Tags on Cards

Of all my Christmas stamp sets, I think I have used the Tags ‘til Christmas stamp set the most this year. The number one reason is to make Christmas tags for presents, but I’ve also have been using the images for cards, such as I did in this card. I used my favorite image from the set – the Dec. 25 image that can be easily punched out with the Decorative Label punch. What’s neat about this card too, is that you could easily switch out the Dec. 25 image for another image in the Tags ‘til Christmas set and create a variety of cards with the same layout.

Stampin’ Cita’s Tips

•  Colors used: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, and Very Vanilla
•  Stamp sets: Tags til Christmas and Four the Holidays
• Accessories and Tools: Decorative Label punch, Scallop Oval punch, Scallop Trim Border punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals, and Jolly Holiday DSP
• Use a 1” wide strip of Old Olive to punch the Scallop Border on. I like using 1” wide strips when I use the border punches to have a bit of leverage when punching the cardstock. The great thing about positioning the border above the DSP is that I can adhere it BEHIND the DSP and position it better.
• Stamp the Dec.25 in Cherry Cobbler on Very Vanilla cardstock and then punch the image out using the Decorative Label punch. Stamp the Dec. 25 image again on Very Vanilla cardstock using Old Olive this time. Punch out the middle of the image using the Scallop Oval punch. Adhere this oval on the Cherry Cobbler image using a Stampin’ Dimensional.
• Stamp the “Merry Christmas” sentiment (or any of the other sentiments in the Four the Holidays stamp set) with Chocolate Chip classic ink.

Hope your preparations for Christmas are going great! Merry Christmas and God Bless!

~Cita

Happy Holidays with Markers

I don’t know why it took me so long to purchase the Big on Christmas stamp set because it has been one of my favorite sets for a few years now. The reason I like it so much is that it’s perfect to use when I want to color with markers, which is exactly what I did in this simple card.

Stampin’ Cita’s Tips:

• Colors used: Old Olive and Read Red
• Stamp set: Big on Christmas
• Accessories: Real Red and Old Olive Stampin’ Write Markers, Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die
• Card base is 4.25” x 5.5” Old Olive cardstock
• Stamp the “Happy Holiday” sentiment on Whisper White with Chocolate Chip. Use the Real Red Stampin’ Write marker to color the letters in the word “Happy.”
•  Stamp the “Happy Holiday” sentiment again. Color the Christmas Tree and then cut out the tree. Use a Stampin’ Dimensional to adhere the cutout tree over the tree on the first stamped image.
• Emboss the Real Red cardstock with Dots by using the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die with your Big Shot.
• Tie a knot in the Old Olive grosgrain ribbon and then wrap the ribbon around your Real Red piece. You can adhere the ribbon to the back of the cardstock by using Scotch tape. Tying a knot is so much easier than trying to tie a perfect bow, in my opinion

 Happy Stampin!
~Cita

Filled with Love

Ok, let’s take a break from Christmas and talk about Valentine’s day! (Which became one of my favorite days last year because that was the day I had my sweet baby girl, Sybella)

From December 17,2010 – January 24, 2010, Stampin Up! is offering a FREE package of Bitty Buttons (a $4.95 value) when you purchase an exclusive Filled with Love Bundle, which includes the Filled with Love stamp set and the Love Patterns designers series paper pack (exclusive for this promotion).

Filled with Love Details:

• You must use the promotional bundle item number to receive the free buttons
• Already have the Filled with Love stamp set and just want the paper? You can purchase the exclusive Love Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack alone for $9.95 (item 124156). Free Bitty Buttons are not included with the purchase of only the paper pack.
•  The Filled with Love Bundles include the Filled with Love stamp set from the 2010 Holiday Mini Catalog (pg. 43). Although the Holiday Mini sales period ends January 3, 2011, this stamp set will continue to be available for purchase through January 24, 2011.
• Promotion ends Monday, January 24, 2011.
• Filled with Love Promotion Items:

o   Filed with Love Bundle contains the Filed with Love Set and Love Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack (Wood-mount 124380, $32.90; Clear-mount 124381, $26.90)

o   Lleno de Amor Bundle contains the Lleno de Amor Set and Love Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack (Wood-mount 124382, $32.90; Clear-mount 124385, $26.90)

o   Plein d'amour Bundle contains the Plein d'amour Set* and Love Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack (Wood-mount 124384, $32.90; Clear-mount 124385, $26.90)

o   Love Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack (non-bundled) 12 sheets total: three 12" x 12" sheets of two double-sided designs in Real Red and Pretty in Pink (124156, $9.95)

Head on over to my website to purchase this awesome deal, and get a head start on your Valentines.

~Cita

Fun & Fast Merriness

When I became a demonstrator I was super excited about the Demonstrator Starter Kit. For just $175, I got a plethora of awesome Stampin’ Up! products valued at over $300 (it was my rite of passage into demonstratorship). One of the four stamp sets I received was the Fun and Fast Notes stamp set. I wasn’t too thrilled with the stamp set at first, and regretted my decision about not exchanging that stamp set when I ordered my kit (which is something you get to do when you order your kit). However, over the last couple of years I have found a love for this versatile stamp set. Seriously, you can make all sorts of cards with this stamp set, including Christmas Cards like the one in the picture. I’ve also made thank you cards, get well cards, baby shower cards, and baby scrapbook pages with this set.

Stampin’ Cita’s Tips:

• Colors: Poppy Parade, Soft Suede, and Old Olive
•  Stamp Sets: Fun and Fast Notes, Tiny Tags
• Punches: Word Window, Eyelet Border, and 3/16" Corner Small
•  Card base is 4”x 4”
• Stamp the Christmas Tree from Fun & Fast Notes on Whisper White using Soft Suede Ink. Use the Stampin’ Write markers to color the Christmas Tree and then use a sponge to sponge a little of Poppy Parade ink on the edges of the Whisper White cardstock. Finish this piece off by rounding the top corners using the 3/16" Corner Small punch.
•  Stamp “Merry” from the Tiny Tags stamp set three times on Soft Suede cardstock using Soft Suede ink. Use the Word Window punch the punch out the “Merry” words. Remember to stamp your word first and then punch it out, that way you can position the word where you want it. Adhere the three “Merry” words to the card and cut off the excess part of the word window.
•  Use the Scallop Border punch to make the border. Punch one side of  a strip of Old Olive, and then punch the other side. A simpler way of doing this part of the card is to use the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch.

Enjoy your MERRY Christmas Card!

~Cita

Sweet Christmas

Break out the sweets and Christmas candy! More specifically, break out the sweet Candy Cane Christmas Specialty DSP. What makes it so special? It glitters! Notice the red bar on the DSP? It glitters. I love it. This pack of Specialty DSP features several glittery designs.  Another thing I love about this paper is the unconventional Christmas colors. I love making Christmas cards that go against the traditional red and green  or blue and white color schemes. The Candy Cane Christmas paper combines both of these traditional color schemes and then adds Blushing Bride to throw things off.

Stampin' Cita's Tips:

• Colors used: Blushing Bride and Real Red. 
• Stamp sets: Teeny Tiny Wishes and Jolly Bingo Bits 
• Acessories: Scallop Border punch, 1' Circle punch, Dazzlin' Diamonds Stampin' Glitter 
• Both stamp images come from the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set, which is super awesome in that it contains so many cute and simple images. Keeping with the candy theme, I used the candy cane and peppermint candy images for this card. 
• Use Versamark ink the candy cane image to stamp a quick background of candy canes on top of the card. 
•  Stamp the peppermint candy image from the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set on Whisper White in Real Red three times. Use the 1" Circle punch to punch out each image and then sponge some real red around the edges of the circle. Add some sparkle by gluing some Dazzlin' Diamonds on the peppermints. Adhere the peppermints to the card using Stampin' Dimensionals. 

~Cita