AWH Heart of Christmas - #10

Christmas with Noel Greetings

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the tenth Art with Heart Team Heart of Christmas Blog Hop for 2026. We are sharing Christmas inspiration each Monday evening until the end of November. I do hope you will check us out as often as you can.

This week's card is an alternative to one of the cards in October's Paper Pumpkin Kit. This is a wonderful kit that makes 5 card each of the 2 different designs. Each of the designs are lovely as is. Having said that, it is always fun to create alternatives. I have used a number of the kit's bits and pieces for my card and altered other aspects. Here is the card with the Kit's instruction sheet to show the kit cards.

The background on the card was one of the kit's card bases. I have only used half of the base and mounted it onto Basic Beige and Basic White card-stocks before being mounted onto a Basic Beige card base. The mounting enabled an imperial sized card to be converted to a metric sized card - the latter being the standard size we use in Australia.

The background is a beautiful design, perfect for the oval label. Some light brown jute from the Neutrals Jute Combo Pack was twisted and adhered to the edge of the label with Glue Dots. The tree near the house and trees across the background was cut from a Mossy Meadow background piece from the kit using a pack of dies - the Layered Tags Dies - that are designed to coordinate with this and the next two Paper Pumpkin Kits. The dies can only be purchased by folk who have subscribed for Paper Pumpkin. They are great for alternatives.

The sentiment was White heat embossed onto a scrap of Real Red card-stock and trimmed down. The kit includes a background layer with a decorative edge. Part of the edge of a decorative kit layer was cut away and tucked under the sentiment. Pine sprigs (from the kit) were stamped onto Basic White in Mossy Meadow ink (from the kit) and tucked under the left edge of the sentiment.

A few Basic Rhinestone Jewels were coloured with a Dark Real Red Stampin' Blend before being added as "berries". The stars in the sky and for the large tree were cut from Gold Foil.

A Basic White panel was added inside the card for writing a personal message. The tree stamp from the kit was repeatedly stamped in Mossy Meadow ink across the bottom of the insert.  A Basic White C6 envelope was also stamped in Mossy Meadow, but with the pine sprig stamp from the kit.

Thank you so much for dropping in to check out my alternative Paper Pumpkin Christmas card. I hope you have found some inspiration for Christmas creating.

PS. My plan to create 3 cards with a similar layout but different colours and focal points needed to be put on hold. I was starting to create the 3 cards but then realised that I wouldn't get them finished in time to photograph and include in this blog. Here is a sneak peak of the card backgrounds. Come back next week to see the finished cards.

There is more Christmas creativity, so do continue with this blog hop. Just click on the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of the amazing Kate Morgan. I always look forward to checking out Kate’s creation(s). I do love seeing everyone’s' projects - there is so much Christmas inspiration.

Also, many of us participate in the Colour Creations InstaHop that goes live every Wednesday night on Instagram where we showcase one of Stampin’ Up!s colours each week. This week we are hero-ing Gray Granite, a warm grey. We would love you to check in on us for more creative inspiration.

Stay well, stay safe and be kind to yourself.

Andrea 💕🐾

If you find a broken link or would like to view the full list of participants go to Sharon Davern’s blog @ Rhapsody in Craft. Sharon is our amazing Art With Heart Team Heart of Christmas Coordinator.  Check out her delightful creation while you are there.

If you live in Australia, don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like your own copy of the Stampin' Up 2026 September-December 2026 Catalogue, then let me know and I will be delighted to send it to you.  Please don't hesitate to make contact with any queries about this project or Stampin' Up!. 

#heartofchristmas  #heartofchristmas2026 #stampinup #stam  #papercrafting #artwithheartteam  #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations   #artisandesignteam  #artisandesignteam2026  #paperpumpkin  #noelgreetings

CASEing the Catty #595 - CASE the November Online Exclusives

CASE Stampin’ Up!s November Online Exclusives meets Cottage Kindness, Detailed Wreaths Accents +

Hello, welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea & #595 Challenge with CASEing the Catty.

I am so glad you have dropped by. You may have come from Julia Quinn , as you take this week’s Blog Hop or perhaps arrived directly here; either way I am delighted you are here. At the end of my blog, I have linked to Peta Stephen so you can continue with this Blog Hop.

At CASEing the Catty we love to use the samples from the Stampin' Up! Catalogues as inspiration and each week we have a different theme to guide our CASEing. To CASE is to "Copy And Selectively Edit" or some say "Copy And Share Everything". 

This week we are CASE-ing the projects found on the official Stampin' Up! web site for the November Online Exclusives.

Here is the card I CASED. The card was created to showcase the Cottage Kindness bundle. Some of the dies in this bundle are Impressions dies where The die and cardstock are passed through the Cut 'n Emboss machine with an Impressions Plate. Seeing this sample I wanted to try out the new frame from the dies and the way some Designer Series Paper was added over the centre section within the frame. As such I CASEd the layout and use of the same frame die. However, the wreath I added is from a different product, my colours and DSP are quite different as well. Also, I am still in Christmas card making mode so my card is to send to a friend for Christmas.

The Designer Series Paper I chose was the Whispering Woods DSP. A portion of the payment for this pack goes towards nominated charities. I love the way the sales of packets purchased in Australia goes to an Australian charity - which means charities around the world are benefiting from sales of this paper.

I stayed with the colours of the DSP for my colour scheme, apart from the addition of a few little flowers.

My wreath is from the Detailed Wreaths Accents. There are so many different laser cut wreaths in the pack. I chose a wreath with similar leaves to those on the DSP. The wreath was coloured with Pretty Peacock, Shaded Spruce and a little Garden Green Classic inks to coordinate with the DSP. Inks were applied with Blending Brushes. Behind the wreath is a Basic White wreath die cut using the oval-ish die from the NOEL Tidings dies.

The sentiment also sits inside the wreath. It comes from the Pretty Poinsettia stamp set. Some of the White Textured ribbon was cut in two lengthwise and one piece frayed to have fine thread and part ribbon to tie a bow. A few Adhesive-backed Faceted Dots were sprinkled around the wreath. I love these embellishments.

The inside of the card was simply decorated with a left over piece of DSP and another sentiment from the Pretty Poinsettia stamps. Pretty Peacock Stampin' Blends were used to colour "JOY". A C6 Basic White envelope was also decorated with coordinating DSP - it was adhered to the flap.

Thank you so much for dropping by to see how I interpreted this weeks Challenge. I do appreciate you calling in.

Don’t miss any of the inspiration from this creative CASEing The Catty Crew. The next blog in the hop is by the lovely Peta Stephen. Just click on the "next" graphic below to be taken to her blog. I wonder which project she has CASEd - I am sure her project will be something special.

Join In The Challenge: We would love you to share a project that you have created for this Challenge which has been inspired by the November Online Exclusives releases. To share, all you need to do is go to the CASEing The Catty Challenge Group on Facebook. If you aren't a member, it’s easy to request to join and once anpproved, all you need to do is upload a photo of your project to the main section. You can click on the graphic below to be taken to the group on Facebook. We would so love to see your creation.

 

#ctc595 #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations  #cottagekindness  #noeltidings #prettypoinsettia  #caseingthecatty #artisandesignteam2026  #artisandesignteam

AWH Heart of Christmas - #9

Christmas with A Little Christmas

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the ninth Art with Heart Team Heart of Christmas Blog Hop for 2026. We are sharing Christmas inspiration each Monday evening until the end of November. I do hope you will check us out as often as you can.

My week has again been filled with commitments, and time disappeared when it came to creating for this Blog Hop. Monday comes around so quickly. Then I remembered that I had already fussy cut images from the oh so cute A Little Christmas designer series paper. The pack contains a number of sheets that are wonderful for fussy cutting, including carolling mice (you may remember a previous post), cooking preparation and putting up Christmas decorations - that's the one used this week. The pack also includes a range of background designs. It is a fun pack to help with Christmas card making.

The colours used came from the DSP design, especially Very Vanilla, Mossy Meadow & Basic White. The background is a panel of Very Vanilla cardstock mounted on a slightly larger panel of Mossy Meadow cardstock. A small piece of the lightest Wood Grain Wonders Designer Series Paper was used to create a sense of a floor. A little Golden Glow ink blending was added to give a sense of cosy light and some Basic Beige ink stamped starbursts added a little texture.

As mentioned, a number of images had been fussy cut from one of the designs from A Little Christmas Designer Series Paper. They were arranged to create a little story and then adhered flat with Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue or popped up with Dimensionals.

The sentiment is from the coordinating Christmas Mice stamp set. It was White heat embossed onto Mossy Meadow cardstock the fussy cut before being added to the card with Mini Dimensionals. A Linen Twine bow was tucked under the sentiment and a few red sequins from the Adhesive-backed Sparkle Sequins were sprinkled around. I couldn't resist adding a little splatter of Wink of Stella to add some extra Christmas sparkle.

Open the card to find a little pop up mouse (fussy cut from the DSP) running with presents. The card inner started with a couple of small Mossy Meadow panels adhered at each end and a Basic White cardstock inner adhered to span the card inner, with a small section cut at the centre fold to pop up when the card opens. The fussy cut image was adhered to the pop up section. There is plenty of room to write your personal message. A C6 Basic White envelope had a partial fussy cut image adhered in place. It was taken from the edge of the DSP.

Thank you so much for dropping in to check out my Christmas card. I hope you have found some inspiration for Christmas creating.

There is more Christmas creativity, so do continue with this blog hop. Just click on the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of the lovely Kate Morgan. I always look forward to checking out Kate’s creation(s). I do love seeing everyone’s' projects - there is so much inspiration.

Also, many of us participate in the Colour Creations InstaHop that goes live every Wednesday night on Instagram where we showcase one of Stampin’ Up!s colours each week. This week we are highlighting Granny Apple Green. We would love you to check in on us for more creative inspiration.

Stay well, stay safe and be kind to yourself.

Andrea 💕🐾

If you find a broken link or would like to view the full list of participants go to Judy May's blog @ Just Judy Designs.  Judy is coordinating the Blog Hop while Sharon is away. Check out her delightful creation while you are there.

If you live in Australia, don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like your own copy of the Stampin' Up 2026 September-December Catalogue, then let me know and I will be delighted to send it to you.  Please don't hesitate to make contact regarding any queries about this projects or Stampin' Up!. 

#heartofchristmas  #heartofchristmas2026 #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #artwithheartteam  #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations   #artisandesignteam2026  #alittlechristmas #stampinup

Be Inspired - October 2026 - Die Cutting

Be Inspired Design Team Blog Hop

FEATURING DIE-CUTTING

Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the October Be Inspired Blog Hop where we are focusing on projects that feature Die Cutting. However you have arrived here, whether from Melanie Hockin or directly here, I am so delighted that you are here.

As I was contemplating what sot of project would best display die cutting, my mind immediately went to the gorgeous Pretty Poinsettia dies that coordinate with the Impressions Plate, (which is what I see as a squishy mat). These dies not only cut out shapes but, combined with the Impressions Plate, give the die cut pieces extra dimension. I also thought of anther newish product to Stampin’ Up! - the hot foil machine that requires specific "dies" to use with the hot foil machine to add foil to your projects. I have used both new types of dies together with standard dies when creating my Christmas card. Here it is:

On the weekend I attended a Stampin' Up! event which was the first Stampin' Up! event in Adelaide for a long long time. Checking out the display I was taken by some beautiful pink and Basic Beige cards. I loved the colour combo so decided to use a similar combination but added some gold touches. The colours used here are Barely Blush, Flirty Flamingo, Basic Beige, Gold and White Willow.

The background was created with Barely Blush Two-Tone cardstock and the Swiss Dots Hot Foil die, together with Gold Foil.

The sentiment was also Hot Foiled on Barely Blush Two-tone cardstock and the Magical Christmas Hot Foil dies. This die is a-maz-ing.  As you progress through the Hot Foil process and then use the traditional die cut to create multiple sentiments in one go. Apart from using another sentiment inside the card, I am left with a number of sentiments for other Christmas cards. It is soooo satisfying.

As mentioned in the intro, the poinsettias and leaves were die cut using the Pretty Poinsettia dies on watercolour paper. The flowers were water-coloured with Flirty Flamingo Classic ink and the leaves with Basic Beige ink.

Some White Textured ribbon was tied around the centre panel before it was popped up on Dimensionals. Some new Pearl Adhesive-backed Faceted Dots were sprinkled around. They are gorgeous and similar to an embellishment from a few years ago. The final touch - a splattering of Barely Blush Shimmer Brush.

The card inner is fairly simple with one of the hot foil sentiments, a left over strip of the Swiss Dots background and the left over Basic Beige leaves.

Thank you so much for dropping by on your way around the Be Inspired Die Cutting Blog Hop.

I am really looking forward to seeing what everyone else has created for this Die Cutting Blog Hop.  Next in line is the amazing Angela Meiritz-Reid. Just click on the "Next" graphic below to head over to Angela’s blog.

The full list of those participating in this Blog Hop is:

Andrea Sargent <you are here

Angela Meiritz-Reid

Annette Ball

Annette Elias

Brian King

Emma Goddard

Maheswari Rajaguru 

Melanie Hockin

The list of Be Inspired Design Team Members hopping over on Instagram this month are:

Andrea Sargent @andreaksargent

Angela Meiritz-Reid @stampingbeautynz

Annette Ball @stampinwiththebees05

Annette Elias @de_kijkkast

Emma Goddard @coastalcrafter

Jaqueline Tobiczyk @touchofjoycs

Maheswari Rajaguru @maheswarirajaguru

Melanie Hockin @melsinkyfingers

#instahop #cardmakersofinstagram #stampinupaustralia #ADT2026 #artisandesignteam2026 #stampinupdemonstrator #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupofficial #InstaHop #valleyinspirationswithandrea #beinspired