Christmas Craft Creations October 2023 Challenge - Monochromatic

Hi crafters,

I'm back with the Reminder Team to share more inspiration for the latest challenge over at Christmas Craft Creations.

This month our theme is Monochromatic.  We would love to see your tone on tone Christmas creations.  Thanks to everyone who has already entered.

I chose a silver colour scheme for my monochromatic card.  I started with a medium grey cardstock for my card base.  I added a panel of light grey patterned paper that I had embossed with the Spellbinders Flurry of Snowflakes 3D Embossing Folder.  I used my finger to apply a border of Foundry Wax in Sterling to the outside edge of the panel before heat-setting.  My focal image is from Honey Bee Stamps' Elegant Floral Frames stamp and die bundle, which I heat embossed in clear on silver metallic cardstock.  I used the Honey Bee Stamps' Bitty Buzzwords:  Holiday stamp set for the greeting in silver embossing powder.  I finished off with a large silver sparkly bow and silver pearl embellishments.  

I hope you're building up your collection of Christmas cards and join us for our Monochromatic theme.  You have until Tuesday 7 November at 6pm GMT to submit your entry.

Happy Christmas crafting,

Rachel 

Christmas Craft Creations September 2023 Challenge - Metallics

Hi crafters,

I hope you've had a chance to check out the latest Christmas Craft Creations challenge over on our blog.  

This month we are making projects featuring Metallics and it's time for the Reminder Team to bring you their inspiration.  

I started by cutting a panel of textured matte gold metallic cardstock with the Hero Arts Holly Confetti Die and backing it with green metallic cardstock.  I created three pieces of holly and three berries using metallic cardstock in green and red with an old punch.  To create the sentiment I used the Flourished Merry Christmas Die Set from Simon Says Stamp. I cut the shadow from white cardstock and the sentiment from gold metallic cardstock and popped up using foam tape.  I added Nuvo Glitter Drops in Ruby Slippers to the berries on the background to finish off this card.  

I love anything shiny so this challenge was right up my street.  I hope you'll join us too and you have until Tuesday 10 October at 6 p.m. GMT.  

Happy Christmas crafting,

Rachel

Christmas Craft Creations August 2023 Challenge - Clean and Simple

Hi crafters,

I have super exciting news!  I'm now part of the Christmas Craft Creations Design Team. Christmas Craft Creations (CCC) is a monthly challenge blog for Christmas projects.  There are two inspiration posts a month from the Launch Team and the Reminder Team, which I've joined.  

August's CCC challenge is all about Clean and Simple (CAS) cards.  I chose to use mainly Spellbinders products because they had just shown up in the mail.  I created a standard American A2 card base at 4.25" x 5.5" on white cardstock.  I embossed a slightly smaller panel of white cardstock using the Spellbinders Adorning the Tree 3D embossing folder.  I pulled out my Glimmer machine and used gold foil with the A Merry Little Christmas Sentiments hot foil plate set by Yana Smakula for Spellbinders.  I popped the sentiment up using foam tape.  I used various small foliage dies from two Spellbinders die sets - Joy and Christmas Blooms.  I cut the foliage from white cardstock and inked using paper pouncers and Concord & 9th inks.  I finished off the small poinsettia with tiny dot die cuts from gold foil cardstock.  

We would be delighted to have you join us for our Clean and Simple challenge this month which ends on Tuesday 12 September at 6pm GMT.  A great way to get a head start on your Christmas crafting or add to your finished cards.  

Happy Christmas crafting,

Rachel

Stampin' Dreams Blog Hop - Christmas in July

Hi crafters,

I'm very excited to take part in a new to me blog hop today.  The Stampin Dreams Blog Hop is featuring projects in the theme of Christmas in July.  I love getting a head start on my Christmas makes.  

As soon as I saw the Festive Foliage Background Stamp in the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue I knew I wanted to use it with dark cardstock and gold heat embossing.  So that's exactly what I did for this card!  

I made a card base using half a sheet of A4 Evening Evergreen cardstock.  I stamped the Festive Foliage image in Versamark ink onto Evening Evergreen cardstock and heat embossed with Stampin' Emboss Gold Powder.  I added Evening Evergreen ink to the edges of the panel with a Blending Brush and then adhered the panel to the card base with Multipurpose Liquid Glue.  I stamped and gold heat embossed the sentiment from the Inspired Thoughts Stamp Set.  The banner die from the Tasteful Labels Dies was used to cut this out and then popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.  I finished off the card by adding some Red Rhinestone Jewels.

The full blog hop list is below so simply click on to the next participant, Gez, to be inspired for your Christmas makes.  

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting,

Rachel x

Product List

Festive Foliage Cling Stamp Set [155634]	Inspired Thoughts Cling Stamp Set [155536]	Tasteful Labels Dies [152886]	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]	Stamparatus [148187]
Evening Evergreen A4 Cardstock [155575]	Versamark Pad [102283]	Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder [109129]	Heat Tool - Uk Plug [129054]	Evening Evergreen Classic Stampin' Pad [155576]
Blending Brushes [153611]	Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels [146924]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]

Hopping Around the World Blog Hop - Christmas Cards

Hi Crafters,

Welcome to the first Blog Hop from the Hopping Around the World team.  We are a small group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators from around the world who will be hopping on the last Saturday of each month.  Make sure to check back each month for more inspiration and project ideas.  If you've arrived here from Rebecca-Jo's post, then you're on the right track!

Our first theme is Christmas cards and I LOVE Christmas!  I started making my Christmas cards back in August and I'm still going strong!  I'm sharing a trio of cards featuring the Tidings All Around Bundle from the Stampin' Up! Autumn/Winter Catalogue.  I have used the same layout for each card but the wreaths are all different.  

The first wreath is made from Whisper White cardstock cut using the wreath from the All Around Wreath Dies.  I kept the cardstock in the die and inked through the die with Garden Green ink using a sponge dauber.  I layered up two inked wreaths for dimension and texture.  

The second wreath features two layers again but this time I've die cut Garden Green cardstock for the bottom layer and placed a vellum wreath on top.  I used very small amounts of Liquid Multipurpose Glue to avoid the glue being seen.  I wipe away excess glue with my finger.  A few Real Red Rhinestones would add a touch of sparkle to this design.  

The final wreath was made from Silver Glimmer Paper and the leaves were coloured with the bullet nib of the Dark Shaded Spruce Stampin' Blend.  The bullet nib of the Stampin' Blends are great for colouring onto textured surfaces.  Please do not use the brush nib as this is too soft and will become damaged.  

The card bases were all made from Whisper White cardstock and then I added a Whisper White Stitched Rectangle die cut underneath each wreath.  I stamped in the co-ordinating green using a sentiment from the Tidings All Around Stamp Set.  I used my Stamparatus for positioning which made it really easy to make multiples of the same design.  

I hope you are enjoying our first ever Blog Hop from the Hopping Around the World stampers.  To keep hopping, head to Jennifer's post.  

Happy crafting,
Rachel x


Blog Hop Roll Call

1. Claudiasecke
2. Rebecca-Jo Unwin - Australia
3. Rachel Macleod (UK) ***You are here***
4. Jennifer Downey
5. Mo Rootes (UK)
6. Sandra Herzog (AT)
7. Margriet Siekman - Creatief Marsie
8. Pamela Poli (FR)
9. Melanie Igelbrink
10. Maï Chapelain (France)
11. Tanja Klingler-Selinger (AUSTRIA)
12. Susan Simpson (UK)
13. Maureen Rauchfuss (USA)

Product List

Tidings All Around Bundle (En) [152371]	Stitched Rectangle Dies [148551]	Stamparatus [148187]	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]
Garden Green A4 Card Stock [108605]	White Vellum A4 Card Stock [106584]	Silver Glimmer Paper [146960]	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad [147089]
Shaded Spruce Classic Stampin' Pad [147088]	Shaded Spruce Dark Stampin' Blends [147937]	Sponge Daubers [133773]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755]

Stampin' Up! Autumn/Winter Catalogue Top Picks for 2019

Hi Crafters,

It's that time of year again - the launch of the Stampin' Up! Autumn/Winter Catalogue.  This catalogue sure does have something for everyone.  It features Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and beyond.  To view on online version of the catalogue, simply click the cover image in the right-hand sidebar.  If you would like a paper copy, send me an email with your address and I'll pop one in the post to you free of charge. 

It was super hard but I've narrowed down my Top Ten favourites to share.  I'm sure there will be many more added to this list!

Still Scenes Bundle

Feels Like Frost Specialty DSP (6 x 6")

Itty Bitty Christmas Bundle

Boo To You Stamp Set

#Elfie Stamp Set

Let It Snow Suite

So Many Stars Bundle

Brightly Gleaming Suite

Christmas Countdown Project Kit

Nature's Beauty Stamp Set 

The Nature's Beauty Stamp Set is unique because for every stamp set sold, Stampin' Up! is donating £2.50 to a mental heath charity in the UK.  I'll be featuring this stamp set in an upcoming blog post so be sure to check back.  

I've linked all my favourites below if you'd like to check them out for yourself.  Let me know what your favourite new products are by leaving a comment down below.  

Happy crafting,
Rachel x


Product List

Still Scenes Bundle [153023]	Feels Like Frost Specialty 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [150444]	Itty Bitty Christmas Bundle (En) [153019]	Boo To You Cling Stamp Set [150550]
#Elfie Cling Stamp Set (En) [150509]	Snowman Season Bundle (En) [152337]	Tiny Keepsakes Bundle (En) [152390]	Winter Knit 3D Embossing Folder [150645]
Let It Snow Specialty Designer Series Paper [150393]	Real Red Glimmer Paper [150427]	Real Red 1/8" (3.2 Mm) Curly Ribbon [150426]	Let It Snow Embellishment Kit [150425]
So Many Stars Bundle (En) [153016]	Brightly Gleaming Suite Bundle (En) [153467]	Christmas Countdown Project Kit [150703]	Nature's Beauty Cling Stamp Set [150528]