Ice cream and presents and cake...

Oh my! That's the theme of my birthday card for the Our Creative Corner challenge this week. Our hostess for the next two weeks is Sarah Gough and her challenge today is to make a background or layer with a repeatedly stamped sentiment. I combined the OCC challenge with the colors from colourQ (Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Not Quite Navy, Tangerine Tango, kraft and white) and the layout from Pals Paper Arts.

I started out by stamping the sentiment from Birthday Bliss in the four ink colors, using the Stamp-a-Ma-Jig for exact placement. The cupcake and happy birthday sentiment are from Create a Cupcake, and I accented the cupcake with a bitty flower punch, leaves from the bird punch's branch, and a rhinestone. The scalloped border piece is from the Pennant die, and for the background I used retired tangerine DP and Baja Breeze card stock embossed with the Finial Press folder. I kept the embellishments simple with three more rhinestones.

You'll want to be sure to check out the creations from all the members of the OCC team - everyone on the team has been turning out such inspiring work and you won't want to miss it!

A belated valentine

Well, it's another crazy week, and I haven't had much time to stamp, but I did want to share the valentine I made for Todd before it got too far past the official day! We made this card at my club last weekend - I have a tradition of doing a masculine valentine and my club members always seem to like it. Todd said, "I guess it's masculine enough" - he's a tough cookie! LOL! Anyway, since this is a valentine I'm also submitting it for the Friday Mashup valentine challenge.

This card uses the inlaid embossing technique that was featured on Splitcoast a couple weeks ago. I punched all my hearts from Riding Hood Red card stock, glued them onto a strip of Basic Black card stock, then ran it through the Big Shot with the square lattice folder. On the bottom I put a panel of houndstooth DP from the Love Letter pack with a strip of black satin ribbon to divide the two halves. The heart is from I Heart Hearts, and I used just the banner from the Be My Valentine single stamp. The card seemed to just need something else, so I took three of the smallest punched hearts, put silver brads through them, and added them to the card with glue dots.

That's it for today - got to run and get more stuff done - but I'll see you on Saturday for the next OCC challenge, if not before!

You know I love it...

I'm hosting the challenge at Our Creative Corner again this week, and for this time around I picked something that my stamp club members know I love - cutting stuff out. It's a running joke with them, actually. So now I'm challenging all of you to join me in my crazy love for my paper snips. Any cutting technique qualifies as long as you Cut It Out! I'm also submitting this for the SCS inspiration challenge, based on this photo.

For my card I picked the paper tole technique - I haven't done this technique in a long time. You know I'm insane, so of course I had to use the hydrangea from Because I Care. This was really fussy cutting, LOL - but I love the result! I kept the rest of the card really simple so the image would just pop. The colors are Concord Crush and Old Olive, with Very Vanilla card stock. Behind the flower I used a strip of some really old DP, and for embellishments I just used three silver brads, some scored lines (which aren't showing up in the photo so well - sorry!), and the punched sentiment from the same set. I think I was totally channeling my former OCC teammate Silke Ledlow with this one - except she would have put a gorgeous bow on it somewhere! I just love your work, girl! :)

Now it's your turn - pull out those snips and get busy! But be sure you also check out what the rest of the team has done for the challenge - you won't be disappointed!

Love you forever

Here's a card I made just for fun! I haven't had the chance to do that in a couple weeks. This card is for the featured stamper challenge on SCS - featuring the amazing Lori Boyd - and the Paper Players challenge to make a romantic card. From Lori's gallery I chose this card - I kept the layout but flipped it, changed the colors and images, left off the ribbon, and added a sentiment.

I started off by stamping a large paper daisy in Poppy Parade with the Dot, Dot, Dot stamp. Next I stamped the Elements of Style flowers in Early Espresso and cut out a portion with Nestabilities, then colored it with Poppy Parade and Pear Pizazz markers. The card base is textured Baja Breeze card stock with a punched border on the bottom (MS punch). For the background I used the Finial Press embossing folder on pear card stock and a strip of poppy DP. Finally I added a retired Baja Breeze corduroy button with a white 1/8" taffeta bow, a sentiment banner (stamped with Fabulous Phrases) and three adhesive pearls.

That's it from me today - thanks for stopping by!

Live, Laugh & Love for my dad

OK, well, it's been another crazy week around here. My cold either came back after I thought I was over it, or I caught another one, and we had two days of snow... needless to say, not much stamping was going on. But I'm happy to be hosting the challenge at Our Creative Corner this weekend! My challenge for you is to use a tree image on a clean and simple (CAS) card. I hope you'll come play along!

