Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!

#stampinup   This is going to be the last blog post for 2015. I'm going to take a couple of weeks off from blogging over the holidays to spend time with my family.

I want to thank everyone who has followed my blog and who has commented on the blog or on Facebook or on Twitter or on Instagram or on Splitcoaststampers. Your comments brighten my day and make me feel like I do have a smidgen of creativity. I hope my blog and my creations inspire YOU to be creative, too.

I'll be back on Sunday January 3, 2016 with a blog stop on the Creation Station blog hop. We'll be featuring our favorite sets from the upcoming Occasions catalog (January 4 - May 31, 2016). We have some amazing artists on our Creation Station blog hop--including a couple of Stampin' Up Artisans. So make plans to stop on by!

Speaking of amazing artists, my daughter's French class had an assignment to create a winter card to give to a classmate. I wanted to share her creation with you. She's a Stampin' Up Artisan in the making!

My darling daughter started with a Night of Navy card base and added a Soft Sky mat. Then she embossed a Whisper White panel with the Softly Falling Embossing folder. She stamped two trees from the "Festival of Trees" stamp set in Night of Navy onto Whisper White and punched them out with the Tree Punch. She added stars punched from Silver Foil with the star punch from the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack. She tied several lengths of Silver 1/8" Ribbon around the card and added Basic Pearls to the Tree.

She punched a Soft Sky label with the Decorative Label Punch and another Night of Navy label to back the first--she cut the Night of Navy in half. The sentiment, "Mereilles d'Hiver" means "Winter Wonderland" and I think she did a wonderful job, don't you?

Merry Christmas to you and your family! I hope you have a healthy and happy new year! See you in 2016!

tams# 5109

Product List

Pearl Basic Jewels Embellishments [119247] $5.00	Silver 1/8" Ribbon [132137] $5.00	Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack [133787] $17.00	Decorative Label Punch [120907] $18.00
Night Of Navy Stampin' Write Marker [100069] $3.50	Tree Punch [135859] $18.00	Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [139672] $8.50	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [126970] $6.50
Silver Foil Sheets [132178] $4.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $8.50	Soft Sky 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131203] $7.00	Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100867] $7.00
Festival Of Trees Photopolymer Stamp Set [135059] $16.00

Missing You--Sneak Peek

#stampinup   Today I'm sharing the last of the Product Playground projects we made at this fall's Stampin' Up OnStage Local event. This card is made with the awesome "Botanical Gardens" suite of projects. 

First, we had a piece of the ever-so-pretty Botanical Gardens Designer Series Paper. It's beautiful on its own, but the coordinating stamp "Botanical Blooms" stamps set is meant to be stamped right on the DSP! Take a close look at the palm fronds--the veins are stamped onto the DSP. The centers of the flowers are also stamped with the stamp set--as are the veins in the large leaf at the bottom. So cool!!

Not only that, but this suite/stamp set comes with a coordinating set of Botanical Builder Framelit Dies. The flower on the left side is made using these dies and another sheet of the Botanical Gardens DSP. Notice how the Cajun Craze flower has dimension to it--that comes from the die. Love it!!

When I got home from the Stampin' Up event, I trimmed down the project pieces so they would fit onto a Mossy Meadow mat and then onto a Hello Honey card base. I also added a sentiment in Cajun Craze from the new "Happy Home" set.

I've gotta tell you that I didn't jump for joy over this set, but now that it's put together--I'm loving it!

It's not too early to schedule your Sale-a-Bration event with me. SAB starts on January 4th and runs through March 31st. Some of the SAB items are only available for the first half of the SAB period--and they'll be introducing new SAB items for the second half. So, you could schedule TWO SAB events with me!!! Just click on the "contact me" link under the banner and send me an email or give me a call. Lines are open!!

Party Wishes--Sneak Peek

#stampinup   Here's another project that we made at this fall's OnStage Local event. We got to play with the new "It's My Party" suite from the upcoming (Jan 4 - May 31, 2015) Occasions catalog! 

We used the awesome new "Party Wishes" stamp set, the coordinating It's My Party Designer Series Paper Stack, and the super cute Party Punch Pack punches!!

We stamped the "happy birthday" sentiment in Mint Macaron onto a Whisper White piece. Then, on a Whisper White scrap, we stamped the candle in Mint Macaron, the Balloon in Melon Mambo, and the cupcakes in Crushed Curry. We punched these elements out with the matching Party Punch Pack punches! We mounted the balloon and cupcakes with Stampin' Dimensionals. The candle is mounted directly onto the paper.

The we adhered the panel to a gorgeous piece of the It's My Party DSP. This paper stack comes with 48 sheets of this beautiful paper--perfect for making stacks of birthday cards!!

When I got home from the event, I mounted the project to a Melon Mambo mat and tied a length of Basic Black Stitched Satin Ribbon around. Everything was mounted to a Mint Macaron card base. Awesome!!

It's not too early to schedule your Sale-a-Bration event with me. SAB starts on January 4th and runs through March 31st. Some of the SAB items are only available for the first half of the SAB period--and they'll be introducing new SAB items for the second half. So, you could schedule TWO SAB events with me!!! Just click on the "contact me" link under the banner and send me an email or give me a call. Lines are open!!

Lost Without You--Occasions Sneak Peek

#stampinup   I gotta tell ya, when I first saw the Going Places suite at the OnStage Local event, I was thrilled! I love everything about this suite--from the "Going Global" stamp set to the coordinating World Traveler Embossing Folder to the colors and designs in the Going Places Designer Series Paper Stack. I just love, love, LOVE it all!!

The main image(s) for this card were part of our Product Playground kits at the OnStage Local event in November. We inked up the inside of the World Traveler Embossing Folder with Sahara Sand ink, inserted a Sahara Sand panel and rubbed the folder to give a light, inked impression on the card stock. We also stamped some of the sentiments randomly in Sahara Sand ink onto the panel. And then we inked up the big dipper stamp (cue Brick from "The Middle"--big dipper stamp) in Basic Black Archival Ink and added that to the panel.

Next, we added a few strips of the Going Places DSP Stack, and punched a Lost Lagoon piece of the DSP with the 2" Circle Punch. We stamped the sentiment in Basic Black Archival Ink onto a Whisper White strip and flagged the ends with Paper Snips Scissors. I attached the "globe" element to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals. I also left the ends of the Delightful Dijon DSP strip "loose" and "flicked" them so there would be some dimension.

When I got home from the event, I added the panel to a Basic Black mat and then onto a Lost Lagoon card base. Yum! I love this so much!!

This is going to be an awesome set and color combination for masculine birthday cards, retirement cards, get well cards. I can't wait to play some more with it!!

It's not too early to schedule your Sale-a-Bration event with me. SAB starts on January 4th and runs through March 31st. Some of the SAB items are only available for the first half of the SAB period--and they'll be introducing new SAB items for the second half. So, you could schedule TWO SAB events with me!!! Just click on the "contact me" link under the banner and send me an email or give me a call. Lines are open!!

Sneak Peek Occasions and Sale-A-Bration!!

#stampinup   Merry Christmas to me! I've just received a couple of boxes of Stampin' Up items from the upcoming Occasions and Sale-A-Bration brochures. I can't wait to start playing with all my stuff!

     If you want to play a little "I Spy," see if you can find:

     5 SAB items--4 stamp sets and 1 DSP

     5 new Occasions stamp sets

     1 new punch and a new 1 punch pack

     3 DSPs, including a 12" x 12 stack" and a 6" x 6" stack

     New Pool Party Glitter Ribbon (squee!!!)

     New framelits and stamp set bundle

Wanna see a sample? OK. I'm going to cheat a little and use one of the make-and-take items from November's On Stage Local event, but that's OK, right? It's probably new to you!

This card features the totally awesome Bloomin' Heart Thinlits Die. We cut out the heart from a striped Crumb Cake piece of the Love Blossoms Designer Series Paper stack and then stamped the flowers from the coordinating "Bloomin' Love" stamp set in Blushing Bride. I adhered the heart to a Rose Red panel with the Fine-Tip Glue Pen. Then I wrapped with some Blushing Bride 1/4" Cotton Ribbon around the panel before adhering it to a Crumb Cake card base.

I stamped a sentiment from the "Grateful Bunch" stamp set in Rose Red onto a Blushing Bride scrap and punched it out with the Large Oval Punch. I adhered the sentiment to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

I added a little pizzazz to the card with some strategically placed Basic Pearls Embellishments. 

