Sweet & Lucky Decorations {CCMC179} {SSSC146}

Happy Thursday, friends! Can you believe it's December 8th--yikes!  So much left to do before Christmas.  But you didn't come here to hear me whine...you came here for some eye candy, didn't you?!  It's color challenge week at Create with Connie & Mary...take a look:

Isn't this a fun take on the traditional red and green?  I love Basic Grey with anything!  I also used this fabulous sketch from this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge:

and was inspired to ink up an old favorite Christmas set, Delightful Decorations:

I flipped the sketch to the left-hand side, somehow it just worked better for me that way.  The Basic Grey base was layered with some Lucky Limeade designer paper from the In Color patterns stack as well as a fun Poppy Parade pattern that looks like snowflakes.  I wrapped the panel with some yummy Basic Grey satin ribbon and added a big bow with a a glue dot.

The ornaments were clear embossed in the challenge colors on Whisper White and layered atop a big beautiful Silver Glimmer circle--isn't it lovely?

Here's a close-up of a little background stamping I did with the Creative Elements set--doesn't it coordinate nicely with the limeade pattern?  I hesitated to buy this set but I really like how versatile each piece is--they really do add a little bit of a creative element to any project. Sorry, couldn't help myself!

So there you have it, folks!  I hope you like today's card and that it inspires you to play along with these fun colors.  Be sure to check out all the rest of the inspiring creations from the Create with Connie & Mary Design Team.  If you decide to play along, please link up your crafty goodness by Wednesday, December 14th at noon (EST).  I hope you'll play along with us!  Thanks for visiting today!

supplies:

stamps: delightful decorations, creative elements,tags til christmas

ink: poppy parade, lucky limeade, basic grey; versamark

paper: basic grey, whisper white, silver glimmer; pocketful of posies DSP; in color patterns stack

xtras: basic grey satin ribbon; basic rhinestones; white baker's twine

Paper Players Friends {PP34}

Happy Paper Players day everyone!  Thank you to all who showed us some love last week with all your LOVEly creations.  With so many fabulous entries, you're making it more and more difficult each week to choose our winners!  Our friend and Paper Player Jaydee is our hostess this week for a color challenge:

and she is challenging us with Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze and Whisper White!  Now, I cannot tell a lite...these colors were challenging for me but that's what it's all about, right?  That's how we grow by stepping outside of our comfortable box every once in awhile!

Yesterday, I mentioned that I've been trying to create more mat stacks--love the way they look and it's a fun way to incorporate several colors.  This card actually started with the "Friends" stamp from Friends Never Fade which I stamped in Cajun Craze and a second time in CC to cut out the flower and pop it up:

 A few Basic Pearls added to the center added even more dimension.

The Tags til Christmas set has a great stamp that fits the Decorative Label punch perfectly.  I inked it in Crumb Cake and stamped on the same cardstock, cut it in half and used each piece to frame my center panel.

The Two Tags die makes a fun focal point for my little mat stack.  I cut out a piece of Cajun Craze and stamped it with the Dot, Dot, Dot stamped inked in more Cajun Craze.  

My Crumb Cake card base needed a little something so I stitched a piece of woodgrain designer paper from Woodland Walk DSP onto the base.  I really need to do more stitching--it adds such a subtle accent.  Next, I made a border of Whisper White with the Framed Tulip embossing folder and placed it behind the mat stack and behind the Two Tags.

The other fun thing about using a tag as a mat is that it already has a hole ready for your ribbon!  I added some yummy Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon and a basic glimmer brad to hold it there in style!

Lastly, a retired set Best Blossoms, has this lovely sentiment that is perfect for any friend.  I inked a flower from Friends Never Fade in Crumb Cake and overstamped with my Cherry Cobbler sentiment.

I hope you enjoyed my card today and that it has inspired you to give this unique color combo a try!  Pop on over to The Paper Players to see what the rest of the design team has cooked up for you!  Then link up your creation on our blog by midnight (MST) Friday February 18th to be in the running for A Cut Above and Headliner! Have a great week my friends!

supplies:

stamps: friends never fade, tags til christmas, dot dot dot, best blossoms

ink: cajun craze, crumb cake

paper: crumb cake, cajun craze, whisper white CS; woodland walk DSP

xtras: two tags die; framed tulips embossing folder; cherry cobbler seam binding ribbon; glimmer brad; basic pearls; decorative label punch

Holly Jolly PPA {62}

Hello everyone!  Have you played at the Pals Paper Arts yet?  This week they have a fun challenge to use buttons!  I've recently discovered buttons in my own crafting and love the new color family packs of SU buttons that coordinate with all our paper and ink.  So once I figured out what colors & papers I was using for today's card, I knew I had a matching button in my Brights collection.  Here it is:

This is a pretty simple layout but features the bold colors of the Jolly Holiday designer paper: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive and Very Vanilla.  What a deep, rich color combination!  The bottom half of the card base was embossed with the Polka Dot impressions folder and I used two strips of coordinating Jolly Holiday paper at the top.  Polka dots and stripes usually don't work for clothes but are always a winning combination on cards!  The highlight though was making the little ornament tag.

I inked one of the sentiments from Tags til Christmas first in Versamark, then Cherry Cobbler ink and stamped it onto Whisper White cardstock.  I sprinkled it with clear stampin' emboss powder and heat set for a shiny finish.  I punched it out with my 1 3/4" circle punch, added some gold elastic cord and finished it with an Old Olive button.  Makes a cute ornament, yes?  I had the luxury of a little time when working on this one so I was able to finish the inside as well:

I love this retro tree from Contempo Christmas--the little curly que branches and the stylized graphic makes me smile.  I stamped it in Old Olive and paired it with the sentiment from A Christmas Greeting, stamped in Cherry Cobbler.  Isn't that a nice thought?  Holiday neutral too which makes it good for all!

Thanks for letting me know what you think of this one--I so enjoy reading your comments and appreciate the time you took to visit me today...have a great one!

supplies:

stamps: tags til christmas; contempo christmas; a christmas greeting

ink: old olive, cherry cobbler, versamark

paper: cherry cobbler, very vanilla CS; jolly holiday DSP

xtras: clear stampin' emboss powder; designer buttons (brights collection); gold elastic cord; scallop dotted ribbon border punch

Halloween Sneak Peeks...wicked

I just love Halloween...in all it's gothic and baroque glory. Which is why I am absolutely agog over the new Halloween goodies in the Holiday Mini Catalog! The whole theme is "1800s London" including Black lace, black rhinestones, Edgar Allen Poe paper, oh my! I think I'm channeling my inner goth child--except when I was an angst-ridden teenager we were "new wave". Oooh, did I just give away my age?! ;-) Anyway, here is tonight's card with all it's sneak peeks for you: Can you spot them? There's so many! The raven is actually one corner of the newest DSP, Nite Owl, featuring skulls, ravens, vintage newsprint and fabulous graphics that have a textile quality to them. It will be so useful for masculine cards, long after Halloween. The Black Flourish Designer Jewels are the newest bling in our inventory and they are FAB! I cut just a small section of the flourish to add a little interest to Mr. Raven's wing.

Here's another one...the Basic Black cardstock is embossed with a new Spider Web Embossing Folder! It doesn't photograph very well, but I've spritzed it with a mix of rubbing alcohol + shimmer paint and it is so shimmery in person--gossamer. This web is big! It will cover a whole card front or can be used in sections as I've done here. I'm so happy SU seems to have boarded the embossing folders train--so easy and great results.

And look at that lace! I had to have it: 1/2" Raven Black Lace Trim. It is so soft and will also be useful long after Halloween. I can think of a holiday in February where black lace trim will come in handy! ;-)

Did you notice the cool shaped tag holding the sentiment and spider web from Wicked Cool? That's the new extra-large Decorative Label punch. It coordinates with images in the Tags til Christmas stamp set that I've used here. That's right, it's a Christmas stamp! Under the wicked sentiment it says "Dec 25" but stamped in coordinating Tangerine Tango and covered with a punched oval it becomes a Halloween tag! Again, lots of uses past the holidays.

And you know I can't let you go without a peek at the inside and just one more new item. I love this Midnight Raven and he is just one of the a la carte (single) stamps in the Holiday Mini. He actually sits on the words "Fright Night" but here I inked just the raven with my Basic Black stampin write marker and landed him on top of the Woodgrain fence.

So, I promised you some sneak peeks...did I deliver? All these sneak peek items will be available beginning September 1st when the Holiday Mini catalog goes live right here under the Canopy. If you're a regular customer or club member, you should receive your copy in the mail by the end of August. If you're not a regular customer, yet!, and would like to receive a Holiday Mini just let me know. I would be happy to send one out to you. Thanks for stopping by!

currently available supplies:
stamps: wicked cool; woodgrain
ink: basic gray, versamark jet black, tangerine tango
paper: tangerine tango, basic black, pear pizzazz & very vanilla CS
xtras: large oval, dotted scallop ribbon punch; champagne mist shimmer paint; basic black stampin' write marker

supplies available 9/1:
stamps: tags til christmas
paper: nite owl DSP
xtras: black flourish designer jewels; raven black lace trim; extra-large decorative label punch; spider web embossing folder.