Stamp Journey

So Shelli: Christmas Tags

Shelli Gardner is not only the CEO and Founder of Stampin' Up!, she is also a dedicated stamper who cherishes the time spent crafting with family and friends.

See the results of Shelli's latest stamping session on her blog post today at So Shelli.

Some very cute tags!

Gather some friends for a fun stamping session of your own in the new year. I'm now booking private classes and stamp parties for January and February. I'll be glad to customize a class or party to your taste -- there's so much from which to choose -- in scrapbooking, cardmaking, home decor, 3-D gift projects or a combination. Call now to reserve your date.

Speaking of tags, you'll want to make sure you're signed up for my free Stamp Journey holiday newsletter. Tomorrow's edition features Tags with Personality...creating personalized photo tags to make every gift special. Don't miss it -- sign up for the newsletter in the upper left of this page.

Christmas Card: Got Punches?

Get out your circle punches, girls and boys -- we're making circle wreaths today!

This technique is easy, economical and a great way to use scraps.

Create cards with various sizes of circle punchouts and glue, add a little ribbon and it's "Ho, ho, ho!"

I created this card in a 6" x 6" square format in My Digital Studio, but it's a project suitable for traditional and hybrid crafting. For adhesives, I suggest a combination of Tombow Multipurpose glue and dimensionals.

Stamp Sets
A Holly Jolly Christmas

Paper Colors
Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Creamy Vanilla, Dusty Durango

Accessories
My Digital Studio software
Rose Red grosgrain ribbon

Ink
Always Artichoke

I'm considering doing some of these in blues, black and silver for a contemporary variation.

I'll have more holiday ideas with full directions in my special Holiday Countdown newsletter to be delivered to your email inbox Wednesday. Make sure you're signed up for my newsletter to receive it! The signup box is at the top left of this page.

Color Combinations: Holly Jolly Christmas

Here's an old-fashioned idea with a modern twist.

We used to make these trees with pieces of gift wrap years ago. This version uses some of Stampin' Up!'s "Blooms" Designer Series paper.

The background is Soft Suede, the trunk is Kraft (with some Chocolate Chip stitching), the papers are in Dusty Dorango and Old Olive, and the star and greeting are my favorite In Color color -- Crushed Curry.

What a great way to use scraps of Designer paper. The technique works well for digital and hybrid crafters, too.

I liked the look so much that I tried some other color combintions.

The background is Sage Shadow, the tree is Tempting Turquoise and Night of Navy in the "Small Dots" and "Script" patterns. I changed the stitching to white and used a white button on the star.

More traditional colors here...Close to Cocoa background with Designer Series paper from the "Christmas Jingle" Simply Scrappin' kit. The star and greeting are in Summer Sun and the ribbon is Old Olive.

Can you identify the greeting stamp? Which version is your favorite? What other color combinations would you suggest?

Leave a comment and I'll send you a free tutorial for a Christmas project!

Holiday Cards: To You & Yours

You may notice that the dimensions of this card are a little different. It's a 5" x 7" format, and is one of the five card-size options in My Digital Studio.

Stamps
Winter Post
Medallion
Wishes & Greetings

Paper
Very Vanilla card stock
Certainly Celery card stock
Chocolate Chip card stock

Ink
Certainly Celery
Chocolate Chip

Accessories
My Digital Studio software
Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon
Chocolate Chip brad

The Certainly Celery and Chocolate Chip digital "ink" was stronger than I wanted, so I played with the opacity setting.

By setting the opacity slider to a lower number, I was able to get the softer look I wanted...rather like the "stamping off" technique.

This is the setting I used on the greeting stamp -- 49% opacity. I softened up the intensity on the Medallion stamped image and the ribbon, as well.

I just love this software!

Order your copy of My Digital Studio before Dec.15th to receive it before Christmas. Heck, why not just order it now?!! Go to my website and click on the Shop Now button. It's item #118108.

I'm here if you have questions -- email me at maccreative@me.com or call me at 678-467-1330.

A Second Chance To Save $$$

How popular was the Holiday Extravaganza sale? The Stampin' Up! demonstrator website got slammed last night with so many demonstrators trying to enter customer orders! So...Stampin' Up! has extended the sale through Wednesday.

 So if you are bummed out today thinking you'd missed out on the BIG savings -- here's your second (and last) chance. Just email or call me with your order before 9 p.m. (EST) Wednesday and I'll place the order for you. 