I didn't plan it this way, but this challenge worked out really well for making a birthday card for my dad, whose birthday is today. (Happy birthday, Dad!) The colors are from the Color Throwdown: Early Espresso, Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake, and So Saffron. I took the tree image from Plant Hope and stamped it several times (first and second generation) with espresso ink, then sponged the edges. Behind it I used a panel of Bashful Blue DP (also sponged) and a saffron card base 5 1/4" square. To get the texture I actually stamped on the card base with the same paper towel I'd done my sponging with. I added a tab made with the modern label punch and a blue button (retired) tied with dark brown embroidery thread.

Last came the sentiment from On Your Birthday. I really wanted a label-style shape for this sentiment, but nothing I had was the right size. So I went into My Digital Studio, created a designer label punch in the size I wanted, printed it out, and cut it out by hand. Now the sentiment fits perfectly - and you can get any size shape you want using this method. To outline the edges I added some faux stitching before putting it all together on the card.

Be sure you go check out the creations from our fabulous team - we have such an inspiring group of artists and I know you'll enjoy seeing their work. Then please share your own card with us - we love to see what you create!

It's been one of those weeks

Sorry I haven't posted this week - the kids and I have been sick, we had another snowstorm (and another snow day) and life is just generally busy! But I have my project done for this week's challenge at Our Creative Corner. To close out the month Wendy Janson has a Valentine's Day 3-D project challenge.

I made this cute little box - it may or may not be a February club project - we'll see. The pattern comes from one available on the SU demo site - it's made with the Fancy Favor box, then the decorative edge is trimmed off and a lid added. I made a band of DP to wrap around the box and added a magnetic snap to keep it closed. The stamps I used are from Valentine Defined, and the colors are Baja Breeze, Melon Mambo and Chocolate Chip.

Be sure you visit the OCC blog to meet our new DT members - you will love their work, I promise! We're so excited to have them joining us on the team and we have lots of great challenges planned for the next few months. We hope you'll come and play along with us!

Colors of Nature

This week at Our Creative Corner we have a color challenge - but not your typical color challenge. Our host, Wendy Janson, asked us to use an analogous color scheme. What is that, you ask? Well, you can click the OCC link to read a bit more, but briefly, it's colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. I'm really not sure I did it entirely correctly, LOL, and I probably used more brown than I should have, but here's my card anyway. I couldn't decide what colors to use - I went back and forth between several combinations - and after struggling for a while I looked at my ink pads and my card idea just jumped out at me. I think the result turned out a lot like I imagined and I'm pretty happy with it.

I used a stamp set I haven't pulled out in ages - Inspired by Nature - with a yellow and green (OK, and brown) color scheme (and naturals ivory card stock). First I colored the flower stamp with So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz and Chocolate Chip markers, then I went back in with Daffodil Delight, Old Olive and Early Espresso markers to try to shade a little bit. How well it worked, I'm not really sure... you can maybe see it best on the flower stems and leaves. I ended up cutting out the tiniest flower and adhering it on top of the other two since the whole image was just too big, but it really did need all three flowers for balance.

Behind the flower panel I used the grass image, and to go along with that, I made my first attempt at a brayered background with my four shades of yellow and green. I'm not sure it looks like it should, but I kind of liked it so I went with it. I sponged some Early Espresso around the edges and heavier on the bottom to simulate the ground. I also used a panel of striped So Saffron DP and put everything on an espresso card base. The sentiment is from Perfect Punches. I wanted some simple accents so I added a little paper piercing, and here's how I did my ribbon: I punched a partial circle with a 3/4" circle punch, attached it to the flower panel, punched a small hole through both, threaded a small piece of olive grosgrain ribbon through the hole, and tied a bow around it with linen thread.

Be sure you go check out the OCC blog to see all the creations from our design team - they are always fabulous. Then pick some colors and play along with us - Wendy gave us a fun challenge so please join in!

Stamping therapy

Today is the sixth day in a row that I've been home with one or both kids - partially due to winter weather, which we are getting more of today - and we are going a little stir crazy! So I really needed some stamping therapy. I loved the new color combo challenge at colourQ: Cherry Cobbler, Poppy Parade, So Saffron, Always Artichoke, and white. I combined the colors with the Sweet Sunday Sketch and came up with this card. It almost makes me forget the snow that's falling outside my window... again...

I should be sure to say - this is a big card, 6" square. I flipped the sketch so I could use the long sentiment from Heard from the Heart. (And oops... I forgot the border strip on the sketch. Sorry!) The sentiment panel was layered over a Nesties circle (embossed with the Elegant Lines folder) and a panel of poppy DP. Then I put my flower on top with dimensionals. This beautiful bloom was made with the Build a Blossom stamp set from the mini catalog and the coordinating punch. Clearly I *need* some therapy since I made my flower with 10 petals - but it looks so full and gorgeous that way. Not something I would do with my club, but this is just for me, so why not? My one little disclaimer: I started this card before I saw that Sylvia from the colourQ DT used the same flower - hers is stunning so I wasn't sure I should even post mine... but I was already mostly done, so... oh well!

OK, it's time for me to see what else needs to get done on this wintry day. Thanks for visiting!

Pink Dogwood Pearls

It's time for another challenge at Our Creative Corner. This week our hostess, Wendy Janson, gave us a simple sketch challenge and told us to dress it up according to our personal style. Well, I don't know that I dressed mine up that much - I was in the mood for something a little more clean and simple. But since I often like CAS, and I do think it's a pretty card (which I also often like), I think it represents my style pretty well.


When I started out I was kind of stumped for what stamp set I wanted to use. Then I saw that Easter Blossoms was still out on my table from making my card kit the other day, and I decided the dogwood image was perfect to fill the large oval. I also kept the pink and brown color scheme but changed the colors to Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White. I colored the dogwood flowers with pink marker and then added the tiniest adhesive pearls to the centers of some of the flowers. (You can see that better if you click on the photo to enlarge it.)

For the background I did something I don't think I've done before - I used designer paper and an embossed panel (done with a texture plate) in the same color. I really like the monochromatic look this achieved while still giving some contrasting texture. I also created my own sentiment by combining words from two separate stamps from the set On Your Birthday. All I needed was a Chocolate Chip marker and my Stamp-a-ma-Jig to perfectly align two words that were approximately the same size. For final touches I added Chocolate Chip satin ribbon and larger pearls - this time colored pink with a Sharpie. See, I knew that big multicolor pack of Sharpies I got at Costco would come in handy!

Thanks for stopping by today and be sure you go check out what the rest of the OCC has created. I promise you won't be disappointed!

Easter Blossoms card kit

For 2011 I have decided that I will continue to do card kits but not necessarily on the first of every month. It'll more likely be whenever I have the inspiration and the time, LOL. I will also make them available for longer than one month so you can purchase any active kit at any time.

Here is the first kit for the year, using the Easter Blossoms stamp set from the Occasions Mini. With this card kit you’ll receive complete instructions and all the consumable supplies needed to make 5 of each of these card designs – a total of 10 cards. The price of this kit is just $15, including envelopes.

If you purchase the kit, you will also have the opportunity to purchase the coordinating stamp set, Easter Blossoms, at 15% off retail price (tax and shipping not included):

Easter Blossoms wood mount, regularly $25.95, with purchase of kit $22.06
Easter Blossoms clear mount, regularly $18.95, with purchase of kit $16.11

The rest of the products used in making these cards are given in the list below. If you have all of these then you’re ready to go, but just let me know if you’d like to order any of these items. You can also use the kit to make your cards with the supplies you already own. Please note designer paper pattern and brads may vary depending on availability.

This kit will be available through April 30. You will receive your kit within two weeks of your purchase (probably less if no order from Stampin’ Up! is required).

Customers who are local to me and do not need shipping, click here to purchase the kit:

Other customers in the U.S., click here to purchase the kit with $3 for shipping:



If you need to order the stamp set or any other product, please contact me via email at loririder (at) verizon (dot) net. Sorry, I cannot sell these kits outside the U.S.

Additional Product List

• Early Espresso Classic Ink ($5.95) and Stampin’ Write marker ($3.50)
• Blush Blossom Classic Ink ($5.95)
• Crumb Cake Classic Ink ($5.95)
• Uni-Ball Signo white gel pen ($3.95)
• A Word for You stamp set ($21.95 wood mount/$16.95 clear mount)
• Corner rounder punch ($6.95)
• Eyelet border punch ($15.95)
• Paper snips ($9.95)
• Bone folder ($6.95)
• Stamp-a-Ma-Jig ($11.95 – optional)
• Stampin’ Dimensionals ($3.95)
• SNAIL adhesive ($6.95)
• Sticky Strip ($6.95)

I hope you enjoy the kit! If you are a demonstrator and would like to purchase the kit instructions, please click here. Thanks!

