Happy Hanukkah!

I can't believe it! I seem to be living in a time warp as yet another holiday has snuck up on me! Hanukkah starts on Sunday evening and I have not wrapped one gift. In fact, I was way behind in my shopping this year. I don't know if it's a sign of my age or that things are more chaotic lately.

Anyway, here's a center step card featuring The Stamp Doctor's wonderful dies, including the Hanukkah Die Set which is on sale from now until December 5th. 

Supplies Used:
Center Step Card Dies Super Combo by The Stamp Doctor
Hanukkah Die Sett by The Stamp Doctor
Cryogen White Metallic Cardstock
Teal/Aqua Cardstock
Paler Aqua Cardstock
Copic Markers: C0, C1, C3, B60, BG72, BG75, BG78, YR09, Y19, Y35
Spica Yellow Glitter Pen
Marrakesh 6x6 Paper Pad by Basic Grey

Instructions:

1. Create your card base by using the Center Step Card Dies to die-cut teal/aqua cardstock.
2. Die-cut the patterned paper using other Center Step Card dies. Edge them with a BG72 marker.
3. Die-cut lighter aqua cardstock with one of the rectangle dies from the Center Step Card Die Set.
4. Die-cut the Menorah, sentiment, and dreidels from Cryogen White Metallic cardstock.
5. Color the Menorah and dreidels with Copic markers.
6. Draw a horizon line onto the light aqua rectangle and color under it.
7. Adhere the Menorah to the aqua cardstock as shown.
8. Use the yellow Spica glitter pen to add sparkles around the candles.
9. Adhere the image panel to the center panel of the card.
10. Adhere the dreidels to the outside panels of the card.
11. Add the sentiment to finish the card.

Don't forget that the Hanukkah Die Set is on sale from now until December 5th!

Thank for visiting today!

Love Themed Matchbox

Stampendous challenged the design team to create love themed projects. A while back, PaperMart supplied us with a variety of products. I decided to use a small slide box, aka a matchbox, for this challenge.

Here's my hanging matchbox with Stampendous' Wings Die Set.

Outside of the Box

The Open Box

Both the outside and the inside of the box

Supplies Used:

Stampendous Supplies Used:

Wings Die Set

Filagree Metal Stencil

Other Supplies Used:

Small Slide Box by PaperMart

Carbon Black and Metallic Gold Media® Fluid Acrylics by DecoArt®

One Step Crackle by DecoArt®

Golden Glitz Delicata® Ink by Tsukineko

Metallic White Cardstock

Red Cardstock

Gold Glitter paper by DCWV

Red and Ivory Heirloom Roses by Tim Holtz® Idea-ology® by Advantus

Label Letters, ChitChat, and Big Chat Tim Holtz® Idea-ology® stickers by Advantus

Double-Sided Adhesive Tape

1/16" Hole Punch by McGill

Pitt Artist Big Brush Pen by Faber-Castell

Gold Thread

Head Pin

Crystal Beads

Jump Rings

Bail

Heart Charm

Krylon Leafing pen

Baby Wipes

Instructions:

1. Separate the outside from the inside of the matchbox and paint all parts of the the matchbox with Carbon Black Media Fluid Acrylic paint. Let Dry.
2. Brush One Step Crackle over the paint. Let dry several hours or overnight.
3. Sponge Metallic Gold Media Fluid Acrylic paint over the crackled surfaces and immediately wipe back with a baby wipe. 
4. Die-cut the filagree heart from the Wings Die Set with red cardstock and gold glittery paper.
5. Back the red cardstock heart die-cut with double-sided adhesive tape and inlay the gold glittery bits into the heart as shown.
6. Die-cut the wings twice from white metallic cardstock and sponge with Delicata ink.
7. Adhere the heart and the wings to the outside of the matchbox.
8. Punch a hole in the top and bottom of the inside box of the matchbox.
9. Cut a piece of red cardstock to fit the inside of the box. 
10. Sponge Golden Glitz Delicata ink over the Filagree Stencil onto the red cardstock.
11. Adhere the stenciled red cardstock into the inside box.
12. Edge the stickers with Golden Glitz Delicata ink, then adhere to the inside of the box to create the sentiment.*
13. Thread gold thread through the hole in the top of the inside of the matchbox. Tie a knot at the top.
14. Insert an head pin through the hole on the bottom of the box. 
15. Thread crystal beads onto the head pin and loop the end.
16. Add a bail to the heart.
17. Open a jump ring and attach it to the loop at the end of the beads and the bail holding the heart.
18. Adhere the roses to the bottom of the inside of the matchbox.
19. Put the box back together!