Consider the Christmas Decor Bundle #1 that includes:

• Holly Berry Wreath Decor Elements (Kraft, Real Red)
• Real Red Vintage Ornaments Decor Elements
• Chocolate Vintage Ornaments Decor Elements

All this for only $44.91...save $30 off the regular price of $74.85!

The bundle is item #120927. See the whole list of fabulous savings here. Remember, no online orders for this special extension -- call me at 678-467-1330 or email maccreative@me.com.

Who says there's no second chances?!!

Black Friday All Week Long!

 

Yep, save 30%...40%....even 50% with Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Extravaganza Sale every day this week through November 30th.

My best recommendation for serious savings is the Ultimate Stampers Starter Kit, including:

• Best Wishes & More stamp set
  
• Eight Great Greetings stamp set
• On a Pedestal stamp set
• Earth Elements Stampin’ Spots
• Earth Elements assorted card stock
  
• Whisper White card stock
  
• Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
• Flower Designer brads
  

It's stampin' heaven at 40% off!

But there's more...

Cardmaking bundles, scrapbooking bundles, ribbon bundles, button bundles...even bling bundles!

All sorts of accessories, Definitely Decorative vinyl wall art, stamps, punches and inks at prices you'll love.

Check it out on my website here. Call me if you have questions at 678-467-1330 -- and have a Happy Black Friday (and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Saturday and Sunday and Monday!)

Christmas Jingle Trifold Shutter

This card uses the Simply Scrappin' kit, Christmas Jingle.

It looks complex, but really isn't. No, really!

Start with a piece of cardstock 5-1/2" x 12". Place it in landscape position and score at 2", 4", 8" and 10".

Turn a quarter turn and place the piece in portrait position in a Stampin' Up! paper trimmer at 1-1/2" from the left side, and cut ONLY from the first score line to the last score line (that is, from the 2" mark to the 10" mark).

Now place the piece in the trimmer at 1-1/2" from the right side and cut from the 2" score ine all the way down to the 10" score line. Fold all the creases with a bone folder, then push in the middle section so it sits as shown above.

Decorate as you wish.

A "Christmas Blessing" would be a great Black Friday promotion for Stampin' Up! products, wouldn't it? Check back on Monday for a surprise that will have you giving out a hearty, "Ho, Ho, Ho!"

Christmas Card Challenge

This is the challenge I was given: Design a masculine, mostly black Christmas card incorporating a photograph.

It took a little experimenting, but here's what I came up with...

The colors are Basic Black, Sahara Sand and Crushed Curry. The gift stamp is from Holiday Blitz, the large star is from A Holly Jolly Christmas, and the greeting is from All Holidays. The background paper is from the Night and Day Designer Series package.

Are you up for a challenge? Send a photo (jpg) of a masculine Christmas card to me to have it posted here, or post it on your blog and link to this post. Happy creating!

My Digital Studio: Pet Hazards

I received an email article from my vet today about holiday dangers to pets. I had no idea there were so many things that potentially threaten our furry friends!

It prompted me to compose this card in My Digital Studio.

Besides ribbon, pets have been known to eat electrical cords, holiday plants, gingerbread houses and even pine needles.

Here are two short articles to bring you up to speed on keeping Fido and Fluffy safe.

Holiday Temptations Can Cause Emergencies

Holiday Pet Hazards

Happy -- and safe -- Holidays to you and your pets!

Peace, Love and Hope

Hope Wingate is a stamper in Duluth, Georgia. Just look at her Christmas card using the Scenic Season stamp set.

 

Don't you wish you were on Hope's holiday card list?

Hope used a resist technique. She started by stamping the trees in Versamark on Stampin' Up!'s glossy white paper.She let that dry before using a brayer inked in blue on the stamped glossy paper.

Finally, she stamped the tree and greeting over top with Night of Navy classic ink, added ribbon, and mounted the panel onto Night of Navy cardstock. Although it's not visible here, this piece is then mounted on an 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" white card base, folded in half.

Hope gets plenty of inspiration (and assistance) from Aaron, her two-and-a-half year old son.

Are you a Stampin' Up! fan with a project you'd like to share? Send me an email with a photo of your project and you may be featured here on Stamp Journey.

Santa Baby

"Santa baby
Just slip a sable under the tree, for me
Been an awful good girl
Santa baby
So hurry down the chimney tonight."

It's a good thing Santa is NOT coming down that chimney tonight. I'm nowhere near ready!

