After a non-stamping friend of mine saw the “Serene Snowflakes” stamp set, she insisted that I design her Christmas cards for her using this set. In return, she would purchase her supplies from me. It sounded like a wonderful proposition to me. After all, I love to stamp and this stamp set is gorgeous! The wheels in my head were already turning…thinking in terms of Iridescent Ice and glitter. And then came the catch. My friend would be the first to tell you that she “thinks outside of the box” and “marches to her own drummer”. Her requirements were that the card be non-traditional, maybe using blacks and reds. It needed to be “edgy” like her! Oh, my! What had I gotten myself into? But, I armed myself with Real Red, Basic Black, and the phenomenal new Specialty Designer Series Paper, Night & Day, and gave it the old college try. I love non-traditional Christmas cards, but my idea of non-traditional is stamping Dasher in Old Olive…Ho! Ho! Ho! Er, I mean Ha! Ha! Ha! Well, what can I say? I think it is a wee bit on the “edgy” side…Let’s hope that she does, too!

• Prepare a 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ card base from Basic Black.
• Ink the Large Snowflake image from Serene Snowflakes with Basic Black and stamp onto Whisper White. Color using Real Red and Blender Pens. Punch the corners using the Ticket Corner Punch. Mat onto Real Red, followed by Whisper White and Basic Black.
• Add a Filigree Brad and a small Red Circle Fire Brad to the center of the snowflake. Silver Brads accent each punched corner.
• Layer a selection from Night and Day Specialty Designer Series Paper onto Whisper White. (Tip: Click on the photo to enlarge the wonderful pattern I selected.) Add snippets of 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbons in Real Red and Old Olive. Adhere to the card base.
• Position and adhere the image mat to the card base.
• Ink the “Merry Christmas” sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes with Basic Black and stamp onto Whisper White. Punch with the Modern Label Punch. Adhere to a Designer Label which has been punched from Old Olive and paper pierced.
• Punch a second Designer Label from Real Red and cut into horizontal halves. Adhere each half to shadow the Old Olive label as illustrated in the photograph. Position and adhere the sentiment, and pop onto the card using a Stampin‘ Dimensional.

It’s time for the Pals Paper Arts first inspiration challenge, and I am so excited to share my card with you! With an inspiration challenge, you can draw your ideas from prominent colors, the theme depicted, or even a specific image. In my case, the blue striped rug just jumped right out of the computer screen. And how could I overlook the giraffe! He is stamped onto a tag that mimics the shape of the bulletin boards. I pieced my rug from textured card stock, and actually laid it upon a “hardwood” floor composed of Stampin’ Up!s new Wood Sheets! How cool is that! Enjoy the recipe for “You’re the Inspiration” and then head right over to Pals Paper Arts to check out the other inspiration cards. Please play along with us! Who knows…You could be the PPA’s next “Artist Pick”!

• Prepare a 5-1/2″ x 4-3/4″ card base from Sage Shadow (to mimic the wall color) and score at the top.
• Layer with a Texture Cuts Wood Sheet which has had its edges distressed with Night of Navy ink.
• Cut a 4-3/4″ x 4″ piece of textured Bashful Blue card stock. Cut 1/2″ strips of textured Ballet Blue card stock. Angle the Ballet Blue over the Bashful Blue to mimic the rug, and trim off the excess. Mat onto Whisper White, add a snippet of Crushed Curry Polka Dot Grosgrain ribbon, and adhere to the Wood Sheet. (Tip: I layered the ribbon onto the card stock solid side up, and then constructed my bow with the polka dots showing. A Brocade Blue button from Fresh Favorites II adds a little pop of color!)
• Ink the “Giraffe” image from Animal Stories with Crushed Curry and stamp onto Whisper White card stock. (Note: I cut the card stock 2-1/4″ by 4″ and the cut the top at an angle.) Using my Paper Piercer and Template, I outlined the perimeter of the tag, and then mounted it on Sage Shadow, which has been punched on its bottom border with the Eyelet Border Punch. This is then matted onto Whisper White. Distress the edges with Night of Navy. Add four Brocade Blue brads to the corners of the tag, and a White Jumbo brad at the top. (For a little something extra, I punched a 1/2″ circle from Ballet Blue textured card stock and adhered it to the white brad. Sage Shadow 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon completes the look!) Position and adhere the tag to the card base.
• Ink the “hello baby” sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes with Night of Navy and stamp onto Whisper White card stock. Punch out with the Large Oval Punch and distress the edges with Night of Navy. Layer this onto a Crushed Curry Scallop Oval with a Stampin’ Dimensional, followed by a Wide Oval which has been punched from the Texture Cut Wood Sheet. Distress the edges with Night of Navy, and adhere to the card base.

I will be the first to admit that I was challenged by this challenge! If you look at my past cards, I do not use a lot of blue. Yet, the blue color in the inspiration photo was what was catching my attention…that and the giant giraffe. SO…hop on over to Pals Paper Arts and get started on your challenge card. I am so looking forward to seeing what you create. As always, I will comment on your entries. And speaking of comments…please leave me a comment or send me an email. I love reading them! As I have said before, your comments and your questions are important to me! Until next time…

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I wanted to try my hand at something quick and easy today, and Dasher seemed to be calling my name! I love this little stamp, which is one of the under $10 stamps featured on Page 208 of the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog. Since Dasher is vintage in appearance, I selected a vintage styled greeting from the Grateful Greetings set, a Holiday Mini selection which will be available September 1st. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Valentine sentiments are also part of this set of twelve. Of course, my new found favorite ribbon, Sleigh Bells, completes the card.

• Prepare a 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ card base from Old Olive textured card stock.
• Ink Dasher in Chocolate Chip and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Repeat with Real Red and Old Olive, using the Stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect alignment. Mat onto Old Olive, followed by Real Red. As a final mat layer, use Chocolate Chip which was been punched using the Scallop Edge Punch. Adhere to the card base.
• Add a snippet of Sleigh Bells ribbon as illustrated in the photograph.
• Ink the Christmas Greetings sentiment from Grateful Greetings with Chocolate Chip and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Mat onto Old Olive. For a unique touch, use the Designer Label Punch on Real Red card stock. Cut into half horizontally, adhering a piece to both the top and bottom of the sentiment mat.
• Add two small Clear Rhinestone Circle Brads for a touch of bling.
• Adhere on top of the ribbon with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Order Your Stampin’ Up! Supplies Now!
Stamp Sets: Grateful Greetings (116511—Available September 1), Dasher (116816)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908), Real Red (103133), Old Olive (102277)
Paper: Old Olive textured (108697—Earth Elements Assorted), Old Olive (100702), Chocolate Chip (102128), Real Red (102482), Very Vanilla (101650)
Tools: Scallop Edge Punch (112091), Designer Label Punch (107590), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049)
Embellishments: Sleigh Bells Ribbon (116795—Available September 1), Clear Circle Rhinestone Brads (113144)