My Paper Parade

On the Way

I probably own more Christmas/Winter stamp sets than any other category in my stamp collection.  I have a hard time resisting a good Christmas set.  Today's card is a great example of that.  I resisted for a long time, but finally caved in and bought it.  It was after seeing a similar card to this one on the Stampin' Up! demonstrator website that I finally decided I needed to have it.  I love the color combination, I love the sponging, I love the "star".  I think it evokes the "specialness" of the season.  It is one of my favorites, for sure. 

Christmas is coming

Thankfully I feel a little ahead of the game this year!  I did shop early so that I could hand deliver gifts to my family, and while I was at it I shopped for the other side of the family.  So, most of my list is already done.  Guess that means I have some craft time :) 

I intended on posting a different Christmas card each day while I was gone, but I was not able to make that happen as I hoped.  So, I thought I would take some time over the next few days to inspire you with some Christmas card options.  I know some of you are all ready to get stamping; paper is cut, ink pad is out, snail is on.  But just in case, here's some inspiration.

 
This first card is one of the all-time classic favorites.  It has been around as long as I have been stamping with Stampin' Up! products.  You can't go wrong with crisp Whisper White, Night of Navy and a light dusting of dazzling diamonds!  The greeting on this card has since retired, but there are plenty of current options that you can replace it with.  Lovely as Tree is one of those stamp sets that you hope never goes away, because it is so versatile and useful to have in your stash.  Here is a close up of the sparkle on the trees.  I am not a big glitter lover, so my dusting is light!  You might like a little or a lot more sparkle!  Just remember wherever you put that 2-way glue the glitter will stick!  Enjoy!

Oui, oui!

There is an adorable 8-yr old at my house who loves all things French.  Speaks it (very well I might add, but not in public), desperately wants to visit France, watched every stage of the Tour de France with me this summer on the big screen tv and wants to go even more now!!!  I am just happy with my French Foliage (although I did take 5 years of high school French), I'll stick with the French Foliage!   These little drifting leaf images are so delicate and pretty.  The new striking ribbob is the quilted cherry cobbler in the Holiday Mini Catalog, and it is stunning in real life.  Enjoy!

 

Kraft-ing boxes...

is so easy with the new Kraft Gift boxes on page 15 in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Here is a gift box I played with, along with some of my daytime stampers!  I love the color combo and really enjoyed getting crafty with this little box.  So many possibilities, especially with the holidays coming up.  Fill it with your favorite candy, cookies, ornament.....so many possibilities. 

 

Fall IS here!

There can be no doubt, based on the outside temperature today, that Fall really is here.  Time to pull out that favorite sweater, spiced tea, and get to crafting!  Some of my favorite stamp sets are Fall sets: French Foliage, Falling Leaves, Bright Blessings, Day of Gratitude, Fall Harvest, and the new Gently Falling.  I love the possibilities of leaves and colors this time of year.  You can get super crafty with watercolor, or that gorgeous new pewter embossing powder in the holiday mini catalog!  Here is a super quick and easy fall card, using the Bright Blessings wheel.  I first wheeled the stamp in tangerine tango, and then wheeled certain images in the color of choice (using markers) and then cut around the individual images and popped them up on dimensionals over the wheeled stamp.  So quick and easy, and so full of possibilities....image ALL the color options with this card. 

 
 

No, it can't be....can it?

Is it really possible that it is already October?  I have been super crafty this last month, but also super busy at my other job (which so often interferes with my craftiness!!!!!) 

My favorite project recently, aside from some pretty nice cards, were these pumpkins.  I saw the October cover of Country Living magazine and just knew I had to try it for myself.  The spice cake dsp is just too beautiful to not put it all over a pumpkin, don't you think? 

I have the little cluster sitting with my favorite decor window and it screams Fall!!!!!  And since I tidied up my summer garden and planted some pumpkins instead, it really must be October!  Happy World Card Making Day everyone.  I will be back later with a card to share. 

 

Back to School

We have been back to school for several weeks here, but I haven't had a chance to share this special project here on the blog!  I just couldn't help myself, especially since our teacher this year is beginning her first year, full-time, at the school.  She needed something special on the first day of school!  My daughter is super excited about school this year (and always!!) and this little owl helps convey that message.

Enjoy!

 

Let's try this again...

We've had quite the challenges in our neck of the woods....first an earthquake, just rattled us a little, no damage to speak of.  Then came Irene...lots of rain, some serious wind, and no cable for what seemed liked a really long time.  I feel even worse for some friends who still are not "reconnected". 

So, here I am attempting to get back on track with blog posts!  I have been quite crafty in the last month, so I will share some projects over the next few weeks.  Enjoy!

I had wanted to play with my fabric and incorporate it on a card.  So, this card includes some of my newest favorites: wisteria wonder, flirtatious fabric, polka dot in-color brads, and the party time stamp set!  I chose the "housewarming" greeting from Party Time because the fabric makes this a warm and cozy card, perfect for celebrating a new home!

 
Supplies: CS-Concord Crush, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White. Flirtatious Fabric, Big Shot Top Note Die, Polka Dot embossing folder, Sizzix Multi-purpose Adhesive sheets, Soft Suede 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Twine, Designer Printed Brads. Stamps: En Francais, Party Time, Field Flowers.

Thwarted - again...

I tried, unsuccessfully, over the weekend to get you "caught up" on my blog. For some reason I had trouble getting typepad to work. Hopefully it is all running smooth now and I can catch you up on what I have been up to in my basement!

It just baffles me how time goes by so fast when you need it to slow down, and when you wish it would go fast ,it drags! Does that happen to you too?! Anyway, it's about time I caught you up around here, to what I've been crafting. Quite a few projects have left the basement in recents days, cards have been mailed out, a wedding gift created and given, a couple of big shot purses! Lots of crafting fun, hence no time to post.

Back at the end of June I volunteered at our VBS (Vacation Bible School). The theme this year was Shake It Up Cafe. I offered to help the director create some thank you cards for after the event. There are lots of ideas floating around on the web, but since my time was limited and I knew we needed to make quite a few (because she had an awesome team of volunteers), I minimized what I saw and streamlined the process. Here's what we made!

Patterned Party

I know I am going to over use this new set.  I love all the images, especially the balloons, the pennant, the gift boxes, the....well the whole set really!!!!

Can't wait to try out the pennant happy brithday, but for today I settled on inking up the balloons.  Maybe later I will get some ink on the pennant greeting!