The Merriest Christmas

Hello!

Today's card  is yet another Christmas card using the unusual (to me) colors of red and blue with black and silver as an accent.  I've made it for the challenge going on over at Fussy and Fancy, which is to use dies and punches.  I seriously don't think I can make a card without using at least one or the other, and this one is no exception.  Plenty of die cutting going on here!

All of the printed papers are the newly-released Christmas Digital Papers from Inspired By Stamping (with a little additional stamping by me behind the sentiment).  Check out the background chevron print.  See how light it is?  In its original form it is quite brilliant, but being digital I was able to fade it out a bit so that the sentiment panel wouldn't compete.  That's one of the many beauties of using digital paper, the flexibility to adjust the brightness of the paper to suit one's needs.

These cute little flags are from the Whimsical Banners set, and the Christmas-theme stamps on them are from the brand new Holiday Tags. 

The sentiment panel was heat embossed with silver on the red mat while the sentiment layer was edged with silver glass glitter, the kind that tarnishes with age.  It adds such a nice vintage flair to this card.  The sentiment itself is from the Holiday Sentiments set with the tiny snowflake stamp being from the Winter Wonderland set. 

Some stitching, ribbon, rhinestones and a diecut, glittered snowflake complete this card.

Well, all except for the inside which I stamped with more of the Winter Wonderland set but left otherwise blank for a personal inscription.

Thank you for joining me and here's wishing you a lovely, crafty day!

Happy crafting!

 Challenges entered:

Fussy and Fancy #98 - Punches and Dies

Blue Birthday Rose with CI Paints

Hello!

Today for Creative Inspirations Paints I'd like to show you the little box that I made as a gift to my daughter for her birthday.  Her actual birthday was last Friday, but we are celebrating it with her brother and my mother and husband this coming weekend.  She turned 25.  Yikes!  How did it happen that my baby is 25 years old?  There must be some mistake...

I do call her my sweet baby girl, so this stamp from Inspired By Stamping ("Creative Tags") seemed especially appropriate.

The box is a cut file from the Silhouette store and is quite fun to put together.  I wish I had taken pictures before I put it together, but suffice it to say that there's more to it than just a lid that comes off.

I love the paper.  It's double-sided so the box looks as good inside as it does outside.

The real fun began with the embellishment.  I made a large rose using the Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers die and painted it with CI Paints Sea Foam.  Then, because I believe in gilding the lily, I dusted it with Resplendence Angel Dust.  It is my favorite glitter EVER.  Just look at that sparkle and shine!

Underneath the flower I used a die cut doily that I painted with Ivory and Autumn Wheat then layered ribbon and pearl string on top. 

I added a little charm that I made using a bezel, digital paper and CI's one-step resin, Resinesence.

And that is my charming little box that's holding, yes, a cute little Swarovski charm!  The charm box fits perfectly inside.

Thank you for joining me and I hope you'll hop on over to the CI Paints blog and play along on this fortnight's challenge Inspired By: Anything Goes.

Happy crafting!

Challenges entered:

Sketch Challenge at Paper Secrets

Hello!

Today the Design Team for Inspired By Stamping is playing along with the sketch challenge over at Paper Secrets as IBS is again sponsoring the challenge this week.  Check out the challenge to find out about the wonderful prize being offered!

Here is my card...

and here is the sketch.

I love that it has lots of elements which allow for a lot of interpretations.

I used the brand spankin' new just-released Christmas Digital Paper for my background.  I LOVE this paper, and there is a different color included in the digital pack.  I used scraps of pink solid and pink designer paper on top, then stamped the sentiment using a stamp from the Fancy Circles set in a frame from the Vintage Frames set.  Joanna's stamps mix and mingle effortlessly, one of the many qualities I love about her stamp sets.

The little flags were stamped with the Washi Tape set on glossy paper on which I had tried an interesting inking technique over a year ago.  Turns out they fit the current IBS color challenge PERFECTLY as in the technique I used blue, gray and pink inks!

These Washi Tape stamps are so very useful and versatile.  Of course the stamped image is longer but I cut them off to serve my purpose.

The ribbon is IBS Seam Binding Ribbon...

and the teensy little roses are from the IBS store as well.  It's truly one-stop shopping.

Oh, and I need to mention that the die cut and mat for the sentiment were cut on my Silhouette Cameo.  Joanna generously includes FREE cut files with many of her stamp sets!

I finished the inside very simply with some of the Washi Tape stamps and left it otherwise blank for a personal message.

So do join us over at the Paper Secrets Sketch Challenge and let the gals see your interpretations!  Thanks for visiting!

Happy crafting!

Challenges entered:

Simply Charming at StampNation

Hello!

Today's card features a tutorial that I am sharing over at StampNation on how to make shrink plastic charms.  I show several variations, and this card uses one of the resulting charms.

I love working with shrink plastic.  It's one of those things that lets me play like a little kid but is perfectly legitimate (and useful!) in the crafting world.

This particular charm was made with the same leaf stamp which I used on the card and used the same rock 'n' roll technique for the watercolor effect.

I used the same stamp to finish the inside.

Thank you for joining me, and I hope you head on over to StampNation for the full details and to see the other variations of this fun technique!

And don't forget to stop by and visit Catherine Pooler at her blog.  She'd love to see you!

Happy crafting!

Challenges entered:

Color Throwdown #259 - Rust, sage, kraft, vanilla, chocolate
Eclectic Ellapu - Inspired By A Song ("California Dreamin'" which takes place in the autumn.  "All the leaves are brown....and the skies are gray...")
613 Ave. Create #37 - Anything Goes w/optional twist: Fall theme
Oozak #22 - Fall (Autumn)

Ice Skating Chloe at Pink Gem Designs

Hello!

It's time for another challenge over at A Gem of a Challenge, and this week (Challenge #97) the theme is "Use Two Images." This challenge will run from 8:00 AM September 14, to 6:00 PM September 20, and the prize for the winner will be 2 individual digi images (NOT SETS) from Pink Gem Designs. So do head on over and see what the rest of the lovely Design Team have created, then join us, won't you? We'd love to see you!

It's time to start getting one's Christmas and winter-themed cards under way, so today's card shows sweet little "Ice Skating Chloe" out on the ice.  I've used the digital stamp version, but she is also available as a polymer stamp which you can find here.

I've colored her with Copics and placed her behind a window frame cut with my Silhouette Cameo, which I then dry brushed with two shades of silver shimmer paints to loosely mimic woodgrain.

Check out her fluffy earmuffs and the trim on her coat.  This was done with Puffies puff paint which puffs up with heat, no dry time required as with regular puff paints.

I've glittered the snowflake die cut then applied the "Christmas Time Calendar" to it with a rhinestone decoration and some hand numbering after first coloring it with Copics.  Rhinestones also decorate the tiny snowflakes and the side of the base layer.  Can one have too many rhinestones?  Not in my world.

I've stamped the inside with off-stamped snowflakes, leaving plenty of room for a message.

Thank you for joining me today, and do pop by the rest of the Design Team to see what they have created for you.  And don't forget to play along in our challenge!

Happy crafting!

Challenges entered:

Oozak #21 - Anything Goes w/die cuts/punches
Fussy And Fancy #97 - Sports
Oldie But a Goodie - Spots and Stripes (snowflake rhinestones and window wood grain - my oldies are the rhinestones - had them for over a year).

French Connection

Hello!

Today's card is made for the challenge going on over at Sketch 'N' Stash with the optional theme being "Time."

And here is the sketch:

This was a fun card to make, starting with the Tim Holtz Weathered Clock die, which I heat embossed with copper embossing powder then rubbed some "Patina" Rub 'N' Buff on it with a fingertip.  And part of entering the Sketch 'N' Stash challenges are to use one's newest and/or neglected stash, in this case the newest being my lovely metal filigree corners and the neglected being the designer paper which I've had since Day One but virtually never use.

All stamps are by Inspired By Stamping except for the faint background behind the clock face which was a stamped piece of cardstock that I made months ago but never used.  The clock face itself is from the IBS "Paris" set, and can you see that I've used the center piece from the die cut?  Why waste it - it makes the perfect filler.

The chicken wire strip is from the IBS "French Country Backgrounds," and if you look closely, you can see French words and expressions faintly stamped on the base layer of designer paper.  These are from the "Big Notes in French" set.  IBS stamp sets coordinate beautifully with each other, so it's easy to use stamps from various sets in a cohesive design.

The sentiment, also from the Big Notes in French set was stamped onto one of the banners from the "Vintage Banners" set.  The tails look 3-dimensional, don't they?  Just a bit of Copics for shading did the trick, plus some inking around the edges.

Some stitching, metal filigree corner, and brown dew drops finish things off.  About those corners - they were bright, garish gold, but a copper colored Copic marker gave them just the coppery look I wanted. 


And that's my card for today.  Thank you for joining me and I wish you all the time you want and need for your crafty endeavors.

Happy crafting!

Challenges entered:

Sketch 'N' Stash #121 - Optional theme: Time. (neglected designer paper, brand new filigree corners)
Oozak #21 - Anything Goes w/die cuts/punches
The Shabby Tearoom #183 - Time Flies
Simon Says Monday Challenge - Embossed
Frilly and Funky - Anything Goes

IBS Color Challenge

Hello!

Just a quick note to let you know that the Inspired By Stamping Color Challenge begins today, and you may choose from any or all of the combinations below:

Pretty pretty!  For full details, please visit Joanna's blog for prize information, and you have two full weeks in which to play!

DEADLINE: September 25th, 2:00 PM AEST (Brisbane, Australia) or September 24th, 11:59 PM EST (United States).

Happy crafting!

Inspired By Stamping - September Catalog

This is today's third post.  To find Shimmery Fall Leaf, please click here (or scroll down).   For the Inspired By Stamping September Release, please click here (or scroll down just a tiny bit).

Hello again!

Today we're showing the September edition of the FREE Online Catalog filled with the new Inspired By Stamping stamp sets! Each page provides details of each stamp set plus inspiration from the designers! This new catalog was designed to give you even more inspiration and interaction than ever before with Inspired by Stamping products.

Cool Features:

- Browse the catalog with ease on your tablet or computer.
- Get the entire release in one spot! Plus, zoom in on your favorite products, projects and cards.
- Watch video tutorials from our YouTube channel right inside the catalog!
- SHOP ONLINE! Order products by clicking on the stamp set which takes you directly to our online store.

Here is a peek at what is inside:

 View the design team cards and projects that they used with each stamp set!

Where can you find our Online Catalog?  You may download it from the IBS Store. Click Here!  Over the next few weeks, Joanna will be putting together catalogs for all of the releases from January 2013 to  May 2013!

Joanna would LOVE to hear what you think! After flipping through the catalog please leave her a comment or send her an email, both of which are possible on her blog here.
 

We hope you enjoy the new inspiration catalog!

BTW, September 11th the new color challenge hop will start.

September 12th will feature the next blog hop which begins on August 20.

Happy crafting!

IBS September Release

Hello!

It's time for the grand reveal of this month's exciting new stamp sets from Inspired By Stamping!  There are six fun holiday-inspired sets plus five sets of papers and printables just begging to be played with!  So without further ado, here they are:

 A Spooky Halloween

 Build a Snowman

Happy Fall

Holiday Sentiments

Holiday Tags

Holiday Washi Tape

A Spooky Halloween Digital Paper

Halloween Banner Printables

Halloween Printables

Christmas Digital Paper

Christmas Printables

Aren't they delightful?  Do go and visit the rest of the talented Design Team to see their interpretations!

 Colleen Dietrich

Grace Tolman

Joanna Munster - Owner

Kendra Sand

Leah Cornelius

Nazeema Bastian

Pam Bray

Tina Hale

Rose Miller

Vicki Dutcher

Rebecca Deeprose

 A few useful bits of information...

• All sets will be available for purchase on September 10th, 7 p.m. Brisbane time (5 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) in the IBS store.
• Free shipping on all orders over $25 for 48 hours only -- September 10th, 7 p.m. Brisbane time to September 12th, 7 pm Brisbane time (5 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) -- coupon code is SeptFree
• All stamp sets will be offered at a 10% discount
• Chance to win that day's featured stamp set(s) EVERY DAY during the release party, from September 6th - September 10th!  Just leave a comment at owner Joanna Munster's blog each day for your chance to win. Each winner will be randomly selected and announced on the Winner's Page on September 12.  (Only one comment per person, please.)
• September 11 the new color challenge hop will start.
• September 12 will feature the theme of the next blog hop which will commence on September 20.

Happy crafting!

Shimmery Fall Leaf with Creative Inspirations

Hello!

Today's card for Creative Inspirations features another non-traditional holiday card, this time for Thanksgiving.  This seems to be the year for non-traditional colors as I've made some Christmas cards recently using different colors as well.  I just find that sometimes I want to shake things up a bit.  Besides, my garden really does have all of these colors in it in autumn!

How's that for some in-your-face color?  I used spray inks on watercolor paper, and they never fail to wow me with their vivid shades.  And they're perfect for complementing with a little glitz and shimmer.  I die cut the leaf from the TH Tattered Leaf die, then painted it with four shades of Creative Inspirations Paints - Gold, Burnt Clay, Evergreen and Autumn Wheat.

After the paint had dried I misted the leaf with water and scrunched it up to distress it a bit, then placed it on a piece of ribbon netting.  A greeting, some ribbon and a couple of small stick pins complete the arrangement.

I embossed the edges of the card and sentiment panel (Happy Fall from IBS) with Deliquesce Gilded Gold.  I also sprinkled a little bit of it over the sentiment and heated it from underneath for a slightly different look.

Here's a look at the inside stamped with Happy Sentiments and Happy Fall stamp sets from Inspired By Stamping.


Some gold leaf lines in opposing corners complete my non-traditional Thanksgiving card.  Thank you for joining me and please pop over to the current CI Paints challenge Inspired By: Autumn Colors.

Happy crafting!

Challenges entered: