Christmas Card & Letter - My Digital Studio

Here is our Christmas card and letter for 2010 - aren't they lovely?! I designed & printed them both at home using Stampin' Up's My Digital Studio software!! Way better than than Walgreens or Shutterfly! ;) I had such fun doing these, and both only took a couple of hours to design. Yes - the process could have gone more quickly - for someone else! It's a good thing I like to take my time, because I would even I didn't like to. (hee hee). (Of course, typing the letter took the bigger portion of that time.)

I was able to use the free editing software called GIMP to put two Christmas cards on a page, so I got two cards per piece of 8 1/2 x 11" photo paper. My printer (HP Photosmart 7200 series) did a pretty good job keeping the colors true- Soft Suede and Cherry Cobbler.

If you haven't tried My Digital Studio (MDS) yet - or know you are ready to 'go digital' - contact me to get started or visit my website and check it out online! ENJOY!

Easel Gift Card Revisited

Here is the same Easel Card as this post but in a different set of colors - Always Artichoke, Riding Hood Red and Very Vanilla. I used these for Applebees gift cards for family Christmas gifts yesterday.

I hope you all are having very Merry and Blessed Christmas celebrations! Enjoy these Twelve Days of Christmas!

Easel Gift Card

This is project three of three from my December THO (totally hands on) workshop. Maybe you've been seeing 'easel' cards all over the web like I have? I've been wanting to make one - again, easier than you think just to look at them! But I wanted my easel card to also hold a gift card - so my workshop participants could use this project right away.

The only change I made to the standard easel card directions, is that I cut my base from 12" card stock - so 4 1/4" x 12" - then scored at 5 1/2" and 1". the 1' score becomes your gift card pocket when you fold it up and the edges/corners with Mini Glue Dots folded in half.

This design uses Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White along with several stamp sets: "Christ is Born", "Heard from the Heart" and "All Holidays" - as well as the Scallop Trim Border, Ornament and 2 Step Bird XL Punches; the Big Shot with the Movers and Shapers Holiday Windows. ENJOY!

Ornament and gift Box

I made these ornaments with gift boxes for our Marriage Encounter Presenting Team Community couples. I LOVE making these glittery ornaments as they are relatively easy to make and are a Wow! when finished. The box is also fairly simple to make.

For the ornament - you use StazOn ink to stamp your image on the clear window sheet or acetate. I have made these in the past using the now retired "Holy Triptych" stamp set and colored in the images using Sharpie markers. Then - coat the entire back of the window sheet circle with Crystal Effects and sprinkle copious amounts of Dazzling Diamonds Glitter on the entire surface. Tap off the excess, and allow to dry. When dry, punch a 1/16" hole in the top of the window sheet circle and thread through a piece of silver cord (or clear thread or whatever matches your ornament top). Remove the ornament hanger top, use a funnel to add fake snow, glitter, ribbon pieces, etc. to the bottom of the ornament. Roll up the circle, glitter on the inside so it doesn't get scratched when you insert it into the ornament, and insert into the ornament, making sure the cord/thread ends remain outside the ornament. the window sheet circle will automatically unfurl, and the cord/thread allows you to position the circle. Replace the ornament top, sticking the ends of the cord/thread through the top - and tie it off around the ornament hanger loop - this will help keep your stamped image in place. Add bow with Mini Glue Dot if desired.

The Box uses Garden Green, Riding Hood Red and Whisper White - as well as the the "Lovely Letters" stamp set and the Decorative Label and Ornament Punches. ENJOY!

Our Christmas Card

Merry Christmas! I see it's been quite awhile since my last post. I am guessng most of you have been as busy as me and my family have been since Thanksgiving! Our personal Christmas cards are now complete, as of this evening. Now it's on to baking, cleaning, baking and baking! Woohoo!

This year's design uses several different sets - both current and retired! The current set used is Holy Triptych (love this set!) & Heard from the Heart (on the envelope back)! Current Holiday Mini Accessories: Stampin' Up! Movers & Shapers Holiday Windows and the Ornament Punch. Current Accessories: Versamark Ink Pad, Large Oval Punch, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool and Embossing Buddy. Retired sets include: Star-Studded Season (for both sentiments), Forest Foliage ( the pine branch to create the Christmas tree background) & All God's Children (on the envelope front). I also used the retired Wrought Iron Corner Punch on the inside layer, then folded the corners under for the lovely accent you see above. A Zig Painty Pen created the ornament strings. Colors used were Bravo Burgundy, Mellow Moss (with Handsome Hunter stamped on it) and Whisper White.

