Peaceful Merry

I wanted to share one last Christmas card with you (well, I think it will be the last!). This one was the make & take at a recent workshop, utilising markers (remember, the special ends today!) including the Purely Pomegranate one which I had made myself (using a Rose Red marker). As simple as this card is (and it is a slightly stepped up version of this card) I really like it and if I had thought of doing it in this colour combo earlier I probably would have made this one of my mass-produced cards this year! As well as the change of colours other changes made are to punch out the sentiment and mount it on dimensionals (adding a layer behind for extra interest), and instead of punching holes to tie the ribbon through, this wider ribbon is simply tied trimmed and stuck on with a mini glue dot.

All supplies by Stampin' Up! Cardstock: River Rock, Always Artichoke, Whisper White Stamp Sets: Peaceful Wishes, Many Merry Messages Accessories: Purely Pomegranate double-stitched ribbon, mini glue dot, small oval punch, large oval punch, Always Artichoke marker, Purely Pomegranate marker (washed out marker + refill), dimensionals

Shabby Chic Greetings

I know I have gone quite again the last few days but I have good reason - I've come down with chicken pox! Both Tiarna and I have them now, both mild cases although Tiarna is worse than me, poor thing. Anyway, I've naturally been taking it easy and if creating I've been pottering around finishing things off.

Ever since I did my "Rustic Wishes" card for Regionals swaps I had been wanting to make some for myself. I did that, but on Friday while I was having a stamping session at a friends place I decided to make a pink version, which looks more shabby chic than rustic but I still like the over-all look. Since I had forgotten to take my Cutter Kit with me (I know... how did I manage to step out the door without it???), these are one of those things I have been finishing off over the last few days. I made these in a batch of 12... 3 sheets of Kraft, 6 sheets of Purely Pomegranate, and half sheets (or close to it) of Pretty in Pink and Whisper White. They are quite simple cards, but that works really well for production line construction. I like both these designs so much I am contemplating a blue batch . Ironically, the Rustic Wishes card is feature on the Stampers Showcase on the Stampin' Up! demonstrator website today! (for non-demos, the Stampers Showcase is one of those fabulous benefits of being a demonstrator, where cards made by other demos are displayed to help inspire us or provide a ready-designed card for workshops and other events).

All supplies by Stampin' Up!
Cardstock:Purely Pomegranate, Kraft, Pretty In Pink, Whisper White
Stamp Sets: Peaceful Wishes, Many Merry Messages
Inks: Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate
Accessories: Cutter Kit (don't leave home without it!), light pink gingham ribbon, Aged Copper Hodgepodge

Mistletoe Tradition

The third challenge from the Inklings October Cyberstamp was simply to use traditional colours. Hmm... there I go, using traditional colours for a change and it was only the last project that I actually needed to do it on! I stuck with the Holiday Harmony paper, and then decided to take Kylie's "tradition" requirement one step further and use an image of a Christmas tradition. The over-all card design is based on another of Julee's Mojo Monday sketches.

All supplies by Stampin' Up!
Cardstock: Purely Pomegranate, Very Vanilla
Stamp Sets: Peaceful Wishes, Many Merry Messages
Inks: none
Accessories: Purely Pomegranate "marker" (blender pen + refill), Always Artichoke marker, Crafters Tool Kit, Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon, Antique Brass hodgepodge, dimensionals

Rustic Wishes

On Saturday I attended the second Stampin' Up! Regional Seminar in Sydney. The weather was absolutely terrible but the day was equally fantastic, catching up with so many people again (even if I did miss a few), watching the fantastic presentations, creating the fabulous make&takes with brand new product. Another one of my favourite things about SU! events is the swapping - I love receiving creations made by others face to face and being able to ask them about the card (though quite often it's not till later I get to have a good look at things). This is the card I made for swaps. I wanted to make more and different ideas that I got, but I just knew I didn't have time to do the ideas justice so they are percolating in the back of my head biding their time. I have to say that this card was kinda influenced by Heather of Pine is Here, I love her use of Kraft and white ink/paint. To be completely truthful this isn't one of my swap cards. The weather was so bad before I left I didn't get a good photo of it, so when I got home (well, Monday really) I decided I liked the simple design so much I'd make more for some of my own Christmas cards. Most of the cards were slightly altered but this one I kept true to the swaps except leaving out the piercing.

All supplies by Stampin' Up
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Kraft, Mellow Moss, Whisper White
Stamp set: Peaceful Wishes
Ink: Whisper White, Always Artichoke
Accessories: Moss gingham ribbon, Aged Copper Hodgepodge
Show watched while creating: Stargate Atlantis (swaps), Bones (full cards)

Merry Mistletoe

We are down to 20 weeks till Christmas, and if you think about how fast this year has already flown by, then that isn't very long at all! This card is what I designed for the "card in a box" swap on the Inklings team weekend. I provided a sample, instructions and all the bits and pieces to make this card in a box, and everyone else took turns making it. It uses one of my favourite Christmas sets - Peaceful Wishes - with colours I rarely use, Real Red and Glorious Green. I tend to go for a twist on tradition when it comes to Christmas, but I think the traditional colours really suit this card. Being a very simple and quick card, it could easily be used for bulk Christmas card construction.

All supplies by Stampin' Up!
Cardstock: Confetti White, Glorious Green
Stamp Sets: Peaceful Wishes, Warm Words
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Real Red marker, Glorious Green marker, double circle punch, red gingham ribbon

Peaceful Merry

How about something peaceful to sooth the eyes after that last card? This one is back to a more traditional colour scheme, Cranberry Crisp, Handsome Hunter and Sage Shadow (with some Natural Ivory as well). The sprig of mistletoe was stamped by inking the leaves and stem with the Handsome Hunter marker and stamping, then marking the berries with a VersaMarker and embossing them in white. The pine sprig was stamped on the Sage Shadow using VersaMark ink. The sentiment is from Warm Words, framed with some Aged Copper Hodgepodge.