PPA 17- Season of Simple Grace

Okay, I've really cut this close today! This is another Pals Paper Arts Challenge http://www.palspaperarts.com/ and this week it was a sketch. I've never done this format before and so I had a really hard time coming up with something, then last night at 1:30 a.m. I got it!

The colors I used are Always Artichoke, Kraft and Night of Navy because I wanted it to feel a little desert-y, and also to look like an actual night sky. I also used Champagne Shimmer paint to accent the star. Because the Champagne color is so translucent, I daubed it on top of my white craft ink. I also daubed Champagne shimmer paint on the Baby Jesus on the inside of the card to make him glow a bit.

The only other accessory I used is some fantastic linen thread. It makes every project better!

Thanks for checking it out!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Oh, and in case anyone is wondering, yes, I will be featuring this set more in a few days...

I hope!

#7 - Snow Swirled

So I was chatting with a friend the other night about how great navy and silver would look together in a card (thanks Michelle) and decided I better try one. Just one. Well, it looked so great I figured I'd try one more and pretty soon it was 2am and I was getting out of bed to make just one more thing. My mother would say these look a little Jewish and actually, the do say "Season's Greetings" so...Happy Hanukkah!

For this entire post I used:

* Snow Swirled stamp set

*Night of Navy and Whisper white card stock

*Night of Navy ink

*Platinum Shimmer Paint

*Silver elastic cord

*Round metal edge tags

Tip: After inking the tree stamp in Night of Navy ink, I used a sponge dauber in Platinum shimmer paint to highlight the little flower bursts. I did this right on top of the navy ink already on the stamp. No need to use markers or anything. Its a really cool effect but without any of the fuss.

Tip: To make the silver background paper that is matting the tree I just pounced platinum shimmer paint around the edges of some white card stock with the sponge dauber and let it dry for a minute or two.

And here is a box I made. Cute right?

There is a great tutorial here http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/3x3notecardbox/

I just didn't use any of the patterned paper because I made my own!

Tip: I first cut the card stock to size, then stamped it with Platinum, waited a few minutes and then stamped over the top with Night of Navy.

Tip: To make the tag on the top, I punched the snowflake out using a 1 3/4" circle punch and then glued it into the tag. It fits perfectly!

And here's the inside...

I filled it with three 3x3 note cards with envelopes as well as three large metal edge tags with snowflakes on one side and "To: From:" on the other. The tags would actually make pretty great ornaments too. But I thought tied on a gift they'd be oh-so-pretty.

And finally, there are two more cards with the same theme. These are 4 1/4" square so they still fit in regular envelopes. Have I mentioned I really like that size?
To make the stamped white piece of paper (card on the right) I just layered platinum and navy snowflakes the same was as I did on the box. For the navy background paper (card on left) I did the same thing but its a little hard to see the navy on navy. Still pretty though.

Which do you like better?

More Dasher!

Just kidding! After finishing the last post I decided we needed just a little more Dasher in our lives...so here he is! I made this cute box using the instructions for an A2 box on splitcoast. Here is the link:
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/a2cardbox/

And then I filled the box with matching cards and envelopes that all use shimmer paints, Chrismas Cocoa d.s.p., Dasher, Snow Swirled, and coordinating colors and ribbons. What a great gift right. Right?

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.