DogGone Delightful Stampin'

Merry Christmas!

Good Morning Fellow Stampers -

 

A Very Merry Christmas from Miss Laredo Mae and me.  Wishing you the joys and blessings of this beautiful day.  We'll take a break from creating today to spend time with family, friends and to share with each other.   I hope you each are deeply blessed today.

However, I can't leave you today without at least a little inspiration ;-)  And I just HAD to share my most favorite card design from 2013 using probably one of my most favorite stamp sets, the beautiful Joyful Christmas stamp set.  I did not design this card -- it is however one of the best uses of this stamp set that I saw last year!  Definitely bears another moment to enjoy !!

 

Miss Laredo and I will leave you with the "true meaning of Christmas" as very simply given to us in 1965 by the Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Linus crew.  Enjoy -- may we always remember the real "Reason for the Season."

 

 

 

Merry Christmas my friends!  Blessings to each and every one of you!

Until Next Time . . .

The Doggone Delightful Stampin' Team!

 

 

 

 

Christmas Eve Birthday!!!

 

Good Morning Fellow Stampers -

 

Can you believe it is Christmas Eve!! ?? !!   WOW!!  Time has just flown this month.  Lots and lots to do yet today.  And now they're threatening a Winter Storm for us tomorrow afternoon, and I have to drive up into our mountains to go visiting for the day -- could be interesting!  ;-)

I'm going to take a break for today from the Creative Crew installment, and bring you something else instead ;)   This card was not only designed for a specific special birthday, but also for the Crazy 4 Challenges (C4C266) challenge this week.

What do you do when your honey has a Christmas Eve birthday?!  Create an elegant Birthday card -- that's what you do ;-)  I had a lot of fun creating this card, using a new "technique" of embossing gold embossing powder on Gold Foil paper, and then "lightly" coloring with Blendabilities.  We'll talk a little bit more about that in a minute.  In the meantime -- I also had a lot of fun when prepping this cards for display today, using the "bokeh" effect on these pics in my photo manager program.  We'll be talking about and seeing a lot more of the "bokeh" effect as we step into the new year in many of our new products in the 2015 Spring Occasions catalog, so I thought I'd start introducing it to you now :)  This is a very popular trend right now, and is fun to play with on your photograph spreads.  So the "dots" you see in the pictures are an overlay effect -- don't be freaked out!!  LOL

 

Doggone Delightful Stampin' Design Tips:

• Layerothology.  This is a simpler card in terms of layers -- when you're making a male focused card, sometimes less is more ;-)  Just sayin' -- LOL!  Nevertheless, there is wonderful detail to this design.  The cardbase for this card is cut from Early Espresso cardstock, 4 1/4" x 11", scored at 5 1/2".  The Gold foil pieces are cut 3 3/4" x 3 3/4" and 1 1/2" x 3 3/4" respectively.  They are both matted with Basic Black, cut just 1/8" inch larger to give them a little pop!  Both pieces, when completed, were popped on the card base with dimensionals.
  

• Playing With Foil.  The focal point of this card design is all about the Gold foil.  I used a new technique I saw the other day, and embossed my Partridge & Pears image on the Gold foil.  Stamp with versamark and emboss with gold embossing powder.  It's a nice pop effect on the foil. 
• I then "colored" the image with blendabilities.  However -- let's chat about this for a minute.  Blendabilities are alcohol based markers -- and as such, they WILL lift the color of your foil paper and "ruin it."  Therefore, you must "touch" your color on;  not "color."  The lighter the touch of the marker onto your paper, the better off you will be.  Just sort of sweep that color lightly into place and move on.  It is beautiful when done correctly.  As such there is no "blending" per se of your colors.  Just a "laying on" of the colors of choice.  I used the light and mid-tones of the Old Olive set for the leaves; the light and mid-tones of the Daffodil Delight set for the pears and on the Partridge; the light and mid-tones of the Crumb Cake set for the trunk and branches of the tree, on the Partridge, and a dab as a highlight on the pears.  I used the mid-tone of the Pumpkin Pie for the berries on the tree.  "Extra" pears were embossed, colored and cut out and "laid" on the "ground" under the tree ;)  This card in real life is beautiful!

Note:  For those who are wondering, the "sentiment" is from one of my favorite sets which retired this last Spring - Perfectly Penned. 

 

And Now -- Drum Roll!!!  I'm going to give you a little starter Sneak Peak from out of the new catalog coming in January -

This gorgeous sentiment is from the brand new stamp set called Big On You!  I stamped it in Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and filled in the lettering with our Gold Dazzle marker -- this is such a fun stamp set and has a lot of possibilities!  We'll be seeing it more as we step into January ;-)  [the smaller sentiment is from the Endless Birthday Wishes stamp set currently available]

 

What do you think of my Christmas Birthday card?  ;-)  I'd love to read your comments and thoughts! 

I want to take this opportunity and moment to thank each of you for your support and encouragement this year.  Your support of my business means a great deal to me and each of you is so appreciated!

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas Eve -- I hope you have wonderful plans with family and friends for the evening, and will enjoy the peace and joy of this beautiful season!

Merry Christmas from Laredo Mae and myself and all of my downline and team --

The Doggone Delightful Stampin' Team!

 

 

 

Terrific Tuesday Weekly Deals and More . . . Dec 23 - Dec 29

Good Morning Fellow Stampers -

 

Happy Tuesday!  Can you believe Christmas is only 2 days away ??  And so true, I am still not ready -- LOL.  I spent the day yesterday with my mother out shopping, and that was exhausting.  Hopefully I can do some catching up in the Studio today since so many of my little gifts are handmade.

 Anyway -- despite our franticness this week, Stampin' Up! just keeps plugging along whether we're with them or not -- LOL.  Lots of "terrific" deals today, so let's get started :-)

 

 

We have some fabulous Weekly Deals today -- don't miss out on these great stamp sets (the Be the Star stamp set is the set that was introduced in June to coordinate with the new Star framelits), ribbon, bakers twine, and framelits -- the Squares and Chalk Talk are "must have" sets for your inventories.

 

Heads up!!!  The incredible Year-End Closeout continues -- with some incredible new additions to the "store" today.  Of note, the addition of a number of our wonderful winter/Christmas products from the current 2014 Holiday Occasions catalog, as well as a number of fabulous items from last year's Holiday catalog -- sets such as Christmas Collectibles, Christmas Messages (and absolute must have for your collection!), Evergreen, and Festive Flurry were all top sellers last year -- and are available again for this short time.  I would also note that the very popular, but only available with minimum workshop or purchase order this October, Good Greetings  stamp set has made an appearance in the Year End Closeout store.  If you did not get an opportunity to get this set during October, NOW is the time!!!  Do not miss out -- because when it is gone, it is gone!!!  Order today!

Check out all the fabulous deals at the Year-End Closeout HERE!!!

 

Did you check out the brand new photopolymer release this month - Snuggles and Smooches??  You're gonna want this set for all your Valentine creations and special cards for those special people in your life ;-)  Don't miss out -- get this set today!!  HERE 

A reminder  as we're winding down to Christmas here -- still looking for that last minute gift solution?  Give me a call or drop me an email and we'll get you hooked up with a Gift Certificate for that crafter in your life ;-)  Check it out HERE.  

 

Well, I hope you all are able to get everything done by tomorrow night.  I will be frantically working myself!!!  Hope to pop in a little later with a special card for you ;-)  We'll see how it goes!  Tomorrow, we'll take a look at another special creation for the SCS Creative Crew challenges this month.

Take care, stay warm, and "gift on" everyone!!  :-)

Until Next Time  . . .

The Doggone Delighful Stampin' Team

 

Three Days Until Christmas!

Hello Fellow Stampers -

You probably all thought I got abducted by aliens or something -- LOL  :-)  Truth is, I'm here, but very very busy.  Many of my regular challenges have gone on break for the Holiday Season, so it's really a good time to take a break.  Besides, I have so much to do to get ready for Christmas, and I'm beginning to think this afternoon, I might not make it -- eeeeek!  Some of the baking is done, the Christmas letter is half written (hope to finish that this evening), and some of the shopping and planning is done; but there is so much not done.  I am having to recalibrate my thinking and just decide, if it gets done, it gets done; and if it doesn't then it will just be late!!

In the meantime, here is a little inspiration for you and those last minute OMG I need to do a little something for someone panic moments!  ;-)

These fabulous ornaments are this year's focus with all our fantabulous Star stamp sets, framelits, boxes and kits.  These were designed for my annual Ornament class which was held the first weekend of December.  The class had a great time making these ornaments -- and I had a lot of fun designing them :-)

 

This beautiful set of ornaments was created with the Star framelits, and a combination of Brushed Silver, Silver Foil, Silver Glimmer, and Typeset SDSP.  Score your stars "tip to elbow" on every single star arm, and fold to give your ornament 3D dimension; then stack and offset using glue dots, dimensionals and hot glue as preferred to create this beautiful ornament.

 

These little stars are made using both the Bright & Beautiful and Many Merry Stars stamp sets and coordinating stars framelits, as well as the Lost Lagoon ink and ribbon.  The "Joy" is cut from the Snowflake Card Thinlets die set from Dazzling Diamonds glimmer paper.  Score "tip to elbow" on all star points, fold, add a few rhinestones, and you have a beautiful little ornament for the tree :-)

 

These "Americana" Star ornaments are cut from Crumb Cake and the new Under the Tree SDSP cardstock.  The cutout allows your to "reveal" a glitter piece of Gold Glimmer cardstock underneath.  Score that top store from "tip to elbow" and fold to give your star dimension; use Linen thread to hang your "tag" and add that extra touch to your star :-)  (These ornaments have real silk thread from Japan on them, so don't be confused by that!)

 

Have fun making a fully 3D star by cutting 6 stars, scoring them down the center, and laying together with Tombow Glue until fully put together -- slip that piece of ribbon in right before you glue it shut ;-)

 

Are you still looking for a last minute gift, and have run out of time?  Give me a call or email to discuss Gift Certificate options - click HERE to see more.

I'll be popping in and out throughout the next week as time allows.  In the meantime, wishing everyone the very best; get all those items done your checklists ;-)  And have a wonderful and safe holiday everyone!!!

Until Next Time . . .

The Doggone Delightful Stampin' Team

 

Through the Christmas Window

Good Morning Fellow Stampers -

Happy Hump Day!!!  :-)    This week is passing by us quickly.  And I am soooo excited!!  It's my official last day of work for 2014.  I'm off for Holiday Break now until January 5th.  Whew!!!  What a relief.  It will be so nice to have a break!!  However, now I'm in that final last frantic push for Christmas, and I have so many things to get done to be ready in time!  Eeeeeeeekkkk :-)    Are you counting the days until Christmas? 

 

Today it's time for another installment of my December Creative Crew Design Team designs --

 

This challenge was all about creating a window in  your project :

Use your choice of SU dies, punches, or a combination of dies & punches to create a window:

• on the front of your project, or
• framing your project, or
• looking ‘into’ your card or project

 

I had been thinking about this particular challenge most of the month of November.  I was excited to create my "dream scene" - I can just imagine myself tucked away in some old-fashioned snow chalet with this gorgeous wintery scene outside my window. I wish my pictures showed the white gel pen, and dazzling diamond sparkle detail to you all a little better. This card turned out just gorgeous in person :-)

 

I decided to stick with the "unconventional" colors I used in my tag project, and use the Nordic Noel DSP, which really is quite pretty!

I created a cardbase of Soft Sky, and then set about creating my "window" with Whisper White cardstock and our fabulous Square framelits dies.  Once my window was created, I laid a piece of the Nordic Noel DSP on my "wall" (we're looking out remember? ;) ) as my "wallpaper" and created a "windowsill" with the Top Note die and somemore Soft Sky cardstock.  Then I created an edging with the Silver 1/8" taffeta ribbon.  My "windowsill" was a fabulous place to put a small greeting from the Cheerful Christmas set, nice and snug and perfectly placed ;)

 

The scene through my window was created with the fabulous Festival of Trees stamp set; and I added "snow" to my branches with a white gel pen.  There is also fabulous sparkle added to my "picture perfect" snow scene using Dazzling Diamonds glitter; don't forget your pearls ;-)  Perfect addition to the tree branches.

 

This was such a fun card to create, and I really enjoyed spending the time on this design. 

Now it's Your Turn :-)  Hop on over to the December Gallery and check out all the great creative inspiration, and then create a "non-traditional" holiday color palate project of your own and upload and share with the rest of us :-)

 CCREW1214CF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM – Catalog Focus
Punches/Dies :

December is here! In addition to Christmas holidays, visions of December can include lights, colorful décor both inside and outside, Winter’s arrival, happy children on break from school, favorite foods being shared with family & friends, and so much more. And, when the snow stuff is in the air ... this girl looks at everything through her windows!


Use your choice of SU dies, punches, or a combination of dies & punches to create a window:

• on the front of your project, or
• framing your project, or
• looking ‘into’ your card or project

 

I hope you have enjoyed my design today.  I'd love to hear comments :-)  Won't tell me what you think?  As always, if you have any questions regarding my designs, I'm only an email away -- drop me a line :-)

Until Next Time  . . .

 

The Doggone Delightful Stampin' Team!

 

 

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