Pretty Poinsettia Card

I want to thank you for your patience with me during the recent bloggy absence.  My mother has been ill, and wound up in the hospital over the Thanksgiving holiday.  She is now living with me until she can get her strength back up.  We spent the last week getting settled, and now are working on finding our routine that works for us.   My time for creating will be limited for the time being, but it will be oh-so-important for me to have that creative escape!

Are you done creating your Christmas cards, or are you still finishing them off?  I used to be pretty
"on the ball" with my cards, and got them in the mail the day after Thanksgiving, but the last couple years, it seems that I'm still creating cards up until a few weeks before Christmas.  I do tend towards a slightly more "generic" Christmas card during this time frame though - something I can use as a thank you card or for well-wishes.

Today's card was very simple  I started by stamping my poinsettia images, and the leaves, then die cut them out.  I also dry embossed a piece of Whip Cream card stock while I had my machine out.  Then I layered everything together with a piece of printed paper from the Cheer paper pack.  A few sequins, and a little sparkle silk applied to the flowers with a blending brush and water, finished the card off.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Much love,                    

Supplies Used:

Use this easy list to find the products I used in my projects. (Contains affiliate links - where I earn a commission from purchases made from my links, at no cost to you. Your support helps me keep this blog going, and continue to create - Thank you! Affiliates and disclosures can be found here.) 

Simple Poinsettia Card | Video

Hi there! Today I'm sharing a super easy, simple Poinsettia card.  I sat down to make this only having a vague idea what I was going to make, and it took me just under 17 minutes from start to finish.  I do think this would be a fun card to create in multiples, if you are still looking for ideas for your Christmas cards.  

For today's card, I used the Poinsettia Burst Stamps, and the coordinating dies, along with the Flannel Life Background Stamp - all from Fun Stampers Journey  (Affiliate links used, at no cost to you.) 


I began by stamping my flannel background with Cool Pool Ink.  Once stamped, I stamped the flowers with Cranberry Bliss Ink and immediately coated them with a blend of Clear Embossing Powder, and Sparkle Dust (2:1 ratio).  I heat set the embossing powder before die cutting the flowers out.  Then I trimmed the flannel panel to 3.25" x 4.5".

I laid the flowers out on the flannel panel, to figure out where to stamp the leaves, and then stamped the leaves in a triangular layout, using Fresh Forest Ink.  I attached the flowers using Easy Glide adhesive, and foam squares, and then attached the panel to an A2, side-folding, card base made from Whip Cream card stock.  A few scattered Fashion Gold pieces finished the card off.

I love the pop of Cool Pool behind the more traditional red and green colors.  I hope you enjoyed this card, and it inspired you.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used:

Use this easy list to find the products I used in my projects. (Contains affiliate links - where I earn a commission from purchases made from my links, at no cost to you. Your support helps me keep this blog going, and continue to create - Thank you! Affiliates and disclosures can be found here.) 

Christmas Poinsettia Card | Video

I've wanted to recreate this card design for some time, but had not quite figured out what stamp combo I wanted to use.  When I was going through some of my Christmas stamps though, that particular design  immediately struck me with these two stamp sets.

As always, a full list of the products used in this project is at the bottom of this post.  Compensated affiliate links are used where possible, at no cost to you.  

I started out, by cutting masks - lots, and lots, of masks.  I stamped the image on sticky notes, and then trimmed out the stamped image right along the edge.  Then, I started stamping my flower.  I would stamp a flower image, then mask the image to stamp the next flower.  I stamped one more flower than I had created masks, so I did have to move one mask when I went back and stamped the greenery.

Once I stamped my panel, I die cut the coordinating die from the center of the panel.  Then, I temporarily adhered the panel down, so that I could I line up the stamp with the die cut, and I stamped the sentiment in Clear Pigment Ink, onto my Whip Cream Card Base.  I removed the stamped panel, so that I could heat emboss the sentiment. and then reattached it with foam squares for a little dimension.

I realized after I had attached the panel, that I had wanted to add some Sparkle Silk, that was no problem, however. I simply put the die cut portion of the panel in place while I added the Sparkle Silk, and then removed it after, so that the sentiment was still "clean".

Thanks for stopping by!

Much love,                    

Supplies Used:

Use this easy list to find the products I used in my projects. (Contains affiliate links - where I earn a commission from purchases made from my links, at no cost to you. Your support helps me keep this blog going, and continue to create - Thank you! Affiliates and disclosures can be found here.) 

Stamps: 

Poinsettia Burst SS-0524, Holiday Script Stamp & Die Bundle BD-0160

Inks:

Cranberry Bliss True Color Fusion Ink IP-0049, Peaches & Cream True Color Fusion Ink IP-0149. Fresh Forest True Color Fusion Ink IP-0013, Green Olive True Color Fusion Ink IP-0072, Clear Pigment Ink Pad IP-0102, Gold Embossing Powder IP-0101, Sparkle Silk IP-0126

Papers:

Whip Cream 8.5" x 11" Card Stock CS-0040

Tools:
Journey Platinum Machine TO-0090,  Journey Blooms Paper Trimmer TO-0039, Crease Tool TO-0040, Detail Pro Shears (4.5") TO-0063, Heat Gun TO-0083, Inkadinkado Stamp-A-Ma-Jig Stamp Positioner, Journey Colorless Blender JM-0095, Dauber Dowel - Large TO-0138
Adhesives:
Easy Glide Permanent Adhesive Runner AD-0081, Journey Foam Squares - Medium AD-0085

Designer Showcase Blog Hop | Christmas Tags

Welcome to another Designer's Showcase Blog Hop! This month we are featuring Christmas Gift Tags.  

I love making gift tags.  They are all the fun of a card front, PLUS you get to attach them to a fun gift!  I chose to begin my tags by cutting the largest oval die with the piercing detail.

To download the supply list for today's project - click here

 Both tags were embossed using Bloom Benefit Embossing Folders.  The Brocade Imprints Folder (on the "Christmas Tag") from the Annual Catalog, and the Ho Ho Ho Bold Embossing Folder (on the "Peace" tag) from the Holiday Catalog.

On the Peace tag, I used a large snowflake die cut with the Snow Blooms Die Set.  I mixed some Sparkle Silk and water on a pallet to the side, then painted it onto the snowflake.

I used the same technique to add sparkle to the poinsettias on the Christmas tag.  Both tags also included heat embossed and die cut sentiments. 

The punch press made the hole in the top to add some Journey Twine, and organza ribbon to finish off the tags.

Off to the next stop

Next up you are headed to Angela's blog, . You are going to love her amazing projects! Be sure leave some comment love on the projects that you see along the hop.   

If you get lost along the way, here's a handy list of the stops: 

Angela Kelley

Cindy Bristow

Carrie Rhoades

Sara Sherlock - You are here

Thanks for stopping by!

Much love,                                                                             

                                              

Fun Stampers Journey Supplies Used:

Flannel Christmas

When I was young, my grandma decided that my sister and I needed to make our own quilts for our beds.  So, she took us shopping for material.  We were supposed to pick out something that coordinated.  Being sisters, and very different from one another, we struggled to find a pattern that we could both agree on.  But we finally settled on a simple plaid - mine in red and black, and my sister's in royal blue and black.  We took the fabric home, and grandma helped us put everything together to tie and bind the quilts.  

I used that quilt for 25 years, but finally this past year, I had to admit it was finally irreparable.  The fabric had become so thin, that it was shredding into strips.  The quilt is gone now, but I have an association with red and black plaid that comes from that.  This particular pattern in these colors always triggers memories of my grandma helping me with that quilt.

For today's card, I brought in a bit of gold and white to the classic red and black plaid.  I love how they pop against the darker tones.  Lots and lots of layering went into this card, to add interest and depth.

I hope you will have a wonderful holiday tomorrow!  If you are traveling, please be safe.  Enjoy the turkey & taters, and know that I'm very grateful for YOU! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Much love,                                                                             

                                              

Supplies Used:

Due to the merger between FSJ and Spellbinders, the links on the photos below do not work.  If you click the banner below, you can search the shop for each of the items in question.  (Contains an affiliate link - where I earn a commission from purchases made from my link, at no cost to you. Your support helps me keep this blog going, and continue to create - Thank you! Affiliates and disclosures can be found here.) 

Christmas Botanicals

I've spent the last week and a half decorating the inside of my home for Christmas. (If you follow me on Instagram, you'll have seen a few peeks!)  I love this season, and love adding festive touches throughout my house.  One of the first things I put out are the garlands, plants, wreaths, and trees.  I love how adding these florals and greenery makes everything feel more "holiday" without any other pieces.  

For the card I'm sharing today, I wanted to focus on some of these seasonal botanical elements.

Download the supply list for today's card here.

