AWH Heart of Christmas #14

Christmas with a Festive & Fun / Beary Christmas Slimlines

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

This week I have a couple of slimline Christmas cards to share. One was started last week with stamping and colouring trees; the second was born while I was fussy cutting bears and other critters from the Beary Christmas Designer Series Paper.

CARD 1

This slimline card uses the giraffe & tree image from the Festive & Fun Stamp set. The image was stamped multiple times in Versamark ink on Basic White card-stock and then gold heat embossed using Gold Emboss Powder, Embossing Additions Tool kit and a Heat Tool.

A Basic White background that had been cut with a Deckled Rectangle die had some Pool Party Classic Stampin’ ink blended across the panel. By the way, the background was partially die cut and the die was moved to enable a much longer die cut panel. The blended background was also splattered with a Pool Party Stampin’ Write Marker. As you can see the background panel was mounted onto a slightly larger piece of Gold Foil.

The images were coloured with Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blends Combo, together with my trusty Color Lifter. The baubles were coloured with Fresh Freesia, Blueberry Bushel, Daffodil Delight, Highland Heather, Melon Mambo, Balmy Blue and Flirty Flamingo Stampin’ Blends Combos. All the images were fussy cut.

Some Basic White card-stock the width of the background panel was die cut with a die from the Gloriously Made die set to give a sense of snowy hills. A sentiment from the same stamp set was gold heat embossed on to Basic White card-stock. A double bow of Simply Elegant Trim was tucked under the sentiment. It should’ve been a bit smaller so will need to alter it. It’s amazing how flaws within projects can be seen when editing photos and writing blogs. I am again running out of time so will have to fix it later. Wink of Stella was splattered over and some cute Iridescent Adhesive-backed Discs were scattered around for a little extra shimmer.

A Basic White card-stock inner was gold embossed with the full image with the giraffe & tree and a thin strip of Gold foil was added at the base. A white slimline envelope was stamped with the same gold embossed image so it coordinates with the card it will carry. Showing the full image indicates where the tree image was from.

CARD 2

I was preparing for creating class projects and was fussy cutting many images from the Beary Christmas DSP. It is oh so cute.  As I was fussing cutting I started to design this second slimline card.

Similar to the first card, a Basic White card-stock panel was lightly coloured with Balmy Blue ink and a Stampin’ Blending brush. Looking at the panel - it needed something else so I added a splattering of Balmy Blue Stampin’ Write Marker and Shimmer Embossing Paste over the snowflake Abundant Beauty Decorative Mask. It’s subtle but beautifully adds shimmer and texture. Another piece of Basic White card-stock also was die cut with a thin curved die from the Gorgeously Made dies. The die cut hills were added to the background with Dimensionals.

Fussy cut images were arranged and either directly glued with Multipurpose Liquid Glue and or Dimensionals. The same sentiment from the Festive & Fun stamp set was gold heat embossed and cut out with the Stampin’ Trimmer. It was added with Mini Dimensionals.

Some Adhesive-backed Sparkle Gems were added near the sentiment and in the centre of the star. I tried adding a bow but with the shimmery snowflakes, nothing else was needed.

A little Balmy Blue blending was added at the side of the Basic White card inner. I hope you don’t think the bear is rude but I thought the back end of a bear with a jumper and rabbit on his back was cute. It was an image that was cut through on the edge of a DSP sheet. A couple of other part bears were adhered to a slimline envelope. Where-ever I can, I love to use the images on the edges of DSP.

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

There is more wonderful Christmas creativity so to continue on with the blog hop just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of the lovely Christine Blain. I am looking forward to checking out Christine’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. We only have another 3 blog hops this year. Where has the time gone?

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 could join us again 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 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!. 

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

AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #27 Granny Apple Green

Granny Apple Green with Festive and 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 bright yellow-green called Granny Apple Green. Granny Apple Green is one of the Brights Colour Family and is a happy & fun colour. This colour is lovely for leaves/plants/trees and anything with bright greens. It can also be wonderful for fun Christmas cards.

Granny Apple Green 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, Stampin’ Blends, Soft Pastels; Brights Designer Series Paper as well as Merry Bold & Bright, Meandering Meadows, Les Shoppes DSPs;  Melon Mambo and Granny Apple Green Foil; Christmas Everywhere Kit, Saying Thanks Kit, Robot Buddies Kids Kit, The Best Remedy Kit; & Iridescent Adhesive-backed Discs. 

Granny Apple Green card-stock, ink, Stampin’ Blends combo, Merry Bold & Bright DSP and Iridescent Adhesive-backed Discs have been used in the creation of this project plus a range of non-Granny Apple Green bits and pieces.

This card is a Double Joy Fold, that I first saw created by Susan Campfield, a US Demonstrator. The base is Granny Apple Green and Basic White card-stocks with a couple of designs from the Merry Bold & Bright DSP that include Granny Apple Green.  Some images from the Festive & Fun Stamp Set were gold heat embossed on Basic White card-stock.

The images initially took their colours from the DSP and have been coloured with Stampin’ Blends Combos, ie Granny Apple Green, Melon Mambo, Pool Party, Smoky Slate, Crumb Cake combos, plus Pecan Pie combo on images found inside the card and of course, the Colour Lifter. As mentioned previously, the Colour Lifter is wonderful to add highlights and can give you a 3rd & lighter tint of the colour.

Two Deckled Rectangles die were used to cut Basic White card-stock labels. And of course Stampin’ Up!s brilliant Snips were used for fussy cutting the images.

The smaller deckled rectangle had some Pool Party ink blended over the centre to give a little depth, then added some shimmery snowflakes using one of the Abundant Beauty Decorative Masks and Shimmery Embossing Paste. This added subtle texture and goes with the Rhino’s sleigh. Some Gold Simply Elegant Trim and Parakeet Party twine were wrapped around and tied into a bow. A sentiment from the same stamp set also was gold heat embossed and popped up on Mini Dimensionals. The final touch was some Granny Apple Green Iridescent Adhesive-backed Discs. They are gorgeous. Other colours of the discs were added within the card.

When the card front is pulled open two other images from the Festive and Fun stamp set can be seen. They were created in the same way as the image on the card front as was the background panel.

The card inner was gold embossed on Basic White deckled rectangle panel with a sentiment from the Joy to You stamp set. The little image from the same stamp set was added for a bit of fun. A Basic White C6 envelope had another Christmas tree image adhered to the front over a little Pool Party blending.

This card can stand opened. Here is a view from above the open card.

And here is a view from the front. The white panel has a “Z” fold that enables an extra panel to provide an element of surprise with extra images.

CARD 2

I had every intention to create a second card using the same stamp set. I thought the bright and happy Granny Apple Green would be gorgeous for a fun forrest of trees. The images have been coloured with Stampin’ Blends and only partially fussy cut at this stage. Daily hospital visiting (well almost) and extra errands for my brother has significantly reduced crafting time. I will try to finish the card and show you the end result in next Monday’s Heart of Christmas Blog Hop. 

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 be so much Granny Apple Green inspiration for you.

To continue with the Granny Apple Green blog hop just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of a special lady and friend Cathy Proctor. I am looking forward to checking out Cathy’s creation(s). I do love seeing everyones' projects - there is always so much inspiration. Even though this will be a small blog hop I am sure it will be quality.

I do hope to see you next week when we will be featuring Gray Granite 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 them 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   #joytoyou  #merrybold&bright

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