Captivating Snowflake is the Winner! {12 Weeks of Christmas}

 

I couldn't be more tickled that my entry in the Colour Me Card Challenge #45 won the "Captivator" prize this week!  

I've enjoyed this challenge for months and my creativity is always stretched by their cool color combinations.  As I said yesterday in {THIS POST}, I am often vexed by color, so this challenge helps me work out some new combinations.  I *LOVE* the cards the Design Team come up with -- their work is truly inspiring.  Check them out {HERE}!  You'll thank me!

This card was super-easy to make.  I used my new Snowflake Card Thinlits die (found in the Holiday Catalog on page 22 or {HERE} online).  

Stampin' Up! has a video for you -- there's a great trick for making a snowflake to contrast with the body of the card... My card has a belly band, too, only in mine, I used ribbon!

I ran it through my Big Shot once with a piece of Real Red card stock and again with a snippet of white to give me the contrasting bit behind the moving snowflake.

This Thinlit is worth it for the snowflakes and sentiments alone! I ran some Silver Glimmer Paper through my Big Shot (*twice, sometimes*) to make both the sparkly snowflake and "Brrr" sentiment.  I've used these same elements to dress up gift boxes and other cards.  Wait and see -- I've got more details about those in upcoming {12 Weeks of Christmas} posts!

Don't forget to check out the Colour Me Card Challenge for a new weekly challenge!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  None, on this project!

Papers:  Real Red (102482) and Whisper White (100730) card stocks, and Silver Glimmer (135314) paper

Inks:  None, on this project!

Artist's Flair:  Snowflake Card Thinlits die (135855), Big Shot (113439), White Organza Ribbon (114319), Scallop Circle Punch (127811), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Thanks again to the Colour Me Card design team for making my day!

Stampin' Up! Blendabilities Now Available, Buy 3, Get 1 Free DSP, and New Weekly Deals!

Whew!  It's a busy morning at Stampin' Up! headquarters, I'm sure! Grab a cuppa or glass of something cool and settle in...

Starting today, customers may order the following color sets of Blendabilities as of today:

• Cherry Cobbler   (Item #130995 - $11.95)
• Coastal Cabana  (Item #131000 - $11.95)
• Daffodil Delight   (Item #130998 - $11.95)
• Old Olive   (Item #130999 - $11.95)
• Pumpkin Pie  (Item #130997 - $11.95)
• Rich Razzleberry  (Item #131003 - $11.95)
• Skin Tone Assortment (Item #129370 - $22.95)

The following inks and Color Lifter are also available:

• Memento Ink Pad (Item 132708 - $5.95 )
• Memento Ink Refill (Item 133456 - $4.95 )
• Color Lifter  (Item 129369 - $4.95 )

Here's a helpful techniques video from the experts at Stampin' Up!:

There are other videos that Stampin' Up! has produced in which a project is completed and the "expert" walks you through his/her process.  

Here's what I learned from Angie:

• Go from the lightest to darkest marker in the color set.
• Use a light touch with the marker.

From Teri, I learned that she:

• Fully color one petal or area at a time.
• Start with the lightest marker and then add the darkest to what would be the shaded area. Use the medium marker to blend them.

Studio Suggestions:

• Don't forget to use the Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (132708) to avoid smearing your stamped image.
• You'll notice that the experts lined their work surfaces with Grid Paper (130148).

MORE NEWS!  Is there Designer Series Paper ("DSP") on your wish list?  It's on sale this month -- buy three packages of the $10.95 sets and receive an equal-value package for *FREE*!

Ready for more?  How about the new Weekly Deals...

7/8-inch Scallop Circle Punch, #129404, originally $12.95, but on sale this week for $9.71!

2013-15 In Color Stampin' Write Markers, #131260, originally $14.95, but on sale this week for 11.21!

Gold Sequin Trim, #132983, originally $4.95, but on sale this week for $3.71!

Label Bracket Punch, #132153, originally $15.95, but on sale this week for $11.96!

Neutrals Designer Buttons, #130031, originally $7.95, but on sale this week for $5.96!

Silver Baker's Twine, #132976, originally $3.50, but on sale this week for $2.63!

Silver Fancy Foil Vellum, #133364, originally $10.95, but on sale this week for $8.21!

Summer Home Digital Download, MDS, #118464, originally $14.95, but on sale this week for $8.97!

Whew!  What a post!  I hope July has gotten off to a good start for you!

{12 Weeks of Christmas 2013}: Christmas Crackers with the Stampin' Up! Envelope Punch Board Video Tutorial

Hello and welcome to another installment of my {12 Weeks of Christmas} series!  I've been working on a video and it's ready to share...

Click {HERE} to watch!

My success in this project is due to the excellent instruction provided by UK crafter, Caroline Hallett "CraftyHallett." Search her on YouTube; she's got a lot of great videos.  Her measurements for the Christmas crackers which I made worked out perfectly.  If you've got a particular gift you're looking to "wrap" in a cracker, Traci Cornelius (another UK crafter) offers a great video on figuring your measurements.  There's such a wealth of information out there!

The Stampin' Up! Envelope Punch Board (#133774) can be used to make so many fun projects!

{12 Weeks of Christmas 2013: Week Four}: *GORGEOUS* New Festive Flurry Ornament Kit

**It's crazy, but please excuse how my blog is cutting off the right side of this column.

I'm working on it!**

Add a little festive flare to your holiday decorating with our new Festive Flurry Ornament Kit! Top presents, embellish cards, create a wintery garland, or trim the tree. How you use them is up to you! The kit includes everything you need (minus adhesive) to create 10 snowflakes, including 10 feet of Soft Sky Ribbon Printed cardstock - die cut and scored, ready to be assembled (Soft Sky, Crumb Cake, Whisper White Cardstock and Silver Glimmer Paper) Large Rhinestone Basic Jewels (40) Product name: Item #:  Price:  Festive Flurry Ornament Kit 135813 $14.95  Click {HERE} to order!
Don't delay -- these kits are only available for a *limited* time.  I spent a bit of time making one from scratch this weekend -- I'm thrilled to hear there's such a reasonable kit available for us!

{12 Weeks of Christmas} Week 8 -- Woven Ribbon Wreath Tutorial Video

Hooray!  I've finally mastered my first Apple video!  My iPhone captured the video (nice and crisp, if I do say so) and I've uploaded and edited it on my Mac.  Whew!  For a PC girl, this was quite a learning curve.  Still at it, but I'm thrilled with my first video (in *way* too long).

Pour yourself a cuppa, get comfy and enjoy the video (and please let me know what you think!)!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Beautiful Season (W122680, C122682)

Papers:  Basic Gray (121044), More Mustard (100946), Cherry Cobbler (119685), and Very Vanilla (124301) card stocks

Inks:  Basic Gray Classic Ink (126981)

Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Perfect Polka Dots TIEF (117335), Perfect Pennants Bigz L Die (123126), 1-1/4" Circle Punch (119861), Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon (122988), Linen Thread (104199), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Paper Snips (103579)