Cranberry Acorn Swirls

Happy Thanksgiving!  Today's card is all about the Autumn Swirls Background stamp. I love this gorgeous stamp. Sometimes I just want to show off the background stamp on my card and not cover it up with a bunch of other stuff. Do you ever feel that way? I am showcasing the glory of this beautiful stamp by accenting this with Glimmer Mist, some ribbon, and a sweet little sentiment.

I started with a dark brown card base. Next, I inked up the Autumn Swirls Background stamp (JustRite) with Versamark and pressed it onto some white cardstock. I then covered the white cardstock with clear detail embossing powder, tapped off the excess powder, and melted the powder with a heat gun. After that cooled, I sprayed Cranberry Zing Glimmer Mist all over the embossed cardstock. I let that soak in a little bit and then I wiped the Glimmer Mist off the embossed areas with a paper towel.  This is like the Stain Resist technique from the April 2013 issue of Technique Junkies except I used Glimmer Mist instead of the medium used in that technique.

I set this piece aside to dry for several minutes and I stamped the "Dear Friend" sentiment from the Hugs & Kisses Sentiments set (JustRite) with dark brown ink onto a tiny strip of white cardstock. When the Glimmer Mist piece was dry, I wrapped some ribbon around it and tied it into a bow. I added some Joy Foam Pads to the bottom of my sentiment and added it just below the ribbon. I then glued the entire piece to my brown card base.

I love the gorgeous shimmer from the Glimmer Mist. You can see it better in this picture below:

When you tilt this card back and forth in your hands, that shimmer really puts on a show.  When you go shopping at Classy Cards 'n Such, feel free to use this code, Holly-10, when you check out.  You'll save 10% off your order.  :-)  I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

The Crafters Cafe #39 - Anything Goes
Stamp and Create - Feathers or Leaves (I used leaves)
Sparkle n Sprinkle - Anything Goes with Glitter, Embossing Powder, or Flocking (I used clear embossing powder)
365 Cards #327 - Beautiful Backgrounds
Addicted to Stamps #70 - Embossing - heat or dry

Have a wonderful day relaxing with your families on this beautiful Thanksgiving Day.  I hope you find a little quiet time to do some crafting or reading or even a little napping today!  :-)

Season of Cheer

Hi friends!  I created this card for Verses Rubber Stamps a few weeks ago.  I used a fun technique called Pearly Pastels (April/May 2005 issue) from Technique Junkies, except I used Perfect Pearls in place of the mediums used in that technique.  I stamped this image with Versamark and then brushed three different colors of Perfect Pearls from my stash over the various parts of the stamped image.  There is the most gorgeous shimmer that you can see when you tilt this card back and forth.

You will find this gorgeous Christmas stamp called A Season of Gladness in the Christmas section over at Verses Rubber Stamps.  Check out all the beautiful verse/sentiment stamps they have.  I'm in love with these stamps - so pretty!

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Bloggers Network - Christmas
Lexi's Creations #104 - Christmas
Paperminutes #297 - Christmas, Clean and Simple
Shopping Our Stash #129 - Holiday or Winter

Dies on Sale at Classy Cards 'n Such

Hi friends!  I'm just popping in to let y'all know that Classy Cards 'n Such is having a fabulous sale on lots of Cheery Lynn Designs dies.  You know I love these dies - I use them ALLLLL the time!  Check em out in the Clearance section over at Classy Cards 'n Such.  You can save even more money by using my code, Holly-10, when you check out.  Yes, you can use this code even if you order clearance items!!

Here's a few cards that I've used Cheery Lynn Designs dies on:

This Homeward Bound die is on sale - perfect for masculine cards!

 This Mexican Tile Pattern die is on sale - love this gorgeous frame!!

These Pumpkins dies are also on sale, and this is a set of two sizes.  This includes the leaves and vines. 

This is just a few of the dies that are on sale.  There's many more, so go check them out in the Clearance section at Classy Cards 'n Such.  Don't forget - use this code, Holly-10, to save an additional 10% off your entire order.  :-)

Razzleberry Poinsettias

Sometimes I like to change things up and do the unexpected. Today I've created a Christmas card, but I've used non-traditional Christmas colors on this card.

Instead of the red and green combo, or a blue and white combo, I've gone way outside the box. I've gone with a purple-ish color called Razzleberry and I paired it with some grays and a pale pink and white. I love how this combo turned out. It's fun to come up with an idea in your head and then have the end result look better than you expected. :-)

I started with a Razzleberry card base and I added a sheet of the embossed gray paper from The Lake House paper pad. I die cut the Tiny Bubbles (Cheery Lynn Designs) from pale pink cardstock and then I backed it with a strip of the Razzleberry cardstock. I glued this down on the left side of my card.

