Christmas Stamp Set Countdown, #10...Dasher!

For the next 5 or 6 weeks I'm going to be featuring 10 Christmas stamp sets. In case some of you are still sorting out what you'd like to do for Christmas, I hope this inspires you. For those of you who already have you Christmas sets, wait a while, I bet I'll use it and give you some new ideas.

The first set to be features isn't relly a set at all. Dasher is a stand alone stamp found on the very last page of the catalog for only $8.95. I think the reason he's not sold as a set is because he's just so cool. He'd make Donner and Blitzen look like fools. I can't even imagine how Cupid would look when compared to him.

Here they are, all the cards I could possibly make using the Dasher stamp. Okay, I could have probably made more but I was going a little kooky. As I was working with Dasher, I noticed how well he lends himself to cards rather than tags or other crafty do-dads. I also think he looks great with traditional Christmas colors. I tried him in blue and it just didn't work for me.

You may not see it here but the green card base is textured with the Big Shot Texturz polka dot plate. Trust me, it's cute.

I used:

*Dasher and Many Merry Messages

*Chocolate Chip, Real Red and Old Olive

*Corner rounder and Scallop edge punches

*Big Shot Textures Plate Backgrounds 1

This card has more of a distressed look to it. And between the tearing, wrinkling and ink sponging the edges, I had a LOT of fun making it. Until now I've been a bit iffy about the Soft Suede in-color but paring it with Ruby Red has convinced me its a keeper. Too bad we don't get to keep it huh?

I used:

*Dasher and Snow Swirled

*Ruby Red and Soft Suede

*Stamping sponges, Soft Suede polka dot ribbon

I found inspiration for this card at the following link:

http://www.rubberroomramblings.com/2009/08/dasher-meets-snow-swirled.html

Did I mention I now have a Big Shot? Well I do, and it is BY FAR the best die-cutting system that I've ever used, its just so smooth, light and easy to use. Even if the only die I ever bought was the Top Note die I used for this card, it would still be worth it. That die works with EVERYTHING! Also, you may be noticing I keep using the Snow Swirled set with Dasher? Well, I really think they go well together...I have the feeling that Snow Swirled goes with a lot actually.

I used:

*Dasher and Snow Swirled

*Kraft, Chocolate Chip and Real Red

*Real Red 5/8" Grograin, Slot punch, Top Note bigz die

I found inspiration for this card at the following link:

http://www.instampingmode.com/2009/09/clean-and-simple-meets-christmas.html

Shimmer Paint! Can you see it? Do you LOVE it?

A quick note about using the shimmer paint, its very runnny, stains jeans...and carpet. Use it wisely.

I used two application techniques here, (I mean besides pouring it directly onto my pants) for the snowflakes I used a sponge dauber with paint on it to ink up the stamp then just stamped like normal. This gives a lovely shimmery effect. For Dasher and the little greeting, I first inked my stamp with regular classic ink (Soft Suede) then went over that with a painty dauber. I know it sounds like all the ink would get soaked into the dauber but it works beautifully. You get a nice bold, shimmery image. Perfecto!

Then to add some shimmer to the small peice of Real Red cardstock I used to mat Dasher I simple applied what was left on my dauber to the edges of the paper.

I'd like to also point out how clever I am to use the slit punch closure here. See it?

I used:

*Dasher, Snow Swirled, Teeny Tiny Wishes

*Real Red, Soft Suede, Whisper White

*Christmas Cocoa Specialty Paper

*Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint

*Scallop Punch, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Slit Punch, White Satin Ribbon, sponge daubers

On this card I used pretty much the exact same shimmer paint applications (see the white on white snowflakes, the shimmery matting of white and the shimmery Dasher?) but on a new card format. This is a fun little trifold. Its finished size is 4 1/4 x 4 1/4" so it still fits in a regular A2 envelope but has a little different charm to it.

