto a prepared piece of red cardstock (stamping off the edges to create an all over pattern).  Apply white embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool (I had to stamp a few at a time, heat emboss and repeat until the panel was finished).

Trim the embossed panel and mount onto a piece of black cardstock.

Ink the poinsettia image with Versafine Onyx Black ink, stamp onto a piece of white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the embossing powder has cooled, fussy cut the image (I cut off the berries so it would fit the card better).  Use a clear glitter marker to add shimmer to the flower petals and set aside to dry.

Using the same steps as above, heat emboss the sentiment from Christmas Peace  onto white cardstock.  Once the embossing powder has cooled, die cut with a label die and cut a few extra labels (the same size) to adhere behind the sentiment.

Add a piece of black seam binding to the background panel (wrapping the ends behind the panel).  Mount the panel onto a white card base.

Add the sentiment die cut with dimensional foam (or chipboard, which I prefer) and adhere the fussy cut poinsettia at the top.

Finish off the card with a black seam binding bow, a red button, and a few white pearls.

Stamp Sets:  Floral Clusters- Winter Poinsettia,  Christmas Peace (Stamp Simply)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark,  Zig Wink of Stella Brush- Clear Glitter Marker

Cardstock/Paper:  White, Black, Red

Accessories/Tools:  Embossing Powder Tool Applicator- EK Success, Clear and White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Black Seam Binding, Red Button, White Pearls, Labels Four Dies- Spellbinders

Thanks again for taking the time to visit!  I hope all of you are staying as healthy and safe as possible…this year has been so difficult, especially for those who are in the hospital or nursing home and cannot see their loved ones. 

We have not been able to visit family since they are all out of state and this Christmas will be different for us as well.  I am thankful that, so far, my hubby and I have not contracted COVID, but we do know many that have, and our prayers are with all of them and their families.

May the Lord keep you and bless you all!

Echo Park Silent Night - Card Set #3

Hi Friends! 

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, we are focusing on quick and easy cards for December on the Stamp Simply blog, and today, this set of cards is being shared. 

If you have not had a chance to visit the Stamp Simply blog,  I hope you will take the time to do so – gorgeous inspiration from the Design Team.  I am sure they will inspire you!  

Plus, Stamp Simply has a Christmas sale…

This quick set of five cards was designed using different patterns and cut-a-parts from the Silent Night 6 x6 paper pad (Echo Park) along with sentiments from a few stamp sets, Jesus and  Merry Christmas.

I did incorporate a few sketch challenges from Splitcoaststampers for the layouts ion the cards (one of my goals is to create a card for each of their over 850 sketches:-)).

Card #1 uses designer paper for the background, mounted onto espresso cardstock and a trimmed strip from one of the designer paper pages from Silent Night.  The sentiment from Merry Christmas  was stamped with Versamark ink and heat embossed with pewter embossing powder. After the embossing cooled, the Fishtail Sentiment Banners dies were used to finish off this quick and easy card!

Card #2, again uses the background papers, cut-a-parts and gold foil were used to create this quick card and I incorporated the SC172 Splitcoaststampers sketch into the layout.

Card #3 uses just the background paper and cut-a-parts along with gold foil and the SC464 Splitcoaststampers Sketch for the layout.

Card #4 was designed using the SC264 Sketch Challenge for the layout along with gold foil die cuts using the Fishtail Sentiment Banners as well as the cut-a-parts and background paper.

Card #5- This background on the final card in this set was designed using the main sentiment image from Jesus, stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with gold embossing powder.  A bit of gold foil and a cut-a-part along with background paper using the SC131 Sketch for the layout and this card is finished!

Stamp Sets: Jesus, Merry Christmas (Stamp Simply)

Ink/Mediums: Versamark

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Gold Foil, Silent Night 6x6 Paper Pad (Echo Park)

Accessories/Tools: Gemini, Jr., Stamp Simply Dies- Fishtail Sentiment Banners, Embossing Powder, Pewter and Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

I love the Echo Part Silent Night 6x6 paper pad- I was able to create thirteen quick Christmas cards in one afternoon and still have more than half the pad left to go! I think this paper would allow you to create over forty cards using just a few additional supplies- what a value!

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- I hope all of you have a blessed week!  I will be sharing more of the cards from this pad in a future post :-)

Colored/Uncolored Ornament Cards

 Hi Friends! 

Sharon is sharing my cards today on the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store blog,  and with only twenty days to go until Christmas, we are focusing on quick and easy cards for the month of December.  Plus, Stamp Simply is offering a wonderful gift for you: 

This card has two versions- a plainer version and the other colored ornaments.

