{12 Weeks of Christmas} Week 2 -- Diverting from the Traditional Color Palette

This card was created for a Color Scheme Challenge a while ago at 365 Cards: 

While I'm a big fan of the traditional color palette for Christmas, I like how fun and fresh this note is.  The colors we were to use were Old Olive, Bashful Blue, More Mustard and Crumb Cake (or something thereabout -- I assign Stampin' Up! colors to those challenges).

This is also a simple and versatile layout.  By crumpling the scraps of More Mustard and adding a dry embossed layer (and rhinestones!), texture abounds in this project...  The Labels Collection Framelits make the basis of the focal point easy to create.

In a second project, I was going for a bright and cheery look without the traditional colors.  Using Tags til Christmas and my ornament punch, I created the Melon Mambo ornament, tied off with a bit of white floss.

The texture in this card was created using the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder ("TIEF"), and turning the card base to show the opposite relief from the Elegant Eggplant layer.

This color scheme was brought to you by the Color Coach...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Snow Swirled (W111690, C127799), Tags til Christmas (W120847, C121169)

Papers:  Crumb Cake (120953), Whisper White (100730), More Mustard (100946), Bashful Blue (105120), Old Olive (100702), and Elegant Eggplant (105126)

Inks:  Bashful Blue (126961), More Mustard (126964), and Melon Mambo (126948) Classics

Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Labels Colleciton Framelits (125598), Petals-A-Plenty TIEF (116824), Vintage Wallpaper TIEF (120175), Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246), 1/2-inch Circle Punch (119869), Ornament Punch (119847), Color Coach (120148), and Stampin' Dimensionals (104430).

{12 Weeks of Christmas}: Week 2 -- Keep It Scrappy, Santa!

Hello, and welcome to Week 2 of my series, {12 Weeks of Christmas}, where I try to give some tips and inspiration (early) so that making goodies for celebrating the fabulous Winter holidays like Christmas is easier and less stressful!

Today's project was created using the Snow Swirled set, which is one of my favorites.  I've simply inked the tree image in Pear Pizzazz (In Color) and then bedazzled it with snowflakes punched from scraps of Rich Razzleberry and Tempting Turquoise card stock.

The snowflake is inked with VersaMark on the Rich Razzleberry and with Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink for the top of the tree.  I popped them up using Stampin' Dimensionals and then added a bit of sparkle with a Basic Rhinestone.

I used more scraps and my Scallop Edge Border punch to make the treatment along the bottom, above the sentiment.  I inked the sentiment with Pear Pizzazz Classic Ink and used my Stamp-a-Ma-Jig to make it straight.  A Basic Rhinestone jazzes it up...

Placing all of these components on Whisper White card stock gives it simple, but effective, WOW.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps:  Snow Swirled (#111690)

Papers:  Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise, Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White card stocks

Inks:  Pear Pizzazz and Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink and VersaMark

Accessories:  1 1/4-inch and 3/4-inch Circle and Scallop Edge Punches, Stampin' Dimensionals, Jewels, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig

Where to shop?  Click on the link in the upper left corner of this page to be taken directly to my Stampin' Up! website, where you can shop 24/7.  Have you got questions?  Please click further below on the left on the "Email Sara" button and I'll be happy to help!

{Stamp Set Spotlight} Snow Swirled: Day 4

Care for a cuppa? This is one of my all-time favorite projects to make.

I'm a fan of all kinds of tea (except those which are licorice-flavored, but Mom gets those, so we're both happy)! What a fun thing to make several of and to keep on-hand for quick gifts. They're not only appropriate for Christmas time, though... How about one for a sick friend? Nothing beats a cold better than a steamy cup of lemon tea (or mint). Got a friend or family member far away whom you'd love to hug? Send a cup of tea instead! I'm thinking of Mom again (she's in the Rockies and I'm in the Pacific NW)...
Here's the inside, with sleeves for two bags of tea...

I don't have any Old Olive ribbon thin enough to thread this button, so I used a sliver of Old Olive card stock. With a gentle touch, you can sew your button right on (with the help of a Mini Glue Dot, of course)...

A little sponging around the "Merry Christmas" sentiment gives more depth to that piece of Very Vanilla. Stretch those supplies, Stampers!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Snow Swirled, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Papers: Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper ("DSP"), Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla card stocks

Inks: Old Olive and Cherry Cobbler Classics

Accessories: Snowflake, Modern Label, 1 3/4-inch Circle, Scallop Edge and Medium Oval Punches, Button, Very Vanilla narrow grosgrain, Stampin' Sponge, Mini Glue Dot, vanilla embroidery floss

I'll show you step-by-step how to make this beauty in tomorrow's post...

{Stamp Set Spotlight} Snow Swirled: Day 3

What drew me first to this set was the snowflakes... I love the detail!

This quick and simple card allowed me to haul out some punches, use my Big Shot and use up some scraps. First, let's talk punches. I see five punches that were used; the Scallop Edge Border, 1-3/4" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, Boho Blossoms, and Scallop Oval Punches.

For my color palette, I consulted my Color Coach and used Marina Mist, Old Olive, Real Red and Bashful Blue.

I also used the Top Note Bigz Die and the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder for the Bashful Blue piece at the top. Finally, a knot tied in Marina Mist grosgrain (adhered with a Mini Glue Dot) finishes it off!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Snow Swirled !

Inks: Real Red and Old Olive Classics

Papers: Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Real Red, Old Olive, and Whisper White card stocks

Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Die, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Marina Mist grosgrain, Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals, Scallop Edge Border, 1-3/4" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, Boho Blossoms, and Scallop Oval Punches

Thanks for your visit! Hope your day's a great one!

{Stamp Set Spotlight} Snow Swirled: Day 2

Welcome, Studio Guests, to Day 2 of the Snow Swirled {Stamp Set Spotlight}! If you missed Day 1, please click here.
For this simple card, I inked my tree image in Marina Mist and stamped it on a square piece of Whisper White card stock. Next, I cut the piece into even fourths and adhered it to Cajun Craze. This technique gives the image the illusion of being seen through window panes, but you can also cut an image or scene into vertical thirds or into uneven horizontal pieces. It's one of those quick and simple (and inexpensive) ways to add pizzazz to your project!

Finally, I added a Glimmer Brad to give it an extra sparkle. Using my Paper-Piercing Tool (a very handy tool for only $3.50) and Mat Pack, I created the pierced edges on the corners. Again, a bit of pop for not a lot of money!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Snow Swirled

Papers: Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Cajun Craze and Whisper White card stocks

Inks: Marina Mist and Cajun Craze

Accessories: Glimmer Brads (Subtles), Modern Label Punch, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Paper trimmer, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks for dropping by! I look forward to your next visit!

{Stamp Set Spotlight} Snow Swirled: Day 1

This is a simple gift box that was made from one sheet of card stock. It's called a 2-5-7-10 Box and it's super-easy to make! Here are the instructions. The first thing to do is stamp all over your card stock (I used the snowflakes from Snow Swirled in Old Olive for some tone-on-tone detail). Once you're done stamping, just follow the instructions for cutting and folding and you're set! If you're new to the 2-5-7-10 Box, may I suggest that you try it first with a piece of scratch paper, so that you don't wreck something precious...

Some details that I added to this box to give it extra interest include:

• Basic Rhinestones (119246, page 188, $4.95 for 150!)
• Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper (117159, page 174, $9.95 for 12 double-sided sheets)
• Distressed Edge (on the Cherry Cobbler piece), using the Cutter Kit, 106958, page 199, $16.95)
• Scallop Edge Border Punch along top (119882, page 200, $15.95)

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Snow Swirled (111690), Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)

Papers: Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, and Very Vanilla card stocks

Inks: Old Olive and Cherry Cobbler Classics

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Cutter Kit, Basic Rhinestones, Paper Trimmer (with Scoring Blade), Modern Label Punch, Designer Label Punch, Stampin' Sponge, Stampin' Dimensionals, Narrow Vanilla Grosgrain ribbon

Thanks for visiting!

Tied up in Knots over Christmas

*LOVE* the 365 Cards Challenges! They are always just what I need for inspiration. For this challenge, we were to use knots... Once again, I fed card stock through my Big Shot to add texture. I did this with both the Brushed Silver and Night of Navy pieces.

On Whisper White, I stamped the tree from the Snow Swirled set (inked in Night of Navy). Using Mini Glue Dots, I adhered knots of Night of Navy and Whisper White grosgrain with Silver Elastic Cord threaded through and knotted. The body of the card is Bordering Blue. The sentiment comes from the Sincere Salutations set was inked in Encore Silver and stamped on Whisper White.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Snow Swirled, Sincere Salutations

Papers: Brushed Silver, Night of Navy, Bordering Blue, and Whisper White card stocks

Inks: Night of Navy Classic and Encore Silver

Accessories: Night of Navy and Whisper White grosgrain, Silver Elastic Cord, Mini Glue Dots, Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plate

Thanks so much for visiting!