Winter Joy--#tgifc296

This week's TGIF Challenges theme challenge is "Let It Snow".  Well, believe it or not, I only have two small snowflake images in my entire current Stampin' Up! stamp set collection.  One from Snowman Season (#150458) and one from Curvy Christmas (#155364, which is available only until January 4).  I decided to go with the small single snowflake image from Curvy Christmas and to celebrate the joy of a rare snowfall in the South for my card today:

The snowflake was stamped randomly over the Whisper White card front with VersaMark (#102283), then heat embossed in White Stampin' Emboss Powder (#109132) using the Heat Tool (#129053).  Next,  I used Stampin' Up!'s new Blending Brushes (#153611, available beginning January 5) to sponge on Seaside Spray, Misty Moonlight and Night of Navy inks.  I started blending each color from the bottom of the card stock, beginning with the lightest color.  Then I turned the card around so the lightest color was on the bottom of the card front.  After finishing the sponging, I rubbed off any color remaining on the snowflakes using a lint free rag.  This piece was layered on a piece of Balmy Blue glimmer paper (#153513) and then a Seaside Spray card stock base.

The greeting is from the Wrapped in Christmas stamp set (#153481).  I used my Stamparatus (#146276) and washi tape to omit the middle portion of the greeting and thus remove the reference to the holiday season (I want to use this card for a January birthday).  The greeting was stamped in Misty Moonlight on to Whisper White card stock and die cut using a die from Tasteful Labels dies (#152886).

A piece of Misty Moonlight/silver baker's twine (Flowers for Every Season ribbon combo pack, #153620) tied around the layers three times then tied in a bow completes the card.

Head over to the TGIF Challenges Blog here to see more odes to snow in paper crafting form:

We thought we might get snow here on Christmas day, but we only got below freezing temperatures.  Right now it is a balmy 65 degrees and I am headed out to do errands in my shirt sleeves.  Doesn't feel like January at all.

Wishing you a very happy New Year!

--Sara Nell

Christmas Tree Hills--#tgifc295

This week's inspiration challenge from TGIF Challenges came at exactly the right time--when I needed a few last minute gifts here on Christmas Eve Eve. I created some hills filled with Christmas trees using the Curvy Christmas stamp set (#155364, available only until January 4) and the coordinating Curvy Dies (#154319, available now as an early release from the January to June 2021 Mini Catalog).  

I started with the card, copied that design on a Mini Pizza Box (144645), and then used the same elements to create three gift tags.  Each one was created using Shaded Spruce ink, Shaded Spruce and/or Sahara Sand patterns from the Classic Christmas designer series paper pack (#155969, available only until January 4), Whisper White or Sahara Sand card stock, and Linen Thread (#104199) or Braided Linen Trim (#147808).  The tag tops were punched using the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch (#133324).

These were so much fun and easy to do.  I think I'll use the stars in this stamp set to create some thank you notes to send out later. Fun!

Head over to TGIF Challenges here to see more fun interpretations of this inspiration picture:

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a New Year full of hope, peace and joy!

--Sara Nell

 

Good Things--#tgifc294

 Okay, I admit it.  I am obsessed with the Feels Like Frost designer series paper (#150444) that is retiring soon.  I should say, I am re-obsessed.  Last year I went on a December spree making tags and bookmarks with this glorious photorealistic paper.  This year I am obsessed with the foliage designs and coordinating the icy foliage in the papers with die cut foliage. Of course, the die cut foliage has to appear icy, too. So I am covering my die cuts with Shimmery Crystal Effects (#150892) to make them sparkle.  I made the decision to not add the shimmery stuff to the last card I posted here for a TGIF Challenge--that won't happen again!  It's just not the same without the shimmer.  Fortunately, this little bottle of shimmer goes a long way--I think I'll have enough to finish off another bunch of shimmery projects (including new bookmarks for me) before Christmas.

The TGIF Challenge this week is composed of three horizontal layers.  I used the designer series paper for my bottom layer (covering the entire card base), the die cut foliage for my middle layer and a greeting piece using the Tasteful Touches stamp set (#152562) as my top layer:

This paper pattern is my favorite of the purples and greens paper in my paper pack.  The die cut layer starts with leaves die cut out of Soft Sea Foam using the large leaf die  from the Forever Flourishing dies (#152714).  Layered over the leaves is the ball shaped foliage in Purple Posy and Highland Heather that looks like the foliage in the paper.  These pieces were die cut with a die from the Poinsettia dies (#153522), then coated with the Shimmery Crystal Effects.  

Tip:  Use a Silicone Craft Sheet (#127853) when you are coating your die cut pieces with the crystal effects.  Once the pieces are covered, carefully move them to another place on the craft sheet to dry overnight.  This will eliminate a lot of excess glue on your pieces and make them easier to remove from the sheet.  The delicate stems will tear easily if you do not take the time to move the pieces before you leave them to dry. I have three or four of these silicone sheets (a must have for me) and use one for coating and one for drying.

The Stamparatus (#146276) was used to stamp the greeting twice in Gorgeous Grape ink onto Soft Sea Foam card stock.  The greeting was heat embossed with Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder (#109130) and a Heat Tool (#129053).  The greeting piece is one inch wide and was punched on each end using the Banners Pick a Punch (#153608).

A spattering of Clear Epoxy Droplets (#147801) complete the card.

