Christmas Cards

 Here are some great hand-made Christmas cards that I received!  Love the creativity of everyone.

from "Girlfriend" I'm guessing she used her Cricut.

from Gayle - love the deer and the gray's

from Judy - all those kids are done in 3D - very cool!

from Nancy - she colored that cardinal herself!

From Margaret - love that snowman!

from Carol - a cute shaker card.

This one is my favorite I believe!  Love that door - from Cathy (a former member of my SU club until she moved away!)

from my sister, Marianne - love the paper strips.

Marianne made this one for my mom & Angela to give out.

Another member of my SU Club - from Joyce.  Cute way she did the packages.

from Debbie - so elegant!

Designer Paper Sale + Christmas Cards

 Well, I did receive my package on Saturday!!  Hooray!!

Here are a few Christmas cards I have made this week.

This card is a fancy fold and a gift card holder.  It seems like that's what is the #1 thing people like to receive these days (gift cards) so you might want to make a few for the upcoming holidays.

This is the gift card holder closed.  I used a piece of the designer paper from the Plaid Tidings 6x6 stack.

Another simple fun fold card using Shaded Spruce, Real Red and retired designer paper.

I made this card using some of the supplies that came with the package from Michael Diehl that I was waiting for.  I didn't think I'd like the Toile Tidings designer paper but I really do like it on this card.  It's really old fashioned and reminds me of my grandmother's wallpaper!  The bell die is in the Holiday Catalog on page 33 - Sounds of the Season.

Don't forger about the Designer Paper Sale!  

Both of the designer papers that I used in the cards above (Toile Tidings and Plaid Tidings) are ON SALE until October 31!  

Christmas Trees in Plaids

I have started working on Christmas cards.  Do you realize two months from today it will be Christmas??!!!  Where does the time go?!  My theme with the cards today is Christmas trees as you can see. 

I love plaid and the the Wrapped In Plaid 6"x6" DSP is great!  The tree was stamped with Shaded Spruce ink using the Winter Woods stamp set and then die cut with the matching framelet.

This Christmas tree is die cut with the retired Pine die - again using Wrapped in Plaid DSP.

Another tree using the Wrapped In Plaid DSP.  I also used the Stitched Nested Labels and cut one end off.  

More Christmas trees!  The DSP in the background is retired.  I used the Wrapped In Plaid DSP to make the tree on the front.  I die cut different sized squares and then cut them in half to build the tree.

One more tree!  The tree and label are made with some non-Stampin' Up! paper I found in my stash.

Updated Blog & News!

Due to many requests, I have updated my blog!!  Hope you like it.  Plus, I'm sharing a few cards and Stampin' Up news with you today.

It's an exciting day!  Stampin' Up! has put a whole list of wonderful stamp sets on sale - 15% off!!  This rarely ever happens so this is a "not to miss" day.  My list continues to grow.  I will be putting in an order tonight so if you would like something, please use my Hostess Code JX9U9E44.

It's an exciting day!!  Stampin' Up! has put a whole list of wonderful stamp sets on sale - 15% off!!  This rarely ever happens so this is a "not to miss" day!  HERE is a link to the stamps that are included in this sale.

 ONLINE ORDER DEADLINE IS 11:50 MT TONIGHT!!

Here are two Christmas cards that I made using MAKING CHRISTMAS BRIGHT stamp set.  It is included in the sale today!!

This is one of my favorite cards!  The card base uses the Very Vanilla Thick Cardstock.  Next I layered a piece of Silver Foil paper and on top of that is a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  I stamped the circles and the sentiment with Versamark ink and embossed them with Silver Embossing Powder.  The bulbs and the sentiment are on Very Vanilla cardstock.  

Another favorite is this card which uses non-traditional Christmas colors.  I love the Blushing Bride, Mint Macaron and Crumb Cake together.

I've had several people inquire about Ashley and her move saga.  She is pretty well settled in her home in Maryland and loving it.  She has an offer on her condo in Hawaii and we have our fingers crossed that things will work out.  She had an inspection done last weekend and it turned out that there is not enough electricity amps getting into the condo.  BUT .... it is not her problem - it is Hawaii Electric's problem.  Last spring when I was visiting her, her neighbor was having problems and Hawaii Electric was working on fixing his electricity.  It turns out, it is a problem for the whole complex and will probably cost thousands to get it fixed!  She also has a back up offer so we are hoping one of them goes through SOON!!

