Happy New Year!: FM#39

My partner's birthday falls withing days of New Year's. So even though this really is a birthday card, you can't really tell from the cover. It just so happens that he loves fireworks so putting it all together means I end up with a card that is essentially no different than a New Year's card (except for the inside greeting.) 

Stamps: Canada Day (retired), Something to Celebrate (retired), Afterthoughts (retired)

Paper: Espresso, Not Quite Navy, Brushed Gold Cardstock

Ink: Versamark

Extras: Gold embossing powder, Iridescent Ice embossing powder, Heat and Stick powder, Gold glitter

Using The Friday Mashup challenge for this week, I decided to add some sparkle but I wanted to keep it masculine and so here's what I came up with...eeeee! I'm so happy with it! I hope he likes it.

I'll be honest, I never quite know which stamp sets to get. I hum and haw over them all and can never make a decision, even for sets that I love. I have decision-making difficulties in general... but for some reason I knew I wanted the Canada Day set. Maybe it because fireworks are the ultimate expression of celebration, are they not? And since they are a big deal in this household I suppose that helped.

I chose to use the little firecracker on the inside of the card but wanted to emboss the spark in gold, while keeping the stick blue. I coloured the bottom stick with the Not Quite Navy Marker then inked the tip in Versamark and sprinkled with gold embossing powder. I was a little surprised to see that the gold embossing powder actually clung to the area I had stamped in Not Quite Navy even though I wasn't using craft ink. Hunh. I'm sure the coverage wouldn't have been anything as good as if it were craft ink but anyways...I just brushed it off and chose to have the spark be in gold.

I'm sorry it's not all that clear in the picture but it's pretty cute :)

For New Year's I will be seeing some long time friends that I haven't seen in awhile. We're having an evening of game board playing and potluck deliciousness. No crazy party, just a lovely evening of chatting, eating, and maybe some heated game board playing! It's been too long since I've had some real game board fun. No fireworks, except on the inside, the kind that come with being around people you miss but luckily get to see every now and then.

May you all have great fun celebrating the ending of this year and the start of a new one! Wishing you a safe and happy new year!

Join in the Cheer!

I know you have already seen the centre card, but this post is featuring the cards on either side. 

I have used the "new" Join in the Cheer die I recently purchased off the clearance rack, which as you know means it's retired. As you can see I am still working my way through the Christmas Lane kit.

Ink: Old Olive marker

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, & Whisper White cardstock, Chrismas Lane dsp

Tools: Join in the Cheer die (retired), 1 1/4" circle punch

Extras: die-cut stickers from Christmas Lane kit

I used the Old Olive marker to delineate each of the holly leaves on the focal piece. It looked a little too much like one of those blades in the table saw without the leaves delineated (but I'm sure that's just me ~ or so my stamping partner tells me.)

Lovely easy peasy cards!

Christmas Lane gifts: PDCC#112

In trying to use up the bits and pieces left over from my Christmas Lane kit, I had the idea of using up the little tag sticker on presents.

Then I thought of using the Merry Details Sizzlits die to decorate my tags and this is what I ended up with!

Stamp set: Berry Details

Ink: Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler

Tools: Scallop punch, word window punch, designer label punch, stocking punch, corner punch, merry details sizzlits die

Extras: die-cut stickers from Christmas Lane, Cherry cobbler baker's twine, mini jingle bells

I apologize for the blurry photo! No matter how still I hold the camera, it still tells me I've moved! Oh well, maybe it's Christmas excitement, eh?

Happy Stamping!

(Sorry Play Date Cafe, it seems I had posted this card before your challenge was released! I'm still trying to get the hang of this challenge thing...  :s)

Christmas gift tags

I apologize in advance for the red background. I took these pictures quickly before giving these Christmas gift tags to those who brought a friend along to the Christmas card class.

Stamps: Gifted (retired), Lots of Love Accessories

Ink: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede

Paper: Whisper White cardstock, and Christmas Lane dsp

On the following tags, the "to" & "from" are stamped on the back.

Stamps: Gifted (retired0

Ink: Bashful Blue, Real Red, Bordering Blue (retired)

Paper: Whisper White

Extras: Extra Large Oval punch

Stamps: Gifted (retired0

Ink: Real Razzleberry, Bashful Blue, Soft Plum, Versamark

Paper: Whisper White

Extras: Clear embossing powder mixed with Dazzling Diamonds glitter

Stamps: Holiday best (retired L1 hostess 2010)

Ink: Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso markers

Paper: Crumb Cake cardstock

For the next tags, I used a wheel and cut apart the scenes/words that I wanted and mounted them on Real Red cardstock.

