Main image of card front, Clean & Simple Christmas Card

Clean & Simple – Only 10 Minutes To Christmas Shine

Hello Friends!

Today I have a card for you that’s clean and simple, shimmers and shines, and only takes about 10 minutes to put together.

I started with the dimensional tree cut from Very Vanilla cardstock with the “In The Woods Dies”.   I then painted the tree gold with shimmer paint, only to realize that Stampin’ Up no longer sells the gold shimmer paint.  However, it dawned on me that the shimmer paint, with it’s brush strokes, actually looked a lot like the Brushed Metallic gold cardstock.  So, if you don’t have gold shimmer paint, the Brushed Metallic Cardstock is a very good alternative.  That’s actually what I used for the scalloped mat behind the sentiment and they match quite nicely!  I used Toile Tidings DSP which I love for its classic Christmas appeal in Real Red and Garden Green – just FYI – it’s ON SALE NOW! (SEE BELOW)

I was afraid the sentiment may get lost on the DSP (Designer Series Paper) design, so I used my Stamparatus to first stamp the sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, and then wiped the black ink from the stamp without removing the stamp from the Stamparatus.  I then simply inked the stamp in Versamark, stamped over the first black image, sprinkled clear embossing powder over the Versamark and heat set it.  This gave me a nice, glossy, dark, slightly raised, and definitely more prominent sentiment on the patterned DSP.

In this same manner, you can have any color of embossed image.  Just stamp your image in whatever color of ink you wish and stamp over it in Versamark, then use clear embossing powder.  Of course, a stamp positioning tool, such as the Stamparatus, is a MUST for this type of stamping!  There are other stamp positioning tools on the market, but the Stamparatus beats it’s competitors hands down!

In the designing stages of the Stamparatus, Stampin’ Up gathered a handful of demonstrators as collaborators to act as a “think tank” in order to make it the best possible tool out there for it’s intended purpose.  I’m proud to tell you, my sister, Krista Thomas, of RegalStamping.com, was part of that design team.  They did a fantastic job in the design, if I do say so myself!  But, don’t take my word for it – give it a try!  I know you’ll love it!

LET’S GET INKY!

Materials:

Stamp Sets Used:

  • For Unto Us

Metal Dies:

  • In The Woods
  • Layering Circles

Paper:

  • Toile Tidings Designer Series Paper (red stripes – 5 3/8″ x 4 1/8″) (green stripes 5 3/8″ x 3/4″) ( green scene 3″ x 3″ to crop circle from)
  • Brushed Metallic Cardstock (tree 3 1/2″ x 2 1/4″ piece) & (scalloped circle 3 1/4″ x 3 1/4″)
  • Very Vanilla Cardstock (card base) 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ – fold in half at 4 1/4″
  • For card inside: Very Vanilla- 4 3/4″ x 3 7/8″; Red Striped Toile Tidings DSP 5 3/8″ x 4 1/8″; Green Striped Toile Tidings DSP 5 3/8″ x 1/2″

Ink:

  • Memento Tuxedo Black
  • Versamark

Accessories:

  • Clear Embossing Powder & Heat Tool
  • Wonder Of The Season Ribbon Combo Pack (Gold cord)
  • Wonderful Gems
  • STAMPARATUS

Putting It Together:

  1. Adhere the green striped Toile Tidings DSP to the bottom of the red striped Toile Tidings Mat, leaving about 1/4″ of the red showing at the bottom.
  2. Crop the tree from Brushed Metallic CS using the In The Woods Dies.
  3. Crop the scalloped circle using the largest of the scalloped circle dies in Layering Circles Dies, from Brushed Metallic CS.
  4. Crop the circle for the sentiment using the second largest “plain” circle die from Layering Circles Dies, from the green “scene” Toile Tidings DSP.
  5. Place the cropped circle in the Stamparatus (make sure “scene” is upright and straight).
  6. Lay the sentiment stamp in the center of the circle and close the “lid” to pick up the stamp.
  7. Ink stamp with Tuxedo Black ink and close “lid” to stamp.
  8. Open Stamparatus and use rag or shammy to wipe black ink from stamp.
  9. Re-ink the stamp with Versamark and close “lid” to stamp over the previous black ink.
  10. Remove circle from Stamparatus and sprinkle clear embossing powder over stamped image, tapping off extra embossing powder.
  11. Heat set using Heat Tool.
  12. Adhere stamped circle to scalloped brushed metallic mat.
  13. Adhere that to the right-top side of the red-striped mat.
  14. Wrap a piece of gold cord across the front of the mat toward the bottom edge of the green striped piece, and adhere ends of cord to back using tape.
  15. Tie a small bow using gold cord and adhere to front using a mini glue dot.
  16. Adhere the tree to left side of card front and lift the “boughs” to create dimension.
  17. Use a red “Wonderful Gem” to top the tree.
  18. View of the card from the side
  19. For the inside, adhere red-striped DSP to inside card base.
  20. Stamp sentiments from For Unto Us in Red Red to Very Vanilla panel.
  21. Adhere green-striped DSP to bottom edge of Very Vanilla panel.
  22. Adhere Very Vanilla sentiment panel to red-striped DSP.
  23. DONE!

Full view of the card front

Just a quick reminder that Stampin’ Up has a selection of DSP (Designer Series Paper) ON SALE NOW!  Through the month of October only, some DSP is marked down 15%!  I’ll put a link to all those that are on sale down below, along with the products that I used today.

I want to thank you again for spending a little bit of your day here with me!

I hope you’re settling happily into autumn weather, and anticipating the holiday season which will be upon us before we know it!

Until next time,

I hope you get INKY today!

Janet

 

These are the Designer Series Papers that are on sale right now!  Unfortunately, my link-list below doesn’t reflect the sale prices, however, if you click on the link for each one, it will take you to my online store and the sale price will be reflected there.  All of the sets below are currently on sale for $9.78, with the exception of the In Good Taste DSP which is on sale for $17.85 (it’s a larger pack).

Product List


Products used in today’s project:

Product List

Stamparatus

$49.00
Create a vintage background for an otherwise simple Christmas card.

A Little Vintage-Style Background

Hello Friends!

Today was one of those days I felt like getting extra-INKY!  The Tin-Tile 3D embossing folder has that vintage look to it and with a little bit of embossing powder (ok, a lot of embossing powder), I was able to create a visually stunning, extra-textured, vintage-style background for the pretty little Christmas tree cropped with the In The Woods Dies.

With the Tin-Tile and distressing, I felt like this could easily fit right into a 1930s style home, just like the one my grandparents lived in when I was a little girl.  This card took me back to an old-fashioned Christmas with a white flocked tree in the middle of the living room, my parents and grandparents visiting while us kids played with our new Christmas toys as Christmas dinner cooked in the oven.  That memory is fabricated somewhat, as my family never had a flocked Christmas tree, but our neighbors always did and I remember thinking it was so pretty!

As we get closer and closer to the holiday season, I can’t help but reflect on days gone by when life was simpler and the highlight of Christmas was getting to spend it with my grandparents, who lived 16 hours away by car, a ham in the oven and a few presents under the tree.

As I look at the weather forecast and see cooler temperatures coming soon, I’m beginning to get excited for the holiday season.  I’m looking forward to crafting, baking, decorating, and spending time with friends and family!  I’m anxious to pull out the winter sweaters, cozy up on the couch with a good book and hot beverage!

Things are starting to die back in our yard and my fall cleanup will begin in short order.

With the days getting shorter, I’m looking forward to pots of stew, chili or soups simmering on the stove making the house smell wonderful all day; and dinner before 9:00pm (which is our summertime routine, as there’re things to be done while it’s still light outside!)

How I love the changing of the seasons!

I’ve begun my holiday preparation already… making lists and “loose” schedules so that I can fit in everything that I want to squeeze in without last minute stressors!

Today’s card took me back to Christmases past.  I love the “vintage” feel of this card, and I hope you too are able to recall some good memories from Christmases past.

LET’S GET INKY!

Create a vintage background for an otherwise simple Christmas card.

Materials:

Stamp Sets Used:

  • Wrapped In Christmas

Metal Dies Used:

  • In The Woods Dies
  • Layering Ovals Dies
  • Layering Circles Dies

Paper:

  • Shaded Spruce – card base – 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ – fold in half at 4 1/4″.
  • Very Vanilla – mat 1 – 5 3/8″ x  4 1/8″
  • Watercolor paper – image panel – 5 1/4″ x 4″
  • Tis The Season DSP – scraps for tree skirt and scalloped circle mat behind sentiment.
  • Very Vanilla scraps for Christmas tree and sentiment tag.
  • Cherry Cobbler CS – card inside mat 1 – 5 3/8″ x 4 1/8″
  • Very Vanilla CS – card inside sentiment panel – 5 1/4″ x 4″

Ink:

  • Versamark
  • Shaded Spruce
  • Cherry Cobbler
  • Early Espresso

Accessories:

  • Gold Embossing Powder
  • Tin Tile 3D Embossing Folder
  • Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint
  • Textured Ribbon (retired)
  • Gold Glitter Star – leftover from Summer Nights Paper Pumpkin Kit (July, 2020)

Putting It Together!

  1. Spritz the watercolor paper with water to moisten.
  2. Place inside the Tin Tile 3D Embossing Folder and run through Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine 3 times.
  3. Remove from embossing folder and set aside to dry or use heat tool to dry.
  4. Once dry, smear the Versamark ink pad over (direct pad to paper technique) over top of embossed watercolor paper.
  5. Sprinkle gold embossing powder over entire panel and tap off excess.  Use a coffee filter, or piece of paper underneath to catch the excess, then return unused powder to container.
  6. Use heat tool to set the embossing powder.
  7. Use a sponge to dab Shaded Spruce ink over the gold embossing, letting it be heavier in some areas and lighter in others to achieve a distressed look.
  8. Add to the distressed look by sponging Early Espresso ink around the edges of the panel, and randomly swiping some Early Espresso ink over areas of the Shaded Spruce ink.
  9. Use a tissue and lightly wipe the green and brown ink off of the embossed gold.  Don’t rub too hard, however, or the embossing will peel off.
  10. Wrap a piece of ribbon slightly higher than the halfway mark on the embossed panel horizontally, adhering ends to the back.  Tie a small bow and attach to front of ribbon using glue dot.
  11. Use a scrap of Very Vanilla CS and crop the tree using the “In The Woods Dies”.
  12. Lightly paint Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint over the entire tree to give it a gorgeous sparkle. Once the shimmer paint is dry, lightly lift the die-cut “boughs” in the tree to give it dimension.
  13. Use a scalloped oval die to crop out the “tree skirt” from the Tis The Season DSP.
  14. Stamp the sentiment from Wrapped in Christmas in Cherry Cobbler Ink onto Very Vanilla scrap.
  15. Crop the sentiment out with Layered Circles Die.
  16. Crop a scalloped circle from the same Tis The Season DSP to go under the sentiment.
  17. Adhere all elements to the image panel noting placement in picture.
  18. Adhere image panel to Very Vanilla mat and adhere stack to card front.
  19. Create a vintage background for an otherwise simple Christmas card.
  20. For the inside of the card, stamp the sentiment in Cherry Cobbler ink on Very Vanilla panel.  Use Shaded Spruce ink for the filigree above and below the sentiment.
  21. Adhere the sentiment panel to Cherry Cobbler mat and apply to card inside.

DONE!

Don’t forget that Stampin’ Up DSP is on sale throughout this month!  Stock up NOW!!!!

