Falling for Painted Harvest

I know, I know… this event was yesterday!

So, why I am I posting it again?  Because you missed it!

Of course, not everyone missed it.. but I am pretty sure that YOU were not there.  And, I am here to tell you that you missed out on a lot of fun!  We always have fun at my events.  In fact, if you do not like to laugh, you might as well not even come!

#sorrynotsorry

Anyway…  what you missed out on was making the following cards.  But, so that you don’t get too sad… I have included a little tip with each one to help you recreate on your own!!

What a great lot of cards that were CASE’d from other people!  Like I always say.. I CASE the best of them!!!

So, let’s get up and personal with each one!

CASE’d from Colleen Magness

This card is your standard 5-1/4″ x 4-1/4 card base (in Pumpkin Pie)- with one exception… the card front is trimmed 1″.  That’s what gives is the unique look.  The Early Espresso panels are 5-1/4″ x 3″ and the Very Vanilla panels are 5″ x 2-3/4″.  The Painted Autumn paper is 5-1/4″ x 1-1/5″ and was adhered first.so the brown layer will lay over it.  The colors used on the flowers are Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze and Early Espresso…from the bottom up!

CASE’d from LeeAnn Greff

I absolutely love this card and it may be my second favorite from the bunch.  Or simple yet so elegant at the same time.  So, it’s your basic 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ Early Espresso card base with a 5-1/4″ x 4″ Very Vanilla Layer.  The three panels are each 1-5/8″ x 3-7/8″ and are in Crumb Cake, Soft Sky, and So Saffron.  The inks used were Soft Suede and Crumb Cake.  The circle is 1-3/8″ punched from Soft Sky and the tag is 1″ x 2-1/4″ Very Vanilla.  I used the 3/8″ circle punch to nip the corners and sponged the edges (I used Crumb Cake, but it looks good with the Soft Suede too!).  And, I cheated a bit because I didn’t have the Jute Twine that is in the 2017 Holiday Catalog, I used some other brand that was hiding out in my craft room.

CASE’d from Shannon Jaramillo

Now, this is one that gave me a bit of trouble.  I absolutely love the card that Shannon made, but couldn’t quite figure out how she did it.  But, I think I did pretty good.  The 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ card base is Marina Mist with a 4-1/8″ x 5-3/8″ Whisper White layer.  The flowers are made using Soft Sky and Marina Mist with Sahara Sand in the middle and for the dots.  The leaves were stamped off using Pear Pizzazz.  The sentiment is in full strength Pear Pizzazz.  I used the retired Handheld Stapler to attach some burlap ribbon to the top.

CASE’d from Lisa Fast

I love the doilies and just don’t use them enough.  But, I am learning that they add a special touch that just says POW!  This color scheme is So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, and Sahara Sand.  The flowers are So Saffron, Crushed Curry, and Sahara Sand.  The leaves were stamped in Wild Wasabi on Wild Wasabi then punched using the Leaf Punch.  A little Crushed Curry Chevron ribbon nd there you have a great and simple card!  And, in my haste to prepare for the class, I had lost the original center circle which was sponged around the edges using Sahara Sand – so you may want to give that a try!

CASE’d from Karen Barber

This was another card I had trouble CASE-ing exactly.  I wasn’t sure what colors Karen had used because I wasn’t getting the same results.  But, here is what I used…  Just a plain Whisper White 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ card base.  I stamped with using Sahara Sand (stamped off) on the Hardwood background stamp.  The flowers were created using Daffodil Delight and Crushed Curry with an Early Espresso center.  The leaves are Garden Green.  For the layering, I used the 2-3/4″ Scallop Square form the Layering Square Framelits – in Early Espresso.  The Crushed Curry layer is using the 2-5/8″ Square from the Stitched Shapes Framelits.  And, the top layer is 2-3/8″ square cut on my trimmer from Whisper White.  I also couldn’t figure out how Karen had tied the Twine because it didn’t seem to have a layer on the card front.  Oh well, I simply tied a bow and SNAILed it the to the back of the layers!

CASE’d from Jo Anne Hewins

And, you guessed it.. this one is my favorite!  Blue is my favorite color and Blue and Yellow is my favorite color combination.  And, the Navy Gingham Ribbon…  Who doesn’t love that!  Here you have a Night of Navy 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ card base with a 5-1/4″ x 4″ Marine Mist Layer and a 5″ x 3-3/4″ Whisper White layer.  The flowers are stamped in Marine Mist and Night of Navy with a Daffodil; Delight center.  The leaves are in Pear Pizzazz.  The other layers are largest ovals from the Layering Oval Framelits and the Stitched Shapes Framelits.  The sentiment was stamped in Memento.

So… aren’t you sad you didn’t get to come.  I will be hosting more classes like this soon.  Feel free to stop by one!

Until next time… keep it simple, Stampers!

🙂  Joanne

One Night in Bethlehem…

…the start was humble.

This is a lines from a parody of the 1980’s classic “One Night in Bangkok.”  It was remade to tell the story of Christmas.  And, there is so much truth to this line.  Our Lord Jesus left the Glory of His Father to be born of a woman in a meek and lowly manger to save the people of the world from an eternity in hell.

So, that being said, Stampin’ Up has provided the world with another gorgeous set celebrating that humble beginning!

The Night of Bethlehem Bundle (146043/146044) features the Night in Bethlehem Stamp Set (144809/145282) and the Bethlehem Edgelit Dies (144676).  With this bundle, you can make some of the most beautiful Christmas cards that not only send greetings, but celebrate the arrival of a King!

This clean and simple slider card allows Joseph to led Mary to the stable where Christ will be born.

Layering the village pieces can provide shadowing for a great visual effect.

Then, there is a little sponging.  I sponged the background then added the village and the star cut from the new Champagne Foil Sheets (144748).

That’s really all I have for you today.  Short and to the point… much like me!

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time… keep it simple, Stampers!

🙂  Joanne

 

 

Merry Little Christmas

Hope you all enjoyed the 2017 Holiday Catalog Product Spotlights that I blogged about last week.  That was great fun.  All the gals came up with unique takes on each of the products.

And, I’ll let you in on a little secret…

I bought the Detailed Gate just for that blog hop and now I absolutely love it!  So, watch for a whole week of projects featuring that die!

Today, I wanted to show you how a simple piece of Designer Series Paper is really all it takes to create an easy yet spectacular card!

When I first glanced through the catalog, I fell in love with the Merry Little Christmas Designer Series Paper (DSP to those in the know!).

 

These first two designs were inspired by the work of Lori Pinto.

This card  shows three different designs of the paper.  I just love that plaid.  I had to have this paper just because of that plaid!  I created the layers based on the largest square stitched shape.  I then added the sentiment and a little Black Rhinestone for some bling.

This card is basically the same as the card above.. but so very different.  This is a prime example of “same but different,”  wouldn’t you say!

And, here is the last one for the day…

This design was CASE’d from Mary Fish.  She did a treat bag that looked like this.  And, since it’s been awhile, I have done a project sheet for this one 🙂

Proj Sheet – Season of Cheer

You’re welcome!  LOL  Here is a glance at the items used to create this simple card!

 

Product List

 

What projects are you thinking of with this Designer Series Paper?  Post them on my facebook page…  the link is on the right hand side —>

Until next time… keep it simple, Stampers!

🙂  Joanne

 

Product Spotlight: Pick a Pumpkin Bundle

Are you as sad as I am?

This is our last installment in our special 2017 Holiday Catalog Product Spotlight Blog Hop!  But, don’t worry.. just come back and visit us all for new ideas every day!  And, be sure to check us out on Pinterest and Facebook too.  You can find my links on the right-hand side!

So, today’s hop is all about the PICK A PUMPKIN BUNDLE (146024/146025).  This bundle includes the Pick a Pumpkin Stamp Set (144989/144993) and the Patterned Pumpkins Thinlits Dies (144670).

Here is what I have to share with y’all today!

For this card, I used the gourd stamp and created a mock-paisley background in Always Artichoke.  My layers also include Cajun Craze and Very Vanilla.  I used the Thinlits to cut out some of the foliage.  Added a little of the Touches of Nature Elements (144216) along with some Burlap Ribbon (141487) and Linen Twine (104199).  The sentiment is from Labels to Love (144970/144967) and punched out with the new Everyday Label Punch (144668).  To add a bit of interest, I cut another label out of the Cajun Craze, cut it in half and adhered to top and bottom of the sentiment.

