December Stamping Projects - Christmas Card Parade!

Merry Christmas and happy holidays! Finally I get a chance to sit down and share some of my Christmas cards. It's been far easier to share them on Instagram (@yourfriendchristine77). Normally I would provide more detailed instructions, but as you can see, I made a lot of different cards. Instead I'll share how I go about designing so many cards in such a short time.

First, I study the fall holiday catalogue long and hard. Sometimes there are sample ideas that I want to CASE (Copy And Steal Everything) or techniques I want to try.

Second, I take out my stash of scrap paper and start making sketches. My grade 6 teacher always taught us that paper has two sides and I never forgot this advice :-) I fold the paper into fourths and cut it apart. Sometimes sketches are detailed, sometimes they aren't. I jot down notes about colours and stamps along the way. All good ideas start with a sketch, even if it is on a napkin.

Third, I look through my stash. New stuff is always fun, but sometimes I want to mix and match. For example, last year's Beautiful Baubles set really compliments this year's Christmas Gleaming set. I also start gathering cardstock or DSP. Usually I put one project to a dollar store basket to stay organized.

Fourth, I order stuff! Yeah, you knew that part was coming :-) As a demonstrator, I get sneak peeks and can order a month ahead of regular customers, w00t!

Fifth, I start writing down all the steps I need to do. This isn't just because I love lists--it's easy to forget a step or measurements. If I want to go back and figure out how I made a card or what I used, then I can.

After that, the making magic part happens. I still work full time, so one evening I might cut paper or make bases and leave stamping and colouring for the weekends. If I can carve out an hour a night with Netflix, I'm doing pretty good! Usually I make cards in sets of ten so I have one to keep for my sample binder.

Lots of ink went into these moose cards with layers of Pool Party, Granite Gray and Petal Pink ink for a wintry look.

Strokes of orange and white pencil crayon on Real Red cardstock make the cardinal pop. For extra shimmer I used gold glitter glue on the branches. A fun and simple and card!

This very festive card was a quick make with the matching punches. Gold ink dots add an extra touch.

More fun with punches! Mint Macaron and Cherry Cobbler are made for each other. The Stamparatus was a big help with this card.

Colouring can be a challenge. I used strokes of purple and blue chalk pastel to create a night scene. The trick is to remove some of the pastel with an eraser to simulate moonlight.

And there you have it! 45 cards to give and five to show off in my sample binder. There actually is a sixth card but I'll reveal it later as I'm not quite happy with them :-) Enjoy the warmth of the holidays and I'll see you back in the new year with Sale-A-Bration!

My First Papercrafting Retreat

Last month I did something super fun - I went to my first retreat for cardmakers and scrapbookers. It was always on my bucket list, but the timing didn't work out. Hosted by Stamping with Rose, I spent three wonderful days with just my mom, my ideas and my supplies. I didn't actually know what to expect, so I threw a bunch of things and my old Big Shot into a suitcase and knew that something would come out of it. The real advantage of a retreat is the distraction free zone it provides. You can get up early or stay up late. You can chat with friends or fire up Netflix. You can spread out across your table or build a little fortress of stamp cases and ink pads. It's totally up to you!

6' tables meant lots of elbow room!

One of the gals told me that most people find their first retreat overwhelming and it's true! The second time is more organized. What should you bring to your first retreat? Here's what I recommend:

• baby wipes and Stampin' Scrub
• paper trimmer and ruler
• ruler
• scrap paper for sketching
• adhesive - the more the better!
• dollar store baskets for keeping organized
• plastic cases for storing finished cards
• a water bottle and snacks

A retreat is also a good way to polish off any kits or Paper Pumpkins kicking around the craft room. Many attendees were busy with Christmas cards. So many ideas came out of the retreat and I made about three dozen cards. I'm really hoping that the timing for the spring retreat works out in my favour next year :-)

Just a few ideas I came up with!

One of many make and takes

Hooray! Purple Posy ink pads are finally here :-)

Note: SU! announced November 5th that Purple Posy inks and inkpads are unorderable. There were just too many inconsistencies. The paper and markers will continue to live on.

I love purple so much that I just have to dedicate an entire blog post to Purple Posy, one of the 2019-2021 "in" colours. In colours are five special colours that are produced for two years in ink and paper. Sometimes they do come back - as Peekaboo Peach, Watermelon Wonder and Mint Macaron did last year during the colour refresh. Purple Posy's release was delayed due to quality issues even though paper and markers were readily available. I'm glad it was sorted out. There are rich purples, light purples, red purples, blue purples and every purple in-between that having a lighter shade makes Purple Posy is the perfect companion to all the new purples that came out last year, speaking of that. Here's how they stack up:

As you can see, Purple Posy is a very cool purple with tones of blue. It is also not super light like like Petal Pink or Blushing Bride ink. Now just to find the perfect project for Purple Posy!

August Stamping Project - Lakeside Thank You Cards

August was a pretty chaotic month with a lot of changes at work. One of my long-time co-workers left to pursue a new adventure in another province and I was stuck for a gift. I didn't want to give her a card, so I gave her a bunch of cards. These cards were put together on short notice in two evenings. I didn't even sketch it out - just hoped that everything would come together!

This isn't the first time I combined Lilypad Lake and Waterfront sets. They compliment each other very well. All I needed for the cards were some Very Vanilla bases, Whisper White cardstock fronts and scrap Pretty Peacock cardstock. I made a mask from scrap paper for the clouds and sponged around it. A little Memento and markers and the sailboats were coloured in. There were very few steps required in the end.

If I were to make this card again, I would add a background stamp - Birch maybe - to the bases. There will be more thank you sets in the future. It's a gift that just keeps on giving :-)

July Stamping Project - Proud Peacock

Sooooooo I don't need to apologize for my love of birds, but it is exciting when birds show up in the SU catalogue. This is the third time that I know of that a peacock has graced a stamp set. The Royal Peacock photopolymer stamps and matching Royal Peacock Detailed Dies are ornate and perfect for a touch of class or style. I just wish that there were some feather stamps to go along with the peacock. I ended up making two cards as I wasn't satisfied with the first. Sometimes a card is a problem solving journey. It began with a sketch, like all good ideas:

Click for larger

However, the reality was that the peacock stamp and the Heirloom Frames oval die were too large to use together. Another oval would have to do. Tip: Die cut first before embossing for best results. I cut a bunch of front panels from a 6x12" piece of peacock paper and tried different embossing folders on them. I liked Subtle embossing folder because it leaves just a hint of an impression. Since I was die cutting and embossing anyway, I also made a panel with the Layered Leaves 3D embossing folder.

Now back to the card...sample 1 started with a white base and I stamped all over it with Old Olive and Pretty Peacock. That seemed too loud, so I toned it down by sponging the same colours on top. Looking good!

I die cut the branches from the matching set with copper foil cardstock, but as I assembled the pieces together, it was not looking right. Instead of being harmonious, all the elements were screaming at each other. Oops! A piece of Balmy Blue cardstock and some sponging around the edges with Pretty Peacock brought calm to the storm. It covered up all my work to this moment and I was glad! A sentiment, a circle punch and a little touch of gold ink completed the card.

Card 1 - click for larger

For the second card, I went for tone on tone. I stamped a Pretty Peacock base with the flowers in Pretty Peacock ink and the effect was more subtle than a white base. As Stampin' Up! does not sell a gold ink pad, I edged the base and embossed panel with gold ink from another brand. The differences between the bases really changed things up.

Card 2 - click for larger

So, I guess that's my free advice this month - don't be afraid to make extras, cut extras, stamp extras - you never know when you need to change your design. And if not, there always another project waiting in the wings!

June Stamping Projects - My Sampler Swap Cards

Whew! Enough of the mystery. You have seen the sketches for my swap cards. You have seen some of the swap cards I received! Now it's time for the big reveal! One thing you might notice is how different the final card is from the sketches. An idea scribbled at work takes a few turns once the shapes and sizes are all laid out. Click on each picture for a larger version.

Each card had a secret challenge:

1. How to make a lot of designs with just a few stamps - stamped the bird group upside down for the border.
2. Where to place the sentiment with so much going on - tuck it on the side.
3. How to fill in some empty gaps - add die cut leaves.
4.  How to make sponging easier - make a stencil with scrap cardstock!
5.  How to add a touch of class and delicateness - die cut vellum cardstock

Balmy Blue, Very Vanilla and Crumbcake cardstock

So Saffron cardstock and Petal Pink ink for the background

Crumbcake, Very Vanilla and Soft Suede cardstock

Mint Macaron cardstock and So Saffron ink

Petal Pink and Granite Gray cardstock

I made 50 cards to be on the safe side for the swap and I really enjoyed trying to come up with new ideas by using the paper and stamps in the Bird Ballad suite. Stay tuned for next month's project!

June Sampler Swap Cards

Before I show off my swap cards, let me show off some of the ones I received. It was a super fun time to meet up with the gals, trade cards and talk about the techniques we used. Remember that everyone picked a set from the current catalogue and made five different designs, one for everybody in the swap. Click on any of the pictures to see the larger version.