Are you in need of a quick and easy Christmas card for a last minute card emergency?  Then I have just the ticket for you.  One is a classic, one is a cutie…and both can be made in less than 15 minutes!

Quick and Cute

• Ink the Tree from Scentsational Season with Baja Breeze and stamp onto Whisper White card stock.  Cut out using the coordinating Tree Holiday Collection Framelit. 
• Ink the Star from Scentsational Season with More Mustard and stamp onto Whisper White card stock.  Cut out using the coordinating Star Holiday Collection Framelit.
• Attach both to a 5″ x 3-1/2″ Whisper White Note Card using Stampin’ Dimensionals.
• Using the “Happy Christmas” stamp from the More Merry Messages set and Cherry Cobbler ink, stamp the sentiment directly onto the card base.

There you have the first card…cute, easy and oh, so mailable!

Quick and Classy

• Ink the Stocking from Open Sleigh with Cherry Cobbler and stamp onto Natural Ivory card stock.  Cut out using the Rectangular Framelit from the Apothecary Accents Collection.  Cut off one end.
• Adhere the Stocking layer to a snippet of Designer Series Paper of your choice.  I used a pattern from the Merry Moments Simply Scrappin’ Kit, which I then layered onto Cherry Cobbler card stock. I used a Naturals Ivory card base.
• Add a Basic Pearl for pizzazz!

And there you have card number two, a classic with old-fashioned charm!  Of course, IF you have extra time, you can always add a few waterspots using the French Foliage Waterspot stamp, and a few spritzes courtesy of the Color Spritzer Tool.

And speaking of Christmas cards…hooray! Mine are addressed and ready to be taken to the post office on Christmas Eve!  I think I like my new tradition of postmarking them on this date.  And speaking of traditions, Kim, Brady and I will have our holiday meal this evening.  Of course, the furbabies will get their toys and chews.  They know what is in those packages that appeared last evening.  What can I say about canine noses! And be prepared…Muffy is taking over the computer.  Until next time…

A big “thank you” goes out to everyone who participated in my Blog Candy give away these past few days.  I truly appreciate all of your kind words.  Your comments about Christmas gifts from years past brought back memories for me, and I think for many of you, too.  Plus, it always pleases me that you enjoy my videos.  It does make me feel as if I were teaching in the classroom again…and I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to engage in something that I love so much.

And now for the winner of the Sizzix Texture Boutique Embossing Machine, as selected by using Random.org is comment #259:  Elizabeth.

Elizabeth said…
What a gorgeous card. It takes alot of time to cut out those small flowers and pop them up on the wreath. So glad you share your projects with us. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Elizabeth, would you please Email Me your mailing address so that I can send you this cute, little embosser pronto.  If I have not heard from Elizabeth by Noon CST on December 29th, I will select an alternate winner.  Until next time…

Happy holidays to all! Today I have the honor of being the incomparable Mary Fish’s Guest Stamper.  It is always a thrill to be featured on her blog, Stampin’ Pretty.  However, I will confess that on these days, I worry about what to create.  Today I opted to make something distressed and vintage.  In case you would like to recreate this card, I am including a video on “Achieving the Distressed Look”.  I hope you enjoy today’s card and video.  Merry Christmas, Mary!  

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips: Distressed and Vintage
This finished card measures 5-1/4″ x 5-1/4″.

• Emboss and color! Early Espresso Stampin’ Emboss Powder was used to heat emboss the Apothecary Art image onto Very Vanilla card stock.  It was then faux watercolored using Blender Pens and inks. Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke pack a holiday punch!  Tip:  Embossed images are always easier to watercolor!

• Snip, pop, pearl! The Apothecary Art image was inked a second time, and selected blossoms were colored and snipped out.  To add depth and dimension to the floral wreath, they were then popped into position using Stampin’ Dimensionals.  Of course, a few Basic Pearls always add pizzazz.

• The “Goldilocks Syndrome”!  Have you ever noticed that some sentiments are too small, while other sentiments are too big?   Do you need a sentiment that is just right?  Here comes My Digital Studio to the rescue!  I simply printed out a perfectly sized “Merry Christmas” in Early Espresso using my home computer, and snipped it out.

• Do you find distressing, distressing? This video will surely help you recreate the background look of this card.  Of course, like any of my videos, it is complete with bloopers.  Why, it’s just like you are here stampin’ in my kitchen!

How I wish we really could get together and stamp in my kitchen! I guarantee that we would have a blast.  Of course, you might have to put up with either Lexi or Muffy lying on your feet.  And you read it correctly…not AT your feet but ON your feet!  Brody has better manners.  As always, your comments are important to me, and I do read each and every one.  Won’t you please let me know what you think of today’s card? And remember, if you ever have any questions about the cards I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away.  Don’t forget to join me tomorrow for the winner of the Sizzix Texture Boutique Embossing Machine blog candy.  For details, see this post.  Until next time…

 

Stamp Set:  Apothecary Art, French Foliage;  Inks:  VersaMark, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler; Card Stock:  Naturals Ivory, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler; Tools:  Heat Tool, Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits, Simply Scored, Simply Scored Diagonal Plate, Paper Snips, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Stamping Sponges, Sponge Dauber, Color Spritzer Tool, Distressing Tool, Early Espresso Stampin’ Emboss Powder; Glitz and Glam: Basic Pearls; Digital:  My Digital Studio; Other: Printer