Bright and Beautiful

A family tradition we have, is making gingerbread houses every year with the kids.  In these pics, my son, Bryn, was 4 1/2 and we got together with our close friends for some house making fun. It also happened to be the day that we found out that our long wished for second child was on the way -- our precious little Sabina!  I remember decorating these houses with the kids, with my heart full up to the top with happiness and anticipation and hope....  Preserving memories -- isn't that what scrap booking is all about?!!!

One of the many stamp sets from the Holiday Catalog that I absolutely love, is the Bright and Beautiful stamp set with the matching star framelits.  I wanted to create a starry Christmas layout for my last scrap club class of the year, and here it is!  I used the star confetti border punch (also from the holiday catalog) to punch that little star border out of black.  A sparkly strip of scalloped Champagne glimmer paper -- cut with the retired Tasteful Trim die -- that is currently in the clearance rack for a killer price -- just sayin'!  That 3-D star is several of the star stamps from the Bright and Beautiful stamp set -- stamped in Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, and Memento Black ink and then cut out with the coordinating star framelits.  I cut out 3 sizes of other smaller stars to make that "sprinkling" of stars across the pages -- glimmer paper, retired black and Cherry Cobbler coordination card stock (embossed with the star embossing folder and sanded), scraps from the Typeset DSP, and a few stamped and die cut small stars, as well as a few gold sequins.

Another of my very favorite products, is the Wondrous Wreath Bundle  -- also from the Holiday catalog.  That sparkly champagne glimmer paper "Noel" is from the wondrous wreath framelits.  There is also the word "Joy"in that set.  Beautiful set that can be used for all seasons.  I love making my journaling block look like a notebook page by using the spiral border punch to punch the edge.  Small thing, but adds to the look, I think.

On the background, I used the star masks and added some random stars to the pages -- using a sponge dauber and Cherry Cobbler ink.  I also stamped the two stars from Bright and Beautiful directly on the pages and used the eclectic paper piercing pack to pierce an outline around the stars -- see the last photo below to see this subtle, but cute effect.

If you haven't checked out the Year end Closeout sale, hop onto my website and see what you have to get.  There are so many gorgeous products from the past in there for a super great price.

'Tis the Season -- almost!

Happy Saturday, Everyone!

I love Christmas, and I REALLY love this year's Holiday catalog!  So many gorgeous stamp sets, punches, and embellishments to choose from. Ok, I didn't do that much choosing -- I basically bought it ALL!  Yikes!  Here is my line up of holiday cards we will be making at my upcoming, annual Christmas card Stamp-a-stack.  (To read all about these classes, or RSVP for a spectacular Christmas card making extravaganza, :) visit my meet up group and RSVP for the date that suits you -- space is limited, first come first serve. http://www.meetup.com/Flathead-Valley-Stampers/)

This first card features the "Seasonally Scattered stamp set.  I simply stamped the "Merry" in Night of Navy ink, then the "Christmas" in Real Red ink (from a hostess only exclusive stamp set -- Good Greetings -- available to all hostesses who have a $300 or more party during October) on a Whisper White panel.  After stamping, I embossed the panel with the Filigree Frame embossing folder.  Of course, I added some bling as that's what I'm all about!  the frosted sequins add that little special touch, AND you get a TON of fun for that $4.95!  There are a lot of sequins and little beautiful white snow flakes in that little container.  I also used a little dazzling details to the design for a bit more sparkle.  A very easy card, but lovely, I think.

If you love stars, you're gonna love this one featuring the Bright and Beautiful stamp set and the star framelits.  Also featured on this card, is the All is Calm washi tape.  I used a little scrap of card stock,  covered it in several patterns of the washi tape, then use a star framelit to die cut the center washi tape star.  The All is Calm snowflake embellishments are the perfect accent for the center of my star.  Colors used in this card, are Lost Lagoon, Soft Sky, and Whisper White.  That gorgeous silver star, is some retired Silver glimmer paper.  However, there is a new beautiful silver glimmer paper that you could sub in for this card.

Third in the line up, is this cutie pie snowman/trees card featuring a new set from the Holiday catalog -- White Christmas.  There are so many possibilities with this set, but I was trying for a simpler creation as people will be making a lot of cards at this class.  I stamped the trees and snow man in Memento Black ink on Kraft card stock, then colored in the white areas with the chalk marker.  The snow flakes are once again, from the Frosted sequins assortment.  I added a little strip of red glimmer paper along the bottom, and used my two way glue pen to add some Dazzling Diamonds glitter for the snow.  For the falling snow, I stamped the little dots in white craft ink.  A note of caution with white craft ink, it takes a little longer to dry, so either let your panel dry for a bit first, or use a heat gun to dry it more quickly before assembling your card.

Another product I love from the Holiday catalog, is this little paper stack called Trim the Tree paper stack.  You get a lot of bang for your buck with this little stack -- lots of darling patterns that you could use for Christmas and beyond!  I wanted to create a simple card featuring the Bloom for You stamp and the matching Fun Flower punch.  I always love a set that you can stamp first, and then punch it out.  Makes it so easy to create something lovely in a snap.  I used the new this year dazzling diamonds glimmer paper for the flower center -- punching it out using the 7/8" scallop circle punch.  I added a few colored rhinestones to the flower center, using my trusty red sharpie to color them red.  The Christmas sentiment uses a stamp and matching punch from another holiday catalog set -- Merry Everything Bundle.  The Early Espresso panel on this card is embossed with the woodgrain embossing folder.

Last, but not least, the Festival of Trees bundle was a must on my Christmas wish list this year.  The little photopolymer tree stamp set, has a matching punch, so you can stamp first and then punch out some darling little Christmas trees!  Super cute for cards or tags or anything Christmasy.  Love this little bundle!  Also used on this card, is the Endless Wishes stamp set, some more silver glitter paper, the word window and modern label punches, and the All is Calm specialty designer series paper.  I am convinced you couldn't possibly make anything ugly with this paper.  It is gorgeous! and has two sheets of silver foil paper in the pack as well.  A must have, in my book.  That little strip of silver is the silver 1/8" ribbon.  Colors featured on this card: Lost Lagoon, Pear Pizzazz, and Whisper White.  I used a few touches of silver sparkle dazzling details to add something special to the tree.  Fun, fun, fun!  Just a reminder, for best results when using photopolymer stamp sets, stamp your image with the stamp and pierce mat underneath.  It helps you get a better image.  Also, if you find that you aren't getting a good image with your photopolymer stamps at first, try rubbing the surface of the stamps with an eraser, or give them a rub on your jeans, or scrub them thoroughly on your stamp n scrub.  Sometimes there is a little coating on these stamps that you need to remove before they will take the ink well.