24th Window - sparkle!

So thought I would end this advent blog with a double window of my latest decoration. My initial idea was to show it on my Christmas tree, but as I write this there isn't even a light on it - ho ho ho!

 

 



 

Stamp set: Four Seasons

Ink: Whisper White, Pacific Point

Card stock: Whisper White, Pacific Point

Misc: Silver Glass Stampin' Glitter, Rhinestones

 

I have stamped 6 of each colour of the winter version of this stamp set then punched it out with the 2 1/2" circle punch and then punched out the central bird with the 1" circle punch. I folded the circles in half then glued them together to make the 3D spheres of winter joy - to make up for the persistant rain outside! Added sparkle to the edges of the baubles - tah dah instant Christmas!

 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, now to finish my own Christmas Tree :-) Gen xxx

23rd Advent Window - O Christmas Tree!

Travelling around, everyone seems to have their Christmas Tree up with bright lights shining out into the dark night, a bit like this . . .

 

This stamp is seriously stunning, so have let the detail shine.

 

Stamp set: Snow Swirled

Ink: Versa Mark for Gumball Green Embossing powder

Card stock: Basic Black

Misc: Silver glimmer paper and star punch form Merry Minis set, Rhinestones

 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, Gen xxx



22nd Advent Window - Decoration!

So with the Festive Season here, even I am getting round to the idea that decorating needs to happen :-) so today's window features a decoration. 

 

I love paper piercing, so have used the Festive Paper Piercing Pack to do a string picture.

 

Stamp set: Greetings of the Season

Ink: Real Red

Card stock: Real Red, Whisper White

Misc: Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies, Festive Paper Piercing Pack, Labels Collection Framelits, Whisper White Baker's  Twine, 1/8" Real Red Taffeta Ribbon, Rhinestones

 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, Gen xxx 



21st Advent Window!

So I thought I would add some serious sparkle for the shortest day. The long night has inspired me to use some of the new In Colour Midnight Muse card stock and Ink.

 

Stamp Sets and Builder wheel:

Snowflake Soiree, Good Cheer Builder wheel

Card stock: Midnight Muse, Silver Glimmer Paper, Whisper White

Inks: Midnight Muse, Illuminate Glimmer Watermark, Whisper White

Misc: Snow Flurry Bigz Die, Vintage Faceted button and Large Pearl Jewel

 

I am seriously in love with the new Illuminate Glimmer Watermark Pad shown here for the middle sized snowflake - even better in the flesh, just in case you need temptation ;-)

 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, Gen x



20th Advent Window - time to Dazzle!

I was planning to show different stamp sets and projects with each window - only I have become obsessed with this stamp set - oops! Just hope that you love it as much as I do!!

 

Stamps sets and builder wheel: Watercolour Winter, Delightful Dozen, Linked Lace

Inks: Real Red, Garden Green, Early Espresso

Card stock: Real Red

Misc: Early Espresso embossing powder for the poinsettias, Cherry Cobbler Dazzling details for berries, flower centres and lace centres.

 

Somehow, I think I'm having far too much fun!

Keep on Christmas Crafting, Gen x

19th Advent Window - just in the nick of time ;-)

So this is an idea that I spied whilst Christmas shopping - just love the idea that the card becomes a present, in this case a decoration for the tree! I have background stamped the card so that if the tree decoration is used this year the card is a simple pattern.

 

 

Stamp sets: Ornament Keepsakes, Snow Swirled, Greetings of the Season

Ink: Real Red

Card stock: Whisper White

Misc: Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies, Snow Flurry Bigz Die, Naturals Designer Button, Whisper White Baker Twine.

 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, Gen xxx

18th Advent Window

 

So a real quickie today with my favourite approach - keeping it simple ;-)

 

Stamp Sets: Watercolour Winter, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card stock: Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green

Inks: Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler and Garden Green

 

This stamp set is so beautiful in detail I have chosen to show it off :-)

 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, Gen xxx



17th Advent Window

 

With all the Christmas preps and visits to friends and relatives over the weekend I'm feeling a bit googly eyed, so it seemed fitting to create this . .