Hearts and Cupcakes

Are you up for a fun color challenge today? I was, and the SCS challenge was the perfect thing: Melon Mambo, Cherry Cobbler and Pretty in Pink. I made a Valentine's Day card for the Paper Players' most recent challenge. I kept it pretty simple and let my cute Create a Cupcake punches star on this card - and hey, since it's punches it also fits the Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge for this week. For the background I stamped cherry hearts using the Confetti stamp set, and the sentiment comes from Grateful Greetings. I wanted just a few little accents to polish it off, so I added some rhinestones, double scallop ribbon border punches (Tip of the Day: punch one strip, cut it in half, and glue one strip to each side of your panel) and a tag cut with the Big Shot and Lots of Tags.

I think that's it - I have lots more to do today, especially since we're supposed to get at least a foot of snow tomorrow and I bet the kids will be home from school. Hope you are enjoying better weather wherever you are - thanks for stopping by!

Vintage Bird

Well, I didn't really manage to follow my stamping resolution this week... better luck next week! For today I have my card for the Our Creative Corner challenge. We're being hosted this month by the fabulous Wendy Janson, and this week she has a fun chickadee inspiration challenge for us. We hope you'll play along with us!

For my card I picked the colors Riding Hood Red, So Saffron, Very Vanilla and Basic Black. I took my layout from the Friday Mashup sketch challenge and went with a vintage style with the Love Letter designer paper and Bliss stamp set, which will be available during Sale-a-Bration. I sponged the edges with black ink and created my bird with the extra-large bird punch, and since the sketch challenge called for using bling, I pulled out black rhinestones (retired from the holiday mini) and gave my bird a sparkly eye and added a flourish under my flowers.

Be sure you go check out all the samples from the OCC team - and then show us your own creation! Have a wonderful weekend!

My New Year's (Stamping) Resolution

Happy new year! I'm back from vacation with family and friends, which was wonderful - except that I didn't bring any stamps with me and now I feel like maybe my mojo didn't come back from vacation, LOL. But what better way to get back into the swing of stamping than to dive in and do a challenge. In fact, I've decided as one of my new year's resolutions, I'm going to try to do more challenges. I'd like to say it would be one a day, but I think that would be pushing my luck. Maybe three a week is a good goal. I'm going to give it a try and see how it goes!

I loved the Mojo Monday sketch for this week. I am finally ready to play with the new goodies from the Occasions Mini and Sale-a-Bration, which is good since the new mini goes into effect tomorrow! On this card I featured an image from the SAB set Punch Bunch. What better color for these little poppies (that is what they are, right? I'm no gardener! LOL!) than Poppy Parade, and the first two colors to pair it with that popped into my head were Old Olive and Early Espresso, so I went with it. This card has lots of dimension - and as a result it's very heavy! I used a mix of designer papers - the poppy is from the hostess pack, the espresso from the neutrals pack, and the olive from the Play Date collection. I also used the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder for a bit more texture. The scalloped circle is a Big Shot die and I used the Circle Scissors Plus for the other circles. I embellished with just a touch of poppy ribbon and three olive brads.

That's it for today - I'm really happy to be back with my stamps and I'm looking forward to (hopefully) bringing you new creations more often!

The closing of the year

This will be my last post for 2010... hard to believe the year is almost over, isn't it? Todd and I have both been sick this week, and I'm not over what I have yet, but I did want to share this easel card that I made earlier this week for my club. One of my club members specifically requested doing an easel card and I was happy to comply!

I wanted to do something pretty and vintagey - is that a word? I got the color combination from the Color Coach: Blushing Bride, Early Espresso and Pear Pizazz. To make the image panel I used two stamp sets, Style Beautiful and Elements of Style. I layered lots of scrolls using generation stamping, then stamped the medallion on top and added a punched flower and some pearls. I sponged all the edges with Blushing Bride ink. For the bottom I made a row of the little accent with the Stamp-a-ma-Jig, then added a sentiment from Heard from the Heart and a scallop trim border. A few more pearls serve as the "stop" for the easel and that was it! I thought it turned out pretty, and my club members were impressed that it fits inside a regular envelope.

I want to wish everyone happy (and healthy) holidays - I'll see you in the new year!

Divine Diva Inspiration Challenge #42

For this week's challenge, we have a gorgeous set of Christmas coasters. Aren't they elegant? Of course, you don't have to use a holiday theme for your project - whatever this photo inspires you to create is perfect!

I pulled out a whole bunch of stamps for this card to create a collage-inspired look. The main image comes from the set Gifts of Christmas, and I embossed it in gold on naturals ivory card stock. Around the edge I added a few more poinsettias in Cherry Cobbler, plus I sponged the edges, then I layered the panel onto a piece of Always Artichoke that I sprayed with gold shimmer spray. To diffuse the sparkle I rubbed the gold spray into the cardstock with a paper towel. Once all that was done I didn't think the sentiment stood out enough, so I stamped it again and punched it out. For the background I used the swirl from Baroque Motifs, again gold embossed, along with a lot of seasonal words and phrases from several different sets. The final touch was a poinsettia made with the five petal punch - I scored the petals and leaves for dimension, sponged the edges, and used three gold brads in the center.

