Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve! 

I know many of you are celebrating today and/or tonight, and some will celebrate tomorrow, but no matter when, it's a joyful time! Joy to the World!

Today I am sharing a CAS (clean and simple) card with products available at Stamp Simply. Sharon's company line has always been "Keep it simple - make it pretty." I think this is one of those! A very simple card to make, but looks so elegant with the three colors of black, white, and wheat (which is a faux gold to stamp on!).

I stamped the Winter Poinsettia in VersaFine Clair Nocturne (my favorite) and then cut out the poinsettia with the Floral Cluster Die. I stamped two of the sentiment stamps from Christmas Joy together and popped up the poinsettia on a Hemstitch Circle (also popped up with foam tape).

You can find out more about the products I used on the Stamp Simply Blog today. AND -- take advantage of the sale this week and use your Christmas money!

Stamp Simply Supplies

• Floral Cluster Winter Poinsettia
• Floral Cluster Single Die
• Christmas Joy
• Spellbinders Hemstitch Circles
• VersaFine Clair Nocturne

Other Supplies:

• black, white, wheat cardstock
• foam tape

Last Minute? I Always Am!

A blessed Sunday in Advent to you all! I hope that you have some lovely moments over the next week to reflect on Christmas. The traffic is so busy and congested in parking lots right now. I want to just sit in my comfy chair and look at my tree or the lights over my mantle, and be away from the noise and the crazy shopping that is going on "out there."

A term signifying the holiday season, Noël comes to us from the Latin verb nasty, meaning "to be born." In the book of Ecclesiastes, the birth of Jesus is called natalist. A variation of this word, nail, made its way into Old French as a reference to the Christmas season, and later into Middle English as nowel.

While some may say cards with patterned paper and classic layouts are old fashioned, I still love beautiful paper. Nothing is stamped on this card; the papers are all from the Carta Bella 6x6: A Wonderful Christmas, available at Stamp Simply. I used two different sprig/needle dies and added chunky glitter for the snow. An easy card to make at the last minute (according to the Post Office), and an easy card to mail!

Enjoy your week, and I will have one more creation from Stamp Simply before Christmas. I hope to see you again then! You can find out more about the products on this card on the Stamp Simply Blog today.

Stamp Simply Supplies

• Two Sprigs Dies
• Carta Bella A Wonderful Christmas 6x6
• Sizzix Fall Foliage Dies

Other Supplies:

• green cardstock
• chunky glitter (snow) 
• oval die
• liquid glue
• foam tape

Ten Days to Christmas!

 Ten days to Christmas!

No long post today, just a wish for a blessed Christmas Day and to share one of my favorite verses. I have it in my living room on a tapestry that I keep up all year long - a gift from my husband many years ago! And you can hardly read it without the accompaniment from Handel's Messiah, right?

"And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." -- Isaiah 9:6

We hope that you will join us for The Flower Challenge this month and Use Gold on your creations!

Stamp Simply Supplies:

• Jesus
• Luxury Pearlescent Gold Cardstock
• VersaFine Clair Nocturne  Ink
• Spellbinders Nestabilities Ovals - Standard
• Craft Consortium Festive Flora 6x6

Other Supplies:

• White, Burgundy, Sage, Suede cardstock
• Sizzix Seasonal Sketch
• Kaisercraft Plum Pearls
• foam tape
• liquid glue

Freshly Made Sketches #616

Welcome to our last sketch for 2023! The team at Freshly Made Sketches will be taking a couple of weeks off to celebrate Christmas, so you have lots of time to play in this challenge - maybe even with some new crafty goodies! Amy is our wonderful hostess this week, and I love her square focal point. 

As soon as I saw the sketch, I thought of this fabulous scene from Whimsy Stamps called Blissful Winter. I used Kitsch Flamingo Distress Ink to blend the background, then stamped with VersaClair Nocturne ink. A little silver metallic thread around the fishtail sentiment finished off this card. I used the gorgeous Stardream Metallic Silver cardstock from CutCardStock for the middle panel. 

This challenge will end at 3:00 EST time on Monday, January 1, 2024. Don't miss all of the amazing creations on the FMS blog to inspire you!

I am also playing at:

• Shopping Our Stash - #511 - Whatever The Weather (snow, rain, sun, clouds...) 

