Convention Swaps, Perfect for Christmas Gift Giving

Good morning friends and happy Friday!  We've had a busy week of getting settled back into the regular routine and adjusting back to our normal time zone, thankfully I think we're finally there.  So I have lots to share including and I've been busy editing pictures so I thought I would continue sharing some of the swap projects I took to convention, can you believe there are still more?  I was definitely a busy little bee leading up to the big event.  Today I'm sharing my second gift bag and tag, this time Christmas themed.  I decided to go with something more vintage and classic so I used the Bells and Boughs stamp set.  I stamped the Crumb Cake background with the large image with Crumb Cake ink.  Then I used a piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock and ran it through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.  This was layered with a piece of Always Artichoke that I punched with the Scallop Trim Border punch.  After I glued that to the back I spritzed the whole thing with Champagne shimmer mist so it sparkles.  I greeting uses the same stamp set and was punched out with the Large Oval punch and sponged around the edges before adding it to an oval embossed with the Designer Frames folder and I tore around the edges and sponged with Early Espresso ink.

For the tag I used the Two Tags die to cut the basic shape and then stamped it with the same Bells and Boughs stamp set and used the Tags til Christmas stamp set for the To and From.  I used a mixture of Stampin' Write markers and ink pads and blender pens to color in the bell and sponged around the edge with Crumb Cake ink.  The final touch was to tie the tag to the bag with Early Espresso Baker's Twine and a Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon bow. 

These bags turned out so pretty and since I use tons of gift bags for all sorts of occasions I'm thinking about starting to decorate my own (if I can plan ahead of time).  Would you like to do this, let me know as I'm working on planning a gift bag and tag class so we'll be all set for any further gift needs.

Enjoy your weekend!

Diana

Bells and Boughs - Sketch Challenge

Good evening!  I hope you all had an enjoyable holiday weekend.  We had a fantastic time visiting friends and Aidan had a great time playing with his "cousins" and was sad when it was time to go.  We were also able to be out for Black Friday shopping and had a great time nabbing some great deals in the middle of the night.  I was very excited when I saw this weeks Stamping 411 challenge, not only is it pretty simple, but I'm known for keeping my designs pretty straight and inline and this card was fun to be a little "off kilter." 

This card uses the Holly Berry Bouquet Speciality DSP as the focal point and to draw all the colors used.  I also used the new Houndstooth embossing folder with the Big Shot on the Early Espresso layer for texture.  The greeting is from the Bells and Boughs stamp set.  I also used the Pines and Poinsettias stamp set and Wild Wasabi ink to stamp the background on the tag before punching it out with the Decorative Label punch.  I used the Modern Label punch and the same DSP to punch out the backup tag and cut in half so I could extend them to show behind the greeting.  The final touch is a small bow with the Real Red 1/8" taffeta ribbon.

This card is so pretty and simple that it would be great to make multiples and show off some of our fabulous designer series paper.  I hope you enjoy and have a great week.

Happy stamping,

Diana

Christmas Bells are Ringing

What a crazy raining day! After such a hectic few days the start of the new week has actually brought a level of calm. I was able to squeeze in time on Sunday before Stamp-a-stack to make a card for this week’s Stamping 411 challenge. Even though thanksgiving is about a week away I seem to be focused on Christmas lately so this week’s creation is another Christmas card. I used some great items from the Holiday mini catalog for this card, including the Bells and Boughs stamp set, the fabulous Deck the Halls DSP and coordinating fabric. I started with a piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock for the cardbase and used the scallop trim border punch on a piece of Always Artichoke cardstock before layering it with a piece of designer paper. Then I had a piece of Deck the Halls fabric laying on my desk that was already cut out with the Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die so I decided to use that as well.


The focal image is stamped with Early Espresso ink on Very Vanilla cardstock before being colored in with a blender pen and classic inks and pastel chalks. This piece was then matted Early Espresso and Always Artichoke cardstock before being added to the card. The greeting is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (have I mentioned how much I love this greeting set?) and was punched out with the Curly Label punch and tucked under the fabric. The last item is a small bow tied with Very Vanilla 3/8” Taffeta Ribbon that is glued on with glue dots.

