Strawberries on a Trellis

I got this idea from Patty Bennett's blog, but I think it was a swap she received, rather than a card she actually created. I used the Tart and Tangy set to stamp the small strawberries in Real Red on matching cardstock, and used the Delightful Decorations stamp set to make the big berry and the center of the strawberry flower. As I've said, I don't own a Big Shot, so the lattice die came from the shoebox swap at Kristin's back in November--I just brought my Close to Cocoa cardstock and cut it out at her place. When I got home, however, I found the negative, but not the die! I contacted Kristin, who said she had it and would bring it to our December brunch. What she actually brough was a Chocolate Chip lattice die! So who knows what became of that Close to Cocoa one. Unfortunately, I already had put the card base together and the Chocolate Chip just didn't look right against the lighter base. What to do, what to do. I pulled out my Whisper White craft ink and a sponge and went to work! I also sponged the green tops of the strawberries since they had been punched from Old Olive and the green background was Kiwi Kiss. It works. Plus the white sponging added some nice dimension, I thought. Looks good enough to eat, right??

Supplies:
Tart and Tangy, Delightful Decorations stamps
Close to Cocoa, Kiwi Kiss, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Summer Sun, Whisper White, Old Olive cs
Whisper White, Real Red, Summer Sun ink
Sponge
Ornament, 3/4" circle, and Boho Blossoms punches
Lattice die

Lonely Winter Tree with Diamond Snow

I made this card a few weeks ago and was saving it for the post-December 25 blahs that inevitably hit. Winter cards are hard because you are in between, even though I love this time of year. The wind chill this morning was in the teens! I normally love really cold weather, but this year I'm struggling a lot with being cold (pregnancy hormones, gotta love 'em) so the extra cold outside isn't just my favorite thing right now, but I do love the crispness of the air and the way the sky looks when the mercury drops below 20 degrees F. Makes me miss Moscow!

Anyway, this card is based on a card by Jen Sannes, but I couldn't do without a layer or two, so I added in the Red Riding Hood layer and substituted RRH taffeta ribbon for the striped grosgrain she used. I also thought it would be nicer to have the glitter look like snow on the branches rather than falling snow. I also used this template for a few of my Christmas cards, subbing in Merry Christmas for Thank You. Nice quick card, if a bit messy!

Supplies:
Stamps: Branch Out, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Red Riding Hood, Soft Suede
Paper: Kraft, Red Riding Hood
Accessories: RRH Tafetta ribbon, Two-Way glue pen, dazzling diamonds glitter, paper piercing tool and mat pack.

Let us drink and Be Merry

I will admit, I didn't really give this set a second glance when I first saw it in the mini, and the first few cards I received from people who used it didn't wow me, but I love this card! I love Bravo Burgundy and Always Artichoke together and this card fits the bill. I like all the little details, from the dry embossing to the popped up sentiment. It was the last card I made at the Holiday Stamp Camp (we made a few gift card holders as well, but mine didn't turn out spectacularly well).

This card kind of puts me in mind of frosty evenings, curled up in front of a lit up tree, just enjoying the lights against the darkness. I love the evenings before Christmas!

I will say that Christmas in my family is long drawn out affair, as my husband and I and our children are Orthodox Christians, and we actually celebrate our Lord's Nativity on January 7 (old style calendar), but my side of the family is Protestant, so they celebrate it with most of the rest of the world on December 25. So we almost always end up with two (or often three, as we celebrate again with my husband's side around the New Year) Christmas celebrations. In a way, I kind of like it. I get to keep the traditions of my growing up years on December 25 with my family, squeeze in the ways of my husband's family around New Year, and then have our own family celebrations in the Church on January 7, with a full 12 days of feasting to follow. Pretty nice if you ask me! Personally, I love the season of Christmas (although I do wish that stores would wait at least until Thanksgiving to begin putting out Christmas stuff) and the whole festive atmosphere that attends it.

I'm starting to prattle on, so with that I will sign off. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Shoebox swappin'

Design by Lynn Hunt

Design by Claire Lawrence

My contribution to the swap!

These are a few of the cards I made at Kristin's shoebox swap in November, just before Thanksgiving. The one below isn't from the swap, but is a CASE of a card I saw on someone's blog a while back. I struggle with Crushed Curry a lot, but I rather like it paired with Real Red and Garden Green as shown.

On Dasher, on Dancer...

I've not really explored all the possibilities to be had with this great little stamp, but here is another card featuring him that I made at the Holiday Stamp Camp in Mt. Airy.

We are off to spend Christmas with my family and enjoy the new addition to my parents' house, which should allow us all some breathing room during the Christmas weekend to come.

Did you ever see, anything as lovely

as a tree?

I love this set--it's on my Christmas list, so maybe if I've been a good girl this year, it will be under the tree for me! This is another card I made at the Holiday Stamp Camp in November in Mt. Airy. It is so simple, yet elegant. The Dazzling Diamonds accents are like snow on the branches. I love the pale of the sage shadow with the very vanilla--such a nice subtle Christmas card.Supplies:
Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla cs
Lovely as a Tree, Christmas Greetings stamp sets
Sage Shadow ink
Top note die
two way glue pen, dazzling diamonds

Pale Plum Serene Snowflakes

This lovely card uses the stamp set Serene Snowflakes (love it!) from the mini catalog and I made it at the Holiday Stamp Camp in November. I really like the combination of Pale Plum with the Rich Razzleberry. I like purples anyway, and this combo is quite lovely. It's a little hard to see in the photo, but the snowflakes are blinged up with Dazzling Diamonds.

Supplies:
Pale Plum, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White cs
Pale Plum, Rich Razzleberry ink
Serene Snowflakes, Sincere Salutations
Two Way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds