Christmas Rose

Happy Halloween everyone! This post is not Halloween related, though. :-)

I think this card will definitely be for my mother this Christmas. She looooooves flowers, so this will be perfect for her! A little while ago, I saw a gorgeous rose made from coffee filters on the Stamp TV web site (yes, there's a tutorial!), and I was entranced. I had to have that punch so I could make my own! Scrappily Ever After was out of stock on them for a long time, but they finally got it last week, AND they were on sale! I got the punch yesterday, and this is my first attempt at the rose. I colored it will Hot Cinnamon and Honey Amber Twinkling H2O's.

Notice the lovely punched bottom border? One of Martha Stewart's new deep edger punches. There are a ton of new ones out, so be sure to check out your local Michael's. Hold on to your wallet! You've been warned!

Anyway, thanks for stopping and I hope everyone has a safe and boo-tiful Halloween!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps

Ink: Colorbox, Brilliance, Distress

Paper: Coffee filter, Papertrey Ink, My Mind's Eye, Stardream, Heavenly White

Accessories: Spellbinders Labels die, Martha Stewart border punch, McGill Label punch, PTI ribbon/button, metallic brown ribbon, self stick half pearls, Twinkling H2O's

Christmas List

This cute little guy is from Sugar Nellie's new Country Cousins release. The blue/green argyle totally reminded me of little boys' sweaters, so I colored everything to match that. I applied Liquid Glass to his rubber boots, to make them look all shiny.
Here's a closer look:

I love using shimmer paper for Christmas/Winter cards. I use a lot of it. Most of it Stardream heavy cardstock. Comes in gorgeous colors! But I also like The Paper Company's shimmer cardstock, which you can find at Michael's.

Well, that's it, short and sweet, hope you like it, thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Sugar Nellie, JustRite

Ink: Memento, SU

Paper: Bristol vellum, Oriental Trading Co. DP, Stardream, PTI

Accessories: Spellbinders Labels, Nestabilities, Martha Stewart border punch, PTI ribbon/button, colored pencils, OMS, Oriental Trading Co. snowflake brad, McGill circle punch, Liquid Glass

Christmas Teddy

I've had this stamp in my collection, uninked since last Christmas! I NEVER do that, usually I have to stamp it right away, just to try it out. I think I may have bought it right after Christmas, was so sick of all things holiday, that I just put it away. I was very happy to discover a 'new' stamp when I was digging around my collection!

I hope you like it, thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Stampavie, Waltzingmouse Stamps sentiment

Ink: Memento

Paper: Bristol vellum, Imaginisce, The Paper Co., PTI

Accessories: Martha Stewart snowflake border punch, McGill Label punch, rhinestones, polka dot ribbon, SU ribbon, colored pencils, OMS, Stickles, Copic Spica pen, PTI button, silver cord

Snowflakes are Winter's Butterflies Card & Notepad

I really wish I could get better pictures at times. It seems like it's always the luck of the draw! Some days I get great pictures, others they're awful. While this one is not awful, it doesn't come clost to showing how beautiful the background paper I made using Guide Lines 2.
I saw one of Heather Nichol's projects a while ago where she stamped Guide Lines 2 with white pigment ink, then brayered over it with dye ink. The white ink resisted the dye ink somewhat, and left a very soft, subtle white impression. It was really gorgeous, and I had to try and replicate it myself. I was really stunned by how beautiful it came out. I used SU Soft Sky cardstock, though, instead of white, and brayered over it with more Soft Sky ink, and the result is simply gorgeous! I wish I had made a whole sheet of paper, instead of half of one! In addition to the Guide Lines 2, I also added a few snowflakes from 'Snowfall' for a Christmas-y card.
Do you notice the little flourish/flower punches underneath the bow on the noptepad? Whenever I punch a border using the Fiskars flower punch, I get these adorable little negative punches that I hate throwing away. So I decided to use them as little accents. Cute huh?

The long notepads are also new from Papertrey Ink. I really like them. I use shopping lists often, and I'm always scrambling for a piece of paper to write groceries I need to get, so these are perfect. I'm going to make a couple for myself with magnets on the back so I can hang them on my refridgerator. Preferably with a pen attached!

Hope it inspires, thanks for looking!

Stamps: Papertrey Ink, Justrite
Ink: Perfect Match, SU
Paper: SU, Papertrey Ink, The Paper Company
Accessories: Nestabilities, McGill circle punch, Fiskars border punch, self stick pearls, Copic Spica pens, brayer, silk ribbon, Marvy Uchida Giga snowflake punch

Snowmen in a Row

Back in the mid 90's, Penny Black was putting out the best snowmen stamps I have ever seen. Thank goodness you can still get some of them from PB Stamps! WARNING! If you start looking through the old PB catalogs, and end up spending mucho dinero, do not come running to me for help! I am in the same boat.... LOL!

I colored it all with my colored pencils, OMS and did a bit of sponging with Fluid Chalks. Love the soft, matte look with those inks!

Thanks for looking!

Stamps: Penny Black, Waltzingmouse Stamps

Ink: Memento, Distress, Fluid Chalk

Paper: Bristoll vellum, Graphic 45, Papertrey Ink, Bazzill

Accessories: Spellbinders Labels, SU modern label & word window punches, Martha Stewart border punch, colored pencils, OMS, half pearls, double faced satin ribbon, striped grosgrain ribbon, PTI button/twine

Tania Baking a Cake

When I saw this new paper from Cosmo Cricket- 'Nutmeg' collection, it reminded me of warm, spicy baked goods. Well, that's perfect for this sweet little darling, 'cause she's baking a cake! Elisabeth Bell has the most beautiful illustrations of children, I just adore them.

I've colored her with my colored pencils, blended with OMS. I added a little sparkle to the flowers on her blouse with a green Copic Spica pen. But that's about it for 'bling', I wanted to keep it muted.

Hope you like it, thanks for looking!

Stamps: Belles 'n Whistles, Papertrey Ink

Ink: Memento, Perfect Match, Distress

Paper: Bristol vellum, Cosmo Cricket, Coredinations, Heavenly White

Accessories: Martha Stewart border punch, Nestabilities, grosgrain ribbon, PTI button, colored pencils, OMS, Copics

Snow Lady

I really liked the way my last Plum Purdy card came out when I colored on Kraft cardstock, so I decided to try another. You all should really try this, you get a whole different effect on Kraft. And what's really cool is you can choose to only color the highlights, and the tan of the paper is natural shading!

It's almost November, so I really have to get cracking on my Christmas cards. I don't send too many, just to close family and friends. I haven't been saving any of the ones I've made so far, I sold a bunch of them on Etsy, and my Mom took a nice bundle. So I really need to get into high gear!

Thank you all for looking, have a wonderful day!

Stamps: Plum Purdy, Waltzingmouse Stamps

Ink: Memento, Distress

Paper: SEI, Papertrey Ink, Coredinations, Heavenly White

Accessories: Spellbinders Labels dies, Martha Stewart border & snowflake punches, SU ribbon, PTI button, brown waxed thread, SU snowflake punch, glass glitter, Flower Soft, flat back pearl, colored pencils, OMS

Gingerbread Cookies

Have you all seen Claire Brennan's new line of stamps, Waltzingmouse Stamps?!! That girl is seriously a genius, and to think she lurked along with the rest of us on Splitcoast! ;-)

I couldn't wait to get done with my DT work so I could start 'playing' with these little gingerbread guys! I decided to keep it simple for the first time, but you could get really complex with all the stamps in this set! Love them!

I stamped and embossed (with vanilla embossing powder of course!) these little guys on some brown Coredinations paper, cut them out and sponged the edges with a darker brown ink to make them look like 'real' cookies.

I love the way the card came out, reminds me of Grandma's kitchen around Christmas time. I also have some Scent My Cards scents, so right before I give this away I'll apply some on the ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps
Ink: Versamark, SU, Distress
Paper: Cosmo Cricket, Coredinations, PTI
Accessories: Striped grosgrain ribbon, Vanilla EP, SU scallop punch, 1/4" hole punch

Fairy Doodle's Sack of Toys

Here's another wintery, icy feeling card. I'm trying to imagine the good and beautiful side of winter/snow before it actually gets here and spoils everything! We had a particularly harsh winter last year, and although I love snow, it was bit much!

I love this paper from Fancy Pants, the color just reminds me of a sunny frosty wintery day! The sweet little fairy is from the Fairy Doodles collection from Buzzcraft (UK company). They sure do make some sweet stamps over there!

Thanks for looking!

