Hidden way back on page 38 is a new deocrative strip die called Northern Frost.  It has 8 different snowflakes on it, after all no 2 snowflakes are alike.  Here's what the snowflakes look like.

 
You can see that these snowflakes would layer wonderfully.  You need to have the Decorative strip cutting pads and spacer platform (page 205)to be able to cut this die.  The snowflakes are very detailed and lovely.  Here's a quick card I made using this die.

 
Stamps:  Many Merry Messages
Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Brushed Silver, Cardstock Vellum, and Whisper White
Ink:  VersaMark
Big Shot:  Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Northern Frost Decorative strip
Punches: Scallop edge punch
Extras:  Basic Rhinestones and Clear Rhinestone brads, and silver embossing powder

This was a quick card to make and it may be one I use for our family's card this year.  You can always use a quick and easy card. 

I know it seems too early  to be sharing Christmas cards, after all it  is only September but I know I need to get a start on my cards or they won't get made in time.  I also want to to share with you one of my favorite Christams sets, Peaceful Season.  This beautiul set is a level 2 hostess set that is in the Holiday mini catalog.  You can receive this set free with a qualifying party.  

I also have Christmas on my mind since I will be starting my 12 Weeks of Christmas emails this week and have been working on getting those projects ready.  What is that you ask?  I will be sending out a Christmas idea every week in an email to everyone  on my newsletter list.  I will share ideas for cards, gifts and decor over the next 12 weeks.  If you want to receive these emails please sign up to join my mailing list (see the upper right hand box of this blog).

Here's the card I made to share with you today.

 
Stamps:  Peaceful Season
Inks:  VersaMark
Paper:  Whisper White and Bashful Blue
Big Shot:  Elegant Lines embossing folder
Extras:  Silver embossing powder and basic rhinestones

I embossed the dove, world and words with silver embossing powder.  Heat embossing was one of the things that was a real wow for me when I first started stamping.  It was like magic how the powder melted and transformed and become shiny and raised.   It still is amazing to me and it adds to the elegance of the sentiment. 

I will have more Christmas ideas so check back soon and remember to sign up for my mailing list.

Don't you love it when you learn another way to use your punches?   Here's a little punch trick using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch. 

 
Aren't those frames cool?  First you will need to cut 3 " sqaures.  Center the punch so that you are punching in the middle of the paper.  Continue and punch in the middle of all the sides and you will be left with this fun frame.  The frame behind it starts with a 3 1/4" square.   The squares in the corners are a perfect place for a little flower and rhinestone.

Stamps:  Aviary and Fabulous Phrases
Paper:  Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla, Sweet and Sour DSP
Ink:  Pumpkin Pie and Rose Red
Big Shot:  Tasteful Trim (notice the Rose Red large scallop down the left side)
Punches:  Itty Bitty Shapes Punch pack and Dotted Scallop Ribbon punch
Extras:  Pumpkin Pie satin ribbon and rhinestones

Have a great day and stamp something cute and tell me about it!

Did you know that you can purchase gift certificates from me for Stampin'Up! products?  Gift certificates are great for any occasion and I will even dress them up for you!  Here's one I dressed up for a friend of mine.

 
Stamps: Fabulous Phrases
Paper:  Sunny Gardens DSP
Ink: Poppy Parade
Punches:  Fancy Flower XL, Scallop Edge border, Word Window, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch  pack, Crop a Dile
Extras:  Basic Rhinestone, Daffodil Delight Taffeta ribbon, Silver Glass Glitter, Jumbo Brad

Here's a close up of the flower, check out the glittery center. 

 
Want to know how to make the flower?  I punched out about 10 big flowers and punched a hole through all the layers with the Crop a dile (love that thing!).  I inserted a jumbo brad through the hole to secure all the layers.  I sprayed the flowers with water to make them more pliable and proceeded to scrunch each layer up.   You just keep scrunching and fluffing as you go until you get the look you like.  Easy huh?  I wanted to add some glitz so I used the silver Glass glitter that is in the Holiday mini catalog ( page 21).  I covered the brad with Sticky Strip and dipped it into the glitter.  Caution!  The glass glitter can be sharp so do not touch it with your fingers until you smoosh it down.  I rolled the top of the brad on the table and tamped down the glitter and made sure it was stuck onto the sticky strip.  Now I can run my fingers over the glitter and it is no longer sharp.

I hope the birthday girl will like her gift!  Let me know if I can help you out with a gift certificate for your friends. 
 

I am loving the Holiday Mini catalog!  One of my very favorite things is the Tasteful Trim die.  I knew this die was going to have to come and live in my stamping room as soon as I saw it. One day very soon I am going to sit down and just play and you know I am going to show you what I come up with.  Here is a super quick and easy card that took me 5 minutes or less to make. 

 
Stamps:  Just Believe
Paper:  Whisper White and Designer Series Paper Pacek- In Color ( this is a level 1 hostess gift.  Contact me to learn how you can get this FREE!)
Ink:  Concord Crush (In Color)
Big Shot:  Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder, Tasteful Trim , and Beautiful Wings embosslit
DooDahs:  Basic Rhinestones

The hardest thing about making this card is figuring out what sentiment to use.  I think it is one that can be used for  lots of different occaisions.    Flowers instead of butterflies would also be cute or maybe buttons or glitter brads.  Lots of possibilities so contact me or go my website: www.sharonstamps.stampinup.net and order your Tasteful Trim die.

Remember this Frankie?  I wanted to make  a mini   Frankie before I ate all the candy from the gigantic bag of Halloween candy I bought.   I know what am I thinking buying my Halloween candy so early?   What are the chances there will be any left by the end of September!?!

 
Stamps:  Tiny Tags (cutest little BOO! )
Paper:  Concord Crush and Pear Pizzaz
Ink: Black pad, Black marker and White gel marker
Punches:  Decorative Label( Holiday mini page 25), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch pack(pg 200-01), 1/4" circle or the medium "eye" from the Owl punch, My Way  punch(retired, sorry!)

If you haven't purchased the Decorative Label punch yet (see how I said yet cause I know you will want this punch!) You can also make these cuties with the Curly Label punch.  Have a great Friday!

Yesterday, I went out with my friend Gail.  She casually mentions to me that she has been checking my blog, that is all she has to say cause she is like  Jiminy Cricket.  In my head I am thinking,  hmmm that's right I remember now I do have a blog and I have not posted in a while.   Yikes  I better do something about that!  

 
Stamps:  Birthday Bakery  and Afterthoughts(you cannot see it unless you have xray vision but I stamped the Happy Birthday from this set in the inside)
Paper:  Rose Red, Very Vanilla, and Sweet and Sour Specialy paper (this paper has really cool embossed details)
Ink: Black Stazon, Pumpkin Pie, Cherry Cobbler, Rose Red, BajaBreeze
Big Shot: Scallop Circle, Clear Circle , and Tasteful Trim (see the large scallop underneath the ribbon-love it!)
DooDahs-Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon, Aqua Painter, DD glitter

I also recently found out that I missed some  birthdays!  I am so sorry!  I thought I had sent out all my August birthday cards but it looks like I missed a few.  I kind of remember being in Baltimore and writing birthday cards and not having enough and thinking that I would send them when I got back to Spokane.  Hmmm, so if I missed your birthday in August please let me know.  You can definitely use your birthday coupon in September.