Believe

I am one of the fortunate ones... because I still believe in Santa Claus.  I have even been fortunate enough to be one of his helpers.  I realize at this point, most of you have already sent your Christmas cards, but I saw this one created by a fellow demonstrator, and just had to see if I could duplicate it.  Then of course, I just needed to share it.  It was made just by using punches: 1/2" Circle, 3/4" Circle, and Curly Labe. The Labels Collection Framelit was used to make the white part at the top.  The belt buckle was punched with the Silver Glimmer paper to give it some major sparkle!!!

I hope that you enjoy this card - and most of all I hope that you too still believe in Santa. I friend just recently posted this on Facebook and I wanted to share it. Because it sums up where I believe Santa fits into the Christmas picture - not as the tons of gifts under a tree, but the true giving spirit and joy of Christmas.

"At Christmas, man is almost what God sent him here to be."  Edgar Guest

Blessings to you and your families at Christmas and for the year to come!

Christmas Flowers?

Well, I just love this blossom from the Blooming with Kindness stamp set. So what if it isn't really a Christmas flower. There are no written rules that say that your Christmas cards must have trees, snowflakes, or candy canes on them. (Though if you want any of those items, Stampin' Up! has them too.)  Once again, I stumbled upon this card when I made one for a different event. I loved the  blossom so much I just wanted to use it for my Christmas cards this year. 

Above is the original card I made while just playing. I wanted a simple card in Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla that I could leave blank and have handy for any occasion.  For the Christmas card at the top, I just added the layer of Old Olive and the words from More Merry Messages stamp set. 

Shopping!!!!

Stampin' Up! just announced their Clearance Rack Blitz!!! For the first time ever, they have even added stamps to the rack, so stop surfing and start shopping.  Some items will disappear fast, so if you have a moment, sneak on over and get your order in now.  www.hilarysmith.stampinup.net

Snowflake Wreath

If you have been following my blog, this should look a little familiar to you. Yes, I told you to keep an eye out for it. Back in November I had a tree decorated with the Snow Flurry die cut snowflakes. I really adore these.   They just feel magical and wintery. These were actually done with metal flashing (found at your local hardware store) so they have a little extra shimmer that might not come through in the photo. However, this would be just as cute done with cardstock.  Hmmmmm, maybe snowflakes and ornaments.....Now where are those Keepsake Ornament framelits.......

Composition books

 

Everywhere you turn - some store is selling journals! They are very popular right now. Step back from the shelf and go home and make your own. Simply pick up a composition book from the dollar store, then select your favorite papers. Add a simple ribbon and Ta-Da!!!! you are done!  If you want, you can jazz it up with flowers and rhinestones. Whatever your style is or the person you are making it for. Write some inspirational quotes or a personal message in the front to make it extra special.

Simplicity

Sometimes I like a very simple card - which keeps the focus on what message you are trying to send.  This was made using a Very Vanilla cardstock base, a layer of Old Olive embossed with the Petals-A-Plenty folder. The stamp is from the More Merry Messages set, and stamped on a piece of cardstock that was cut out using the Labels Collection Framelits.  I really enjoy working with the framelits!  I finished the card with a piece of Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon. 

Skip the Brown Paper Packaging

just this one time, and make room in your life for a new favorite thing! What a cute way to package a gift of jewelery or candy or just about anything litte you can think of. You could even use them for packaging clues in a scavenger hunt to a big gift.  I love the Purse Die Cut from Stampin' Up! Here I have teamed it with the Snow Flurry Bigz die and the Candlelight Christmas Specialty Desiger Series paper from the Holiday catalog.

Don't have time to make these right now? Let me take care of it for you. Just email me at MightyOakStampers to place your order for the holidays.

Your treats just got easier!

Okay, all you Christmas Treat Makers. Yes, you know exactly who we are talking about. And we LOVE you for it. So now Stampin' Up! is making your job a little easier with packaging bundles (20% savings). They include bags, tags and ribbons. Check my website for more details and descriptions. http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/hilarysmith/promotions

Great Teacher Gift

Or for a parent's group, or office swaps - anyone who uses hand sanitizer a lot!  I love the holiday scents right now. It's easy enough to dress it up a little bit and give them as little gifts.  With cold and flu season upon us, who doesn't need or want hand sanitizer?  This one is embellished with an ornament from the Ornament Keepsakes bundle. If you don't have the time to make these this year, but would like some for gifts, please contact me.

Quiet Forest

I love this simple masking technique. This is a great all around card too, just leave the sentiment off until you need a card, then add the birthday, thank you or anything else that comes up.  I made a batch of these for a recent swap with the Southern Savvy Sisters Stampin' Up! group. I added Natural buttons to those cards.

To make the card, mask off the part you want to stamp on using lift off tape or post-it notes. Sponge or daub the colors for the background. Leave it light so it does not overpower your stamped image. Yes, experiment with colors! Then I stamped the tree (Lovely as a Tree set) using Old Olive. After inking the stamp, I used the Early Espresso marker to draw the trunk on the stamp. Then I stamped twice without re-inking. I lifted the mask for the second round so I could have a branch reaching out into the white space.

I hope you enjoyed this one, and have some time to experiment on your own. Happy Stampin'!

Christmas Scrapbook

Join me on December 15 and shock your friends and family.... get your scrapbook done before Christmas!  All you have to do then will be to add the photos.  Class is $35 and includes all the supplies (precut) to make a sixteen page 8x8 scrapbook. For $55 you will receive the scrapbook page supplies, an album and page protectors.  Prepayment is required for this class. If you are interested in the kit, but unable to attend the actual class, class kits including all directions will also be available for purchase. Please RSVP by November 29. This should be a really fun day to spend some time scrapping together.  Class is from 10am to 3pm. Childcare available - contact me for details.

We will be using the colors from the Merry Moments kit - Cherry Cobbler, Basic Grey, Old Olive and Very Vanilla. 

Faith

This was an item I made for a recent silent auction at our church. It could also be a great gift to make for your friends or family for Christmas. Here I used the retired paper from the Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper. However, did you realize that papers last forever if you are using MDS?  With My Digital Studio - the scrapbooking software from Stampin' Up!, you can always print out more paper. Wahoo! Not sure how to make this? Contact me for directions or to schedule a lesson. You can also do this during a Scrap & Yap. The next one is scheduled for Monday, November 26. Check my calendar for future events.

Up On the Rooftop....

Yes, a few reindeer are hoping to spend the Christmas season with you! Aren't these the cutest little reindeer? Easily made with the Top Note Die cut, circle punches, and the Snow Flurry Die cut to make the antlers.  Great stocking stuffers, office swaps, or classroom treats.  If you don't have time to make your own, I am taking orders. Available with Dove Peppermint Bark or Hershey's Holiday Kisses.  Want to make this as a family holday project? Kits are available too. Just email me at MightyOakStampers@yahoo.com for more information and to place your order.

Gift Certificates

Contact me to order your holiday gift certificates. Go ahead, leave hints around the house to let others know that is what you want in your stocking too!  Email me at MightyOakStampers for more information and to get your shopping done. 

Tree Gift Tags

These are little tree gift tags that I made to hand out with my business information and upcoming schedule.  So simple to make using the Merry Christmas stamp from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set. The trees were made with the Scentsational Season Stamp set in the Holiday catalog and the coordinating Holiday Collection framelit dies. I liked it on both the Very Vanilla or Crumb Cake cardstock. 

My First Show!

Sorry to everyone following the blog - I have been bad about posting regularly the past couple of weeks. I was getting ready for my first show which was on Saturday. I had a great time and am hoping to do more in the future.  It was a personal challenge for me. I joined the Stampin' Up! team just a year ago and was encouraged my my upline to make some personal and professional goals for myself. One of mine was to feel confident enough in my work to be able to present it at a show. I had some wonderful feedback from customers and am so thrilled for having done it. Thank you to Michelle who reminds me to keep reaching for more challenges. 

On another great note - I had so much fun making all kinds of treats for the craft fair that I have plenty of things to share with you on the blog. So stay tuned - the first item will be coming up shortly.  Thank you all for making my first year a wonderful experience and hopefully the beginning of a long relationship!

Cute as a Button

 

Wow - is this cute? I had a blast making this for a birthday party gift tag.  I really enjoy the Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo and Certainly Celery together.  This stamp is from the Moving Forward set. If you are not familar with this set - please take a moment to flip to the back inside cover of your annual catalog and find out how this set is making a difference in peoples lives.

Every year Stampin' Up! creates a new set to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities. For every Moving Forward stamp set sold, Stampin' Up! will donate $3 to RMHC. 

A copy of the stamp set is also below if you don't have your catalog handy. 

Snowflake tree

This all started with the bow.... which I stumbled up on in a store. As soon as I saw it, I knew I was going to create this snowflake tree. I showed you in a previous post the snowflake ornament. Using Stampin' Up!'s  Snow Flurry die cut from the holiday catalog and simple roof flashing (you can find it at your local hardware store) you can create some really cute ornamens. On a simple table top tree like this, it adds a nice touch for your holiday decorating. I think they would look beautiful on a door wreath too.....

Another Use for Framelits

This little candy holder is made using the two largest of the Floral Frames Framelits.  The largest is Real Read the smaller is using paper from the Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack.  If you haven't seen the stack it is on page 20 of the Holiday catalog. Love the colors!!! The tag is made with the Modern Label punch and stamped using the Teeny Tiny Wishes set. It is tied off with Lucky Limeade Bakers Twine.  These make great little stocking stuffers.

MDS sale this week!

If you haven't already tried MDS - now is the time. You can take advantage of great sales and free downloads all this week! Don't have MDS? Well -  you can try that for free too!  Follow the link to my website for the downloads and information  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/hilarysmith/promotions

More Single Stamps Released!

Just in time for today's Sell-A-Stamp Spooktacular!!! Stampin' Up! has released more single stamps. Today almost every stamp in the current catalogs (annual and holiday) are 15% off. If you order a stamp today through me or my website you will also be entered in a drawing to win a free gift! So start shopping :o)

 

 

Star Tree

I have been experimenting with possible Make N Takes for an upcoming craft show.  I think this might be my final design. The layer of Real Red has been embossed with the Plenty of Petals folder. The Star Tree is stamped in Old Olive and the 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon is also in Old Olive. I would love some feedback before the show!

Here is another version without the embossing.

Spooktacular Savings!

Wahoooo!!!! Save some time for yourself to do a little shopping on Monday! You can shop directly on my website www.hilarysmith.stampinup.net or email me at mightyoakstampers@yahoo.com to place your orders. Take advantage of this great sale and do a little Christmas Shopping (yes, you are allowed to stuff your own stockings too!)

Simplicity

This stamp set is so beautiful, I thought it could stand on its own.  I think even a single ornament with the words would be fine on a smaller card. Keep following the blog to see if I do that in a couple days :o) Stampin' Up! has done an amazing job with the detail on the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set.  The ornaments are stamped in Real Red and Lucky Limeade using Lucky Limeade and Whisper White cardstock. 

Framelit Window Card

This is a card that I cased from a fellow demonstrator - I thought it was pretty cute.  I love the simple lines.  It doesn't quite come across in this photo - but the red piece is actually a cut out. I used the Labels Collection Framelets to cut the shape out of the card. The red you see is actually the back of a piece of cardstock on the inside of the card that come from the Candelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper.  I saved the cut out and used it inside the card as you can see below.

The stamps are from the More Merry Messages set or the Ornament Keepsakes set.  I really enjoy using the Naturals Designer buttons on my Christmas cards too, I think it gives them an extra warmth.  The button is tied off with Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine. 

Boooooooo!

These were a lot of fun and really fast to whip up. I felt like taking a treat to help everyone through an evening meeting last week. I stamped right on to the cellophane bags (love these at only $2.50 for 50 bags!!!) using Stampin' Up! Black Stazon ink.  I used the Howlstooth & Scaringbone Designer Series Paper with the Scallop punch. The bat and spider stamps are from the Googly Ghouls stamp set in the holiday catalog. It's not too late to get your supplies for Halloween treats! Visit my website at www.hilarysmith.stampinup.net to place your order today.

Spoooky......

Okay, not too spooky.... actually lighting your way for Halloween!  Yet another way to use the Googly Ghouls. This was made using the Fancy Favor Bigz XL and Howlstooth & Scaringbone Designer Series Paper to make the basic box. Then I used the scallop punch for the window. I stamped the bats onto orange tissue paper and attached it to the inside of the box. The glow is a LED tea light. The mummy was stamped onto Whisper White cardstock and then cut out and attached with dimensionals to give him a little extra pop.  The Happy Halloween stamp is part of the Seasonal Sayings set in the Holiday catalog. However - it is also one of the stamps sets that is now available for purchase as individual stamps. Please check my blog for the details!

Help with the Clutter!

No, I am not offering to come and clean your house.  For a lot of us, Fall means school starting. School starting means notices coming home in bookbags. So there I was with a pile of notices on my counter and I needed to get them organized. Quick, run to the office and make something nice to hang stuff on the fridge! These are super easy and super cute! I just added some Twitterpated Designer Series Paper to a clothes pin. I added a little BoHo Blossom punch flowers with a Pearl. With a small magnet added to the back it was done in just a few minutes. Finding the tops of my counters took a bit longer :o)  Go see what you can create today!

C.A.S.E.

You may  have heard me use this term before - to C.A.S.E. a card. It means to Copy And Share Everything!  I was fortunate enough to join two of my fellow demonstrators last week. We each brought a new card to share with the others. Caroline brought the cutest Halloween card shown below with the Frightening Feline stamp.  I just loved it with the rhinestone eyes too! But since I did not have the stamp, when I got home and wanted to CASE it, I just tweeked it to what I had handy. Mine is the one above with the little Googly Ghoul.

Below, my Supervisor Michelle did a beautiful job with this card. The photograph really does not do it justice the colors are so rich. 

 

So once again I CASEd the card using the stamps that I had on hand. Yes, I did have the same Greetings of the Season stamp set (love it!) but I have the Star Tree rather than the Evergreen stamp set.  I was a little stumped on a color combination, so I turned to my handy Color Coach from Stampin' Up! to inspire me. I selected Lucky Limeade, Perfect Plum, and Red Riding Hood.  

I hope that you are finding things to CASE while visiting my blog - feel free to copy what I have, or to adapt it to what you like best. That is the fun of crafting and stamping - we can create whatever we imagine!  Now go get your hands inky :o)

Purely By Accident....

That is how this card came into being.... Purely By Accident!  I love it when that happens.  I had just cut out the tree using the Holiday Collection Framelit Dies, and I put the leftover piece of paper down on my workspace. It happened to land on this other piece of paper from the Candlelight Christmas Designer Series Paper. I took a glance at it and just had to make a card with it. So here is the final result. I placed my "accident" on Crumb Cake Cardstock, added a Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, and a stamp from the More Merry Messages set. This was layered on Lucky Limeade cardstock that I first embossed with the Elegant Lines folder.  So go ahead and mess up your workspace - you never know what you might discover. Just keep Stampin'!

Single Stamps!!!

 

They're here!!!  Stampin' Up! is such a great company!  A lot of our customers had requested the option of purchasing single stamps rather than whole stamp sets.  Well - your wish has been granted.  Stampin' Up! is doing a trial run to see if this is something they wish to do in the future. (hint: if you are excited about this, let them know by purchasing a single stamp). As the flyer says, this is a limited time offer to see how well it works.  We only have until January 2, and at this time they are doing the trial for just three stamp sets. Take a look below and pick out your favorites - and hey, get a couple for stocking stuffers for your favorite stamping buddies too. 

 

 

 

Candy Cane Fun

Yes, I keep bouncing between Halloween and Christmas! I can't make up my mind which cards are more fun to work on right now, so I am doing both. This one is using the Scentsational Season stamp set and framelits to make the candy canes (pg 16 in the Holiday Catalog). I tied them up with Lucky Limeade Bakers Twine. The printed paper is from Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper. Cardstock is Lucky Limeade and Real Red. The sentiment is from the More Merry Messages stamp set (pg 15 in the Annual Catalog) and punched out using the Modern Label punch on page 183. I hope this might give you a little inspriration for some fun Christmas cards! 

Add a Little Fun to Your Phone!

I couldn't help myself.... even if the googly eyes don't work in the cell phone case, it just makes using the phone a little more fun!  Why limit yourself to just cards... look around you and see what you can stamp!  This was pretty simply done using the Howlstooth & Scaring Bone Designer Series Paper and the Googly Ghouls stamp set. The "Boo" I created in My Digital Studio but if you don't have the program YET, you can use the Boo stamp in Googly Ghouls. Happy Halloween and Happy Stamping!

No time for Christmas Cards?

Well, you no longer can use that excuse!  Stampin' Up! has made it so easy for you to whip up some nice cards this year.  Go grab that holiday catalog and follow along with me. On page 12, you grab some of the Snow Festival Designer Printed tags. Then you flip back to page 8 and find the Greetings of the Season Stamp set.  If you want to jazz it up a little more, then peek at the Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stacks on page 20.  I made it even easier for myself by using Stampin' Up!'s set of 20 Note Cards & Envelopes on page 160 of the big catalog. So now that you have your few items - start creating! Here are a few of the cards I came up with....

 

 

 

 

 

I did dabble with another stamp set as well from the big catalog, More Merry Messages on page 15. But just by adding a few ribbons or a flower, you can give some very nice homemade cards this year. If you don't have a BigShot to do embossing, don't forget to check my events page for Open Crop time, or call me to schedule some :o)