Non-traditional Christmas Card

Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper is a great alternative from what I consider a traditional Christmas card, meaning using other colors than the standard green and red.

Going really non-traditional, my card base is Crumb Cake cardstock, followed by a layer of Soft Suede that was cut out using the Movers & Shapers Holiday Windows ornament die. The cut out shape is slightly larger than the coordinating Ornament Punch therefore the punched piece of DSP layers nicely in the cut out image.  I added some retired silver cord for my hook, and placed a rhinestone in the center for added embellishment.  Cherry Cobbler seam binding was layered on as well, with another piece of Frostwood Lodge DSP.

I was looking to add a larger stamped sentiment to the bottom corner, and found the Holiday Greetings in the Sincere Salutations Set.  I often forget that my holiday sentiments are scattered throughout other sets, and not just with the Christmas Stamp Sets.  I think after the holidays I need to place small stickers on those sets so I get the most out of what I have.  Sincere Salutations was one of the first sets I purchased when I started stamping years ago, and I am glad that it continues to be part of the Idea Book and Catalog.  It has so many great sentiments for several occasions, and is a great value considering all that it can be used for.

The following were used:

Cardstock:  Crumb Cake #120953, Soft Suede #115318

Designer Series Paper:  Frostwood Lodge #124002

Stamp Set:  Sincere Salutations #115068

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler #119669

Ribbon:  Cherry Cobbler 1/2" Seam Binding #120992

Accessories:  Big Shot #113430, Movers and Shakers Holiday Windows #16821, Movers and Shapers Curly Label #114506 (used the die base)

Punch:  Ornament #119847

Embellishment:  Rhinestone #119246

Christmas Gift Bags

Stitched Felt pieces from the Holiday Mini Catalog were the perfect adornment for my decorated gift bags.  Now the recipient not only gets a nice present inside the bag, they also have a removable accent piece that can be used to decorate the Christmas tree.

The plain bags were purchased at a local craft store, and I decorated them with Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Series Paper and the Winter Wishes Stitched Felt pieces.  I also dressed them up a bit more with a few punches, some ribbon and buttons, and a sentiment.   You can save yourself a lot of money decorating your own bags and it is a lot of fun too.

The following were used:

Designer Series Paper: Holly Berry Bouquet #124004 (Holiday Mini)

Glimmer Paper:  Red #121790

Stamp Sets:  Tags til Christmas #120847 wood or #121169 clear, Delightful Decorations #116517

Ink:  Real Red #103133, Old Olive #102277

Cardstock:  Whisper White #100730, Real Red #102482

Ribbon:  Real Red 5/8" Satin #117286, Real Red 1/4" Grosgrain #109034

Punches:  Ornament #119847, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle #11954, Decorative Label #120907, Scallop Edge Border #119882

Embellishments:  Holly Berry Bouquet Buttons #125636,Winter Wishes Stitched Felt #124108 (both from the Holiday Mini), Brights Glimmer Brad #121006

Oh Christmas Tree

Silver and gold embossing

The Pennant Parade Stamp Set is one of those sets that can be used for many occasions.  I like how the pennant can be turned into a Christmas tree.

Whisper White cardstock is my cardbase with a layer of Old Olive that was embossed with the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder.  I stamped my pennants with Versa Mark ink and then heat embossed them with silver embossing powder, and the base was done the same way using gold embossing powder.  After punching out the pennants with the Petite Pennants Builder Punch, I placed the trees onto the card using dimensionals.  A glue dot behind each tree stand held them in place.  Some Real Red Satin Ribbon added a pop of color. I haven't figured out what sentiment I want to add to this card yet, but like the simplicity of it.

The following were used:

Cardstock:  Whisper White #100730, Old Olive #100702

Stamp Set:  Pennant Parade #122740 wood or #122742

Ink:  Versa Mark #102283

Punch:  Petite Pennants Builder #122361

Ribbon:  Real Red 5/8" Satin #117286

Accessories:  Big Shot #113430, Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder #116824, Heat Tool #100005, Silver Embossing Powder #109131, Gold Embossing Powder #109129, Dimensionals #104430, Glue Dots #103683

A very special happy birthday

Thirty years ago today I was blessed with the birth of my daughter Jennifer.  I always love creating cards, but they have even more meaning when they go to someone so special. 

Jen's card was created using Pretty in Pink cardstock that was embellished with some Log Cabin Smooch Spritz.  To this I added a strip of Spice Cake Designer Fabric for my bow, and the Birthday Wishes were centered in a Die Cut Designer Frame that I altered a bit by tearing the edges.   I sponged a touch of Soft Suede ink around the frame and added some butterflies from the Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die.