I count you all among my blessings, and you are in my prayers. From my family to yours - May God Bless you abundantly this Christmas season and throughout the New Year! ENJOY!

Poinsettia Framed Snowmen Card

Here is the fourth and final design of the workshop projects. I was thrilled when SU! came out with dry embossing folders for the Big Shot! They are slightly bigger than other company's embossing folders, so they actually cover the entire front of a standard card front, rather than just creating an embossed layer. This folder is "Petals a Plenty". I learned how to create this dry embossed 'frame' from fellow SU! demonstrator Patty Bennett. For this design, I used a wooden picture mat with the oval pre-cut from it that I picked up at the craft store.

The focal image comes from the Level 3 Host set "The More the Merrier", stamped in Basic Gray and colored in using a Blender Pen and Stampin' Write Markers. The Two Way Glue Pen adheres the Dazzling Diamonds Glitter to create the 'snow' the snowmen are sitting on. I also used the Real Red Stampin' Write to color the middles of the poinsettias to add just a touch more of color. The Modern Label and Word Window Punches, along with the Red Gingham Ribbon complete this fun design. ENJOY!

Cinema Saturday #59 "Roman Holiday" - Christmas Roses

I didn't realize as I made this for my workshop- that it also fit the Cinema Saturday #58 challenge movie - "Roman Holiday" - make something will pearls! I think the rose image, 'royal' colors and classy hat pin fit the bill for a princess, don't you?

I adore the floral images in SU!'s set "Fifth Avenue Floral"! They are just so beautiful, whether you color them with shading techniques or just leave them as is like in this sample. This is the first of four designs that we are making at a totally hands on (THO) workshop today. (ALL my workshops are THO - so call me to book yours!) This is one of the Christmas designs, though I chose a sentiment from the "Heard from the Heart" set so I could use this is a card for my parents whose anniversary is a few days after Christmas. This is also the first time I have tried my hand at using the hat pin embellishments that are part of the "Pretties Kit" (Awesome kit! Dyeable white flowers in several sizes, full and half pearl sin white and ivory, hat pins and clear plastic crystal-cut beads...)

STAMPS: Fifth Avenue Floral, Heard from the Heart
CARD STOCK: Handsome Hunter, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla
INK: Bravo Burgundy Classic Ink, Very Vanilla CRAFT Ink
ACCESSORIES: Pretties Kit, 5/8" Bravo Burgundy Grosgrain Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots
ENJOY!

First Christmas Card Sample!

I realize that some demonstrators start in Summer coming up with Christmas designs - but I just can't seem to do it! lol Even October is early for me - because I've got Fall on the brain. However, the procrastinator in me appears to have gone on holiday for a couple of days, and I am planning out personal Christmas cards for my family and my folks. I DO have to get the supplies ordered now if I want them to be done before New Year's Day!

This design is for my parents. My mom loves poinsettias, and we both share a love for Nativity scenes as well. So when I saw the SU Holiday Mini with the NEW Textured Impressions Folder "Petals-a-Plenty", I knew I would be using it for my parents cards this year.

Then I saw a beautiful card by fellow demo Patty Bennett - but there was something different about it - there were no dry embossed flowers in the center of her card! I visited her site and learned how to do this - I had the inspiration for this card now!

There are actually two ways you can achieve this look - 1.) by directly cutting an oval (or whatever shape you desire) out of your Embossing Folder (and at $7.95 each, this is definitely a feasible idea!) OR 2.) you buy a wood mat for a frame with your desired shape from the craft store (I got this one for 99 cents!), and use it as a layer in your Big Shot sandwich when dry embossing the card stock. Way Cool! I used Bravo Burgundy for the poinsettia dry embossed layer.

I used a Nestabilities Classic Oval for the Very Vanilla mat - heat embossed the Holy Triptych image in Gold. Then finished off the card by touching up the center trios of the flowers with the Zig Gold Painty pen for a little extra glitz. (I got mine from SU, but we don't carry them anymore.)

Simple and beautiful - with two of my mom's favorite things! ENJOY!

SU! Gift Certificate Holder

This is a gift certificate holder I created to hold a SU! Gift Certificate. I used the soon-to-be-retiring sets Punch Pals and Deer Friend(Hostess set). Using my Atyou Spica Glitter Pens I added some sparkle to the card stock, but I don't think you'll be able to see it in the scan. I stamped the base layers tone-on-tone using Mellow Moss and Ruby Red. I highlighted the Mellow Moss gifts with a the Clear Spica Glitter pen, and the Ruby Red stars and snowflakes on the Scallop circle with the Red Spica Glitter Pen. I also added a Clear Spica Glitter outline and center dot to the punched Mellow Moss stars. The middle of the Scallop Circle snowflakes are dotted with the White Signo Gel Pen. Lastly - I outlined the garland on the focal image tree with the Red Spica Glitter Pen, and the star with the Yellow Spica glitter Pen. Whew! That was a lot of detail to explain! LOL Don't forget the glitter and glaze pens - they really give your projects that subtle 'POP" that sometimes makes all the difference. Merry Christmas!

Stamps: Punch Pals & Deer Friends
Cardstock: Mellow Moss, Ruby Red & Whisper White
Ink: Mellow Moss & Ruby Red
Accessories: Scallop Circle, 1 1/4" Circle and Small Star Punches, Atyou Spica Glitter Pens, Stampin' Dimensionals
ENJOY!

Holy Triptych Holy Family Card

This is our second personal Christmas card for this year. (The first one was HERE) I got the idea for doing an all white card, with a touch of metallic, from GinaK Designs blog awhile back. It is simple and beautiful to look at - but there were still several steps to it's creation. I layered Whisper White on Whisper White, only the top layer was run through the Cuttlebug A2 Embossing Folder called D'vine Swirls. Then I used the Nestabilities Classic Oval Set for both the scalloped and plain ovals. The Holy Family is heat embossed in silver, and there's a clear gemstone brad in the middle of the star. (These ar e in the SU! Pretties Kit, as well as being available from other sources.)
Stamps: Holy Triptych
Cardstock: Whisper White, Brushed Silver
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Silver Cord (retired SU), Stampin' Dimensionals, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug
ENJOY!

Wine Gift

Need a QUICK gift? I try to keep gift bags of different sizes on hand for just such an occasion - a quick gift. This was a prize for the TrulyWed Game we played at our WWME Community Christmas party this past weekend. It literally took a few minutes to get together. The wine bottle decor was an image from the retired SU! set So Many Scallops stamped in Encore Silver Metallic ink. I then stamped the same image in Riding Hood Red and used the 3/4" Circle Punch so I could get the just the middle snowflake image, and attached it on a half a Stampin' Dimensional. (Tip: I always cut these in half so they last twice as long. Most projects don't require a full one anyway.) The poinsettia image is from the beautiful set Christ is Born.

Stamps: Christ is Born, So Many Scallops (retired)
Card Stock: Whisper White
Ink: Riding Hood Red & Encore Silver Metallic
Accessories: Scallop and 3/4" Circle Punches, Riding Hood Red 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals
ENJOY!

Star Studded Triptych Kings - Part 2

I love the images in the SU! Holy Triptych set (remember last year's Holy Triptych triptych card?) And why do I call it Part 2? Well, because this is the card I made for my folks last year(click here to see it), and liked it so much that I made a few slight changes for us this year!

I water-colored the kings, using the Aquapainter and the Watercolor Wonder Crayons. I colored directly onto the Naturals White card stock, then swabbed over the color to "melt" it and spread it around. I found that doing it this way provided a deeper, richer color, while maintaining the watercolor style I wanted. (I used straight marker coloring on my folks cards last year.


Here is a view from a looking down angle. I wanted to show you the z-fold of the card. The card is still 5 1/2" across, then you score the top fold at 2 3/4" and fold it back.

I like the ease of layering colors with this fold. Normally, a z-fold card doesn't have something to 'tuck the fold under', but I added the tuck under star seeing as it is the Three Wisemen. :)

One of my other favorite parts of this design is the starry night sky, created by clear embossing the stars on the dark card stock color.

Here is a close-up view of the water coloring, as well as the gifts the wisemen are carrying. I used the Atyou Spica Glitter Pens in Sky Blue, Gold & Olive. I am hoping this macro view (my first attempt on my camera for trying this!) shows you the pretty glittery effect of the Spica Glitter Pens - they are simply gorgeous!! And went perfectly with my Brushed Gold Large Star punch, and the gold embossed sentiment.

BTW - Spica Glitter Pens are ON SALE over at CreativePlayStamps - tell them StampinJewels sent you!

Stamps: Holy Triptych(current), Background Basics & Star Studded Season (both retired)
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Brocade Blue, Sage Shadow, Brushed Gold & Naturals White
Ink: Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Large Star Punch, Gold & Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Dimensionals(two full ones under each star), Aquapainter, Watercolor Wonder Crayons (in night of navy, brocade blue, more mustard, so saffron, handsome hunter & sage shadow)
ENJOY!

Christ Is Born Card

For the past couple of years, my parents have received an "early" Christmas present - their Christmas cards made by me. Mom & I both use religious designs over all. Click HERE to see last year's design for them.

This design was inspired by the Fall/Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog page 43 - the sample shown for the Christ is Born set. I wanted a larger size, so I expanded the proportions from fitting into an SU! small open-ended envelope to fitting into a #10 business letter sized envelope.

My mom wasn't too keen on the Kraft cardstock look of the example in the book. It asn't festive enough for her tastes. So I replaced the Kraft with Certainly Celery. Then I replaced the Handsome Hunter underlayer of Whisper White with Real Red. I added some poinsettias stamped in Versamark to the Certainly Celery on the left side for a subtle space filler. The main poinsettia image is stamped in Real Red Craft Ink, then quickly covered with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder. Mom LOVES sparkle! This was her idea to add to the design.

I also replaced the sentiment on the outside of the card, on the 5/8" Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon. It made more sense to me to use the Scripture verse that is part of the stamp on the front of the card. The poinsettia and the Scripture verse are both raised up on dimensionals. Lastly - to save on ribbon AND increase the ease of assembly, I adhered a length of ribbon first, then adhered a separate 'knot bow' with a mini glue dot. There is paper piercing along the top edge of the Handsome Hunter layer. The leaves are the poinsettia image stamped in Handsome Hunter on the same, then individually cut out.

Stamps: Christ is Born
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Real Red, Handsome Hunter & Whisper White
Ink: Versamark, Handsome Hunter Classic & Real Red Craft
Accessories: Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, White Embossiong Powder, Heat Tool, Crafters Tool Kit, Dimensionals & Mini Glue Dots.
ENJOY!

Home for Christmas - Part 2

Here's another design using the wonderful Home for Christmas stamp set (in the 2008 Holiday Mini). I was going to leave the base layer as the Creamy Caramel and it would look great that way too. I was looking for a bit more POP, and the adding the Riding Hood Red as the bottom layer achieved my goal. A Blender Pen and ink pads were used to color in the image.

TIP: When you feel like the card designs you are working on needs just that little extra something - try adding a bottom layer of color. In this example, I chose the Riding Hood Red because it tied in the hints of red amongst the browns and green.

Notice the top, right corner? Those are "faux brads" - created using the 1/8" Circle Hand Punch, Two Way Glue and Crystal Effects. I punched out 3 tiny circles, glues them into the corner, then applied Crystal Effects for the 'gloss' most brads have. A perfect red accent for color balance.

Stamps: Home for Christmas
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Handsome Hunter, Creamy Caramel, Confetti Cream
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Handsome Hunter, Riding Hood Red & Summer Sun
Accessories: Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Blender Pen, Stampin' Sponge
ENJOY!

Home for Christmas

I've got a couple more designs for you all using the Home for Christmas stamp set in the current SU! Holiday Mini catalog. I used it for the Chat & Challenge #142 post using SU! Double Sided Paper (DSP). This design uses a different DSP, but only a small portion shows, just enough to add a dash of fun to the design, but not overbear the Riding Hood Red & Chocolate Chip color scheme. The watercoloring was done using the Blender Pen and Classic Ink Pads.

To plan and order your Christmas Card design supplies, contact me, o rplace your order online HERE.

Stamps: Home for Christmas
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Confetti Cream & Washington Apple DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red & So Saffron
Accessories: Blender Pen, 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon & Dimensionals
ENJOY!

Chat & Challenge 142

It's been quite awhile since I hosted a Chat & Challenge over at Sudsol with my fellow demonstrators. Too long, in fact! The sketch came from Taylor VanBruggen over at Taylored Expressions. Every Friday she does a Cupcake Challenge and posts a sketch to play with over the weekend. I enjoy browsing Taylor's blog - she is a talented stamper for sure. She is also one of the original Scripture Chicks - which reminds, me, I've got TWO bookmarks to make - October and now November!

We had fun with her sketch last night at Chat & Challenge.

So here's my design - actually done this evening. I was chatting too much - go figure! ;)

Stamps: Home for Christmas (Holiday Mini)
Cardstock: Handsome Hunter, Certainly Celery, Naturals White & Banbury DSP
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery, Handsome Hunter & Black StazOn
Accessories: Blender Pen, Corner Rounder and Wide Oval Punches, Pink Pirouette 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Brads, Crafters Tool Kit, Dimensionals & Stampin' Sponge.
ENJOY!

Cards for Our Troops - Christmas Edition - Part 5

Here it is - a FIFTH design for the StampinJewels Cards for Our Troops Events this month! Woohoo!! I am so thrilled to be doing this, and to know that when all the cards are completed - StampinJewels family & friends will have sent 150 Christmas Cards to some of our troops in Iraq! And it wouldn't have happened on this scale without the help of the stampers who gave the gift of their time and talent, and put their love into the stamping and assembling of these cards.

THANK YOU!!

The final event for this month is tonight, Oct. 17th at Malta Library. Find more info on the StampinJewels Calendar.
Check back to the Calendar often, to find out about future Cards for Our Troops events...St. Valentine's Day cards are next on my wish list to make and send! :)

Stamps: A Christmas Cardinal (Holiday Mini 2008)
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke, Naturals White & Brushed Gold
Ink: StazOn Black, Always Artichoke, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, Aquapainter(watercoloring with ink pads), Crafters Tool Kit (paper piercing in the front fold, right side corners), Dimensionals ENJOY!

[LOL Note: I just noticed I forgot to color in the beak and claws! I couldn't decide which color to use, then forgot about after I went to bed, heehee Better decide on that before tonight!]

Cards for Our Troops - Christmas Edition - Part 4

Here is the fourth design for the Cards for Our Troops events this month. This design is meant to be simple and understated because the gold heat embossed Holy Family image (from the Holy Triptych stamp set) is more than capable of speaking for itself. The sentiment comes from a NEW stamp set in the Fall/Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog called "Heard from the Heart".

For more info on upcoming events you can do one of two things: Bookmark my event Calendar HERE; AND/OR email me at footbag10@att.net with "Subscribe" in the Subject line and you will be added to the StampinJewels Newsletter & Updates email list. I do sometimes announce events here on the blog - however the Calendar and Newsletter & updates is your most reliable source of information on StampinJewels events.

Don't forget to subscribe to this Blog as an inspiration resource! :)

Stamps: Holy Triptych & Heard from the Heart
Cardstock: Handsome Hunter and Very Vanilla
Ink: Handsome Hunter & Veramark
Accessories: Gold Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool
ENJOY!

Cards for Our Troops - Christmas Edition - Part 3

This is a third design for the Cards for Our Troops events this month. At the first event, Theresa and Susan got a lot done on this design, so the final event this month will find this design being assembled. THANKS AGAIN Theresa and Susan for all your wonderful help! :)

I have pined over the loss of Confetti Tan card stock for a couple of years now (actually, I don't even remember when SU! retired that neutral! lol), and resisted liking the Kraft card stock. I've used it several times over the last few months, and now I like it A LOT! lol I blame this on demo friend Tina M. who uses Kraft all the time. It took a couple years of her influence (- but I still won't become a "fly baby"! lol) The reindeer image is stamped in Chocolate Chip, then colored in with Close to Cocoa Stampin' Pastels - direct to paper for a soft look. The sentiment is sponged around the edges with Real Red to soften the starkness of the white around the words.

This is a classic layout that is quick and easy to put together when you need a card fast. Whether you use tag, circle, oval or square punches doesn't matter, and it doesn't have to be layered either. Three images across the top and a sentiment underneath - maybe add a background if you like.

Stamps: Merry & Bright, Sincere Salutations
Cardstock: Kraft, Real Red & Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip & Real Red
Accessories: Real Red Gingham Ribbon, Stampin' Pastels, Tag & Small Tag Punch, Tag Corner Punch, 1/8" Hand Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch & Stampin' Sponge
ENJOY!

Cards for Our Troops - Christmas Edition - Part 2

Here is a second design for the Cards for Our Troops events this month. This design was completed last Friday - a quantity of 25.
The second event is coming on 10/17 - see my SU! site Calendar for more info, or contact me.
I found several packs of retired colors in my closet [what's in your closet? ;) ], one of them was Bliss Blue. Anyone remember that color? I still like it! It would be nice to keep every color, wouldn't it?
Stamps: Deer Friends (Level 2, Host Set), Bold Snowflakes Jumbo Wheel, Headline Alphabet(retired)
Cardstock: Bliss Blue (retired), Night of Navy & Whisper White
Ink: Whisper White Craft Ink, Bliss Blue (retired)
Accessories: Scallop, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" Circle Punches & Ticket Corner Punch
ENJOY!