Stamps: Little Cardinals- builder wheel (retired), Pleasing Polka Dots-builder wheel (retired)

Cardstock: Whisper White and Real Red

Ink: Real Red

Stamps: Delight in Gladness- builder wheel (retired)

Cardstock: Whisper White and Real Red

Ink: Real Red

Now, if only I were organized enough to have all my own Christmas gift tags handmade so nicely. Unfortunately, I will confess right now, that is far from the case. It was a monumental task to just get my own Christmas cards made and sent out. But I do love making them, I think next year I'll just have to start a little earlier...like the summer?!

Light-bulbed Noel: SR#103

I cannot tell you how many times I tried to do something with these leftover white light bulbs and ended up with some very weird looking cards! But finally...only when I discovered I actually had 3 lightbulbs in the leftover Christmas Lane stickers did I figure I could mimic my "Snowflaked Noel" card and I came up with this.

My stamping partner has announced it is her Very favorite card yet! (and sometimes she's a little brutally honest, so at least we know she means it when she says she loves something)

Stamp set: Warmest of Wishes (holiday mini hostess set)

Paper: Christmas Lane dsp and die-cut sitckers, Old Olive, Soft Suede and Whisper White cardstock

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Extras: White baker's twine

Tools: Decorative punch, Bird punch

I used the branch from the Bird Punch to make some boughs around each light bulb.

It gets dark here at around 4 pm now, so it's rather nice to have all the Christmas lights out when it gets dark so early. It distracts a person from how depressing so much dark could be at this time of year.

So why not a card that celebrates the loveliness of Christmas lights? As this card celebrates winter or Christmas, I thought I'd add it to the challenge at Stampinn' Royalty (seen here)

Greeting Card Kids Christmas

This is a case of Nance Leedy's card that you can see here. I just fell in love with her card and had to try and make my own version.

Stamp set: Greeting Card Kids, Holiday Happiness (greeting), Vintage Vogue (flourish), Branch Out (snowflakes-retired)

Paper: First Edition dsp, Always Artichoke, Riding Hood Red, and Very Vanilla cardstock

Ink: Always Artichoke, Riding Hood Red, River Rock, Blush marker

Extras: Mini Jingle Bells, 1 1/4" striped ribbon in Riding hood red, linen thread

Tools: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Blender pens

Here I coloured one with Blender pens and one without (ie. straight-on markers.) With the blender pen you can get a little more shading in.

I like that the card ended up having that vintage feel which the Greeting Card Kids stamp sets fits so perfectly.

Subtle Poinsettas: SR#103

I really seem to be enjoying these 3" x 6" cards, so I found another design to make them in. I bought the Designer Series Paper used in this card off the clearance rack, it's from a few years back, called Holiday Treasures (retired). The colours in it are Ruby Red, Celery, and Chocolate. They make a nice subtle combination. It hardly seems like Christmas paper until you examine the flowers closely and see they are poinsettias.

Stamp sests: Berry Details (retired), Many Merry Messages, Bingo Bits

Ink: Ruby Red, Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Frost Shimmer Paint

Paper: Holiday Treasures dsp (retired), Ruby Red (retired), Old Olive and White Naturals cardstock

Extras: Certainly Celery Satin Ribbon

Tools: Extra large oval punch, Scallop Trim border punch

I used the Berry Details Stamp Set (cause it's one of my favorites!) On the smaller poinsettias I used Ruby Red, but for the larger one I used Regal Rose. I chose to use White Naturals cardstock.

I detailed the flowers a bit with the coordinating marker, and sprayed them with my sparkle spray. It's a mixture of  Frost White Shimmer Paint and rubbing alcohol. As you can see, I tried making the card with a regular scallop edge also.

My stamping partner and I ordered some poinsettias from my girlfriend's son to help them raise money for their hockey team. We received the big gorgeous plants today, one pink and one red!

I have tried entering my card to the Stampin' Royalty challenge (seen here) but I'm new at this and I suspect I might have goofed up somewhere. 

Well that's it, hope you find some lovely poinsettias to swoon over too!

