Falliday Fest 2024

I'm back with some more end-of-the-year Falliday Fest challenges.  It's been a few years since I partook in New Year's Eve stamping challenges, and it was relaxing to get back to creating for fun.

The Tastes of the Season

For the smells and tastes of the holidays, I chose my grandmother's gingerbread cookies.

Stamps: Gingerbread Man; Paper: Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Mint Macaron, Garden Green, Pecan Pie, Whisper White, Country Gingham DSP; Ink: Pecan Pie, Versamark; Accessories: Delightful Decorative Dots, White Embossing Powder, Gingerbread Man Dies, Die-Cutting Machine.

Metal Foil Tape ATC

Combining the metal foil tape & ATC challenges, I basically followed along with this video to create the background. 

I grabbed some weird things to make texture, like a Pedro's bicycle cleaning tool and spiral-bound notebook.  The hardest part is to figure out what layers to put on top without covering up all the background interest.

Stamps: You're Amazing, Plane & Simple; Paper: Pecan Pie, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla Scraps; Ink: Cajun Craze, Pecan Pie; Accessories: Amuse Creative Candy Clear Sticker, Misc Embellishments from Stash, Sponge, Crystal Effects, Metal Aluminum Tape, Drywall Tape, Black Acrylic Paint, Art Anthology Dimensional Paint, Stylus, Garage Gears Dies, Die-Cutting Machine.

Geometric Christmas Wreath

Rather than masking a wreath area, I die-cut a wreath and used leaf and holly masks to color it.

Stamps: Traditional Labels; Paper: Real Red, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Plaid Tidings DSP; Ink: Real Red, Old Olive, Garden Green, Memento Tuxedo Black; Accessories: Embellishments from 12 Days of Crafting Advent Calendar Kit, Blending Brushes, Holly Berry Builder Punch, Christmas Greenery Dies, Traditional Labels Dies, Layering Circles Dies.

Triple Z-Fold

Here's the PDF instructions to the fun fold.  When I try this fold again, I'll edit the instructions to make a 5-1/2" tall card.

Stamps: Turtle-y Awesome; Paper: Shaded Spruce, Basic Black, Whisper White, Turtle-y Cute DSP; Ink: Versamark; Accessories: Shades of Green Hexagons, White Embossing Powder, Turtle-y Awesome Dies, Spotlight on Nature Dies, 12 Days of Crafting Advent (postage die), Die-Cutting Machine, Dimensionals.

NEPA Shoebox Swap: Baking Spirits Bright

Today I'm attending Northeast Pennsylvania (NEPA) Shoebox Swap with some of my Splitcoaststampers friends.  Meeting IRL!  This year's theme is "Baking Spirits Bright".

ATC:  I thought it would be fun to "bake" a pumpkin pie rather than Christmas treats.

Stamps: More Than Autumn, Acorny Thank You; Paper: Timid Tiger, Lemon Lime Twist, Old Olive, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Autumn Traditions DSP, Typeset DSP; Ink: Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Blends; Accessories: Blending Brush, Watercolor Brush, Sprig Punch, Give It A Whirl Dies, Bitty Banners Dies, Die-Cutting Machine, Dimensionals.

Fancy Fold:  I challenged myself to use up some 6 x 6" DSP.  So I created the Double Gate Fold using these instructions.

The inside of the card does say "Baking spirits bright".  Why not?

Stamps: Homemade Treats, Gingerbread Man; Paper: Real Red, Pecan Pie, Whisper White, Various Card Bases, Various DSP; Ink: Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Pecan Pie, Smoky Slate; Accessories: Forever Plaid EF, Homemade Treats Die, Die-Cutting Machine, Dimensionals.

So much fun with my lovely friends!

I've got one more swap to share tomorrow...

SSC331 A Little Latte

Hi and welcome to another Sunday Stamps color challenge.  This week's color combination matches well with the new online exclusive A Little Latte collection, so I grabbed some of those items. 

I'm also working on my swaps for the upcoming Hudson Valley Shoebox Swap, so I used the suite for my ATC swap. 

Here's this week's color combination.

Stamps: Latte Love, Nothing's Better Than, Charming Sentiments; Paper: Petal Pink, Lemon Lolly, Pecan Pie, Very Vanilla, A Little Latte DSP; Ink: Lemon Lolly, Pecan Pie; Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Blending Brush, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Lotta Love Dies, Basics 3D Embossing Folders, Sentiment Silhouettes Dies, Layering Circles Dies, Die-Cutting Machine, Dimensionals.

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SSC305 In Color Hummingbird

Hi All!  Time for another Sunday Stamps color challenge, and this week's colors look very similar to most of the 2022-24 In Colors.

