Chinese New Year

 

Last week we ushered in 2020 by celebrating in various ways. Many people attended or hosted parties, had a special “night on the town,” went to dinner and a movie, or stayed home and watched TV to see the ball drop in Times Square. However you celebrated, I hope that 2020 brings you much happiness and good health!

Another very important New Year is Chinese New Year, and it begins on January 25th this year. The Chinese New Year is based on the lunar calendar and is one of the most important festivals that is celebrated in Chinese culture. The actual beginning date varies from year to year but generally falls sometime in January or February, and the festival lasts about two weeks.

There are many traditions and symbols associated with the Chinese New Year – fireworks being one of the highlights, as well as lanterns adorning the streets. Red is the traditional color, used for decorations and gifts to promote good luck in the coming year.

In honor of the Chinese New Year, I have created some cards using the Power of Hope stamp set that is one of the free stamps sets available during Sale-a-bration. The stamp set is bundled with a beautiful embossing folder and is free with any $100 order!

 

 

I have used Real Red cardstock and Stampin’ Blends markers, as well as gold embossing powder and gold foil paper as the main elements for these cards. I also added some red rhinestones for a little extra added bling.

I love how these cards turned out, using the simple yet bold combination of red, gold, black and white.  I hope you will give this color combination a try as well! While these cards were designed for Chinese New Year, the sentiments, which are also from the Power of Hope stamp set, are appropriate for us even now as we are beginning 2020.

Have you created any cards for the new year (by any calendar)? Let me know in the comments!

The Color of the Year

 

Color plays a very integral role in designing cards and other papercraft projects – they can be bright or subtle, light or dark, bold or pastel. The Pantone Color Institute recently announced the Color of the Year for 2020 and it is called ‘Classic Blue.’

The Pantone color matching system is used by many industries such as printing, graphic design, and fashion to assure the consistency of color. Pantone suggests that the Classic Blue color may evoke a sense of reassurance, confidence, and connection that people may be searching for in today’s world.

This year, look for a lot of this color and similar blue tones to play a big part in fashion, home interior design, magazine spreads, craft supplies, etc.

While not an exact match, I have found that the Stampin’Up! color, Blueberry Bushel, is very close to the Classic Blue that Pantone picked as the color of the year.

Blueberry Bushel is a Stampin’Up! In Color that was introduced in 2018 and will be available until June of 2020. With that in mind, I have created several cards using Blueberry Bushel as the main color for the card stock and ink, paying tribute to the Pantone color of the year.

Notice the different feelings that the color may invoke – the boldness of the flower vases, the calming soft blue rose against the deeper blue background, the “cool” blue background for the penguin… and the blue tropical leaves is just sheer whimsy.

These are just a few ideas for using blue in your projects. Think outside the box and experiment using this trendy color for your projects!

 

 

Happy New Year!

As we begin another New Year, I want to take a moment to thank you for your support in following me on Facebook, Pinterest and my blog. Thanks also to those of you who are local and attend my classes and order supplies from me.

To those of you on my team, thank you for joining Stampin’Up! and allowing me to be your upline. I appreciate each and every one of you and I hope that we can continue to grow together this year as Stampin’Up! friends!

 

 

January is here, and that means exciting things are happening at Stampin’Up! The new 2020 Mini Catalog is here and has a sleek new look. There are so many fun products in it and I can’t wait to show you more ideas using them! View the catalog online – or if you do not have a demonstrator you work with, contact me and I will get a catalog to you.

Sale-a-bration has started and runs through the end of March. What does this mean?

First – you can easily earn free products! For every $50 you spend, you can choose a free stamp set, paper, embellishments or a beautiful card kit from the Sale-a-bration brochure. There is no limit to the amount of products you can earn. Midway through Sale-a-bration, Stampin’Up! will add more free products to the list as well!

Again,  you can view the brochure online, but if you do not have a demonstrator you work with and would like a brochure, contact me and I will get one to you. Here are just a few of the free stamp sets available with a $50 order.

 

 

During Sale-a-bration, which runs from January 3 – March 31, 2020, there is a special incentive to join Stampin’Up! As always, choose $125 worth of any product in any current catalog for only $99 as your ‘starter kit’! Shipping is free for your starter kit.

As a bonus for joining now, you also can choose an additional ANY one stamp set from the catalog PLUS receive a mini-paper trimmer PLUS a sampler pack of every Designer Paper in the new mini-catalog!

And of course, you will receive a 20-25% discount on all future orders. Whether you want to become a part of the Stampin’Up! family to start a small home business or just to receive the discount, this is a great time to join! There are many other benefits to being a demonstrator, and I am happy to answer any questions you have about joining my team and help you get started.

Here’s a look at a card I designed for a friend using the free ‘Happy Birthday To You’ stamp set. I gold embossed the cake and the sentiment and used Stampin Blends markers to color it. The embossed background cardstock, Designer paper, and Sprigs add just enough to make the card special without distracting form the focal point.