Snowflaked Noel

Though it may not appear to look anything like Carrie Gaskin's card shown here, that's initially where the idea came from.

Stamp sets: Warmest of Wishes (Holiday Mini 2011 hostess set)

Paper: Soft Suede, & Whisper White cardstock

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Tools: decorative die, snowflake die

Extras: die-cut stickers from Christmas Lane simply scrappin' kit

I just love that Noel stamp! I don't know what it is about it?!

Stamps: Many Merry Messages

Extras: die cut stickers from Christmas Lane kit, cherry cobbler baker's twine

Snow much fun! :D

Small Wondehdehdeh...

As much as I'm dying to post some pictures of some of the Christmas cards I've been making...they are unfortunately on a camera that I've forgotten at my sister's. Sigh. So, instead I will show you a card I made for my niece's christening.

I had seen a number of different variations on how to make a lamb out of punches, but I didn't have some of those particular tools, so I improvised and it all ended up coming out great! What do you think?

Stamps: Whimsical Words (retired: sale-a-bration 2010)

Ink: Basic Black stampin' write journaler, pretty in pink marker, versamark, pretty in pink pad

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Grey, Pink Pirouette

Tools: Scallop trim border punch, word window punch, 1 1/4" square punch, corner punch, 1 3/4"scallop circle punch, 2 3/8" scallop circle punch, Boho blossoms punch, Bird punch, white embossing powder, heat gun, sponge daubers

Extras: Pretty in pink gingham ribbon (retired)

The card is pretty self explanatory. I used the word window punch for the legs and just blackened ends with marker for hoofs. I used a square punch for the face and rounded the corners. Her ears are made from the bird punch's wings.

The greeting is stamped in versamark and then I used white embossing powder. I used a sponge dauber and sponged over the greeting once embossed to make the words stand out a bit.

The face I drew freehand with markers. She was so much fun to make, I have to make more sometime! But Christmas is taking all my time right now. I suppose I'll end up waiting until necessity forces me to make another !?

A Playdate with Animal Stories

My little niece turned 2 recently and it was a pretty big deal as she is the first of all the grandchildren. So I wanted to make a pretty special card too. She loves giraffes and has many of them in her room, so I thought this stamp would work nicely.

Stamps: Animal Stories (retired)

Paper: Playdate (retired)

Ink: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip

Extras: 1" double stiched grosgrain red ribbon, baker's twine, scallop square, 1-1/4" square, & 1" square punches, olive green library clip, Playdate rub-ons

I also thought the bright colours of the Playdate designer series paper would suit her well. I had gotten the paper, accent stickers, and rub-ons off the clearance rack and couldn't wait for an excuse to crack them open.

I liked the design and colours so much I made a couple extras but made it adaptable to the birthday or "just thinking of you" sentiment of any age. I replaced the "2" with one of the die-cut stickers.

Stamps: Animal Stories (retired)

Paper: Playdate (retired), Playdate Accents (die-cut stickers)

Ink: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip

Extras: 1" double stiched grosgrain red ribbon, baker's twine, scallop square, 1-1/4" square, & 1" square punches, olive green library clip, Playdate rub-ons

Stamp set: Swirls and Curls (2011 summer mini hostess L1)

I punched out some "2"s from the dsp and lined them up across the bottom and added a greeting in Real Red. Voila!

Christmas Lane Extras

Here is a card I made with the leftovers I had from the card class we did. Those extra stickers could absolutely NOT go to waste! So, here's a little 3" x 6" card made with a couple of the left over die cut stickers.

Stamp sets: Bingo Bits Christmas, Berry Christmas (retired)

Paper: Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler, & Whisper White cardstock, Christmas Lane DSP

Ink: Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler

Extras: die-cut stickers from Christmas Lane

I used the Bingo Bits reindeer on this one. I love that set, it has so many uses. The images can be front and centre, as seen here, or used to decorate the interior of a card or the outside of the envelope.

Inside of card:

Stamp set: Many Merry Messages

Paper: Whisper White cardstock

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Extras: Christmas Lane die-cut stickers, baker's twine in Cherry Cobbler

So much fun to figure out ways to use these stickers! It reminds me that I must always get a Christmas Simply Scrappin' Kit each year! It lets me step out of the box trying to match the stickers, the paper, the shapes...oh my!!!

Well Worn Little Pick-up

My girlfriend Paula, had a birthday in October and I knew this set would be perfect for her. She lives out in the country, on an acreage, and drives a pick-up. We grew up together and I've known her a very long time. It's so nice when those friends from long ago are still somehow part of your life amidst all the moving around and life changes that lead people to fall out of touch with each other. I love going to see her and her kids, it's kinda like going back home in a way, but better cause were not moody teenagers anymore, and now we've gotten a chance to make our lives what we needed them to be. We reminisce about the crazy things we used to think, and the absurd ways we thought the world worked. Thank heavens, a person grows up! We figure we'll take the wrinkles if it comes with the peace of mind we have managed to gain.

So, for my long-time friend, I made a special card.

Stamps: Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories, Tailgaiting (wheel), Tiny Tags

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Basic Brown, Not Quite Navy, Espresso, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze

Paper: River Rock, Cajun Craze, Ivory Naturals cardstock, watercolor paper, Well Worn dsp

Tools: regular wheel, Aquapainters, Crop-a-dile, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch, Modern Label punch

Extras: Copper eyelets (retired), Twill ribbon

Isn't this just the cutest stamp set ever?

I'm in love with the little tree in this set but will have to save that for another post.

I used the pick-up from the above stamp set, I stamped it in Basic Brown on watercolour paper, then used the Aquapainter to fill in and colour. After having painted in most of the areas, I shaded further with the fine tip of the marker in the same colours.

The other stamps on this card came from the set below:

Those little dogs in this set were something I just HAD to have in the back of my pick-up. We are both big dog lovers, so it was perfect for her. In keeping with the doggie theme, I used the Tailgaiting wheel at the bottom of the card.

It was a time-consuming card, but so worth it! She loved it!!!

Wow, check this out...

If you ever considered in the back of your mind that you might like to have a night with just you and your friends having fun in your own home...well, then this is the perfect opportunity. It's a chance to spend some quality time with your friends while doing something fun. Right now, Stampin' Up! is having a promotion where you can get even more free stuff, as the hostess of an in-home workshop.

With the Christmas season fast approaching, this could also be a great opportunity to do some gift shopping while being introduced to Stampin' Up!'s product and trying them out for yourself. It's always fun to get those you love something a little different and this would be the perfect place!

Happy Thursday to you!

This place is getting Spooky!

This morning while out for a walk, I found that much of the neighborhood was all prepared for Halloween. Check these places out!

The specter hanging from the porch on this last one was truly scary. The hands and face on it were very life-like.

Some night-time pics for you...

We were digging out the Halloween decorations the past few nights and we found this sign I made with last year's Wicked designer series paper. I added black glitter to the inside of the letters on the dsp and a few spiders, and hung it with some black lace ribbon that was available last year.

Add in a pumpkin, some spiders, and a jack-o-lantern!

And  some scary tees we'll be wearing to give out candy:

Sorry no card for you today, I'm rather wiped out from yesterday but just had all this Halloween awesomeness that I wanted to share!

Happy Halloween!

A Dark & Dreary House of Haunts

Halloween is around the corner and I had the hankering to see if I could case Heidi Baks' awesome stamp arrangement shown here.

Now the reason why Heidi's layout it so cool, is because it combines my 2 favorite Halloween stamp sets. When I saw it, I just flipped!!!

The Dark and Dreary Stamp set, was a must-have as soon as I saw it and I got it when it came out in last year's holiday mini:



I can't even start to express how much I love this set. It's creepy, it's vintage, it's got Edgar Allan Poe written all over it! Or better yet those old Bette Davis movies in black and white that creep your socks off. I looove creepy movies this time of year! The old ones are my favorite, the black and white aspect makes them creepier than all the crazy effects they have in the new ones.

Add, this set in:
(It's soooo good isn't it?)



So here's what I came up with...

Version 1~ aka "My favorite"

Stamps: Dark and Dreary, House of Haunts

Ink: Basic Grey, Basic Black & Always Artichoke, Daffodil Delight & Cajun Craze markers

Paper: Going Grey (retired), Basic Black, Cajun Craze Cardstock & Wicked dsp (retired)

Extras: Black & White Gingham ribbon

Tools: Pinking Hearts border punch, scallop border punch, 1/2" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, sponge

Isn't it cool, how it looks like the gates open up toward the haunted house?

