christmas swap cards

christmas swap cards

Well August swap cards have arrived and they are full of ideas and Fall and Christmas colors and delight! I cannot wait to share all the creativity from my creative upline, sidelines and downline demonstrators!

This first card comes from Marcy W and features the Warms My Heart stamp set on Real Red, Granny Apple Green and Basic White cardstock, Take a Bow 6″ x 6″ DSP strips and the Pinewood planks embossing folder. It is hard to see the little embellishments but they are called Clear Ribboned Adhesive-backed Dots and when you look through the clear resin there are black criss cross patterns below – they are VERY COOL!

The next swap card comes from Robin C and uses the Regal Winter Suite collection of products. The suite contains the Regal Flora stamp set. and coordinating dies set, Regal Foiled Adhesive-Backed Dots in four coordinating colors, a specialty DSP called Regal Distressed Patterns in Gold foil, and a DSP set of gorgeous floral paper called Regal Winter 12″ x 12″ DSP plus a Blackberry Bliss and Gold Textured Ribbon and Robin uses many of these products on her lovely card!
Lyn L’s swap card features the Reindeer Days 12″ x 12″ DSP and the Real Red and White Adhesive-Backed Peppermints as a festive accent!
Marie W’s swap card uses Sheperd’s care stamp set on a Twisted Easel fun fold card. She used Stampin’ Blends in Pool Party, Wild Wheat, Petal Pink and Daffodil Delight to color the image!
This swap card from Kathi D features many of the products in the Wildly Flowering Suite Collection from the annual catalog. The paper in it’s muted toned is soft and luxorious and the dies set features interlocking framed sentiment pieces and lovely flowering stamped images.
Susan W’s swap card uses the Caring Leaves and Stylish Shapes die set in hues of Cajun Craze, Old Olive and Wild Wheat.
She heat embossed the leaf veins and two step stamped the inside of the leaves with the Old Olive and Cajun Craze to make a lovely Fall card!
Denise W’s swap card uses a standard card scored at 1″ and bent back on itself to create a playful alternative to a standard card. She used the Winterly Tree Tops stamp set and the Nests of Winter Suite of Products including the Nests of Winter DSP for a beautiful thank you card!
Veronica’s Christmas card for our swap comes from the Reindeer Days Suite collection and uses the new Forever Plaid 3D embossing folder on Real Red cardstock!
Judy P’s swap card used the Autumn Leaves for the sentiment for her lovely Fall card. The images are from the Online Exclusive image only set called Scenic Pumpkin Patch.
Lori V’s center step fun fold swap card sparkles with the new Festive Glimmer paper on the inside step of the card and the Peaceful Evergreens stamp set on the center step! The sentiment die is from the Peaceful Seasons die set which are all part of the Seasons of Elegance suite collection!
This swap card from my downline Robyn M uses a direct to paper technique by swiping Balmy Blue ink pad directly across a 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White card stock layer. She stamped the home and tree images from the new Yuletide Village stamp set from the 2024 September to December mini!
This swap card from Carol S features the Decorative Trees and Falling Snow stamp sets, Wineer Meadow DSP, Decorative Trees and Christmas Labels dies and the So Swirly Embossing Folder. She embossed the star in Soilver embossing powder and used the Iridescent Striped Trim and Rhinestone Basics Jewels to finish off this great Christmas card in Night of Navy and Real Red accents!
Product List
Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00
more color mondays – smoky slate, real red, and basic black

more color mondays – smoky slate, real red, and basic black

I think red and black is a striking combination and today’s card uses Smoky Slate, Real Red and Basic Black to create a fun Sweetest Star Christmas card for this installation of More Color Mondays color challenge!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 5 1/2: x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
scrap for sentiments and star punch
Real Red CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″

Stamp the santa star from the Sweetest Star stamp set and color the santa suit with Light Real Red Stampin’ Blends marker.
I colored in Dark Real Red Stampin’ Blends marker around/under the beard for shadow and under the belt and around the arm lines and above the belt.
I colored over the image again with the Light Real Red Stampin’ Blends marker to blend the shadowing.
I colored the belt buckle in Smoky Slate and just to the right of the belt flap for shadow differentiation.
I colored the boots in light Basic Black Stampin’ Blends marker and the rest of the belt.
I colored the skin, and hands in the Ivory Stampin’ Blends marker.
And colored in the hats in Light Real Red marker because I forgot those LOL!
I embossed the Real Red Layer with the Forever Plaid 3D embossing folder (a new favorite of mine!) and adhered that to the Basic White card front.
I punched out the santa star from the Sweetest Star punch and popped it up on Stampin’ Dimensionals in the upper center of the card front.
I stamped the holly jolly christmas sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento ink and cut off the word Christmas from the sentiment on a 1/4″ Basic White strip and adhered it below the star punch.
I stamped the Christmas words from the Peaceful Seasons Stamp set in Real Red ink and die cut with the coordinating dies and adhered to the bottom of the card front.
I adhered the Silver Drusy embellishments around the Christmas sentiment – such a cute Santa and a great Christmas card in striking Real Red and basic Black with a touch of Smoky Slate!

