A Banner Christmas!

Have you started your Christmas cards yet?  I've begun but not finished... Today's card is one I did for a workshop last week using my newest Christmas set entitled A Banner Christmas; I believe I'll be making more of these for my Christmas card list!

I love the banners that spell out JOY!  And the smaller "Christmas" word sits easily above the banner if you wish to use it!   I stamped JOY on Whisper White cardstock with Raspberry Ripple, diecut it with a Deco Label Framelit then layered it onto a larger Raspberry Ripple framelit.

The "Christmas" was inked in Old Olive and punched out with the Word Window Punch; I just love that it fit perfectly!  The small tree is Silver Glimmer Paper inked with a Sponge Dauber and Old Olive ink then punched out with the tree shape from the Merry Minis Punch Pack set.  The punch set of three mini holiday punches (little star, ornament, tree) is on the Carry-Over list from the 2012-13 Catalog but isn't shown in the current catalog.  However, you can see and purchase it in my online Stampin' Up! store HERE.  It works perfectly with this set!

Fun Stampin' with Margaret!  A Banner Christmas, Season of Style DSP.  Deco Label Framelits for a contemporary Christmas card. SU

On the left is a panel of white polka dots on Old Olive background from the Season of Style Designer Paper.  These papers and the set coordinate perfectly! (actually they were designed to do just that!) lol!  A diagonal piece of Raspberry Ripple 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon accents the panel.

A Banner Christmas   Wood (130252) or Clear (130255) Mount, 7 pcs.,  p. 23, 2013 Holiday Catalog.

Season of Style Double-sided Designer Paper, 12 x 12, 12 sheets, #132340, $10.95

Deco Labels Collection Framelit Dies   #130102    $24.95

 Thanks for visiting today!  Here's wishing you happy stampin'!

Margaret

Tags 4 You: Trick or Treat!

I love sharing little gifts with my friends, don't you?  They are such fun to make and to receive!  Today I have two treats to share, both using the Tags 4 You set and Bracket Label Punch!

First is a chocolate bar wrapped in Pumpkin Pie cardstock that has been embossed in the Big Shot using the Houndstooth TIEF to give it great texture.  Strips of three patterns from the Modern Medley DSP (one of my faves!) were then wrapped around it.

 The trick or treat from the Tags 4 You set was stamped with VersaMark on Pumpkin Pie Cardstock and heat embossed with Black Embossing Powder (love that shine!)    After punching out with the new Bracket Label Punch it was adhered with Dimensionals then a little bow made with the 1/8" Black Taffeta Ribbon was added.  Viola!  Ready to gift!

 

The next project is a double treat and one of my favorite snacks (however only infrequently! lol!):  chocolate bar + popcorn!   I found a box of these Halloween popcorn packages at my local warehouse club and thought they would be so much fun to decorate!  The chocolate bar is behind the popcorn package.

I used a band of the Tangerine Tango  marbleized paper from the Venetian Romance collection edged with strips of Basic Black cardstock.    Tip:  This is a good way to use up strips of cardstock left from cutting for other projects!  I heat embossed the Trick or Treat in Black, colored the outside edge with a Tangerine Tango Stampin' Write Marker;  I punched a Large Oval out of the polka dot from the Modern Medley DSP, cut it in half and adhered it to the back of the label.  That's it!

Product Bundles are a great way to stretch your stamping dollars!  Each bundle in the Annual and Holiday catalogs will save you 15% over the price of purchasing the bundle items separately! 

Here is the Tags 4 You set and Label Bracket Punch bundle found on page 37 of the Holiday Catalog:

Tags 4 You Bundle:  #133293 Wood,  #133294 Clear

Venetian Romance Designer Series Paper     #130144     $10.95    12 - 12"x12" double-sided sheets

All items used here are from Stampin' Up!  You may purchase these and all Stampin' Up! products from my online Stampin' Up! ordering website HERE.   

If you are ordering online, the current Hostess Code is RTYSBTAY.
 
If the total amount of everyone ordering with this code goes over $150. I will draw a name from those ordering to win FREE Hostess Benefits!  This number is valid through Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013, but your online order using this code will be packed and shipped shortly after you finalize it!
 
