Ho Ho Ho! FMS116

Just a quick and simple one today to go along with the Freshly Made Sketches challenge this past week:

To make the long banners on this one, I just cut out three of the largest banner from the Bitty Banners Framelits and then cut them in half to extend them to be super long. 

And to make the 3D tree, I punched out three pennants and scored them each in the middle and folded/glued them together. You can even fold it back flat to make it easy to mail ;)

Supplies used - 
Stamps: Tag It, Oh Goodie!, Pennant Parade
Ink: Real Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Summer Starfruit, Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker
Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Designer Series Paper Patterns Stack - Brights Collection (retired)

Tools: Petite Pennants Builder Punch, Bitty Banners Framelits Die

Festive Flurries - MOJO323

With all the snow we've had over the past couple days, I was inspired to make some more snowflakes myself! I love these snowflakes made with the Festive Flurry bundle - they're so delicate, and though they take a bit of effort (and coordination) to put together, they're worth it! I created this card using the MojoMonday sketch from this week:

To put the snowflake together, after cutting the snowflake out with the Framelits, you first need to punch (or cut) a small circle in the centre. Then fold your snowflake pieces back and forth, alternating with each tip/indentation. I found it easier to fold all the tips inward and then flip the whole snowflake upside down and fold the indentations inward (so that they are alternating).

Then you need a big glob of hot glue to go in the centre of the snowflake...and then hold! The longer you hold on the glob of glue, the more likely it'll stay in place. Watch this video to see more (it's not quite as easy as the video makes it seem, but once you've done two of them, they're much easier!)

Once you've folded/glued all your layers individually, you just stack them and glue them together - I put one of the beautiful Frosted Finishes embellishments on the top for a stunning look! You can make ornaments similar to these without the Framelits and stamp set, by ordering the Festive Flurry Ornament Kit (while supplies last).

Supplies used -
Stamps: Festive Flurry, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Pistachio Pudding, Smoky Slate, Versamark Pad, Silver Metallic Encore Pad
Paper: Pool Party, Soft Sky, Whisper White, Medium Window Sheets, Winter Frost Designer Series Paper Stack, Silver Glimmer Paper
Embellishments: White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Frosted Finishes Embellishments, White Baker's Twine
Tools: Festive Flurry Framelits Dies, Word Window Punch, Bitty Banners Framelits

Bah Humbug!!

It's definitely not in the spirit of the season, but I feel like sometimes, Bah Humbug is the best response! This card sample is from one of my swaps this summer and was made by Wanda Dodds, and definitely fits my mood today ... from potlucks to secret Santas and all the other 'to dos', I say today, 'Bah Humbug!' 

Supplies used - 

Stamps: Very Merry Tags, Gorgeous Grunge

Ink: Gumball Green

Paper: Gumball Green, Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz

Embellishments: Silver 1/8" Ribbon

Tools: Artisan Label Punch, Bitty Banners Framelits Die, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder

Peace on Earth

Do you send out Christmas cards? I do; I love receiving something a little extra in the mail - it's such a nice surprise. Mine should be hitting mailboxes within the next week or so! 

I'm loving the blues in my Christmas cards this year - Pool Party and Island Indigo combined with silver really are doing it for me! Of course, I'm a little biased since blue is one of my favourite 'go-to' colours any time of the year.

Tell me, do you typically reach for the traditional red/green of the season, or do you go for some variety?

Supplies used:
Paper - Whisper White, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Winter Frost DSP Stack, Silver Glimmer Paper
Stamps - Peaceful Season (retired)
Ink - Island Indigo
Tools - Bitty Banners Framelits, Large Scallop Edgelits Die, Circle card Thinlits Die, 2-1/2 Inch Circle Punch

Mini-album brought to life with video!

A couple weeks ago, I got together with some girlfriends and had a great time creating for "me" - and I'd love to share with you some of the pages I made for my mini-album.  I used one of the Paper Pumpkin kits that I received earlier this year (I think it might've been the May kit?). 

One of the most exciting things was for my Soda Springs page, I uploaded a video I took of the geyser and made a QR code. Then printed it and placed it right into the mini-album! This opened all kinds of possibilities in my mind and I was quite excited about many other videos I've taken and how I can/should incorporate them into my scrapbooking! Are you as excited as I am? Have you used a QR code in your albums before? Even using the Talking Tags would be great for capturing a voice commentary from the children!

It was so much fun reliving the Road Trip part of our Convention trip this past year - hopefully I'll get some more time to work on the rest of the album soon! 

Supplies used:
Ink: Calypso Coral, Basic Black
Paper: Paper Pumpkin Kit, Calypso Coral, Basic Black
Stamps: Wanderlust Photopolymer, Gorgeous Grunge
Other: Labels Thinlits Collection, Bitty Banners Framelits, Finishing Touches Edgelits
Embellishments: Basic Black 3/4" Chevron Ribbon, Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon

Happy Easter!

After seeing the cute bunny posted on Stampin' Up!'s blog earlier this week, I decided that I had to make a couple of these for my boys. I did make a couple changes though.  I used the largest oval framelit for the body, just to make the bunny a little bigger.  

I also used the smallest heart framelit for the nose.  I also used the owl punch for his eyes, and for the heart on the banner.

For the bunny, I used the Natural Composition paper - to give them a little dimension.  I like how this paper is already embossed and that it resists ink.  For the egg that the bunny is holding, I used the 2 x 1 3/8" oval punch instead of the one suggested, especially since my bunny's body was larger.

I also inked the embossing folder before embossing the egg, just for fun ;)

If you've never applied ink to an embossing folder before embossing, you should really try it! 

I also added googly eyes.  You can never go wrong with googly eyes!  I'm sure glad I stocked up on them from the Holiday Catalogue.  Maybe they'll make it to the 2013-2014 catalogue?  I really like how the bunny turned out! 

Supplies used:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo
Paper: Whisper White, Natural Composition and Floral District DSP
Tools: Oval Framelits, Hearts Collection Framelits, Owl Punch, Bitty Banner Framelits, 1 3/4 x 7/8" oval punch, 2 x 1 3/8" oval punch
Other: Early Espresso bakers twine, Googlies

Happy New Year!

2013 is now upon us and we can look ahead to new beginnings as we leave 2012 behind. I am starting a Memory Jar this year where (hopefully) my family will write little notes, memories, successes and challenges they face throughout the year onto slips of paper and place them into the jar.  Over the holiday season next year, or even possibly New Year's Eve, we will empty the jar and read these snippets and reflect on 2013.

To make the tag on this jar, I primarily used products from the upcoming Seasonal Catalogue, which most of you will have received in your mailbox already.  If you haven't received one, and would like to be on my mailing list, let me know!  These products will be available beginning Thursday January 3rd (which also means that tomorrow is the late chance to get any of your favourites from the Holiday Seasonal catalogue).

Also, to celebrate the New Year, Stampin' Up has released a digital freebie; it's a Calendar Kit - get it here.  Happy 2013!!

Reason to Smile for one more day ...

Tomorrow's the last chance you will have the opportunity to add the exclusive Reason to Smile stamp set to a minimum $60 order.  You can add this set in either Wood or Clear mount for just $5 with purchase!

Stamps: Reason to Smile, Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Elegant Eggplant
Marker: Old Olive
Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, Floral District DSP
Tools: Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Banner Framelits
Embellishments: Perfect Plum Taffeta Ribbon

Swaps, Simply Scored and, summer!

I've been negligent in blogging the past couple weeks as it's been a busy time with football, school winding down and all the swaps I've signed up for!  I've also been playing a bit with the Simply Scored tool.  I have one card for your viewing pleasure and a little peek at a template that I've been playing with.

This card uses the Doily Sizzlit that is so much fun to poke out all the pieces ... and the new spritzer.  I really liked being able to select my colour and just give that extra bit of dimension to the doily.  

Supplies used:

Stamps: Itty Bitty Banners

Ink: Island Indigo

Paper: Island Indigo, Summer Smooches DSP

Tools: Bitty Banner Framelits, Large Paper Doily Sizzlit

Other: White Organza Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones, Ink Spritzer

And here's the peek at the fun 'fold' flip card:

I will post full instructions and pictures next week.  We even made one this week at our Christmas Card Club.  All the ladies loved it! 

Happy Stamping!

..am