CHRISTMAS BELLS ARE RINGING...

Today I finally have my computer back from Apple and functional!!!  I have been lost without it, so I had to jump right on and post this cute Christmas card I made at a Downline meeting.  My last card featuring the Blended Seasons set since it is leaving us tomorrow...  *sniff*   I switched it up to use the New Swirls & Curls Embossing Folder from the upcoming Holiday Catalog!  So cute!  And guess what is coming back in the Holiday Catalog???  SHIMMER PAINT!  And that means my beloved Shimmer Mist will be returning to my holiday cards.  Cue the Happy Dance!!!

Unfortunately, you cannot see the shimmer in this picture.  I didn't realize until I went to post it today and I already gave the card away.   But trust me, it is there spritzed on the embossed Old Olive layer!  I will post other cards featuring my Champagne Shimmer Mist soon though.  For those who are not familiar with my Shimmer Mist, here is the recipe!

SHIMMER MIST RECIPE:

1. Label an empty Stampin' Spritzer bottle  with the mixture you are making.  For this card, mine is labeled Champagne Mist.
2. Fill with 70% rubbing alcohol -- although 90% will dry quicker, the mist will not spray as fine and may even clog completely due to solids that form. 
3. Add about 1/8 teaspoon of any of the new Shimmer Paints in the Holiday Mini Catalog.   I would begin with less and then gradually add more until you are happy with the results.
4. Add 5-15 drops of any color Reinker to create your own custom colored Shimmer Mist!  I find the Champagne Shimmer Mist lends itself very well to coloring.  Be sure to shake vigorously before EACH application!!!  
5. This is very important, even if it has only been a short time since you last sprayed it.

Please remember that tomorrow is the LAST DAY to earn Bonus Day Coupons for September purchases as well as the last day to purchase the Color Your Season products: Blended Seasons stamp set, Stitched Seasons Framelits and the new Watercolor Pencils 2!

CHRISTMAS BELLS ARE RINGING CARD SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets –  Blended Seasons (W #149019 $53.00, C #149016 $39.00) ~ save 10% on bundle with Stitched Seasons Framelits, Christmas Pines (P #142049, $35.00)
• Card Stock –  
• Cherry Cobbler 5-½” x 8-½” Card Base
• Old Olive 4” x 5-¼”
• Whisper White , 3-¼” x 3-¾", 3-⅞” x 5-⅛” (inside), scraps
• Under the Mistletoe DSP ¾” x 4”
• Ink – Tuxedo Black Memento, Stampin' Blend Markers: Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight
• Ribbon – Basic Black Solid Baker's Twine (#141682, $3.00)
• Accessories –
• Stampin' Spritzer (#126185, $3.00)
• Champagne Shimmer Paint (#147044, $8.00)
• Wink of Stella (#141897, $8.00)
• Mini Glue Dots (#103683, $5.25)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $4.00)
• 70% Isopropyl Alcohol
• Tools – Big Shot, Swirls & Curls Embossing Folder (#147923, $7.50), Stitched Seasons Framelits (#149013, $33.00) ~ save 10% on bundle with Blended Seasons stamp set

LOYALTY REWARDS - When you purchase $50 or more, you qualify for my Loyalty Rewards program!  This Frequent Stamper program is my way of saying "thank you" to my returning customers in appreciation of their business and is in addition to other Stampin' Rewards.  Earn FREE stamps with MarieStamps.com!

FALLING LEAVES AUTUMN CARD...

Today's card is one I made for a swap at my Downline meeting.  The swap theme was a sketch swap from Mojo Monday's last sketch MOJO500.  I haven't done a fall card yet with the Blended Seasons stamp set, so I decided to take a stab at that.  I had to break out my Stampin' Blends again because I love them so much!  Also, I put a lot of texture into the card.  Maybe too much?  I realized later I forgot to put the sentiments on!  Oops!

This is another version I did of the card when designing it.  On this one, I embossed the leaves with Grapefruit Grove Embossing Powder and then colored it with the Stampin' Blend Markers.  I also ran the card in the other direction before settling on a landscape version of the sketch.

FALLING LEAVES CARD SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets –  Blended Seasons (W #149019 $53.00, C #149016 $39.00) ~ save 10% on bundle with Stitched Seasons Framelits
• Card Stock –  
• Early Espresso 4-¼” x 11” Card Base, 3-¾" x 5-¼”
• Grapefruit Grove 3-⅞” x 5-⅛”
• Whisper White 3-⅞” x 5-⅛” (inside)
• Gold Foil Scraps
• Wood Textures DSP 3-¼” x 4-¼”, 1" x 5"
• Ink – Tuxedo Black Memento, VersaMark (for alternative version) Stampin' Blend Markers: Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive Pumpkin Pie
• Ribbon – 5/8" Burlap Ribbon (#141487, $7.00), Gold Metallic Thread (#138401, $3.50)
• Accessories –
• Mini Glue Dots (#103683, $5.25)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $4.00)
• Alternate version: Grapefruit Grove from In Color Stampin' Emboss Powders (#146955, $25.00)
• Tools – Big Shot, Layered Leaves 3D Dynamic Embossing Folder (#143704, $9.00), Subtle 3D Dynamic Embossing Folder (#143706, $10.00), Stitched Seasons Framelits (#149013, $33.00) ~ save 10% on bundle with Blended Seasons stamp set

