Watercolor Stocking Christmas

Watercolor-Stockings-Web

I love how this card turned out.  I’m choosing this one to send out to family and friends this year with the exception of one special card I’m making for my grandma.  I love watercolor washes and this is a great way to add a splash of color on shimmery white paper and a textured snowy background.

You can follow along how I made this card on YouTube here.

The items I used in this card are listed at the bottom of this post and also in the video.

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The variation I did for my grandma is using the Quilted Christmas DSP to look like a quilt on a watercolor background.  She has made dozens of quilts over the years and this piece reminds me of a square quilt she might make to hang on the wall.  I used two different paper patterns from the same DSP stack.  The red star background fit perfectly behind the 3″ x 3″ quilted piece to look like a border!  I was thrilled about that.

Watercolor-quilt.jpg

I’m really thrilled with how these two cards turned out.  I’m excited to see the variations that come from doing multiple cards because watercolor is never the same twice.

The shimmery white cardstock is a dream to watercolor on.  I love how it has that wonderful subtle shimmer!  I used all the colors from the DSP: Garden Green, Real Red, Lemon Lime Twist, Pool Party and Blushing Bride.

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Please share with me the cards you are making for your family this year!  I would love to see them.  You can post on my new Facebook group here.

Merry Christmas!

Product List

Hang Your Stocking Photopolymer Stamp Set

Snowflake Sentiments Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Christmas Stockings Thinlits Dies

Pretty Pines Thinlits Dies

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Shimmery White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Quilted Christmas 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad

Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad

Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad

Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad

Medium Whisper White Envelopes

Aqua Painters

Paper Snips Scissors

Fast Fuse Adhesive

Big Shot

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Snowy Season’s Greetings

I love the texture in the Cable Knit embossing folder!  It adds so much depth to cards.  This card features stamps from Snowflake Sentiments.  This is a really easy and pretty card.  I used Whisper White, Pool Party and Dapper Denim along with a splash of silver from last year’s Sale-a-bration sale.  (Next one is coming up soon in January!)

I did not shoot a video for this one, but it’s fairly easy to explain so I’ll just give the measurements here:

Whisper White base – 5.5″ x 8.5″, folded to 5.5″ x 4.25″

Whisper White Stitched Shape oval – largest oval

Dapper Denim layer – 5.25″ x 4″

Pool Party layer – 5″ x 3.75″

1 Whisper White medium envelope

Directions:

Stamp the 3 different sizes of snowflakes in Dapper Denim onto the Pool Party layer.  I found it easier to cut my 3 small snowflakes into 1 and 2.  They line up nicely if placed together on the block and then I can use a single one when needed.  After it is all stamped, emboss the Pool Party layer with the Cable Knit embossing folder with the ribs going up and down.

Stamp the greeting in Dapper Denim in the middle of the Stitched Shape oval.  Stamp the single small snowflake in Pool Party in random places around the sentiment.  Run a line of Fast Fuse on the back of the oval and attach a silver ribbon.  Trim the ends on an angle.  Place Stampin’ Dimensionals above and below the ribbon on the backside of the oval.  Since the oval is so big, I recommend 4-6 dimensionals.

Snowy-Season's-Greeting-close

Attach the layers using Fast Fuse, since the Pool Party layer is so textured.

On the inside I stamped a retired greeting from Jar of Cheer in Dapper Denim and a few scattered small snowflakes in Pool Party.  I also stamped the envelope front with a big snowflake in Dapper Denim and the triple line of small snowflakes along the back flap (not shown).

Snowy-Season's-Greetings-inside

Shop with me here and click Shop Now or click on products below.

Order completed cards from my Etsy store (new!).

Follow me on Facebook.

Get inspired on Pinterest.

Check out my tutorial videos on YouTube.

Please support small businesses and families.  Have a fantastic day!

Product List

Snowflake Sentiments Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Dapper Denim 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Dapper Denim Classic Stampin' Pad

Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies

Cable Knit Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Jar Of Cheer Photopolymer Stamp Set

3/8" Metallic Ribbon Combo Pack

Fast Fuse Adhesive

Stampin' Dimensionals

Medium Whisper White Envelopes

Big Shot

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Greenery in the Snow

Greenery-close-up.jpg

It’s time to start preparing for Christmas!  Be ready to send out lovely Christmas cards to your family and friends this year by starting early and not being in a rush for once.  (Tell me it’s not just me!)  I recently got these Pretty Pines thinlits and I LOVE them.  They are so versatile and lovely.  They make great accents on cards, tags and gifts.  Love love love!

For this card I used the Softly Falling embossing folder on the background and the Everyday Label Punch along with the Pretty Pines thinlits.  I put Wink of Stella on the Real Red twig shape things because Wink of Stella is freaking awesome and it dazzles up everything.  Wink of Stella would also make a great stocking stuffer…just saying.  😉

The card also features the stamp set Snowflake Sentiments.  This stamp set has AMAZING greetings.  I really hope this one sticks around for a long time.  (And if it retires I’m still going to use it!)  I did use the pine branch from the now retired set Merry Patterns, which you could have earned for free in October 2017.  You can easily use another stamp as an accent on the envelope such as a single or triple small snowflakes or one of the larger ones from the Snowflake Sentiments.  You can see all the included stamps in the links at the bottom of the blog post.

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You can check out my YouTube tutorial about how I put this card together.  And if you’d like to purchase any of these amazing materials to make your own fun Christmas cards you can buy them directly by clicking on the picture links below.

We are celebrating my family Christmas on the Saturday after Thanksgiving so I really have to get a scoot on!  We usually get together in a big gym and enjoy snacks.  The boys run around and play ball games and the girls and I get together and do paper crafts.  Then we have a big dinner (including fondue) and finish up with stockings.  We recently started a new tradition of having a paper tearing competition.  It sounds so weird but it’s totally fun!  We have dozens of strips of newspaper about 6″ wide by the height of normal newspaper.  We have double elimination rounds and go two by two against each other tearing from top to bottom without going off the edge.

What are some of your fun family traditions?  Share with us in the comments.

Product List

Snowflake Sentiments Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Merry Patterns Photopolymer Stamp Set

Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad

Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Always Artichoke 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Pear Pizzazz 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Medium Whisper White Envelopes

Pretty Pines Thinlits Dies

Everyday Label

Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Big Shot

Fast Fuse Adhesive

Stampin' Dimensionals

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Stampin’ Blends Coral Yellow Rose

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I love roses and especially coral and yellow rose blends so when I saw these new artist quality alcohol blending markers from Stampin’ Up! I knew what I was going to do.  These blend so nicely and are very easy to work with.  You don’t have to be an artist to end up with gorgeous results.  You can layer each color on top of others or themselves, creating layers of color.  (They do bleed, so make sure to use scrap paper underneath.)

I only started with a few colors, namely the three I used here which are the light and dark version of Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral and Old Olive.  I also picked up the Ivory, Bronze and Color Lifter, which acts like an eraser to add highlights to projects or as a nice way to erase an oops outside the lines.  I love that the price point is the same for a single marker and the entire collection.  I don’t feel bad at all collecting these as I am able.  Essentially they are allowing us the single markers at the bundle price, which was really cool of Stampin’ Up!

For the card above I colored in the yellows first and then gradually going from light to dark coral.  In the YouTube video I did it backwards to see if there was any difference.  I think I blended in the video even more than the card above and it resulted in a more blended version of the picture.  I really like both and they were both simple so it’s really a win win.

They can also be used to color in Perfect White Accents, Pearls, Rhinestones and ribbon!  What a perfect way for us to continue our matching tradition and make even more options of embellishments for us to use on our projects.  Thank you Stampin’ Up!

I hope you consider picking up a few for yourself or for your friends for Christmas or really splurge and get the whole set for yourself.   Please visit my online store here after November 1, 2017 for these to be available for purchase.  You won’t regret it.  There is also a kit and special limited time stamp set available for use with the markers as well, which will also be posted November 1st.

For anyone wary about these compared to their older Blendabilities markers which were recalled, you know Stampin’ Up! stands behind their products and have extensively researched and perfected these markers to be high quality and perform well under scrutiny.  Being a new demonstrator I did not have the pleasure of using the old ones but I understand there was an issue with *some caps having small holes so the markers would dry out too quickly.  I know they offered complete refund for all those old markers for a few months and gave everyone an option to keep them or sell them back for credit.  Stampin’ Up! truly cares about their customers, the quality of their product and providing excellent customer care service.  I know they have worked extra hard to provide an exceptional product here and I have not been disappointed at all.

Cheers to a relaxing time coloring and stamping!

*Note – the link to the Stampin’ Blends markers below will not work until they are available for purchase on November 1, 2017.

Product List

Rose Wonder Photopolymer Stamp Set

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

Daffodil Delight Light Stampin' Blends Marker

Daffodil Delight Dark Stampin' Blends Marker

Calypso Coral Light Stampin' Blends Marker

Calypso Coral Dark Stampin' Blends Marker

Old Olive Light Stampin' Blends Marker

Old Olive Dark Stampin' Blends Marker

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Thankful Petals

Time to be thankful!  I am thankful for my family, my friends and for a wonderful hobby I can share with all of you.  This one uses the Blossom Builder Punch and the Bunch of Blossoms stamp set.  There are great sentiments on this stamp set along with the Just Add Text stamp set I used on the inside.  For a YouTube tutorial click here.  To experience making this card with me please join me for this week’s Cocktail and a Card class!

The petals and leaves are bending up from the card for a fun 3D effect without extra bulk.  There are no dimensionals used.  The colors I used were just Rose Red and Old Olive.  I made my own DSP (designer series paper) because I didn’t have enough plain Rose Red cardstock and I didn’t have any DSP that used Rose Red.  I guess I could have used something with Old Olive but I really wanted the Rose Red to pop on this one.  I also did a Marina Mist version for the YouTube tutorial, although many colors will look fabulous with this design.

 

The dimensions for this card:

Whisper White cardstock – 8.5″ x 5.5″, folded in half to 4.25″ x 5.5″

Whisper White cardstock – 4″ x 5.25″

Whisper White cardstock – 3.25″ x 4.5″

If you want to purchase anything I’ve used on this card simply click any item below and it will take you straight to my Stampin’ Up! page for that item.  I hope you have a wonderful day and I sure am thankful for YOU!!

Product List

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$9.00
Bunch Of Blossoms Photopolymer Stamp Set

$21.00
Blossom Builder Punch

$18.00
Just Add Text Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$18.00
Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50
Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50
Basics Pack 2 Washi Tape

$8.00
SNAIL Permanent Adhesive

$7.00
Liquid Multipurpose Glue

$4.00

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Gold Embossed Leaves – Sept. 2017 Paper Pumpkin Alternative

Leaf-blog

It’s time to be thankful!  I love the gorgeous colors on the trees this time of year.  And while it is almost 90 for one more day, tomorrow promises to be much cooler.  I am getting a little excited to wear my hoodies again.

This card is made using the September Paper Pumpkin kit stamps.  The leaf stamps are so pretty!  And I realized the shape of the beautiful gold foil stickers matches the leaf from the Colorful Seasons stamp set from the catalog.  I have been eyeing that one for a while, because it covers all four seasons quite wonderfully.  And I am thrilled to have received these leaf stamps in this kit, along with the nice fall ink color Cajun Craze.

For these cards I took a Crumb Cake base card and stamped the smaller leaf all over the front in Crumb Cake ink for a tone on tone look.  The card on the left is using cutout shapes from the kit and the one on the right was created just by using the stamps and cardstock from the catalog.  For the small leaf I just embossed gold on Early Espresso cardstock and fussy cut it out.  The tag was copied from the kit using Whisper White cardstock at 3/4″ x 1 5/8″, cut at the corners and hold punched.  Then I laid the bottom onto my Versamark ink pad and embossed that part with gold embossing powder, then repeated that for a nice thick solid band.

To create the rainbow leaf I used Shimmery White cardstock (excellent for watercoloring).   I embossed the large leaf stamp in gold embossing powder and heat set it.  Then I stamped 4 colors along my F acrylic block, like a paint palette.  I used Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Cajun Craze and Real Red.  Using the aquapainter I wet the image and then added color to it.  Since the paper was wet, each color blended nicely with the next.  I did wipe off the brush tip between colors so the colors on the palette didn’t blend.  I painted well outside the outline so that when I fussy cut the large leaf there would be no white border.

For the inside of the card I used an image from the Bunch of Blossoms stamp set that says, “Thank you very much.”  It showed up well in Cajun Craze on the Crumb Cake cardstock, without having to add a white insert like you would with darker card bases.

Here is a YouTube tutorial on making this card.

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Product List

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Daisy Thanks Card

Flower-Thanks-Web

Crafting is so therapeutic!  This card makes me so happy and it was quick and easy to put together.  I’m sure it will brighten someone’s day.

We’ll be making this card during this week’s Cocktail and a Card class.  If you are in the Williamston, MI area, try to make it out once just to give it a shot.  I think you’ll really enjoy it.  Plus it’s only $5, so there’s no risk!

The center daisy was stamped on scrap paper and fussy cut out.  The other flowers are stamped directly onto the second largest stitched shapes framelits circle.  The fussy cut flower is popped up on dimensionals.  The circle is on dimensionals as well, over top of leaves cut out in vellum and pear pizzazz using the Lovely Laurel Thinlits.

You can follow along on my YouTube tutorial here.

Please visit my online store here to check out other products or to place an order for your favorite items.  Just click on the Shop Now button.  Have a great day!

Product List

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Removable Mason Jar Shaker Tag

Shaker-Main

I love the versatility of this project.  You have an encouraging card, but then also a removable gift tag or keepsake.  You could even use it as an ornament!  And glitter is so much fun, even though it does get everywhere.  (It cleaned up easily, no problem!  Haha!)

I made a tutorial video on YouTube so you can follow along how to make this yourself.

Jar-liftedInside

Here are the dimensions I used:

Whisper White Cardstock:

card base 5.5″ x 8.5″, scored and folded in half

backing panel at 3.25″ x 4.5″

quarter sheet cut at 3/8″ and 2.25″ from the other side

Daffodil Delight cardstock – 4″ x 5.25″

Merry Little Christmas DSP – 3″ x 4.25″

window sheet and vellum scraps

8″-9″ of Basic Black and white striped baker’s twine

PS.  Did you know I put funny true stories at the bottom of the notes from each regular tutorial video on YouTube?  Scroll down to view and make a comment because I super duper love comments.

The loose glitter I used was from Walmart:

Horizon Group Metallic Gold Glitter Shakers here

Horizon Group Iridescent Glitter here

Sulyn Extra Fine Glitter in Crystal Diamond here

If you want to purchase any of these super totally awesome products from me just click on the picture below and it will take you straight to my online store.  Easy peasy!

Product List

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Love Today Planner Kit

I just got my new planner in the mail and I am LOVING it!  It has roses (eek!) and gold foil accents.  I like to color coordinate so I looked up which colors are in the planner.  They have all the main colors listed in the catalog underneath the description, BUT THERE IS NO PINK COLOR LISTED?!  There are definitely pink blocks and accents in the stickers and monthly title pages. Which pink color will go with the planner?!  I was on a mission to figure it out.

Real Red is listed as one of the colors.  If you look at the designs you might think, “Whaaa?  I don’t see red anywhere…”  I think I have the answer.  It appears that the center of the roses is actually Real Red and then slowly fade out as they were water colored.  Since Calypso Coral is also a color listed they may have also used shades of that in there as well, it’s hard to tell.

If you look on the monthly title pages (before the month at a glance) there are two distinct “pink” boxes of different shades.  I cut paper strips to see which of our colors match the best.  Flirty Flamingo is way off but I thought I would include it just to put any minds at ease.  The lower box on the monthly title page is definitely Blushing Bride.  The swatch nearly disappears on top.  The upper box is a mystery.  I think it is a lighter shade of Blushing Bride but not quite Powder Pink.  I think you could use either one but as the official matching pink for the planner I would go with Blushing Bride.

I was constantly looking up which colors were the matching ones so I decided to make a cute little bookmark that listed the colors.  I put it in the smaller Pool Party pocket up front in the planner.  Maybe I’ll add some Gold Mini Sequin Trim to the top…that would be cute!

I used the Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker to do some lettering on the monthly title page.  I just looked up some letters on Pinterest and used thin strokes up and thick strokes down.  If you’ve never tried lettering, give it a try!  It was fun!  There are lots of practice pages you can print out if you feel you need more practice.  I just tried it on some printer paper before writing in the planner.  I think it turned out pretty good for never really having done it before!

I also the Journaling Pens for the weekly pages.  I like the .05 better than the .01 so that is what is shown here.  If you like a finer point, go for the .01 pen.  I also used some of the Basics Washi Tape Pack 2 (the green pack) because it has a roll of Lemon Lime Twist.  I also liked that the set came with Daffodil Delight and Old Olive to go with my Daisy Delight paper!

I used some old Paper Pumpkin tiny stamps to show how much water I drank during the day.  You could really use any tiny stamp.  Those Paper Pumpkin stamps are useful; don’t forget about them!  Show them some love.

Are you planning on getting the planner?  Let me know in the comments below!

 

Product List

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

May 2017 Paper Pumpkin Alternate Thankful card

I get so excited when I get the email that my Paper Pumpkin box is in the mail on its way to me.  I get even more excited when I see that orange box in my mailbox.  For those of you that don’t know, Paper Pumpkin is a monthly subscription crafting kit.  You can purchase single months, prepay for 3, 6 or 12 months or even just pay by the month.  You can even gift a subscription (or a single box) to someone!  They make great gifts.  They are all inclusive, which means there are instructions, all the pre-cut and pre-scored cardstock, ink spot(s), stamps, all the embellishments and adhesives and your first kit comes with a free acrylic block!  They are super portable so you could bring one on vacation or gift one to someone at the hospital.  Bring one along while you wait for your child at dance class or bring one to a family gathering for the kids to try out.  The possibilities are endless!

As I said, each box comes with instructions…but you don’t have to follow the instructions!!  Get creative and think outside the orange box!  Here I have made an alternate project using a few additional products found at the bottom of this post.

Paper Pumpkin kits are always a surprise and you usually are not able to order them after they ship to the subscribers.  So in order to not miss out on anything, subscribe right away.  Link to a 3-month prepaid is below OR you could save 25% if you are a new subscriber to the monthly subscription (pay by the month).  This promo only lasts for a few more short days!!  Sign up by June 10, 2017 to save on your first 3 months by using the promo code STARTHERE.  To sign up for a monthly subscription just go to paperpumpkin.com and click on subscribe up at the top left.  Just make sure to choose your demonstrator on the next page.  I would love to be your demonstrator, if you’ll have me, or if you already have a demonstrator please be loyal to them.  (Note – The list of products below shows the kit used here, but you are not going to be able to order it if you didn’t already by the 10th of the month before.  Sign up by June 10th to get June’s mystery kit!  What will it be?!)

Here is the link to the YouTube tutorial:  Typed instructions are below.

 

Cut a piece of 8.5″ x 11″ Powder Pink cardstock in half and fold to create a landscape card. Cut a 2″ x just under 4″ strip of the included striped brown bag, including the decorative edge. Cut a 4″ piece of burlap ribbon.

Stamp the included tiny flower stamp in Powder Pink ink diagonally across the card front. Take out the dots from It’s a Sara Thing Paper Pumpkin kit. Stamp them in the included Soft Suede ink, stamp off on scrap paper and then stamp diagonally across card front. Stamp Thankful For You sentiment on included white tag in Soft Suede ink.

Adhere a Delicate White Doily to the left of the card using snail adhesive or the included adhesive dots. Adhere the bag strip on top of that so that just a bit of the doily peeks out the left side. Adhere the Burlap Ribbon using Fast Fuse or Tear and Tape. Place included dimensionals on the back of the tag. Place on top of the ribbon.

Tie a bow with the included gold twine. Adhere to card using a Mini Glue Dot. Place a few of the included pearls, sprinkled along the diagonal movement of the background. All done!

Product List

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com