I then stamped the sentiment from Christmas Inner Thoughts (JustRite) on white cardstock, layered that on a dark gray cardstock, and adhered it to the card. I die cut the poinsettias from the Poinsettia Strip (Cheery Lynn Designs) and picked out the ones I wanted to use. I ended up using the smallest flower and the medium flower and I die cut extras so I could layer them.

I wanted a little extra "magic" to go with the sentiment on my card, so I squeezed some Mercury Glass Stickles onto each poinsettia and smeared it around with my finger. I let these dry completely before I glued the layers together. The final touch was to add a Mother of Pearl Rhinestone to each of the poinsettias.

I have to tell you - I am in LOVE with this Mercury Glass Stickles. That shine is just awesome! This can go with any color and it will look fabulous. I love the old-fashioned charm this gives to my non-traditional poinsettias.

You can save 10% off your order by using this code, Holly-10, when you go shopping at Classy Cards 'n Such.  You'll have a blast shopping for dies, papers, stamps, Stickles, and embellishments in the Classy Cards 'n Such store.  :-)  I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Cheery Lynn Designs #108 - Non Traditional Christmas Colors
Holly Jolly Christmas - Warm Christmas
The Paper Shelter #138 - Christmas is Coming
Word Art Wednesday #107 - Anything Goes
Scrapbooker PhD #3 - Christmas without Green or Red

Bronze Autumn Hi

Hi folks!  We are currently experiencing a blast of winter, but since it is still November, I would like to share this rich, shimmery, autumn-inspired card with you. I bought some of the Echo - Bronze Stardream Metallic paper from Classy Cards 'n Such, and this gorgeous paper is just perfect for fall-inspired cards. I cut a layer of this gorgeous Bronze paper and adhered it to a mustard card base. You can see the shimmer in the first picture, but here is a picture of how it really shimmers and changes when you tilt it back and forth in your hands.

Isn't that awesome? I love this Metallic paper! I kept my card simple by cutting out the rectangles using the dies from the Blueprints 4 set. I cut three mustard cardstock pieces and then three pieces from one of the papers in the Autumn Song 6x6 paper pad. I kept them in the same order so you can see the graduation of colors in the papers.

Before I adhered my rectangles down on my card, I die cut some flourishes from a deep rust colored cardstock. I cut one Mini Fanciful Flourish and one Mini Fanciful Flourish - Reverse (Cheery Lynn Designs), and then I cut the flourishes apart and arranged them behind and around the rectangles. Once everything was arranged, I glued it all down.

I wanted a little sentiment at the bottom, so I die cut the "hi" from the Parker Lower Alphabet and arranged it on the bottom rectangle. It needed a little shimmer to go with the gorgeous Bronze paper, so I covered the "hi" with Champagne Stickles and let it dry. Once it was completely dry, I glued the letters down.

I love how this card turned out. You can see the gorgeous Bronze paper and the flourishes really enhance the swirls you see in the patterned paper. This is going to be a fun card to send to someone just to put a smile on their face. :-)

You can save 10% off your order at Classy Cards 'n Such by using this code, Holly-10, when you check out.  You'll find lots of gorgeous papers, stamps, dies, and embellishments to fill up your shopping cart.  I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Card Mania #34 - Autumn Colors
Victorine Originals #72 - CAS with a Fall Theme
Brown Sugar Challenge #69 - Anything Goes
Crafts 4 Eternity #151 - Glitter and Sparkle
Crafty Hands #3 - Sparkle and Bling
Stampin with the Dragon - Autumn Colors

Pink Poinsettia Christmas

Good morning!  Winter has arrived in Texas with a chilly blast, bringing freezing rain and plummeting temperatures to us.  BRRRR!  Bring on the hot chocolate!!  :-)

I created this card by die cutting the poinsettia petals, smearing them with Star Dust Stickles, and setting them aside to dry.  I stamped that gorgeous sentiment from Verses Rubber Stamps with pink ink at the bottom, making sure to leave enough room at the top of the card for the glittery poinsettia.  Once my poinsettia petals were dry, I glued the layers together and then added the button in the center.

This Merry Christmas Curved stamp is found in the Christmas section at Verses Rubber Stamps along with many other wonderful Christmas sentiments.  Check them out - I know you'll find some that you need for your Christmas cards.  :-)

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Happy Campers #24 - Glitter It
Aud Sentiments #94 - Any Sentiment
Scrap-Creations - Make it Sparkle
Creative Creations Challenges #23 - Sparkle and Shine
Sparkle 'n Sprinkle - Anything Goes with Glitter, EP, Flocking
Through the Purple Haze - Use Pink, Purple, or Red
Paper Playtime #23 - Sparkle

Kraft Leaping Deer

Howdy!  How are you coming along with your Christmas card stash?  I've got another Christmas card to share with you, and this one has a rustic, country-ish feel to it.

I started off with a Kraft card base (A2 size) and then I added a strip of the red paper from the Tradition 6x6 paper pad (Authentique) at the bottom of the card. Next, I cut a piece of green cardstock and added it to the top of the card. I cut a smaller layer of the Christmas floral paper from the same Tradition 6x6 paper pad and adhered it to the green cardstock.

I then cut the French Pastry Doily (Cheery Lynn Designs) from green cardstock and trimmed the doily in half. I glued one half of the doily on the floral paper. The other half of the doily has been set aside for another project. I then cut a strip of the off-white paper from the Traditions 6x6 paper pad and stamped the sentiment (Christmas Sentiments set by Impression Obsession) with green ink in the center. I glued this off-white strip right below the half-doily and then I added a Cranberry pearl to dot the "i" in the sentiment.

The last thing I did was die cut the Leaping Deer from Kraft cardstock. I affixed the deer to my card using Joy foam pads. I love how this deer mimics the red paper below - look closely and you'll see the white leaping deer on that paper. Neat, huh? LOL

Remember, you can save 10% off your order at Classy Cards 'n Such by using this code, Holly-10, when you check out.  I know you'll have fun filling up your cart with all the lovely papers, dies, stamps, pearls, and other embellishments.  I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps #69 - Punches and Dies
2 Sisters Challenge #170 - Uncommon Christmas
Crafty Calendar - All Things Christmas
Little Claire #39 - Christmas Theme
Cards Galore- Animals
Crafty Creations #248 - Dies and Punches

Simple Acorn Thanks

Hi friends!  I had the urge to create a colorful autumn card the other day.  I wanted some rich golden yellows and oranges and deep maroon and brown colors mixed in with a touch of deep green, and this is what I came up with.

The papers in the newest 6x6 paper pad, Autumn Song (Bo Bunny), are full of those gorgeous fall colors, so I pulled out one that was deep yellow with large orange polka dots all over it. I used the largest die from the new Blueprints #6 die set to cut this paper to the perfect size to go on an A2 card. I love how this die softly rounds the edges of all four corners.

Next, I stamped the Autumn Swirls Background stamp (JustRite) with brown ink over this polka dotted paper. It's so neat to see how the paper changes when you stamp a background stamp over it. You don't really notice the polka dots very much anymore - the focus is now on the oak leaves and acorns that are stamped over it. I glued this down onto a card base.

To contrast with the golden orange and brown background, I pulled out a deep maroon/purple paper from the Autumn Song 6x6 paper pad and cut it with the arch shaped die from the Blueprints #3 die set. This was glued down to the right side of my stamped background.

The deep green paper (Autumn Song paper) was the perfect shade to balance against the orange/brown and maroon/purples, so I cut that out with the scallop edge die from the Blueprints #3 die set and glued it down near the bottom of the card. I stamped the sentiment from Autumn Blessings (Flourishes) onto white paper and glued that just above the green strip on the left side of my card.

Finally, the grapevine wreath from the Seasonal Wreaths stamp set (Flourishes)was stamped directly onto the solid yellow/orange paper from the Autumn Song paper pad and then I cut it out with the pierced circle from the Blueprints #3 die set. I colored the tiny berries and leaves with Copic markers and then glued this down onto the maroon/purple arch die cut.

I love these gorgeous colors, and this card will be perfect to mail to someone because it's flat with no bulky embellishments. I hope you are having a gorgeous and colorful fall season! :-)  You can use this code, Holly-10, to save 10% off your order when you shop at Classy Cards 'n Such.  I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Pile it On #46 - With Thanks
Sentimental Sundays #181 - Giving Thanks
Hiding in my Craft Room #124 - Die Cuts
Ladybug Crafts - Autumn Colors
Pattie's Creations #80 - Giving Thanks or Thank You
Simply Create Too #50 - Give Thanks
Stampin for the Weekend - Autumn/Fall Colors

Blue Snowman

Hi folks! I am in shock as I just realized it is NOVEMBER already! LOL I am still working on my Christmas card stash and I've got a cute Christmas card to share with you today. I hope y'all like it! :-)

Isn't that a cute snowman?? I stamped this Twinkles snowman (Impression Obsession) onto white cardstock and colored him with Copic markers. I cut him out with the 2" x 3" rectangle die from the new Blueprints #6 die set and then I set him aside while I worked on the rest of my card.

