North Pole Delivery Mallow Poles

A few posts ago I shared one of my favourite Christmas makes, which was a Snowman topped mallow pole. I showed a few alternatives using Ice Creams, Rabbits and the super cute reindeer (I am still in love with the Cookie Cutter Christmas stamps and punch, I think it will be in my craft room forever!) Todays project is another mallow pole idea, but using a sentiment rather than an image.

I have created lots of different versions using sentiments and punches. I love that you can choose your own colours and utilise previous stamp sets and punches.

I have used Gorgeous Grape and Mint Macron in these examples with Perfectly Plaid and also the Rectangular postage punch. I have also used the Holiday Rhinestones, these are one of my go to embellishments along with the metallic pearls. I love that they go with lots of different colours on lots of different items.

The video below shows how easy it is to make a mallow pole topper!

I love that they work in lots of different colours, not just the traditional Christmas colours and can be tailored to the recipient. My favourite colour at the moment is Misty Moonlight. What is your favourite colour?

CASED blended Pinecones

I have been watching You tube again, whilst trying to conserve my spoons (I feel like someone stole them all again… ) one of my favourite videos is by Justine Hovey about not copying cards but using them as inspiration. You can find the video here

I have used this inspiration before for one of last years Christmas Cards using the gorgeous Peace and Joy stamps and dies (they are still in my craft room, I loved those dies, so perfect for Christmas.) I actually used Gorgeous Grape on my last card, this time I thought I would be more traditional.

I was struggling to create a card with the pine cones, when I use a stamp set, I try to use every stamp in the set on at least one card. Some stamps are easier than others, I usually use Pinterest, but there are limited ideas most examples use designer series paper and the punch. I therefore thought of this card, as the ink blending added interest to the pine cones. My original test cards were in Poppy Parade (one of my favourite Christmassy reds, for a bright Santa-esque look) and Night of Navy which is one of my favourite Stampin’ Up! colours.

Measurements

My Metric

10.5 cm x 14.5 cm (10.5 by 29cm scored at 14.5cm)

Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14cm

Outside gold Panel – 9.5cm x 13.5cm

Outside layer – 9cm x 13cm

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.8cm)

Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14.3cm

Outside gold Panel – 9.5cm x 13.8cm

Outside layer – 9cm x 13cm

Imperial

4." x 5.75" (4” by full length scored at 5.75”)

Inside White Panel - 4” x 5.5”

Outside gold  - 3.75” x 5.25

Outside layer – 3.5 x 5”

My original cards were a bit round as I was being a bit specific with the placing, I am not sure that it works, my Shaded Spruce card was more random. I was trying to avoid the circular placement of the pine cones.

You could use this idea for snowflakes from Snowman Seasons or most other Christmas stamp set. I think I like the Night of Navy and Silver the best. Which is your favourite?

Clean and simple trees - choose your own decoration

I recently watched a YouTube video by Inkhill revival about ‘the Secret to buying supplies you will actually use,’ it was an inspiring video, which made me think about my style and what I love to create. Looking at my favourite cards I realised that I am a clean and simple card marker. I love cards with lots of white space (not sure that these are the cards my mother likes though.) I love making multiple cards in my limited time in the craft room. I also find it hard to return to part started projects so I prefer to finish what I am doing. I have a huge box of unfinished projects and I am trying not to add to the collection of pieces in the box. I have also realised that I need to use up my stash, so while making cards I have been thinking what I have on hand which will work and make each card individual.

For this card I wanted to use a tree I haven’t used from Perfectly Plaid, I also wanted to play with the Evening Evergreen. I love the colour but I found that it was too dark. I was also playing with the red to match, I tried Merry Merlot, but found it to be too dark. I used Cherry Cobbler, ink which I think compliments the second generation stamping I used for the tree.

Measurements:

My Metric

10.5 cm x 14.5 cm (10.5cm by 29cm scored at 14.5cm)

Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14cm

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5cm by full length scored at 14.8cm)

Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14.3cm

Imperial

4." x 5.5" (4” by full length scored at 5.5”)

Inside White Panel - 3.75” x 5.25”

Each card uses different embellishments, I have used Metallic Pearls, Gilded Leafing, Gold Glitter, Gold embossing powders (from Stampin’ Up for the gold and Stamps By Chloe WOW embossing powder in Kir Royal.) and a star embellishment. I have also used different stamp sets to add different sentiments. As well as changing the green/red colour combinations. I am still in love with the Just Jade, Cherry Cobbler combination which is in the Joy to the World Kit.

Soft Suculent and Poppy Parade with WOW Kir Royale embossing powder

The video below shows how I made the cards:

Top Tips-

• I stamped off on scrap paper before using the Evening Evergreen ink on the card, this tones down the colour (it is very very very dark.)

• When using the sticky notes, they do not have to be expensive ones, you could use any you can find.

• The sticky notes will soak up the ink, so can not be used more than twice, if you continue using them the ink transfers to the stamp and you will end up with random words on your card.

• You could use the Stampin’ Write Markers, but these work better on Cling stamps.

I love the slight differences between the cards and that they still work. The choice of decoration works as you could customise each card for the reciepient, use up your stash. Alternatively you could choose a favourite and make multiples quickly. My favourite is the the card with the Metallic pearls, which is yours?

Christmas Clearance Items

Stampin’ Up! update their clearance rack every now and again. The items are only whilst stocks last and are discounted below the original catalogue price. (It is worth a note that the items may not be the lowest price that they have been on offer in the clearance rack, sometimes last chance lists are lower.) Clearance rack items are items which have been retired by Stampin’ Up! and are no longer available to buy from the catalogue. You can still find alot of inspiration for these items on YouTube, the internet and also Pinterest.

I have been playing with the Joy to the World Paper Pumpkin and the Christmas Traditions Punch Box. I think that they are gorgeous. As with most Paper Pumpkins the box contains stamps, ink, embellishments and items to make 8 cards. The only thing you will need is a block and scissors. I also recommend a bone folder and also liquid glue (they do contain glue dots and dimensionals in the box, but I prefer liquid glue.)

Tips and tricks -

Prime your stamps before stamping, ink up and stamp off checking the image. I normally do this a few times. Also practice stamping on scrap parper before stamping on the pop outs.

I leave any items which are stamped on in the original cut outs before I pop them out, it makes it easier to stamp straight (also you can use the reverse of the card

I recommend adding the twine and then adding a bow rather than tying the bow, as you can then move the bow if you need to when adding the wreath

Don’t be stingy with the dimensionals, it can create a saggy shape, add some to the inner and outer edges

.The video below shows the items and my tips.

I think that the cards created are gorgeous and also you have a fab stamp set to use on other cards (the inside card sentiment is amazing.)

Christmas Eve Box Treats - Snowman Seasons

A few years ago I found a gorgeous Christmas Eve box in a local charity shop which I gave to my sister for my nieces. Every year I give little treats to be added to the box. Todays project is one of my favourite items to provide for the Christmas Eve box which is some Snowman Mallow Poles.

I used the Snowman Seasons Stamp set and the Snowman Builder Punch. It is a simple project which uses stamps, inks and card with a bit of bling. I love that you can choose how to decorate the buttons, today I went for simple Matte Black Dots.

I coloured the nose by using the Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Marker but you could use a Stampin’ blends as no-one will ever see the back as they are stapled together.

Measurements:

Card Strips - CM - 4cm

Card Strips - Inches - 1.5” or 1.75” (both fit the snowman)

The video below shows how simple it is to make.

What I love about this project and the mallow poles is that you can use lots of different stamp sets and punches. I love the cookie cutter punch reindeer. I also think that the bunny looks good for a super cute Easter present (i still need to stamp his face though).

I also used the ice cream punch to create a version which you could use for a birthday item, may be in a party bag,

Which is your favourite?