Good Tidings from the Holiday Catalogue

After unpacking and using all my original pre-order from the Holiday Catalogue, I realized that 1) I really didn't have enough stamp sets from it and 2) there was a lot more that I really wanted. That resulted in another order going in and what you will see this week will be the result of that order. Today's card features the stamp set, Good Tidings, which is a two-step stamping set in photopolymer, with incredibly realistic looking holly sprigs and a wonderful sentiment! It caught my eye the first time I looked through the catalogue, but I hummed and hawed because not a lot of demos were talking about it. But it kept calling to me and I ordered it this time around and I'm really glad I did! I absolutely LOVE the images and the sentiments! You can't really tell just looking at the images in the catalogue how they are going to work together. You really need to see some finished projects with it. So I'm helping you out here:

• I chose to use the Merry Music Specialty Designer Series Paper to stamp on and it works very well because there are no extra shiny finishes on this DSP. Since we are stamping with holly images here, I used the sheet music with Deck The Halls (with boughs of holly) as my background! Clever, eh?
• I started by stamping my holly leaves in Tranquil Tide and Emerald Envy. When two step stamping, my advice is to always stamp the more detailed image with the darker ink first, so that would be the Tranquil Tide in this case. Then I used the Emerald Envy on the more solid, less detailed stamp to complete the leaves. It is easier to line up the image when you can see through the lighter coloured ink on the stamp to a darker coloured detailed image.
• The berries were done with Cherry Cobbler first and then Real Red. The branch was done with Early Espresso first and Soft Suede second.
• The card base in Tranquil Tide looks so elegant when paired with the Gold Foil sheet and the sentiment heat embossed with Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder on Very Vanilla cardstock. The sentiment is die cut using the Stitched Shapes Framelits and the backing in Cherry Cobbler cardstock was die cut using the Layering Squares Framelits.
• The ribbon is the 3/8" Gold Metallic Edged Ribbon in Very Vanilla and the embellishments you see are the Gold Faceted Gems.

I would definitely recommend this stamp set, especially if you like realism in your images.

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today.

Product List

Good Tidings Photopolymer Stamp Set [144870]	Merry Music Specialty Designer Series Paper [144623]	Gold Foil Sheets [132622]	Tranquil Tide 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144246]	Cherry Cobbler 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119685]
Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650]	Versamark Pad [102283]	Tranquil Tide Classic Stampin' Pad [144085]	Emerald Envy Classic Stampin' Pad [141396]	Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad [126966]
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [126949]	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [126974]	Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad [126978]	Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder [109129]	Gold 3/8" (1 Cm) Metallic-Edge Ribbon [144146]
Gold Faceted Gems [144141]	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372]	Layering Squares Framelits Dies [141708]	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755]	Fast Fuse Adhesive [129026]
Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]

One in a Melon Cooper Style - Paper Pumpkin June '17

This weekend, I needed some thank you cards for customers, and I had completely run out of Notecards & Envelopes. I had taken two Paper Pumpkin kits with me camping, but I had only had time to complete one of them, the August kit - Giftable Greetings! I had fun with that one, but really just put it together as is! I enjoy doing that usually, because I don't have to think or design. I just follow directions, which is really relaxing for me - like a holiday!

But I've been hanging on to the June '17 Paper Pumpkin - One in a Melon - because it's so stinkin' cute and I've been meaning to put it together, but I just didn't really have any use for the treat bags and Hooray sentiments on the cards. Yesterday, it occurred to me that I could turn everything into Thank You cards, and I did!

Here's how it was meant to look:


            


And the Cooper version:

• The differences are few for this card. I took one of the treat bags and cut it to make a backing for the yellow watercolour panel. 
• I used the Thanks sentiment from the Jar of Love stamp set instead of the Hooray sentiment that comes in the kit.
• I used some of the gorgeous watermelon tissue paper, which is quite heavy duty, to make an envelope liner.

• These cards use the materials that would have been normally used for the treat bags. I cut the bags up to make panels for the front of the cards. I stamped the tags with the watermelon stamps using Melon Mambo and Emerald Envy. Then I added the sentiment from One Big Meaning in Lemon Lime Twist ink.
• I mounted them on the Daffodil Delight banners and added a double bow in the Melon Mambo Baker's Twine. I attached the bow with a glue dot, but added the cute Lemon Lime twist clothespin over top as well.
• I took some more of the awesome tissue paper and folded it accordion style to make a little fan-like embellishment which I adhered either at the bottom or the top of the banner and attached it all to the front of the card. The card base is Daffodil Delight cardstock.
• Again, I used some of that fabulous tissue to make envelope linings for the envelopes. There wasn't enough to make liners that went all the way to the bottom of the envelope, but they went down far enough to hold well and to be there for all the visible areas.

This is a great segue to remind you about our Paper Pumpkin promotion that goes until Sept. 10th only. New subscribers get half off their first month's subscription fee of $26.95 a month (which already includes shipping and taxes). Just click HERE, go to the Canadian site and follow the prompts to sign up. Use the promotion code: HALF0917 to get your deal! It is easy to manage you subscription, too, including cancelling or putting it on hold for awhile, so you won't be stuck with something you don't want for whatever reason. (I can't imagine one!)

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today.

Product List

One In A Melon Kit Refill [145534]	Jar Of Love Photopolymer Stamp Set [141587]	One Big Meaning Clear-Mount Stamp Set [139420]	One Big Meaning Wood-Mount Stamp Set [138788]	Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119683]
Emerald Envy Classic Stampin' Pad [141396]	Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad [126948]	Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad [144086]	Stampin' Trimmer [126889]	Envelope Liners Framelits Die [132172]
Big Shot [143263]	Glue Dots [103683]	Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108]	Fast Fuse Adhesive [129026]

My Top Ten Picks from the New Holiday Catalogue! It's Here!!