It’s time to start planning for your Christmas cards – if you need any help please feel free to get in touch with me and I can help you design a card or order supplies. Now go out and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – pretty peacock, old olive and basic beige

more color mondays – pretty peacock, old olive and basic beige

Today’s More Color Monday is a sneak peak of one of the prettiest suites in the upcoming September – December 2024 Mini Catalog debuting on September 4th in two days time in my opinion. This suite called the Season Of Elegance features stunning gold foiled Specialty Designer Series Paper which is only one star of the show in hues of Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow, Pretty Peacock, Basic Beige and Gold foil as well as two stamp and die bundles.
Today’s card is made with the Peaceful Evergreens Bundle and the gorgeous new Painted Trees 3D embossing folder.

Today’s color challenge features Pretty Peacock, Old Olive and Basic Beige for our More Color Monday card.

Measurements:
BASE: Pretty Peacock 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
scrap for tree dies and suede strip
Basic Beige layer (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″
Old Olive scraps for tree dies

Place one of the Basic Beige layers in the new Painted Trees 3D embossing folder and run through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine.
Cut the large and small tree dies out of Old Olive and Pretty Peacock scraps.
Using the White Pearlized Enamel Effects apply the liquid onto the branch edges and allow to dry on the Old Olive trees.
I used to 1/4″ strip of Pretty Peacock like I detailed in a previous post on how to make Faux Suede paper and ran the paper between my thumb and a bone folder from one end of the strip to the other and turned it over and rubbed the other side doing this again and again until the paper begins to separate. The inside of the split paper is soft and resembles suede.
I adhered one side of this strip soft side up to the second plain Basic Beige layer and adhered a smaller Old Olive tree die on top of this strip.
Adhere the entire Basic Beige layer to the inside of the card.
I stamped the outside Wishing you and yours sentiment to the top left corner of the Basic Beige embossed layer.
Adhere to the card front and glue on the Pearlized Old Olive tree dies to the lower right hand side of the card.
I added three Adhesive-Backed Sequin Trio embellishments to the card front around the sentiment.
I decided that the card front needed a little more color so I added two Pretty Peacock tree dies to the card front to finish off the More Color Monday card!
Try this color combination and see what you can create – one stamp at a time!

By now you should have received the upcoming mini catalog and if you have not and would like one please let me know so I can get one to you!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

PS Remember this is a sneak peek so there will not be links below to the new products until they are released on September 4th!

june 2024 paper pumpkin – life is sweet alternatives

june 2024 paper pumpkin – life is sweet alternatives

The June 2024 Paper Pumpkin Life is Sweet arrived in the mail last week and I have been busy creating simple stamping alternative cards. I added 6 sheets of Basic White cardstock and created 8 simply stamped Paper pumpkin Alternative cards in a snap with minimal supplies from the kit – I will be able to create so many more alternative cards!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White: (8) 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Layer” Basic White: (8) 4″ x 5 1/4″ embossed

I embossed the Basic White layers with the Dotted Circle 3D, Distressed Tile and So Swirly embossing folders.

I scored the 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ pieces of cardstock in half at 4 1/4″ and adhered the Basic White embossed layer with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
I loved the fruit images that come in the kit and wanted to do some clean and simple alternative cards from the kit with just the fruit die cuts.

I added two cherry images to the card front.