So I use to say that the “vintage style” was definitely not me but with all the great coordinating products Stampin’ Up! Offers it makes it very easy to pull together a beautiful card. Thanks for checking it out and I hope you enjoy.

Have a great week!

Diana

Stamp-a-Stack Projects

Happy Monday.  Today I wanted to share some of the projects for this Sunday's Stamp-a-stack.  This month we're focusing on holiday cards so the 4 main card designs are holiday themed and the card option is an everyday card.  Here a a few of the cards we'll be making.  The remaining two designs will be saved for the class attendees on Sunday.

This card uses the new fabric and big buttons, you've got to see it in person!

There's still time to RSVP, just call or email me by Friday.  Hope to see you there!

Have a great week!

Diana

Bells and Boughs

Things have been so busy with our family that my stamping time has been drastically reduced, which I missed.  Thankfully I had enough time between our final TBall game and appointments to sit down for this weeks Stamping 411 challenge.  The arrival of the cold weather is really making look forward to the upcoming holidays and all the fun family moments we get to share.  That was the inspiration for this weeks card.  I started with a cardbase of always artichoke then that added a piece of crumb cake cardstock.  Then I added 4 strips of Deck the Halls DSP. 

I used the Big Shot to cut 2 Top Notes out (one in Very Vanilla, the other in Cherry Cobbler).  I trimmed the edge off the Very Vanilla piece and then sponged always artichoke around the edge.  I used the large poinsetta image from the Bells and Boughs stamp set and stamped it in always artichoke.  A stamped the image a second time on a piece of scrap paper and cut it out so I could mask the image by stamping in crumb cake with the En Francis background stamp.  The image was colored in with a blender pen and always artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, and Regal Rose classic ink pads. 

To add some bling to the center of the poinsettas I added some champagne shimmer paint (to apply it in little dots I used my paper snips and dipped them in the paint and then dotted the paper).  I used a piece of Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon and cherry cobbler seam binding ribbon (tied with a Basics Glimmer Brad). 

For the greeting I went to my go-to stamp set (it has practically any greeting you need), Tiny Tiny Wishes and stamped with always artichoke ink on crumb cake cardstock and punched it out with the Modern Label punch.   The greeting is mounted with dimensionals so it pops.  The final touch was small pearls in the top right corner and medium pearls on the greeting. 

I love how this card turned out, very elegant.  No check out the inspiration for this card.

I hope you all had an enjoyable weekend and halloween. It's always great to see all the neighbor kids all dressed up and so excited.  I thought I would share a quick picture of my little Indiana Jones (so cute!) and daddy.

Have a great week!

Christmas Greetings - Sketch Challenge

 What a great weekend! I was able to attend Stampin’ Up! Regionals in Baltimore, MD yesterday, and all I can say is “Awesome.” We had such a great time and learned so many new things that all I want to do is try everything immediately. I also had the opportunity to site with some great ladies from PA along with my travel buddy, Patti. So this morning I hit the stamps early and my first project with for this week’s Stamping 411 challenge. I really liked this week’s sketch since I don’t usually use multiple panels like this so it was something new.

This card uses the Bells and Boughs stamp set and the fabulous Deck the Halls DSP from the Holiday mini catalog. I used two different patterns and matted them on Always Artichoke cardstock before placing them on the Crumb Cake card base. I took a piece of Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding ribbon and wrapped it around all three panels. Then I tied a bow with the ribbon and the new Basics Glitter Brads (I saw this great ribbon technique on Gretchen Barron’s blog (check hers out here). The great is stamped with Early Espresso in and punched out with the new Decorative label punch. I used sponge daubers to apply Cherry Cobbler ink around the edge of the label before using Dimensionals to adhere the label to the card. The final touch is three small pearls in the top right corner.

I wasn’t sure how this card was going to turn out when I started but I really like how elegant it turned out.

Have a great week!

Diana