"SNOW MUCH FUN" WITH MORE CHRISTMAS CARDS

Good Morning America (and my friends in other countries!!)

Well here I am on this beautiful Sunday, blessing the Lord for all the sunshine he is sending our way.  I have to admit, I can handle the cold and snow so much better (about 99.9%), as long as the sun is shining.  Here in Michigan, noted for the least amount of sunshine in the states, I always feel like it is a blessing to see the sun.

Yesterday was card class day and I created some really different (and a little more challenging) cards.  This class was not a "stamp-a-stack" so I could have cards that took a little longer than 10 minutes to re-create.  But I have to tell you, and this is the truth, my customers met the challenge with flying colors and said they enjoyed learning the new techniques.  They water colored with crayons for the first time, did a gate-fold card using a difficult fine-lined stamp to emboss, did some paper piecing, and created a beautiful gift-tag holder (I will post that, with step-by-step directions, next post).  Here are three of the cards:

I loved this card, very simple -- but a few tips to make it work.  My images were from the Welcome Christmas and Christmas Lodge Stamp Sets.  The tree was stamped in Wild Wasabi Classic Ink and before stamping I applied Garden Green Marker directly on top of the ink to highlight areas before stamping.  Then used Early Express Marker on the image for the tree bark.  The Baja Breeze Card Stock was then misted heavily and set aside to dry while the snow layers were put together.   I cut a 3" x 4" piece of Whisper White Card Stock and stamped it with the Welcome Christmas stamp image.  Then it was torn and sponged with Baja Breeze Classic Ink (the smaller piece of torn card stock (top piece) was flipped over to expose the ripped edge prior to sponging).  The object here was to cover the bottom of the tree image that was stamped in Wild Wasabi.  Then the sentiment on the tag was adhered.  Ask me why I didn't spray the Frost White Shimmer Paint on the whole card.  Okay, I confess -- found out the hard way that my Basic Black Classic Ink images bled because I wanted a "lot" of snow affect!!!  And it looked better dog gone it!!

Another simple card, but different card layout for my customers.  I believe this was the first time they have ever done a gate-fold card.  I used the Merry & Type Stamp Set; Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, and Whisper White Card Stock; and Early Espresso 1/4" Taffeta Ribbon.  The main tip for this card is to make sure you use your Embossing Buddy on the card stock prior to stamping the ornaments in Versa Mark Ink because this is such a fine-detailed stamp.  I also cut my gate-fold panel at 4" x 5 1/4" and scored at 2" and 4", using Stampin' Up's  new Simply Scored tool, to allow a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" back panel in the Early Espresso Card Stock.  Did I mention how much I love this new tool????  One of the very best new tools since the Big Shot!!

Okay, I thought this card would scare the crap out of my customers -- but was totally surprised when they all wanted to start at this card station.  I gave them 2 versions (this one and the one below) and told them they could watercolor a lot or as little as they wanted.  I didn't get to see all of the finished cards, but the ones I did see had watercolored the entire card and they did a totally awesome job.  None of them had used Stampin' Up's Watercolor Wonder Crayons before so this was a learning experience for them.  One lady just didn't want to stop and was late to her child's semi-finals game.  Anyway, I used the totally awesome Snow Much Fun Stamp Set and the following Watercolor Wonder Crayons with the Aqua Pen:  Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Cajun Craze, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray, Crumb Cake, and Early Expresso.



Here is my "oopsie" card that I used just to demonstrate how it would look without watercoloring everything (or everything but the sky -- LOL).

That is it for today.  Now I have to get my order ready for tomorrow's Online Extravaganza, Stampin' Up's annual sale to kick off the holiday shopping season.  It will run through Wednesday, November 30, 2011. Log in to my Online Store* on Monday, November 21, to take advantage of great savings, like FREE digital downloads valued at $40 when you buy My Digital Studio Express, 60% off select Designer Fabrics, and 30% off an exclusive ribbon bundle!

In addition, there will be two items on sale for 24 hours only (November 21, 12:01 AM – 11:59 PM [MT])—so make sure you don’t miss the first 24 hours of Online Extravaganza! Even I don't know what these items are, so I can't wait to find out!!!

Remember your blessings on Thanksgiving Day!
Sandi
"To every thing there is a season. . . .  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance." -- Ecclesiasters 3:1 - 4
Lord, thank you for blessing me with the knowledge that as I grow older, there will always be new life, new joy, and new discoveries. -- Sandi

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2011 CHRISTMAS STAMP-A-STACK

Okay, change of plan!!  I was getting tired of posting my presentation projects using background stamps, so you are going to get some Christmas today.  It is still a little early for me to think of posting Christmas projects but I know I will be doing a lot more in the next month so I will interchange between my Christmas projects and Fall projects.  As long as there isn't snow on the ground yet, I guess I can get away with that plan -- how does it sound to you?

These cards were done for my annual Christmas Stamp-A-Stack.  I really concentrated on doing cards my customers could send in the mail without having to pay for extra postage and something fast, yet still have a "WOW."  I don't know if I achieved the "WOW" factor, but the ladies liked them (of course I was holding an axe over their head when I asked).  A couple of the cards were CASEd from swap cards.   (Sorry I don't have the all of the names who I CASEd from, so make sure to tell me if you know, that way I can give proper credit.)  Fast and simple cards are very, very hard for me so most times I have to CASE these, but I did create a couple for class or put my own twist on a CASE.  So here they are:


I got the layout idea for this card from one Ronda Wade created, just changed the image (Polar Party Stamp Set) and border to the Ribbon Punch, using the Silver Glimmer Paper (I just love this sparkly paper.)



This was a total CASE from another Ronda Wade card -- just changed the sentiment -- featuring the Christmas Lodge Stamp Set.



Very simple card featuring the new Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper, Cherry Cobbler Quilted Satin Ribbon, Stitched Stockings and Hand-Penned Holiday Stamp Sets, and the new Stocking Builder Punch.

 

You can't get any simpler than this card, but I still loved it and it was a favorite of my customers.  I used the Christmas Lodge and Welcome Christmas Stamp Sets.  (I have loved this set since seeing all of Tamie Ackerson's cards last year but waited to see if it would stay before buying it this year).

 

And finally, as soon as I saw this card Melissa Davies did for the Creative Convention shoebox swap, I knew I was going to CASE.  Yes, it does take a little more time, but I had everything prepped for my customers so it wasn't as bad.  They loved the card as much as I did.

Please leave a comment and let me know which one is your favorite (I hope you have one at least).  Now this girl has got to get back to decorating my Advent boxes!!!

Until next time,
Sandi
"Now the body is not a single part, but many." -- I Corinthians 12:14
Father, help us to remember that it takes many people joining hearts and hands around the world to share "the gifts His goodness gave."