With heat advisories here in Iowa, what fun it was to think “cool thoughts” and pull out the Christmas sets for this week’s Paper Players’ Theme Challenge…Christmas in July! Can you believe that I bought the Christmas Collage stamp when it came out in the 2010 Holiday Mini and never inked it up? Does that ever happen to you? I was happy to see that it made it into this year’s Idea Book and Catalog. It is a lovely vintage-style stamp that I went “ga-ga” over when I first saw it at Convention last year. I paired it up with the sentiment from Bells and Boughs, another of my “Mini” favorites which made it into the new catalog. So put on the carols, heat up the hot chocolate and enjoy “Christmas in July”!
The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips: Those Special Touches
- For a cool look, use heat! I inked the Christmas Collage stamp with Soft Suede CRAFT Ink, and heat embossed with Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder. This gives a crisp image, and is perfect when a touch of watercoloring is needed.
- Sometimes scrunchy is better! To add a shabby flair to the corner, a thread was pulled and Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding was “scrunched”.
- Layer a label! The “Merry Christmas” sentiment from Bells and Boughs was stamped with Soft Suede and punched out with an Oval Punch. The edges were distressed with a Sponge Dauber and Soft Suede ink. Finally, it was popped up on a Cherry Cobbler Decorative Label.
- Pearl Pizzazz! Pearls are perfect for adding interest to both bells and blossoms!
- The “Wow” factor! Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke Seam Bindings were shirred and formed into roses and leaves, perfect for accenting the “25th”.
I hope you enjoyed today’s tips and today’s card! Won’t you please let me know by leaving me a comment? Your comments are important to me, and I do read each and everyone. Of course, if you have a question about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, please do not hesitate to EMAIL me. Until next time…
Click HERE for information about Stampin’ Up!’s amazing $99 Starter Kit offer! If you have questions, please email me.
Stamp Set: Christmas Collage (121279), Bells and Boughs (W 120831, C 121142); Inks: Soft Suede Craft…Neutrals Collection (119715), Cherry Cobbler (119669), Always Artichoke (105219), More Mustard (103162), Baja Breeze (111833), Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker (120973); Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Naturals Ivory (101849), Cherry Cobbler (119685); Tools: Heat Tool (100005), Decorative Label Punch (120907), Extra Large Oval Punch (119859), 1-3/4″ Circle Punch (119850), Sponge Dauber (102892), Blender Pen (102845), Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder (109130), Color Spritzer Tool (107066); Glitz and Glam: Basic Pearls (119247), Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding (120992), Always Artichoke Seam Binding (121000)
Just gorgeous – I love the scrunch around the 25…. I agree with the poster who said this card was like a gift and you just want to unwrap it.
Ok Ann, I swear I didn’t copy your card! LOL I actually didn’t even look at the designers cards until latter on when I linked mine and had a minute to myself and didn’t have kids hanging off of me. I used the College Background stamp for the card I made as well. This makes such a great vintage card and I love Vintage. Your card is absolutly beautiful as always. I’m always inspired here. Thanks.
Beautiful card! And thanks for the tips – always appreciated by us beginners. Theresa x
What a beautiful card, thanks for sharing your amazing talent! I love every detail and colour. This is such a pretty stamp and you’ve made it pop with elegance…love the scrunchie seam binding too! Is there a tutorial coming soon for making the rosettes? LOL!
Judy
Gorgeous! You cannot go wrong with this wonderful set! All your embellishments have just kicked up a few notches!
Total gorgeousness, Ann! A vintage Schach masterpiece! Love your ribbon treatment and how the watercoloring really makes the whole image come alive. Beautiful!
This card is stunning! I love the way that you scrunched up the seam binding. Oh how I wish I could do that. It really gives your card a very unique and beautiful look. And I love that your card is vintage!!!
Yes, I have purchased stamps and have not used them. Shame on me. I used the Christmas collage only one time. It is a lovely stamp.
Mary
Ann, loved that you embellished the heck out of this image. It really lends itself to some over the top fabulousness. I LOVE that you used pearls… the two ribbons done two different ways, the spritzing… everything about it is just gorgeous! Fabulous job, my friend.
hugs
jaydee
AMAZING card. I just love how you popped out pieces of the stamp and your ribbon treatment is so clever. Just beautiful!
Love it. I have a love affair with bells and bought all the stamps last year with bells except this one. couldn’t figure out how to highlight the bells and now I know. Added to my list today.
I always loved this stamp, but never got around to purchasing it. Glad it’s in the new catalog. I still don’t have a copy…need to remedy that situation, don’t I? I think my Hostess Club for this year might be over. If so, I’m going to switch onto your team.
this is a beautiful christmas card ann-in your signature vintage style-I can totally relate to buying stamps and then never using them-glad you had a chance to ink this one-
Ann this is an outstandingly wonderful card! Every creative part. I examined each corner, every inch! The dark red behind the label is SO rich, the roses and leaves you make are nothing short of inventive and ORIGINAL, the red ribbon gathered is masterful in that every loop matches the next. VERY Christmas Look! The images are wonderful…That old and beautiful look of Christmas – what it USED to be. Who could resist that! It takes some very special talent to bring that to paper when it seems that for most people it is a way of celebrating Christmas that is years and years gone by. Thanks for that! It makes me yearn. Written by your favorite Jew! lol
What an elegant and absolutely beautiful card! And, yes, I too have stamps (and accessories!) that I just “had to have” yet they sit unloved. (I am still very thankful to have them though, if that helps lol !) If you could ever do a tutorial to show how you made your seam binding accents, I would be oh so grateful and I bet others would as well! Blessings to you.
Wow…this has such a regal look to it….gorgeous Ann…as always! {sMILES}
Wow …Ann, this is drop-dead gorgeous … so much beautiful eye-candy on one card, love love love the ruched ribbon, the pearls, the coloring … oh … just everything!!!
this is stunning Anne- Just love the vintage style of this x
Love it Ann(gelina)…it is rich and elegant! This background stamp is really awesome and you have shown it off perfectly…you enabler you.
Hugs,
Lesley
Ann: Your card is simply stunning, elegant and oh so classy. With your detailing it just brings this stamp to a completely different height I had would have never imagined. Thanks for sharing your talents — you are one talented person!
This is so pretty, wow, Christmas in July, it’s like 108 degrees right now, lol.
Anny, your card is pure vintage finery! Absolutley stunning (as always)
Gorgeous! beautifully colored and lots and lots of wonderful details. Thanks, Ann!
This is pure Schach magic all the way! Love it!
This is an absolutely fabulous card – very victorian and antiquey looking. Miss Daisy will be glad to help you pull on that seam binding the next time you do it! :))) Thanks for blessing my day! By the way, I have more than one stamp that I haven’t put ink to – sigh! I think I love buying more than stamping. LOL!
This is one cool yuel card! I simply love it! Everyone’s comments were what I was going to say! I am so glad you made it for July as it really catches our eye. Come close to the holidays we might not focus in on it with so many other holiday cards out there. Now we can blot the sweat and the drool at the same time! Thanks for another stunning card and telling us about each lovely detail.
Chris R. from Iowa
Ann, your card is simply stunning. I love what you have done with the collage stamp, especially using the craft ink and then embossing with clear. The bling makes it Christmasy along with the red ribbon. I love this stamp and used it on my own cards as well using it in a card class.
Stunning card Ann! My fav part of this beauty is the scrunchy ribbon … looks beautiful! Stay cool and happy 4th to you and your family!
What is this talk of “must have” stamps that have never seen ink? Haha! I think I actually may have a few of those. Your card is pure gorgeousness, Ann! So many beautiful details, especially that scrunchy seam binding. I always love visiting your work…it’s so good for my spending habits. Thanks for the inspiration, as always. Hugs! 🙂
I think everyone before me said it all. Wonderful card! Stamps like that can be hard to use but yours shows what can be done with them. Makes me want to get a similar stamp out.
woweee… absolutely GORGEOUS!!
An absolutely beautiful vintage card, Ann! Love the “scrunchies” and the other added embellishments. You never fail to amaze me! Kathy in AZ
WOW!!! Just gorgeous! Very elegant looking! Loving all the vintage details and the scrunched ribbon! I was kicking myself for not ordering this stamp when it was in the mini so I am thrilled to know it is in the big catty! I will be getting it for sure now! You never cease to amaze me with your awesome cards!
This one is simply amazing!!! LOVED what you did with the seam binding! I’m so glad that it’s back in the big catty because it’s my favorite ribbon!!!!
And yes, you KNOW I have some un-inked goodies up in my room too, lol!
Ann this is so gorgeous! Love how you ‘heat’ embossed the BG stamp. GREAT idea (that I never thought about). I Love the watercoloring touches and those PEARLS … are perfectly placed to draw interest. The scrunchy seam binding and flower/leaves are fabulous. I just love the whole thing. Hugs.
Oh Wow! Simply Fabulous! You must put a ton of time into each and every one of your amazing cards! I hope the recipients frame them or something to display!
Thanks so much for sharing and inspiring!
Mary
Another beautiful card. I got this stamp last year also and I confess I really haven’t used it. thanks for the inspiration. Unfortunately I do buy stamps and never use them or even put them together right away. Eventually they get used. Love your card. Great detail!
What a beautiful card! Your attention to the details really makes it exquisite.
Thanks for the cool-off from the heat. Your card is stunning and the scrunched ribbon is just perfect to top it off. Dar
Gorgeous! Love your Wow factor with the seam binding rosettes. Everything about this card is a Wow! So glad you inked up the stamp 🙂
Sometimes I just don’t even know what to say. You are just too talented my friend. Gorgeous and so many details. Just love it!
Maybe I should pack some seam binding along with my spritzer/marker. You want to spend Convention tutoring me, right? :o)
Ann, this is just stunning! Your attention to details always puts your cards over the top!
Your style + Christmas theme = best holiday cards ever! Gorgeous!
This is gorgeous!!! Love all the layering and all your details! Thanks for sharing!
Ann.. I am thinking “cool” as I sip on my frozen mocha for breakfast.
After all your rain, and now heat index…it must be so humid you can cut the airi with a knife. I know you have a close watch on those furbabies.
Love this card! It is simply gorgeous! Love all the seam binding, embossing and of course the pearls!!!! Your talent is amazing and stunning!!!
Ann. You’re cards are ALWAYS gorgeous! I love the oval sentiment over the DL punch…why didn’t I think of that LOL!
Ann, so glad you’ve finally inked up that stamp! This happens to me all the time. Perfect for Christmas in July card and once again you have mastered the vintage style!
Absolutely beautiful. Makes me want to start making Christmas cards. I think in this weather I’ll take a cold diet Coke instead of the hot chocolate though.
Ann, what a gorgeous card….and yes I have bought something that I had to have and then not inked it forever. This stamp is so pretty, and as I love the vintage look, something right in my wheeel house, as the saying goes. Your scrunched binding is beautiful, thanks for the tip. Thanks for the inspiration and I hope to get to play along this week.
OMG!!!! Oh MY GOSH!!! This card is so beautiful… I love what you did with the seam binding… It looks like the card is the gift.. You just want to unwrap it..lol another stunner..
hugs
Darlene-Joy
I love the Christmas Collage stamp….
Oh this is gorgeous! Fantastic vintage look and I love the scrunched ribbon. Happy sigh 🙂