To the Nines
Posted: February 9, 2009 Filed under: Designer Paper, Lovely as a Tree Leave a comment
I have been playing with another new product from the Spring/Summer catalog: To the Nines Specialty Designer Paper which is textured and cardstock weight. Like the designer papers there is a different pattern on each side. I know this cardstock does have hearts and paisley on it but I thought it could almost pass as a “male card”. I stamped the trees in Chocolate Chip on the front panel and then without re-inking stamped them on the corner of the inside panel and added the sentiment. I have matted the front with Chocolate Chip and Sahara Sand and the inside with just Chocolate Chip.
Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Pocket Silhouettes
Inks: Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Saraha Sand, To the Nines Specialty D.P.
Also: Chocolate grosgrain ribbon
Still winter
Posted: January 9, 2009 Filed under: Lovely as a Tree, Snowflakes, Stamp Simply challenges, Stamped Landscapes 2 CommentsMy children are big Narnia fans, so when I saw Sharon’s challenge this week I thought of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe where in Narnia it is “always winter, but never Christmas”. So although, we may use the same stamps we used at Christmas, the challenge is to make a card that says “Winter” It is very much “still winter” here and we had a snowstorm this week to prove it.
For my card I decided to continue playing with the snowy landscape idea, once again using Lovely as a Tree. I punched a small moon out of a post it note and tore a strip of paper to mask my snow at the bottom. I sponged in all the sky first using summer sun, apricot appeal and pumpkin pie. Then I stamped the background trees in grey with the mask still in place. I then swapped the mask over and covered the sponged sky and lightly stamped the trees upside down to try and make a shadow. It didn’t work that well so I sponged more shadow in grey. Finally I stamped two black trees and a greeting.
It’s nice to be stamping again. Thanks for stopping by.
Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Snowflakes
Inks: Summer Sun, Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, Going Gray
Cardstock: Whisper White, Apricot Appeal, Going Grey, Basic Black
the wondrous gift is given
Posted: December 13, 2008 Filed under: Lovely as a Tree, Stamped Landscapes, Wondrous Gift 4 Comments
Last night I sat down and wrote in most of my Christmas cards, discovering in the process that I needed a few more. The inspiration for this one was a picture I saw on a friend’s blog yesterday. This kind of scene can be seen around here quite often at sunset or sunrise.
To make it I tore a piece of card to place across the bottom to mask my snowy area. I positioned it at the bottom before stamping the trees in versamark. I embossed them with black and then positioned the masking strip a little higher before sponging my sky, first in Pretty in Pink, then Almost Amethyst, Going Gray and Bashful Blue. I sponged a little Amethyst behind the trees and stamped some background trees in Going Grey. To give the foreground snow a bit of definition I tore tiny strips out of a piece of paper and sponged through the holes.
Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Wondrous Gift
Inks: Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink, Going Gray, Bashful Blue, Versamark
Cardstock: Whisper White, Almost Amethyst, Basic Black
Also: black e.p.
Celebrate with candles
Posted: December 9, 2008 Filed under: Lovely as a Tree, Rollers 6 CommentsDay 10 of Stamp Simply Celebrates! I have a candle and matching box to share today, but first I’ll let you know about all the celebrating going on elsewhere:
Leslie Miller – Running With Scissors – Today we are treated to the beauty of Leslie’s work with her Featured Project where she is showing us how to Alter Food Packaging to turn it into a wonderfully warm, cozy, and sweet gift item that anyone would love to receive! And it’s something we can all easily do! I know you won’t want to miss this, so be sure to visit Leslie today.
You can see more great samples of Leslie’s Project by: Dee, Jennifer
Joan Fricker – Joan’s Garden – Joan offers us a beautiful Featured Project today — who doesn’t love beautifully presented Soap and Candle Gifts! Well, especially these soaps and candles! And you can make your own as a part of Joan’s Challenge, with inspiration from many. Be sure to check out this sweetly scented event!
And there are many more samples of Joan’s Challenge. Check out: LeAnne, Dee, AJ, Barb, Darlene, Janine, Sharon and me!
Anyone can play ANY of the challenges by ANY of the hostesses during our 12 days of Stamp Simply Celebrates!!! You DO NOT need to have a Blog to play — uploading your project to SCS (Splitcoaststampers.com) is not only permissible, but HIGHLY ENCOURAGED. When doing so, use the KEYWORD SSC08. Thanks!
Tammy Hershberger – Stamp Happy – Tammy is offering BLOG CANDY today!
