Where Did January Go?

I'm not sure where the time has gone.  I don't really know what all happened.  We were celebrating Christmas and I was making Christmas cards and wrapping and suddenly it will be February tomorrow.  Where did January go?

I found myself struggling with posting photos of cards before they had been received.  I didn't want to ruin any surprises.  Well, this time around I did not post any cards early, but I did learn that I will not  be worrying about that as much in the future.  So, you may see your card posted here before it arrives at your door.  I think it will still be enjoyed and appreciated even if you see a photo of it before you get to hold it in your hands.  :)

As I plan for 2017, I need some feedback from you.  I am thinking about several options this year.  If you are interested in any of them, please let me know.

• Monthly in-person card classes featuring 3 designs (making 5 projects)
• Weekly videos (let me know what day would work best to watch LIVE)
• Online classes corresponding with weekly video.  Each month will feature a stamp set you purchase to have at home and I send paper kits in time for you to be able to create cards along with me while watching the video.
• Online Virtual Parties.
• Quarterly Come and Go Classes making seasonal projects for under $5.00

Let me know if you are interested in any of the above and/or would like to receive a monthly newsletter or host a virtual party or RSVP for a class or want more information about any of the above.

Here is the gift wrapping I tried out for Christmas this year.  I did learn that rather than create a box out of DSP,  it works better to add DSP to a shirt box or a box created out of Cardstock for greater stability.

Neighbor food gifts in cello bags with Cookie Cutter Christmas tags

DSP added to shirt box

Gift Box with Top made of DSP

Gift Bag made with Punch Board

Baby Cards Using GDP070 Sketch

I had such a good time working with the #GDP 070, I just can't stop using the sketch to make baby cards. Unfortunately, I didn't finish any more before the deadline, but I did finish a few more and I wanted to share them with you.

I also created this card for the Colour INKspiration challenge #02.  I used Peekaboo Peach, Blushing Bride, and Sweet Sugarplum for that Challenge.  I also got to use Blender Pens for the first time to add some color to my baby bear stamp.

And, then I had two more baby boy cards I needed to make and I was having so much fun with this design, I just changed it up a bit and used it for them as well.  Here are there pics.

Supplies needed to make these cards:
Paper: Sweet Sugarplum Cardstock  #141418
            Emerald Envy Cardstock  #141415
            Whisper White Cardstock #100730
            Basic Black Cardstock #121045
            Playful Palette Designer Series Paper Stack #141657
Stamp Sets: Fa-La-La-La Friends (RETIRED)
                    Little Cuties #142990
                    Bookcase Builder #142906
                    Iconic Moments Clear Stamp Set  #143199
Ink: Tuxedo Black Mometo Ink #132078
Blender Pens #102845
Watercolor Pencils #141709
Playful Palette Washi Tape #141659

Unboxing from Occasions Catalog and Sale--a-bration

Here is the link to my video unboxing from the Occasions catalog and Sale-a-bration with a little Annual Catalog stuff too.  :)  If you saw anything you would like to order or would like more information about, let me know.  Also, if you saw anything you would like to play with at a class or have me use to make a card for class with or make a video of its use, let me know.  It'll be fun to play together.  :)

Unboxing Stampin' Up

Exciting Start to 2017

I am back and going to do my best to create posts on a regular basis.  Christmas is over, school is back in session, and  everyone is finally well at this house at the same time. 

I have to admit I've been a bit confused about when to post Christmas cards and packaging, since I didn't want to ruin any surprises before people received them.  If you expected a Christmas card from me and have not yet received one, you might receive one yet.  I am finally getting my Christmas cards done this week and have about 30 ready to go out in the mail tomorrow.  I only have about ten more to finish this week and then I'll get to focus on playing with my new products. 

If you haven't checked out the new Occasions catalog or Sale-a-bration items, you'll have to make time to get that done.  They are AMAZING and I can't wait to play with them.  I should be receiving an order tomorrow with items from the Occasions catalog and Sale-a-bration items.  I want to share this excitement with all of you, so I will be doing a Facebook Live unboxing video tomorrow at 3pm (I hope it has arrived by then.)  If you can't join me live I hope you watch it later and see just some of the amazing products available right now.

Definitely stay tuned for announcements about more exciting events to come soon. 
Comment and let me know what type of card making events you would like to see happen this year.  If you haven't received a card from me lately and would like to, just comment and let me know.

One Sheet Wonder

The use of Designer Series Paper is one of the best ways to make a lot of really amazing cards quickly.  You can either find a design that you like and mass produce cards using the same design and different patterns of Designer Series Paper or you can do a One Sheet Wonder and use one sheet of Designer Series Paper to make several different designs.  

This week I chose to make two different One Sheet Wonders-one making mostly Christmas cards with one sympathy card thrown in and one making a variety of cards.  When choosing to make One Sheet Wonders, Stampin' Up makes it so easy with their coordinating products.  Choose a One Sheet Wonder pattern you are going to use (There are a lot available on Pinterest).  Then, select coordinating cardstock and ink colors and choose which stamps you want to use.  To find coordinating color names, just look at the sticker on the back of the package of Designer Series Paper.

