Countdown to Occasions Catalog - Day 5

The new 2017 Occasions Catalog will go live in just 5 days and over at SSI we are counting down the days.  We will be looking at five of the catalog's amazing suites.  Today we are focusing on the Party Animal Suite.  I got to use these products at a Stampin' Up event back in November, one of the perks of being a demo!  This group of products include great Designer Series Paper perfect for birthday cards, a fun stamp set and a coordinating set of thinlits with a pop up die.  There is also some awesome thin Emerald Envy Taffeta Ribbon and some fun painted silver metal embellishments as well as an awesome 5 pack of washi tape.  Here is a card I made with some of these products:

How fun is this paper?  The colors are bright and work for everyone's birthday!  I started with a Pacific Point card base and added on the fun present DSP.  I stamped the sentiment on some Whisper White and used the Stitched Shapes Framelits and layered it on an Emerald Envy scallop cut with the Layering Circles Framelits.  I added some Crushed Curry baker's twine with a fun party hat embellishment tied on.  Here is the inside: 

I used the pop up thinlit and stamped some balloons inside along with the sentiment and some confetti in the corners.  This card is perfect for any party animal that is for sure!

For more fun projects using these fabulous products, head over to SSI!

    

Happy New Year

I can't believe it's almost New Year's Eve!  I have had a wonderful week spending time with my brother and his family.  They came up for the week and it has been awesome having them.  I have two amazing nieces and they play wonderfully with my kids.  And it is so nice to spend time with my brother and his wife.  I am looking forward to a fun New Year's Eve with them!  I can't think of a better way to ring in the New Year.  I did create a fun little card to bring to my mother's the next day where she will be fixing New Year's Day Dinner!  

I decided to use the Here's to Cheers bundle and add my favorite colors, Mint Macaron, Copper and Whisper White.  I did some tone on tone stamping with the Celebrate sentiment.  The background paper is the envelope paper, which is amazing!  I heat embossed the wine bottles and glasses and die cut it with my favorite Stitched Shapes dies.  I layered it on the fun die cut from the the Here's to Cheers framelits.  I added some of the clear sequins as champagne bubbles.  

For more New Year's Projects, head back over to SSI.  Happy New Years to you!

   

Tasty Trucks Meets Festive Birthday DSP

So Sale-A-Bration is almost here are let me just tell you, there are so many fabulous products to choose from!  Today I am showing off a must have, or must earn I should say, Tasty Trucks.  I made a little Taco Truck and combined it with the Festive Birthday Designer Series Paper!  

How adorable it that little truck, right?  You can make it a Hot Dog truck, an Ice Cream truck but I love me some tacos, so I made a Taco Truck!  I stamped it with some Basic Black archival ink onto some Shimmery White card stock and then used blender pens to color it in.  I had wanted to use the new watercolor pencils, but I decided to match my colors from the DSP.  I used a Tempting Turquoise card base and layered on two sheets of Festive Birthday DSP. Here is a close up:

I added some enamel shapes and some Emerald Envy Ruched Ribbon.  I was so pleased with this card.  Now just who am I going to send it to?  For more peeks at the upcoming Sale-A-Bration offerings, head over to SSI.

December Technique Challenge

Did you make it through all the Holiday festivities?  Hopefully this Monday finds you relaxed from that Christmas frenzy!  We were lucky to be home all day on Christmas and my kids had a wonderful Christmas full of fun toys.  I had some time Sunday night to create for this month's Technique Challenge over at SSI:

So I am going to show you my project step by step...well sort of at least.  I decided to use some brand new products coming very soon in the 2017 Occasions Catalog; the Dragonfly Dreams bundle.  This idea was in my head and I think I like how it turned out.  Here is the stencil I used:

I cut out the small dragonfly swarm and sponged in shades of pink and purple (Blushing Bride, Sweet Sugarplum, Rich Razzleberry, Perfect Plum and Elegant Eggplant).  I realized that I wasn't getting enough of the dragonflies' wings so I took out the inner piece and added more sponging:

I decided to use the butterfly bodies from Watercolor Wings and stamped them on in Basic Black.  I added a sentiment and a ribbon:

I like how it turned out...I think next time I would try to do a rainbow using the Brights family.  But I am just absolutely smitten with the color Sweet Sugarplum.  That glitter ribbon is retiring, so you better get it before its gone.  It will go with a beautiful new suite in the 2017 Occasions Catalog calling Falling In Love!  Here is the inside:

I lightly stamped the large dragonfly in Blushing Bride (I think I even stamped off as well) and then stamped my inside sentiment right over it.  I love the idea of this card and will be trying it again with some other things.  

You should check out other designers' projects over at SSI and create your own project using the Masking/Stenciling technique.  Inky fingers = fun to me!  :)  

    

A Very Merry Christmas

Well Christmas is practically here!  We have just two more days to get everything done.  For me its just one more day since I do an Open House for Christmas.  And although I really don'e feel like I am ready, I know that everything will get done.  I need to remember to try to keep things simple.  In the spirit of that idea, I am sharing with you a simply, yet elegant Christmas Card:

I will be totally honest, this card came to me after realizing I was running low on Whisper White and Crumb Cake envelopes, so I knew I need to make something from Very Vanilla.  I grabbed my favorite color, Mint Macaron and decided to accent it with some Copper Foil.  I love the Santa's Sleigh bundle, and am so glad I bought it.  I believe it is being carried over so I hope it makes an appearance in next year's Annual Catalog!  Between the layered trees and the cute copper deer, I love how this card came together.  I finished it off with some of the Striped Mint Macaron ribbon.  And of course I had to stamp the envelope as well!  

This was one of the many Christmas Cards I sent out.  I ended up sending over 70.  Unfortunately I had only 60 family picture printed.  For those who didn't ge a family picture, here is a look at it:

We decided to go with a fun family selfie (us-ie) that was taken this past summer at a local carnival.  It is one of my husbands favorite pictures of us as family!  

For more Christmas cards, head over to SSI where we are all sharing some of our favorite cards!

  

A Festive Gift Card Holder

Just because it seems like a gift card is an impersonal gift, doesn't mean you can't create a holder for it that would be totally personal!  Anything handmade and hand stamped is giving someone your creativity and time and it is truly a thoughtful gift.  Here is the gift card holder I made to house the gift cards I got for my daughter's teacher and bus driver:

I used the Presents & Pinecones DSP along with the Christmas Pines Bundle, Seasonal Bells Bundle and Holly Berry Happiness Bundle.  I basically used the whole Holiday Catalog!  I truly love how our products work together so seamlessly!  To make the actual holder, I took a Kraft Tag a Bag and folded it and then created a band to hold it in place with the DSP.  I used some Whisper White to stamp a sentiment inside and stapled a little loop of Delightful Dijon ribbon to create a pull tab.  I also used the Stitched Shapes along with the Layering Ovals dies because they are amazing together!  This holder was super easy to make and I can't wait to make a bunch more for birthdays, baby showers and graduations!  Here is a peek at the inside:

I had to add a strip of washi tape to complete the look.  Again, I just love having amazing coordinating products!  For a complete and extensive supply list, check out below.  For more Gift Packaging ideas, head over to SSI!

December INKspiration Challenge

We are really getting down to the nitty gritty, Christmas is almost here!  But with all the hustle and bustle it is important to take some time and do something for ourselves.  For me, that is definitely time in my craft room.  After dealing with my stubborn little boy and his moods, sometimes all I need is an hour of "inky time" and all is right in my world.  That is what happened when I sat down to create for this week's challenge:

Here is the card I created:

The card was definitely inspired by the picture with the snowy ground made from Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper to the golden sunlight peeking through the trees,  I went with an unusual color palette of Dapper Denim, Delightful Dijon and Whisper White.  The trees come from Lovely as a Tree, a stamp set I actually don't use as much as I should.  The sun comes from the Kinda Eclectic stamp set, a MUST have for sure.  The sentiment comes from the Paisley and Posies stamp set which will be carried over to the Occasions Catalog, but if you want the bundle with the discount, you better get it now!  Here is the inside:

I kept it simple with a leaf in Delightful Dijon and the sentiment stamped in Dapper Denim.  

This card came together very quickly, most because it had been running around in my head.  I can't wait to see what you create using this image.  Head over to SSI and upload your project!

