It’s Freshly Made Sketches day! This week, the talented Tui Nathan has another fabulous sketch for us.  I opted for a quick and easy holiday card using the new Open Sleigh stamp set, just perfect if you have several cards that you need to create.  Of course, if you are going to mail your cards…omit the buttons and add a decorative border…either stamped or punched.  How easy is that!


The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:  Rich and Classy
The finished card measures 5-1/2″ wide by 4-1/4″ long.

• Texture! Add interest in an instant with the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  With the variety of embossing folders available, you can change the look simply by changing the folder.  When my holiday preorder arrives, I can’t wait to experiment with the new folders I ordered!

• Sleigh Day!  The Open Sleigh looks warm and welcoming stamped in Cherry Cobbler on Naturals Ivory card stock.  Four little Pearls on the ornate runners are the perfect accent!

• Button! Button!  Natural Designers Buttons add a warm, rustic look, while the Linen Thread bows contribute to the texture.  Want to mail this card?  A decorative border, either stamped or punched, can be substituted for the buttons.

 I hope you enjoyed today’s design.  I think it would make a wonderful masculine holiday card. What do you think? Won’t you let me know in today’s comment?  Your comments are important to me, and I do read each and every one of them.  Of course, I am always available to answer any questions you may have about the cards I create or the techniques I use. 


Are YOU heading to Salt Lake City for Stampin’ Up!’s Convention?  If so, let me know.  I would LOVE to meet you!  Until next time…

It’s Tuesday and time to take a quick peek at tomorrow’s Freshly Made Sketches card.  It’s going to be a quick and easy one, which I hope you will like.  I am so loving their sketches…but I will admit it was quite the challenge to not grab my Sponge Daubers and Color Spritzer Tool and distress this card.  You will see what I mean when you join me Wednesday for the reveal!

A big thank you goes out to all of you who left comments and offered congratulations! I truly appreciate it.  My only regret is that I have just one winner.  And that winner, as randomly selected is Mary.  Here is what Mary had to say:


I think they are both lovely! Amazing what effect a color change can have! I think I prefer the Lucky Limeade but I can’t say why…

Thanks for the sweetness, Mary! Please email me with your address, and I will get your paper sent out to you pronto!

I will be flying out to Salt Lake City on Tuesday, July 17th.  I will return on the following Sunday. Right now I am entering into panic mode.  I have design team cards to create and posts to write as well as everything else I need to get completed before I leave.   Many of you know the feeling!  If you are going to be at Convention, I would LOVE to meet up with you.  Please email me so we can set up a meeting time!  Until next time…

In yesterday’s post, I mentioned that I wanted to switch out the Lucky Limeade Chevron mat on my Paper Players’ card for a Pool Party mat.  Here is the before:

And here is the after:

But I will admit that I still was not satisfied.  So I carefully removed the stamped sentiment mat and switched out the Lucky Limeade stripes for Pool Party ones.  

There is something about this trio of colors that gives it a slightly retro vibe.  What do you think?  Won’t you let me know in today’s comment?  Your comments are important to me….and this one does make you eligible to win my special calorie-free Blog Candy
…seventy-eight 6″ x 12″ pieces of all of the NEW Designer Series Paper collections, with the exception of First Edition.  Read more about the Blog Candy.  The winner will be selected from all comments left on the last three posts through 10:00 PM Central time, Monday, July 9.  I will post the winner on Tuesday, July 10th.  Until next time…

Stamp Sets:  Stippled Blossom, Bring on the Cake; Inks:  Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Soft Suede;  Stampin’ Write Marker:  Crumb Cake;  Designer Series Paper:  2011 – 2013 In-Color Designer Series Paper Stack;  Card Stock:  Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party; Tools:  Big Shot, Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Large Oval Punch, Dotted Scalloped Ribbon Border Punch, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Stampin’ Pierce Mat, Color Spritzer Tool, Sponge Dauber; Glitz and Glam:  Basic Pearls