MERRY Christmas!!!

Only a few more days until Christmas! I finished my shopping and mailed out my cards last week. I've got my wrapping done, but still need to do some more baking. I wanted to take a few minutes this morning to wish you all a VERY MERRY Christmas!!!

Here's the pile of most of my Christmas cards as I was getting them ready to go out in the mail. I shared the card using the Christmas Cheer set here. As you can see, I also made two other designs as well. (I get bored making too many of the same card) Here's a closer look at the card using Merry Crittermas.

I used the Jolly Jingles Jumbo wheel on the background and then layered the different punched out shapes to make this card fairly quick & easy. Can't get enough of those snowflakes from the Northern Frost Die. I'll tell you more about my third card on a future post, but right now I need to get out to the grocery store to pick up a few ingredients for my cookies.

Thanks for visiting me today, and again, I wish you a wonderful holiday season!

Quick & Pretty Gift Bag

Hopefully you have most of your Christmas shopping done and are now getting ready to wrap your gifts. Please don't tell me you are all done and even have them wrapped! Today I want to share a quick and beautiful way to give a small gift.

This is one of Stampin' Up's Treat Bags, which are on the Clearance Rack in my online store right now. All I had to do was fold it into shape and decorate. It's the perfect size to hold jewelry, home baked goodies, or other small treats. I added a bow made from Purely Pomegranate Satin Ribbon (this was also on clearance, but I think it is now sold out.) and a gift tag using the Delightful Decorations stamp set and matching punch. In just a few minutes I had a beautiful bag to hold some homemade candy.

Have a delightful day!

Woodland Walk With Fifth Avenue Floral

I had not used my Fifth Avenue Floral set in quite some time, but when I had to make a sympathy card last week I wanted to use something besides my go to set...Thoughts & Prayers. It's such a pretty set, I should really use it more.

The rose was stamped in Basic Brown and watercolored using Blushing Bride ink. The paper used was from the Woodland Walk collection. I layered Victoria Crochet Trim over some wide Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon. The sentiment is from a retired set called Brighter Tomorrow.

We were hit hard with our first snowstorm of the season. It sure looks beautiful outside. The roads were pretty bad last night when I was out...glad I get to stay home today. Time to finish my Christmas cards!

Merry Crittermas!

I decided this is going to be my Christmas card this year...I just need to hurry and make 49 more of these!

I'm totally kidding! It was fun to make one, but with all the cutting involved I'd end up in a real rubber room if I attempted to make 50. (but I bet you were impressed for a minute! ;-) Here's a closer view of the cute little critters.

They were all stamped in Black Stazon on Whisper White cardstock and then I watercolored them using my aqua painter and classic inks. I used a combination of Iridescent Ice EP and Frost White Shimmer paint to create the snowy background. The trees are also highlighted with sparkling snow...but it doesn't show up in my photo.

Stamps: Merry Crittermas, Serene Snowflakes
Card stock: Whisper White, Marina Mist, Certainly Celery & Real Red
Ink: Black Stazon, Marina Mist and various other classic inks
Accessories: Aqua Painter, Marina Mist grosgrain, Iridescent Ice EP, Frost White Shimmer paint, Decorative label, Large & Small Oval punches, Rhinestone Jewels

Have a GREAT weekend!

Just Believe Birthday

Thank you so much for the nice feedback on my blogs new look. I guess that means it must be showing up properly on your screen...so that makes me happy. Today I have a birthday card to share that I created using this weeks sketch at Mojo Monday.

I used a shadowing technique on the main image by first stamping it in Marina Mist ink. Using my
Stamp-a-ma-jig I offset the image a bit to the left, and stamped it again in VersaMark and embossed it with Winter White EP.

Stamps: Just Believe, Watercolor Trio (sentiment)
Card stock: Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso & Marina Mist
Ink: VersaMark, Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso & Marina Mist
Accessories: Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Winter White EP, Heat Tool, White Organza Ribbon, Basic Pearls & Stamp-a-ma-jig

Thanks for stopping by today!

A New Look For Winter

I've been busy playing with My Digital Studio the past few days. I thought it would be fun to give my blog a new look for the winter months. I had used MDS to create my header and buttons previously, but had always wanted to try a background as well. Until I found this great tutorial on Debbi's Design blog, I wasn't sure how to do it. Thanks Debbi, you rock!

I used the Winter Post stamp brush set and two of my fav SU! colors...Baja Breeze and Certainly Celery for my blog makeover.

The only thing I couldn't figure out, is how to keep my design on the background from enlarging so much? If anyone can give me some tips on this I'd appreciate it. Other than that, everything is showing up on my monitor  pretty much how I wanted it...now I'm just hoping it is showing up on your end as well! Please let me know if things are not loading properly for you.

Unfortunately I had to make several sympathy cards over the weekend...those are always hard. Today I hope to work on my Christmas cards some more...it's getting closer! Have a GREAT day!

Dasher Through the Snow

This is another card we did at my recent Christmas Card Class.

The Dasher image was stamped in VersaMark and then embossed with Winter White EP. The dry embossed snowflake background used the Northern Flurry Embossing Folder and then the snowflakes were highlighted using Frost White Shimmer Paint carefully applied with a Sponge Dauber. The snowdrift Dasher is standing on was also created using the Shimmer paint & dauber. Then it was spritzed with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz. The Rhinestone Jewel in the center of the snowflake (from Northern Frost Decorative Strip) adds even more sparkle to this card.

So far we have only had a dusting of the white stuff here...but it won't be long, I'm sure! Enjoy your weekend!

Deck the Halls With Good Cheer

Well, I certainly have not been a very good blogger the past few months, have I? I have been making time to get creative with my stamps, inks and papers, but I guess just not taking the time to post. Here's a card I designed for a Christmas Card Class I had recently.

Since I used this design for a class and they were making multiples of each card, I had to come up with a quick way to add color... So, the whole image was inked in Soft Suede, and then the ink from the reindeer's nose and "Happy Christmas" was removed using a Q-tip dampened with Stampin' Mist. Those areas were then re-inked using a Cherry Cobbler marker. Subtle color was added to the rest of the design using Stampin' Pastels. Details such as the berries on Santa's crown were colored using the pastels and a Blender Pen.

This old fashioned Santa image goes perfectly with the vintage designs in the Deck the Hall papers from the Holiday Mini catalog. The ribbon used is Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding. I LOVE this stuff! It is so soft and easy to work with, and has a nice sheen to it.

I like the way this turned out, and it was fairly quick & easy. I think I may make more of these to send out as one of this years Christmas cards...I really do need to get crackin' on that!