Thank you for making your way to my blog today, and spending a little time here.  If you have questions, requests, or just want to say hi, please either leave a comment below, or use the “Contact” tab above!  I love hearing from you and I’m always happy to reply!  If you have questions about Stampin’ Up products, or if you need help ordering, I’m just a click away!

The products used to create today’s card are listed below, each with a link to my online store.  Your orders are always very much appreciated!

I hope you get INKY today!

Janet
Product List

Life Is Beautiful

Hello Friends!

Today’s card features the “Life Is Beautiful” stamp set which can be seasonally appropriate throughout the entire year, depending on how you choose to adorn your tree.  Since it’s Fall, I chose to stamp my leaves in bright Fall colors.  I also used some preserved Madrone tree bark, as I’ve used in previous posts.  Directions for how to preserve the bark can be found here.

I couldn’t agree more with the sentiment on this card, also from the “Life Is Beautiful” stamp set.  Despite the havoc coming at us from every direction throughout 2020, if we stop and take stock of how beautiful and precious life is, it becomes quite easy to focus with 20-20 vision – Life-Is-Beautiful!

This year has required many adjustments, but despite the inconveniences and angst, life goes on and we have so much to be thankful for!  I guess it all comes down to “looking at the glass half empty, or half full”.  I choose “half-full”.

I have to admit that I haven’t always had that “half-full” attitude.  I had some life circumstances in years gone by which were “trying” (to put it mildly), and I felt quite justified in my negativity.  I began down a very slippery slope of unhappiness and the “blame game” secondary to somebody else’s choices, and circumstances that were out of my control.

A very dear friend, who also happened to be my doctor and employer, recognized this and on a particularly bad afternoon, simply said to me, “You know, Jan, happiness is a choice.  You can choose to be happy even during tough times.”

Whoa!  Wait a minute!  I wanted to argue and justify that this, this and this were why I couldn’t be happy (it wasn’t my fault…)!  But that small voice inside me told me to keep my mouth shut and think about what he’d just said.  After much deliberation, I had to admit, he was right!  While I couldn’t control many of the circumstances around me, I could control my attitude and make a choice to be happy despite my circumstances.

Light-bulb moment:  My happiness didn’t have to hinge on what someone else did or didn’t do.

That revelation changed everything for me and I set about very purposely being happy, seeing the glass half full instead of half empty you might say.  It wasn’t easy, as my circumstances and challenges were still there.  But I awoke every morning with a determination that I would be happy today, regardless of the actions of others.

It took many months of very purposely choosing happiness, not allowing someone else’s actions to dictate my emotions and attitude.  I learned during that time what it was to really lean on my faith – to let go and let God!  Trust me my friends, God still works miracles.  I’ve been on the receiving end a couple of times which I can identify with all certainty, and probably more that I’m not even aware of.  I’ll share those miracles given me in due time.  But let me just reaffirm… Life Is BEAUTIFUL! (And, happiness is a choice!)

LET’S GET INKY!

Stamp sets used:

  • Life Is Beautiful
  • Gather Together

Metal Dies:

  • Gathered Leaves

Paper:

  • Very Vanilla CS – card base 5 1/2″ x 8 1/4″ – fold at 4 1/4″ (Card front will be 1/4″ smaller than card back)
  • Early Espresso CS (mat 2) – 5 1/8″ x 3 3/4″
  • Soft Suede CS (mat 2) – 5″ x 3 5/8″
  • Very Vanilla CS – image panel – 4 7/8″ x 3 1/2″
  • Gilded Autumn DSP – inside edge strip – 1/2″ x 5 1/2″

Ink:

  • Early Espresso
  • Cajun Craze
  • Pumpkin Pie
  • So Saffron
  • Balmy Blue
  • Tuxedo Black Memento

Accessories:

  • Preserved Madrone Tree Bark
  • Linen Thread
  • In Good Taste Elements
  • Light Soft Suede Stampin’ Blends
  • Stampin’ Sponges

Putting It Together:

  1. On the Very Vanilla Image Panel, starting at the top, lightly sponge So Saffron across top and about three-fourths down the panel until it fades out.
  2. Next lightly sponge Balmy Blue ink in sort of an arch across the top.
  3. Stamp the tree trunk image in Early Espresso.  Color in with Light Soft Suede Stampin’ Blend.
  4. Stamp the leaves in Cajun Craze, stamping first below the tree, and then with the second generation ink (stamped off once below the tree), the leaves in the tree.
  5. Repeat with Pumpkin Pie ink, stamping below the tree with fresh (1st generation) ink, and then with second generation in the tree.
  6. Stamp the “Life Is Beautiful” sentiment above the tree.
  7. Stamp the pumpkins from “Gather Together” stamp set on preserved Madrone tree bark, or Cajun Craze CS, using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.
  8. Crop out the pumpkins using the corresponding die from “Gathered Leaves Dies”.
  9. Adhere pumpkins beside tree trunk.
  10. Lightly sponge Early Espresso ink around edges of image panel.
  11. Wrap Linen Thread around the left edge of the panel x 3, attaching ends to back of image panel.
  12. Using a short piece of the Linen Thread, tie a small bow around the 3 vertical threads.
  13. Use Early Espresso ink to lightly “grunge-up” the wood leaf from In Good Taste Elements.  Use a glue dot to adhere the wooden leaf just below the bow.
  14. Adhere the Early Espresso mat to the card base, followed by the Soft Suede mat.
  15. Adhere a length of tree bark, (or a piece of Cajun Craze cardstock 5 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ – moisten top and bottom edges and carefully tear edges away) to mid-left side of card front.
  16. Adhere image panel over all.
  17. On the inside of the card, adhere the DSP strip along the right edge, even with the card base edge.
  18. Stamp the leaf image from Gather Together in Pumpkin Pie ink.
  19. Stamp the sentiment from Gather Together in Early Espresso, slightly overlapping the bottom of the stamped leaf.

