I’ve had this set, A Cardinal Christmas, for a while and had trouble coming up with a design that I liked for this beautiful bird. I had tried embossing and watercoloring but it never looked the way I had imagined.  So this week, I tried using the Stampin’ Write Markers and coloring the stamp the different colors – Real Red, Garden Green with a touch of Old Olive, Close to Cocoa and More Mustard – then stamped on Whisper White paper.  I really liked the way it came out.  Then to dull the brightness a little, I sponged this panel with Chocolate Chip Classic Ink.

Next, I really do like the Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Folder featured in the Holiday Mini.  I used it iwth Real Red, matted it on Chocolate Chip paper,  and wrapped a piece of Chocolate Chip Striped Grosgrain Ribbon. Then rotated it to make a diamond shap.

Lastly, the card and card front.  The card front was created using Chocolate Chip cardstock and then stamped the leaves from the A Cardinal Christmas stamp set in Chocolate Chip Craft Ink, added Clear Embossing Powder and then heated.  The image was stamped 4 times to get the desired look shown. Then matted onto the card (Close to Cocoa).

To assemble the card, add the diamond panel using SNAIL Adhesive, then the Cardinal, top panel using Stampin’ Dimensionals.  I really do like the way it came out and you can use this layout for many holiday sets, such as Home for Christmas or Good Cheer and many others.

Other suggestions:

1. Using the Big Shot or Circle Cutter to frame the Cardinal.
2. Create a Shadow Box card, again focusing on the Cardinal image.
3. Try watercoloring instead of the marker technique.

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!

Paper Preparation

In creating this card, I first cut the standard card size from Bashful Blue cardstock, then cust a 2-1/2 x 5-1/2 piece that will be scalloped. Then as mat, cut a 4-1/2 x 3-1/4 piece of Soft Suede, and then cut a piece of Whisper White 1/8 inch shorter on all sides.

Using the Scallop Punch, create the elegant border of the 2-1/2 x 5-1/2 piece of Soft Suede paper.

Creating the Trees

Next, I colored the tree image from the Snow Swirled stamp set in Bashful Blue (using the Bashful blue Stampin’ Write Marker which will be slightly darker than if I inked the image with Bashful Blue Classic Ink).  Then used the Close to Cocoa Stampin’ Write Marker to color the floral like pattern and dots in the image.  Then "huffed" on the image before stamping it on the Whisper White cardstock.  Repeat for 2nd tree image.

Next, use a piercing tool or a handheld punch to make a hole at the top of each tree. Then use Clear Rhinestone Brads with the Filigree Brads and place in each hole.  Adhere Whisper White cardstock to the Soft Suede mat using SNAIL Adhesive.

Next, adhere the scalloped edge to the card front. Then adhere this panel to the card front using SNAIL Adhesive.

The Greeting

For the greeting, stamp Season’s Greeting in Soft Suede on a scrap piece of Whisper White cardstock.  Then stamp a few small snowflakes in Bashful Blue on the greeting. Then punch out with the Scallop Oval Punch.  Then punch 2 more scalloped ovals in Soft Suede.  Combine the two brown ovals to make a mat for the oval greeting.

Completed greeting.

Lastly, adhere the greeting to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Alternatives

• Add glitter.  Many holiday cards sparkle with glitter and I will have more to come with that.
• Use a different type of tree topper – a flower or snowflake punch.
• Emboss the trees or greeting.
• Add more snowflakes to the background or to the Bashful Blue cardstock.

Fall is here and brings with it beautiful colors.  This card featuring the new Autumn Meadows designer series paper from the Holiday Mini catalog.  Although it uses Really Rust, More Mustard and Taken with Teal, I used the In Colors Dusty Durange. Crushed Curry and Bermuda Bay – mix and match the colors that you have!  In addition, the following Stampin’ Up! products were used:

• Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango and Whisper White Cardstock
• Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango and Crushed Curry Stampin’ Write Markers
• Chocolate Chip Classic Ink
• Blender Pen
• Dusty Durange Polka Dotted Grosgrain Ribbon
• Lovely as a Tree Stamp Set
• Chit Chat Rub-ons
• Stampin’ Dimensionals
• SNAIL Adhesive
• Crystal Effects

To make this card, first start with the standard landscape card in Dusty Durango, then cut a 4 x 5-1/4 piece of the bark-like patterned paper from Autumn Meadows (or other desired pattern). Adhere to the card front.

Cut a piece of 3×3 Whisper White, 3-1/8 x 3-1/8 of Dusty Durango, and 3-1/4 x 3-1/4 of Bermuda Bay.

Place the Whisper White piece of paper on the patterned designer series paper you selected and then stamp the large tree from Lovely as a Tree on the left and it also goes onto the designer series paper (using Chocolate Chip ink).  Then ink and stamp the horizontal tree stamp from Lovely as a Tree – some of the image on the white paper and some on the designer series paper.

Then adhere the Whisper White to Dusty Durango and then that to the Bermuda Bay.  Cut a small piece of Dusty Durango polka dotted ribbon, fold, and adhere to the back of this panel. Adhere this panel to the card front.

Next cut a small strip of the brown leafy patterned paper under the greeting you select (I used Peaceful Wishes from Chit Chat rub-ons collection).

Then  ink the leaves from Lovely as a Tree in Chocolate Chip, then use the Stampin’ Write markers and color different areas of the stamp in the different colors (Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durange), and then stamp on scrap.  I then used the Chocolate Chip ink and Blender pen to fill in the leaf. 

Lastly, finish the card by adding Crystal Effects to the leaf and set aside for a while to let it dry completely. Then adhered to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Other Thoughts:

• Use Really Rust, More Mustard or Taken with Teal.
• Add sponging with Chocolate Chip Ink.
• Add more "trees" in Really Rust or Dusty Durango.
• Stamp a larger greeting.
• Cut, color and add more leaves (and using Crystal Effects).
• Staple the piece of ribbon to the top/front instead of tucking behind the focal point panel.