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 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

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!

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.  

Hang Your Stocking Tags

I love it when I can get a great deal on products that I already love enough to pay full price.  This happened with the Hang Your Stocking bundle.  I actually didn't buy it as a bundle.  I got the stamp set when it was 25% off with the Stitched Shapes Framelits.  And I grabbed the Stocking Framelits when they were on the Online Extravaganza.  Check out the bundle:

As CASE-worthy as that project is in the picture there, I decided to make some quick tags:

I layered some of them with the Stitched Shapes dies, and others I just put right on the tag.  I used Garden Green for the tag bases with some Cherry Cobbler Silky Taffeta ribbon.  Here are some close ups of each one:

I just cut some DSP from the Warmth and Cheer stack  for this stocking and used a Crumb Cake stitched oval.

Here I used the patterned stamp and trimmed the stocking with Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper.  

Hard to see but this one is embossed with the Real Red Embossing Glitter.  Since the stocking was already sparkly I just trimmed with with some Whisper White.

Here I used the stocking die with the snowflake cut out (and used that snowflake for the first stocking) and layered it on a Whisper White stitched oval.

I really loved playing with this bundle but didn't have a lot of time so I thought making some tags would be perfect.  For more great tag ideas, head over to SSI!

  

Hat's Off to Christmas

I am so excited to have so many of my Christmas Cards done already for this year.  I have another one to share with you today using an awesome bundle from the Holiday Catalog.  First check out the bundle:

How cute are those hats?  And there is an awesome builder punch bundled with it.  Here is my card created with these fabulous products:

I used started with a Mint Macaron card base and added some of the striped paper from the Presents & Pinecones DSP and stamped my sentiment right on it.  I added a strip of Whisper White to add my hats too.  Two of the hats are actually embossed with the Glitter Embossing Powder in Emerald Envy and Real Red.  Here is a close up:   

I love how each hat has some glitter, even the last one is trimmed with Silver Glimmer Paper.  Here is a look inside:

I stamped my sentiment in Real Red and added an Emerald Envy tree to the bottom.  

You can see this is a great bundle.  Aside from the stamp and punch bundle, it was awesome how great the other products worked together.  Yet another reason why I love Stampin' Up!  They have the best coordinating products.  

Over at SSI, the other designers are also showing off their favorite bundles, so head over there.

CASE the Jars

The Holiday Catalog is chock full of CASE-worthy projects.  And as much as I want to say that all of my creations are complete Jenny G Originals, sometimes I need a little kick int he creative butt.  And that is why we CASE.  Today we are CASEing over at SSI.  Here is the card I am going to CASE:

I CASEd the Jar shaker card.  Here is my version:

I definitely swayed a bit from the catalog sample.  I used a very different color combo of Sweet Sugarplum and Mint Macaron with touches of silver.  Next time I need to be a little more aggressive with the inside of my shaker card.  I used the Frosted Sequins, which are easily overlooked in the Holiday Catalog, but are a MUST HAVE!  I also filled the jar with some glitter.  And instead of stamping on the "Merry" I used my Big Shot and cut it out in Silver Foil.  It might be hard to see, but the Sweet Sugarplum background is embossed with the Softly Falling embossing folder.  Here is the inside: 

I love the sentiment...so cute!  And I had to include that cute little snowman!  For a complete supply lisy, check out below.  Head over to SSI for more Holiday Catalog CASEs.    

  

November Card Sketch

It is Monday already and we have another fabulous sketch from Diana over at SSI!  Check it out:

This will be great with the wonderful Christmas DSP from the Holiday Catalog this year.  Here is my take on this sketch:

I decided to use the lovely Warmth and Cheer Suite.  I created this card when I was away at a Scrapbooking Retreat with some of my favorite fellow stampers.  I borrow the Wrapped In Warmth stamp set from Amanda and used the coordinating DSP and washi tape that I had.  My favorite is the strip of Early Espresso that has been embossed with the Dynamic Cable Knit Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  So cozy!  Here is a peek inside:

Of course I had to stamp the tree in the corner with this warm sentiment.  Thanks so much for looking at my card today.  Now you give it a go!  Create a card using this great sketch, it doesn't have to me Christmas!  Upload it over at SSI.

Hang Your Stocking for Steal!