It is great to be playing along in the Stamp Simply Celebrations. I enjoyed decorating a candle and matching box for Joan’s challenge today. I stamped three navy trees on tissue paper then used wax paper and a heat gun to melt them onto the candle. I have a tutorial explaining how to make a box and candle HERE. The trim on the box and candle wrapper were made with the retired Pine Bough roller from Stampin’ Up. The box and lid were made from night of navy cardstock, with panels of vanilla stuck on the sides of the box.
Supplies:
Stamps: Pine Bough roller, Lovely as a Tree
Inks: Night of Navy
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Very Vanilla
Also: Navy grosgrain ribbon, pillar candle (IKEA)
Stamp Simply Celebrates Day 5
Posted: December 5, 2008 Filed under: Designer Paper, Home for Christmas, Lovely as a Tree 15 CommentsThe party continues at Sharon’s blog today so drop in and see her own Stamp Simply Challenge then pop over to see
Barb Schram – Explore. Dream. Discover. – Barb has an offering of BLOG CANDY today!
Cathy Tidwell – Cat’s Creations – CAT, too, has BLOG CANDY to offer today, but she has more!!! She has created a Sketch Challenge for you as well. You can see the sketch over at Cat’s Creations, so be sure to stop!!! (NOTE: Cat’s Challenge and Ssharon’s challenge can tie in together well and you can get two challenges done on one card!!!)
Here is my card for CAT”S challenge:
I think I qualify for Sharon’s challenge also, using a non-traditional Christmas stamp and non-traditional Christmas designer paper. I used Cerise Designer paper for this card, cutting out the little squares and placing brads in them for the detail down the side. I used Creative Memories oval cutters for the central image.
Please check out these fabulous blogs to see samples of CAT’s Sketch Challenge: Darlene, AJ, Leslie, Julie, Susan. And please bear with us all as we are uploading throughout the night — all will be posted by morning.
Anyone can play ANY of the challenges by ANY of the hostesses during our 12 days of Stamp Simply Celebrates!!! You DO NOT need to have a Blog to play — uploading your project to SCS (Splitcoaststampers.com) is not only permissible, but HIGHLY ENCOURAGED. When doing so, use the KEYWORD SSC08. Thanks!
Supplies:
Stamps: Home for Christmas, Lovely as a Tree
Inks: Riding Hood Red
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Cerise Designer paper
Also: Red hemp twine, red brads
Celebrate by stamping a simple postcard
Posted: December 2, 2008 Filed under: Lovely as a Tree 14 CommentsStamp Simply Celebrates got off to a fabulous start on Monday morning over at No Time To Stamp. Sharon is giving away some candy and Janine has a Cookie Recipe exchange on her blog with candy as well. Today the fun continues with Becky, Sharon and Darlene.
Becky at Hemidemisemiquaver Design – has a beautiful Featured Project showing us some of her over-the-top Gift Packaging Ideas. She also has some BLOG CANDY to share.
Sharon, our fabulous hostess at No Time To Stamp? – has more BLOG CANDY today, so pop over there.
Darlene at Dar’s Crafty Creations is hosting a fun Challenge today, where I am participating as a guest designer. The challenge is to keep the card light and the postage low by making a Christmas postcard. Make sure you drop in at Darlene’s to see her great ideas and those of her guest designers also.
Janine Orchard’s sample found HERE
Dee Jackson’s sample found HERE
Leslie Miller – HERE
LeAnne Pugliese – HERE
The festivities last for 12 days so any time you want to see what is happening next there is a PARTY CENTRAL post on Sharon’s blog with all the details. Just look way up the top above her banner and you will see it.
Anyone can play ANY of the challenges by ANY of the hostesses during our 12 days of Stamp Simply Celebrates!!! You DO NOT have to have a Blog to play — uploading your project to SCS (Splitcoaststampers.com) is not only permissible, but HIGHLY ENCOURAGED. When doing so, use the KEYWORD SSC08. Thanks!
Here is my postcard for Darlene’s Challenge:
After fiddling around with a few stamps I decided to try making a traditional postcard scene. This one is inspired by a picture in a book I am reading my son at the moment. I stamped the trees first and then embossed in clear. I then used a versmarker to draw some snow on the branches and embossed in white. I masked my snow with a piece of paper, spotted the stars with the versamarker and embossed in white, before brayering over. I’m not sure whether it was the paper or my technique but I didn’t get good coverage with the brayer so I did some sponging on the sky as well. Finally I added the little moon and a little sponged shadowing on the snow.
Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree
Inks: Night of Navy, Pretty in Pink, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Basic Black Versamark.
Cardstock: White
Also: Clear and white e.p., Brayer, sponges
Moonlit Skate
Posted: November 12, 2008 Filed under: Lovely as a Tree, Stamped Landscapes, WInter Post 3 Comments
My inspiration for this card was a similar card my daughter and a friend of hers designed. When I bought the Winter Post set, I wasn’t sure what to do with the skaters but their idea of a tree lined skating rink definitely appealed to me. I wonder how long before it begins to look like this outside?
