Don't Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle

Hi Stampers!  I've been stamping and working on Christmas projects this week, and having  a great time playing with some of the stamps I purchased from the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini.  

I set a goal to make at least five projects with each one.  Today I'm going to showcase a card I made using stamps from the "Don't Stop Believin'" set for Judy's Freshly Made Sketches #464 challenge.     

Here's the Sketch Challenge: 

Freshly Made Sketches 464

Here's My Card: 

This is the first time I've stamped with the Elf image in this set.  I have to admit, I was a bit intimidated by all the lights and colouring on this image, and so I left it until the last.  All the fear disappeared though as soon as I began colouring in this sweet little guy's face.  It's magical!   

These are my Elf Labels I made several of them.  As you can see the colouring in each one is a bit different as I experimented.  

Here's how it came together:

1.  I stamped the image in Momento Black ink on a scrap of Whisper White card stock and then I cut it out using the Stitched Nested Labels dies.

2. I began by colouring the Elf's face, ears, and hands with Ivory Stampin' Blends, and I added some sweet rosy cheeks with Light Flirty Flamingo. To make sure they didn't look too harsh I coloured over his cheeks again with Ivory.

3. Next I started colouring his clothes. I began colouring his leggings and hat with Light and Dark Garden Green Stampin' Blends. Then, I coloured his shirt with Dark and Light Poppy Parade Stampin' Blends. The boots were coloured with Light and Dark Cinnamon Cider Stampin' Blends.

4. I wasn't sure what to do with his hair, so I made him a blonde using Mango Melody. I like multi-coloured lights at Christmas time, so I coloured the lights with Misty Moonlight, Poppy Parade and Mango Melody Stampin' Blends.

5. The card base was an 8 1/2 x 5 1/2" piece of Garden Green card stock and it was scored at 4 1/4". The first layer is a piece of 5 1/4" x 4" Gold Foil. Note, before adhering this layer I cut out the largest label in the Tasteful Labels die from the center of the layer and embossed it with the Winter Snowflakes Embossing Folder.

6. The second layer was cut from a piece of retired plaid designer paper. This layer measures 3 3/4" x 5".

7. To finish the card I adhered the Gold Foil label to the center top of the card. This label represents the bottom square in the sketch. Next I added dimensionals to the back of the Elf label and attached that to the left of the gold foil label. I added three coloured rhinestones in the top right hand corner of the Elf label to represent the coloured lights. 

In this photo you can see the beautifully embossed snowflakes on the Gold Foil label.  

8. I stamped the sentiment "Don't get your tinsel in a tangle" on a scrap piece of Whisper White and then cut it out with the label die from the All Dressed Up die collection. I glued this label to a scrap of Garden Green card stock and fussy cut around the label. Four rhinestones were added to the center of the label.

9. The inside of the card has a 5 1/4" x 4" panel of of Whisper White card stock that was stamped with one of my favourite sentiments and the small Elf from last year's Elfie stamp set. He's so cute.

I hope you enjoyed today's card and were able to follow the steps I took to create it. I'm glad I was able to overcome my intimidation of this Elf stamp as it is so darned cute.  I know I'll be using this stamp again and again. 

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot

Penny Hanuszak, Independent Stampin' Up Demonstrator

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Freshly Made Sketches #461

I'm back today with a rather intimidating sketch by Karen at Freshly Made Sketches.  This is definitely a clean and simple sketch, but one that sends shivers down my spine and causes sweat on my brow.  Not really, but I do find these plain sketches some of the hardest to do because the sky is the limit in terms of decision making and that field is just too vast for me.  

Here's the FMS #461 Sketch:

Since I'm trying to get caught up with making Christmas cards my focus for this card will be on one that's easily mail-able.  You know the type, one layer, lays flat without too much dimension and can be mass produced.  I chose a cling stamp set from Stampin' Up! called "Don't Stop Believing".

Here's My Card: 

One of my most loved and used bundles from last year's Holiday Catalogue was the Christmas Gleaming Bundle which included the stamp set, Brightly Gleaming Specialty Designer Paper and two ornament punches. I probably made 45-50 cards using just that bundle.  I was so enamored with it I bought two additional packages of paper thinking it wouldn't be around any longer, so imagine my delight when it was part of the Christmas lineup for this year's Stampin' Up! Annual catalogue. 

Because I love this paper so much, I started with a designer paper strip which features copper foil stars on a Night of Navy background. I adhered the strip to a 5" x 3 3/4" piece of Very Vanilla card stock. From there I dug out my Copper Foil and made a 5 1/4" x 4" layer, that I adhered to a Night of Navy A2 card base.  

Originally I visualized using a cluster of the ornaments from the Christmas Gleaming set for my focal point, but when I was grabbing the set, I spied my "never been inked yet" Don't Stop Believin' stamp set.  From there my ideas morphed into this card.

I added some glue to the tassel, hat brim and cuff of Santa's suit and sprinkled Iridescent Ice Glitter over them.  Unfortunately because I didn't stamp the Santa in a permanent ink, the Night of Navy ink on the jacket ran a bit into the cuff.  Oh well live and learn.  The next one of these cards I make I'll use Momento Black Ink - run proof when using blends or glue.   The sparkle just brought this card alive. I also added some Nuvo Crystal Drops to Santa's specs so they've got the appearances of glass lenses.  The small stars are from the Curvy Christmas stamp set.  

Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Don't Stop Believing #15332, Curvy Christmas (small stars)
Ink: Night of Navy ink, Blends: Night of Navy Light and Dark, Smokey Slate Light and Dark, and Ivory
Specialty Paper: Copper Foil, Brightly Gleaming DSP #150429 
Card Stock: Night of Navy, Very Vanilla
Embellishments: Iridescent Ice Glitter, Nuvo Crystal Drops

This was a fun and super easy card to do.  My non-traditional take on Santa worked out okay and I might try him in some other unconventional colours.  I know I'll be using the Don't Stop Believin' stamp set a lot now as it's really peaked my interest.  So many great images and sentiments, especially Frosty the Snowman.

Don't Stop Believin' #153332

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT
Penny Hanuszak Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

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