Show & Tell of Christmas Cards

Pin It Now! Here are a few of the Christmas cards I've received this month. Just beautiful, each and every one!  Isn't it the best when you get one of those "lumpy envelopes" in the mail, and you know you're opening a handmade card?

First up is my friend Julie. I love her creativity, I can see she has combined several stamp sets.

My upline, Linda, sent this Wondrous Wreath card, with the addition of our bird punch!

And you cannot imagine my delight when I got this big, beautiful package in my box. This is a large (about 6x9) gift bag, created by my sweet friend Dee Ann. I adore the gold, the doily, the star! And inside were custom made address labels!  

I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas!

Make something homemade and bless someone!  

Festival of Trees Quick & Easy Christmas Card

Pin It Now! Here's a quick, fun card using the coordinating punch and photopolymer stamps in the Festival of Trees bundle.

The punched tree fits nicely into a circle punched with the 2-1/2" circle punch. Double layer the tree to give it a pop-up look. 

it's not your eyes...this is a blurry photo...sorry!

Inside...that's some old patterned paper, Be of Good Cheer!  It always comes in handy eventually :)

Anyway, these are quick and easy for those last minute cards you need for folks.  

Have a blessed and creative day!

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS:  Festival of Trees bundle with punch

INK:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler

PAPER: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Garden Green, Beof Good Cheer DSP-retired, Gold Glimmer

EMBELLISHMENTS:  Cheery Cobbler Dazzling Details, Baked Brown Sugar thick twine, Swiss dots embossing folder, 2-1/2"circle punch, Itty Bitty Accents punch pack(star), 

An Icy Color Combo for Christmas & Hanukkah! HSS200

Pin It Now! I can't believe Hand Stamped Sentiments is hitting this huge milestone...200 crafty challenges!  I've been with them for over two years now, and it's been so fun and such a blast.

This week the challenge is a unique color combo.  It had me scratching my head, but I came up with a design that was great for both Christmas and Hanukkah!

Look at these colors!  So cool and crisp. 

A closer look at them...My final Christmas design features Ornamental Pine embossed with Smoky Slate Stampin' Emboss, and rubbed with a sponge and Tempting Turquoise ink.  I like the glow that it gives the Pool Party cardstock. 

I decided to try it out with my Hanukkah stamp - lovely! 

And my first design, basically the same as the first Christmas card, but without the stepped up embellishments.  This is a great card for mailing!

Won't you join us at Hand Stamped Sentiments this week?  I'd love to see how you're inspired!

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS: Happy Hanukkah, Ornamental Pine

INK:  Tempting Turquoise, Versamark, Stampin Emboss White

PAPER:  Whisper White, Pool Party, Smoky Slate

EMBELLISHMENTS:  Tea Lace Doilies, Frosted Sequins, Basic Rhinestones, Pool Party Thick Twine, Pool Party Bakers Twine

OTHER: 1/8" white satin ribbon (Hanukkah card)

Santa Stache with a Simple Sketch

Pin It Now! Love my Santa Stache!  This is a too-cute set that's easy to color and packs a punch.  The coordinating Framelits moustache makes it way cuter!

We have a great, simple sketch at HSS for the next two weeks.  Use it to get started on Christmas cards!  I followed the sketch exactly and I love the results. Clean, bright, and symmetrical.  

A right jolly old elf, eh?  Love the Blendabilities to color him with. This is a great stamp to try them out with. Not much coloring, so what you do really stands out.  I used the Cherry Cobbler set and the skin tone assortment.  

Swing on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments and give this sketch a try!  I can't wait to see what you do!

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS:  Santa Stache

INK:  Memento Black, Blendabilities Cherry Cobbler/Skin Tone assortment, Early Espresso

PAPER:  Trim the Tree DSP stack, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Whisper White

EMBELLISHMENTS:  Cherry Cobbler 1" Sheer Linen Ribbon, Linen Thread, Sequin Assortment

Other:  Ovals cutting tool (Creative Memories), Corner rounding tool (Fiskars)

Clean & Simple Christmas Cheer

Pin It Now! I've decided to use a clean and simple card for mailing at Christmas this year.

What I haven't decided is which card to use!  The next few posts will feature my mailable, CAS Christmas card series.  The DSP will provide most of the embellishment, and the sentiment will be clear and bold!

Here's one featuring Nordic Noel DSP, Cheerful Christmas stamp set, and a couple of embellishments.

The color pallette is from our latest challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  Love these holiday season colors!

I substituted the Garden Green for the dark shade of Old Olive Blendabilities. These markers work great for so many techniques!  This time I used one to color the pine boughs that were heat embossed with white.

Inside, Christmas merriness!

I think the rounded corners add a little more interest to my mailable card.  The little strip of black and white, too.  I have learned this cool look from one of our 2014-2015 Artisans, Teneale Williams.  She is a master of graphic design!

Have a blessed and creative day!  ~ erika

SUPPLY LIST:

STAMPS:  Cheerful Christmas, More Merry Messages

INK:  White Stampin' Emboss, Basic Black, Real Red, Blendabilities Old Olive

PAPER:  Nordic Noel DSP, Typeset Specialty DSP, Whisper White, Real Red,  Basic Black

EMBELLISHMENTS:  Frosted Sequins, Basic Rhinestones

OTHER:  Corner rounding punch (Fiskars)

Nordic Noel Dazzles With No Embellishments!

Pin It Now! A mailable, barely lumpy Christmas card for you today!

I'm working on my Christmas cards to mail out in just a few weeks.  Already! Wow!

This one lets the DSP do most of the talkin', and a little glimmer paper to make it pop.

There's a challenge at Christmas Card Challenges to create a card with NO embellishments, and this one made me joyful!  When it came time to stick something extra on it, I said NOPE!  We are done.  How liberating! Thanks, CCC!

Inside.

Do you dare to make a card with no ribbon?  Rhinestones?  Buttons? Sequins??? I dare you to try!

Have a blessed and creative day!  ~ Erika

SUPPLY LIST:

STAMPS:  Heart of Christmas (retired), More Merry Messages

INK:  White Stampin Emboss, Basic Black, Real Red

PAPER:  Nordic Noel DSP, Typeset Specialty, Basic Black, Red Glimmer Paper, Whisper White

Happy Halloween with Holiday Home

Pin It Now!

I was finding myself short-handed on Halloween cards to mail out this week, so I made up a batch of these clean and simple cards with the Holiday Home bundle. 

The house was heat embossed with Smoky Slate powder, die cut with the coordinating Framelit, and then I also die cut the white cardstock and inlaid the house so that it's flat on the card.  I think it looks more CAS this way, and the stars add texture.

Isn't that spider web cute?

The "Happy Halloween: sentiment is cut from one of the Apothecary Accents Framelits, and cut about 2/3 up. 

That orange ribbon? It's very retired Sycamore Street from a past Sale-A-Bration. Using the stash!  

Have a blessed and creative day! ~ Erika

Supply List:

STAMPS:  Holiday Home, Delightful Dozen (Ret)

INK:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Blackberry Bliss, Tangelo Twist

PAPER:  Moonlight DSP Stack, Whisper White, Basic Black

EMBELLISHMENTS:  Basic Rhinestone, retired orange ribbon

BIG SHOT:  Lucky Stars embossing folder, Homemade Holiday Framelits, Apothecary Accents Framelits

Terrific Trendy Sketch - 2 Ways! HSS197

Pin It Now! I was thrilled to be able to work with this lovely sketch at Handstamped Sentiments, courtesy of the talented Elizabeth Price!  Very fun.

I love the offset panel trend.  It lends an unexpected element to the typical rectangular greeting card.

The cut background is a nice way to break up a pattern.  I added gold embossing to an Autumn Wooden Element.  I hugged the tiny package of these when they arrived in my Stampin' Up! order. They are endlessly cute.  Much thinner than the big box craft stores' wood embellishments, so they're much better to use on a card that you're going to send.

