Winter Branch Christmas Card

Just a little over a week until Christmas.  We had our first snow last night.  Only a 1/2" but it looks so pretty. Are you ready for Christmas?  I'm getting there.  The stockings are hung*, the tree is decorated, some presents are wrapped.  3 weeks ago I thought to myself "I think I'm on schedule", but I think I miscalculated.  There is so much yet to be done.  I have a few more gifts to purchase and wrap and a few Christmas cards to make.  This card is one of my favorites.

I absolutely adore this branch from the Colorful Seasons Bundle.  I die cut it in Whisper White and Early Espresso and layered them for a shadow effect.  In retrospect I might have had the "shadow" below the branch to make it look like a snow covered branch. 

I used the Stitched Frame Framelits to make this rectangle.  A rectangle you say?  Yes!  I tried a technique to make a rectangle from a square die.  It is done by cutting the die part way.  Then you move the die, lining it up with the partial cut and complete the cutting.  Clear as mud? My goal is to start doing videos and when I do I can show you.

I used the Card Front Builder Thinlits to create the stars.  There is some Silver Glimmer paper behind the panel. I glued a few of the cut starts onto the card for a little dimension.

I added the single ornament hanging from the branch, using the ornament from the Chandelier Thinlits.  The ball is Red Glimmer Paper, the cap and hanger are Silver Foil Paper.

The Merry Christmas, part of the Flurry of Wishes set,  is stamped in Real Red.  3 Rhinestone Basic Jewels in the bottom right finish it off.  I love how it turned out

* I wanted to show you my FINISHED needlepoint Christmas stockings.  I have been working on them for years!  As my DIL and SIL and grandsons came along it took some searching to find canvases by the same designer in the same background design.  Then I had to find matching wool for the backgrounds – it wasn't made any longer.  I'm jumping for joy having these completed.

I hope you are enjoying all the wonder of Christmas.

You can order all the supplies to make the Christmas card from my online store.  I would sure appreciate you using my December Host Code for orders under $150.00  If you order $150 you qualify for Host Benefits and no code is needed.

Thank you for looking!

Merry Christmas

Debbie

Swirly Snowflake Christmas Card

While Fall has barely arrived, today I'm thinking about simple, mailable Christmas and holiday cards. 

I have wanted to use the Swirly Snowflakes Thinlits Die so that is where I started.  I cut the border snowflake from Whisper White, white snowflakes make my heart melt!  I was positive I would love the white snowflakes against Shimmery White Card Stock, but it wasn't my favorite so I grabbed Thick Very Vanilla Card Stock and got the contrast I was looking for.

I stamped the snowflake from Snowflake Sentiments in Versamark.  The greeting, from Hearts Come Home, was also stamped in Versamark and heat embossed with Silver Embossing Powder.  I used the Embossing Buddy over the snowflake to make certain the embossing powder didn't stick to the snowflake.  Swirly Snowflake Thinlits and Snowflake Sentiments are available as a bundle and you get 10% discount when you buy the bundle!

I tied some of my favorite ribbon, 1/4" Natural Trim in Silver, across the top. Simple and done!

Here is the Whisper White snowflake diecut on Shimmery White with 1/8" Silver Ribbon.  Pretty, but not quite as much contrast, though the subtleties are lost a bit with my photography of these cards.

I've got two more simple Christmas cards that I'll be posting this week.  

Have you heard?  Coming soon for customers:  Stampin' Blends, Stampin' Up! alcohol makers. Can't wait? You can get them now!  Join my team and you can get them all for $99, but only through October 15!  You get $125 worth of product for just $99 and that includes shipping!  There is no further commitment if you decide being a demonstrator (and getting discounted product) just isn't for you. The Customer Release date has not yet been announced, but Stampin' Up! is making them available to demonstrators for a short period of time.

Mine just arrived and I sat down to try them out.  Here is my first try at them.  They are easy to use, blend beautifully, and Wink of Stella works over them!

You can get all these products from my online store.  Use my October Host Code SKYPQPPJ when placing your order, no need to use the code when your product totals $150 or more as you qualify for free product with that!

Thank you for looking, now, go stamp!

Debbie

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Heat Embossing with Delicate Ornament Thinlits

I saw this technique and had to try it!  Rather than cutting with the Delicate Ornament Thinlit I applied Versamark to the thinlit and embossed.  I love it!  Scroll down to see an awkward angle photo so I could get the shimmer

Set up your big shot as if you were going to use an embossing folder.  In place of a bottom cutting mat use a couple sheets of fun foam. Add your paper,  carefully apply Versamark to the thinlet and place it on your paper being careful not to move it at all.  Place a cutting mat on top and run it through the Big Shot.  Carefully remove the die and apply the embossing powder.  Brush off any stray specks with a small paintbrush.  Heat emboss.  It's such a delicate look

I highlighted with Smoky Slate ink with an Aquapainter then Clear Wink of Stella over that.  I used the Pine Bough embossing folder for the branch. Added some Silver Metallic Thread to make it look like the ornament was hanging.  Finished it off with a rhinestone and a bow made from 1/8" Smoky Slate Stitched Ribbon.

This is the only angle I could get the shimmer to show.  My base card is Whisper White Thick.  I used Silver Glimmer Paper behind my top layer.  So much prettier IRL!

Thanks for looking!

Debbie

Merry Christmas Card in Shades of Gray

Based on this card I'm still in neutral!  It's a rainy gray day here but no snow yet (thank goodness).

This Irresistibly Floral Special Designer Series Paper has been waiting to be used for too long.  It is designed to have color added and the design resists ink, but I just left it sans ink so it's white on white.  I used the back side of the same paper to make the tag, using a portion of one of the Lots of Labels Framelits to cut the tag.

I used a strip of the striped washi tape from the Floral Boutique Designer Washi Tape along the left edge of the Smokey Slate base card.  When I added the Designer Series Paper I didn't like the transition from washi to white paper so I added a length of Black Bakers Twine.

I stamped "Merry Christmas" in Night of Navy, the snowflakes in Versamark then embossed with Silver Embossing Powder.  Both of these images are from Flurry of Wishes in the Annual Catalog.  I used the Snow Flurry Punch to punch the snowflakes out – so easy!

To finish the tag off I added a ruffled length of Silver 5/8" Satin Ribbon at the bottom, and tied a length of 1/8" Smokey Slate Stitched Ribbon through the hole I punched with the 1/8" Handheld Punch at the top.  The silver Mini Jingle Bells were tied on with Silver Metallic Thread.

Thanks for looking!  When ordering from my online store use Host Code 7ZKGME4F for orders $149 or less.  Orders of $150 qualify for free items as host benefits so no need to add the Host Code.

Debbie