Merry & Bright Cactus

 Hello everyone! Judy here today with a special card for my desert family! While lots of snowmen and snowy trees and holly berries abound, I wanted to make a cactus card, as I am from Arizona. While I have not lived there in many years, it still holds my heart!

Today I am using the Prickly Pear Cactus Stamp Set and Dies from Prickly Pear Stamps. I smooshed the background with watercolors, and then "messy" painted my images with Kuretake Paints. The sentiment stamps perfectly, but ended up on a watercolor splatter! I wrapped gold metallic thread around the top of the pot and added Kaisercraft Pearls to the blossom tops (a spring thing, yes, but... it's Christmas magenta!). An embossing folder added the texture to the middle panel. 

I love the desert in all the seasons, but sure miss the warmth in the winter! Thanks for stopping by today!

Season”s Greetings

Hello! I hope you have a wonderful day of Advent!

Today I am sharing a card made with products available at Stamp Simply. The best part - they’re 25% off this week! 

This rustic holiday card started with the Tim Holtz Pinecone stencil. I used Evergreen Boughs and Brushed Cordoroy DOX inks for the stencil, and then lightly sponged over all with Frayed Burlap. 

The deer were die cut using Darling Deer by Tim Holtz (Sizzix).  The sentiment is stamped with Versa(one Clair Nocturne and is from Winter Poinsettia Floral Cluster by Stamp Simply Clear Stamps. I added three rhinestones from Kaisercraft for bling. 

Don’t miss the sale! 25% off is a fabulous deal to make cards you can use year ‘round! 

Freshly Made Sketches #615

 It's Wednesday and time for a brand new sketch from Freshly Made Sketches! Karren has a fabulous sketch with an offset circle (or any shape) focal point this week!

I pulled out my Unity Stamp Co. Penguin Pals for today's card. They are perfect for my husband, daughter and me to send to our son and his family in their holiday package!

Echo Park Winter Fun 6x6 and a Stamping' Up! Embossing folder complete the quick and easy design. I hope you will join our sketch challenge this week, and add your creations to our gallery. This week's challenge will end at 3:00 EST time on Monday, December 11th. Don't miss all of the amazing creations by our Guest Designer and FMS team on the FMS blog to inspire you!

My Favorite Poinsettia Color! What's Yours?

It's December! Can you believe it?! We have a new challenge at The Flower Challenge and it's perfect for the holiday season - Use Gold!

It's no surprise that I love pink, and that my favorite poinsettia color is also pink. I like the delicate color of the leaves. So I knew the Christmas Poinsettia Star (PFS) had to be pink - with gold!

I chose some beautiful metallic papers from CutCardStock for my background mats. I stamped the poinsettia on Bristol in Versamark ink, and then embossed with Ranger Gold embossing powder. I watercolored using my Kuretake paints, and fussy cut. 

I stamped my sentiment (from String of Lights - PFS ) in Versamark and embossed that on the music paper. I tied some gold metallic thread (Kreinik) around the top for extra shimmer. I love how it turned out!

I hope you will join us at The Flower Challenge this month!

Luke 2:10-11

 10 And the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy, for all the people.

11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: He is Christ the Lord.

On this first Sunday in Advent, I hope that you receive great joy in knowing the Good News!

You can find out more about the products I used on the Stamp Simply Blog today. AND all Christmas sets are 25% off through 12/5 with code XMAS25!

Stamp Simply Supplies

• Craft Consortium Ink Drops Organic 6x6
• Angels Among Us
• Spellbinders Circles LG
• Metallic Gold Cardstock
• VersaFine Clair Nocturne

Other Supplies:

• green cardstock
• metallic gold thread 
• liquid glue
• foam tape

Freshly Made Sketches #614

It's Wednesday and time for a brand new sketch from Freshly Made Sketches! Jen M has a fabulous, fun, and challenging sketch for us this week! I love circles, but had TOO many ideas for what I wanted, and then ended up doing something that I hadn't planned or thought about before at all. Isn't that always what happens?

Today's card is a combination of products from several different companies. I started with the coffee circles from FSJ (my set from two weeks ago was still on my desk....) using three different colors of DOX inks: Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, and Ground Espresso (which I forgot I had, and just ordered this week....). I used a Reverse Confetti cover plate (my favorite) for the embossed lines on top of the circles. The sentiment is from MFT, and the coffee girl from Picket Fence Studios. I kept it pretty CAS this week.

