The Last Christmas Card

I managed to sneak in another Christmas Card on Christmas Eve. I made it for some friends we were going to a party with. It's a side step card using last year's set "Holiday Home".

Recipe
Stamps : Holiday Home
Ink : Versamark
Paper : Gold, Shimmery White, Glimmer Paper
Accessories : Pewter Embossing Powder, Aquapainter & Ink, Cherry Cobbler ribbon.

Peaceful Pines

The mini catalogue has some fantastic coordinating stamps and framelits. I love Peaceful Pines and Perfect Pines, I love how quick and simple it is to pull a card together with these coordinating bundles. The trees are lovely, it's starting to look a lot like Christmas ....

Recipe
Stamps: Peaceful Pines
Ink: Mint Macaron, Versamark
Cardstock: Shimmery White, Mint Macaron
Accessories: Gold Embossing Powder, Glitter Paper, Gently Falling Embossing Folder

Sleigh Ride Edgelits

I've been playing with the FABULOUS Sleigh Ride Edgelits. My "go to" aesthetic is Clean And Simple (CAS), so my first attempt was VERY CAS!

I really like it, but it just needs a little "something". I thought I'd add texture and really wish I'd stamped a greeting before I embossed, but it turned out OK.

Recipe
Ink: Night of Navy, Pool Party
Cardstock: Whisper White Thick, Shimmery White
Accessories: Sponges, Fine Tip Glue, Dazzling Diamonds, Sleigh Ride Edgelits

Stair Step Christmas

While surfing the internet searching for Christmas Card inspiration, I stumbled across a card based on this one. My original card works well, but once put up on display, it sort of slides down, or collapses. I was really excited to see this genius idea from The Craft Spa. I took the basic idea and figured out the dimensions in inches. Love how these turned out. Take a look at the side view (2nd picture down) and you'll see how the back of the card is scored to make a prop for the front.

Stampin' Up REALLY need to bring out a punch for the pine branches which adorn the windows. Unfortunately, this one is contraband.

Recipe
Stamps: Wonderland, Happy Scenes
Ink : Mossy Meadow, Night of Navy, Soft Sky
Accessories: Hearth and Home Framelit, sponges

Circle of Spring

I made a card for a friend's 50th Birthday last week. I used the new brick embossing folder (love it) and Circle of Spring which is a new set made to coordinate with the wreath framelit. I love the simplicity of this.

Gift Bag Punch Board Thank You!

I found the instructions for this cute little pop-up box card using the new Gift Bag Punch Board from Stampin' Up. It's quite dinky and very easy to put together. Thanks for great instructions Amanda.

The stamp set used is a new one called "Endless Thanks" from the 2015/16 Catalogue.

Peppa Pig!

There's a craze amongst our little people right now called "Peppa Pig". She's English, and extremely polite (naturally) and everyone loves her. I offered to make a card for a friend's little niece who is Peppa Pig MAD, I thought it would be an easy task. However, after seeing this image on the internet, I realised it wasn't the easiest of shapes to copy. I think I did OK. We'll have to see how our little discerning fan feels about it!

Not much stamping going on right now, I'm afraid. I gave up my craft room to someone who needs a place to stay .... maybe soon I'll be back. Here's hoping.

Concertina Cards

Have you seen these concertina cards? This link takes you to the Crafty Owl blog in England. I think they're brilliant and once you've got the knack, it's fairly simple.

Here's what I came up with:

Birthday sheltering Tree

I am absolutely in love with this stamp set. I'm going to have a lot of fun playing with this one ....

Recipe
Stamps : Sheltering Tree, sentiment from Flower Patch
Ink : Strawberry Slush, Smoky Slate, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi
Cardstock : Shimmery White, Strawberry Slush, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories : Wild Wasabi Button, Bakers Twine

Creative Blog Hop

Today I'm taking part in a creative blog hop. I was asked to share some projects I'm working on, and to answer 4 questions about my stamping life!

Here are some photos of a project which is almost ready to be sent to my sister for her birthday on the 12th. I ordered the Perpectual Calendar Kit from the Occasions Mini because I thought it was a great idea, and I'm enjoying more and more of the kits SU are selling these days. Of course, once I dug into the kit, I decided I would add on a lot more from my supplies, making it a bit more unique. This is a mix of the supplies included and my own variations on them. I still think it's pretty CAS, I'm not one for too many sequins and bling. I think there's just enough on this lot ...

So, onto the questions:

1. WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?
Right now, I'm working on a template for a card & envelope holder. It's something I offer for free on my blog, I enjoy sharing any ideas I come up with and I think other crafters appreciate not having to pay for them!

2. HOW DOES YOUR WORK DIFFER FROM OTHERS IN YOUR GENRE?
My 'genre' is definitely Clean And Simple (CAS). I sometimes try out the other styles, I am a huge fan of shabby chic and collage stamping, but I'm now awfully good at it. So CAS is my 'go to' genre. Honestly, I don't think I do differe from others in my genre, not drastically anyway.

3. WHY DO YOU CREATE WHAT YOU DO?
I usually create cards, or gifts for family and friends. Anything other than that is a bonus. If people love my stuff, then I hope they place an order with me. I'm not a pushy business stamper. I just do it because I love it. Simple as that.

4. HOW DOES YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS WORK?
One word .... CASE'ing. When you CASE, you Copy And Share Everything. I usually find something I love on Pinterest (what did we do before Pinterest????? LOL). Usually it's a combination of colours, or a sketch, or a particular style, or technique. I then reach for a set I want to use ... often quite random and start stamping. I never plan what a project is going to look like at the end of the process. Not ever. I just arrive there and it's often quite a surprise!!!

Next Monday, February 16th, you will be able to see into the world of a hugely talented stamper, and very, very, very good friend, DEBRA DAAM. I love her work (and I love her too)!

Birthday Wreath

Here's a card I made for my sister's birthday next week. I haven't taken very good photos of this one. It doesn't seem to translate from "in the flesh" to a flat photograph. Anyway, you do get the idea from the photos.

It's a CAS card made from a medallion stamp and 2 SU flower punches. Quick, simple, effective. I love it, hope she does too ;)

Recipe
Stamps : Daydream Medallions
Ink : Pear Pizzazz
Cardstock : Shimmery White, Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron, Soft Sky, Pink Pirouette
Accessories : Big Shot, Big Alphabet Typeset, Pearls, Spring Flowers Embossing Folder, Flower Punches