Festive Tags

Tracey McNeely's 25 tags of Christmas blog hop has me so inspired that I've made 3 more tags and put them on some Christmas cards.

Punches and dies made these tags super simple!  I used my Stampin' UP! Pennant Punch for the triangle banners, then used my sewing machine to attach them to a stitched tag I cut out using the Stitched Duo 1 tag from Pretty Pink Posh.

One of the tags leans to the left, the other one is straight.

Both fit the sketch for CASE this Sketch.  Which one do you prefer?

 

For good measure, I made a 3rd card and changed up the sketch a bit by adding a narrow border on each side.  I smudged my sentiment on this 3rd tag, so I used that as an opportunity to embellish.  ;)  The little sentiment strip was sewn on with my sewing machine to tie into the stitching on the pennants.

All 3 tags fit the current challenge on Addicted to CAS.   Festive makes me think "Christmas & Happy".  Pennant scream FUN to me. 

eta: I just have to link up to one more challenge in honor of my friend, Kristie Goulet's new design team spot over at the Card Concept.  This is an awesome challenge that inspires me every time I visit their blog.  I'm so proud of Kristie in her new role on their design team.  They are lucky to have her with her trendy CAS style!  My cards look like they were created with this challenge and CAS style in mind.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps: Peace On Earth (Verve)
Ink: Versamark
Paper: Crumb Cake, Nordic Noel DSP, Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder, Pennant Punch (SU); Black Baker's Twine, Stitched Duo 1 Die (Pretty Pink Posh); Sewing Machine

Shaker Card for Stampin' Celebration

Merry Monday to you!  For some reason I just can't get enough of making Christmas cards lately.  It's a good thing, because I only have half of mine made.  I  took the new sketch challenge over at Stampin' Celebration and used it to create this fun shaker card!

Along with sequins I added some dazzling diamonds glitter.  It didn't look like a lot when I scooped it out, but it ended up being a bit too much.  Oh well, it's sparkly and fun.  Whoever gets this card is sure to enjoy it.

Be sure to head on over to the Stampin' Celebration blog to see how the rest of the design team was inspired, then link up to your creation.

Stamps: Beauty of the Season, Festival of Trees
Ink: Basic Gray, Pear Pizzaz (SU)
Paper: Whisper White, All Is Calm DSP (SU)
Accessories: Labels Framelits, All Is Calm Sequins, Tree Punch, Dazzling Diamonds (SU); Marshmallow & Sparkling Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

If you would like to see how to make a shaker card like this along with several other trends this holiday season, be sure to check out A Very Trendy Holiday 2.0  

Sew Sunday ~ BOM

Almost every month our quilt guild does a block of the month for a charity quilt.  Some are more challenging than others.  While I like a good challenge in my paper crafting, I love the months that are easy for quilting.   This month's block was one of those easy ones.  YAY!

In fact, this one was so easy and fun to make that I made a couple more blocks the next day to add to my sampler quilt.  This time I played with color placement a little more.  it might be fun to take the same 4 colors and create an entire quilt with different color placement.

My ALYOF goal is not going as well. After careful measuring and marking the first border for mitered corners I sewed on the double border only to find that I had sewn right side to wrong side.  grrrrr.... It had to be ripped out, but a few days before I did this I broke my seam ripper. Murphy's law, right?  I went to town TWICE and forgot to buy a seam ripper.  After I ripped it out, I tried to erase my pen marks only to find I didn't use my erasable pen, instead it was permanent blue ink on a cream fabric.  UGH!  I'm frustrated with it, so I put it aside.

Instead, I picked up the half square triangle blocks from the class I took last winter.  At the time I took the class I didn't really have a stash built up.  I bought some fat quarters and took several squares that my generous guild mates donated to me to pull these blocks together for the class.  Some of these fabrics really just stood out like a very sore red thumb.  I decided to see if I could salvage the quilt, and if not, to just sew these blocks together and get this UFO out the door.

Taking out the fabrics that really didn't belong, and sewing a few more blocks together to even it out helped greatly.  Then I used the trick I learned in class to figure out contrast.

Her trick was to convert the photo to black & white.  In black and white, you can more easily see which blocks need to be moved around, or removed all together.  During the class I tried hard to find contrast without the use of my phone, but yesterday I decided that was silly.  If I had the tool, I should use it until I can spot it without using black & white photos.  As a bonus I have referred often to my pictures on my phone to make sure the pieces stay in the right position for the pattern I am creating.

Thankful Thursday

Last weekend my crafty friend, Lisa, gave me an amazing gift.  It was a "just because you appreciate creativity" gift.  She made a decorative spool holder for baker's twine!  I had to make her a special thank you card for it.  ;)

The top finial has a magnet so I can change out the colors of baker's twine to fit the season or projects I'm working on.  Isn't that awesome?!  Thank you, Lisa!

I used her gift bag as inspiration for my card when I decided on the brown polka dot paper, and pulled the sketch from Retro Sketches for the layout.

rs#139

Isn't that a perfect sketch?  I really wish I had a die to match the curves in the picture, but the stitching on the scallop die tied in nicely with the stitching on the stamp.   The sketch was so fun that I decided to use it for my Merry Monday Challenge card.