To create this card:

De-static a 4” x 5 ¼” piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink the ornament stamps from Christmas Joy Sentiments with Versamark , apply gold embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Once the embossing has cooled, use a craft knife and a self-healing mat to cut along the edge of the lower ornament.

Layer a piece of designer paper (I used a scrap piece of the Kaisercraft Peace & Joy from the quilt card set I shared in a previous post) onto the area below the ornaments.

Mount the entire panel onto a piece of light green cardstock and add a strip of 5/8” red satin ribbon (under the tip of the ornament) and wrap the ends of the ribbon behind the panel.

Adhere the entire panel to a piece of red cardstock (4 ¼” x 5 ½”), mount onto a white card base.

Finish off the card with a few pearls and a red satin bow.

For the colored version of this card:

Repeat the above steps and add color to the ornaments using red and light green water-based markers (be careful not to smear the ink over the gold embossing).  Use a piece of tissue to lightly dab the ornaments to remove excess ink from the marker.

Close-up of the colored ornaments :-)

Stamps: Christmas Joy Sentiments (Stamp Simply)

Ink/Mediums: Versamark,  Stampin’ Write Markers- Real Red, Pear Pizzazz

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red; Peace & Joy (Kaisercraft)

Accessories/Tools”  Embossing Powder Tool, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Craft Knife, Self-healing Mat, Red Satin Ribbon, Pearls

Look how quick and easy this card was to create!  I hope I have inspired you to create a few cards for this upcoming Christmas.  Or possibly get started on your needs for next year- I tend to create Christmas cards all year long, do you? 

As many of you who follow my blog know, I enjoy participating with online challenges and will be entering the colored version in the Word Art Wednesday #468-#469 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

Thanks again for visiting and I hope you have a fabulous weekend! If you have the time, stop by again soon- I will be sharing more cards this week.

TCC145 Festive Celebration

 

Hi Friends!

Welcome to the #145 {Festive Celebration} Challenge at The Card Concept!

I was inspired by the overall elegance as well as the black and golds in our inspiration photo to create a Clean and Layered card using Stamp Simply stamps (along with retired papers and embellishments from my massive stash :-)).

I am also participating with the Double Trouble #72 “Something, Anything and Everything” Challenge and the WordArt Wednesday #468-#469 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit The Card Concept or the other challenge sites yet, I encourage you to do so- fabulous inspiration from all! 

To create this card:

For the background panel- die cut the stitched white rectangle from a 4” x 5 1/4” piece of white cardstock and set aside.). 

Layer a piece of brown/gold metallic designer paper (approx. 3.75” x 5” ) onto the 4” x 5 ¼” white panel (this will cover your die cut area from above) and mount onto a piece of 4 ¼” x 5 ½” piece of black cardstock.  FYI- All the designer papers used for this card were from the retired Mocha Morning DSP from Stampin’ Up!

Layer a piece of 7/8” black satin ribbon over the background panel, wrap the ends behind the panel and mount the panel onto a white card front.

De-static the upper right hand corner of the stitched rectangle die cut (from the step above) with an embossing powder tool, stamp the sentiment from Scripture for Graduation & Beyond using Versafine Onyx Black ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Mount the panel onto black cardstock, trim close to the edge.

Layer a piece of black flocked designer paper onto black cardstock (both of these were in my stash), mount onto the white stitched die cut (from the step above), trim off the ends flush with the white layered panel.

Mount the layered stamped panel directly onto the card front.

Die cut the numbers from gold metallic paper and die cut two additional numbers of each from black cardstock (to build up the thickness of each number).

Add the numbers to the card front using chipboard (or dimensional foam).

Use a clear glitter marker to add shimmer to the gold metallic numbers and add the rhinestone embellishments to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Scripture for Graduation & Beyond (Stamp Simply)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine Onyx Black, Zig Wink of Stella- Clear Glitter Marker

Paper/Cardstock: White, Black; Gold Metallic (from my stash- not sure of manufacturer), retired Mocha Morning Designer Series Paper (Stampin’ Up!)

Tools/Accessories: Gemini, Jr., Dies- My Favorite Things Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX- Set 1, Numbers (retired Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps),  Heat Tool, Embossing Powder Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Silver Rhinestones, retired Rhinestone Embellishment (Stampin’ Up!), 7/8” Black Satin Ribbon (Offray)

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by!  We would love for you to create a card based on our {Festive Celebration} photo and and join us at The Card Concept! The challenge is open until December 14th at noon EST.