Happy Thanksgiving 2013!! A Harvest of Blessings :-)

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my stamping friends in the United States!!  I hope all of you have a wonderful day celebrating with family and friends – we have so much to be thankful for in this country!! 

Since most of our family members live too far away for a day trip, we will not be able to see them, but our hearts are with them (we miss all of you)!   

We will be spending some time with friends of ours who have graciously opened their home to us for dinner and I know we will have a fabulous day!! 

I did not have a chance to create a new project this morning but thought I would share a few of my Harvest/Autumn cards that were I have created in the past in preparation for Thanksgiving Day :-)  

These two were created last year and the year before but have a few fun techniques :-)

A Gatefold Card using the Harvest of Blessings set 

A Fall Sunset at the Shore (some of you are lucky enough to see this everyday :-))

This card was created with My Digital Studio images and the sentiment is perfect for today :-)

This sentiment says it all for me- Gratitude for my Savior, my family and friends and our freedom!

This card reminds me of my family who will be celebrating in other states- we are thinking of you and love you!

Harvest of Blessings- All Season Long- this is so true!!

Harvest- So thankful for the Harvest of my life :-)  Having Christ as my Savior is the best blessing of all, my loving husband who will be spending eternity with me as well, my family and friends- yes, truly a Harvest!!

Thanks again for taking the time to visit my blog- you are all a blessing to me and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!!   Hugs to all of you and God Bless!

Fall Harvest- Two Challenges in One!

Hi Stampers! 

I have been working on my Christmas gifts and decided to take a break and create a card using the beautiful fall colors from the Create withConnie and Mary CCMC278 Challenge along with the terrific PPA180 Pals PaperArts Sketch Challenge. The leaves on our oak trees have not dropped yet but we have seen so many fabulous colors this year- fall is my favorite season!!

Love both of these challenge sites- hope you have a chance to check them out!

To create this card:

In My Digital Studio (MDS), open a blank 8.5 x 11 custom page and insert the leaf images from French Foliage, the background wood chevron image from Truly Grateful and the sentiment from Autumn Harvest.  

Change the colors of the leaves and sentiment to Early Espresso and the background chevron to Sahara Sand and print onto Whisper White cardstock.

Cut out the leaves by hand as well as the background chevron.  Cut the chevron into two sections and mount each onto a piece of Always Artichoke cardstock, trim to size.

Color the leaves using Sponge Daubers with Sahara Sand, Always Artichoke and Tangerine Tango Classic Ink.  Scrunch a bit by hand to give a more realistic look :-)

Cut the sentiment layer and add the banner points using the Hexagon Punch. Distress the edges using the Distressing Tool and sponge a bit of Always Artichoke Classic Ink around the edges.  Use the Stampin’ Write Sahara Sand marker to add a few shadows around the wheat images and the sentiment.

Layer two pieces of Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper (DSP) onto a piece of Always Artichoke cardstock and emboss with the Big Shot™ and the Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder.

Add a scrap strip of Always Artichoke cardstock to cover the seams and adhere the wood chevron background strips per the sketch.

Adhere the panel to the Sahara Sand card base and sponge Always Artichoke around the edges to distress the background a bit.

Add the leaves to the panels using Mini Glue Dots and the sentiment using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.  Use the Color Spritzer Tool along with the Always Artichoke Stampin’ Write marker to add a bit more distressing and finish off with the card.

Stamp Sets:  Truly Grateful, French Foilage, Autumn Harvest- all MDS

Ink: Printer Ink- Early Espresso, Sahara Sand, Stampin’ Write Marker- Sahara Sand, Always Artichoke

Paper: Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Sweater Weather DSP

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Hexagon Punch, Color Spritzer Tool, Tangerine Tango Candy Dots

Thanks again for stopping by!  Hope you have a wonderful Monday and have fun stamping!

DD80 Triple Threat Christmas

Hi Stampers!  

