Almost Forgot to Post Today!

Yikes!  I nearly missed my NaBloPoMo challenge. November is National Blog Posting Month, and the challenge over at Stampin' Addicts is to post something new every day.  I got so busy with other stuff (spelled L-I-F-E, or more commonly known as - the conspiracy to keep me from my stamp cave), I almost forgot to upload this card!

I've been a Starbucks fan for a while (gotta love that "motivation in a cup"), and now they have these adorable little portable packets of instant coffee, called Via.  Now, before you gag and wretch and run for the door, let me tell you, I feel the same way about regular instant coffee, but this is so different, you'd NEVER know it was instant if nobody told you!  Yes, it's that good!  I love being able to make just one quick cup without dragging out the coffee beans, grinder, filter, etc.  Yep, call me lazy.....  Anyhoo, it comes in Italian Roast (very strong), and Columbian (not quite as strong).  The directions say to mix it in 8 oz. hot water, but believe me, 16 oz. is a lot more like it (and I like my coffee strong!).

So, I designed this little gift/coffee/tea bag/cocoa packet holder.  It's a regular A2 card size.  I cut the card base from a half sheet of 12x12 textured CS, added the DSP, and since I didn't have any coffee-themed stamps (gasp!), I made my own mug using SU's three oval punches.  Clever, 'eh?


Edited to add: Click HERE for the punchy cup tutorial.

Stamps: Sanded (109294), To You & Yours (111706 - retired)

Cardstock: Whisper White textured (108693), Kraft (102125), Real Red (102482), Chocolate Chip (102128), Vellum Paper (101839)

Designer Paper: Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper (116770)

Inks: Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad (115657), VersaMark pad (102283)

Accessories/Tools: Small Oval Punch (107304), Large Oval Punch (107305), Wide Oval Punch (112082), Designer Label Punch 107590), Modern Label Punch (116630), Word Window Punch (105090), White Stampin' Emboss Powder (109132), Heat Tool (100005), Real Red Playground Designer Button (116313), Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439), swirl die, Paper Cutter (104152)

Christmas in June

Okay, okay, I'm well aware that Christmas in May didn't happen here at Heart's Delight, so to make up for it, I'm making eight of these cards, instead of my usual four per month. I'll still be on track for getting Christmas cards sent on time this year....with one teeny-tiny problem. It's miniscule, really. When I figured out how many cards I needed to make on a monthly basis, I didn't know I'd be getting to know so many new card-swapping friends this year. I think what I really have to do now is make six or eight Christmas cards per month. Just need to find the time, LOL!

For a while, I wasn't too pleased with the way this card was looking, because it started out really too plain. I just kept adding to it, starting with VersaMark swirls on the Real Red cardstock base. That was a good beginning, but the white layer on top of it lacked something. Edging it with the snowflake border punch added some more detail, but it still needed a little more. I didn't want more red swirls on the main white background, so I stamped the swirls with the VersaMark and heat embossed with JudiKins Clear Detail embossing powder. Subtle, but nice. I don't know how well you can see it in the photos.

The main image, from Stampin' Up! was stamped in Real Red Classic ink on Neenah Solar White cardstock, then cut and embossed with a Nestabilities Labels Four die. I used the next larger die to cut/emboss some Real Red cardstock, and the next larger die to cut more Solar White cardstock. Swirls were stamped on that last layer in red ink, and the edges were also inked.

The sentiment, from the same SU set, was cut with the SU large oval punch. The edges were inked and I used the Making Memories slot punch tool for the holes through which the ribbon was threaded. The edge of the die-cut image was glittered with Martha Stewart Crystal Fine glitter, as was some of the image, and red pearls from Sally completed it!

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Real Red, Neenah Solar White
Stamps: Main image and sentiment- Stampin' Up! 'To You & Yours', Background swirls- Inkadinkado 'Warm Holiday Wishes'
Ink: Stampin' Up! Real red Classic, VersaMark
Embellishments and tools used: ribbon from Michael's, glitter- Martha Stewart, JudiKins Clear Detail EP, JudiKins Diamond Glaze, Fiskars snowflake punch, SU oval punch, Marvy Uchida corner punch, Nestabilities Labels Four dies (run through the Cuttlebug), SU Stampin' Dimensionals popped the image up, Making Memories slot punch tool, Sally's pearls