But I am working on it. Stampin' Up's stamp set, Winter Post, is a big help.

This pullout card uses a collage technique. The colors are Real Red, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip. It would be a cute way present a gift card or gift certificate.

Gift certificates are a great way to give a stamper or scrapbooker just what she wants for Christmas. Call me for a Stampin' Up! gift certificate that will make your favorite crafter happy and make your gift-giving easy.

Santa Comes But Once A Year

Today's card is a study in red, white and black.

 

Stamps
Old Saint Nick

Paper
Basic Black
Real Red
Night 'N Day Designer paper

Do you see the sleigh and reindeer reflection?

Want more holiday ideas? Sign up for my newsletter and receive my Holiday Countdown email newsletter every Wednesday through December 16th. The sign up box is at the top left of this page.

Holiday Mail for Heroes Campaign

You can play a big part in getting holiday cards to our service men and women this holiday season. Share holiday cheer with some of the 1.4 million who currently serve in our military and 24 million veterans who have served in the past. 

For the third year, the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes, Inc. have teamed up to deliver holiday cards to military members and veterans.

Send your holiday cards to:

 Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Follow these guidelines while preparing your holiday greetings.

Do...

• Sign all cards
• Entitle cards “Dear Service Member, Family or Veteran”
• Limit cards to 15 per person or 50 for school class or business group
• Bundle groups of cards in single, large envelopes

Don’t...

• Send letters
• Include personal information such as home or email addresses
• Use glitter – excessive amounts can aggravate health issues of wounded recipients
• Include inserts of any kind as they must be removed in the screening process

For more information, visit the American Red Cross Holiday Heroes site.

My Digital Studio is The Answer!

 

Beth D was the first person to guess that I used My Digital Studio to create this card.

Beth wins a free Christmas Gift Set tutorial.

In fact, y'all played so well that I'll send a free tutorial to everyone who commented from Nov. 5th through Nov. 8th.

And if you'd like to receive the step-by-step tutorial to make this slider Christmas Gift Tag Set, simply place an online order this week at my website before Friday.

Email or phone me to learn how you can get
My Digital Studio half-price!

And the Winner is...

Cindy!

Cindy's name was drawn from those who left a comment on this post titled "Scrapbooking, Cardmaking & Wal-Mart" and answering the question "What punches were used to create this card?"

The Stampin' Up! punches were:

• Ornament punch
• Eyelet Border punch
• Modern Label punch

Aubri also mentioned the 1/16th inch punch, which could certainly be used to punch the hole for the brad. I opted instead to use the piercing tool and mat to create the hole, but the hand punch was a legitimate guess, too.

Cindy has already received an email from me and is poring over the Stampin' Up! catalog to pick out her free gifts.

But the rest of you who left comments are winners, too! I'll be sending each of you a free tutorial to create this adorable gift tag set.  

Keep checking this blog for more contests this month. Thanks for the comments!

Christmas Layout Revisited

Oops.

I did neglect to add Always Artichoke ink on the previous post -- but that's not the missing ingredient I meant.

Hint...the missing item should be listed under Accessories. It has to do with how the card was created.

Oooh, that was a BIG clue!

I'll sweeten the pot. The first person to identy the missing "ingredient" will receive a free tutorial for this delightful Christmas tag set.

Leave a comment on this post or the previous one to enter. Remember to fill out the email field so I can send you your free tutorial. (Email addresses are not displayed publicly.)

Christmas Layout: Trim the Tree

Today's card uses the stamp sets Tree Trimmings and Snow Burst.

Cardstock
Always Artichoke
Kraft
Rich Razzleberry
Very Vanilla

Ink
Rich Razzleberry
Very Vanilla

Accessories
Rich Razzleberry ribbon
Scallop punch
Circle punch

There's a secret ingredient I've left off the list -- can you guess what it is?

(Hint...it's not adhesive.)

Leave a comment with your guess.

Is It A Bird? Is It A Plane? No, It's Dasher!

Dasher is:

a. A computer accessibility tool enabling users to write without using a keyboard.

b. An adorable Stampin’ Up! image.

c. A quarterback for Middle Tennessee. First name Dwight.

d. Available as vinyl wall art and a rubber stamp.

e. All of the above.

Yep, the answer is e -- all of the above.

Dasher is also my current favorite stamp set and featured in my November Stamp-A-Stack event.

November 10th is the date to plan to get those holiday cards done! Three class times make it easy to fit into your schedule at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Email or call me to reserve your spot today.

