Jan 15, 2020 | 12 Cards of Christmas, 2019 Holiday Catalog, Cards, Christmas, Watercoloring |
So Christmas came and went and I thought I was prepared for all the cards I wanted to mail out. I was wrong. This year I mailed out about 120 cards just before Christmas – short of the 170 on my list. I told myself that I had to come up with a new system. So I spent a while trying to figure out how to tackle making all my cards. Normally I start creating Christmas cards late in the fall just before the holidays start. I’ve never been a Christmas in July person. But this year I’m trying something new – making Christmas cards all year long!
Here is my plan:
One day each month I’ll design, cut, stamp, and assemble a set of Christmas cards. If I plan to make 12 cards (one design) each month, in December that would give me 144 cards. Then I’ll add the normal cards from my classes leading up to the holidays. So each month I’ll share my card and if you’d like to join me in this card challenge you can copy my card or create your own. Let me know how many you are making. Let’s start with January’s card.

This card I cased from another demonstrator – Ashley VanCamp. I had saved her version and decided to tweak it for my 12 Cards of Christmas project. I wanted to stick to current products. And yes everything I used on this card is current – so if you don’t have it you can order it and make this card too. I gathered up all my supplies, worked on all my pieces, and then sat and assembled everything – including stamping the inside of the card and a matching envelope.

The front layer is Shimmery White card stock. I started by using my Aqua-painter filled with water and getting the front wet. Then came back with the Aqua-painter loaded with Balmy Blue ink and water colored the background. To speed up the drying I used my heat tool. I stamped Shaded Spruce trees from the Perfectly Plaid Stamp set. Those were punched with the Pine Tree Punch and a vellum tree and a white tree. Using the Word Wishes dies, I cut “Merry” out of Gold Foil. Christmas comes from the A Wish For Everything stamp set – stamped on a scrap of white and I just cut straight around the word. The card is finished with Linen Thread and Gold Metallic Pearls. You can order all the products that I used for this card in my online store – the supply list is below.

Supply List
- #149418 Perfectly Plaid stamp set
- #149521 Pine Tree Punch
- #149320 A Wish For Everything stamp set (available as a bundle)
- #149629 Word Wishes Dies (available as a bundle)
- #146982 Balmy Blue card stock
- #100730 Whisper White card stock
- #101910 Shimmery White card stock
- #101856 Vellum card stock
- #132622 Gold Foil Sheets
- #107301 Medium Whisper White envelopes
- #147088 Shaded Spruce classic ink
- #147168 Balmy Blue classic ink refill
- #104199 Linen Thread
- #146282 Metallic Pearls
- #103954 Aqua Painter
- #129053 Heat Tool
- #104430 Stampin’ Dimensionals
- #144108 Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals

So that’s Card 1 of the 12 Cards of Christmas Challenge. Now to start thinking what I want to use for February.
Be sure to register for upcoming classes – just click on Registration under the Events tab.

Order online here – use hostess code ZRF6KVHJ for January 2020.
Apr 11, 2019 | 2019 Occasions Catalog, Blends Smoosh, Cards, Stampin' Blends |
Today I have the second technique from my Facebook Live video last weekend. This technique was shared by one of the Artisan Design Team members on the Stampin’ Up! page – I think on the Instagram account. If you don’t follow Stampin’ Up! corporate on social media you should. The Artisan design team has amazing creations and fun techniques that they share regularly.
This one also uses the Glossy card stock like my Ink Scrape Technique card. But for this one we are using a Window Sheet and Stampin’ Blends to create our background. You’ll also need some rubbing alcohol in a spritzer. And paper towels. This could get messy.
Be sure you watch my Facebook Live video from Sunday, April 7th and you can see this technique in action and how I finished this card.
Watch the video here – Facebook Live April 7th

I cut my piece of window sheet to be slightly larger than my piece of Glossy White card stock. Using Stampin’ Blends scribble spots of color on the window sheet. I used the dark version of Bermuda Bay, Granny Apple Green and Pineapple Punch. Use paper towels to protect your work surface and lay the window sheet down with the ink facing up – spritz with rubbing alcohol. Now lay the Glossy Card Stock facedown in the ink. If needed flip them over and you can see where you need to smoosh around to blend the colors and fill empty spaces. You can see this in my video.
Supply List
- #142314 Window Sheets
- #144240 Glossy White Card stock
- #131197 Bermuda Bay Card stock
- #100730 Whisper White Card stock
- #121045 Basic Black Card stock
- #146877 Granny Apple Green Dark Stampin’ Blends
- #147030 Pineapple Punch Dark Stampin’ Blends
- #144579 Bermuda Bay Dark Stampin’ Blends
- #126185 Stampin’ Spritzers
- #144220 Clear Rhinestone Basic Jewels
- #148536 Butterfly Beauty Dies
- #148796 Well Said stamp set
This is another technique that is fun to try in different color combinations. I tried a few others but this was my favorite for this card. You will get different results every time. Below you can see the card from the video as well as the earlier one that I made.

I hope you enjoyed these fun techniques. Try them at home and let me know how they work for you.
Be sure to register for upcoming classes – just click on Registration under the Events tab.

Order online here – use hostess code DJZJDWDT for April 2019.
Apr 10, 2019 | 2019 Occasions Catalog, Cards, Ink Scrape, Techniques |
I shared this fun technique with my Stamper’s Club last month and have been saving it until I could do a Facebook Live. Well I was finally able to do that last weekend and now I’m ready to share it with you here. I call it the Ink Scrape Technique. I found this idea using paint but haven’t seen anywhere that it was done with ink. And I figure if it could be done with paint I could do it with ink. I’ve used Glossy card stock for this technique. In my Facebook live I shared two different techniques using the Glossy card stock. It’s one of those overlooked items in the catalog but it can be used for some fun things!
Be sure you watch my Facebook Live video from Sunday, April 7th and you can see technique in action and how I finished this card.
Watch the video here – Facebook Live April 7th

I used one of my Stamparatus Plates for a work surface with the ink. Put drops of ink on the plate – I used the five colors in the Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots and put them in rainbow order – Lovely Lipstick, Calypso Coral, Pineapple Punch, Call Me Clover, and Night of Navy. I used a bit of snail to hold my glossy card stock on the plate. Then I used an old plastic card – like a hotel key or gift card – scrape through the drops of ink and across the card stock. You can make wavy designs, start and stop to add the lines, etc. Let it dry and then finish the card.
Supply List
- #149693 Stamparatus Plates (or the Stamparatus)
- #144240 Glossy White Card Stock
- #146953 Pineapple Punch Card Stock
- #147180 Pineapple Punch Stampin’ Ink Refill
- #147178 Call Me Clover Stampin’ Ink Refill
- #147179 Lovely Lipstick Stampin’ Ink Refill
- #103033 Night of Navy Stampin’ Ink Refill
- #122934 Calypso Coral Stampin’ Ink Refill
- #146953 Pineapple Punch 1/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon
- #145739/#145742 Birthday Wishes For You stamp set
- #119869 1/2″ Circle Punch
- #101406 Jet Black StazOn ink
- scrap of Whisper White card stock
- #148805 Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots
It will be fun to try the with some different color combinations. Each one turns out unique. This photo shows the first one I made and the one I made on the video.

Be sure to register for upcoming classes – just click on Registration under the Events tab.

Order online here – use hostess code DJZJDWDT for April 2019.
Jan 1, 2019 | 2018 Holiday Catalog, Cards, Embossing Paste |
Happy New Year! I can’t wait to see what 2019 will bring not only in my personal life but in my Stampin’ Up! life. I have plans to try some new things so be sure to stay in touch through my blog, my Facebook page and other social media platforms and in person at my events and classes.

For this card I used Embossing Paste. I want to share a tip with you about storing your paste. When the paste is new the container is sealed with foil, but when you open it up you have to break that seal. In order to keep the paste moist you want to store it sealed AND I add back a piece of foil. Just cut a piece and place it over the top of the jar and then screw the lid back on. I also put mine back in the little plastic bag but I think its the foil that makes the difference. This jar was originally opened in the spring and then I used it again these past couple of months and it was perfect. So if you have trouble with yours drying out then add the foil back to seal it up. It also helps while using the jar on a project – the foil just rests over the top and you don’t have to take the lid on and off while working.
Supply List
- Timeless Tidings Stamp set
- Shimmery White Embossing Paste
- Smoky Slate card stock
- Whisper White card stock
- Basic Gray ink
- Silver Glimmer Paper
- Twinkle Adhesive backed Sequins
- Pattern Party Decorative Masks
- Palette Knives
One more little trick on this card. I used the Timeless Tidings Stamp set and if you look at the sentiment it also includes the words ” And A” as part of the stamp. Well I cut that part off of my stamp so I had just the Happy New Year. The Holiday catalog will end on January 2nd so you have a little bit more time to order anything you didn’t already get.
Be safe and enjoy the New Year!!
Be sure to register for upcoming classes – just click on Registration under the Events tab.

