Simple by Sweet Holiday

I was going for quick, simple but sparkling with sweet holiday wishes. Did I achieve it? This card took no time at all to make! I paper pierced the outside of some Whisper White card stock and stamped the tiny snowman and star from the new CC Designs set called Sugarplum Snowy Scenery. The words are from one of Amy Rysavy's new sentiment sets. Honestly, both of her sets are amazing and are sets that will be in my collection forever!!!

I outlined the snowman with a Going Grey Stampin' Write Marker, I did the same with the snowy ground I created and did his carrot nose with some Pumpkin Pie ink and an Aquapainter. The star was stamped with Black Staz On and I went over it with some Summer Sun chalk and finished off with some glue and Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

The oval that the sentiment was done in was totally CASED from this card by my friend Vicki. Her work is AMAZING and this card is more beautiful in person than you see here! I wish I could give you a blog link for her so you could follow her work, but alas, she doesn't have a blog! So, are your Christmas cards done yet?

Winter Bear Warms My Heart...

Today I was sitting downstairs working on some projects for the CC Designs release when my oldest brought the mail in. She yelled, "You've got more stuff from All That Scraps!" I was thrilled because today we were supposed to share samples made with the set I knew was in that package - Winter Bear. I stopped what I was doing and abandoned my project to work on this! Isn't this adorable????

This uses some designer paper from SU! from approximately 2 years ago. It is my favorite snowflake paper ever and my last piece!!! I'm so sad about that, but smiling at this cute card! I wanted nothing more than blue and red. Great colors for the holiday. I did some faux blanket stitching on this one as well. One of my favorite "stitches" to create. I also grabbed a metal edge tag. I haven't used one of those in more than a year! The little box they are stored in was all dusty!!! Funny the embellishments you can't live with out (like ribbon and brads) and the ones you forget about! I added some glitter because you just can't do a snow project and omit glitter - it's unnatural!

Sadie and Pepper!!

LOVE THEM! Isn't this the cutest!?!?! I think this is my favorite Sadie image yet - Jenn did a great job on her!

I was supposed to have this one uploaded yesterday but we did Thanksgiving with the in-laws. Usually we are home at a decent hour but we didn't get home till late last night. So, I'm late on my upload, but at least I got it done! Things have been so crazy since last month when we had a medical scare with my dad, and it seems like I just can't catch up.

First and foremost let me say that this post is bittersweet because this is my last first post of a CC Designs release. (Does that make sense???) When I was invited to the CC Designs team it was supposed to be for just 3 months, then Christine extended it until December. Now that term is running down. It has been such fun and prior to this DT position, I didn't own many stamps other than SU! so it has been fun trying out new stuff!

This project was made with some Basic Grey paper, Cool Carribean, Chocolate Chip, and some sparkle! I also added the little fence from a new release this time as well! It is an adorable set with winter houses and trees and snowmen....you'll love it...but you'll have to wait to see some more images till tomorrow!

Scalloped Edge Christmas Ornament

A week or so ago, Taylor VanBruggen posted a tutorial on her blog about how to make these adorable ornaments with Stampin' Up!'s scallop edge punch. Since I love making ornaments at this time of year, I thought I would give it a try and I am in heaven! These are so easy to make, you have got to try them! The stamped image on this is from my most favorite Christmas set ever, Holiday Lane. This is from Lizzie Anne Designs. I adore the stamps that the girls at Lizzie Anne create and as soon as I saw this set, I had to have it. I have plans to make more ornaments using different color schemes. This one uses Kraft, Real Red and Old Olive. I also used Bordering Blue to color the snow on the roof of the house. I adore Santa's boots sticking out of the chimney on this image.

Speaking of Santa...what is on your wish list this year?

Happy Birthday to .....

No one really. I have a friend who is having a birthday later in the month, so maybe she'll get this one, I haven't decided. But this image is fun! This is one of the Glam girls that Christine released earlier this month, the set is called Glam Girls II, and I was just getting a chance to play with it. The sentiment is from the Sugarplums Sentiments set. This image was paired with some fun and cheerful Cutie Pie designer paper from Stampin' Up! I can't believe this paper is no longer available!! This was watercolored with SU! inks and an aquapainter. Of course I used the scallop edge punch and bling was a necessity. The rhinestones have been in my stash for ages...I think I got them at JoAnns. I hope you all have a great day!

Princess Cupcake

I am really enjoying this set called Cupcake Occasions. It is available now at All That Scraps. This card was made for my 6 year old daughter. She is very much the girlie girl and if you check out our home schooling blog you'll see photos of the Disney vacation we just returned from. My favorite photo is a picture of Kira gasping as she saw the princesses emerge onto the stage in front of Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom. We had a rough day of school earlier this week and when I sat down to stamp last night I was thinking of how much I love my kids and don't always show it. (Mommy guilt can be so huge sometimes). So, to give her some lovin' and make her feel extra special, I made her this card. Pair this adorable cupcake top and my favorite My Minds Eye paper and I think this one is a winner!

