from my ink pad to yours

Pastel Stars at Night Stampin' Up Card

Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above.  Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris

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I hope you have had a pleasant long weekend with family and friends, shopping, cooking or maybe even crafting!  I thought I'd jump in on the Crafty Collaborations Share it Sunday blog hop this morning to share a card whose pieces have been on my desk for a bit. This particular blog hop is sure to have several surprises if you follow along as there is no set theme and everyone will be doing their own thing.

Back to my pieces, I was inspired to try these in pastel colors by one of Bobbie Hartmann Lemanski's (aka Bobbi Hart) cards on Instagram. 

• Some weeks ago I watercolored a half dozen pieces of watercolor paper by spritzing the whole sheet with water and then adding bits of reinker randomly with my brush.  I tried to keep the color light on this one and dabbed color off with a tissue if it got to dark.
• Then, a few weeks ago I pulled out this one and use it with the Stars at Night Hybrid Embossing Folder, which features a 3D folder and coordinating dies. I die cut part of the embossed piece and kept a strip whole.
• I pulled out some gems and applied some Wink of Stella. So, so pretty but I just wasn't sure how I wanted to do a card.
• Finally I pulled out my specialty papers and voilà! The matte rose gold looked perfect so I pulled out my well loved Celebrate die from the Wanted to Say set and layered it on some vellum and added some skinny strips of rose gold to the edges of my panel.
• I knew I would have to edit down the number of stars so I will probably have to come up with a second card to use them all.

This shot shows the Wink of Stella a bit better. Maybe you've seen the gorgeous Stars at Night Hybrid Embossing Folder used with the coordinating stamp set, papers and other accessories. The papers and gold star embellishments are sold out and the hybrid folder is now on sale for 30% off. I still think there is so much you can do with the folder and dies and it's kind of fun to step out of the box after seeing a set used almost exclusively with an elegant but entirely different color scheme.

Know it's time to check out other lovelies on the blog hop:

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the November host code, C4PB2K3R , I will send you a gift with a make and take project.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

Shop with Me:

Product List

Stars At Night Hybrid Embossing Folder [162006]	Wanted To Say Dies [161594]	Lemon Lolly Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [161671]
Pool Party Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [122933]	Bubble Bath Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [161670]	Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper [149612]
Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [144237]	Rose Gold 12” X 12” (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper [159139]	Vellum 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101856]
Stampin' Spritzer [126185]	Water Painters [151298]	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897]

The Daisy Sketch

Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above.  Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris

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One of my favorite sketches to use over the past few months is one I refer to as the the "daisy" sketch. I originally started using this in 2019 with the Daisy Lane Stamp set along with a large and medium sized daisy punch.  Please note that links to Mini Catalog Last Chance and Carryover lists follow this topic.

This is my initial "perfected" version, after playing with a few different colors, etc.

It basically has:

• a left border that is 1/2" to 1" or so wide with the remainder covered by DSP or a dry embossed piece.
• an approximately 1 3/4" wide greeting panel on the lower 1/3 or so of the card. 
• 2 objects (daisies) on the left of the message and one on the lower right, extending off the card.
• embellish with leaves etc as desired or indicated by the occasion.

It was easy to adapt for a specific occasion request.

I shared this one earlier this fall with altered colors and objects but the same basic arrangement.

Last month, I brought it out again for when I hosted a color challenge:

This is one that I did on a Facebook Live video earlier this month. After the video I decided to add a tiny bit of Balmy Blue Blends brushed just outside the yellow centers, along with a few more leaves...

Here is the video.

On a different note: Stampin' Up! has announced the carryover and last chance lists for the September - December Mini Catalog. Sale prices go into effect on Tuesday, November 21. Many thanks to Michele Barnes and Cheryl Smith for the large print versions of these lists!

Download Last Chance No French Larger Font Sept - Dec 2023 Mini

Download CARRYOVER_US_LG_PRINTMARGINS

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the November host code, C4PB2K3R , I will send you a gift with a make and take project.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

Shop with Me:

Night Divine Trio of Handmade Christmas Cards

Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above.  Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris

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Today's cards all feature one die - the manger figures from Stampin' Up!'s Night Divine Dies along with greetings from the coordinating Stamp Set. Though they are all fairly simple in appearance there are a few details that might not meet the eye so I have done a few videos about them.

Without further ado...

• This is a pretty easy card to do. The "surprise" on this one is that I used watercolor paper instead of regular cardstock for the lightest layer, not for the watercolor qualities but simply for the texture.
  
• Colors are Pecan Pie, Watercolor paper and Crumb Cake with Pecan Pie ink.

 

• This card is inspired by my own nativity set. My mother originally bought it from a gentleman who made it in ceramics at the nursing home where she volunteered. It's very simple, just Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus in the manger.
• This card also uses the Stylish Shapes dies for the circle and the Stars at Night hybrid embossing folder for the star. You could use other dies that you might have for the circle or star.
• I chose the music embossing in the background just to get you humming O Holy Night. See more about how I put this together in my video:

 

• The third card makes use of one of my favorite die sets, Christmas Pinecone. I often use these to turn non-Christmas sets into Christmas cards. I also set my cream colored nativity set into a bed of greens, usually cedar.
  
• You can find out more about assembling this card from the video:

 

That's it for today. Happy papercrafting!

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the November host code, C4PB2K3R , I will send you a gift with a make and take project.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

Shop with Me:

Product List

Night Divine Bundle (English) [161997]	Night Divine Dies [161996]	Night Divine Cling Stamp Set (English) [161987]
Winter Owls Cling Stamp Set (English) [162153]	Christmas Pinecone Dies [156309]	Pecan Pie Classic Stampin' Pad [161665]
Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper [149612]	Pecan Pie 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [161717]	Versamark Pad [102283]
Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [120953]	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [144237]	Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [102584]
Gold Foil Sheets [132622]	Joy Of Christmas 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [161958]	Merry Melody 3 D Embossing Folder [156392]
Timber 3 D Embossing Folder [156406]	Paper Trimmer [152392]	Metallics Embossing Powders [155555]
Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755]	Heat Tool (Us And Canada) [129053]	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]

Product List

Stars At Night Hybrid Embossing Folder [162006]

Stylish Shapes Dies [159183]

Around the World on Wednesday with Traditions of St. Nick

Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above.  Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris

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Today is the 2nd Wednesday of November and that means it's time for the Around the World on Wednesday Blog Hop! If you are already following the hop you have probably arrived from Shel Anderson's blog. Welcome!

This month we have a color challenge that came with an inspiration picture:

All of us are free to interpret this quite liberally so it should be fun to see what everyone else does.  It struck me that there is  some similarity between these colors and the inspiration photo and some designer series papers that recently became available in the Online Exclusives, Traditions of St Nick. My favorite prints are those that are fairly monochromatic and those papers have that in spades - on one side anyway.  And, the colors are fairly close to the inspiration colors so I decided to see what I could do with them.

• I decided that I would start with some outline images that could be stamped directly onto the patterned paper. I had a few ideas and started with the whimsical looking flowers of Darling Details.
• Initially it seemed hard to get the colors to come together but the more gold I added, through embossing and a layer of gold foil The more magic seemed to develop.
• Adding the eyelet like frame, die cut of a monochromatic but highly detailed pattern, seemed kind of silly but it also seemed to carry on the character this little card was developing.
• The other set I thought of ... Birds Eye View.  The birds are stamped, and I'm happy enough with the way this turned out and I think I'll give them a whirl another day.

Now it's time to get back on the blog hop. Next up is the talented Tricia Butts:

 

Jan Clothier - NZ

Leonie Stuart - AU

Rochelle Laird-Smith - AU

Cazz Boylan - AU

Cheryll Miller - AU

Danielle Kassing - NL

Aurélie Fabre - FR

Mikaela Titheridge - UK

Annette Ball - CA

Kelly Taranto - US

Shel Anderson - CA

Chris Smith - US

Tricia Butts - US

Theresa McEntee - US

Lori Willcox - CA

Teri West - US

Cheryl Hamilton - US

 

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the November host code, C4PB2K3R , I will send you a gift with a make and take project.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

Shop with Me:

Product List

Darling Details Bundle [161371]	Versamark Pad [102283]	Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad [147105]
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229]	Traditions Of St. Nick 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [162355]	Metallics Embossing Powders [155555]
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]	Heat Tool (Us And Canada) [129053]	Blending Brushes [153611]
2023–2025 In Color™ Dots [161620]

As They Fall... More Autumn Leaves

Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above.  Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris

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The leaves are really starting to tumble here in the Upper Midwest.  We woke up to at totally yellow backyard Friday at our Twin Cities home.  The basswood tree really let leaves loose after a day long rain event the day before.  So I'm going to need to start playing a little catch up with some Autumn Leaves cards that I haven't yet blogged about.

This is the one I featured on some of my social media over the weekend. It is a "case" of a card I designed earlier with the sweater knit print from the All About Autumn Specialty DSP. 

Maybe you have seen it?

I originally shared it on Instagram before the products were available to non-demonstrators. The paper comes in a pack with (4) 6" x 6" prints of each pattern and this takes over a half sheet so you are limited to how many you could make from one pack of paper.  And then! This popular series of paper ran out before the mini catalog it was in went live to customers. Thus I started playing with alternatives. I stopped short of pulling out retired embossing folders and stamps and tried a lot of things that were close but haven't yet made it on to finished cards.

When Stampin' Up! had a new offering of DSP in their Online Exclusives line I thought this one might be a good stand in.

• I've lost track of how many times I've used this sketch. This card starts with a Gray Granite card base to which I've attached a strip of DSP from the Traditions of St Nick. I vary the size of this strip from 3 - 3 3/4" depending on how stingy I need to be with my paper. Aren't the colors a lot like the sweater print? It is a more elegant feel though and I went with that as I developed an alternate color scheme.
• I have a recycled cello bag full of die cut Autumn Leaves and I had included some Berry Burst because that is my very favorite fall color - what? you don't think it's a fall color? Well, anyway, the Moody Mauve looked a bit sleepy until I pulled in the Berry and the Pebbled Path and Gray Granite colors anchor them all to the card base.
  

 

Gray Granite

 

Pebbled Path

 

Moody Mauve

 

Berry Burst

 

• The In-Color Jute Trim was on a recent order and if you want to get into a meditative zone sometime, just sit down and separate this 3 ply jute.  It retains it's curl, has short fibers and, well, is capable of taking over your desk. If the squirrels in our yard could get after it it would be decorating their nests!
• It's a bit hard to see but I did add a torn edge border of Pebbled Path next to the DSP and the jute goes over that. I juggled it to get the right placement over the leaves.
• My greeting is the first part of a belated birthday greeting from Something Fancy, which I inked with a marker to omit the remaining message I would later use on the inside.
• The dots are from the 2023-2025 In Color Dots so technically they are Moody Mauve but I often use them with Berry Burst. You can see from the photo that they could work both ways.
• So, this card is different - but captures the essence of the earlier card, right? I have another card that is related and I hope to get it on the blog later this week so stay tuned. In the meantime, what does "casing" a card mean to you?

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the October host code, EY7SGE7F , I will send you a gift with a make and take project.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

Shop with Me:

Product List

Autumn Leaves Bundle (English)	Something Fancy Cling Stamp Set (English)	Pebbled Path Classic Stampin' Pad
2023–2025 In Color Stampin' Write Markers	Traditions Of St. Nick 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper	Gray Granite 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
Pebbled Path 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock	Moody Mauve 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock	Berry Burst 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
2023–2025 In Color Jute Trim	2023–2025 In Color™ Dots

Stars at Night: 2 Christmas Versions

Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above.  Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris

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Today I'm participating in a blog hop with Crafty Collaborations.

Grab your favorite beverage, sit back, click through and enjoy!

Have you seen Stampin' Up!'s elegant Stars at Night Suite? The various parts of the suite are so elegant that the cards practically make themselves. But I saw something else when I looked at the dies. The big one with the dots look like it could be part of a quilt.

• Initially it was the large star in the upper right corner that inspired me to get out the Patchwork Pieces dies. I used patterns from the Inked Botanicals DSP, in various shades with the darkest in the center and working out. I think I should try the leftover pieces with the lightest in the center for a different look.
  
• At first I just had the pieces with the star over a navy print from Countryside Inn in the background:

• I thought I could give it a little more balance by adding some embellishments or something and then realized all I needed to do was add some more stars in the various Crushed Curry Shades. Don't the little stars in the top photo add balance and interest?

Of course, I also had to put together a card that featured the beautiful embossing folder that is part of the hybrid bundle and the Shining Brightly Specialty paper. Though some of these supplies have been out of stock, as I write this the paper is back, as is the pretty coordinating navy ribbon.

• This is a top fold portrait oriented card so that I could add the ribbon around the whole front.
• I added 1/2" strips of the specialty DSP on both sides. By doing this you can get 6 of these cards even if all you have is a 6" x 6" sampler piece, which is all I have to work with.
• Likewise, the gold is added in 1/8" strips saving on paper and keeping down the weight of the card.
• Not because I was a total miser or anything but just because I like the look, I cut a piece of Gold & Vanilla Satin edged ribbon in half down the middle and tied it under my gold embossed greeting.  Aside from saving on my ribbon it is a delicate look that I think is in scale with the tiny stars.
• Isn't this a Christmas classic?

Now you can continue on to see what the other Crafty Collaboration Bloggers have to show you:

 

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the October host code, EY7SGE7F , I will send you a gift with a make and take project.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

Shop with Me:

Product List

Stars At Night Bundle (English)	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad	Versamark Pad
Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock	Countryside Inn 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper
Inked Botanicals 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper	Shining Brightly 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper	Gold Foil Sheets
Patchwork Pieces Dies	Metallics Embossing Powders	Gold & Vanilla 3/8" (1 Cm) Satin Edged Ribbon
Stampin' Dimensionals

Wanted to Say Feel Better Soon

Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above.  Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris

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I got out the Paper Florist dies to work on this week's Color Challenge over on Splitcoaststampers...

 

Cajun Craze

 

Crushed Curry

 

Pretty Peacock

...along with some DSP, Dies, and even, yes! even a stamp - on the inside.

• To get started with this challenge I looked in a little somewhat organized drawer where I keep a bunch of die cuts and images and saw a Pretty Peacock "Feel Better Soon" die cut. This is rather a tall greeting with the three words stacked on top of each other. Maybe I could make this greeting work with a Table cloth Corner card sketch that I havne't worked with for a while.
• I started by cutting a few sets of flowers and leaves with the Paper Florist Dies out of Basic White Thick cardstock. There is one die that cuts 4 layers at once, two slightly larger than the other two. Note that I used a lot of Very Vanilla in some of the layers but if I wanted truer colors for my flowers I needed to start with white.
• I applied color to all of the pieces using by blending brushes in the 3 echallenge colors. Even my green leaves use just Crushed Curry and Pretty Peacock.
• Since I was planning to use Very Vanilla to give a warmer vibe to the card I felt I needed to soften the crisp white in the Glorious Gingham Pretty Peacock DSP. So this got a little application of Pretty Peacock ink too.  The plaid still comes through without the strong contrast of the white. I edged it at the top of the card with a rectangle die cut with the Radiating Stitches die.
• I don't use dark card bases very often but I thought this card might look better with a Pretty Peacock border coming from a card base. This way my "tablecloth" was easy to trim around the edges before applying it to the card base. I usually just make these cards by gluing the part I want onto the card base and then trimming away the rest. If I were to make this card again I might mess a little more with theway the diagonal fits onto the card but I do think it's just fine the way it is.
  

Another thing that gets more attention with a dark card base is the inside. I add a regular thickness 5 1/4" x 4" layer. I stamped another large greeting and added my extra leaves and flowers. The bulk in the corner offsets the bulk on the outside so I think it will mail OK. The fonts don't match exactly but they work in a fun sort of way. Here is a shot I took before attaching the inner layer.

I was really pleased with the way it turned out.  With it's large greetings, it's a great card to have in my get well stash!

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the October host code, EY7SGE7F , I will send you a gift with a make and take project.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

Shop with Me:

Product List

Good Feelings Cling Stamp Set (English)	Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Pad	Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad
Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
Pretty Peacock 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock	Glorious Gingham 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper	Paper Florist Dies
Wanted To Say Dies	Radiating Stitches Dies	Blending Brushes
Tinsel Gems Four Pack	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine	Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Kindest Expressions meets Translucent Florals

Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above.  Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris

If you are new to my blog, welcome! I am a demonstrator with Stampin' Up! so 99% + of my supplies are from Stampin' Up! I have links to all of the products used at the end of this blog post. I've helped many crafters get started on their papercrafting journey and would welcome the chance to become part of yours. I love helping people find the right approach for their particular crafting situation!

Happy Saturday Stampers! Today I have a couple of cards that I did for a a color challenge earlier this month. Some of you may know that I am on the design team for the weekly Color Challenge over on Splitcoaststampers. Karen Barber was the hostess this week and these were her colors.

 

Daffodil Delight

 

Coastal Cabana

 

Lemon Lime Twist

Usually these challenges have a dessert option and that week Karen chose "anything goes". So, basically, we all get the extra calories!!! Anyway, we'd love to have you play along.  Anyone can sign up to participate on Splitcoaststampers and you can start a gallery for free so no blog is required.  There is no deadline and you are OK just using the closest colors you have to those listed. Though it the site was started years ago by a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, the people who post there now have collections from all sorts of companies.

Though these colors are all considered part of Stampin' Up!'s Brights family, they are soft enough that I thought that I could make them work for a sympathy card.

Sad to say we sometimes go through these too fast and I do need to replenish my supply. I like to have some variety.   sympathy cards they should honor the memory of the person who has died and respect the recipient. Sometimes somber colors are right  - but not always. This card uses brighter colors to lift spirits and maybe recall happy times. When you have time to make a sympathy card in remembrance of a specific person you can be really specific.

• I used a sketch that I've used a few times before. I think of it as my waterlily sketch because I first came up with it a few years back when we had a waterlily set, with DSP - I think it was during Sale-a-bration. Do you recall this? I start it with a border of DSP along the bottom of a landscape folded card base. I used a diagonal Lemon Lime plaid from Glorious Gingham DSP and blended some extra ink of the same color onto it to subdue its perkiness. Oh, yes - skinny strips too in Coastal Cabana.
• My rectangle layer was started with some soft blending of Coastal Cabana in the lower right portion, then I stamped the greeting on the left side in the same color before running it through my Stampin' Cut & Emboss with the Elegant Eucalyptus folder. This is layered onto a piece of Coastal Cabana and centered on my card base.
• I cut the leaves and petals from the Translucent Floral Dies from our of thick Basic White cardstock, applying color with the Blending Brushes: just a hint of Coastal Cabana on the petal pieces and a thicker coat of Lemon Lime Twist on the leaves. This die set has a few different centers to choose from and I cut some of these from Daffodil Delight. I used a combination of Mini Glue Dots and Multi-purpose Liquid Adhesive to assemble my flowers and arranged them over the lower right corner of the card.
• A little bit of Wink of Stella adds shimmer to the flowers.
• A few Iridescent Pearl Basic Jewels finish off the card. Determine if these create difficulties in mailing. This won't really matter if the card is hand delivered.

A few notes about embellishments:

1. Will it cause problems with mailing and will you want to make accommodations such as extra postage or padding.  You can place a card sized piece of dry embossed cardstock over the embellishments when placing them in the envelope. This can mitigate some of the problems with the postal machinery. Or write hand cancel on the envelope and purchase the additional postage that this requires.
2. And, even if you aren't putting your card in the mail, does it truly add to the card? "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should" is practically a motto for me. Try to discern whether or not it truly adds to the overall design. Often I feel like something is lacking or my card design isn't quite balanced or something. This is often when I get out my embellishment box. 3 or 5 dots often help me put things back in balance or add focus to the message or feeling that I'm trying to convey. But sometimes they just don't! So never feel like you have to incorporate an embellishment.

Oh, my! Let's see if I can be less verbose with this next card. Same colors, but I used the the whole Translucent Florals Bundle.

• These images are truly gorgeous when just stamped and left alone but I wanted I wanted something brighter this time. I stamped the flowers in Daffodil Delight and then added some quick coloring with the same color Blends - very quick, no shading is necessary. I mixed the colors a bit on the leaves, stamping in Coastal Cabana and coloring with Lemon Lime Twist Blends. In both instances I used the light version of the Blends Combo as these shades allowed more detail of the stamped image to show through.
• I created a card base for these images by adding a strip of Parakeet Party (it's close!) Textured Specialty Paper on the right edge and layered an embossed piece (Basic 3D Embossing folders in the Online Exclusives) of Basic White over that butting the left side to the card edge. I added a skinny strip (1/16 - 1/8") of Coastal Cabana where these layers meet.
• My greeting was stamped with Coastal Cabana and die cut with one of the rounded rectangle shapes from Nested Essentials.
• Once again I added a few glitter sequin embellishments after I added the die cut images.

---

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the October host code, EY7SGE7F, I will send you a gift with 3 make and take projects.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the make & takes but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

Shop with Me:

Product List

Translucent Florals Bundle (English)	Translucent Florals Dies	Kindest Expressions Cling Stamp Set (English)
Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad	Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock	Coastal Cabana 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock	Glorious Gingham 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper	2022–2024 In Color™ 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Textured Specialty Paper
Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Combo Pack	Lemon Lime Twist Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack	Blending Brushes
Basics 3 D Embossing Folders	Mini Glue Dots	Multipurpose Liquid Glue
Adhesive Backed Glitter Sequins	Iridescent Pearl Basic Jewels

Stamping Inkspirations Sketch Challenge

Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above.  Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris

Happy Saturday! I hope you're having a great weekend.

Today I'm blog hopping with the Stamping Inkspirations stampers.

This month our theme is a sketch:

I'm never quite sure how much artistic license to use when following sketches. Like the house shaped shape. Should I literally make a house or just use any old shape? While I was wondering what to use for a focal point it occurred to me the little watery looking pine tree scene from Stampin' Up!'s Magical Meadow might work. It's small but is narrower at the top, similar to the sketch image.  Initially I was less sure of how to work with this image as it's a bit different from the more traditional botanicals in this suite. Other than playing briefly with a team members stamps last summer, this bundle and suite is new to me. I was really happy with what I came up with!

• It is rare for me to use DSP in such large pieces but I just loved the uninterrupted misty look that this print from the Winter Meadow DSP has - so I went for it. Besides, I'm feeling somewhat gaga over having Lost Lagoon back in our palette.

• Because of the smaller scale of my "focal point", I took a lot of liberty making my stripes skinnier. I cut them out of this beautiful Lost Lagoon snowflake foil paper (Snowflake Magic 12" x 12" Specialty DSP).
• The pine tree scene has a lot of shading in it which means you need a "Goldilocks" ink pad that has neither too little nor too much ink. It has to be just right.  I keep a few large take out soup spoons handy and smoosh any extra ink down into the pad so that the surface I press my stamp into will be "just right". When you are done spritz a tiny bit of water or stamp cleaner onto a tissue to clean the back of your spoon and set it aside for next time.
• After stamping and die cutting my trees with thick white cardstock, I die cut one extra shape add to the back.  I like to stiffen my shapes sometimes. Sometimes this gives just enough dimension to adhere to the card as is. Otherwise if I do use dimensionals it's just a much stiffer presentation. I used dimensionals on this card.
• My greeting is also stamped with Lost Lagoon on thick Basic White card stock.  To make it really blend into the card naturally I fussy cut it.
• A few Pretty Peacock pearls from Blooming Pearls  Wink of Stella on the die cut tree piece finish this off. 
  

That's it for my creation. Now it's time to continue along the hop. Next up is Annette Ball!

 

Angie McKenzie  ●  Leonie Stuart  ●  Aurélie Fabre 

  Karen Henderson  ●  Jan Musselman  ●  Shel Anderson

Judith Patterson  ●  Mo Rootes  ●  Teri West

Chris Smith  ●  Annette Ball  ●  Vickie Littlewood

Tricia Butts  ●  Danielle Kassing

 

---

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the October host code, EY7SGE7F, I will send you a gift with 3 make and take projects.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the make & takes but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

Shop with Me:

Product List

Magical Meadow Bundle (English)	Snowflake Magic 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper	Winter Meadow 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock	Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad	Blooming Pearls
Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush	Stampin' Dimensionals	Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Around the World on Wednesday: Sketch Challenge

Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above.  Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris

Welcome back to the October Around the World on Wednesday Blog Hop. If you are following in traditional order you are coming here from Sharon Hashimoto Burkert's Blog. I am Chris Smith up in Roseville, MN.

Our theme this month is a sketch challenge. We had two variations to choose from:

 

Since I've been playing around with the 2023-2025 In Color Jute lately I chose the bow version:

• I had fun with this card, especially making the embossed background. I applied Pebbled Path ink to the inside of the Distressed Tile folder before embossing a piece of Gray Granite cardstock. Before it had time to dry much I tossed some gold embossing powder on it just to get a little glimmer going.
• The overall color combination comes from a color challenge I'm hosting over on Splitcoaststampers this week. It calls for Pebbled Path, Lost Lagoon and Wild Wheat along with any neutrals. I think that Wild Wheat is one of the best members of the yellow family that we've had for echoing the gold metallic color.
• I separated the jute into three fibers and used just one of them for my bow.  Once separated this fibers get a nice little "permanent: wave. Note that the fibers are short and it is easy to shred them apart at this stage if you work them too much. I'm sure that's a characteristic that can be put to creative use too!
• Our current mini catalog is so popular that here in the North American market many of the papers and embellishments keep going on and off availability. Luckily these little Blooming Pearls (I used gold here) are still available. I got an extra package of these because they are some of the smaller embellishments and that's the way I like them: tiny!!! Don't the gold ones look great with Wild Wheat?

That's it for me. The next stop on this hop is Brenda Miller. I'm looking forward to seeing what this talented artist has in store for us:

Jan Clothier - NZ

Leonie Stuart - AU

Rochelle Laird-Smith - AU

Cheryll Miller - AU

Danielle Kassing - NL

Ximena Morales - DE

Aurélie Fabre - FR

Mikaela Titheridge - UK

TIna Zinck - CA

Annette Ball - CA

Angie McKenzie - US

Kelly Taranto - US

Shel Anderson - CA

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert - US

Chris Smith - US

Brenda Nelson - CA

Theresa McEntee - US

Bree Renwick - US

Lori Willcox - CA

Teri West - US

Cheryl Hamilton - US

---

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the October host code, EY7SGE7F, I will send you a gift with 3 make and take projects.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the make & takes but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

Shop with Me:

Product List

Autumn Leaves Bundle (English)	Pebbled Path Classic Stampin' Pad	Gray Granite 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
Pebbled Path 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock	Lost Lagoon 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock	Wild Wheat 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock
Wild Wheat Classic Stampin' Pad	Versamark Pad	Metallics Embossing Powders
Heat Tool (Us And Canada)	Distressed Tile 3 D Embossing Folder	2023–2025 In Color Jute Trim
Blooming Pearls

BOGO Fall 2023

Hi Stampers,

I been working all week on putting together a BOGO sale, intending to start it this weekend. Since Stampin' Up! just got in the Trucking Along Builder punch, I decided to move up the start a few days so that you can order this beloved little truck punch or it's bundle along with my BOGO promotion.

Isn't this truck just the cutest? There are so many possibilities!

 

 

Basically you place an order with my host code and get free retired product free from me. I've chosen some of my all time favorites for this sale.

BOGO Rules and Host Code

57 Retired Stamp Sets & Bundles - this list will be updated!

My Stampin' Up! Store

These are just a few of the bundles I have included on my BOGO sale. I'm happy to include extra DSP and card samples as available!

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at: [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the September host code, 9AF9Q32N, I will send you a gift with a make and take project.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

 

 

Let's Take a Walk with the Around the World On Wednesday Blog Hop

Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above.  Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris

---

Welcome back to the Around the World on Wednesday Blog Hop. Maybe you are already hopping along and have come here from the talented Sharon Hashimoto Burkert's blog.

This is our group and where in the world we all come from:

This month our Around the World on Wednesday group is taking a walk! Whatever that means to each of us. It will be so much fun to see how everyone approaches this.

Earlier this year my husband and I sold our downtown St Paul condo and set about looking for something with a little more of a backyard. We ended up moving to one of the Twin Cities older, first ring suburbs, Roseville. Roseville has had some wonderful city planners and they strive to have a park within a 10 minute walk of anyone's home.  I think that may be an ongoing work in progress but we certainly find it true. We are enjoying not only our walks through the nearby, Willow Pond Park but the surrounding neighborhoods too.  We find joy in such gems as the feed the chickens dispensers, rhododendron gardens, book nooks and flocks of turkeys. I love to see how everything changes with the seasons.

Speaking of changes, our weather recently went from the 90's to 50's and we are getting an advance taste of sweater weather.  I think it's also a good time to share some of the cards I've been making with Stampin' Up!'s All About Autumn Suite and the Autumn Leaves Bundle.

I putzed with this first one for quite awhile. It's my favorite print in the seemingly hard to get All About Autumn Specialty DSP and I didn't want to waste the 6"x 6" piece I had after sharing some DSP with my team members. When I wasn't confident of either Basic White or Very Vanilla, I pivoted to our watercolor paper. Perfect! When I added in Gray Granite, along with the new In Colors Pebbled Path and Copper Clay, I knew I had a winning combination.

• The leaves are lightly sponged around the edges with Pebble Path. I think that helps meld the colors with the sweater knit.
• This card sketch is one I refer to as my daisy sketch as I've done it with just about every daisy Stampin Up! has given us over the last several years. I like to think that the secret to its success is that at least one of the elements has to go off the edge of the card. I don't know why that is so satisfying to me but it just is.
• Don't you love this greeting? It seems to bring more coziness to this situation and I just love the fonts.
• Layers: the greeting is over a regular layer of Pebbled Path that leaves maybe a 1/16th" border above and below.  The vertical Pebbled Path is kind of a faux layer. I really just glued down a skinny strip of Pebbled Path next to the DSP. I've done these for years without thinking about my process so I thought it through and made a little video you will see after the next card.

This next card uses another DSP piece with fallen oak leaves. With this one your DSP won't feel quite so rare since it's just an inch or so strip! I kept Gray Granite and Pebbled Path as supporting cast members.

• This card uses the Timber 3D embossing folder. In the following video I used the Leaf Fall 3D Embossing Folder (online exclusives) and show a few of my construction tips for border cards like this. Please note: I've just started trying videos again and I did this one just before we headed north so there would be no temptation for me to redo it. I downloaded it from Facebook and it seems there is some word skipping. I'm not sure that it my northwoods connection or what but I think you'll get the idea...
• The skinny strip of Moody Mauve/Metallic DSP is simply the reverse side of the oak leaf print. eta: While these became available again this week as I expected they are once again unavailable and on order.  This stuff is SO popular!

Here is the other card I showed in the video. I haven't run across owls yet during my morning walks but my daughter told me they saw one just Saturday night on a night time walk.  This was one of my swaps when I recently attended Stampin Up's Backstage.

• This is the un-stamped die cut owl from the Winter Owls Bundle. It has three parts: two detailed wings to add to the owl with smaller wings that could be used alone. The greeting is stamped with Lost Lagoon ink on a print from the One Horse Open Sleigh DSP. That DSP is in the Online Exclusives and is currently available.
• As shown in the video, I just used a skinny strip next to the DSP, not a whole layer underneath it.

 

Next up in the hop is the fabulous Brenda Nelson!

 

Jan Clothier - AU

Leonie Stuart - AU

Rochelle Laird-Smith - AU

Cheryll Miller - AU

Danielle Kassing - NL

Aurélie Fabre - FR

Mikaela Titheridge - UK

Annette Ball - CA

Angie McKenzie - US

Kelly Taranto - US

Shel Anderson - CA

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert - US

Chris Smith - US

Brenda Nelson - CA

Tricia Butts - US

Theresa McEntee - US

Bree Renwick - US

Lori Willcox - CA

Teri West - US

---

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the September host code, 9AF9Q32N, I will send you a gift with a make and take project.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

Shop with Me:

Around the World on Wednesday: Never Ever Grow Up

Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above.  Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris

---

Here we are again with another Around the World on Wednesday Blog Hop! You are at Chris Smith's blog and if you've arrived here via the hop you may have come from Wendy Lee's blog. Welcome!

Here is our talented group:

This month our theme is Never Ever Grow Up. I don't know about you but sometimes, when I'm being creative as a papercrafter I do feel like I've never grown up. That could almost mean anything goes. I do, however, have a project that fits this theme in a least a couple of ways.

Last week it was my turn to host the Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers where I serve on the design team. After a busy long summer weekend with family, I had put together the basic idea I had in mind for my colors: Lemon Lolly, Petal Pink and Soft Sea Foam (Add a blue if you wanted the dessert option.)

Lemon Lolly

Petal Pink

Soft Sea Foam

Pool Party

While it's a great baby card it wasn't quite what I had pictured:

 

• This card was pretty quick to make: the Blends coloring was simple and there was no fussy cutting involved.  I added some texture with the Exposed Brick embossing folder.
• The Pool Party is used subtly in this card: as a thin mat behind the main image, a soft Blends outline around the stamped images and finally an extra layer behind the letters adding just a hint of the shadow.
• EXCEPT that these birds have even more potential than my simple pastel coloring shows. SO, I was a bit of a kid and went back to play some more...

• I added another bird so it gives the impression of a bigger family affair and played more with the colors. The Petal Pink and Lemon Lolly have so much more character when you let them play together! Look how they brighten things up. I think they just look like a much cozier new family.
• You could use the concept of masking to layer these birds and color them before embossing, but I simply trimmed them out with a paper snips and added them on to the previous card, covering the previous versions.
• So, don't hesitate to go back and "play" some more with your card. It's just paper - be creative!

Now it's time to move along the blog hop. I'm so excited to see that the talented Anne Marie Hile is back with us this month. Let's see what she has created for us:

 

Jan Clothier - AU

Leonie Stuart - AU

Rochelle Laird-Smith - AU

Cheryll Miller - AU

Melissa Gifford - AU

Aurélie Fabre - FR

Mikaela Titheridge - UK

Angie McKenzie - US

Wendy Lee - US

Chris Smith - US  You are here!

Anne Marie Hile - US

Tricia Butts - US

Theresa McEntee - US

Bree Renwick - US

Lori Willcox - CA

Teri West - US

Cheryl Hamilton - US

---

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the August host code, 92SX9JSR , I will send you a gift with a make and take project.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

Shop with Me:

 

Product List

Bird’s Eye View Photopolymer Stamp Set

[161436]

Artistically Inked Cling Stamp Set

[154542]

Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad

[147113]

Versamark Pad

[102283]

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[159229]

Lemon Lolly 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[161720]

Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[122924]

Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154904]

Lemon Lolly Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[161673]

Soft Sea Foam Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154902]

Petal Pink Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154893]

Pool Party Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154894]

Alphabet à La Mode Dies

[160750]

Exposed Brick 3 D Embossing Folder

[161600]

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

Basics Embossing Powders

[155554]

Heat Tool (Us And Canada)

[129053]

Paper Snips

[103579]

Around The World on Wednesday CAS(E) a Team Member Tag

Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above.  Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris

---

Happy July everyone! I'm back with another Around the World on Wednesday blog hop.

This month our theme is CAS(e) a Team Member Tag and it's been a lot of fun! Angie McKenzie our wonderful leader, matched us up with someone else on our team so that we could get to know each other better, choose another team member to CAS(e) AND choose a color/theme for our projects. I was lucky enough to spend a little time with Cheryll Miller even though we are on the other side of the world from each other. I'm in the US (Minnesota) and Cheryll is in Australia. 

We decided to case Angie, and quickly settled upon this beauty:

While Angie's card makes use of some beautiful foliage, we decided it would be a fun challenge to try a card like this without using any botanicals and our main color would be the new In Color, Boho Blue.

Even though I love to garden and use flowers and foliage images on my cards, I was surprised how many possibilities I had.  Nevertheless, I decided to wait for for a recently ordered bundle Hey Chuck to arrive just this evening because I thought it would be fun to recreate the border Angie uses on her card with the fence in that bundle. I peeked at Cheryll's finished card and pulled out even more colors and this is what I ended up with:

• I originally thought about using some more of this year's somewhat rustic looking In Colors but when I saw what Cheryll was working on I knew I should create a little more whimsical bird. That's one of the things I love about these cartoon type birds. You can use absolutely any colors you like and they will still be so much fun.
• I added some background interest, as Angie did, by using a plaid mask to add a little Boho Blue to the background.
• I used Blends alcohol markers for most of the coloring but added a Coastal Cabana watercolor pencil to the mix too.  They are fun to use together but I always add the pencil last so the marker tips don't pick up anything from the pencil.  If you think about it, by using both you can get the color blend that Blends are so well known for and then add crisper lines with the pencils. Just because they are called watercolor pencils doesn't mean you have to use water with them. They are great all on their own.
• Since I had already committed to a circle that was embossed with the Timber 3D folder I would have had a hard time stamping the balloon strings so I used a little more linen thread for the strings.  I thought it might be hard to attache them at the rooster's wing but rolling up a mini glue dot made quick work of it. I just tucked the glue dot under the three strings.
• 
  

That's about it for my notes on this one. Now it's time to move along on the hop. Next stop is Tricia Butts' blog.

Jan Clothier - AU

Tatiana Tobin - AU

Leonie Stuart - AU

Rochelle Laird-Smith - AU

Cheryll Miller - AU

Melissa Gifford - AU

Danielle Kassing - NL

Ximena Morales - DE

Aurélie Fabre - FR

Mikaela Titheridge - UK

Annette Ball - CA

Angie McKenzie - US

Wendy Lee - US

Shel Anderson - CA

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert - US

Chris Smith - US

Tricia Butts - US

Teri West - US

Cheryl Hamilton - US

 

---

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the July host code, XAZYE2JR , I will send you a gift with a make and take project.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

Shop with Me:

Product List

Hey Chuck Bundle

[161553]

Beautiful Balloons Dies

[161456]

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

Boho Blue Classic Stampin' Pad

[161650]

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[159229]

Boho Blue 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[161724]

Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[122924]

Coastal Cabana 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[131297]

Stylish Shapes Dies

[159183]

Timber 3 D Embossing Folder

[156406]

Linen Thread

[104199]

Pebbled Path Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[161658]

Boho Blue Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[161659]

Pool Party Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154894]

Wild Wheat Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[161661]

Melon Mambo Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[153112]

Watercolor Pencils Assortment 2

[149014]

Mini Glue Dots

[103683]

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

Basic Pattern Decorative Masks

[150697]

 

Around the World on Wednesday: An Adventure

Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above.  Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris

---

After a bit of a break, today I am back blog hopping with the Around the World on Wednesday crew. If you are already following the blog hop, you've probably come here from Shel Anderson's, Shel's Creative Corner. Welcome!

This month our theme is "Let's Go on an Adventure" so I'm sure our leader, Angie, has initiated what will be a very interesting hop.

For my part, my adventure isn't what you might think.  Last year my recently retired husband and I decided it was time to move on from our downtown, high rise condo for a home that would be a little more dog and gardener friendly. So, in the midst of the holidays we sold our condo and found a nearby temporary apartment that would become our home for 4 months while we searched for just the right place. In March we found a 1955 brick rambler in a very walk-able neighborhood, and in May we moved in and started getting settled.

Sometimes I've joked that we're living in Chris and Kelly's playhouse as it's been a whirlwind of one house and yard project after another, not the least of which was getting my new craft room set up.  After almost 6 years with my 5' X 5' (very efficient) craft pantry at the condo and a few more months in a larger but poorly lit, inconvenient closet I was so excited to get set up in what had been a 12'x 13' bedroom - with windows! Here is one of the more orderly shots before we added some task lighting last week:

It even came with Moody Mauve window shades, especially important on the west windows!

Finally, this past weekend I was able to have "My Adventure" which was hosting some of my Minnesota team members for our traditional new catalog stamping session. It's a great chance to pool our resources and try some of the products that weren't on our own initial orders. This year it was my first chance to do some really serious stamping in months. Here is one of the sets I came up with when I had a chance to play with Layering Leaves and the coordinating Bough punch.

I used the Masterfully Made designer series paper for all of these, actually just a 6"x6" piece of one pattern. I always cut one sheet of a 12"x12" pack into 4 6"x6" pieces. These fit into containers on my work surface so they are always handy to pull out and play with.  One of the things I learned in my tiny stamp space days is that 6x6 sheets take up so much less room on my desk than 12 x 12's. Two of the cards also make use of  the beautiful Berry Burst Soft Shimmer paper. One card even features Glorious Gingham. Four of the five colors in this pack coordinate with the colors in Masterfully Made so you have great coordination between these collections .

• I used a couple of DSP borders with an embossed panel for this first card.
• The greetings in Layering Leaves cover many occasions and come in a good size and lovely font. I used a Nested Essentials die on this thank you sentiment.
• I thought that the Moody Mauve In Color Dots take on the role of Berry Burst very well. What do you think?

• The curved, stitched die from the Basic Borders Dies defines this sketch. I usually cut the layers a little wider than my card. This gives me flexibility for getting the curves just the way I want them.

 

• Finally, I just had fun playing with these patterns. I've always loved diagonal plaids or ginghams and I thought it would be a nice contrast to the pretty little floral print I had been using.
• Once again, I used the Nested Essential Dies for the greeting. I also used one of my all time favorite die sets, Scalloped Contours, for the Soft Shimmer Berry Burst scallops.

Now it is time to continue on to the next blog, Tricia's Stamping Creations.

 

Leonie Stuart - AU

Rochelle Laird-Smith - AU

Danielle Kassing - NL

Aurélie Fabre - FR

Mikaela Titheridge - UK

Angie McKenzie - US

Wendy Lee - US

Shel Anderson - CA

Chris Smith - US

Tricia Butts - US

Teri West - US

 

Blog Hop Links

---

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the June host code, TFV4U2QKX , I will send you a package of the 2023-2024 In Color Dots with a make and take project.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

Shop with Me:

Product List

Layering Leaves Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[161277]

Bough Punch

[157711]

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[159229]

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

Masterfully Made 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[161192]

Glorious Gingham 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[163170]

Soft Shimmer 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper

[161750]

Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Pad

[150083]

Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad

[161678]

Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad

[147143]

Countryside Blossoms Embossing Folder

[161473]

Basics 3 D Embossing Folders

[161598]

Basic Borders Dies

[155558]

Scalloped Contours Dies

[155560]

Nested Essentials Dies

[161597]

2023–2025 In Color™ Dots

[161620]

Baker's Twine Essentials Pack

[155475]

Around the World on Wednesday: Spring

Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above.  Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris

Today I'm hopping with a group of talented demonstrators from around the world. We are also celebrating our 4th year! How time flies!

This month our theme is spring and while I'm so excited to have some spring weather after a long snowy winter, some of our members in the South Pacific aren't experiencing spring so I'm especially excited how they approach this month's theme.

I'm also mixing this up with this week's Splitcoaststampers Color challenge because the dessert option is also spring.  These are the colors our hostess, Jeanne, chose:

Since I had some pretty tulips sitting on my counter I really wanted to find something with tulips. I found them in the Abigail Rose designer series paper. The tulip pattern has a background with Early Espresso so my project ended up having a little different look than I originally had in mind. Since we can also use Stampin' Up! Neutrals this is the color combination I ended up with:

Not exactly a combination I would come up with on my on but I went with it:

    

Hints:

• I colored the designer series paper (DSP) with Blends on the challenge colors: Fresh Freesia, Calypso Coral and Parakeet Party, blending the Fresh Freesia and Calypso Coral like you might see in some tulips.
• I always trim 1 each of my 12" x 12" papers to 6" x 6" because it makes it easy to experiment with on my small work surface. I colored a 4" x 6" area of one of these. Then I trimmed a 1 3/4" strip for the border and fussy cut a 3 bloom section to feature apart from the border.
• The greeting, from Cottage Rose, was clear embossed on Crumb Cake card stock. Then I did a resist by adding Early Espresso ink with a blending brush. The idea was to mimic the background in the DSP.
• I embossed the Crumb Cake layer with the Timeworn Type Embossing folder - again to mimic the DSP.

Even though it wasn't the brightly colored, against lots of white type card I envisioned when I sat down to start creating I really think this ended up being a card that says spring to me. My husband and I are counting down the days until we close on a new home and can get back to gardening after living in a pretty dense urban area for the past 7 years. So spring will mean flowers AND digging into the soil!

Now it's time to move on to the next blog and see what Brenda has to share with us.

Jan Clothier - NZ

Leonie Stuart - AU

Rochelle Laird-Smith - AU

Cheryll Miller - AU

Danielle Kassing - NL

Aurélie Fabre - FR

Mikaela Titheridge - UK

Annette Ball - CA

Wendy Lee - US

Shel Anderson - CA

Chris Smith - US

Brenda Nelson - CA

Tricia Butts - US

Teri West - US

Cheryl Hamilton - US

 

 

 

---

Blog Hop Links

---

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the April host code, TPRZT4VX , I will send you a gift with a make and take project.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

Shop with Me:

Product List

Cottage Rose Cling Stamp Set (English)

[159040]

Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[120953]

Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[119686]

Versamark Pad

[102283]

Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad

[147114]

Blending Brushes

[153611]

Fresh Freesia Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[155518]

Calypso Coral Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154881]

Parakeet Party Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[159220]

Basics Embossing Powders

[155554]

Heat Tool (Us And Canada)

[129053]

Linen Thread

[104199]

Happy Easter Weekend

Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above.  Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris

---

Happy Easter Weekend!

Here is a little trio of Easter Bunny cards I've done over the last few weeks.

I did the first two for a color challenge that I hosted last week on Splitcoaststampers.

I chose three colors: Sahara Sand, Petal Pink and Very Vanilla with anything related to wood as the optional dessert, thinking I wanted trees as an option in addition to woodgrain... I thought to myself later , how silly!  Paper is related to wood so anything goes, right?

My first card started with a Sahara Sand Basket I already had and I filled with with a bunny and eggs.

• The Easter Bunny set will continue to be available in the 2023-2024 catalog. Though the punch has been on backorder for some time but is expected to be back in stock sometime in May. I've done all of these cards just by cutting out the bunnies. Two of them don't work with the punch anyway so I'm really glad I went ahead and ordered the set without the punch.
  
• Sahara Sand and The Basket of Happiness Bundle are retiring. As I'm writing this both are still available. Someday I hope to get around to posting all of my Basket of Happiness cards. I've loved that set. It is so fun to see which other sets it will work with, like I did here. I think Gray Granite will also work for this card.

• This card uses the same challenge colors. Stamping was done with Gray Granite though as I thought it was just a little more neutral than Sahara Sand. Lots more fussy cutting, which I actually find relaxing. Do you see that the Aspen Tree Die from the set of the same name is actually shaped like an Easter egg. I did a similar card to this with a squirrel last fall.

I pulled the Easter Bunny set out again when I saw this week's color challenge which called for Pumpkin Pie, Granny Apple Green and Balmy Blue.  What could be better with orange and green than carrots?

• I slightly curved the photopolymer "Happy Easter" so that it would follow the curve from the Basic Borders die that I used to accent the Country Gingham paper.

That's it! Three cards using all three poses from the Easter Bunny stamp set.  This little fellow makes wonderful Easter OR spring cards.

I hope you all have a wonderful spring-like Easter weekend. We are so excited to see that spring is finally on it's way to Minnesota. It's been a long, snowy and windy winter.

---

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the April host code, TPRZT4VX , I will send you a gift with a make and take project.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

Shop with Me:

Product List

Easter Bunny Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[160272]

Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[144237]

Sahara Sand 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[121043]

Gray Granite Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154886]

Petal Pink Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154893]

Gray Granite Classic Stampin' Pad

[147118]

Paper Snips

[103579]

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

Full Basket Dies

[158679]

Brick & Mortar 3D Embossing Folder

[149643]

Subtles 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[159255]

Aspen Tree Dies

[159798]

Blending Brushes

[153611]

Petal Pink Classic Stampin' Pad

[147108]

Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad

[147105]

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[140272]

Balmy Blue 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146982]

Basic Borders Dies

[155558]

Country Gingham 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[160388]

Lovely & Lasting Bundle

Lovely & Lasting Bundle page 24-25, 2022-2023 Annual Catalog

Download Lovely & Lasting Folk Art Style Birthday Card

Last Chance 2023 with Color Retirements

 

Here are the Last Chance Lists. Note that there are both spreadsheet and PDF versions. I have also edited a spreadsheet version to edit out the French items. I recommend printing in landscape mode.

 

ANNUAL CATALOG

Download Complete 2022-2023 Annual Catalog Last Chance Products_US(2)  This includes French sets/dies.

Download English 2022-2023 Annual Catalog Last Chance Products_US(1)

Download Complete PDF 2022-2023 Annual Catalog Last Chance Products_US

 

JANUARY - APRIL MINI CATALOG

Download Complete January-April 2023 Mini Catalog Last Chance Products_US(2)

Download English January-April 2023 Mini Catalog Last Chance Products_US(2)

Download January-April 2023 Mini Catalog Last Chance Products_US

 

 

Around the World on Wednesday: Color Challenge

Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above.  Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris

---

This month the Around the World on Wednesday crew is working with a color challenge. 

And it's not you typical color challenge!  Our lovely leader, Angie, queried the group about our favorite colors and came up with these.  From this group we have to use at least 3.

 

I can imagine so many great combinations with these colors. Some of my soft favorites are in that circle. So are the bold colors in some of my all time favorite pieces of clothing. But in the end my choices relate to an activity I've been preoccupied with over the last several weeks: househunting.  We are in the process of finalizing an agreement for a Mid Century home and my mind is spinning with decorating possibilities and of course how I will put together a new craft room. Lately I've been thinking that room needs to include a nod to the widely popular Coastal Cabana. It's such an attractive color with wood tones often featured during that era. Thus I came up with this combination:

 

Coastal Cabana

 

Bermuda Bay

 

Pale Papaya

I've also noticed that some of the new Online exclusive dies, Irresistible Blooms have some accent dies that have a little bit of a retro, mid century flavor as do some of the new embossing folders that are also found online. So I mixed them up with another fun set that has been on my shelf for awhile, Nothing Better Than.

• After embossing a quarter sheet of Coastal Cabana with one of the Basics Folders, I die cut the strip feature out of the left side. I set aside that die cut strip and cut another out of Bermuda Bay to set into the textured Coastal Cabana.  All pieces were adhered to a Coast Cabana card base. These gave me a smoother base to set the strip into.
• The cups were colored with Dark Pool Party and Light Bermuda Bay Blends along with the Pale Papaya Combo.
• I layered a Pale Papaya die cut "Coffee" over another one die cut from Bermuda Bay.
• The white circle is punched with a 1 3/4" punch. This will be back in stock again after mid April.
  

I was really happy with retro type look I got by mixing some brand new supplies up with some old favorites!

And now it's time to check out the other blogs. Tricia Butts is next!

Jan Clothier - NZ

Leonie Stuart - AU

Rochelle Laird-Smith - AU

Cazz Boylan - AU

Cheryll Miller - AU

Melissa Gifford - AU

Danielle Kassing - NL

Aurélie Fabre - FR

Mikaela Titheridge - UK

Annette Ball - CA

Wendy Lee - US

Shel Anderson - CA

Chris Smith - US

Tricia Butts - US

---

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the March host code, GUD694SP , I will send you free embellishments with a make and take project.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.        

Shop with Me:

Product List

Nothing's Better Than Bundle

[154061]

Irresistible Blooms Bundle (English)

[161150]

Basics 3 D Embossing Folders

[161598]

1-3/4" (4.4 Cm) Circle Punch

[119850]

Coastal Cabana 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[131297]

Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[131197]

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[159229]

Petal Pink 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146985]

Pool Party Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154894]

Bermuda Bay Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154878]

Petal Pink Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154893]