AWH Heart of Christmas Blog Hop #5

Christmas with Snowy Delights

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the fifth Art with Heart Team Heart of Christmas Blog Hop for 2025. 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 I am sharing another fancy fold and also featuring a gorgeous die cut snowflake from the Snowy Delights bundle.

I saw this fold at one of Susan Campfield’s Crafteroons - April I think. She is a USA Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, and love’s fancy folds. I have converted the fold to suit A4 card-stock as well as cutting the centre panel into 3 panels. Balmy Blue card-stock was used for the card base and some Beautiful Bokeh Designer Series Paper was used to decorate the sections. The DSP pieces had a little Misty Moonlight ink blended over the outer edges. Some white splattering was added as well. A panel of DSP was also slotted underneath the front pieces. This panel also had some Misty Moonlight blending to give depth behind the pop-up section.

The amazing large snowflake die from the Snowy Delights dies cut 3 snowflakes. One from Balmy Blue, another from Basic White cardstock and the 3rd snowflake from the White All Season Velvet Speciality Paper. They were layered together with the velvet layer on top.

One of the sentiments from the Snowy Delights bundle was white heat embossed on Balmy Blue card-stock, then fussy cut into 2 lines and popped up with Mini Dimensionals.

Iridescent Faceted Gems decorated the snowflake. These gems are on the Last Chance List and have been discounted so if you love them like I do don’t miss out - add them to your next order. Balmy Blue Sheer Ribbon was tied around 3 of the pop up panels and into a bow. It is such a beautiful ribbon.

A Basic White card-stock panel was decorated with a thin strip of the Balmy Blue Beautiful Bokeh DSP and small snowflakes stamped in Misty Moonlight ink, together with another sentiment.

A C6 Basic White envelope was also stamped with the small snowflakes in Misty Moonlight ink. Yes, the card does fold flat to fit in the envelope. The popped up panel can fold either way, however, pushing the fold to the right helps the card slide into the open envelope - see photo below.

Thanks so much for dropping in on your way around the Heart of Christmas Blog Hop. 

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

Also, many of us participate in the Colour Creations Insta Hop that goes live every Wednesday evening on Instagram where we showcase one of Stampin’ Up!s colours each week. We would love you to also check in on us for more creative inspiration. I’m at @andreaksargent on Instagram.

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 2025-2026 Annual Catalogue and or the new September-December 2025 Mini Catalogue, then let me know and I will be delighted to send them to you.  Please don't hesitate to make contact regarding any queries about this project or Stampin' Up!. 

#heartofchristmas  #heartofchristmas2025 #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #artwithheartteam  #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations   #artisandesignteam  #artisandesignteam2025  #snowydelights

CASEing the Catty #539 - CASE the Peaceful Garden Suite

CASE Peaceful Garden Suite meets Peace on Earth

Hello, welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea & #539 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 Rachel Palmieri so you can continue with the Blog Hop.

At CASEing the Catty we love to use the samples from the Stampin' Up! Catalogues and On-line Exclusives 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 pages 32-36 of the 2025 Stampin' Up! September-December Mini Catalogue.

I CASEd the card on the bottom left hand side of page 32. Check out my card below. I have specifically CASEd the layout, water-colour background and splattering but used different colours and converted it into a Christmas card. I couldn’t resist embossing the background.

As mentioned, the background was water-coloured with Strawberry Slush & Timid Tiger Classic Stampin’ inks on Fluid 100 Paper and then embossed as the background was drying using the Traditional Wreath 3D Embossing Folder. Splatters were added with Strawberry Slush and Timid Tiger, plus some white using the White Craft Ink re-inker. It was adhered to a Strawberry Slush card base.

The label was cut from Basic White card-stock using a smaller die from the Branching Out dies. Noticing that the label in the original card was from coloured card-stock, a very light covering of Strawberry Slush was blended over the die cut label. A dove from the Peace on Earth dies was cut from Basic White card-stock and the leaves from Gold Foil.

A sentiment from the Peace on Earth stamp set was gold heat embossed directly onto the label. The gold twig in the doves beak carries the gold through.

A little, now retired, White Iridescent Striped ribbon was tucked under the label with a loop and tail showing. Some Strawberry Slush and Pretty in Pink Gems were scattered around as the finishing touches.

Inside the card a Basic White piece of card-stock had a little light Strawberry Slush blended over a corner and the other die cut dove was adhered in place. The sentiment came from the Greetings for You Mix & Match Ephemera Pack. A Basic White C6 envelope was stamped in Strawberry Slush ink with a different sentiment from the Peace on Earth stamp set. A little blending was added to the edge.

Thank you so much for dropping in on your way around the CASEing the Catty Blog Hop.

Don’t miss any of the inspiration from this creative CASEing The Catty Crew. The next blog in the hop is by the wonderful  Rachel Palmieri. 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 Peaceful Garden Suite in the current September - December Mini Catalogue. 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.

