Christmas = a Star of Wonder...Star of Night!

This pocket card is my tenth and final Totally Lovin' Christmas card remake.  I used the color scheme and papers from the kit, but added quite a few additional papers and elements to satisfy my creative thoughts and edit ideas after taking a look at the original design.

Of course, again, I wanted my card to be the larger A6 size, and I wanted more color and pizzazz.  Here is a list of the changes I made:

1) I wanted a livelier color scheme, especially for the star panel that was the beautiful focal point of the front of the pocket card.  I chose a pretty Copic color close to Stampin' Up's Seaside Spray cardstock, which allowed me to add a new coordinating Seaside Spray cardbase and automatically enlarging my card as well.  My blue star with its added Navy highlights and a gold filigree gem in the center was so much more eye-appealing than the monochromatic grayish-blue star with its tiny clear rhinestone.  I was stoked with the look of the changes, and my juices were flowing!

2) The original star panel was backed with gold glimmer paper, but this was the only area the glimmer was used.  I wanted MORE for lots of sparkle and sheen.  I used the gold glimmer as a mat layer between the balmy blue cardbase and the navy plaid pocket, plus I added it to the sentiment pocket insert as described below in #4.  

3) The original design's pocket was all navy cardstock, using the navy/ green plaid as an accent rectangle on the lower front pocket only.  It just called for MORE!  I add the plaid to fill my pocket back and the entire front of the pocket, leaving the plain navy cardstock on the fold-over pocket flap only that hosts the ribbon band and star focal panel.

4) For my pocket insert, I left the navy cardstock as the bottom layer, but added a gold glimmer mat layer between the navy base and white sentiment panel.  I also added a gold glimmer half circle pull tab to the insert with a bitty navy star.  The original design used a silver brad added into the sentiment area as the way pull the insert out.  On the insert, I dropped below the sentiment at the top and added the navy Merry Christmas stamping, plus a little verse with a navy star at the bottom, leaving a space in the center for the sender's signature.

All these little additions changed the look of the finished card oodles, and I was really please with the results.  Check out the finished pocket card below...inside and out.

Recipe Ingredients:   Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Night of Navy, Seaside Spray, Whisper White.  Patterns--Wrapped in Plaid (2019 Holiday p. 14).  Stamps--Shine Bright (star - 2019 Holiday p. 28); Star of Light (sentiment/verse - retired).  Ink--Night of Navy.  Ribbon--3/8" Cherry Cobbler Diagonal Stripe (2019 Holiday p. 25).  Gold Faceted Gem.  Other:  Paper--DCWV Gold Glimmer.  Wink of Stella-Clear + Gold (star spokes: clear/ overlaid in gold).  Copic coloring--star--B41 + B97.  A6 Size: 4-1/2" x 6-1/4".  

Christmas...Joy to All!

This is my ninth card from the Totally Lovin' Christmas kit by Liz Thayer.  It is another with only minimal changes, which enhance, but do not change the overall look of the card.  My changes and/or additional are listed below.

1) I increased my card size from the traditional A2 size (4-1/4" x 5-1/2") to my favorite A6 sizing (4-1/2" x 6-1/4").  I did need to cut all new all the paper pieces larger and restamp my Christmas tree, but since I was donating the original kit pieces to my Mom, this was okay).

2) I decided to dry emboss the pink mat layer to add depth and texture.  I have to say, I really think this added tremendously to the card look!  

3) I colored my tree flowers with Copic markers, which I always thinks gives a more clear and beautiful look with shading control.  

4) I added Wink Of Stella-Clear to add a touch of shimmer and mini pearls to each flower...I love these additions to the look!  

5) I eliminated the loopy silver thread in the upper left corner between the silver foil layer and tree stamp layer.  I didn't see any beauty added with the thread, and with my additions of embossing, shimmer, and pearls, I thought it a bit too much.

I am really thrilled with the final look of this card.  That added embossing was a perfect idea if I don't say so myself!

Recipe ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Whisper White and  Blushing Bride.  Champagne Foil.  Stamps-=-Shine Bright (tree/ sentiment - 2019 Holiday/ p. 28).  Embossing Folder--Filigree Frames (retired).  Basic Pearls--2mm/ 1/16".  Gold Faceted Gem (smallest)--tree topper.   Punch--Curvy Corners (inside/ retired).  Other:  Copic coloring--Tree trunk--E21, E23, E27; Leaves--G82, YG67; Berries--RV29.  Flowers--RV00, RV11, RV34.  Wink of Stella--Clear.  Pink Posh sequins.  Chatterbox verse.  Size A6--4-1/2 x 6-1/4 inches.

