Festival of Trees -- 12 Weeks of Christmas 2015, Week 1

Welcome to my first post in the 2015 Edition of the 12 Weeks of Christmas!  I created two projects for this post.  First, a card for the Mojo Monday challenge, MOJO418, based upon this sketch:

Using the Festival of Trees stamp set and coordinating Tree punch (save $$ with this *bundle*), this card was quick and easy to make. 

I used the Decorative Dots TIEF to replicate the circles found in the stamp image I used and created the circle shape with one of the Framelits from the Circles Collection.

The Metallic Gold Baker's Twine is vanilla in color, so I made the card body and circle with Very Vanilla card stock and used the 2014-16 In Colors Blackberry Bliss and Mossy Meadow for my color palette.

 Finally, Rhinestone Basic Jewels fit perfectly in the little circles on the tree, so to add some glimmer and shine, I've placed some throughout the tree.

In this second project, I've used the same elements, but added the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I reach for that set *all of the time*. The line of dots in this image was an extra bonus! 

 Want more Stampin' Rewards?

From now until November 9, spend $300+ on merchandise (before shipping and tax) to earn an extra 3% in Stampin' Rewards! 

Endless Wishes in Week 1 of My Annual of {12 Weeks of Christmas} Series!

Welcome to the first installment of my yearly {12 Weeks of Christmas} Series! I love putting this series together each year, including posts about planning, cards, gifts, and fun holiday decor.  Each week, I'll give you a new idea to inspire or streamline your Christmas planning.  It's a super-fun time of year and I'm excited to give you our first taste!

This card was made with a great versatile sketch from the good folks at Mojo Monday. 

I used the Endless Wishes set from the Holiday Catalog.  Need a hard copy of the catalog?  Drop me an email.  Want to check it out online?  Click {HERE} to view it now.

This cute photopolymer set includes snowflake images with a ton of great Christmas-, winter- and holiday-themed sentiments.  *LOVE IT!*

The Designer Series Paper I used here comes in the fun Stack called Moonlight.  

I added a little extra pizzazz with Rhinestone Basic Jewels, the Decorative Dots TIEF, and Lost Lagoon Satin Stitched Ribbon.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Endless Wishes

Papers:  Moonlight DSP Stack, Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey, and Whisper White Card Stocks

Inks:  Lost Lagoon and Basic Gray Classic Inks

Accessories:  Big Shot, Decorative Dots TIEF, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Lost Lagoon Satin Stitched Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Stampin' Up! 2014 Sale-A-Bration {Studio-Sara} Countdown: Sweet Sorbet DSP

We are in the final days of Sale-A-Bration, the annual promotion from Stampin' Up! which gives you a freebie with every $50 in merchandise spent.  Click {HERE} to view the Sale-a-Bration ("SAB") brochure to see the freebies.

Today's post is dedicated to some projects using the Sweet Sorbet DSP (SAB page 11 133521).  I *LOVE* playing with this DSP and will be so very sad when it is no longer available.

This card was created for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #212.  I used Sweet Sorbet DSP in the Sahara Sand vertical piece as well as in the dotted Scalloped Circle (AC page 182, 119854) piece.  

Another Sale-A-Bration freebie, the Decorative Dots TIEF (SAB page 12, 133520), gives texture to the Pansy Punch (AC page 183, 130698) flower in Pool Party.

In the following project, I used the same elements, but reversed the pieces that had been run through my Big Shot (AC, page 184, 113439) with a TIEF.  I used the Fancy Fan TIEF (AC, page 191, 127751) on the Crisp Cantaloupe piece and the aforementioned Decorative Dots on the Pool Party bloom.

This next project was created for the Mojo Monday MOJO333, Shabby Tea Room 206, and Seize the Birthday 307 challenges.  Love the florals mixed with the dots.  Both patterns are free in the Sweet Sorbet DSP, available as a SAB freebie with each $50 merchandise purchase.

I made the vertical piece with the hearts...

Finally, I just created this card for the Runway Inspired #56, Freshly Made Sketches #128, and Seize the Birthday #310 challenges.

The variety of images and color combinations makes Sweet Sorbet such a versatile package of DSP!

Here are some more Sweet Sorbet projects:

Click {HERE} for the post I wrote about this card.

Another post can be found {HERE} about this card:

Stay tuned tomorrow for another post featuring Sale-A-Bration freebies!  Click {HERE} to shop...

Spring-y Watercolor for Challenges at Mojo Monday and The Shabby Tea Room

Today's project was created for a dear, dear friend for her birthday. A Sister Friend, actually. Unfortunately, we don't live in the same neighborhood anymore (or even the same state), but our friendship is one that will last a lifetime.

I love the promise of spring in this stamp.  I also love the gentleness of watercolor...

This card was entered in the Mojo Monday MOJO336 challenge as well as the Spring Is Near #309 challenge at The Shabby Tea Room.

This is the picture we were to use as inspiration from the talented gals at The Shabby Tea Room:

Here are some close-ups of the details:

I used my Aqua Painter  (103954) dipped in Soft Sky Classic Ink to brush color on the Whisper White card stock.  The image from Simply Sketched, a Hostess Benefits set (W129669, C129672), is inked in Jet Black StazOn ink (101406) so as not to smudge.  The doily makes for an easy frame.

A distressed blossom punched with my Pansy Punch (130698) is placed on the Black Chevron Ribbon (130010) and sentiment strip.  The Basic Black flower center was created using the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309).

Studio Suggestions:

• I used my Heat Tool (129053) to dry the Whisper White circle after I did the watercolor wash so that it was ready to receive the StazOn ink.

• The Soft Sky Pansy punch-out and the Basic Black strip along the right side are distressed.  Click {HERE} for a recent post using distressing and {HERE} for a post and video tutorial.

• The Sale-a-Bration freebie, the Decorative Dots TIEF (133520) was used with a piece of Soft Sky to add subtle texture beneath the sentiment and ribbon strips.

• From now until March 31, enjoy Sale-a-Bration freebies with each $50 merchandise purchase.  Click {HERE} to shop or click on the Sale-a-Bration catalog pic on the upper right side of this page to see what you can earn!

Weekly Deals and a {Sneak Peek} at My Latest Projects

This long weekend afforded me some extra time in the Studio and here is a little of what I came up with (and I even have a new video to share later this week!):

And now for the week's Weekly Deals (good through Monday)!  Click {HERE} to shop.

3/16-inch Corner Punch, (#119871) -- Originally $6.95, now on sale for $5.21!

2012-2014 In Color Dahlias, (#127556) -- Originally $7.95, now on sale for $5.96!

A Royal Day Ensemble Digital Download, My Digital Studio (MDS), (#130079) -- Originally $14.95, now on sale for $8.97!

Etcetera Designer Series Paper (DSP), (#130129) -- Originally $10.95, now on sale for $8.21!

Gold and Silver Stampin' Glitter, (#132205) -- Originally $7.95, now on sale for $5.96!

Label Insert Pop' n Cuts Die, (#130160) -- Originally $21.95, now on sale for $16.46!

Petals-A-Plenty (TIEF) Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, (#116824) -- Originally $7.95, now on sale for $5.96!

Encore! Metallic Silver Pad, (#132142) -- Originally $9.95, now on sale for $7.46!

Can't wait to fill you in on all that I've been working on!