Simple Scallop Christmas Tags

Here's a couple more Christmas tags that I've made. These two were really simple but when they are going on such small presents I thought they needed to be. They both use the SU Season of Cheer rub-ons and SU scallop circle punch. The red and white tag is actually punched on the fold of the white paper so that it opens - inside it has the "to" and "from" stamped image from the A Holly Jolly Christmas set. The green tag did not need to open as the rub-on has the to/from right on it!

Red Tag Supplies:

Stamps: SU A Holly Jolly Christmas
Rub-ons: SU Season of Cheer
Paper: SU real red, ww
Punches: SU Scallop circle, 1 3/8" circle

Green Tag Supplies:

Rub-ons: SU Season of Cheer
Paper: SU green galore, ww
Punches: SU scallop circle, 1 3/8" circle

Retiring Stamps, Discounts, and Free Shipping - Oh My!

Scroll down for another post from today to see some Christmas tags I've been working on.

Lots of Stampin' Up! news to share today. As the end of the current catalogue is coming near (it ends January 18, 2009), Stampin' Up! releases a list of stamps that are going to be retired and not carried over into the next catalogue. This list is released early so if you've been contemplating about a stamp set that is on the list, NOW is the time to get it. Click here to read the retiring stamp sets listed Alphabetically.

Click here to read the retiring stamp sets listed Numerically (by page number).

Plus, Stampin' Up! is offering these retiring stamp sets at 10% off from Dec 9 - Dec 23!

On top of this limited time 10% off retiring sets, Stampin' Up! is celebrating the Holiday season again with free shipping on all orders over $100 (Canadian orders only) from Dec 9 - Dec 23. Don't miss out on these great deals!

Email me if you are interested or have any questions!

Pacific Point Christmas Tags

I've been working on making Christmas tags for all of the Christmas presents I have to give. I'm making them fairly simple just because of the quantity that I have to make, but I still think they look great.

Christmas Tag 1:Christmas Tag 2: These are two that I have had in mind for a while, but only just finally got to make. I love how well the SU Pacific Point matched with these papers! They turned out better than I had hoped - especially the first one! It uses the reverse masking technique in which I used my SU sponge daubers dipped in pacific point ink and sponged it in a 1 3/8" circle punch. You can read more about how to do this technique here. I then inked the snowflake stamp in Versamark and used white embossing powder to make it pop.

Supplies for Tag 1:

Stamps: SU Snow Swirled, A Holly Jolly Christmas
Ink: SU Versamark, Pacific Point
Paper: SU ww, pacific point
Punch: 1 3/8" circle punch to create mask
Misc: SU white embossing powder

Supplies for Tag 2:

Stamps: SU Deer Friends, A Holly Jolly Christmas
Ink: SU Versamark, Pacific Point
Paper: SU ww, pacific point
Punches: SU 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circles, scallop circle
Misc: SU white embossing powder

Wedding Cards

I've been in the "wedding" mood since starting to get going on my wedding invitations, so I thought I'd test out some new wedding rubber too!

Both of these cards were so easy to make. I love the look of red, white and black wedding cards. They just look so classic to me (although I did also add a bit of green for the stems too but it's quite subtle).

Supplies:

Stamps: Stamping Bella Hitchedafellabella, SU Best Yet (Hostess set)
Ink: SU basic black, real red, old olive (I used the SU markers to colour the flowers, stems, lips and sentiment)
Paper: SU ww, real red, real red dp
Punches: SU 1 1/4" circle, 1 3/8" circle




These use a stamp I had purchased a while ago but had yet to use from Stamping Bella called Hitchedafellabella - check out their stamps if you haven't yet, they are so cute!


Supplies:

Stamps: Stamping Bella Hitchedafellabella
Ink: SU basic black, real red, old olive
Paper: SU ww, basic black, real red
Punches: SU corner punch
Misc: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder

12 Days/Posts of Christmas - Day 12

I've saved the best for last on my 12 Days of Christmas! No, it's not Stampin' Up! stamps (I didn't bother with that because I felt that was a given - I became an SU demonstrator because I found their stamps to be a much higher quality and love the images and sentiments they come out with) but rather Stampin' Up! papers. This is a long post but worth the read (if I do say so myself)!

Stampin' Up! card stock comes in colours exclusive to SU:

• 4 colour families ( Rich Regals, Soft Subtles, Bold Brights and Earth Elements)
• Neutrals
• In Colours (exclusive trendy colours available for one year only)

These papers are all 80-lb. cover weight of acid and lignin free, high quality, smooth card stock. They are available in 12" x 12" (textured or non-textured) sheets or 8 1/2" x 11" (non-textured) sheets. Depending on which type they can be sold in a variety package (ie. all 6 colours) or in a single colour pack - check pages 163-165 of the catalogue to see what is available in what you are interested in.

But, what is THE BEST THING about Stampin' Up! card stock? It coordinates with Stampin' Up! exclusive inks, pastels, markers, ribbons and designer papers! All of the guess work is removed. There is no more buying inks or papers that you hope will match. Stampin' Up! colour coordinates everything. The catalogue tells you which of their exclusive colours are used in the designer papers so you know exactly which inks and card stocks to use for it all to match!

Stampin' Up! not only removes this guess work but it is even of comparable price to your local retail store. Card stock is often sold for $0.35-$1.50/sheet in stores; with SU you can buy 24 sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" for $6.50 (that's only $0.27 per sheet). The textured and 12" x 12" sheets are similarly comparable.

Stampin' Up! designer papers are similarly comparable as well, but again have the added bonus that the catalogue tells you exactly which colours of ink, card stock and ribbon will match exactly! SU designer papers are acid and lignin free and come in 12" x 12" double-sided sheets. They are very affordable at 12 sheets for $11.75. I've yet to find papers in my local stores for that price - let alone of that quality too!

I don't know if I've convinced you, but I know you'll love it if you give it a try! Remember, if you are shopping for Christmas, Stampin' Up! recommends you order no later than today! Email me if you are interested in placing an order.

12 Days/Posts of Christmas - Day 11

I'm going to do these last two days early as Stampin' Up! recommends placing your orders by Dec 7 to receive them in time for Christmas!

Many crafters recommend having a good pair of scissors for cutting around images, however, I recommend having a good pair of scissors specifically for cutting ribbon. As someone who LOVES to use ribbon on cards and scrapbooks, I used SU's Craft & Paper Scissors once on ribbon and have been hooked since. I use these scissors just on ribbon and they stay sharp and make nice clean cuts every time without fraying the ends!

These are some of the more expensive scissors at $35.95 but I find them worth it, and would recommend them if you are a crafter who uses a lot of ribbon. Features of the SU Craft & Paper Scissors are:

• 3 3/4" blade length to work for wide ribbons
• stainless steel blades
• ideal for cutting paper and ribbon
• ergonomically designed (for right-handed individuals)

Note: These should not be used for cutting wire (including wired ribbons) or rubber.

12 Days/Posts of Christmas - Day 10

One of the tools that I LOVE is the Crop-a-dile. It is a silent eyelet setter and hole punch. I have to admit I don't use eyelets as often as I would like to but pull this tool out for hole punches too. Features of the crop-a-dile ($37.95) are:

• punches 3/16" and 1/8" holes
• punches through cardstock, chipboard, fabric, leather, tin and other materials
• silently sets eyelets
• silently sets snaps
• comes with instructions

The Crop-a-dile is so easy to use! There are instructions that come with it to tell you what settings to have the top and bottom blocks on depending on what size eyelet/snap you are setting. This tool is one of the first tools that I purchased and it remains one of my favourites!