The Great Pumpkin

This was a card I made for Halloween last year using Autumn Harvest by Stampin' Up.
"It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" was a show we looked forward to every year when we were kids, it wouldn't have been Halloween without it. My very favorite scene was when Snoopy rises up from the pumpkin patch scaring the wits out of Linus and Sally which is what I tried to show here.
Happy Halloween!!!

Thoughts & Prayers

The SCS challenge for today was ways to use purple and the Cottage Wall paper by Stampin' Up was the first thing that came to mind. I used the sketch from this week's Mojo Monday blog for my layout and the stamp set Thoughts & Prayers. The card base is Rich Razzleberry, the inks Pale Plum and Pretty In Pink. Mots of the supplies are Stampin' Up.

Poinsettia Ball Ornament

For this ornament I started with a small styrofoam ball. Punched out Boho Blossoms flower, just using the 6 petal flower one which conveniently happens to be on the edge. Lay your punched out flowers on your foam piercing pad mat and press down as hard as you can in the direct center of the flower with your Empressor stylus. This will curl the flower up perfectly, it's so cool! I secured each of these onto the styrofoam ball with decorative pearl pins. For the hanger I wound some silver cording around a large silver brad and pushed it through the top, securing with some tacky glue so it doesn't just pull out when you hang it.

Winter Post Card

All supplies are Stampin' Up.
Merry Moments designer paper with Close To Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, and Real Red cardstocks. I used the Winter Post skaters with the Post Card sentiment along with the corner swirl from the new hostess set Patterned Pines.

Birdcage Ornament

This was my ornament that I made for tomorrow but I was too happy with it to wait until then. This looks really pretty in real life with all of the Dazzling Diamonds sparkle and it really does look like a birdcage. It was a bit hard to photograph it to do it justice.
I was making a lantern ornament with the strips the other day when this idea came to me. I used Brushed Silver cardstock cut in strips 5 1/2" x slightly narrower than 1/2" wide. The ends were secured with rhinestone brads. The bird is from the Sizzlits Birds & Blooms set hanging from silver cording. I stamped the flourish and flower from Patterned Pines in Bashful Blue and sponged edges. For the embellishment on the bottom to hide the brad prongs I used the Sizzix die cut Swirls Scribbles and covered it completely in Dazzling Diamonds. Supplies are by Stampin' Up.

True Friend

This is a chalenge combo, one for using the colors of Kraft, Black, and Melon Mambo. The second is our weekly Doubledog Dare Challenge this week hosted by Joan Ervin. She challenged us to case a card from our challenge mate Julia (artstamper's) wonderful gallery.
I changed the colors and stamp sets used but kept most of my card close to Julia's. I used the Bella Toile embossed in Black on the Kraft and the flower from the True Friend set for the main image. Ribbon is the polka dot Melon on the reverse side.

Sweet Centers Christmas Lollipop

This was a quick ornament to make, using the Sweet Centers treat cup, a large scallop circle punch and a popsicle stick that I painted white and wound some red grosgrain ribbon around. I got the idea from a craft kit lollipop ornament that used wound up ribbon as the pop part and adapted it for the treat cup. It was my son's idea to make it look like it had fluffy icing on it so I added some Liquid Applique and heated it with the heat gun to puff. You could attach this to a card or hang it from your Christmas tree.

Medallion Snowflakes

All supplies are Stampin' Up, some retired.
I did a modified case of the sample in this month's Paper Crafts card by Susan Neal, I loved the colors and layout on her card.
I used Medallion in Brocade Blue, All Holidays in Night Of Navy, Snow Burst and Patterned Pines snowflakes in Bashful Blue and Soft Sky. Rhinestone brads were used for snowflake centers and Dazzling Diamonds on others.

Patterned Pines Retiform Technique

All supplies are Stampin' Up
For the retiform background I used Bashful Blue, Baja Breeze, Soft Sky, and some Brocade Blue. For this technique, you use your brayer to add the colors, starting with the lightest color. Arrange Post It notes over cardstock, start brayering with lightest color, add and re-arrange post it notes between each brayering step. I went with all blues since I am not familiar with this technique and didn't want to muddy it up with different colors quite yet. Maybe with a bit more experimental practice I will become more daring :) I then stamped the Patterned Pines snowflake and star over top and then ran it through the Big Shot using the SU Sizzix embossing plate Pattern 1 from the Backgrounds set. Trees were stamped using markers in Brocade Blue, Ruby Red, and Not Quite Navy. Paper is from Merry Moments.