DONE!

Thank you for stopping by my blog today!  Spend some time looking around; I hope you find some inspiration here and may you GET INKY TODAY!

  DSP Sale

OH, OH, OH!!!  Don’t forget that the Stampin’ Up Designer Series Paper is ON SALE through the month of October!!  Now’s the perfect time to stock up on all the gorgeous papers you’ve had your eye on!

Click here for the flier of all the DSP on sale!

Or, simply go to my online store and click on Designer Series Paper Sale!

Janet

Product List

Designer Series Paper ON SALE NOW!

Hello Friends,

I’m so excited to let you all know that Stampin’ Up is having a sale on Designer Series Paper going on throughout the month of October!  We all love beautiful paper and Stampin’ Up has some of the best out there with quality second to none!

For the month of October only, you can enjoy a 15% discount on select Designer Series Paper from both the Annual Catalog and the August-December Mini Catalog!

Click here for a PDF file of all the papers that are on sale, or simply go to my on-line store to shop!

If you’ve had your eye on some DSP for Christmas card making or whatever else, now’s a fantastic time to order and stock up!

As you all know, pretty paper is my weakness!  Truth be told, I have way more paper now than I can possibly use in my lifetime already…but, can one ever really have too much paper?

I say NO very emphatically!  I’ll get around to using it all SOMEDAY!  And, as I tell my husband all the time, one must have a very large assortment because the day will come when you need a specific pattern, in a specific color, for a specific project!  It’s just easier to have it on hand, rather than having to shop and hope you find it on a moment’s notice!

It’s happened before and it will happen again!  One must be prepared for all of life’s decorating, cardmaking, and scrapbooking emergencies!

If anyone in my family needs pretty paper for any occasion… I’VE GOT IT!  In such a way, I can save the day!!! 

So, whether you have superhero aspirations or just love Stampin’ Up DSP, now’s the time to order!  This only happens once a year, so don’t wait!  ORDER THOSE GORGEOUS PAPERS NOW!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy shopping friends!

Janet

Pumpkin Spice & Elk – Yep, It’s FALL!

Hello Friends!

As you may recall, I mentioned in my last post an excess of canned pumpkin in my pantry.  As such, I’ve been looking for recipes, other than pumpkin pie, in an effort to use some of it up.  Nothing against pumpkin pie, but it just doesn’t seem like it’s that far into Fall to warrant pumpkin pie yet! So, as an alternative, I found a recipe on AllRecipes.com for “Great Pumpkin Dessert” and made that instead.  I must say, it’s very good!  It also made the house smell like pumpkin spice!  A win-win!

It is, however, far enough into fall for hunting season!  It’s a time of year that Dean and I look forward to every year.  I know hunting isn’t for everyone, but it’s a big part of our lifestyle and we both enjoy getting out on a crisp fall morning, hiking through the woods in search of a big bull elk.  Dean archery hunts, which means his season is before mine with a rifle.  While hunting with a rifle is enjoyable, I must say, there’s nothing like going with Dean archery hunting.  To hunt with a bow, one must get very close to his target.  That means getting fully camouflaged up, face paint, the whole nine yards.  I love the thrill of going with Dean and getting right in the middle of a herd of elk, trying not to move, even breathe, so as not to be discovered.  One slight move, or the breeze blowing the wrong way, and the elk will be gone in an instant!  The adrenaline rush of having a gigantic bull elk a mere arms length away with only some brush between you and him, I can’t even describe!  Of course, when they’re that close, it’s impossible to draw a bow without being discovered, so just standing there ,still as can be, afraid he’s going to hear your heart beating as it feels like it’s going to beat right out of your chest, trying to breathe slow and easy so as not to make a sound or move a muscle.  There’s nothing quite like it!

I’m proud to say, Dean was successful in his hunt again this year, tagging this beauty of a bull a couple days ago! (Just for perspective, Dean’s 6’0″ tall)

ELK….it’s what’s for dinner in our home!

And soon, we’ll be back outside in search of another bull for me to harvest.  I’m going to concede right now, Dean’s going to win the big bull contest in our home this year!  I’m okay with that, you can’t eat the antlers, and the rest is all meat in the freezer!

But back to pumpkins and fall.  If you have any pumpkin recipes that you recommend, I’d be happy to give them a try!  I think I have 7 or 8 more cans of pumpkin in the pantry to use up.  After all, it’s going to be on sale again soon and I’ll have to buy more!!! LOL!!!

While I don’t generally get too into Halloween, I do like to put together a little something special for the grandkids.  Today’s card will add to the festive flair of their goodies!

LET’S GET INKY!

Materials:

Stamp sets used:

  • Hallow’s Night Magic
  • Drybrush

Metal dies used:

  • Halloween Magic Dies (tag & bats)
  • Layering Ovals Dies (pumpkin – cut 3 of the smallest oval)
  • Ornate Borders Dies (Crushed Curry border on DSP)

Paper:

  • Plaid Tidings DSP- 2″ x 5 1/2″
  • Basic Black CS – card base 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″; scraps for die-cut bats
  • Pumpkin Pie CS – scraps for three ovals cut with smallest oval die in Layering Ovals
  • Mossy Meadow CS – scrap for pumpkin stem
  • Crushed Curry CS – 5 1/2″ x 1/2″ – cut 2 borders with Ornate Borders
  • Whisper White CS – scrap for front tag cut with Halloween Magic Dies.

Ink:

  • Tuxedo Black Memento
  • VersaMark
  • Pumpkin Pie

Accessories:

  • Silver Embossing Powder
  • Black Baker’s Twine from Country Club Twine Combo – retired
  • Stampin’ Blends:  Mango Melody Combo; Old Olive Combo

Putting It Together:

  1.  Use a 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ piece of Basic Black CS for card base, folding in half at 4 1/4″.
  2.  Use the Drybrush Stamp and Versamark ink, stamping image on card front.
  3. Sprinkle Silver Embossing Powder over entire card front, tapping excess off.
  4. Heat emboss with heat tool.
  5. Apply Crushed Curry border pieces to Plaid Tidings DSP, and then apply that to card front centered.
  6. Apply Pumpkin Pie ink with sponge to edges of three ovals.
  7.   You can see in the picture, the first oval on the left has ink applied to the edges, the other two don’t.  Adding ink creates depth.
  8. Hand cut the pumpkin stem with scissors from Mossy Meadow CS.
  9. Apply two of the ovals side-by-side centered on the bottom card front.
  10. Place the hand cut stem between the ovals.
  11. Adhere the third oval centered over the other two ovals to make the pumpkin.
  12. Stamp the tag border from Hallow’s Night Magic onto Whisper White and then crop it out using the smaller tag die from Halloween Magic Dies.
  13. Color the flowers with Stampin’ Blends.
  14. Stamp the Happy Halloween sentiment from Hallow’s Night Magic.
  15. Adhere tag above the pumpkin.
  16. Use Halloween Magic Dies to crop out bats.
  17. Adhere bats above tag.
  18. Wrap a piece of Black Baker’s Twine around card front vertically and tie in bow.

DONE!

Thank you for visiting my blog today; I hope you’ve found some inspiration here.  Your comments and orders are always much appreciated!

I hope you have a fantastic day, and I hope you get a little INKY today!

Janet

Product List

Paper Snips

$10.00

Alcohol inks for original backgrounds

Happy Fall Y’All

Hello Friends!

It’s OFFICIALLY FALL!!!!  While I’m not a pumpkin spice addict, I do look forward to some pumpkin spice here and there, burning candles, cooler temperatures, and RAIN!!!

I cleaned out my pantry a few days ago and noticed that I have… ah-hmmm multiple cans of pumpkin puree.  I’m never in charge of pumpkin pies at Thanksgiving, that would be my sister.  I’m in charge of chocolate peanut butter, coconut cream, apple, blueberry – the other pies.

However, pumpkin just goes with Fall and Thanksgiving, and apparently I feel the need to stock up on canned pumpkin every fall when it’s on sale…judging from my overstocked pantry!  Sooooo… my kitchen will be smelling of pumpkin spice soon as I try to use up my multiple cans of pumpkin!

Speaking of SALES… don’t forget that TODAY is Stampin’ Up’s one and only sale of the year!   You can  simply log into my online store and click on “Stamp Sale” to bring up all the stamp sets that are marked down 15%.  The sale ends, for those on the west coast (pacific time), at 10:59 PM tonight (9/23/20).

But, back to Fall…I can hardly wait to put on some mellow tunes, light my pumpkin spice candles, and get to baking!  Yep… I’ve been waiting for Fall to arrive for the last several weeks!  I’m excited to pack away my summer clothes and bring out the sweaters and jeans!  I’ve already dug out my camouflage hunting gear and have been getting up early, going out hiking the hills with Dean.  He archery hunts, and is generally successful each year in harvesting a big bull elk!  Have I mentioned, I LOVE FALL?!!

This truly is the season of thanks, so it seemed only appropriate to start the season with some thank you cards!  I opened my craft-room closet today and BOOM!  Right in front of my face were all of my alcohol inks that I haven’t played with in years.  Mine are all of the Ranger Tim Holtz variety which can be bought in any of the big-box craft stores or online.  I’d forgotten how much I love working with these inks!  I’ve not done a lot of it and I’m certainly not proficient in creating masterpieces with them, but creating colorful backgrounds is so much fun, watching the colors flow and merge with other colors, adding a little alcohol blending solution and metallic mixatives.  You can see the end result as the background on my featured card today.

Alcohol inks need to be used on nonporous materials; I used Yupo paper for today’s card.  If you’re not familiar with it, Yupo paper is actually more of a plastic sheeting than “paper”.

I then used a piece of window sheet the same size as my Yupo paper background, and stamped the large sunflower from Celebrate Sunflowers in black Staz-On ink.

The window sheet was then attached to the Yupo background using some silver brads I had in my craft stash.  Glue dots could be used also, and then covered with gems, enamel dots, or ?  Just something to cover the glue dots as they would show through the window sheet.

I used “Well Written” dies to cut the word “thanks” from a silver foil sheet and adhered to the front of the window sheet.

Finally, I used some retired Stampin’ Up Striped Metallic Ribbon applied to the left side of the card and three small pieces tied to it.

This is actually a simple card to make, and so much fun using the alcohol inks!  No two alcohol ink creations are going to look the same, which is what makes it so much fun!  The possibilities are endless.

MATERIALS USED:

Stamp Sets:

  • Celebrate Sunflowers
  • Ornate Thanks (inside sentiment)

Paper:

  • Basic Black CS for card base – 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″, folded in half at 4 1/4″.
  • Cajun Craze CS for Mat 1 – 5 1/4″ x 4″ (cut 2 of these – 1 for card front and 1 for inside)
  • Basic Black CS for Mat 2 – 5 1/8″ x 3 7/8″
  • Yupo Paper (available online or big-box craft stores) 5″ x 3 3/4″
  • Window Sheet – 5″ x 3 3/4″
  • Silver Foil Sheet (scrap)

Ink:

  • Black Staz-On (this doesn’t wash off your stamp, you need Staz-On Cleaner to remove ink)
  • Ranger Alcohol Inks (available online or big-box craft stores).  I used Sunset Orange, Sunshine Yellow, Lettuce, Cranberry, Silver Mixative, Alcohol Blending Solution.

Embellishments:

  • Silver brads (retired)
  • Striped Metallic Ribbon (retired)

 

Don’t forget about today’s sale!  There are so many fun stamp sets on sale, 15% off!  The stamp sets are all from the ’20-’21 Annual Catalog, which will be “the main catalog” until June of next year, so the stamp sets will still be available after today, but will NOT be on sale again!!!!

So, go to my online store and place your order NOW to get in on today’s lower prices!!!!

Until next time,

Janet

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READY, SET – FLASH SALE – 24-HOURS ONLY!

Hello Everyone!

Just a quick post to let y’all know that Stampin’ Up just announced to us that we’re having a 24-hour FLASH SALE on WEDNESDAY, 9/23/20.

There will be 59 stamp sets from the ’20-’21 Annual Catalog at 15% off for 24 hours only; from 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM (MT) 9/23/20.

That means for those of us on the West Coast 11:00 PM on 9/22/20 (Tuesday) to 10:59 PM 9/23/20 (Wednesday) – Pacific Time.

They’ve given us a PDF of all the stamp sets that will be on sale, and you can access that list by clicking here or on the picture below.

Be sure to check out the list and make your list of must-haves NOW, so that you’re ready to order late Tuesday (if you’re a night person) or on Wednesday, 9/23!

This sale only happens once a year, so be sure to get in on it while the getting’s good!!! 

 

How do you order you ask?

It’s simple!

  • Just head over to my online store during the 24-hour period.
  • There will be a category entitled “Stamp Sale” which will list every single stamp set on sale to make the purchase process super quick and easy!

Who doesn’t love a sale?  I’ve got my list made and I’m counting down to 11:00PM tomorrow night (9/22) (For those of us on the West Coast)!

Happy Shopping!!!

Janet

Poinsettia Place - not just red anymore

Poinsettia Petals – They Don’t Have To Be Red

Hello Friends!

It’s raining outside which means – the smoke is clearing!  I’ve been praying hard for rain, as I know so many others have as well.  I’ve not heard official reports as yet, but I’m guessing the showers we’ve been getting since last night have really knocked the heat out of the fires we’ve been experiencing.  A very welcome change for all of our amazing firefighters!  Hopefully the thousands of displaced families will be able to go back home soon.

I met some lovely pups at the animal shelter this week, many of whom are there due to their owners having to evacuate and unable to have their pets with them.  The pups were all so eager to get out of their cages and soak up some affection, which I was happy to provide.  Hopefully they and their families will be reunited soon.  I can only imagine what’s going through the minds of those fur babies.  It was obvious that some of them are quite accustomed to being lap dogs and are missing their people badly, as I’m sure their people are missing them too.  I’m looking forward to returning to the shelter next week and hopefully finding that some, if not all, of the evacuees have gone home.  I enjoyed my time at the shelter and have committed to volunteering there at least one day a week.

At any rate, the rain has me back in my craft room and I chose to play with the Poinsettia Petals products once again.

I’m a country gal and my jeans are nearly always dirty by the end of the day.  I frequently have to scrub the dirt from under my fingernails as well.  I find myself frequently trying to “grunge up” my cards just a little bit for a more rustic look; today was no different.

I cut my mat layers and when I laid them out, everything just looked too “clean”.  I generally turn to my ink pads and sponges to ink up the edges, but this time I decided I wanted a little imperfect “gilded” edge to my DSP.  I tried my gold gilding marker, but it wouldn’t apply evenly and didn’t look as I had imagined.

So, I found some metallic paint (I think I got it on Amazon some time ago), and a flat brush and sort of smeared that around the edges of my DSP.  I intentionally applied it thin so I could see the DSP underneath, and rounded the inside corners a bit.

The paint has just enough metallic shimmer to it to highlight the gold foil paper without being “matchy-matchy”.  I think it adds that little bit of rustic-ness that I was looking for!

I chose to use So Saffron Stampin’ Blends (dark and light) to color the poinsettia petals which were stamped in Early Espresso.

Has anyone else noticed that poinsettias come in just about every color of the rainbow the last few years?  As such, one could make the poinsettia any color, as they’re certainly not limited to red, pink and white any longer!

LET’S GET INKY!

Materials:

Stamp Sets Used:

  • Poinsettia Petals
  • For Unto Us

Metal Dies:

  • Poinsettia Dies
  • Beautiful Boughs

Punch:

  • Label Me Lovely

Embossing Folder:

  • Scripty 3D

Paper:

  • Whisper White CS (card base) – 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ – fold in half at 4 1/4″
  • Poinsettia Place DSP – Mat 1 (Brown pinecones) 5 3/8″ x 4 1/8″    Mat 2 (poinsettias) 5 3/8″ x 3 3/4″
  • Gold Foil Paper – 3″ x 2 1/2″
  • Garden Green CS

Ink:

  • Early Espresso

Accessories:

  • Gold Glitter Enamel Dots
  • Gold Cord
  • DecoArt Metallic Venetian Gold Paint (available on Amazon)

PUTTING IT TOGETHER:

  1. Apply metallic paint to edges of DSP and let dry.
  2. Run gold foil paper piece through Stampin’ Cut & Emboss machine in Scripty 3D embossing folder.
  3. Stamp one each of all three poinsettia petals stamps in Early Espresso.
  4. Use So Saffron Stampin’ Blends Combo to color petals.
  5. Crop petals out using Poinsettia Dies and adhere together using liquid glue or mini glue dots in the center of each.
  6. Apply Gold Glitter Enamel Dots to center of poinsettia.  Using the Take-Your-Pick tool to apply these small dots is the easiest method (personal opinion!)
  7. Crop fir boughs from Garden Green CS using Beautiful Boughs Dies.
  8. Stamp the sentiment from For Unto Us on Whisper White scrap and use Label Me Lovely Punch to cut out.
  9. Adhere paint-edged mat 2, to brown pinecone mat 1.
  10. Adhere sentiment label to gold foil embossed piece, and adhere that to mat stack about 1/2″ from top and centered.
  11. Adhere the end of a 6″ piece of gold cord to back of mat stack approximately 1/4″ from left edge, wrap over the front and adhere other end to back as well.
  12. Tie a small bow with a piece of gold cord and use a mini glue dot to stick it to the cord on the front of the card approximately at the bottom edge of the gold foil piece.
  13. Adhere fir boughs and place poinsettia in the center.

DONE!

A country-rustic, not-red poinsettia for Christmas!

I hope I’ve inspired you to get a little inky today.

It’s time for me to go feed my horses and get a little country-grungy cleaning their stalls!

Until next time,

Janet

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Beautiful Autumn For A Beautiful Day

Hello Friends,

I got back into my craft room today after really struggling with motivation the last few days.  The fires and hardship suffered by so many in our local communities has really been burdening my heart;  the need to help and yet unsure where I can be of use.  Everywhere one turns these days it seems there’s gloom and doom, violence and fear, left versus right, etc., etc., etc.   I’m generally a quiet personality type and it’s easy for me to slip into the background where I’m more comfortable, rather than getting out there and facing challenges head-on.  However, I can only hide for so long before I feel the Holy Spirit nudging me to put on my full armor and GET OUT THERE!  I’ve been a prayer warrior for sure over the last many months, but I’m feeling the push to get out and put my feet and hands to work!  There are many needs out there currently, and while I don’t have the resources to fund large donations, I certainly know how to work and am willing to do so.

It was recently brought to my attention that our local animal shelter has taken in many pets from families who’ve been displaced due to the fires, and as well, they have taken in animals from another county shelter which had to evacuate.  They’re calling for volunteers to help at the shelter with their extra load of animals, so this is where I will start.  I have a very soft spot for animals, so this will be a good fit and I’ve promised myself (and Dean) I won’t fall in love with all of them and want to bring them all home… a real danger if you know me at all!!! LOL!!!  Helping the animal shelter seems like a small donation of time and energy, but we’ll see where God leads me from there!

With that decision made and looking forward to starting at the shelter, I was able to settle into my craft room and create this card using largely scraps of cardstock.  The larger leaf is cut from madrone tree bark, as I used in earlier posts.  The instructions of how to rehydrate and preserve the bark are noted in my post from August 30; click here to see this post.  I love the realistic leaf look it lends to the card; it looks like it fell right off the tree.  Actually, I guess it did – just not in leaf form!

LET’S GET INKY!

Materials:

Stamp sets used:

  • Beautiful Autumn (bundle w/punches)

Dies & Punches used:

  • Beautiful Autumn Punch Pack
  • Layering Ovals
  • Gathered Leaves Dies

Embossing Folder:

  • Tasteful Textile 3D

Paper:

  • Very Vanilla CS:  8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ score at 4 1/4″ and fold in half for card base.
  • Very Vanilla CS:  5 1/4″ x 4″
  • Gold Foil Sheet:  Cropped with Layering Ovals Dies

Ink:

  • Tuxedo Black Memento Ink
  • Early Espresso
  • Old Olive
  • Crumb Cake
  • Pumpkin Pie
  • Cajun Craze

Accessories:

  • Early Espresso Stampin’ Write Marker
  • Gold Cord from Wonder Of The Season Ribbon Combo Pack
  • Preserved Madrone tree bark
  • Mini Glue Dots

PUTTING IT TOGETHER:

  1. Creating the mat.  Using the Very Vanilla CS 5 1/4″ x 4″ piece, sponge ink across panel lengthwise.  Start with Old Olive, using swiping motions back and forth across the bottom 1/4 of the panel.  Then sponge Crumb Cake ink back and forth, letting it lightly blend into the Old Olive ink.  Next is Pumpkin Pie, again, letting it blend slightly into the Crumb Cake ink.  Finally, finish with Cajun Craze, allowing that to slightly blend into the Pumpkin Pie ink.
  2. With ink applied, run panel through Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine in the Tasteful Textile Embossing Folder.
  3. Cut panel in half at the 2 5/8″ mark.
  4. Apply inked mat to card base, flipping one panel so that the coloration is opposite the other.
  5. Adhere gold foil oval centered over the center seam.
  6. On scraps of Very Vanilla CS, stamp 2 acorns from Beautiful Autumn in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.  Fill in the caps with Early Espresso ink, the bottom with Crumb Cake ink.  Punch them out with the acorn punch from Beautiful Autumn Punch Pack.
  7. Stamp 4 oak leaves, and 4 maple leaves on scraps of Very Vanilla.  Fill in the oak leaves with Old Olive ink, and the maple leaves with Cajun Craze ink.  Punch these out with the punches from Beautiful Autumn Punch Pack.
  8. Using Early Espresso ink, stamp the wheat stalks (left and right sides) and small leaves (top and bottom).
  9. Using an Early Espresso Stampin’ Write Marker, draw the border lines and hash marks in corners.
  10. Stamp sentiment from Beautiful Autumn in Early Espresso on Very Vanilla strip of CS and then cut the words apart using scissors.
  11. Adhere words to gold foil oval.
  12. Adhere the acorns to the left and right sides, centered between the wheat stalks.
  13. Scatter the oak leaves about the four corners, and the maple leaves around the gold oval – adhere all.
  14. Using the embossed leaf die from Gathered Leaves Dies, crop leaf from madrone bark (or Cajun Craze CS) by running through Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine.
  15. Using Mini Glue Dot, adhere leaf to center top.
  16. Tie a small bow with the gold cord and adhere to top of leaf with Mini Glue Dot.

DONE!

I hope that you’re all doing well out there!  For those of you who are local and dealing with the fires and smoke, please let me know if there’s anything I can do to assist you!

Until next time,

Janet

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Paper Snips

$10.00


 

Whale Done Tri-Fold Peek-A-Boo For A Double-Digit Birthday

Hello Friends!

One of our grandsons is hitting the big double-digit birthday soon, 10-years-old, and I want him to know that he’s “Kind of a BIG deal”!  Whale of a Time was the perfect fit for this occasion!  I chose to use my favorite fancy-fold, the tri-fold peek-a-boo, to highlight his big 10 years!

As I recently used this fancy fold in another post, I will simply refer you back to that post for the video and step-by-step instructions of how to create this card here.

Of course, I used a different array of products to make today’s card, so a listing of those are below but the instructions are otherwise the same.

This past week has been incredibly difficult with so many throughout our state being evacuated from their homes due to the wildfires to the north, south, east and west of us.  So much loss all about us… there are no words.  At this point, our ranch is not in harms way and a friend of ours inquired if we’d be able to accommodate horses for people who’ve had to evacuate.  Thus far we’ve taken in 8 horses.  I pray that those horses and their families, as well as so many others, have homes to return to when all is said and done.

The smoke has been dense, burning the eyes, nose and throat when outside for very long.  I’m sure the hospitals are being inundated with those who have asthma, COPD, and other breathing disorders.  My thoughts and prayers have been significantly directed toward all the firefighters, first responders, and of course, all the people who have lost loved ones, their homes, their pets, and livelihoods.   I thank God above that there are people who are willing to put their lives on the line day in and day out for the safety of the rest of us.  I don’t like the smoke we’re experiencing here and yet, there are those who are rushing into the fires where the smoke and heat are truly horrendous.  To those true heroes, I say Thank You and May God Bless You!

LET’S GET INKY!

Whale Done Trifold Peek-A-Boo

Materials:

Stamp Sets/Bundle Used:

  • Whale Done Bundle
  • Blossoms In Bloom (happy birthday sentiment)

Metal Dies Used:

  • Layering Circles
  • Smooth Sailing (seaweed)
  • Playful Alphabet (10)

Paper:

  • Pretty Peacock (carebase – 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″)
  • Granny Apple Green (Mat 1 inside & out 5 3/8″ x 4 1/8″ – cut 2)
  • Whale Of A Time DSP 5 1/4″ x 4″ – cut 2 (calypso coral for card front & seahorses for card inside)

Ink:

  • Tuxedo Black Memento Ink

Accessories:

  • Whale Punch
  • 2-inch Circle Punch
  • Seabed 3D embossing folder
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals

PUTTING IT TOGETHER:

As mentioned above, there is a video of this process in my earlier post here.  Please refer to it; the written instructions are otherwise below.

  1.  Fold cardbase in half and set aside.
  2. Adhere the DSP to the Granny Apple Green mats and set aside to dry.
  3. Using the 5 1/2 x 5 inch piece of Pretty Peacock CS, score the 5 1/2 -inch side at 3/4″.  On the non-scored sides of that piece of cardstock, measure to 2 3/4″ and mark lightly with pencil.
  4. Use a paper trimmer to connect the pencil dots, to create the triangular flap.
  5. Use the 2nd largest (plain) circle from Layering Circles Dies, and cut the hole in the center of the “flap”.
  6. Emboss the flap using the Seabed 3D Embossing Folder.
  7. Use the largest scalloped circle die and the 2nd largest plain circle die from Layering Circles Dies to cut the scalloped “ring” from DSP to go around the hole on the front of the card flap.  Adhere this ring to flap front around hole.
  8. Now bring in your card base… THE CREASE WILL BE ON THE RIGHT FOR THIS CARD (it opens backwards).
  9. Crease the flap on your score line and insert the card base with open side into the crease of the flap. (Remember – your card base will be backwards from usual, i.e. open side on left/crease on right).  Make sure the top and bottom of both flap and card base are even.
  10. Punch a circle from a Post-It note using the 2″ circle punch, making sure the adhesive edge of the Post-It note is on the punched circle (so it will stay in place).
  11. Lay the punched circle in the center of the hole on the flap (will be on the front of the card base) to guide where the hole needs to be punched for the “peek-a-boo” hole.
  12. Remove the flap piece and place the card front, with the Post-It Note circle attached, in the 2″ punch with the Post-It Note circle aligned with the punch and punch your hole.
  13. Now when you lay the flap back over the card base, your holes should center up.
  14. Adhere the DSP inside sentiment panel (seahorses) onto the Granny Apple Green mat for the inside panel.  Lay that in the card base with even borders (where it will be glued down, but don’t glue it yet!), close the card and lightly trace the circle onto the white panel with a pencil. (This marks where to adhere your numbers).
  15. Remove the inside panel, adhere the numbers cut with the Playful Alphabet dies and stamp the sentiments. “Hoping all your birthday fishes come true” from Whale Done, and “Happy Birthday” from Blossoms In Bloom.
  16. Now lay the Calypso Coral DSP with Granny Apple Green mat (that you glued earlier) on the card base front.  Hold it in place and carefully open the card keeping the DSP stack in place.  Lay the 2″ circle Post-It Note in the center of the circle again, lift the cardbase off, and punch the hole in the DSP stack.
  17. Adhere the DSP mat to the card front, lining up the holes.  Stamp the “You’re Kind Of A Big Deal” sentiment on the right upper corner of the Calypso Coral DSP card front.
  18. Adhere the inside DSP stamped panel to the card base.
  19. Apply some adhesive to the straight edge of the flap (behind the score line) and apply to the back of the card so that the flap folds over the open edges of the card base.
  20. Use the seaweed die from Smooth Sailing Dies and cut four of those from a piece of the DSP that’s mostly Granny Apple Green.  Adhere those to the card fronts.
  21. Punch the whale from a piece of DSP using the Whale Punch and apply to front of card using dimensionals.

DONE!

Stay safe out there!

Janet

Though I didn’t use the ribbon or sequins from the Whale of a Time Suite, I used everything else.  Therefore, I listed the suite, as well as the bundle, as when ordered either in the suite or bundle, you get a 10% discount versus buying everything separately.

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