This card features the jack-o-lantern faces on the pretty little pumpkin stamps.  I stamped them Pumpkin Pie ink on Pumpkin Pie cardstock.  The faces are Basic Black ink.  Then, I added some shading around the edges with a sponge and the black ink.  They are standing guard in front of the gate.. .but will lend you the key if you ask nice!  The gate is cut from Silver Foil using the Detailed Gate Thinlits Dies (144669).  I then used the “tarnished metal” technique to add age to it.  The background was sponging Crushed Curry, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Rich Razzleberry, and Basic Black onto white Cardstock.  I created the mask for the moon by punching a 2″ circle from a post-it note.  I was inspired by the Great Pumpkin.. so you will see this design again…

But… wait… there’s more.  I discovered something when I was picking up some of the foliage I had cut for the first card…

You can use it to make a wreath!

I added some red Rhinestones (just plain ones I colored with a red sharpie!) and a bit of the new Real Ribbon 1/8″ Solid Ribbon (144631).  The sentiment is from the Holly Berry Happiness (142061) which carried over form the 2016 Holiday Catalog.

But, you can use it for more than just a wreath… Look at what else those branches make…

Mistletoe!  Yep, folks… that’s right!  Didn’t see that one coming, did you? LOL

I just glued three of the branch tips together with Tombow glue… added the same ribbon from above and some of the Pearl Basic Jewels (144219).  The sentiment is from the Carols of Christmas Stamp Set (144801/144804).

So, don’t write this set off as just a Fall set… there are plenty more uses beyond.  I can’t wait to see what you come up with!!!

Now, hop on over to Valérie Perlin or hop back to Janet Wakeland!

Until next time, keep it simple, Stampers!

🙂  Joanne

Product Spotlight: Test Tubes

Today is the 4th installment in our 5-day 2017 Holiday Catalog Product Spotlight.  Have you seen anything yet that you just loved? I sure have.  I will be CASE-ing a bunch of them!  There are some very talented Stampers here!

So today, We are here to talk TEST TUBES!

When I told my husband I needed some candy for test tubes, he was very puzzled.  He thought I was doing something with my daughter for her science class.  He just has no clue that TEST TUBES aren’t just for science anymore.  They are a great way to give a treat!  What you can do with them is really only limited to what you can fit inside them.

Here are a few of the things I came up …

This is your typical hot chocolate packet simply dumped into one of the test tubes.  I created a card for it using the Hug in a Mug Stamp Set (144933).  I cut the little tag using the Wood Crate Framelits (143730).

Lemon Heads candy fits nicely into the tube for someone that you want to give a little sour too.  I used the Lemon Zest Bundle (145359/145360) to make the tag.  This bundle includes the Lemon Zest Stamp Set (143805/143808) and the Lemon Build Punch (143712).

But, you can put more than just candy inside these little test tubes…

If it fits… it can be a treat!  Here are a couple cough drops and a little tag for a friend who has a cold.  The tag is from the Here For You stamp set (141541/142164) and cut out with the Classic Label Punch (141491).

And for the last one…

A little fire starting kit.  I grabs some pine needles and twigs off the ground outside my craft room to put in the test tube then slipped in a couple matches.  On the top of the cork, I glues a small circle of sand paper so you can light the match.  The fire on the tag was created using the Painted Harvest (144783)flowers in Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie and Real Red.  The logs were embossed using the Woodland Textured Impression Embossing Folder (139673) then fussy cut.  The wording was created using the Little Labeler Alphabet Stamp Set (141936).  And, I used the new Everyday Label Punch (144668) to make the stand.  I cut two pieces and glued the tips together then slipped the tube in between after it dried.

Hope you enjoyed what you see here!

Now, hop on over to Jennifer Van Wart or hop back to Janet Wakeland!

Until next time, keep it simple, Stampers!

🙂  Joanne

Product Spotlight: Cat Punch

Thank you for stopping by on day three of our 2017 Holiday Catalog Product Spotlight Blog Hop. Today, I present to you… the CAT PUNCH!

While this Cat Punch (144666) is grouped with the Halloween products in the back of the catalog, have no fear… he has more than just spookiness going for him. I can’t wait to see what the other bloggers have created with him. I have no idea why I keep calling it a him… but, I do.

Here are my projects…

Of course, I had to start with a Halloween one. The punch coordinates perfectly with the Spooky Night Designer Series Paper (144610). The paper comes with a sheet that is covered with cats. These were just the little partial cats at the bottom of the page.

Nothing like a simple black cat howling at a harvest moon!  Quick, simple, and easy!  Really!!!

Now, lets look at a couple that aren’t for Halloween…

How about a Catty Birthday card for your favorite cat lover?

Here is a black cat that I covered with VersaMark and covered with Silver Embossing powder.  I used a piercing tool to scratch off some of the powder before I used the heat tool to set it.

Well, that’s all I have for you today… hop on, my little bunny!

Hop on over to Jennifer Van Wart or hop back to Janet Wakeland

Until next time, keep it simple, Stampers!

🙂  Joanne

Product Spotlight: Vintage Crochet Trim

Welcome to the second installment of the Holiday Catalog Product Spotlight.  Today, we will feature the Vintage Crochet Trim (144611).

This trim can be found on page 53 in the Holiday Catalog which is all the way towards the back with the Halloween stuff.   But, that doesn’t mean it’s just for Halloween!

So, the first thing I think of when I think about Crochet Trim is that is it the perfect edging to a blanket.  So, I would be remiss if I didn’t make a little blanket…

I ran a bit of snail around the edge of a square of Basic Black cardstock, then I adhered the trim around it.  I added a square of the beautiful  Merry Little Christmas Designer Series Paper (144621) and ran it through the Big Shot in the new Quilt Top Textured Impression Embossing Folder (144687).  I added the perfect little sentiment from Snowflakes Sentiments (144817/144820).

My next project also features a new Designer Series Paper.

This one is called Merry Music Specialty Designer Series Paper (144623).  I just created a simple box and used the Crochet Trim to finish it off with a simple bow.  I suppose a tag could be made for it, but this will be used as a simple box to hold a special treat for a friend!

So… Crochet Trim…???  Where else is trim used?  On clothing, of course!

For this card, I created a dress out of the Petal Garden Designer Series Paper Stack (144168) and trimmed it with the Vintage Crochet Trim.  I added some of the new Black Rhinestones (144639) for a little bling.  The sentiment comes from the Beautiful You stamp set (143004/143637)

You can find a printable project sheet with the template for the dress at

https://keepitsimplestampers.com/all-dressed-up/

And… I would be remiss if I didn’t create at least one Halloween card with this trim, wouldn’t I.

I used it to create a spider web!  I double stamped the sentiment found in the Spooky Cat Stamp Set (144749).  I used the eyes from that set for the spider and simply punched two circles for the body and added some black twine for the legs and web he is dangling from.

Well, that’s all I’ve got for this one!  How will you get creative with the trim?

Now, hop on over to Sara Rayner or hop back to Teri Wells

Until next time, keep it simple, Stampers!

🙂  Joanne

Product Spotlight: Painted Harvest

Welcome to the Holiday Catalog Product Spotlight Blog Hop!  I am excited to have hopping through these pages to see the versatility of the products available in the 2017 Holiday Catalog.   This Blog Hop features bloggers from all over the world.

The first product we would like to direct your attention to is the PAINTED HARVEST Photopolymer Stamp Set (144783).  It is really a quite spectacular stamp set that has more uses than you would think upon first glance.

Here is what I have crafted using this set.

I honestly cannot tell you who created this set.  It was a “make-n-take” that we did at a recent demonstrator event.  Don’t you just love that acetate box!  It can hold 5 embellished cards and envelopes.

Here is an close up of each of the cards as well as the box.  The sentiments come from Painted Harvest as well as Merry Little Labels.  They also show off that beautiful designer series paper!

This next card was designed by Carol Payne.  It was part of our “shoebox swap” we did at our last team meeting.  It’s one of the great things about being part of a team of demonstrators.  Stampin’ together is such fun!

What is simple about this card is that there is not punching or cutting.  It is just some masking and stamping.

And, here’s this one…

For this card, I used some post-it notes to mask off Very Vanilla paper so that only half of the flower would be stamped and voila… cone flowers!  I did not stamp off any of the center (cone) but made sure to put the pointy side up…

The background was double embossed.  First, I put some VersMark ink on the Layered Leaves Dynamic Textured Impression Embossing Folder (143704) and ran it thru the Big Shot.  I then used copper embossing powder and set it with the heat tool.  It adds a bit of rustic fun!

Did you ever think that flower could make a gorgeous wreath?  I layered different greens to create this effect.  On the large flower, I used Lemon Lime Twist then Wild Wasabi.  Then, I used Garden green to stamp the smaller flower. I used the dots image and stamped in Real Red… Then I quickly put clear embossing powder and set it to create a little shine to the berries.  I did the same with the sentiment that came from the Snowflake Sentiment stamp set (144817/144820).

And finally…

Now, I am not the first one to see these cute little hedgehogs in the stamps… but oh my… are they not the cutest!  I stamped them in Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, and Early Espresso.  I wonder what other things are hidden in this set, don’t you?

Oh – those leaves were also stamped then punched using the new Leaf Punch (144667).  You can save money by buying the punch and the stamp set together as a bundle – the PAINTED HARVEST bundle (146021),

Well, thanks for stopping by!

Now, hop on over to Sara Rayner or hop back to Janet Wakeland

Until next time… Keep it simple, Stampers!

🙂  Joanne

The One Left Behind

Lemme ask you this.

Have you ever made a card that you just didn’t love.  Something was wrong with it, but you couldn’t pin-point it?

That’s exactly what I ran into while making my cards for the Stamper’s Dozen Blog Hop on Monday.  I will admit… I actually screwed up something on one of the cards so I thought I would re-do it.  Then I liked the screw up better.  Still, I couldn’t let all that other work go to waste so I tried to create another card using it… but it just didn’t have the same feel about it.

Well, here it is.

Now, of course… if you don’t know what I did wrong… you won’t know what this picture is really all about.  It’s the foil… but I don’t mind this foil here… I just didn’t like it as much.  But, I still feel like there is something missing or too much added or something.  Maybe it’s the brightness of the copper in the back with is drawing my attention away?  I don’t know.

What say you?  What is wrong with the cards… what would you have done differently?

Oh – and that mistake I made… When I ran the foil through the Big Shot in the Embossing Folder, I forgot to do any distressing to it first.  (FYI – this technique is called “tarnished metal”.)  So, I set it aside and tried again.  But then, I didn’t think the embossing was deep enough, so I ran the second one through again… but the wrong way! I DEbossed instead of EMbossed.  Ugh!  But, I kept working with it and didn’t seem like it would work.  I went back to the other silver foil snowflake to see if I could reclaim it.  It didn’t turn out bad.  I just liked the other one better.  Couldn’t let it just go to waste so I tried to create a card with it… but my brain wasn’t functioning and I got the card above!

Now… it’s not a terrible card.  At least, I don’t think it is.  But, it’s just not hitting that “great” card spot in my soul.

Does a card have to hit you like that for you to consider it worthy?  What do you do with it if it doesn’t?  This one will probably be my nephew’s Christmas card this year! You better not tell  him this was a cast-off!

Well… Until next time… keep it simple, Stampers!

🙂  Joanne

Stampers Dozen Blog Hop – August Holiday Catalog Sneak Peek

Hello and welcome to my first hop here with the Stamper’s Dozen Blog Hoppers!  I am so excited and honored to be a part of this group!  This month we are featuring our favorite sets from the NEW 2017 HOLIDAY CATALOG.

I have chosen the Snowflake Sentiments Bundle (146052/146053) featuring the Snowflakes Sentiments Stamp Set (144817/14420) and the Swirly Snowflakes Thinlits Dies (144678).  When you get your catalog, you can find the set on page 35!

This first card is simple yet elegant!

For this card, I used Silver Foil to cut the band of snowflakes using the Thinlit.  I used silver embossing for the sentiment and other snowflakes.  A little silver edged ribbon and some rhinestones is all it too to add that touch of sophistication to this very easy card!

The next card has a completely different feel! It was inspired by Robin Messenheimer.

Who says that you have to use red and green on a Christmas card?  This one uses two of the new In Colors…  Berry Burst and Lemon Lime Twist.  They play really well together on this modern, non-traditional card.  And, BONUS…  I made a project sheet for this one!

Proj Sheet – Christmas with a Twist

And, my last card with the set…

Now this one is very masculine.  I just love that “TARNISHED FOIL” effect.  Don’t you?  I actually used the NEW Winter Wonderland Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (144686) to de-boss the snowflake image in the silver foil.  Add some black ink and embossing powders and you get this great effect.  That little snowflak in the corner comes for the same Thinlit used on the top card.. I just cut it away for the bunch.  Wouldn’t the man in your life love to get this card this Christmas?  (PS – the sentiment came from the NEW Christmas in the Making stamp set (144841/144845).)

I hope you enjoyed these projects.

Remember, you are currently visiting Joanne Cantrell…

Now, hop on over to Patty Chenail

Or hop back to Debbie Naylor

Until next month… keep it  simple, Stampers!

🙂  Joanne