Glitzy Reindeer Christmas

Every now and then, I visit a local shop called the "Hope Chest" which supports breast cancer research.  What a surprise to find a scrapbooking supply pack for sale!  Included in the pack were metallic papers, and here's how I used them:

 

Everything shines on this card - the papers, the embossing, and even the ribbon!  To emboss in brown, I first inked up the stamps with VersaMark, then Chocolate Chip - and stamped then embossed with clear embossing powder.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps: Reindeer Greetings (retired)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, VersaMark
Paper: Metallic brown, champagne, and patterned cardstock
Extras: Ivory organdy ribbon (retired), clear embossing powder, Extra Large Oval Punch
Inspired by: me!

Purchase the Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project at my ONLINE STORE.

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

Elegant Stamped Christmas

For several years, I have enjoyed my small business, CLOcards - creating special event stationery for weddings, graduations, company outtings, etc.  One of my favorite commissions was creating a Christmas thank-you card for the president of the college where I work.

I made this card larger than normal, working with a full sheet of cardstock and folding to a size of 8.5" x 5.5".  I incorporated several layers, ribbon, sponging, texture embossing and lots of glitz in the form of Iridescent Ice embossing powder, rhinestones, and DazzlingDetails glitter glue.  You can see a bit of the shine in this close-up:

After embossing the tree with Iridescent Ice, I sponged the Elegant Eggplant ink in and around the image until I got the look I wanted.  Be sure to leave me a comment if you have any questions!

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps: Snow Swirled, 'Noel' word stamp (unknown)
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder, VersaMark
Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder, white linen
Extras: Iridescent Ice embossing powder, Basic Rhinestones, Dazzling Details, Whisper White Organdy ribbon (retired), Extra Large Oval punch, Snowburst textured embossing folder (retired)
Inspired by: me!

Purchase the Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project at my ONLINE STORE.

Put a little bling in your Christmas - and thanks for stopping by today!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

Got Paper Strips?

I have another card for you today that uses paper strips.  I am always SO inspired by Kay Kalthoff - both by WHO she is as a person, and WHAT she comes up with in her creating!  This card is a CASE of her beautiful card a while back:

 

It uses a few retired products, but you get the idea - easy, uses up your scraps, and oh! so lovely.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps: Kindness Matters, Four Frames
Ink: Sahara Sand, Poppy Parade (retired)
Paper: Everyday Enchantment DSP (retired), Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand cardstock
Extras: Poppy Parade twill ribbon (retired), Extra Large Oval punch, Decorative Label punch, Stripes textured embossing folder
Inspired by: Kay Kalthoff

Purchase the Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project at my ONLINE STORE.


I hope this inspires you to dig through your stash of paper strips and create today!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

KIDS . . . really DO graduate!

Before I knew it, my sons were graduating . . . 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011 . . . and even college graduation in 2010!  There are more coming up, hopefully, and I love every moment of the celebrations.

I also work full time in a college, so I get to see 'my kids' there graduate on a regular basis.  Each year, I make up grad cards in school colors.  The Center-Step technique seemed just right for this year's card:

The scoring and cutting were done at 1" width increments.  The paper strips were cut in 3/4" widths.  And a little faux stitching framed up the focal point.

I ended up needing a few more cards real quick, so put this one together using my scraps:

 

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted



 

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Occasions Alphabet, Sketch an Event (retired)

Ink:  Basic Black (ink pad and marker), gold marker

Paper:  Elegant Eggplant, Basic Black, Whisper White, In Colors 10-12 6x6 Patterns Pack DSP (on clearance now!), dictionary pages

Extras:  Large Oval punch, Extra-Large Oval punch, Basic Black brads, gold cording (retired), paper piercer & mat

Purchase the Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project at my ONLINE STORE.

 

To those of you with soon-to-be grads - many congrats and every blessing for a fulfilling future!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.   :)

GUY Week: Seafaring MEN

There's just something about a ship that says strength, constancy, stability, dependability.  Remind you of any of the men in your life?  Thankfully, I am blessed to say 'yes' to that!  My dad, my father-in-law, my husband, and my four grown sons are all men for which to be grateful - and I am!

I think this card depicts strength and stability - a firm anchor in an unpredictable world!

The ship is stamped and cropped with the Extra-Large Oval punch and matted with the Decorative Label punch.  The light gray panel edges are distressed to give it that aged feel, and after the anchor was stamped, I paper-pierced a line of holes upward and connected them with a Basic Gray marker to resemble chain links.

Inside these cards, I used birthday and thank-you sentiments to show appreciation to the guys in my life.  I like how they turned out!

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps:  The Open Sea
Ink:  Basic Gray (ink pad and marker)
Paper:  Cherry Cobbler & Basic Gray cardstock, light gray cardstock (generic), Nautical Expedition DSP (retired)
Extras:  Decorative Label punch, Extra-Large Oval punch, paper piercer & mat, distressing tool.
Inspired by:  Susie Nelson

Purchase the Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project at my ONLINE STORE.

I encourage you to thank a GUY in your life this week!
~Hugs~   Cheryl O.   :)