AWH Heart of Christmas #13

Christmas with Handcrafted Elements

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the 13th Art with Heart Heart of Christmas Blog Hop for 2023.

This week I am showcasing the Handcrafted Elements dies with 2 different Christmas cards. 

Looking at the cards created for the Heart of Christmas Blog Hops recently I realised that I must be in my “Blue Period”, that is, nearly all of the cards included blues, whether light or dark and perhaps some greens, teals or mauves. I determined that I would use traditional Christmas reds and greens this week.

CARD 1

I had a couple of ideas to use stripes with the Handcrafted Elements die cut bauble. This is one to add stripes to part of the bauble. Some thin strips of a number of designs from the Joy of Christmas Designer Series Paper were cut and then adhered to a piece of Basic White card-stock. The bauble die was cut from a piece of Basic White card-stock and the oval die was used to include some of the striped area. Also a panel of red DSP from the Joy of Christmas DSP was adhered to the front of the card base.

A Deckled Rectangle die was used to cut a panel of Basic White card-stock. Some Shimmery Embossing Paste was applied diagonally over one of the Foursquare Decorative Masks. This was left to dry while some holly leaves from the Joy of NOEL stamp set were stamped in Shaded Spruce Classic Stampin’ ink. The holly was coloured using a Blender Pen and colour was drawn from the stamped image. The images were die cut using the coordinating dies and some pine needles were also die cut from Basic White card-stock.

The sentiment was silver embossed, using one word from the Joy of NOEL stamps and one from the Christmas Classics stamps. These stamp set were designed to intermingle. The words were fussy cut. The bauble pieces were adhered together with Mini Dimensionals and it was adhered directly over the embossed paste. The pine was coloured with some Old Olive ink and a Blending Brush.

All the pieces were arranged around the white bauble and the sentiment adhered across the base of the bauble and some Mini Dimensionals were added to firm parts of the sentiment that hung off the bauble. some of the red Loose Holly Gems & Sequins were scattered around. A double bow of White & Silver Sheer Ribbon (that had been cut in half lengthwise) was added with Glue Dots.

The Basic White card inner was stamped in Shaded Spruce ink with a different sentiment from the Christmas Classics stamps and some holly (from the same stamp set) was second generation stamped along one side. A thin strip of DSP - the same as the card background, was adhered down one side. A C6 Basic White envelope was similarly stamped down one side with the holly and Shaded Spruce ink.

CARD 2

The die cut bauble from the Handcrafted Elements dies seemed perfect for a shaker card using the Loose Holly Gems & Sequins. The bauble die was used to cut Gold Foil and a number of times in Basic White card-stock. The what baubles were layered one over the other finishing with the Gold Foil die cut. This gave solid dimension. NOEL was cut from Basic White card-stock with a layer of Foam Adhesive Sheet underneath. 

A large oval was die cut from a piece of Basic White card-stock. The larger oval die with intricate leaves was used to cut the oval. This panel was dry embossed with the Merry Melody 3D Embossing Folder. As I didn’t want the embossing to overpower the decorative design but to just add some subtle texture, this panel was just run through the Cut ‘n Emboss Machine to soften the image. 

Window Sheet was adhered under the oval hole and then Adhesive Strips were added on the back around the hole. A little bit of mottled Lost Lagoon DSP from the Winter Meadows DSP was a very subtle background to the shaker section. All the layers were adhered in place to form the shaker part of the card.

Some Shaded Spruce splattering was added with a Shaded Spruce Stampin’ Write Marker. The bauble sections and NOEL were adhered over the Window Sheet with Multi-purpose Liquid Glue. Some shaded spruce holly leaves that were created at the same time of the leaves described above for the first card were added with a couple of holly gems. Red gems also from the Assorted Holly Gems & Sequins were added to the holly leaves and more were scattered around. A double bow of Gold Elegant Trim with a bow of Red & Gold Dotted Ribbon (that had been cut in half lengthwise) were added with Glue Dots.

The card inner and envelope was decorated in a similar way to card 1, above. 

Thank you so much for dropping in. I hope you found something of interest. I so appreciate you taking the time to call by.

There is more Christmas creativity so to continue on with the blog hop just click the "next" graphic below and you will be taken to the blog of the lovely Michele Taylor. I am looking forward to checking out Michele’s creation(s). I do love seeing everyones' projects - there is always so much inspiration.

I do hope to see you next week as we continue the weekly Heart of Christmas 2023 Blog Hop series. Also, many of us are participating in the Colour Creations Blog Hop that goes live every Wednesday night where we showcase one of Stampin’ Up!s colours each week. It would be fantastic if you couple join us then.

Stay well, stay safe and be kind to yourself and others.

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 wonderful Art With Heart Team Heart of Christmas  Coordinator.  She is a special lady. 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 2023-2024 Annual Catalogue and or the September-December Mini Catalogue, then let me know and I will be delighted to send them to you.  Please don't hesitate to make contact with any other queries about these projects or Stampin' Up!. 

#heartofchristmas  #heartofchristmas2023  #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #artwithheartteam  #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations   #handcraftedelements  #joyofnoel  #christmasclassics

AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #26 Gorgeous Grape

Gorgeous Grape with Handcrafted Elements & Joy to You

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the Art with Heart Colour Creations Blog Hop. We are working though the Stampin' Up! colours in alphabetical order, focussing on one colour each week.

This week’s Blog Hop is focussing on a rich purple called Gorgeous Grape. Gorgeous Grape is one of the Regals Colour Family and is a warm deep purple. This colour is lovely for flowers, and anything with strong purples.

Gorgeous Grape is produced in Stampin' Up!'s card-stock, both A4 & 12"x12"; Classic Stampin' inks (ink pads, ink spots & re-inkers); Stampin' Write Marker; Watercolor Pencils Assortment 2, Soft Pastels; Regals Designer Series Paper as well as Saying Thanks Kit & Glossy Dots Assortment. 

Gorgeous Grape card-stock, ink, Stampin’ Write Marker and Glossy Dots have been used in the creation of these projects plus a range of non-Gorgeous Grape bits and pieces.

It is easy to miss the Handcrafted Elements dies in the current September-December Mini Catalogue. A couple of the dies can be used to create a gorgeous Christmas bauble. This card uses one of the dies and cuts it in half to fit around a gorgeous sentiment from the Joy to You stamp set. This idea was CASEd from the Mini Catalogue although the rest of the card is quite different. Also, please accept my apologies as my photos do not capture Gorgeous Grape well - the photo process has turned this beautiful colour quite blue.

The background panel was lightly wet-on-wet water-coloured with Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin’ ink on Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper before being trimmed with a Deckled Rectangle die. The sentiment from the Joy to You stamp sets was stamped with Gorgeous Grape ink. The background panel was stamped with pine from the Christmas Classics stamps and gold embossed. A little blending with some Blackberry Bliss ink was added over the edges before being adhered directly to a Blackberry Bliss card base.

A Basic White card inner was stamped in Gorgeous Grape ink down two edges using the same pine stamp that was used on the card background. A Basic White C6 envelope was stamped similarly around all edges.

CARD 2

The second card also has a water-colour background using both Gorgeous Grape and Blackberry Bliss Classic inks. This is a darker background to the first card. It was also trimmed with a Deckled Rectangle die and mounted onto a panel of Gorgeous Grape card-stock. 

The two coordinating Handcrafted Elements bauble dies were used to cut Basic White card-stock. The 2 pieces were adhered together with Dimensionals and the bauble was added to the Fern 3D Embossed water-coloured background with another layer of Dimensionals. The card front was mounted onto a slightly larger piece of Gorgeous Grape card-stock.

I won’t take you through the numerous failed attempts to finish the card, enough to say a Basic White panel was embossed with Shimmer Embossing Paste and lightly blended with Gorgeous Grape ink. As it didn’t look right a slightly smaller panel of Basic White card-stock was adhered over the top, leaving a small boarder. A bow of the White & Silver Sheer Ribbon was added at the top of the bauble - I’m not sure this is right??? A few Gorgeous Grape Glossy Dots were scattered. I tried some different sentiments but wasn’t happy, so left the card front without a sentiment. I’m still not 100 percent happy, but have ran out of time to play further.

The card inner was simply stamped in Gorgeous Grape ink on Basic White card-stock. It is really hard to see, but the flap of the Basic White C6 envelope was embossed with the same Fern 3D Embossing Folder. I left a strip of the flap un-embossed so the sender details could be written more easily on the back flap.

Thank you so much for dropping by on you way around the Colour Creations Blog Hop. I know we are a smaller group this week but I am sure there will still be so much Gorgeous Grape inspiration.

To continue with the Gorgeous Grape blog hop just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of my special friend and fellow South Australian, Tina Gillespie. I am looking forward to checking out Tina’s creation(s). I do love seeing everyones' projects - there is always so much inspiration.

I do hope to see you next week when we will be featuring Granny Apple Green as we continue the weekly 2023-2024 Colour Creations Blog Hop series. We are also sharing Christmas inspiration through the Heart of Christmas Blog Hop every week, going live Monday nights. We would love you to drop in then.

Stay well, stay safe and be kind to yourself and others.

Andrea 💕🐾

If you find a broken link or would like to view the full list of participants go to Catherine Proctor’s blog @ What Cathy Made. Cathy is our brilliant Art With Heart Team Colour Creations Coordinator.  She is a wonderful lady. 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 2023-2024 Annual Catalogue and or the September-December Mini Catalogue, then let me know and I will be delighted to send it to you.  Please don't hesitate to make contact with any other queries about these projects or Stampin' Up!. 

#colourcreationsbloghop  #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #artwithheartteam  #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations   #joytoyou   #handcraftedelements

AWH Heart of Christmas #12

Christmas with Snow Crystal

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the Art with Heart Heart of Christmas Blog Hop.

This week I am showcasing the Snow Crystal stamp set and have created a couple of Christmas cards to share with you. This stamp has carried over from last year and can be found in the Annual Catalogue. It is easy to be carried away with the wonderful products in the Mini Catalogue and forget the treasures in Stampin’ Up!s Annual Catalogue.  I had numerous ideas to show this beautiful image, but daily hospital visiting sapped so much time. Perhaps I will be able to showcase this stamp again before we finish for the coming season. Here are my cards:

CARD 1

The first card has a blended background with Boho Blue Classic Stampin’ ink in the centre blending into Starry Sky and then into Night of Navy inks. A piece of Basic White card-stock was the base and the colours were blended over with Blending Brushes. Some water was sprinkled over the panel to give that delightful bleaching effect.

The Snow Crystal stamp was silver heat embossed with Versamark ink, Silver Emboss Powder, the Embossing Additions Tool kit and a Heat Tool. More splattering was added using White Craft ink, a tad of water and a Water Painter. Some Wink of Stella was added to give some Christmas sparkle.

The coloured and stamped panel was mounted to a slightly larger piece of Silver Foil (from the Silver Foil pack available as an On-line Exclusive from my Stampin’ Up! shop). A piece of Basic White card-stock was mounted onto a Foam Adhesive Sheet and the Alphabet A La Mode dies were used to cut out letters to spell “Joyful”. The foam self adhesive letters were laid onto a strip of Vellum card-stock before the strip being wrapped around the mounted snowflake panel. The card front was then directly adhered to a Night of Navy card base.

A sentiment from the Joy To You stamp set was White heat embossed onto Starry Sky card-stock and then the word “Christmas” was cut away using the Stampin’ Trimmer. This second part of the sentiment was laid over some of the die cut letters. The final touch of extra sparkle was added with the oh so gorgeous Adhesive-backed Glitter Sequins.

A Basic White card-stock panel had a couple of thin strips that had been trimmed off the blended background were adhered to one edge. A sentiment from the Festive & Fun stamp set was still sitting on my work-station and it seemed perfect for the inside of this card so it was stamped in Starry Sky Classic Stampin’ ink. Also on my table were 2 left over glittery snowflakes that were die cut with Chic dies from Silver Glitter paper (Gold and Silver Glitter Speciality Paper pack is available as an Online Only Exclusive.) A C6 Basic White envelope was partially stamped in Starry Sky ink and the Snow Crystal stamp.

CARD 2

The second card has some Loose Water-colouring. I love this technique as it seems to have a relaxed feel. The Snow Crystal stamp was inked with Starry Sky Classic ink and added to a piece of Fluid 100 Water-color Paper. The broad flat bushed Water Painter was used to spread the colour of the stamped image. To add interest and life some Azure Afternoon ink was dabbed around. The water-coloured panel was left to dry naturally. 

With the blue snow crystal panel fully dry, it was silver heat embossed with another stamping of the Snow Crystal stamp. A splattering of Wink of Stella was added. This panel was trimmed down and the top and bottom edges torn around the snow crystal. It was adhered directly to a Boho Blue card front.

Silver and White Sheer Ribbon was cut in half lengthwise and wrapped around the card front before being tied into a bow. The card front was adhered directly to a Starry Sky card base. A delightful sentiment from the Magical Meadow stamp set was white heat embossed onto some Starry Sky card-stock, then fussy cut and added with Mini Dimensionals.

The Boho Blue layer needed something so some White Craft ink was splattered over the exposed sections. The scattering of a number of silver-ish Adhesive-backed Glittered Sequins finished the card front. 

An off-cut of Boho Blue card-stock was torn and added to the bottom of a Basic White card inner. When heat embossing sentiments I often double up on preparing the sentiment in case one doesn’t come out well.  I had this sentiment left over from crafting the other card, so trimmed it down and adhered it directly inside the card.

As with the first card, the Snow Crystal was stamped in Starry Sky ink onto a Basic White C6 envelope. As you know, I love to ensure the envelope links to the card that it will carry.

Thank you so much for calling in to check out my Snow Crystal Christmas cards. I know we don’t have much snow in Australia, and certainly not at Christmas time, but I do love snowflake images and the cards will be perfect for my northern hemisphere friends.

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

I hope to see you next week as we continue the weekly Heart of Christmas 2023 Blog Hop series. Also, many of us will be part of the Colour Creations Blog Hop which will be going live in a couple of days, that is, this coming Wednesday evening. We would love you to join us for our Gorgeous Grape creations.

Stay well, stay safe and be kind to yourself and others.

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 wonderful Art With Heart Team Heart of Christmas Coordinator.  She is a special lady. 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 2023-2024 Annual Catalogue and or the September-December 2023 Mini Catalogue, then let me know and I will be delighted to send them to you.  Please don't hesitate to make contact with any other queries about these projects or Stampin' Up!. 

#heartofchristmas  #heartofchristmas2023  #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #artwithheartteam  #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations   #snowcrystal  #magicalmeadow  #joytoyou  #festive&fun

AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #25 Garden Green

Garden Green with Festive & Fun

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the Art with Heart Colour Creations Blog Hop. We are working though the Stampin' Up! colours in alphabetical order, focussing on one colour each week.

This week’s Blog Hop is focussing on a mid green called Garden Green. Garden Green is one of the Regals Colour Family and is a warm green that you will see in the garden. This colour is lovely for various leaves and is brilliant for Christmas.

Garden Green is produced in Stampin' Up!'s card-stock, both A4 & 12"x12"; Classic Stampin' inks (ink pads & re-inkers); Stampin' Write Marker; Watercolor Pencils 2; Regals Designer Series Paper as well as A Walk in the Forrest, Garden Walk, Winter Meadow, Delightfully Eclectic, Fresh As A Daisy DSPs; Wreath of Blooms Kit, Cosy and Bright kit Festive Tags Kit; Real Red & Garden Green Ribbon Combo Pack and the Blooming Pearls.

Garden Green card-stock, ink, Watercolor Pencil, A Walk in the Forrest DSP and Blooming Pearls have been used in the creation of this project plus a range of non-Garden Green bits and pieces.

For me Garden Green is one of the standard leafy colours and is wonderful with Real Red, etc for Christmas. Having said that I do acknowledge that it is a colour that some are not keen on. In thinking about Garden Green and Christmas, my mind went to Christmas Trees and I remembered my newly acquired Festive & Fun stamp set with cute critters. As you can see from the product list above, there are a number of Stampin’ Up! DSPs including Garden Green.

The Festive & Fun stamp that incorporates a tree is this cute one with a Giraffe. It was heat embossed onto Basic White card-stock using Versamark ink, Gold Emboss powder, the Embossing Accessory kit and a Heat Tool and then coloured with Watercolor Pencils. The sleigh with presents was also gold embossed. The Garden Green pencil is in Assortment 2, but I have used coloured pencils from both packs. The colours include Garden Green, Granny Apple Green, Early Expresso, Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo, Coastal Cabana, Balmy Blue and White with a Blender Pen. The images were fussy cut.

A Thick Basic White card base was scored so that half the A4 sheet would fold into a Gate Fold.  Thick Basic White and Garden Green card-stocks were cut with a Deckled Rectangle die and also a piece of Garden Green card-stock was cut a tad larger than the deckled rectangle label as a mount. Some Pool Party ink blending was applied to the Basic White die cut panel before being mounted onto the Garden Green panel. Some Gold Trim from the Gold & Silver Trim Combo Pack (an online only item) was tied around the mounted panel into a bow.

A striped piece of the A Walk in the Forrest DSP was cut to fit on a card front flap and a piece of Basic White card-stock was embossed using the Fern 3D Embossing Folder. 

As you may be able to see from the photo above the mounted Basic White panel was mounted onto the white embossed front panel with Dimensionals. The other die cut Garden Green panel was adhered to the inside of the flap, to enable the other front card flap to slot in between the Garden Green labels. This will aid the card to remain closed.

The coloured image with the tree and giraffe was popped up on Mini Dimensionals and the bird and present glued flat. A sentiment from the same stamp set was gold heat embossed onto Basic White card-stock and then it was fussy cut and added with Mini Dimensionals. A few Blooming Pearls were scattered near the sentiment. A little Gold Elegant Trim was tied around the bow.

Another sentiment and a little bird from the same stamp set were gold heat embossed onto a Basic White panel. A thin strip of DSP was added to the left. A panel of the other side of the DSP  was adhered to the inside of a flap. To coordinate, a Basic White C6 envelope was gold heat embossed with the sleigh of presents.

Thank you so so much for calling in to check out my Garden Green simple fun fold Christmas card. I do appreciate you.

There is more Garden Green creativity so continue with the blog hop. Just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of the lovely Kate Morgan. I am looking forward to checking out Kate’s creation(s). I do love seeing everyones' projects - there is always so much inspiration.

I do hope to see you next week when we will be featuring Gorgeous Grape as we continue the weekly 2023-2024 Colour Creations Blog Hop series. A number of us are also a part of the Heart of Christmas Blog Hop that goes live every Monday night until the end of November. We would love you to check in with us.

Stay well, stay safe and be kind to yourself and others.

Andrea 💕🐾

If you find a broken link or would like to view the full list of participants go to Catherine Proctor’s blog @ What Cathy Made. Cathy is our wonderful Art With Heart Team Colour Creations Coordinator.  She is a special lady. 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 new Stampin' Up 2023-2024 Annual Catalogue, then let me know and I will be delighted to send it to you.  Please don't hesitate to make contact with any other queries about these projects or Stampin' Up!. 

#colourcreationsbloghop  #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #artwithheartteam  #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations   #festive&fun     #awalkintheforest