To make the card, cut an 8 1/2 x 11" sheet in half longway at 4 1/4", score at 2 1/2" and at 6 3/4" then cut at 9 1/4". Or just do what I do and make it up as you go.
I used:

*Dasher, Snow Swirled

*Real Red and Whisper White

*Frost White Shimmer paint

*Christmas Cocoa Specialty Paper

*Rael Red 5/8" Grograin ribbon, Sponge Daubers

Here's another view.

In case you were dying to see what the paint looks like, or the stamps used...here they are. Sorry I didn't include a pic of my (now) fancy pants.

Sweet Centers

Ok, so I've been working on these for a while now. I used every single stamp in the set to make a project and...I had a blast!
This is a great stamp set that works with little plastic treat cups and the 1 3/4" punch. It is available to purchase until January 4th and you can find it in the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini catalog.

First up is the ornament. Instead of using candy inside I filled it with some glitter, but I think it would look adorable wit any tiny Christmas candy as well. Its nice and light and will hang on the tree just beautifully. I also used the Snow Swirled stamp set for this and the colors are Real Red and Bashful Blue.

And here are the little valentines. I stamped versamark onto Real Red card stock then embossed it with white embossing powder. This gives it a crisp contrasting look that I really like. Before putting these together I attched the plasic cup with the red hots to a peice of white card stock cut to the same heart shape. That is what you see behind the candy.

Here's the back. I thought a little "to from" would be a nice touch for this. My cutting skills need a little work.

The hot air ballooon is just so fun! If you can't tell, those are mini gummy bears inside. It was hard not to eat them all before I made this. They're so darn cute!

The colors I used are Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron and Old Olive. Pretty much what I had that matched the bears.

This flower may be my favorite. I LOVE how the Melon Mambo looks with the Garden Green. You may not be able to see it too well but trust me...you'll be seeing more of that color combo. I also used Crushed Curry. Oh, and the candies are chocolate covered sunflower seeds. Clever huh?

Last but not least are the Halloween treats. The colors here are Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turqoise, Certainly Celery and Basic Black. I actually copied these from a blog I've been following. http://www.stampinpretty.com/2009/08/ppa5-sweet-and-easy-halloween-treats.html

But the box is all me. Here's a close up of the punched out image from the middle of the stamp. Also adorable.

In case you wanted to see what the set looks like, here it is. Enjoy!

Nursery Necessities Baby Shower!

Ok, so I had way too much fun making these!!! I love baby showers and especially love them when it's not me that's having the baby! I made about 60 of these and of course I ran out of cardstock halfway through so there are actually two color scemes made into the same exact design. Bonus.

The first one uses:
* Nursey Necessities stamp set,
* Bashful blue, Not Quite Navy and Whisper White card stock as well as bashful blue designer series paper (for one of the stars)
* Not Quite Navy ink
* Large star punch
* Bashful Blue double stitched grosgrain ribbon


This one uses almost the exact same everything except I ran out of the blue so I used Brilliant Blue card stock and ink instead of Not Quite Navy and I switched the ribbon to Certainly Celery 5/8" grograin. Oh, and I added some Celery d.s.p. to one of the punched stars too.

Which do you like better?

Because I am such a genius I made a diaper cake too. This is my first but I can promise it won't be the last. I figured I could add it to the blog because I used Stampin' Up! ribbon to tie the diapers....See it? That's right, I made 30 invites with it, tied a gigantic cake made of diapers with it and I still have a few yards left! Amazing.

Fifth Avenue Floral Card Portfolio Class

This is a totally new thing for me...and I LOVE it!!!

For the first time ever I'm offering a card portfolio class which includes the cute box/portfolio and eight personalized cards to go inside, 4 each of the two designs.

And it will only cost $15!!!!

Because this would be such a wonderful Christmas gift for anyone on your list, you can also sign up to make 2 potfolios. That way, you get to keep one as well as give one away!


The dates of the class will be Thursday October 1st at 6:00 pm and probably another day, either the 2nd or 3rd for overflow. You can sign up by emailing me or just leaving a comment here.

If you'd like a card portfolio but can't make it to the class, You can purchase this beautiful kit, all stamped, for $20.00!