tea-drinking stamper

The above picture was part of a challenge--create a card inspired by the festive table. I found this one more difficult than many, but came up with two cards. The first one was bright and would make a great child's birthday card, although this one used the friend caption included in the "Garden Whimsy" stamp set.  It was designed to follow the layout rather than using the colors or fall theme.  I selected that stamp set because it included smaller images. My second attempt is more Thanksgiving oriented, just as the festive table was. I had not intended to cut the leaves into a garland as I did, but I began cutting on the wrong side. I always tell my customers there's no such thing as a mistake because there is always a way to make it work, so I revised my plan.  The result is below:  Now, my challenge to you is to come up with something better.  The only requirement is that you use only Stampin' Up! products.  Then e-mail me a scan or photo of your artwork.  I

Ever wonder what to do with those holiday oriented decor elements? At our demonstrator team gathering in October, our upline, Aly Schilling, had lots of samples for us. I hope you'll get lots of exciting decorating ideas from her efforts!  I actually won one of the arrangements in the bottom snapshot!

I just love the Cardinal Christmas stamp set from Stampin' Up!   My first thought when using the cardinal stamp was to paint it with blender pens.  I used the branch silhouette for the background, stamped in garden green on garden green.  A real red frame around the stamped image and silver cord set it off. But I wanted to see if I could design a card without coloring it.  So I used the in colors on this card, with riding hood red, basic black and kiwi kiss designer paper, stamping the image in black.  I topped it off with three black brads and a small knotted piece of riding hood red taffeta ribbon.  I was very pleased with the result. To get the brads evenly spaced, I used the paper piercing pad and template (page 184 of the fall-winter 2008 Stampin' Up! catalog) as well as the paper piercing tool.  It makes it so easy to line them up!

Christmas is coming and I find myself designing lots of cards, from the simple to the more complex.  My biggest problem is that once the creative juices start flowing, I can't seem to stop.  A couple scraps lay close to each other and I just have to use them!   When I finish a session of stamping, I find I want to share what has excited me.  This is the perfect place to do so.   The first card I want to share with you is a simple design.  All it takes is a stampin' wheel, some designer paper and some ribbon for a very nice effect.  I used only one stamp--"Merry Christmas" from the Christmas Cardinal set. I just love the wheel!  So I incorporated it into the next card, which uses the "Christ is Born" stamp set.