Thank you so much for your support and your orders!  I really appreciate you!

Happy Stampin'!

Margaret

Envelope Punch Board, New Hostess Code & Halloween Happiness File Folder Card!

Stampin' Up! announced Friday that due to it's popularity, their supply of the Envelope Punch Board will soon be exhausted!  If you want one soon, you'll need to order it right away~ or wait awhile : (

Have you seen or used it?  Its a wonderful new tool for stampers!  Need an unusual size envelope?  Need a special coordinating envelope for your card?  Wish to use up some retired papers?  Feeling creative?  Then you will WANT to have this amazing tool!

 

Watch the Video to see how easy it is to use:

#133774

Envelope Punch Board

$19.95

• It creates totally customizable envelopes in up to 66 different sizes (not to mention a million different color and pattern options depending on the paper you want to use). Even tried and true envelope sizes will only take you moments to create!
• It's super easy to use;  all you have to do is measure for the first punch and from there you just turn and score !  Wow!
• It's small and lightweight; this makes it easy for you to take it and to store it. It's small and light enough that you could use it while watching a soccer match, at a park, at a friend's for craft night-anywhere.
• It even has a slick scoring tool as well as a punch that lets you create rounded corners on your envelopes.
• It's easy to keep it all together; the stylus storage compartment and two punches are designed into the tool so you don't have a bunch of little pieces to keep track of (even the instructions are printed right on the tool so you won't lose them!).
• The price is terrific-especially for a tool that does so much!

 Besides envelopes, you can use this fab tool for other projects too!  Here is a "File Folder" card I made using the EPB for the unique shape on the top of the card:

I recently saw a fun card made by Linda Callahan that inspired me to use my new Halloween Happiness set.  The file-folder cards are so easy to make now that we have the Envelope Punch Board! 

Stamps:  Halloween Happiness #131859 wood, $9.95, p. 20, Holiday Catalog Ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Gumball Green Stampin Write Markers Paper:  This and That Designer Series Paper; Very Vanilla, Whisper White Accessories:  Pumpkin Pie 3/4" Chevron Ribbon, This 'n That Date Stamp, Linen Thread, Hung Up Cute Clips, Designer Brights Collection Buttons, Dimensionals. To ORDER, click HERE! If you are ordering online, the current Hostess Code is RTYSBTAY.  If the total amount of everyone ordering with this code goes over $150. I will draw a name to win FREE Hostess Benefits! All items used here are from Stampin' Up!  You may purchase these and all Stampin' Up! products from my online Stampin' Up! ordering website HERE.    Thank you so much for your support!   Have a good weekend! Margaret

MERRY Thinlit, Negative Space

This card uses the "negative space" left by cutting out the Merry Thinlit for the card I posted Saturday (here).  Isn't that great to be able to use both the cut and the paper left... double the use!  And no waste!

The card is Cherry Cobbler cardstock, 5-1/2" x 4-1/4" finished size.  On top of that is a layer 5" x 3-1/2" which has been dry embossed with the Stylish Stripes embossing folder (#132174, p. 22, Holiday Catalog).  A tie of Cherry Cobbler 3/4" Chevron Ribbon (#130012, p. 173, Annual Catalog) dresses the top of this panel; below is a panel of Gold Foil Sheet (#132622, pkg. of two 12 x 12", p. 28, Holiday Catalog).  Notice the top and bottom edges were cut with the Stampin' Trimmer Rotary Blade Addition and Small Scallop Blade (p. 176-177, Annual Catalog).

All items are from Stampin' Up!  You may purchase these and all Stampin' Up! products from my online Stampin' Up! website HERE.  Once there just click on the "Shop Now" link.  Thank you so much for your support!
 

That's it for today!  Hope you enjoy and come back soon!

Margaret

Very Merry Tags Card

Here is another Christmas card from our demonstrator Stamp-a-Stack made with new items from the Holiday Catalog!  It is actually a gift card holder also!

The card was made using the versatile Very Merry Tags stamp set (wood or clear, p. 33, Holiday Catalog) and the Season of Style Designer Series Paper (#132340, Holiday Catalog, pg.23)   Love this polka-dot paper with Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Crumb Cake and Baked Brown Sugar!

This card measures 4-3/4" x 3-1/2" and fits the Crumb Cake Note Card Envelopes.   The envelope is stamped with two more of the stamps in the set.

Here is the inside featuring a "pocket" of DSP from the same collection.  Such a festive card and great presentation for a gift card!

Here is what you'll find in the Very Merry Tags set:

Very Merry Tags   #130393w  $24.95; #130402c   $17.95;  p. 33, Holiday Catalog. 

 Thanks for visiting today!  I'll have another card from the Stamp-a-Stack posted soon!

Margaret

Pumpkin Happy Birthday CCMC266

Time for another Thursday challenge from Create with Connie and Mary, and today it is a color challenge:  Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango and Crushed Curry!

I recently got the Perfectly You Hostess set and the Halloween Happiness single pumpkin stamp from the Holiday Catalog and thought what with the colors this week, this would be a great chance to combine all these for a fun little banner on a card.  

The Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper was used for two of the banners as it has all three of these challenge colors.  The two pumpkins on the ends are from the Halloween Happiness set and were colored with markers, stamped then punched out with the Hexagon Punch.  The center pumpkin is from the Perfectly You set.  Linen Thread with Glue Dots holds the banners.

The card base is Crushed Curry.  A layer of Chocolate Chip Core-dinations cardstock was dry embossed with the Woodgrain embossing folder and the Big Shot then sanded to reveal the lighter core.   The Happy Birthday greeting is stamped onto another Crushed Curry print from the same Sweater Weather package. 

Here again is the color scheme for the Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge this week: 

Check out all the other cards from the fabulous CCMC Design Team members on the CCMC blog!  Also, check out the challenge guidelines while you're there then create your own card using these colors!

Stamps:  Bring on the Cake, Halloween Happiness, Perfectly You.

Inks:  Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango; Tangerine Tango, Old Olive and Soft Suede Markers

Papers:  Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper; Crushed Curry and Very Vanilla cardstock; Chocolate Chip Core-dinations from the Neutrals Core-dinations Pack.

Accessories:  Linen Thread, Hexagon Punch, Hearts a Flutter Framelits (two banners), Brights Designer Buttons, Neutrals Designer Buttons, Candy Dot, Sanding Block, Big Shot.

Thanks for joining me today!  Hope you enjoy all the designer's cards for this challenge and give this challenge a try yourself!

Margaret

Blooming with Kindness Tango

Today is the last day to sign up for the Fall Collection Early Bird Special at Create with Connie and Mary and also Blog Candy! All week we have been celebrating fall stamps, colors and other fall-inspired products from the new Holiday Catalog!  Here's one of my favorite stamps that, although not new, looks great in fall colors and combined with new Fall products from the Holiday Catalog!!

What a great flower is this chrysanthemum bloom!  I stamped it in Tangerine Tango ink onto Very Vanilla cardstock and added a few speckles of Crushed Curry.  It was diecut with a Deco Label Framelit.

The card base is Chocolate Chip treated with the new Stylish Stripes Textures Impressions Embossing Folder (TIEF).. such a sophisticated design!  The banners are strips of the beautiful new fall designer paper, Sweater Weather.

The sentiment is from Itty Bitty Banners and cut out with the coordinating framelit from the Bitty Banners Framelits.  It is stamped in Chocolate Chip and a touch of Tangerine Tango added with the Marker.  A Chocolate Chip button tied with twine finishes it.  The entire card was spritzed with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spray, which is somewhat visible in the top photo; this gives it a pretty shimmer and sheen.

Stamps:  Blooming with Kindness, Itty Bitty Banners

Inks:  Tangerine Tango pad and Marker, Chocolate Chip

Paper:  Sweater Weather Designer Paper, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand card stocks

Accessories:  Neutrals Designer Buttons, Calypso Coral Baker's Twine, Vanilla Smooch Spritz

Tools:  Stylish Stripes TIEF, Big Shot, Deco Labels Framelits

Hope you enjoy the card today!  Don't forget to visit Create with Connie and Mary today, Saturday; you might win a free subscription to the Fall Collection which begins tomorrow, Sunday, August 24!