 

 

Stamp set: Owl Occasions

Inks: Real Red, Garden Green, Early Espresso, Soft Suede

Card Stock: Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Be of Good Cheer DSP

Misc: Adhesive backed googly eyes, Stamp-a-ma-jig

 

Got your Stockings up yet? Keep on Christmas Crafting, Gen xxx

 



16th Advent Window

 

And with presents come Tags . .

 

 

I have mixed and matched here as just wanted to illustrate that you don't always have to print, especially when there is Glimmer Paper and DSP!

 

Stamp sets: Snowflake Soiree, Delightful Decorations

Inks: Real Red, Garden Green, Staz On

Misc: Be of Good Cheer DSP, Red Glimmer Paper, Tag/Bauble/Deccorative Label and Pennant Punches

 

Keep wrapping and Christmas Crafting, Gen xxx



15th Advent Window

 So with Christmas fast approaching I have also started making a few presents.

 

These are simple 3" cards in Whisper White card stock, Twitterpatted Designer Series Paper for the card fronts and envelopes that are made from 5" square DSP creating the envelopes with the fabulous Diagonal Scoring plate with of course the Scallop Trim punch for the envelope point and Decorative Label Punch for the name plate on the front. A little set of note cards and another present off the list!

 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, Gen xxx

 

 



14th Advent Window

Time is really racing past now!

 

With this fabulously frosty weather the Penguins of the Polar Party set have spread some cheer!

 

Stamp sets: Polar Party, Snow Swirled, Snowflake Soiree

Inks: Pacific Point, Bashful Blue

Card stock: Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, Whisper White

Misc: Curly Label & Decorative Label punches, Rhinestones, Stampin' dimensionals

 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, Gen x

13th Advent Window

So today I thought I would share my obsession for small things ;-)

 

Stamp set: Merry Minis, Greetings of the Season

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, More Mustard

Card stock: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla

Punches : Merry Minis Pack, Postage, 1/2" circle

Misc: 5/8" Victoria crochet trim, 1/2" Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding

 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, Gen x



12th Advent Window

So following on from my last years Spiral decoration, I finally got round to making six small ones that when fixed together make this fabulous star!

 

This is the Be of Good Cheer Designer Series Paper, I used 11 x 11cm squares.

 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, Gen x

11th Advent Window!

This Advent blog is turning out to be the ideal excuse to use the things I haven't tried out yet and this embossing folder is exactly that! Any excuse for a bit of colouring in anyway ;-)

 

Stamp set: Kidoodles

Card stock: Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper white

Ink: Black Staz On, Real Red & Old Olive Stampin' Up! markers

Misc: Lacey Brocade embossing folder, Decorative Label punch, Lucky Limeade 3/8" Ruffled ribbon, Real Red 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Round Ribbon Slide

 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, Gen xxx

10th Advent Window

Today I thought I would share my latest handmade tree decoration. This is two simple origami folded stars (taken again from a Children's Decoration book) using some of the Candlelight Christmas Speciality DSP, layered one on top of the other, secured with dimensionals, edged with Silver Glass Stampin' Glitter, with a central Rhinestone brad for a little extra glitz!

 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, Gen xxx

9th Advent Window

 

Have been itching to try out this new embossing folder - just hope that when the snow falls the flakes won't really be this big!

 

Stamp set: Snow Swirled

Ink: Real Red

Misc: Northern Flurry Embossing folder, Real Red Glimmer paper, Merry Minis star punch, Rhinestones.

 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, Gen xxx

8th Advent Window

So today's Advent Window is very simple, 20 circles of current Stampin' Up! Christmas Designer Series, teamed with my favourite Old Olive card stock, glued into this decorative orb for the tree, with Vintage faceted button and Pearls at the pentagonal meeting points.

 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, Gen xxx

7th Advent Window - Robin revisited!

 

So here is the last card from this weeks workshop . .

 

 

For those of you that saw my Advent blog last year, this will be a very familiar card, but here in a slightly brighter shade of red, and it's reminded my how much I LOVE this design, easily reworked in Whisper White for a Dove of Peace instead of this chirpy robin.

 

Stamp set: Owl Occasions

Card stock: Chocolate chip, Real Red, Very Vanilla, Old Olive

Misc: Scallop trim corner & Bird Builder punches

 

Keep on Christmas Crafting, Gen x



6th Advent Window!

So here's the second card from this weeks Workshop

As you can see, my obsession with the Triple layer card continues! The inspiration for this card came from a fellow demonstrator on a site where we can share ideas.

Stamp sets: Greetings of the Season, Scentsational Season

Inks: Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, More Mustard

Card stock: Garden Green, Whisper White

Keep on crafting, Gen x



5th Advent Window!

 

So thought I would share last night's workshop cards, as they had a Christmas theme . .

 

Stamp sets: Snow Swirled, Snowflake Soiree, Mixed Medley

Inks: Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise

Card stock: Silver Glimmer Paper, Whisper white

Misc: Scallop Circle & Snow Flurry Dies, 1 1/4" Scallop circle punch, Rhinestone

 

Keep on crafting, Gen x



4th Advent Window!

The joy of workshop prep means that you get struck by inspiration for the off cuts.


Stamp sets: Greetings of the Season
Ink: Real Red
Card stock: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Glimmer Silver :-)
Misc: Victoria Crochet Trim, Merry Minis Punch Pack

Keep on crafting, Gen x

3rd Advent Window

So with everyone I know putting up their Christmas Trees, here is as close as I get!

I saw a similar design recently, and was looking for an excuse to use the Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock and Woodgrain embossing folder, and thought it made a great base for the ribbon tree decoration.

Stamp sets: Owl Occasions

Card stock: Early Espresso Core'dinations and Woodgrain embossing folder

Punches: Star from the Merry Minis punch set

 Selection of Ribbons, Old Olive, Real Red, Gumball Green and Lucky Limeade

Keep on crafting, Gen x

2nd Advent Window!

 

Picked up a Children's Christmas Decoration book recently and was reminded of this gorgeously simple decoration that can be made in minutes!

 

 

Here I've used a 22cm x 7.5cm piece of Candlelight Christmas Speciality DSP, cut in half to make two pieces of 11cm. Then cut 3 x 7.5cm lines into the bottom of the paper at 2.5cm intervals, to make the strips for weaving and then rounded the top corners to make the lobes of the heart. I love the fact that all you need to do with Stampin' Up! DSP is turn over for the contrast. I have used some Very Vanilla Velvet Ribbon for the bow, but you can use anything that takes your fancy :-)

 

Keep on crafting, Gen x



1st Advent window!

 

Have decided to do a Virtual Advent again this year
- lets hope I can keep up ;-)

And behind today's window . . .

 

 

Folded Christmas Trees

 

Stamp sets: Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card stock: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla

Inks: Gumball Green

Misc: Be of Good Cheer Designer Series Paper, Glimmer Paper, Merry Minis punch pack for the stars, 1/2" circle punch for the corners, 2 1/2" Circle punch for the DSP.

 

I really love this simple idea, I cut the 2 1/2" circle in half and used this template. I think this will even be fab to use up retired DSP, and even recycling old Christmas cards, maybe printing on the blank side to give a contrast.

Keep on crafting ;-) Gen x

 

 





Triple layer time !

 

It's official! I'm obsessed with this technique - just so fabulous for late autumn/winter Birthdays!

 

 

Any excuse to also show you the fabulous new stamp set I redeemed on my hostess allowance!

Stamp sets: Creative Elements, Wacky Wishes
Card stock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Inks: Baja Breeze, Rose Red (Subtles collection)
Misc: Baja Breeze seem binding & Rhinestones

 

 

Just when you think I can't possibly show you the same thing again . . .

 

 

Stamp sets: Creative Elements, Beautiful Birthday (love the lettering)

Card stock: Melon Mambo, Whisper white, Rich Razzleberry
Inks: Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry (Brights)
Misc: Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Rhinestones :-)

 

I think my favourite has to be . . .

 

 

Stamp sets: Owl Occasions (and retired greeting)

Card stock: Old Olive, Whisper White
Inks: Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Always Artichoke

 

The colour inspiration for this card came from some gift wrap that I picked up ages ago with this friend in mind, but as you can see I got slightly carried away with this cute stamp set - hey ho! What's a girl supposed to do ;-)

 

 

As you can see, I had enough to make a matching envelope for the card with my Simply Scored plate, endless envelope possibilities - there is no such thing as waste any longer - hee hee hee!

 

Keep on crafting, Gen x

Fabulous Forty!

 

My fabulous friend Jo reached the fabulous milestone of 40 first, so I made her this elegant triple layer card that I had seen so fantastically demonstrated on the SU demo site - thank you! Here I used Early Espresso and Crumb Cake ink with the Crative Elelments stamp set on Very Vanilla card stock, a little crumb cake seam binding and Gold card stock for the numbers.

 

 

As part of her present I made this little gift holder from a 12"x12" sheet of now retired DSP, in the pockets are emergency chocolate and revival tea bags at the front, some shopping vouchers for her fabulous trip to NY, a little diary and pen for the exciting year ahead and then in the left pocket 5 3"x3" note cards that I made from the same retired DSP series, seen here . . .

 

 

 

I really loved this series of paper, and simply added a Decorative Label punch in Very Vanilla to be able to write onto the envelope - fabulous goodies for my fabulous friend - where has the time gone?

 

Keep on crafting, Gen xxx

 

 



Last but my no means least!

 

I was asked by a group that I demo for about three times a year if they could do the Christmas ornament from the front of the Autumn/Winter catalogue - well, what a fabulous excuse to get to do it myself too - hee hee hee!

 

 

So here is our version - thanks to all those dedicated SU demos who have posted tutorials online and made making this creation so much easier. As each decoration takes 20 green ornaments and 20 red ornaments that is 40 for each decoration. Luckily for a workshop of 10 Teressa came over to help stamp the images and pre cut them to save time at the actual workshop - thanks Teressa!

 

I only wish I had taken a picture of all the decorations together as they were stunning!

 

 

Sorry for the darkness of the above photo. I was really eager to use the Holiday Frame Embossing folder (Mini cat p7) and the detail is so gorgeous that I choose to simply use whisper white card stock, leaving a small border of the metallic base card. I simply wanted to showcase the Ornament Keepsake stamp set so used Lucky Limeade for one of the small ornaments stamped three times to make a 3D decoration hung from simple organza ribbon, that I had free with an earlier promotion - hee hee hee! I also wanted this group to see the builder wheel and simply used Whisper White craft ink and the Good Cheer builder wheel on Cherry Cobbler card stock for the greeting that runs along the bottom of the card.

 

To finish this workshop we finished with background stamping an A4 sheet of Whisper White card with the Snowflake Soiree stamp set in Midnight Muse, Tempting Turquoise and Pacific Point and then cutting this A4 sheet gives you 8 card layout from one sheet of printing. Use this link for the One Sheet Wonder to see what I mean, and give it a go yourself. It's a great template - TFS.

 

Keep on crafting, Gen xxx

 

Workshop catch up continues!

 

The recent workshops were too good an excuse to try out all of the gorgeous things showcased in the Autumn/Winter Mini catalogue ;-)

 

 

This is of course the gorgeous Ornament Keepsake Bundle (Mini p3) - an easier way to get your hands on the stamp set and matching Holiday Ornament Framelits Dies. Here I used Real Red on Whisper White card stock, two of the medium sized snowflakes from the Snow Flurry Bigz Die (Mini p14) in the centre, with the New Naturals Designer Button (Main cat p176), secured into place with white baker twine (p172).

 

 I'm thinking I NEED at least 6 for my Christmas tree and saw a fabulous card last weekend where there was a decoration as the central motif for the card - what a wonderful ideal for sharing!

 

 

With the Snow Flurry Die there are three snowflakes in different sizes, so modified the design from the card on page 14 of the Autumn/Winter mini catalogue, using glimmer paper and Scallop Circle Bigz Die for the background of the snowflake and then the Mixed Medley Hostess set for the central snowflake in Real Red and Gumball green - who can resist a bit of sparkle.

 

 

And finally for a Birthday workshop we have to find an excuse for scented embossing powder - in this case Vanilla! I've used the party bunting stamp from the Owl Occasions stamp set (Mini p13) and then the greeting from the Itty Bitty Banner stamp set (Main cat p134) using the matching Bitty Banners framelit dies - as I was using my Big shot anyway - (MC p191). Then of course the Create a Cupcake stamp set for background stamping, and the central cupcake, punched out with the Cupcake Builder Punch (MC p185), using a bit of left over glimmer paper for the cherry on the top.

 

Keep on crafting, only one more workshop catch up ;-) Gen x

 



Workshops - sharing the fun!

So to continue with my catch up theme I thought I would show you what I've been up to in my recent workshops.

 

 

Here I used 2011-2013 In Colours Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party and Calypso Coral with Mixed Bunch stamp set using matching Blossom punch and Curly Label punch for the Get Well Sentiment from the Delightful Dozen stamp set. I simply used matching In Colour Designer Series Paper (Main Cat p152) as a background paper and some of my favourite organza ribbon (p173).

So here is my simply quick Christmas card done with Old Olive Jolly Jingles Jumbo wheel (p16), with Real Red Grosgrain ribbon and for the Christmas scallop sentiment punched out using 1 3/4" scallop punch, all printed on Very Vanilla card stock.

And here I couldn't resist the possibility of tempting others with my new stash, using shimmer card stock, Pacific Point and Night of Navy colours and standard wheel Cheerful Christmas and then the Snowflake Party and Good Cheer builder wheels (Autumn/Winter mini cat p5) and the fabulous Mixed Medley snowflake with the gorgeous 1 1/4" scallop circle punch.

 

Something a little different a Gate Fold card, with Cherry Cobbler background, Silver card stock Scalloped Heart Embosslit (p188), another sentiment from the Perfect Punches stamp set (p120) punched out with the matching Modern Label punch (p183). This can easily be enhanced by background stamping the Cherry Cobbler background, but kept it simple for the workshop.

 

Will be updating more soon - honest! Keep on crafting, Gen x



September Catch Up!

 

Sorry to have fallen off the blog again, been a bit busy with workshops lately - here's my attempt at catch up, and soon I will post the things I have been sharing with others ;-)

 

Somehow sixteen years have past for Gary & Tonia's little girl! Couldn't resist the temptation to make a girly Regal Rose and Rich Razzleberry butterfly card - here I've used the small butterfly cluster from the Make a Cake stamp set (Main Cat p44) to print the 16, with the Greeting from a previous Sale-A-Bration set, using the Curly Label Punch (MC p182) to highlight the Happy Birthday Greeting. Then of course 16 of the smaller Beautiful Wings Embosslits with rhinestone bodies, for a bit of Birthday Bling ;-)

 

And for her gift I made this little envelope out of some left over Designer series paper, using a brad for the closure - well, you can never have too many hearts either ;-)

 

 

So to finish my September catch up is the card I did for Terrific Tudur who has reached four years old this year - if somebody could slow down time that would be fabulous! Tudur is such a technicolour ray of sunshine that creating this card was simply a case of thinking of him. I used a now retired Bigz die cut for his name and the Red Glimmer paper (MC p160) 4, and then 4 bright buttons strung onto some Island Indigo Baker's Twine (MC p172).

 

 

Keep on crafting, Gen xxx

Baroque Goodbye

 

So to finish the Baroque Motif goodbye, and as Katie & Matthew celebrated their marriage last Saturday here's the card I sent along, in our absence! Who needs an excuse for Glimmer paper, and rhinestones? Not me ;-)

 

 

And as it was a stamp set at my fingertips, I made this for a wonderful friend, who was in need of some sparkle for her sensational birthday, so I used the subtles collection of colours. Although Baroque motif and the Sincere Salutations set are retiring, I think they will still be in use as I love swirly entwining patterns, and have used the greetings time and time again.

Keep on crafting, Gen x

 

Baroque Motif Inspiration

So, continuing with the retired stamp set theme, we received a Wedding Party Invite which looked like this . . .

 

 

Which gave me an idea for the reply to look like this . . .

 

 

I used Basic Black and Very Vanilla card stock, with Black embossing powder for the Baroque motif (IB&C p74) and then the little heart punch (p117) between their initials and a rhinestones for that bit of bling. Unfortunately we can't make this super celebration, so the inside of the card looks like this . . .

 

 

Their invite arrived with a wonderfully witty poem about being together and not needing pots and pans, so I couldn't resist replying like this! Any excuse to use the Scallop Trim Border Punch!! Keep on crafting, Gen xxx