Keeping Christmas Blog Hop - November 2020

 It's only ONE month until Christmas!!  That means it's time for the final Keeping Christmas Blog Hop of 2020!  I hope you have enjoyed these inspirational hops each month and have been inspired by the beautiful projects you've seen!  Be sure to read until the end to get to the hop list and see what beauties the ladies are bringing this month!

Now let me just say this.  When I saw Simon Says Stamp's release that included this beautiful Forest Border embossing folder, my fingers were flying to get my order in for this!  It is such a gorgeous embossing folder and made this card so quick and easy to make.

I began by making an A2 card base from some Stardream Crystal card stock.  I've had this forever and I'm surprised it's still available!  Next I inked up the recessed side of the embossing folder with white pigment ink.  I placed some dark blue card stock in the folder and ran it through my die cutting machine with the embossing folder sandwich.  I love this snowy effect!  I added more snow on the branches with a white gel pen.

I die cut Simon's Chunky Joy sentiment from the same papers twice and the base layer once.  I adhered the layers and added it to the card front!  Done!!

I'm also entering this into Simon's Flickr group current challenge #163--Holiday Cards!

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope you all have a very blessed Thanksgiving day, or just a blessed day if you aren't in the US, tomorrow!  Now be sure to check out these very talented ladies!

Kelly Lunceford (Creator)

 

Claire Broadwater

 

Lori Tecler

 

Nance Salkeld

 

Nina Forsyth

 

Marybeth Lopez

 

Nancy Penir

Keeping Christmas Blog Hop - October 2020

 Hello friends!  Can you believe it's only two months until Christmas?  It's time for our monthly Keeping Christmas inspirational blog hop to help motivate and inspire you in your Christmas card making.

I've made a trio of slimline cards using Simons Says Stamp's Slimline Scene Builder-Christmas stamp and die set.  This was a stamp set that was released in September and I just had to have it!

I played around with varying ombré shades of inks to create the sky and ended up with three I liked.  For the snowy hill I used a different embossing powder that complimented the ink colors.  For each card I stamped the trees in the same ink colors as the sky.  I embossed the "ornaments" for each cards' trees in the same embossing powder that was used on the snowy hills.

Below the first photo of each card I've listed the products, and their links, used for that card.

I used these Distress Oxides for the sky: Chipped Sapphire, Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, and Speckled Egg.  Using blender brushes makes this really easy!  I used WOW Diamond White embossing powder for the hill and ornaments.  (I'm sorry I cannot find a link.  It must be retired.)   I also used this for the sentiment.  I layered these onto some beautiful sparkle paper I had in my stash and then onto a dark blue card base that measures 3-¼" x 8-¼".  As if that's not enough sparkle, I added Honey Bee Stamps Bokeh Lights sequins!  Haha!  I do love all the bling!

This card, and the next, uses some Altenew ink cube sets that I recently ordered.  I LOVE these colors!!
This card is inked with Altenew's ink cube set called Tranquility.  I adhered the pieces to Honey Bee Stamps Slimline Eyelet die cut from glitter paper.  I used WOW Vanilla Sparkle embossing powder for the hill and ornaments.  I added Studio Katia's Sparkling Crystals to the sky.  The sentiment is heat embossed in white embossing powder.  I inked over it with the Nimbus ink cube and then die cut it with a Sentiment Banner die.

My final card is inked up with Altenew's Cool Summer Night ink cube set.  I used WOW White Puff Twinkle embossing powder.  It's hard to see in the photos, but this embossing powder puffs up just a bit when heat set for some fun dimension!  The sentiment is white heat embossed, inked over with Dusk ink and die cut.

These cards were so fun to make and really did not take very long!  I hope I've given you some inspiration for your holiday card making!

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to check out these awesome designers for more inspiration!

Kelly Lunceford (creator)

Claire Broadwater

Lori Tecler

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth

Marybeth Lopez

Nancy Penir

Carol Hintermeier << that's me

Keeping Christmas Blog Hop - September 2020

 Welcome back to the monthly Keeping Christmas blog hop!  Have you started your holiday cards?  Just a reminder that it's only three months until Christmas!

I was so happy to finally get to use this ADORABLE set called Holly Bird from Waffle Flowers!  I love birds, and bird stamps, and snapped this one up as soon as it was released!  What is cuter than a sweet bird holding a warm cup of coffee or hot chocolate?!!

I began by stamping the bird with InkOn3 Fadeout No-line Coloring detail ink.  I'm trying to practice no line coloring as often as I can.  If you haven't seen this stamp, it stamps the the hexagon and the bird all together.  The coordinating die cuts out just the bird.

I colored just the bird with my Copics, then die cut it.  I used my B39 Copic to color the white border that die cuts usually leave.  I stamped another image with InkOn3 Blackout Detail Ink (which is Copic safe and stamps nice and dark images).  I used some blue Copics to color just the background.  It was super easy as I used my paper trimmer to cut the hexagon shape and popped up the colored bird image over it.

For the card base, I started with a top folding A2 card.  I added a coordinating blue layer cut to 4" x 5-¼".  I used one of my most favorite EVER embossing folders--Sizzix 3-D Winter Snowflakes for the next layer.  I adhered the bird to the card.

Next I added Glossy Accents to the coffee/hot chocolate and berries.  Then I used a .08 white Jelly Roll pen to add snowflake dots and a clear sparkle pen to add shimmer to the hat and more dots to the background.  I wish it was easier to capture all the shimmer in a photo!

I colored a scrap of white card stock with the same dark blue Copic (B39).  When it was dry, I stamped the sentiment with Versamark, added white embossing powder and heat set it.  I used a Sentiment Banners die to do partial die cutting to the length I wanted and popped it up with small foam squares.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  Be sure to check out these talented designers in the list below for what I know will be some wonderful inspiration!

Kelly Lunceford (Creator)

Claire Broadwater

Lori Tecler

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth

Marybeth Lopez

Nancy Penir

Carol Hintermeier <--that's me :)

Keeping Christmas Blog Hop - August 2020

How can it be August 25 already?!!  I don't know where the time goes!  Haha!  Well, that does mean it's time for more Christmas card inspiration from the talented gals in the Keeping Christmas Blog hop!  Check out the hop list below.

I have a couple of fun and quick cards I made using this cool ornament stencil called Striped Baubles.  This is from a small company in Dallas called A Colorful Life Designs.  I discovered this company when I was visiting a crafty Facebook group and someone used the most beautiful cloud stencil (which evidently has gone viral) and it really is awesome!  (I have no affiliate with them, but I do love being a crafty enabler!  LOL!)  Anyway, back to the cards,  I do enjoy stencils with glitter paste, embossing paste and all the fun pastes out there.  I did make a few more backgrounds but ran out of time to finish in time for the post (you can see a peek of them below.)  Here are the two cards I did finish.

My first card is embossing with metallic gold embossing paste. After I die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die I blended on some Candied Apple and Black Soot Distress ink on the card stock panel.  I heat embossed the sentiment in gold on some heavyweight vellum.  I added some foam tape to pop it up on the card base.  I added a few gem stickers and it was done!  Except for the drying time, these are quick cards to make.

For the next card I added Nuvo Glimmer garnet red glitter paste on gold foil card stock.  I've had this beautiful sentiment from Impression Obsession for a number of years and still love it.  I just checked and they still have it at THIS link.  I die cut it twice from white card stock and once from gold mirror card stock.  I adhered the layers and added it to a vellum oval.

These backgrounds are so fun to make with pastes.  I still haven't tried inking it up with dye inks and I think I'll be doing that soon!

Thank you so much for stopping by!  Now go check out the other, what I know will be, amazing cards from the other ladies!

Hop list:

Kelly Lunceford (Creator)

 

Claire Broadwater 

 

Lori Tecler

 

Nance Salkeld 

 

Nina Forsyth

 

Marybeth Lopez

 

Nancy Penir

 

Carol Hintermeier

Keeping Christmas Blog Hop - July 2020

It's now only five months until Christmas and time for another Keeping Christmas blog hop!  Eeek, where does the time go?

For this month's cards, I've used Altnew's Holiday Bows stamp set and coordinating dies.  I've never used the poinsettia from this set and I'm glad I did because it was very easy to use and make three cards!

I wanted to used these two-layer stamps and coordinate them with these gold ovals I had saved from a previous project. The Oval Thin Frames die from Honey Bee Stamps die cuts a bunch of ovals in one pass that you can save for multiple projects!  I stamped the base layer in Altenew's Heart Beat ink and then stamped the second layer in Versamark clear embossing ink.  I sprinkled on some gold glitter embossing powder and heat set it.  I added some foam tape to the back of the poinsettias to pop them up.

