CAS Christmas

Here it is....my first Christmas card of the year!  I'm really liking Stampin' Up's new Winter Frost Speciality DSP.  I figure that I can use some of it for Christmas cards and whatever is left will be great for winter birthday, thank you and other cards.  Gotta love versatility!

I used the  CAS -Colours and Sketches Challenge #42 sketch for this card.  I really like the simplicity of the clean lines in this sketch. 

Here's what I did with it:

 

 

Love, LOVE, LOVE, Island Indigo and Pool Party together!  I'm so happy that Stampin' Up kept those two colours and used them in this DSP.  So great!

 

 

I used one of my favourite, easy techniques -- "thumping" -- to create the look on the ornament.  The "Ornament Keepsakes" stamp set is still available by the way.  Here is a close up of the ornament:

 

While you can't see it here, I also stamped it again using the Illuminate ink to give it a bit of a shimmer.  To finish it off I used a little bit of Silver 1/8" Ribbon.

Happy Stamping!

Ornamental Elegance

If you've seen the front of Stampin Up's Holiday Catalogue you've probably admired the ornament on it and maybe even wondered, "How can I make that?"  Well, you're question has been answered and you can make them now, in time for Christmas!

For only $17.95 you can purchase your "Ornamental Elegance" kit and make 10 homemade, GORGEOUS ornaments to give as gifts or keep for yourself ; )

The Ornamental Elegance Kit (132832) is $17.95 and includes:

• Die-Cut Cardstock Elements
• Cherry Cobbler 3-1/2" Scalloped Tulle Ribbon
• Natural Linen Thread
• Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons
• Large Pearl Basic Jewels

Act fast though for 2 reasons:

1.  Supplies are limited
2.  You want to have them in time to make them before Christmas ; )

To place your order, contact me directly or order online at http://lauragardiner.stampinup.net


Stampin' Up also has 2 more FANTASTIC bundles that make Holiday giving super simple!

Here are the details:
Trimmings & Tags Bundle
Item 132769
$17.50 (a $21.95 value)
Includes

• Gusseted Cellophane Bags (25 bags; 5" x 3" x 11-1/2")
• Snow Festival Designer Printed Tags (25 double-sided tags; 4-1/2" x 3-1/8")
• Cherry Cobbler 1/4" Sweater Trim (10 yards)

Petite Treats Bundle
Item 132770
$18.25 (a $22.95 value)
Includes

• Glassine Bags with die-cut edges (10 bags; 3" x 5" x 1-1/2")
• Handmade Holidays Stitched Felt (8 pieces)
• Gumball Green 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon (10 yards)

Again, check out http://lauragardiner.stampinup.net or contact me to place your order!

Ornamental Doilies

For today's card I used the template that the good ladies at Try Stampin' on Tuesday put out for the challenge this week.  Be sure to check out their blog to see all of the entries.

I thought I was going to use this for a workshop I'm doing tomorrow night for my former upline.  But I changed my mind.  That doesn't mean that I can't share it with you though : )

It's a LOT more fussy and frilly than I normally would do, but I was playing around with my Delicate Doilies Sizzlits die and the Candlelight Christmas Speciality DSP.  I really like the flocked paper (the horizontal stripe), it adds some neat texture to the card.  I decided to stick with just Real Red and Very Vanilla for this card but my Real Red ink pad is so old that it looks pink now when I stamp!  That's the main reason I'm not doing this card for the workshop tomorrow. 

I'm really hoping to take advantage of Stampin' Up's Ink-credible offer and get myself a whole new colour family of ink pads!!!!  It's such a great deal and the "Brights" family is top of my list, although my "Subtles" are showing their age too!  I'm finding that after using the new firm foam ink pads I don't always like going back to the old ones.

Anyhow, in other news, my sister-in-law and I have launched our new blog, Magpie Sisters.  As the name might suggest, it is a place for us to share our favourite things, new finds and other randomness in our lives.  I hope you check it out and become a follower : )

Happy Stamping!

Freshly Made Ornaments

I've recently started following the Freshly Made Sketches blog.  This challenge blog is SO my style; clean lines, simple designs; I really like it.   Though I've been following it I have not had a chance to enter a challenge yet.   Last night, in another late night stamping session (and yes, "Jesus Freak" was playing in the background again) I created a card using this week's sketch.

Here's the inspiration:



Be sure to check out all of the samples this week!!

Here is my card:

For this card I turned to some new product again, mostly from Stampin' Up's Holiday Catalogue as well as some "old" favourites.  It's been a while since I've used Baja Breeze and it was nice to use it again on this card.  The colour combination in the Snow Festival DSP pack is so great!!!  I used Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green and Baja Breeze for this card.

I had fun with my Ornaments Keepsakes stamp set and Framelits die in combination with the Festive Paper Piercing pack.  Yet again, Stampin' Up has done a great job of creating coordinating products that are just so hard to resist!!  Contact me to learn how you can get the Festive Paper-Piercing Pack for FREE!!!!

Delicate Designs Textured Embossing folder and Festive Paper-Piercing close-ups

 

It's hard to see but for the white strip I used the Delicate Designs Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Believe it or not, I've had this folder since June and this is the first time I've used it!  I love it for holiday cards.

 

I stamped the inside with a smaller ornament stamp....it couldn't be just one colour though : )  I realised after I had finished the card that I had neglected to use a sentiment but in the end I really like how the front turned out and I didn't want to clutter it up with a sentiment. 

On another note, just before I started this blog entry my husband came in from outside saying "Quick!! 4 turkeys are walking in between the houses!"  He and my son followed them around the house into the backyard and here is one of the photos I snapped:

Mmm....turkey

These four, a mother and 3 young ones, have been a fixture in our neighbourhood since the spring.  We have not seen them IN our yard until today (apparently they were around yesterday too).  I'm glad they didn't get eaten for Thanksgiving last week : )   For the past 3 hours or so they've just been hanging around in one of our neighbour's yards....even a rambunctious little dog didn't scare them away!

 

Finally, if you haven't already, become a follower of my blog by next Friday, October 19th and you will be eligible to win some blog candy!!!!  Click here to see what you could win.

 

Happy Stamping!