After stamping the house in Always Artichoke (the most Frankenstein of the greens,) I masked the moon with a post-it note, using a 1 3/8" circle punch, and sponged around it using Basic Grey. The windows are coloured in Daffodil Delight. Then, the best part, in Basic Black I stamped the Dark & Dreary gate/frame over the house, making sure to keep the moon in the frame. Then cut around the frame, did some distressing, and voila!

Version 2~for the girl in the crowd

Stamps: Dark and Dreary, House of Haunts

Ink: Basic Grey, Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant, Daffodil Delight & Summer Sun marker (retired)

Paper: Going Grey (retired) & Daffodil Delight Cardstock  & Wicked dsp (retired)

Extras: Black lace ribbon

Tools: 1/2" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch sponge, blender pen, sticky strip

The only difference here is that I used the blender pen and Daffodil Delight to colour in the moon. I used Summer Sun  on the windows and to rim the popped-up piece numbered  "31." To adhere the ruffled ribbon, I added a piece of sticky strip to the bottom of the focal piece. I love how easy it is to repeat the candelabra across the bottom with the clear block stamp.

Version 3~

Stamps: Dark and Dreary, House of Haunts

Ink: Basic Grey, Basic Black & Perfect Plum, Crumb Cake & Daffodil Delight markers

Paper: Going Grey (retired), Basic Black, & Pumpkin Cardstock, Wicked dsp (retired)

Extras: 1/8" taffeta ribbon in Razzleberry

Tools: Dotted Scallop Ribbon punch, 1/2" circle punch,1 3/8" circle punch, sponge

On this one, I went around the distressed edges of the focal point with the Crumb Cake marker. I also used it to colour in the spiders' bodies. The bat at the top is actually flocked and already part of the paper. I love any excuse to use that 1/8" ribbon, it just never disappoints!

Hope all your Halloween preparations are going well !

Punch Bunch Minis

I have a thing for mini cards. I might be because they are so quick to make, therefore I always have to make a bunch of them or cause they are so cute, but whatever it is, I just love them!

Stamps: Punch Bunch (Sale-a-bration 2011)

Ink: Pacific Point & Old Olive

Paper: Ice Cream Parlour dsp and Peach Parfait cardstock

Embellishments: Marina Mist 1/8" taffeta ribbon

Tools: Scallop square punch

I used the supplies I got during this year's Sale-a-bration. They had some really cute stuff this year, well they always do, but each year it's an exciting time. It's great because it comes after Christmas, in the doldrums of the new year, just when you need a pick me up! Prepare yourself for it, remember that it's coming, it's always extra fun because in addition to the Occasions Mini catalogue, there is a separate Sale-a-bration catalogue that comes out too where you can earn free products. More stamps and paper and embellishments...oh my!

And, as if that weren't enough, that is when they come out with the list of retired products from the current Idea Book & Catalogue (ie. the big catalogue.) Yes, the list of all the stamps you have a last chance to purchase before they are gone forever. Arghhhhhh! How to pick!? What to pick!? Told you it's an exiting time.

The paper on these mini cards was my favorite of the Sale-a-bration papers. The background colour, wasn't ivory but more like a tea-stain, a bit deeper, and gave a vintage feel to it, despite the bright colours. 

It just had that retro feel, that makes you want to change your whole decor and go all "Mad Men" on your home. It reminded me of stuff like this that you see on that show:

I love that show, course I think it's because partially this stuff is still in the recesses of my memory from when I was a kid. But then the other part is mainly this part here...

Mmm-hmm. Okay, detour over, back to cards. 

As I was, saying I love that paper, these pictures don't do it justice, it feels like a wallpaper that was once in my grandma's house. I love it so much it took me a long time to cut it, but as you can see, I finally got over that. Especially since I got it in digital form too from the Sale-a-bration catalogue, which is how I'm able to display the sheet of dsp on the blog here below, plus I can use it for digital scapbooking! yay!

Here's another little card I did ...

Sorry, I'm not trying to make you fall in love with something you can't have because it's retired. Instead, I'm sharing something I love with you and reminding you to jump on those items you see in the mini catalogues or the Sale-a-bration catalogues. So many times I don't and then I'm sorry after the fact, but this time I got it and fell in love with this paper, and even got it digitally.

To be honest I feel the same way about the Spice Cake designer series paper in the current Holiday Mini (shown below) as you can see, I used the paisley one to beautifully decorate my blog.

Contact me, if you fall in love with something and feel you can't live without it too! I want to hear all about it!!!