Goodie Box treats!

Part of the treats for going to the Maryland Stampers Bi-Annual Regional was a goodie box full of treats from the Stampin' Up holiday mini -- samples of Gather Together DSP, the coordinating card bases made from SU! card stock, Holiday rhinestones, Come Together ribbon and wooden Tags and Feather elements.  I don't yet have the Gather Together set, but I thought that these birds from Free as a Bird would work perfectly!

The technique that I used on this card was peeling wallpaper.  Two coordinating pieces of coordinating DSP are adhered together, then the papers are torn and sponged to make it look like one sheet of old paper is falling off the other.  Sponging the edges front and back help to distress the DSP.

Featured Product

Come to Gather suite bundle

153484

$70.00

All products used are Stampin' Up!, unless otherwise noted 

Stamps:  Free as a Bird 

Paper:  White, Early Espresso, Mint Macaron, Come Together DSP 

Ink:  Black Memento, Soft Suede, Mint Macaron, Flirty Flamingo, Sahara Sand, So Saffron, Garden Green 

Accessories:  Big Shot, Stitched Seasons framelits, Come Together ribbon, metallic brads, Mint Macaron textile ribbon, Dimensionals, Aquapainter, sponges, Ticket-Corner punch

Who remembers the Birdhouse Man?

Who remembers DoDo, the Birdhouse Man?  His real name was Richard Keeney and he passed away in 2015. For those of us of a certain age in Maryland, you could find the Birdhouse Man just over the Frederick County line, in Tuscarora.    At the corner of Routes 28 and 85, there was a wooded corner with a little shacky house on it.  It was surrounded by bird houses and other Americana built out of repurposed wood and garden implements. There was a "honor box" where you put your money when you bought something.

For years, I kept horses in various stables around Boyds, Dickerson and Adamstown.  Over the years, I was back and forth over the Point of Rocks bridge over the Potomac to horse shows at Morven Park, Middleburg and Upperville.    At the stop sign at Routes 85 and 28, I'd always stop and look at the Mr. Keeney's creations, thinking how wonderful they were.  One day, I pulled to the side of the road and bought my very own Birdhouse Man bird house.

My particular bird house was made of repurposed wood, painted in a faded burgundy.  It had a corrugated tin roof, and was attached to an old shovel and a pair of rusty garden shears.  My bird house has been at three homes and is always the center of attention! He's getting a bit shabby now, and maybe needs a little new paint and a couple of nails, but the shabbier he gets, the better he looks.

At the last house, he lived in a big bank of blue hydrangea for eleven years.  My current house had no existing garden per se, so for the first year, he held court over Black-eyed Susans and morning glory.  Hopefully, next year he'll have bee balm and coneflower to keep him company, too.  Maybe even a new coat of paint, too!

Happy Monday!

Yesterday, I had the pleasure to attend Maryland Stampers' Northern Maryland 1st Bi-Annual Regional  event in Middletown, Maryland. So much fun!  There were great make and takes, along with a phenomenal WOW project, and I got to meet some lovely Stampin' ladies.

The above card was one that I made to take and show off a little.  If you look carefully, you'll see that the "back" of the snow globe is the new Mercury Glass designer acetate from Stampin' Up, which gives it some lovely depth and texture.  I stamped the image once on the acetate using Stazon black ink, then again on Very Vanilla cardstock in black  Memento.  Both images come from the Still Seasons set, available in the SU! holiday mini catalog.

I watercolored the house/fir tree image portion stamped on the Very Vanilla card stock.  Then I carefully fussy cut it out, applied SU! puff paint and used the heat gun.  Afterward, I glued the watercolored image over the house/fir tree stamped on the acetate, piled on some glitter and sequins and adhered  the shaker dome.

The base of the snow globe was stamped on Very Vanilla card stock, then watercolored with an Aquapainter using Daffodil Delight, More Mustard (retired), Soft Suede, Garden Green and Mossy Meadow.  Highlights were pulled up with a white gel pen.

Featured product

Mercury Glass Designer Acetate

150441

$11.50

Snowfall Accents Puff Paint

150691

$4.50

All products are Stampin' Up!, unless otherwise noted  

Stamps:  Still Scenes, Toile Christmas 

Paper:  Very Vanilla, Garden Green, Mercury Glass designer acetate, Christmas Toile DSP 

Inks:  Black Stazon, Black Memento, Daffodil Delight, More Mustard (retired), Garden Green, Pear Pizzazz, Mossy Meadow, Basic Gray, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Merry Merlot 

Accessories:  Big Shot, Snow Globe dies, Snow Globe shaker domes, Snowflake sequins, Snowfall Accents puff paint, heat tool, Aquapainter, Dimensionals, Real Real woven satin ribbon, metallic brads, ticket-corner punch

Christmas bird

The inspiration for this was a white on white card with just the red bird -- which didn't really happen.  The Coastal Cabana background paper from the Let It Snow DSP just seemed to be the right touch, then the red ribbon wanted to join in, too,  The fence is cut from Whisper White using the fence die from the Stained Glass thinlits.  The snowflakes are die cut from Christmas Layers and the trees from In The Woods.

All products are Stampin' Up!, unless otherwise noted 

Stamps:  Free as a Bird 

Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red, Coastal Cabana, white Glimmer paper, Let It Snow DSP 

Ink:  Black Memento, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Balmy Blue, Crumb Cake 

Accessories:  Big Shot, Stained Glass Thinlets, Christmas Layers dies, In The Woods framelits, Real Red textile ribbon, Dimensionals, Aquapainter, white gel pen

and now for something completely different...

...#Elfie!  It took me awhile to come over to the Darkside and start liking this little elf, but eventually I figured out that he had possibilities.  The comfy dark red and green plaids and stripe patterns in the Wrapped in Plaid DSP go very well with his clean-cut cuteness. Besides, I can watercolor him -- so, well.  Yeah.

The fur trim on his hat and at the bottom of his jacket are Snowfall Accents puff paint -- love that stuff!  Also the snowflakes are cut from silver Glimmer paper using the Christmas Layers dies.

All products used are Stampin' Up!, unless otherwise noted 

Stamps:  #Elfie 

Paper:  Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Shaded Spruce, Wrapped in Plaid DSP, silver Glimmer paper 

Ink:  Black Memento, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Mint Macaron, Pretty in Pink, Creamy Caramel, Blush Blossom, More Mustard, Flirty Flamingo, Daffodil Delight, Garden Green 

Accessories:  Big Shot, Christmas Layers and Stitched Nested Labels dies, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, gold brads, Diagonal striped ribbon, Dimenionals, Aquapainter, white gel pen

Deer in a Dome

I made this little snow globe with the deer in it days ago, but couldn't find the right way to present it -- then I came across this piece of plaid paper in the Wrapped in Plaid dsp.  It's dark, but I like it!  

The woods behind the deer are cut using the little tree trio from the Snow Globe Scenes dies out of Pear Pizzazz and Garden Green.  Both sets of trees are painted with Mod Podge (Plaid) and rolled in Ice Stampin' Glitter, then snowy details are drawn out using Snowfall Accent puff paint and a heat gun.  Still my current favorite accessory!

The wreaths are cut from copper and gold foil paper and layered with Cherry Cobbler round punchies and old gold sequins.

All products are Stampin' Up!, unless otherwise noted 

Stamps:  Toile Christmas 

Paper:  Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Wrapped in Plaid DSP, copper and gold Foil 

Ink: Garden Green 

Accessories:  Big Shot, All Around Wreaths and Snow Globe Scenes dies, small round hand held  punch, Ticket Corner punch, Ice Stampin' Glitter, Mod Podge (Plaid), Snowfall Accents puff paint, Snow Globe shaker domes, Snowflake sequins, 1" Real Red ruched ribbon

Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini Catalog!

Today is September 4th and, therefore, it is a day of unending joy -- it's the release date of the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini Catalog!  This years' Mini is jam-packed with new stamp sets, designer specialty paper (DSP), kits and accessories to get you through January 1, with autumn, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years' themes.

All in all, there are 45 stamp sets, 18 dies, 12 new assortments of DSP, 10 new ribbons, 6 punches, 5 kits and over 25 new accessories -- all waiting for your creativity!  While you can cherry pick and buy single items that you want, SU! also "bundles" certain items (i.e. a stamp set + dies) or offers a whole product "suite" (stamps, dies, ribbons, DSP, other accessories), saving you 10%.  Buy and save!

For what it's worth, my favorite embellishment in the Mini is the Snowfall Accents puff paint!  Squeeze a little onto your project, hit it lightly with your heat gun, and it blooms out into this great 3D accent.  Also, Snow Globe Shaker domes that magically fit the Snow Globe Scenes dies.   Magic, every time.

 

Toile Tidings product suite

Toile Christmas stamp set  150469

Christmas Cardinal dies  150640

Tidings All Around stamp set  150465

All-Around Wreath dies  150641

Toile Tidings DSP  150432

Garden Green 3/8" double-stitched ribbon  150434

Real Red 1" ruched ribbon  150435

Toile Tidings glitter enamel dots  150433

Let It Snow product suite

Snowman Season stamp set  150458

Snowman Builder punch  150643

Tiny Keepsakes stamp set 150460

Mini Curvy Keepsakes Box dies  150644

Winter Knit 3D embossing folder  150645

Let It Snow DSP  150393

Real Red Glimmer paper  150427

Real Red 1/8" curly ribbon 150426

Snowfall Accents puff paint  150691

Let It Snow embellishment kit  150425

Christmas Countdown project kit  150703

Come to Gather product suite

Gather Together stamp set  150589

Gathered Leaves dies  150662

Come to Gather DSP  150454

Come to Gather ribbon combo pack  150456

Tags & Feathers elements  150455

Monster Bash product suite

Spooktacular Bash stamp set 150544

Ornate Frames dies  150664

Monster Bash DSP  150447

Stylish Scroll embossing folder  150664

Basic Black 3/8" scalloped edge ribbon  150449

Monster Bash enamel shapes  150448

Coffin treat boxes  150451

Sip Sip Hooray Bundle

Sip Sip Hooray stamp set  153045

Sip & Celebrate dies  150668

Maryland Stampers Featured Blogger!

Welcome to my blog -- I'm very honored to be this weeks' featured blogger at Maryland Stampers!  My particular challenge was to take a set from the Stampin' Up! Holiday mini that I would not normally use and make five cards with it, so I chose the Let It Snow suite.  My area is usually a more vintage, watercolored look, so trying to make snowmen fit this category was challenging.

On my first card, I completely let go and flew out of my comfort zone -- I worked my design completely around a sentiment.  I hyperventilated the whole time about simplicity.  I may have overworked it some, but I like how it came out.  The wreath is from the All Around Wreath dies, cut from Pool Party and Coastal Cabana, then layered over each other.  I also cut out a wreath from Whisper White, but keeping the center white area that you'd normally toss away. On that, I stamped my sentiment from the Let It Snow set in Real Read, then fitted and glued the sentiment into the layered wreaths, giving it a seamless look.

The background snowflakes are cut out from Silver glimmer paper, using the die from Christmas Layers.  Let me say that I love these dies!  Very useful when you need some interest and texture behind your image.  I cut two, then adhered them behind the wreath, gluing a small blue sequin in the centers of the snowflakes and sprinkled them over the wreath, along with some "berries" punched from Real Red and Cherry Cobbler.  A Cherry Cobbler bow anchors the wreath -- it's made from the old seam binding, which is tragically retired.

All products are Stampin' Up!, unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Snowman Seasons

Paper:  Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Cherry Cobbler, Let It Snow DSP, Silver glimmer paper 

Ink:  Real Red 

Accessories:   Big Shot, All Around Wreath dies, Christmas Layers dies, small round hole punch, Iridescent sequins assortment, Cherry Cobbler seam binding (retired) 

Here is my second card for Maryland Stampers.  This card came together quite simply, and I like the lightness of the whole.  There is just a little bit of watercoloring on the snowman and his winter wear, as well as the carrot nose and coal buttons from the Let It Snow embellishments set.  For a bit of horizontal interest, I stamped the diagonal stripes from Tiny Keepsakes, then cut it out with a die from the Stitched Nested Labels.  A little sentiment banner and a silver glimmer snowflake cloud  completes the look!

All products are Stampin' Up!, unless otherwise noted 

Stamps:  Snowman Season, Tiny Keepsakes 

Paper:  Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Flirty Flamingo, Silver glimmer paper, Let It Snow DSP 

Ink:  Black Memento, Coastal Cabana, Flirty Flamingo 

Accessories:  Big Shot, Christmas Layers dies, Stitched Nested Labels dies, Let It Snow embellishments, Dimenionals, Aquapainter, Snowfall Accents puff paint, heat tool

I love the feel of this card!  The tree was from the In The Woods dies, which first appeared in last years' Holiday Mini, and was luckily put into the 2019-2020 Annual Catalog.  I'm very much in love with the tree.  I cut it out of iridescent Glimmer paper and sponged the edges with Flirty Flamingo.  The glimmer paper takes color really easily if you sponge it on.

Mr. Snowman was stamped on Whisper White, then painted with Modge Podge (Plaid), sprinkled with Ice stampin' glitter and cut out using the Snowman Builder Punch.  Mr. Snowman was further accessorized with coal buttons and stick arms from the Let It Snow accessories kit.

All products are Stampin' Up!, unless otherwise noted 

Stamps: Snowman Season 

Paper:  Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo, Coastal Cabana, Let It Snow DSP, Iridescent glimmer paper 

Ink:  Black Memento, Flirty Flamingo, Cherry Cobbler, Shaded Spruce, Coastal Cabana, Pumpkin Pie 

Accessories:  Big Shots, In The Woods framelits, Stitched Nested Labels dies, Snowman Builder punch, Let It Snow accessories kit. Dimenionals, Aquapainter, sponges, Ice Stampin' Glitter, Modge Podge (Plaid), Flirty Flamingo ruched ribbon

I love this dancing snowman!  I combined the snow globe from Still Scenes and a glittery snowman from the Let It Snow DSP.  I used a carrot nose from the Let It Snow embellishment kit and glued random snowflakes and sequins from the Snowflake sequins assortment in the background of the snowglobe.  The corners are anchored with Toile Tidings glitter enamel dots.  The filigree on the base is sponged with Pool Party, for a soft look.

All products are Stampin' Up!, unless otherwise noted

Stamps:  Toile Christmas 

Paper:  Whisper White, Pool Party, Shaded Spruce, Let It Snow DSP 

Ink:  Shaded Spruce, Pool Party

Accessories:  Big Shot, Snow Globe Scenes dies, Toile Tidings glitter enamel dots, Let It Snow embellishment kit, Snowfall sequin assortment, Dimensionals, Snow Globe shaker domes

This card makes me happy, with my favorite dancing snowman.  He is stamped and lightly watercolored with Coastal Cabana to create shadows and I added a carrot nose, coal button and stick arms using the Let It Snow embellishment kit.  The trees are fussy cut from the Let It Snow DSP and the ones on the ends are popped up with Dimensionals.  The snowflakes are cut from iridescent Glimmer paper using the Christmas Layers dies, and there is a strip of the same Glimmer paper at the bottom.  Snowfall Accents puff paint is used to give some texture to the whole.

All products are Stampin' Up!, unless otherwise noted 

Stamps:  Snowman Season

Paper:  Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Let It Snow DSP,  iridescent Glimmer paper 

Ink:  Black Memento, Coastal Cabana, Flirty Flamingo 

Accessories:  Big Shot, Christmas Layers dies, Let It Snow embellishment kit, Snowfall Accents puff pain, Dimensionals, Aquapainter, White seam binding (sadly retired, although any white ribbon will do!), heat gun

White on White

I played with this layout a bit last year, but never was really happy with it.  It turns out this little snowman was the missing piece!  Enjoying the snow, he is watercolored with a streak of Coastal Cabana and his carrot nose, twig arms and coal buttons are from the Let It Snow accessories kit.

The fir tree is cut using the smaller, solid tree, from the In The Woods framelits dies out of white Glimmer paper.  To give the tree a feeling of depth, I cut two of the tree, then cut one of the trees up the center.  This I mounted to the back of the whole tree, with dimensionals and curled the "branches" with the edge of my bone folder.

The bare white trees were also cut using the two bare tree dies from the In The Woods framelit dies.  The little snowflakes are from last years' Santa's Signpost framelits dies, which is sadly retired.  The picket fence is an old Martha Stewart punch that's been sitting in a bin for ages -- it comes in handy sometimes!  The larger white piece of card stock is embossed using the Softly Falling folder -- also, sadly retired.

Once I had all my elements cut, I assembled them onto the Softly Falling layer.  Yes, a little labor intensive, but once you have all the pieces it's a snap!

All products are Stampin' Up!, unless otherwise noted 

Stamps:  Let It Snow 

Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red, white Glimmer paper 

Ink:  Black Memento, Real Red, Flirty Flamingo, Coastal Cabana 

Accessories:  Big Shot, Santa's Signpost and In The Woods framelits dies, picket fence punch (Martha Stewart), Softly Falling embossing folder, Let It Snow accessories kit, Dimenionals, Aquapainter