24th Advent Window - Aurora borealis inspired

 With A being away for a while in Norway, my last advent window is a nod to the spectacular Northern Lights, which is was in the right place to see, just a bit early.

Stamp set: Snowflake Wishes and Heartfelt Wishes

Ink: Vera mark and Clear emboss powder for the snowflakes,

Night of Navy and Granny Apple Green with blending brushes for the background.

Card stock: Whisper White, Granny Apple Green

Accessories: Stitched Snowflake dies and 1 1/2" Metallic Mesh Ribbon

Enjoy this winter season,

have a wonderful Festive period,

and keep on Crafting.

GenGen xxxx

23rd Advent Window - Season's Greetings

 Somehow there are always a few cards I receive that I missed to post, so I designed this card thinking that I would put them in the post, arriving after Christmas - then hand delivered them!

Stamp Set: Merry Snowflakes

Ink: Balmy Blue, Coastal Cabana, Pool Party

Cardstock: Retired Glimmer, Shimmer Whisper White

Accessories: Stitched Snowflake dies with Foam strip to lift the card up from the printed and die cut snowflake, this also allows you to see the stitching of the snowflake outline.

Keep on Christmas Crafting, even if the mode of delivery changes,

GenGen xxxx

22nd Advent Window - Christmas Tidings Star

 My other obsession this year would seem to be designing without waste. Having taken a serious look at my craft room, as I struggle to rationalise it, it would seem I buy lots of DSP then put it on a shelf without using it!! So, in an effort to break this habit, my idea was to use the stitched star die, which leaves a gorgeous stitched outline, and it you swap around the cut stars you get to see the two lines of stitching.

I've used THE Christmas red of Cherry Cobbler to co-ordinate with the Tidings of Christmas 6"x6" DSP, and then . . . 

Lift the super simple design with adhesive sheet backed Gold Foil word sentiment (retired), and as you can see, also not rationalised from my craft room - Ho ho ho!

Keep Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

21st Advent Window - One Colour only!

 I think it's safe to say I'm fairly addicted to the New In Colors, particularly Soft Succulent and Evening Evergreen. So today's simple card uses soft green in all aspects.

Stamp Set: Festive Foliage, Poinsettia Petals

Card stock: Soft Succulent, Whisper White

Ink: Soft Succulent

Accessories: Soft Succulent 1cm Open Weave Ribbon

This background stamp really lends itself to a less is more card. 

Keep on crafting for Christmas, GenGen xxxx

20th Advent Window - Printed but hand delivered!

 At this point I'm trying to come up with designs that are possible to reproduce en masse, but as a finishing flourish I added a bow (so hand delivering for these ones) - ho ho ho!

Stamp Set: Sparkle of the Season

Card stock: Retired SU Gold edged cards

Ink: Soft Suede, Shaded Spruce, Garden Green

Accessories: Cherry Cobbler & Gold 1/2" Ribbon

Enjoy your Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

19th Advent Window - posting friendly!

 So having enthusiastically written a card to South Africa without realising that it would be considered a large letter and cost accordingly, subsequent designs have been slot friendly! So here I've added texture with an embossing folder and the contrast foil star.

Stamp set: Tidings & Trimmings

Card stock: Evening Evergreen, Cherry Cobbler, Tidings of Christmas 6"x6" DSP, Gold Foil

Ink: Evening Evergreen

Accessories: Wintry 3D Embossing folder, Christmas Trimmings dies

Won't be long till Tree Trimming!

Keep Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

18th Advent Window - no throw!

 So, today is a two window bonanza, just in case anyone is wondering what to do with off cuts - NEVER throw ANYTHING away - ho ho ho!

As you can see, I've swapped the "fill" from the Eden die, so there is a positive and negative vibe for the frame and background.

Stamp Set: Tidings & Trimmings

Card stock: Evening Evergreen, Soft Succulent, 

Whisper White, Gold Foil

Ink: Evening Evergreen, Gold

Accessories: Eden and Christmas Trimmings dies

Keep Christmas Crafting,

and reuse your offcuts ;-)

GenGen xxxx

17th Advent Window - Rainbow wishes

 As Rainbows have grown in popularity I thought I'd incorporate them into today's card.