This week’s Dynamic Duos DD80 “Triple Threat” Challenge uses Blushing Bride, Raspberry Ripple and Pear Pizzazz.   Again, I hope you will find the time to visit the rest of the fabulous Design Team projects- they rocked the challenge this week!!   

The Dynamic Duos Challenge Blog

Anne Marie Hile

Annette Elliott

Angel Johns

Caroline Bredeson

Cindy Brumbaugh

Holly Endress

JoAnn Burnham

Julie Gearinger

Michelle Bala

Sarah Fleming 

Tenia Nelson

Since Christmas is almost here, I decided to create another Christmas card design :-)

To create this card:

I decided to dig into my retired stamp collection and use the poinsettia image from one of the Christmas sets from years ago – My Favorite Frame (Holiday Frame).

Stamp the image using Early Espresso Classic Ink onto Whisper White cardstock and color using Stampin’ Write markers- Blushing Bride and Raspberry Ripple for the petals and berries, Pear Pizzazz for the leaves.  Add a few highlights with the Chalk Marker (this marker will be carried over in the upcoming Occasions Mini- yea!)

Use the Big Shot™ with the Ovals Collection Framelits™ to cut out the image and mount onto a piece of Blushing Bride and Raspberry Ripple cardstock (also cut from the same oval framelit™). 

With the Big Shot™ and the Window Frames Collection Framelits™, cut a window frame from Raspberry Ripple cardstock and emboss with the retired Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder- cut in half by hand in the middle horizontally.

Stamp the label image from Everything Eleanor onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  Emboss using the Big Shot™ with the retired Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder and cut around the outline by hand and cut in half vertically in the middle.

Ink the background stamp, Ex Libris with Raspberry Ripple Classic Ink and stamp onto a piece of Blushing Bride cardstock.  Trim to 4 1/8” x 5 3/8”.  Mount onto a piece of Raspberry Ripple cardstock.

Stamp the sentiment from Greetings of the Season using Raspberry Ripple Classic Ink onto Whisper White cardstock and cut the banner points using the Hexagon Punch.  Layer onto a piece of Raspberry Ripple cardstock and mirror cut the points with the Hexagon Punch as well :-)

Layer onto the card base the Everything Eleanor label (with the center spread apart to reach the edges of the card) and add the Window Frame (again spread apart) to cover the split areas of the Pear Pizzazz label at the top and bottom.  Add the Poinsettia focal image and sentiment using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Add the double satin ribbon bow and Pearls to finish off the card.  

Stamp Sets:  Greetings of the Season, Ex Libris, Everything Eleanor, retired Favorite Frame (Holiday)

Ink: Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Raspberry Ripple, Stampin’ Write 

Markers- Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Raspberry Ripple, Chalk Marker

Paper: Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Raspberry Ripple

Accessories:  Big Shot™, retired Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Window Frames and Ovals Collection Framelits™, Hexagon Punch, Pearls, satin ribbon from my stash

Thanks again for stopping by!  I hope all of you will have a chance to visit us at The Dynamic Duos andplay along in our DD80 “Triple Threat” this week!!  

Black Tie Christmas- Card #2 :-)

Hi Stampers! 

I wanted to create one more card using last week’s DD79 Black Tie Challenge colors from the Dynamic Duos and decided to include the dessert option of Christmas again :-)

The winners have been posted for this challenge, and if you have not had a chance to visit yet, I hope you will check them out- wonderful examples of how two colors can be interpreted!!

 

Also, the new weekly DD80 “Triple Threat” Challenge will be starting at 12:00 noon EST today –looking forward to seeing you in the gallery :-)

To create this card:

In My Digital Studio (MDS), open a blank 8.5 x 11 custom page and insert the ornament image from Festive Flurries along with the sentiment from More Merry Messages onto Whisper White cardstock. 

*** Hint **** Whenever printing images in MDS for card making, fill up your page before printing with other images that you may use in the future.

Cut the ornament out with the 1 ¾” Circle Punch and mount onto another circle cut from Basic Black cardstock (cut the black circle in half vertically).  Create the top of the ornament using a scrap piece of Smoky Slate cardstock and mount a few scraps of Basic Black on the sides- adhere this behind the circle ornament.

Use the AquaPainter™ with Platinum Shimmer Paint to cover the top of the ornament and parts of the snowflake.  Add the Basic Black cardstock strip in the center and punch out a ½” Circle to put in the center.  Add the Frosted Finishes Embellisment to the center of the small circle using Mini Glue Dots and wrap the retired Silver Cord around the top of the ornament – place a Rhinestone in the center to hold the cord in place. 

Use the Big Shot™ with the retired Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Smoky Slate cardstock and Silver Foil Paper.  Add a few scraps of Basic Black cardstock to the back of the embossed Smoky Slate layer, adhere the Silver Foil strip in the middle and the Whisper White border (from the Big Shot™ and the Finishing Touches Edgelits™) at the bottom.   Mount onto the DSP panel, trim to size, adhere to a Whisper White cardstock layer and again onto a piece of Smoky Slate cardstock.

Add the ornament to the center of the front of the card using Stampin’ Dimensionals® and adhere the tails of the Silver Cord behind the card front.  Mount the entire panel onto the Basic Black card base.

Trim the sentiment and add banner points using the 1” Square Punch. Mount onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock and trim to match the banner.  Mount to the card front over the Silver Cord using Stampin’ Dimensionals™ to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Festive Flurry, More Merry Messages– both MDS

Ink: Printer Ink- Black

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Smoky Slate, Silver Foil, retired Mocha Morning DSP

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Finishing Touches Edgelits™, retired Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Punches- 1” Square, 1 ¾” Circle; Frosted Finishes Embellishment, Rhinestones, retired Silver Cord, Platinum Shimmer Paint

Thanks again for visiting!  I hope will have a chance to visit again and check out the new DD80Dynamic Duos Challenge!

SUO84 Snowy Christmas Night

Hi Stampers! 

It’s time for the new SUO84 SU-Only Challenge and the theme this for this challenge is “Let It Snow”.  I wanted to create another scene with falling snow, so decided to use the Masking Technique along with other techniques to create this card.

I hope you will take time to visit the SU-Only Challenge site and check out the rest of the Design Team’s creations- a fabulous array of different styles and projects!! 

And of course, we would love to see you link up your “Let It Snow” card or project using Stampin’ Up! Only products- hope to see you there :-) !

To create this card:

Punch out a circle using the 1 ¼” Circle Punch from a sticky note and place the mask over the area for the moon on a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  Using Sponge Daubers lightly apply Pool Party Classic Ink, followed by Coastal Cabana Classic Ink and finally with Island Indigo Classic Ink.

Ink the row of tree lined images from Lovely As A Tree with Midnight Muse Classic Ink and stamp a few rows over the horizon area, follow with repeated stamping of the solid pine tree image from Evergreen (also inked with Midnight Muse Classic Ink).

Stamp the falling snow using Whisper White Craft Ink and the small dotted background stamp from Gorgeous Grunge.  Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.

Tearing a few layers of Whisper White cardstock to create the snowy banks on the lower part of the card, use the Two-Way Glue to apply adhesive and Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

Stamp the sentiment from More Merry Messages using Midnight Muse Classic Ink and hand tear around the sentiment, apply Two-Way Glue and Dazzling Diamonds glitter as well.

Adhere the layers of “snow” to the lower part of the Whisper White base and add the sentiment along with the 5/8” White Organza Double Ribbon bow. 

Adhere the entire panel to the Midnight Muse card base and add the Frosted Flurry Embellishment to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Evergreen, Lovely As A Tree, More Merry Messages

Ink: Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Island Indigo, Midnight Muse

Paper/Cardstock:  Whisper White, Midnight Muse

Accessories: Sponge Daubers, Two-Way Glue, Dazzling Diamonds, 5/8” White Organza Ribbon, Frosted Flurry Embellishment

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you will find the time to visit us and enter your project into the SU-Only SUO84 “Let It Snow” Challenge - have a great day!!

