Quilted Christmas Cards

I have been on a kick as of late using the same layout and creating multiple cards with varying materials.  For these cards, I went to my stash of Christmas Designer Paper.  I think each card has a different feel based on the DSP used as well as the ribbon.  I used the technique of embossing over the DSP to give the look and feel of a quilt.  I really like this technique!  I used the new Snowburst Embossing Folder on each of the cards.  You can really see it in the first and third samples.  I think the colors and design overwhelm it a bit on the middle sample.  I also used the White Gel Pen to create faux stitching on the card.  The Snow flake punch, a Rhinestone brad, and Basic Pearls embellish each card.  When I showed the finished cards to my family, my daughter Olivia and I both liked the first one best.  My son, Thomas, like the second one best, and my husband, Mitch liked the third best.  These cards will be sent as my contribution for the Open Swappers swap this month.  Each swapper will receive a different card!  I hope they like the one they get!

Two versions

I have been getting inky a lot lately, but finding the motivation to take pictures and upload to my blog has been lacking.  When I think about taking a picture, the natural light I use is gone for the day. But, today I got some pictures taken.

This first card was a result of wanting to make something using the accordion fold medallions I have seen on other blogs.  These medallions, or lollies as some refer to them, are not hard to make when using the new Simply Scored tool from Stampin' Up.  I also wanted to do something using the DSP Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Paper.  What I ended up with is a New Year's card. 

I really like this card.  It has an elegance to it.  I used Champagne Shimmer Paint on the black panel as well as embossed it with the new Stripes Embossing Folder. Both of the medallions are made from the Mocha Morning paper.  I also used the Brushed Gold Card stock for the subtle shimmer on that layer of the card.  Even though the card has a lot of shimmer and bling, my husband still liked it!

I liked the first card so much that I decided to try the same layout and make a blinged-out Christmas card.  Here is that result.



I made a different kind of medallion for this card, and switched up the placement of the sentiment, but the rest of the layout is the same.  I actually don't like this card as much as the first.  I don't even know why.  lol.  It uses my favorite DSP, Frostwood Lodge but even with that and the happy mittens and the jingle bells...ehhh.  Not so thrilled.  Ah well.

What do you think? Which card do you like better?  I would love some comments.

Kristine



Holiday Stamp Camp

Yes, another bit of time has sped past me.  I have been over run by putting together a Stamp Camp--which ended up being enjoyed by all, so that's good!

The cards below are the cards that we did at the camp.  Each guest at the camp made two of each design, so they left camp with 14 cards! None of the other demonstrators have blogs, so I have no where to point you for more of their art work.  Below the cards are some pictures I took at Camp.

Enjoy!

 This is my card.  Have I told you how much I love the Christmas Lodge Stamp Set.  Yes, I'm sure I have.  I just realized that I forgot to take the clear sleeve when I photgraphed it!  I am tired. Oh well. :-)

 Card designed by Fabiola Baughman

Mary Cargill.  She did this card as well as the one below.

 Designed by Lynnette Parker.

And finally, we had two new demonstrators join us in this Camp.  They did great!

Here are their cards.

Designed by Cheryl Lyman

Designed by Michelle Burrows.

Here are some pictures from Camp.  We had 43 guests! Lots of stamping happening here!

Christmas is coming

Last year I managed to have three different Christmas Card Stamp-a-stacks.  This year...well, I managed to have a class where I offered three cards.  Something is better than nothing!  I am considering moving into my van with all of my crafting supplies.  I spend  A LOT of time in the transport of my children.  Maybe I'd get more done if I just set the back up with supplies? Hmmm.

Anyway, the three cards below were the cards we made two weekends ago.  (Golly, I am far behind in posting!)  I had a lovely group of ladies join me for the day.

This card used the Stiched Stocking stamp set as well as lots of bling.  I was going for the idea of a mantel with the stockings hanging and some silver garland (I used Crystal Effects and Silver Glass to make the faux garland) across the top.  The DSP is from the Frostwood Lodge collection.  L-o-v-e that paper!  Add some Jingle Bells with some of the Cherry Baker's Twine and it is darling, even if I do say so myself.

This card is not my design.  I love the work of so many other paper crafters, and sometimes I want to make something I see.  So I make it and I love it even more, and it becomes a project in a class!  This traditional, country card is the brain child of Lee Conrey.  Beautiful, yes?  YES!  The DSP at the bottom of the card is once again my beloved Frostwood Lodge DSP.  Notice the stripe embossing behind the pinecone panel.  (Kinda hard to see in the picture, dang it!) How easy is that step up on the card to add the Stripped Embossing Folder! It just adds the right, finishing touch.  The ribbon is the Espresson Quilted Satin Ribbon from the Holiday Mini.  Yummy stuff!  You know when you put espresso, quilted and satin together the result is gonna be good. :-) Makes me think of a comfy bed with a cup of yummy coffee reading a wonderful book.  

The final card for the class is also a copied card.  My upline, Jill Olsen, made a card using the Silver Glimmer Paper but instead of leaving it silver, she used reinkers to make it pink!  I think that is just too cool for school!  I like using the blues and white in Christmas cards, so I used Tempting Turquois reinkers and painted the silver glimmer paper with the ink and an Aqua Painter.  When it dries, it is a very close match to Baja Breeze Cardstock, which is what is used as the main card.  This is just such a happy card! Think of all the colors you can use to make Silver Glimmer Paper into something!  How about pink hearts for Valentines, or a shimmery green shamrock for St Patrick's Day.  The hint with this technique is using the darker colors--think Concord Crush rather than Wisteria Wonder.  The inks do dry much lighter.

I have other items to post, but I have run outta time! I'm thinking I need to call my mom and thank her for all the transporting she did for me as a child. 

