Stampin’ Up! are spoiling us this year, rather than just one Sale-a-bration (where you receive free items when you spend £45) there are two! As well as the ‘normal’ Sale-a-bration at the start of the year, there is one on now (from 3rd August to 30th September.) This second Sale-a-bration is a stunning combination of seasonal papers which correspond with items from the July to December catalogue and items which can stand alone or by used with others. One of my favourite items available for FREE is the Texture & Frames, it contains some gorgeous stamps which I am excited about using, I have had the stamp set on my desk and I have been playing.
When I first saw the frames, I thought wreath. I tried with one layer but it looked a bit odd so have stamped the circle frame a number of times to create the wreath. I then discovered that one of my new sets was also perfect for adding the holy berrys. I have added the holy berries in two ways. Using the berries from the Words of Cheers stamp set and using the real red basic rhinestones. The Real Red Rhinestones have been in my stash for a few years now, but are one of my go to embellishments along with the Metallic Pearls. I added some retired Ribbon for the bow but you could use any you have, I sometimes cut the ribbon in half so it is narrower, or you could colour the crinkle ribbon with the Blends.
Measurements
My Metric
Card base – 14.5cm x 21cm (cut at 10.5cm to 3cm on both sides on 21cm)
Cut at 3cm at 14.5 side to 3cm cut on both sides
2 x White – 8cm by 10 cm
Metric
Card base – 14.58m x 21cm (cut at 10.5cm to 3cm on both sides on 21cm)
Cut at 3cm at 14.8 side to 3cm cut on both sides
2 x White – 8.3cm by 10 cm
Imperial
Card base – 4 1/8 " x 5 ¾" (cut at 4 1/8” to 1” on both sides on 8 ¼ “side)
Cut at 1” at 5 ¾" side to 1” cut on both sides
2 x White – 4” x 3 ¼”
This is another card where you can choose your decoration to make it your own and also to suit the person you are sending it to. The rhinestones can be difficult if you are posting the card to the recipient (i always add a piece of paper to protect the envelope.) I think I prefer the card with a little bling on though, which do you prefer?
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.)
Last Chance -Snow Globe Scenes Dies and Still Scenes
I love the Snow Globe Scenes dies, it was a set that grew on me, I did not buy it when it was first released. I wasn’t sure that I needed another Snow globe die kit (I have one from a while ago). However, the gorgeous inspiration on Pinterest, Facebook and You Tube cracked my resolve and led to me purchasing the dies. I love the inspiration that I get from everyone and decided that the dies were so pretty and my other snow globe set was more of a card creation set and didn’t include the bear, church, stag or trees. Although the Snow Globe Scenes dies co-ordinate with the Still Scenes set, I think that they can stand alone, being used with any stamp set. For these cards I used the Still scenes stamps as well.
Card 1
My Metric
10.5 cm x 14.5 cm (10.5cm x 29cm scored at 14.5cm)
Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14cm
Snow panel - 10.5 cm x 7.5 cm
Metric
10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5 cm x full length scored at 14.8 cm)
Inside White Panel – 10cm x 14.3cm
Snow panel - 10.5 cm x 7.5 cm
Imperial
4." x 5.5" (Tent fold) (4” by full length scored at 5.5”)
Inside White Panel - 3.75” x 5.25”
Snow panel - 3” x 5.5
Card 2 and 3
My Metric
10.5 cm x 14.5 cm (10.5 by 29cm scored at 14.5cm)
Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14cm
Metric
10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5 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”
The video below shows how I assembled the cards.
I hope you like my cards, I felt that there were lots of cards using the snow globes so I thought would put a different spin on it. My favourite is the watercolour background. What is yours?
Last Chance to buy - Still Scenes
One of my favourite Christmas sentiments is part of the Still Scenes stamp set. I love the message for inside the card, I also love the concept of the snow globe and that you can place whatever you like inside. I think that it is super pretty, I have an older snow globe set in my stash with a Ballerina, but this set called out to me due to the gorgeousness of the sentiment and the base which looks amazing if stamped in Versamark and embossing powder added and heated.
The cottage is a perfect stamp to practice colouring on, my video shows the different ways to use watercolour pencils.
My first card uses the cottage and sentiment. The second uses the snow globe, cottage and sentiment. The third uses the sentiment and snow stamp. I have used the inside sentiment on all the cards.
Measurements
Cards 1 and 2 - Cottage Cards
My Metric
10.5 cm x 14.5 cm
Inside Panel 10cm x 14cm
Metric
10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.8cm)
Inside Panel 10cm x 14.3cm
Imperial
4." x 5.5" (4” by full length scored at 5.5”)
Inside Panel 3.75 x 5.25”
Card 3- Gold Embossing Card
My Metric
10.5 cm x 14.5 cm (10.5 by 29cm scored at 14.5cm)
Gold and Inside white Panel 10cm x 14cm
Navy Panel - 9.5cm x13.5cm
Metric
10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.8cm)
Gold and Inside white Panel 10cm x 14.3cm
Navy Panel - 9.5cm x13.8cm
Imperial
4." x 5.5" - (4” by full length scored at 5.5”)
Gold and Inside white Panel Inside Panel 3.75 x 5.25
Outside layer – 3.5” x 5”
I am super sad that this set is retiring. It is definitely a set that I shall be keeping in my Stamp Library. What are you planning on keeping?
Sparkly Perfectly Plaid Trees
I am like most crafters, sometimes I require a bit of inspiration to create a card which I love. Usuallly this inspiration comes from a Video, Facebook post or Pinterest Pin. I can spend hours scrolling, watching and pinning. Sometimes though rather than be inspired by other peoples cards, I look through old cards I have made and try to recreate things with a different twist.
When Perfectly Plaid was released, contained in the same catalogue was a chunkier glitter than Stampin’ Ups! Annual Catalogue glitter. But alas, both are now retired. Around that time (september 2019? maybe along time ago) I made a snow scene card using the pine trees. I used that card as inspiration and created another one.
I used my blender brushes on the stamp to make the mossy meadow softer. Using blender brushes on the sky to create a blended background which I think looks like a dark sky. I ensured that I used the darkest colour at the top and then blended down lightly to the trees (no masking required) and then addded ‘snow’ using the detailed glue and I pulled the glitter out of my stash but lots of places sell glitter and you can choose any you like!
Measurements:
My Metric
10.5 cm x 14.5 cm (10.5 by 29cm scored at 14.5cm)
front panel - 10cm x 14.5cm
Inside White Panel – 9.5cm x 13.5cm
Metric
10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.8cm)
front panel - 10cm x 14.8cm
Inside White Panel – 9.5cm x 13.8 cm
Imperial
4." x 5.5" (4” by full length scored at 5.5”)
Front Panel - 3.75” x 5.5”
Inside White Panel – 3.5 x 5”
I forgot to clean my stamps and my second version ended up an interesting purple colour! whoopsee! But a handmade card is appreciated by everyone and it just makes it individual. The video below shows how to make this gorgeous simple card.
So the moral of the story is always clean your stamps! So embarassing! I do love the random colour though, what do you think?