It's not too early to schedule your Sale-a-Bration event with me. SAB starts on January 4th and runs through March 31st. Some of the SAB items are only available for the first half of the SAB period--and they'll be introducing new SAB items for the second half. So, you could schedule TWO SAB events with me!!! Just click on the "contact me" link under the banner and send me an email or give me a call. Lines are open!!

 

The Gift of Love, Peace & Happiness

#stampinup  I subscribe to Julie's (Davison) Stamping Spot because Julie has such creative ideas. I'm always finding ideas to CASE. Julie is an amazing paper-crafter! When I opened today's email, I saw a simple layout that was easy to CASE--and, glory be!--Julie is hosting a challenge! You know I'm a sucker for a challenge!




I started out in a different direction, using different Christmas designer series paper, but before I got too far, I decided I didn't like it. So, I opted, instead, to use the gorgeous Winter Wonderland Specialty Series Paper and the Winter Wonderland Vellum Stack. 

I cut a Basic Black card base and a Whisper White panel. I cut a piece of Winter Wonderland Vellum the same size as the Whisper White panel and adhered it with some strategically placed Glue Dots. Then I added a 3" x 4-1/4" piece of Winter Wonderland Specialty Series Paper and wrapped a length of Gold Glitter Ribbon around. 

I stamped a sentiment from the "Versatile Christmas" set in Basic Black Archival Ink on Whisper White and cut out the banner with the second largest Banner Framelit. 

To finish the design. I wound some Gold Metallic Thread around my fingers and adhered it to the card. I added a Basic Gold Button with a couple of Glue Dots. 

Here's a close up of the button and gold thread.

I think these papers and ribbons are so beautiful! I'm going to be sad when they retire soon!

tams# 5058

Product List

Glue Dots [103683] $5.25	Gold Basic Metal Buttons [133763] $8.00	Gold Metallic Thread [138401] $3.00	Gold & White 3/8" (1 Cm) Glitter Ribbon [139614] $10.00
Banners Framelits Die [132173] $27.00	Winter Wonderland Designer Vellum Stack [139594] $10.00	Winter Wonderland Specialty Designer Series Paper [139588] $13.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $8.50
Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $7.00	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $7.00	Versatile Christmas Clear-Mount Stamp Set [140392] $19.00

An HP Birthday

#stampinup   My darling daughter asked me to make her a Harry Potter card for her friend's birthday. So off to Pinterest I went! I pinned a few punch art cards to give me some ideas. You can follow my board here:

I chose to CASE this card made with the Owl Builder Punch that was created by Sue Lehrer in Minnesota. I see from her blog that she was also inspired by Pinterest!

For my card, I started with a Crushed Curry card base. I added a Basic Black mat and then a Cherry Cobbler panel that I embossed with the Brick Wall embossing folder.

I built my owl by punching three owls from the Owl Builder Punch: one in Whisper White, one in Basic Gray; and one in Basic Black. I assembled the owl using the Fine-Tip Glue Pen. (Don't look too closely, or you'll see some glue oozies.) I made the glasses from the larger circle on the Owl Builder Punch. I stuck two Basic Black Circles to a sticky note and then used the 1/4" Circle Hand-Held Punch to punch out the middle. Aren't I clever?

I punched a circle with the 2-1/2" Circle Punch and adhered my owl to the circle with Stampin' Dimensionals. I stamped a sentiment from the "Tin of Cards" stamp set in Cherry Cobbler onto a Whisper White strip that I'd flagged with the Banner Triple Punch.

My daughter was so excited and deemed the card "So cute!" (Still waiting for that thank you....)

tams# 5040

Product List

Tin Of Cards Photopolymer Stamp Set [138946] $17.00	Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad [126966] $6.50	Crushed Curry 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131199] $7.00	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $7.00
Cherry Cobbler 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119685] $7.00	Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121044] $7.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $8.50	Builder Owl Punch [118074] $18.00
2-1/2" Circle Punch [120906] $18.00	Brick Wall Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [138288] $8.50	Banner Triple Punch [138292] $23.00	Fine-Tip Glue Pen [138309] $7.00
Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00