Vintage Santa

I found this Santa Claus stamp at Michael's last year and I really like the vintage/old fashioned look of him. I have been trying to create a simple card that I can easily mass produce, won't cost me extra postage to mail and that has great design and style. This may be the card! I know it has several layers, but I have a difficult time creating single layer cards. This is about as simple as my Christmas cards get. I started with a piece of always artichoke card stock (4 1/8" x 5 3/8") layered with decorative paper (4" x 5 1/4"). The next layer is a piece of riding hood red card stock (3" x 4") layered with always artichoke (2 7/8" x 3 7/8") and a piece of decorative paper (2 3/4" x 3 3/4"). I added riding hood red taffeta ribbon and 2 red glitter brads over 1/2" circles of always artichoke card stock. This piece was adhered to a standard A2 card in riding hood red. The Santa image was stamped onto a piece of whisper white card stock (2" x 3") using basic brown ink and layered to a piece of riding hood red card stock (2 1/8" x 3 1/8") and a piece of always artichoke card stock (2 1/4" x 3 1/4"). The face was colored with blush blossom and the eyes with bashful blue. The glasses were outlined with a gold gel pen and crystal effects were used for the lenses. I used winter lace stickles for the snowflakes and a glitter pen for the beard. The stamped image was mounted to the card base using dimensionals.

Supplies Used: Paper: Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Riding Hood Red, Decorative Paper; Ink: Basic Brown, Blush Blossom, Bashful Blue; Stamps: Santa Collage; Other: Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Red Glitter Brads, 1/2" Circle Punch, Stickles, Glitter Pen, Gold Gel Pen, Dimensionals

Glittered Snowman

I've had this stamp for several years now and I think it has only been used twice. I decided that it needed to see some ink this year. I inked the stamp with basic brown ink and stamped it onto a piece of whisper white card stock (4" x 5 1/4") and adhered this stamped piece to a standard A2 card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") in real red card stock. The images were colored using various SU markers and the dazzling diamonds glitter was added using a two-way glue pen. I added liquid applique to the snowman's hat, the penguin's hat and to the marshmallow and allowed it to dry overnight before using the heat gun. To add some snow highlights to the trees I used a white gel pen.

Supplies Used: Paper: Whisper White, Real Red; Ink: Basic Brown, Various SU Markers; Stamps: Darcie's; Other: Two-way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Liquid Applique

Cute Christmas Bird

Both of the stamps used on this card I found in the dollar bin at Michael's. The card base is a piece of garden green card stock (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") layered with a piece of wild wasabi card stock (4 1/8" x 3 1/8") that was embossed with the distressed stripes embossing folder and sponged using wild wasabi ink and a piece of DCWV paper (4 1/8" x 2 1/8") that was also sponged using wild wasabi ink. The wild wasabi stitched grosgrain ribbon was adhered over the seam using sticky strip tape. The bird was stamped on a piece of white card stock (1 7/8" square) and colored using SU markers. The bird image was then mounted to a piece of wild wasabi card stock (2" square) and attached to a piece of garden green card stock that was punched out using the scallop square punch. The sentiment was stamped in garden green to white card stock (7/8" x 2 1/2") mounted to a piece of wild wasabi card stock (1" x 2 5/8") and then attached to a piece of garden green card stock (1 1/8" x 2 3/4"). The stamped images were adhered to the card base using dimensionals, dew drops were added and liquid applique was applied to the bird's hat.

Supplies Used: Paper: Whisper White, Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, DCWV Stack; Ink: Black, Garden Green, Various SU Markers; Stamps: Michael's Dollar Bin; Other: Distressed Stripes Embossing Folder, Scallop Square Punch, Dew Drops, Wild Wasabi Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Liquid Applique, Dimensionals

Door Wreath

Another wreath using the Martha Stewart branch punch. The sentiment was stamped in black ink onto a 1 3/4" circle of whisper white card stock and adhered to a 2" circle of old olive card stock. Seven branches were punched out of old olive card stock and glued to the 2" circle of old olive card stock. Once the glue was dry the wreath was attached to a 2 1/2" real red scallop circle and rhinestones and a red satin ribbon bow were attached. The card base is a standard A2 card in real red card stock. To create the look of a door, a piece of DCWV background paper with the look of wood grain measuring 3 1/2" x 4 3/4" was attached to chocolate chip card stock measuring 4" x 5 1/4". A strip of chocolate chip card stock measuring 1/4" x 4 3/4" and another measuring 1/4" x 3 1/2" were attached to the wood grain background paper to create the look of door panels. The wreath was attached with dimensionals to the top portion of the door.

Supplies Used: Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, DCWV The Stack 5; Ink: Black; Stamps: All Year Cheer I; Other: Martha Stewart Branch Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, 2" Circle Punch, 2 1/2" Scallop Circle Punch, Red Rhinestones, Narrow Red Satin Ribbon, Tombow Adhesive, Dimensionals

Winter Wonderland Silhouette

A simple monochromatic card that came together very quickly. The winter scene was stamped on a piece of whisper white card stock measuring 1 7/8" x 4" using versa mark ink and embossed with navy embossing powder and mounted to a piece of night of navy card stock measuring 2" x 4 1/4". A piece of night of navy DSP measuring 2 1/8" x 5 1/4" was attached to the bottom section of the whisper white card stock measuring 4" x 5 1/4" and night of navy grosgrain ribbon was attached. This layer was attached to night of navy card measuring 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". The stamped image layer was adhered with dimensionals over the ribbon. The sentiment and snowflake rub-ons were added to complete the card.

Supplies Used: Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Night of Navy DSP; Ink: Versa Mark; Stamps: Winter Wonderland; Other: Navy Embossing Powder, Night of Navy Grosgrain Ribbon, Word Flurries Rub-ons, Dimensionals

White Poinsettia

For this card the poinsettia was stamped four times on very vanilla card stock using versa mark ink and then embossed with gold embossing powder. The bottom layer leaves and the top layer center were colored with kiwi kiss ink. Each layer was adhered with dimensionals and the entire flower was spritzed with gold pearl-ex shimmer mist. The flower layer was attached to a kiwi kiss piece of card stock that was punched around the entire border using the scallop trim border and corner punches. The gold beads were attached to the flower center using crystal effects. The card base is a 5 1/4" square card in kiwi kiss layered with a piece of 5" square very vanilla card stock that has kiwi kiss satin ribbon attached down the center. The flower layer was centered on the base and the ribbon bow was attached with mini glue dots.

Supplies Used: Paper: Very Vanilla, Kiwi Kiss; Ink: Versa Mark; Stamps: Persnickety Poinsettia by Holly Berry House; Other: Gold Embossing Powder, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Crystal Effects, Gold Beads, Dimensionals

Bell Wreath

I've seen various wreaths created using the Martha Stewart branch punch and really liked the look and decided to try it too. I don't know exactly how many branches I punched out but I know that there were over 24 branches used to create this wreath. The branches were attached to a 2" ring of old olive card stock using tombow adhesive. Once the wreath was completed the bells and ribbon bow were attached using sticky strip. The berry circles were punched using the 1/8" punch on the crop-a-dile and attached with tombow adhesive. Very vanilla card stock was embossed with the allegro embossing folder, spritzed with gold pearl-ex shimmer mist and attached to a real red card. The wreath and sentiment were attached using dimensionals.

Supplies Used: Paper: Very Vanilla, Real Red, Old Olive; Ink: Real Red; Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes; Other: Allegro Embossing Folder, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Martha Stewart Branch Punch, Crop-a-dile, Goldtone Bells, Red Satin Ribbon, Gold Pearl-Ex Shimmer Mist, Tombow Adhesive, Sticky Strip, Dimensionals

Baja Breeze Rudolph

Here is another version utilizing the same sketch (SC306) and the same stamp image as yesterday's post. Just by changing the card stock colors and DSP it has a totally different feel. The card base is a standard A2 card in whisper white card stock. The deer was stamped in close to cocoa ink on whisper white and mounted to a scallop circle in baja breeze. The layered piece starts with a piece of baja breeze card stock that measures 4 1/8" x 5 3/8" that has a piece of DSP adhered to it that measures 4" x 5 1/4" and then was embossed using the snowflake embossing folder. The middle band section has a piece of whisper white card stock measuring 4" x 1 1/2" that was embossed with the snowflake embossing folder adhered to a piece of baja breeze card stock measuring 4" x 1 5/8". The band was adhered to the bottom layer, ribbon and 2 rhinestone brads were added and the entire piece was adhered to the card base. The snowflakes were layered together using a rhinestone brad and attached to the ribbon knot using silver cord. The stamped image was adhered with dimensionals and the red rhinestone was attached for the nose and glitter was added.

