White On White

Late but quick post today...
I've seen a lot of creations lately that use white on white, and a lot of literal white space. When this beautiful glittery ribbon arrived I thought it would be perfect for a cool, white, wintery card. The only color here is the pale blue snowflakes falling thru the white world. I have some other ideas on modifying this card, but today this is what I have, haha!

Supplies:
Stamps: Among the Branches
Ink: Soft Sky
Paper: Whisper White cardstocks
Accessories: Big Shot, Seasonal Frame thinlit dies, Woodland embossing Folder, Glitter Ribbon

*This might end up part of my Christmas card class, but I haven't yet decided.... Watch for those creations coming soon!

Blog Hop: Step It Up Spooky Style!

Oh my goodness, another month has come and gone! And that means it's time for another fun blog hop!

Since today is the 1st of October, I thought I'd milk it for all it's worth and play with some Halloween ideas! I know most people don't send Halloween cards, but my grandmother and her sister always did, and my mom is carrying on the tradition. It's a fun excuse to send mail to the grandkids! I'm offering a Halloween card class this year and even supplying a twist- if you don't mail Halloween cards, they fit in lunchboxes! And if you don't send lunches- the card fronts would make a fun addition to a Halloween scrapbook page with your cuties all dressed up!!

Today's card is shown three different ways, from the "very simple" to the "plenty of extras"! And I used the current Freshly Made Sketch for the layout. Let's get to it!

Admittedly, this first one might be too plain, but I was going for the "spooky" theme and anything else seemed to take away from that. Also, aside from the cutting out tools, it sticks with the Stamps-Ink-Paper theme I mentioned last week.

Supplies:
Stamps: Among The Branches
Ink: Smoky Slate, Memento Black
Paper: Smoky Slate
Accessories: Big Shot, Seasonal Frame thinlit dies, Oval Punch, 1 3/8 inch circle punch, Dimensionals

This one adds a bit more stamping, and some quick embossing, and I think is totally cool for a spooky Halloween greeting.

Supplies:
Stamps: Among The Branches
Ink: Smoky Slate, Memento Black
Paper: Smoky Slate
Accessories: Big Shot, Woodland embossing folder, Seasonal Frame thinlit dies, Oval Punch, 1 3/8 inch circle punch, Dimensionals

And finally, a card I seriously love! This added another stamp set, another ink, a bit of ribbon, and threw on one more color. Oh, and the "spooky" circle is heat embossed, which adds richness to the color and shine!

Supplies:
Stamps: Among The Branches, Gorgeous Grunge
Ink: Smoky Slate, Memento Black, Whisper White
Paper: Smoky Slate, Tangelo Twist
Accessories: White Jute Ribbon, Big Shot, Woodland embossing folder, Seasonal Frame thinlit dies, Oval Punch, 1 3/8 inch circle punch, Dimensionals, Black embossing powder, Heat Tool, scotch tape

*and if you remember THIS post, I used the edge of the white Stampin' Spot that was included in the Paper Pumpkin kit to color on the trees. Literally, lightly scrubbed the ink pad right onto the trees.

What do you think?! Now hop on over to Cheryl and see how she shows off stepping it up! Then hop thru to see everyone's creations, and leave us some comments!

Making Spirits Bright!

Oh yeah, I'm switching gears today! For my workshop tomorrow, I'd like to show some sneak peeks to upcoming classes, so people are more likely to sign up. That meant I had to create a few sneak peeks! So here's the first- and I used the current Retro Sketch for the layout!

Supplies:
Stamps: Among The Branches
Ink: Smoky Slate, Real Red, Cucumber Crush, Soft Sky
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Silver taffeta ribbon, Big Shot, Banners Die, Woodland embossing folder, Dimensionals

Autumn Trees!

Wow- I haven't stamped in about a week and a half! And I have upcoming events I am trying to get ready for and feature ahead of time, so that isn't so great.... But I'm stamping today!! And yeay for a break in the {much-needed-and-enjoyed} rain so I could snap a picture of my first creation!! 

This card uses the latest Nacho Average Challenge sketch, and I am pretty sure we'll be making this card in my upcoming Thank You Card Class! 

Supplies:

Stamps: Among the Branches, Teeny Tiny Wishes, 

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzelberry, Mossy Meadow, Tip Top Taupe, Early Espresso

Paper: Tip Top Taupe, Whisper White card stocks, Into the Woods DP

Accessories: Big Shot, Woodland embossing folder, Banners Dies, Hexagon punch

Leaves for Saturday...and research!

Ha! How's that for a title?! Well, read on!

First, we'll start at the end, haha, with the finished project- a sort of funky, autumny card, full of brand new Holiday Mini products that just arrived yesterday! (yeay for being a demo and getting to pre-order items!) Which is why I'm posting on a Saturday, I didn't get to play with it til today! I used the latest Freshly Made Sketch and the Nacho Average color Challenge and came up with this:

Supplies:

Stamps: Among the Branches

Ink: Delightful Dijon, Blackberry Bliss, Bermuda Bay

Paper: Hello Honey, Whisper White, Blackberry Bliss card stocks 

Accessories: Woodland Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Burlap Ribbon, Dimensionals

Maybe the Bermuda Bay is a little odd, but I like how it worked out actually! I also kept it an accent color for this card, and maybe that's why I like it... And I DO like this card, despite several, shall we say..."rough drafts"!

I have a new Pinterest Board just for the new Holiday Mini (HERE) and I have seen dozens of ideas using this fantastic new embossing folder. Lots of those ideas show the trees colored, and the background is left white. Um....I have found one post where the person tells exactly how she colored her trees...you can see her post HERE. I wanted fully colored trees...HMM. So here's what I tried:

1. Someone said ink was put on the raised tree images...I figured a stampin' spot would be easier to control so here's that attempt....
I started adding leaves and decided I really didn't like this 'forest' so I tried again!

2. Somewhere else I saw to sponge ink on the raised tree image...Nope, that doesn't work either...but it is less muddy sooo... But nope, I really don't like this one either!

3. This time I used a marker, laid almost parallel to the paper, so it only got to the raised tree image, and wouldn't ink up anywhere else... That worked out the best, but I already know I have customers who will struggle with that method for an entire card front. HMM. So if you know of an easier way, please leave a comment and let me know! hahaha!!!

And there was still a snag on this third attempt, LOL!!! The color challenge called for Hello Honey. I got out my box of In Color markers and apparently had put back the wrong yellowy marker in that box! This card was actually made using the Delightful Dijon marker instead of Hello Honey! No wonder it was "too dark"!
...some days..............hahahahaha...........