Still Stamping

Forecast: Frost Today, Snow Coming Soon!

Well, there was a heavy frost this morning, but no snow actually forecast just yet here in York County, PA, but since we're into November, it won't be long until the white stuff arrives.  So in anticipation of that first snowfall and of Christmas, here's my version of a card I've seen two lovely versions of online (by Kelly Acheson and by Sandy Hancock).  Both of the inspiration samples were portrait orientation, but I chose to rotate my card 90 degrees and make it a landscape orientation instead.

 

Are you playing along in the Royal Jester's riddle game this week?  Here's clue 3:

 

I'll be back tomorrow with another project to share PLUS another two clues!

 

 

Deck the Halls with Bells and Boughs

 

My favorite stamping style is Vintage, so the Vintage Christmas Card Bundle (one of the current promotion items being offered by Stampin' Up!) was a definite "must-have".

The background of my card has been embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, another exclusive by Sizzix for Stampin' Up! and the Big Shot.  And behind the oval greeting, you'll see the brand new Decorative Label Punch.  Instead of Very Vanilla, I chose Shimmery White card stock, because it is absolutely perfect for watercoloring, and it adds that extra shimmer.  Very classy.

 

Punch a Pile of Presents

 

Sometimes Stampin' Up!'s fabulous Designer Series Paper is all you need to create a fantastic card with very little stamping.  This card is an example.  The packages are small squares and rectangles that I cut from scraps of Candy Cane Christmas DSP and topped off with "bows" punched with the scallop circle punch.  The other punch is the tiny Jewelry Tag Punch!  Isn't it perfect for that little gift box?

I'd like to give credit to the originator of this idea, but unfortunately, there wasn't a name or watermark on the photo I saw.  But I am grateful nonetheless to the designer of the card that inspired me to make this one.  Thanks!

 

Candy Cane Gift Card Holder

 
If you have people on your Christmas gift list that are hard to buy for, they'll be sure to appreciate a gift card (or cash!) presented in this beautiful gift card holder.  It's a fun an easy way to spice up a gift card, and it'll show that you did indeed take the extra time to make their gift extra special.

DSP:  Candy Cane Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper

Stamp set:  A Cute Christmas

Demonstrators - the template for this particular gift card holder is available on Sudsol.  You can check it out by clicking on the link in the margin.  You'll love the vast resources that Sudsol has to offer.

 

Three for the Holidays

 

The next in my A Cute Christmas / Candy Cane Christmas series is this classic landscape layout.  It's hard to see the texture on the base card, but it has been embossed with the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder - a Stampin' Up! exclusive for the Sizzix Big Shot.  The little images of A Cute Christmas
 
are sized for punching, making for easy layering and quick cards.

 

Snowmen Will Melt Your Heart

I'm a sucker for snowmen.  What's not to love about them?  After any big snow storm here in Hanover, PA, I like spotting the creative snow people that the local kids and their parents have built in their yards to make passersby smile.  This little guy is a tiny one, perfect for punching out with a circle punch and mounting on a 4" square card.

 

The background is sparkly, another design from Candy Cane Christmas Specialty DSP.  The dots ended up reminding me of red snowballs!

 

Candy Canes Are So Sweet!

 

 

Candy Cane Christmas DSP again, and the stocking image and greeting from A Cute Christmas - this time with Pink Pirouette and Real Red card stock and a punched border. 

Handmade for your Holidays

 
We're fast approaching the biggest holiday season - Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukah, New Year's.... so I guess I'd better get busy with some posting some of my holiday projects.  Maybe you'll find a little something to inspire you.

The first few I'll share are ones I made for a display at a recent Proverbial Stampers meeting.  My upline, Connie Heisey, asked me to do this display, and I find it hard to say no to her - she's always so supportive and generous to her downline.  AND.... she's now been promoted to Sr. Advisor - the highest level a demonstrator can achieve.  And she's the first to do it, too.  Congratulations, Connie.  Your dedication and hard work has paid off.

The layout is one we used at the Oct. 1 Regional Seminar in Baltimore, MD.  Stampin' Up! provides us with many ideas to help us grow our businesses and learn new stamping techniques. 

The colors for this sample came directly from the Candy Cane DSP - Real Red, Baja Breeze, Garden Green and Whisper White.  Can you see that sparkle on the DSP?  It's one of the Specialy Designer Papers - so gorgeous for the holidays.

And here's a photo of Connie at the meeting last Saturday here in Hanover. 

 

Come back tomorrow for another Christmas card I have to show you!

 

Christmas Greetings

Before Christmas is gone, I really must get some of my Christmas projects posted for you.  Although it is too late for this year, I hope that they'll go into your files for ideas for Christmas 2010.  My baking is mostly done, presents mostly wrapped, cooking mostly done, and now to get to the cleaning and the rest of the first three tasks I mentioned.  No time for stamping for the next few days, that's for sure.