I originally created the stamped strip panel at 4" x 5-1/4" out of habit, and realized the sketch called for a shorter one.  So I used the extra to decorate the inside.  

I was so crazy about this sketch, that I made a second card. While cleaning up from the first, I noticed my washi tape stack, and thought it would work great for a quick, clean card.  This was easy!  I cut the angled panel twice, stamped the greeting on the bottom piece, and used the large oval punch on the top panel to make a window.   A little sequin trim and linen thread bow, and it's simple, sweet, and ready to send. 

Head on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments for more inspiration on this fabulous sketch!  I'd love to see what you're inspired to create!

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS:  For All Things, Petite Pairs,Hardwood 

INK: Cherry Cobbler, Mossy Meadow, Hello Honey, Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Gold Embossing, Early Espresso

PAPER:  Cherry Cobbler, Mossy Meadow, Very Vanilla

EMBELLISHMENTS:  Gold Sequin Trim, Autumn Wooden Elements, Linen Thread, Gold 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Gold Washi Tape

PUNCHES: Large Oval

For All Things

Pin It Now! Today, I'm giving thanks for this sweet new stamp set, and an hour to play with it.

I love stamping scattered leaves!  I never get tired of a nice autumn set.

The sentiment is die cut with Chalk Talk Framelits, and backed with a couple of punches cut in half. 

And check out that acorn wooden embellishment! I painted it with some old Smooches I keep close by. It's super sweet plain, too. 

Inside, a little extra stampiness.

I was inspired by the color combo of this beautiful dish from the VIETRI site, found on the Saturday inspiration challenge at Splitcoast Stampers. Cute!  

Have a blessed and creative day! 

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS: For All Things

INK: Cherry Cobbler, Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Hello Honey

PAPER:  Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla

EMBELLISHMENTS:   Autumn Wooden Elements, Filigree Frames embossing folder, Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon, Baked Brown Sugar thick twine, Chalk Talk Framelits

OTHER: Gold Lame' Smooches paint

Happily Haunted House!

Pin It Now! Here's a cute little haunted house, complete with batty chimney and a ghost coming through the walls!

The color combo is a fun one from Hand Stamped Sentiments.  I used coordinating strips of patterned paper at 3/4" and 1/2" by 1-1/2" and pulled them all together with a black satin ribbon.  The house is colored with the same combo.  I love this stamp set!  There are so many little details you can add to the house.  Here, I've spooked it out with the Halloween stamps - ghost, tree, bats, and that tiny spider web in the corner of the door.  Such fun to build a scene! 

A little close up of the house. I keep a curved mask of paper in the stamp box to make grassy hills out of with a sponge wedge.  I outlined the house lightly with pencil after die cutting it with the matching framelit to place the bats, ghost, and tree correctly.  Then simply erased the lines and popped the house up with Dimensionals!  

Check out this sweet stamp set for all the wonderful ways you can dress up the houses!

Click the pic to visit SU's site -
pick me as your demonstrator to order!

Head on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments and join in the fun!  The challenge goes on for two weeks, and I would love to see what you do! 

Have a spooky cool day! ~ Erika

SUPPLIES:
STAMPS: Holiday Home
INK:  Pear Pizzazz, Blackberry Bliss, Jet Black Staz On, Basic Grey, Smoky Slate, Hello Honey
PAPER:  Typeset Specialty DSP, Subtles DSP Stack, Basic Black, Very Vanilla
EMBELLISHMENTS:  Black Satin ribbon
BIG SHOT:  Holiday Home Framelits

Holiday Home Bundle - Blue Christmas

Pin It Now! Hi there!  I'm dropping in today with a merry little card featuring the Holiday Home stamp set & Framelit bundle.

This one is pretty simple to create.  Whisper White background, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper for the snow drifts, and a few stamps.  I used the Framelit for the house, and fussy cut the tree.

