Sparkle Tree

I saw the top portion of the card on Roxy's blog, where she's giving away some blog candy. You can enter through Wednesday evening... I couldn't see the bottom portion of the card, but thought these words were perfect.

This was super quick and easy, and the glitter gives it just that extra bit of Christmas sparkle. The stamp was colored with Old Olive and Chocolate Chip markers, and the edges of the Kraft cardstock were smudged with white Stazon. I heated the inked Stazon edges so that it would dry more quickly, but that's as tricky as it got.

Card copy for Christmas mojo ...

This is a card that I hoped would jump start my Christmas card stamping, and I think it may have worked! I now wish that I could put aside going to sleep.

I copied this card with just a couple of tweaks from Silke Ledlow's card with the same paper and stamps. I wanted to tie in the use of the black ink a little more, so I used the black and white gingham, and put VERY slim black mats behind a couple of the layers for some additional pop. I wouldn't be surprised if some glitter or Crystal Effects show up on here before I'm really done with it... :)

x-acto-ly!

With the Pick A Petal set, I was having trouble with stamping the centers of the images because there's a large solid area in the middle of the stamps. This happens periodically after I've mounted a stamp.

You may have thought of this solution, but in case you haven't, here it is.

The above is a picture of the stamp, the cure, and the problem with that stamp as it's been inked and stamped.

It's a pretty quick fix. Just take your "hobby blade" and slice out the middle. Use your paper piercer to get under the edge, and pry it up and peel it off.

Ta-da! Now you're less likely to ink up the middle and get those irritating stamped centers.

Weathered Christmas Cardinal

Another new set from the Stampin' Up mini catalog, A Cardinal Christmas! This one is so pretty in the catalog. I wanted to play around and try to make a card that looks older with some distressing techniques.

Lots of sponging around the edges of the main piece and on the Merry Christmas banner/tag. I cut out the leaves and put Crystal Effects over top of them,then once that dried I put some white gel pen. The bird's eye also has Crystal Effects with the white gel pen.

Love mail

I made this card using the new set from the Stampin' Up! mini catalog, Love Owl-ways. I think this set is super cute, and I loved playing with it.

I stamped it out on shimmery white cardstock and did a little watercoloring of the scene. I've found that the shimmery cardstock is really pretty good for recieving watercoloring, and you still get the benefit of the shimmer, too!


Eyes, beak, hearts and mailbox flag were all covered over with Crystal Effects.