At a recent shoebox swap event, I was able to purchase the retired You Move Me bundle, and I couldn't wait to play with it!

For this card, I cut a 5-1/2 x 8-1/2" piece of DSP, and I folded and glued the edges shut with Tear & Tape and a 3/8" strip of card stock (which allows for a little bit of depth as well as preventing sticky edges from catching on the notecard insert). 

Here's the card in action.  I just love the 3-D effect of this set!

Here is this week's color challenge.  Hope you'll consider joining us!

Stamps: You Move Me, Flowing Flowers; Paper: Sweet Sorbet, Old Olive, Starry Sky, Gray Granite, Whisper White, Sun Prints DSP; Ink: Parakeet Party, Old Olive, Orchid Oasis, Starry Sky, Versamark; Accessories: Iridescent Rhinestones, Linen Thread, Washi Tape, White Embossing Powder, Banner Punch, Move Me Dies, Die-Cutting Machine, Dimensionals.

There may also be an ATC of the same flavor I will be creating for the next shoebox event.

Stamps: You Move Me, Hippo Happiness, Stacked Stone BG; Paper: Sweet Sorbet, Old Olive, Starry Night, Gray Granite, Whisper White; Ink: Parakeet Party, Old Olive, Orchid Oasis, Starry Sky, Gray Granite, Versamark; Accessories: Iridescent Rhinestones, Linen Thread, Washi Tape, White Embossing Powder, 1/2" Circle Punch, Move Me Dies, Rectangle Stitched Dies, Die-Cutting Machine, Dimensionals.

>> Receive a FREE card kit with every online order <<

>>> SHOP ANY TIME ~ HOST CODE J34S6DVM <<<

ATC Swap: Farmer's Market

At the Hudson Valley Shoebox Swap, I joined in the ATC swap.  I used both the Chalkboard and Faux Barn Board techniques and the Jan-Jun 2023 Mini set, On the Farm.

Stamps: On the Farm, Wood Words; Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Evening Evergreen, Basic Black, Very Vanilla; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Whisper White Craft, Versamark; Accessories: Linen Thread, Brad, White Colored Pencil, Elmer's Glue, White Acrylic Paint, White Embossing Powder, Sponge, Circle Punches, On the Farm Dies, Die-Cutting Machine, Dimensionals.

>> Receive a FREE card kit with every online order <<

>>> SHOP ANY TIME ~ HOST CODE VGZND66Z <<<

ATC: Biker's Butt

Hello Everyone!  Here is another swap from last weekend's Hudson Valley Shoebox Swap.  I had wanted to create a background for Enjoy Life, but also be able to stamp on a smooth surface.  Standard neutral card stock soaks in water too quickly to mix colors and watercolor paper isn't smooth enough for a silhouette stamp image.  Hmmm.

With a little experimentation, I was able to get a smooth transition of color on Very Vanilla card stock.  I brayered Crushed Curry, Mango Melody, and Melon Mambo ink onto a craft sheet in rows, then I spritz the craft sheet with water and dropped the Very Vanilla card stock onto the craft sheet.

I love that I was able to get a watercolor look on standard card stock, and each one is a little bit different.  For the sentiment, I pulled out the old-fashioned typewriter.

Stamps: Enjoy Life; Paper: Mango Melody, Very Vanilla; Ink: Melon Mambo, Mango Melody, Crushed Curry, Memento Tuxedo Black; Accessories: Black Mini Sequin Trim, Best Route Washi Tape, Brayer, Craft Sheet, Water Spritzer, Dimensionals.

>> Receive a FREE card kit with every online order <<
>>> SHOP ANY TIME ~ HOST CODE C3TJMN9X <<<

ATC Swap: Insect Display Board

I've had this ATC in mind for about a year now, since the Beetles & Bugs set was released in last year's Occasions catalog.  I'm glad that I often sketch out a prototype idea ahead of time, which I can grab later when I'm rushing.

I got my husband on the case to find me to realistic bug photos for coloring purposes.  He didn't mind.  Boys will be boys.  :)

I did some paper piecing on the bug bodies, and to make them shiny, I heat embossed the entire pieced part with clear embossing powder.

Stamps: Beetles & Bugs, Nailed It, Labeler Alphabet, Linen BG; Paper: Soft Suede, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Acetate; Ink: Sahara Sand, Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Stampin' Dazzle Gold Marker, Copic Markers; Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Sponge, Build It Framelits, Layering Circles Framelits, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

>>> SHOP ANY TIME ~ HOSTESS CODE U46BEAJM <<< 

ATC Swap: Is It Spring Yet?

After getting 20+ inches of snow a couple weeks ago, I was inspired to make an artistic trading card (ATC) that expresses our feelings over here in the Northeast.

Often we get snow around Easter; that's not new.  Getting dumped on... well, that's making it hard for the bunny to find the houses.  Perhaps this is why we need colored eggs, in order to find them in the snow.

The sentiment in Diane Zechman's Cookie Crumbs set called Snow Friends often describes how I feel about this time every year.  I know I'm not the only one with all the wishful-thinking beach pictures friends on posting on Facebook.

Stamps: Basket Bunch, Branch Out, Snow Friends by C.C. Designs; Paper: Peekaboo Peach, Sweet Sugarplum, Emerald Envy, Marina Mist, Tip Top Taupe, Whisper White, Back to Black DSP; Ink: Soft Sky, Marina Mist, Pacific Point, Tip Top Taupe, Basic Black Archival, Pink Pirouette marker, Peekaboo Peach marker, White Gel Pen; Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, Cupcake Builder Punch, Sponge, Dry Wall Tape, Basket Builder Framelits, Big Shot.

Donut Be Sad!

Here is my ATC swap for the Hudson Valley Shoebox Swap.  Love how these donuts came out... good enough to eat!

I punched the base of the donut out of Kraft paper, and I stamped and hand-cut the frosting, followed by some yummy Crystal Effects.

Stamps: Sprinkles on Top, You're Cherished; Paper: Pink Pirouette, Crumb Cake, Kraft, Whisper White, It's My Party DSP, Acetate; Ink: Blushing Bride, Melon Mambo, Tip Top Taupe, Chocolate Chip; Accessories: White baker's twine, Crystal Effects, Dotted Scallop Ribbon edge punch, 1/4" Circle punch, 3/4" Circle punch, Dimensionals.

Here are this week's Weekly Deals.

ATC-Sized Bicycle

I mentioned yesterday I attended the Ilion Shoebox Swap this past weekend.  I joined in the ATC swap.  I took a recently created card and transformed it into ATC size.  Do you think it is artsy-fartsy enough?

Stamps: Sheltering Tree; Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Stacked with Love DSP; Ink: Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Basic Gray, Memento Tuxedo Black; Accessories: Basic Black baker's twine, Window sheet, Aquapainter, Sponges, e-cutter.

FM198 Snow Anger

I have snow anger.  There is snow everywhere.  The sidewalks aren't clear, which annoys me when my son doesn't drive and walks everywhere.  It is hard-to-impossible to see to pull out onto the street, and there have been untold number of school delays and cancellations, which also impacts my swimming.  But first and foremost, this makes biking tremendously difficult, nearly impossible.  More on that in a minute.

Often crafting is an outlet for whatever is on my mind lately.  Lisa has a sketch and "take flight" challenge for us on the Friday Mashup.

This is an ATC I created for the Binghamton shoebox swap this weekend.  You can kinda see the sketch lines in this one, if you squint.

I couldn't take it anymore. It was getting all like the Shining in here. I busted out and biked the only place available, a 5-mile stretch of the rail trail that goes over the Hudson River.

This is my fat bike, a snow bike. The snow is deep enough that even this bike doesn't work in most places at the moment.

I purposely didn't look at the "feels like" temperature until I got back, 4 F!  Good Lord, spring better come soon before we all, ok I, go nuts!  Or you can argue I'm already too far gone.

• Create a project with "the Sketch". 
• Create a project using items that "Take Flight".
• or Mash it Up! and create a project with items that "Take Flight using the Sketch".

Stamps: Greetings From, Calling All Heroes, Alphabet rotary; Paper: Pool Party, Garden Green, Very Vanilla, Whisper White; Ink: Soft Sky, Smoky Slate, Memento Tuxedo Black, Whisper White craft, Basic Black marker, Real Red, Smokey Slate, Daffodil Delight Blendabilities, Color Lifter; Accessories: 3/4" Circle punch, 7/8" Scallop Circle punch, Brayer, Aquapainter.

Here's a peek at this week's deals -

2014-2016 In Color Backgrounds Designer Series Paper Stack Price: $21.95 $16.46	Amped Up Ampersands Kit - Digital Download Price: $9.95 $5.97	Celebration Basics Kit Price: $14.95 $11.21	Daffodil Delight 1/4" Cotton Ribbon Price: $5.95 $4.46
Mosaic Punch Price: $15.95 $11.96	Pansy Punch Price: $15.95 $11.96	Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Cotton Ribbon Price: $5.95 $4.46	What's Up Punch Price: $16.95 $12.71