LW Designs: December 2013

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Joyful Christmas Cards

I hope you had a joyful Christmas! Ours turned out very nice, but had kind of a rough start...we were without power due to an ice storm that hit here Saturday night, the 21st until Christmas Eve. Going without power any time of year is difficult, but especially when it is so cold...and at a time when there is so much to do. We were thankful to arrive home to a warm house with lights & running water late on Christmas Eve...so all was well!

Due to power outage, I never got to share the last of the Christmas cards I sent this year.

I love this beautiful poinsettia embossed on vellum and then water colored.

I did them in the Coastal Cabana/Island Indigo color combo shown above, as well as the Elegant Eggplant version shown below.

Here's a close up...

I didn't make too many of these because I didn't have a lot of time for the tedious cutting involved...I think I've been spoiled with the framelits!

I'm not sure how much I'll be back in the next week or so. We have family here visiting, so I won't have much free time.

Supply List:

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Cherry Vanilla Warmth & Wonder

In my last post I shared some cards almost exactly as I have today...only a different color scheme. Todays cards are probably considered more traditional Christmas colors compared to the Island Indigo used on the previous post.

As I told you in Tuesdays posting, I was inspired by a gorgeous card created by Sandy. The one above is closest to the inspiration card. I also did some with the deer embossed in gold, as shown in the middle card below.

Just to change things up and keep things super exciting (yes...I know, it doesn't take much to amuse me!) as I stamped a large batch of these babies, I also did some in Cherry Cobbler.

The only current DSP I had featuring predominately Crumb Cake was from the Season of Style Paper Stack, and I didn't feel it was elegant enough for this design, so I chose some from the Elegant Soirée DSP. Although it is now retired, you can still get it as a Digital Download.

Here's a close up of the two...

and a look at all twenty that I made.

I really cannot decide which one I like the most. Which color combo do you prefer?

Hope to be back soon...but I'm falling behind on Christmas shopping...still more to do, wrapping...not one gift wrapped yet! And to make matters worse...I'm still working on some gifts that I am making...and Christmas is less than a week away! Have a GREAT day!

Supply List:

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Warmth & Wonder With Some Winter Frost

We definitely have more winter frost this morning than we have warmth & wonder! We have super cold, single digit temps here and lots of snow! It sure does look beautiful though! Hopefully it will stay for Christmas (the snow not the single digit temps!) Today I would like to share one of the Christmas cards I sent out this year.

I was browsing on Pinterest one day and came across this gorgeous card created by Sandy. I didn't even own the Warmth & Wonder stamp set, but fell in love with the card and knew my dear Auntie would loan it to me...Thanks Aunt Roberta! I stamped the deer and embossed them in both silver & white. Here's a closer look...

I don't have the Chalk Talk set or framelits, which were used on the inspiration card, so I made due with what I had...the pretty swirl design from Happy Day embossed onto a Deco Label die cut. Here is another version with the deer embossed in white and sponged with Pool Party. (didn't photograph well)

I loved the pretty snowflake stamped back ground on the inspiration card, but since I was making several, I chose to emboss my background using the Beautifully Baroque EF to make it quicker. Here is a group of them before I mailed them out.

I also made more of this same design, but using other colors...check back tomorrow to see those.

Supply List:

Friday, December 13, 2013

Flippin' Friday: Creative Elements Style

I cannot believe it's flippin' Friday already! This week has flown by! Too much to do, and just not enough time to do it...tis that time of year! I did finally finish all my Christmas cards, so next week I'll be sharing those. (some of the recipients occasionally look at my blog, so I wouldn't want them to see it here first) This one isn't a Christmas card, but I did use some products from the Holiday Catalog in a non-holiday way.

Doesn't the stamped main image look like I took a lot of time coloring and then tediously cutting it out? It was actually stamped on Whisper White in Cherry Cobbler and then I used a sponge dauber to lightly add a bit of color.

Then I masked off the flower, with a post it note cut in the shape of the flower...stamp on a post it and then cut. I read a smart tip not long ago: cut several masks at the same time by cutting through several post it notes at once. DOH! Wish I had thought of that, or at least read it a lot sooner...I've been doing it the hard way, one at a time! Once you take the time to cut out the mask, it can be used over and over, so just store in your stamp case for next time.

Anyways...once I had my mask over the flower, I sponged on some Early Espresso. Then added the pretty swirl design. The best part is when you pull off the mask...the image just pops!

I used paper from the Season of Style stack along with the coordinating Washi Tape and the die cut thx from the Circle Card Thinlits accessories that comes with this die set..

I have another busy weekend ahead of me...as I'm sure you do! Thx for stopping by today!

Supply List:

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Tree Full of Festive Flurries

This is such a busy time of year! I spent most of the day at my Mom's house making Christmas candy together...that was fun (and delicious!) I thought I'd take a few minutes to share my special, little table top tree that I decorated with some pretty Festive Flurry ornaments.

To me this tree is extra special because it belonged to my Grandma. After she passed, nobody else in the family wanted this this poor little tree, and it was headed to the Salvation Army. That made me feel sad, so even though it was old and in kind of rough shape I took it home. This is now the 11th Christmas in our home, and I think my Grandma would like that.