Sweet Christmas Wishes

This is my eighth card from the Totally Lovin' Christmas kit designed by Liz Thayer.  By the way, this was the card I saw that made me want to purchase this kit and assemble the cards, either exactly as they were designed or modifying them to make them more pleasing to me for whatever the reason.  Many times there is just a creative spark that gives me an idea of a little change and other times it is the inclination to add so many changes, it no longer even looks like the original design.  This one is another mini additions and tweaks without changing the basic Thayer design.

I love the stamp and dies set used in this design, plus I love the rustic feel of the card design.  For some reason, my patterned strips were missing from my kit, so I began immediately to search of papers that would give me that rustic feel.  I found non-Stampin' Up papers that incorporated strips in red and white candy stripes, as well as a green ivy sprigged stripd that ended in an eyelet scallop.  I thought  this piece would work really well, especially with the candy cane die cut.  I layered my chose stripes from the paper together to form my own sequence of stripes, whcih set off numerous ideas to tweak and modify the card design here and there.

I incorporated a total of six changes in all, as follows:1) I wanted to enlarge my card to my favorite A6 size, so I added a new Shimmer White cardstock for the base.  2) I added my new Christmas striped paper talked about in paragraph two above, ending with three striped colors layered together, making my paper striped pieces wider.  3) I changed out the Crumb cake cardstock to a golden brown Kraft paper by Recollections.  4) I changed the smooth card front by adding a woodgrain dry emboss texturizing, plus I added ink-distressed aging on all edging.  I really liked these added texture and distressing features.  5) I changed the sentiment ink from Cherry Cobbler to Gumball Green, and I removed it from the card front flat surface.  I stamped the sentiment on smooth Kraft cardstock that matched the card front.  6) I added a curvy, fancy-edged rectangular label die of Cherry Cobbler cardstock as a mat layer peeking out below the stamped sentiment and popped this twosome up off the card front.  7) I substituted Shimmer White cardstock for the peppermint poinsettia mug.  8) I twine-tied and arranged my ribbon pieces at an angle and tightness that suited my eye appeal.

I was really happy with the results of my card...take a peek below at the finished card, inside and out.

                                                                             

Recipe Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Shimmer White, Cherry Cobbler, Real Red.  Ink--Gumball Green.  Stamps--Cup of Christmas (2019 Holiday/ p. 34).  Dies--Cup of Cheer (2019 Holiday/ p. 34), Stitched Circles (1-7/8"), Labels Collection (retired).  Embossing Folder--Woodgrain.  Ribbon--3/8" Shaded Spruce, Gold Metallic, 5/8" Polka Dot Tulle (halved), 3/8" Red Cotton.   Other:  Recollections--Kraft.  May Arts--Hemp Twine.  Christmas Cane Striped dsp--unknown.  Ink Distressing--Colorbox Chestnut Roan.  Paper Technique: Clear Embossing for Sheen.  Size-A6 = 4-1/2" x 6-1/4."  (Thank you to Liz Thayer for the inspiration from "Totally Lovin' Christmas 2019" card designs with my additions and modifications).

Leftover Christmas to Post!

I had one card left in my "To Do Stash" that was needed for my brother.  It is a Liz Thayer original design that I changed just a tiny bit.  On Liz's card she snowflaked the area that would show through the tree oval only.  I decided to snowflake my entire area so that the edges of the snowflakes peeked out along the layered edges.  In addition, I added a dot of glue here and there and sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds glitter randomly on this layer as well and on the sentiment band to add a little sparkle.  For my sentiment band, I decided to fishtail the ends rather than leave them straight.  I also decided to leave off the twine bow that was on the original and to lower the band more to the bottom of the oval at the base of the tree trunk, rather than mid-way up the trunk.  I then added glitter snow domes to each of the four front corners.  

My changes were subtle, and therefore, my card retains much of the same flavor as its original.   Take a peek below at the card and its inside design with verse that I created to compliment its front.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products - Cardstock:  Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Red Glimmer.  Stamps: Lovely As A Tree; Snow Place (sentiment/ snowflakes).  Ink: Garden Green; White Craft. Dies:  Peaceful Pines (star); Top Note BigZ (retired).  Punch: Itty Bitty Accents-Star (retired).  Dazzling Diamond Glitter.  Rhinestones.  Other - Crystal Stickers: Glitter Domes.

Christmas Elf from Yesteryear!

Last year Liz Thayer did a little elf card at her 2015 Totally Lovin' Christmas, which was colored with Stampin' Up markers.  I promptly ruined my stamped image trying to color and blend with these pens.  I have never been very good getting a good color result using these water-based pens.  It's just me, as I have seen some beautiful coloring jobs achieved by others.

I decided that since I had purchased this stamp set already, I would take my salvageable pieces home and re-do my card in the quiet of my craft room.  Well, that did not happen last year, but I made a goal for this year:  I would try to finished my Christmas cards in my "To Do Stash" that were totally unfinished kits or half-started.  Since little elf fell into one of these categories, he was in luck to be finished this year!

I re-stamped my elf image and colored him using Copic markers, which is my pen of choice.  I like the way they shade and blend and the richness of color that you can achieve.  I also wanted the edges of my mat layers to be more visible to bring out the colors used on my elf's clothing, so I decided to start with a new green card base that would be slightly larger rather than cut down the size of all the layers on top of the cardbase.  I prefer the color edges of my layers to be from 1/8" to 3/16" wide instead of the narrow, almost invisible 1/16" that many cardmakers use.  I also decided to put a green mat layer under my little sentiment tag for even more green accents. 

Liz's original design is so very cute and cheerful, and the stamp set is also very cute and cheerful; thus, the resulting card is sure to make its recipient feel very happy when they open their card!  Take a peek below at both the finished exterior results and the inside design that I made to compliment the front.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up - Cardstock:  Very Vanilla, Garden Green, Real Red, Whisper White, Watercolor paper.  Holiday Fancy Foil Vellum (2015 Holiday). Stamps: Christmas Cuties (2015 Holiday).  Dies:  Top Note BigZ (retired).  Punch: Decorative Label (modified).  Ribbons: 1/8" Red Stripe; 5/8" Vanilla Satin ribbon (retired).  Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (hat trim).  Dazzling Diamonds Gold Glitz glitter adhesive (elf bells).  Stash: Gold sequins.  Size: 4-1/2" x 5-3/4".

2016 Totally Lovin' Christmas

Every year my Stampin' Up Upline, Liz Thayer, holds a Christmas cardmaking extravaganza event she calls Totally Lovin' Christmas where we are presented with ten different card designs to make.  I generally use this event to get my Christmas cardmaking mojo going.  I have several Stampin' Up demonstrator friends that I enjoy going to their events and making their card designs with fellow cardmaking buddies.  

Sometimes I use their design as a jumping off point and do some modifications to their card design and sometimes I just make the card design as presented.  My own card designs almost never fall in the clean and simple style and are usually not the common A2 size created by most Stampin' Up cardmakers, as I favor larger cards that are at least 4-3/4" x 6," making my own envelopes.  Sometimes these are the reasons why I might modifying a card. . .to add more color layers and to enlarge the card, but sometimes its just that I get a creative flash when I look at a design and an idea pops into my mind that I feel I must add to the card.  For whatever the reason, it never means that I don't like the original card. . .it just says I want to make it more me.  

With all that said...here are seven of the ten card designs that I made at Liz's Totally Lovin' Christmas this past October.  I made these just as she presented them with no changes. . .very cute cards aren't they!  Check out the brief ingredient list below each.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up:  cardstock--Night of Navy, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla.  Stamps--Snow Place (snowman); It's a Celebration (snowflakes-2016 Holiday). Endless Birthday Wishes (background dots).  White Craft Ink.  Woodland Embossing Folder, Ink--Soft Suede + marker (tree sponging/ lined marking); Night of Navy (background dots). 5/8" Burlap ribbon.  

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up:  cardstock--Real Red, Very Vanilla.  Stamps: Christmas Magic (2016 Holiday).  Soft Suede Ink.  Holly Embossing Folder.  Layering Squares framelits.  3/8" Real Red Stitched ribbon (2016 Holiday). (Layers: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"; 3-1/4" x 4-1/2"; 2" square; 1-3/16" square).

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up: cardstock--Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Real Red.  Candy Cane Lane dsp (2016 Holiday-gingerbread house fussy-cut).  Stamps: Flurry of Wishes (sentiment).  Ink: Early Espresso.  Softly Falling Embossing Folder.  3/4" Real Red Scallop Edge ribbon/ Bells-2016 Holiday.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up - Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Real Red.  Candy Cane Lane dsp (2016 Holiday).  Stamps: Cookie Cutter Christmas + Cookie Cutter Builder punch (2016 Holiday).  Ink: Early Espresso Ink; Soft Suede (sponging).  Gold Mica Flakes/ Green Metallic Thread (2016 Holiday).