 

#ctc539 #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations  #peacefulgarden #peaceonearth #branchingout  #caseingthecatty #artisandesignteam2025  #artisandesignteam

Be Inspired - Masculine Makes

 Be Inspired Design Team Blog Hop

Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the September Be Inspired Blog Hop where we are focusing on Masculine projects. However you have arrived here, whether from Annette Elias or directly here, I do so appreciate that you are here.

With a theme of Masculine Makes my mind went to the current “Autumn” products. I love leaves and colouring them in autumnal colours, even, like know we in Australia are heading into spring. I hadn’t used the Gathering Moments bundle and don’t currently have the coordinating DSP. As I was thinking about what to create I remembered something that I had seen many years ago but hadn’t had the right products to give it a go - but the current offerings are perfect. I have created a seen within a leaf shaped die cut card front.

I started with a Basic Beige card base and a Country Woods Designer Series Paper background that was mounted on a slightly larger piece of Crumb cake card-stock. One of the large leaf dies from the Gathering Moments dies was used to cut a hole in the card background panel.

A piece of Basic White card-stock was coloured with autumn colours to create an unusually coloured sky. Blending Brushes were used with Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze and Secret Sea. Mountains, trees and larger trees were cut from Basic White card-stock and then the mountains were coloured with Crushed Curry and a little Pumpkin Pie; the trees with Old Olive - in different strengths. A small piece of the Soft Sea Foam Peace on Earth Glimmer Paper was die cut to be some water glimmering in the light of the moon. It was also coloured with autumn little Crushed Curry and a Blending Brush.

The blended panel was adhered to the Basic Beige card-base and the mountains, trees and water were arranged while regularly checking how the scene would look through the die cut hole.

Some leaves were stamped in Old Olive, Cajun Craze with touches of Pumpkin Pie were stamped using the Gathering Moments stamp set. I adore the effect created by these stamps. The sentiment is similar to one in the mentioned stamp set, however, this one was laying on my workstation  so trimmed it down and popped it up on Mini Dimensionals.

The design for the card was finished with a little Old Olive Linen Thread bow and some gorgeous Cajun Craze & Gold Dots.

The card inner simply used some stamped leaves and a little Mossy Meadows splatter.

Thank you so much for calling in on your way around the Be Inspired Blog Hop. 

I am really looking forward to seeing what everyone else has created for the Masculine Makes theme.  Next in line is the amazing Lynn Cheesmur. Just click on the graphic below to head over to Lynn’s blog.

The full list of those participating in this hop is:

Angela Meiritz-Ried

Annette Elias

Andrea Sargent <you are here 

Lynn Cheesmur

#beinspired  #beinspireddesignteam  #stampinup   #stampinupofficial  #stampinupaustralia #valleyinspirations  #artisandesignteam #artisandesignteam2025  #light&wonder  #stampinupofficial #gatheringmoments

AWH Heart of Christmas Blog Hop #4

Christmas with Traditions of Christmas & North Pole Delivery

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the forth Art with Heart Team Heart of Christmas Blog Hop for 2025. 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.

I am sharing 2 fun fold cards this week using the same fun fold but different DSP and bundles. I missed finishing a third card - just ran out of time - sorry. I am thankful to Emma Goddard, a very talented UK Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, for her inspiration. I saw her demonstrate this fold at her weekly Card & Cuppa.

CARD 1:

The first card features the Traditions of Christmas suite. The gorgeous Traditions of Christmas Speciality Designer Series Paper was used for the background, cut a tad smaller than a standard 1/4 A4 card-stock base. 

The card base was cut from Pool Party card-stock. A piece of Basic White card-stock was cut at 7.5cm across the width of the card-stock ie 21cm. Another piece of Basic White card-stock was cut to 7.5cm x 10.5cm that formed the easel.

The gorgeous bunch of flowers, leaves & pine from the Christmas Greenery stamp set was gold heat embossed on Basic White card-stock. The image was water-coloured using Old Olive, Strawberry Slush and Pool Party Classic Stampin’ inks. There are coordinating dies to cut the image out. A couple of pine fronds were die cut from Basic White card-stock. A different sprig of leaves was cut from Gold Foil. This die came from the Charming Day dies.

The top front panel was dry embossed using the Pressed Flowers Embossing Folder. Gold Striped Mesh Ribbon was tied around the easel base and the top panel was notched to allow the knot of the bow to sit on the card front. Some Strawberry Slush & Pretty in Pink Gems provide a little shimmer.

As shown earlier in this blog, the easel section stands against the sentiment that acts as a stopper. A sentiment from the coordinating Traditional Labels stamp set, was white heat embossed on Pool Party card-stock and then popped up on Dimensionals. Before adding the sentiment, the poinsettias arrangement from the stamp set was gold embossed on the bottom of the centre section.

CARD 2:

This second card was created in the same way, but Pool Party card-stock was used as the card base together with the North Pole Delivery Designer Series Paper and the Falling Snow large stamp for the background. The base was decorated with one of the DSP designs. Various images were fussy cut and adhered directly or with Dimensionals. 

The sentiment, from the Jolly Delivery bundle, was white heat embossed on Pool Party card-stock. Iridescent Facetted Gems provide some shimmer. They are gorgeous and currently on the Last Chance List with a little discount. The small area inside the card & above the sentiment stopper could be used for writing a brief message. If more space is needed, a message could be written on the back of the card.

Thank you for dropping in on your way around this week’s Heart of Christmas Blog Hop. I so appreciate you. 

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 Blog Hop that goes live on Instagram every Wednesday night where we showcase one of Stampin’ Up!s colours each week. We would love you to also 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 2025-2026 Annual Catalogue and or the new September-December 2025 Mini Catalogue, then let me know and I will be delighted to send them to you.  Please don't hesitate to make contact regarding any queries about this project or Stampin' Up!. 

#heartofchristmas  #heartofchristmas2025 #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #artwithheartteam  #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations   #artisandesignteam  #artisandesignteam2025  #traditionsofchristmas  #northpoledelivery  #christmasgreenery  #traditionallabels  #pressedflowers

AWH Heart of Christmas Blog Hop #3

Christmas with the Road to Christmas Kit + Alternatives

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the third Art with Heart Team Heart of Christmas Blog Hop for 2025. We are sharing Christmas inspiration each Monday evening until the end of November. I do hope you are checking us out as often as you can.

The Road to Christmas Kit:

As you know Stampin’ Up! creates many kits to help beginners, the time challenged crafter as well as the more experienced crafter. A few days ago my Road to Christmas Kit arrived and it was hard to wait to play with the kit so I thought I would share some of the kit with you. Here are the 2 card designs. The kit provides everything you need to create 8 cards, ie 4 cards in each of the 2 designs.

I couldn’t resist adding a couple of embellishments. Three little Brushed Brass Butterflies were added to the card below. This photo also shows the gorgeous envelopes that are provided for all the cards in the kit.

Brushed Brass Butterflies also were added to the second card and some of the new Irregular Weave Trim under the sentiment with a little Old Olive Linen Thread.

Alternative Cards:

While the cards in the kit are wonderful, I also wanted to create some alternative designs using elements in the kit. I only had a chance to create 2 alternatives. There are so many more  opportunities with this kit.

The kit provides laser-cut trees and dogs for each card, however, the card designs only uses these particular elements on one of the cards; that means the kit has 4 trees and dogs surplus to needs. Realising this, I wanted to design a card to use these extra elements. A lighter card base from the kit was cut in half to create a background layer on a Pool Party card base. A label from the Branching Out dies cut Basic White card-stock to create a base for the scene.

Some push out elements from the North Pole Delivery Speciality paper, ie a shop & 2 little presents were combined with the tree and dog. A sentiment from the Traditional Labels stamp set was White heat embossed onto Secret Sea card-stock. The design was finished with an Old Olive Linen Thread double bow and some delightful Low Profile Sparkle Dots.

The second alternative card is a simple fun fold using a Pool Party card-stock base. A darker plaid card from the kit was cut into pieces to cover the card base to the right hand side. On the left side, the card base was scored and burnished to create a 3.5cm rectangular column. The plaid card base was also cut to create 3 pieces to cover 3 sides of the column. These pieces were mounted onto slightly larger pieces of Basic White card-stock. The decorative panel from the kit was cut in 2 - a smaller piece for the top of the column and a bigger piece for the background. The red Ute and the presents were slotted together and the ute was positioned on the top of the column with Dimensionals. As above, some Irregular Weave Trim has been tucked under the sentiment strip and a few Low Profile Sparkle Dots were scattered.

It may seem from the photo above that the ute is hanging off the left edge of the card, however, to flatten the card so it fits into a standard C6 Basic White envelope, the column is flattened across the back piece which means the ute stretches across the card. The photo below partially shows the flattened card being slid into the envelope.

As the card front doesn’t provide any area for a personal message some Basic White card-stock can be added to the back.

Thank you so much for calling in on your way around this 2025 Heart of Christmas Blog Hop.

There is more Christmas creativity, so do continue through the blog hop. Just click on the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of the lovely Claire Daly who is the leader of the Art with Heart Team. I always look forward to checking out Claire’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 Insta Hop on Instagram that goes live every Wednesday night where we showcase a different Stampin’ Up! colour each week. We would love you to also 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 2025-2026 Annual Catalogue and or the new September-December 2025 Mini Catalogue, then let me know and I will be delighted to send them to you.  Please don't hesitate to make contact regarding any queries about these projects or Stampin' Up!. 

#heartofchristmas  #heartofchristmas2025 #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #artwithheartteam  #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations   #artisandesignteam  #artisandesignteam2025  #roadtochristmas