This time I used some burlap ribbon and Victorian crochet trim instead of paper.  It still fits the sketch, but ties in the rustic feel that the challenge called for.  If you are keeping track, and I'm sure you're not, this is 3 weeks in a row for me completing the Merry Monday challenge on time.  Woot-Woot!  I'm halfway to my goal of 6 weeks in a row to prepare for sending Christmas cards love meeting goals like this.

MM#133

 Supplies
Stamps: Fall Foliage (My Favorite Things); Beauty of the Season (Penny Black)
Ink: Goldeb Glitz Delicata (Tsukineko); Dark Chocolate (Simon Says Stamp); Versamark (SU)
Paper: Crumb Cake (SU); Misc. patterned paper from my stash :)
Accessories: Early Espresso Embossing Powder - Burlap Ribbon - Victoria Crochet Trim (SU); Stitched Scallop Borders (Lawn Fawn)

25 Tags of Christmas

Tracey McNeeley has a fabulous special she does each year called the 25 days of Christmas. This year she asked the design team at StampNation if we wanted to play along in her challenge.  Of course I said YES!  I love making tags for Christmas gifts.  Sometimes I will even hang tags I've made on our Christmas tree as decorations.

Here is my first tag.

I was so inspired I couldn't stop at just one, so I made a couple more and filmed the video for you!

***Note- If you are reading this post in an email or reader you may need to visit my blog to view the video.  

The second tag is so quick and easy to make!

Here is a close-up, so you can see the shimmer of that Delicata ink.

To make the blog hop even more fun Tracey has prizes and giveaways and she is letting me get in on the fun.  Leave a comment here by November 26th for a chance to win, then be sure to check out Tracey's blog for even more chances to win a prize from one of her fabulous sponsors.

• Reverse Confetti
• Clearly Besotted
• CAS-ual Fridays
• Neat and Tangled
• Paper Smooches
• Lawn Fawn

You will be beyond inspired for all your holiday tag needs this season!

If you are looking for more holiday card and tag ideas, be sure to check out A Very Trendy Holiday 2.0  Clicky for more details.

I'm also entering one of my tags in the Addicted to CAS challenge.

  

Supplies:
Stamps: Compliments of the Season (Waltzing Mouse Stamps); EnFrancais (Stampin' UP!)
Ink: Iced Spruce - Antique Linen - Tea Dye - Gathered Twigs - Weathered Wood (Distress Ink); Golden Glitz Delicata (Tsukineko), Black Hero Hues (Hero Arts)
Paper: Distress Watercolor (Tim Holtz/Ranger); Cartographer (Prima)
Accessories: Metallic Gold Embossing Paste (Wendi Vecchi); Stitched Duo 1 Die (Pretty Pink Posh); Endearing Stencil (Penny Black); Cherry Cobbler Linen Ribbon - Real Red Woven Satin Ribbon (Stampin' UP!)

Sew Sunday ~ November Goals

Sorry for the late post, my sewing friends.  I wanted to get a post up today for my November Goals with Shanna and Melissa on A Lovely Year of Finishes.

November Goals

My goal this month is to get my Jelly Roll Race Christmas quilt top finished.  I plan on adding borders and quilting it before the month is over.  If I can get that done I will work on the binding as well.   In a perfect world I'll have it finished in time for our December guild meeting, but I rarely live in a perfect world.  :)

What are your sewing goals this month?  Do you have any Christmas projects that need to get done?

Washi Tape Christmas ~ Video

Now that the weather is colder, I am super inspired to get caught up on my Christmas card making.  It is my second week in a row entering the Merry Monday challenge.  My new goal is to participate each week in the Merry Monday challenge for the next 6 weeks.   By then I should probably be sending out my cards.

These were the first cards I made for the challenge.  Then I took a closer look at the challenge photo and realized I was supposed to do dry embossing, not heat embossing.

#132

Ooops.... It was an easy fix though.  I just pulled off the top layer and embossed over the sentiment.  The second take is even better than the first.

The gold card has an elegant look to it.   This time I die cut my sentiment instead of stamping it.

eta:  Last night I was looking in my inbox and discovered the new Virginia's View Challenge.  My card is right on trend with her metallics challenge, so I have to link it up there too.  Check out the AWESOME inspiration at her challenge site!

This simple design was so fabulous I decided to make it in another color scheme, and film a video for you.

Note-  If you are reading this post in an email or reader you may need to visit my blog to see the video below.

It was fun to play around with different colored cardstock and washi tape to achieve different looks.

At this point I'm not sure which one is my favorite?  Which one do you like the best?

Now I have 4 cards to add to my pile.  I'm not even tired of the design yet.   Perhaps I should pull out my red and green washi tapes and try for a couple more.  At this rate, perhaps I will be done with my cards early this year.  (ya, right, even I don't believe that one!)

Before I go...

If you haven't yet signed up for A Very Trendy Holiday 2.0 you will want to sign up this weekend.  The coupon code for StampNation members ends soon, and the BONUS Sketches PDF will only be available for those who sign up by Monday.

Click here to learn more about the Very Trendy Holiday card class

Click here to sign up for StampNation and grab your coupon code.

Be sure to check out Merry Monday Challenges and say goodbye to LeAnne Pugliese.   I'm so grateful to her for starting the Merry Monday Challenge blog and inspiring me throughout the year.  Without this challenge I doubt I would make any Christmas cards "out of season".  Her challenges and the design team's creation keep me motivated all year long.

Stampin' Supplies:

Gold Card:
Paper: Gold Foil, Very Vanilla Cardstock (Stampin' UP!)
Accesories:  Eliza Snowflake Die (Simon Says Stamp), Merry Script (Memory Box), Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape (SU)

Crumb Cake Card:
Stamps: Christmas Bliss (Stampin' UP!)
Ink: Versamark
Paper: Crumb Cake (Stampin' UP!)
Accessories: Early Espresso Embossing Powder, Delicate Designs Embossing Folder, Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape (SU)

Lost Lagoon Card:
Stamps: Merry Christmas Message (Hero Arts)
Ink: Lost Lagoon (Stampin' UP!)
Paper: Lost Lagoon, Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: All Is Calm Washi Tape (SU), Eliza Snowflake Die (Simon Says Stamp)

White Card:
Stamps: Merry Christmas Message (Hero Arts)
Ink: Lost Lagoon (Stampin' UP!)
Paper: Silver Foil, Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: All Is Calm Washi Tape (SU), Eliza Snowflake Die (Simon Says Stamp)

Watercolor Alpine Christmas ~ Video

Today is the last day for you to have a chance to win a FREE spot in the A Very Trendy Holiday 2.0 class.  Clicky to leave a comment on the original blog post. Don't worry, if you purchase the class and your name is drawn, you will get a refund.  :)

 So, in light of that, I thought I would share another card inspired by the class.

Creating the background for this card really helped me discover how distress inks and watercolor paper work.  The end piece came out nothing like I envisioned when I started, but that is the beauty of watercolor.

***Note- If you are reading this post in an email or reader, you may need to go to my blog to view the video below.

If you don't have distress inks, you can try this with any water soluble ink, such as Stampin' UP!   Check out yesterday's post to see the watercolor tag I made using SU inks.

Click here to sign up now for A Very Trendy Holiday 2.0

StampNation members, don't forget to pick up your coupon code first.

Not yet a member?  Click here to join the best paper crafting community on the web

Supplies
Stamps: Alpine Christmas (Waltzing Mouse Stamps)
Ink: Chipped Saphire, Iced Spruce, Stormy Sky, Salty Ocean, Tumbled Glass, Weathered Wood (Distress Inks-Ranger); Versamark (SU)
Paper: Distress Watercolor Paper, Whisper White
Accessories: Frosted Sequins Embellishments, Basic Rhinestones,  White Embossing Powder (Stampin' UP!)

Frosted Sequins Embellishments

Goosey Night & A Winner

Have you ever heard about Goosey Night?  Until a couple of weeks ago I had not, but then Maureen posted the challenges for the Design Team at StampNation to work on for today.  Thankfully I don't need to know anything about this night of mischief to create my Nighttime Challenge card.  Here's a sneak peek.

And now for the moment you have all been waiting for.... the winner of a FREE Spot in A Very Trendy Holiday 2.0....

Drum Roll Please...

Number 10

Congratulations, JoAnn.  Send Catherine an email and she will hook you up with your free class.   Even if you didn't win a spot, you can still join the class. Yesterday Catherine Pooler put up a new video giving you a sneak peek inside the classroom.

Click HERE to view the video or sign up.

Click here to join StampNation and pick up your $10 off coupon. 

Watercolor Sympathy ~ Stampin' Celebration

It seems as though I have had to make an abundance of sympathy cards for my friends lately.  They will never be my favorite card to create, but they are some of the most important cards I make. When a friend loses a loved one I like to make a sympathy card for their family.  As I make the card I think about them and pray for them.  It's a way of healing and connecting for me, and it personalizes each card.  

This card was made for one of my cardmaking friends.  She has taught me just how beautiful a Clean And Simple (CAS) card can be.  My color inspiration came from the gorgeous photo at Stampin' Celebration. 

Doesn't that spark your creative mojo?  I'm in love with the yummy colors and plan to make another card inspired by this photo.  Perhaps a birthday card or even a Christmas card.  I hope you will check out the challenge and see what my fellow design team members have created.  I can't wait to see what you come up with using this inspiration photo.

One last thing before I go.   Tomorrow is the last day leave a comment on THIS POST for your chance to win a spot in the A Very Trendy Holiday 2.0 online card class.   :)  

Supplies
Stamps: Flora and Fauna (Wplus9), Forever in our Hearts (Verve)
Ink: Blushing Bride - Lost Lagoon- Pink Pirouette - Soft Sky - Versamark (Stampin' UP!), Aqua Mist (PaperTreyInk)
Paper: Soft Sky - Whisper White (SU), Distress Watercolor Paper (Tim Holtz)
Accessories: Sparkling Clear Sequins - Stitched Duo 1 (Pretty Pink Posh), Aquapainter - White Embossing Powder (SU)