For my card bases I scored some lines around the edges of the card front with a stylus and my scoring board.  Next I adhered the ovals.  I stamped the sentiments with Versafine Onyx black ink.  Two are listed below, but the Christmas Wishes sentiment is from an older Hero Arts kit.

I stamped the berry branches and greenery with the inks shown in my supply list below.  You probably know this tip, but after I arranged everything around the oval, I used a piece of Press 'N' Seal to pick them up.  It's now super easy to add glue to the back and flip it back over and adhere.

To finish the cards, I used a Gel  Roll gold metallic pen to add the dots.

 

I'm so happy to have three more cards to add to my Christmas card stash!!  If you missed any of the stops along the way, here is the hop list for you!  I know you will be so inspired by these awesome card designers!  Thank you so much for stopping by!

Kelly Lunceford (Creator)

 

Claire Broadwater (off this month)

 

Lori Tecler

 

Nance Salkeld (off this month)

 

Nina Forsyth

 

Marybeth Lopez

 

Nancy Penir

 

Carol Hintermeier

Supplies:

Altenew Holiday Bow stamps & dies

Altenew Tea Party Mini Cube ink set (I used Heartbeat)

Altenew Zesty Limes 6 Mini Cube Set

Honey Bee Stamps Oval Thin Frames die

Walnut Stain Distress Ink

Simon Says Stamp Duckling ink

Versamark clear embossing ink

Ranger gold embossing tinsel

Ellen Hutson Mondo Holly stamp (Happiness & Cheer)

Concord & 9th O Christmas Tree stamp set (Merry Christmas

Keeping Christmas Blog Hop - June 2020

Hello friends!  How is June almost over?!!  It's the 25th of the month and time for your monthly Christmas card making inspiration!  I hope you will check out each talented designer in this hop because I know you will see some wonderful creations!  You'll find the hop list at the end of my post.

I hope you will forgive the brevity of this blog post.  This is the third post I needed to have scheduled for today!  I was way behind on my project for this post so I turned to one of my favorite Concord & 9th dies, Ornamental Dies, to make these shiny and sparkly cards.  This set makes is so easy to make several cards quickly!  I know I'll be so glad to have these later this year.

I used several things from my stash for these cards:  some foiled woodgrain patterned paper, silver mirror card stock (yes, they're all silver--you know how hard this is to photograph, right?), red glitter card stock, and red gingham ribbon.

I die cut the tags from a set by Gina K. Designs called Decorative Tag Dies.  Then I stamped the sentiment from Concord & 9th's O Christmas Tree set.

Super easy cards to make and "Yay me!" for using things from my stash!  LOL!  Thank you so much for stopping by--I always appreciate it so!

Check out these awesome designers for more inspiration:

Kelly Lunceford (Creator)

Claire Broadwater

Lori Tecler

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth

Nancy Guse

Marybeth Lopez

Nancy Penir

Carol Hintermeier <<< that's me!

Keeping Christmas Blog Hop - May 2020

Hello friends!  While I may not remember what day it is, time sure does seem to continue to fly by!  It's already time for our inspirational blog hop to help get you going on the Christmas cards you'll need later this year.  Be sure to check each stop on the list I have below--these are some talented ladies!!!

I began with the intention of making one card with WPlus9's Winter Greenery stamps and dies using their Lavinia Layers Background dies.

I die cut four of the Lavinia Layers main die and one of the center.  I used my MISTI to do some multi-layer stamping of the large branch from the Winter Greenery set.  I don't remember what this technique is called, but I really like how this turned out!

I used two Altenew ink cube sets (listed below in the supply list) for my stamping layers, first stamping onto an A2 card base, then one of the Lavinia die cuts, and lastly the center die cut.  I stamped each piece before removing the stamp from the MISTI.  I used black embossing powder for the sentiment.

Now, this next card came about because I had stamped the other branches and die cut them out with the intention of using them on the first card.  As soon as I began to arrange them on it, I realized that these branches totally took away from my multi-layer stamping.   So I pulled out some silver glittered adhesive foam and die cut it out.  I used the lightest green ink to blend onto white card stock to be coordinated with the greenery.

I stamped the sentiment from the Most Wonderful set in Versamark, added silver embossing powder and heat set it.  For the berries on both cards, I added some clear sparkle and Nuvo Crystal Glaze for a bit of bling.

Thank you for stopping by today!  Here is the complete hop list and you sure need to go to each one as I know there will be some beautiful inspiration there for you!

Kelly Lunceford (Creator)

Claire Broadwater

Lori Tecler

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth

Nancy Guse

Marybeth Lopez

Nancy Penir

Carol Hintermeier <<< that's me

Supplies:

WPlus9:

Winter Greenery stamps and dies

Lavinia Layers Background dies

Most Wonderful stamp set

Other:

Altenew Minty Mint ink cube set

Altenew Coral Bliss ink cube set

Nuvo Crystal Glaze

Keeping Christmas Blog Hop - April 2020

Hello friends!  I can't believe another month has gone by and it's time for our fun blog hop to inspire you to make your Christmas cards!  The complete hop list is at the end of my post.  I hope you will check out each awesome designer as I know you will find a lot of beautiful inspiration along the way!

Last month I made a card with a wreath (click HERE if you missed it) and today I have a slim-line card with a wreath that's totally different!  

Let's get started on the card!  I have all of the supplies, and links, listed below.

• Create the card base by scoring a 7" x 9-½" piece of Neenah Solar White 80# card stock at 3-½".
• Use a score board and tool to emboss the lines along each edge of the card base front.
• Layer a light gray 9" x 3" card stock with a dark gray 8-¾" x 2-¾" with liquid glue and attach to the card base.
• Emboss a 8-½" x 2-½" strip of white card stock with the Lumber embossing folder.  This strip is longer than the embossing folder, so I just flipped it around and lined it up with the first embossing to emboss the remainder of the strip.
• Add the embossed piece to the card base.
• Stamp the Woodgrain Background stamp with gray ink onto white card stock.
• Die cut the letters N, E and L from the woodgrain piece.  Die cut two more for each letter from white card stock.  Adhere all of these layers together.
• Die cut the letters again from dark gray card stock and adhere to the other letters slightly offset.
• Die cut the bow and berries from red card stock.  I used a piece of card stock from my stash.
• Die cut the wreath base and leaves once from three shades of green card stock.
• Using a ball-tipped stylus and foam pad, lightly shape the leaves and bow.
• Build the wreath by adhering with liquid glue leaves around the wreath.  I attached the two larger sizes first and filled in with the smallest leaves.
• Attach the bow and berries with glue.

I felt like it needed just a bit more, so I used some of the extra leaves and berries to embellish the other letters.

I hope that you are well and that you are finding relief by crafting.  I know I'm so thankful I have this hobby that I love to keep me occupied while we are home.  I always so appreciate your visit to my blog--thank you!  Here's the hop list so be sure to go leave some kindness for these talented ladies!

Kelly Lunceford

Vicki Finger (off this month)

Claire Broadwater

Lori Tecler

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth

Nancy Guse

Marybeth Lopez

Nancy Penir

Carol Hintermeier << that's me!

Supplies:

Honey Bee Stamps Joy Noel Wreath Honey Cuts

Honey Bee Stamps Woodgrain Background stamp

Rubbernecker Stamps Color Fuse Ink Set #12

Tim Holtz 3D Texture Fades Lumber embossing folder

Simon Says Stamp Shade of Gray cardstock

Altenew Green Meadows Gradient Cardstock set

My Favorite Things Field Day Prestige Cardstock

Heartfelt Creations Flower Shaping Essentials Kit

Keeping Christmas Blog Hop - March 2020

Hello friends!  I hope today finds you safe and healthy!  It's time for the monthly Keeping Christmas blog hop and I have a card with a beautiful dimensional wreath for you.  The blog hop list is below and you don't want to miss the awesome inspiration by the so very talented designers!

Today I've used Concord & 9th's Magnolia Wreath stamps and die to create this card.  I have always loved creating dimensional projects and shaping the flowers and greenery!

Create the card base:

1. Cut a piece of patterned paper to 4" x 5-¼".  Adhere it to a top-folding A2 card base.
2. Stamp the sentiment near the bottom with Versafine Onyx Black ink.
3. Die cut the ledge from white card stock.
4. Score a line on the ledge for some dimension.  Add thin foam tape to the back and adhere it above the sentiment.

Create the wreath:

1. Stamp the first layer of the wreath with Mist (the lightest green ink).  I used the wonderful new Rubbernecker Stamps Color Fuse inks.  Each set has four ink cubes that are shaded from light to dark.  Links to the specific sets I used are in the product list below.
2. Stamp the second layer of the wreath with Basil (the darkest green ink).
3. Stamp and die cut the leafy branch several times in various shades of green and die cut.
4. Die cut the berry branches and twigs from white card stock.  Ink them with Moss green ink and Caramel brown ink.
5. Add Red Berry Nuvo Crystal Drops to the berries and set aside to dry.
6. Die cut the flowers and stamp the center with Mocha (the lightest brown ink).
7. Adhere a small flower to the center of the larger flower.
8. Add a small puddle of glue to the layered flower and two small flowers and drop in some Gilt Trip Mini Prills.

Shaping the greenery and flowers/assembling the wreath:

1. To help shape the flowers and leaf branches, working with a few pieces at a time, very lightly (just one spritz!) mist the back of each piece.
2. Use the stylus and pull it across the back of each leaf and the flower petals.  Flip them over and lightly press the stem of the branch to shape.
3. Press the stylus in the center of the flowers in a circular motion.  Let the pieces dry for a few minutes.
4. Add thin foam tape to the back of the wreath base.
5. I arranged and adhered five full pieces of the the leafy branches in a circular shape.
6. Cut the remaining leafy branches in half and adhere around the wreath.
7. Adhere the flowers, twigs, and berry branches as shown.
8. I used some brown ink to "color" some twine, tied a bow, and adhered it to the wreath.
9. To finish, I added thin lines of liquid glue here and there on the leaves and sprinkled on some Hero Arts Icicle Glitter.  I just love the subtle sparkle this glitter gives!

I sure hope I've inspired you to get going on the Christmas cards.  I know that I will be very happy to have these come December!  Thank you for stopping by; and now be sure to check out these fabulous and talented designers to see their Christmas creations:

Kelly Lunceford (creator) on break

Vicki Finger

Claire Broadwater

Lori Tecler

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth

Nancy Guse

Marybeth Lopez

Nancy Penir

Carol Hintermeier << that's me!

Supplies:

Concord & 9th Magnolia Wreath stamps and dies

Honey Bee Stamps Home Essentials 6x6 paper pad

Honey Bee Stamps Cottage Window (for the ledge)

Rubbernecker Stamps Color Fuse ink set #10 (greens)

Rubbernecker Stamps Color Fuse ink set #3 (browns)

Gilt Trip Mini Prills

Heartfelt Creations Flower Shaping Essentials Kit

Nuvo Crystal Drops Red Berry

Hero Arts Icicle Glitter

Keeping Christmas Blog Hop - February 2020

Hello friends!  It's February 25 and that means it's time for another Keeping Christmas inspirational blog hop.  Be sure to visit each stop (listed below) for much more beautiful inspiration.  

My post today is short as I've just returned from a warm and sunshiny almost two-week vacation and I'm kind of moving in slow motion.  Haha!  I've used WPlus9's Most Wonderful stamps and dies for my card.  This is an easy card to put together though, and it would be easy to mass produce!

Here are the steps for the card.  All of the supplies are listed at the end with links to shop.

• Die cut some blue card stock with the Snow Day Cover Plate die.  Spray with silver Glitter Dust and allow to dry.
• Adhere the die cut to a top-folding A2 card base.
• Stamp the snowman and trees in colors of your choosing and die cut with the coordinating dies.
• Hand cut a hill from white card stock and adhere to the blue panel.
• Pop up two of the trees and the snowman with foam squares.
• Adhere one tree with liquid glue and add the popped up trees and snowman.

I stamped the sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black ink and used my paper trimmer to cut it into a square shape.  Use a corner rounder on each corner.  Add a few foam squares and adhere to the card base.

That's it for me today!  I hope my quick-to-make card has given you some inspiration to build your stash of your Christmas cards for the upcoming season!

Check out these fabulous card makers for more inspiration!

Kelly Lunceford (Creator)

Vicki Finger

Claire Broadwater

Lori Tecler

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth

Nancy Guse

Marybeth Lopez

Nancy Penir

Carol Hintermeier << that's me!

Supplies:

WPlus9 Most Wonderful stamps and dies

Honeybee Stamps Snow Day Cover Plate die

My Favorite Things Blueberry Prestige card stock

Simon Says Stamp Fog ink

Altenew inks:  Baby Pink, Magenta, Snapdragon, Marigold, Forest Glades, Evergreen

Therm O Web silver Glitter Dust