I hope you will join our sketch challenge this week, and add your creations to our gallery. This week's challenge will end at 3:00 EST time on Monday, December 4 (whaaat? It's December already?!?). Don't miss all of the amazing creations on the FMS blog to inspire you!

To You and Yours

Last week I got to spend some time with my son and his family (the weekend before Thanksgiving) and it was such a wonderful time! The weather was beautiful and it seemed like fall. Today, back at home, we got a couple of inches of snow, and it feels like the Christmas season now! I spent a lot of the day decorating the house and just enjoying finding new places for familiar things. 

Today I am sharing a traditional card that reflects the traditional style of my Christmas decor. I LOVE non-traditional Christmas colors, but I tend to stick with reds and greens for the house!

I embossed the poinsettia with Clear EP and then watercolored. The outline in gray is with a Copic marker (C3). Against the green paper it looks blue! I added some fun Doodlebug Fine Glitter to the petals. It's so sparkly!

You can see more about this project and the supplies I used on the Stamp Simply Blog! And here are my cuties decorating THEIR house today too!

Stamp Simply Supplies

• Floral Cluster Winter Poinsettia
• Floral Cluster & Sprigs Die
• Carta Bella - A Wonderful Christmas 6x6
• Kaisercraft Rhinestones - Split Pea
• VersaFine Clair Nocturne

Other Supplies:

• red, green, white cardstock
• watercolors, Copics
• Clear EP
• fine glitter
• liquid glue
• foam tape

I am joining the Tic Tac Toe Challenge with this card, using Coloring, Free, Gems.

Freshly Made Sketches #613

It's Wednesday and time for a brand new sketch from Freshly Made Sketches! Kim is our hostess this week! I am so thankful I got to meet her in person this year!

Today's card is a combination of products from several different companies - which is always fun! I love being able to combine elements. I started with the colors in mind (see below) - I wanted to use Kitsch Flamingo for my Ho Ho Ho Stencil from Papertrey Ink, and have a pretty light aqua for the card base. I cut my trees from the Memory Box Pine Tree Grove dies. I love the sentiments in the TE All Together Christmas and used the "merry & bright" for today's card. That sparkly silver goodness is from CCS. I had a leftover piece of vellum with printed snowflakes from another project. The snowflakes are gold, but I turned it over for a more subtle look!

I hope you will join our sketch challenge this week, and add your creations to our gallery. This week's challenge will end at 3:00 EST time on Monday, November 27. Don't miss all of the amazing creations on the FMS blog to inspire you!

I am also playing with the Jingle Belles this week! I was inspired by the pink, trees and sparkle!

 

With Gratitude

I have been so blessed this week to be able to travel and visit my son and his family. They live 22 hours away from me and I don’t get to see them often enough. We have had a marvelous few days together. Today is my last day with them and I know it’s going to fly!

I started with a Wrinkled Distress Background and stamped the leaf and sentiment in black ink. I blended two colors for the popped up leaf and cut it out with the coordinating die. I finished the card with my favorite gold metallic thread. 

You can read more about the products I used on the Stamp Simply Blog today!

Give Thanks Stamps and Dies Bundle

Falling Leaves Border Strip (sentiment)

Distress Oxides: Peeled Paint, Twisted Citron, Scattered Straw for Wrinkled Distress Background

Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door for popped up leaf 

Gold metallic thread

Distress Watercolor Cardstock

Olive & Cinnamon cardstock

Warm Wishes

Scroll down to see my sketch card for Freshly Made Sketches! 

Good morning! We are halfway in our November challenge at The Flower Challenge and I am here today with  inspiration and an invitation to join us! I was inspired by teammate Nancy’s card two weeks ago, and decided to make a Christmas card with a poinsettia!

 

I started with a vellum layer on the bottom of the floral, and then built it up with two more layers of yellow cardstock. I did some slight shading with Copics and added the die cut black berries. Some white seam binding (Really Reasonable Ribbon) and black gems (Picket Fence Studios) finishe the card. I wish the photo showed the glossy black and white stripes on the patterned paper (Kaisercraft)! 

Our challenge is open until November 25, and I hope you will join us! Find all the details and more amazing inspiration from the DT HERE.

Freshly Made Sketches #612

It's Wednesday and time for a brand new sketch from Freshly Made Sketches! 