Lovely Romance in Razzleberry

Today's card is made with the Lovely Romance set that is part of the Venetian Romance Suite of products on pg. 61 of the Annual Catalog.  Two of the stamps in the set coordinate with framelits for quick and easy die cutting!  The focal piece of this card coordinates with a framelit from the Chalk Talk set so it is cut out perfectly!

My color scheme is Smoky Slate (the card base), Rich Razzleberry and Pear Pizzazz.  I frequently consult my Color Coach when I began a project; Stampin' Up! also comes out with a new In Colors add-on every year for the Color Coach, so it is always up-to-date.  Love that.

N

A layer of Rich Razzleberry cardstock was dry embossed with the Modern Mosaic TIEF then adhered to a  Pear Pizzazz layer; a length of Pear Pizzazz 3/4" Chevron Ribbon was then wrapped around and secured.  The three-flower rectangle was stamped with Rich Razzleberry onto Whisper White cardstock and cut out, embellished with three Rhinestones that I colored with a Sharpie then adhered to the ribbon... a perfect fit!

Here you can see the other bling I added to the card:  little four-petal flowers punched out with a punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack; I use this punch SO much!  

TIP:  But what.. the Glimmer Paper is green?  Yes, I took a strip of Silver Glimmer Paper, my AquaPainter filled with alcohol and dipped it in Pear Pizzazz ink refill to color the Glimmer Paper.  When dry I punched out my little flowers!  I love that we can have more colors of bling this way!  : )

I made another version of this card on a Whisper White card embossed with the Framed Tulips embossing folder and promised I'd add it.  Here it is:

Lovely Romance set of 5    #130264w   $19.95;    #130267c   $14.95

Remember to go to the Create with Connie and Mary website today to check out Mary's fabulous fall project she posted Monday (free download!) and see who has the blog candy for today (BOTH of them)!  Be sure to register because you could win a free subscription to the four weeks of the Fall Collection!  Really! 

 

Thanks for visiting today! 

Margaret

Harvest of Thanks

Harvest of Thanks is one of the new fall themed sets in the Holiday catalog and immediately caught my eye!  All four of the pieces in this set match a Framelit which makes them quick and easy to cut out and use!  No fussy-cutting there!

The card base is Tangerine Tango, cut 8.5" x 5.5" and folded in half.  Next is a layer of Chocolate Chip cut 4" x 5.25".  On that is a 3-13/16" x 2" layer of Crushed Curry print DSP from the Sweater Weather pack in the upper area and a 3-13/16" x 3" piece of Sahara Sand in the lower area (these pieces will overlap a bit).  The Sahara piece was first stamped with the woven chevron design stamp from the Truly Grateful set then spattered with Tangerine Tango ink and my AquaPainter filled with alcohol.

 I sponged a length of Chocolate Chip 7/8" Chevron Ribbon with Crushed Curry ink to blend it into the color scheme better and adhered it around the card where the layers overlap.  Next I stamped the "Thanks" image onto Tangerine Tango cardstock with Chocolate Chip ink and die cut it with the matching framelit from the Apothecary Accents Framelits set... so easy!  I also stamped one onto Very Vanilla, sponged it lightly with Crushed Curry then hand-cut the "Thanks" area out and adhered it to the label.

Lastly I punched out three small flowers with the BoHo Blossoms Punch, punched out 1/4" Chocolate Chip circles with a hand punch, layered them onto the flowers and centered them with Tangerine Tango Candy Dots from the Brights Collection!  Have you tried those?  They are the "cats pajamas"!  Love 'em!

Remember this is Preview Week over at Create with Connie and Mary!  They are offering free tutorials, blog candy and the opportunity to subscribe with the Early Bird Special lower price!  This week only!  Hurry over to the blog to see who's offering the free tutorial and blog candy TODAY!  (it changes daily!)

Thanks for visiting!  Come back tomorrow for another card for preview week!


Margaret

Truly Grateful!