Stamps: Buzzcraft, sentiment from Waltzingmouse Stamps

Ink: Memento, Perfect Match

Paper: Heavenly White, Fancy Pants, The Paper Company

Accessories: Martha Stewart loop & snowflake punches, SU curly label & snowflake punches, EK Success mini snowflake punch, Stickles, Liquid Applique, colored pencils, OMS, sheer ribbon, glass glitter

Partridge in a Pear Tree

This is a BIG image, I had to use a 6" card base to accomodate it. It was fun to color, though. Lots of detail. I used a flocked DP by Creative Imaginations. Perfect for an elegant Christmas card.

The little embossed leaves on the sides of the ribbon are from the Spellbinder's Fleur de Lis pendant die set.

As usual, I colored the image with my colored pencils, and OMS. I use Copic flesh tones though, since I think their colors are better than the flesh tones in colored pencil.

Thanks for dropping by!

Stamps: Sugar Nellie, Papertrey Ink sentiment

Ink: Memento, Distress

Paper: Bristol vellum, Creative Imaginations, Heavenly White, Coredinations, The Paper Company

Accessories: Fiskars border punch, satin ribbon, Spellbinders pendant dies, Stickles, Spica pens, colored pencils, OMS, Copics, Liquid Glass

MJM Joy in the Snow

I love, love, LOVE MJ Manning's adorable children illustrations! There's just something about the way she captures the simple joy and fun of childhood. She is enormously talented.
I mean, look at this little guy...perfect example.The expression on his face just says BLISS! lol.

I kept this card fairly simple, the image and color scheme so wonderful, not much more was needed. I did tie the bow with sheer ribbon, though, it adds just a hint of shimmer, and of course Stickles. Can't have a snowy scene without Stickles!

Thanks for stopping by!

Image from Mo's Digital Pencil

Paper: Cosmo Cricket, The Paper Co., SU, Heavenly White

Accessories: Nestabilities, sage grosgrain ribbon, sheer ribbon, colored pencils, OMS, Krylon workable fixative, Stickles

IODT Challenge 'Winter'

It's time for another Impression Obsession challenge! This time the challenge is to create a Winter card. Want to see your card featured on the Impression Obsession blog? Email your challenge cards using IO images to Shirley . Every week cards will be selected to showcase on the IO blog!!!

I've been dying to try a snowflake using the Spellbinders pendant die, and this seemed the perfect opportunity. I used cool, icy colors and shimmery chalks and cardstock for a cold winter feel. I used the large snowflake from Leigh Hannan's Snowflakes clear stamp set to stamp Versamark onto white cardstock. Then I brushed some shimmery chalks over it. Very pretty, subtle color, just like a snowflake should be. I die cut two of the pendant dies from pearl white cardstock, and layered them at right angles. A pretty sheer white bow finishes it off.

Now it's your turn to create a winter card using your IO stamps! Get all the details at the IO Blog.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the teams blogs for more winter inspiration:

Daniela Dobson
Laura Fulcher
Jenny Gropp
Dina Kowal Blog candy for you HERE
Shirley Ross
Jeanne Streiff

Thanks for looking!

Stamps: Impression Obsession

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Pearl cardstock, SU, Heavenly White, The Paper Company

Accessories: Pebbles chalks, Spellbinders pendant dies, Nestabilities, sheer white ribbon

Teddy in a Stocking

This was a very easy image to color. I could imagine making a bunch of them for Christmas this year. Maybe... I don't normally send a lot of cards out to everyone I know though, just really close family and friends. And I like to make cards for the individual, each one different, suited to each of them.

I used a bit of Ivory Flower Soft on the stocking fur, I love the textural effect. The label is Claire Brennan's new stamp set, Very Vintage Labels. How awesome is that set, perfectly designed for Spellbinders labels! I swear, all these creative stamps designers are going to bankrupt me, it's a conspiracy! LOL!

Thanks for looking!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps, Forever Friends

Ink: Stazon, Distress, Fluid Chalk

Paper: Bazzill, Cosmo Cricket, PTI, Coredinations

Accessories: Spellbinders Labels, Fiskars edger punch, PTI satin ribbon, MM antique brad, Flower Soft, Stickles, colored pencils, OMS

Bountiful Harvest

This paper from Basic Grey's 'Indian Summer' collection is TO DIE FOR! I hemmed and hawed about getting it, thinking it couldn't be any nicer than all the tons of DP I already have. But--Basic Grey just gets better and better. Seriously beautiful patterns in this collection. The colors are right up my alley. Deep, rich autumn colors.

And a perfect match for it is this adorable new Elisabeth Bell image from Belles 'n Whistles. These two kids remind me of my own two when they were little, those were the days.....lol!

I want to thank everyone for their 'Get well' wishes. I am very happy to say that I seemed to have dodged the serious chest cold I thought I was getting. Friday and Saturday was the worst of it, and fortunately Sunday I was feeling much better. Just a slight cough left over. Pheww! And my son is doing fine, he wakes up with a sore/stiff neck, but nothing a couple of Ibuprofen can't take care of. I'm sure he'll be right as rain in no time.

Thanks for looking!

Stamps: Belles 'n Whistles, Papertrey Ink

Ink: Marvy Heritage Ink, Distress

Paper: Bristol vellum, Basic Grey, Heavenly white, Bazzill, The Paper Company

Accessories: Spellbinders Pendant & Labels dies, double faced satin ribbon, pearls, colored pencils, OMS, Stickles, Sakura Glaze pen

New Whipper Snapper October Releases

Whipper Snapper has two new sets being released this month, both designed by Anna Wight. These two sets are THE sets to have if you have little boys or girls in your life that you make cards for. ESPECIALLY little boys! The reason I say this is because I always have a very hard time finding stamp sets that are suitable for boys. This set is perfect! There are all sorts of accessory stamps to customize your image, that will make any little boy feel special!

Of course, 'Her Favorite Things' has adorable litte bears and and dolls, art supplies, and even some Christmas/winter toys!

'His Favorite Things' has a skateboard, baseball equipment, trucks, hats, horses...all the things little boys love!

Here's a closer look at 'His Favorite Things'. The DP is from My Mind's Eye. I attached some string to brads instead of tying a knot with ribbon.

Pretty cute, if I say so myself! What kid wouldn't love to get a card like this!

Thanks for looking!

Stamps: Whipper Snapper

Ink: Memento, Perfect Match

Paper: Bristol vellum, Heavenly white, Coredinations, My Minds's Eye, Bazzill, Bo Bunny

Accessories: Nestabilities, Martha Stewart Doily punch, colored pencils, OMS, brads, string, PTI stitched ribbon, natural grosgrain ribbon

Plum Purdy Santa

Well yesterday was a bit of an ordeal! I started feeling sick yesterday at work, tightness in my chest, indicating a whopper of a chest cold coming on, congestion....all that fun stuff. I come home, lay down for a nap when I get a phone call that my son had been taken by ambulance to the ER! He had stayed after school to see the football game, and was with a bunch of friends in the Walmart parking lot next door. Apparently, he was fooling around on a shopping cart, slipped and fell, hitting his head. Supposedly, he was unconscious for a few minutes. He doesn't remember any of it. They did a CAT scan (I got to watch, now I can say I can see into his head, lol!) and everything seemed fine. Thank God! So other than a massive headache and a sore neck, he got off easy. Phewww!
Now, onto happier things. I looooooove this Santa and Gingerbread image from Plum Purdy! I know, I know I say I love them all. But I really, and truly love Renee's style, from the first time I saw one of her painting books many, many years ago!

I added a little Liquid Glass to the candy cane to really make it shine, and there's a bit of glass glitter on the holly berries to make them look 'frosted' with ice. Awesome stuff.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend everyone!

Stamps: Plum Purdy

Ink: Memento, Distress, Perfect Match

Paper: Basic Grey 'Wassail', The Paper Company, Bristol vellum, PTI, Heavenly White c.s

Accessories: colored pencils, OMS, SU felt stitched ribbon, glass glitter, Liquid Glass, Martha Stewart simple scallop punch

New Stamps from Plum Purdy! RUN!

OK, so I'm a bit late letting you all know about the new stamps at Plum Purdy, but I only just found out they were released earlier this week. Look at this darling snow lady, I {heart} her!

She's colored with colored pencils, and OMS to match the striped paper from Cosmo Cricket's 'Wonderland'. And because she's so purdy, I added a double bow to the card! I have several more cards to share with you using Plum Purdy's new stamps, so stay tuned!

Stamps: Plum Purdy

Ink: Memento, Ditress

Paper: Cosmo Cricket, Heavenly white, Coredinations, Bazzill

Accessories: Martha Stewart doily punch, double faced satin ribbon, striped ribbon, EK Success mini snowflake punch, tiny flat back pearl

Creepy Treats Gift Bag & Card

Another spooky yet elegant Halloween set. And I don't know who makes the DP because I used it all up without looking who makes it! I RARELY ever use up an entire sheet of paper for a project, but this time I did. It is pretty though, isn't it? (If you recognize it, leave me a comment please). I used Heat n Stick powder to apply glitter to the stamped images, it is soooo pretty! Love that stuff! Forget any of the glue pads on the market, I've tried them all. None of them work as well as this powder from SU.
Now to just get more glitter....>;-)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Papertrey Ink, Cosmo Cricket, Studio G
Ink: Brilliance, Distress, Versamark
Paper: Papertrey Ink, unknown DP, Stardream shimmer paper
Accessories: Nestabilies, Spellbinders Labels, glitter, SU Heat n Stick powder, SU ribbon, rhinestones

Car Freshener

Ok, so I'm sitting in traffic on the way to work one morning, staring at my little tree air freshener when I get an a HAA!! moment. I could make my own, pretty car air freshener! My brain starts working a mile a minute, what supplies to use, where do I get the scent? In no time at all, I came up with this. I simply took two thin coasters (absorbent, will hold a lot of scent) cut them out with my Spellbinders labels die, and decorated the outsides just like any other card project.

The only difference was I had two coasters with only one side decorated, so I could sandwich some ribbon, or twine, whatever you're going to use to hang it, in between the layers. I also applied a liberal amount of Scent my Cards to the inside of the coaster sandwich, then after it had dried thoroughly, glued the coasters together. I added some beaded flowers to hang from the bottom of the bow, and it's ready to hang from my rearview mirror! I love it! I can change it up for the seasons, and if I want to add more scent, I can just apply some more the DP. It doesn't show a stain at all once it dries.

Pretty cool, huh?

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Papertrey Ink

Ink: Memento, Distress

Paper: Coasters, Cosmo Cricket, Prism, Bristol vellum

Accessories: Spellbinders Labels, Martha Stewart doily punch, silk ribbon, beads, wire, colored pencils, OMS, Stickles, Scent My Cards

Best Witches

This adorable little witch is new from Belles n Whistles. I colored her in purple instead of black, because I have a hard time making black colored pencil look good. I don't know why! And, I was determined to use up some of my HUGE scrap pile, so I have no idea who makes this paper. Actually, it wasn't even from a sheet of DP they were large die cut tags I decided to use. I think it might be 7 Gypsies, but don't quote me on that!

Regardless, the colors and patterns were so pretty, and since she was colored purple, I couldn't resist using it for a Halloween card. I love the way the black Fleur de Lis punched paper looks with it too. Creepy and elegant at the same time, if that's possible!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Belles n Whistles, Studio G

Ink: Memento, Distress

Paper: PTI, Bazzill, Stardream

Accessories: Fiskars edger punch, grosgrain and gingham ribbon, PTI button/twine, colored pencils, OMS, Copic markers and Spica pens, SU word window & modern label punches, rhinestones

Santa Bear

I wanted to use this beautiful color (Papertrey Ink's Ocean Tides) for a Christmas card, and well what do you know? Paired with that deep Scarlet Jewel, it's beautiful! This is another Forever Friends bear stamped image that someone sent me, I think they're so adorable. Quick and easy to color, too.

I applied a bit of Liquid Glass over the lantern, and added Stickles as a 'halo' around it. Looks so pretty IRL!

Thanks for looking!

Stamps: Forever Friends, Papertrey Ink

Ink: Perfect Match, Memento

Paper: PTI, Prism

Accessories: Spellbinders Labels, SU oval punch, EK Success oval punch, PTI ribbon, Cuttlebug EF, PTI button/twine, Stickles, Signo white gel pen, Copics, colored pencils, OMS

Harvest Bounty

I won this beautiful Stampin Up set called 'Season of Thanks' on Ebay a while ago, I even colored it a few times, but I never got around to making a card because I lost them! This is why I usually FORCE myself to finish a card immediately, not allowing myself to start coloring a new image until I'm done. This is particularly hard if I happen to get a new package of goodies in the mail, which is most likely what happened with this stamp set. ;-)

These types of images take a looooong time to color, all the tiny little details and objects, but they are so worth it. I love the end result. The rest of the card is very simple, minimal embellishments, so nothing competes with the detailed stamp. I usually have a hard time not doing this, I love adding bows, bling, or other embellishments!

Thanks for looking!

Stamps: Stampin Up

Ink: Memento, Distress

Paper: Bristol vellum, SU DSP, PTI

Accessories: Nestabilities, colored pencils, OMS, Fiskars floral border punch, SU striped ribbon