This 12×12 single page layout features the Christmas Cocoa Specialty Paper from the Holiday Mini, Chocolate Chip paper as the base, Real Red for matting and Whisper white for matting the larger picture and used for embosssed greeting,  The other piece of this page I love is the snowflakes!  These again were from the Holiday Mini and you may have some left – the white Snowflakes from the Icicles Rub-ons.  Baroque Motifs‘ large swirl stamp was used as a textured background (embossed). I like how it goes with the holly designer pattern.

Instructions

• Emboss the left side of the page with a few swirls from Baroque Motifs.  I used Chocolate Chip Craft Ink and then Clear Embossing Powder. Then heated. Then started to add some snowflakes.
  
   
• Next, I layed the 2×12 strip of holly patterned paper and the 3/4 inch strip of real red patterned paper from the Christmas Cocoa Specilaty pack. 

  
   

• Next, matted and laid the smaller picture squares on the right. Some on a diagonal, and the center one as a square. Placed with Stampin’ Dimensionals. You can swap a Whisper White piece for one of these squares for journaling if you’d prefer.
• Then matted and laid the larger picture.
• Matted and created the greeting, which again could instead be used for journaling. Used Stampin’ Dimensionals in the middle so it would not stick to any pictures on the left and right side.
• Finished adding some more snowflakes.

Other Suggestions:

• Add some brads for an accent on the greeting or around large picture.
• Add some ribbon.

Hope you had a wonderful holiday season!

Don’t forget to check out the new Sale-a-bration and Occasions Mini!  Samples to come!

Here is another quick, less than 10 minutes, card using the same Lovely as a Tree stamp set but with Bella "blue" and a masculine look.

Stampin’ Up! Product Used:

• Chocolate Chip cardstock, Craft Ink, and Classic Ink
• Chocolate Chip Wide Satin Ribbon (from Clearance Rack)
• Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper
• Large Oval Punch
• Scallop Oval Punch
• Lovely as a Tree stamp set
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Heat Gun
• SNAIL Adhesive
• Stampin’ Dimensionals

Instructions:

1. Start with a standard card using Chocolate Chip cardstock. 
2. Then cut a 4 x 5-1/4 piece of blue patterned paper from the Bella Bleu collection of Designer Series Paper.
3. Stamp the large tree in Chocolate Chip Craft Ink and stamp the 1st tree. Then re-ink and stamp the 2nd tree to the left, and slightly higher. 
4. Then cover both trees with Clear Embossing Powder. Shake off excess. Heat.
5. Then I used the small trees from the Noble Deer stamp set (retired) but you can also instead use the horizontal bunch of trees in the Lovely as a Tree stamp set. Stamp in Chocolate Chip Classic Ink (not Craft Ink and not embossed).
6. Wrap ribbon around and knot in the front, center.
7. Adhere to card front using SNAIL Adhesive.
8. Stamp and emboss greeting on scrap Bella Bleu paper. Punch out with large oval.  Then adhere to Chocolate Chip scalloped oval (punch). Adhere to card using Stampin’ Dimensionals.
9. You’re done!

Other Suggestions

1. Use Icicles snowflake rub-ons from the Holiday Mini in the background.
2. Try Chocolate Chip striped grosgrain ribbon.

Don’t forget the Sale-a-bration and the Occasions Mini catalog is coming – JANUARY 5, 2010.

First, I stamped the two trees in Chocolate Chip Craft Ink and embossed using Clear Embossing Powder and then the heat gun.  I did the same technique for the greeting "Merry Christmas" (Four the Holidays stamp set from the Holiday Mini). 

Then using a White Gel Pen I added highlights/snow to the tree branches.

Next, I adhered the window sheet (4 x 5-1/4) to the trees (card front panel) using SNAIL Adhesive (to hold the window sheet in place).

Lastly, I threaded a piece of Chocolate Chip Taffeta ribbon through a silver buckle from the Styled Silver Hodpodge Hardware kit and adhered to the back of the card front panel.  Then adhered the panel to the Chocolate Chip card using SNAIL Adhesive.

Other Suggestion

• Once I was finished with the card, I think if we used either White Craft Ink or the white snowflakes from the Icicles Rub-ons in the background as well, that would have added an extra holiday, snowy touch.

Happy Holidays!

Christmas is just around the corner. Today’s post is using the Good Cheer stamp set from the Idea Book & Catalog.  I saw this marker and embossing technique with this holiday set on another demonstrator’s website and had to C.A.S.E it – it looked so nice and absolutely perfect for the holidays!

The following Stampin’ Up! product was used:

• Crimper
• Chocolate Chip, Real Red, and Whisper White cardstock
• Chocolate Chip Wide Satin ribbon (from the Clearance Rack)
• Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon
• Rub-ons (Merry & Bright in the Holiday Mini Catalog)
• Stampin’ Write Markers
• Versa Mark Pen
• Clear Embossing Powder
• SNAIL Adhesive
• Stampin’ Dimensionals or Pop-up Glue Dots

First, cut the standard, vertical card size in Chocolate Chip.  Then run a 4-1/2 by 5-1/2 piece of Real Red cardstock through the Crimper. Afterwards trim to 4 x 5-1/4.  Wrap a piece of satin ribbon around the front and adhere to the back. Then wrap the Real Red ribbon on top of the Chocolate Chip satin ribbon and adhere to the back as well. Adhere this panel to the card front.

