Can't believe it is December already. This year has just flown right on by! I hope that your tree is up, your shopping is done and your cards are in the mail. What? They aren't? Mine either. We just got back from a 10 day vacation so I guarantee you are farther along than I am. :)
Just in case you are still making cards (and if you aren't, I am jealous!), here is another one to inspire you today:
Colors: Whisper White, Lucky Limeade, and Cherry Cobbler. Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes and Mixed Medley. Big Shot: Holiday Frame Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, and Holiday Ornament Framelit Collection. Punches: 3/4" Circle and Scallop Trim Border Punch. Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Scalloped Tulle Ribbon, Pearl Jewels, linen thread.
This card was inspired by my friend JanTink. If you are ever in the mood to be completely inspired and overwhelmed at the same time, check out her creations at Stamps, Paper, Scissors. They are always over the top and always amazing. I changed the colors up on it and added my own bow to the top of the ornament. That piece of tulle is actually stitched on to the card using linen thread to make it gather in the middle. You can achieve the same look with a brad as well though. It just needs to be a big brad, like our fancy glitter ones.
Stampin' Up! has been inundating us with news lately. And there is even more to share today:
-Stampin' Up! has launched a new customer site that is social-media friendly and full of inspiration. Check it out at stampinup.com
-Right now there is a Mega Massive Giveaway on the My Digital Studio Facebook Page. You could win a free copy of MDS2+ and/or every new download in 2013. You can enter every day so don't miss out on this chance to win!
-I had the chance to preorder from the new 2013 Spring Catalog this weekend. Watch for some sneak peeks coming hopefully next week. (I do have to get ready for Christmas this week, you know.)
- Stampin' Up! has added some kits to their online stores that are perfect of packaging up cute neighbor or coworker gifts. Check out this video and then shop now to get some!
When I first saw this greeting stamp set, I knew I needed to get it. I just love the sentiment.
Colors: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke and Very Vanilla. Stamps: Heart of Christmas. Big Shot: Heart and Apothecary Accents Collection Framelits, Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Co'ordination Cardstock, Regals Collection Designer Series Paper Print Pack, metal brads.
Here I used the Co'ordination card stock and sanding block from the Holiday Catalog. I ran it through the Big Shot with the embossing and then used the sanding block to take the top layer off the card stock to reveal a softer version of the same color underneath. I heard from a little birdie that we are going to have new colors of this fun card stock in the next seasonal catalog in January. Stay tuned for more details about all the fun things coming in that catalog soon.
I have another Christmas Card to share today. This one features one of the hidden gems from the Holiday Catalog: Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack. This wasn't on my list the first few times through the catalog. But I finally bought one and then I had to buy another one because I love it so much.
Colors: Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla. Stamps: Christmas Lodge. Big Shot: Apothecary Accents Collection Framelits. Punches: 1" Square. Accessories: Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Pack, and Pearl Jewels.
The packs come with 48 sheets of 4-1/2" x 6-1/2" double-sided papers. These are prefect for cutting in half and putting on a card with a nice mat around it.
One of the other things I wanted to point out about this card is the Christmas Tree. This tree is from the Christmas Lodge Stamp Set. It is my favorite image in the stamp set. Did you know you can buy just this Tree image individually for just $7.95? It is just one of about 30 stamps that are available individually. If you go to my online store, you can see them all.
Today is also the last day to take advantage of the Online Extravaganza sale. Included in the sale is the 1" square punch that I used to notch the ends of the banners on the card. It is just one of almost 40 items that are 20-50% off until Midnight tonight.
The Christmas season is now in full swing. And while I am usually a holiday ahead, right now, I still have several more Christmas projects to share.
Colors: Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler, & Very Vanilla. Stamps: Greetings of the Season. Big Shot: Snow Flurry Big Shot Die. Punches: Scallop Border. Accessories: Champagne and Silver Glimmer Paper, Soft Suede Taffeta Ribbon.
It was hard to capture just how pretty and sparkly this card is in real life. I had a few people come to my class that just had to make a few of these after they saw it in person. The Stampin' Up! Glimmer Paper is just gorgeous and really adds the bling to any project.
Don't forget, the Online Extravaganza continues through November 28. I haven't featured a My Digital Studio project in a few weeks, but you all know how much I love it and right now MDS2 is 50% off. And it is just one of about 40 different products that are 20-50% off right now. One of the items on sale is the Scallop Edge Border Punch that is featured on this card. It is 30% off and now only $11.17. Head on over to my store to check it out!
My class was a week ago, but I still have lots of projects to share with you. Today, it's the cute little Two-Tags Mini Candy Bar Holder:
Colors: Garden Green, Real Red and Whisper White. Stamps: Jolly Bingo Bits and Tiny Tags. Big Shot: Two-Tags Bigz Die. Punches: 1-3/4" Scallop, 1-3/8", 1-1/4", and 1" Circles. Accessories: Polka Dot Parade and Real Red 1/4"Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon.
These cute little treats were inspired by something Becky Roberts shared on her blog several months ago. To make them, cut two of the scallop-topped tags with the Two-Tags Die. Score each of them 1/4" from the bottom of the tag and then one of them at the bottom of the scallop. Using sticky strip, adhere the bottom tabs together to make on long tag. Fold along the score lines, insert a small candy bar and tie a ribbon around to hold it together. Decorate as you please. These would be perfect for any holiday or occasion and are so easy to put together.
I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you
haven't blown your entire wad on this Black Friday. Don't forget that
Stampin' Up! has it's own sale going on right now. Head on over to my online store to shop it now!
These cute cocoa packet holders were a big hit at my class last week and they are so easy to make!
Colors: Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla. Stamps: Scentsational Season and Teeny Tiny Wishes. Big Shot: Holiday Collection Framelits, Striped Textured Impression Embossing Folder. Punches: 2-1/2" Circle Scallop Border and Word Window. Accessories: Be of Good Cheer, Gumball Green Stitched Satin Ribbon.
The inspiration for these came from an idea that I saw using the Fancy Favor die. But I found the cocoa packets were too wide. So I came up with my own pattern for the base:
I cut a piece of card stock 8-1/2" by 4". I scored it the long way at 2" and 6" and then turned it and scored it at 1/2". I cut the little gray squares away and then assembled the pocket using sticky strip. Then I ran it through the Big Shot with the Striped Embossing Folder and decorated it with a belly band and the Scentsational Season Bundle.
For the pullout piece, I cut a piece of 11 by 3-3/4" and scored it in half at 5-1/2". I stamped it with the snowflake stamps and then wrapped it around the cocoa packet. Finally, I punched a hole through both pieces and add the ribbon to the top.
Thanksgiving really is one of my favorite holidays of the year and I am looking forward to spending it with my parents and other family members this year for the first time in a few years. One of the things I am most thankful for right now is my Stampin' Up! Business. We've had a few ups and downs in my family the past couple of months and my little business is one of the things that has kept me going. Thanks for your support and for your friendship! I hope you and yours enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving together.
It is here!! Stampin' Up's annual Online Extravaganza runs now until November 28 with select items marked down 20-50% off. And to make the deal even sweeter, they are kicking off the sale with a 24-hour "Doorbuster" sale on three items, Monday, November 19 only:
Big Shot Die-Cut Machine only $79.96 (regularly $99.95)
Big Shot Doctor's Bag only $55.96 (regularly $69.95)
Simply Scored Diagonal Plate only $9.56 (regularly $11.95)
To see the other sale item, visit the online store by clicking the "shop now" button or the picture above, or you can get a PDF file of all sale items (including catalog page numbers) by clicking here. If you are a regular here, than you already know how much I love MDS2 and it is marked 50% off during the sale!!
Have I mentioned lately how much I love my Big Shot? I have owned lots of die cut machines of all shapes and sizes. But the one I use almost every time I do any kind of crafting is my Big Shot. And this sale is the first time Stampin' Up! has marked it down for customers to purchase so it is a great time to take the Big Shot plunge. Already own a Big Shot? They make wonderful Christmas Presents for the crafter on your list.
And In honor of the one day sale on the Big Shot, I am sharing this project from this past weekend's Christmas Stampin' Buffet that uses that blessed little machine that I love so much:
Colors: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla. Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes. Big shot: Scallop Circle Bigz Die, 3-1/2" Circle Originals, Holiday Ornaments Framelit Collection, Lacy Brocade Textured Embossing Folder. Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Scalloped Tulle Ribbon, 1/8" Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, and Pearl Jewels.
This ornament was inspired by a similar one created by Jamie Hurley at Unique Ink. And of course, I saw it on Pinterest. To make the ornament three-dimensional, I stamped it three times on Very Vanilla and cut them out with the matching framelits. Love that they match up exactly so there is no need to hand cut these cuties. Then I scored them in the middle and glued them together. And I know I gush a lot about things, but this Scalloped Tulle Ribbon is so fun! It is fairly easy to tie and is perfect for adding a little something special to your projects. It is hard to tell from this picture, but I spritzed the entire thing with a combination of Shimmer Paint and Rubbing Alcohol in one of our newish Stampin' Spritzers (which just happen to also be on sale right now).
