Snowman ~ Merry Friday

We've had an unusual winter.  Today has felt more like spring with the sun shining, but it is cold outside.  Personally I think if it is going to be in the 30's we need snow.  :)  This card would make a super cute "Thinking of You" or "Get Well" card, but I am planning on using it for Christmas.

I am 2 for 2 with the Merry Monday challenges this year. If I keep up at this rate I won't have to stress about Christmas cards in December.  :)  The challenge this week is to use a snowman.  The snowmen on everyone's cards in the challenge are so cute!  You should check it out if you like snowman too!

MM#91

I'm also linking up to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  The challenge this week is to use embossing.

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Even though we don't have snow on the ground right now I was able to create some of my own snow using embossing paste, a stencil, and some iridescent ice embossing powder.  It was easier than it may sound and I love the results!

The snowman himself was made using white embossing powder, Staz-On ink, a small triangle of orange cardstock and some stickles for his heart.  Did you spot his scarf?  I pierced a hole on either side of my snowman's neck and wrapped some Baker's Twine through the holes, then tied them in a knot. 

Pool Party Baker's Twine was also used to wrap around my Coastal Cabana cardstock. I'm happy to have another card to put in my almost empty Christmas card box.  In addition to Merry Monday Challenge I am linking up to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.   The challenge is to use embossing.  I embossed my snowman with white embossing powder.



Thank you Merry Monday challenge and design team for the fun challenge.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

P.S.  If you are looking for the Birthday Bash Special, CLICKY to find all the links and info.

Stamps: Snowy Day

Ink: Black Staz-On, Versamark, White Staz-On

Paper: Coastal Cabana, Soft Sky, Whisper White

Misc: Pool Party Baker's Twine, White Embossing Paste, Swirl Stencil, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Whisper White Embossing Powder, Corner Punch (retired)

Weathered Snowflake

Did you like the card and video I posted yesterday?  As promised today I have an alternative idea and this card uses Framelits instead of the Cricut.  You could also use a punch and get similar results.   The greeting doesn't say Merry Christmas on it anywhere, so it can be used for any occasion during the cold winter months.

Here's the follow up video showing you my card and thought process behind making the card.  Sometimes inspiration comes when you don't expect it.

Note: If you are not on my blog, you may need to go to this blog post to view the video above.  ;)

In the close up you can see the fabulous weathered wood look achieved by stamping on Marina Mist with craft ink using my new Woodgrain stamp from Watlzing Mouse Stamps.

I'm linking up with the CAS*ology challenge to use a snowflake.  I think this is fitting, don't you?  It's clean and simple and the snowflake takes center stage.  :)  You should check out their fun facts about snowflakes included in this week's challenge.

CAS*ology74

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Supplies Used (SU, unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Snow Day, Festive Flurry, Woodgrain (Waltzing Mouse Stamps)
Ink: Marina Mist, Whisper White Craft, Versamark (small snowflake)
Paper: Marina Mist, WhisperWhite, Soft Sky
Accessories: Festive Flurries Framelits, Silver Embossing Powder

Festive Flurry Clear Mount Bundle

Snow Day

Warm Wishes On A Frosty Morning

This morning when I took my son to Jazz band practice the car thermometer read 26 degrees.  burrr   The grass and mailbox and lamposts were covered in glittery crystals of ice.   My card today has some sparkle to it as well.

Inspiration for this card came from this week's  Mojo Monday sketch.

This card was a fun experiment with White Craft ink.  Let me tell you some things I learned:

1. It takes a looooooooooooong time to dry, even with the heat tool.

2. It dries lighter than it looks when it is applied.

3. You can emboss with it. 

My snowman was so light that I had I had to pour some white embossing powder over him and emboss it.  That worked pretty well though.  Unfortunately when I tried stamping his face over the embossed image the colors didn't show like I wanted them to.  My solution was to dust off those bottles of stickles on my shelves and give him some sparkly color.  While I was at it I added some Diamond Dust stickles to the swirls of snow and snowflakes.

Such a fun card to make and display.  This is card #13 made for this year.  I better get cracking if I am going to make 40 Christmas cards before Thanksgiving.  :)

Creative Blessings,

Heather North

Card Recipe: (all items Stampin' UP! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Snow Day
Ink: White Craft Ink, Gumball Green, Black Staz-On

Paper: Gumball Green, Marina Mist, Pumpkin Pie (carrot nose), White Shimmer
Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Stickles (various colors), White Taffeta Ribbon

P.S.  Today begins the BIG holiday sale at SU!  Click HERE to go shopping!  :)

P.P.S.  If you are looking for the newest StampNation design team reveal click HERE or scroll down to the next post.  ;)

Snow Day

Whisper White Craft Ink

Modern Merry Monday

My Stampin' UP! Christmas order came in last week, and I have been having fun with these winter/Christmas stamps.  I've even found myself singing Christmas carols.  :)  This stamp set almost didn't make the cut.  I only bought it for the sentiment, which I didn't use on this card.  When my order came though, this was the first stamp I pulled out.  :D  Funny how that works.

It's hard to capture the sparkle on this card.  I used glimmer paper, iridescent ice and my Illuminate ink pad.  It shimmers in person.

Lately I've been a bit obsessed with aqua and red.  I never used to like that color combo, but now I LOVE it.  Go figure?!  Dynamic Duos is using that color combo in their challenge this week.  If you like it as much as I do, you should check out everyone's samples.  It's like happiness in a blog post.  :)



DD#77


The color I used is Coastal Cabana instead of Bermuda Bay, but that is just a bit lighter shade of the same color.  I think it still works.  :)  See the bit of glimmer paper poking out behind the "Holly Jolly" tag.  Read the tag and try not to sing the song.  I dare you!

The second challenge I am entering is for Merry Monday.  It's a fabulous challenge to get your Christmas mojo flowing.  Unfortunately I couldn't really focus on Christmas cards until it got cold outside and Halloween was past.  Now it seems easy to make Christmas cards and I'm looking forward to entering more of their challenges.  I might even go back and do some of their previous challenges.




Merry Monday #82

Isn't that inspiration photo yummy?  They asked for circles.  When working with winter cards circles always makes me think of snowmen and snowflakes.  My card has both!

 

Have I inspired you to pull out your Christmas stamps yet?  No worries if I haven't.  This color combo and even the inspiration photo can be used any time of year.  Trust me.  I've been using it since Spring and it still works.  ;)

One of the things I love about this card is that the snowman is looking up into the sky with his arms outstretched to catch some snowflakes. 

 

 

What challenge will I enter next?  I still have a box full of stamps and supplies so it's going to be an inky, glittery week for me.  :)  If I keep up with all these fabulous challenges I just might get my Christmas cards made before December. 

 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

 

Card Recipe
Stamps: Snowy Day, Tags 4 You

Ink: Coastal Cabana, Basic Black, Illuminate Glimmer Pad, Real Red, Versamark

Paper: Basic Black, Coastal Cabana, Silver Glimmer Paper, Whisper White

Accessories: Iridescent Ice EP, Bracket Label Punch

 



Snowy Day



 



Tags 4 You