This sketch is wide open for interpretation, so head over to the TGIF Challenges blog here to see how everyone created their layers.

Have a wonderful weekend!

--Sara Nell

Peace on Earth--#tgifc293

For this week's TGIF Challenges color challenge, I decided to use the colors, Balmy Blue, Highland Heather and Smoky Smoky Slate in a non-traditional way--as a Christmas card.  I admit, though, it was an easy choice.  These colors are all in the Feels Like Frost designer series paper (#150444).  The icy photo images just lend themselves to soft, pretty, peaceful cards for the holiday season:

The designer series paper is adhered to a piece of Balmy Blue card stock and layered over a Smoky Slate card base.  The greeting is from the Wrapped in Christmas stamp set (#153481).  It was stamped on a Balmy Blue frame die cut using the Beautiful Boughs dies (#150661).  The greeting was stamped two or three times in Smoky Slate using the Stamparatus (#146276).

The Highland Heather flora was die cut using the new Dandy Wishes dies (#154315, available beginning January 5 in the January to June 2021 Mini Catalog).  Some Rhinestone Basic Jewels (#144220) colored with the Highland Heather Dark Stampin' Blends (#154887) complete the card.

Be sure and head on over to the TGIF Challenges Blog to see some great projects using this color combo:

Wishing you a peaceful holiday season

--Sara Nell

 

 

Creation Station December Blog Hop: Ice, Ice, Baby!

 

Welcome to the December Creation Station Hop!  Whether you've arrived from Julie's blog or have started the hop here, I am glad you've stopped by.  Our theme this month is "Ice, Ice, Baby!"  You'll see plenty of sparkle and shine today as you hop from one blog to the next.

I've chosen to use the Feels Like Frost specialty designer series paper (#150444) in my projects today.  I love the ice covered foliage in this photorealistic paper--and it fits right with the theme!  I've paired three of the blue shaded paper patterns with Night of Navy and Misty Moonlight card stock and Balmy Blue Glimmer paper (#153513).

My card features the beautiful sentiment from Peaceful Boughs stamp set (#150541).  It was stamped in Night of Navy ink onto Shimmery White card stock, embossed with Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, and die cut with a frame from the Beautiful Boughs dies (#150661).  The floral die cut pieces mimic the icy foliage in the paper pattern.  They were die cut using the Dandy Wishes dies (#154315, available January 5).  The Night of Navy die cuts were coated with Shimmery Crystal Effects (#150892) and allowed to dry overnight.  A card base of Night of Navy, a layer of Balmy Blue Glimmer paper and a spattering of Clear Epoxy Droplets (#147801) and Night of Navy Holiday Rhinestones (#150457) complete the card.

The gift tag features similar icy foliage in a lighter patterned paper design and die cut foliage in Misty Moonlight (also coated with Shimmery Crystal Effects) and Balmy Blue glimmer paper.  The sentiment is from the Wrapped in Christmas stamp set (#153481).  It was stamped in Misty Moonlight, embossed with clear embossing powder and die cut with another frame from the Beautiful Boughs dies.  The tag is actually two tags--one of Balmy Blue glimmer paper and the other the decorated designer series paper which was adhered to a Misty Moonlight card stock layer. These were tied together with Metallic Mesh Ribbon (#153550) and the Misty Moonlight/silver baker's twine from the Flowers for Every Season ribbon combo pack (#153620). More droplets and rhinestones complete this fancy, sparkly tag.

The rectangle tin (#153519) was decorated with a different icy foliage pattern.  I rounded the corners of it and the Balmy Blue Glimmer paper layer with the Detailed Trio Punch (#146320).  The die cut foliage is from the Forever Flourishing dies (#152714).  The Misty Moonlight die cuts were again coated with the Shimmery Crystal Effects.  The sentiment is from the Curvy Christmas stamp set (#155364).  It was stamped in Misty Moonlight on Shimmery White card stock, embossed with clear embossing powder and die cut using a Stitched Nested Label die (#149638)   A bow of Metallic Mesh ribbon wrapped around the tin,  more droplets, and some Misty Moonlight In Color Enamel dots (#152480) complete the tin's decorations. 

Now hop on over to Martin's blog to see his icy projects--you are going to love his style!

To Martin Stone's Blog . . .

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!

--Sara Nell 

Snowman Wonder--#tgifc292

Magical Christmas is the theme challenge this week at TGIF Challenges.  To me, there is nothing more magical than the beauty and wonder created by a Winter snow--which I don't get to experience very often any more.  I pulled out my Snowman Season stamp set (#150458) and the perfect sentiment from the Wrapped in Christmas stamp set (#153481) to create my entry in the challenge:

The snowman was stamped in Balmy Blue on Whisper White, die cut with the largest circle in the Stitched Shapes dies (#152323) then layered over a scalloped circle die cut from Balmy Blue glimmer paper (#153513) using a Layering Circles die (#151770).   The sentiment was stamped in Misty Moonlight onto Balmy Blue card stock and die cut using a Tasteful Labels die (#152886).

The Misty Moonlight layer was embossed with the Woodland embossing folder (#152881).  A piece of Misty Moonlight/silver baker's twine from the Flowers for Every Season ribbon combo pack (#153620) was wrapped around this layer and tied in a bow.  A Balmy Blue card base completes the card.

See more magical projects over at the TGIF Challenges blog here.

Hope you have a magical Christmas season!

--Sara Nell