 

 

A goal I have set for myself this year is to showcase more projects using Facebook Live. I will be publishing these videos on my Facebook group, so be sure to join my group if you’d like to view the videos. You can join here: Friends Who Like Time4Stamping.

Wishing you a Very Happy and Healthy New Year with lots of time to enjoy crafting!

 

Happy Snowman Z-fold Card

 

I made this card as a cute Christmas card, but change the inside sentiment and you have a cute winter birthday card as well!

 

 

Cut Cardstock:

 

Assembly:   

Fold card base on score lines to form the Z-fold, then use multipurpose glue or snail the smaller half together.

 

 

Emboss the 4″x 2 1/2″ piece of Whisper White cardstock with the Swirls and Curls embossing folder and snail onto the left side of the card base.

*NOTE–Complete the inside of the card before finishing the card front.

 

Inside:

Emboss the 5 1/4″ x 4″ piece of Whisper White cardstock with the Swirls and Curls embossing folder and snail to the inside of the card.

Use Coastal Cabana ink to stamp the greeting and snowflakes from the Snowman Season stamp set onto the 3 1/2″ x 2 3/4″ piece of Whisper White cardstock, then snail to the 3 3/4″ x 3″ piece of Coastal Cabana cardstock. Carefully snail this piece to the center of the inside of the card.

 

 

Finish the card front as follows:

Snail the Designer Paper to the remaining piece of Coastal Cabana cardstock. Apply glue or snail to the left side of this piece. Close the card and align this piece with the inside stamped piece, then adhere to the card front.

 

 

Using Memento ink, stamp the small snowman from the Snowman Season stamp set to the 2 3/4″ square piece of Whisper White cardstock.

Color the carrot nose with the Dark Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Blends marker. Shade the snowman and the ground snow with  the Light Pool Party Stampin’ Blends marker.

Crop this piece with the third largest circle from the Stitched Shapes dies. Use dimensionals to attach to the card front.

Using the snowflake dies from the Frosted Frames dies, crop the snowflakes from a scrap of Whisper White cardstock and glue to the card front. See photo for placement. Place a small rhinestone on the center of each snowflake.

 

 

Apply a small amount of glue to the snowflakes and ground under the snowman. Sprinkle with the Ice Glitter and shake off excess. 

 

Envelope:

Use Coastal Cabana ink to stamp the snowflakes from the Snowman Season stamp set onto the lower left corner of the envelope.

 

 

Hope you enjoy making this card. It’s sure to bring a smile to the special someone who receives it!

 

Product List

Snowman Season Photopolymer Stamp Set (En)

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Coastal Cabana 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Let It Snow Specialty Designer Series Paper

Whisper White Medium Envelopes

Stitched Shapes Dies

Frosted Frames Dies

Swirls & Curls Embossing Folder

Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

Pumpkin Pie Dark Stampin' Blends Marker

Pool Party Light Stampin' Blends Marker

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Snail Adhesive

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Stampin' Dimensionals

Ice Stampin' Glitter

FB Live Recap: Holiday Napkin Holder

 

Here is the Holiday Napkin Holder I created on my Facebook Group page, Friends Who Like Time4Stamping. If you missed my live presentation of the instructions, you can catch the replay here.

Make sure to join my group page to enjoy future broadcasts!

Here are the supplies needed to create one napkin holder:

 

Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Let It Snow Specialty Designer Series Paper

Cherry Cobbler 3/8" (1 Cm) Diagonal Stripe Ribbon

Tear & Tape Adhesive

Layering Circles Dies

Mini Glue Dots

 

Tutorial: Light and Peace Angel

 

You can’t go wrong with angels when you want to make an elegant Christmas card. This angel from the Light and Peace stamp set is simple yet elegant when gold embossed and highlighted with just a hint of color.

 

 

Cut Cardstock:

 

Assembly:

Emboss the Gold Foil paper with the Swirls and Curls embossing folder, then snail or glue to the card base. I find that glue works better than snail at adhering the foil paper.

Using Versamark ink, stamp the angel from the Light and Peace stamp set onto the 4 5/” x 3 1/2″ piece of Whisper White cardstock. See photo for placement. Sprinkle with Gold embossing powder and set with heat tool.

Color the angel’s hair with the Light Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blends marker. Highlight the angel’s gown using the Light Seaside Spray Stampin’ Blends marker.

Using the Golden Glitz Metallic ink, stamp the sentiment from the God’s Peace stamp set to the right of the angel. Optional – briefly use the heat tool to speed up the drying of the metallic ink. Snail to card front.

Place a gold metallic pearl on the upper left and lower right corners of the stamped piece.

 

Inside:

Snail or glue the gold strip near the left side of the 5 1/4″ x 4″ piece of Whisper White cardstock.

