SU-Only Challenge SUOC8: Warm Cup O' Joe

I have some exciting news! I have been invited to be part of the SU-Only Challenges design team. I am so pleased to be part of this fabulous design team, and so proud to be focusing on wonderful Stampin' Up product. There are challenges every other Tuesday, so make sure you stop in and play with us!

This week's challenge is both technique and color: use dry embossing, Bravo Burgundy, More Mustard, and Very Vanilla on your card or project.

For these warm colors, I pulled out my warm cup o' joe set, Morning Cup. Particularly timely since it is raining horizontal cats and dogs here today, although I am out of sugar for my coffee! :( I also based my card on an older Mojo Monday sketch #157.

I used the embedded paper technique to create the More Mustard panel, and also notice I embossed a subtle background with Backgrounds 1 texturz plate.

Stampin' Up has been coming out with fabulously detailed line art stamps lately, which also stamp beautifully, but I am having trouble staying in the lines when I color. Perhaps it is time for some new tools?

Stamps: Morning Cup, All Holidays; Paper: More Mustard, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla; Ink: More Mustard, Bravo Burgundy, Black Stazon; Accessories: Aquapainter, Blender pen, Neutrals watercolor crayons, Brads, Circle punches, Scallop Edge punch, Swirls Scribbles die, Backgrounds 1 texturz plate, Square Lattice embossing folder, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread.

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White Christmas

I'm playing along with Pals Paper Arts inspiration challenge to use Winter White.

Wow, it's not so easy to think up a novel way to stamp white trees on neutral paper.

I embossed the trees on Very Vanilla, and then aquapainted over the images with Always Artichoke (a color wash of sorts). The background sky was also aquapainted with the lightest blue (Soft Sky). The house was aquapainted with classic ink, then the roof and bushes were painted again with Craft Whisper White. I then covered the snowy areas with Dazzling Diamonds. The color is just enough to differentiate the features of the card.

This layout was inspired by one I saw on Splitcoaststampers by 'GCgirl67'.

Stamps: Patterned Pines, Neighborhood wheel, Warmest Regards; Paper: Whisper White, Very Vanilla; Ink: Black Stazon, Always Artichoke, Soft Sky, So Saffron, Basic Gray, Going Gray, Whisper White Craft; Accessories: Aquapainter, Dazzling Diamonds, Two-way glue pen, White embossing powder, Ivory Flower Soft, Dimensionals.

And I thought Winter White would go well with an elegant tree. I chose Bride Specialty Paper to make an origami tree.

Edit to add: There have been some questions on directions. Here is the video tutorial I used to create the tree.

Stamps: Warmest Regards; Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Bride Specialty Paper; Ink: Crumb Cake; Accessories: Clear rhinestone, Coluzzle, Finial Press embossing folder, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

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Simply Adorned Gift Bundle

I've had a lot of fun creating inserts for the Simply Adorned charms. The charms, chains, and baubles made the perfect Christmas gift, and it doesn't take much time to put them together. It is always fun to use up your scraps too!

Don't forget about the Simply Adorned gift bundle, part of the ABCs of the Perfect Handmade Holiday promotion, which is only running until December 16. That's right, this Thursday, so don't delay! For $39.88, you will receive 1 x 1-1/4" Simply Adorned charm, 24" chain, and the Charming stamp set, at 20% off! Use the Charming set to create inserts or give the entire bundle as a gift so the recipient can create inserts of their own.

The chain and charm come ready in gift boxes. Tie up with ribbon, add a card or tag, and you're good to go! Below are some samples we created at the recent Simply Adorned charm class.

Just swap out your insert, depending on season or mood.

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Challenge Cards - This Is How We Do It

I have just become fatigued with making multiples of the same card. So I am working through my Christmas card list with challenges. Slow, but lots more fun!!

Some more folded Christmas trees, using Holiday Lounge and Jolly Holiday DSP.

Hmmmm, the next one is not a card. Creative break?

It started with a Blushing Bride 3-D tree and little house made from a 2-4-6-8 box... Well, you need Dazzling Diamonds snow... then I had to create a backdrop somehow... You know how these things go.

Stamps: Lovely as a Tree; Paper: Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla, In Color DSP paper pack, Vellum paper; Ink: Blushing Bride; Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, Pearl jewels, Scallop Trim punch, Sticky pages, Circle Scissors Plus, Scallop #2 die, O Christmas Tree die, Big Shot.

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Bright Snowglobe

Wow, the ColourQ challenge colors this week really threw me. But I was determined to struggle through it.

I finally settled on changing up a card I have made previously, exchanging colors and following the Mojo Monday layout.

Here's what I ended up with. What do you think?

This card could also be a good submission for the Friday Mashup.

Stamps: Sweet Snowglobe, Cute & Curly, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Island Oasis DSP; Ink: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Glorious Green, So Saffron marker; Accessories: Brads, Stitched ribbon, Sweet Treat cup, Buffalo Snow, Two-Way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Small Oval punch, Curly Label punch, 1-3/4" Circle punch, Northern Flurry embossing folder, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

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Little Leaves Christmas Wreath

I've had the Curtain Call challenge open on my computer all week, waiting for me to find a moment to play. I've also wanted to give Holly's Little Leaves Christmas wreath 3-D challenge, over at Stampin' Addicts, a try. A perfect combo!

I applied Craft Whisper White ink directly to the Basic Gray cardstock and also stamped the Woodgrain background stamp in Whisper White.

I also scored the Basic Gray background to create door panels, but it gets lost in the stamping.

Stamps: Contempo Christmas; Paper: Real Red, Basic Gray, Always Artichoke, Basic Black, Whisper White; Ink: Real Red, Whisper White Craft; Accessories: Crop-o-dile, Stitched ribbon, Little Leaves die, Birds & Blooms die, Big Shot.

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Countdown To Christmas: Little 3-D Gifts and Favors

Two weeks to go... the end is in sight! Time to whip up those last minute little 3-D items for teachers, neighbors, co-workers. Here are a few ideas.

I've been playing with the petal card punch again, making Christmas nugget boxes.

These are two Petal Card punches glued together to create a little nugget box (a Hershey's nugget fits inside), and then just decorate with punches. What other holiday creations can you come up with?

My Santa could have used some sponging around his beard. I had limited supplies at the time I made him (and he is a hodge-podge of red colors). Here is a tilted shot so you can see the beard better.

The idea for these guys came from others who have shared, Danee Hoang and 'meandpaul' on SCS. Thanks to them!

Santa: Stamps: Tags Til Christmas; Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Real Red, Whisper White, Very Vanilla; Ink: Ruby Red; Accessories: Petal Card punch, Small Oval punch, Scallop Circle punch, Crop-o-dile, Basic Black marker.

Snowman: Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Whisper White, Basic Black; Accessories: Petal Card punch, Square punch, Word Window punch, Boho Blossom punch, Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack, Crop-o-dile, Basic Black marker, White gel pen.
Here is a little bit quicker box we made at stamp club.

It uses four Petal Card punch-outs. Beth McAlexander has a good pictorial on how to put the pieces together to make the box. This box will fit a Hershey's kiss or other little candy. My hubby commented, "It says I like you, but not that much." :/

Stamps: Cute by the Inch, Very Vintage wheel; Paper: Regal Rose; Ink: Regal Rose, Versamark; Accessories: White embossing powder, Square punch, Regal Rose ribbon.
Tanya Boser has posted several samples of stamping on tealight candles plus a little custom matchbox to hold them. I followed the tutorial on Stampin' Addicts for a three tealight box. I put a couple boxes together for my daughter's preschool teachers.

To create the stamped tealight is really easy! Punch out several tissue paper circles by sandwiching between copy paper. Punch a center hole a few times with the 1/16" hole punch to allow for the wick. Stamp as desired on the tissue paper. Place the tissue paper on the candle, and without holding the candle, heat the tissue with the heat gun until it melts into the wax. Easy peasy!
Stamps: Day of Gratitude; Paper: Really Rust, Whisper White, Autumn Vine DSP; Ink: Really Rust, Chocolate Chip; Accessories: 1-3/8" Circle punch, 1/16" Hole punch, Tissue paper, Whisper White taffeta ribbon, Tealights.

This next one is my favorite submission for the Friday Mashup.
Stamps: Serene Snowflakes; Paper: Ballet Blue, Whisper White, DSP from Country Living A La Carte kit; Ink: Ballet Blue; Accessories: 1-3/8" Circle punch, 1/16" Hole punch, Tissue paper, Whisper White taffeta ribbon, Tealights.
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