Order online here – use hostess code DS9YWVDP for December 2018.
Aug 6, 2018 | Big Shot, Boxes, Designer Series Paper, Embossing, In Colors, PAWS Team |
One of my favorite things to use for pillow gifts in the Stampin’ Up! catalog are our packaging options. You can find them on pages 192-193 in the Annual Catalog. A new option in this catalog is the Kraft Pillow Boxes. Initially I thought they were just plain Kraft boxes, but upon receiving them in my order they are printed with Polka Dots. While coming up with my ideas for the Getaway weekend – I often like to give some type of adhesive and this time the Multi-purpose Liquid glue was the perfect gift for my Call Me Clover color AND the glue fits inside the pillow box! The perfect solution.

To decorate the box I stuck with Call Me Clover embellishments. First a strip of the Animal Expedition Designer Series paper. Then some of the Call Me Clover ribbon. Stamp the little tag with a greeting in Call Me Clover ink and add few leaves that are Copper Embossed on Call Me Clover card stock and die cut with the coordinating dies. The tag is tied on with Copper Metallic Thread. Now everyone has a bottle of glue to use on their creative projects throughout the weekend.
Supply List
- Kraft Pillow Box
- Animal Expedition Designer Series Paper
- Call Me Clover 1/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon
- Copper Metallic Thread
- Copper Embossing Powder
- Whisper White card stock
- Call Me Clover card stock
- Call Me Clover ink
- VersaMark ink
- Heat Tool
- Rooted in Nature Stamp set
- Nature’s Roots Framelits dies
- Big Shot Die Cutting Machine
- 1″ Circle punch
- Multipurpose Liquid Glue (it’s the gift inside the pillow box)
Here’s a little closer look.

So far the In Color themed pillow gifts have covered Lovely Lipstick, Grapefruit Grove and Call Me Clover. Two more to go so be sure to come back.
Be sure to register for upcoming classes – just click on Registration under the Events tab.

Order online here – use hostess code 9ZDHFJFS for August 2018.
Aug 1, 2018 | Designer Series Paper, PAWS Team, Watercoloring |
One of my favorite things to do is to make little gifts for everyone that attends my retreat weekends. In July I hosted a Getaway Retreat weekend for my PAWS team and some other local demonstrators. We had a fun creative weekend together and I showered them with little gifts throughout. This week I’ll be sharing with you what I gave them. My theme was the new 2018-2020 In Colors.

On Friday when everyone arrived they had a sign with their name at the table plus a notepad and matching pen. This was their Lovely Lipstick gift. The notebooks and pens came from the office supply store and I decorated them with Designer Series Paper and tied them up with ribbon and a tag. It was the perfect thing for taking notes on the shoe box swaps everyone shared and for making a wish list!
Supply List
- Petal Promenade Designer Series Paper
- Lovely Lipstick 1/8″ Grosgrain ribbon
- Lovely Lipstick card stock
- Whisper White card stock
- Crafting Forever stamp set
- Stazon ink
- Aquapainter
- Crumb Cake ink
- Lovely Lipstick ink
- 1/8″ handheld punch
- Stampin’ Dimensionals
- Tear & Tape
Here is a closer look at the tag. I stamped the “stamp” image and water colored it, then fussy cut it out to add to the tag.

I shared the name signs yesterday but here it is again. The supply list is below.

Supply List
- Lovely Lipstick card stock
- Shimmer White card stock
- Stazon ink
- Aquapainter
- Lined Alphabet stamp set
- Lovely Lipstick ink
- Grapefruit Grove ink
- Pineapple Punch ink
- Call Me Clover ink
- Blueberry Bushel ink
Thanks for visiting today. Come back to see the next pillow gift everyone got.
Be sure to register for upcoming classes – just click on Registration under the Events tab.

Order online here – use hostess code FSYDU9M4 for July 2018.