More Ornaments!

I am having SO much fun with these ornaments! For both of these, I used two different types of paper that was included, made the ornaments individually, then layered them on top of one another. I saved some of the white embossing powder/dazzling diamonds mix to emboss an oval, then when I was finished, used a rubon on top!

I think I just enjoy the process, and how simple it is when everything is precut. yeeeaaa!!!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

Holiday Collection Ornaments ~

I got my country living kit and started to make ornaments over the weekend. I like the idea of being able to personalize holiday decorations.

These are much more sparkly in real life. I've yet to get the sparkle thing down for my blog.

I took the chipboard ornaments and popped them out of the precut casing, and then did the same with the matching pre cut paper. I used the tombo multipurpose adhesive to stick them together. Sponged some ink.

Added a little sparkle with a two way glue pen and some dazzling diamonds glitter.

For the little white snowflake I useds something not in the kit. I mixed the dazzling diamonds that comes with the kit, with some white embossing powder. I used the white stampin spot to put the ink on the snowflake and poured the mixture on. Then i just heated it up. The dazzling diamonds stayed, when mixed with the white powder and it really sparkles!

My husband has already told me that I need to purchase another kit! (yea! i get to play some more!) He wants some ornaments for his office with photos of our daughter.

to get the "alexis" on the star on the right, i used a name stamp that i purchased to stamp her clothing. I used the same whisper white/dazzling diamonds mix to emboss her name on the ornament! Now I need a tree! I'm thinking that i need to run some ribbon along the wall and hang them up somehow, until we go get our yearly fresh tree!

Country Living Holiday Collection Stampin’ Kit

Invite the warmth and coziness of the holidays into your home with Stampin’ Up!’s Country Living Holiday Collection Stampin’ Kit. This kit has everything you need to create beautiful handcrafted ornaments. You can learn even more about the Holiday Collection Stampin’ Kit by watching the video on my stampin up website, featuring Shelli Gardner, co-founder and CEO of Stampin’ Up!, demonstrating how to make one of the many ornaments you can create with this wonderful kit.

Kit Contents
Holiday Collection stamp set
Die-cut chipboard and Designer Series paper that coordinate
Card stock
Ribbon and cord
Pretties Kit brads
Dazzling Diamonds Stampin’ Glitter
Adhesives
Classic Stampin’ Spots

Create dazzling ornaments and memories that will last a lifetime! Contact me for more information, or visit my Online Store and click "SHOP NOW" to place your order. But don’t wait—this offer is only good until December 31, or while supplies last!
If you’re interested in learning more about the Country Living Holiday Collection Stampin’ Kit, contact me today!

Special Offer!
Subscribe to Country Living magazine at a 75% discount and get a bonus mini-stamp kit! Go to stamp.countryliving.com.

WSC #65 ~ Glittering Snowflakes

I've been home feeling under the weather all day. I really took my time and had some fun with Beate Johns weekly weekend sketch challenge.

Now, I have a ton to write about! I guess I'll start with the base layer and work my way up. I started with pink pirouette base layer and stamped the same color as a background with the stamp set from the country living promotion, Holiday Collection. to make the circle pattern in the top left hand corner, I added a rubon from Word Flurries rubons. I used a two way glue pen and added some dazzling diamonds.

For the main element of the card, I used the faux shaving cream technique. Perhaps that technique should be called reverse faux shaving cream because it looks very different to the actual technique. it's very simple. you ink up your stamp in a light colored ink, then run a wheel across to make a swirl like pattern. I did this for each snowflake, cleaning my stamps in between. Then, I used another image from word flurries for the main element and rubbed it on the shimmer white cardstock. This card is much more sparkly in real life. On top of all of that, I did more two way glue pen and glitter work.

Next, I used a chipboard circle from the country living ornament kit. I added white craft ink, and white embossing powder, multiple times. I got it super smooth. Then, I put a rubon right on top of the embossed circle, and yes, added more glitter! I didn't have a scalloped circle that fit the outside of my circle, so I got a little creative. I punched out a bunch of flowers from my trio flower punch and used glue dots to attach them to the back of the chipboard. You know what's coming next right?? I used a two way glue pen to add dots on the top of each flower top. I really like the pattern it made! I just wanted to add one more touch of bling.. SO, I took one of the crystal brads that came with the ornament kit and took the bling out of the brad. To do this, just flip your brad over, open the prongs. Then, grab your pliers from the crafters tool kit and open one of the little notches holding the brad together. Your stone will pop out and you can either attach it with a glue dot, or for the smaller stones I use crystal effects to attach it to my project!

Have a terrific rest of the weekend, and thanks for another AWESOME sketch Beate! I had fun with this one!

BC 72 Same but diffferent ~ Cute Set!

While playing with my new stamp set, deck the halls, yesterday ~ I was having a little trouble finding inspiration with this stamp set. I went over to splitcoast and there were only 22 examples of cards people have uploaded. This card ended up being of my 12 cards for $20 stamp a stack last night and out of all the cards we did, the class attendee's seemed to agree that they liked this one the best (probably because it goes together in about 2 minutes flat).

I inked the back of the stamps with a real red and Old Olive marker and stamped them. The ribbon was tied in a knot, then I used a little snail to fasten it to the red layer of cardstock. It doesn't get more simple than this, but how cute is the layout. Sometimes less, really is more. It took me a long time to come to this realization, but it doesnt have to take two hours to make a card. :)

There is a third image in the set, an ornament, that fits this size layering too. So with this particular stamp set, you can use MOST of the images, using the same layout and/or colors, and still have a different card! Totally cool!

Interested in seeing more on the "same but different" topic? Check out my stampin sistahs the bloggers challenge group's blogs for more AWESOME ideas you can be inspired by. They are really wonderful and your comments make them smile!

Happy Friday! Yea! The weekend is here! (well almost)

Triple Case! Getting Inspiration from many

You just never know when inspiration will strike. This morning, while prepping for a Christmas themed stamp a stack. I saw this gorgeous card on my tack board.

It was a RAK (random act of kindness) from my girlfriend Robin Merriman. I flipped her original card over and saw that it was inspired by her friend Julie Salva. (So there's case number two if you're keeping score).

I thought to myself ~ Self.... "Wouldn't that be pretty as a gift card holder, like the one you saw on your buddy Ann Clemmer's site."

She has a whole video tutorial on how to make these AWESOME gift card holders that my customers and friends are flipping for! (there's case number 3). So I took lots of cool ideas and put them all together.

I'm so happy to have so many stamping friends. You know ~ those who really get it. The idea of getting a handmade card from someone just makes my day and I cherish every single one. The friends that understand the satisfaction of making something when you get that picture in your head and can't sleep at night until you get it done. Well ~ maybe that part is just me....

Below is a quick photo also of the inside. I used a wendy's coupon because I had some left over, but your everyday standard giftcard, (credit card size) fits perfectly in this. And the best part is, you can put it in a regular medium envelope from Stampin up, and not pay extra postage. (unless you go crazy with embellishments and your card is over 1/4 inch thick.

For more fun ideas, check my blog tomorrow. Tomorrow is blogger challenge day, and I've already got an idea! Which is terrific, I'm usually late! :)

Have a great Thursday.. only one more day till the weekend! Woo Hoo!

Invites for my Cupcake

My daughters 4th birthday is the 22nd of this month. Of course, because she likes to party like mom, she opted to invite ALL the children from her preschool class to her birthday party.

Then she told me that I had to come up with brilliant personalized invitations for the kids.

Now, let me just say, I dont work well under pressure. I do much better when I'm out in my studio crafting away. this was a little stressful!

I am happy with the way they came out. I made a cupcake template and cut all the pieces individually. I used crystal effects and reinker to color the cherry, so it's really goopy looking like a real marachino. We rented a bouncy house place/indoor gym, so I hope all the kids from her class can make it. I'm off to go do the other 19, now that I have figured this one out.

I know the girls will like them. I'm going to have fun with all the things i need to make.. Treat bags, thank you cards.. I'm so excited. It's the little things that makes life sweet. :)