Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Christmas for my Bestie


My BFF and I are apparently still on the same wavelength, even though we've been best friends for 48 years a looong time, and we live 2,300 miles apart. (It all started when we were in junior high. I'd change my hair color, stop by her house on the way to school to pick her up, and her hair would be the same color!)

She made an adorable shaker card for me for Christmas, with a cat and dog colored to look like May and Pumpkin. And while hers was on the way here, I was making one for her! Great minds!

I had a bit of trouble with static making the glitter stick to the inside of the window sheet, so it really looks snowy and frosty! I think next time I'll use sequins or something a bit chunkier. For my first attempt, I layered the die cuts behind the window sheet and added the glitter. It covered the dies cuts and you couldn't see any details. The second attempt was successful. I sandwiched the die cuts between two layers of window sheet so the glitter could moved freely without getting hung up on the die cuts. Wile E Coyote - super genius!

That white snowflake started as one of the wooden Snowflake Elements. I dipped it in Whisper White Craft ink, then white embossing powder and heated it with the Heat Tool. Then I dipped it on the ink pad again and into Iridescent Ice embossing powder and heated it. It turned out all sparkly, but I don't think you can see it in the photo.


If you want those Wooden Snowflake Elements, you better get them SOON. The Holiday Catalog ends in five days!

Monday, December 14, 2015

Happy Birthday, Chickie!

STAMPS: Honeycomb Happiness (coming Jan.), Elementary Elegance (ret.)  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Real Red, Brights DSP (ret.), Cherry on Top DSP Stack  INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers B18, B34, R27, Y02, Y15, Y26, Y28  ACCESSORIES:   Big Shot, Elegant Dots embossing folder, Banner Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1-1/38" Circle Punch, Whisper White Baker's Twine

I just couldn't resist using that little chick image again, this time with the balloon from the same Honeycomb Happiness set (a SAB freebie!). I love the way the bird has its head kind of cocked to one side.

Stamped on Whisper White with Memento ink, colored with Copic markers. I hope it brought a smile to Jeannie's face when she opened it. Happy birthday, Jeannie!

Saturday, December 12, 2015

More Sneak Peeks!

STAMPS: Birthday Blooms (coming Jan.)  CARDSTOCK: Shimmery White, Blushing Bride, Mossy Meadow, Birthday Bouquet DSP (coming Jan.), Blushing Bride Glimmer (coming Jan.)  INK: Basic Black Archival, Watermelon Wonder, Mossy Meadow, Mint Macaron, Clear and Gold Wink of Stella (coming Jan.)  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Lots of Labels Framelits Dies, Softly Falling embossing folder, Aqua Painters, Itty Bitty Accents Heart Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

I needed some cards to send to my downline, and what better way to say "Hey, I'm thinking of you!" than to use a new stamp set from the Occasions Catalog. Now they'll have a sample to show their stamping friends, as well as a sample of the new Birthday Bouquet Designer Series Paper!

If you know me, you know I love to color, so the Birthday Blooms set caught my eye right away. I stamped the blossom on Shimmery White cardstock using Basic Black Archival Ink. The Shimmery White is sturdy enough for watercoloring, which is the technique I wanted to use. Can you believe that's Watermelon Wonder ink? You can see how if you dilute it you get a lighter shade. Aqua Painters are great for that!

How did I choose the colors for this card? Well, Stampin' Up! made that really easy for me. All I did was pick some of the colors used in the Birthday Bouquet DSP. That was how I chose Watermelon Wonder for the flower, and Mossy Meadow for the leaves. And I never would have thought to use Mint Macaron for the little accent flowers, but after stamping a sample I saw it coordinated beautifully. I should have known....SU wouldn't steer me wrong!

Shimmery White cardstock already has a lovely subtle glimmer to it, but I wanted to add more, so I used the Clear Wink of Stella over the buds and blossom. Yes, that's coming in the new catalog, too! And I used Gold W.O.S. on the stamen. It's difficult to get a good picture of it, but I tried!


Here are some of the cards that were sent out. Each one had more DSP samples inside. (That's one of the perks of joining my team! Click here if you'd like more information.)


Stay tuned....more sneak peeks are in the works!

