Merry Monday #31

Today I had the time to sit down and complete the challenge over at Always Playing with Paper, the Merry Monday #31. There's still time to challenge yourself to come up with something creative, with a Christmas theme, of course.

Anyway, as I was beginning out (my end result is something completely different from what was in my mind), I wanted to see if I could come up with a card that celebrated the holidays, but didn't necessarily need any Christmas stamps or punches to create it. This is what came to me.

I used Lovely As A Tree (let's hope this stamp set never retires - so versatile), and inked up the middle tree with my Stamp n' Write Marker, so that when I stamped, only the inked tree would show up. The background is En Francais - Crumb Cake ink on Very Vanilla cardstock. I love that stamp.

Some tips, though, for using this big stamp - ink it with the rubber facing up, and then line up your card stock with the words in each line, and press your card stock onto the stamp (rather than stamping onto your card stock). I had to do it a couple of times, because I could not get the words to line up straight, and then the light bulb went off....

I scrunched up the Scalloped Tulle Ribbon behind the tree image, and it is secured with a lot of Sticky Strip. Pearls again for luxe. A little sponging around the edges and some smears across the page, and I was done.

The only Christmas stamp I used was the greeting, but you could always leave it without a stamped greeting and pen some cheer inside.

Stamp Sets: Lovely As a Tree, En Francias, More Merry Messages
Cardstock: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Punch: Modern Label Punch
Big Shot: Floral Frames Framelits Dies
Other: Scalloped Tulle  Ribbon Early Espresso, Basic Pearls, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon (retired), Stampin' Write Marker Early Espresso, Sticky Strip, Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Sponges, Mini Glue Dots

Enjoy!

Simply Sweet Button Buddies

A simple and sweet pair of cards using Button Buddies, one of the fun stamp sets carried over in the Idea Book & Catalogue. I am glad this stamp set didn't come to an end - it's super cute, and it's so easy to use these stamps to create gorgeous cards. Although, I'll admit, I am not sure who will receive the pig card just in case it's taken the wrong way....

Both cards were made with Crumb Cake and Whisper White cardstocks, I used my corner rounder and 2 1/2 " circle punch. And then, I used the Essentials Paper Piercing Pack to pierce all the way around the cut out circles. Gotta love it!

I'll be honest, they were one of the first things I ordered from the new catalogue, but only just got to opening them up today...I know, I know. There is a piercing outline for five punches, all the circles you will ever need, as well as edgelits and framelits outlines. If you don't have it, you need it, and you will thank me every time you use it!

The flowers have the new Vintage Faceted Buttons on each bloom and the pig uses the flower shaped Bitty Button.

I didn't put in a sentiment, I figured these could be my all purpose go-to cards for an occasion I don't have on hand. Or, if I kept on going, a perfect Hostess Gift!

Stamp Sets: Button Buddies
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White and a tiny piece of Primrose Petals (under the pig nose)
Ink: Pretty in Pink (pig), Perfect Plum, Gumball Green and Baja Breeze Markers
Punch: 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Corner Rounder Punch
Other: Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Vintage Faceted Buttons, Baja Breeze Seam Binding, Itty Bitty Punch Pack (flower shape), Bitty Buttons (flower shape), Glue Dots, Snail Adhesive

Enjoy!