Bella Bleu Ornaments

The Bella Bleu designer series paper by Stampin' Up is so beautiful and elegant, I think it works well for Christmas ornaments with the blue and the silver. For the first one I punched 8 scalloped circles and folded them in half (use your bone folder for a nice, sharp crease), glue them all together and insert a loop of cording before adhereing the last two sides together. Adorn with pearls or beads from the Pretties Kit.
The second one is a quick stocking I drew and cut out using a wooden stocking ornament template, adhered a snowflake from the Sizzlits snowflakes set and secured with cording and a rhinestone brad.

Paper Christmas Tree

This was inspired by today's Featured Stamper on SCS, Rachel Hope. The tree project was from the December 2008 issue of Martha Stewart Living. I used a wood skewer, a chopstick would work too. Cut out one each of a 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6" circle. Fold each circle in half four times, making nice creases with your bone folder and insert onto skewer, securing with a bit of glue after each addition. You can adjust the pleats a little bit as you go. To make the tree stand upright in the pot, I wadded up a brown paper bag, wrapping around the skewer, packing the brown paper in tightly until that little tree wasn't moving anywhere. Decorate as desired.
I used Stampin' Up Merry Moments designer paper, white satin organza ribbon and felt snowflake from last year's holiday mini and a 2" standard flower pot. The string of lights I had in my stash, no maker known since I had thrown away the original packaging.

Accordion Pleated Flower Ornaments

For the pleated flower I used a 12" strip of double sided Christmas paper (Merry Moments by Stampin' Up). I used the scallop border punch on the long edge and then cut the strip at 1/2". Fold this strip accordion style and then carefully bring this around into a circle, securing ends together with adhesive. I then glued this to a 1 3/8" circle and then onto a scallop circle and sandwiched a loop of gold elastic cording bewtween those two layers. You can come up with two very different looks from the same piece of paper depending on which side you choose to display as seen in the top photo. A great family project, this would be easy and fun for kids to participate in.

Ornament Week

I am starting my holiday decorating and crafting early this year and maybe, just maybe, I will be ready for Christmas this season. I plan on doing a lot of baking and homemade gift making this year and can't wait to share my ideas with you. For starters I am making ornaments and hope to be able to share a new one with you every day this week.

This is along the lines of the hanging lantern ornament, not sure what it is commonly called. I crimped all of the 4" long and 1/2" wide strips and added large silver brads to each end along with Handsome Hunter Sizzix Little Leaves die cuts and Pretties Kit pearls for berries. All supplies used are Stampin' Up.

Always In Bloom Medallion

Monochromatic Regal Rose card with Medallion embossed in matching ink and background of Always In Bloom wheel supplies by Stampin' Up.
Non SU: K&Co center embellishment, MS pearls, Gratitude medallion stamp by Making Memories.

From The Crypt

Most supplies are Stampin' Up
Cast A Spell papers with Basic Black and Whisper White cardstocks for card, image from From The Crypt stamped in black and Olive. Coffin is made from Going Gray carstock, embossed the bat image, stamped first in black and then in Versamark with Iridesecent Ice. Template is by Martha Stewart.

Color Challenge

Card base is Bravo Burgundy with matching ink wheeled with Baroque Borders, Cameo Coral and Artichoke matting layers for Very Vanilla frame. I tried to bring in more of the required Coral in the flowers. Retired SU Hodgepodge Hardware and Teeny Tiny Wishes sentiment with burgundy grosgrain ribbon. Wreath stamp is a retired PSX one, colored with markers and accented with Sweet Peas Flower Soft for some texture.

Garden Collage

A very quick and easy card.
Today's Clean and Simple Challenge was to make a sympathy card. I went with white on white and the embossing folder Elegant Bouquet. The Garden Collage bird image was colored with markers and shaded with pastel chalks. White satin ribbon also added.
All supplies are Stampin' Up except for scallop rectangle frame.