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Sending Special Thoughts (and Sneak Peek!)

STAMPS: Honeycomb Happiness (coming Jan.)  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Basic Black, Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper (coming Jan.)  INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers B18, B34, E17, Y26, Y28  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Elegant Dots embossing folder, Banner Punch
I have a friend who is dealing with some major health issues and wanted to send a note to let her know I'm thinking of her. This little chickie is in the upcoming Sale-A-Bration set called Honeycomb Happiness that is just too sweet for words, and I thought it, along with the one of the sentiments included, would be perfect.

I stamped it with Memento ink, then colored a little "blue bird of happiness" with Copic makers. The greeting was slightly askew, so I decided to turn the whole image so it isn't noticeable. Lesson for the day: Stamp the greeting before you color the image, in case you mess up like I did. I could have stamped it on a label and fastened it over the first one, but I was going for the CAS (clean and simple) look with no bulk for easy mailing.

See that luscious Glimmer Paper? That's Blushing Bride and will be available in the Occasions Catalog that starts January 5th!

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Perfect Pairings Sneak Peek Thanks

STAMPS: Perfect Pairings (coming in Jan.)  CARDSTOCK: Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, Winter Wonderland Designer Vellum Stack, Vellum  INK: Basic Black Archival, White Gel Pen  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Cups & Kettle Framelits Dies (coming Jan.), Softly Falling embossing folder, Bermuda Bay 1/8" Stitched Ribbon (coming Jan.), Stampin' Dimensionals

This was the card I sent with a little thank you gift to the stamping friends who participated in last week's Online Extravaganza. Unfortunately, we didn't have a hostess because the order didn't qualify, but at least everyone who did place an order received a little something!

This stamp set is part of the FREE (with qualifying purchase) Sale-A-Bration offerings coming next month! There are SO MANY awesome new stamp sets and products coming, both in the Occasions catalog and the Sale-A-Bration flyer, it'll knock your socks off! For instance, that die cut mug and wisp of steam are part of the new Cups & Kettle Framelits die set, which just happens to coordinate with a fabulous tea-themed stamp set. 

If you don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like a copy of the Occasions catalog and SAB flyer, just contact me through my Stampin' Up! website, and I'll be happy to send you one.

Taken with iPhone camera

We finally got our new windows installed last week, after a nine week wait. Apparently the local Cardinals didn't get the memo and one flew into the livingroom window this morning. He spent a couple minutes in the shrub under the window, collecting his wits before he flew off. He did leave behind this tiny red and black feather, that was only about 1/4" in diameter! Amazing!!! It blew away right after I managed to get the photo, after numerous tries.

Taken with Sony NEX-5R

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Finally Starting Christmas!

STAMPS: Wonderland, Greetings of the Season (ret.)  INK: Mossy Meadow, VersaMark  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Red Foil Sheets  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Circles Framelits Dies, Circles Nestabilities Dies, Embossalicious folder, Heat Tool, Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder, Embossing Buddy, Real Red Woven Satin Ribbon (ret.), Stampin' Dimensionals
Making Christmas cards is one of my favorite things about this time of year. Well, that and all the yummy baked goods, and the pretty lights, and the peace on earth and goodwill.  It's right up there with "Jingle Bells." You know, Santa Claus and ho-ho-ho, and mistletoe and presents to pretty girls. (Name that Christmas special!)

I am finally getting started on making my cards, after way too many delays. All of them legitimate, of course, but still causing me too much "last minute" stress!

This one is from the first batch. I plan on making 10-12 of each style, unless I hit on a great design that's easy to duplicate. Then I may make more. I'm thrilled that the Red Foil Sheets will be returning in the new Occasions Catalog that starts January 5th - you know how I love the shiny stuff!

And now I have to admit to using a SOB embossing folder (some other brand than Stampin' Up!). The combination of the two textures in one folder made the job much simpler. Trying to emboss one half of the cardstock with one folder, and the other half with a different folder is fine if you're only making one card, but gets tedious when making multiples.

So, I hope you are inspired to make a few Christmas cards, if you haven't already started.But if it gets down to crunch time and you have to send store-bought cards, don't beat yourself up about it. The important thing is staying in touch with loved ones and dear friends, and remembering the reason for the season.