Monday, October 31, 2022

Stamp Review Crew - Cottage Wreaths


Welcome to the Stamp Review Crew's Cottage Wreaths edition! The "Crew" is a group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators from around the world who pick a stamp set or bundle to highlight on the first and third Mondays of each month, with a bonus hop if there is a fifth Monday. If you landed here from Charlet's blog, welcome! There are six of us today, so I'm sure there will be a beautiful variety of ideas showcasing this set!

Cottage Wreaths is a 15 piece photopolymer stamp set that has a coordinating 22 piece die set called Country Wreaths. It covers the fall and winter seasons beautifully and, with some imagination, could even be used for spring!

I have two cards today, one for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas. Let's start with Thanksgiving.


Since I stamped the autumn leaves over the twig wreath I didn't use the matching die to cut it out because I would have lost too many leaves and used Stitched Shapes circle instead. It was layered over a Leaf Fall embossed strip and Crumb Cake DSP.


The Natural Finish ribbon makes the greeting pop, and matches the tweed-looking DSP nicely.

Up next Christmas. I haven't made a square card in ages, and the die cut wreath was just begging to be put on a square background.


Layers of Soft Sea Foam and Pear Pizzazz set off the Pear Pizzazz and Mossy Meadow wreath on the Mossy Meadow card base. I used Mossy Meadow to stamp the pine sprigs around the frame.


That's all I have to share for today, so click "Next" to see what Mike created, or "Previous" to visit Charlet again!





Saturday, October 29, 2022

CCM Saturday Blog Hop - Animals

Today's Create With Connie & Mary Saturday Blog Hop theme is Animals - any from the Jul-Dec Mini Catalog. There were several possibilities and I almost went with North Pole Mischief (love that cat), but then I remembered the adorable animals in the Storybook Gnomes DSP and I just had to use them. I mean, how can you not love the reindeer, moose, fox, rabbit, and birds? It's got it ALL! Unfortunately the birds got covered by the greeting tag and you can only see the rabbit's legs but, trust me, they are cute!


I was tempted to fussy cut them all and build a scene with them, but the layout on the patterned paper was perfect just as it was, so I framed it with the snowflake frame from the Snowman Magic bundle (which also has animals, by the way).


After adding a Night of Navy mat and embellishing with iridescent pearls and bow, the card was complete.


That's all for today - see you next Saturday! Up next is Libby Fens at Libby Stamps. Or click the "back" button to go back to Lori at Loritamarie Crafts.




Stampin' Up! products used:

  • Stamps: Snowman Magic Bundle
  • Paper: Basic White, Night of Navy, and Balmy Blue cardstock, Storybook Gnomes DSP
  • Ink: Night of Navy
  • Accessories: Stitched Rectangles Dies, Tailor Made Tags Dies, Iridescent Pearls Basic Jewels, Glittered Organdy Ribbon 



Saturday, October 22, 2022

CCM Saturday Blog Hop - Halloween Words

Today's Create With Connie & Mary Saturday Blog Hop theme is Halloween Words and I thought of a ton of them, so Boo, Spooky, Wicked, Scary, and a whole host of others were a possibility. (I wish we still had that Wicked die, lol.) I settled on Scary, because what could be scarier than having a spider drop in on you unexpectedly? I don't mind the orb weavers out on the porch, but when the arachnids are setting up shop in my craft room, that's not okay!


I started with the cute Halloween pattern in the Celebrate Everything Host DSP trimmed down to 3-1/2" x 4-3/4" then matted it on a 3-3/4" x 5" piece of Crushed Curry. After wrapping and tying the spider-webby mesh ribbon with a square knot, the whole thing was matted on 3-7/8" x 5-1/8" Basic Black and adhered to the card front.


The 1" x 4-3/4" Crushed Curry plaid pattern (also in Celebrate Everything) was matted on 1-1/8" x 4-3/4" Crushed Curry, stamped with the spider and SCARY, then adhered to the card. Pretty quick and easy!


