CCC#014: Cards Challenge - Button Up!

Welcome to the November Card Challenge from Catherine and Cathy Create! This month's theme for our card projects: Buttons! I tried to think of something clever to do with buttons, but in the end, I had a few elements in mind that I really wanted to use, so I ended up making this card...

I'm pretty pleased with how it came out. I used sponge daubers to create my own polka dot pattern on the card base. I did some in Soft Sky ink, then some in Versamark, which I embossed with silver embossing powder. All you have to do is ink up the dauber, and use it like a circle stamp. If you give it a very little twist and apply light pressure, you'll get more of a circle rather than a blob. :) Then I cut a piece of vellum 1 inch longer than the card. I adhered it to the back of the card, and then folded it over to the front of the card. You get a really classy overlay effect, plus you can't see the adhesive through the vellum on the front.

Here you can see a little better how the polka dots look through the vellum. Isn't that a neat effect? For the sentiment, I used the Expressions Thinlits dies to cut the word Merry from silver glimmer paper. I love these dies! They're a little fussy, but the look they make is so worth it! Hint: I love using the two-way glue pen to attach these die cuts to my projects.

For the embellishment, I created a pretty layered snowflake using the Festive Flurries stamp set and matching dies. The larger of the two snowflakes is stamped in Soft Sky, and the smaller snowflake is embossed in silver. I know this photo isn't stellar, but you can see the shimmer from that embossing powder. And you can see the button in action here too - It's one of the larger vintage faceted buttons. They're pretty much my favorite! :) It looks like crystal, or ice, and adds a really pretty finish to the snowflake.

So that's it for me today. Now go check out the other design team members' cards. And if you play along with this month's button challenge, you might win some Stampin' Up! blog candy! :)

Until next time…

Happy Stampin'! :)

Christmas in July Week - Day Six: Snowflake Envelope Gift Bag

Day Six? Huh? Yup, you read that right! :) Originally I had planned for Christmas in July Week to go Monday through Friday, with 5 projects in total. But then I decided to kick start things early last Sunday. And I was already planning on a bonus project for this week's Start-to-Finish Sunday video, so then I figured I might as well fill in the empty day with another project! So instead of 5, you get 8 Christmas projects in total. :)

Since I've mostly done cards so far, I wanted to share another gift wrap idea. There were a lot of things I wanted to combine into this project. The final project, I think, might be a little over-the-top, but I still like it.

This is one of my favorite DIY packaging techniques - making a gift bag out of an envelope. Yes! It's so easy and comes out so cute every time! (See my video tutorial on YouTube for instructions.) I used two of my current favorite colors, Pistachio Pudding and Pool Party. Such a pretty combo that can go from summer right to winter! I also added pops of silver with the new Silver Metallic Encore Ink (#132142) from the Holiday Catalog. (It's also available in Gold, #132141.)

I made the tag with the Festive Flurry stamp set (#131778 wood/#131781 clear) and matching Framelits (#132193). Head's up - Savings Alert! These stamps and Framelits also come together in a bundle at a 15% savings! (#133284 wood/#133285 clear) To see how I made the dimensional layered tag check out this video from Stampin' Up!

I also used a new die from the Holiday Catalog - this is definitely in my Top 3 Faves in the whole catalog! It's the Gift Bow Bigz Die (#129977) and it makes two sizes of these amazing paper bows. This is the smaller one. I'll do a video soon showing how to put them together, but it's really quite easy. This style of bow has been everywhere lately, and this die makes it so easy to create the perfect one. Just check out the dimension on this beauty!

WOW! I'm pretty sure one of these is going to be on everything I give this Christmas. :) Love, LOVE this die!

So, stop on back tomorrow for my Christmas in July (...ehrm, August. Yeah, whatever - LOL!) edition of Start-to-Finish Sunday. I'm planning to demonstrate another fun die cutting technique. Until then...

Happy Stampin'! :)

Christmas in July Week - Day Five: Rustic Snowman Card

Hello and Happy Friday! :) Welcome to the 5th day of Christmas in July/August. Did you check out the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog yesterday? It's so awesome!