Using the Golden Glitz Metallic ink, stamp “Merry Christmas” from the Christmas Rose stamp set.

 

 

I hope you enjoy making this card. It makes up rather quickly, so it’s a great card if you want to multiples of the same card.

 

Product List

Light & Peace Cling Stamp Set

God's Peace Cling Stamp Set (En)

Christmas Rose Stamp Set (English)

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Gold Foil Sheets

Whisper White Medium Envelopes

Golden Glitz Delicata Metallic Ink Pad

Versamark Pad

Swirls & Curls Embossing Folder

Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder

Heat Tool (Us And Canada)

Seaside Spray Light Stampin’ Blends Marker

Daffodil Delight Light Stampin' Blends Marker

Metallic Pearls

Snail Adhesive

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Supplies Spotlight: Lots of Happy Card Kit

Everything you need to make 20 all-occasion cards is in this kit. Four watercolor pencils are also included to color the lovely designs you will stamp with the exclusive stamp set and ink provided. Make the cards for your ‘card stash’ or give the entire kit to a special crafter on your holiday gift list for a very unique Christmas gift!

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

 

It’s November! Time for pumpkins!

And you thought they were only for October?

Yes, we used those pumpkins to carve our Halloween jack-o-lanterns, but now that it’s November, there is so much more that we can do with pumpkins!

Pumpkins are such an essential element of decorating for the fall season. They are one of my favorites for decorating cards this time of year – here are a few examples:

 

 

Have you used pumpkins to decorate your cards, treat boxes, and gift bags and tags? Let me know in the Facebook group!

Outside of decorating, do you remember Betty Crocker? Here’s a favorite recipe I’ve adapted from an old Betty Crocker cookbook from 1978 (the year I got married!).

Pumpkin Bread

 

You will need:

  • Butter (2/3 cup)
  • Sugar (2 & 2/3 cups)
  • Eggs (4)
  • Pumpkin (1 lb can) – make sure this is pumpkin, NOT pumpkin pie mix!
  • Water (2/3 cup)
  • All-purpose flour (3 & 1/3 cups)
  • Baking Soda (2 tsp)
  • Salt (1 & 1/2 tsp)
  • Baking Powder (1/2 tsp)
  • Cinnamon (1 tsp)
  • Chopped Nuts (2/3 cup)

Put it together: 

  • Heat your oven to 350 degrees.
  • Grease two 9″ x 5″ loaf pans.
  • Beat together the flour and sugar until it’s light and fluffy.
  • Add the eggs, pumpkin, and water – then beat until well-blended.
  • Slowly add the flour (slowly!), baking soda, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon, then stir in the nuts.
  • Pour the whole mixture into the pans and bake about 70 minutes (or until an inserted cake tester comes out clean).
  • Enjoy your pumpkin bread!

I hope that sometime this month you are able to enjoy pumpkins in some way, whether it’s in food, decorating, or in your card making! I’d love to see what you come up with. Share how you’re using pumpkins this November in the Facebook group!

Supplies Spotlight: Ride With Me Bundle

The Ride With Me stamp set and dies bundle is another one of those versatile sets that are great for year round projects. Add balloons, pumpkins, or a Christmas tree to the back of the truck for birthdays or seasonal cards. You can make a darling little 3D truck for any occasion as well.

Watch the video to view some other great ideas for the bundle!

I love November!

 

I love the month of November!

The days are getting shorter, the Michigan air is a bit cooler, and my gardens are put to bed for the winter. It’s time for hot cider and pumpkin pie! The anticipation of the upcoming holidays brings a smile to my face.

And the thought of putting a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on my table makes my mouth water!

 

 

November brings Thanksgiving and gratitude to the forefront of our thoughts. While we are blessed to enjoy the festive turkey feast, upon reflection there are so many things I am grateful for – way too numerous to mention here, but on that list, of course, is family and friends. My immediate family is very small (just my husband and daughter), but both have been very supportive of me in my Stampin’Up! adventure. I am excited and thankful that this year my daughter will be able to come home from the west coast and join us for Thanksgiving dinner!

My friends have also cheered me on through good and rough times. I am grateful I have made so many new friends over the past six years as a Stampin’Up! demonstrator. My fabulous upline, Julie Gilson of StampinGala, has been extremely supportive and encouraging to me, and I am happy to call her my friend. Fellow demostrators – those local to me and those I know only as Facebook friends – continue to be a constant source of encouragement and inspiration.

Several of my customers have been with me since the beginning of my Stampin’Up! adventure, while others I have only known for a short time. We come from different backgrounds and walks of life, but we have a common bond – that of papercrafting and enjoying each other’s company as we work on our cards or projects. For that I am grateful, and I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

So why do I love November? What’s not to love?! Is there something or someone that Stampin’Up! has brought into your life that you are grateful for? Let me know in the Facebook group!

(And I think it’s time for some hot cider while I plan some more November projects!)