See class details here.

How to Have a Safe Halloween

The American Red Cross has a short video on Halloween Safety Tips.

The Red Cross also offers a short pdf document of Lucky 13 Halloween Tips.

Today’s card features Halloween Frights stamp set (item #111766), a jumbo wheel called Frightful Fence (item #113632) and Grateful Greetings (item #116511).

With 12 greeting images for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine’s Day, the Grateful Greetings stamp set will see you through months of stamping.

Order now at my website, or give me a call at 678-467-1330.

10 Tips For Holiday Happiness

The countdown has started. There are:

• 3 days to Halloween
• 29 days to Thanksgiving
• 30 days to Black Friday
• 57 days to Christmas

 

How to deal?

1. Sign up for my Holiday Countdown weekly newsletter with FREE paper craft recipes for cards, gifts, wrapping and tags. The newsletter signup box is in the upper left of this page.
2. Make your holiday gift list.
3. Consider giving some people a lovely card with a note that you have donated in their name to your favorite charity.
4. Establish a budget for each gift…and stick to it.
5. Contact me to purchase gift certificates for your crafty pals.
6. Order your supplies to make seasonal cards, gifts & wrapping now.
7. Purchase My Digital Studio software to design and print custom calendars for gift-giving.
8. Attend one of my holiday classes for inspiration.
9. Send me your Stampin’ Up! wish list, along with the name, phone number & email address for the people who need help with your Christmas gift. Free gift wrap included!
10. Check the Post Office for out-of-country and domestic mail and package deadlines.

Sweet Rewards!

 

Oh, my -- the things that are under this cover!

I'm glad this is only September so I have lots of time to create my holiday cards, gifts and decorations.

Shopping has never been sweeter -- or easier -- to get just the right paper, stamp, die or accessory to make your home "Holiday Central."

There's a sweet deal for hostesses this month, too!

Host a $250 workshop with your family and friends in September and choose any item (excluding hostess sets and My Digital Studio) for just $10...on top of the usual hostess benefits!

You'll have a hard time choosing from stamps, Simply Adorned jewelry, Build-A-Bear Workshop products, or the latest Big Shot dies -- like the O Christmas Tree die.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This wonderful Bigz XL die was designed by Karen Burniston exclusively for Stampin' Up! The ornaments and tree-topping star are from a coordinating Sizzlits die, also designed by Karen Burniston.

Call or email me today to set up your September or October party. Let's get started planning all the fun your friends will have at a Stampin' Up! workshop!

Tips For Taking Great Holiday Photos

The stockings are hung, the house is bursting with holiday colors and smells, and there's a "photo op" at every turn.

How do you capture those magical moments when you're  surrounded by twinkling lights, candlelit rooms and helpful Uncle Harry?

Jessica at the Webshots blog has compiled a list of tips for capturing those lovely -- but challenging to photograph -- sparkly holiday scenes. Click here to read her tips...you'll have to handle Uncle Harry on your own!

Santa's Little Helper

Ah, the checking off of names on my Christmas gift list gives me such satisfaction! I'm down to the last couple of hard-to-buy-or-make-for names.

I've been doing a lot of online shopping this year and I simply love sipping a cup of tea while I peruse various sites for gift-giving goodies. No lines, no dashing through the cold and rain or looking for the darn car when I come out of the mall.

You can enjoy non-stress shopping for stamping supplies, too! Here's a Gift Guide courtesy of Stampin' Up! to help you with nearly everyone on your list.

Holiday Gift Guide.pdf  

Now, get that cup of tea...put your feet up...and shop here for the best in stampin' products. To ensure delivery by Christmas, order no later than December 16!

Stuff That Stocking

Gifts under $5 are just the thing for the stamper on your Christmas list. Here are some of the great little extras in the Stampin' Up! catalog that will transform you into Santa's favorite Stampin' elf.

101610 Sponges, pg 193 

Use these for sponging ink in resist techniques, applying large areas of colors and edging. There are three in a package. Use them whole or cut into quarters so you can have one for each color.

 

105021 White gel pen, pg. 193

The thick, vibrant line is perfect for journaling or highlighting stamped art, especially on darker colored card stock. The ink is water resistant and the comfort grip gives you easy control of the pen. It's also great for faux stitching and decorative accents.

 

103301 Sanding blocks, pg. 192 

Sanding blocks gently shave cardstock. Use them to smooth out card stock that has a ragged edge, or for perfect for scraping the top edges for that cool distressed look. Set of two in a package.