I just got a box of more new Holiday goodies on Wednesday and I couldn't wait to play. The first thing I grabbed? The adorable Snow Day stamp set (#131892 wood/#131895 clear). Is this little snowman not the cutest?! And he comes with all sorts of accessories too - it's like building your own real snowman, you're only limited by your imagination. :)

I love White Craft Ink on Crumb Cake! It's such a soft look and perfect for a rustic look. Just make sure you give it time to dry before you stamp all the other images on the snowman! (You can always hit it with your heat tool if you're impatient.)

I used the Cherry Cobbler-Old Olive-Crumb Cake combo again, and more of the Season of Style DSP (# 132340). These tones of colors also go great with the rustic look. Oh, and the banner was way easier than it looks too. I just stamped it (the sentiment is already curved), cut it out by hand leaving a "tail" on either end of the sentiment, and bent the tails backward and forward to create the banner ends. The center portion is on Dimensionals, and the ends of the banner are adhered directly to the Cherry Cobbler piece. I used the Window Frames Framelits collection to cut the window.

Hope you have some stampy plans this weekend! Are you getting inspired for your own Christmas projects?

Happy Stampin'! :)

Wine Bottle Tag Featuring Exclusive Single Stamp

Hello! Happy Monday! Can you believe Thanksgiving is this week?! Yikes - where has this year gone?

I've got a fun project to share with you featuring one of the exclusive, never-before-seen Single Stamps. Remember, for every $40 you spend on Stampin' Up! products through my website through December 31st, you'll be able to choose any one of the Single Stamps for FREE! And don't forget that the Online Extravaganza started today - so you have the opportunity to save 20-50% when you shop online!

  

This wine bottle tag is quick and easy to make, but features an eye-catching embellishment that showcases the Bold Snowflake stamp. 

This project is perfect for dressing up a bottle of wine for a hostess gift, or to take to a neighbor's house. But here's another great idea if you don't drink wine: This tag is great on a bottle of holiday-scented hand soap or lotion! Perfect for a teacher gift!

 

I do have a video for you on this project - it's not start-to-finish, but I show how I made the fun embellishment, and how to make the base of the tag. So check it out below, or over on my YouTube channel! Enjoy! 

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Stampin'! :)



Snowflake Wine Bottle Tag Supplies:

InLinkz.com

Hello! Happy almost weekend! I'm still here... and I'm so sorry I've been gone so long! I have a whole bunch of Christmas projects on deck to share with you soon. So I'm starting off today with  a sparkly and shiny winter card.

I love this card! I am so happy with how it turned out. And I love all the texture and sparkle :) This was actually my first time working with Stampin' Up! Glimmer Paper and I'm totally in love. I also made a start-to-finish video for this card. Check it out below, or over on YouTube. Enjoy!

Happy Stampin'! :)




Snowflake Peace Card Supplies

InLinkz.com

Papertrey December Blog Hop Challenge

I always love seeing what other people come up with for the monthly PTI blog hops, but I always either don't have time or don't have any inspiration when the time comes. This month, I've had this card in mind all day, but as far as getting it made - well, I'm just sneaking it in under the wire! :)

The challenge this month is to use left over holiday wrapping items in a card project. Not super tricky, and a lot of fun!

On my card, the red polka dot paper is the B side of a double-sided wrapping paper. I also used up some small pieces of baker's twine that were left after I decorated some jars of tomato sauce I gave to my coworkers.  I used Mister Huey's Calico Shine to make the snowman a little sparkly; I also used some Stickles on the letters, but you can't really see the effect in the photo.

Other supplies:
- PTI Shape-Ups Snowman die set
- PTI Shape-Ups Snowman Accessories stamp set
- PTI Block Alphabet die set
- PTI Hawaiian Shores and Dark Chocolate cardstock
- Stampin' Up Pool Party cardstock
- Pure Luxury by Gina K. Designs 80lb white cardstock

Hope you had a very Merry Christmas!