Ikat Happiness

I had a great weekend! We had the first of many Christmas celebrations of this season on Sunday. There were 17 people in my house, all family members, and all of my kids were there. We cooked, laughed, played games, and ate a huge dinner. For the first time in about 5 years, I am really feeling the Christmas spirit the way I love to feel it :) Of course, I spent 3 days cleaning my house, putting up decorations, gift shopping, and cooking to prepare for this party. And now I can revel in the loveliness that remains after everyone left. AND I still have lots of merriment to enjoy. Usually it is over much too quickly.

Now, on to the card! The mojo for this card came from this sketch from Mojo Monday. I had been playing around with the new photopolymer stamp set that I just got, and needed a way to use the panel of patterned paper I had created. This fit the bill perfectly :)

I also used a piece that was laying on my desk that did not make it on to an earlier card, the oval with the Calypso Coral image from Everything Eleanor. All I had to do was add the paper piercing and the embossed sentiment!

• Stamps: Everything Eleanor, Yippe-Skippee, Eye-Catching Ikat
• Ink: Calypso Coral,  Pool Party, Island Indigo, Versamark, Silver Encore
• Paper: White, Pool Party Core'dinations, coasterboard
• Other: Big Shot with Ovals framelits, Woodgrain embossing folder, and non-SU button die, Sanding Block, Paper Piercer and Mat, Occasions Paper Piercing Pack, Island Indigo Ruffled ribbon (retired), Embossing Buddy, Pewter embossing powder, Heat Tool, Silver 1/8" ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, sewing machine and thread

There was a scrap of the stamped background left so that got added to the inside of the card. I am thinking birthday, congratulations, baby, or just a general occasion will work for this card. Gotta love a versatile card in your stash :)

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Envelope Liner Gift Card Tags

OK, who doesn't need another gift card holder idea? Not me! I'll take all I can get! I have seen gift card holders made with the envelope liner die, but only with the middle sized die. Well, while I was trying to make my own, I discovered that the smallest die works marvelously well to make a pocket that the gift card, or folded money, peeks out of! I used these on some gifts to nieces and nephews. I got them each a fluffy printed fleece throw blanket and then a little cash tucked into the gift tag hanging on their package. SO cute! They can even use them as ornaments on the tree later.

These came together very quickly. First I diecut a piece of solid card stock and a piece of DSP for each holder, starting with a 4½"x3¼" piece each. You can get 2 out of each sheet out of the DSP stacks! How awesome is that?!

Then I used the little hole dies from Chalk Talk to add the hole at the top of the solid color pieces. Next, I folded down the flap on the DSP pieces and creased well with the bone folder. The DSP flap was stitched down, then the DSP and card stock pieces were stitched together.

Lastly, I added a variety of embellishments with punches, Gold embossing, and paper piercing.

I used quite an array of supplies from my stash on this project. It is so amazing how much stuff we can accumulate. I am all for using all of your stuff :)

• Stamps: Christmas Messages, Joy to the World, Greetings of the Season, Ornament Keepsakes
• Ink: Gold Encore
• Paper: Season of Style DSP stack, Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler, Baked Brown Sugar
• Other: Big Shot with Envelope Liner, Holiday Ornaments, and Chalk Talk framelits. 1¾" Circle, 1" Square, and Corner Rounder punches, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool, Gold embossing powder, Paper Piercer and Mat, Festive Paper Piercing Pack, Signo white gel pen, Stampin' Dimensionals, sewing machine and thread

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The Stamp Review Crew: Festive Flurry Edition

Welcome to our very first Stamp Review Crew Blop Hop! I am so excited for the fun to begin :) There is a bevy of talent on this hop, so go grab that hot beverage and come sit with us for a bit.

If you are following along on the the blog in order, then you just arrived from Adriana's blog. I know she inspires sure inspires me!

We are featuring the Festive Flurry stamp set that just happens to have a coordinating set of framelits dies. I chose to use the My Digital Studio version of this lovely set and to use it not as snowflakes, but as a sun.

Doesn't this look like a bright, sunshiny card! I love sunshine themed cards. They are so versatile, and can really brighten someone's day. There is no stamping on this card. It was all done in My Digital Studio, printed, cut out, and assembled.

Here is what my sheet of paper looked like before I cut it all out and made the card. The DSP is even something I created! I started with a 2"x5.5" block of Pumpkin Pie, then added the same snowflake several times using the "watermark" color in the stamp. It was so easy! Then I added the sentiment using KG Eyes Wide Open font that I found free on the web, and placed that right on my strip of custom DSP. I also created a liner for the card with the snowflakes in one corner. I fussy cut all of the snowflakes, then glued them together in the center, and curled the tips up a bit. I think it was worth the effort :)

The top panel is actually a full 4"x5.25" of Whisper White Core'dinations that I embossed with Stylish Stripes a little kitty-wumpus in the folder. I wanted the stripes going just so. After I glued the lower panel down, I stitched the ribbon on, then stitched most of the way around the panel. The snowflakes are popped up with dimensionals, then the excess was trimmed off. Rhinestones were added for some pop. Then the panel was glued to the Crushed Curry card base.

Lastly, I added the liner to the inside of the card.

That's all for me! Now it is time to go visit Debra Burgin for her take on this set! She is going to wow you! Or if you are going backwards, go to Adriana's blog :)

Seize the Snowman!

There is enough snow in my yard already to make a snowman, and maybe on my next day off I will get a chance to make one. Hmmm, that sounds like so much fun! Maybe a snowball fight with the guys :)

This fun color combo form Colour Q was a bit of a challenge for me at first. I turned it over in my mind for a day or two. But then it all clicked.

And this sketch from Seize the Sketch has inspired a couple of thoughts for cards, and they may show up again soon!

I have been wanting to play with this snowman for more than a week, and this just seemed to be the right time. I am so glad! He is such a cheery fellow.

• Stamps: Snow Day
• Ink: Silver Encore, Tempting Turquoise, Pear Pizzazz, Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso
• Paper: White, Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso Core'dinations
• Other: Big Shot with Ovals framelits and Modern Mosaic embossing folder, Brights and Subtles Candy Dots, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Silver 1/8" ribbon, Occasions Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, Signo white gel pen, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sanding Block

 Inside I wanted to accent the winter theme rather than a Christmas theme, so I can use this for anything :)

Countdown to Stamp Review Crew Blog Hop #1, 1 day left! Come back tomorrow to check it out!