PCS December ~ Winter Whispers

Chilly days are ahead and soon many will retreat to the warmth of indoors.  What better time to catch up on all your paper crafting.

The December issue, Winter Whispers, offers project ideas highlight the beauty of winter.  This month's template, Winter Deer Caddy,  Head on over to Paper Crafters Smapler and pick up your copy today.

Below is a sneak peek at my project this month.  I also wanted to let everyone know that this will be my last project for the PCS.  I have decided to take a break from PCS so I can spend more time on my blog and projects.

Year-End Closeout with discounts up to 80% off

Go to my online store and check out the Year-End Closeouts.  If you see something you want, place your online order right away.

Details:

• Promotion Dates: 5 December 2014 - 5 January 2014.
• No minimum purchase required.
• No refunds or exchanges on Year-End Closeout items.
• Items offered during the Year-End Closeouts are while supplies last.
• Online orders can add non-Year-End Closeout items to their order.
• Year-End Closeouts orders are eligible for hostess benefits with qualifying orders.
• Following the Year-End Closeouts sale, some remaining items may stay in the Clearance Rack. Other items may be removed from the Clearance Rack to be added at another undetermined time.
• Orders must be placed online.  

Deadlines:

Phone orders: January 5, 2015 6:50 pm (MT)
OEX/Online orders: January 5, 2015; 11:50 PM (MT)

Happy Shopping!
Karen

White Christmas Freshly Made Sketch 163

I had to make a quick make-n-take card for an in-home party I had this weekend.  So I sat down and used the Freshly Made Sketch 163 and the White Christmas Stamp Set to create this cute card.  I know this card does not compare to the first card I made using this stamp but I wanted to showcase this stamp set and make it easy for first timers.  I will say that everyone had a fun time creating their unique Christmas Card.

I used the Trim a Tree DSP Stack, Garden Green, Crumb Cake and highlight with a little Early Espresso.

Don't forget the Online Extravaganza  starts today!

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look.

Let me know what you think, I love comments.
Karen

ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA STARTS MONDAY!

Online Extravaganza starts on Monday with select items and bundles at discounted prices. Plus, there will be limited-time doorbusters on November 24 and December 1. You don't want to miss them! This sale lasts from November 24 through December 2, or while supplies last. Learn more about these deals and discover which products (including select Textured Impressions Embossing Folders) are going on sale HERE.

During Online Extravaganza, a few of our past Paper Pumpkin refill kits will be 20% off and available to ALL customers. (Please note that refill kits do not include stamps or ink.) On Monday, we will add two new kits to the existing Paper Pumpkin past kits offering (available to current subscribers only). Visit www.stampinup.com/paperpumpkin on Monday to see the latest kits available.

PCS - November ~ Holiday Fun

Get ready for the holiday with a few of these crafty project ideas from the November Sampler, "Holiday Fun".

This month's template is the Holiday Secret Gift Box.

Below is a peek at my project.

Whimsical Bearing Gifts

Here's a card I made using the Bearing Gifts Stamp Set in the Holiday Catalog.  I just love this image.  These colors are not my normal colors.  To tell you the truth, I think this was the first time I ever used my Tempting Turquoise ink pad.  I only have a couple a pieces of cardstock because I never ordered a pack of paper.  So why did I use Tempting Turquoise?  Well when I watercolored the sky I used Tempting Turquoise and a little Night of Navy.  I wanted a whimsical looking sky.  The bottom of the watercolor paper I took a torn piece of cardstock to mask the bottom and I inked it with versa mark ink, white embossing powder and heat set for the snow.  I stamped the polar bear image on a piece of Whisper White and colored using my markers.  I used my paper snips to cutout the image.   I sprayed the Polar Bear Image and the Night Sky using my Homemade Frost White Shimmer Mist  to it shimmer.  I had a scrap of White Embossed White Paper that I used the cut out the stars using the Confetti Stars Punch.

I hope you like!

Thanks for stopping by and let me know what you think!
Karen

White Christmas Stand Up Card

Card Closed

Well I tried to stay away from the White Christmas Stamp Set in the Holiday Catalog.  I was not sure if I like it but after seeing so many great cards, well you know the rest.  I sat down to play with this set today and it was so much fun.

I came across a card on Pinterest that had this type of fold and I thought this fold would really showcase this stamp set.   I was not sure on the measurements but after a couple searches, I found directions on a Stand-Up Card and used these directions to cutout the card. I added the flap to the center so the card could stand up and showcase the stamp set and give me a place for a message.  The snowflakes and the snow on the trees were made using the White Gel Pen.  The snow on the bottom of the card was made using the White Craft Ink Pad.