I used a scrap of Basic White and added a sentiment in Poppy Parade ink. I used a Blending Brush to add color to the edges after I die cut it with the Deckled Rectangles die set!
I popped up the sentiment over the cherry images on the card.
I used the dark Poppy Parade Stamnpin’ Blends marker to color the pearls that came in the kit and added them to the card front.
I stamped and fussy cut the “thanks” sentiment out and popped it up over another cherry image. I also colored the Gingham ribbon with the Poppy Parade Stampin’ Blends marker – I love this technique to be able to coordinate ribbon with ANY project!
For my third cherry image card I lightly dragged the Poppy Parade ink pad over the embossed surface to create a colored background!
I used the So Swirly background for the next card and the lemon image from the kit. I stamped the Thanks in Crushed Curry ink and the sweet friend sentiment directly below that in Tuxedo Black Memento ink and fussy cut the words out and popped them up over the Gingham colored ribbon!
I flipped this card on it’s edge to create a colored landscape background in Peach Pie. I added various Peach cut outs and the thanks stamped in Peach Pie and fussy cut and popped up over the peaches>
For this card I added white thread, I stamped the sentiment onto a 1/2″ strip and blended in Crushed Curry color with a Blending Brush. I popped up one of the lemon die cuts from the kit and the card is complete!
This next alternative card used the Distressed Tile 3D embossing folder and a Deckled Rectangle die cut for the sentiment. I popped up the sentiment and one of the peaches, I tucked one of the larger peaches under the sentiment die and adhered one of the smallest ones onto the left corner of the sentiment. I added Peach Pie In Color Shimmer Gems and another simply stamped alternative!
The last simply stamped alternative uses one of my favorite easy techniques. Stamp a long sentiment in one color and then cut the sentiment apart into single words or phrases. Stamp the sentiment in another color and cut out the words you wish to highlight or spotlight! I popped up the Crushed Curry stamped words sweeter and friends to highlight those among the entire sentiment!
I added Black and White Gingham ribbon and the tinsel gems embellishment! Super easy but super cute!
Now it’s your turn to go and create some simply stamped alternative projects – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

new catalog sneak peek – layers of beauty bundle

new catalog sneak peek – layers of beauty bundle

I am super excited today to be able to give you a sneak peek into the upcoming new 2024-2025 Annual Catalog. The demonstrators that attended OnStage Houston were able to get an advanced copy of the catalog before anyone else and we were able to participate in the Product Purchase Premier – were we could purchase some of the items in the catalog before customers and other demonstrators that did not attend the convention. One of the items I saw demonstrated at OnStage was the Layers of Beauty bundle which includes a coordinating stamp set and dies but also a decorative mask set that helps color the flowers and leaves of the large stamp quickly and expertly!
Measurements for the main card:
BASE: Mossy Meadow 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Mossy Meadow layer: 4″ x 5 1/4:
Basic White layer 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scrap for the sentiment die
Old Olive scraps for the leaves dies

Stamp the large flower and leaf stamp in Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto the 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″.

Place the first mask marked with a 1 in the top left hand corner and rotate the mask until the stamped image aligns with the mask openings. Take a pencil and mark the notch with a pencil onto the paper. This notch will help to guide where to place the other masks.
Using a small Blending brush, color the areas open with Fresh Freesia ink.
Without removing mask #1 color the open daisy areas with another light color I chose Daffodil Delight.
Remove the mask and this is what the Basic White layer will look like after mask#1.
Place mask #2 on the Basic White layer and rotate until the openings align with the stamped image. Using a blending brush and Berry Burst ink color through the opening. This is what it will look like after the 2nd template.
Place mask #3 on the Basic White layer – line up the notch and color through the openings with Blackberry Bliss.
Place mask#4 over the stamped area and rotate until the notch is lined up and using a blending brush color the leaves in Old Olive.
This is what the stamped image will look like after the Old Olive is rubbed into the openings.
Line up #5 mask with the notch mark on the Basic White layer and color the openings with Mossy Meadow ink and a Blending Brush.
This is what the Basic White layer will look like when you are done with the mask coloring portion! It is stunning!
Fold the 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ card base of Mossy Meadow in half at 4 1/4″ and adhere the 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer to the front after you emboss the layer with the DIstressed Tile 3D embossing folder.
Die cut the flower image in the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine and place Stampin’ Dimensionals on the back. Attach the large die cut of flowers to the embossed layer.
Die cut 3 large and 3 small leaf dies from the Layers of Beauty die set. Adhere them under the flower die sticking out in all directions!
Stamp the sentiment in Mossy Meadow and die cut with the second smallest circle die from the Everyday Details die set.
Adhere to the embossed layer.
attach three Ombre decorative dots to the sentiment piece and the card is gorgeous and complete!

Try a decorative mask today to elevate your card and this bundle will be available May1st or better yet come to my Open House May 1st 1-3pm and see it for yourself!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

P.S. Remember because this is a sneak peek the bundle is not available until the new catalog goes live on May 1st! So it will not be listed in the photo menu below.

Here are some other card samples made with this bundle.
This next card is also made with the masks but not die cut out.
This next card uses the same large flower stamp in the set but I colored this one in with the Stampin’ Blends to get the shading just right!
This last example is one of my favorites – I saw this card demonstrated at OnStage in Houston and it is a partial die cut!! Love this one!