Missed the Release But Still Havin' Fun

While we were in Florida CC Designs had another new release. I shared 2 projects with you before but now that I am home I had some time to play today. This simple card was made with the new set Christmas Around the World. I love the monkey playing with the ornaments! This is a very quick layout that is a great way to use patterned paper! This designer paper is from KI Memories, Jen Ofiania has turned me on to their patterned paper. These are Alpine Skinny Stripe and Alpine Moguls, both of which were originally purchased from All That Scraps but it doesn't look like they are being carried any longer.

I stamped the monkey on Whisper White and water colored the image with Real Red, Ruby Red, Soft Sky, So Saffron, Creamy Caramel, and Close to Cocoa. I added some Liquid Applique onto his Santa hat and sparkle to the ornaments from my Sakura gel pen. Some Soft Sky Double Stitched Ribbon and Dew Drops and here is another Christmas card ready to be sent out! Whoo hooo!

Jami Swap and Another Stamp Camp Project

We are home! I think I mentioned that we were headed for our kids first trip to Disney World, and we made it through the 4 hour car ride with only one incident of "pulling over on the side of the highway for a spanking". Actually, it was a great trip and all in all the 2 hours there and 2 hours back went really well.

I have been saving this project for weeks. This was my contribution to a swap with Jami at Splitcoaststampers and she asks that we wait until the packages have all been swapped out before sharing them.

I used the little house and sentiment from the Stampin Up! set, To You and Yours, and also added the Canvas background stamp. I used the big Shot Top Note Die. I love this die! At first I didn't think there would be to many options with it for cards but was I wrong! The house was simply stamped on the die in Chocolate Chip and colored with pastels. Then I used the Chocolate Chip to do some DTP along the edges (for a distressed look). In addition I pulled out my color spritzer tool and my Chocolate Chip marker to give it more of a distressed look. I covered the die with Versa Mark and Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder as well, punched a horizontal slot and threaded some Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon through. What do you think?

North Pole Release

Isn't this elf adorable?!? Although I like to send out Christmas cards that reflect the true meaning of the season, I also love sweet images that make me think of the fun of childhood - like Santa and his elves. When I was growing up my favorite holiday book was published by Disney and was called Santa's Toy Shop. I especially loved that it showed different scenes of Santa's shop, specifically the doll department, the train department, etc. A few years ago I found the same book at a yard sale and got all giddy to purchase it for my girls. Of course they haven't enjoyed it nearly as much as mom thinks they should! Anyway, this image reminds me of those fun childhood memories of Christmas. Isn't he cute? CC Designs will be releasing a new set called "North Pole" and this image is just one of the fun new toys I got to play with this past week. You'll have to check out the other design team members blogs to get more peaks of this set!

For this project I used some Basic Grey paper. This is from their Dashing Collection - Snowfall Cranberry and Flannel Shirt. Aren't these colors great together? Some Stampin Up! Cranberry Crisp (from 2 years ago) and some Soft Sky (from last year) and you know you can never go wrong when you add Old Olive to the mix! I added some Pewter Jumbo Eyelets and called it good. Finally, pair it with one of Amy Rysavy's new sets and you have a sweet card! Amy is releasing 2 Christmas sentiment sets - I have to admit these are sets that will forever stay in my collection! The new release will be November 12 so don't forget to check out all the new stamp sets at All That Scraps!

Awesome Cupcake Release!!

Is "funnest" a word? Or would proper grammar be to say "most fun"? Well, I guess I'll use the word "funnest" because that is exactly what I thought when I saw this new set that is designed by fellow All That Scraps Design Team Member Diane Zechman . There is a new release coming at All That Scraps and this month there will be several new sets from CC Designs, this adorable cupcake set, 3 new sets from Amy Rysavvy, Jenn Ofiania is sharing a new set, a new Sadie image and Sadie's got a man in her life too! Each month I continue to be shocked at all the new stuff Christine is releasing!

Back to this project...this is made with the set Cupcake Occasions. It is a wonderful cupcake set that has 2 separate cupcake bottoms and 18 different tops. There is a cupcake top for virtually every holiday and season! Really this is an adorable set! This was made using one of my favorite SU! designer papers - Summer Picnic. I think I enjoy this paper so much because of the great colors in it! Real Red, Bashful Blue, Old Olive.....see those polka dots on the background??? One of Christine's big 'ol backgrounds from earlier this year which was heat embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. It gives a project a great look. Very finished.

As you read this we are in sunny Florida! I'll share a picture or two after we return. I've also got one other sample to share during the release but the rest will have to wait till we get back. I hope you are all having a wonderful day!