Be sure to check out the cards made by the rest of the Divine Divas for this challenge!

Anne

Chris

Julie

Hope you are inspired to come and play along. Just leave a comment here with a link to your card. We can't wait to see what you create! The keyword for uploading on online forums will be DDIC42.

Now, for some sad news - I have decided for several reasons that it's time to end my inspiration challenges. There is going to be a lot happening in my life next year, and although I am really going to miss bringing you inspiration pieces on a regular basis, it feels like the right time to call it a day. I want to thank everyone who has played along with us for these 42 challenges. We have appreciated your support and we'll miss sharing these challenges with you every two weeks. I also have to express my utmost appreciation for all the fabuous stampers who have served on the design team since we started the challenge. Your work has been wonderful and inspirational to me, week in and week out. And who knows... maybe we'll be back someday... Anyway, thanks for everything from me and the rest of the Divas. Many blessings to everyone!

Big Fun Flower Thanks

For this week's challenge at Our Creative Corner, our hostess, Sarah Gough, has a fun sketch challenge. I combined this challenge with the color combo posted at Create with Connie and Mary for this week: Rich Razzleberry, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive and River Rock. I love this combo - it's amazing! I confess I did alter the sketch just a bit since I couldn't bear to cover up the flower with my sentiment. I hope you'll forgive me. ;)

I chose to feature a new Big Shot die that will be available in the Occasions Mini that goes into effect in January. This die is called Fun Flowers, and it really lives up to its name - they are fabulous. After I cut out the three flowers, I added leaves that I made with the Blossom Petals punch that will also be available in the Occasions Mini. To add dimension I curled the flower petals with a bone folder and scored the leaves down the center. To the middle of the flower I added an antique brad. My background papers pull in the same colors with a mix of current and retired DP, and for the sentiment I used A Word for You on a rectangle cut with the clear rectangle Sizzlit. For final touches I added just a bit of paper piercing and three vintage brads - too bad they're retired because they match the antique brad perfectly!

Be sure you go see what the rest of the OCC team has made for this challenge - the creations are always fabulous! Then play along with us and show us your own work - we love to see what you come up with!

Altoid tin calendar kit!

I wanted to make a calendar with my club this month, and I really wanted to come up with something new. So here is my altoid tin calendar - I used supplies that I already had lying around, and I even have enough extra to offer this project as a kit so you can make your own!

Once you make up the kit, all the contents fit inside the tin and you can give it as a gift - or keep it for yourself!

You take out the months one at a time and use the magnets to hold the page to the front of the tin. Then the tin will stand up on its own on your desk - isn't it cute? And you can use the magnets long after 2011 is over - you could even cover over the numbers and give the tin to someone else with tags or cards inside.

I even decorated the back so that if it's on a desk and visible from that side, it still looks pretty.

These kits are $8 and available while supplies last, or through December 16. If you live in the Boston Metrowest area and want to arrange pick-up, click here:

If you are elsewhere in the U.S., I can ship the kit to you for a small additional charge. Click here:






Sorry, I can only sell these in the U.S. If you would like more than two kits, please contact me so I can send you a custom invoice.

The kit contains all consumable supplies needed for one calendar, including glass marbles, magnets, altoid tin, calendar, and all Stampin' Up! materials. You will receive complete instructions in an emailed PDF file. Additional supplies you will need:

Sticky Strip
SNAIL adhesive
Crystal Effects
Two-way glue pen
Corner rounder punch
3/4" circle punch

Please note: some prints from the Playdate designer papers used in the kits may vary, depending on availability. If you are picky about what prints you will get, please ask first - or you may be able to substitute a different designer paper pack. Just ask! I can answer any and all questions at loririder (at) verizon (dot) net. Thanks and happy holidays!

Christmas card buffet, round 3

I'm back with two more CAS Christmas cards from the card buffet - I'm also posting for the SUO challenge. This first card was a CASE from a card by Ilina Crouse (which I see she CASEd from Nichole Heady). I used the wreath from Northern Hearts, stamped in Garden Green, with white embossed snowflakes all over the Crumb Cake base. The top of the white panel was punched with the scallop trim border punch. I added an embossed sentiment from Many Merry Messages, a 1/8" Real Red taffeta bow, and three rhinestones I colored with a red Sharpie.

As long as we're feeling "krafty" (LOL) here's another card with a Crumb Cake base. For this one I used the bells from Bells & Boughs, colored with markers and cut out, then accented with Smooch. Behind the bells I used an Early Espresso scallop punch and a panel of Deck the Halls paper. I cut a strip of Always Artichoke textured card stock with the Tasteful Trim die to put behind the DP, then a simple sentiment banner made with Curly Cute finished off this card. I know I got this layout from Jen del Muro but I'm not finding the exact post right now.

I still have three more cards to show you, but no more time today, so I'll be back again soon to finish these off!

Christmas card buffet, round 2

I'm back with another card from the card buffet - and this one also works for the Clean and Simple bow challenge at SCS. This is the simplest card we made but I thought it was very pretty and elegant. First I cut the oval and frame from naturals ivory and Cherry Cobbler card stock, then I stamped the holly image from Peaceful Season (second and third generation) all around the outside of the oval. The gorgeous sentiment went right on top with Cherry Cobbler ink. Then we added a simple ribbon - Always Artichoke seam binding wrapped around the inside and taped to the front of the card under the oval. The bow was added separately with a glue dot. I finished off with a Very Vanilla button threaded with embroidery thread.

I'm off to finish a big proofreading project right now, but I'll post more of our cards soon! Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Card Buffet, round 1

Today I held my annual Christmas card buffet and it was a huge success! I had eight stampers come to make Christmas cards. I do 10 designs for the card buffet, and you've already seen two of them, so I thought I'd come and post the rest. I'll just do a couple at a time, though, so you'll have new cards to look at for several days!

Most of the cards seemed to be a hit. This one is actually a redo of a card I did last year for one of the DDIC challenges. This version is SUO, of course - the stamp is from Autumn Days, colored in Garden Green and Chocolate Chip, with circles cut from the Big Shot and Circle Scissor Plus. (Partway through we also discovered that the 2 1/2" circle punch is the perfect size, so we switched to using that instead.) I added striped DP, a sentiment from Sincere Salutations, a satin bow, and some adhesive pearls.

Here's one with a slightly less traditional color combination: Bashful Blue, Bravo Burgundy and Pear Pizazz. This was a loose CASE of this card by Lynn Put. I stamped the ornament (from Tags Till Christmas) in those three colors and put them over pear DP. The background was partially embossed with the polka dot folder, leaving room for the sentiment at the bottom. I finished off with 1/8" taffeta ribbon (it's Old Olive, which is close enough) and pearls - again - don't you love these? The sentiment on this one is from Many Merry Messages, which has so many great holiday options.

I'll stop there for today - come back to see more Christmas cards all week!

Regal Rose Red Christmas

It's time for another challenge from Our Creative Corner and since it's December we have a new hostess - Sarah Gough. We have a color challenge for you to kick off the month: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise, kraft (Crumb Cake) and Very Vanilla. And it's not just a color challenge, but also a challenge to use these colors for a holiday card. Sounds fun, right?

I decided to combine the challenge with one of the 10 cards I needed to design for my Christmas card buffet that's happening this weekend. I'd seen this card from Chat and borrowed a few ideas from it. I thought it would be a great design for these colors. I also played along with the SCS inspiration challenge - my inspiration was this cute ornament.

My ornaments are from the stamp set Tree Trimmings, and I topped them off with a strip of Regal Rose DP and a punched border with the scallop ribbon border punch. The rest of the card is simply a few layers, a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes, and three Rose Red brads.

I know I can't wait to see what the rest of the team has done with these fun colors for the holidays - so be sure you go check it out, and then play along with us!

Divine Diva Inspiration Challenge #41

It's December and time for another inspiration challenge from the Divine Divas! This month's challenges will be holiday images, but don't feel obligated to make holiday cards - anything goes! For this week we have a cute cupcake kit full of fun colors and cute Christmas icons.

I have a Christmas card buffet this weekend and still needed one more card design, so I went the Christmas route for this one. I have to say, I think it turned out really cute. I stamped four images from Jolly Bingo Bits - looky, that set has everything you need for Christmas, including the four items shown in the cupcake kit! My colors are Riding Hood Red, Wild Wasabi, Baja Breeze, and Chocolate Chip. I was determined to find some bitty scalloped circles to go with my 1" circle punches, and wouldn't you know - the Birds & Blooms die set has the perfect one! I layered them onto several squares, then for the background I added some Candy Lane designer paper (which is unfortunately sold out!), retired ribbon (shh... it just had to be red and this is all I had), and a sentiment from Word Play. Can you see in the photo that the little ornament in the sentiment fits the 1/2" circle punch? So cute!

Be sure to check out the cards made by the rest of the Divine Divas for this challenge!

Anne

Chris

Julie

Hope you are inspired to come and play along. Just leave a comment here with a link to your card. We can't wait to see what you create! The keyword for uploading on online forums will be DDIC41. Have fun and look for the next challenge on December 16!

Kits still available

For this month's card kit I'm going to continue to offer the November kit, which you can use to make two great cards (one for Christmas) with the Circle Circus stamp set. Click here for more details on this kit.

I also still have the Day of Gratitude kit available - click here for this card set kit that makes a lovely gift.

Both of these kits will be available through December 16, or in the case of Day of Gratitude, while supplies last.

Glitter, glitter everywhere...

This week's challenge at Our Creative Corner is to make a tag or incorporate a tag into our project. I decided to make a tag and put it onto a Christmas card. I, um, went a little nuts with the glitter... and you should see what didn't make it onto the card, LOL. I'm not sure what I think of this card, but it's definitely sparkly!

I started out with the Serene Snowflakes stamp set, and using Not Quite Navy ink and generational stamping I created my background panel with Baja Breeze card stock, then I added the smallest snowflakes over the background with iridescent ice embossing powder. I used the Tasteful Trim die to make the scalloped border. For the tag, which I cut out with the Two Tags die and Not Quite Navy card stock, I added an inset layer of Baja Breeze and stamped the smallest snowflakes all over with Not Quite Navy, then I covered the whole tag with Versamark and embossed with iridescent ice again. On top I added a Concord Crush punched ornament (from Tags Till Christmas), a sentiment from Christmas Greetings, a punched Concord Crush snowflake and a Concord Crush bow. Just in case it wasn't blingy enough yet, I accented the punches with just a few adhesive rhinestones.

Be sure you go see what the rest of the team created for the challenge, then tag - you're it! It's your turn to come and make your own tag creation and share it with us. Have a great weekend!

Online Spectacular Sale!

Stampin' Up! has some great deals for you this week - 20 to 50 percent off a selection of fabulous products! This includes My Digital Studio and the new collections of Christmas fabric at half off, plus tons of bundles of stamps, accessories, tools, Big Shot dies, and lots more. Click here to see what's on sale - now through November 30.

While you're there, take a look at all the other great stuff that's available for the holidays - because if your online order is $150 or more, your shipping is free! That's a savings of at least $15, plus you get hostess benefits, too!

And if your wish list is like mine - bigger than you can afford, LOL - then maybe it's time to think about becoming a demonstrator. Also through November 30, you get the starter kit - more than $300 in fabulous product - for just $87.50! Signing up now gets you demonstrator privileges through March 31, 2011, with no further sales required. If you decide to continue as a demonstrator the quarterly sales requirement is just $300. I'm here to answer your questions at any time, and if you're ready to sign up, just click here and enter "divastamper" as the recruiting password.

Don't wait to take advantage of these great offers - these kinds of sales and opportunities don't come around very often!

J-O-Y

This week at Our Creative Corner our November hostess, Linda Coughlin, is challenging us to make a 3-D holiday gift. I decided to combine the challenge with my club's 3-D project for the month and came up with this JOY banner. I got the idea from this banner but thought it would be cute with letters inside instead of photos. It was a little hard to get photos since I hung it in the stairwell going down from my studio, but I did my best!

The original project used the matchbox die for the boxes, and I intended to do that as well... until I realized they were too small for the Serif Essentials Alphabet. So I quickly made my own little boxes. They are 5 3/4" x 6" panels of Old Olive textured card stock, scored at 3/4" and 1 1/2" on each side; cut off the corners to create tabs and you have a sweet little box. The Cherry Cobber letters fit nicely inside these. I backed them with panels of Jolly Holiday DP (2 5/8" x 2 7/8") and for accents I added images from the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set (from the mini catalog). I used a 1" book ring for the holder and looped Old Olive striped ribbon through it, then, to keep it in place, I sewed on a Cherry Cobbler button with linen thread. Yes, you read that right, I sewed it on. And my club members will do it, too, whether they like it or not! ;) The final touch was tying a Very Vanilla satin ribbon bow on top of the ring, just to make it a little more elegant.

Here are close-ups of the letters themselves. As for the red and green rhinestones, did you know you can color our adhesive rhinestones and pearls with Sharpies? Try it! Be sure you visit the OCC blog to see the rest of the team's creations - you'll find lots more great gift ideas for the holidays!

Club Christmas CASE

Hey, what do you know... I've posted every day this week! Aren't you impressed? LOL! I thought I'd share one of the cards we're making at club this weekend. I loved this card from Chat Wszelaki and decided to CASE it for a Christmas card. It has all the elements you need in a Christmas card - simple, flat for mailing, and elegant.

I started with Very Vanilla and ran it through the Big Shot with the Northern Flurry embossing folder. Conveniently this matches the Northern Hearts hostess set - both products are in the holiday mini catalog. To layer my Night of Navy snowflake, I used the 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches and the Homemade stamp, which fits in the 2 3/8" scalloped circle punch. I added a strip of navy DP, a sentiment from Contempo Christmas, and adhesive rhinestones for just a little bit of holiday bling. Want an all-purpose holiday card? Just swap out the sentiment for another of your choice!

I just love how this turned out and I wouldn't be surprised if I send a few of these out myself. I hope you enjoyed it - thanks for visiting today!

Divine Diva Inspiration Challenge #40

Welcome to this week's challenge! We've got a fun one for you this time around - a pampering gift set with some lovely fresh colors. Please come and join in!

Seeing the topiary in the photo I pulled out the retired stamp set Bouquet Bunch. I paper-pieced the pot with naturals ivory card stock to emulate the texture of the pots in the photo, and on top of the Old Olive leaves I added a Daffodil Delight bitty punched flower with an Early Espresso brad in the center. I used the scallop squares die from the holiday mini to cut the largest layer then trimmed smaller squares for the inside. The base is naturals ivory with layers of Daffodil Delight and (retired) River Rock DP with a strip of espresso satin ribbon. The sentiment is from A Little Birthday Cheer and I added the Floral Fusion flower as a nod to the medallion on the cosmetic bag.

Be sure to check out the cards made by all the Divine Divas for this challenge!

Anne

Chris

Donna

Julie

Hope you are inspired to come and play along. Just leave a comment here with a link to your card. We can't wait to see what you create! The keyword for uploading on online forums will be DDIC40. Have fun and look for the next challenge on December 2!

A 30-minute (or less) card

My challenge to myself today: could I create a card for Todd's birthday and blog about it in the little time I had? My solution: blog challenges, of course. My layout is the Clean & Simple FTL116; I flipped it upside-down - but oops, I didn't quite put the sentiment where I was supposed to. Oh well! The colors are from the Color Dare challenge: Night of Navy, Pear Pizazz and Soft Suede.

The sketch used the Top Note for the sample, and why mess with perfection? I cut mine from pear card stock and added a strip of navy dot paper from an old hostess pack, then topped it with retired soft suede ribbon. The stamp is what else - Lovely as a Tree - and the sentiment is a retired single stamp. For the base I used naturals white with a strip of retired Christmas paper - the subtle Soft Suede stripe on the back side was perfect. All that was left to add was a thin strip of navy card stock and two brads - which are celery but look just as good with the pear here.

That's it - done! Sometimes a clean and simple card is just perfect. Thanks for visiting!

Christmas Bells

I made this card for the clean and simple challenge on SCS. This week it's a sketch challenge. I've been in a Christmas mood - and it's going to be time to send out Christmas cards soon enough, so I went with another holiday card. And what do you know, it also fits the Paper Players color challenge for the week!

I based the design around the Deck the Halls paper, choosing one of the printed holly designs for the bottom panel and stamping the sentiment, which is from the coordinating stamp set Bells & Boughs, in Early Espresso right onto the DP. The background is another one of the prints from that pack. I colored the bell image with Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke and Crumb Cake markers and a blender pen. To add dimension I cut the image out and mounted it onto a Nestabilities circle. I kept the embellishments simple with a strip of artichoke seam binding and three (retired) vintage brads.

That's it for this CAS Christmas card - have a wonderful day!

Vintage Potpourri

Another Saturday, another challenge from the gals at Our Creative Corner. I missed last week because I was under the weather, but I'm joining this month's hostess, Linda Coughlin, in this week's color challenge: rust, gold, blue and brown. I used Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Baja Breeze and Early Espresso, and I broke out the level 1 hostess set called Punch Potpourri for the first time.

I used three of the images in the stamp set and the coordinating punches - the card stock is white but I really dirtied it up with espresso ink because I wanted to use the crochet trim and not have the white pop out too much. I added an espresso brad to the flower, a branch from the bird punch, and a wing punched from a scrap of Autumn Spice paper. Then I repeated that designer paper and also used a panel of Cajun Craze and some retired Baja Breeze for the background. The sentiment is from Well Scripted (retired) and I used the Lots of Tags oval die for the frame. Finally I added three adhesive pearls as an accent. I toyed with adding more to the card but then decided it was perfect as is.

Please come and play along with the rest of the OCC girls - and don't forget to stop by and see what everyone else made with these colors!