Christmas in October Part Deux

Today's card is a lesson in adaptation. I had designed a card for the October session of the Christmas card-making class. It was a real cutie. I got out my "Trim the Tree" DSP pack, grabbed the Real Red card stock and was ready to prep 64 cards only to realize that the "Trim the Tree" DSP is Cherry Cobbler not Real Red. Doh! 

I had to think fast and figure out what I could make with the supplies I had on hand. I had pinned this card on Pinterest as something I might want to do for the Christmas card-making class. I figured it would look good in red and gold--which is what I had available. Pinterest to the rescue!

Here's my version of the card. Love the "sparkle" sentiment!!

(Stamp Sets: Mosaic Madness, Good Greetings (Hostess), Gorgeous Grunge; Ink: Real Red; Card Stock: Real Red, Whisper White; DSP: Gold and Red Glimmer Paper; Accessories: Mosaic Punch, Hexagon Punch (to make flag ends), Basic Rhinestones, Red Sharpie)

Stamp Etching (Thanks, Lydia!)

During this past summer's #InspireCreateShare2014 Stampin' Up! convention, I met the fabulously talented (and wickedly funny) Lydia Fiedler. During one of the presentations (Stampin' Up! invites real life demonstrators onto the stage to do demonstrations!) Lydia showed a technique that she called "stamp etching." She's also got a tutorial over on her blog, Understand Blue. You should subscribe to her blog...so entertaining and so many good ideas!!

Well, I thought I'd give it a try. And I thought I knew how to do it. And I thought my card turned out pretty well, but, um, well, I guess I didn't follow the instructions. But I think Lydia would be just fine with that because art is art and has no instructions.

So here's my stamped etched card for this week's Nacho Average color challenge.

 

(Stamp Sets: Blended Bloom, Good Greetings (Hostess); Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Card Stock: Bermuda Bay, Basic Black, Crushed Curry; DSP: Flowerpot; Accessories: Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker)

 

Boo To You!!

Today's card just sort of "came" to me. I saw the wonderful sketch over at this week's Retro Sketches challenge and knew it would be fun to use one of the label punches. I toyed around with some ideas and then inspiration struck me like a bolt of lightening. I love it when that happens!



I've said it before: I don't really "do" Halloween cards, but I was inspired to make some cute little ghosts on a pitch black tag. And I've been using the heck out of this sheet of Tangerine Tango DSP from the "Flowerpot" DSP pack. Good thing there are two of each design in each DSP pack!

(Stamp Set: Good Greetings (Hostess); Ink: Tangelo Twist; Card Stock: Tangelo Twist; Basic Black, Whisper White; DSP: Flowerpot; Accessories: Owl Builder Punch; Angled Top Tag Punch, Tangelo Twist Stitched Satin Ribbon, Snowflake Card Die--banner framelits)

The multiple ribbon wraps on the sketch reminded me of mummy wrapping and the punched label reminds me of a tombstone. I know I'm late to the "using the Owl Builder punch to make ghosts" but they were just what this card needed! And it all came to me in a flash!

Retro Anniversary

Oh boy! Oh boy! The challenge on the Retro Sketches blog this week is a "stamper's choice." We can choose any sketch in the Retro archives. I love having a choice--but it wasn't easy!! There are so many awesome sketches in the archive. I had to go way back to April 2013 to find the sketch I wanted to CASE. I saw several along the way that piqued my interest, but this one said: "You need an anniversary card and you won't have time to make one the day before your anniversary 'cause you'll be away on business." I can't believe I have my anniversary card made almost a month prior to my anniversary!!



I've been wanting to make some flowers using the Petite Petal Punch and Typeset Specialty Series paper and this sketch allows me to do just that. I found an already made Cherry Cobbler card base on the floor near my cutting station. I love Cherry Cobbler with Very Vanilla and Basic Black. I knew two of the sentiments from the "Good Greetings" hostess set would be perfect on this card. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. Hope Hubby will like it. (And I hope I remember I have it when our anniversary rolls around!)

(Stamp Set: Good Greetings (Hostess); Ink: Cherry Cobbler; Card Stock: Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Very Vanilla; DSP: Typeset Specialty Series; Accessories: Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Banner Framelits Collection, Petite Petals Punch, Banner Punch, Basic Rhinestones)