This is of course the fabulous die from the Seasonal Swirls dies. Somehow this arch of Rainbow colours reminds me of a slinky, but then that's probably my mis-spent youth breaking through ;-)

The greeting is printed in Real Red from The Merriest Moments stamp set, with stars from the Sparkle of the Season stamp set.

Keep on enjoying the Rainbows,

GenGen xxxx

16th Advent Window - Tree presents

 As all the "children" we gift to grow up,

 I thought the money envelopes should illustrate this too.

This is the stunning Peaceful Place 12"x12" Specialty Designer Series Paper with the envelope maker for these 3" square envelopes, and the Wonderful Snowflakes placed centrally with a rhinestone just for a little more sparkle ;-)

Keep your Christmas Crafting simple,

GenGen xxxx

15th Advent Window - as night's are longer

 We've been lucky enough to enjoy some clear nights with wonderful moonlight and sparkling stars, so that inspiration lead to using one of my favorite dies . . 

Stamp Set: Sparkle of the Season

Ink: Versa with Silver Emboss

Cardstock: Night of Navy and Be Dazzling Specialty

Accessories: Stitched Stars Dies

Let a little Sparkle shine through,

keep on Christmas crafting,

GenGen xxxx

14th Advent Window - Favorite colours

 It wasn't really going to be too long before I revert to my favourite colour combination of Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive ;-)

Stamp Set: Tidings & Trimmings

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Gold

Accessories: Gold 1cm Shimmer Ribbon

Keep on crafting with your favorites ;-)

GenGen xxxx

13th Advent Window - Winter scene

 Having the luxury of a slow Sunday allows me the time to play. I'd picked up a copy of 100 days of Christmas Crafts magazine last month which provided lots of inspiration, with a beautiful illuminated papercut scene by Corinne Bradd - so here is my much simpler version.

I've used plain vellum, then Evening Evergreen Shimmer and Gold Shimmer vellum for the Trees and Reindeer. So this simple Christmas Dome with LED candle light, flickers gently in the evening.

Keep your Christmas Crafting simple,

GenGen xxxx

12th Advent Window - Simple stamping Sunday

 When a new Main Catalogue comes out I try to notice which Christmas sets carry over, and so today I'm just doing some simple stamping for today's card.

Stamp Set: Poinsettia Petals

Card Stock: Real Red, Evening Evergreen, Whisper White

Ink: Real Red, Evening Evergreen

Accessories: Detailed Trio Punch, Real Red 1cm Sheer Ribbon

A touch of Tradition for today,

Keep on Christmas Crafting,

GenGen xxxx

11th Advent Window - Cut out Inspiration

 My wonderful Advent gift yesterday . . . .

with shining light streaming through the cutouts. . . is the inspiration for today's card ;-)

Card stock: Be Dazzling Specialty Paper, Whisper White

Accessories: Stitched Snowflake dies and Little letters dies

Keep let the light shine through,

GenGen xxxx

Happy Birthday TLB xx

10th Advent Window - it's a wrap!

 Somehow this year is more chaotic, so I'm trying to wrap as I go . . . 

I am the biggest fan of brown paper, but adding festive print lifts the final result. This is the background stamp Festive Foliage stamped in Shaded Spruce Ink with Fine Art 1cm Ribbon (gold thread running through the buff weave). To finish off I cut 2" tags from printed Kraft paper and used a Tag Topper Punch for the ribbon slot.

2 done ;-)

Keep on Christmas crafting,

even if it's when you're wrapping,

GenGen xxxx

9th Advent Window - Merry Snowflakes

 Having FREE Be Dazzling 6"x6" Specialty Paper from the last Sale-A Bration I thought it was time for even more sparkle, with the added texture of a 3D embossing folder!

Stamp Set: Merry Snowflakes

Ink: Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Balmy Blue

Card Stock: Be Dazzling Specialty Paper, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White

Accessories: Stitched Snowflakes Dies, wintry 3D embossing folder, Glittered Organdy 1cm ribbon

Keep on crafting for Christmas,

GenGen xxxx

8th Advent Window - Woodland shaker

 It's fairly well known that my garden is over run by Rabbits, which is the inspiration for today's card. This design would look equally as effective with the doe or fox from the set too.

Stamp Set: Nature's Beauty

Ink: Smoky Slate

Card stock: Silver foil, Whisper white, Peaceful Place Specialty DSP, Window Sheet

Accessories: Oval Die, Beautiful Trees die, Subtle shimmer sequins.

Although this card is intentionally toned down, 

as some friends have had a challenging year, 

the sparkling sequins really lift the scene when shaken ;-)

Cardmaking for calmness,

GenGen xxxx

7th Advent Window - Snow in Aus!

 As you may know, some of my family live Down Under in Australia, and as they experience summer temperatures at Christmas time I can't resist sending some sort of snow inspired card. this year it's this . . . 

This is the gorgeous Peaceful Place Designer Series Paper, with some silver ink stamping from the Merry Snowflakes stamp set at the base, and silver foil card stock for the silver edge and for the So Many Snowflakes (Star) with central pearl.

Keep it simple,

GenGen xxxx

6th Advent Window - Season Sparkle

Stamp Set: Sparkle of the Season

Card stock: Evening Evergreen, Soft Succulent, Silver Foil

Ink: Soft Succulent

Accessories: Seasonal Swirls Dies, Soft Succulent 1cm Sheer Ribbon

I love this understated set and die, 

it can be as intricate or as pared back as you choose it to be. 

It is already set for retirement, but I'll continue to use it ;-)

Steal some time to craft in the chaos,

GenGen xxxx

5th Advent Window - Stitched Star

 There is always part of me that likes tiny things, 

so this is my miniature card 3"x3".

Stamp Set: Tidings & Trimmings

Ink: Evening Evergreen

Card stock: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Evening Evergreen, 

Tidings of Christmas DSP, Gold Foil

Accessories: Stitched Star and Christmas Trimmings dies

Keep sprinkling a little Christmas magic,

GenGen xxxx

4th Advent Window - Scandi Inspiration

You know sometimes you have an idea of a design, but it won't completely formulate in your head? Then when you're food shopping a similar image pops up in the form of a festive napkin . . . 

As my initial idea was for a simplistic Scandi red and white design, this napkin allowed me to come up with this . . . 

Stamp Set: Snowflake Wishes

Card stock: Real Red, Whisper White

Ink: Real Red

Accessories: Stamparatus to facilitate printing 12 card fronts, 

and retired red ribbon with Christmas kisses ;-)

Keep on Crafting Christmas,

GenGen xxxx

3rd Advent Window - Winter woodland

 With the wonderful Llandrindod Card Club I also did an autumn card with this stamp set, but took along this option to show a really scaled back and simple Christmas card. The Welcoming Woods Distinktive stamp illustrates depth and simplicity.

I used some of the Silver Foil Speciality Pack as a background for the simply stamped Grey Granite ink stamped image, with silver ink for the snowflakes and some of the free Sale-A-Bration glimmer paper for the added snowflake ;-) (die from Stitched Snowflake dies)

Keep yourself calm with Christmas Card making

Gen Gen xxxx 

2nd Advent Window - Merriest Moments

The wonderful ladies of Llandrindod Card Club invited me to my only workshop of the year in October and it gave me the perfect excuse to explore the possibilities of the Merriest Moments Bundle

Here, I've used the Merriest Moments Hybrid embossing folder for the white base card, the Evening Evergreen base was cut with the outline die before embossing, which then fits into the embossing folder, and I've detail cut the vellum top layer before embossing it too.

I simply added printed and die cut Holly leaves (in Evening Evergreen) and Poinsettia (in Cherry Cobbler) with red rhinestones, and a scrap of whisper white for the central sentiment cut out with the stitched die.

I thought perhaps seeing the dies, hybrid embossing folder and stamp set would illustrate the potential of this bundle - when you simply pencil colour the embossed image it can pick up the detail of the embossing. For a simplistic card you can simply leave the embossed image plain. The coordinating stamp set and matching die means you can also increase the detail and layering of the design.

Keep on Christmas Crafting, Gen Gen xxxx

 

1st Advent Window - home made advent!

Having the luxury of leafing through the Seasonal Mini Catalogue I took a shine to the Tidings of Christmas 6"x6" Designer Series Paper, with retired die small numbers in Kraft cardstock.

Somehow this year I have taken to making envelopes, so thought that I could utilise this gorgeous paper to make an advent for friends :-)

Rooting through my craft room I found the mini pegs and a ball of twine to allow the recipients to string it up like festive bunting, fingers crossed it arrives in time!

Keep on Christmas crafting, GenGen xxxx

Nifty Nonagenarian!

 My Uncle turned 90 at the beginning of September and is truly legendary for his age, so I wanted a celebratory, but not too over the top card (somehow the large numbers were still in Gold Glimmer).

Stamp Set: Elegantly Said

Ink: Momento Black

Card Stock: Gold Foil, Simply Elegant 12"x12" DSP, Whisper White, Gold Glimmer

Accessories: Triple Banner Punch, Large Number Dies, Gold 1cm Shimmer Ribbon

After all, it's not every day!

GenGen xxxx

Welcome to the World!

 You know sometimes, a month passes in a flash, well for me, it's two months that passed in a flash and I'm unfashionably late getting cards into the post for the latest family additions - just hoping the thought DOES count despite the tardiness!!

As you can see my time constraint has lead me to use the same base design for these cards (for cousins).

Also, as I deconstruct my old craft room I'm rediscovering old stamp sets, banner punches and retired DSP that I only seem to be able to release, by actually making them into a card!

Keep on card making, 

even if you're as behind the deadline as I am ;-)

GenGen xxxx

World Card Making Day!

 Today, on World Card Making Day I haven't managed to make a card, but luckily for me it coincides with my DH Birthday, and as he's in cooler climes I reflected that in the card I made, and as you can see, couldn't resist some glimmer numbers to reflect the Heinz number he's celebrating this year!

Stamp Set: Merry Snowflakes (and retired Happy Birthday)

Ink: Pacific Point, Bermuda Bay, Night of Navy, Balmy Blue

Card stock: Pacific Point, Balmy Blue, Retired Glimmer and foil

Accessories: Stitched Snowflakes Die set, (retired adhesive backed snowflakes), Large number dies

Keep on card making,

when you get a moment ;-)

GenGen xxxx

Dragonfly Birthday Wishes!

You know sometimes, you have in your head that you have more space on the card front than you actually have? This card is a case in point, as in my head I could fit two dragonflies on it! Instead I layered the two dragonflies for a 3D element ;-)

 Stamp set: Dragonfly Garden, sentiment from Elegantly Said

Ink: Momento black, Pacific Point, Gorgeous Grape, 

watercolor pencils for flowers

Card stock: In Color Shimmer Vellum (Fresh Freesia), 

Whisper White, Vellum

Accessories: Dragonflies punch, assorted gems and sequins

Keep Shimmering in the Sunshine, 

GenGen xxxx

Anniversary Wishes

 Some of the detail of the new Designer Series Papers is so stunning your card design can really be less is more ;-) this is from the Simply Elegant Suite

Stamp Set: Elegantly Said

Ink: Basic Grey

Card stock: Whisper White, Gold Foil, Simply Elegant Specialty Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Gold 1/4" Shimmer Ribbon, Triple Banner Punch

Keep Simply Crafting, GenGen xxxx

Niece turns Nineteen 😇

 My fabulous niece down under turned 19 this year. She has a love of angel wings, pearls and simple colours; and I have a need to keep using retired items, but mix it up with some new ones too, like this gorgeous In Color Shimmer Vellum

These White velvet wings are taken from the Dove of Hope die set, and a simple punched a heart which I coloured with one of the new blending brushes. The sentiment from the Artistically Inked stamp set, all in Polished Pink, on a background of Linen ribbon and added pearl embellishments.

Keep on crafting love across the miles,

GenGen xxxx

Teenage Twins!

 Somehow the twins are 13!!!! Where on earth did that time go? This year their current obsession is Harry Potter, which as you can imagine caused a little concern for me, as SU don't do specific HP stamps, but MY obsession with all things witchy and Halloween, and an inability to release retired stamp sets and matching dies, stood me in good stead for resources - hee hee hee!

So Gryffindor colours of Real Real and Mango Melody . . . 

. . . . and Hufflepuff colours of Basic Black and Daffodil Delight.

Retired border star punch, numbers hand cut from an internet resource, quidditch broom, cat and frog from the Cauldron Bubble bundle.

In my quirky head a gift of a Pottery Workshop for this creative duo seemed the obvious choice :-)

Keep on crafting, GenGen xxxx

Card Commission

 While I was playing, a request came in for a 70th Birthday card, and this was just a pleasure to do, with a floral corner and the added bonus of using the new 2021-2023 In Color Shimmer Vellum as the base for this card.

Stamp set: Artistically Inked

Card stock: Polished Pink Shimmer, Expressions In Ink DSP, Whisper White, Ephemera Gold Foil

Ink: Polished Pink, Pale Papaya, Pear Pizzazz, Shaded Spruce

Accessories: Artistic Dies, Gold gems

Keep on creative card making, GenGen xxxx

Artistic layers

Happy Birthday ADJ!

 Further playtime with the Expressions In Ink Suite. The strong print and foil of the DSP makes a perfect background for a floral foray!

Stamp set: Artistically Inked

Card Stock: Expressions In Ink DSP, Polished Pink, Whisper White, Shaded Spruce, Gold Foil

Ink: Polished Pink, Pale Papaya, Pear Pizzazz

Accessories: Artistic Dies, Pink sequins from the Ephemera Pack

With this card I printed the Polished Pink flower on to the DSP, but then printed flower and leaves using the coordinating dies to build up the flower arrangement with a plain shaded spruce leaf background to contrast with the gold foil detail.

Keep on with card making, GenGen xxxx

Expressing in Ink

 When I had my sneak peak at the new main catalogue I just fell in love with the Expressions In Ink Suite, so simply ordered the whole suite as I knew I would get quite a lot of use out of it. 

I've really been enjoying playing around with this suite for recent Birthday cards and the colour suite is wonderfully bright and cheerful, with the Ephemera Pack and fabulous Expressions in Ink 12"x12" DSP facilitating easy co-ordination at your fingertips.

Stamp Set: Artistically Inked

Cardstock: Polished Pink, Expressions in Ink DSP,  Whisper White

Ink: Polished Pink, Just Jade

Accessories: Expressions in Ink Ephemera Pack for Gold Foil Leaf, Mint Macaron Lace, Triple Banner Punch, Artistic Dies, Gilded Gems

Keep on card making,

GenGen xxxx

Hydrangea Hill Suite

 With the greatest will in the world, I am often time poor, even in these unusual times. 

So when a suite is available where I can utilise the associated DSP, and add a few accessories and the card is done, even I can make the deadline :-)

I know I really should stop using this retired Happy Birthday die, but with Adhesive Sheet on the back of the Gorgeous Grape card stock I simply love the effect ;-) 

The Gorgeous Grape 1cm Sheer ribbon at the side, and a few Pastel Pearls to accentuate the Hydrangeas, and FINISHED! Just before you race out the door!!

Keep calm by card making!

GenGen xxxx

Time flies with Butterflies!

 As the years flutter by tiny girls get to be 12! How time flies!

This is some retired Foil with two of the Brilliant Wings dies with some Butterfly DSP underneath to peek through the outline, rhinestones added to the wings for a little girly glitz and a retired greeting.

Keep on crafting, GenGen xxxx

Happy Birthday Wishes Big Brother!

 Sometimes for Male Birthday card I try to rein the embellishments in, but who doesn't love a little copper :-) and as always this post is so late this die bundle has retired!

Stamp Set: So Much Happy

Card stock: Copper Foil, Crumbcake, Very Vanilla

Ink: Copper

Accessories: Happy Dies, Copper stars, Copper thread

Even though this set is retired, it'll be used for a while for my personal use as it's so versatile

Sometimes Less IS More ;-)

Keep on Crafting, GenGen xxxx

Create and Earn Rewards

It’s easier than ever to enjoy extra benefits by hosting a Stampin’ Up! party! Connect with your loved ones, make fun crafts, and collect the rewards! 

Submit a qualifying order or party during this promotion and you’ll get our generous Stampin’ Rewards PLUS additional rewards you can redeem! Hosts can earn Stampin’ Rewards based on order totals for an entire party. 

Outside of the party setting, Stampin’ Rewards are available to those who place individual orders that meet the order totals shown here. (Starter Kit orders do not qualify for this promotion.)

CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO JOIN A PARTY

I'm looking into having a virtual demonstration, generating a hostess code for specific events, so each group can be safe, even if that means posting out supplies, and each of us working form our own homes! Will post progress of ideas here, to let you know!

Keep on crafting, GenGen xxxx

Virtual Party Anyone?

 

With the launch of the new catalogue AND a host promotion I'm thinking of having a VIRTUAL crafting party - contact me if you'd like to join in and we'll give it a go!

Keep on crafting!

GenGen