On Wednesday I promised you I would try to help you out with your wish list, now that 

Click here to download the 2017 Holiday Catalogue PDF

the 2017 Holiday Catalogue has gone live, by posting my top ten products from the catalogue. Now keep in mind that these choices are my humble opinion only and may not be to your taste at all, but if you like my blog and the cards that I create, chances are that you may like the same things that I choose from the catalogue. I am also trying to keep in mind versatility and things that you will get a lot of use from, not just in the season. So with that in mind, let's have a look at my picks:

(For each choice, click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products mentioned today.)

1. Best Fall Bundle:  Painted Harvest Bundle

Without a doubt, this is my favourite product in the whole catalogue. It includes the Painted Harvest Stamp Set and the Leaf Punch, which we've needed for a long time. The artwork is phenomenal and you can create cards that look like masterpieces just by stamping. While using warm fall colours make the images perfect for fall, there is no reason you can't use other soft or bright colours to take this stamp set into the winter, spring or summer! And who doesn't like sunflowers??

2. Best Winter/Christmas Bundle: Hearts Come Home Bundle and Night in Bethlehem Bundle

I couldn't decide between these two very similar bundles, but they will both create some very effective Christmas greeting cards and I guess it would be your call as to whether you would prefer the more traditional religious images or the generic Christmas images. Both bundles feature a stamp set with great images and really super sentiments, and edgelit dies that create layered towns, modern or biblical, depending on the set. I have seen stunning creations with both bundles!                                                                                                                                                   The Hearts Come Home bundle consists of the Hearts Come Home stamp set and the Hometown Greetings Edgelits.                                                     

The Night in Bethlehem bundle is made up of the Night in Bethlehem stamp set and the Bethlehem Edgelit Dies.











3. Best Designer Series Paper - Merry Little Christmas Designer Series Paper

This paper had me at Basic Black, Old Olive and Whisper White! I absolutely love the combination. When you add the graphic designs including giant ginghams in Old Olive and Basic Black, it's a no brainer for me. And it works for any time of year with the graphic patterns, just winter for snowflakes and trees, but you'll get a huge amount of use from this paper. I can see it being used for wrapping very special gifts as well!






4. Best Specialty Designer Series Paper - Year of Cheer Specialty Designer Series Paper

Foil paper is festive, no two ways around that, and this paper is fabulous! You get 3 each of 4 single sided foil designs, 3 of which could be used year round for any festive occasion. And it mixes metallics gorgeously, while introducing a new one - champagne! How cool is that? And there are so many embellishments to enhance your creations that you make with it! You can't lose with this pack!






















5. Best Embellishments: Foil Snowflakes and Year of Cheer Embellishments

I'm so sorry! Once again, I could not decide between these two. They are both stunning! The Foil Snowflakes make either an impressive background for your main image or they can steal the show themselves with a bold die cut sentiment over top.

The Year of Cheer Embellishment, I am seeing as jewellry, if you're in to making that, or wine glass trinkets or tree ornaments, or some delicate eye-catching extras on your cards or gift tags this year.









6. Best Ribbon: 7/8" Striped Ribbon

What's black and white and wired for shaping? The 7/8" Striped Ribbon, perfect for use with the Merry Little Christmas Suite of products, but so neutral that it would work with many other colours as well. I just love stripes, so this one was an easy pick for me!













7. Best Punch - Everyday Label Punch

We've needed a punch for a long time to accommodate the wider, longer sentiments and this Everyday Label Punch does the job so elegantly! I love that it coordinates with two stamp sets in this catalogue - more value for your money! And it bundles with the Merry Little Labels stamp set, one of two stamp sets in the Merry Little Christmas Mega Suite.






8. Best Embossing Folder - Winter Wonder Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

If you look in the top left of this photo you'll see the Winter Wonder TIEF in all it's snowflaky glory! It's been awhile since we've had an embossing folder that had an impression that was a focal point instead of a background and this one can make an amazing focal point for your cards, especially embossed in foil with a die cut greeting over it! Not just for Christmas, but for all your winter birthdays and celebrations.












9. Best Kit - Be Merry All Inclusive Kit




There are two kits in the Holiday Catalogue. One makes lovely greeting cards, but you have to purchase an additional stamp set to do it. This kit makes 12 Rosette Ornaments, and it's an All Inclusive Kit, meaning it contains everything you need to create the project from beginning to end. It looks like a lot of fun, and it might make a great gift for a crafty friend or someone with the inclination but not a lot of tools, time or money!






Or you could just keep it for yourself and have a new theme for your Christmas Tree this year!







10. Best Extra Product - Champagne Foil Sheets

I love, love, love Champagne metallics. I've been trying to get my hubby to buy me a champagne diamond for a long time now with no luck yet! These foil sheets are absolutely gorgeous! I'm hoping they will hang around after this catalogue is done like the copper foil did last year!













So, there you have it! My fav ten products! Do you agree? Which ten would you have chosen?

And Stampin' Up! thinks it's time to reward hosts again with a new promotion called Merry Patterns! It's a brand new stamp set, never seen before! You cannot buy this one! You can only earn it through Stampin' Rewards! During the months of September and October, when you are the host of a party of some kind (and there are many, many options) where the sales total $375 before tax and shipping, which is an average party total, you will receive this amazing two-step stamp set free! (You could also earn it by spending $375 yourself, but that's not anyone I know!) Here are some samples made with this set:

From a traditional private class or workshop or stamping party, to a catalogue party or facebook party, or having it your host month with my stamp club, there are many ways to earn Stampin' Rewards, so give me a call and we'll find out what suits you best!