Supplies Used: Paper: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Ski Slope DSP; Ink: Close to Cocoa; Stamps: Forest Friends; Other: Baja Breeze Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Circle Cutter, Large Scallop Circle Punch, Snowflake Embossing Folder, Felt Flurries Snowflakes, Rhinestone Brads, Red Rhinestone, Silver Cord, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Two-Way Glue Pen, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Dimensionals

Country Rudolph

Now that I've completed and mailed the cards for the Hope You Can Cling To challenges that were on SCS it is time to start creating Christmas cards. I used the sketch challenge for this week from SCS (SC306) and this is what I created. The card base is a standard A2 card in very vanilla card stock and the deer image was stamped onto very vanilla using close to cocoa ink. I used a circle cutter to for the stamped image and the real red paper and adhered both to a large scalloped circle in chocolate chip. The layered paper starts with a piece of chocolate chip card stock that measures 4 1/8" x 5 3/8" to that I added a piece measures 4" x 3" (top portion) and a piece that measures 4" x 2 1/4" (bottom portion). The band section starts with a piece of chocolate chip card stock that measures 4" x 1 5/8" and a piece of DSP that measures 3 7/8" x 1 1/2" was adhered to that. The band piece was adhered to the bottom layer and then ribbon was added and the brad was attached to the top left corner. The entire layered piece was then attached to the card base and the stamped image was adhered with dimensionals. A red rhinestone was adhered for the nose and glitter was added. The branch pieces were punched from old olive card stock and glued under the knot in the ribbon.

Supplies Used: Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Old Olive, Ski Slope DSP; Ink: Close to Cocoa; Stamps: Forest Friends; Other: Circle Cutter, Large Scallop Circle Punch, Martha Stewart Branch Punch, Alpine Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Red Rhinestone, Antique Brass Brad, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Two-Way Glue Pen, Dimensionals

My Treasury Inspiration

This is the last card for the Hope You Can Cling To challenge. The last challenge was to select a "Treasury List" from Etsy as the inspiration for the card. My inspiration is called "S is for Silver, Santa and Snow!" I had originally intended to make a Christmas card but decided that the bigger challenge would be to make a card that had nothing to do with Christmas, Santa or snow. The hydrangea is stamped onto very vanilla card stock that measures 2 1/4" x 3 1/4" using basic gray ink. I stamped the main flower portion again on very vanilla and then cut it out and popped it up on the main flower using dimensionals. There were nine additional single blossoms stamped onto very vanilla using basic gray ink cut out and attached with dimensionals. The flower was spritzed with frost white shimmer mist and adhered to basic gray card stock measuring 2 3/8" x 3 3/8" then to very vanilla card stock measuring 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" and another layer of basic gray measuring 2 5/8" x 3 5/8". The sentiment was stamped with basic gray ink onto a 1/2" x 1 3/4" piece of very vanilla card stock and adhered to a piece of basic gray card stock measuring 5/8" x 1 7/8". The DSP measures 4" x 5 1/4" and is adhered to basic gray card stock measuring 4 1/8" x 5 3/8". Attach ribbon to the center of the DSP and basic gray card stock add 3 silver brads in the upper left corner and then adhere to the A2 card in very vanilla. Attach flower image to card base with dimensionals add the pearls to center of the nine single blossoms and attach sentiment to ribbon with silver cord.

Supplies Used: Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Gray, Charbon DSP; Ink: Basic Gray; Stamps: Because I Care; Other: Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Silver Brads, Silver Cord, Frost White Shimmer Mist, Pearls, Dimensionals

Best Wishes

Today's card is for a sketch challenge that was given for the Hope You Can Cling To challenges on Splitcoast. The card base is a standard A2 card in sage shadow card stock. Cut a piece of very vanilla card stock at 4" x 5 1/4" and stamp the script background in sage shadow ink, adhere the stamped panel to a piece of forest foliage card stock that measure 4 1/8" x 5 3/8". Attach forest foliage organdy ribbon to this panel and adhere to the sage shadow card base. Stamp the leaves using forest foliage ink to a piece of very vanilla card stock that measures 2 1/8" x 4" and spritz panel with frost white shimmer mist. Adhere the very vanilla stamped piece to sage shadow card stock that measures 2 1/4" x 4 1/8". Cut a piece of forest foliage card stock that measures 4 1/4" x 2 3/4" and punch along one side using the scallop trim border punch and then adhere your stamped image. Using forest foliage ink stamp your sentiment onto very vanilla card stock and punch out using the large oval punch and adhere this to a piece of forest foliage card stock that was punch out using the scallop oval punch. Attach all stamped pieces to the card front using dimensionals and your card is now complete.