Since I don't very rarely sew, but really love the fabric Stampin' Up! offers, I like using it for my bows.  It is really soft, ties easily, and coordinates with the Designer Series Paper.  So, if you are like me and don't sew, don't be afraid to try the fabric.  It really adds a nice touch to your cards or projects.

The following were used:

Cardstock:  Pretty in Pink #100459, Whisper White #100730

Designer Series Paper:  Beau Chateau #122357

Stamp Set:  Bring on the Cake #121899 wood or #121958 clear

Ink:  Soft Suede #115657

Embellishment:  Log Cabin Smooch Spritz #119921, Pearls #119247

Fabric:  Spice Cake #124066 (Holiday Mini)

Accessories:  Big Shot #113430, Beautiful Wings Embosslits #118138, Designer Frames Embossing Folder #123130, Stamping Sponge #101610

Christmas Lodge Thank You

The Christmas Lodge Stamp Set is not just for making Christmas cards.  Without using the sentiments included, any of the other four stamps could be used for a variety of cards or projects. 

My card is Crumb Cake cardstock with an embossed layer of Soft Suede.  Taking inspiration from page 129 of the Idea Book and Catalog, I layered my stamped images on a few punches, added a bit of ribbon, and placed my thanks in the center.  When I am stuck for new ideas I love paging through my Idea Book for inspiration. 

The following were used:

Cardstock:  Crumb Cake #120953, Soft Suede #115318, Whisper White #100730, Garden Green #102584

Stamp Set:  Christmas Lodge #123767 wood or #123769 clear, Petite Pairs #122495 wood or #122497 clear

Ink:  Garden Green #102272, Soft Suede #115657

Marker:  Crumb Cake #120967

Punches:  Decorative Label #120907, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle #119854, 1" Circle #119868, Small Oval #120908

Ribbon:  Crumb Cake 3/8" Taffeta #122966

Accessories:  Big Shot #113439, Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder #116824

Flower ornaments or gift tags

Front of flower

Back of flower


I don't know what other people call these flowers, but I just call them ornaments or gift tags because that is what I am using them for.  They really look nice on a gift bag, present, or a Christmas tree.

To make them you start by cutting twelve 2 x 2 squares of Designer Series Paper.  You can also make the flower a bit smaller by using only eleven folded squares.  You fold each square to make the cone shape.  I used a small piece of sticky strip to keep each cone together.   I layered them on a large  circle that was covered with sticky strip.  I added another circle that was embossed with the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder, a Holly Berry Bouquet Button and some mini jingle bells to decorte the front.

I use Crystal Effects as my adhesive for the large circles. 

To make the flowers I used the following:

Cardstock:  Cherry Cobbler #119685

Designer Series Paper:  Frostwood Lodge #124002 (Holiday Mini)

Punch:  2 1/2" Circle #120906

Embellishments:  Mini Jingle Bells #124116 and Holly Berry Bouquet Buttons #125636 (Holiday Mini)

Accessories:  Big Shot #113439, Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder #116824, Sticky Strip #104294, Crystal Effects #101055

Glitter Snowflakes

Well, I haven't played with my glitter in awhile, I guess because I hate the mess, but using it with the Big Shot Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets was so easy and hardly any mess!

To make the snowflakes I took a piece of Whisper White Cardstock, and a piece of the Multipurpose Adhesive Sheet, placed them together and ran them through my Big Shot using the Snowflake #2 Die.  Next I slowly took the backing off of the adhesive and sprinkled glitter over the sticky part.  I say I did this slowly, because as I peeled the adhesive off I sprinkled - not pulling the whole sheet off at once.  The first one I made I pulled the whole sheet off and my fingers accidently took some of the adhesive off.  I found that if I sprinkled a little at a time I could hold the snowflake down in places where I already had the glitter and therefore was able to get nice coverage on the whole piece.  I love how they turned out.  They really sparkle and the glitter really seems to stay put with nice even coverage.

I experimented with several different colors and found them all to be so much fun.  The snowflakes were placed onto a layer of Whisper White that was embossed with the Snow Burst Embossing Folder and by placing a glimmer brad in the middle I was able to secure them in place.  I also added some glue dots to the edges of the snowflakes.  This layer was placed onto a Whisper White cardstock base.

The following were used:

Cardstock:  Whisper White #100730

Stamp Sets:  Petite Pairs #122495 wood or #122497, Snow Swirled #111690

Accessories:  Big Shot #113439, Snow Burst Embossing Folder #124096, Snowflake #2 Die #113460, Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets #120805

Embellishments: Fine Galaxy Glitter #114286, Fine Supernova Glitter #114287, Basics Glimmer Brads #121003

Punches:  Scallop Oval #119856, Large Oval #119855