CAS Gratitude for The Paper Players

Hi Stampers!!

I wanted to create a CAS card for this week’s PP172 CAS with Leaves from ThePaper Players (Nance’s Challenge).   I hope you have had a chance to check out all of the Design Team samples as well as the wonderful entries- they are all fabulous!!

I recently purchased a small leaf die cut that has an embossed image insert to complement the SU! Leaves Original Die and decided to use it for this card along with some retired rub-ons, current stamp sets and a quick, easy layout.

To create this card:

Use the Big Shot™ to cut the leaf die from a piece of Early Espresso cardstock and another cut with the insert on a piece of Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper (DSP) and using Sponge Daubers, lightly sponge Tangerine Tango and Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink around the edges and the veins of the leaves.

Punch out one more 2 ½” circle from Early Espresso cardstock to use a base and glue the Early Espresso circle with the die cut leaf onto the base circle.  Glue the embossed and sponged leaf into the center.

Stamp the sentiment from Fabulous Phrases using Early Espresso Classic Ink onto Whisper White cardstock, punch out using the 1 ¼” Circle Punch.

On a piece of Soft Sky cardstock, rub-on the wheat spray from the retired Autumn Traditions rub-ons.  Using Early Espresso Classic Ink, stamp the script stamp from Background Builders and the small dot splatter type stamp from Gorgeous Grunge to add a bit of "texture" :-). 

Adhere two scrap strips of Early Espresso cardstock to the top and bottom of the panel and adhere the sentiment to the bottom of the panel.  Mount the panel onto a piece of Whisper White and stamp a few more images from Gorgeous Grunge at the upper top and bottom lower edge of the card front.

Adhere to another piece of Early Espresso cardstock, trim and add to the Soft Sky card base using Stampin’ Dimensionals® and add the die cut leaf circle using Stampin’ Dimensionals® as well to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Background Builders, Fabulous Phrases, Gorgeous Grunge

Ink: Early Espresso, Tangerine Tango, Rich Razzleberry

Paper: Whisper White, Soft Sky, Sweater Weather DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, retired Autumn Traditions rub-ons, Punches—2 ½” XL Circle, 1 ¼” Circle, non SU! Leaf Die with Embossing Insert

Thanks again for stopping by- have a wonderful Tuesday!   

Happy Birthday Anne Marie!!

Hi Stampers! 

This past week, Anne Marie Hile celebrated a milestone birthday and I wanted to create a card in her honor for the  Dynamic Duos Happy Birthday Surprise Linky Party for Anne Marie!   

 I met Anne Marie a few years ago through my Guest Designer spot on The Paper Players and have always admired her artwork!  Now I get to interact with her weekly again through the Dynamic Duos Design Team- I am so thrilled!

Anne Marie loves pink so I decided to incorporate some shades of pink in the card and use the CCMC277Sketch for the layout.   I hope you will have the time to visit the Dynamic Duos site (scroll down a bit past the new challenge to see all of the other cards for Anne Marie) as well as the Create with Connie and Mary site! 

 

To create this card:

Use an AquaPainter™ to apply a light coat of Pool Party Classic Ink onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  

Allow to dry and stamp the Notable Notions script image over the background as well as the stem from Field Flowers using Early Espresso Classic Ink.  

Punch out with the 2 ½” XL Circle Punch and adhere another 2 ½” Circle from Early Espresso cardstock behind the stamped images. 

  

Stamp the flowers from Field Flowers onto a separate piece of Whisper White using Early Espresso Classic Ink.  Color using Stampin’ Write Markers- Blush Blossom, Primrose Petals and Sahara Sand. Add a few highlights with the Chalk Marker and “fussy-cut” the flowers mounting onto the stems using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Use the Big Shot™ to emboss a piece of Blushing Bride Designer Series Paper (DSP) with the Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder.  Trim and mount onto a card base of Early Espresso cardstock.

Ink the interior of the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder using Raspberry Ripple Classic Ink and emboss a piece of Raspberry Ripple cardstock.  Trim for the vertical panels of the sketch (rounding the outside corners of the smallest panel using the Envelope Punch Board). 

Create the banner from I Am Me DSP and mount onto a piece of Early Espresso cardstock.  Add the scrap trim of the embossed Raspberry Ripple cardstock. 

Add the vertical panels, the banner to the card front and the focal image (using Stampin’ Dimensionals®).   

Stamp the sentiment using Early Espresso cardstock, punch out using the Word Window Punch and adhere to a piece of Early Espresso cardstock (punched with the Modern Label punch). 

Stamp Sets: Field Flowers, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Notable Notions

Ink: Early Espresso, Pool Party, Stampin’ Write markers- Old Olive, Blushing Bride, Primrose Petals, Sahara Sand

Paper/Cardstock:  Whisper White, Early Espresso, Raspberry Ripple, Designer Series Paper- I Am Me, retired Blushing Bride

Accessories: Big Shot™, Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders- Vintage Wallpaper (retired), Woodgrain;   AquaPainter™, Punches- 2 ½” XL Circle, Word Window, Modern Label, Hexagon (for banner), Pearls

Thanks again for stopping by- Happy Birthday Anne Marie!! 

DD79 Black Tie Christmas

Hi Stampers! 

This week’s Dynamic Duos DD79 Challenge is “Black Tie” week with the dessert option of Christmas.  

I decided to use My Digital Studio (MDS) to create the images and traditional card making techniques for a “hybrid” card   :-)

To create this card:

Using MDS, use the brush stamp set from Day of Gratitude and More Merry Messages- print out onto Whisper White cardstock.

Carefully cut out the Day of Gratitude image and color the center of the image with an AquaPainter™ and Platinum Shimmer Paint.

Use the Big Shot™ to cut out a 3 ½” Circle from a piece of Basic Black cardstock (I was able to use a scrap piece from a previous project that already had this opening cut out)- adhere this to a piece of Whisper White cardstock and again to a piece of Smoky Slate cardstock.   

Punch out a 2 ½” Circle from Smoky Slate and another one from Basic Black cardstock.  Cut the Basic Black circle in half and adhere behind the Smoky Slate circle (allowing a bit to show on the sides by spreading out the circle).  Mount this circle into the center of the 3 ½” Circle created in the above step.

Add the 5/8” Basic Black triple ribbon bow and add the Day of Gratitude using Stampin’ Dimensionals®. 

Use the Big Shot™ with the Northern Flurry Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock.   Adhere this to a piece of Basic Black cardstock, add the lace along with another strip of 5/8” Basic Black Satin ribbon and adhere the entire panel to the Whisper White card base.

Use the 1 3/8” Circle punch to curve the edges of the sentiment, mount onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock and curve the edges on the Basic Black layer using the 1 3/8” Circle Punch, adhere to the card using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Add the Rhinestone to the center of the medallion and the Frosted Finishes embellishment to the center of the bow. 

Stamp Sets:  Day of Gratitude, More Merry Messages (both MDS)

Ink: Printer Ink- Black

Paper: Basic Black, Smoky Slate, Whisper White

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Northern Flurry Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Circles Collection Framelits™, Frosted Finishes Embellishment, Rhinestones, Punches- 2 ½” Circle, 1 3/8” Circle; 5/8” Basic Black Satin Ribbon (retired), AquaPainter™, Platinum Shimmer Paint (retired), Lace (from my stash)

Thanks again for stopping by!  Again, I hope all of you will have a chance to visit us at The Dynamic Duos and play along this week!!  

The Dynamic Duos Challenge Blog

Anne Marie Hile

Annette Elliott

Angel Johns

Caroline Bredeson

Cindy Brumbaugh

Holly Endress

JoAnn Burnham

Julie Gearinger

Michelle Bala

Sarah Fleming 

Tenia Nelson