For Love of Paper

A few seats left for the Christmas Cards I Class

Tomorrow, Monday, November 2nd is the deadline to sign up for the first of two Christmas Card Classes.

Christmas Cards I Class will be held next Saturday, November 7th from 9am to Noon and on Tuesday, November 10th from 6 to 9 pm at my home in Leander.

You will be making five of each of the three designs shown for a total of 15 cards. You will also receive envelopes for all of your cards, all for only $25.

Please remember prepayment via check, cash or paypal is due no later than Monday, November 2nd. You can use the Paypal link below, drop off cash or drop a check in the mail (please email me if you are paying by check).

Don't delay sign up today!

Christmas Pine

When someone says "Stampin' Up!" two stamp sets immediately come to mind, Heartfelt Thanks (now retired) and Lovely As A Tree. Lovely As A Tree has been used in so many ways and yet I still never tire of it. One of the things I love about the set is that it lends itself well to masculine cards (always hard to come up with) and to Christmas Cards and it isn't even a Christmas set. So if you're looking for a stamp set with a lot of versitility I highly recommend Lovely As A Tree (# 115026 pg. 110).

So how did I make this lovely card?

1. Cut the following pieces:

• Very Vanilla Card Base 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", scored at 4 1/4" and 2" x 3 3/4"
• Chocolate Chip 5 1/4" x 4"

2. Run the Chocolate Chip Cardstock through the Sizzix Big Shot with the swirly texture plate from Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I.                                                                    Tip: Spray the cardstock with rubbing alcohol using a misting spray bottle before you run it through the Big Shot. This will make the plate leave a deeper impression on the cardstock.

3. Ink the pine tree stamp using Old Olive and Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Markers. Stamp onto the smaller piece of Very Vanilla.

4. To give the tree warmth using a Sponge Dauber with Old Olive Classic Ink and lightly pounce the dauber over the tree.

5. Sponge the edges of all the cardstock pieces using Chocolate Chip Classic Ink.

6. Assemble the layers and add a Red Gingham knot using a Mini Glue Dot.

Supply List

Stamps: Lovely As A Tree

Inks: Old Olive and Chocolate Chip Classic Inks and Stampin' Write Markers

Paper: Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip

Other: Sizzix Big Shot with Backgrounds I, Stamping Sponge, Sponge Dauber, Mini Glue Dots and Red Gingham Ribbon

Embossing folders and brayers make for a WOW look!

This card is so simple but so rich. The combination of the Finial Press Embossing Folder and a brayer give it such a warm look and it is an easy technique. You should definately give this one a try.

What you'll need:

Stamps: Serene Snowflakes and Grateful Greetings

Inks: Soft Suede Classic Ink

Paper: Soft Suede and Very Vanilla

Other: Sizzix Big Shot with Finial Press Embossing Folder, Clear Rhinestone Brad, Mat Pack with hole piercer, Stamping Sponge and Stampin' Dimensionals

Here's how:

1. Cut the following pieces:

• Soft Suede Card Base 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", scored at 4 1/4" and 2 3/4" x 3 3/4"
• Very Vanilla (2) 5 1/4" x 4" and 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"

2. Stamp the next to largest snowflake from Serene Snowflakes using Soft Suede Classic Ink onto the top of the smaller piece of Very Vanilla Cardstock.

3. Below it stamp "Christmas Greetings" from Greatful Greetings using the same ink.

4. Run one of the large pieces of Very Vanilla Cardstock through the Sizzix Big Shot with the Finial Press Embossing Folder.

5. Ink up a brayer with Soft Suede Classic Ink and lightly run it over the embossed cardstock. It doesn't matter which direction you go, just be sure to cover the entire piece.

6. Sponge the edges of all three pieces of Very Vanilla using more Soft Suede Classic Ink.

7. Adhere the stamped piece onto it's Soft Suede CS mat. Pierce a hole using the Mat Pack and hole piercer and insert the Clear Rhinestone Brad. Adhere this onto the embossed cardstock using Stampin' Dimensionals. Then onto the Soft Suede Card Base using regular adhesive.

8. Adhere the remaining piece of Very Vanilla on the inside of the card and stamp the sentiment of your choice.

If you are loving this card like I am then be sure to check back next week. I will be unveiling the cards for the December Christmas Card Class and one of them is very similar to this card.

Click here to order online anytime 24/7.

Where have I been?

At the St. Margaret Mary Craft Fair. At least I was on Sunday. Between getting ready for this, recovering from Mama Cents and all the Halloween Hoopla I feel a bit behind. Things should be settling into their normal crazyness now so be sure to stop back every few days for new ideas and inspiration.

Deal of the Week 3

Deal of the Week #3 is good now through Sunday, October 25th.

To take advantage of these terrific deals click here to order online or contact me me today.

Another Spooky Stamping Workshop

I had another request to make Halloween Themed projects at a workshop on Friday night. I knew most of the folks coming had done a bit of paper crafting before which means they all have SCRAPS. When we begin our journey down the road of paper crafting we are all so excited to save every scrap of paper we can get our hands on. But once you've been paper crafting for some time you quickly realize how scraps pile up and can overtake every nook and cranny you have to call your own.

So what to do with all those scraps?

Make your own designer striped paper!

I heard several wonderful comments from the workshop guests about how they liked this technique. I really like the texture it lends to the project.

How  I made my own designer striped paper?

• First, cut two 12 x 2 strips of Basic Black Cardstock.
• Next cut lots of 2 inch scraps of varying widths from coordinating paper. In this case I used strips from the Cast-a-spell DSP and Perfect Plum Cardstock.
• Adhere the strips onto the black CS base, leaving a little black showing between the strips. 
• I then cut one strip down to 1 1/2 x 12. This one was placed at the top of the page and the 2 x 12 strip at the bottom.

As I've said before I love Halloween. I had such a difficult time deciding which Halloween stamps to use on this layout. So many of them seemed to work well but I felt the simplicity of the layout really let the skull stamp from the From the Crypt stamp set take center stage without overwhelming the photos.

What I used:

Stamps: From the Crypt and House of Haunts

Inks: Basic Black Classic Ink

Papers: Whisper White, Basic Black, Perfect Plum, Pumpkin Pie and Cast-a-spell DSP

Other: Wide Oval Punch, Elegant Eggplant 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Sponge and Stamp-a-ma-jig

Try using some of your scraps with this technique. Email me the result and I'll post it here on my blog.

12 Free Ideas for Christmas

Would you like to get a new holiday idea delivered right to your inbox every week?

Sign up to receive my monthly INKspirations newsletter and you'll also receive the subscriber EXCLUSIVE 12 Weeks of Christmas.

Beginning the last week of September all newsletter subscribers also began receiving my exclusive 12 Weeks of Christmas projects. Each Wednesday through the middle of December you too can receive terrific holiday inspiration. Just sign up for my monthly INKspirations Newsletter in the box at the top left of the page and you'll begin receiving the 12 Weeks of Christmas. Each week you'll receive a tutorial showing you how to make a card, gift, piece of home decor or a unique way to add a handmade touch to your packages.

Christmas Cards I Class

Click here to see a close up of each card.

Class: Christmas Cards I

Each participant will be making 5 of the three cards shown for a total of 15 cards. You will also receive envelopes. Each of these three cards are stunning. You will be using the new flocked paper from the Christmas Cocoa Designer Series Paper line and learning how to create your own textured cardstock using the Sizzix Big Shot and accessories.

When: Saturday, November 7th from 9 am to Noon or

           Tuesday, November 10th from 6 to 9 pm

Where: My house in Leander, Texas

Cost: $25

RSVP: Prepayment by check, cash or Paypal is due by Monday, November 2nd.

Spanish Stampin' Up! catalogs available

Many people don't know Stampin' Up! now has a catalog totally dedicated to Spanish speakers. It is called Celebrando Creatividad. Many of the stamp sets are the same as those in the English catalog but all the words have been changed to Spanish. However, in addition there are sets only available in Celebrando Creatividad.

Here are two of my favorite stamp sets found only in the Celebrando Creatividad.

Cinco de mayo 114363 pg.20 $24.95 (set of 5)

Quicenanera 113820 pg. 21 $28.95 (set of 6)

If you would like to get your own copy of Celebrando Creatividad or to place an order please email me at chris@forloveofpaper.com

If you can't wait any longer to see Celebrando Creatividad click here to see a copy right now.

Do you have 3 hours?

In only 3 hours you could create all of this!

It's not too late to sign up for next Saturday's Photo Christmas Class. During class you will complete three wonderful projects all centered around photos.

Santa Suit Card - This trifold card has three panels. The center one is flat and the perfect place to add your traditional holiday greeting, while the other two panels are pockets. Allowing you to add photos and/or a letter.

CD/DVD Card - With so many families spread out across the country even across the world from one another adding photos to a CD or DVD is a great way to share moments and memories to those you love far away. While the outside of the card has a traditional picture with Santa the inside holds a CD or DVD you can load with tons of photos, just open the flap with the stripes. Ready for a high tech Christmas Gift? Take it a step further and make a digital album using the new My Digital Studio Software from Stampin' Up!

Christmas Explosion Box - When the lid is pulled off this delightful decoration "explodes" to reveal 12 picture panels. This makes a terrific gift for grandparents or add your own photos from Christmas' past and use it as part of your yearly holiday decor. Everyone is always wowed when you take the lid off.

Class: Photo Christmas

When: Saturday, October 17th from 9am to Noon

Where: My house in Leander, Texas

Cost: $25

RSVP: Prepayment by check, cash or Paypal is due by Monday, October 12th.