Constantly Stamping

Felted Christmast Stocking

If you have been visiting my blog, then you probably know that I enjoy felt projects...especially during the Fall and Winter months. So I decided to take that love of felt and make a fun and easy Christmas project using the Holiday Stocking die and the Circle #2 die along with felt to create a fun felted stocking. These are a fun project that you can do over the holidays. I even uploaded a video tutorial to show you how easy it is. The green on this stocking is really a pretty bright green but for some reason my camera has difficulty capturing "true greens".

Here's the video tutorial. Be sure to scroll down to see more stocking that I have made using this technique.

  

Here' are a few more "almost" finished pieces that I have been working on. I don't normally show things without the "finishing touches" on them, but if I waited any longer, I probably wouldn't have shown them at all. I will probably end up finishing them right at the last minute as I add them to packages and such, so I thought I had better get them posted today.

This stocking is almost exactly the same except I hand cut a little notch in the toe area to make it look more like an elf stocking.

White with black dots for the dalmation lover in the family.

A modern twist using charcoal felt with bright colored dots.

Red & White "Scandanivian-style" using the Snowflake Die.

Blue & White Snowflakes.

Holly Leaves and Berries using the Stocking Accents Die.

A "Merry" Christmas Card

Today I have another fun Christmas card to share. This card is sort of a tribute to Kristina Werner. I am always trying to be a better stamper/crafter, so I have been talking some classes over at Online Card Classes. This isn't really based on one particular card by Kristina, just the overall "feel" of her style. She uses alot of thick letters on ther cards and since I don't have any on hand, I made my own with the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet sizzlets dies. Since you can only cut DSP and card stock with the sizzlets, I built my letters by cutting four layers of Early Espresso card stock and then added the Cherry Cobbler layer to the very top...very cool technique! I omitted a portion of the Christmas stamp from the "Heard from the Heart" set by using a Cherry Cobbler marker and only coloring in the word "Christmas".

Even though this is a relatively simple layout, there are lots of details. The base of the card is covered with woodgrain DSP from the Frostwood Lodge collection(#124002). I die cut the tree with the Stocking Accents die (#124099) and embossed it with the Snow Burst folder (124096). I added some rhinestones that I colored with a Sharpie marker for a little needed bling. I couldn't complete a "Kristina-style" card without using a corner rounder so I gave a little chomp to the bottom corners. KW almost always uses faux stitching on her cards, but that really isn't my thing, so I left it off.

Well, that's all for today. I'm headed off to put up the Christmas Tree, so see you soon!

Big Shot Take Out Box with Poinsettia

The Artisan Award Winners Holiday Gallery is now up over at Stampin' Up!'s Facebook page. You can see all of the incredible projects here. This is my project for the gallery. I started by creating a box with the Petal Cone Die and modifying it to create a take out box. Then I used the heel portion of the Holiday Stocking Die and the holly leaf from the Stocking Accents die along with the Spider Web embossing folder to create a gorgeous poinsettia.

Last month I taught some of my downline to make a similar poinsettia at one of our downline meetings. My friend, Nancy Brown, filmed the demonstration so that I could share it with you. For this project I placed the smaller flower on top of the larger one. Both flowers are pretty by themselves, but when you put the two together the results are stunning. The video is a little slow-paced because I was giving a demonstration, so I tried to edit it down. It is very detailed and you should be able to get the same results if you follow the instructions on the tutorial. You can purchase everything you need to create the box and flower at my online store, here. Also, scroll down for a list of supplies.

Poinsettia Supplies: 105119: Always Artichoke Card Stock 119685: Cherry Cobbler Card Stock 119670: Early Espresso Classic Stampin’ Pad 125636: Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Buttons 117237: Antique Brads 104430: Stampin’ Dimensionals 103683: Mini Glue Dots 110755: Multipurpose Liquid Glue 102300: Bone Folder 119860: 1-3/8” Circle Punch 113439: Big Shot 124098: Holiday Stocking Bigz L Die 124099: Stocking Accents Originals Die 120889: Spider Web Textured Impressions Embossing Folder 101610: Stamping Sponges

Box Supplies: 117014: Curly Cute Set 119685: Cherry Cobbler Card Stock 101650: Very Vanilla Card Stock 122349: Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper 119669: Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin’ Pad 120992: Cherry Cobbler 1/2” Seam Binding Ribbon 104294: Sticky Strip 113439: Big Shot 121810: Petal Cone Bigz L Die 122334: Simply Scored

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Snowflake Merry Christmas

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I am so thankful that God has blessed me with such wonderful family and friends.Things have been super busy this weekend, but I did take the opportunity to sit down last night and create. I got the idea for this card from a cutting file that I have for my Silhouette machine. I wanted to see if I could come up with something similar using my Northern Frost Die and this is how it turned out. This card isn't difficult, but it took a hugh amount of patience to complete. Thankfully, I knew exactly what I was working toward. If I didn't, I probably would have quit about half way into the project.

The most annoying part was poking out all those tiny pieces in each snowflake...very time intensive! After "cleaning up" each snowflake, I glued each piece to a Not Quite Navy card base. Once everything was that way I wanted it, I ran it through the Big Shot using the Snow Burst textured impressions embossing folder (124096). I added some rhinestone for a little bling, tied on a bow and then assembled the card.

 

I seriously doubt that I will make any more of these...at least not any time soon. But it was fun to make one. I enjoy the process of creating. It makes me feel good to make something beautiful. The thing I like most is that I used supplies that I already had on-hand. I hope these are the only snowflakes I see...at least for a couple of weeks...until I can get my Christmas shopping done. See you soon!

 

Merry & Type Joy Card

Hooray! I have another card to share with you today! I made a tag with the Two Tags die out of Crumb Cake card stock. I stamped it with Crumb Cake ink and the "deck the halls" stamp from the Merry & Type set. Then I stamped the ornaments from the same set once on the tag and then three additional times on Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, and Not Quite Navy card stock with Basic Black ink. I trimmed out the images and paper pieced it. I cut the letters out with the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Sizzlits Dies. (Hint: Since you can't cut chip board with Sizzlets, I cut out four Early Espresso and one Not Quite Navy of each letter and glued them together in a stack to form thicker letters.) You can probably tell from the picture that there was some major sponging going on with this card, but for the most part that is all there was to it.

BTW, the Artisans have another Stampin' Up! Facebook gallery coming soon. I will be sure to let you know when it goes live later in the week. This time we will feature holiday projects, so you definitely don't want to miss it. I know it is going to be fantastic! It is such a joy to know and work with the other Artisan Award winners. They are a very talented group of paper crafters/stampers! Each and every one of them are super nice, too!

Holiday Mini Catalog Is Now Online!

  
 
Today is September 1st and you know what that means...the new Holiday Mini Catalog is here and it is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! I personally think this is one of the best holiday catalogs ever! Stampin' Up! gives demonstrators the opportunity to purchase items one month in advance, and let me tell you, I had a difficult time restraining myself. I wanted practically one of everything and I know you will too, so be sure to check it out. You can download a pdf of the new catalog here.

 

I was recently asked to participate in a Holiday Mini swap and this is what I made. Aren't these little stocking adorable? They are made using the new Bigz L Holiday Stocking Die (#124098) and the Stocking Accents Die (124099). I used some Frostwood Lodge DSP (124002), some Cherry Cobbler and Garden Green card stock, and the new Snow Burst Texture Impressions Embossing Folder (#124096).

I turned the top of the card into a flap so that you can open it and insert a gift card (or money) and then close it. In order to keep it closed, I used a really cool new product from Scotch called Removable Clear Mounting Squares. They are much more attractive than velcro and they are tacky enough to keep the flap shut over and over. The tree embellishment is made with the Stocking Accents die. I embossed it and added some rhinestones that I colored with a red Sharpie marker.

I didn't have enough of any one paper to make all the stockings alike, so I used several different combinations of DSP and card stock. I love the gingham holly leaves on this one...so much fun. I sponged the edges of everything with Chocolate Chip ink to give it an aged, country Christmas feel. I even inked the bakers twine (#123125) with some Chocolate Chip ink. Get started on Christmas early this year. Head on over to my online store to get everything you need to make these fun gift card holders.

Stamp Sets: Tiny Tags; Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, & Whisper White CS; Frostwood Lodge DSP; Ink: Chocolate Chip & Cherry Cobbler; Accessories: Holiday Stocking & Stocking Accents Die, Snow Burst Embossing Folder, Rhinestones, Bakers Twine, Jewelry Tag & Scallop Edge Border Punch, Regals Designer Buttons, Dimensionals; Other: Scotch Removable Clear Mounting Squares , Red Sharpie Marker.

Merry Christmas from Our Home to Yours

 
 

Wishing you and your family

a Very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Cardinal Christmas Tag

Here is a quick post to share a sweet tag I made with the Cardinal Christmas digital download and colored with Copic markers. Just like the past two projects I have posted, I printed the cardinal out the same size as the rubber stamp. After printing the image on my home printer on Whisper White card stock, I cut it out on the Big Shot with the Two Tags Die and then hand cut a mat to go around it. I added some gingham Christmas ribbon (from the craft store) and a Deck The Halls Big Button. The "greenery" is actually snowflakes from the Northern Frost strip die. Also, the button is threaded with ordinary household twine.

Still lots to do to get ready for Christmas...so gotta run! Merry Christmas!

Gingerbread Treat Topper

Here is a fun project that I did for a recent class and they were a big hit with everyone. I have been doing this project for several years in one form or another. The original idea came from my good friend and former upline, Kelly Hibbett and it has evolved over the years. Here in Tennessee you can buy Little Debbie Gingerbread Cakes at both major grocery store chains. They are soft, chewy, and delicious. Little Debbie brand is a Tennessee-based company, so I am not sure they are available everywhere, but you could substitute some other type of gingerbread treat.

For the topper, I started with a piece of real red card stock. I stamped the poem from Sweet Season in basic black ink a then added some ric-rack trim cut with the Tasteful Trims die. Because I knew that these treats might be given to small children, I used sticky strip tape to adhere the topper to the bag (instead of staples).

 
I used the fancy flower extra large punch to create the body of this little gingerbread man along with the 1" circle punch for the head. I was inspired by similar gingerbread men that I had seen a few years ago created first by my talented friend and SU demonstrator, Becky Roberts (Inking Idaho), and then recently by another talented lady, Jackie Topa (Addicted to Stamping). After punching the pieces out of crumb cake card stock, I sponged the edges with chocolate chip ink to give it a "fresh baked" look. I hand drew the mouth with a basic black stampin' write marker and added cheeks I made by punching real read card stock with an everyday hole punch from the office supply store...same thing for the basic black buttons. For the eyes I used a 1/8" hole punch. I added a real red grosgrain bow to hide where I had attached the head to the body. Isn't he just adorable? Almost good enough to eat!

Well, I am off to do finish up some last-minute Christmas shopping. Have a blessed day! Ho, Ho, Ho!

Holly Jolly Gift Card Holder

Things are crazy busy for me for the next couple of days. I am having my Downline Demonstrator Christmas Get Together on Friday and I am running around trying to make everything perfect for this fabulous group of gals. There's lots left to do, so just a quick post today. This is another version of the money/gift card holder that I did recently as a class project. I used Holly Jolly DSP and the Perfect Punches set to create this fun little gift card/money holder. I even had a few left over, so now I have something ready for the last minute gifting. Sorry to be so brief today. I'll try to have something fabulous for you on Saturday!