My card base is an A2 sized card using medium blue cardstock. I used the largest rectangle die from the Blueprints #6 die set to cut a white background layer as well as a blue snowflake background layer. The blue snowflake paper is from the new Graphic 45 6x6 paper pad called The 12 Days of Christmas. It's GORGEOUS! I love the colors and the patterns in this new paper pad.

I cut about an inch and a half off the bottom of the blue snowflake background layer that I just cut with the die and glued it directly to the white one. I stamped the sentiment, Christmas Sentiments stamp set (Impression Obsession), with black ink onto the white background layer and let it dry.

There is a solid dark blue paper in The 12 Days of Christmas paper pad, and I pulled that out and cut the pretty dotted scallop border (Blueprints #6 die set) from the dark blue paper. I glued that to my background papers directly above the stamped sentiment.

The colored snowman piece was glued to my background right above the dotted scallops and then I wrapped some blue seam binding around my background and tied it in a knot. I used the dark blue paper and cut it with the fun little rounded tag from the Blueprints #6 die set and glued it onto the side of my snowman piece. The button was die cut from white cardstock using the coordinating button die in the Blueprints #6 die set. I glued this die cut button down on the rounded tab piece. With all my pieces in place, this background piece was glued down to my card base.

I love this card. The snowman, the blue papers, the fun die cuts, and the sentiment all work perfectly together. I love how all these different die shapes from the new Blueprints #6 work so well together. I'm having a lot of fun playing with them! :-)

You can save 10% off your order when you shop at Classy Cards 'n Such by using this code, Holly-10, when you check out.  I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Sweet Stampin - Christmas is Coming

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge #150 - Outdoors

Crafty Calendar Challenge - All Things Christmas

A Creative Romance - Winter Blues

Stampavie and More #198 - Die Cut Embellishments (die cut button, scallops)

The Paper Shelter #136 - Winter Fun

Inky Impressions #133 - Dies and Punches

Watercolored Pumpkins

Hello friends.  Fall is finally here in TX and I have really enjoyed these cooler temperatures!  I even had to put my sweatpants and sweatshirt on this morning!  :-)  A couple weeks ago, I pulled out my Distress markers and relaxed by watercoloring these pumpkins.  I didn't have any plan in mind. I just pulled colors out and just colored for the fun of it. After I was done coloring, I let it dry overnight and then I put the card together. Here's what I used to create my card:

I started by stamping the pumpkins from the Autumn Blessings set (Flourishes) with black Stazon ink onto watercolor paper. After I let it dry a few minutes, I colored the image with the Tim Holtz water brush and the following Distress Markers:

Tumbled Glass (sky)
Crushed Olive (grass)
Peeled Paint (grass)
Forest Moss (grass) - sold out
Vintage Photo (wheelbarrow)
Walnut Stain (wheelbarrow)
Mustard Seed (pumpkins, squash)
Spiced Marmalade (pumpkins, squash)
Dried Marigold (pumpkins, squash)
Wild Honey (pumpkins, squash)
Rusty Hinge (pumpkins)
Barn Door (berries)

Once the image was completely dry, I cut it out with the Vintage Labels Two die (JustRite) and sponged a little bit of Tea Dye distress ink around the edges. I cut a card base (A2 size) from suede cardstock and folded it in half. I then cut the gorgeous fall-themed paper from the Autumn Song 6x6 paper pad to 3.25" x 4.5" and matted it with a soft yellow cardstock. Some sheer brown ribbon was tied around the bottom of this autumn paper layer and tied into a bow on the left side. Finally, I affixed the pumpkin image with some Joy foam pads over the ribbon and the patterned paper and glued the whole thing down onto my suede card base.

I love how this turned out. It just screams "fall" to me, and it's actually feeling like fall now. I love this respite from the summer heat, and these rich fall colors always put me in a happy mood!  As always, you can save 10% off your order at Classy Cards 'n Such by using this code, Holly-10, when you check out.  Have fun shopping!

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafting for All Seasons #64 - Autumn Colours
Hiding in my Craft Room #122 - Fall Colors
Ladybug Crafts - Autumn Colors
Rogue Redhead Designs #28 - Die Cut Divas