Sweet Stiched Stockings

Here is another Christmas card we will be making in my upcoming Christmas card SAS.  I used the new set, Stitched Stockings stamp set from the Holiday Mini Catalog, along with the matching Stocking Builder Punch, to stamp and punch out these adorable little stockings.  Another cute idea you can do with this stamp set and punch, is making a little hobby horse -- see this link to Jackie Topa's blog -- http://jackietopa.typepad.com/addicted_to_stamping/2011/07/stitched-stocking-baby-boy.html.  Isn't that the cutest idea ever!  Anyways, back to the card at hand...  I stamped the Wild Wasabi background with the flourish stamp from the Elements of Style stamp set, then layered a strip of Real Red designer paper along the top, and cut a decorative strip from the Red Glimmer paper using my Tasteful Trims die.  It is the perfect glittery accent for the top of the card!  Then, add a little rhinestone bling and some of the mini jingle bells to the tops of the stockings, and you've got a gorgeous, easy Christmas card!  I embossed the sentiment from Hand-penned Holidays along the bottom in black, and added a red rhinestone (coloring them with my red Sharpie) to the dot on the i.

Supplies:
Card stock: Red Glimmer paper, Whisper white, Wild Wasabi, Red Designer series paper
Ink: Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Versamark
Accessories: Mini jingle bells, Basic Rhinestones, stocking builder punch
Stamps: Stitched Stockings

Jackie Topa's Singing Reindeer Christmas card

If you've never visited Jackie Topa's blog, you simply MUST!  She is the MASTER of the most adorable punch art you've ever seen -- including this adorable singing reindeer.  This little guy takes a lot of punches, and some patience to put together, but he's sure to make everyone you send him to, smile!
I embossed the folded Bashful Blue card with the new Snow Burst embossing folder.  I LOVE this new folder, and it works great for much more than just holiday projects.  See the fall wine tags where I used this same folder.
To make this project go together faster, apply the Big Shot Multipurpose Adhesive sheets to the backs of the card stock you are going to punch out of.  One of the FANTASTIC features of this adhesive, is that you can punch through it.  It is a double sided adhesive -- you peel off one side -- stick it to your paper, punch or die cut your designs, peel off the other liner and stick it directly to your project.  It makes building this little reindeer SOOOOO much faster -- and I am loving this adhesive so much, I have been using it constantly.  So handy to just punch, peel, and stick!  To make the book, use the curly label punch -- punch out the book, fold it in half, then cut the top and bottom off at an angle to make the book.  Put a little dimensional under the middle of the book to make it stand out just a little.
The antlers are made using the Swirls Scribbles Sizzlit die.
Tips for assembly:  Start with the head and the antlers -- put these on your card first, then put the body about an inch below the head.  Fold a Word Window punch out in half -- snip a V in one end to make the hooves, cut in half and use a half for each foot.  Adhere to the book sides and fold over to the back.  Put a dimensional on the back of the book so it stands out from the card a little.  Add your book.  Use a black marker to draw in the black on the face and the teeth, and the white gel pen to draw the white on the nose.
For the snow, I used the new mica flakes from the Holiday Mini catalog.  I put a thin layer of Crystal Effects all along the white "snow" panel, dumped the flakes on, patted them down a little to help them stick, then dumped off the excess.  Makes a super glittery, chunky snow panel.

Supplies list:
Card Stock: Bashful blue, chocolate chip, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Whisper White, Early Espresso, Basic Black
Punches: Extra Large oval, small oval (retired, but you could use the other small oval punch we carry), 1/2" round, 1 3/4" round, curly label, Word Window
Big Shot and the Snow Burst embossing folder, Swirls Scribbles Sizzlit die

Christmas Card Stamp-a-stack!

Yes, yes, I know!  It's not even Halloween yet, but you gotta start planning your Christmas cards before all the holiday craziness starts, right? :)  Here are the five cards we are going to make at my Christmas card stamp-a-stack on Nov 12th, 10 am.  You can choose to make 20 cards (4 each of 5 designs for $30) or 10 cards (2 each of 5 designs for $20).  These are all fairly simple cards to make, and showcase lots of fabulous new Holiday mini products!  Check back over the next few days to see posts about each card individually. 

Invite your friends for some wonderful holiday creating!  You can visit Flathead Valley Stampers Meetup Group group to RSVP.  I hope you can come!

Printed Petals Note Card Set

Printed Petals stamp set, is another little treasure that I've had on my wish list for a while, and low and behold! it's on sale this month -- 30% off!  Only $10.47 for the clear mount version!  What a fantastic deal -- I certainly couldn't resist. :)



I used one of the skinny silver tins from the SU clearance rack.  I covered it with brand new designer paper -- Flower Garden series -- from the Summer Mini.  Such vibrant, summery colors!  The dimensions for the papers to cover the tin:



Outside Lid: 5 1/2 x 2 1/2" x 2

Inside lid and bottom of tin: 5 1/2 x 4 7/8" x 2

I used the tin itself for my template to round the corners -- lay the tin on your paper, trace corners with a pencil, and then trim.  To put the paper inside the tin, I used double sided tape -- and just put a little in each corner and the middle.  For the outside of the tin, use the Big Shot adhesive sheets -- apply the to the backs of your paper sheets, peel and stick!

For the note cards, I used the SU note cards -- you get 20 in a pack for $5.95 -- pg 171.  I folded each card in half, then trimmed 1/8" off the top and side of each card.  I then mounted them on coordinating card stock panels (5 x 3 1/2") -- to match the designer paper I used -- 1 each of Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, and Pacific Point.  I stamped the large flower in coordinating colors, and then stamped the smaller flowers and cut them out for center focal points.  Yes, even I who hate cutting stuff out, decided these little flowers would look better cut, since I don't have a punch that would PUNCH them out!

I recently got Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, and am realizing how very versatile it is!  Perfect size for punching out with the Modern Label punch or the Word Window punch.  On these cards, I added a little sentiment on the bottom of each card.

Wouldn't these make the cutest little teacher gifts?

For the embellishment around the tin, I used a 2 x 12" strip of textured Pacific Point card stock -- punched the edges with the heart border punch, and wrapped it around the tin -- it's a tight fit, but works -- then secured the ends together on top, and added the punched scallop image (from the same stamp set), and a button with Pretty in Pink ribbon threaded through -- and some lovely retired Melon Mambo polka dotted ribbon.  The belly band slips off the tin easily, so it can be put back on.

Support West Valley School PTO!

I am once again, doing a fundraiser for my son's school -- this time with a fall theme! :)  I love fall colors, so coming up with some trendy fall projects was easy AND fun!  Here there are!

The stamped candle uses two of my favorite stamp sets -- French Foliage and a new set from the Holiday Mini -- Hand Penned Holidays.  The script in this stamp set is so elegant!  For all the details on making the stamped candle, visit this link: http://stampedwithflair.blogspot.com/2011/04/stamped-candle.html.  For the top of this candle, I applied sticky strip around the top and dumped the Champagne glass glitter over top.  Then I rubbed it in real good to keep it from flaking off.  (Use gloves and a sheet of scratch paper to avoid cutting yourself. :)
The pumpkin card is super simple, yet I love the way those pumpkins pop!  Stamp the vanilla panel with the swirl stamp from Baroque Motifs, then emboss some strips of pumpkin pie card stock with the square lattice and the snow burst embossing folders -- rub your pumpkin pie ink pad across your card stock to ink up the embossed design.  Punch out three ovals from each design -- using the large oval punch and the (now retired) small oval.  Layer the pieces to make a cute little pumpkin!  To make the stems, first punch a small oval out of some chocolate chip card stock -- now center the larger oval over the top of the punch out, and punch -- so you have an oval "frame".  Cut the oval frame into sections to use for stems.
AND, the wine tag has also had it's debut in "blog spotlight" -- see all the details here: http://stampedwithflair.blogspot.com/2011/09/wine-and-dine-in-fall-style.html.  For this one, I used Pumpkin Pie card stock, Old Olive 1 1/2" striped ribbon, and the Medallion stamp set.  I used the Boho Blossoms punch to add some little flowers to the center of the Medallion, and the Blossom Petals punch for the leaf.  Finally, I added some sparkly Dazzling Details glue to the edges of the Medallion to give it that extra pop!  It's really beautiful in real life.

So, save the date for Sat, Nov 5th at 10 am to make these beautiful projects and support West Valley School!  The class will be held in the library at WVS, and the class fee is $15.  See my meetup group for all the details: http://www.meetup.com/Flathead-Valley-Stampers/events/35714232/ All class fees as well as any profit from SU merchandise purchased, will be donated to the school.

My very first scrap book page ever!

One of my goals this year, is to start scrap booking!  Watching my first grader pour over his year book from last year several times a week, I'm realizing just how important photographs are to him.  He needs to have his very own book that tells HIS story.  And, well, can't forget the baby girl, either! :)  Her story is equally important -- and a little fresher in my memory.

In retrospect, the words should have gone all the way across the top of both pages, and then continued across the bottom since this is a 2 page layout, but too late now!  I also think these pages look a little masculine, which wasn't my intention.  But, beginnings have to start somewhere!  While I would consider myself an avid and experienced stamper, I feel like SUCH a newbie when it comes to scrap booking.  A whole new field, and that huge 12x12 expanse to balance and conquer.  Truly an art!  I've made several more pages since this one, though, and I can see improvements with each one.  I am planning to start a hostess Scrappers club which will meet every other month, and we will do a 2 page 12x12 layout -- what better way to get myself scrap booking than to teach it! :)  So, join my club and I promise we'll make some amazing layouts as well as explore some great techniques.
Supplies:
Card Stock: Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Night of Navy
Ink: Night of Navy
Stamps: Retired "Wanted" stamp set
Accessories: Big Shot plus the Tasteful Trims XL die, square lattice embossing folder, Serrif Essentials upper case alphabet dies, retired 3 flower punch, Basic Pearls, Fancy Flower punch, Decorative Label punch, retired Tangerine Tango striped ribbon.

Happy Scrapping!!!