One Sheet Wonder with Floral Boutique DSP (#141663)

One Sheet Wonder using Candy Cane Lane DSP (retired)

I do have one piece of advice before you begin your One Sheet Wonder project.  There are cards you can plan ahead and have time to prepare in advance--like holidays and birthdays.  It has been my unfortunate experience this year that you should have sympathy cards on hand.  Those are the one type of card that you don't expect to need and don't always feel like card making or have time for it when you discover you need one.  So, I would recommend always having some on hand.  And, thank you card are another genre that is always nice to have on hand as well.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I spent this Saturday working on Christmas tags.   I had hoped to get to share this experience with lots of friends and family, but it didn't work out that way.  Instead, my son and I got to spend the day crafting together.  It must have had a positive impact on him because this afternoon he was asking specific questions about where to find which products so he could make another tag.  He even remember the importance of cleaning the stamps before putting them away and found the stamp cleaner and stampin' scrub all on his own.

Here are photos of the tags I made as well of a list of products needed to create them for yourself:

Tags using Christmas Tree punch

For these tags, I punched Christmas trees out of This Christmas DSP (#141628) with a retired Christmas tree punch.  I then attached them to tags made of Whisper White (#100730) or Cherry Cobbler Cardstock (#119685).  Then Sentiments were added from either Stitched with Cheer stamp set (#142182) or Tin of Tags stamp set (#142180) either directly on the tag or on a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock (#101650) and cut it out with a 1" Circle Punch (#119868).  The then finished up with accents from Metallic Enamel Shapes (#141678) and Presents and Pinecones Designer Washi Tape (#141988) and then finished them off with a ribbons at the top.

Cookie Cutter Christmas Stamps Tags

For these tags, images from the Cookie Cutter Christmas Stamp set (#142403) on Whisper White cardstock (#100730) and then punched them out with the Cookie Cutter Builder Punch (#140396).  The Gingerbread Girl and Bear were stamped with Soft Suede Ink (#126978) and the Reindeer and Santa were colored in with markers or Aqua Painters (#103954).  The bows were stamped with Real Red Ink (#126949). The reindeer tag was made with retired DSP attached to a Whisper White Cardstock tag with a strip of Garden Green Cardstock (#102584)  and the other tags were made with wither Whisper White cardstock, Real Red Cardstock (#102482) or Early Espresso Cardstock (#119686) with strips of Candy Cane Lane DSP (Retired).  I then adhered the Cookie Cutter Christmas characters with Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430), sentiments were stamped from Cookie Cutter Christmas or Tin of Tags stamp set and the tags were finished off with ribbons.

Fa La La La Llama Tag

This tag was created from Whisper White Cardstock (#100730) and then stamped with Fa-La-La-La Friends Stamp Set (#1421267)  in Tuxedo Black Momento Ink (#132708) .  I then colored in the lights with Stampin' Up markers and added a Wisteria Wonder ribbon (#134572) to finish it off.

Christmas Gift Tags

These tags were made using Whisper White Cardstock (#100730) and stamped with retired Christmas Gift Tags set in Tuxedo Black Momento Ink (#132708).  One card with first watercolored with Garden Green ink (#126973) with Aqua Painters (#103954).  The Snowmen were then colored in with Stampin' Up markers and the tags were finished off with Wild Wasabi ribbons (#134570)

Tags with added Bling

It's always fun to add some bling to paper projects.  Here are some tags made with added bling.  I used a Crumb cake cardstock (#120953)  to make the first tag and stamped snowflakes from Star of Light (#142110) and Tin of Tags (#142180) stamp sets in Whisper White Craft Ink (#101731).  The second tag was made with Whisper White Cardstock (#100730) and use the Star of Light and  Banner Blessings stamp sets in Elegant Eggplant (#126969) and Perfect Plum (#126963) stamp pads.  I then finished them off with Metallic Enamel Shapes (#141678), Pearl Basic Jewels (#119247), Rhinestone Basic Jewels (#119246), and ribbons.

Tin of Tags Christmas Tags

To make these tags I use Aqua Painters (#103954) and Perfect Plum (#126963) and Tempting Turquoise (#126592) inks to make backgrounds on Whisper White cardstock (#100730)  and then stamped the Tin of Tags stamp set (#142180) in Elegant Eggplant (#126969) and Pacific Point (#126951) inks.  I then added embellishments from Metallic Enamel Shapes (#141678) and Rhinestone Basic Jewel (#119247) and finished them off with ribbon or baker's twine.

On all the tags if you can't see To: From: on the front, it is stamped on the back so you can personalize the tag.  I hope you all have a great time making your own gift tags.

Tin of Tags kit and stamp sets are on the Year End Close Out sale.  Check them out if you want all your gift tag needs in one place or use my ideas or come up with your own.  And, I would love if you would send me pics of what you create.
Tin of Tags Stamp Set
Tin of Tags Kit

Global Design Project 070 | Skech Challenge

The holidays are over and since there were no medical emergencies this week, I can participate in the Global Design Challenge.  I am so excited to get back into the creative mindset.  This week was a sketch challenge. 

I used the inspiration to create a baby card using the Pop of Pink Specialty DSP.  I used the coordinating colors and even put some of the coordinating Washi Tape on the small strip of Melon Mambo where I stamped the sentiment.

 I was so excited to use stamp sets from the new Occasions catalog and emboss the crown on the sweet kitten in sliver embossing powder to add some bling.  :)

Products used to create this card:
Paper: Basic Black Cardstock
           Whisper White Cardstock
           Melon Mambo Cardstock
           Pop of Pink Specialty Designer Series Paper
Stamps: Bookcase Builder
              Iconic Occasions
              Little Cuties.
Ink: Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad
        Tuxedo Black Momento Ink
        Versamark Ink
Pop of Pink Washi Tap
Layering Clrcles Framelets
Bigshot
Sliver Embossing Powder

To see the inspiration for #GDP070 and all the entries, click on this link  Global Design Project