That's all for today - see you next Saturday! Up next is Libby Fens at Libby Stamps. Or click the "back" button to go back to Lori at Loritamarie Crafts.




Stampin' Up! products used:

  • Stamps: Alphabest and Bewitching
  • Paper: Basic White, Basic Black, and Crushed Curry cardstock, Celebrate Everything Host DSP
  • Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
  • Accessories: 1-1/2" Metallic Mesh Ribbon



Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Happy Holidays from the Control Freaks!

The Freaky theme this month is Happy Holidays! And what holiday is that, you might ask? The theme is ANY holiday, so this is going to be a fun hop. You never know what the Freaks might choose! If you landed here from Melissa’s blog, welcome! There are five of us, so hop on for more inspiration!

I'm making this a very quick post. Our son arrived for a visit this afternoon with his girlfriend that we are just now getting to meet, so I'm going to post two cards and scram so I can spend more time with them! 💕

I went right to the Celebrate Everything Host DSP, because it has a design for just about everything. It's 48 sheets of 12 x 12 paper! It's on page 87 of the Jul-Dec mini, and is one of the Host Rewards you can earn with a qualifying order or party. It will only be available until Jan. 4 (while supplies last).


The first card is Christmas-themed with the whimsical ornaments DSP, which I thought would pair well with the embossed Whimsical Woodland strip. Because the sentiment (from Brightest Glow) says All is Merry and BRIGHT, I had to add some bright gold glimmer paper and pearls.


The second card uses the fireworks pattern, which I thought was appropriate for a New Years card.


I liked the way the sentiment fit on the top half of the Beautiful Shapes hexagon leaving room for the silver cord and silver pearls below.


That's all from me today! Up next is Bree, at Craft-somnia Momma.


 


Monday, October 17, 2022

Stamp Review Crew - Leaves of Holly


Welcome to the Stamp Review Crew's Leaves of Holly edition! The "Crew" is a group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators from around the world who pick a stamp set or bundle to highlight on the first and third Mondays of each month, with a bonus hop if there is a fifth Monday. If you landed here from Deb's blog, welcome! There are only three of us today, so it'll be a quick hop.


The thirteen piece Leaves of Holly stamp set is photopolymer so you can see through it for the Two-Step stamping. It has coordinating eleven piece Holly Berry Dies.


I kind of cheated on my card today, and didn't do the Two-Step stamping. Garden Green cardstock was stamped with Garden Green ink using the more open leaf image, and it gave the lovely depth without having to line up the images. (I need new glasses and am having trouble seeing details....it's a challenge!) As I was stamping the holly leaves I had "Deck the Halls" running through my head, so I used the Merry Melody 3D embossing folder for the background.


The wooden Textural Elements piece was colored with Dark Cherry Cobbler and Bronze Stampin' Blends. Those elements aren't available at the moment but are supposed to be back in stock the week of Oct. 31.


That's all I have to share for today, so click "Next" to see what Mike at Stampin-Style created, or "Previous" to visit Deb again!





Saturday, October 15, 2022

CCM Saturday Blog Hop - Cute Halloween

Today's Create With Connie & Mary Saturday Blog Hop theme is CUTE HALLOWEEN. This was a fun one to do and I borrowed elements from three stamp sets to pull it all together.


I first stamped the Smoky Slate stars on the Smoky Slate card base and added the star DSP matted on Highland Heather. Next was the stitched square background for the witch. I cut it with the largest square die, added a Daffodil Delight "glow" with a Blending Brush, then stamped more stars in Daffodil Delight.


I added the "BOO!" and had the spider dangle from it. (Stars and spider are from Bewitching; greeting from Cottage Wreaths.) The square was then attached to the card with dimensionals. The Best Witches witch was stamped, colored, fussy cut and popped up on the square with dimensionals.


Can you believe I didn't add anything shiny?!

That's all for today - see you next Saturday! Up next is Libby Fens at Libby Stamps. Or click the "back" button to go back to Lori at Loritamarie Crafts.




Stampin' Up! products used:

  • Stamps: Best Witches, Bewitching, Cottage Wreaths
  • Paper: Basic White, Smoky Slate, and Highland Heather cardstock, and Black & White Designs DSP
  • Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Smoky Slate, and Daffodil Delight, plus Stampin' Blends Combos Smoky Slate, Highland heather, Daffodil Delight, Cajun Craze, and Bronze & Ivory
  • Accessories: Stylish Shapes Dies, Blending Brushes, Mini Stampin' Dimensionals



Sunday, October 9, 2022

Sneak Peek at Framed Florets!


I jumped at the chance to preorder the Framed Florets Bundle that will be in the Jan-Jun Mini catalog. Not only are the images and sentiments simply lovely, but the coordinating Framed Florets Dies has oval frame dies plus dies that cut the stamped images and DSP images....what's not to love?!


And Stampin' Up! is even going to let customers in on the preorder starting next month! There will also be a limited time (while supplies last) chance to get in on the gorgeous Fitting Florets DSP, Gold Adhesive-Backed Swirls, and the coordinating holiday Framed & Festive cling stamp set. Click on the image above to see a PDF with all the details.


This is one of the cards we made yesterday at the Second Saturday Stamp Club. Isn't it pretty? That Evening Evergreen gingham check is from the Fitting Florets DSP. It should be noted that I did some "surgery" on the photopolymer greeting stamp. The whole stamp said "For a special person on a special day" so I just cut the part off I didn't want to use. The two pieces can easily be stuck on a block together and used as a whole stamp later.


Take a look at those embellishments. 😍 They aren't even as thick as a dimensional, so they should be fine going through the mail. The die that cuts this oval cuts the outer pierced oval frame and the inner oval at the same time. We popped up the inner oval for some added depth.

If you really love this collection, you don't have to wait until November! Join my stamping family and you can add this and more (totaling $155) to your starter kit with the promotion going on until 10/31. The Starter Kit is only $99 and you get free shipping on it, too. So, for $99 you get to choose $155 in any current products from the annual catalog and Jul-Dec mini catalog. That's a mighty sweet deal! There is no further obligation, and you don't have to have parties if you don't want. If you'd like to learn more, please contact me and I'd be happy to answer any questions.


Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, October 8, 2022

CCM Saturday Blog Hop - Fall Trees

Today's Create With Connie & Mary Saturday Blog Hop theme is Fall Trees. We haven't reached peak colors yet, but we're getting there! The season starts with the yellows and golds, then progresses to the flaming oranges and on to the reds and burgundies. Right now we're in the gold and orange stage, which inspired my card.


I chose the trees in Beauty of Friendship. After brushing some Mango Melody on Very Vanilla cardstock to give a golden autumn haze, the tree trunks were stamped with Early Espresso. I used Sponge Daubers to add ink to the leafy canopy with Mango Melody and Cajun Craze. These are the colors I can see right now looking out my window!

Some Soft Suede "hills" were added at the bottom and the whole thing was cut with a stitched rectangle die. I thought about adding a label for the greeting (from Fond of Autumn), but it fit perfectly on the hills, so I heat embossed it in white.


Adding the birds (from On the Horizon) was an afterthought. This morning I looked out to the hay field, freshly mowed and organized into neat rows ready for baling. There were thousands of starlings flying in and landing. We looked on in amazement as more and more kept arriving in a steady stream. We've had them here before, but nowhere near that many. I was reminded of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. 😲 So, since I thought the sky above the trees needed something, birds it was!


That's all for today - see you next Saturday! Up next is Libby Fens at Libby Stamps. Or click the "back" button to go back to Lori at Loritamarie Crafts.




Stampin' Up! products used:

  • Stamps: Beauty of Friendship, Fond of Autumn, On the Horizon
  • Paper: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede
  • Ink: VersaMark, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Mango Melody, Memento Tuxedo Black
  • Accessories: Heat Tool, Basics Stampin' Emboss Powders, Stitched Rectangle Dies, Leaf Fall 3D Embossing Folder, Blending Brushes, Sponge Daubers