Star studded Christmas

This is another new Christmas set in the Holiday Mini 2007 catalog. You can purchase these sets starting Sept. 1st. They are fabulous. I really like this set because the greetings tell more about what Christmas is all about: Jesus. The verses tell more about Jesus instead of being just generic "Holiday" greetings. This used the new holiday designer paper which is in lovely artichoke, river rock and pomegranite colors in baroque patterns. It is very elegant looking. Great for quick Christmas cards.

I used artichoke card front, artichoke craft ink for the chipboard circle ring. I used pomegranite ink on the star stamp, cut it out, and took my 2 way glue pen to trace the edges and then I added dazzling diamonds glitter. Very nice subtle POP! I also used the pomegranite stitched ribbon.

The second card: artichoke card base, holiday designer paper, mellow moss paper, river rock, and artichoke inks. I used artichoke ribbon as well. Very green Christmas card, but still pretty.

What do you think?

Quick Season of Joy

I found this card from Mytime on Splitcoast. She is super talented, and this is a super easy card. I made them with both metallic inks (trees) and tone on tone. Here they are. Colors used are soft sky, river rock, blush blossom, white craft ink, copper, gold and silver metallic inks. White organdy ribbons and metallic cord.

Season of Joy... more samples

I found this beautiful layout and design idea on Jenn Balcer's blog. She used the Priceless set, which coordinates perfectly with this new Christmas set. Anyway, I switched up the colors, papers, and ribbon and came up with this. I left a comment on her blog about my card, so maybe she'll stop by my blog and check it out.

Stamps: Season of Joy, So Swirly jumbo wheel
Paper: purely pomegranite, artichoke, and mellow moss, and Christmas designer paper
Inks: versamark, pomegranite, artichoke
Accessories: sherbert ribbon originals, heat and stick powder, dazzling diamonds glitter, and stampin' dimensionals.

A Little Holiday Joy

Okay, who loves chocolate? Who loves giving chocolate away? ME! ME! ME! Well here is a clever and easy way to give as many chocolates away as you want. This nugget box can be customized to fit 2-30 nuggets. To get instructions just click on nugget box. You will get linked to splitcoaststampers resource gallery to get the instructions. Look closely after the instructions are given and there is a link to the page of other dimensions for this box. It really is easy. A great way to use up designer papers you have for the holidays. Use the new Holiday chipboard pieces from the Holiday mini and you have an instant gift. As it is, you can use alphabet sets with the Snowflake spot, Snowflurries, and Cold Play for fun Winter themes. Peaceful wishes, Season of Joy, and countless others could be used as well.

These make great treat boxes for children's school parties. They are great for Halloween/Fall, and Valentine's day too. Who doesn't like a little treat, and chocolate at that? Not too many people, except my youngest son, John. Sometimes I wonder if he is really my son, not liking chocolate and all. But then I see the mischief in his eyes, and yep, that is all me.

This box uses the Wintergreen paper, sage shadow paper, artichoke and sage inks. Also used the oh so wonderful crop-a-dile for setting those eyelets. I am still working on how to use that big ol' thing easily, but it does set those eyelets like butter. I simply placed my eyelet on the post that sets it, placed my paper face down on top of that, and then crimped it set. Seemed easier than other ways. Now to just be able to pick those eyelets up and not drop them while doing that. Either way, folks, you gotta get one of those crop-a-diles. They punch through chipboard, metal, and thin wood like butter. Think chipboard books, boxes, etc. Use up those accent and elements tins by adding ribbon ties through a large eyelet. Ooooh. I've got too many things to try. Sorry to digress. Can you tell I am having fun with all my new toys while my boys are away and my house is torn up so there isn't anything else to do.

Holiday mini sets are awesome!

I got to stamp a little after a totaly lousy day, where my house flooded because I was out running errands when the water feed to my upstairs toilet busted and came off and proceeded to spray water all over my bathroom, which then leaked into my basement soaking everything. Ugh! And the saddest part is that I didn't go out for any noble errands. I went to get a pedicure and manicure, and then got lunch and ran to get a check someone owed me. I wanted to get a pedicure so I could sit in one of those awesome massage chairs and relieve my tight back and shoulder muscles. My family is visiting my parents so I have time alone to clean my house, stamp for upcoming workshops, swaps, and card class in a box kits I have going on, and just have some me time. Well I cleaned the house today before heading out this morning, but now it is a wreck! Carpet up, a lot of wet clothes, books and other things from the basement out in my yard, which I pray it doesn't rain on. Ugh!! Bright side is that God is in control, it could have been much worse, and people were able to come out to dry out the house and take care of the wetness. My neighbor, Kim, was a gem, and helped me clean out wet stuff out of the basement. So, God is good. Now I just hope all is not lost, and things can be fixed rather easily. We'll see on Monday when the cleaner people come back to assess the drying out process on the floors.

Here is a special card using one of the new sets from the Holiday mini. I got the layout idea from JanTink, who used the Priceless set, which happens to coordinate with this new holiday set, Season of Joy. Anyway, I think it looks awesome. Not your traditional Christmas colors, but hey, we have the red family and the green family represented here. It is fun and whimsical and would really pop with the addition of a little glitter. I'll work on that. Anyway, hope you enjoy it. Thanks, Jan for the inspiration.


Spec: blush blossom, bravo burgundy, groovy guava, and old olive papers and inks; white gel pen, scallop circle punch, 1 3/8 and 1 1/4 circle punches, ticket corner punch, and white grosgrain ribbon. So fun and easy.

It's A Wrap: Christmas in July!

Well today's stamp camp was a pretty good success. I think all 10 ladies had a good time and came home with some pretty nice projects. Big thanks go out to my fellow demonstrator, Malia, for all her help in planning projects, and being there to help teach the guests how to do their projects. I couldn't have done it without her.

For those of you who missed out on this, we made some fantastic gift packaging items that are perfect for all types of gifts.
We made a cool new gift card holder based on a tutorial by Cami which can be seen here: cambriaturnbow.blogspot.com/2007/05/8x8-fold-gift-card-holder.html.
We made a cool 5 in 1 envelope template, directions here: www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/fiveinonetemplatebox.php. Just a note on putting your flower on top, the hat pin goes through the flower from the top then up through the bottom. The hat pin doesn't want to pierce through very well as it is thick, but it will go. Just gently push it through and you should be okay. Use a pop up glue dot to attach this to the top of your knot of ribbon.
We made a cute party favor tin/holiday ornament, a cool gift bag, a circle tote bag, tags, and an awesome Christmas organizer to keep your family and friends wish list in, as well as party details/plans, and even addresses. The best thing about the organizer is that it can be used year after year by adding more pages courtesy of our spiral punch.
Oh, and we made a big sheet of wrapping paper using the All About Christmas wheel. It was good.

I think the day went well, but since I don't do these types of events very frequently, I usually forget the things I learned the times before to facilitate these events better. Next time I will individually package up everyones supplies (more work, but less waste), encourage stamping first, close up ink pads, then assemble to avoid ink mishaps. I will encourage clean up at each station before moving on (okay, maybe I am the only one who can't work in a messy space), and
request that all guests wait for instructions or read instructions before preceeding to avoid wrong placement of elements. I am not pointing fingers here at anyone, nor am I upset, just thinking about how to help avoid these issues next time. Not big issues, just things to think about.
I hope all of you can come to the next big event: Christmas card extravaganza. 25 cards for $25. Sure to be fun for everyone in October.