Cozy Christmas samples

Just sharing a few cards that I made with a friend this weekend, trying to knock out a stack of Christmas cards. I'm going to get those cards in the mail early this year!

I finally got over my fear of the Pom Pom trim I just HAD to have and then wouldn't touch it!

Found something like this on Pinterest - quick and easy!

This one was CASEd with a little tweaks of my own... Aren't those deer the sweetest?

I used some paper from a stack at Hobby Lobby for this one, I love the vintage feel!

Are you getting a start on those Christmas cards?

SUPPLIES: 

STAMPS: Cozy Christmas

PAPER: Home for Christmas

Sweet Stack-A Banner Birthday Card HSS224

Hey crafty friend!  Sharing a golden birthday card with you today, using the latest color challenge from Hand Stamped Sentiments. This one was so easy! The colors really go together so well.  I have to admit, I CASE'd a combination of two cards from the catalog!  That's always a great place for inspiration when you're in a pinch.

I love the stamps in this set, Sweet Stack. It's meant for creating little cake boxes, but I think they're all great for cards, too!  The pennant above is meant for the top of the cake box.  

Here's the color combo challenge - click the pic to visit our site!

Inside...

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS: Sweet Stack

INK: Mossy Meadow, Blackberry Bliss, Delightful Dijon, Basic Black

Cozy Christmas for HSS223

Here I am back with another Christmas card using my favorite set of the year!  I love all things vintage, so I keep going for this one, Cozy Christmas, and the coordinating Home for Christmas DSP. It's so sweet!

I used our latest sketch from Hand Stamped Sentiments...

For my card, I wanted to have a more shabby chic vintage look, and the brightness of the houses and churches on the DSP was throwing me off. So, I brushed over it with a layer of chalk paint and sponged the edges with gold. I placed the original paper next to my finished panel so you can see the difference. It's just more subtle, so the sentiment stands out.

Why don't you join in the challenge this week and make a little special something for someone?!

Have a blessed and creative day! ~Erika

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS: Cozy Christmas

INK: Real Red, Mossy Meadow, Pool Party, Basic Black

PAPER: Home For Christmas DSP, Real Red, Whisper White, Gold Glimmer Paper

EMBELLISHMENTS: doily, sequins, star punch, gold 3/8" glitter ribbon

Cozy Christmas HSS221

The new Christmas goodies have inspired me today, along with Hand Stamped Sentiments' latest sketch, which is AWESOME. I adore the vintage feel of the Home For Christmas collection!  The Designer Series Paper coordinates so well with this old fashioned stamp set. I'll be spending LOTS of time with these!

I used lots of DSP from this pack to embellish my card, and absolutely no ribbon or big shot products!  That is really unusual for me.  I like the layers, the patterns work well together.  Great paper pack!!!

Here's the lovely sketch!  Click below to play along. I'd love to see what you do!  

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS:  Cozy Christmas

INK:  Mossy Meadow, Baked Brown Sugar, Pool Party

PAPER:  Home For Christmas, Silver Glimmer paper

EMBELLISHMENTS:  Basic rhinestones

Get Well Soup HSS220

Keepin' it simple with a big, easy stamp on a clean background today.  Get Well Soup is an excellent stand-alone stamp!  For the latest color challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments, I added a strip of black striped paper, sponged with Daffodil Delight, and cut away a small portion of the card front so it shows inside and out.  Used an Aqua Painter to color the teacup, and sponged Tangerine Tango on a heart die cut from Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper.

I fussy cut the teacup and popped it up, as well as the glimmer heart.  My Sahara Sand marker was used to add some shading. Finally, the metallic thread wrap with an antique brad. 

What do you think of this color combo?  Come on over to HSS and play along, I'd love to see what you do!

Have a blessed & creative day! ~ Erika

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS:  Get Well Soup

INK: Memnto Tuxedo Black, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Sahara Sand

PAPER: Whisper White, Vintage Typeset Specialty DSP, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper

EMBELLISHMENTS:  Antique Brad, Gold Metallic Thread

Celebrate! With Birthday Wishes HSS218

I'm working my way through my new supplies, and it's taking a while, since I have had so little time to do crafty things lately.  Late summer brings veggie canning, outdoor projects, and back to school prep!

I've been looking forward to using this fun set, Birthday Wishes!  It's a photopolymer set, which means layering couldn't be easier!  So, using our latest color challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments, here's a cake that's cute as can be!

The colors:

I love the colors!  They're great for guys or girls.

And how about that metallic thread? And the corrugated paper! The little details make all the difference.  I think it'll be SO cool when the birthday person sees the little golden sparkle on this card.  

Inside, one of the cake layers is stamped with the included sentiment in Pool Party.

Have a blessed and creative day!  ~erika

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS:  Birthday Wishes

INK: Tangerine Tango, Lost Lagoon, Basic Black, Pool Party

PAPER: Tangerine Tango, Pool Party DSP (retired pattern), Corrugated Paper, Whisper White, Basic Black

EMBELLISHMENTS: Expressions Natural Elements, Gold Metallic Thread, Decorative Dots TIEF

Timeless Elegance Sympathy Card

I The Timeless Elegance paper is SO amazing!  Every sheet is drop-dead gorgeous, and coloring is way easier than I thought it would be. 

I've used the fabulous vintage rose sheet to make a sympathy card. The roses are colored with Watermelon Wonder and an aqua painter. This cardstock is pretty thick and handles the water well. I'm amazed at what an impact that little bit of color has on this paper!

You can get SIX card fronts out of each sheet of this beautiful paper, and there are 4 sheets of the florals in the pack (2 patterns). 

Inside...

A Whole Lot of Lovely!

I'm having a super sparkly day because, finally, I have my first box of new catalog goodies AND I scheduled time to make something with them! 

This is a new hostess set called A Whole Lot of Lovely. I ADORE all four stamps in this set. There's a single floral stamp that I can see me using a lot.  And how do you like this happy patterned paper? It's a great 6x6 stack, Pretty Petals. 

I'm participating in a challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers, where you have to use something new that reminds you of something old that you used to have. My new / old supply is the Venetian Crochet Trim. It's an update version of several vintage style lace trims that I've had over the years, including the most recently retired "Victorian Lace" trim. They're all awesome, whatever version!

Also participating in The Friday Mashup, with a square card.  

Inside:

The sentiment was gold embossed to make it easy but special. And my little wooden trim is retired Autumn Wooden Element from last year's mini, but I pulled it into the card since they never got much use! 

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS:  A Whole Lot of Lovely

INK: Gold Stampin' Emboss

PAPER:Pretty Petals DSP Stack, basic black, calypso coral, whisper white

EMBELLISHMENTS: Venetian Crochet Trim, Linen Thread, Autumn Wooden Elements (retired)

Six Sided Sampler for a Sweet Friend

Hey there, popping in to share the card I made for our latest sketch challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments! It's been a really crazy week...had wisdom teeth pulled, sent kids off to camp, and finally, my kitty, Skittles, passed away today. Poor baby, she was blind, deaf, and so very weak.  So something as simple as making a card was as welcome as an old friend.

I used Six Sided Sampler, which I've had for a long time, but rarely use.  I love how easy it was to put this card together with this pretty stamp set!  Just pick a color scheme, stamp, punch, and arrange.  The only tricky part was not repeating patterns or colors too closely.

The sketch! 

To finish, it didn't need much.  A die cut butterfly and some strips of ribbon.  

Hop on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments and play along!  I'd love to see you there!

Banner Blessings & Butterfly Basics HSS216

Hey crafty friend!  Today I have a card to share featuring a stamp set I've been dying to use, Banner Blessings.  It's a photopolymer set with four stamps that feature scripture for several occasions.  I LOVE it.  I used it with Butterfly Basics as a background collage for Hand Stamped Sentiments' latest color challenge.

I used the emboss resist technique to create a soft collage background, sponging Bermuda Bay on white cardstock after embossing with clear.  The spritzing tool gave it a little extra blast of color.

The seam binding ribbon was plain Very Vanilla, and I ran it across a Strawberry Slush ink pad, wet it, crumpled and squeezed the water out, then used a blow dryer to quickly dry the inky ribbon.  Then tied into a bow and scrunched it for a shabby look.  

The large butterfly framelit was cut with vellum to give a little more layering without hiding the pretty stamped background.  

Stop by HSS to see the inspiration projects and play along!  

PS:  In case you didn't notice, I substituted Strawberry Slush for the Watermelon Wonder, as I'm probably the last demo in the world to not place an order from the new catalog.  Sad but true! 

Have a blessed and creative day!

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS: Butterfly Basics, Banner Blessings

INK:  Bermuda Bay, Strawberry Slush, Blushing Bride, Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark Clear

PAPER:Whisper White, Vellum

EMBELLISHMENTS: Strawberry Slush baker's twine, Vintage faceted button, Very Vanilla seam binding ribbon, basic rhinestones, sponge, spritzing tool

4th of July Tags for Goodie Bags

Just a quick share tonight.  I'm getting ready for a birthday / Independence Day party at my house tomorrow, and needed some patriotic tags for goodie bags for the kids!

I stuffed them full of candy and firecrackers (the cheesy kind!). Oh, and Minion glasses. This is going to be fun!

Have a blessed holiday weekend!  

A Stamp Rewind for My Anniversary

You hoard retired stamp sets like me, don't you? I'm not alone here?!  As a demo, I find myself trying to use the current sets because, of course, they're fresh and new. But for my 15th Anniversary this week, I found myself at a loss for a perfect stamp. But looking around my room, I saw that I had amazing stamps...they're everywhere!

This was more or less the sketch from last week's challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments, and I CASE'd the style of Diana Eichfeld with her pretty challenge winner. 

My husband collects clocks, so the cuckoo clock from Forever Young was perfect. And "Love always" was layered from a retired Valentine set, Affection Collection. I used an interesting die cut that complemented the shaped of the clock, and added woodgrain embossing. 

I think what he said was, "Wow, baby, you really did a nice job!"  :D I get that a lot. Haha. 

So, pull out those old stamp sets, blow off the dust, and ink them up!

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS: Forever Young, Affection Collection (both retired)

INK: Blackberry Bliss, Gold Stampin' Emboss, Versamark, 

PAPER: Blackberry Bliss, Brushed Gold, Watercolor paper

EMBELLISHMENTS: Gold Sequin Trim, Apothecary Labels Thinlits dies, 2-1/2" circle punch, Mossy Measow striped satin ribbon, Naturals button, corner round punch, Woodgrain embossing folder

Vintage Americana Style Mini Treat Bag - HSS215

Independence Day is right around the corner!  Here is a little vintage style bag made from the Mini Treat Bag Framelits dies.  I love vintage Americana, so I wanted to keep that flair.  My bag is holding a bunch of sparklers, with a few wrapped in (retired) SU Tinsel Trim.

Here's the inspiration collage for this week's challenge.  SO great!  

I was inspired by the woodgrain, the pennants, and the color combo of the bouquet of flowers.

I used Pacific Point, Real Red, and vanilla.  The vintage print from the Typeset DSP was perfect for the vintage feel!  

I opted to cut the stars diagonally across the bag, and lined it with the vintage print from behind.
The rosette is a 1" x 12" strip, and scored every 1/4".
The sentiment is done by me on the computer with a free font US Declaration.
The little banner punches are stamped with Hardwood.
I crumpled the vanilla seam binding ribbon and doily and rubbed them with Crumb Cake sponging.

What do you have planned for the 4th?  Whatever you do, spend a little moment to lift up our nation in prayer.  What a blessing it is to be in this great land!  Pray for her protection and preservation. Thanks! 

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS:  Hardwood

INK:  Crumb Cake

PAPER:  Pacific Point, Real Red, Red Glimmer, Typeset DSP, Whisper White

EMBELLISHMENTS:  Vintage Faceted Buttons, Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon, Mini Banner Punch, Mini Treat Bag Thinlits, Star Punch (retired), Linen Thread, Doily, Score tool

Vintage Chic Embellished Kraft Grid Journal HSS210

The sketch from Hand Stamped Sentments this week really intrigued me!  I love the scattered flowers across the front. I used this sketch to embellish a kraft grid journal with butterflies, buttons, and bling.

If I don't end up passing this along to a friend as a gift, I'll probably use it to copy my daily scriptures.  Have you seen the Bible journaling trend?  I thought I could use this on the run to help make my Bible quotes stick, all pretty like. 

Here's a pic of my mess :D 

Head on over to HSS and play along this week!  I'd love to see ya.

SUPPLIES: 

STAMPS: Papillon Potpourri, Feels Goods

INK: Versamark, White Stampin Emboss, Crumb Cake

PAPER: Kraft Grid Journal

EMBELLISHMENTS:  Artisan Embellishment Kit Spring 2015 Mini, Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon, Pink Pirouette Seam Binding Ribbon, Sahara Sand Lace Trim, Bsic Rhinestones

Watercolor Wash Technique with Countless Sayings 2

Here's a fun and fast technique I discovered on Stampin' Up!'s YouTube channel this week. I was eager to try it out. It's a simple watercolor wash over an open script stamp-a sentiment with blank space in the letters.

Here's a link to the video:

I used Whisper White paper on this sample, but you might have even better results with the watercoloring on actual watercolor paper.
The cute random dot background is created with a pencil eraser! The tiny dots are made with the pointy tip of the Stampin' Write! Markers.
And we don't have Bermuda Bay Seam Binding Ribbon, you say?  Just sponge our Very Vanilla SBR and you have custom colored ribbon.

My color combo is inspired by our latest color challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  Head on over and play along!

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS: Countless Sayings 2

INK:  Mossy Meadow, Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, White Stampin' Emboss Powder

PAPER: Bermuda Bay, Whisper White

EMBELLISHMENTS:  sequins, Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon, sponge, Linen Thread, Scalloped Tag Topper Punch