Ingredients:  Stampin'Up - cardstock:  Real Red, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer.  Stamps: Merriest Wishes (red splatter-2016 Holiday); Oh, What Fun (sentiment).  Dies: Santa's Sleigh Thinlits (reindeer-2016 Holiday).  Punch: Classic Label.  Candy Cane Lane Washi (2016 Holiday).   

Ingredients: Stampin' Up:  cardstock:  Shimmery White, Emerald Envy.  Stamps: Twinkle Trees (2016 Holiday-stamp off technique); Peaceful Pines (red ornaments).  Ink: Emerald Envy, Real Red.  Wonderful Wreath framelits. Punch: Itty Bitty Accents-Star (retired).

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up - Cardstock: Soft Sky, Dapper Denim, Shimmery White.  Ink: Dapper Denim.  Stamps: Star of Light + Starlight Thinlits (2016 Holiday).  Ink: Dapper Denim. White Embossing Powder.  3/8": Dapper Denim Ruffled ribbon. 

Detailed Santa Die-Cut for Mom!

I went to Stampin' Up demonstrator, Liz Thayer's, annual Totally Loving Christmas cardmaking event earlier this fall where we had the opportunity to make ten Christmas cards designed her this lovely lady.   One of her designed cards used Stampin' Up's new Detailed Santa thinlit, which was featured in their 2016 Holiday mini catalog.  This die is quite intricate, and with these types of dies unless you have a helping-hand with a specialized die-cutting metal plate or even wax paper, loosening your die-cut paper from the die is almost impossible without tearing it.  Thus was the case with my die-cut...I tore the paper while trying to remove it.  Without this paper die-cut, the card could not be completed.  As I had already purchased this die myself, I decided to take all the paper pieces and embellishments home and finished the card later.

Because I like larger cards than the standard A2 size (4-1/4" x 5-1/2"), and I also like using more than one or two color layers, I sometimes feel the urge to do a bit of my own re-designing before completing the card.  I used Liz's design as a jumping off point and englared my card to 4-3/4" x 6" and added a Dazzling Diamond Glimmer layer (a silver glitter paper, but more to the white side than the gray).  I added black Santa glasses, black eyes with a twinkle in his eye made with a white ink pen and a little red mouth.  I fishtail flagged my ribbon instead of burying its ends behind layers and added red rhinestones to the flags.  I decided to mat my sentiment with the same silvery glimmer paper and pop it up on the fishtail flag ribbon instead of stamping it onto the white background below the ribbon.

I am earmarking this card for my mother for Christmas because I think she will love the look of this die-cut card, which is so easy to do.  Take a peek below at my redesigned card front and my finished interior designed to fit the look of its front.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Whisper White, Pool Party, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer.  Stamps--Glamper Greetings (2016 Holiday).  Ink--Pool Party.  Dies--Detailed Santa Thinlits; Top Note BigZ die (retired/ inside).  5/8" Mint Macaron Striped Ribbon.  White Mica Flakes (2016 Holiday).  Other products: Offray Red Rhinestones.  White Uni-ball pen.  Punch--Recollections 5/8"  Snowflake (inside).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".  (Thank you Liz Thayer for design inspiration).

Peaceful Pines @ Christmas (Totally Lovin' Christmas #7)!

Totally Lovin' Christmas card #7. . .OMGosh, I'm within three of finishing!  Have I said this before, but I'm saying it again. . .I love this card.  It has that homespun Christmas feel to it with the rustic Hardwood background in a weathered cedar look, and the cutest little Christmas tree ever!  It so reminds me of Christmas along the coast of the Pacific Northwest while growing up with the fog rolling in on Christmas Eve and hanging around until late morning, except I would have been looking at Redwood trees, not cedars, pines, or firs!

I only made two very little changes to the original design, and one was to add another layer, making a new cardbase in Cherry Cobbler cardstock.  The second was to just add a gold cording thread to my button rather than leave the holes empty of thread; just gave it a more finished look I think.  Just got to say again that I love, love that rustic weathered wood for the background.  I also have to say that seeing the Peaceful Pines stamp set actually used and in color makes it even more appealing than I thought just looking at it on the catalog page or the stamp case.  Take a look below at this little gem of a card.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray, Old Olive, Very Vanilla; Farmer's Market dsp; Gold Glimmer.  Stamps--Peaceful Pines (2015 Holiday); Hardwood background.  Ink--Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Basic Gray.  Punches--1-1/4" Scallop Circle; Itty Bitty Accents-Star.  Regals Designer Buttons.  1/8" Gold Metallic ribbon.  Gold Metallic Cording.  (Thank you Liz Thayer for the marvelous original design).

  

Jolly Stars (Totally Lovin' Christmas #6)!

I'm rolling along finishing another card that I started at Liz Thayer's Totally Lovin' Christmas cardmaking event!  This one if full of jolly stars, and indeed, we did have a jolly time making cards, seeing old friends, and socializing as we made Liz's superbly designed cards.

I have to confess that I can seldom make a card exactly as it is designed and presented at an event such as this.  For some reason, when I see an already designed and finished card, my creative mojo starts zinging into my mind, and I have all sorts of ideas of how to tweak or change a card just a bit to make it more me.  Everyone has their own style and ideas in cardmaking, and I hope my hostesses do not take offense if I don't end up with the exact same card as designed.  One thing I know for sure, I love larger than A2 sized cards and I also like more layers of color than many other do.  My changes usually incorporate adding layers, which ultimately makes the card a bit larger.

On this Jolly Stars #5 card, I was not fond of the Iridescent embossed smaller stars, it changed the color too much, and made it so they didn't quite match the shades intended.  I thought I'd try clear embossing, which turned out so well that I decided to clear emboss the larger stars as well.  While I was at it, I embossed the Jolly greeting with Cherry Cobbler embossing powder rather than just stamping it in Cherry Cobbler ink.  Next, I decided the layers needed to have a bit more of an edge between layers, and also I felt it needed a white layer to set off the Mossy Meadow and the Red Glimmer papers.  Thus, I added white as a bottom layer making it my new cardbase.  My final addition was to add Clear Wink of Stella all over each of the stars and to the Crumb Cake band to add a bit of shimmer.

For those of you who are not familiar with the "Winks," they are a liquid brush pen that adds a coat of thin shimmer gloss to any surface by painting it on with its brush tip.  It comes in many colors, clear, black, gold, and silver to name a few.  Spoiler Alert:  the new Occasion mini catalog, which will be introduced on January 5, 2016 and run through May 31st, introduces the Wink of Stella Clear and Gold pens for purchase.  I know you'll like them.  Unfortunately, it doesn't really show up all that much in my card photo, but you certainly can see it when you view the actual card!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Red Glimmer.  Merry Moments dsp.  Stamps--Oh, What Fun.  Star Framelit dies (size #1/ #2; #1 = smallest).  Decorative Label punch.  Clear Embossing Powder.  1/4" Real Red Cotton ribbon.  Other:  Clear Wink of Stella.  (Thanks Liz Thayer for the original card design).

Flurry of Wishes (Totally Lovin' Christmas #5!)

This will be #4 from the Thayer Totally Lovin' Christmas cardmaking extravaganza where we actually made a total of ten delightfully lovely cards all with a Christmas theme.  

On this #4, I stuck pretty close to the original design, but I did cut down to one large snowflake on my card.  My bow just insisted on twisting a direction that made the second snowflake on the original card overlay the sentiment and hide it so you couldn't actually see all of the word Christmas.  I decided it just had to go, and I don't think it takes away from the card's finished look.  Hiding part of Christmas just disturbed me, without the extra flake Christmas is now visible. . .that makes me happy, so one snowflake is just right!

This is such a cool and refreshing card. . .just like a snowy day at Christmas time.  Take a peek, I think you'll like it!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  cardstock--Marine Mist, Whisper White.  Winter Wonderland Vellum Stack (Holiday 2015).  Stamps: Flurry of Wishes.  Ink: Marine Mist.  Punch: Snow Flurry.  Embossing Folder: Softly Falling.  Iced Rhinestones - Large/ Small (Holiday 2015).  Basic Rhinestones.  5/8" Organza Ribbon.  1/8" Silver Ribbon.  (Thank you Liz Thayer for the card design sample).

Embellished Ornaments (Totally Lovin' Christmas #4)!

Oh, and here is an especially pretty one from Liz Thayer's October Totally Lovin' Christmas card event that I attended.  I made this design exactly like the sample Liz Thayer shared during the class, though I did decided to make my separation between layers a bit larger because I wanted the pink layers to pop a bit more.  I also dropped the sentiment in the upper right corner just a bit more and decided to gold emboss it like the ornaments.  (I think Liz had her's stamped with Crumb Cake ink if I remember correctly).

I know many people don't like to use non-traditional colors in their Christmas cards, and I most definitely think pink falls into that non-traditional category.  But, I absolutely love this color combination. . .don't you think ornaments made from Stampin' Up's Embellished Ornaments stamp set cut out with their coordinating Delicate Ornaments Thinlit dies are simply beautiful! 

Now here's something that has always puzzled me!  I can't, for the life of me, figure out why they don't name their dies the same as the coordinating stamp set with which the die set is first introduced?  I do realize that in the future, they often add a new stamp set named something entirely different, but for me, it would still be easier if they just named it the same as at least one of the stamp sets with which they coordinate.  As I say, it's a puzzle to me, and of course, that is my personal opinon!  Getting back to the pink color with the gold embossing, doesn't it makes an absolutely lovely finished card?

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  cardstock--Blushing Bride, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla. Winter Wonderland dsp (2015 Holiday).  Stamps/ coordinating die:  Embellished Ornaments/ Delicate Ornament Thinlits (2015 Holiday).  5/8" Gold Satin Ribbon, 1-1/4" Very Vanilla Subtle Stripe Ribbon.  Gold Embossing Powder.  Pearls.  (Thank you Liz Thayer for the beautiful card design).

Home for Christmas (Totally Lovin' Christmas #3)!

Here is another bedazzling card design by Liz Thayer from her Totally Lovin' Christmas card event, which was held in October of this year.  All parts of the card are from products in the Stampin' Up 2015 Holiday mini catalog, if you are interested in trying to order them.

I made this card exactly as Liz designed it, except I added another layer, creating a new Real Red cardbase.  The card just seemed to call out for a little more of the red featured in the Home for Christmas designer papers and the little red ribbon.  I also added a red rhinestone on one of the little deer that was more centered on my card...just a bit more of my own flair.  Feast your eyes on this cuteness!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up:  cardstock--Real Red, Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Very Vanilla, Gold Glimmer.  Home for Christmas dsp (deer, music & red stripe).  Stamps: Endless Birthday Wishes.  SU Ink: Soft Suede.  Punch: Washi Label.  7/8" Sahara Sand lace, 1/4" Real Red Cotton ribbon.  Wood Snowflake Elements (2015 Holiday - colored with marker).  Rhinestones.  (Thank you Liz Thayer for the very cute card design).

Making Spirits Bright (Totally Lovin' Christmas #2)

I've been finishing this little reindeer Making Spirits Bright card today. . .it's my second card design from Liz Thayer's Totally Lovin' Christmas.  This card is a fun-loving, whimsical card for sure, and it uses some of Stampin' Up's newest products from their 2015 Holiday mini catalog, such as the Reindeer clips and the Holiday Fancy Foil Vellum.  I had to bring this one home from the event to finish, because I had such a terrible time getting the Making Spirits Bright solid sentiment to stamp out correctly.  Now, I know I'm a perfectionist, but believe me, I wasn't even close to the problem!

In looking at the card pieces and then the picture of the card design, I decided that my first step was to tackle and stamp that most difficult sentiment.  I recently bought myself a MISTI stamping tool (MISTI = Most Incredible Stamping Tool Invented), and it finally arrived about a week ago.  I knew this sentiment would be quite the test for it, but it was time to see if it could live up to its advertising.  I mounted the stamp onto the MISTI cover, inked it up, gently closed the lid, and pressed firmly and evenly on the cover where the stamp was adhere.  Voila, it worked...it truly lives up to its advertising!

The more I looked at the card's original design, the more I thought I just had to add some red and green foil papers to coordinate with the green foil trees on the vellum.  I replaced all of the red cardstock with red foil and added another layer in green foil underneath, and I also added a white cardbase to start it off.  I thought the card was looking good so far; therefore, it was time to give the little reindeer a look see.  I decided he need a perky little bow under his nose instead of a double-trailed knot, and he definitely need some eyes; Googlies eyes would be just right.  You take a look see and see if I got it right.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Shimmery White cardstock; Holiday Fancy Foil Vellum.  Stamps: Among the Branches.  Ink:  Real Red.  1/8" striped ribbon-green.  Reindeer paper clips.  DCWV Foiled Cardstock Stack.  Darice Googlie Eye.  Recollections Large Rhinestone.  (MISTI by My Petunia).  (Thank you Liz for the original design sample.)