HOLIDAY MINI SPOTLIGHT - DAY TEN

Good morning!!! Today is the last day of my Holiday Mini Spotlight Series!! I hope you have enjoyed the last ten days of posts showcasing the fabulous products the mini has to offer!! I am sure you will see more projects from me using mini products, but I have a lot of other projects brewin' right now too *wink* Today I am going to share a Christmas card that uses several different products from the mini! The image is from the Christmas Lodge stamp set - the images in this set are just beautiful!!! I stamped the image in Always Artichoke CRAFT ink, then added clear embossing powder and embossed it using my heat tool.  I then added some subtle white accents on the edges and the bottom of the tree using my white gel pen!

Here is a closeup so that you can see a little bit better although I know it is hard to see in the picture.  I stamped it on Naturals White card stock because I love the pigmentation of this paper, it looks fabulous with this stamp set! I used the Scalloped Oval Die Cut with my Big Shot to cut the oval and the Scalloped frame around the image. It fits perfectly inside there like it was made for it :-) The patterned paper is from the Frostwood Lodge Designer Series paper pack, also in the Holiday Mini and it has beautiful vintage pages that are perfect for all you holiday projects! I just love the woodgrain look of this paper - perfect for the tree, right?? The sentiment is also from the Christmas Lodge stamp set and is stamped in White CRAFT ink, then embossed using the white embossing powder because I really wanted it to stand out! I used my mat pack to add the textured border along the top and the bottom, and then I trimmed each end of the sentiment piece using the Designer Label punch! It is so fun to be able to use punches in lots of different ways, and I really love the design it leaves here on the edges! I then popped the whole sentiment piece up on dimensionals.  The ribbon is also from the mini and is Early Espresso Quilted ribbon - totally yummy ribbon!! It looks and feels rich!! Soooo pretty!! Lastly, I added some pearls to each scallop around the image - doesn't it look awesome??!! I love these pearls, they dress up every projects I used them for! This is a simple card, but very pretty, and would make a great Christmas card (hmmmm.....maybe I will use this one, lol!) If you like any of these products and would like them for your own, you can shop in my online store, or contact me and I will be happy to place your order for you! I had such a great time showing you all these wonderful projects using mini products - I hope you were inspired by at least one project that I shared!!Now, I am off to get ready for my downline meeting tonight - I just love seeing my gals, they are all so creative, sweet, and fun!! I hope you all have a fabulous day, and take time to create something!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Chery Cobbler, Early Espresso, Naturals White, Always Artichoke card stock, Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper
Inks - Always Artichoke and Whisper White CRAFT inks, Early Espresso classic ink, white gel pen
Stamps - Christmas Lodge
Tools - Big Shot, Scalloped Oval die, heat gun, clear and white embossing powder, Designer Label punch, Dimensionals
Accessories - Early Espresso Quilted ribbon, Basic Pearls

HOLIDAY MINI SPOTLIGHT SERIES - DAY FIVE

Good morning!!! Here it is, Monday again - the weekends seem to go by sooooo fast!! I had a very busy weekend so that does not help, lol! I took my daughter and her friend shopping for their Homecoming Dresses (her first one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and that was really fun! They both got beautiful dresses, and they are sooooo excited - and so am I! I can't wait to take pictures of them all dressed up :-)  Then, yesterday I taught my Fun with Punches class, which was a blast! I don't teach this class very often, so I really enjoy it when I do! We had a great time!! This week will be VERY busy as well as I have two workshops, a mini book class, Scrap Club, and Stamp Club - WHEW!!! Lots of stamping going on around here :-) I have busily stamping holiday things already so when I walk outside and the heat hits me, I get startled back into reality, lol!!! One of those projects is the fifth in my Holiday Mini Spotlight series I want to share with you today! I stamped this project using the Stitched Stockings stamp set and the Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Series paper!! I love the bright, Christmasy (is that a word??!!) feel this patterned paper has, it makes me smile!!! I used three different patterns of the paper here and just cut them into long banners as my background.  The base of this card is Wild Wasabi card stock and I actually embossed the base front with my Big Shot using the new embossing folder from the Mini called Snow Burst - isn't it pretty??! I added a piece of card stock to the inside flap of the card to give it some stability since the embossing tends to change the texture of the paper a bit.  The circles were also cut on my Big Shot using my 3 and 31/2 inch Circle dies.  The smaller circle was stamped in Wild Wasabi using the Netting background stamp (found in the main catalog) which is definitely a favorite of mine. The stockings were stamped in Garden Green classic ink and then punched out using the fabulous new Stocking Builder punch in the mini!!! LOVE this punch - you can see the heel and toe are actually Real Red - I just punched those out too! So fun!!