This week's hostess is the very sweet and talented Linda! I adore her designs. Be sure to check out her blog!

I’ve been making quite a few holiday and winter cards lately, and today I decided to take a break from that and make a coffee card with a sunny, warm feel! 

I started with a stencil from Picket Fence Studios and Squeezed Lemonade Distress Oxide Ink. I then stamped the sentiment (FSJ) in VersaFine Clair Nocturne. The cups were embossed with Clear Embossing Powder and colored (a little!) with Copics. I added a tiny bit of mini ric rac for fun! 

I hope you will join our sketch challenge this week, and add your creations to our gallery. This week's challenge will end at 3:00 EST time on Monday, November 20. Don't miss all of the amazing creations on the FMS blog to inspire you!

With Love at Christmas

This week at Stamp Simply, the team is sharing Christmas designs. We have a lot of family in the Southwest part of the country, and today I opted for a lighter feel, using watercolor washes for my background. They have such lovely temperatures in December - which feel like Spring to those of us farther north.  I had wanted the look to be brighter red, green, and gold.

I used my Kuretake paints and then stamped the music images on each watercolor section  I decided on a “sideways” sentiment for interest  a few enamel dots were added for fun. 

You can read more about the products I used on the Stamp Simply Blog today!

Stamp Simply Supplies

• Worship and Praise
• Floral Cluster Winter Poinsettia (sentiment)
• Distress Watercolor Cardstock
• VersaFine Clair Nocturne

Other Supplies:

• black, light green cardstock
• watercolors
• liquid glue
• foam tape
• enamel dots

Let it Snow!

Hello everyone! I am here today with a no fuss, CAS (clean and simple), mailable holiday card! I have a couple of friends who I think would love this style. I love black and kraft together (well, kraft and anything, really!) and I think this turned out super cute. It would be a very easy to mass produce if you wanted to make a lot of cards!

I used the adorable snowmen and matching sentiment from the Prickley Pear Stamps Zipper Card Christmas Clear Stamp Set. I used my favorite VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink on the kraft cardstock, and finished with a baker's twine bow wrap in chilly, snowy aqua!

Next week I have an actual zipper card to share, so stay tuned! They are so fun to make!

Freshly Made Sketches #611

It's Wednesday and time for a brand new sketch from Freshly Made Sketches! 

This week's hostess is the very talented Jen Mitchell!

Sometimes you just want to use your pretty papers! Today my card has no stamping - just a couple of die cut snowflakes (Altenew) and some gorgeous paper - Graphic 45's Let it Snow 8x8. It's 67% OFF at Stamp Simply right now! I haven't put a ribbon bow on a card in a long time, but this sketch seemed perfect for the organdy ribbon. I heat set the bow and curled the edges with my heat gun (always a scary thing when you could heat it a little too long and then it's in the trash - but this one worked!).

I hope you will join our sketch challenge this week, and add your creations to our gallery. This week's challenge will end at 3:00 EST time on Monday, November 13. Don't miss all of the amazing creations from our guest designer and the DT on the FMS blog to inspire you!

The Muted Colors of Fall

This week at Stamp Simply, the team is sharing fall designs. While our temperatures this week have been very mild for this time of year, and we have had many sunny skies, we had a frost and a lot of wind last month, so the trees have almost dropped all of their leaves. It's a beautiful fall, though! Right now the colors are muted, and the trees are preparing for winter. The colors of my card today echo what I see in our park across the street. Darker and richer, without the bright golds and reds, and beautiful in a whole different way!

I began with two different colors of cardstock from the same family - a suede brown and kraft. I see a lot of fallen leaves in different colors of brown, with a hint of purples - turning from their glorious red in the height of the season. The gorgeous paper I chose was perfect for that!

We have another week of glorious temperatures, and I plan to savor every moment of rain, the crunchy leaves, and myriad of colors! 

You can read more about the products I used on the Stamp Simply Blog today!

Stamp Simply Supplies

• Pastor & Ministry Appreciation Greetings (sentiment)
• Two Sprigs Dies
• Fishtail Sentiment Banner Dies
• Craft Consortium Ink Drops Dusk 6x6
• Kaisercraft Pearls - Latte
• VersaFine Clair Nocturne

Other Supplies:

• brown, kraft cardstock
• liquid glue
• foam tape