Monday, September 30, 2019

#GDP209: A Sweet Wish for Christmas

Hello! I am so excited to share this card with you today! Earlier this month, I was chosen as a challenge winner at the Global Design Project. Because I won, I get to be a guest designer for their color challenge this week. 





I don't know why, but the first thing I thought of when I pictured these colors together was a Christmas card using the Cup of Christmas Bundle. So that's what I did, and I am so pleased with how it turned out!



This stamp set is really fun - it has a few REVERSIBLE stamps in it! I didn't use them on this card, but isn't that genius? The coordinating dies are great too - I love the candy canes that I've used on this card. 



There are lots of little details on this card - the watercolor wash on Shimmery White Cardstock adds just a little sparkle, the candy canes are arranged to form a heart, and the rhinestones are colored with the Dark Call Me Clover Stampin' Blends Marker to match. 



Thanks so much for stopping by today, especially if this is your first time visiting my blog. If you like what you see, I invite you to join me on Facebook for more stamping fun!

Stamps: Cup of Christmas
Ink: Blueberry Bushel, Stampin' Blends: Dark Call Me Clover
Paper: Blueberry Bushel, Call Me Clover, Real Red, Whisper White, Shimmery White, Sparkle Glimmer Paper
Embellishments: Rhinestones, White Baker's Twine
Tools: Aquapainter, Versamark, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Cup of Cheer Dies, Die Cutting Machine
Adhesives: SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals, Tombow Multipurpose Glue, Glue Dots

Happy Stamping!
Rachel


Thursday, September 26, 2019

Monster Bash Halloween Card

I have a super cute Halloween card to share with you today! I am not big on Halloween, but I kind of love how this turned out!



I fussy cut the image from the Monster Bash DSP, and it is framed with a few Holiday Rhinestones. The bats and sentiment are from the To Every Season stamp set. And that background? Pigment Sprinkles of course! The card is finished off with some Black Glittery Organdy Ribbon.



Now to find someone to send this to... does anyone send Halloween cards? I never have, but wouldn't this card be a fun surprise in your mailbox?



Stamps: To Every Season
Ink: Memento Black
Paper: Basic Black, Watercolor Paper, Whisper White (inside), Monster Bash DSP
Embellishments: Black Glittery Organdy Ribbon, Holiday Rhinestones
Tools: Pigment Sprinkles, Aquapainter
Adhesives: Stampin' Dimensionals


Happy Stamping!
Rachel

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Stitched Lace Merry Christmas

I have a Christmas card to share with you today! When I started working with the Stitched Lace Dies, I had the idea to use them for a Christmas card. Here's what my idea turned into:




To created the stitched look on the front of your card, cut your card base 4 1/4 x 11". I always score my card bases, but you can also fold it in half. Just make sure to have that line so that you know where to line up the die. Place the large stitched lace die on top of your card front, lining it up with your score or fold line. Five seems to be the magic number on my die cutting machine for running this die through and having it come out pretty easily. Then I used the Take Your Pick Die Brush Tip again, and most of the little pieces came out. Next, line up the edge die, and run through your die cutting machine. I used a little washi tape to hold it in the right place. You can layer cardstock or DSP underneath - cut to 5 1/2 x 4 1/4" and attach with Multipurpose Glue or the Fine Tip Glue Pen.




The sentiment comes from the Itty Bitty Christmas stamp set, which is full of Christmas greetings. I layered the sentiment with the Layering Circles Dies and the Story Label Punch.




Thanks for stopping by today! Leave a comment and let me know what you think of this card.


Stamps: Itty Bitty Christmas
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Shaded Spruce, Whisper White, Wrapped in Plaid Specialty DSP, Gold Foil
Embellishments: Shaded Spruce/Gold 3/8" Striped Ribbon, Holiday Rhinestones
Tools: Stitched Lace Dies, Layering Circles Dies, Die Cutting Machine, Story Label Punch
Adhesives: Tombow Multipurpose Glue, SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals


Happy Stamping!
Rachel

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

#tgifc229: You Mean Everything to Me

Today I am playing along with the sketch challenge at TGIF Challenges. It's nice and simple, which I love!




I knew I wanted to use the Stitched Lace Dies for the circle, but other than that, this card turned out completely different than what I had planned in my mind. That's ok - it gave me an idea for a different card to share with you later this week. Here's what I came up with:




The Stitched Lace Dies are not for the faint of heart! Using them requires some patience, but if you use them for a smaller area, like the circle on this card, it's not so bad. I've used them a few times, and running the die through your die-cutting machine multiple times is a must. Three times worked ok, but I did five cranks back and forth for this card, and that was even better. I also highly recommend using the die brush attachment for the Take Your Pick Tool to get all of those little pieces out. Doing those two things, I only had to push two small pieces out when I was done. Note that I also cut the circle out first, and then ran it through with the Stitched Lace Dies. Here's a close up of that detail - it really is a pretty die!




I'll be back on Thursday with more tips for using the Stitched Lace Dies. I hope you enjoyed my card!




Stamps: A Little Lace
Ink: Night of Navy
Paper: Night of Navy, Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand
Embellishments: Designer Elements, Linen Thread, Denim Ribbon
Tools: Stitched Lace Dies, Take Your Pick Die Brush Tip, Die Cutting Machine
Adhesives: Tombow Multipurpose Glue, SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals


Happy Stamping!
Rachel

Friday, September 13, 2019

My 2019 Holiday Catalog Top Ten

Today I am sharing my top ten favorites from the 2019 Holiday Catalog. I may have cheated a little and added a few suites and bundles to my list. But really, who can pick just ten items from this amazing catalog?! Stampin' Up! has really done a good job this year - this might be my favorite Holiday Catalog of all time! So here we go - these are in no particular order:


1) Let it Snow Suite Bundle - $132.50 - #153386




This was the first thing to catch my eye! I have always loved snowmen, and the mini curvy keepsake die is a must have!


2) Come to Gather DSP - $11.50 - #150454




If you've been following along this week, you can see why I love this paper. So many pretty patterns!




3) Holiday Rhinestones - $6.00 - #150457




What's not to love about something sparkly?! These come in some of my favorite colors, including Coastal Cabana and Night of Navy!


4) Itty Bitty Christmas stamp set - $22.00 - #150513




This one does come in a bundle with dies if you'd like, but I think the stamp set can stand by itself and be used with ANY paper and embellishments!


5) Feels Like Frost Specialty 6 x 6" DSP - $14.50 - #150444




The photo-realistic images on this paper are beautiful, but flip it over, and the silver foil patterns are just as pretty, if not more! The photo REALLY does not do justice on this one!


6) Wrapped in Plaid Specialty 6 x 6" DSP - $14.50 - 149596




The paper this year is just SO good! This one includes gold foil, and it's classic Christmas colors in plaid - GORGEOUS!


7) Come to Gather Ribbon Combo Pack - $9.00 - #150456




If you love the Magnolia Lane Ribbon Combo Pack in the Annual Catalog, you will love this ribbon too! It's perfect for all of your fall projects, and with ribbon and twine, you have variety!        


8) Brightly Gleaming Specialty DSP - $14.50 - #150429




I know, I know, another paper. But this one has copper foil, and those metallic are just the best! Add in some non-traditional Christmas colors, and I just love the combination!         


9) Snowflake Sequins - $6.00 - #150443




Sequins are my favorite embellishment lately, and these are perfect for all of those snowmen projects! They are also meant to fill those cute snow globe shakers.


10) So Many Stars Bundle - $57.50 - #153016




Ahh! If you have been around very long, you know that I love all of the stitched dies. So stitched stars are definitely at the top of my list! These stars will work for projects outside of Christmas too, and I hope they stick around past December.


So there you have it. What made your top ten this year? Leave a comment and let me know!


Happy Stamping!
Rachel


                    

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Season of Thanks

Today I am sharing one of the swap cards I made for a Holiday Catalog swap I was involved in recently. I used two more patterns from the Come to Gather DSP. I just love these polka dots!




Notice the sequins? I pulled the Pretty Peacock sequins out of the Woven Threads Sequins - these are my go-to embellishment - they are just so pretty!




The punch I used for the sentiment is called the Story Label Punch. It's a great staple to have in your collection. I also used the Gather Together Bundle - I'll be featuring this soon!




Stamps: Gather Together
Ink: Early Espresso
Paper: Pretty Peacock, Whisper White, Early Espresso, Come to Gather DSP
Embellishments: Woven Threads Sequins, Linen Thread, Come to Gather Ribbon Combo Pack
Tools: Story Label Punch, Gathered Leaves Dies, Die Cutting Machine
Adhesives: SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals, Glue Dots


Happy Stamping!
Rachel

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Thinking of You Fall Card

The Come to Gather DSP is so pretty for fall, and it was the starting point for this card. My color combination was a blend of Merry Merlot, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, and Very Vanilla. I don't use Very Vanilla often, but it was the perfect fit this time!




I also pulled out the Colorful Seasons stamp set. This one has been around for a few years, but it has the prettiest fall leaves, especially in the coordinating dies! For this project, I simply stamped the leaf outline. I thought it coordinated with the DSP, and knowing Stampin' Up!, that was probably intentional!




This paper has so many pretty patterns. Come back on Thursday to see another card featuring this paper!




Stamps: Colorful Seasons
Ink: Crumb Cake, Merry Merlot
Paper: Merry Merlot, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Come to Gather DSP
Embellishments: Holiday Rhinestones, Braided Linen Trim
Tools: Stitched Nested Labels Dies, Die Cutting Tool
Adhesives: SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals


Happy Stamping!
Rachel

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Christmas Chickens

I'm back today with another card featuring the Birds of a Feather stamp set. I think my favorite bird in this set is the chicken. He's meant for Valentine's Day, but I have lots of other plans for that little bird! Take a look at my card:




I used a technique called masking to stamp the three chickens in a row. Stamp your image on a post it note, then fussy cut at least part of it right on the black line. When you place your post it image over the stamped image and then stamp again, the part that is "behind" will get stamped on the post it. Cool, right? I haven't used this technique in a long time, but I needed a flock of chickens to go with my sentiment!




I used my Dark Real Red Stampin' Blends Marker to color the Silver Metallic Edge Ribbon, and finished off the card with some Holiday Rhinestones. Leave a comment and let me know what you think!







Stamps: Birds of a Feather
Ink: Memento Black, Stampin' Blends: Dark Real Red, Dark Mango Melody, Light Flirty Flamingo, Ivory
Paper: Coastal Cabana, Whisper White, Real Red, Let it Snow Specialty DSP
Embellishments: Holiday Rhinestones, Silver Metallic Edge Ribbon
Tools: Rectangle Stitched Dies, Die Cutting Machine
Adhesives: SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Stampin' Dimensionals, Glue Dots


Happy Stamping!
Rachel

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

#GDP205: Enjoy the Season

The Birds of a Feather stamp set is my featured product over on Facebook this week. I already had the start of a card in mind, inspired by this card from the catalog (on the left).




When I saw that the color challenge at Global Design Project included So Saffron, which I was planning to use, the rest of the card came together quickly!






I used Rococo Rose and Mint Macaron Stampin' Blends to color my Rhinestones. I love that we have rhinestones in different colors now, but when you want an exact match, the Stampin' Blends work really well!




What do you think of the non-traditional Christmas colors on this card? I love how it turned out, and I think you might see a Rococo Rose/Mint Macaron combination again before the season is over!




Stamps: Birds of a Feather
Ink: Memento Black, So Saffron, Stampin' Blends: Light Daffodil Delight, Light & Dark Rococo Rose, Dark Mint Macaron
Paper: So Saffron, Mint Macaron, Whisper White
Embellishments: Rhinestones, Mint Macaron 1/4" Textile Ribbon
Tools: Rectangle Stitched Dies, Die Cutting Machine
Adhesives: SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals


Happy Stamping!
Rachel