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!

Back to Spool Promotion

A quick note on the current Stampin' Up promotion - for every $50 you spend on merchandise in September, you receive a free spool (value $12.25 ea) of the new 3/8" stitched satin ribbon, in whatever In-Colour you like. Here are your choices:

Gumball Green #126848 - Perfect for Christmas and Holiday projects

Midnight Muse #126847 - A new favourite of mine

Primrose Petals #126844 - Who doesn't love a new bright pink?

Raspberry Ripple #126845 - A stunning deep pink

Summer Starfruit #126846 - I am seeing this colour everywhere, from shoes & purses, to clothing

Place your order for $50 and receive one of the above rolls of ribbon for free! Or, place a $250 order and get one spool in every colour - you would be set to craft for the holidays, and have ribbon in the most fabulous colours!  

I will be showing you a lot of projects with these ribbons during the month of September, so you can just see how lovely they really are. 

Click here to shop online, or email me at biancacoldrey@gmail.com with your order. I will deliver to you within the Ottawa/Gatineau area. It's so easy!

Merry Monday Challenge #30

Honestly, I started this card on Monday, yes, Monday! And, it's now Saturday. That's how much stamping time I haven't had! You can find this week's challenge over at Always Playing with Paper - although, I warn you, it ends tomorrow.

For my card this week, I chose Midnight Muse and Whisper White. I am really a traditional red, green and gold Christmas kind of girl, but this year I have been taken by the blue, silver & white combinations. I love the clean and crisp look. The blue and white together really reminds me of a Canadian winter, crisp with the snow and cool with the winter light and clear blue skies against the snowy ground.

You probably can't tell, but I stuck on the tiniest of SU's basic pearls onto the two outer ornaments - there is 5 on the round ornament and 9 on the ornament on the right. On the middle ornament I used 3 medium sized pearls. The DSP is from the In-Colour pack, and the polka dot embossing reminds me of the snow falling.

The silver elastic thread is from SU, although retired long ago.

The stitched ribbon is also in Midnight Muse, and for the month of September, for every $50 order placed, you receive one for free. If you want to go crazy and place an order with me for $250 (have you seen the Holiday Mini? It wouldn't be that hard) - you can get a roll in every colour. All.For.Free!

Email me to place your order (or click here to order online), get your free spool(s) of in-colour ribbon, and get an early start on your holiday projects!

Stamp Set: Ornament Keepsakes
Card Stock: Midnight Muse, Whisper White
Ink: Midnight Muse
Big Shot: Holiday Framelit Dies, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
Other: Midnight Muse 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Silver Elastic Thread (retired- but obtainable at every good craft store)

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!

Triple Layer Betsy's Blossoms

I wanted to try out this technique which I have seen popping up all over the internet. I think it's fantastic, and you don't need to do much to create big impact.

Basically, cut your cardstock to the size you like, then pile up the Whisper White pieces with the biggest piece on the bottom, middle size in the middle and smallest piece on the top, and stamp away, making sure you get some images over all three layers.

I couldn't get my image to stamp right where one layer of cardstock meets the one underneath, luckily though, the Primrose layer covers up any white space or blurs. Use Dimensionals to separate the layers when adhering.

A snip of ribbon and a simple sentiment is all a card like this needs.

If you can see in the picture above, I used the tiniest pearls in the centre of my green flowers to add a little luxe.

Stamp Sets: Betsy's Blossoms, Lacy & Lovely (greeting)
Cardstock: Primrose Petals, Whisper White
Ink: Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple and Lucky Limeade
Punches: Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch
Other: 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon (in Raspberry Ripple), Basic Pearls, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive

Enjoy!

Merry Monday Challenge #28

I tried to play the Merry Monday Challenge last week, but something happened (called life) and I totally forgot to upload my card..oops.

This week I am going to get in early and upload my card tonight, maybe right now, depending on the timing of "life", aka kids in the bath, dinner on the stove and the phone will probably ring. You know what happens, when you try to sit down and do something for yourself, everything that can happen, usually does. 

This week's challenge can be found over at Always Playing with Paper. It's challenge #28, and like I said last week, if I had have started playing this challenge at week #1, I would have 28 cards neatly stashed away for Christmas. 

My card this week uses Elegant Eggplant - a colour I never use. I loved Concord Crush and Wisteria Wonder, so never really ventured into the realm of purple out there. I think I like this one. Obviously, it's not a traditional Christmas colour, but sometimes we all need a shake up :)

I embossed with silver embossing powder, after stamping with Snowflake Soiree and Versamark. Added some rhinestones to the centres of the snowflakes for extra sparkle. For the greeting, I just punched the shimmer paper with the Ornament Punch and added my greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

And, just to show you that not everything goes as planned, this is the back side of my card where my 3 year old son decided to add a little more to the design. It was a surprise for me, from him. Gotta love it! Someone with kids will receive this card at Christmas time - from my family to theirs, and I am sure they will understand the importance of 3 year old art!

Come and join me for a workshop in Barrhaven, and you may just meet this 3 year old of mine! 

Stamp Set: Snowflake Soiree, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Versamark

Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Very Vanilla, Silver Glimmer Paper

Punches: Ornament Punch, Word Window Punch

Other: Basic Rhinestones, Sponge Dauber, Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Dimensions, Snail Adhesive

Enjoy!

Wish Lists

Seriously, this is the best idea ever for the upcoming holiday season. I received this as a swap at Convention, from Gwen Edelman, and I thought that I would share it. I am going to make these for my customers (in holiday themes) for my upcoming classes. This way they can fill them out and either give them back to me, or pass them onto a family member to purchase on their behalf for under the tree on Christmas morning. Great idea, right!

And look, there is a handy reference on the back side as to where all the products are located in the current Idea Book. Such a wonderful idea.

If you register and attend one of my classes between now and Christmas, I will have one of these Wish Lists waiting in your spot when you arrive.

Just a reminder - my Christmas Stamp-A-Stack class is coming up quickly on August 24 at 7pm. I would love to see you!

Enjoy!

My Convention Swap

Another Christmas card for you to start getting inspired with. You can't tell so much in the picture, but the Whisper White layer is embossed with the Stripes Textured Embossing Folder (lengthways). This was my swap for convention. I thought I was keeping it simple, but after making 100, I realized there was more work here than I first imagined. Oh well, I had fun making them and swapping them, and will do it again next year!


Stamp Sets: Perfect Punches, Tiny Tags,  Merry Minis
DSP: Be of Good Cheer
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green, Early Espresso
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green
Punches: 1 3/4" Scallop Punch, Postage Stamp Punch, Jewellery Tag Punch, Merry Minis Punch Pack
Big Shot: Stripes Textured Embossing Folder
Other: Basic Rhinestones, Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine, 3/16" Gold Brad, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive, Sticky Strip



Don't forget to check out my classes here in Barrhaven, Ottawa.

Halloween Spooktacular Workshop where we will make candy based projects for handing out on Halloween - perfect for school friends and neighbours! Friday, August 17 at 9am or 7pm.

Christmas Stamp-A-Stack coming up on Friday, August 24 at 7pm. We will be creating 10 cards (2 each of 5 designs). You can see new product from the Holiday Mini in one night!

Enjoy!

Merry Monday #27

Another Christmas card, I know. I know. It is my favourite holiday of the whole year, and when I received the Holiday Mini from Stampin' Up, I could not wait to get creating.

While I took my "sabbatical" I came across a challenge called Merry Monday over at Always Playing with Paper, where each week the challenge is to create a Christmas card. Not only does this challenge aim to keep the most festive of us calm all through the year with a touch of Christmas each week, it really builds up your supply of Christmas cards - ready for giving in December. Imagine if I had have started back in January, I would already have created 32 cards. Crazy, huh!

Back to my card. I fell in love with the silver and red glimmer paper last holiday season, so then the champagne colour came out, it was the very first thing I bought. I knew I needed it! I love the new Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies (actually, any punch or die that co-ordinates with a stamp is wonderful). I used the Finishing Touches Edgelits to create the bottom edges. And, the greeting is from More Merry Messages - great words for both the outside and the insides of cards.

It's a pretty straight forward card, but the glamour from the Glimmer Paper really makes it sparkle.

Stamp Set: More Merry Messages
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Real Red
DSP: Candlelight Christmas
Ink: Real Red
Punches: Modern Label Punch
Big Shot: Holiday Ornaments Framelits, Finishing Touches Edgelits
Other: 1/4" Taffeta Ribbon in Real Red, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive, Glue Dots (oh and you will need your paper piercing tool to get the little bits out of the Edgelit Die - just sayin')

You an purchase any of these supplies, right here, at my online store. Send me an email if you have any questions at all.

Enjoy!

Creating Pretty Cards #14

It has been such a long time since I have done any creating, let alone blogging, that I was a bit overwhelmed as to where and how to get started,

Of course, I didn't stop acquiring (aka buying) new stamps, ribbons, embellishments, DSP and cardstock, so it was a lot of fun to get in my craft room and get stamping. And what would be a better way to start off my day than with the Craft Project Central card challenge? I've missed quite a few while I was back at work, but now I am ready to start crafting all over again.

I hope you enjoy this card, as much as I enjoyed designing it.

Stamp Sets: Daydream Medallions, Snowflake Soiree, Teeny Tiny Wishes
DSP: Candlelight Christmas
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Real Red, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso
Ink: Real Red, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso
Punches: 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch
Big Shot: Floral Frames Framelits Dies
Other: Basic Rhinestones, Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon (retired)

Enjoy!