And, check out the top of the stockings - that soft, beautiful ribbon you see there is another great new product called Very Vanilla Velvet stitched ribbon and it is totally YUMMY! It is really soft, thick, and will be soooo pretty on packages and, well, stockings, lol! I just cut a small piece off and snailed it to the top! It added dimension to the stockings, and then I popped them both up on dimensionals to give it just a little more *wink* The stocking with the snowflake in the middle is sporting a little rhinestone to give it just a little bit of bling :-)

See this pretty snowflake? It is also from the mini and is part of a super cute package of felt shapes called Stitched Felt - it comes with 4 different shapes, and 16 pieces in all for less than $10 - GREAT deal!! The snowflake has some blue stitching on it that I wanted to dull a little bit for this project, so I used the new Dazzling Details liquid glitter.  It really makes the snowflake stand out! I added a Real Red Designer button to the center, with Whisper White bakers twine threaded through it and tied in a bow! I think this snowflake is a wonderful little embellishment that not only dresses up cards, but would look fabulous on the top of a little gift box or bag! It's like getting two presents in one, lol! The last thing on this card is the sentiment and it is part of the Petite Pairs Stamp set found in the main catalog - I love this stamp set, and find myself using it over and over again because it has such wonderful sentiments in it! I stamped it in Garden Green classic ink, punched it out using the Large Oval Punch, then layered it on the Extra Lunch Oval punched out of Real Red card stock.  Then, those two pieces are layered on a piece of Early Espresso card stock punched out with the Curly Label punch.  The whole thing is popped up on dimensionals and then I could not help myself, I had to add some rhinestones, lol!! I had a great time making this card, and I used a TON of new product from the Holiday Mini! If YOU love these and want to have them for your very own (and you KNOW you do, lol) you can order them in my online store OR contact me and I will be happy to place your order for you!  I will stamping the day away getting ready for all my fun events coming up this week, so lots of fun for me!! I will be back tomorrow with the sixth in my Holiday Mini Spotlight Series - I hope you are enjoying them as much as I am enjoying sharing them :-) See you tomorrow!!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla card stock, Holly Berry Bouquet designer series paper
Inks - Garden Green, Wild Wasabi classic inks
Stamps - Stitched Stockings, Petite Pairs (main catty), Netting Background stamp(main catty)
Tools - Big Shot, Snow Burst embossing folder, 3 and 3 1/2 inch circle dies, Curly Label Punch, Large and Extra Large Oval punches, Stocking Builder Punch, dimensionals
Accessories - Whisper White bakers twine, designer buttons, Dazzling Details liquid glitter, Basic Rhinestones, Stitched Felt, Very Vanilla Velvet stitched ribbon

A SNEAKY PEEK OF THINGS TO COME!

Happy Hump Day!! WOW! This week is flying by - I have been soooo busy getting ready for my weekend that is chock full of stamping events - my kind of weekend *wink*  I love when I have fun events to look forward to because it means stamping with friends, lots of laughter, and of course seeing people I don't always get to see! So, since I can't show you those projects quite yet, I thought I would give you a sneak peek of some of the fun things to come next month with the new Holiday Mini! Yep, it is that time of year again, lol! The new mini will be available for all of you to order from starting September 1st BUT one of the perks of being a demonstrator is that I get to order a full month earlier and play :-) Cool, right??  So, while most of us are still seeing triple digits with the heat, I thought I would make a snowy card and cool things down a bit! I used the new Christmas Lodge stamp set - isn't it pretty??!!  I paired it with the Frostwood Lodge Designer Series paper and some Cherry Cobbler card stock - YUM!!! And, see that ribbon in the background? That is our new Early Espresso Quilted Ribbon which is amazing and already on my next order, lol!! I really wanted to created a winter wonderland feel to this card, but did not want to use all of my new Dazzling Details glitter glue (yep, you heard me right!) so I used a small piece of the new Silver Glimmer paper, distressing one edge to look like rough mounds of snowy goodness! I did use the Dazzling Details for the roof porch, and window sills of the house - doesn't all that glitter make you happy??!! I love snow like this - I don't have to shovel it, drive in it, or take the dogs out in it, lol!

Here is a close-up of the house - I just love how this looks!! I stamped the whole image in Early Espresso ink, but then went back in with my Always Artichoke stampin' write marker and added some green to the trees.  Then, I took my white gel pen and added some of that to the trees too! I love the contrast against the house :-) This was going to be a swap card, but I changed my mind so that is why I can share this one with you. *wink* I am going to be playing with this set again today to figure out what I am going to do for the swap - tough job, but somebody has to do it, lol!!! All of these products that I have featured here today will be available for you to order on September 1st and if you are already on my mailing list and have ordered in the last six months, you will be receiving a FREE Holiday Mini in the mail in the next couple of weeks!! If you don't receive one, but would like to have a hard copy of this mini, contact me and I will be happy to send one out to you!  So, now I am off to get my stamp on and then go to my friend's jewelry party tonight - who doesn't like jewelry??!! Have a wonderful day, and I really hope you get the chance to STAMP SOMETHING!!!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White card stock, Frostwood Lodge Designer Series paper
Inks - Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Always Artichoke classic inks and stampin' write markers, white gel pen
Stamps - Christmas Lodge
Accessories - Silver Glimmer paper, Early Espresso quilted ribbon, mini silver brads, Dazzling Details glitter glue

A MAGAZINE REJECT - BUT HEY, I LIKE IT!

Hi all!! WHEW! Running around like a mad woman trying to get ready to leave on Saturday morning EARLY to head back East for my son's graduation and commissioning! I am so very excited - cannot wait to hug my son!!! I submitted a bunch of cards for publication and of course some of them did not make them in - sooooo I thought I would share some of those :-) This one is actually a Christmas card, but we were supposed to use non-holiday items to stamp with! I chose to use the set Have a Seat - I just love how cute that set is! And, I used one of the little birdies from the Aviary stamp set as well - both of these sets can be found in the main catalog! The sentiment is from a Christmas set called Gifts of Christmas and it absolutely beautiful! I know that none of us are ready to even THINK about Christmas - although it will be here before we know it, lol! I kept it fairly simple, using some Pear Pizazz cardstock and ribbon as well as some of our designer buttons.  I did use the Designer Label Punch on the sentiment in both Very Vanilla and Early Espresso and trimmed out the edges of one to frame the other.  I think I will be adding this to my Christmas stack that I have to start getting ready - every year I say I am not waiting until the last minute, and every year....well, I do, heehee! Yes, it was not selected but hey, not every card I submit can be, right *wink* So, I thought I would share it so it at least gets to be seen here! Now, I am off to whittle down a long list of items I need to get done before we fly out on Saturday morning! Have a wonderful day and get to stampin' if you can! :-)
Card Recipe:
Paper - Pear Pizazz, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla card stock (patterned paper is non-SU!)
Inks - Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler classic ink
Stamps - Have a Seat, Aviary, Gifts of Christmas(sentiment)
Tools - Scalloped Trim border punch, Designer label punch
Accessories - designer buttons, Pear Pizazz twill ribbon