Thursday, November 27, 2008

Stamp Simply

Oi! I need to re-think Christmas cards for next year. I love the template card I made, but it is just has too many layers and too much painting detail to mass produce. Next year I will think more simply.

This is what I have been up to:


I still have to cut and scallop all the burgundy mats and mount to the card fronts as well as mount the card front to the folded card, heat set the liquid applique on ALL the cards and apply ribbon. Did I say "Oi!" already? Wish me luck!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Hedgehogs in the Snow

I adore these little hedgehogs. They are the reason I bought the "Bubbly" clear stamps set by Penny Black. I had been admiring these little critters for so long, but couldn't decide which "one" stamp of them to buy. When I came across a set with a couple of hedgehogs I had to have them.

I even finally used one of my SU - Circle of Friendship stamps, which I bought last summer at the Stamp Retirement party and had yet to even open.

I told you have been making a REALLY good effort to use stamps I already have, even the DP is left over from last years Christmas stock.

Details:
Stamps: Penny Black - Bubbly, Su - Circle of Friendship, and Hero Arts - Merriest Wishes (ornament & star)
Paper: Rhonna Farrer - Flourishes & Fun, Certainly Celery, and Riding Hood Red
Ink: Certainly Celery, Tombows
Accecsories: Colluzle circles, Skittles, SU - Scallop Punch, Ribbon

Monday, November 24, 2008

Christmas Case

I saw these cute little Santa gift tags by Vicki (It's a Stamp Thing) on Splitcoast over the weekend. She linked the directions to Heathers site (Stamp with Heather) There is a video with clear and super easy directions. I couldn't believe how easy these were to make. Heather has a few really cute images made solely from stamps.


I didn't have the SU "3 for you flower" punch for the hat, so I improvised using another flower punch.

Heather uses these Santa's on Scrapbook pages using the pop up beard for hidden journaling, but they also can be used as gift tags. I plan on making a bunch to hang on my tree.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Hush Puppy Christmas

I bought the cute little "Bubbly" critter clear stamp set by Penny Black back in August. It has a few darling little hedgehogs which I have been desperate to get my hands on. I couldn't wait for them to arrive in the mail, yet I never got around to using them. Guess I lost my mojo.


The stripe DP is from last year's stash, it is so awesome, but I didn't have a good co-ordinating DP to go with it. The Designer Series DP from SU in Old Olive is a dead match, I love the two together. I just picked my SU DP yesterday. You may end up seeing more of this combo.

I am a little miffed that the sentiment isn't centered. It was originally, but then I decided to add a pink mat. In order for it all to fit into the Nestability, the sentiment became slightly off centered. C'est la Vie!

Details:
Stamps: Hero Arts - Merriest Wishes, Penny Black - Bubbly
Paper: KI Memories - Joyful Skinny Stripe, SU Old Olive Designer Series, Riding Hood Red, Pink
Ink: Old Olive, Tombows
Embelishments: Large rectangle Nestabilities, Bella Baubles, Stickles and Ribbon

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Puffy Duck

I wanted to whip up a quick congratulations card for a friend who just announced she is pregnant with her second child. As well, I have a girlfriend coming over this weekend to make thank you cards for her sister in-laws baby shower and I thought this could also be a possible template.

I am having tremendous fun with the liquid applique, except it flattens very easily. I had to cut the yellow square and emboss it before applying the applique or the duck would get crushed. I am curious how well it will hold up in the mail too?

Details:
Stamps: Studio G Clear Stamps (duck), SU - Very Punny sentiment
Ink: SU - Summer Sun
DP: Provo Craft - Bitty Scrap Pad Backgrounds, yellow and white cardstock
Embelishments: Embossing folder - Frames, Marvy Liquid Applique, white ribbon

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Stampendous Christmas

It's been a while, I was in a bit of a funk and didn't do any cards. I'm back and I have a dozen ideas, here's hoping I actually get them down on paper.

I tried to be good this year and not buy any new Christmas stamps and just use what I already have. I fell in love with the Santa Trio stamp by Stampendous last year, when I saw it featured on Stampers Dream, with full intentions of using it on my Christmas cards. Of course I didn't, but I have this year.

I sort of had some of my layout already planned, but was struggling with some of the details. I knew before purchasing my DP that I wanted the colour combination to be a bit different from the traditional green and red. The DP changed a few times going from brown, blue & green to red, blue and green. Blue and green were the key ingredients.

Thanks to Kerry J. for the use of her cuddle bug folder and for brain storming with me over the layout. As well, if Kerry J. is ever so gracious as to share her LOW FAT lemon square recipe with all of us, YOU MUST try them, they are FAB!

I am so happy with the results, I love the the colour combination, although IRL the red is more burgandy and the white cardstock is shimmery white by SU, which you can't see in the photo.

Details:
DP: Karen Foster - Christams Stripes, SU cardstock - Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue & Shimmery White, Michaels cardstock - burgandy
Stamps: Stampendous - Santa Trio, EK Success - Sentiment roll
Embellishments: Tombow - markers, Cuddle Bug Folder - Christmas Ornaments, SU - Scallop punch, ribbon from my mother-in-law, Stickles

I have am going to try Marvy Liquid Applique on the Santa Hat and Boots, but it takes 24 hours to dry then needs to be heat set, not so sure that I am going to want to do that on 30 odd cards so Stickles on all of them may be the out come. It's a lot of colouring in for this card, I thinks thats why I didn't end up using it last year. I still love it though.