Soar Confidently

 I purchased the Soar Confidently set (Jan-June 2021 mini catalog,

page 70) because I always need masculine images.  As you

will see in future posts, these images also lend themselves

to many techniques.  In this example I used the smoke stamp from 

the Geared Up Garage set (page 29) to add a vintage look.

Then I roughed up the edges to enhance this look.  The 

Braided Linen Trim (page 160) was colored with a 

Stampin' Blend.

Simply Succulents

Beginning January 5th, 2021, we will enter the two month

SAB (Sale a-Bration) time, accompanied by the upcoming 

January-June 2021 Mini catalog. 

It is an opportunity to get both new and FREE

rubbah!  You can't beat that!

This card features a new set; Simply Succulents on page 39.

It is a great set to color with your Stampin' Blends.

Simply Succulents is bundled with Dies, so it is easy

to cut out your flowers or sentiments.

 

Stamp Off Challenge Merry Christmas

Welcome to our final Stamp Off Challenge of the year.

Susan, Buffy and I are featuring Christmas cards.

Merry Christmas!

Many of these products will retire January 4th.  

These elements include:

Plaid Tidings 6x6 DSP on page 57

Merry Moose set on page 27

I used the Pine Tree Punch on page 166, to create 3 trees

out of the retiring Brushed Metallic 12x12 cardstock 

on page 45.  I used the Stitched So Sweetly dies on page 179,

to frame the sentiment.

I hope that you and yours have a very safe and happy

Christmas.  We look forward to seeing you, in 2020!

Enjoy Buffy and Susan's Christmas projects!

 

Wreath Builder Merry Christmas

 The Arrange a Wreath set (page 127), with the 

coordinating Wreath Builder dies (page 173) are the 

perfect combo for creating Christmas cards!

Merry Moose on Plaid Tidings

 I decided that another metallic Moose was in order, given

how enjoyable it is to craft with the Brushed Metallic cardstock

(Holiday, page 45).  The Merry Moose set (page 27), with

coordinating Moose punch will be retiring at the end of the year.

The moose is placed over and oval, cut out of the 

Plaid Tidings 6x6 DSP (page 57).

Word Wishes Merry Christmas

 This is a quick project, because I let the accessories do the

work.   It is a card that can be mass produced quickly.  I used

the slimline format folding a 6x6 card in half.  This means that

6x6 or 12x12 DSP can be used with minimal waste.

It was difficult to take a picture of this project, because of

all the sparkle!

Here are the products, from the 2020 Holiday catalog, that I used:

 Plaid Tidings DSP pack on page 57

Snowflake Splendor 1/4" Ribbon on page 37

Word Wishes on page 183 of the annual catalog.

I used glue dots to fasten the ribbon down, and then

taped the ends on the back of the DSP.

SAB Darling Donkeys with Approaching Perfection

 This is a bit of a sneak peak, paired with the

Plaid Tidings DSP from the Holiday Mini.

This cute critter is called Darling Donkeys and

appears in the Sale A-Bration catalog (due out January 5th),

on page 4.  This darling combo of 3 different donkey poses

will make you smile for sure.  The sentiment is another SAB

item, Approaching Perfection, on page 6. 

Sale A-Bration items are free, with either a 

$50 or $100 product purchase.  Look

for more info when they are released, in 2021.

Wreath Builder with Layered Squares.

 This is another card that I made for the Foiled Again

Stamp Off Challenge, but went with a different project.

I saw the technique here you take strips of cardstock 

or DSP to make a square, and then cut the squares in half

and make your design.  

I used In Good Taste DSP (page 148) and the

Brushed Metals Cardstock from the Holiday catalog.

The center heart comes from the Wreath Builder Dies

on page 173.

Have a Hoot with Wreath Builder

 Yes, indeed, it is another card featuring Christmas owls,

from the Have a Hoot Stamp Set with coordinating

Peek-A-Hoot Dies on page 62 of the Holiday Catalog.

I attached them to the wreath from the Wreath Builder

dies on page 173.   Those elements are layered on

a piece of Plaid Tidings DSP (Holiday page 57).

Stamp Off Foiled Again with Well Written

 Welcome to another Stamp Off Challenge, with Susan,

Buffy and I.  Today, we are doing a challenge called

"Foiled Again" with emphasis on the Stampin' Up!

Foil Cardstocks.

For this challenge, I used this circle technique.  Sorry but

I can't remember what it is called.  I die cut circles, cut them

in half and then off set them as shown below.

I used a combination of Early Espresso cardstock, Gold Foil

(page 153) and the In Good Taste Designer Series Paper

(page 148).  I like all of the "earthy" elements because they 

make for a great masculine option. 

The sentiment, which is in foil, was cut out 

with the Well Written Dies on page 183.

Now please click on over to see what Buffy and Susan

have foiled up!

Snowman Season

 Here's another card featuring the Snowman Season set

on page 63.  I decided to go with a circle motif, since the

snowman is a perfect fit and is circular in shape.  The 

Plaid Tidings DSP (page 57 of the Holiday Mini Catalog)

provided a perfect color scheme.  I love being able to

use the Stampin' Blends! to pull everything together.

I also colored some enamel dots with Stampin' Blends,

to coordinate these embellishments.

Year End Sale

 The Stampin' Up! Year-End sale is 

happening now!

Have a Hoot Shaker Card

 Today, I decided to post another Have a Hoot (Holiday page 62)

card.  During our recent Stampin' Up! On Stage event,

they demonstrated a quick and easy shaker card, using the

Clear Medium Envelopes on page 153.  You just put DSP into

the envelope, add sequins, and tape the edges.  Afterwards,

you can attach whatever images and embellishments you want

to the front of the shaker.

I used the sentiment from the Have a Hoot set, and cut

it out with the die from Hippo and Friends on page 176.

I added the gold hoop and some gold branches to

finish it off.

Have a Hoot Bundle

 The little owls in the Have a Hoot bundle (Holiday page 62)

is one of my favorites.  The Have A Hoot stamp set can be

used alone, but makes a wonderful impression when the images

are cut out with the Peek-A-Hoot dies.  The dies literally

animate the owls.

The Brushed Metallic 12x12 Cardstock (page 45) helps

frame the images and adds a little embellishment.

The Plaid Tidings DSP (page 57) forms the perfect backdrop.

Gnome for the Holidays with Nothing's Better

 Gnome for the Holidays, on page 23 of the Holiday Mini,

reminds me of the Keebler Elves.  I wanted to make it look 

like an elf hideaway, so  I decided to place the house behind 

the Garden Gateway gate (page 181).

I added cookies from the Nothing's Better Than Bundle

(set on page 91 and dies on page 176).  I colored the elf with

Stampin' Blends and fussy cut it out.  The background 

was run through the Absolutely Argyle 3d 

Embossing Folder on page 184.

Stitched Rectangles with Butterfly Duet

 Sometimes dies can be used to create an unusual

background.   I've done this several times, since buying 

the Stitched Rectangles dies on page 183.  I placed them

on a Whisper White Stitched So Sweetly (page 179)

and then added butterflies from the Butterfly Duet Punch

on page 165.

The Plaid Tidings DSP on page 57 (Holiday Mini)

and Brushed Metallic Cardstock on page 45 make

great options for bringing color and metallics 

to this project.

Stamp Off Thankful Wreath Builder

Hey stamping friends.  Susan, Buffy and I are stuffed,

but ready to share some stamping inspiration with you.

Today, we are featuring "Thankful" cards.

Even though we were apart this year, I am so thankful

for family, and the ability to have "text conversations"

with one whole side of the family!  Of course,

much of our conversation was about FOOD.

Most of us exclaimed at the one sister who was cooking

the entire meal herself, including Mac and Cheese and

Candy Cane Pie (yum!).  She is a

culinary overachiever.

When I think about being thankful, I love using a wreath.

It reminds me of welcome, warmth and completion.

That is one of the reasons I frequently pick up the 

the Arrange a Wreath set (page 127) with coordinating

Wreath Builder Dies (page 173).  This combination offers

seasonal components and great sentiments.

Speaking of sentiments, I pulled out my Country Home set

(page 89) and then cut it out with the Stitched Rectangle Dies.

The last bit was to layer everything on to a piece of 

In Good Taste DSP (page 148).  

Thank you for swinging past my blog, and please

check out the offerings from Buffy and Susan!

Oh, and enjoy those Thanksgiving leftovers!
 

Forever Fern Sneak Peak

Two of the things that I am grateful for right now, are

friends and family.   Note to self; I need to let friends know,

by sending them cards!

This card is a bit of a sneak peak, featuring a 3D embossing folder,

called Painted Texture, that will be available in January.

It is a wonderful texture to color with the new SU 

Blending Brushes (available in January).

The card features the Forever Fern Stamp set (p 110),

Forever Flourishing Dies (p 175).

The sentiment from the Forever Fern stamp set was cut 

out with a Potted Succulent Dies (page 39), from the 

January - June 2021 Mini Catalog.

 

Arrange a Wreath Christmas Gift Pack

One gift that I often give others, are packets of cards.

My Pilates teacher is a dancer.  In fact, this image

looks a great deal like her.  So I made a package

of cards for her to use at Christmas time.

 

All of the products used for this card are retired,

except for the Christmas sentiment from the

 Arrange a Wreath set on page 127.

I hope that she likes them!

Merry Moose and Moose Punch

 I was so glad that the Merry Moose and the Moose Punch,

on page 27 of the August-December 2020, was available

again this year.  As long as you have the moose,

your Christmas card is going to be a good one!

I added a couple layers of the In Good Taste DSP

on page 148 of the annual catalog and cut out the

sentiment with Stitched So Sweetly dies on page 179/

Snowman Season with Wreath Builder Dies

 This is another snowman card, using the 

Snowman Season set on page 63.  I wrapped him up

in a wreath from the Wreath Builder dies on page 173.

The Plaid Tidings DSP makes a great backdrop for

these elements.

Moose and Pine Tree Punch Christmas

 

Some of my favorite Christmas elements are the

Moose and Pine Tree.  They remind me so much

of Christmas up in Wisconsin/Minnesota. 

These punches work so well because all you have

to do is select your papers for layering and your

card comes together!

I added some of the In Good Taste DSP (page 148)

and ribbon from the August -December 2020 catalog.

Stamp Off Snowman Season Inspiration Challenge

 Hello crafting fans!  Today Susan, Buffy and I have an

Inspiration Challenge!

This picture gives lots of options for creating.  I even

see a heart in the background!

I picked out the snowman as my inspiration.  I love the

snowmen in the Snowman Season Stamp set on page 63.

I created a slim-line card (3x6), which works really well

with an oval focal image, that has been cut out with the 

Stitched Shapes Dies (page 183).   I colored the snowman

with Stampin' Blends and Wink of Stella.

Balmy Blue Glimmer paper was used for the sentiment,

(page 37 of the August -Dec 2020 Mini)

created with the Word Wishes Dies on page 183, as

well as some snowflakes.

Finally, I added a layer of Plaid Tidings DSP (page 57

of the August -Dec 2020 Mini).  This card would be awesome

for mass production, because much of it is cut out using dies.

I hope that you are enjoying our Inspiration Challenge

and can't wait for you to see the cards created by

Buffy and Susan!

Flight of Fancy on Plaid Tidings DSP

 I've mentioned before, that the Flight of Fancy 

(page 59 of the August - December 2020 Mini) is a

cute and versatile set.  Pairing it with the Plaid Tidings DSP

(page 57) is a natural combination and gives you the

Stampin' Blends coloring choices.  I added a strip of 

Brushed Metallic 12x12 Cardstock (page 45) and a bit of

Wink of Stella to glitz it up.

Stampin' Up! On Stage Cards

 This past weekend, Stampin' Up! held it's Online convention,

called OnStage.   Although we couldn't gather together in person,

it was a well organized event, with lots of stamping

demonstrations.  We also saw the upcoming Jan-June 2021

Mini and SAB catalogs.  I CANNOT WAIT!!

We were given card measurements and invited to stamp at home, during one of the demonstrations.

I didn't have any of the product recommended, so substituted

what I had.  In the sample above, I used

the Daisy Punch on page 166,

Plaid Tidings DSP on page 57 of the Holiday Mini,

and the Hippo and Friends Dies on page 176.

My second card features:

Peony Garden DSP on page 149,

Butterfly Gala set on page 79,

Butterfly Duet Punch on page 165,

Stitched So Sweetly Dies on page 179

Peony Garden with Stitched So Sweetly

 Recently, Sara Douglas, Stampin' Up!'s CEO, did a demonstration

of how she creates quick cards.  This card is a variation on

the technique, using the Peony Garden DSP on page 149.

You can use DSP for your focal layer, adding a sentiment

and a couple of embellishments.  This sentiment comes

from the So Sentimental stamp set on page 74, and 

coordinating Stitched So Sweetly dies on page 179.  

Embellishments included some Silver foil and Enamel Dots

colored with Stampin' Blends. 

If you want a different look, you can sponge the 

DSP or color the flowers with Stampin' Blends.

Under My Umbrella With Peek-A-Hoot Dies

 This card uses the Under My Umbrella set, found on page 20.  

I paired it with a die from the Peek-A-Hoot Dies on page 62,

of the Aug - Dec 2020 Mini Catalog.  They really pair

up well.  I colored the images with Stampin' Blends

and recessed them using Stampin' Dimensionals.

Birds and Branches with Wreath Builder

 I tend to need two different kinds of cards; birthday and

thinking of you.  The Wreath Builder Dies (p 173)

are my go-to for this occasion.  I created the bird with 

the Birds and Branches set (p 120) and cut it out with the

Birds and More Dies (p 174).   The bird was placed on

a piece of Braided Linen Trim, which is so easy to unbraid

in order to create frayed ends.