  

Cupcakes and Carousels Suite

I know we are in the full swing of the Christmas Season, but I have to give you a peek at some of the brand spankin' new products that will be here in the new year. And there are so many fabulous things to choose from!  I am showing off the Cupcakes and Carousels Suite, which has an awesome stamp set and beautiful coordinating DSP stack.  Check it out:

I started with a Bermuda Bay card base and layered on some of the fun DSP.  I added a stripe of Calypso Coral that was embossed with the Festive embossing folder.  I stamped the horse on some whisper white and colored with the new WATER COLOR PENCILS and fussy cut it out.  For the sentiment, I layered some Peekaboo Peach with some Very Vanilla cut with the Stitched Shapes and Layering Ovals Framelits.  I finished it off with some fun enamel shapes.  Here are some close ups: 

After coloring the horse I did at a coat of Clear Wink of Stella.  I did used some dimensionals so the horse would pop off the page.  

I can't rave enough about the Stitched Shapes framelits and how they work with the Layering Circles/Ovals/Squares.  It adds such a perfect touch.  Here is the inside:

I love the tent, so I had to add it to the inside.  This stamp set also has a Ferris Wheel to and I can't wait to play with this.  This set makes me think of Carnival and Circus fun and long for the warm spring weather.  Unfortunately for me, today in my area it is supposed to be ridiculously cold today with a chance of a winter snow tonight.  So these thoughts of warmer weather activities will have to keep me warm!

I am so happy that you stopped by today!  For more looks at some of the great new products in the 2017 Occasions Catalog, head over to SSI!  

December Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to this month's blog hop!  Our topic is Winter/Christmas and I have some fun projects for you!  I decided to try to use up some miscellaneous accessories I have, the Mica Flakes and Frosted Sequins.  Which means I have some fun shaker cards for you!  As you hop along, please be sure to comment and show some love on every blog! We are always excited to hear from our followers! You should have just left stop number 4 on the Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration Blog Hop - Create with Cheryl. If so, you are in the right spot. If a link doesn't work or you get off track, you will find the full blog hop lineup below.

So here are my shaker cards, first up is a fun tree card using the fabulous tree framelit from the Santa's Sleigh bundle:

I started with a Garden Green card base and added a layer of Whisper White that had been embossed with the Falling Softly embossing folder.  I cut the tree out of that and placed a window sheet behind it.  The on the Garden Green base, I did adhere some fun patterned paper from the Warmth and Cheer DSP stack.  I filled the space with the green mica flakes and locked them in with the foam strips, which are great since they can bend around the spaces.  I added some more DSP and layered on my sentiment.  

This one is my favorite.  I used the Flurry of Wishes stamp set with some non-traditional Christmas colors; Sweet Sugarplum and Soft Sky.  I punched the snowflakes out then stamped them through the holes.  I layered the back of the Soft Sky with the window sheets and made two sections with the foam strips for my sequins to shake in.  I added a big snowflake in the corner in Sweet Sugarplum and some additional little flurries in Soft Sky.  I also added some sequins on the card front as well.  I love how this turned out!  

I was happy I got a chance to do this card.  I haven't really done too much with the bells, and this turned out better than I had hoped it would.  The gold mica flakes had me thinking about a shiny bell.  I added some holly leaves and bows from the Holly Berry Happiness bundle.  I decided to use some Warmth and Cheer DSP for the background, I love this argyle pattern.  

  

Next up is Diana.  She has a wonderful eye for fabulous details so I can't wait to see what she has created today!

1. Pamela W. ~ Stinky Tofu
2. Darcy J. ~ Dj's Stampin' Place
3. Tobe B. ~ The Craft Sea
4. Cheryl H. ~ Create with Cheryl
5. Jennifer G. ~ Jenny G Paper Crafts
6. Diana E. ~ Stampin' Fun with Diana

December Card Sketch

December is flying by like it tends to do.  Why does it seem like the busiest month has to go the fastest?  Fortunately, I had already finished my Christmas Cards, although I still need to get some tags done.  Anyways, I decided to take a break from Christmas crafting for this month's card sketch at SSI.  First of all, let's check out the fabulous sketch that Diana made for us:

This is a very contemporary style sketch so I decided to go with some bold patterns and a fun brand new stamp set that will be a favorite in the 2017 Occasions Catalog:

You should recognize the Designer Series Paper as the Pop of Pink DSP from the Annual Catalog.  I decided a Melon Mambo, Basic Black and Whisper White color combo would be perfect with some gold accents.  The stamp set is called Beautiful You and it features some stylish and chic ladies and some great sentiments.  I heat embossed the sentiment here in gold and added some of the metallic enamel shapes.  I stamped the girl on the pink polka dot DSP and fussy cut her dress out:

Here is a peek inside:

I also used a some of the Pop of Pink Designer Washi on both the front and inside.  Love how easy it is to add washi tape, it really is a must have accessory!

Now its your turn to create a project inspired by this awesome sketch and upload it over at SSI.    

Cheerful Tags

I love the fabulous Here's to Cheers bundle in the Holiday Catalog but I haven't had much time to play with it.  I will definitely be playing with this more.  But I had time to make a quick and easy wine tag.  

I actually created this with mostly scraps.  I started with some Real Red and cut the tag out.  The dies made it super easy.  I cut the swirly background with some Silver Glimmer paper using the great set of dies.  I stamped the sentiment on some scraps of whisper white and punched out using a  circle punch.  I covered the back with some adhesive and made a fun border out of some Emerald Envy ribbon.  I used some silver glitter ribbon to finish the tag off.  

Now some of these items are retiring so you better get them while the getting is good.  Those items are the Glitter Ribbon (comes in a pack of two with silver and Sweet Sugarplum glitter ribbon) and the Silky Taffeta Ribbon combo pack (Emerald Envy and Cherry Cobbler).  The stamp set and dies are carrying over but the bundle price is not so better save now or you might regret it!  

For more great tag ideas, head over to SSI!

December Color Challenge

First Monday of the month which means I am sharing some inkspiration for the Color Challenge over at SSI.  Check it out:

Oh man, Darcy made this one a bit of a challenge.  I was tempted to make a Christmas card but instead I grabbed a stamp set I got from the Stampin' Up event that will be featured in the upcoming 2017 Occasions Catalog.  Here is my card:

The stamp set is called Cool Treats and it does have a set of framelits to go with it along with yummy DSP, washi tape and some sprinkles embellishment (and they should be at my house the middle of this week).  So you will be seeing more of this set for sure.  The colors made me think of yummy ice cream or frozen yogurt and I knew that Sahara Sand could double as a cone.  For the cone and ice cream, I did some two-step stamping, first stamping off for the first layer for a lighter shade of color.  If you haven't gotten the Stitched Shapes Framelits, they might be on back order now.  But let me tell you, you do need them so be sure to put them on the top of your wishlist.  They pair perfectly with the Layered Ovals (Squares and Circles) here.  I used some Flirty Flamingo envelope paper and ruffled ribbon.  

I can't wait to see what the other designers at SSI created with these colors.  And I would love to see what YOU can do!  Create and project using these colors and upload it to our page!  

A Tree-mendous Color Combo

There are some amazing stamp sets in the Holiday Catalog, but there are also a few awesome ones in the Annual Catalog.  I decided to give on older stamp a little bit of love, the Perfect Pines stamp set.  I got the bundle last year, it was one of the first things I ordered from the Holiday Catalog.  And in making this card, I stumbled onto a pretty color combo.  Check it out:

I love the look of the Emerald Envy and Very vanilla with the hints of copper.  This was definitely a little bit more of a complicated card.  Between dry embossing the background (don't forget about this fabulous embossing folder in the Annual Catalog), heat embossing the tree in copper, and die cutting all the trees and labels, and added the ribbon and copper foil, it was NOT quick and easy.  But honestly, it was worth it.  Here is a close up of the card:

I forgot about some of these things, like the ruffled Emerald Envy ribbon and the copper thread.  And I really forgot how awesome this stamp set is with all its great trees and sentiments.  And how perfect is the stitched circle with the layered scallop?  Here is the inside:

I stamped another tree as well to fill up the space.  And I really love this sentiment.

If you want to see more awesome tree inspired projects, head over to SSI.