Added a little "fork bow" and a rhinestone in the center of the wreath.  

Like that new Lucky Stars embossing folder?  Cute for all year round!

So glad you stopped by!

SUPPLIES:
STAMPS:  Holiday Home
INK:  Soft Sky, Jet Black Staz On, Hello Honey, Pink Pirouette, Pear Pizzazz, Smoky Slate
PAPER:  Soft Sky, Whisper White, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Specialty
EMBELLISHMENTS:  White Organdy, Basic Rhinestones
OTHER:  Holiday Home Framelits, Lucky Stars TIEF

Holiday Home Treat Wraps for Autumn

Pin It Now! Welcome to September! My favorite time of year. Chilly breezes, crisp falling leaves, and home baked apple crisp make my world go 'round!

Here's a fun little treat wrap featuring a blustery autumn scene, featuring the fabulous new bundle Holiday Home. 

Wrapped inside is a pack of Mentos gum, and the ribbon is wrapped horizontally so that it pulls the gum out from the top. I created the little scene with stamps from the kit, then stamped, water colored, and die cut the home with the matching Framelit. 

Have some cider today, celebrate!

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS: Holiday Home (Holiday 2014 mini)

INK:  Hello Honey, Baked Brown Sugar, Cherry Cobbler, Tangerine Tango, Always Artichoke, Smoky Slate, Old Olive

PAPER: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Watercolor Paper

EMBELLISHMENTS/OTHER:  Cherry Cobbler Linen ribbon, Baked Brown Sugar Thick Twine, Holiday Home Framelits set

Cheerful Christmas - Sneak Peek 2014 Holiday

Pin It Now! Just dropping by with a quick card I made using a few new products available tomorrow!

I love the clean, graphic look of this stamp set!  It makes easy, yet striking cards. 

I notched the sides to tie the ribbon with a 1/2" circle punch.  Tied off with 

Inside, an ornament from the same stamp set. 

Have a blessed & creative day!

SUPPLIES:

NEW ITEMS USED:  CHEERFUL CHRISTMAS STAMP SET, 

FILIGREE FRAME  TIEF, 

ALL IS CALM SNOWFLAKE EMBELLISHMENT, 

FROSTED SEQUINS EMBELLISHMENTS, 

REAL RED 3/8" SATIN WOVEN RIBBON

INK:  Real Red, Mossy Meadow, Early Espresso

PAPER:  Real Red, Whisper White

Watercolor Winter - Sneak Peek at Holiday Catty!

Pin It Now! The sketch this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments gave me the opportunity to play with some new goodies, available August 29th, from the Holiday 2014 catalog.  I worked with an amazing new kit, Watercolor Winter!  This kit, for $24.95, includes supplies to make 20 cards with envelopes, and features fun embellishments like this red sleigh, vellum snowflake die cuts, sequins, linen thread, gold glimmer paper accents, and thick watercolor letters!

Here's my first card created with the kit.  I added a little embossing, sequin snowflakes, and Dazzling Diamonds glimmer paper (these are not incl. in the kit).

I used the sleigh as the focal point, using the sketch as a guide...

Hand Stamped Senitments Sketch Challenge #193.
Click the pic to visit our site!

After that, I got busy and made all these cards from the kit, using mainly the instructions included, changing a couple up just a little.  

I think this one is my favorite!  SU suggests hand watercoloring a striped background, but my attempt was less than stellar!  So I opted to use my Hardwood background stamp.  

This "Merry" sample is done exactly as instructed.

This "Happy Holidays" sample is also exactly as instructed.  I did add some sponging to the striped Cherry Cobbler base.  

This one is also as instructed.  LOVE the watercolor paper sleighs!  I have several more in the kit to play with, and I plan to have some serious fun with them!  

There are so many supplies in this kit, and when you add the trio of Christmas stamps, they can be used for an endless variety of Christmas and winter themed cards.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Head on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments to see what the other gals did with this sketch!