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August 26, 2020

How to Play with Spiders ... and Hallows Night Magic

I can't believe I'm saying this but I've spent a very good portion of this hot muggy afternoon playing with spiders...for this week's Paper Craft Crew Challenge.

Here is this challenge, a sketch:

There are many ways that the Magic in This Night Bundle would work with this sketch and I did a bit of trial and error before I ended up with this card:

Here are a few notes:

Do check out the details of these beautiful, if somewhat spooky, images! I used most of the Magic in This Night Suite which starts on page 52 of the August - December 2020 Mini Catalog. The images themselves can be found on page 54. Delicate flowers, bats and spiders web. And what would be more fun than putting "Open if you Dare on the front of your card?
As you can see from my photo, I tried a few different combinations of ink and paper for my spiders. Any of them would work but I really liked the embossed black spiders on Granny Apple Green cardstock. While I used some retired black embossing powder, you could easily stampin Versamark, Tuxedo Black and then emboss with clear embossing powder for a VERY similar look.
While the spiders and bats are fun, it was the border with the webs and flowers that really sold me. This element was so much fun to add to my card and I know I'll be playing with it some more. I sponged on some Smoky Slate to help it feel at home on this spooky card.
While I started out using a Basic Gray background, once I pulled out a 4"x6" black and gray harlequin piece of the Magic in This Night DSP I knew this was perfect. I trimmed it down to 5 1/4" and used the leftover strip on the inside. The Granny Apple Green behind it is cut just 1/16th of an inch larger. By roughing up the edge of the DSP it ended up just a bit smaller to give the perfect hint of green.
And the iridescent pearls! Some are a little more blue, some a little more purple. I chose to use the pearls that had a little more of a green sheen. I used only a small one on each head though you could easily use larger pearls on the body.
It doesn't take much of the Metallic Mesh to add texture.
Here's a shot of the inside:

I used a Smoky Slate liner for the inside of this card.

I don't know what creative things people will be coming up for Halloween this year but I'm pretty sure cards will work in a pandemic so I'm well on my way.

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.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. 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.

Chris

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the August host code, 4EZ74K99 , I will send you a kit to make 3 Love of Leaves cards (You provide the stamps, ink/embossing powder and adhesives. These are designed so that you can easily substitute other stamps and inks) plus a free gift. 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.

Product List

Hallows Night Magic Bundle

[155188]

Hallows Night Magic Bundle

[155188]

Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad

[149165]

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

Versamark Pad

[102283]

Black Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109133]

Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109130]

Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack

[147274]

Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154904]

Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad

[147113]

Stampin' Blends Color Lifter

[144608]

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

[100730]

Magic In This Night Designer Series Paper

[153517]

Granny Apple Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146990]

Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[121044]

Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[131202]

Iridescent Pearls

[153549]

Metallic Mesh Ribbon

[153550]

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

Posted at 06:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

August 19, 2020

Flight of Fancy Halloween Card

Today I have a Paper Craft Crew card sketch to share with you.

I decided to look for greetings with three lines to use for the "red" element and settled on this Halloween greeting from A Wish for Everything because I'd been looking for a greeting to use with this cute little witch from Flight of Fancy.

I've been using a lot of Shimmery White cardstock lately and it really worked well here, complimenting the Black Glitter paper and the glitter in the Black Glitter Organdy Ribbon.
The shimmery paper works well with the Blends that I used for coloring and also for the ink blending I did for the background. I used some makeup brushes to get a soft application of ink in the background.
All of the stamped words are embossed with Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder.
A little of the Black Glitter Paper goes a long way!

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.

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.

Chris

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.

Product List

Flight Of Fancy Cling Stamp Set

[153410]

A Wish For Everything Cling Stamp Set

[149320]

Word Wishes Dies

[149629]

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

Versamark Pad

[102283]

Seaside Spray Classic Stampin’ Pad

[150085]

Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad

[147113]

Soft Sea Foam Classic Stampin' Pad

[147102]

Shimmery White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[101910]

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[121045]

Black Glitter Paper

[153518]

Pear Pizzazz 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[131201]

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

[100730]

Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109131]

Black 5/8" (1.6 Cm) Glittered Organdy Ribbon

[147897]

Soft Sea Foam Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154902]

Highland Heather Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154887]

Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154904]

Seaside Spray Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154901]

Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154885]

Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

[141897]

Layering Circles Dies

[151770]

Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder

[152718]

Heat Tool (Us And Canada)

[129053]

Posted at 06:29 AM in A Wish For Everything, Flight of Fancy | Permalink | Comments (1)

August 15, 2020

Poinsettia Place Thank You Card

Happy Weekend to all you crafters out there.

Today I'm popping in to share a card featuring one of the gorgeous Plush Poinsettia Specialty Papers along with a fwe other products that are all part of the Poinsettia Place Suite. If I could choose an address I think I would love to love on Poinsettia Place. When my Stampin' Up team did a Zoom chat when the August - December Mini Catalog was first revealed to demonstrators everyone predicted these products would be first on my list. My favorite way to decorate for the holidays is with lots of poinsettias!

Anyway, on to today's card:

I took my cues from holly and sprigs pattern in the the Plush Poinsettia Specialty Papers. I colored the back with Real Red Blends
You will want to use a fairly light touch when applying Liquid Adhesive to the back to keep it from peeking through.
I butted the skinny strip of Real Red Cardstock up to the edge of the vellum. Normally I add these borders from teh back but it would have shown through the specialty paper.
The holly leaves and sprig are stamped and die cut with the Poinsettia Petals Bundle. A little White sponging and Blends to the debossed area add extra dimension to the die cut holly leaves.
Just Jade is the card base. I'm loving Just Jade with these classic Christmas colors:

Here is a quick close up of some of the details. I did use a little Wink Of Stella though my photos never caught it.

So long for today. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

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.

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.

Chris

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.

Product List

Poinsettia Place Suite Collection (English)

[155109]

Poinsettia Petals Bundle (English)

[155148]

Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad

[147115]

Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad

[147084]

Uninked Stampin’ Craft Pad & Whisper White Refill

[147277]

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

[140272]

Plush Poinsettia Specialty Paper

[153486]

Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[102482]

Shaded Spruce 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146981]

Just Jade 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[153079]

Real Red Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154899]

Shaded Spruce Combo Pack Stampin' Blends

[147938]

White Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109132]

Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

[141897]

Real Red 3/8" (1 Cm) Sheer Ribbon

[153535]

Stamping Sponges

[141337]

Heat Tool (Us And Canada)

[129053]

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

Posted at 02:51 PM in Poinsettia Petals | Permalink | Comments (1)

August 12, 2020

Boho Indigo Vases

I'm back for a second post today to share a card for the Paper Craft Crew's Inspiration Challenge:

I used the idea of tropical colors and a table near"water" and came up with this:

I've just started playing around with the vases and greens from the Boho Indigo Product Medley.
DSP scraps from Artistry Blooms and In Good Taste form my stitched circle background.
I think my fussy cutting of greetings needs a little practice but it's getting better.
In color 2020-22 Enamel Dots add just a little more interest. That and a little Wink of Stella!

A close up of the Wink of Stella:

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.

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.

Chris

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.

Product List

Posted at 05:29 AM in Boho Indigo | Permalink | Comments (1)

Around the World On Wednesdays: Let's Shake Things Up!

Today I am blog hopping with the Around the World on Wednesdays crew and you are in for a treat as you visit these talented papercrafters around the world.

Our theme is "Let's Shake Things Up! The focus is to try something new. Well, have you seen any of those slimline cards around? I have but had yet to try one. Of course there are a few other things I've seen but not yet tried but when I saw a sketch challenge for a slim card calling for triangles I knew that is just what I needed to try. The sketch is SC814 at Splitcoaststampers.

This really came together quickly once I decided which papers from the Artistry Blooms DSP to use. I cut a 3 1/4" x 8 3/4" piece of the muted pink - mango stripe and then overlayed a 1" coordinating strip over the left side. These abstract graphics are really a lot of fun to use and I especially like mixing up the graphic look of the triangles with them.
This led to a Melon Mambo Card base 3.5" x 9 and Mango Melody to cut out three of the largest equilateral triangle from the set of Stitched Triangle Dies.
I used my grid paper to make sure I attached the middle triangle in the middle of the card and then added the other two so that they the outside edges were 1/2" away from the DSP edge.
I embossed the bold greeting from Ridiculously Awesome using Versamark ink and Gold embossing powder.
Simple embellishments include Gilded Gems and the gold cording from the Forever Greenery Trim.

Here is a close-up view:

Easy Peasy! Have you tried one of these yet?

Now it's time to check out the talented Anne Marie Hile.

Tatiana Tobin - AU

Rochelle Laird-Smith - AU

Mikaela Titheridge - UK

Elaine de Montmorency - CA

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert - 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.

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.

Chris

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.

Product List

Posted at 05:00 AM in Ridiculously Awesome | Permalink | Comments (9)

August 11, 2020

Daisies for a Friend

I just jumping in with a quick post today since I also need to work on a couple of posts for tomorrow... This is a bit of a revision of an earlier card but with current products. I did it for a color challenge I'm hosting today over at Splitcoaststampers and to be honest I was quite tickled with the way it turned out.

Dessert for this challenge is to use white craft ink, which I used on the Dainty Diamonds 3D embossing folder before running a piece of Night of Navy cardstock through my NEW Cut and Emboss Machine. These will be available in early September! I was so happy with the way it turned out. I just gently tapped the pad onto the inside of the folder - on the side with the Stampin' Up! logo. The Splitcoaststampers Color Challenge allows you to add any colors in the Stampin' Up! Neutrals so Night of Navy gets to be part of the challenge if you wish.
I added cut off about 5/8" off one side and flipped this strip over and attached it underneath to provide extra contrast on the white card base.
I used a white scrap for my Misty Moonlight greeting and added a few skinny strips for upper and lower borders. I didn't worry about the strips being even but did pay attention to using the thicker one on the bottom. I tend to like putting more weight on the bottom of an element than on the top.
My daisies from Daisy Lane were stamped with Misty Moonlight after stamping on scratch paper twice before stamping each one on my Whisper White cardstock. You will sometimes see this referred to as 2nd, actually 3rd, generation stamping. Then they were punched with the coordinating punches and layered 2 deep. The centers are colored with the Mango Melody Blends.
I used some Granny Apple Green leaves cut with the Boho Indigo dies. They aren't what I would say are botanically correct but I felt they looked at home with these daisies.
I tried to add some embellishment dots but in the end it seemed that the "flatness" of the white craft on the background looked better without any added shimmer and shine.

Here is a look at pile of color combination pieces I had assembled before diverging on this card. It looks like I have a little more assembling to do...

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.

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.

Chris

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.

Product List

Posted at 10:55 AM in Daisy Lane | Permalink | Comments (6)

August 10, 2020

Love of Leaves Meets a Little Plaid Tidings

I'm joining in on Kylie's Demonstrator Training Program Monthly Blog Hop today. Follow along to see a variety of projects!

A while back I shared a Love of Leaves project which featured inset leaves in Cinnamon Cider card stock. I created another version of this card to include in a little new package that I've just sent off to my downline and thought I might share it with you today.

I've truly fallen for Cinnamon Cider with these lovely Stitched Leaves Dies. (I've also decided that our maple flooring is called Cinnamon Cider. I can never find the pieces I drop on the floor!) This time I tried to emphasize the leather look using a light sponging, not only on the Cinnamon Cider but the other colors too.
The card sized "negative" layer is mounted onto a So Saffron card base with Multi-purpose Adhesive. I like to use Multi-Purpose Adhesive glue so that I can get into the tiny spots. If any areas don't seem to adhere well I go back with skinny scrap of paper with a very small amount of glue. Gently and briefly slide this under any areas that seem to pop up and you will get just enough adhesive on them to get them to adhere back down to your base.
Add your leaves back into the Cinnamon Cider layer using that same adhesive tip as needed.
I pulled the color combination from a beautiful fall colored plaid from Plaid Tidings in the August - December Mini Catalog. These include Cajun Craze, Pretty Peacock, Cinnamon Cider and Bumble Bee.
All of the stitched dies blend together beautifully. This time I chose this longer shape with the graceful curves from Tasteful Labels. It would accommodate any of the greetings and allows to add a healthy dose of the warmly colored Bumble Bee.
The little flags in the lower right are also cut from one little Tasteful Labels die which was trimmed in half after die-cutting. I often say that DSP still makes a significant contribution to a card even if it used as more of an seasoning than a major ingredient.
The Cinnamon Cider enamel dots emphasize the greeting.

Here is a close up of some of the details:

One more view:

Now it's time to check out the other lovelies...

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.

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.

Chris

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.

Product List

Posted at 04:59 PM in Love of Leaves | Permalink | Comments (10)

August 05, 2020

Harvest Hello Get Well Card

It's time for another challenge with the Paper Craft Crew. It's kind of like a twist on last week - but this time I didn't interpret the sketch quite so literally.

Much as I love my Stitched Triangle dies I thought I should change it up a bit this time...and get out Harvest Hellos.

Maybe you recall that I have a soft spot for diagonal borders so as I leafed through my Plaid Tidings DSP (new in the August - December 2020 Mini Catalog!) I knew I would do a Cherry Cobbler colored apple because this crisp Cobbler and white plaid would make such a great edge. I cut out a Stitched Rectangle piece from the 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" A2 sized piece so that I wouldn't waste the piece that would be hiding behind the other layers.
I played a bit with white and Crumb Cake backgrounds for the apple itself and then ended up using them both by applying Whisper White craft ink to my Brick & Mortar 3D embossing folder before embossing the Crumb Cake cardstock.
The big apple was colored first with Blends: Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Granny Apple Green, Shaded Spruce, Crumb Cake and So Saffron. Striations - or the sublte striping on the apple peel were done with a Dark Mango Melody Blends.
Though these words are stacked on the stamp that is part of the Harvest Hellos set, I cut them apart so that I could use them on the skinny strip part of the sketch challenge. I think that works pretty well with the typeset style font.
The smaller apple piece is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

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.

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.

Chris

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.

Product List

Posted at 06:29 AM in Harvest Hellos | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 03, 2020

How to Make a Quick Snowflake Wishes Christmas Card

We're almost there! The August - December 2020 Mini Catalog will go live tomorrow, August 4! How about welcoming it with a very simple, quick card with the Snowflake Wishes Bundle?

My colors for this card were chosen by Barbara, who is this week's color challenge hostess over at Splitcoaststampers:

Crumb Cake

Real Red

Whisper White

My first inclination was to go for a red poinsettia, but I've been using that quite a bit lately. Then I thought about the snowflakes and I couldn't believe how fast this came together.

This card is made pretty much the way it looks. You could just cut a 2" or so Real Red square but I really like the homespun stitched effect from Stitched Shapes. I think it looks great with these colors.
You could layer snowflakes - about 3 - but if you want to mass produce this for lots of cards I recommend just using 1 layer of Whisper White Thick cardstock. The only real trick I have to share here is to set your snowflake back into the negative you cut it from, turn it upside down, and lightly sponge Multipurpose Adhesive onto it. Carefully place this on your square. The Multipurpose Adhesive will give you a few seconds to adjust your snowflake to make sure it is straight.
Ink your greeting with Versamark, add White Emboss Powder to the stamped image and heat until shiny. Easy Peasy!

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.

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.

Chris

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.

Product List

$55.75

$9.50

$6.00

$30.00

$8.75

$8.25

$8.75

$30.00

$4.00

$4.00

$94.75

Posted at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

August 01, 2020

A Few More Leaves From Love of Leaves

We are only a few more days away from the August - December 2020 Mini Catalog going live! Those beautiful die cut leaves a showed a few days ago will be featured in there and I thought I would hop on today since I have another Love of Leaves card that I think you will like.

This card features a number of accessories from this new mini catalog:

I pulled my color scheme from the foil embellished Specialty Designer Series Paper, Gilded Autumn. This piece has diagonal gold foil markings with Mint Macaron - not your typical fall color but oh, so elegant!
One of the patterns from the Wrapped in Texture Embossing folders lends interest to the Very Vanilla Layer
I used the gold (lightest) color from the Brushed Metallic Cardstock for a skinny layer between the Vanilla and DSP and also for the little leaf die cut with the stitched piece is place. I use a post it to keep these outline and stitch dies together. You can use the inner die to just cut the stitches in the leaf shape or combine them. If you haven't seen my earlier card which shows this done as a background please check that out here.
The larger (gingko?) shaped leaf is die cut from Mint Macaron cardstock, again with the stitched die held in place with the post it. I sponged this shape lightly with Versamark ink before dusting it with gold embossing powder and heating it, giving kind of a verdi gris look.
I wanted to keep the ribbon light looking so I cut the finished edge from a 6" section of Mint Macaron Basketweave ribbonand pulled off some individual threads. I added the skinny edge I'd just cut off to these and used them to tie a knot and attached them ot the stems of my leaves.
A gold embossed greeting with Gilded Gems from the Ornate Garden Suite add a few more touches of gold.

Here is a close-up of some of the details:

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.

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.

Chris

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.

Product List