Baja Snowflake

It may seem silly to be creating a Christmas card at the end of January, but I am playing along with the ladies at 'Tis the Season for their latest color challenge (TTS9)!

Instead of Marina Mist, I used Baja Breeze. I have a TON of Baja Breeze felt snowflakes left over from another project, and I'm trying to use them up. I also wanted to use the Ski Slope DSP because it has BOTH colors in it!

For my layout, I used the sketch from Mojo Monday #330 (MOJO330).

My "tall & skinny" card measures 4" by 7" so I had to make a custom envelope for it. I used the same pattern of DSP that I used on the card, so it coordinates beautifully!

Here is a peek at just the envelope itself. If you have been holding off on getting the Envelope Punch Board, I highly recommend it. It is definitely on my list of top 3 stamping tools I couldn't live without!

Purchase this card here!

Stamps: Mini Mates
Paper: Ski Slope DSP, Baja Breeze CS, Chocolate Chip CS, Whisper White CS
Colors: Chocolate Chip Ink
Tools: Circles Collection Framelits, Big Shot, 1" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Envelope Punch Board
Accessories: Little Felt Flurries, Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Rhinestones, Stampin' Dimensionals 

italics = retired product

CAS Christmas

CAS = Clean and Simple, for any newbies reading. :) The colors for this card were inspired by the 'Tis the Season Challenge #4 (TTS4). I wanted to use twine on my card (the optional trimming), but I only have the thick hemp kind. So I started searching around on SplitCoastStampers for ideas of how to use my twine and found this card, which I completely CASEd.

I love the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set! It has 24 different cute little Christmas images that are great for punching out. That's just what I did on this card. They were also calling out for some bling. :)

I'll be sending this card, along with any other holiday cards I can make in time, to Operation Write Home as Any-Hero mail. I've donated cards to this organization before - they are awesome. They provide handmade cards for deployed servicemen/women to use to send notes home to their loved ones. Additionally, they provide "Any-Hero mail" with each box of cards. This Any-Hero mail gets distributed to the people who don't get as much other mail. The idea is to write some quick words of thanks and encouragement to them for serving our country. Check out any of the hyperlinks I've included - here is the one specifically for holiday Any-Hero mail. I hope you'll consider sending in some of your own handmade cards sometime, or sending Any-Hero mail for Christmas or another time of year. (No glitter! Glitter can flake off and make our soldiers susceptible to being spotted using night-vision goggles.)

Stamps: Jolly Bingo Bits, Warm Words 
Paper: Marina Mist CS, Cherry Cobbler CS, Baked Brown Sugar CS, Whisper White CS
Colors: Marina Mist Ink, Cherry Cobbler Ink, Baked Brown Sugar Ink
Tools: 1" Square Punch, 1-1/4" Square Punch 
Accessories: Rhinestones, Hemp Twine, Stampin' Dimensionals, Glue Dots

italics = retired product

More Snow Festival Cards

Here are a couple more Christmas cards using the (retired) Snow Festival Designer Series Paper. One sheet in particular is so cool - it is divided up into sixteen 3" square panels. Cut them all apart, and you have a focal point for sixteen different cards! This cute little owl is one of them. I'm entering this card into the SU-Only Challenge - Favorite Sentiment. I just love the font on this "merry"!

This next card was completely random - I wanted to do something with the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set, and punch things out. Then I realized: including Rudolph, Santa has 9 reindeer. So this cutie was created!

Stamps: Jolly Bingo Bits, Merry 
Paper: Snow Festival DSP, Cherry Cobbler CS, Gumball Green CS, Whisper White CS, Soft Suede Textured CS (but could use the current Core'dinations paper to achieve the same look) 
Colors: Soft Suede Ink, Cherry Cobbler Marker, Gumball Green Marker, Basic Black Marker (for the reindeer noses)
Tools: 1" Circle Punch, Paper-Piercer (for brad), Big Shot, Envelope Liners Framelits
Accessories: Googly Eyes, Real Red brad, Stampin' Dimensionals 

italics = retired product

Manly Christmas Cards

While I was playing along with 'Tis the Season challenge #3, I came up with lots of other Christmas card ideas that didn't follow the sketch. Here are two that my friend thinks are "manly." I'm entering these into Great Impressions' November Challenge - Christmas (GISMC11), Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Keep it Clean and Simple, and the Penny Black Challenge - Anything Goes. On this first one, I love how Dasher fits perfectly inside one of the window frames. Although it's hard to see in the pictures, I paper-pierced around the edge of the brown layer.

I used the Window Frame Framelits on this next card as well, but added a little bit of a different twist. Instead of layering two frames, I layered one frame over a square. It gives it a different, funky look. Again, I used the Festive Paper-Piercing Pack to paper-pierce along the outside of the red window frame. I took a close-up, so you can see it on this card.

Stamps: Dasher, Perfect Presentation 
Paper: Merry Moments DSP, Real Red CS, Garden Green CS, Chocolate Chip CS, Very Vanilla CS
Colors: Chocolate Chip Ink/Marker, Garden Green Marker
Tools: Big Shot, Window Frame Framelits, Festive Paper-Piercing Pack, Paper-Piercer, Paper-Piercing Mat, Paper Snips (to cut out Christmas tree), Envelope Punch Board
Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals 

italics = retired product

New Product and Weekly Deals

Look at the beautiful new Festive Flurry Ornament Kit that Stampin' Up! just released!

All you need is a hot glue gun - the kit includes the pre-printed and scored cardstock to make ten ornaments. It also includes the ribbon and rhinestones for the finishing touch! I plan to use them as decorations for a friend's baby's birthday party in December. It's her first birthday, and the theme of the party is "Winter One-derland." How cute (and appropriate!).

Stampin' Up! even made a video to show how to make these beauties. Last year's ornament kit sold out in less than a week, so get it while supplies last!



Also, check out the new Weekly Deals!

A Winter Wreath

Hehe I'm following an autumn wreath with a winter wreath! I managed to squeeze three challenges into this one card: Sketch Saturday #283, Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - Welcome Home, and Color Throwdown #267. (I'm also submitting this card to the Christmas Cards All Year Round blog's November challenge - Winter Wonderland.)

With the two green colors, I thought "I could make a wreath!" However, I don't have any wreath stamps, and wasn't feeling creative enough to free-hand one. So, I changed gears and went with a non-traditional wreath of snowflakes, using the adorable retired hostess set, Four Seasons! (Love the little birdies in this set... even though they didn't make an appearance for this particular card.)

I had trouble coming up with a sentiment to use. "Merry Christmas" just didn't seem appropriate for such a non-traditional Christmas card color scheme. I finally found this retired sentiment, which I thought was clever. As in, "warm" wishes to combat the cold snow!

I think the Glimmer Brads add just the right amount of sparkle to jazz up this card.

I made a coordinating Very Vanilla envelope using the Envelope Liners Framelit dies in the Holiday Catalog. I just recently got them, but they are a MUST-HAVE! Between them and the Envelope Punch Board, I ALWAYS make a matching envelope for my cards now!

As a fun little surprise for the recipient, I kept stamping the background snowflakes onto the back of the card as well (not pictured).


Stamps: Four Seasons, Hugs & Wishes 
Paper: Tempting Turquoise Prints DSP, Crumb Cake CS, Tempting Turquoise CS, Old Olive CS, Always Artichoke CS, Very Vanilla CS
Colors: Tempting Turquoise Marker, Old Olive Marker, Always Artichoke Ink/Marker
Tools: 1" Circle Punch, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Hexagon Punch (for flagged ends), Paper Piercer (for brads), Big Shot, Envelope Liners Framelits
Accessories: Brights Glimmer Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals 

italics = retired product