52 Christmas Card Throwdown: Embossing

 I was inspired by the current technique challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown: Embossing. I decided to use embossing folders. Although I use them on a regular basis, typically they are just background but for the challenge, I wanted to integrate them into the design.

I started out with just the embossing folder that's in the background - the Simon Says Fir Tree Branches folder. It has a nice layout because the branches come from two corners instead of all over. I figured a big sentiment on top and some winter sparkle was all it needed.  I still want to do that but with the challenge, I wanted a little extra so hit on the idea of a window looking at the branches.  Then I found the arched window by Avery Elle in my not-yet-used stash and "peace" became my theme!

I cut three of the windows to layer them up. I added some wood plank embossing to the wall. The "peace" is a die set that coordinates with a sentiment set by PhotoPlay. They have a number of options in their "Say it with Stamps" line that often come in handy. I had some snowflake sequins out but it needed something to balance the sentiment so that led me to a Christmas star.

I'm happy with the way this turned out. I'm not a big fan of the hustle and bustle and the "noise" of December but I adore Christmas Eve. Our church service is all about peace with candles and "Silent Night" and that's when it's finally Christmas and I'm ready for the joy of Christmas day. 

Thank you to 52 Christmas Card Throwdown for the inspiration.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Photoplay Peace & Joy

Dies: PhotoPlay Peace & Joy, Avery Elle Arched Window Die, Memory Box Star of Wonder

Other: Simon Says Stamp Fir Tree Branches Embossing Folder, Stampin' Up Pinewood Planks Embossing Folder

Freshly Made Sketches: Sophisticated Sled

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Jen Timko and here’s what I did with it!

 

I fell in love with this sled die by Stampin' Up. Every single piece of it has amazing details. For instance, the laces on the skate actually slide into a slit on the skate so they look like laces over the tongue of the skate. It's amazing! There's also a wreath in the set so I definitely need to make a Christmas-colored card using the wreath vs. my frosty blue card with ice skates!

The set has been on my desk for awhile so when I saw Jen's sketch and realized that her oval is remarkably sled-sized, it had to come out to play. I added some snowflakes on the white panel and woodgrain on the blue. Then I gave it all some elegance with champagne foil and gems. The sentiment is from a retired set but I tend to keep sentiment sets forever because you never know when one might fit and be the perfect match for a card.

I hope to see you playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Brightest Glow

Dies: Stampin’ Up Sophisticated Sled Dies, Wreath Builder dies

Paper: Stampin’ Up Boho Blue, Basic Beige, Pebbled Path, Champagne Foil and 2023-25 In Color 12x12 Luster Specialty Paper

Ink: Stampin’ Up Boho Blue

Other: Stampin’ Up Champagne Rhinestone Jewels and Pinewood Planks, Winter Snow Embossing Folders

Freshly Made Sketches: So Very Thankful

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Judy and here’s what I did with it!

It's my very first Thanksgiving card of the year!  Why is it that we can make Christmas cards all year, but you don't see many fall cards being made in winter or spring?!  For me, this card is a bit of a stretch from the sketch. I'm a pretty literal person. But as I was contemplating what to make, my phone dinged that a package had been delivered to my mailbox and that package included this wonderful Autumn Inlay die from Concord & 9th! So the three panels on the sketch became three rows of fall colors!!

I added shimmer to the leaf above the sentiment. I like a little shine on my autumn cards because there is nothing more beautiful than frost on autumn leaves!

I hope to see you playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Concord & 9th Playful Pumpkins and dies

Dies: Concord & 9th Autumn Inlay die 

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Lost Lagoon, Old Olive, Crushed Curry and Taylored Expressions Sweet Potato Pie 

Ink: Stampin' Up Pretty Peacock

52 Christmas Card Throwdown: Snow People

I have a love/hate relationship with very detailed die sets - like the Tim Holtz Colorize or the fabulous snowmen from last year from Memory Box. I love the finished product, but my eyes and my fingers just don't handle the little pieces any more.  So this poor little snowman (and there's a bigger version) have been languishing in my not-yet-used stash until the challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown inspired me to use him on a card.

I really do love the detail in this little guy - that flowing scarf is so much fun.  I also had the sled die from Memory Box so decided to have him sledding down a hill. Then I found this sentiment, also from Memory Box, so I made him sled down the sentiment!  All in all, I like the results even though it gave my eyes and my pointy little tweezer a real workout!

Thanks to the 52 Christmas Card Challenge for inspiring me to finally use these dies.

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Memory Box Little Bundled Snowman, Layered Sled, Merry Christmas Posh Script

Paper: My Favorite Things Cool Collab, cardstock in Tropical Teal and Red Hot

Other: Buttons Galore Caribbean Sea Doo Dadz

Season's Greetings with Eclectic Trees

I don't know why this is a surprise every year...but I'm behind on Christmas cards. I don't send enough that I have to mass produce, but I do send more than enough that I need to start earlier than August!  So I treated myself to an entire Saturday recently that was all about Christmas cards - I even had Christmas music playing!  I didn't get as many done as I had hoped, but my personal goal for that day was simply to enjoy the process even knowing that my process is insanely, overly long!  I have a few that I want to share here because they use products that I love!

I love this tree die. The card that made me fall in love with it is entirely different than this one. Check out the shiny, sparkly monochromatic samples here in the Simon Says Store.  I love that a die can take on entirely different looks (or at least that's how I often justify the purchase)!  I went in a different direction and used the new in colors from Stampin' Up doing something different for each tree.  The peach tree is glittered, the shamrock and summer splash trees use dsp, the pink tree is embossed and the petunia tree just uses matching dots.  

I needed a long sentiment for the base and found this Paper Rose die in my not-yet-used stash. I like its chunky look espcially with the unique look of these trees.

Although one of my goals was to clear out my Christmas not-yet-used stash, I think the trees may stay there because I thoroughly enjoyed working with it and want to try some different looks before I file it away!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Simon Says Stamp Eclectic Tree Outlines, Paper Rose Season’s Greetings Chunky
Paper: Stampin’ Up cardstock in Pretty in Pink, Petunia Pop and Peach Pie, dsp in Shy Shamrock and Summer Splash
Other: Heat n Stick Powder with clear glitter, Stampin’ Up 2024-2026 In Color Shimmer Gems

Freshly Made Sketches: Hummingbird Birthday

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Amy and here’s what I did with it!

 

When I first saw the sketch, I was excited because I knew I had that shape in my collection and I could follow the sketch exactly. But when I dug it up, it turns out it was too big and stretched across the entire card so would hide the stripes. While digging through my stash, I saw this poor hummingbird which has been languishing in my not-yet-used stash for a long time. So I convinced myself that the unique shape in the sketch could be a hummingbird!

I picked some bright blues and greens to mirrow the main colors of many hummingbirds. Then I added stripes in the same colors with striped dsp for one and the sentiment on another. I thought I was done then realized that little hummingbird needed something to hum around so I found this fun embossing folder in my stash to give him a few flowers.

I hope to see you playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Waffle Flower Elegant Sentiments

Dies: Creative Expressions Triple Layer Hummingbird

Paper: Stampin' Up Lemon Lime Twist, Summer Splash and Granny Apple Green

Other: Pink & Main Daisies Embossing Folder

Sunday Stamps: Country Flowers

Lately, I find that I almost always use dies vs stamps/coloring but the Stampin' Up set Country Flowers called my name and it's all about the coloring.  I used it once here but decided to keep it my current basket of supplies until I'd used the other stamps in the set.  The colors at Sunday Stamps were just begging to be used in the an array of richly colored flowers so out came my Country Flowers!  Funny story though - I got this card all done and then realized I'd used exactly the same teapot and flowers as my first card!!  Clearly I have favorites!

The colors they picked are just stunning.  I think the rules say you have to use at least 3 - I used 6!  Since there was no green for the leaves, I used the curry color to gave it a fall vibe (or at least an August vibe!)  

This set is so much fun to work with although I've clearly lost the limited coloring skills that I had (see the obvious lines in the pot and the fact that the light part is under the flower where there should be shadow).  It definitely takes practice. I doubt I'll dive back into it because my die cutting collection is out of control, but if there are other fun sets, we'll see!

Thanks to Sunday Stamps for the inspiration. 

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin' Up Country Flowers and Sending You Thoughts

Dies: Stampin' Up Country Flowers and Scalloped Contours

Paper: Stampin' Up Island Indigo cardstock, Crushed Curry dsp

Other: Stampin' Up Eyelet 3D Embossing Folder

Freshly Made Sketches: Ho Ho Ho

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Narelle and here’s what I did with it!

 

I totally missed Christmas in July.  It's been a tough year at work and any creative mojo, let alone Christmas mojo, has been long gone. I decided this past weekend to not work any more overtime and to try to let it go mentally - and I did it by proclaiming this past Saturday as Christmas.  I made Christmas cards all day.  And I wore a Christmas T-shirt, drank coffee out of a Christmas mug and played Christmas music and movies. My guys even humored me - when my son woke up, he ran into my office shouting "Merry Christmas" and gave me a big hug!  It was all very refreshing - I think I need to proclaim a day of Christmas every month!  

With Christmas in mind, Narelle's sketch had to be "ho ho ho"! I found a bold "ho" die in my not-yet-used stash and cut three, angling the "O" when I adhered them.  I found some paper that matched the theme and added a "Be Very Merry".  It's all a little different from my normal look but I'm happy with it - and it will likely go to the son who shouted "Merry Christmas"!

I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: The Stamp Market Heaps of  Holiday Words

Dies: The Stamp Market Ho

Paper: Bella Blvd Holly Jolly Christmas

Other: Honey Bee Stamps White Gem Stickers