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!

Pennant Parade Be Mine

It's Valentine's Day tomorrow! Fingers crossed the roses have been ordered, the chocolates are wrapped and dinner will be delivered. These days, with three kids under 3, we don't eat out as much as we'd like to. We never really ate out on Valentine's Day either.
Being in the industry, I know what a crazy mess dining out on Valentine's Day is. Only tables of 2, two or three different seatings mean you have to get in, eat the set menu and get out before the next round of diners files in. It's not particularly romantic to eat out on Valentine's Day.
My husband and I much prefer to go out for a long brunch the first Sunday following the day of romance. It's less rushed, we eat slowly, read the newspaper, drink lots of coffee and we love brunch. You can eat anything and get away with it - eggs & bacon, roast beef and potaotes, desserts - you name it, it's all up for grabs.

My last card celerating Love for this year uses Pennant Parade and the new stamp set from SAB - Outlined Occasions. Although any stamp with a small greeting/sentiment would work well here.
I hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow, and if you aren't with the one you love, at least treat yourself well - buy some flowers, head to the spa, buy some nice bubbly wine on the way home and then order in your favourite dinner.

Stamp Sets: Outlined Occasions (SAB), Tiny Tags, Pennant Parade
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Basic Black
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, StazOn Jet Black
Punches: Petite Pennants Builder Punch, 1/2" Cirlce, 3/4" Circle, Small Heart Punch
Other: 5/8" Basic Black Satin Ribbon, Snail Adhesive, Stampin Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots (to hold ribbon/bow in place).

Enjoy!