I chose the colors of Wisteria Wonder & Pool Party for my Festive Flurry ornaments to coordinate with the tree skirt and glass bulbs I already had.

The Silver Glimmer layer, rhinestones and silver embossing really sparkle by tree light. The gorgeous Frosted Finishes Embellishments really finish each of these off...I just love those things!

I even made one for the top of the tree...

Here's a look at the whole tree, as it sits in the corner of our living room. There's probably only about twenty branches on the whole tree and they are extra fat branches ...which kind of makes decorating it a challenge...but I love it just the same!

My Mom made the pretty quilted tree skirt for me several years ago. Under the tree I have a framed photo of my Grandma & Grandpa...

I think they would love their little tree all decked out in the Snow Flurry ornaments.

Enjoy your evening...stay warm!

Supply List:

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Clearance Rack Blitz!

Today is the start of Stampin' Up!'s Clearance Rack Blitz! There's all kinds of good stuff...Big Shot Dies, ribbon, 12x12 card stock & Simply Scrappin' Kits...even some stamp sets! Just remember that these deals are only available while supplies last!

Please Note: There seems to be a glitch in the SU! system, and most items that were previously on the Clearance Rack are being shown at the original full price. I'm sure that once SU! opens this morning, these will be fixed.

Also, today is Tuesday...so that means it's the start of new Weekly Deals!

If you would like to place an order with me today, please use my Hostess Code: PSKH2QRA and I'll send you a surprise!

Happy shopping!

Friday, December 06, 2013

Flippin' Friday : Simply Sketched Trio

It's Friday! That means I have a new flip card to share with you! Actually, it's a set of three cards made with the beautiful hostess set Simply Sketched and Quatrefancy Specialty DSP.

Here's a closer look at the Daffodil Delight card...

I think the little white embossed edge adds nice detail to this card. I used the Needlepoint Border EF. Here's a closer look at the Strawberry Slush card.

The left panel of each of these cards were stamped with the beautiful swirl from Creative Elements using coordinating ink. I think my favorite of the three may be this last one using Pool Party.

To watercolor these images I just stamped them in Basic Grey and then used my Aqua Painter and Classic Inks pooled in my stamp pad lid to color. Which one is your favorite?

This is going to be a busy weekend for me...shopping, decorating, parties...and hoping to get the rest of my Christmas cards done. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Supply List:

Wednesday, December 04, 2013

Happy Day File Folder Card

Sunday, Monday...Happy Days
Tuesday, Wednesday...Happy Days
Thursday, Friday...Happy Days
Saturday...what a day!
Goovin' all week with you!

I'm sorry...but every time I see the name of this stamp set (Happy Day) I break out into song (in my head, not out loud...luckily for those around me)! When I was a kid, (waaaaay back in the 70's) Happy Days was one of my favorite TV shows. Anyways...on to todays stampin' creation. Surprise! it's made using the Happy Day set!

It was after seeing so many of the cute file folder cards made with the Envelope Punch Board that I knew I needed to purchase one. This is my first, of what I'm sure will be many, file folder cards.

It is super easy to create the tabs using the Envelope Punch Board. Here's how...

Start with an 8-1/2 x 5 -1/2 base, scored at 4- 1/4". (I used Pink Pirouette) I wanted my folder flaps to be staggered in width, so I trimmed 1/2" off the front of the card base, but you can skip that step if you wish.

Step 1 : Punch just the left edge of your card stock as shown below.

Step 2: Move your card stock down to the 3" mark on your Punch Board, as shown below, and punch a second time.

Step 3: There will be an area you will need to trim away with your paper trimmer. So start at valley and trim off to the right edge as shown below.

Step 4: Next you will want to round the corner as shown below. The corner rounder feature is one of my favorite parts of the Envelope Punch Board.

After rounding the corner, you will have one file folder tab complete.

Step 5: To do the other one, just flip your card stock (as shown below) and repeat steps 1-4.

This is what you will end up with...

Now it's the fun part...time to decorate your file folder! I used Season of Style Washi Tape & DSP along with Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon on my folder. Oh..and what stamp set did I use?

Happy Day(s) of course! If you are feeling a little nostalgic, click below. That way this tune can be stuck in your head as well! (you're welcome!)

Supply List:

Monday, December 02, 2013

Celebrate the Season

Here I am again...using my favorite goodies from the Holiday Catalog! I cannot get enough of these beautiful layered snowflakes...and luckily they are easy to create using the Festive Flurry Bundle.

Here's a closer look at the title that was created using the Morning Post Alphabet & Endless Wishes. This photo also shows the truer colors of the page...didn't realize how washed out my other photos were until I got these side by side...oh well.

Here's a look at the right side of the layout.

This 2 page layout would be perfect for Christmas photos or any photos taken during the Winter season. I plan to use my layout for my Christmas photos, but just in case I change my mind, the little flagged piece with the date stamped on it using the Remember Rotary Stamp, is placed using temporary adhesive. Speaking of remembering...I need to remember to use this stamp more! It's perfect for adding the date or small phrase to a page. Here's a look at the full 2 page layout.

After I have my photos in place I'll add another flagged strip of white next to the bottom right photo to do a little journaling and balance out the two pages.

Don't forget...today is the last day of the Holiday Sale...there are even a few more products added at 30% off for Cyber Monday...Check it out!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supply List: