If you have followed my blog for a while you know that I am a fan of topiaries.  When I saw Beauty & Joy in the Holiday catalog I knew I would have to own it.  

The pretty plaid paper is from the Wrapped in Plaid 6" x 6" Specialty DSP in the Holiday Catalog.  Love the gold foil lines in the plaid, so pretty!  I added Red Rhinestones to the topiary to dress it up a bit and a Gold Glimmer paper star.  The Merry Christmas sentiment is from the Christmas Gleaming stamp set.  The front panel is embossed using the Scripty 3-D embossing folder.

The Cherry Cobbler flap lifts up and now you can see the Wrapped in Plaid DSP a little bit better.  

The plaid flap folds down to reveal the inside sentiment which is from the Frosted Foliage stamp set.  Isn't this a fun fold?  It is like a little present that you unfold to discover the inner secret of a Christmas greeting.  Even though there are more layers than a typical card it is still flat enough to easily mail.

The Beauty & Joy stamp set is located on page 51 of the Holiday catalog.  It is in kind of an odd spot but definitely worth looking for!

It is Festive Friday Challenge time!  I am really liking the changes that were recently made in the challenge.  There is now an Inspo list (aka Inspiration).  This Inspo list has elements inspired by the festivity.  You pick at least 3 elements from the Inspo to use on your project.  

The 3 items from the Inspo List I chose for my project; blue, encouragement, hearts.

This big beautiful sentiments is from the Here's to Strong Women stamp set.  I have been using this stamp set a lot lately, especially this sentiment.  We are all going through something and I love sharing a little bit of encouragement & support.  I wanted to make something that was easily mailed that would stand up on its own.

This card has its own build in stand.  It folds up fairly flat and will fit in a note card size envelope (5-1/8" x 3-5/8") which is a mailable size.  There is even a little place in the back for you to write a little message.

Product List

Here's To Strong Women Cling Stamp Set [149361] $20.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045] $8.75	Seaside Spray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [150883] $8.75	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $9.75
Stitched Rectangle Dies [148551] $35.00	Stitched Be Mine Dies [148527] $35.00	Seaside Spray 1/4" (6.4 Mm) Metallic Ribbon [150446] $7.00	Shimmery Crystal Effects [150892] $5.00	Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter [133751] $6.00

If you would like to make your own CLICK HERE for a PDF tutorial.  

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the Festive Friday blog and enter your project in the gallery!  

It is time for the Festive Friday Challenge #FF0042.  This challenge marks the start of something new.  The Festive Friday challenge Inspo list.  We are still being inspired by upcoming festivities but now you can choose from 3 different items from the Inspo list to use to create your project.  I think this will be a lot easier, more fun and hopefully will inspire you to join in the challenge!

I chose to use these three items from the Inspo list; black, gold, and birds for my project.

This is a tri-fold card.  It is fun and easy to make.

These lovely birds were die cut from the Bird Ballad DSP .  The polka dot pattern is also from this paper pack.  The Bird Ballad DSP is one of the packs that qualify for the Buy 3, Get 1 Free promotion.

This is the inner panel.  The sentiment is from the Here's A Card stamp set.

Ready to make this fun card?  

Stamps: Here's A Card 149438

                Free As A Bird 149468

Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento pad 132708

         Petal Pink Light Stampin' Blends 146866

Paper: Petal Pink 146985  4-1/4" x 11" scored at 5-1/2"

            Basic Black 121045 4-1/4' x 5-1/2"  scored at 1/2", 4" x 5-1/4"

            Whisper White 100730 4" x 5-1/4"

            Gold Glimmer 146958 3" x 7-1/2"

            Bird Ballad DSP 149592  

Dies:  Layering Oval dies 141706

            Stitched Be Mine dies 148527

Embellishments: Petal Pink Organdy ribbon 149441

1. Die cut an oval (use the #6 oval, #1 being the smallest) in the 4-1/4" 5-1/2" Basic Black cs.   Use the long scallop stitched die to cut along the edge of the Basic Black card stock.
2. Place the #6 oval die on the Gold Glimmer paper and the #7 scalloped oval around it.  Next to it place the #6 scalloped oval and run them both through the die cutting machine.
3. Adhere the Gold Glimmer oval frame around the oval cut out in step 1.
4. Layer the 4" x 5-1/4" Basic Black cs on to the front of the Petal Pink cs.  Make sure that the fold is on the bottom.  Layer the polka dot pattern from the Bird Ballad DSP on to the black card stock.
5. Attach the Basic Black flap (1/2" score line) to the back of the Petal Pink card base.  
6. Use the #6 oval to cut out the birds from the Bird Ballad DSP.  Adhere  it on to the remaining Gold Glimmer oval.  Position the ovals on to the  polka dot pattern so that it fits the oval on the Basic Black flap.
7. Stamp the sentiment and the flower on the Whisper White card stock.  Color the flower using the Petal Pink Stampin' Blend.  Adhere to the inside of the card base.
8. Tie a bow using the Petal Pink Organdy ribbon and secure it to the front of the card.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the Design Team created for Festive Friday Challenge #0042!

Here are links to where these Stampin' Up! products can be found. 

Product List

Free As A Bird Cling Stamp Set [149468] $22.00	Here's A Card Cling Stamp Set [149438] $22.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Petal Pink Light Stampin' Blends Marker [146866] $4.50	Petal Pink 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146985] $8.75
Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045] $8.75	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $9.75	Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper [149592] $11.50	Gold Glimmer Paper [146958] $5.00	Layering Ovals Dies [141706] $35.00
Stitched Be Mine Dies [148527] $35.00	Petal Pink 5/8" (1.6 Cm) Organdy Striped Ribbon [149441] $8.00

I received some questions on how I made this card.  Here's a quick tutorial.

1. Card Base:  Night of Navy card stock 5-1/2" x 11".  Score at 3-1/4" and 7-1/2"
2. Very Vanilla CS: 4" x 5-1/4", DSP 1" x 5-1/4"

    3. Front Panel DSP  3-1/4" x  5-1/4"

    4.  Very Vanilla CS-3" x 5-1/4",  DSP 1" x 5-1/4"

Product List

Christmas Gleaming Bundle (En) [153006] $49.50	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [147110] $7.50	Celestial Copper Delicata Metallic Ink Pad [150707] $11.00	Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100867] $8.75	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101650] $9.75
Brightly Gleaming Specialty Designer Series Paper [150429] $14.50	Copper Foil Sheets [142020] $5.00	Stitched Rectangle Dies [148551] $35.00	3/8" (1 Cm) Denim Ribbon [149590] $7.00

This fold is a great one to show off your Designer Series paper.  Here's another card using the same fold.

Product List

Beauty & Joy Photopolymer Stamp Set [150518] $16.00	Itty Bitty Christmas Cling Stamp Set (En) [150513] $22.00	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [147090] $7.50	Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad [147113] $7.50
Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad [147115] $7.50	Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad [147111] $7.50	Mossy Meadow 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [133676] $8.75	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101650] $9.75
Crushed Curry 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131199] $8.75	Night Before Christmas 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [150437] $11.50	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] $5.00

Just a few more sleeps until the Stampin' Up!® Holiday catalog goes live on September 4th!   Contact me if you would like a Holiday catalog and are not currently working with another demonstrator.  I would be happy to send you one!

The Dashing Deer stamp set and coordinating Detailed Deer thinlits were on the top of my list of must haves from the Holiday catalog.  On today's card I paired it with the Under the Mistletoe DSP for a fun split front card.

Love  mixing and matching the fun patterns in the Under the Mistletoe DSP.

Here's a close up of the beautiful deer.

Can you see the beautiful coopery finish on the deer?  Doesn't it totally change the look of the Early Espresso card stock?  Fill a Stampin' Spritzer with alcohol and add a drop or 2 of the Bright Copper Shimmer Paint (page 38),  shake well and spritz.  I love the shine and  shimmer it adds to the project.

The sentiment is from the Beautiful Baubles stamp set and I love the mixing of the 2 fonts.  Did you notice the red nose?  It is a new item added to the Basic Jewels.  You get a sheet of 220 Red Rhinestones that are all the same size (3mm).   Love new bling!

Product List

Beautiful Baubles Photopolymer Stamp Set [147765] $17.00	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [147114] $7.50	Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119686] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75
Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100702] $8.50	Under The Mistletoe Designer Series Paper [146921] $11.00	Detailed Deer Thinlits Dies [147915] $34.00	Layering Circle Framelits Dies [141705] $35.00
Bright Copper Shimmer Paint [147045] $8.00	Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels [146924] $7.00	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] $5.00

I have one more half pocket card to share with you.  This half pocket card features the versatile Hanging Garden stamp set.

On this card I used only one stamp set, Hanging Garden.  This set has both larger and smaller images  and sentiments that can be used on the front  and inside of the card.  This is a very useful and pretty stamp set.   Want to see more samples using the Hanging Garden set?  Click HERE,  HERE, and HERE.

Product List

Hanging Garden Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146239] $19.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Poppy Parade Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [147275] $9.00	Old Olive Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144597] $9.00
Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144601] $9.00	Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144603] $9.00	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $8.50	Poppy Parade 8-1/2" x 11"" Card Stock" [119793] $8.50
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Brights 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [146964] $11.00	Layering Circle Framelits Dies [141705] $35.00	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $30.00

If you need the supplies to create your own half pocket card, click on the pictures above and they will take you to my online store or click here.  Thank you and I would be happy to help you with your paper crafting projects!

Last week I posted a pocket card using the Varied Vases stamp set.   Today's card is a slight variation of that card which I am calling the half pocket card.  

Basically, I used the same card base as the pocket card  except I did not add the  triangle flap.  The card slips in to the half pocket.  The DSP I used is Animal Expedition, which is so fun and cute.  The rhino was cut out from the DSP using the Animal Friends Thinlits Dies.  

Product List

Animal Outing Clear-Mount Bundle [148324] $45.00	Dragonfly Dreams Photopolymer Stamp Set [142924] $21.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad [147145] $7.50
Call Me Clover Stampin' Pad [147139] $7.50	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $8.50	Call Me Clover 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146969] $8.50	Animal Expedition Designer Series Paper [146902] $11.00
Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $30.00	Layering Circle Framelits Dies [141705] $35.00	Aqua Painters [103954] $17.00

Because I had and extra triangle of the Animal Expedition DSP cut, I decided to make another card.  This time the pocket is at the top.  I used the same supplies except I used the Postcard Pals stamp set for the sentiment.

Tomorrow is the last day of the Buy 3 Get 1 free promotion.  The Animal Expedition DSP is one of the packs of DSP that is part of this great sale.  Be sure to check out the sale and save on some fabulous Designer Series Paper! 

Yesterday, I posted a card using the beautiful overlay die cut featured in the Springtime Impressions Thinlits.  Today I want to show you the butterfly die.

Isn't she beautiful?  She measures just under 4" at her widest point and 2"in height.  I think she is pretty darn amazing!  In addition to the fabulous die I also used the new Garden Impressions  6" x 6" DSP (Designer Series Paper).  This new paper is bright and cheery and a perfect blend of patterns.  Another great thing about this paper pack is the color combinations.  Here I mixed Petal Pink with Calypso Coral based on the DSP.  Love those colors together!  

Here you can see the "split" a little better.  This is one of my go to card templates.  It is a great way to show off both the beautiful Springtime Impressions butterfly and the Garden Impressions DSP.  

Product List

Varied Vases Photopolymer Stamp Set [146644] $26.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Calypso Coral Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144044] $4.50	Calypso Coral 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [122925] $8.50
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Petal Pink 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146985] $8.50	Garden Impressions 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [146289] $11.00	Springtime Impressions Thinlits Dies [146326] $29.00
Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] $35.00	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $30.00	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] $5.00

First of all, thank you for your patience.  It seems like there was always something  getting in the way of me working on this post.  The original gift card was using the Petal Passion DSP and posted here.

I made a new one featuring the Picture Perfect Birthday set, Petal Garden DSP (on the Last Chance list) and the Petal Garden Card Pack (sorry this has sold out).  

What you will need:
    Old Olive Card base 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

    Whisper White layer 4" x 5-1/4"

    Old Olive "pull out" 4-1/4" x 11" scored at 3", 5-1/2", 8", 9-1/2"

    4 different patterns of DSP -two cut at 1-1/4" x 4", 2-1/4"x 4", 1/2" x 4"

    Whisper White card stock 2-1/4" x 4", 2-3/4" x 4"

    Old Olive Belly Band 1-1/2" x 9-1/2'

    Layering Ovals Fraamelits  scalloped oval #6 (1 being the smallest) Calypso Coral 2-3/4" x 3-3/4", oval #6 (1 being the smallest) Whisper White 2-1/2 x 3-1/2"

    Lots to Love Box thinlits  dies to cut the gift card holder

Adhere the DSP to the Old Olive  base as shown below.  Cut the notches for the gift card holder on the 2-3/4" x 4" Whisper White piece.  The Lots to Love Box dies are on the Last Chance list and priced at $23.10, while supplies last.   Stamp the sentiment on the 2-1/4" x 4" piece of Whisper White card stock.  Adhere the Whisper White pieces to the Old Olive base.  Center and secure the pull out piece to the card base.

Wrap the Old Olive piece for the belly band around the closed card.  Score and secure the band to itself using Tear & Tape.  Stamp the sentiment on the Whisper White Oval and adhere to the Calypso Coral scalloped oval.  Adhere the ovals to the belly band and decorate.

Once again I want to thank Megan for sharing this great fold with me.  I hope this will help you put together your own gift card holder.  There's lots of great DSP(Designer Series Paper) on the Last Chance list that would work beautifully for this card.  Shop now for the best selection!

Welcome to the Stamper's Dozen Blog Hop!  This month we are Sale-A-Brating! As you hop along with us you will see lots of fun ideas on ways to use Sale-A-Bration products.  

I am using the super adorable Party Pandas set!  I think pandas are the perfect animals after all they are black and white and you know how much I love a black and white color scheme.

 This is a tri-fold card.  I started with a 4-1/4" x 11" card base and scored it at 4-1/4"  and 8-1/2".

The DSP is from the Petal Passion DSP pack and you know this is a favorite of mine.   

The sweet little sentiment is from the very useful Teeny Tiny Wishes.   This is a set that I know will have the sentiment I am looking for.   The Red Glimmer Paper heart was cut out using the Mini Treat Bag thinlits.

Are wondering how you can get your own Party Pandas stamp set?  You can get this stamp set FREE!  Yes, free.  You just need to place a $50 order  (before shipping and tax) and you qualify to get this set at no cost.  This is all part of the Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration promotion!  If you do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator you currently with, I would love to help you.  

Now it is time for you to hop along and see what the talented Laura Milligan has created.

If you just came from Laura's blog then please check out what the creative BJ Peters has made.