At the beginning of this month, Stampin' Up! released a brand new set of framelit dies that will be in the 2018-2018 Annual Catalog for everyone to get now.  These were the Stitched Shapes Framelit Dies and they pair perfectly with the other layered dies shapes we have.  And to make it even better they put several stamps that coordinate well with these Stitch Framelits on sale.  So I saw an opportunity to grab a stamp set that I had been on the fence about, Hang Your Stocking.  

This is a fabulous stamp set and the only reason I didn't already have it was because I had so much else.  But I already made one quick and easy card using this set along with the new framelits and some fabulous Christmas DSP:

The Presents and Pinecones DSP was perfect with this stamp set.  I can not wait to make more cards with those cute little stockings.  And I just love the perfect sentiments.  Here is a look inside:

Of course I had to finish off the inside with some washi tape.  Thanks so much for stopping by and be on the look out for more Christmas Cards with this great stamp set!  Head back to SSI where all of our designers are showing off their favorite Christmas Stamp Sets.  

November Blog Hop - CASE a Design Team Member

Hello and welcome to the November Blog Hop!  Today imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and we are CASE-ing each other.  This was tough to do because we have such an amazing group of talented designers that are a great INKspiration for me!  It will be so cool to see how we all re-interpert each other projects.  

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 - Darcy at DJ's Stampin' Place. 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.

I decided to CASE a Halloween card that Tobe made.  Be sure to check out her card.  Here is mine:

I love the idea of the jars dumping out the spiders that Tobe did, so I decided to tweek it for Christmas.  I don't own the Jars stamps and framelits, but I had a chance to use them when I went away at a scrapbooking retreat.  The Candy Cane Lane DSP was perfect for this card.  I like the strip of Red Glimmer Paper down the center.  

I can't wait to see what Tobe has done at The Craft Sea.

Blog Hop Participant List:

1. Tobe B. at The Craft Sea
2. Pamela W. at Stinky Tofu
3. Nichole L. at Scrappy Stamps and Ink
4. Darcy J. at Dj's Stampin' Place
5. Jennifer G. at Jenny G Paper Stamps

Santa's Sleigh

I am so excited to get Christmas cards done early this year.  My plan is to have them all created, signed, addressed and stamped before Christmas.  I am well on my way.  The only thing that I have yet to do is get a family picture to put in there, but I think we can get that done.  The next thing I have to do is get started on my Christmas Shopping!  Anyways, I have a fun card to share with you that uses several goodies from the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog, including an awesome set of framelit/thinlit dies!

Of course I got the bundle, but I was most excited for that sleigh.  The deer and tree are pretty awesome as well.  Here is the card I created:

I created this while I was away at a retreat with some fabulous other Stampin' Up! demos so of course I used some of their stuff.  One friend had the Merry Medley background stamp which I really wanted to play with.  This card is a little more modern looking than I usually create, but I was happy with it.  I started with some Whisper White and stamped the background with the Basic Black Archival Ink.  I stamped the sleigh first in Cherry Cobbler and then ran it through the Big Shot with the Precision Base plate.  I made 8 of these and I had no problem with the intricacies of the die.  I added some Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Sheet as a strip of ice and some Emerald Envy ribbon and washi tape to finish it off. Here is a peek inside:

I stamped the sentiment in Cherry Cobbler and then added an Emerald Envy tree.  I am trying to stamp on everything this year, inside the card and on the envelope!  

Thanks so much for checking out my project today.  Over at SSI we are sharing our favorite dies, so head back to see what the other designers love!  

Star of Light in my Favorite Colors

I don't have the Star of Light stamp set.  Because if I bought every stamp set I fell in love with that Stampin' Up! put out I would be out of space and broke.  But my FABULOUS upline has it and we (along with another sideline) had a chance to go away to a Scrapbooking Retreat back in October.  I took this opportunity to get started on my Christmas Cards and I used all the stamp sets that I didn't own.  First up was Star of Light:

So pretty, right?  I knew exactly the colors I wanted to use too.  Sweet Sugarplum and Pool Party.  They might not be the first colors you think of with Christmas, but I knew they would be perfect.  Plus it is one of my favorite color combos!

So this bundle is amazing!  I love it so very much!  The swirls in the background of the stars are so whimsical and I love the layering of the stars.  I added some of the Frosted Sequins for some extra sparkle.  Here is a peek at the inside:

My favorite part is the "shiny" stamp on the inside sentiment.  So fun!  

For more Christmas Cards in some non-traditional cards, head back over to SSI!

  

Washi Tape Tree

One of my craft resolutions this year was to only buy what I will use.  Which is difficult because I love everything.  This has turned into me unpacking a box of stamping supplies and leaving it out until I use it atleast once.  I am trying to use up all my DSP, ribbon and washi tape...or atleast a good chunk of what I buy.  This turns into me adding strips of washi tape and DSP to the inside of cards and on the envelopes and using ribbon to tie on tags to gift bags.  I am doing pretty well with this.  

I was going to try to limit myself buying washi tape because I ended up with quite a collection but I ended up falling in love with so many of the sets from the Holiday Catalog.  I made this quick and easy card using the Warmth and Cheer Designer Washi Tape, some sequins and a gold star.  

I am sure I saw this idea somewhere on Pinterest, but I can't remember where.  I am really happy with how this came out.  It was super easy and a great way to use up that washi tape!  I love the bright sequins as the lights and the gold foil star to top off my tree.  

Thanks for checking out my project.  Head over to SSI for more uses for washi tape!

October Technique Challenge

I hope that you had a wonderful weekend.  I spent mine, doing one of my most favorite things, stamping with some fabulous ladies.  I have lots of new projects that I can't wait to share with you, most of them for Christmas!  But today I get to share what I created for the challenge over at SSI.  Check it out:

This technique can be a bit of a messy one.  It reminds me how my dream craft room must either have a sink or be on the same floor as a bathroom.  I am currently in the basement, although I do LOVE my Stampin' Studio!  Here is my project:

I decided to use the Lucky Star embossing folder and add some Delightful Dijon ink to it.  I added it to a Delightful Dijon card base and decorated it with some Emerald Envy pine boughs I die cut and a Copper Foil bell that I punched out.  I fussy cut my sentiment and trimmed the card with some striped Washi Tape.  Here is a peek at the inside:

I stamped the sentiment in Cherry Cobbler and added some more washi tape to bring the project all together.  I love our technique challenge because they definitely push me out of my comfort zone.  Now you can create using this great technique and upload it over at SSI!

CASE the Holiday Catalog

Stampin' Up! puts out such amazing product in their catalogs but they also have some amazing projects for us to draw inspiration from.  That is what we are doing over at SSI, CASEing (Copy And Share Everything) from the Holiday Catalog.  CASEing can be recreating a project or just using certain elements, like the layout, colors or stamps and accessories.  There are so many CASE-worthy projects, I had a hard time picking on.  Here is the card I am CASEing:

The card on the left caught my eye.  The bright Real Red and the cool Mint Macaron just work so well together.  And the layout is so simple.  Here is my CASE, flipping the card and using a different stamp/die set:

This was my first pass using the Santa's Sleigh Thinlits.  I can't wait to play with them again.  I stuck with the Red Glimmer Paper on Real Red card stock even though the background stripe paper has Cherry Cobbler in it.  I thin it still works.  Instead of adding some twine a trinket to the sleigh, I added some Emerald Envy metallic thread underneath the banner.  The sentiment comes from the Tin of Tags stamp set, which is fabulous!

Thanks so much for checking out my CASE'd card today.  Head over to SSI to see that other CASEs! 

Presents and Pinecones Designer Series Paper

Have you heard the good news?  There is a great deal on Designer Series Paper packs going on at Stampin' Up!  Buy three packs, get the fourth for free!  Stampin' Up! really outdid themselves this year with their DSP packs, both in the Annual Catalog and the Holiday Catalog.  Today I thought I would share with you my favorite from the Holiday catalog; the Presents and Pinecones DSP.  Check it out:

There are so many of my favorite colors in this pack of paper including Mint Macaron as well as Emerald Envy.  I never realized how much I love our greens!  Anyways, this paper goes great with the Christmas Pines stamp set as well as the Seasonal Bells and Holly Berry Happiness.  Here is a card I made using four of the twelve different patterns:

I started with a Delightful Dijon card base and added the Delightful Dijon star print paper.  I punched out a circle of the evergreen bough print, I love how the Emerald Envy and Mint Macaron pair together with the Cherry Cobbler berries.  I added a gold enamel star.  I layered the circle on a Cherry Cobbler print trimmed with the bow patterned paper.  I decided to stamp my sentiment right on the DSP, no need to cut extra card stock!  Here is the inside:

I trimmed another piece of the DSP, the fun peppermint stripe to add to the inside and added the sentiment stamped in Cherry Cobbler.  

Thanks so much for checking out my card.  It was fun to show off this great DSP pack.  Head over to SSI where my fellow designers are showing off their favorite DSP as well!