AWH Heart of Christmas #17

Christmas with Joy of Christmas & Tiny Christmas Trees

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the final Art with Heart Team Heart of Christmas Blog Hop for 2023.  Christmas is just around the corner. 

This week I am showcasing a range of products including elements of the Joy of Christmas suite on one Christmas card and the Tiny Christmas Tree die on another card. Here are my two cards.

CARD 1:

If you joined me last Wednesday evening for the Colour Creations Blog Hop, I mentioned I had been inspired by the Global Design Project colour challenge. For that project I coloured Basic White card-stock with Lemon Lime Twist and Pool Party Classic Stampin’ inks. I had enough of the coloured paper remaining to create this card.

The colour combo is Lemon Lime Twist, Pool Party and Poppy Parade inks on Basic White card-stock and touches of Silver (embossing and foil). This selection of colours would not be my go to but it is always good to challenge oneself. I found, I do love the combination. Poppy Parade Blends were used to colour Basic Rhinestone Jewels and “Joyous” was stamped in Poppy Parade ink.

The Basic White background was embossed with the Merry Melody 3D Embossing Folder.

The Lemon Lime Twist coloured paper was die cut with the Holly Leaf from the Christmas Classics dies, while the Pool Party coloured paper was cut with the pine needles twigs. They were alternated and positioned in a wreath. I used the Deckled Circles dies to cut a ring from silver foil to help me form a wreath. Some little sprigs were cut from Silver Foil with a die from the Joy of Noel dies.

NOEL was stamped using the Joy of NOEL stamps in Versamark ink and silver heat embossed. A die from the coordinating Joy of NOEL dies perfectly cut out the letters. I had added some Foam Adhesive Sheet under the heat embossed letters before die cutting the letters. As mentioned, the word “Joyous” was stamped on Basic White card-stock and fussy cut. “NOEL” was adhered in the centre of the wreath and “Joyous” was adhered on top.

A couple of split lengthwise sections of the Silver & White Sheer ribbon were tied into a double bow and tucked under the pine and holly leaves with Glue Dots.  The Basic Rhinestone Jewels that had been coloured with the Dark Poppy Parade Stampin’ Blends were sprinkled over the wreath, and NOEL.

The card inner was simply decorated with a strip of Silver Foil, a left over Lemon Lime Twist holly leaf and a little foil twig.

CARD 2:

The Tiny Christmas Trees die was used to cut a mask to colour the little trees through the mask. I used Balmy Blue, Fresh Freesia, Lemon Lolly, Bubble Bath and Soft Sea Foam Classic inks and randomly blended the little trees through the mask. 

As has been my story of late, I ran out of time to make two cards, so decided to use the blended mask that had been splattered with water to blend the colours a little and give gorgeous texture. A card with the tiny trees background will need to be finished later.

The background panel was trimmed and mounted onto a piece of Basic White card-stock. Some  Silver & White Sheer ribbon was wrapped around the mounted background before being adhered to a Basic White Thick card base. A double bow of the same lengthwise cut ribbon was positioned later with Glue Dots.

The newly released On-Line Only Mini Alphabet dies were used to die cut PEACE & JOY and the “to you” came from the Joy to You stamp set - silver embossed onto Basic White card-stock. Some little silver foil twigs left over from Card 1 were added to embellish the sentiment. Some Basic Rhinestone Jewels were added for the final touch of shimmer.

The card inner was simply decorated with a silver embossed sentiment also from the Joy to You stamp set and a couple of left over little foil twigs.

Thank you for joining us for our last Heart of Christmas Blog Hop for 2023

I so appreciate you spending time with me on my blog. I hope you found something of interest and to inspire.

There is more Christmas creativity so continue 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.

Thank you so much for joining us over the last 4 months for the Heart of Christmas Blog Hop. I hope you have enjoyed the blog hops and been inspired for your papercrafting.

Also, many of us participate in the Colour Creations Blog Hop that goes live every Wednesday night where we showcase one of Stampin’ Up!s colours each week. This Blog Hop is continuing to the second Wednesday in December. It would be fantastic if you couple join 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 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, the September-December 2023 Mini Catalogue and or the coming January - April 2024 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!. 

#heartofchristmasbloghop  #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #artwithheartteam  #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations   #joyofnoel   #chritmasclassics  #joyofchristmas  #tinychristmastrees   #joytoyou

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 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