Week 8 of my 12 weeks of Christmas inspiration- nontraditional holiday colors

 

While I love reds and greens of the holiday season, it's fun to break off from the traditional color schemes and mix it up a bit. What are some of your favorite colors to use for the holidays?

Here are some color scheme ideas to use that I've used in the past.

My cards I sharing today use a variety of colors. I love teals and reds together and my new favorite color is Secret Sea. 

This card features images from Gift of Joy stamp set and Forever Plaid 3D embossing folder by Stampin' Up!®. Color scheme is Petal Pink, Soft Sea Foam, Lost Lagoon and Smoky Slate. 

Details:

• Petal Pink card base 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" folded in half
• Petal Pink cardstock layer embossed with Forever Plaid 3D embossing folder 5 1/4" x 4"
• Garland outline stamped in Smoky Slate classic ink and filler stamped in Lost Lagoon classic ink.
• Ornaments outline stamped in Smoky Slate classic ink and filler stamped in Petal Pink and Soft Sea Foam classic inks. Ornament string stamped in Basic Gray classic ink
• Greeting stamped in Smoky Slate classic ink.

I love the whimsical feel of this card. Don't forget to stamp a Basic White cardstock piece (5" x 3 3/4") for the inside.

I created this Angled Gatefold card a few weeks ago but wanted to share it again because I love the color scheme. Color scheme is Secret Sea, Cherry Cobbler, Pool Party and Smoky Slate. I love red and teal for my holiday cards. Pool Party is one of my favorite colors to use on winter themed cards. 

You can see more info about how to make the Angled Gatefold card here. 

I used some retired favorites- Spirited Snowmen and Itty Bitty Christmas stamp sets and Deckled Circles dies. The designer series paper is from Traditions of Christmas specialty designer series paper. The dot pattern went well with my other elements.

The snowman is colored in with Stampin' Blends markers. 

For this project, I decided to make an ornament (or it could be a gift tag) with the Everyday Arches dies. I created a base and then cut two frames to go on top. To create a frame, use two dies that are about 2 sizes apart. Place them on the paper and use tape to keep them in place. Run them through the die cut machine at the same time. This cut creates a frame. 

I used Outdoor Adventure stamp set (also available as a bundle with coordinating dies) to create my scene. I love making ornaments to give to my nephews and nieces. This will make a great one for the boys. (ps- I love this too so it can really be for anyone who loves nature) For this project, I used a simple color scheme with only two colors- Lost Lagoon and Early Espresso. I inked my trees with Lost Lagoon classic ink and stamped off on a scrap piece before stamping my die cut. I love this type of stamping as it gives more variation in our colors. This is called generation stamping. First generation is inking and stamping right onto your project. Second generation is stamping off onto a scrap and then stamping on your project. I used a light Smoky Slate Blend marker and the color lifter to add some snowy ground details. After I stamped my images, I sprinkled my piece with Wink of Stella to add some sparkle. The ribbon was adhered in between the base and the frame layers. Then I tied a twine bow around the hanger.

For this card, I used the pine bough stamp from Delicate Pines stamp set (also available as a bundle with coordinating dies). The ornament, berries and greeting are from Gift of Joy stamp set. Color scheme: Pretty Peacock, Pool Party, Cherry Cobbler and Smoky Slate.

Details:

• Cherry Cobbler card base 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" folded in half
• Basic White layer 5" x 3 3/4"
• stamp pine bough in Pretty Peacock classic ink. stamp around to form a circle. It will look like a wreath when complete.
• stamp berries (flower filler from Gift of Joy, see video) in Cherry Cobbler classic ink around wreath. 
• stamp ornament outline and string in Smoky Slate classic ink.
• stamp ornament filler in Pool Party classic ink.
• stamp greeting in Pool Party classic ink.
• stamp inside Basic White piece (5" x 3 3/4") with pine bough. 

I recreated this card on my Saturday morning Coffee and a Card Facebook live. We chat about the creative process and make some choices together. The participants decided they wanted to see the nontraditional color scheme along with a traditional color scheme. Here are my two cards:

Nontraditional color scheme: Pretty Peacock, Pool Party, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso and Smoky Slate.

