O Christmas Tree(s) Card

Here's yet another Christmas card, this one using Evergreen, Home for Christmas, and the Triangle Trees Thin Cuts.

The sentiment is stamped on the inside.

Another Snow Globe Card

Now that Christmas has passed, I can share a few more cards that I made.  I used the December stamp of the month, Christmas Snow Globes, with the Silver Bells collection.

After coloring the snow globe with colored pencils, I used a white gel pen to add snow flurries and then used clear shimmer brush over everything.  The final touch is the addition of two pearl Silver Bells dots for the headlights!

I hope you have had a very happy, blessed holiday season!

Naughty or Nice Layout

This layout is a good reminder about how taking your time can lead to better results!  I wish that I had placed all of my elements on my page (without adhesive) and then looked at it again a day or two later. 

If I had the chance to redo this layout, I would either use Seabrook or Sage cardstock for my base pages OR I would have used a blending brush to add some color behind my photos prior to adhering them.  I'm not unhappy with this layout (and not sorry for the double negative!); I just know that if I had walked away and come back, I would have added some color behind my photos rather than using the plain White Daisy cardstock base.

I used the Evergreen collection and a retired former stamp of the month for the cute candy cane alphabet title.

Spoiler: Naughty indeed! The journaling & hidden photo (of said naughtiness) is under the photo on the right page. 

Skylark Birthday Card

 Here’s a twist on the Triangle Trees Thin Cuts!  I used the smallest tree to cut these pennants from Skylark and a little Toffee from Silver Bells.  I accented to the banner with Silver Bells gems.

Today we are celebrating a very special birthday in my family!

Dreaming of a White Christmas Cards

Do you normally have a white Christmas?  (We do not.)  Here are two versions of the same Christmas card.  I love the versatility of our two-sided patterned paper!

The Silver Bells collection is lovely with the December stamp of the month, Christmas Snow Globes.

I used very little color (just a little gray colored pencil) on the first card, and the clear shimmer adds a nice touch.

I added a little more color for the second card (but not much).

Which one do you prefer?

I'm linking my cards to the Color Dare #578 Three Neutrals challenge.

Snow Globe Card

The December stamp of the month has four different adorable snow globes and two sentiments.  You can order it with or without Thin Cuts (die cuts).  

This card is based on a Make It From Your Heart sketch and features the Evergreen collection.  I added Toffee card stock to have another shade of brown.  After coloring the snow globe (stamped on Seabrook card stock) with colored pencils, I added white gel pen and clear shimmer brush accents.

The shimmer brush worked well over the colored pencils and white gel pen coloring!

O Christmas Tree Layout

The Triangle Trees stamps, Thin Cuts, and stencils have been such a huge hit that they’ve sold out again! 

I used 9 of the second-largest triangles to create the tree on the left (with a tenth one on the cluster on the right),

In hindsight, I think I should have stamped my title with Black ink but didn’t feel the need to change it  

I used Evergreen, Silver Bells, Home for Christmas, and a sheet from last year’s winter collection. 

November Story Process Layout

As much as I love teaching stamping and scrapbooking (which I do with my whole heart!), I am always looking for opportunities to learn and grow. I am part of Stacy Julian’s Live Your Story group, and each month she challenges us with a "story process" layout (randomly selected from a cool deck of story cards). Here’s my take on the November story process layout challenge (and the actual challenge, below):

*Special days: My aunt & uncle came to visit (from out of state) to pick up their new puppy. 

*One-word title: Peaches (the name my mom suggested for said puppy)

*Stamps: (retired) Love My Dog & Celebration Alphabet stamp sets 

*Mixing old with new: old stamps & plaid paper with new colors (Pumpkin & Journey)

This layout might not be of the "typical" special days, but it was indeed special when family from about 10 hours or so away is able to come and visit.

I love when our family can get together!  And don't you think that Peaches is the perfect name for this adorable Southern Brittany Spaniel?

Thankful for My Girls

Well, I thought that I had posted this card set already!  November's stamp of the Month with Evergreen with Desert Rose, Mink, and Pine.

Thankful Grateful Blessed

This simple cards uses strips of Evergreen to share this message.  I used Sage, Pine, & Acorn inks for the sentiments from the November stamp of the month, Thanks a Bunch.

Who would you give this card to? Leave a comment!

Thanksgiving 2022 Layout

 It’s only been almost a year, but I just got last year’s Thanksgiving photos printed and scrapbooked!

Using a sketch from Make It From Your Heart, I used the November stamp of the month, Thanks a Bunch, and the retired Harvest Wishes stamp set, along with the Daisy Alphabet stamp set.  I colored the cornucopia with colored pencils.  Evergreen was the focus of my color palette (Pine & Acorn) with the addition of Desert Rose. 

Don’t be afraid to mix and match colors & patterns!

Then & Now Layout

The newest Close To My Heart Idea Book, the November-December 2023 version, is perfect for the holidays, BUT these beautiful products are not limited to the holiday season!  I used Silver Bells, but not for Christmas, but to highlight my girls in 2007 and 2018 at the Biltmore Estate. 

When I saw this paper, I knew that I had found what I needed to preserve these sweet photos and memories of our girls.  I decided that Make It From Your Heart, Volume 6, Pattern 11, was the perfect sketch for my photos.

I used a favorite retired alphabet stamp set for my title and cut some Thin Cut hearts, circles, and foliage to accent this layout.  The pretty gold foliage on both pages are stickers from the Silver Bells collection.  I used the very pretty Silver Bells dots as embellishments across both pages.

On the right page, I decided to journal on White Daisy that I cut to fit.  I used a flip flap so that I could add two photos of the girls.  (I debated have the rear-facing photos on both pages but decided not to.)

Here is the page with the flip flap open to reveal the third photo.

Did you notice how I added thin strips of gold glitter paper and gold and silver metallic marker accents?

Don't be afraid to stretch your stash beyond their obvious uses!  Also, be sure to make connections between then and now as you tell your family's and friends' stories!