Supplies Used: Paper: Very Vanilla, Sage Shadow, Forest Foliage; Ink: Sage Shadow, Forest Foliage; Stamps: Script, Kind & Caring Thoughts, Oval All; Other: Forest Foliage Organdy Ribbon, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Frost White Shimmer Mist, Dimensionals

Christmas Greeting

A very simple and quick card today. The card base is a piece of old olive card stock cut at 4 1/4" x 11" and scored at 5 1/2" to create the standard A2 card base. Cut a piece of bravo burgundy card stock that measures 4 1/8"x 5 3/8" and adhere a piece of 3" x 4" piece of holiday thyme designer paper to the bottom section and another contrasting piece of holiday thyme designer paper that measures 2 1/4" x 4" to the top section. Tie a length of burgundy ribbon around the section where the designer papers meet, attach the brads in upper left hand corner and adhere this piece to the old olive card base. Stamp the sentiment using bravo burgundy ink onto a piece of very vanilla card stock and punch out using the 1 3/4" round punch. Punch 2 contrasting pieces of holiday thyme designer paper using the 1 3/4" round punch. Using a circle cutter cut 3 circles from bravo burgundy card stock that measure 1 7/8" round and adhere your stamped image and the designer papers to these circles. Attach the circles to the card front with dimensionals and your card is now completed.

Supplies Used: Paper: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Bravo Burgundy, Holiday Thyme DSP; Ink: Bravo Burgundy; Stamps: Christmas Greetings; Other: Burgundy Grosgrain Ribbon, Antique Brass Brads, Dimensionals

Coffee and Friends

What could be better than spending time with friends over a cup of coffee? Only one thing...having a piece of chocolate cake to go with it! I saw a tutorial on how to make this card here. I wanted to have it look like a coffee shop so I opted for the coffee cups and used close to cocoa card stock.

Supplies Used: Paper: Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip; Ink: Black, Various SU Markers; Stamps: My Favorite Things - Hot Stuff: Other: Word Window Punch, Scallop Border Punch, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

Shimmered Butterfly

This is a very simple card but the butterfly image can stand on its own without a lot of other elements. The butterfly was stamped using versa mark ink onto a piece of whisper white card stock and embossed with black embossing powder. The butterfly was colored using a stipple brush and pastels. Once I had completed adding the pastels to my liking I sealed it with hairspray and then spritzed the entire piece using frost white shimmer mist and then spritzed it again using silver pearl ex powder mixed with hairspray. It is hard to see the shimmer in to photo but it is there. The butterfly was attached to a piece of basic black card stock and then the dew drops and rhinestones were adhered. After attaching the butterfly to the main card panel I stamped the sentiment so that it would be centered under the butterfly.

Supplies Used: Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Lavender Lace; Ink: Versa Mark, Black; Stamps: Stipple Butterfly, Wonderful Words; Other: Black Embossing Powder, Stampin' Pastels, Frost White Shimmer Mist, Silver Pearl Ex Mist, Rhinestones, Dew Drops

Owl Friends

Only a few more days for me to finish creating cards for the Hope You Can Cling To challenges on Splitcoast. This card was created for the "cancer is for the birds" challenge, which was to create a card using bird stamps. Among all the bird stamps I have, I really wanted to use this owl. I stamped the owl twice in cajun craze ink onto whisper white card stock and cut them out. I punched two branches in old olive card stock using the two step bird punch. The sentiment was stamped with chocolate chip ink onto the whisper white panel and the branches were glued over the sentiment using tombow glue. The owls were attached with dimensionals along the branches and then adhered to the baja breeze panel. A barely banana circle was punched out using a 1 3/4" circle punch and attached behind the baja breeze panel. The other elements were attached to the main card and the stamped image panel was attached with dimensionals.

Supplies Used: Paper: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Barely Banana, Welcome Neighbor DSP; Ink: Cajun Craze, Chocolate Chip; Stamps: Animal Stories, Cheep Talk; Other: Two Step Bird Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, MS Seam Binding Ribbon, Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Tombow Glue, Dimensionals

Hershey Kiss Roses

This was created for a co-worker. I had made something for her previously and she liked it so much that she asked me to make something to give as a wedding present. I wanted it to look more like a rose and not be so obvious that they were Hershey kisses. Each Hershey kiss rose was wrapped using the decorative petals that can be found at almost any craft store in the wedding section. Some roses have 2 petals and some have 3. There are 25 flowers in the vase and each one has a dollar bill attached to it. To make the vase look fuller some of the roses also had gold tulle attached. The vase was filled with glass floral pebbles to keep the roses in place and wrapped with an organdy ribbon bow.