Merry Christmas 2012 !

Merry Christmas!!!

Praying that all of you have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends!!  Here on the East Coast we were surprised by a brief snowstorm (which caused our candlelight services to be cancelled) but we will have a White Christmas and a very special day with family remembering the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

I apologize for being absent from posting for a few weeks- I have been preparing for our Awana Christmas party as well as shopping for family :-)  I plan to share a few more last minute Christmas cards later this week so if you have the time, stop back for a visit :-)

This Clean and Simple (CAS) card could not be any simplier- one sentiment stamp, the Embossing Buddy®, the Heat Tool, Silver Embossing Powder and ribbon from my stash. Pop up with a few dimensionals and you are done!!

Quick, simple and very easy to re-create!  

When I chose the colors and technique, I had two challenges in mind- the Splitcoaststamper’sCC406 Color Challenge – Colorless Christmas in memory of Newton, CT and TheFM89 Friday Mashup CAS with Heat Embossing Challenge.   If you have the time to visit these sites, leave them some "love" and better yet, come join in on the fun!

Stamp Sets: More Merry Messages

Ink: Versamark™

Paper: Whisper White

Accessories:  Embossing Buddy®, Heat Tool, Stampin’ Emboss® Silver Embossing Powder, Fancy Ribbon from my stash

Again, quick, simple but a bit difficult to photograph! All of the shimmery silver is difficult to see but it is sparkly in real life! 

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you like this card and have a great time creating your own bits of art this week!    Merry Christmas!!  

Lacy Snowflakes- Two Challenges in One!

Hi Stampers!

Another week has passed by and I am thankful I could spend time in my craft room!!  I decided to create another Christmas card using this week’s CQC166 ColourQ’s Challenge, and since it is monochromatic, it also qualifies for the HSSCC147 Hand Stamped Sentiments Monochromatic Challenge.  If you have the time to visit the Challenge sites, again, each site provides such inspiration and it is amazing how the themes and colors can be interpreted in so many different ways!  I just love our craft :-)!!

This card utilizes heat embossing- do not be intimidated by your heat gun:-)  The initial steps will allow you to create four separate cards – a great way to maximize your stamping time!

To create this card:

De-static a piece of Midnight Muse, Tempting Turquoise and Pacific Point with the Embossing Buddy®.  Stamp each of the four snowflake images using Versamark™ ink onto each piece of cardstock and heat emboss with White Stampin’ Emboss® Embossing Powder.

Once cooled, punch the images out using the  1 ¼” Square Punch and layer onto Cool Caribbean cardstock.  Use the paper trimmer to trim around the squares and repeat the layering/trimming process again using Midnight Muse cardstock.

Use the Big Shot™ to emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock with the Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder.  Attach the 3/8” Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon strip and mount the background panel onto Midnight Muse cardstock.  

Adhere the snowflake squares with SU! Dimensionals™, add the stamped sentiment banner, rhinestones and triple ribbon bow to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: More Merry Messages, Lace Snowflakes (retired)

Ink: Versamark™, Midnight Muse

Paper: Whisper White, Midnight Muse, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Cool Caribbean (retired)

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® White Embossing Powder, 1 ¼” Square Punch, 3/8” Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon, Rhinestones

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope all of you have a blessed week and find some time to relax and create !

Garden Snowmen- Two Challenges in One!

Hi Stampers!        

                                                                                                       

I am still creating Christmas cards and decided to create one for this week’s PP124 Paper Player’s Theme Challengeusing the Splitcoaststampers CC404 Color Challenge (Early Espresso, Marina Mist and Cherry Cobbler).  

If you have not visited either site yet, check out the Design Team Samples and the other entries- such inspiration!

To create this Clean and Simple (CAS) card:

Use Early Espresso Classic Ink to stamp the snowman image onto Whisper White cardstock and color with Stampin’ Write markers.  Use an Aqua Painter to soften the colors and create the watercolor effect.  Cut the image using the Big Shot™ with a Circle Originals™ Die and cut another circle from Cherry Cobbler cardstock (to frame behind the circle die cut).

 Emboss a piece of Early Espresso Core’dinations cardstock using the Big Shot™ with the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder and lightly sand the cardstock to expose the lighter core. 

Mount the embossed Core’dinations cardstock onto Cherry Cobbler, add the Marina Mist DSP layer to the lower half.  Add the satin ribbon band , mount the focal image with SU! Dimensionals™, add the satin ribbon bow and sentiment banner to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Garden Snowmen,  MDS- Heard from the Heart

 Ink: Early Espresso, Printer Ink- Black, Stampin’ Write markers- Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, Riding Hood Red, Soft Suede, Basic Gray, Crumb Cake, Certainly Celery

Paper:  Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso Core’dinations, Marina Mist DSP

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Originals™ 3½” Circle Die, Aqua Painter, Sanding Block, 5/8” Satin Ribbon (from my stash)

Thanks again for visiting!!  I hope all of you are having a great week!  

Touch of Nature- Another True Friend "Hybrid" Card

Hi Stampers!!

I am having such a great time experimenting and creating the "hybrid" Digital cards- I hope you do not mind my sharing them with you :-)  One of the newest downloads is a retired set that I just love called "Touch of Nature".  While I have the stamp set, I like the crispness of the printer ink against Whisper White not to mention the convenience (my printer is in my stamp area).

To create this card:

Using My Digital Studio (MDS), print the image for the bird and sentiment onto Whisper White cardstock.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Apothecary Accents Framelits™ Die to cut out the bird and also use the same die to cut a piece of Lucky Limeade cardstock.  Hand cut the Lucky Limeade piece in half lengthwise to mount behind the bird and "frame" the die cut (do not worry- you will not see your "hand cut" line :-)

Color the bird image using a Stampin’ Write Marker in Soft Suede and Crumb Cake (I had Certainly Celery out for a previous project and used that for the leaves).  To add the distressing to the bird image, use the Color Spritzer Tool with the Soft Suede marker  and finish off with a Sponge Dauber using Crumb Cake and Soft Suede Classic Ink to soften the edges of the die cut.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Early Espresso Core’dinations cardstock (lightly sand) and the Lacy Brocade EF to emboss a scrap piece of DSP (I used a piece of the retired Everyday Enchantment for the lower half of the card).  Mount both the Early Espresso panel and embossed DSP panel onto Soft Suede (I ended up trimming this layer a bit too close so it is hard to see it in the photo) and add the Whisper White embossed lace paper edging (ink the interior of the embossing folder with Crumb Cake before embossing the Whisper White cardstock).

Add the ½” Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding Ribbon strip, mount the bird focal image along with the Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding Triple Bow and Antique Brads.  Punch the digital sentiment out using the Small Oval Punch and layer with Lucky Limeade cardstock (sponged again with Crumb Cake and Soft Suede) to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: None- My Digital Studio- Touch of Nature,  Simple Friendship

Ink: Printer Ink- Black, Classic Ink- Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Stampin’ Write Markers- Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Certainly Celery

Paper: Whisper White, Soft Suede, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso Core’dinations, retired DSP- Everyday Enchantment

Accessories:  Big Shot™,Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders-Woodgrain, Lacy Brocade, Delicate Designs (Lace), Apothecary Accents  Framelits™ Die, Antique Brads, Sponge Daubers, Color Spritzer Tool, Small Oval Punch (retired), ½” Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding Ribbon, (retired)

Thanks again for visiting- I hope you like these hybrid cards (can you tell that it is Digital)?  My husband cannot tell the difference :-)

Have fun this week experimenting and creating something in paper!! 

Another "Hybrid" Christmas- Touch of Nature for the Dynamic Duos

Hi Stampers!!

I have been busy creating Christmas cards and utilizing the My Digital Studio (MDS) program.  I love the fact that we can re-size images and none of the “stamp sets” retire :-)  plus when you combine it with traditional card making techniques, you can  barely tell that it is digital (I will keep the secret if you do). 

I created this quick and easy card for the Dynamic Duos DD31 Color Challenge- Real Red and Certainly Celery.  I must admit that I have neglected Certainly Celery since we have had so many new green colors to choose from and it was refreshing to pull out this color to use.  The Design Team at the Dynamic Duos have done a marvelous job, and again, if you have not had the time to do so, check them out!!

This card is another Clean and Simple (CAS) card and is so easy to create!    Touch of Nature (MDS version used here) is not normally a Christmas set but I think this color combo feels festive- what do you think?

Print the image from MDS onto Whisper White cardstock (I generally print many images on the same sheet of 8.5 x 11 cardstock leaving room to cut with the Big Shot™ or trim).  Color the stem and flower center using a Stampin’ Write Certainly Celery marker and Real Red Classic Ink with the Aqua Painter.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Apothecary Accents Framelit™ Die to cut out around the image and also cut a piece of Basic Black using the same die (don’t tell anyone but I cut the black layered die piece from one of the black cardstock layers – you will never see it and it helps eliminate some of the weight for mailing).  Cut the black die cut in half lengthwise and position to layer behind the focal image.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Certainly Celery cardstock.  Trim this panel to size and mount onto Basic Black and again onto Certainly Celery, Basic Black. 

Add the digital sentiment banner layer, 5/8” Basic Black Satin Ribbon bow and pearl to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: None- My Digital Studio- Touch of Nature,  Christmas Lodge

Ink: Printer Ink- Black

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Certainly Celery

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Lacy Brocade Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Apothecary Accents  Framelits™ Die, 5/8” Basic Black Satin Ribbon (retired), Pearl

Thanks again for stopping by and if interested, I will be sharing more "hybrid" cards tomorrow eve.   I hope all of you have a marvelous Monday!

True Friend- "Hybrid" Card for Freshly Made Sketches

Hi Stampers! 

I have been busy trying to catch up on creating my Christmas cards and decided to take a quick break from the Christmas cards and create another My Digital Studio (MDS) “hybrid” card.

I love this week’s FMS63 Freshly Made Sketch by Rita and incorporated a previous printed  image from MDS along with the Festival of Prints DSP stack.  If you have not checked out the Freshly Made Sketches' website, I highly recommend it- they have a wonderful Design Team as well as numerous entries each week!!  It never ceases to amaze me on the different interpretations of a sketch or color challenge:-)

To create this CAS (Clean and Simple) card:

Use the Big Shot™ with the Fancy Fan Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of the DSP from the Festival of Prints stack.  Layer this onto Whisper White and again onto Lucky Limeade cardstock.

Color the MDS image using Stampin’ Write markers in Marina Mist, Not Quite Navy and Summer Starfruit.  Use the Big Shot™ with the Decorative Accents Framelits™ to cut the image out and alos cut a piece of Not Quite Navy (NQN) to layer behind the image frame (cut the NQN frame in half and adhere as a layer).

Use a Circle Cutting Tool (or Big Shot™ Die)  to cut the 3” and 3 3/8” Circle from the Festival of Prints DSP and Whisper White.  Adhere the DSP to the middle of the Whisper White circle.

Using scraps of Summer Starfruit DSP (from Patio Party DSP) to create the banners.

Layer the elements, add the Decorative brads and sentiment to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  None- My Digital Studio- Touch of Nature, Simple Friendship

Cardstock: Whisper White,  Not Quite Navy, Festival of Prints DSP, Patio Party DSP

Ink:  Printer Ink-Black, Stampin’ Write markers- Marina Mist, Not Quite Navy, Summer Starfruit

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Fancy Fan Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Decorative Accents Framelits™, Circle Framelits™ (or Circle Cutter), Small Oval Punch (retired), Everyday Enchantment brads (retired)

Quick and easy- that’s why I love using MDS to create cards!  

Thanks again for stopping by- if interested, I will be posting more cards tomorrow eve so stay tuned :-)!!  Hugs to all of you and God Bless!!

Another "Hybrid" Christmas Card

Hi Stampers!       

                                                                                                        

I hope all of you are having a wonderful week!  I decided to try another My Digital Studio “hybrid” card for the PP123 Sketch at The Paper Players- again, if you have the time, check out the Design Team Samples and the other entries!!  They rocked this challenge this week!!

To create this easy CAS “hybrid” card:

Using My Digital Studio (MDS) print out the snowflakes from Serene Snowflakes  and the greeting from More Merry Messages onto Whisper White cardstock.  One thing I love about MDS is that you can re-size your stamp images (not to mention flip, freverse, mirror and so many other things) plus the images do not “retire” :-)

Cut the panel and trim the sentiment to size and adhere to Basic Black cardstock.

With the Big Shot™ and the Delicate Designs (snowflake) Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock along the sides that will be showing on the card front.

Mount the center printed snowflake panel and add the sentiment with SU! Dimensionals. Add the Rhinestones to the center of the snowflakes and at the corners of the sentiment and attach the 5/8” Basic Black Satin Ribbon bow to finish off the card.

Quick and easy!!  Although it was a bit difficult to obtain a good photo of this card- the Rhinestones do not show up as well as they do IRL and since there is so much white, it was hard to avoid the shadows but my husband said he liked this card- high praise indeed! :-)

Stamp Sets:  None- My Digital Studio- Serene Snowflakes, More Merry Messages

Ink: Printer Ink- Black

Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Delicate Designs (snowflake) Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Rhinestones, 5/8” Basic Black Satin Ribbon (retired)

Thanks again for stopping by!  This would be an easy card to duplicate in time for Christmas- I think it would be pretty with a red or possible green bow on some of them!!  Have a great week creating and God Bless!

Chickadee Christmas- "Hybrid" Clean and Simple

Hi Stampers!   

In January, I decided to sign up for the CCC12Splitcoaststampers Christmas CardChallenge and create at least 20 cards per month- unfortunately due to my unforeseen overtime work schedule and a few unexpected Design Team assignments, I am woefully behind on my commitment :-(

While enjoying an extra day off during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I decided to take a day to create a set of Christmas cards for the CCC12 Challenge using the Splitcoaststampers WT402Challenge- Black and White with a “pop” of color.

One way I have found that is successful in creating a batch of cards is to utilize My Digital Studio (MDS) to create the images and then use dry embossing, ribbon and other techniques to create a “hybrid” card.  I love the crisp and detailed image of the bird with MDS :-)  

 Just a reminder- if you have not tried MDS yet, now is a great time since it is half price through November 28^th (check out the Online Extravaganza Sale thru my Online Store).

Smaller circle image 

I used MDS to print out the chickadee image from Beautiful Season (in several sizes to fill the entire piece of 8.5 x 11 cardstock), the sentiment from More Merry Messages and a few sentiments from Christmas Lodge onto Whisper White cardstock.  

FYI- All of these sets were additional downloads that I purchased after the initial investment in MDS but the digital version of the stamp sets are so economical that I like to purchase the actual stamp and the digital as well to supplement my “inventory” - a girl cannot have too many stamps! :-)

Some of the cards I used a Circle Punch to cut out the chickadee image and others I used an oval Sizzix Framelit™ or just cut a rectangle with the paper cutter around the image.  Add the "pop" of color on the berries using a Real Red Stampin’ Write marker.

Easy Rectangle Image 

Layer the focal image onto a Whisper White or Basic Black card front (Whisper Whitee embossed with the Petals-A-Plenty and Basic Black with the Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder).  

Punch banner corners on some of the sentiment pieces (using the corner of a 1” Square Punch) and layer onto Basic Black or Real Red.  Adhere at an angle either at the top or bottom of the focal image. On one of the sentiment banners I used the Circle Punch to round the corners versus the banner points :-)

Add the 5/8” Real Red Satin Ribbon bow, adhere to a Whisper White card base and you are finished!

   

Version with the Lacy Brocade Basic Black card front 

Stamp Sets:  My Digital Studio- Beautiful Season, More Merry Messages, Christmas Lodge

 Ink: Printer Ink- Black , Stampin’ 

Write Marker- Real Red

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Petals-A-Plenty and Lacy BrocadeTextured Impressions™ Embossing Folders, Oval Framelits™, 2" and 2 1/2' Circle Punches (or use the Circle Cutter),  5/8” Real Red Satin Ribbon (retired)

Thanks for visiting!  Have a wonderful week and hopefully, I will be sharing more Christmas cards shortly (time is running out! :-))