Next, cut up one of the phrases from the Merry & Bright rub-ons and used on the ribbon!  I like how it came out.  Choose your favorite holiday greeting and give it a try.

Lastly, color the stamp the Santa image with Garden Green, Real Red, Creamy Caramel and Chocolate Chip markers. Then stamp  on Whisper White cardstock.  Cut the paper to the image. Using the Versa Mark pen, color parts of the image you would like embossed. Then sprinkle with Clear Embossing Powder, shake off excess powder, then heat.  Mat the image on Chocolate Chip cardstock and trim.  Then adhere to the front panel using Stampin’ Dimensionals or Pop-up Glue Dots.

Other Suggestions

1. Stamp the image in Chocolate Chip Craft Ink and emboss. Then watercolor the picture instead of coloring the stamp with markers.
2. Add glitter (Dazzling Diamonds) to the image.
3. Add brads as an accent. For example in each corner of the front panel or on the bottom or top right.
4. Instead of using the Crimper use a background stamp or Textured Impressions Folder.

Don’t forget to check out the 12 Days of Holiday Sales!

Happy Holidays!

This simply but elegant holiday card was created using the Serene Snowflake stampset from the Holiday Mini, the Not Quite Navy paper and the patterned paper from the Bella Bleu designer series paper pack. 

The snowflake was stamped in Craft White Ink and then covered with White Embossing Powder. Then heated. Then the piercing tool was used to put a whole in the center of the snowflake so the Filigree brad could be placed.

Then the patterned paper and the Not Quite Navy cardstock were adhered together to make a 4 x 5-1/4 piece of paper. 

The Scallop Edge punch was used on the Not Quite Navy cardstock and then the small strip from the punched edge was also used in the sample instead of being thrown away! Vintage Brads were placed in the bottom to the right (and through the patterned paper. 

Then the panel was adhered to the card front (Very Vanilla cardstock) using SNAIL Adhesive.

Really a quick card but I still love the way it looks!

Other Suggestions

• To create this card even faster, skip the scalloped edge and instead just wrap Taffeta ribbon around the front and adhere in the back.
• Then simply adhere brads in the lower right corner of the patterned paper or just skip them altogether.

Happy Holidays!

I really enjoyed making this non-traditional holiday card…using Very Vanilla!!!  Something different. Hope you enjoy it and it inspires you to think of new holiday color combinations!

The Stampin’ Up! product used:

• Chocolate Chip Craft Ink
• Serene Snowflakes stamp set
• Sweet Swirls wheel
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Heat Gun
• Dazzling Diamonds
• Two-way Glue Pen
• Icicles rub-ons
• Kraft Taffeta Ribbon
• Silver Buckle from the Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware

To make this card:

1. Create a 5-1/4 x 5-1/4 Square Card using Very Vanilla cardstock.
2. Cut either two pieces of different patterned Very Vanilla paper from the Bella Bleu designer series paper pack (as I did) or just use one pattern.
3. At the bottom, ink up the wheel with Craft ink and then roll across. Cover with embossing powder, shake off the excess powder and heat.
4. Then, for the top section, rub-on many snowflakes of different sizes.
5. Then ink up the snowflakes from the Serene Snowflakes stamp set and stamp around (using Craft Ink). Emboss them.

   
    

6. Next, using the Two-Way Glue Pen, add Dazzling Diamonds to the snowflakes or where desired. I added it to the snowflakes and in between the swirls at the bottom.
7. Adhere the two pieces down to the card front.
8. Lastly, wrap a piece of ribbon around, threading it through the buckle, and adhere on the inside of the card.

   
    

Other ideas:

• Try other color combinations
• Try the crayon-resist technique withe the snowflakes

I again used Chocolate Chip Craft Ink and Clear Embossing Powder with the stamped image for the background of the card (another floral stamp from the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set). 

Then I adhered the focal point to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Other Ideas:

• Instead of using embossing on the card front, use another darker piece of patterned paper from Bella Bleu or other designer series paper of your choice.
• Add Vintage Brads to each of the corners on the card’s focal panel.
• Use Vintage Brads or Build-a-Brads in the bottom, right corner area (like 3 in a row).
• Add an entire row of brads along the bottom focal panel (under greeting) and use the mat pack to help align all the brads.
• Add ribbon.

This project includes the following Stampin’ Up! merchandise:

• Magnetic box
• Thoughs & Prayers stamp set
• Chocolate Chip Craft Ink
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Heat Gun
• Bella Bleu designer series paper
• Autumn Meadows designer series paper
• Very Vanilla paper
• 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (Chocolate Chip)
• SNAIL Adhesive

Here is a picture of the magnetic box when first opened:

Here is a picture of the box beginning to fold and take form:

Completed box picture:

Instructions:

• Cut a piece of 3-1/4 x 3-1/4 square of Bella Bleu designer series paper.
• Stamp the tree from Thoughts & Prayers in Chocolate Chip Craft ink, as well as desired greeting, sprinkle with Clear Embossing Powder and then heat.
• Adhere to a piece of 3-10/16 x 3-10/16 square of dark brown paper from the Autumn Meadows designer series paper pack.
• Then adhere that to a piece of 3-3/4 x 3-3/4 square of Very Vanilla.
• Tie and know ribbon around the box and card.
• You’re done! It’s that easy!

The following products are used to create

this beautiful wedding card:

• Sweet Swirls Wheel
• Chocolate Chip Craft Ink
• Chocolate Chip Cardstock
• Kraft Taffeta Ribbon
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Heat Gun
• SNAIL Adhesive
• Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper
• Wedding Sweet Stamp Set

Technique used: Heat Embossing

Instructions

1. Cut a 4-1/4 x 11 piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock to use as the main card.
2. Cut a 4 x 5-1/4 piece of Bella Bleu designer series paper (DSP) that has more of a baroque pattern. 
3. Using Chocolate Chip Craft Ink, stamp the large floral/swirl image from the Wedding Sweet stamp set, then sprinkle with Clear Embossing Powder and heat.
4. Cut a 1 x 5-1/4 piece of Bella Bleu DSP (different patterned piece) and then emboss the Sweet Swirls using Chocolate Chip Craft Ink, Clear Embossing Powder and heat.  Adhere to the other Bella Bleu paper.
5. Wrap Kraft Taffeta ribbon around the card front at the intersection of the two patterns.
6. Stamp greeting and emboss as well ("Congratulations" from Wedding Sweet shown above).
7. Adhere this completed panel to card front.

Other Ideas

• Add sponging for a more vintage look.
• Add more swirls/flowers.
• Use Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon.
• Instead of DSP, use a background stamp (lighter brown color like Creamy Caramel or Close to Cocoa). Then stamp/emboss over it.

Have fun stamping!

Stampin’ Up! product used:

• Wedding Sweet stamp set
• Sweet Swirls wheel
• Bella Bleu designer series paper
• Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware
• Vintage Brads
• Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon
• Chocolate Chip Craft Ink
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Heat Gun
• Cutter’s Kit (Distressor Tool)
• 1/16" Circle Handheld Punch
• Spiral Punch
• Designer Label Punch
• Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla cardstock
• SNAIL Adhesive
• Art OnBoard Journal

Technique used: Heat Embossing

Instructions

1. Begin with 4 pieces of 5-1/4 square pieces of Bella Bleu designer series paper (DSP). I used the Very Vanilla and Kraft piece of patterned paper.
2. Using the large stamp in the Wedding Sweet stamp set, ink using Chocolate Chip Craft Ink, and then stamp once in the upper left corner. Then re-ink and stamp again in the upper right corner as shown below or as desired. Sprinkle with Clear Embossing Powder. Then heat with heat gun.
    

   
    

3. Then, ink the Sweet Swirls wheel in Chocolate Chip Craft Ink – roll it a few times in the Craft Ink pad.  Then roll across the bottom of the paper. Again, sprinkle with Clear Embossing Powder and heat.
4. Cut a 3-1/4 x 2-1/4 piece of Sahara Sand paper. Adhere it to a 3-1/2 x 2-1/2 piece of Chocolate Chip paper. Then adhere that to a 3-3/4 x 2-3/4 piece of Very Vanilla.  Then use the Distressor Tool (part of the Cutter’s Kit shown below) to rough/distress the edges of the Very Vanilla paper. Adhere to front.  This is a mat for a photo picture.
    

   
    

5. Wrap a piece of Chocolate Taffeta Ribbon around the front (but above the Sweet Swirls border.
6. Place where you want the Hodgepodge Hardware, use a pencil to mark the holes that you will then punch with the 1/16" handheld punch.
7. Punch a piece of DSP (of your choice) for the greeting/journal box using the Designer Label Punch and adhere to front. Then place hardware. Final front page shown below. This is an area for a name or personal greeting. Or you can stamp a greeting (before assembling the hardware) or use rub-ons for a note or greeting as well.
    

      8.   Then it is time to punch the spiral for each piece of paper using the Spiral Punch. Punch one side of each paper.
      9.   Then adhere using SNAIL Adhesive.

In this picture you can see some of the sprial has been placed down (left) while I was still placing the rest (on the right). Using Stampin’ Up!’s Spiral Punch aligns them perfectly.

Other Possibilities

• Try other positions for the photo and designer label hardware layout.
• Experiment with other colors and other techniques.
• Use a stamp as the focal point instead of a photo.
• Add sponging with Chocolate Chip Classic Ink for a more vintage look.

I hope you enjoyed today’s project!