Virtual Card Making Party - Challenge 1

Over Labor Day weekend, Operation Write Home (OWH) hosted a Virtual Card Making Party (VCMP).  During the weekend, they posted challenges to get your card making mojo going, learn a few new techniques, and most importantly, make cards for the heroes that serve this country.

I wasn't able to participate over the weekend.  However, the challenges are still open this week and I really wanted to play along.  Here is the first challenge (posted by Nancy Keller at Scrap Happens):

"My challenge is to make a winter or Christmas themed card for OWH following a sketch!"

Here is my card.  The squares are cut at 1".  This was a fun technique.  It uses up scraps and creates a nice layout for the card.

 

 

All Items Stampin' Up unless noted

Stamp:  Christmas Collectibles (131775), Greetings of the Season (128033)

Paper:  Coastal Cabana, Island Indigo, Winter Frost Specialty DSP (132341)

Ink:  Island Indigo, Versamark

Other:  Basic Jewel Rhinestones (119246), Silver Embossing Powder, Christmas Ornament Punch 

Christmas in August Card 3 – Merry Christmas

Pool Party and Island Indigo don’t exactly evoke images of the holidays in my mind (especially being from Wisconsin).  But those are exactly the colors used on this card.  My color inspiration came from the Winter Frost Specialty DSP.  This paper pack comes with 12 sheets of 12 x 12 paper, including 2 sheets that include silver foil. 

My fabulous Stampin’ Up upline Dawn Olchefske introduced me to the Starburst technique used on this card.  I stamped the ornament using Versamark ink and then heat embossed it using Silver Embossing Powder.  There is a rhinestone accent in the center of the ornament.

 

I hope you have enjoyed these holiday cards. 

Stamp:  Christmas Collectibles (131775), Greetings of the Season (128033)

Paper:  Smoky Slate, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Winter Frost Specialty DSP (132341)
Ink:  Island Indigo, Versamark
Other:  Silver 1/8” Ribbon (132137), Basic Rhinestones (119246), Silver Embossing Powder, Christmas Ornament Punch 

All items are available in my Stampin’ Up store.  Order online 24/7.

 

Christmas in August Card 2 – Greetings of the Season

Card 2 in this series shows how you can use the same stamps and create a different look.  This card has more of an “earthy” feel.  I love the way the linen thread compliments the Crumb Cake cardstock base.  Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke add to the traditional holiday feel.

 

Stamp:  Christmas Collectibles (131775), Greetings of the Season (128033)

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla

Ink:  Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler

Other:  Linen Thread, Christmas Ornament Punch



Christmas in August Card 1 – Noel

This is a very simple, yet elegant design.  I love the way Midnight Muse contrasts with the Whisper White.  And of course, the silver adds just that extra sparkle to the card.  There is a strip of ribbon added to the bottom of the white layer that balances the ribbon used to “hang” the ornaments.  I added 3 rhinestones of the top of the middle ornament.

Stamp:  Christmas Collectibles (131775), Greetings of the Season (128033)

Paper:  Midnight Muse, Whisper White

Ink:  Midnight Muse

Other:  Silver 1/8” Ribbon (132137), Basic Rhinestones, Christmas Ornament Punch

 All items are available in my Stampin' Up store.  Order online 24/7.



Christmas in August

Stampin’ Up releases the Holiday catalog in August each year.  And while Christmas is actually months away, once school starts, that time seems to fly by in my house.  Why not get started on your holiday cards early and eliminate some of that stress?  I am going to have a few postings featuring one new stamp set and one returning set.

The new set is Christmas Collectibles.  This set is available in clear (131775) or wood mount.  You can also save 15% and get the bundle which includes the matching Christmas Ornament punch.  I try to minimize fussy cutting shapes, so the bundle was the way to go for me.

And for our greetings, I chose the Greetings of the Season stamp set (Clear mount - 128033).  This set is not featured in the new Holiday catalog, but is available on my Stampin’ Up website.

Stop by again to see these fabulous cards.  If you need any supplies, visit my online store.