Mistletoe

I have a layered mistletoe stamp but I stink at lining up the berries...at least if I am using lighter colors.  I didn't want to use red simple because mistletoe has white berries so I used some diamond embellishments from the Dollar Tree.  I don't label my stamps properly so I don't know what set The sentiment is from but the ink is Stampin' Up's Cherry Cobbler than I heat embossed with a clear hologram for a little sparkle.  I also added a little cherry cobbler ribbon.

Swag

I am a Floridian, born and raised, but I spent 8 years in Colorado.  This is inspired by one of those super heavy snows that makes everything magical....if you aren't walking around in it. 

I took two photos: The first one shows some of the sparkle elements but no depth, and the second, the opposite.  The background paper is from a Recollections paper pack.  I made the pine boughs from a Silhouette file and the branches from the Martha Stewart branch punch.  The colors weren't contrasting enough so I grabbed random green markers from my Spectrum Noirs to try and alter the greens.  I still didn't the contrast I wanted, but it is better.  The sentiment is also from a Silhouette file and the snowflake from another Martha Stewart punch.  I have a three size bow die I got from Ali express a few years ago and used the middle size for the bow here.  As far as the snow, I have a stipple bruch I've had for over 20 years.  I have seen plenty of people do the snow technique but all with tiny brushes so I figured this would be....interesting to say the least.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I tried it out on a scratch paper and found when I tapped the brush handle against my hand, I got very fine drops but when I brushed the paint right off the block, I got the larger drops.  I liked both effects, so I used both techniques on this card. For the very final touch, I thought it needed just a hint of sparkle so I used a jar of tiny silver stars and scattered a few within the branches, one to dot the i and one in the center of the snowflake.  Not impressive in a photo, but in person there's just a hint of sparkle.

Farm Fresh Christmas Trees

This is easily the quickest, laziest card I have ever made.  My Christmas aesthetic this year is vintage rustic country (if that could be a thing): lots of plaid, red trucks, fresh cut trees, vintage country. These papers are from the pack, "Christmas Cabin" from Recollections. All three pieces.  I did nothing but cut them to size and round the corners.  I also added some red ribbon from Stampin' Up.  That is it.  Took about 5 minutes, but I really like it.

Mosaic Christmas Lantern

I have no idea where I got this die from.  I didn't really do a lot of cards last year and I had misplaced this die.  I  rediscovered it today going through my craft supplies.  I decided to use both negative and positive space of the die.  I cut the same die out from cardstock in black, yellow, red and green.  I layered in the colors in the negative spaces except the candle and bow which were placed on top.  I used glossy accents to make it look sort of stained glass looking, but really it looks more like a mosaic to me.  I put just a hint of color around the flame for a halo effect.  The paper is from a value pack I got last year at Michael's and the vellum banner and sentiment are both from Stampin' Up.  For a final flourish, I heat embossed the sentiment in gold.

It's a Wonderful Life!

OK,, I confess, I have never actually seen the movie but the stamp set I used is called "Wonderful Life" from Stampin' Up.  It's a buildable set.  I used 5 of the stamps in the set to make the scene. I stamped it on craft paper and used my Spectrum Noir markers to color it in.  I did virtually no shading because the cardstock didn't lend itself to blending.  I used fun flock for snow on the tree, car and gifts and a snow pen for the snow on the road. The tree pattern paper is from a Recollections paper pack, "Christmas Cabin" and the sentiment is from a generic die cut I have. I used some Glossy Accents on the window, bows and taillights and a few pearl accents I had from a previous paper pumpkin on the garland. Overall, I really like the vibe of this one.

Paper Pumpkin November 2018

I knew when I saw the box it came in that I was going to love this month's Paper Pumpkin kit.  There is enough to make 10 cards, 5 of each design.  I just made two as pictured and I will use the remaining supplies to make different cards with other supplies I have on hand.  Everything used to make the cards is provided in the box.

Carve it into the tree

This is not my original idea though I cannot remember where I saw the original.  I believe the original used a wood embossing folder as opposed to a wood background stamp.  Today is my parents; 49th wedding anniversary so I sent this card to them.  I just cut a heart out of plain craft cardstock and wrote their initials inside the cutout.  Super simple but I really liked it.

Pumpkin Spice it Up!

OMG I LOVE THIS STAMP SET!!  This is the Pumpkin Spice it up set from a collaboration between Simon Says Stamp and the Greeting Farm.  The card is just some plain craft cardstock and 3 different patterns I printed and cut from my Silhouette.  I distressed all the edges.  I also printed and cut a couple of leaves from a file. I colored the stamp in with my Spectrum Noir, but I don't have a large selection of flesh tones (of any hue) so her skin is colored in, but it is WAY too light.  I used glossy accents on her glasses and I am still in the novice stage of hair coloring.  Even with all my mistakes, I just love this card.

Hey Pumpkin 2

I don't know about you, but I am SICK of summer.  In Florida, it is the same everyday: Hot, humid and afternoon thunderstorms. We don't get Autumn here, but I am going to take a 2 week trip up into the mountains this October and I am really looking forward to it!  I absolutely LOVE everything about Fall.  Anyway, this in the Hey Pumpkin stamp set from Simon Says Stamp.  I used a printable paper and accents from my Silhouette for the card itself and colored in the stamp using Spectum Noir.

Birthday Balloons

This is a simple birthday card.  I used the Stampin' Up - Hand delivered set and colored it in with Spectrum noir markers and topped the balloons off with Glossy Accents.  In person, they look shiny, but in photos, they look wet.  I also added some star accents to one of the balloons.  I wanted to keep adding, but I stopped myself and tried to just keep it simple.