I'm on the Poppystamps blog today with this card wishing you Double Diamond Snowflake Joy with the Double Joy dies and the Diamond Snowflake die!
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Thursday, December 23, 2021
Poppystamps: Snowflake Joy
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Freshly Made Sketches: A Sweet Holiday
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Shutter Card Holiday Settings
Dies: Stampin' Up Gingerbread Dies, Rectangle Stitched Framelits (re-sized)
Paper: Stampin' Up Gingerbread & Peppermint
Other: Glitter dots from Stampin' Up Toile Tidings Glitter Enamel Dots (red), Glitter Enamel Dots (olive)
The Card Concept: Annual Favorites
It's a fun challenge at The Card Concept that simply invites us to share a favorite card this year or a photo of our Christmas tree or holiday decoration.
I find that picking a favorite card is hard because this hobby isn't just about the card - it's also about remembering why you created it and thinking of the person you sent it to. There are memories attached to each card that impact our emotional reaction to the card. But that's really why we have this hobby, isn't it? I can't think of any other hobby that has such an impact. We have the fun of creating cards - each of them a little work of art - and personalizing them for each of recipients. Then we impact the people we send to. We give them encouraging thoughts and hugs, we share high fives, we comfort them when needed, and we bring them joy.
As I scrolled through my cards, I realized I wanted to narrow it down to a "hugs" card, because that's what I want to send to each of you after these last few long years. Hugs of comfort, but also a big thank you hug for being part of my blog and part of this challenge!
Here's my favorite card (with the details found here)
I'm going to play both ends of the challenge and also share some holiday decorations but with a story. I have been married for over 30 years. I met and married my husband within one year so we actually never spent a Christmas together before we were married. The 30 years notwithstanding, I would not recommend marrying without understanding your partner's Christmas foibles. It turns out my husband doesn't like lights on the house - in fact, he passionately hates them.
I've been crushed all these years. I'm not going to mention when I grew, but when and where I did grow up, we took lights seriously. Every house sparkled - you couldn't help but be filled with excitement and joy. In fairness to my husband, he grew up in an entirely different part of the country, and with the style of houses in that area, their decorations were candles in every window.
Sadly, the house we lived in for 29 years didn't have windows that worked with candles and it most definitely did not have Christmas lights so it remained dark. (I'm only talking about the outside - I did the insides!!)
With our children currently 21 and 25 years old, we down-sized a few years back into a ranch-style home in town (our last house was on acreage) with an easy walk to groceries and restaurants and breweries. I'm loving it. Not to mention that it came with an office that feels like it was made just for my cardmaking!
Then one Christmas, I realized it had windows!!! Big open windows! Windows into which candles fit perfectly!
Monday, December 13, 2021
Color Throwdown: Winter Wonderland
I am totally loving bright and cheerful colors for Christmas this year so I had to play along with the colors at the Color Throwdown. Even with pink and blue in the combo - for some reason, trees called my name!
Stamps: Waffle Flower Cozy Holiday Sentiments
Dies: Alexandra Renke 5 Pine Trees set (little)
Paper: Stampin' Up Polished Pink, Bermuda Bay and Granny Apple Green, My Favorite Things Black & White Stripes
Other: Kat Scrappiness Rainbow Snowflakes
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Poppystamps: Time to Sparkle
I'm on the Poppystamps blog today with this "time to sparkle" card using the Poppystamps Whittle Friendly Snowman!
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Poppystamps Wintertime Sentiments
Dies: Poppystamps Whittle Friendly Snowman
Paper: Memory Box Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad
Other: Poppystamps Pastel Jewels
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Freshly Made Sketches: Christmas with Holly
SUPPLY LIST:
Dies: Alexandra Renke Christmas, Sizzix Decorative Type Thinlits
Paper: Stampin' Up Tidings of Christmas dsp, cardstock in Cherry Cobbler, Evening Evergreen, Soft Succulent, Misty Moonlight
Other: Lisa Horton Crafts Holly & Berries Slimline 3D Embossing Folder
Monday, December 6, 2021
Color Throwdown: Sending you Holiday Hugs & Love
I couldn't let the challenge at the Color Throwdown go by without playing. It has pink in the color combo and I still needed to make Christmas cards for my pink-loving nieces! Here's what I came up with.