Christmas Cards from 2017

I received some beautiful Christmas cards before I left for Hawaii.  I thought I'd share a few of them.

This was a beautiful frame that my downline, Debbie Michael, made for me.  She did a wonderful job on this!  I love it!

This was also made by Debbie.  It is a many dimensional card!  I asked her if all her Christmas cards were like this - if so, she deserves a medal!!  Isn't it beautiful?!!

Painted Harvest - love it!

I don't know why it took me so long to jump on the band wagon and order Painted Harvest stamp set from the Holiday Catalog.  But I'm so glad I finally did!  I played around with the stamp set yesterday and came up with several cards using this stamp set - even a Christmas card!

For this card, I made the plaid background using the Brushstrokes background stamp.  I inked it in Real Red and stamped it; next I inked in Garden Green and turned the stamp 90 degrees and stamped again.  I stamped the smaller flower (this is a two step stamp set) with Garden Green and used the little dots in the set to stamp Red berries.  The "J" and "Y" are from a really old alphabet stamp set that I have but it would also look great using the Large Letters Framelits.

The color combo for this card is Marina Mist (for the large flower stamp) and Night of Navy for the smaller flower.  It is super easy to use this two step stamp - no worries on lining it up.  The middle of the flower is Soft Suede with Espresso dots.  The leaves are stamped in Wild Wasabi.  I stamped off (2nd generation stamping) on everything except the Espresso dots.  I just love the gingham ribbon!!

This color combo is Crushed Curry and Cajun Craze.  Cajun Craze is not a color I use often, but when fall comes, it is my "go to" color!  I staped the leaves in Old Olive (stamping off).

My final color combo is Wisteria Wonder and Elegant Eggplant with Pear Pizzaz leaves and Daffodil center.

So what do you think????  So many ways to use this stamp set.

Christmas Cards plus more traveling pics!

I'm on a roll this week with  keeping my blog updated!  I have been working on Christmas cards all week getting ready for my annual Christmas Card Stamp a Stack.  I am still working on the date - late November I know for sure but I am surveying my regulars to see what works best for them.  I always have room for new people though (as long as I know in advance!)  I design 10-15 cards and the gals each pick which ones they want to make (in groups of 5).  When they come to my house on the designated day, I have everything ready to go with a lot of things cut out and embossed.  All you have to bring with you is your basic supplies - adhesive, bone folder, scissors, etc.  The cost is

$35 for 20 cards   /   $65 for 40 cards   /   $95 for 60 cards.  (amounts will be pro-rated for other quantities), including envelopes.  Contact me if you are interested in attending!

This is such a cute set but it is a hostess set called Cozy Critters.

I love this using the Jars framelits and Jar of Cheer.

I think I am obsessed with the Christmas Pines thinlits and stamps!  Love, love, love this set!

I don't know that you will see these 3 in the finals mainly because they are too time consuming.  I try to do great cards but without a lot of time having to be spent on them!  That is sometimes tricky to do!

OK - now a few more pictures - this time from Sonoma and our wine tasting!

This was one of our last stops and it was a good thing for me!  The winery was in a cave.

We got pretty good at taking selfies!

Yum - I got chocolate with this tasting!

Taking a break on a beautiful day.

Help yourself to a bottle!

Cable Knit Folder

I absolutely love the Cable Knit embossing folder.  It makes such a great dimensional impression.  I like to sprinkle a little water on it before running it through the Big Shot to make sure I get a really deep impression.

For this card, I used the Cable Knit embossing folder on a piece of Whisper White card stock and adhered it to the Garden Green card base.  I punched the two trees out of the Warmth and Cheer Paper Stack (pg. 13) with the Perfect Pines dies.  Very simple but I love it.  I used some dark green buttons that I had in my button jar and some twine and bakers twine threaded through.  The sentiment is from Cookie Cutter Christmas.

When I first looked at this paper stack, I wasn't sold on it.  But what I like about it is that it can be used for other cards, not just Christmas.  It's a great stack of paper for masculine cards.

Tag Christmas Tree Card

I have been working on Christmas cards for my Christmas Stamp a Stack.  This is one of the cards I will be offering.

This card uses the Gently Falling embossing folder along with the Tag Punch.

Here is another card using items from the Holiday Catalog.  This one uses the Woodland embossing folder (which is on the retiring list - what is that about???).  The stamp set I used is Among the Branches.