I used the Pinewood Planks 3D Embossing folder on p 185

to add texture, and then sponged this layer.   The sentiment comes

from the Butterfly Gala stamp set on p 79.

Stamp Off Have A Hoot Bundle

Today Buffy, Susan and I are doing a Fall Challenge.

That means anything from leaves, to witches!  

Since we all have different product, I think you will see 

some variety.

 I've done two versions of this card, with different color 

schemes.  The Have A Hoot Bundle (page 62 of 2020 Holiday)

gives you tons of options for layouts.  The images are 

animated, with dies that make layering easy.  It covers both

Halloween and Christmas.   In this example, I colored the owl and spider with Stampin' Blends!

For the colored layers, I used the  Plaid Tidings 6x6

DSP (page 57) and a strip of Black Glitter Paper (page 53).

The Cobwebs 3D Embossing Folder (page 53)

adds texture to the background layers.

Thank you for swinging by.  Please don't forget to

check out Buffy and Susan's Fall samples.

This is a "gray version" of my Fall challenge card.

Christmas Layers with Peony Garden DSP

 Sometimes you need a quick card for a

difficult situation.  Detailed dies can be your friend,

when it comes to creating the focal image,

by using the negative part of the die cut.

For this card, I used a die from the Christmas Layers

set on page 180.   I feel that these Christmas dies can work for

a variety of situations.  I removed the die cut image and placed

a strip of Peony Garden DSP (page 149) behind.  The 

sentiment comes from the So Sentimental set on page 74.

I added a twine bow and the card was complete.  

To make a quick Christmas card, you can use a different

sentiment and put green cardstock or DSP behind the image.

Flight of Fancy Halloween

This cute set is Flight of Fancy on page 59 of the

2020 Holiday Mini.  I often go for sets that cover 

multiple holidays, so this one fits the bill.  I colored the

focal image with Stampin' Blends and then cut it out

with the Hippy and Friends Die (page 176).

I added some Plaid Tidings DSP (page 57) and

Black Glitter Paper (page 53).

Layering Peony Garden DSP Circles

 Sorry, but I'm just going to have to say it.  

That darn Susan.  She posted a wonderful card here,

and I was compelled to try this layering circles technique.

I will admit that I didn't follow the directions

precisely, but then I never do.

I had just purchased the Peony Garden DSP

(page 149).  I know this looks a bit busy, so that is why

I kept the background plain.  I liked this arrangement

of patterns because it reminded me of looking down into a shell.

I knew that I needed a long sentiment for this technique,

and love the "You've been on my mind" stamp from the

Butterfly Gala set on page 79.

I couldn't tell you what circles I used, but I stuck

with only 4.  Then I just alternated them for the 

matching layers.

Have a Hoot Pumpkin

I've been using the Have a Hoot Bundle (page 62 of 2020 Holiday),

because it is so darn cute.  I realized that I had not used this

image, so needed to get busy.  I colored the image

with Stampin' Blends and cut it out with the Stitched Shapes

Dies on page 183.

I added two circles from the Plaid Tidings DSP pack

(page 57 of the 2020 Holiday).  The background layer,

which is hard to see because it is black, was run through

the Cobwebs 3D Embossing Folder (page 53).

 

Have a Hoot Bundle

 I think that the Have A Hoot Bundle (page 62 of 2020 Holiday)

is just the cutest product grouping.  The images are so

animated, that you can't help but smile.  It covers both

Halloween and Christmas, so you get a lot of bang for your 

buck.  You could also use some of the owls for general

winter cards.  The images are great fun to color with 

Stampin' Blends!

In this example, I used a layer of the Plaid Tidings 6x6

DSP (page 57) and a strip of Black Glitter Paper (page 53).

Stamp Off Color Challenge

Hey creative friends, it's time for another Stamp Off

Challenge with Susan, Buffy and I.

Today we have a color challenge, to include 3 of 4,

of the following colors:

Granny Apple Green 

Bermuda Bay

Crushed Curry and

Smoky Slate

I normally don't create vintage style cards, because they

are not really in my wheel house.  Today, I just felt like

making a butterfly card!

On the background layer, I used the Basic Pattern

Decorative Masks (page 146).  The sentiment comes from

the Butterfly Gala set (page 16), and butterfly from the

Butterfly Gala set (page 79).  The Hippo and Friends Die

was used to cut out the tiled layer, and Stitched So

Sweetly (page 179) Dies, the sentiment.  I colored 

rhinestones with Bermuda Bay Stampin' Blends,

to perk up the butterfly.

I appreciate your visit to my site and hope that you will

click on over to visit Buffy and Susan.