 
 
 

104331 SNAIL refill, pg. 191

SNAIL stands for Simple, Neat, Affordable, In-line, adhesive. Your hands and your work don't get sticky where you don't want them to, and a small amount creates a strong, permanent bond so the cartridge of 472 inches of double-sided adhesive lasts a long time. Great for cards, scrapbooks and many art projects.

 

104430 Stampin' Dimensionals pg. 191

Great for layering, Stampin' Dimensionals give you instant 3-D effects. With over 300 foam-mounted pieces in each package you'll have lots of opportunity to lift up greetings and elements on your cards and scrapbook pages...and to attach tags, felt pieces, flowers and other embellishments.

104045 Anywhere Glue Stick, pg. 191

Odorless, permanent and acid-free...and economical on top of it. Safe and easy for the kids to use, yet strong enough for discerning crafters. I love the rectangular shape that allows me to get all those square corners on my projects.

 

 

103083 Embossing Buddy, pg. 190

This is one of my favorite tools and is a perfect gift for anyone who embosses or glitters. Keep unwanted flecks of embossing powder or glitter from sticking where you don't want it with an easy swipe of the Buddy. Works great on all kinds of paper and other surfaces, too.

 

Other items you might consider in the Under $5 category are:

Various embossing powders, bottom of pg. 190
Metal-edged tags, bottom of pg. 187
Clear Buttons, bottom of pg. 187
Any color of 1/4 inch Grosgrain Ribbon, pg. 186

Be a Stampin' elf by clicking here to go to my website, and then click on the Shop Now button. Won't Santa be proud!

Tag, You're It

A group of my favorite stampers does a Christmas swap every year, and this year the theme is gift tags.

Each one of these women in Joy's Stamp Club is a talented crafter, so the standard is pretty high.

Here's one of the tags made by Patsy Chunn.

Patsy is quick to point out the she did not originate the idea of a Santa face, but I love her version, don't you?

Do you have a favorite tag you've done? Send a photo or scan of it to maccreative@mac.com and I'll feature your work on Stamp Journey!

Be Part of the Solution

Many of us were saddened to learn that well-meaning cards sent to "Any Soldier" at Walter Reed Hospital were discarded due to security and personnel concerns. (See this article at snopes.com.)

But here's good news for anyone wishing to send holiday cards to military personnel and their families.

Holiday Mail is a partnership between the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes to deliver one million holiday cards to American service members, veterans and their families in the United States and around the world.

 

Send cards to this address:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO box 5456
Capitol Heights MD 20791-5456

 
 
 

Make sure to follow these guidelines...

• All cards must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, December 10, 2008. Cards sent after this date will be returned to sender.
• If sending more than one card, please mail all cards together in one large shipping envelope. Cards sent in this manner do not need individual envelopes or postage.
• Please ensure that all cards are signed.
• Please use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.”
• Please do not include personal information, like email or home addresses.
• Please do not send letters.
• Please do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, glitter, confetti, gift cards or calling cards. Any items inserted into cards will be removed during the reviewing process.
• All cards received may be used in program publicity efforts, including appearing in broadcast, print or online mediums.

There's more information and a short video at http://www.redcross.org/email/saf/

There are 186,000 men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Will you do your part to see they get warm holiday greetings from home this Christmas?

A Light in the Darkness

Today's sample is a quick and easy way to present a candle.

With mere scraps of decorative paper, cardstock and ribbon you can transform a plain candle in a glass into a lovely gift.

Don't you love the filigree brad used as a charm on the top?  And the hardware piece from our Hodgepodge Hardware collection adds such a classy touch.

The Hodgepodge Hardware collection is a great value. Just $29.95 for 100 pieces in styled silver....PLUS 100 matching brads!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a collection you'll be reaching for over and over again to add that special touch to your holiday packaging.

Call or email me today for details on getting a collection into your hands, or go to www.kathleeninnes.stampinup.net and click on the Shop Now button to order right now.

Keep Christmas

It doesn't get much more traditional than this...a classic holiday image complete with a Dickens quotation inside.

But it does offer a contemporary spin configured as a tall, narrow card instead of the standard 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 card.

A 6" x 3" card makes a bold statement and fits well in our Small Open-Ended envelopes (available in White, Vanilla and Kraft).

Cardstock colors used are Confetti White, Kraft, Old Olive, Riding Hood red and Chocolate Chip.