Kristine

Simply Sent Christmas

One of the promotions right now through Stampin' Up! is to buy two Simply Sent Kits (page 192/193 in the main catalog) and get a coordinating stamp set from those same pages FREE!  Since I am in the Christmas mode, setting up for a Holiday Stamp Camp, I decided to make the Simply Sent Kit Everyday Elegance into Christmas cards.  I think they turned out great!  And seriously, they were fast!  I'm talking making 8 cards in less than 30 minutes! Yeah, that fast.

Here they are!

A closer view of the Cherry Cobbler card--blinged out with Basic Rhinestones.  I just noticed my ornament is a little lopsided.  Ooops.  Just pretend it's perfect. :-)

And the Baja Breeze card softened with those wonderful Basic Pearls and some Velvet Ribbon.  I did not design this card.  It is a CASE of a wonderful demonstrator Sandi MacIver's card.  She is very inspirational for me!  I loved it so much I HAD to make one too!

If you'd like to make some of these cards for Christmas, and you do not already have a demonstrator, please visit my Online Stampin' Up site to place an order.  The link is on the right side bar. (The little computer mouse pushing a shopping cart.  Isn't that a great picture!)

I've listed below everything I used to make these cards. You can, of course, substitute in any sentiment sayings you already have.

Stamps:
Tree Trimmings 116722 $14.95
Christmas Greetings 115448 $10.95
Stiched Stockings 123784 $19.95

Inks:
Cherry Cobbler Classic 119669 $5.95
Baja Breeze Classic  111833 $5.95
Craft White 101731 $7.50

Punches:
Stocking punch 124095 $16.95

Embellishments:
Basic Pearls  119247 $4.95
Basic Rhinestones  119246 $4.95
Jingle Bells  124116 $2.95
Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine  123125 $2.95
Very Vanilla Velvet Ribbon 125637 $7.95

Thanks for stopping by.  Maybe you can take some time over the weekend to get your fingers inky! Yeah!

Kristine

Another Christmas Card

I seem to find myself with more time this fall than I have had in falls past.  I am putting that time to work by joining in on some of the wonderful challenges out there.  Last week I did the Color Throw down and a sketch from the Stampin Queens Sketch challenge.  This week I selected the Paper Players Challenge #63  (because I saw a beautiful card made by Ann Schach and decided I needed to play too!)


and paired it with Create with Connie and Mary Sketch #166.



 I think the colors of the Paper Players Challenge speak Christmas!  So I made a Christmas card using one of the sets I received free at Convention called Warmest of Wishes.  This is a hostess set, so to be able to get it, you have to hostess a workshop.  However, if you buy $150 worth of merchandise, this set can be your freebie choice until the Winter Mini ends on January 3, 2012.

Here's my interpretation of the challenges.

 I like this card so much that I used up all of the DSP (The DSP is retired and is called Cottage Wall.)  I had and made 6 more to send out at Christmas!  I feel so ahead of the game!  This card was the first time I used the new Stripes Embossing Folder.  What a simple way to add a little something.  The ribbon is the Basic Gray Taffeta which I made into a double bow and secured with a Clear Rhinestone Brad.  That is the only bling on the card. 

When I showed my husband this card, he really liked it, but then said, "What does No El mean?" I was baffled by his question.  Then I realized that his mind is not in Christmas mode like so many of us crafters, and I laughed.  He did not see the letters as belonging to one word.  So I jokingly said  that it translated to "No the."  He was even more baffled as to why there was a stamp for this saying. I could have teased him more, but when I told him to think about Christmas, he got it. 

I hope you enjoyed the card.  And, thanks for stopping in.  Please leave me a comment.  I love those!
Kristine

Christmas Lodge Workshop

I have been working on putting together a Workshop on the Go for my customers the past week.  When the Holiday Mini was given to us at convention, the set that I fell in love with immediately is the set "Christmas Lodge."  It is so old fashion!  So soft and detailed.  I had to have it.  So I bought it in my preorder as a demonstrator and began playing with it.  That turned into the idea of creating a workshop for my customers that they could do on their own, at their own pace, but with all the card stock cut and directions.  The resulting workshop I am calling the "Get Together Workshop" and I plan to offer them periodically.
Here are the three projects in the workshop...

And here is what you get in the workshop!!

There is enough materials for 6 of each project to be completed.  Just think...one kit and you are a dozen cards closer to being ready for Christmas plus 6 gift tags ready to go!  AND, you will have a beautiful stamp set to keep and use again as well as left over bling.

You will notice that the workshop comes with the clear mount Christmas Lodge set, a package of Basic Rhinestone, and a bottle of the new Dazzling Details Glitter.  All of the card stock and ribbon comes cut and ready for you, or you and some friends, to assemble. 

I have this Christmas Lodge Get Together Workshop available now.  Would you like one?  What if you already have the stamp set and just want the card kits?  What if you just want the instructions?  No worries...I offer all three.

I am placing the order for the materials for the workshop on September 15th.  I will begin shipping the workshops out as soon as I get the order returned and kits prepared... I'm expecting to have them shipped by the end of the month.  I will email you the PDF instructions when I ship your workshop. 

Option 1: The Entire Get Together Workshop is $70 (shipping and tax are already included.)

• including the stamp set,
• rhinestones,
• glitter,
• prepared card stock and ribbon is .

Option 2: Just the prepared card stock and ribbon is $35 (shipping included)

• You can order multiples of this.  There are enough prepared kits for 6 people to complete 1 each of all three projects.

Option 3: If you only want me to send you the PDF instructions with cutting guidelines, the cost is $3. Lots of photos to help!

Order now and then set aside some time to get together with a friend, or maybe even 5 friends, and make the Christmas Lodge Workshop.

Workshop contents

Entire Workshop $70.00 Card kits only $35.00 PDF Instructions only $3.00