Happy Sunday everyone!  Today I am excited to share two new things!  First, I 'm excited to announce I have been invited to be a Guest Designer for the Fall Collection on Create with Connie and Mary!  Preview Week for the Fall Collection begins today!  During this week you'll find free downloadable tutorials, blog candy as well as an Early Bird Special reduced price for the Fall Collection subscription!  Be sure and check the Create with Connie and Mary blog today and every day this week!

Secondly, I'm posting my first card made with new fall stamps from the Holiday catalog, and I'll be using this set for my CWCM Fall Designer Project!  For this card I used the new set Truly Grateful which has four nature images and two sentiments.  This set just calls for fall colors and I've used Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, Crushed Curry, Sahara Sand and Very Vanilla.

The chevron motif of the background stamp was repeated by using the Chevron embossing folder on the Chocolate Chip layer and also with the zig-zag Curry trim on the right side.  This accent was cut with the Big Shot and the Tasteful Trim die!  The tangerine layer is designer paper from the new-in-the-Holiday catalog Sweater Weather pack.

"Truly Grateful" greeting is from the set as is the "tree trunk slice" under the Designer Natural Button which is double-tied with Linen Thread.  I used my AquaPainter filled with alcohol with ink refills to do some spattering... I love this technique, and my stamping area looks like it, lol!!

Stamps:  Truly Grateful  (#131730w, #131733c; Holiday catalog, pg. 19)
Papers:  Sweater Weather DSP; Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla card stocks
Inks:  Crushed Curry, Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango
Accessories:  Chevron TIEF, Tasteful Trim Die, Big Shot, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Linen Thread, Designer Naturals Button, Distressing Tool, AquaPainter, Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive.

Thanks for joining me today!  I hope you enjoy the card and remember to check out Connie and Mary's website today and every day this week to see who the other designers are for the Fall Collection, see the free tutorials, sign up for blog candy and see what the Fall Collection is all about!


Margaret

New Single Stamp: Christmas Star

A few days ago Stampin' Up! announced the release of new Single Stamps, and they are all Christmas - Holiday themed!  

On the Stampin' Up! blog (stampinup.com), one of the SU concept artists, Melody H. has shared a couple of wonderful projects using this new star stamp.  Take a look... I'm copying her post here: 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Single Stamps—Christmas Star

Simply Stars is one of my favorite new stamp sets. The new Christmas Star single stamp is quickly climbing the ranks. I’m a fan of big images, and this one is definitely big.

I love stars because they are very versatile. It isn’t an overtly feminine or masculine shape and can be used year-round for all kinds of projects.

This framed décor project is a fun collection of different textures and patterns. Because the star stamp is so large, it easily becomes a popped-up 3D star by scoring and folding. I also used the Chevron Border Punch, the Expressions Thinlits Dies, and a canvas banner piece from the Banner Simply Created Kit in the Holiday catalog.

The Mini Muslin Bag project was a lot of fun to do, too. To get a perfectly crisp image, I heat embossed the star with Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder onto parchment paper, then ironed it onto the muslin bag. It does take the shine off of the embossing powder, but it guarantees a perfect image and perfect placement every time.




This bag would be a perfect holiday gift. I made a bundle of five note card-sized greeting cards and paired them with the new Crumb Cake Note Card envelopes. These cards are very simple—just the Christmas Star stamped in Sahara Sand ink and the Season’s Greetings sentiment from the Joy to The World Stamp Set embossed in gold. I finished it off with a quick Linen Thread bow.

I’ve got several other ideas for using this beautiful stamp. It’s going on my next order for sure. What will you make with the Christmas Star?
Melody H.
Concept Artist

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aren't her projects wonderful?!!  I 'm eager to get this new stamp (and several others too!) and begin making Christmas cards and projects!

Here's the flyer announcing these new stamps, with all the details  (just click on the picture to see the full-size .pdf flyer:
  

  

 These stamps are available for order now!  You may order online through my Stampin' Up! demonstrator website and your order will be shipped directly to you!  The current hostess code is 

CAQH9RZU

After you have entered your first item number , just enter this code in the lower left-hand area of the order screen, then continue entering the remaining items you are ordering, or finalize your order.  Thank you for shopping with me!

Have a good weekend!

Margaret