The full quote from Charles Dickens is "I shall keep Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." This quote and three lovely traditional images come in the Keep Christmas stamp set for $19.95.

A bit of Riding Hood Red designer paper, ribbon and a piece of hardware from the Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware kit completes the card.

There's still time for you to order supplies for Christmas projects, but the clock is ticking...call or email me today to place your order for your last-minute holiday crafting.

Loads of Christmas Love

Yep, I admit it's not the usual holiday color scheme, but the Loads of Love set isn't your usual stamp set, either.

The card base is Chocolate Chip cardstock with torn strips of Old Olive and Really Rust.

The trees are stamped on watercolor paper and the "merry christmas!" sentiment is embossed in white.

The truck and its cargo is also stamped on watercolor paper and watercolored before being cut out.

Some piercing, a bit of Chocolate Chip narrow grosgrain ribbon and sponging the edges completes this slightly quirky card.

The Loads of Love stamp set and its companion Accessories set are designed to be versatile and serve you well throughout the year. The sayings and images range from birthday and moving to Thanksgiving and Easter.

Email or phone me for details of how easily you can get these stamps and accessories to use all year round!

To You and Yours

These quick and easy cards are perfect for beginning crafters and anyone who wants beautiful results in little time.

They use the To You and Yours stamp set which coordinates perfectly with Handmade Holiday Card Elements. This Simply Sent card kit comes with 3 sheets of cardstock, 3 sheets of designer paper and two sheets of adhesive die cuts (shown at right).

The colors are Mellow Moss, Ruby Red and Kraft.

There are materials to make at least twelve standard cards and the kit includes step-by-step instructions.

Did you know this kit is also available in Spanish? For more selections especially for Spanish-speaking crafters, click here to download the Celebrando Creatividad catalog.

So, there's still time for you to order the materials to make your own holiday cards. Call or email me to get started!

Who's Naughty and Nice?

This festive file folder is just the thing to keep track of your gift lists, mailing deadlines and gift receipts.

I make a folder every year around the beginning of December and then use it all year long. It stays in my car so I can easily grab it when I'm out and about, or take it into the house for my online shopping "trips." It beats my old system...receipts left in many shopping bags and sticky notes hiding in various parts of my purse. Couldn't find what I needed at any given moment!

This folder uses the Christmas Classics stamp set, the Snow jumbo wheel and the Word Flurries rub-ons. Colors are Chocolate Chip, Real Red and Kraft. The button is from the Earth Elements collection, and of course the Large Star punch makes quick work of the star element.

Ready to organize your holiday shopping? Call or email me for more ideas!

Now You See It, Now You Don't

It is not an easy thing to photograph a project with a transparent base...trust me!

This card is a clever one from fellow demonstrator Mary Robinette. (To see a close-up, double--click on the photo.)

Scandinavian Season has proven to be a popular stamp set from the Holiday mini catalog, as is the Scandinavian wheel used here. Cindy stamped the acrylic base in white before punching holes for the wide ribbon and attaching the tree-shaped portion.

White Stazon ink is a great choice when the stamping surface is glossy or slick. It's a permanent solvent ink and dries quickly. In fact, it dries so quickly that the ink pad itself can dry out if not used regularly. An ink refill is included with each white Stazon ink pad so you can refresh the pad when needed.

Have questions about your stamping supplies? Email or phone me with your questions...or leave a comment here. Your question is probably one that many others have, too!

I Wish Scrappin' Kit

Here are some more fast and easy cards using the "I Wish" Simply Scrappin' kit.

The base of each card and scrapbook page is textured card stock. It just makes you want to fondle the piece!

 

I added just a few small embellishments to these cards -- a bit of Real Red narrow or wide grosgrain ribbon,and some brads.

As always when I'm working with a Simply Scrappin' kit, I use dimensionals to lift elements off the background.

You can easily get 50 cards like these from one Simply Scrappin' kit -- and still have leftovers!

At only $19.95, Simply Scrappin' kits are a terrific value and there are so many from which to choose.

To see the various themes, click here to go to my website, then the Shop Now button and choose Paper-->Simply Scrappin'.

 

Hallowistmas?

I was a little taken aback by the Christmas displays that appeared in our local stores before Halloween. Like most of us, I feel perpetually behind during the holiday season....this year the guilt just started earlier. LOL!

So, where to start?

Stampin' Up! has a wonderful guide on the home site at www.stampinup.com with ideas on cards, home decor, gift giving and decorative packaging.

If you've been crafting for a while, I'm sure you have a stock of scrap paper, ribbons and embellishments begging to be used. Wrapping holiday packages is a delight for me, and I'm looking forward to using some of my scrap pieces to create yummy-looking gift packages.

I'll be showcasing samples every day right here at Stamp Journey.

And how about some help in choosing stamping and scrapbooking-related goodies for your family and friends? Got it! It's the Holiday Extravaganza Gift Guide, and you can download the guide here:

Download gift_giving_guide_US.pdf

So, take a deep breath...put a little Christmas music on...and throw the guilt away! Leave a comment about how you're preparing for the holidays.

I'll have a special giveaway goodie bag of holiday crafting supplies for one lucky random respondent, so be sure to leave your email address.

Now, go forth guiltless and create!

I Wish Part 2

More samples using the I Wish Simply Scrappin' kit.

And a giveaway...the template with full instructions for these projects will be sent to anyone placing an order with me in December.

Here are another three of the projects close up.

The first one uses wide Real Red ribbon and a pewter brad.

This one features a clear button with some silver cord, and piercing on the scallop circle.

And this one has a single brad.

Starry Starry Night

In my Christmas bag of tricks is this six-pointed star.

To see the full tutorial, go to this post. 

The one big tip for this project is to make sure you do NOT score heavily. Score the paper lightly to avoid tearing when you put them together.

Other than that, these are easy and use only a 6 x 6 inch square of designer paper. A great way to use up some of those leftover paper scraps!

Here are some more pictures of my favorite six-pointed stars. Enjoy!

 

Make Your Holiday Decorating Easy

Create beautiful handcrafted ornaments and decorations for your family and friends with the Country Living Holiday Stamp Kit (Item 114447). The kit offers easy convenience for your busy holiday season.

Decorate your home in the colors of the season…surprise your friends with simple yet elegant ornaments…trim a lovely table for a holiday dinner…and do it all with ease.

 

Look what you get for only $49.95:

• Holiday Collection stamp set (six stamps)
• Four 12" x 12" sheets of die-cut chipboard
• Eight 12" x 12" sheets of die-cut Designer Series paper
• Four 12" x 12" sheets of Designer Series paper
• Two 12" x 12" sheets of Whisper White card stock
• 25 yds. Silver Metallic cord
• 10 yds. 3/8" Whisper White taffeta ribbon
• Pretties Kit brads (20)
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter
• Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive
• Riding Hood Red Stampin' Spot
• Old Olive Craft Stampin' Spot
• Uninked Stampin' Spot
• Whisper White Craft Ink refill

There are pieces perfect for decorations, garlands, gift tags, cards, and scrapbook pages. The full retail value of the individual items is over $85…but this kit is yours for only $49.95.

Click HERE to order the Holiday Kit, or any of your favorite Stampin' Up! products now.

What a fun and affordable way to make unique and beautiful projects for the holidays!

This Wish card uses elements from the Holiday Stamp Kit.

The kit is featured in an 8-page holiday decor spread in Country Living magazine's December issue.

Order yours now, and you'll have plenty of time to make all the great projects!

Perfect Purse

My youngest daughter is a purse fanatic. I thought of her when Theresa Matthews showed me this paper purse.

Perfect for slipping in a couple of gift cards -- or cash. Too cute!

Shoebox Shenanigans

This is one of the cards that we made at a recent gathering of Stampin' Up! demonstrators.

It was a shoebox swap, so we each brought a box filled with the supplies to make one project and had a great afternoon stampin' and talkin' !

Starry Starry Night

I've just spent a few days in the mountains of North Georgia, and have been revived by the crisp air, colorful fall vistas, and -- especially -- the company of dear, dear friends. I am SO grateful for Andrea, Krista, Sue, Joy, Shel, Phyllis, Daryl and Susie...my peacock playmates. What fabulous women you are!

Being away has resulted in a pile of email, so I'm going to first answer the most frequently asked question while I was lolling in the fall leaves.

Many of you have tried making the six-pointed designer paper stars using my tutorial, "A Star Is Born." Most people had great success with it, but some of you have encountered the dreaded HSH...Heavy Scoring Hand.

When you score the paper, you need to score lightly.

You want to score forcefully enough to make a crisp fold, but not hard enough to completely break the fibers. When you stretch the star folds out to make the star, there should be no tearing at the junctions.

If you have difficulty scoring lightly enough, try using a bone folder instead of the scoring blade on your cutter to create the scores.

I wish you all stars that are pretty AND strong!

You can make decorative stars to match any color combination you like with our Designer paper -- and you can do it at terrific savings, too! Call or email me to take advantage of the "Buy 3, Get 1 Free" special!

Starry Starry Snowman

This is my favorite sample using the Wishing You Cheer stamp set.

The gracious and talented Jennifer Meyer made this great ornament and featured it on her blog. Jennifer was kind enough to let me post it here for your enjoyment.

Jennifer used a chipboard snowflake, Black and Bashful Blue stamp pads, White Gel pen, White embossing powder, Stampin' Up! markers and red Stickles to complete her design. Thanks, Jennifer.

The Wishing You Cheer stamp set is on special until Nov. 3rd at 20% off...and I'll reduce that even further to make it only $10 for this holiday set (plus shipping and tax). I have to submit the order by Nov. 3rd, so don't wait to call or email me for this great deal!

Ask me how you can get a free package of designer paper to go along with this cute Wishing You Cheer stamp set.

Happy Snowflake

This is a simple holiday greeting....perfect for making in mass quantity to send to friends and family this Christmas.

Stamp Set: Season of Joy
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Sage Green, Shimmery White
Designer Paper: Wintergreen
Ink: Always Artichoke, River Rock
Accessories: White gel pen, 1 1/4 & 1 3/8 circle punches, 1/4" grosgrain ribbon in Always Artichoke, Whisper White envelope

Call or email me today to sign up for a Stamp A Stack. Let's get those holiday cards started!

I'm Dreaming of a Pink Christmas

I did this card recently to swap at a meeting. It was fun to do and is one of the cards we're doing in my Christmas in October classes. Email or phone me to register!

The technique used is Brayer Resist. I inked up a great new jumbo wheel called All About Christmas with Versamark, and rolled it on glossy white stock. Once it dried a bit, I used a brayer to roll Cotton Candy Spectrum ink over the glossy piece. I stamped the tree from the Year to Year stamp set in Black Stazon ink and punched a few holes using my 1/8 inch punch.

I then tied a piece of luscious Pomegranate satin ribbon from the Holiday Mini Catalog and layered the main piece with Purely Pomegranate cardstock. I used the Crop-a-dile to punch three more holes and added a scrap of Rose Red designer paper behind.

To finish, I mounted the whole thing on a card of Pretty in Pink cardstock and added the "Merry Christmas" greeting from the Season of Joy set in Black Stazon.

Now, can anyone figure out where the scrap piece of Rose Red Designer Print paper came from? See the previous post on making stars!

Call or email me today to register for Christmas classes. Check my class schedule here.

A Star is Born

These stars are not original...I remember doing them in construction paper waaaaaay back in elementary school! I was inspired to recreate them with Stampin' Up!'s fabulous double-sided designer paper by some of the stars I've seen lately.

I like this method because I can easily vary the shape of the star points.

For those of you with Microsoft Word, here's a tutorial file for you to download.

Download StarTutorialKSI.comp.doc

Now...onto the tutorial!

The ingredients:
6 inch x 6 inch square of double-sided designer paper, Sticky Strip, Mini Glue dots, SNAIL Adhesive, 1/4 inch circle punch, 1/2 inch circle punch, Inkpad to match paper, dauber, Gold elastic cord, Stapler

Score paper at 1 inch intervals. Accordian fold along the score lines.

 

 

 

Make a small pencil mark at the 3 inch point on the folded paper. Staple on the mark.

See the staple?

 

With the folded edges away from you, mark ½ inch on either side of the staple (i.e. the center).

Cut from this mark on the bottom edge to the top corner.

 

Do the same with the other side.

 

Note: The angle of this cut determines the spread of the points. The Rose Red  star was marked at ½ inch. The Certainly Celery star is a little wider, and was marked at 1 inch. The So Saffron star is the widest, and was marked at 2 inches.

Put sticky strip along one side.

 

Remove red liner and press the two edges together to meet evenly.

Repeat with other side.

Use a dauber to shade the folds and edges with ink.

Punch out two circles with each punch from the scraps.

Use SNAIL adhesive to attach each 1/4 inch circle in the center of the 1/2 inch punchouts, alternating the patterns.

Attach one circle to each side of the star with a mini glue dot.

Alternative: Use a drop of Crystal Effects to attach the circles or half pearls.