Traditional color scheme: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Early Espresso and Smoky Slate.

Which one do you prefer?

Don't forget to pretty up the inside with a stamped image, coordinating patterned paper or a saying. I love to add in my own handwritten message. In the time of texts and emails, it is so nice to see someone's handwriting in a card. It makes it extra special. 

Watch the replay on my YouTube Channel:

Thank you for stopping by and checking out my Christmas card inspiration. I hope these ideas have sparked your creativity. 

Shop all the available Stampin' Up!® products, cardstocks and inks in my online store.

Happy Creating!

~ Beth

Week 7 of 12 Weeks of Christmas inspiration: Add in metallic elements

 

It's nice to add a little sparkle to your cards. You can do this with metallic heat embossing, metallic papers and metallic embellishments. This week I'm sharing a few cards that I added a little sparkle to. 

My first card, I used the Traditions of Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper by Stampin' Up!®. It has some sparkle to it with gold foiling. Then I add some brushed gold die cut pine boughs. To finish it off I added a die cut shape with my greeting over top the pine boughs. 

Details:

• Secret Sea card base: 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" folded in half
• Traditions of Christmas dsp: 5 1/4" x 4"
• 2 pine boughs cut from brushed gold foil (retired) using the Christmas Greenery dies
• Greeting label from Traditional Labels dies cut from Basic White cardstock. Greeting from Traditional Labels stamp set stamped in Pool Party classic ink (Traditional Labels bundle includes the stamp set and coordinating dies)

My next card features the Merry Christmas large stamp. I stamped right onto a piece of patterned paper from the Peaceful Garden Designer Series Paper by Stampin' Up!®. I used versamark ink and silver embossing powder to make my shiny greeting. Isn't it pretty? I adhered it to a cardbase. Then I added some silver foil paper strips above the top and below bottom of the dsp.

Details:

• Secret Sea card base: 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" folded in half
• Peaceful Garden dsp 3" x 5 1/2"
• 2 silver foil strips 1/2" x 5 1/2"
• Silver embossing powder (metallic WOW powders)
• Versamark Ink pad
• Heat tool and embossing additions tool kit

My third card featured silver embossed Merry Christmas too. I tried something new with this one. I stamped a wintery tree (from Peaceful Evergreens-retired) in Old Olive. Then I stamped my greeting over top after it was dry. ** Make sure you use the embossing buddy powder to remove any static where you stamped the trees. I didn't do this the first time. 😖 Using the powder helps the embossing powder only stick to the versamark ink you stamped with. Use any tree stamps you have and give this a try.

Details:

• Cherry Cobbler card base: 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" folded in half
• Basic White layer: 5" x 3 3/4"
• Old Olive classic ink and any tree stamps you have
• Versamark ink pad and silver embossing powder
• Wink of Stella glitter brush (added along the bottom to give the snow some sparkle)

My fourth card I used a new product and I'm in love with it. The Delicate Pines bundle has some unique images in it. It's like pine boughs meets snowflakes. 

The stamp set has layering images to build a snowflake. The pieces look like pine boughs and needles. I created this card on my Facebook live Coffee and a Card. I do a live video on Saturday mornings and we go through the creative process and make some decisions. If you've never joined me live, please go to my Facebook Page Stamp and Create with Beth and see when the next one is. I ask questions and take a vote on some design choices. I love my creative community and seeing everyone's choices on how they would make a card. 

So for this card, I used a fun color combo: Pretty Peacock, Pool Party, Old Olive, Smoky Slate and silver. I wanted to try out a big pine bough die that's in the Delicate Pines dies. (You can see it in the video below). It can layer with the stamped images that are die cut or it can be used on its own to create a unique snowflake. 

First, I stamped a piece of Willow White cardstock (5 1/4" x 4") with the various stamp images from Delicate Pines stamp set. Some of these images layer. I used Pretty Peacock, Pool Party, Old Olive and Smoky Slate classic inks. Randomly stamp the different images of your choice and create your own patterned background. Then I used the pine bough dies (there's a large one and 3 small ones)  and silver foil paper to create my shiny bits. The die has a branch or bough on each end and a circle in the middle. The circle helps you adhere the layered pieces together. (*see video) During the live, the participants voted on whether to use silver or copper. Silver won.

The large snowflake is stamped in Pretty Peacock classic ink and die cut with the coordinating die. The middle is a separate stamp that layers with the large pine snowflake. The medium pine snowflake is stamped in Old Olive classic ink and die cut with the coordinating die. The middle is also a separate stamp that is layered with the pine snowflake. There are two different designs you can stamp so have some fun with it. The two die cut pine snowflakes are layered on top of the silver pine snowflake. I adhered that to the stamped basic white layer. This is adhered to a Pretty Peacock card base. The greeting is stamped in Pretty Peacock classic ink onto a basic white paper strip. Then I trimmed the edges. 

Assemble your smaller silver pine snowflake and adhere it off to the right side. Adhere the greeting over both pine snowflakes. 

It really is stunning. I love all the fun colors together and then that pop of silver steps it up a notch. 

Watch how I made this card on my Facebook live Coffee and a Card:

Thank you for stopping by and checking out my cards. I hope you're inspired to add some sparkle and shine to your Christmas or holiday cards.

You can get many of the products I used in my online store.

Happy creating!

~ Beth

Gift Idea: Use a Kit to make a set of cards

 It's the season for giving. Do you have crafters or people on your list who love to send cards? Using a kit from Stampin' Up!® is a quick and easy way to make a set of cards. You can make the kit to give as a completed set or you can give the kit to those who would enjoy making it themselves. 

Explore the available kits here. There are kits that have stamping. There are non-stamping card kits with pre-printed greetings. And there are other types of kits that make decor pieces. 

Today I'm sharing the Handmade & Heartfelt Kit by Stampin' Up!®. It makes a set of 10 cards and a box that can sit on your desk. It holds the cards, envelopes and has space for stamps and pens. 

This kit comes with an ink spot, clear block and stamp set. The general greetings can be used on more cards that you design. 

I love the color scheme of this kit. The colors are Basic Beige, Crumb Cake, Lost Lagoon, Petal Pink, Secret Sea, Very Vanilla. The cards are great for a variety of occasions and recipients. Which card is your favorite?

Here's a close-up of all the different styles:

It's really hard to choose a favorite as they are all so different. I love the birthday banners, negative die cut design on the thinking of you card and the birds. 

Check out the Handmade & Heartfelt Kit. You can assemble it for the recipient or give the kit as a gift for the recipient to complete.  

I changed up the cards just a bit to suit my personal taste. You can watch the five cards and assembly of the box on my YouTube Channel. If you haven't subscribed to my channel, please do. Then you can see all my new videos when they post. 

This is perfect to sit on my desk and remind me to mail out cards. It has a place for my stamps too. As I use the cards, I can refill the 2 spots that house the cards. 

I recommend a few tools to make putting the kits together a bit easier- a stampin' pierce mat (this helps get a great stamped image with photopolymer stamps), a shammy to clean your stamps, a take-your-pick tool (this really helps with the glue dots and embellishments), a bone folder to get a crisp crease on your cards and a pair of crafting scissors. I have two pairs of scissors- one for paper and one for twine and ribbon. I also keep my shammy in a clear stamp case. These are available in my online store and come in a set of four. They can hold paper bits and embellishments too. You can find these items in my online store. 

Thank you for stopping by and checking out my project today! Please let me know in the comments which card is your favorite and if you have this kit.

Happy Creating,

~ Beth

Angled Gatefold Christmas Card and other fun folds for week 5 of 12 weeks of Christmas inspiration

 Week 5 of my 12 weeks of Christmas inspiration was full of fun folds. I did tri-fold card, Accordion Z fold, Angled Gatefolds and a Double Z fold. Fun folds are special cards. What kind of fun fold cards do you like to do?

I make fun fold cards for those special people I send cards to during the holidays and even throughout the year. There are a variety of fun folds you can do. I choose to do a few different ones this week- Double Z fold, Accordion Z fold, Angled Gatefold, Zig Zag Z fold and Tri-fold. 

The Accordion Z fold card is a neat card and a great way to show off some pretty patterned paper. You can use many different stamps and layer it up however you like. I made this card last year. You can see the details for this card here.

I made an updated version with Woodland Scenery, Scenic Adventure and Falling Snow stamp sets. I just love how the panels came out. Merry Christmas is from Traditional Labels stamp set and from our house to yours is from Calm & Bright stamp set (Calm & Bright kit). I'm really loving Secret Sea, Cloud Cover and Cherry Cobbler together for my winter themed cards. 

The Zig Zag Z fold is such a cute card. This fun fold shows off your patterned paper too. I made this card last year with the Yuletide Village (which is still in my favorite stamps) and Peaceful Evergreens. These stamps are now retired. You can copy my card and use whatever stamps you have on hand. The designer series paper is Nests of Winter. You can see the details for this card here. 

Double Z fold cards are wonderful especially when you want to create a long scene. For this card I used the Light & Wonder dies to die cut mountains and trees. This layered card is thicker than I usually make but it's beautiful. Sometimes I hand-deliver these to save on postage. The greeting is from Peace on Earth stamp set. 

My Christmas Tri-fold cards are the most popular cards on my YouTube channel at the moment. For this one, I used Nests of Winter designer series paper. It has beautiful birch trees and birds- perfect for winter themed cards. I stamped my greetings right onto my patterned paper. The greetings are from Peace on Earth and Traditional Labels stamp sets. The panels are Everyday Arches die cuts. 

Here's one of my originals and you can find the details on how to make these here. 

For my original, I used Peaceful Cabin stamp set (retired). I layered my arches and created a serene winter scene. 

My last card for the fun folds is something I haven't made before- an Angled Gatefold. The front flaps are angled and overlap. This is such a fun card and it can be used for many occasions. Keep it simple or layer it up. 

I found this fun fold card a video on YouTube by Julia Sue's Stamping. I adjusted the measurements to fit my needs. 

Measurements:

• Card Base: 5 1/2" x 10 3/4"; score at 3 1/4" from each end. Mark base at 4 1/4" on each end to create an angled cut. Cut from mark to the score line. Do this for both ends. See video for visual. 
• Layer 1 for flaps: 3" x 5 1/4"
• Layer 2 for flaps: 2 3/4" x 5"
• Layer 1 for inside: 4" x 5 1/4"
• Layer 2 for inside: 3 3/4" x 5"

To cut the angled layers please see the video. I do not measure. Once I cut the angle on my card base, I use that as a guide to cut my layers. Line up the layer corner to the top of the score line. Hold onto the layer and flip it over so you can see where it hangs over the base. Use the angle of your card base to cut along the layer with scissors. Then I use that layer to cut layer 2's angle. (I'm sorry I have no photos of this process, please forgive me.)

Products:

• Traditions of Christmas specialty designer series paper
• Traditional Labels bundle
• Peace on Earth bundle
• Woodland Scenery stamp set
• Scenic Adventure stamp set
• Smoky Slate, Cherry Cobbler, Cloud Cover, Old Olive and Secret Sea classic inks
• Smoky Slate light Stampin' Blend marker
• Calm & Bright kit stamp set

You can find these products in my online store. 

Here's the inside as you open the flaps. Reminder: If you're layering things on the left flap, make sure your adhesive doesn't go on any parts hanging over or the left flap will be glued to the right flap. 

Decorate up the inside with stamping or patterned paper to match your card. 

Watch the Facebook live replay on my YouTube Channel. 

Thank you so much for stopping by and checking out my fun folds. I hope you're inspired to make some special cards for the holidays.

You can browse all the new products in my online store. 

Happy Creating!

~ Beth