I started with a background paper with the gorgeous poinsettias, berries, and branches.  Then I added a panel that had branches stamped in two colors of green.  I wanted to add a little more depth where the branches were, so I brought in a third, and softer, tone of green with some sponging. 

A sentiment stamped in black , and a splatter of cranberry bliss silk finished off the panel, which was attached with foam squares.  

Super fast, super easy, and VERY pretty!  One more Christmas card completed! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Much love,                                                                             

                                              

Fun Stampers Journey Supplies Used:

Poinsettia Card from Sketch

Download the supply list for today's card here.

The team I am on, as a Fun Stampers Journey Coach, does a weekly challenge that varies from week to week.  This week, the challenge was a sketch challenge.  As soon as I saw it, I knew exactly what I was going to do, and it meant another Christmas card checked off the list!  

Reds and white, with a bit of sparkly black and gold - perfect for Christmastime - don't you think?

And it really put me in a Christmas mood.  I'm breaking into my decorations this weekend.  I adore Christmas, and the magic around it, and hate limiting it to the busy few weeks right before the holiday.  I love having a few extra weeks to really enjoy my favorite things that only come out once a year.

As always, the supplies used are listed below.  Have you seen something that you would like to add to your craft stash?  I would love to have you as a customer!

Thanks for stopping by!

Much love,                                                                             

                                              

Fun Stampers Journey Supplies Used:

Brocade Imprints Embossing Folder - FREE with Bloom Benefits

Joyful Christmas Card

For the last several years, I worked in a small scrapbook/craft store, and I know that many people feel that they are not creative.  I can't tell you the number of people that would look around at the stacks of papers, and just sign with frustration, as they would tell me they didn't know where to start.  I very much feel that EVERYONE is creative, but many people have not nurtured that side, and are unable to see how creative they can be.

I'm currently enrolled in a Business Development Boot Camp, and each week, we receive a stamping related assignment.  Last week, the assignment was to copy a card shown in the 2017-2018 Annual Inspiration Book & Catalog, but change up the stamps and colors. The point of this assignment is to actually show, how you don't HAVE to be creative - you can use the layouts and designs that others share as a starting off point, and then adjust to your favorite colors, or the stamps you have.  Let others do the hard work for you!

For my card, I used the cover image as my starting off point.  I copied the layout exactly, but switched to a Christmas theme, using Kraft, red, green, and gold as my color pallet.  The card "feels" different, even though the elements and placement are essentially the same.  

I find this is a great technique to use as a jumping off point.  Everyone has the ability to create, but, like all muscles, when you haven't used it for some time, you have to train it.

 "You can't use up creativity. The more you use the more you have."  -Maya Angelou

I'd like to challenge you to try this same exercise.  Pick a card, from the current catalog, or even from Pinterest, and change up the colors and stamps.  Be sure to come back and share it with me, by leaving a link to your blog or social media post in the comments below!  Happy Crafting!

Thanks for stopping by!

Much love,                                                                             

                                              

Fun Stampers Journey Supplies Used:

Christmas Words

Another Christmas card for the pile!  I don't know about you, but each card I get made in advance of the Christmas crazies, makes me feel like I'm really on top of things (I'm not, but it feels like it!).   

I love combining sentiments - the Text Happy Stamp Set makes adding a little extra something to to a basic sentiment easy.

Thanks for stopping by!

Much love,                                                                             

                                              

Fun Stampers Journey Supplies Used:

Gleaming Poinsettia Card

In my world, it's never too early for Christmas.  We love Christmas in my house, and go all out - decorating our yard, home, and creating special handmade treats for those around us.  For many years now, I've sent handmade Christmas cards to my friends and family.  The list keeps getting longer - so the number of cards needed keeps growing.  Which means starting the process of creating the cards earlier and earlier!  

For this card, I started with one of the $100 Bloom Benefits, the Brocade Imprints Embossing Folder.  I turned it backwards to use with some clear embossing ink brushed across the raised images.  I wanted something reminiscent of a fancy wallpaper, and once the panel was debossed, I was able to sprinkle on some gold embossing powder to fill the images.  Because it was not perfectly inked, this gave a very cool distressed look to the panel.  

I wanted to make some super sparkly poinsettias for this card, and really take the BLING level up.  So I pulled out an old trick, to make the flowers shine.

I really like the way this card turned out.  All the gleam, and sparkle really appeal to may love of shiny things.

Thanks for stopping by!

Much love,                                                                             

        

                                      

PS. Coach Collective is here!  Get the amazing September Tutorial Collection here.  

Fun Stampers Journey Supplies: