What's New With You? NC SU Demos Blog Hop

It's time for another NC Stampin' Up Demos Blog Hop. This month the theme is What's New With You? It can be anything new - from the new Ocassions or Sale-a-Bration catalogs, a new technique, a new idea - anything, as long as it's new to us. I'm sure you'll see lots of great ideas as you travel through the hop.

I decided to use the stamp set, Fortunate to Know You, from the 2018 Occasions catalog. I particularly like the assortment of messages that look like the fortune from the fortune cookie. It's a fun set that you can use for a variety of occasions.

For the first card, I stamped the take out box and fortune cookie message on Whisper White, the fortune cookie on Crushed Curry, and the chopsticks on Crumb Cake. Then I cut out each element and adhered it to a Real Red background layer on a Whisper White base. I used Stampin' Dimensionals to pop up the fortune. I colored the heart with my Real Red Stampin' Write marker and the box handle with Smoky Slate.

This card is similar, but requires more coloring and less cutting. I still have the Whisper White base and Real Red background layer. For this card I stamped directly onto a Whisper White layer, except for the top cookie which was fussy cut and popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals. The heart is again colored with Real Red and the handle with Smoky Slate. I wanted to color the fortune cookie with Crushed Curry, but could not find my marker. So, I dug into my retired stuff and pulled out my More Mustard Stampin' Write marker. I have to admit, I really miss that color. It's perfect for so many things, especially Fall cards.

This last sample is a simple, one layer card. I positioned the fortune cookies so I didn't have to cut out any of them. I like the other two cards more -- who doesn't like more layers and popped up elements? However, I make birthday cards for our Card Ministry at church and was looking for a quick card since I make so many at one time. I was on the L2L team and just got my Stamparatus, so I'm thinking I'll be able to stamp these up in no time! I colored these fortune cookies with Crumb Cake. It's not my favorite. I think I'll look a little harder for my Crushed Curry marker before I start cranking these out.

I hope you enjoyed seeing how the same stamp set and similar layout can look so different. The single layer card is fine, especially for what I need it for, but a few layers and some cutting really step it up for only a little more effort.

The 2018 Occasions catalog goes live on January 3rd. Do you have yours yet? For those of you in the Raleigh area who don't have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I'm having an Open House on Saturday. You can come by and find out about my upcoming classes, do a make-and-take, get an Occasions catalog, and more. 

Thanks for joining us for this month's blog hop. Next up is Sue Stapp.

Here's the entire blog hop list in case you get lost somewhere along the way:

 Toni Campana
Tamra Davis
Jo Anne Hewins
Tracie Evans Langley
Laurie Meier
Sue Root - You are here.
Sue Stapp
Frances Wagner

 

Merry Cafe

I know...Christmas was yesterday. But at our house we have several celebrations with different parts of our family. Today was our final Christmas celebration, so I have a final Christmas card to share with you - as well as a couple of other cards that use the cute set, Merry Cafe, and the coordinating Coffee Cup Framelits.

Merry Cafe and Painted Autumn Designer Series Paper (the DSP on the middle card) are retiring January 2nd and only available while supplies last.

You can cover a lot of holidays/seasons with this stamp set:

Look at all these gorgeous designs:

These cards were all made as part of a shoebox swap at a demo only event I attended. Unfortunately, I don't have the names of the demos who designed and brought each of these cards. If you're reading this post and one of these is your card, leave a comment and I'll add the credit.

Peace On Earth

Merry Christmas everyone!

Here are two variations of the same card, using the Carols Of Christmas stamp set and Card Front Builder Thinlits. The message is one that shows up at Christmas but in truth should be at the forefront year-round.

 We made this first card in stamp club a couple months ago. If you'd like to learn make cards like this and other great projects, as well as fun techniques and fancy folds, consider joining my Stamp Club. A new round  is starting in January. Contact me to get more information or to sign up. Details are also available here.

  I made this next card as part of a shoebox swap at a demo event earlier this year. I think I used it for inspiration for the card I designed for club but that was so long ago, I don't quite remember. There's been a lot of stamping going on since then!

I like the darker colors of the card I designed but I also think the snow and the sparkle from the Silver Glimmer Paper are nice. It's interesting to me how cards can be very similar in design but have a different feel based on the papers used.

The Card Front Builder Thinlits and Carols of Christmas stamp set are retiring when the Holiday Catalog ends on January 2, 2018, so be sure to get them before they are gone. The retiring list can be found here.

Gift Tags

As you wrap those last minute packages, here are a few ideas.

These tags are made with the Merry Little Labels stamp set, Everyday Label punch, assorted Designer Series Papers, Garden Green 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, and Jute Twine. 

The outer tags were made by me but designed by Martinette Horner as part of a project we made at the NC Stampin' Up! Demos event I went to in September. If you'd like to attend events like this, join my team and we can go together. Getting together with other demos is lots of fun and just one of the many benefits of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. Contact me or check out my website for more details.

I designed the other tag, but apparently the ribbon was added after the picture was taken.

This tag is made with the Many Mittens Framelits. The thread I used is retired, but Stampin' Up! offers lots of ribbon and Baker's Twine options that would work.

 

The tag opens up to put a message inside. These framelits have a coordinating stamp set, Smitten Mittens, that has a TO/FROM stamp in it. However, the stamp I used comes from Cookie Cutter Christmas. The message comes from Nature Sings. I got this idea from Pinterest but modified it some.

 

I came up with another cute idea using the Many Mittens Framelits - a Christmas ornament. Instead of making it like a book, just layer the three layers (Real Red front and back with Sahara Sand in the middle).  Be sure to attach the hanging ribbon inside as you glue the layers together. The ornament hangs the opposite way of the tag (band up).

Many Mittens includes some dies that emboss and I used one of them to emboss the band on the back of the ornament. It gives it a finished look.
 

This ornament also looks cute hung on a bottle of wine you are giving as a gift, such as a hostess gift. It does double duty because it dresses up the bottle for gift giving, but then the recipient also has the ornament. You could also use this to embellish a package instead of a bow.

Several of the items in today's post are discounted and/or retiring when the Holiday Catalog ends. These items are only available while supplies last. Check it out at my online store. While you're there, check out the Clearance Rack which was recently updated. Current hostess code is BDBZUZSX.

Carols Of Christmas

We made this card earlier in the year at Stamp Club. It was made with the Carols of Christmas stamp set and Card Front Builder Thinlits.

Sometimes club members like to add their own spin to a card. This variation was done by Corothy.

 

Carols of Christmas stamp set and Card Front Builder Thinlits are both available through my online store. Thanks for choosing me as your demonstrator.

Tree Ring Birthday Card

I chose this Designer Series Paper (DSP) because the age of a tree is determined by counting its rings. It seemed appropriate for a birthday card that refers to the recipient's age. Of course, it's for a 79th birthday.

I think this sentiment from the Number of Years stamp set is such a nice thing to say to someone. Who wouldn't like to be told the world is a better place because they're in it? The 79 was cut with the Large Numbers Framelits and Big Shot. Obviously you would die cut the age of the recipient. The DSP is from the Wood Textures DSP Stack.

The recipient of my card is a gardener, so it's just one more way this card was personalized for him. However, this is a great gender neutral card that anyone would enjoy. It's not all frilly so is masculine enough for a man, but the imagery of the tree rings works for a man or a woman.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Leave a comment letting me know your favorite DSP. There are so many great ones to choose from., it will be interesting to see what people answer.