*Note: I should have realized that the shadow of the open box would partially obstruct the top of the inside of the box, so if you're trying to re-create this, start your sentiment a bit lower than I did!

Thanks for visiting today!

For Mew!

If you own are owned by a cat, there are a few things that are always true. If you have a box, the cat will be in it or on it. If you are wrapping a gift, the cat will "help". So, this stamp from Stampendous' super-cute Catnap Christmas set is perfect for tags! Best of all, it's versatile. Change the color of the gift in the image and it'll be perfect for any occasion! BTW, there's a coordinating die set available.

Here's the first of many gift tags with the Catnap Christmas.

Supplies:

Stampendous Products used:

Catnap Christmas

Fitted Frames B Die Cut Set

Storybook Alphabet Perfectly Clear™ Stamp Set

Cathedral Windows Small Metal Stencil

Memento™ Tuxedo Black Inkpad by Tsukineko®

Mixed Media White Paper

Other Products used:

Copic Markers: 

 Cat: YR20, YR21, YR23, YR24, YR30, YR31, G43, G45, R20, R22

 Gift: G20, G40, G43, G46

Tim Holtz® Forest Moss Distress® Ink by Ranger

Duo Corner Punch by Tonic Studios®

Green cardstock 

Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Post-It Note® by 3M

Ribbon from my stash

Instructions:

1. Using Tuxedo Black Memento ink, stamp the Gift Cat onto white cardstock.
2. Color the cat and the gift, then die-cut the image panel with one of the pairs of dies from the Fitted Frames B set.
3. Add the background using Copic markers. 
4. Use a Post-It Note to mask the top of the image, then sponge Distress ink over the bottom part of image die-cut. Lightly edge the entire die-cut with Distress ink.
5. Die-cut the green cardstock with the matching die from the Fitted Frames B die set. Edge with Distress ink.
6. Mat the die-cut image panel with the green cardstock. Set aside.
7. Sponge Distress ink over the the Cathedral Windows Small Metal Stencil onto the green cardstock.
8. Trim the panel and edge with Distress ink.
9. Using the Storybook Alphabet Stamp set, stamp the sentiment onto a scrap of the leftover cardstock, die-cut with one of the dies from the die set, and edge with Distress ink.
10. Adhere the matted image and sentiment panels to stenciled cardstock.
11. Cut a piece of light green cardstock slightly wider and about .75" longer than the layered image and sentiment panel.
12. Use the Duo Corner punch to punch the top two corners, edge with Distress ink, and adhere the layered image and sentiment panel.
13. Find the center of the top of the tag and punch a hole in it.
14. Add the ribbon to finish the tag.

Thanks for visiting today!

Stampendous Holiday Challenge: Ugly Sweater Contest

Laura, at Stampendous, challenged us to create an ugly sweater project using the Cool Penguin  Clear Stamp and Die Set. The resulting creations will be gathered in a Pinterest file and you'll be able to vote for your favorite. Random voters and the winner will win prizes. We all like prizes, right?

Here's my card, with the ever-so-cool penguin, wearing a glittery candy-cane bedecked sweater and a hat with a matching glittery pom-pom, while standing in a field of glittery snow.  He thinks he's stylish. He's wrong.

Stampendous Supplies Used:

Cool Penguin  Clear Stamp and Die Set*

Skating Penguins Perfectly Clear™ Stamp Set -- I used the Candy Cane.

Merry Words Perfectly Clear™ Stamp Set -- I used the tiny snowflake.

Winter Wonderland Sparkly Embossing Powder

Crystal Sparkly Embossing Powder

Red Tinsel Sparkly Embossing Powder

Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

VersaMark™ Watermark Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

VersaMarker™ Watermark Ink Pen by Tsukineko®

Other Products Used:

Copic Markers: 

   Penguin: C00, C0, C6, C7, C8, B60,

   Hat and Sweater: BG11, BG23, YG03, YG05, YG67

Tis The Season 6x6 Pad by My Mind's Eye (Christmas Tree Paper)

Festive 6x6 Pad by Authentique (Candy Cane Striped Paper)

Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Paper

Red Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

White Glaze™ 3D Glossy Gel Pen by Sakura of America

Instructions: 

1. Make an A2 card from red cardstock.
2. Using Memento ink, stamp penguin, sweater, and hat onto Neenah cardstock.
3. *Die-cut the penguin, hat, and sweater, unless you're me, in which case you've lost your dies that you probably put "somewhere safe". In that case fussy-cut them and declare this out loud, "Self, you're an idiot."
4. Color the penguin die-cut, edge him with dark marker, and set him aside. He's easily amused, so he'll have fun watching you make his outfit.
5. Color the sweater and hat, then die-cut them using the corresponding dies. If you're like me, see step 3.
6. Using VersaMark ink, stamp the candy cane onto the sweater. Add Red Tinsel embossing powder, dump off the excess, and heat set. 
7. Taking a lesson from me, wait until cool enough to touch. Use White Glaze gel pen to add the white stripes to the candy cane on his stylish sweater.
8. Repeat step 6 to add the snowflakes to the sweater.
9. Use the VersaMarker and color the hat's pompom. Dip the hat into Red Tinsel embossing powder, shake off the excess, and heat set.
10. Cut the striped patterned paper to 4" x 5.25".
11. Cut the Christmas Tree patterned paper to 3.5" x 5.25" 
12. Edge the Christmas Tree patterned paper with VersaMark ink, add the Winter Wonderland embossing powder, dump off the excess, and heat set.
13. Adhere the Christmas Tree paper over the striped paper as shown.
14. Cut a 4" wide hill from white cardstock, smoosh onto the VersaMark pad, add Crystal embossing powder, dump off the excess, and heat set. Repeat so that you have a really glittery sparkly snowy-looking hill.
15. Adhere the glittery sparkly snowy-looking hill to the base of the layered patterned papers, edge the enter card front with VersaMark ink, add Winter Wonderland embossing powder, dump the excess, heat set, then adhere to the red A2 card.
16. Adhere the penguin and dress him. Ta-dah! Done!

I hope you can see all the glittery bits! Thanks for visiting today!

Wrap It Up - Gift Wrapping Ideas - Blog Hop featuring PaperMart products

Stampendous's Design Team received some fabulous products from PaperMart and are participating in the "Wrap It Up -- Gift Wrapping Ideas" Blog Hop! Click HERE to go to the blog post, so you can check out our creations!

I have opted to use PaperMart's Patterned Kraft Merchandise Bags together with Stampendous' Unicorn Christmas Rubber Stamp, Merry Words Perfectly Clear™ Stamps,  and Green Tinsel Sparkly Embossing Powder.

Here's my little package that holds a bandana for a friend.

Stampendous Products Used:
Stampendous' Unicorn Christmas Rubber Stamp
Merry Words Perfectly Clear™ Stamps
Green Tinsel Sparkly Embossing Powder
Fitted Frames A Die Cut Set
Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®
VersaMark™ Watermark Ink Pad by Tsukineko®
Mixed Media White Paper

Other Products Used:
Patterned Kraft Merchandise Bag by PaperMart
Copic Markers: Sorry, there's no list as I seem to have misplaced it, after I wrote down what I used. It's somewhere safe or in the trash.
Gold Cardstock: Source Unknown, but it's really gold and a touch sparkly.
Ribbon: Source Unknown
Rectangle Hole Punch by Fiskar's

Instructions:

1. Stamp the unicorn image onto white cardstock using Memento™ ink. 
2. Color using Copic markers in festive holiday colors.
3. Die-cut the image and gold cardstock using the Fitted Frames A Die set.
4. Adhere the image panel to the gold die-cut and set aside.
5. Using VersaMark™ ink, stamp "believe" from the Merry Words Perfectly Clear™ Stamp set onto the Patterned Kraft Merchandise Bag.
6. Sprinkle on Green Tinsel embossing powder, dump off the excess, and heat set.
7. Adhere the matted image panel to the bag.
8. Fold the top of the bag over and punch two holes on either side of the bag.
9. Put your gift into the bag, thread ribbon, and tie either a knot or a bow. I am bow-impaired, so it's a knot here!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter my little bag into the following challenges:
• Simon Says Wednesday Challenges: All That Glitters is Gold
• Fab 'n' Funky Challenges: With an Animal
• Get Creative Challenges: Challenge #75 - Anything but a Card

Smart Fella!

Some Odd Girl is the sponsor this week at Passionate Paper Creations and Friends. Being a crazy cat lady, I chose the Smart Cat Digi Stamp to use for my card.

Supplies Used:
Smart Cat Digi Stamp by Some Odd Girl
Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers
Copic Markers:
 C00, C0, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, B34, B37, B41, N0, N1
Tim Holtz® Stitched Rectangles Alterations Die by Sizzix
Tim Holtz® Faded Jeans Distress® Ink
Original 6x6 Pad by Authentique
Clear Glaze® Gelly Roll Gel Pen by Sakura of America
Grey Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Instructions:

1. Resize digital image and print onto cardstock using a laser printer.
2. Color image with Copic markers.
3. Ink the cutting surface of the die with ink. Carefully place the die over the image, tape into place, and run through the die-cut machine.
4. While the image panel is still in the die, lightly brush ink over the die onto the card surface, taking care to stay away from the image. Remove the image from the die.
5. Apply several layers of Glaze gel pen over the cat's glasses, letting the ink dry between layers.
6. While the ink is drying, layer the patterned papers as shown and edge all layers with ink.
7. Adhere the card front to a grey A2 card.

Thanks for visiting today!

Joy to the World!

Here's my card with Stampendous' new House-Mouse Designs™ Pine Carolers and Merry Words Perfectly Clear™ Stamps.

Supplies Used:
Stampendous Supplies Used:
House-Mouse Designs™ Pine Carolers
Merry Words Perfectly Clear™ Stamps

Cling Decor Music Stamp

Fitted Frames B Die Cut Set

Tuxedo Black Memento™ Ink by Tsukineko®

Other Supplies Used:

Copic Markers:

 Mouse Skin: E50, E51, E93, BV000, BV00, BV20, R20

 Mouse Noses: 401, R12

 Mouse Fur: E21, E23 E25, E39, E31, E33 E35, E49, E53, E55, E57, E79

 Mouse Bellies: R01

 Mouse Mouths: VB20, E04, RV93

Pine: G07, G19, G29, G94

Bow: R24, R27, R39

Tim Holtz® Mowed Lawn Distress® Ink by Ranger

Jet Black Archival™ Ink by Ranger

Wasabi Double Dot Very Vintage Paper by BoBunny®

Solar White Classic Crest® cardstock by Neenah

Red Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Instructions:

1. Fold a 6" x 12" piece of Wasabi Double Dot Very Vintage Paper in half to form a 6" x 6" card.
2. Use Tuxedo Black Memento ink to stamp Pine Carolers.
3. Color with Copic markers.
4. Die-cut image panel and red cardstock with a matching pair of dies, then mat the image panel die-cut onto the red die-cut. Set aside.
5. Using Mowed Lawn Distress ink, stamp the Music background stamp onto the patterned paper, trim the paper to 5 7/8" square, then edge the paper with Distress ink.
6. Using a stamp positioner, stamp the sentiment onto the patterned paper with Jet Black Archival Ink.
7. Adhere the image panel to the card front.
8. Adhere the card front to the 6x6 card.

Thanks for visiting today!

Santa Hats -- For the Birds!

There's nothing like a little help from a friend to make you feel festive. Here's a card with the new House-Mouse Designs™ Santa Hat Birds Rubber Stamp.

Supplies Used:
Stampendous Supplies Used:
House-Mouse Designs™ Santa Hat Birds Rubber Stamp
Spring Border Die Set
Build a Wreath Die Set
Tuxedo Black Memento™ by Tsukineko®
VersaMarker™ Watermark Ink Pen by Tsukineko®

Other Supplies Used:
Copic Markers:
 Birds: E21, E23, E25, E27, E30, E31, W3, W6
 Hats: R14, R17, R27, R29, R56, C0, C1, C2, B60, RV0000
 Mouse Skin: BG0000, BV0000, E00, E11, E21, E50, BV20
 Mouse Nose: R11, R22
 Mouse Fur: E31, E33, E35, E47
 Branch: E71, E74, E77
 Sky: B21, BG0000, BG000, BG10, B0000, B000, B21, B60, C0, C00
Solar White Classic Crest® cardstock by Neenah
Seasons Paper Pad by Graphic 45
Red, green, and brown cardstock by Bazzill Basics
White Deco Marker by Pebeo
Tim Holtz® Ground Espresso Distress® Ink by Ranger
White Gelly Roll® Gel Pen by Sakura

Directions:

1. Fold a piece of 6" x 12" red cardstock in half to form a 6x6 card.
2. Cut patterned paper to 5.75" square and edge with Ground Espresso Distress ink.
3. Adhere the patterned paper to the card.
4. Stamp the birds and color the image and the background with Copic markers.
5. Use the Pebeo Paint Marker to add snow to the branches of the image.
6. Trim the image panel as desired.
7. Die-cut a piece of red cardstock with one of the borders from the Spring Border Die Set, adhere the image panel, then trim the top edge of the cardstock as desired.
8. Adhere the die-cut image panel.
9. Using the Build a Wreath Die Cut Set, die-cut brown cardstock with the pinecone die.
10. Use the VersaMarker to add details to the pinecone.
11. Use the pine sprig die to cut two green pine sprigs.
12. Use the berries die to die-cut a scrap of red cardstock. 
13. Add white dots to the berries with the white gel pen.
14. Adhere the pine sprigs, acorn, and the berries to the upper left hand corner to finish the card.

Thanks for visiting today!