I'm back and ready for the holidays!!!

I apologize to everyone for being so lax the past month and not posting. It just seems that things got a little too hectic and I wasn't prepared for it. But now I have had my dear husband taking photos for me and I have a number of blogs ready for your viewing. You will notice that they all revolve around the holidays. I am so ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas that you will be seeing primarily cards and gift ideas during the next 2 months. I hope you enjoy them and I love hearing comments.

Today's sample is my rendition for Thanksgiving placecards/bookmarks. I am planning on making them for our gathering at home this year.

The turkeys are easy to make. The tail feathers are each 1/2 of a scallop punch. Even the beak, feet and wobble were all cut after being punched from the scallop punch. The body was sketched after being punched with the scallop and then cut out. It's very simple...just try it.

The colors I used for the tail feathers were Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive. The wobble is Real Read and the beak/feet are So Saffron. A black marker was used to mark the eyes and also the tail feathers on the first row. It is all attached to a large paper clip with dimensionals. All I have to add it the person's name and the place card will be complete.

Another Early Christmas Card

I told you how much I like this new Christmas ornament stamp set. So, on this Monday morning stamp challenge I am using it again. I think I'm just trying out all these cards to decide which one I'll really use for holiday cards. Today's card displays a few more accessories and tools but continues to be an easily assembled card.

Stamp set: Delightful Decorations and Warm Words

Ink: Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo

Paper: Bermuda Bay and Razzleberry Lemonade DSP and Whisper White cardstock

Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds glitter & Crushed Curry ribbon

Tools: Big Shot with Circle #2 die and Scallop, Large & Small Oval punches

Happiness

Today's card shows a lot of layers, but I decided to keep it simple by keeping only one color in the design. Even the "ribbon" just a strip of the same color paper. I did add a little additional texture using the Textured Plate with the Big Shot. This could work for any number of occasions and in almost any color. This way, any of you can enjoy making it on your own with your personal stash of stamping suppplies.

Stamp Sets: Priceless and Warm Words

Ink: Dusty Durango

Paper: Whisper White & Dusty Durango C/S

Accessories: Scallop Oval and Oval Punches, Textured Plate with Big Shot

Pine Cone Thinking of You

Today's card is another one that is very simple in design although it looks a little detailed. The pine cone stamp is a new one that SU! has in the new catalog. I've been using this set frequently because it is so diverse. The pine cones are colored using markers and stamped repeatedly around the card.  Just add any special words and you have a nice card.

Stamps Used: Autumn Days

Words from: Kind & Caring Thoughts

Paper: Whisper White and Garden Green C/S

Ink: Garden Green

Markers: Garden Green & Really Rust

Accessories: Scallop Oval and Large Oval Punches

Have a great day stamping.

Monochromatic Thank You Card

This is my card for the Mojo Monday Challenge. I decided to try a monochromatic card today and although pink isn't my favorite color, it seems to coordinate fairly well. I'd like to know what you think about it.

Stamps used: Teeny Tiny Wishes and Kind & Caring Wishes

Paper: Tea Party DSP and Whisper White

Ink: Regal Rose

Accessories: White grosgrain ribbon and Soft Subtle Brads

Tools: Scallop, Oval scallop, and Oval punches

Birthday Greetings

As you can tell, with 2 posts in one day, I've enjoyed being at my stamp table again. This post was done for the Stamping 411 weekly challenge. I altered the original sketch a little by turning the card 90 degrees.

The little flower is made from the scallop punch with a few extra clips with the scissors and a little rhinestone brad for the center. The eyelet punch gives such a nice edge for the greeting background.

Hope you enjoy!

Watermelon Picnic

Summer is on the way and what better way to enjoy it than to have a picnic with watermelon.

This sample include a checked tablecloth fashioned from weaving 1/4" strips of cardstock together. The napkins on the table are simply squares cut in half. The watermelons were punched using 1 3/4" and 1 3/8" and the bites were cut with the 3/4" punch. I sponged the sky with a little masking for the clouds.

Hope you all have a great weekend with lots of time for relaxation.

Circles of Thanks

Today's card is one of simplicity. There is no layering except for under the little circles. These are all colors from the Stampin'Up! Rich Regal color family. The colors used are Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron and Ballet Blue.  With Tempting Turquoise ink I stamped the "thank you" and with a marker I drew around the area. The ribbon is 1/4" wide.

I feel that sometimes "less is more" and in this example it is evident. I hope to hear from other stampers if they agree.

Kind Friend

Okay, today I've used the same stamp set as yesterday but with an entirely different color scheme. Using the paler colors is unusual for me and I'm not sure yet if they work or not. So, I need comments this time from you stampers. What do you think?

Stamp set: 

Paper: Urban Garden DSP and Whisper White C/S

Ink: Kiwi Kiss

Accessories: Scallop punch

Mojo Monday 89

Nothing like getting behind on your regular tasks. The Monday Morning Mojo Challenge is one I really enjoy. Unfortunately, this week I got involved in a few other tasks and one day led into another. Finally, it's Saturday and I finally complete the card.

Today's card uses a few different accessories for me.  The punch I used for the 3 hearts is unique as it cuts all 3 at once. Very convenient!  Also, since I didn't have embellishments or brads to coordinate with the Regal Rose color on the card, I drew 5 small dots with my Regal Rose marker and then added Crystal Effects for a 3-D look. I think it turned out nicely. I hope you do as well.

Until later, happy stamping

Fabulous 3x3 Card

Another simple card!  Who said that stamping had to be complicated?  I have been playing around with my designer series papers and mixing them with card stock that I have on hand.

What developed was a great small card to give with a gift. Even the envelope is exceptionally easy.  I'll be teaching how easy in this month's stamp class.

Stamp sets: Oval All and Think Happy Thoughts

Ink: Brocade Blue, Regal Rose & Always Artichoke

Paper: Walk in the Park DSP, Brocade Blue and Regal Rose C/S

Accessories: Scallop & Medium Oval Punches

A Treat for a Friend

I've got another really easy project for today. I saw this done by another stamper, Rene Oliver.  With this great idea you can package a small gift to include a candy bar or small bag of treats. 

Everyone knows how much I love my Big Shot die cutter and punches. They just make everything so much easier and quicker.  This project uses the scallop circle die (4 1/2" across)  and the scallop and medium sized oval punches.  The stamp is from Oval All and the ribbon is 1/4" Certainly Celery.  I used designer paper called Tea Party.

You will need to score the paper 1 5/8" from each side and fold upwards until they meet. You should then punch a small hole, thread some 1/4" ribbon and tie together.  The oval punches are attached with dimensionals to give a more 3-D effect.  I can see myself making lots of these, but I'll have to hurry and finish quickly or I'll eat the chocolates before they get wrapped. Now, go out and make lots of gifts.

Best Wishes

This weekend I wanted to present a simple yet effective way to present a card. All this card required was a little paper, a piece of ribbon and one small stamp. You really don't have to have lots of supplies laying around to send a nice card. In fact, most of the paper was found in my scraps box.

Stamp set: Cute and Curly

Paper: DSP-Bella Bleau, Cardstock-Whisper White, Close to Cocoa and Alway Artichoke

Accessories: 5/8" Chocolate Chip Ribbon

Tools: Curly Label Punch

Fine Art Examples

Recently, I saw a photograph of a wall hanging that had 9 individual art pictures. Each was a simple geometric type design that could be easily replicated. I decided today to try a few of them.  All they required were a paper cutter and punches...so simple.  And as easy as they were, I might try more. The results, I think, are unique. 

You will note that 2 of them do not have words on the front of the card. It distracted too much from the design so they words will just be inside. Please tell me what you think.