All of the projects I'm showing you today were designed for my holiday classes, workshops, clubs, and for my personal use.  I thank everyone who shared their ideas for my own inspiration.  The first card features Serene Snowflakes.  If you have been considering purchasing it, don't procrastinate any longer~!  It's only available until Jan. 3.  The central panel (in Brushed Gold card stock) was cut with the Two Tags die and my Big Shot.  I also used lots of punches for the main focal image, and finished it off with a rhinestone brad.

The ornament punch and coordinating stamp set Delightful Decorations have been big hits with stampers this season, and with good reason.  This card has lots of layers, and the texture is provided by the flocked Designer Series Paper (Christmas Cocoa), the dimensionals that pop the layers up, the gem and the silver cording.

The idea for this card came from a gift bag we made at a group event.  I'm blessed to be part of a large and active group here in the Hanover, PA area, with a fantastic upline (Connie Heisey) and wonderful sideline friends.  The tree on the card is another Big Shot project - the Plenty of Petals embossing folder and the Scallop Circle die!  There are also two punches - the word window punch makes the trunk, and the star punch for the tree topper, of course.

Finally, I'm sharing this table favor I designed based on one given to me by Cindy Fodor of Littlestown, PA.  I resized it to hold four Hershey's Bliss chocolates.  Look at the side view:

  I think these would be perfect for any occasion, just by changing the embellishment.  Interested in the dimensions?  Leave a comment and I'll send them to you.  In fact, I'll send the ones for the Kisses, too.  Woudln't those be perfect for upcoming Valentine's Day favors for co-workers?  I also think they'd make nice place cards for a family dinner.   I thought that was such a good idea that I made 15 of them for my family's Christmas dinner.  Although I won't be able to be there, they can think of me; I'll be there in spirit.

It didn't take me long at all to make ALL of these, and my sister (who will be hosting the holiday dinner) was floored when I delivered them to her last weekend.  They live in northern Allegheny County in western PA, and the storm wasn't nearly as bad there as the one here in Hanover, near the PA/MD border.  We are definitely having a very white Christmas this year!

A parting note:  Enjoy your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to the utmost.  I sincerely hope you'll be surrounded by friends and family and will feel the warmth and love, peace and joy that this wonderous season brings.  Treasure your memories of the day, and be sure to remember what we're really celebrating.  Jesus is the reason for the season.

Holiday Hugs to you all!

Carol Taggart
 
 
 

Holiday Shopping in your Pajamas

I do enjoy shopping as much as the next person, but sometimes the crowds in the stores before Christmas are too much for me.  I've started doing some of my shopping online - that's how my husband would prefer to do ALL of his shopping!  Stampin' Up! is giving you a chance to snap up some bargains for the stampers and scrappers in your life - or for yourself!  At 30% - 50% off, you're sure to find lots of things you'd love to add to your paper-crafting supplies and tools.  Click on the link below to download the flyer.

Download Holidayextravaganza09

This sale will only last for one week - Nov. 30 is your final chance to take advantage of these great values.  Visit my web site to order, or call or email me. 

Carol Taggart

 

Deck the Halls With Delightful Decorations

 I've been working hard stamping and creating for the holidays, and I apologize for neglecting my blog again.  It's not that I don't have anything to share...quite the contrary!  So I'm going to start bombarding you with my cards, gifts, decorations, and such.... be prepared!

Let's start with a card from a recent Stamp-a-Stack I taught at my house here in Hanover, PA.  I love the new Ornament punch and coordinating stamp set,  Delightful Decorations
 And if you have those, of course you'll want to have the coordinating Holiday Windows dies for your Movers & Shapers!  All are in the Holiday Mini Catalog and available for a limited time only.

Today's offering uses the punch and the die todgether, but the real WOW of this card comes from the embossed edge and ornament.  Perhaps you recognize the pattern from the Finial Press embossing folder, a Sizzix die exclusive to Stampin' Up!  But look at the whole card:

The embossing folder is made to cover the entire front of the card, but you'll notice that only the left-hand edge of the card is embossed, and only a small portion of the ornament is embossed, and the design is perfectly positioned.

I was able to do that by cutting my embossing folder into strips (gasp!!! did she say she CUT her embossing folder into pieces?).  I was a little nervous to dive in, so to speak, but I talked myself into it by reminding myself that I can buy another one to keep intact, and it is very inexpensive.  This one yielded me four embossing "strips", all with slightly different widths and designs.  I love them ALL!

The rest of the details for this card:

Stamp Set: Lovely as a Tree, Yuletide Christmas

Colors: Handsome Hunter, Really Red, Shimmery White

Ornament punch, Holiday Windows die set, Movers & Shapers die, Big Shot, gold metallic cord, sponge dauber, dimensionals, paper piercing tool and mat.  Click on the Shop Now button above to purchase any of the items through my Stampin' Up! website.

Tomorrow I'll share another card - non-Christmas - made with the same modified embossing folder and punch.  You'll be amazed at how utterly different it is.

Carol Taggart

carol@stillstamping.com