I have not been feeling well this week.  I got a good ole' sinus infection I believe.  I went to the doctor this afternoon and saw his P.A. who gave me an antibiotic.  Plus, I have been drinking my secret concoction - apple cider vinegar, honey and hot water.  It seems to be helping!  So hopefully this will take care of everything before Thanksgiving!  Ashley will be here Thursday and we plan on going to the Southern Living Christmas Show on Friday.  I took Sonny to his ortho. doc today too.  They removed the bandage and said it looked really good.  Today is his final day of in-home PT and his doctor said he did not have to go to physical therapy as long as he was good about exercising it himself, which I know he will be.  He is itching to drive and get away from the house!!  I second that!

Card Box with Cards

My sister and mom are going to a Lions Club Convention this weekend.  My sister, Angela, asked me if I could donate some items for the cause.  I made them a few calendars (digital) and Sonny made a couple of wooden calendar holders for them.  Then I pulled out all my Paper Pumpkin kits that I had not totally used all the parts and pieces and made several cards plus a little box to put them in.  These are two of the sets below.

Today was bittersweet.  I went to the my friend's funeral.  It was a lovely tribute to her but oh so sad. I started crying driving to town and the flood works kept going through the ceremony.  She and Julian had a combined family of 5 boys - 2 hers and 3 his but she raised them all.  They were all there with their families.  Her grandson is in the Marines and looked so handsome in his dress blues.  I just about lost it when he walked down the church aisle carrying the urn with her ashes and at the end, when he retrieved them from the altar and carried them out of the church.  And then, more crying when I heard the bagpipes playing outside the church as we all departed.  I don't think I've ever attended a Catholic funeral.  I told one of my friends who I was sitting with and who is also Catholic, that they sure do a lot of getting up and sitting down.  She told me that was their version of aerobics! After the church service, we visited with the family and had lunch that the Womens Auxillary had prepared.  There was a slide show of pictures of Sharon over the years that was nice to watch.  They also had music playing - a lot of 60s music with a lot of Aretha Franklin!  Sharon's ringtone was an Aretha song so it was very fitting.

I got my new refrigerator today!  So glad.  Tomorrow will be spent transferring all my food into it!

Reason for the Season

We had a fun weekend despite the fact that it rained all weekend, but we really need the rain so I am not complaining!.  We went out with friends to American Ale House in Hickory on Saturday night and of course on Sunday went to Big Al's to watch the Steelers game with friends.  It was an ugly game but we came away with a win.  The bad thing is Big Ben (our quarterback) was carted off with an injury to his leg.  Looks like he might be out 3-4 weeks ... not good!

I have a few other swaps to share with you to give you some ideas for your own card making.  These cards all use the Reason for the Season stamp with the Fancy Flower punch.  These come as a bundle.

Delicate Ornaments

I have been working fast and furious on my swaps for Quarterly.  I have a little over a week to get them all done!  I signed up for: 3x3 card (11), full card (25), 3D project (15), tags (16) and the shoebox card (31)!  Plus someone had to drop out this week & I volunteered to be a "swap angel" and do another 16 tags!  Right now, I have completed all except the 3D and the extra tag swap so I am doing ok.  

The Southern Living Group that is part of Newcomers is hosting a tea and fashion show next Wednesday.  I was honored to be asked to be one of the models.  I went for my fitting yesterday at Chicos.  I have never shopped at Chicos - mainly because of the price of their clothes but I also find their sizing system very confusing!  They don't size their clothes the standard way, like 10, 12, 14, etc. but instead they are size 0, 1, 2, 3!  Very confusing for an old person like me!  I was a bit leary that the clothes were going to be too "hip" and young for me but I was pleasantly surprised.  I ended up buying a pair of jeans even though I don't usually pay big bucks for jeans!  But they fit so well I couldn't resist.  Everything in the store was 40% off so the $90 jeans were just over $50 after tax.  I will be modeling them next week.    (Pictures to follow!)

OK - I have more swap cards to share.

I loved this card using the Delicate Ornaments Thinlet Die (pg 15)  It also uses the new Curvy Corner Trio punch,   The pictures below show the unique fold of this card.

Another great card using the Embellished Ornaments stamp set and Thinlets with the Season of Cheer DSP and another unique fold.  But .... can you spot the mistake on this one?

Just the center panel opens.  The sentiment is punched out with the new Washi Label Punch (from the main catalog.)

OK - the mistake that I see is the DSP on the left side is upside down!