I got the Reverse Confetti Tree with lots of ideas to use a rainbow of colors or lots of patterns, but in this case, I think the plaid glitter paper works beautifully. The sentiment is from The Stamp Market. The set is called Merry & Magical - it's full of fun fonts and some slightly different sentiments - mostly "magical" sentiments but in this case I love that it includes "hugs & love"!
All I have left to do for Christmas is one more niece (so expect some pink/sparkle this week) and my two sons (which will probably be snarky). However, I still have quite a bit in my not-yet-used stash but now I can make Christmas card 100% for fun!!
Thanks to The Card Concept for the inspiration!
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: The Stamp Market Merry & Magical and dies
Dies: Reverse Confetti Tree Dies and Oh My Stars, Honey Bee Stamps Scallop A2 Card Frames
Paper: Glitter papers from Michaels, Stampin' Up Smoky Slate
Other: Taylored Expressions Silver Embossing Powder
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
The Card Concept: Peace on Earth
I'm actually in good shape with my Christmas card production. I've been in very different places over the years - from absolutely in a panic when December hits to coasting in and being able to relax. I much prefer relaxing. Although this year, for reasons I cannot explain at this point, I am knitting some gifts - nothing big but enough that I still have some moments of panic when I look at my gifts in progress! So I seem to have substituted knitting panic for my cardmaking panic. Oh well - the tree is up and twinkling at me and my Christmas music playlists are queued up - so it's hard to get too stressed!!
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Stampin' Up Sparkle of the Season (just the pinecones)
Dies: Stampin' Up Seasonal Swirls dies and Playful Alphabet dies, Hello Bluebird Holly and Pine (the bow)
Paper: Stampin' Up Tidings of Christmas, Cherry Cobbler (with a sparkle applied to it), Evening Evergreen, Tranquil Tide, Crumb Cake, gold cardstock unknown
Ink: Stampin' Up Soft Suede
Other: Altenew Window Slats 3D, Sunny Studio Ruby Red Jewels
Freshly Made Sketches: Make a Wish
The sketch is fabulous - I love little trios of accents. I need a birthday card this week and I stuck with Cécile's stars because they were just right for a birthday celebration. Then I found this detailed cupcake in my not-yet-used stash. The colors were picked simply to get as far from Christmas colors as possible. My two sons have birthdays 4 days and 7 days away from Christmas so for their entire lives I've been very careful to differentiate Christmas and birthday. Well, at least until they got old enough to want expensive electronic gifts then Christmas and birthday merged for the gift giving.
SUPPLY LIST
Dies: My Favorite Things Frosted Cupcake, Paper Smooches Teeny Stars, Honey Bee Stamps Scallop A2 Card Frames
Paper: Stampin' Up Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Balmy Blue; Memory Box Graceful Garden Glitter (the yellow and the orange) and Delicate Pastel Glitter (the blue)
Other: Simon Says Reverse Birthday Sentiment Strips, Taylored Expressions Sprinkles Embossing Folder
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Freshly Made Sketches: Layered Poinsettia
A poinsettia seemed like a great choice for the middle element and I had the Waffle Flower Layered Poinsettia die in my not-yet-used stash. I knew it could stand alone because it has wonderful details in each petal.
I played with a patterned stripe, but I decided on greenery so I used a sprig from the Waffle Flower Spotlight Elements. The set comes in a handy-dandy predesigned layout for spotlighting - I know that's obvious by the name! So the sprig and that sentiment are actually on one stamp with the idea that you can spotlight portions of it. But since I do like sticking with the same company when possible and since the look of the sprig seemed right with their poinsettia, I cut the stamp apart and used the sprig and the sentiment separately. I used the sprig to the right fairly close to the edge, then I flipped it and used just a few pieces (it overlaps in the middle but hidden by the poinsettia.)
I hope to see you playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches!
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Waffle Flower Spotlight Holiday Elements
Dies: Waffle Flower Layered Poinsettia
Paper: Stampin' Up Flirty Flamingo, Whimsy & Wonder dsp
Ink: Stampin' Up Mint Macaron
Poppystamps: Sweater Weather
I'm on the Poppystamps blog today with this reminder to play along with the current challenge: Sweater Weather. Sweater Weather can go in a lot of directions from fall to Christmas and winter. I took one last chance to do a fall card before the unofficial end of fall. Isn't it odd how as a cardmaker, you can make Christmas cards all year round, but autumn cards have a very short window which in my mind ends tomorrow!
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
The Card Concept: Wrapped in Love & Joy
Freshly Made Sketches: Holiday Sprigs
Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Birthday with an Abstract Mountain
My brother's birthday is next week. He and his family recently moved from Colorado to Georgia. They have a beautiful home and the move made sense for them (although how dare they take my teenage nieces that far away from me!) But my brother does love the Colorado mountains so his birthday card from me here still living in Colorado had to reflect our mountains!
This is the Abstract Mountain die from Ellen Hutson. It's like a jigsaw puzzle so the scene just happens! I knew I wanted to use that cork paper as one of the layers, then after I had it in place I realized I needed to balance it with some other textured layers so I embossed the snow-topped mountain. I tried a number of options for the sky but found the perfect solution in a paper pad that blends multiple colors so it gave me a hint of sun. (Details of all in the supply list.)
I put the sentiment at the bottom simply because it was one of the darker panels so my white embossing showed up the best. That left me a lot of empty sky so I filled it with a single bird.
With the help of the die, this card came together very quickly. And do you know how every once in a while you make a card that you are especially happy with - this is one of them! In fact I already made two more just like it (without the sentiment) to use for them as needed - probably during college finals in just a few weeks.
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Essentials by Ellen Totally Random Sayings Vol. 2
Dies: Essentials by Ellen Block Words and Abstract Mountain, Paper Rose Flying Birds - Small
Paper: Studio Light Essentials Paper Pad Multicolors (the sky), Stampin' Up Cork Specialty Paper
Other: Stampin' Up Tasteful Textile Embossing folder
Thursday, November 11, 2021
Poppystamps: A Whittle Christmas Scene
I'm on the Poppystamps blog today with a Whittle Christmas Scene.
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Poppystamps Christmas Quotes clear stamp and diet set
Dies: Poppystamps Evergreen Trio, Whittle Snowman, Whittle Hedgehog Duo, Whittle Squirrel, Chirping Birds and Scallop Stitch Frames
Paper: Memory Box Frosted Glitter Pad, Earth Neutral cardstock, Berry Red cardstock
Other: Poppystamps Christmas Fairy Jewels and Christmas Fairy Crystals
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Freshly Made Sketches: Season's Greetings
I wanted to bring a little more green in with the sentiment (those are the same greens no matter what they look like in the photo!) so I decided to heat emboss in gold. I used Simon Says Stamp Good Cheer set which includes simple, classic greetings. I like how it looks on the busy background!! (That's my clean and simple brain - if something is busy, something has simple has to counteract it!)
I hope to see you playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches.
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Good Cheer (and dies)
Dies: Hello Bluebird Pine Boughs die
Paper: Concord & 9th Neutrals Foil Paper Pack, Taylored Expressions Sweet Basil and Cherry Pop
Other: Altenew Perfect Poinsettias 3D Embossing Folder, Stampin' Up Gold Glitter Enamel Dots
Thursday, November 4, 2021
Poppystamps: Magic of Christmas
I'm on the Poppystamps blog today with this card that uses the new Holly Ring along with woodgrain and plaid for the warm and "magical" Christmas card!
There are more pictures and details on the Poppystamps blog - I hope you check it out!
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Poppystamps Peaceful Christmas Greetings
Dies: Poppystamps Holly Ring
Paper: Memory Box Polished Foil, Madras Plaid Coral and Green, Lush Green 6x6 pack, Kraft Woodgrain
Other: Open Studio (Memory Box) Pastel Jewels and Treasure Chest Fairy Gemstones
Wednesday, November 3, 2021
Freshly Made Sketches: Be Very Merry
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Stampin' Up Be Very Merry (a very old single)
Dies: Stampin' Up Gingerbread Dies
Paper: Stampin' Up Whimsy & Wonder, cardstock in Mossy Meadow and Polished Pink
Other: Stampin' Up 2021-2023 In Color Jewels, Glittered Organdy Ribbon, Softly Falling Embossing Folder
The Card Concept: Beautiful Bounty
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Honey Bee Stamps Patchwork Pumpkin
Dies: Honey Bee Stamps Patchwork Pumpkin, Fall Bouquets, Lovely Layers: Pinecone (just the pine sprigs) and Bitty Buzzwords
Paper: Bazzill Basics Licorice Prints, My Favorite Things Pineapple and , Stampin' Up Mint Macaron and Sahara Sand, black glitter paper from Michaels
Other: Studio Katia Arctic Breeze Pearls colored with YR18 Copic, Stampin' Up Antique Ivory Embossing Powder