I used some awesome new accessories such as the designer series paper “Newsprint” (with a cool musical score sheet), new crochet ribbon and Vintage buttons.

To accent the ‘antique look’ I used the new ‘Distressing Essential Kit’ which includes four fabulous ink spot colors (Tea Stain, Charcol, Mahogany and Navy), in this case, applied with sponge daubers.

And don’t forget to get a head start on your Christmas cards… make 16 cards w/envelopes… all materials, directions, etc. provided.  CLICK HERE to register for September class– my special Christmas card class is the 4th Monday of each month through November–keep an eye on my online calendar.

Set: Welcome Christmas, IB&C Page 37
118736 $27.95 (wood)
120597 $19.95 (clear)
French: Vive Noel (wood & clear)
Accessories & Measurements:
8 ½ x 5 ½ Crumb Cake
3 ¼ x 4 Basic Black cardstock
2 ½ x 2 ½ Very Vanilla (for pressing)
2 ½ x 3 ½ Very Vanilla (for oval)
2 ½ x 2 Cherry Cobbler c/s (for punching)
3 ¾ x 2 ¾ Very Vanilla (for greeting)
4 x 2 inch DSP “Newsprint” (music print)
Black StazOn™, Brads ‘Antique’
Crochet trim Victoria 5/8”
‘Distressing Essentials’ kit
Sponge Daubers

Decorative Label XL punch (Holiday Mini)
Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder,
Sizzix die ‘Ovals’
Sizzix Big Shot, Multi-purpose platform,
clear cutting pads

Again, I used the ‘Scenic Season’ stamp set #115354, sponge daubers, Barely Banana and Bashful Blue inks on glossy cardstock.  Santa’s sleigh is ‘Wandering Words’ (#116507) one of the Holiday Mini Catalog sets that you can buy until January 3rd.

I don’t know if you can tell, but I tore a piece of paper to mask a ‘mountain’ line after stamping the trees in black Staz On.

The subtleness of this card isn’t easy to see from this photo… you can click on it to see a larger sample.

With this sample, I have included a short video clip on how to do this simple, yet effective technique.

The set used here is ‘Scenic Season’ #115354, Sponge daubers and Barely Banana, Blush Blossom and Bashful Blue inks and glossy cardstock.

You can’t tell from the photo but the horizon line was done with glitter.  Enjoy the video, and feel free to leave feedback!

This easy (and small) gift bag is actually two quarter sheets of Real Red cardstock cut with the Sizzix die ‘Top Note’ attached to both sides of a tiny brown paper bag (that was cut down to 3 inches high).

The oval ‘handle’s is the large Oval punch and a simple knot of wide grosgrain ribbon (red) holds it shut.  The designer paper front is from the Merry Moments pack (one of my holiday favorites this year).  The vanilla stripe across the middle is a narrow strip of vanilla cardstock.  The greeting is a new stamp set called “Sweet Season” on page 29 of Stampin’ Up!’s 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog.

These are perfect for holding a gift card or small item–no wrapping required!

116471 Sweet Season (set of 4), $18.95
113463 Sizzix ‘Stampin’ Up! exclusive’ Top Note die, $21.95
115672 Merry Moments Designer Series Paper, $9.95 (12 two-sided sheets)
102482 Real Red cardstock (each sheet makes two bags), $7.95 (24 sheets)

‘Sweet Season’ stamp set below (click photo for actual size):

This simple Christmas card uses the beauty of the ‘vintage’ style Santa which required very little coloring to be WOW!  Two thumbs WAY up for the Stampin’ Up! artist who designed this stamp set.

I like this ‘alternative’ to the regular fold in half card, but it is still just half a piece of cardstock.  I cut the Garden Green cardstock at 4 1/4 x 11 and scored it at 2 3/8 and 7 5/8 with the larger flap on the bottom.  The bottom panel is Very Vanilla press with the Finial embossing folder for our Sizzix Big Shot.  Awesome folder that I overuse!  The top is my favorite Christmas designer series paper ‘Merry Moments’.

Today is the last day for Stampin’ Up!’s online special. Click here to check it out!  All online orders received this month will recieve a special gift from me… and orders $50+ will earn my online buying special.

Click here to view the August, September and October ‘classes in the mail’ and register to receive it free.

I suggest that you register for whichever ‘class in the mail’ you want on the same day you place your online order.  I will send it immediately upon receipt of your order.

You also earn my regular monthly online buying gift if your order comes to >$50.   My new online buying gift has just been updated today!

I love the ‘tent’ style cards… especially if you don’t have much to say!  Okay, just KIDDING!

The ‘base’ of the card is 4 1/4 x 7 1/2 folded and a 3×4 inch piece of designer series paper covers the front of it.  I used my favorite ‘finial press’ embossing folder as usual and that combined with the wide satin ribbon makes this very elegant.

You can’t see the fine lines of glitter along the vertical stripes of the tree, but take my word for it, looks FABULOUS!

Recipe:

Sets: Christmas Classics (#111566)
Gifts of Christmas (#115372)
Accessories:
4 ¼ x 7 inch Whisper White Cardstock
Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper (#116770)
4×3 ‘holly & berry’ pattern
4 ½ x 3 inch Whisper White (for pressing)
2 x 2 ½ inch Whisper White (stamp tree)
2 ¼ x 2 ¾ inch Soft Suede (frame stamped image)
1 ½ x 3 inch Whisper White (stamped greeting)
1 ½ x 3 inch Soft Suede (frame stamped greeting)
Wide Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval punch
17 inches White satin ribbon
Soft Suede Ink
Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folders ‘Filial Press’
Standard cutting pads, multi-purpose platform
Glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

Here is another ‘Delightful Decorations’ card, this time teamed up with the Holiday Lounge designer series paper (#115676) from the regular catalog.

The cool thing about designer series papers is that I let the color and design determine the color and design of the finished piece.  Don’t the ornaments look like they could hang from those lines?

I got the idea for punching the ‘Finial pressed’ papers for the oraments from a card made by one of my new downline, Lynda Daring (www.DaringStamper.com).   She came over to show me some cards she made for an upcoming class and I loved that idea.

She is still getting the knack of blogging, but give her a shout out on her site!

The Delighful Decorations stamp set shown here is a new holiday set in the Holiday Mini Catalog on Page 24.  The matching punch is on Page 25.

This was one of my August Christmas Card Club cards you can still order by mail here.

Altogether the supplies used are:

#116517 Delightful Decorations stamp set $21.95

#116794 Ornament punch $15.95

#116770 Christmas Cocoa Designer Series Specialty Paper (Holiday Mini Catalog, Pg. 21), $11.95

#109867 Gold Cording (elastic) from the Holiday Mini Catalog, Pg. 27, $4.95

#102935 Brushed Gold Cardstock

Versamark, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

#115963 Finial Press Embossing Folder with Sizzix Big Shot (and multipurpose platform and standard cutting pads)

And I have to resist the urge to set rhinestones in the swirls… (now why would I even *try* to resist?)!

The ingredients of this card are:

• Dasher stamp (#116816, $8.95)
• Serene Snowflakes (Holiday Mini Catalog #115438, $20.95)
• Very Vanilla Cardstock (#101650, 40 sheets, $7.50)
• Brushed Gold cardstock (#102935, 10 sheets, $7.95)
• Gold embossing powder (#109129, $4.75)
• Heat Tool (#100005, $29.95)
• Gold Cording (#109867, 25 yds, $4.95)
  
• 12″ trimmer

The brushed Gold cardstock was cut 3 3/4 by 4 1/2 and after embossing was cut at 2 inches, then 1/2 inch and assembled onto the cardfront as shown.

I used a 1/16th inch hole punch to ‘nick’ the sides to hold the cording in place as I twined and tied the bow.

How stinkin’ cute?!  And so easy…