To begin I tore a piece of paper to be about the size of the rink which I used to mask the space while I stamped the trees. I stamped the small trees, which are just the top of the tree from Lovely as a Tree, with Night of Navy and versamark. The larger trees in the front I stamped in Basic Black and versamark, then I embossed them all with clear embossing powder. To fill in the forest I stamped the tree over and over in Night of Navy creating some dark and some lighter trees. I stamped the skaters in black and then coloured with some Stamping markers and some watercolour pencils. It is hard to see but there are some skate marks embossed with iridescent ice. The sponging on the ice is Bashful Blue. The moon was an afterthought, embossed with white e.p. The sky was brayered with Brocade Blue, Navy and a little Black.
I realise that a picture or two of the process would be more helpful than all my description here but I just haven’t had time lately to do a tutorial. Some time soon I hope. Thanks so much for dropping in.
Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Winter Post
Inks: Night of Navy, Brocade Blue, Bashful Blue, Basic Black Versamark.
Cardstock: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Night of Navy
Also: Clear and white e.p., watercolour pencils, Stamping markers, Blue Taffeta ribbon, Brayer
Sunrise or Sunset?
Posted: November 7, 2008 Filed under: Lovely as a Tree, Stamped Landscapes 3 Comments
Remember I set my self a “keep it simple, cards in less than half an hour challenge”? Well I did make a card in less than half an hour and then sat for quite a bit longer making this one. I am not entirely happy with it but I learnt a few things as I was making it, which should help make my next attempt better. There is more definition in the trees in the left and right hand corners in real life, but I didn’t capture it with the camera. That is one area where I should be able to improve the sponging by taking it a bit slower and building it up only to the point where you can still see the tree outlines. It looks brown in the picture but it is actually black. But that is enough excuses!
It was really a trial and error process creating this scene, I stamped the trees in yellow first and then versamark/black a little offset. This was an attempt to get the look of light coming through the trees. It looked odd so I decided to brayer it instead. I started with Summer Sun , then Apricot Appeal and finally Pumpkin Pie at the top. The only other time I had tried using my brayer on a card I had ended up with lines and patches, but I have been reading Michelle Zindorf“s tutorials ( can you tell!?!) and she said plenty of ink, over and over. I used a piece of paper to mask the lake area and a punched out circle for the sun. Originally the sun was pale yellow and looked almost white. Even though this is often what the sun looks like when it is rising it didn’t look right so I masked the sky and sea and sponged the sun in orange, the colour I’ve occasionally seen at sunset. The lake is sponged in Turquoise and Not quite Navy.
Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree
Inks: Summer Sun, Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, Only Orange, Tempting Turquoise, Not quite Navy, Versamark.
Cardstock: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Basic black
Also: Circle Punch, Brayer
Two favourites
Posted: October 25, 2008 Filed under: Designer Paper, Lovely as a Tree 1 Comment
I pulled out two old favourites for this card and combined them with a new favourite of mine, Riding Hood Red. Lovely as a Tree is definitely a favourite set of mine. I’m not sure where I read it but I believe it is the most popular set Stampin’ Up has ever had. I admit I don’t usually stamp it in red, but I wanted to use some of another old favourite, the Cerise designer paper from a year or so back. The patterns in this set of paper were perfect for making Christmas cards, the designs reminded me of Scandinavian embroidery.
Other than layering the designer paper strip with red and vanilla cardstock all I did was make a tag to be tied on with red hemp twine and also drag the edge of the vanilla rectangle on the Riding Hood Red stamp pad. I have one more gift set of cards which I will post soon, then I will be moving onto to other gift ideas.
Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Fundamental Phrases
Inks: Riding Hood Red
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Cerise d.p.
Also: Red Hemp twine
Colour blocking
Posted: April 11, 2008 Filed under: Lovely as a Tree, Spring Song Leave a comment
Even though Sharon’s new Stamp Simply Challenge is up today I am just getting last week’s onto the blog. The reason for the delay being the disappearance of our camera. It is still missing but I borrowed a friends’ so I have this one card to share. We have looked all over the house and don’t know quite where to look next.
I rarely use colour blocking on cards so this one is quite different from my usual style. I had the whole background done in blocks of the same colour originally but it needed the variety of colours. It is faint but there is a tree stamped in chocolate in the bottom left hand corner
Supplies:
Stamps: Spring Song, Lovely as a Tree
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Basic Black
Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Garden Green, Sahara Sand
Also: Watercolour pencils, Chocolate grosgrain ribbon
Heather Telford 
