Happy New Year!

"Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same."

THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL YEAR OF CREATIVITY & FRIENDSHIP!

Looking forward to spending 2024 with you!  Susan Elise

Linus Christmas

 

                                                                    

 

December Stamp Clubs

My last December Stamp Club was last night and we had such a good time ~ along with persimmon cookies and presents!  One of our projects was the card below created with the CELEBRATE THE MIRACLE stamp set (#165131, ONLINE EXCLUSIVE).

The second project was using the stamp set FRAGRANT FOREST from the Mini Catalog (162108).  This stamp set is one you can use during the holiday but, really, all year long.  I had an option available in class to create a sympathy card.  It is a large background stamp.  When you use it turn it over so the rubber side is up and ink the entire stamp.  Carefully put your cardstock on top.  Layer a piece of scrap over the entire stamp and rub gently with your hands to get complete coverage.  Use your REVERSE TWEEZERS (Embossing Additions Tool Kit, page 136 AC) to pick up the cardstock ~ you will LOVE the results!  This stamp set is AMAZING!

Relaxing recommendation...

I have read it before (a long time ago) but I read it again recently (as in just finished) and wanted to recommend it as a relaxing nostalgic read ~ just right for the holidays.

Tuesday Project Sheet ~ Meandering Meadow

This lovely designer series paper insures thoughts of Spring particularly on some recent gloomy weather days.  The paper is part of the MEANDERING  MEADOW SUITE that is available in Stampin' Up!'s online products.  This 6" x 6" DSP comes with 40 sheets of various beautiful colorful landscapes.  The order number is 162735 and the price is $12.50.  This fancy fold card would cheer anybody up!

Download Meandering Meadows

 

Merry Christmas from Tripod!

It’s Time for Thank You Notes!

I know – Christmas isn’t even here yet. But of course! Now’s the time to get started on these cards before the holiday season gets too busy and there we are at Christmas clean up time with no Thank You notes and no time to make them. I know that some of you may have more time than others to make your Thank You notes. So for today’s project, I have a simple design that will take almost no time to make. But then I’ll show you a not-to-difficult way to add some color and then a design that’s a bit more time-consuming – but not by much! I’ll show you generally what I did to make each of the cards.  For the card at the top of the post, as well as the other two, I’m using one of the stamps from the Go To Greeting Stamp Set. For this card, I used the largest of the three “Thank You” stamps in the set. What I think makes this card a bit on the elegant side is the embossed border on the top layer of the card. The key step here is to turn the cardstock over so that you’re scoring the lines from the back. That way they’re raised on the front.   We are talking Thank You notes for Christmas gifts here. So why not add some Christmas color if you have the time to get out another Stamp Set and some more ink. For my card, I stamped the holly and berries from the Sending Cheer Stamp Set. To keep the holly groups in line, I lay a piece of plain paper under the area where I want to stamp the holly leaves, and add some marks where I plan to stamp each of them. I just flipped that around to get the holly leaves set up on the bottom. Once you have the holly leaves done, you’re not going to have any problem stamping the berries.   This card is one for that special gift giver! I added a bit more work to this card but it’s my favorite. I continued to use the Go To Greeting and Sending Cheer Stamp Sets, and started out with the scoring as in the first card. Then I spent some time die-cutting holly leaves and berries using the Sending Cheer Die set that’s bundled with the stamp set. I stamped and cut six holly leaves (3 for each corner) and 4 berries (2 for each corner). No matter how much time you have for Thank You cards, I’m sure you could fit one of these designs into your schedule – and make a gift-giver very happy.

 

Winter Owls Bundle 2

You can find this Bundle (stamp set and dies) on page 26 in the September 2023 Mini Catalog.  It is not on the CARRYOVER LIST for Stampin' Up! and will retire at the end of the month.  

Winter Owls Bundle

 

Besides the fact that I have liked owls for a long time, I think that one of the reasons that I am attracted to the Winter Owl bundle is that one of the sentiments makes so much sense to me. “May you have time to enjoy the quiet moments of this season” is so important to our own happiness and health and so difficult to achieve during the holidays. I have used the set in a number of ways and this, along with the supplies and instructions, can easily be adapted to the other samples (tomorrow's post). May you enjoy some quiet moments during the holidays. Stampin’ Up! Supplies: Stamps – Winter Owls Bundle (162157), page 26 September 2023 Mini Catalog Cardstock – Very Vanilla (101650), Blackberry Bliss (133675 Ink – Memento Black Pad (132708) Designer Series Paper – All About Autumn 6” x 6” Specialty DSP (162178) Misc. – Aspen Tree Die (159798), Stampin Cut & Emboss Machine (149653), Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755), Adhesive Sheets (152334), Natural Tones Stampin’ Blends – Medium Light (159463) and Medium (159462), Daffodil Delight Blends (154883) Cutting & Scoring: Very Vanilla – 5 ½” x 8 ½”, score at 4 ¼” and 1 ½” x 2” for the owl DSP 1 – 4” x 5 ¼” (tree photograph) DSP 2 – 4” x 5 ¼” (copper foil design) Blackberry Bliss – 1 ½” x 4” Adhesive Sheet – 1 ½” x 2” Instructions: 1. Adhere DSP 1 to the base card. Die cut DSP 2 and adhere over the base card. 2. Die cut the tree limb in Blackberry Bliss, adhere over the Aspen Tree die cut. 3. Stamp the smallest owl and color using the Natural Tones Blends. Circle the eyes with the Light Daffodil Delight Blend. Adhere to the Adhesive Sheet and die cut. Adhere over the tree limb.

New Year's Glow

 

Brightest Glow New Year’s Card When you ring in the new year with friends and family why not add to the festivities by giving everyone a gorgeous New Year’s card. Use the Shining Brightly Specialty DSP ( no longer available ~ sold out, unfortunately but I am sure you can find a substitute) and the glamorous glittered ribbon to create an elegant card that is fun, and easy,  to create.  The stamp set is BRIGHTEST GLOW on page 42 in the annual catalog, a very nice all sentiment set for this time of year.  This card idea is simple and quick to make: die-cut, layer, add a stunning bow, and you are done! Here’s how to make this card.  Supplies: · Stamp Sets – Brightest Glow (159542) · Cardstock – Very Vanilla (106550); Night of Navy (106577) · Stamp Pad – Night of Navy (147110) · Misc. –Shining Brightly Specialty Designer Series Paper (DSP) (162378); Deckled Circles Dies (162286); Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430); Night of Navy & Gold ½” Glittered Ribbon (162011); Tear & Tape Adhesive (154031); Mini Glue Dots (103683); Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine (149653) Measurements: · Very Vanilla: 8 1/2” x 5 1/2”; 2” square · Night of Navy: 4 1/8” x 5 3/8” · Shining Brightly: 4” x 5 ¼”; 2 ¼” square Instructions: 1. Fold Very Vanilla cardstock in half and crease to create card base. 2. Adhere Shining Brightly layer to Night of Navy layer using Multipurpose Liquid Glue. 3. Wrap Night of Navy & Gold Glittered Ribbon across front of Night of Navy layer and attach to back using Tear & Tape Adhesive. 4. Ink phrase using Night of Navy ink and stamp onto Very Vanilla square. Die-cut using Deckled Circle Die. Die-cut Shining Brightly square and Night of Navy square Deckled Circle dies. Adhere all circles together using Multipurpose Liquid Glue. 5. Adhere phrase layer to card front using Dimensionals. 6. To complete card attach Night of Navy & Gold Glittered Ribbon bow to card front using Mini Glue Dots.