Christmas Cardinal Wiper Card

I love this old retired Christmas set. I colored it in markers and used Bella Bleu paper with Riding Hood Red and Going Gray cardstock.
All supplies are Stampin' Up, some retired.
The wiper card technique tutorial can be found on Splicoaststampers in the Resources section. The video is very well done and makes it easy to figure out this cool pop up kind of card.

Lovely Flowers Oval All

All supplies used are Stampin' Up.
I changed the paper, colors, and stamp sets from a cute card by Dancer Riley who is today's Featured Stamper on SCS.
Lovely Flowers (hostess set) Designer paper with Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry cardstocks.
Flowers from Simple Friendship with the Oval All set. Razzleberry grograin ribbon (reversed).

Ruby Red Slippers

I always wanted a pair of these and now I have them.
The witch shoe template is by Ellen Hutson from the Paper Crafts magazine. This template can also be found in the SCS Forums, search under Downloads- Templates- Witch Shoe. Riding Hood Red cardstock and chunky red glitter by Stampin' Up.

There's no place like home...

Oval All & Itty Bitty Buds

All supplies used were Stampin' Up, some retired.
Stamp sets: Itty Bitty Buds, Oval All, flower from Razzle Dazzle.
Ink colors: Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Apricot, More Mustard, Chocolate.
Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate, Apricot.
Misc. : Durango polka dot and white taffeta ribbons, More Mustard brads, embossing folder Elegant Bouquet. Designer paper is Autumn Meadows.
This is for today's SCS Inspiration challenge and also for Beate's weekend sketch challenge #102.

One more Gingerbread House...

I've been on a gingerbread kick lately. This is my last one for a bit, I promise!!
Notecard by A Muse, gingerbread house is a House Mouse, ribbon, cording, and gingerbread man (retired wheel) are all Stampin' Up.

Autumn Leaves Challenge

Today's Ways To Use It challenge was to make a card with Autumn Leaves. Non SU stamp set was stamped in various colors, the medallion was embossed in copper with matching brad and cording. The cardstock is by Stampin' Up: Very Vanilla, Blush Blossom, and Certainly Celery. I love these colors with the copper, it is so lovely in real life.

Gingerbread House Treat Box

I designed this little treat box to hold gingerbread men for gift giving this Christmas. Creamy Caramel cardstock, some candy images from the retired Stampin' Up set Holiday Sampler and the key tag punch for doors and windows. Liquid Applique used for snow on windows.

For the House front and back I made a simple shape with the triangle top, it is 2 3/4" wide and 4" tall. The simple and basic box was 7"x 5 3/4", score at 2" on both long sides, score at 1/2" on each end of the shorter sides and snip one end to fold. I added a chimney which is just a small rectangle.

Gingerbreadmen

Gingerbread men are made with flower punch by EK Success in Creamy Caramel with Stampin' Up Merry Moments designer paper. The punch is a slightly larger size than the Stampin' Up 5 petal flower.

Fresh Cuts

Fresh Cuts stamp in Chocolate ink, colored in markers. Colors today were Chocolate Chip, Bermuda Bay, and Apricot Appeal. I used Very Vanilla as my neutral. Accessories: Ice square rhinestone brads, Bermuda Bay polka dot grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals.
All supplies are Stampin' Up.

Pretty Petals

All supplies are current Stampin' Up.
I first inked the Pretty Petals background stamp in Pretty In Pink and then went over stems and leaves in Certainly Celery. I used markers to color butterflies and tiny flowers in Lavender Lace and then thumped on Regal Rose marker to large flowers, Bashful Blue to butterflies, and Old Olive to leaves. Simple Friendship butterfly added.

Autumn Days & Meadows

All supplies are current Stampin' Up except for sentiment.Pocket card made from Autumn Meadows paper with Always Artichoke and Elegant Eggplant cardstock. Autumn Days and Priceless sets with non SU sentiment. Jumbo eyelet, artichoke eyelets, and grosgrain ribbon.

Christmas Gift Tags

I used the designer paper Merry Moments by Stampin' Up, various stamp sets and supplies, punches, etc. The gingerbreadman is from a flower punch from Creamy Caramel cardstock. Pizza Box in center top will hold all of the gift tags.
The tags measure about 2 1/2" x 3 3/4". Box is 4" square.
Flower punch is by EK Success.

Window Dressing

Stampin' Up Autumn Meadows designer paper with retired set Window Dressing, colored in markers and watercolor crayons. Sentiment is non SU.

Pop Up Cake Die UFO

A different take on today's challenge to be inspired by world travel.
I used the Sizzix Big Shot Pop Up cake die in Brushed Silver with the Greetings, Earthling set colored in markers. "Windows" are large silver brads with build a brad acrylic bubbles over top aliens. Green Galore base on a Brilliant Blue card that was silver embossed with the star from Patterned Pines.
All supplies are Stampin' Up.

Scandinavian Season

Scandinavian Season and Razzle Dazzle in Brilliant Blue supplies are by Stampin' Up.

The Broom Is in The Shop

The Wicked Witch must have stolen the balloon from the Wizard and is making her getaway. I think I am still in the mindset of Oz from seeing Wicked last week :)

Sweet Centers balloon stamped in Eggplant, witch is from retired set Hey, Ghoul Friend. Paper is current Cast A Spell. Brads are Making Memories.
All other supplies are Stampin' Up.

Tree Trimmings

All supplies are Stampin' Up
Cardstock colors used were Mellow Moss, Kraft, and Whisper White. I used the French Filigree background stamp to create the look of designer paper on all of the layers. The pine branch is from the set Autumn Days, I embossed the flourish from Patterned Pines in clear all around circle edges, embossed the ornament in copper (retired), hanger in gold. Colored in with Ruby Red and Chocolate. White taffeta ribbon and mellow Moss buttons that were tied with embroidery floss.

Faux Suede Medallion

For the faux suede I used Close To Cocoa cardstock, Medallion in Chocolate, Bermuda Bay, and Rich Razzleberry. I made it to resemble a wallet.

Lovely As A Tree

This card is for the Featured Stamper challenge on SCS today honoring Lois (Clownmom). I kept the tree and basic layout from her card and changed the paper, ribbon, stamps, colors, and background. I used the Priceless swirl in Chocolate Chip and the little flower in More Mustard. The leaf is from Autumn Days stamped in Bermuda Bay, Ruby, Dusty Durango, some stamped off once for a lighter shade. The striped strip of designer paper down the center is from the Autumn Meadows pack. I wanted to mute it a little so I covered it in the organdy ribbon and added a bow. Brass hodgepodge hardware frames the sentiment from Season By Season. Lovely As A Tree stamped in Basic Brown and daubered with Apricot, Ruby, Pumpkin Pie inks and Old Olive for grass. Supplies are Stampin' Up, some retired.

Charming Snowflake

I used the Bella Bleu paper, Sizzix snowflake, embossed the medallion from Charming in silver. To make the medallion, I used my Versamark pad on white cardstock, sprinkled with silver embossing powder, melted with heat gun and repeated this process 3 more times. On the last heating I quickly pressed the medallion stamp into the hot silver to make the impression. Cut out around it and mounted to card.

Old Fashioned Christmas

Retired SU tree from Old Fashioned Christmas set colored in markers, added glitter and rhinestone gems to tree with the ornaments. Merry Moments paper, Old Olive, and Chocolate Chip cardstocks, red satin ribbon. For the wreath sentiment I inked the Merry from A Cardinal Christmas in red on a Sizzix die cut from the Birds & Blooms set, inked Garden Green with the wreath stamp from Yuletide Montage set which fit just perfectly.

Wicked Inspiration

I saw the musical Wicked in the Emerald City (Seattle) last night and was completely blown away by it. I think this is my favorite ever! Such a beautiful story about friendship, I hadn't expected to be so deeply moved. See it if you get the chance.
I made a card inspired by my tee shirt. Stamp sets used were Baroque Motifs, Wings Of Friendship, and butterfly from Charming. Garden Green on Certainly Celery. Witch eyelet from the Eyelet Outlet. Sentiment was printed directly onto the cardstock from MS Office Word.