Video can be viewed here - https://youtu.be/blvB9Dl15CY

Thanks for stopping by.  Let me know what you think.
Karen  

Gentle Peace

Have you seen the Photopolymer Stamp Set that came out last month?  I fell in love with it when I saw it.  Well to tell you the truth, it has been driving me crazy this past week.  I have tried so many different ways to showcase the image.

When I first saw this set I wanted to use Vellum and do the stain glass technique.  Well I did that with my markers and covered it with clear embossing powder and the vellum just would not sit down correctly.  I still want to go back and work with the vellum and make a window but I thought it would be too much for a class.
  
I went back to see what other people were doing with this stamp.  I saw someone used the window sheet and the Blendabilities.  But when I tried it I did not like the way the markers colored the sheet.  So I just threw in the towel and settled with the Whisper White Cardstock, Memento Ink and Blendabilities.  The colored image was much brighter than on the vellum, which I love.  After the image was all colored in, I covered the image using my VersaMark Ink and Clear Embossing Powder and heat set.  I cutout my image and glued it to a piece of Night of Navy and hand-cut around that image to make a border.

My other two problems I could not figure out was what to do with the background and what colors to use on the image.  I really like the new Filigree Frame Embossing Folder with this set but believe it or not I do not have that one...aarrgghh!!!  I tried a few different ones and settled on the Retired Framed Tulip Embossing Folder.  In my next order, I am ordering that Filigree Frame Embossing Folder because I want to use it on this card.  I settled on Smoky Slate, Night of Navy, Wisteria Wonder and Daffodil Delight.  I do love the way it tried out, don't you?

I have been on the fence about the Blendabilities for a little while.  I do like them with this Stamp Set which is funny because that is why they created this stamp, to showcase the Blendabilities.

Thanks for stopping by and please let me know what you think!
Karen

Winter Wonderland

The other day I came across this video that Amy Kunkle made a Snowman Tag using the circle punches.  I just loved the idea and I had to make a card using her idea.  I was not sure what colors I wanted, at first I started with Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso.  Then I moved onto Garden Green with Crumb Cake but I finally decided on Smoky Slate, Soft Sky and Whisper White. I was trying not to use the Under the Tree Specialty DSP which I really wanted to use, I love this paper.  Since I want to use this card for a Card Class, it is easier to use cardstock and my much loved Snow Flurry Embossing Folder.  I sprayed the Embossed Smoky Slate and the Whisper White paper with the Frost White Shimmer Mist Spray before I added them to the card.  It added that little shimmer I love.  The bigger snowflakes are from an old non-Stampin Up! punch.    The saying from the Newest Project Life Stamp Set - December Wonder.  

Thanks for stopping by and letting me know what you think.

Karen

MOJO370 Many Merry Stars and Lost Lagoon

Here's a couple cards I made using the Snowflake images in the Many Merry Stars Stamp Set from the Holiday Supplement and this weeks MOJO Monday Card Sketch 370.  If you have not noticed, I did not get into the Stars when they first came out. Well until the supplement came out and I just had to get this set.  I could not wait to use it my November Project for the Paper Crafter Sampler.  More information will be posted on November 10th.  I

decide to change it around and use Pool Party, Lost Lagoon, and Silver and only use the snowflakes this time.  I loved the way it turned out.  It looks so much better in person.

I did something different, which I am not sure I am suppose to, but I added some Silver Embossing Powder to my Pool Party Embossing Powder.  I thought to added a little more sparkle to the pool party, and you should know I LOVE SPARKLE especially at CHRISTMAS!  Oh course I had to add some Rhinestones to the centers.

Why two different cards, you ask?  I could not decide on which type of ribbon or saying.  I first used the retired "Peace on Earth" with the Lost Lagoon 3/8" stitched Satin Ribbon.  I changed the saying around, I really wanted to use the Baby It's Cold Outside saying from the Project Life Holiday Cheer Stamp Set (We love that Christmas Song in our house) and used the Lost Lagoon 3/8" Silky Taffeta Ribbon.  I do love them both.

This card was not too hard to put together.  I just had a hard time trying to decide on the layout of the snowflake images.  

I am sorry I have not posted in a couple weeks, I have pictures to post but I have been so busy ever since the Oyster Festival.  Last week I worked on Halloween Treats for my daughters class and 120 treats for my son's school from the PTSO.  This week I am working on my last few Christmas Cards and will be posting those within the week. I will later post pictures of the Halloween Treats and from the Oyster Festival.  I had such a good time and the weather was great (Maybe a little too windy but great).

Thanks for stopping by and letting me know what you think!

Thanks,
Karen

Coast to Coast North Caroline meets Basic Gray

Most of you may remember I have been getting ready for an event this weekend.  I have been working on Nautical Cards to sell at a local Oyster Festival.  (The main reason for my short blog posting.)  Here are a couple cards I made the other day using the Retired Coast to Coast Stamp Set.  I made another card using the North Caroline Stamp a few months ago and I was not crazy about the Marine Mist color on the card.  I wanted to recreate a card using this stamp.  I like the way it turned out.  I love the Basic Gray, Soft Sky and Retired Baja Breeze colors together ( I do miss Baja Breeze).  

Thanks for stopping by and letting me know what you think!

Karen

PCS - October Truly Grateful

Looking to add a personal touch to your Thanksgiving gathering?  This months Sampler, "Truly Grateful" offers a plethora of ideas to bright up the upcoming get-together.  From multi-layered cards, personalized table settings to fun-filled favors, all labeled with your personal touch.

Head on over to Paper Crafters Sampler and get this month's sampler.  

Here is a peek of my card.   

By the Tide Pop-Up Gift Card Holder

I have been wanting to make a Pop-Up Gift Card for awhile now.  I saw a video from Jackie Topa, she always has such great ideas.  With the By the Tide stamp still out on my desk,  I pulled out the Baked Brown Sugar, Blushing Bride and Pool Party cardstock and got to work.  I am going to try and make a couple other ones of these maybe a masculine one but for now I am still working on some feminine cards.  This is the first time, I think I used Blushing Bride and Pool Party together and I really like it.  

Thanks for stopping by and letting me know what you think!

Karen

  

By the Tide - Hello Love

Here's a card that I made using By the Tide Stamp Set.  After making so many masculine cards, I had to change it up a little so I switched to the In-Colors for 2013-2015 (Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Pistachio Pudding).  I love those colors with this stamp set.  The added Crisp Cantaloupe ruffle ribbon and double loop bow, helped give this card the feminine touch I wanted.    

Thanks for stopping by and letting me know what you think.

Karen

Sail Away Craze

Here's another card I made using the Sail Away Stamp Set.  This one is very Masculine Nautical Card.  The colors are Cajun Craze, Marina Mist and Soft Suede.  The piece of Soft Suede I stamped with the Hardwood Stamp using the Early Espresso ink.  I sponged the edges and the piece with Cajun Crazy and Soft Suede ink.  The Cajun Craze helped with the look and reminded me of aged hardwood (The look I wanted to achieve).       

Thanks for stopping by and letting me know what you think!

Karen

Card Redo Sail Away

Last week I was finishing up some leftover card kits, that I neglected to long. This was one of them, it was leftover from this card.  Since I did not have that stamp set or Not Quite Navy Ink pad anymore, I decided to use the Sail Away Stamp and Island Indigo.  I did have to change the card around a little but I like the way it turned out.  I realized I really miss Not Quite Navy and Riding Hood Red after working with them again.  :o( 

Thanks for stopping by and letting me know what you think!

Karen  

  

Retired Sail Away Card

I was using up some of my retired Nautical Paper and made a few of these cards using the Retired Sail Away stamp.  I love this stamp and I almost forgot I had it. The cardbase is Early Espresso with a layer of embossed (Stripes) Sahara Sand, with some retired Early Espresso Ribbon.  I stamped my image with Jet Black Staz On Ink and watercolor using my ink pads and aqua painter. I liked the card fold with this card, I often forgot to use it.

Thanks for stopping by and letting me know what you think!
Karen

  

Cased By the Tide Card

Here are a couple cards I made over the weekend, I was inspired and cased this card that I saw on Pinterest.   I just loved the Night of Navy stripes with the Very Vanilla and Cherry Cobbler. I changed the twine for linen thread and the sayings.  I really liked the way it turned out.

I used By the Tide Stamp Set and the retired Hello Sailor Stamp Set (I was surprised this one did not make it into the main catalog, I love the sayings in this set).

Thanks for stopping by and letting me know what you think.

Thanks,
Karen

 

Stamp Stock and Save Sale from October 1 - 6

Stampin' Up! is so excited about this year's World Card Making Day, that we're having a ridiculous 15% off sale on some of your favorite products! From October 1-6 , you'll be able to purchase select ink, paper, envelops, and adhesive-all at a 15% discount! Select stamps are 20%!

Available Products:

NOTE: ALL INDIVIDUAL INK PADS WILL BE OFFERED AT A 15% DISCOUNT OCTOBER 1-6

Item Number	Stamp Set	Price	After Discount
135540	Grandes nouvelles (Clear) FRA	31.95	25.56
134018	Big News (Clear)	31.95	25.56
134015	Big News (Wood)	43.95	35.16
134288	Playful Pennants (Clear)	16.95	13.56
134285	Playful Pennants (Wood)	21.95	17.56
134198	Choose Happiness (Clear)	17.95	14.36
134195	Choose Happiness (Wood)	24.95	19.96
125682	Quelques Lignes (Clear) FRA	20.95	16.76
122497	Petite Pairs (Clear)	20.95	16.76
128706	Petite Pairs (Wood)	28.95	23.16
135594	Tellement heureuse (Clear) FRA	17.95	14.36
134234	So Very Happy (Clear)	17.95	14.36
134231	So Very Happy (Wood)	24.95	19.96
135653	Y muchos más (Clear) ESP	26.95	21.56

Item Number	Product	Price	After Discount
133681	Card Stock In Color 8-1/2" x 11" 2014-2016	$6.95	$5.91
131200	Card Stock 8-1/2 x 11 In Color 2013-2015	$6.95	$5.91
131190	Card Stock  8-1/2 x 11 Brights	$6.95	$5.91
131193	Card Stock  8-1/2 x 11 Subtles	$6.95	$5.91
131192	Card Stock  8-1/2 x 11 Regals	$6.95	$5.91
131191	Card Stock  8-1/2 x 11 Neutrals	$6.95	$5.91
100730	Card Stock 8-1/2" x 11" Whisper White	$8.50	$7.23

Item Number	Product	Price	After Discount
107297	Envelopes Medium Crumb Cake	$6.50	$5.53
107300	Envelopes Medium Very Vanilla	$6.50	$5.53
107301	Envelopes Medium Whisper White	$6.50	$5.53
102619	Envelopes Medium Clear Translucent	$4.95	$4.21

Item Number	Product	Price	After Discount
129026	Adhesive Fast Fuse	$9.95	$8.46
129027	Adhesive Refill Fast Fuse	$7.50	$6.38

Sunflower Clips

Here's a a few Sunflower Clips I made using the Beautiful Bunch Stamp Set, Fun Flower Punch and some clothespins.  These were very easy and quick to put together.  

These are great to use to top off Gift Bags, Gift Baskets and Refrigerator Magnets Clips (if you add a magnet to the back of the pin).

Thanks for stopping by and letting me know what you think.

Thanks,

Karen

  

The Open Sea Masculine Card

Here's a card that I made using The Open Sea and World Map Stamp Set.  I kept this card monochrome with Early Espresso, and Very Vanilla.  I added some Retired Linen Ribbon and Early Espresso Grosgrain Ribbon to the card to add to the Nautical Theme.  Of Course some sponging with Soft Suede Ink creates a vintage look.  

Thanks for stopping by and letting me know what you think.

Thanks,
Karen

Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad! 

Today is my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary and here's a card I made for them.  I know this is not my normal type of card but I liked the way it turned out.  I used the Brushed Gold cardstock, Fancy Foil Designer Vellum Paper, Very Vanilla, White Vellum Cardstock.  The sayings I used my computer and the RDG codes for Soft Suede for the font and printed it out on the Vellum cardstock. I thought the Soft Suede letters matched the card.  The vellum paper is laid over the Very Vanilla cardstock.  I put my mini glue dots under the foil hearts so it could not be seen.  For the inside of the card I used a little dot of Multipurpose Liquid Glue, it blended well under the vellum and was hard to see which I thought was good. Next time I will use just the Multipurpose Glue with the vellum.   

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Paper Crafters Sampler - September ~ Mischief Makings

The first day of Autumn is just around the corner, which means All Hallow's Eve won't be far behind..

The September issue of the Paper Crafters Sampler, "Mischief Makings" gets you that jump start for your Halloween crafting.  You'll go 'batty' over the treat box, colorful haunts and royal skeletons.

Head on over to the Paper Crafters Sampler and pick up this month sampler.  Below is a look at the card I made.  

Poinsettia Z-Fold Card

Here's a Poinsettia Card I made using an Sizzix Tattered Poinsettia Bigz Dies and Martha Stewart Crafts Medium Punch, Branch,  I know I should not say but I was not impressed with the Holiday Catalog this time around (there are items I like, just not many stamps I like).  I have been eyeing this die for a while now now finally decided to get it,  

I first did this card as a combination of a Z-Fold and Joy Fold card, you can see the it on the sides.  I did not like the way the bow sat on the card and was not crazy about the way it looked standing up, so I changed it to a Z-Fold Card.  The colors are Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green and Very Vanilla.  I did use the Stripes Embossing Folder, Hardwood and That's a ticket Stamp Set.  The corner round edge is an old non SU punch.  I really like the double loop bow in the corner.    

Oh course I sprayed the Poinsettia with my homemade Shimmer Spray after I curved the petals with my bone folder.

Thank you for stopping by and letting me know what you think.
Karen