So what are you waiting for? Head on over to my online store and take advantage of these great deals!
At the end of October, Stampin' Up! had a great sale on stamps. It was so fun to make a big dent in my wish list. And one of those stamp sets was Sassy Salutations. It is such a fun, lively greeting set and lives up to it's sassy name. Here I paired it with another fun stamp set: Polar Party:
Colors: Raspberry Ripple, Gumball Green, Whisper White, Basic Black, More Mustard and Sahara Sand. Stamps: Sassy Salutations and Polar Party. Big Shot: Large Scallop Edgelit. Accessories: Gumball Green Stitched Satin Ribbon, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Dazzling Details.
I think this little penguin is so adorable and looks like he is dancing around and ready to celebrate a very Merry Christmas. I picked these colors because I managed to get a lot of this ribbon during the special in September. It is so soft and easy to tie. I just love it. And I know it's still over a month to Christmas, but it is not to early to get your Holiday cards made. So get busy!
Also, be on the look out for the Online Extravaganza. This is a 10 day sale to kick of the holiday season with some of your favorites marked down 20-50%. The sale kicks of Monday with 24-hour doorbusters including a one day sale on the Big Shot! I will have all the details here starting Monday at midnight so come back then!
What is the next big thing coming out of Stampin' Up! How about several new things? And I just can't decide what I am most excited about.
I know I have a few customers out there that love the Big Shot Textured Impressions Embossing Folders but have an electronic die cut machine already so they don't want to buy a Big Shot. For a limited time and only while supplies last, Stampin' Up! is offering the Sizzix Textured Boutique Embossing Machine to test the waters.
The Texture Boutique works with Textured Impressions Embossing Folders
to transform ordinary cardstock, paper, metallic foil, or vellum into an
embossed, textured masterpiece. This machine embosses only; it does not
die cut. Want to see it in action?
You have two options when purchasing the machine: a bundle that includes
the machine and two Textured Impressions Embossing Folders (Flower
Garden and Stripes) for $39.95; or you can just get the machine by
itself for $29.95. It would make a wonderful gift for this holiday season, but you don't want to wait too long. Stampin' Up! only has a limited number of these available. Contact me today if you would like to get one before they are GONE!
What else does Stampin' Up! have up it's sleeve? How about cards that talk?
With Talking Tag, you can send a gift that is uniquely you. Talking Tag
is a message label you can attach to cards, invitations, gifts . . .
anything! Personalize birthday cards, Christmas gifts or even record
quick instructions for a project. Now your pictures really can say a
thousand words! These come in packs of 10 and are $7.95.
Still more? Of course! Stampin' Up! just launched it's first app for iPhones, iPods, and iPads called Simply Sent. It's a fun new app that allows you to send personalized greetings to your friends phones, emails or other social media. Now the sad part for me, I only have a dumb phone so I can't play with this app. (I hope my husband is reading this since I have a birthday and Christmas coming up! Hint! Hint!) But my wonderful friend Missi sent me something that she put together in less than a minute this morning:
How fun is that? Instant birthday, thank you or just because greetings sent right to your friend to make them smile. So head on over to the iTunes App Store and do a quick search for Simply Sent. The best part, it is FREE!!!
And not to sound like a informercial, but there is still more! Starting next Monday, Stampin' Up! is once again having it's ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA with savings up to 50% and 24-hour only doorbusters. You will want to check back here or on my Facebook page on Monday for all the details!
I knew I was going to have to offer these at a class because it turns out that I pinned it multiple times from multiple sources to on Pinterest.
Colors: Riding Hood Red, Whisper White and Garden Green, Basic Black. Big Shot: Petal Cone L Bigz Die, Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder. Punches: 1-1/4 and 1-3/4 Scallop Circle, Large and Scallop Oval, Cupcake and Owl, Word Window, Small Circle from Itty Bitty Shape Pack. Accessories: Sliver Glimmer Paper, Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details.
I think I traced the origin of this box to Mary at Mary's Craft Room. I don't get nearly enough use out of this petal-cone die so I love when I find new uses for it. Pretty sure I will be making more of these for teacher and special friend gifts this holiday season.
To make the tiny holly for Santa's hat brim, I started with the Word Window punch and then took notches out of it with the small circle punch from Itty Bitty Shapes. It might seem hard to believe that it started out that long, but it did. :)