LOYALTY REWARDS - When you purchase $50 or more, you qualify for my Loyalty Rewards program!  This Frequent Stamper program is my way of saying "thank you" to my returning customers in appreciation of their business and is in addition to other Stampin' Rewards.  Earn FREE stamps with MarieStamps.com!

PINK POPPIES BEST WISHES CARD...

Today I have another Blended Seasons card to share with you!  This is a Make & Take I made at my Downline Meeting.  It was designed by one of my sidelines, Monica Giberti, although I tweaked mine just a bit.  I love the Stitched Seasons Framelits and how they cut the stitched lines not only on the cut-out piece, but also on the "negative" piece left behind!  That allows you to make a card with this negative piece as well.  Two for the price of one--gotta love it!!!

The focal piece was stamped first with the poppies in Smoky Slate.  Then I stamped the Petal Pink Ink Pad onto an Clear Block.  I stamped off onto scrap paper lightly and then "stamped" it over the stamped flowers until the I had the desired coverage.  The focal die-cut piece, the sentiment strip and the flowers are all popped out on Stampin' Dimensionals. 

Enjoy!

PINK POPPIES BEST WISHES CARD SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets –  Blended Seasons (W #149019 $53.00, C #149016 $39.00) ~ save 10% on bundle with Stitched Seasons Framelits
• Card Stock –  
• Smoky Slate  4-¼” x 11” Card Base
• Petal Pink 4” x 5-¼”, scrap
• Whisper White 3-¼” x 4-¼”, ¾” x 3-½”
• Old Olive scrap
• Ink – Smoky Slate, Petal Pink, Tuxedo Black Memento
• Ribbon – Silver Metallic Thread (#138402, $3.50)
• Accessories –
• Clear Rhinestone Basic Jewels (#144200, $5.00)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $4.00)
• Tools – Big Shot, Stitched Seasons Framelits (#149013, $33.00) ~ save 10% on bundle with Blended Seasons stamp set, Sponge Daubers (#133773, $5.00)

LOYALTY REWARDS - When you purchase $50 or more, you qualify for my Loyalty Rewards program!  This Frequent Stamper program is my way of saying "thank you" to my returning customers in appreciation of their business and is in addition to other Stampin' Rewards.  Earn FREE stamps with MarieStamps.com!

SEASON OF POPPIES BLENDS CARD...

This afternoon, I registered for the Stampin' Up! Onstage event in Orlando this November!  I am super excited as this is my first OnStage event.  I have done lots of one day Regional and OnStage Local events, but never a convention.  I can't wait!  Especially since hubby and I will wrap around a vacation to Disney World and Universal while we are there.  The life of an enlisted military family tends to mean that your vacations are spent going home to visit family and otherwise you mostly only visit "tourist" places wherever you happen to live at the moment.  Our first, last and only real vacation ever was to Disney World thirty years ago.  This will be our first vacation since then and the first one without our kids.  Seems meant-to-be that the 30th anniversary of our Disney vacation coincides with Stampin' Up!'s 30th Anniversary also being held in Orlando! Woohoo!

Putting my excitement aside, I wanted to share another card I made with the Blended Seasons stamp set since it is only available this month.  This time out I wanted to try the poppies stamp with my favorite Stampin' Blends markers for a CAS card.  I didn't have much time to blend and shadow the flowers the way I would have liked.  I still love how smooth they color though.  They are just yummy! 

All the layers are separated with Stampin' Dimensionals.  And I just had to use this Mini Striped Ribbon for the card!  I don't know what it is about the striped ribbon, but I'm just crazy about it.  I wish it came in more colors.  What is your favorite ribbon in the new catalog?

Hope you enjoy this quick and easy card!

 SEASONS OF POPPIES CARD SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets –  Blended Seasons (W #149019 $53.00, C #149016 $39.00) ~ save 10% on bundle with Stitched Seasons Framelits
• Card Stock –  
• Granny Apple Green 5-½” x 8-½” Card Base
• Poppy Parade 3-13/16” x 5-1/16”
• Whisper White 3-11/16” x 4-15/16”
• Whisper White scrap for sentiment
• Ink – Tuxedo Black Memento, Granny Apple Green, Poppy Parade Light & Dark Stampin' Blends Markers, Granny Apple Green Light & Dark Stampin' Blends Markers
• Ribbon –Poppy Parade 1/4" Mini Striped Ribbon (#146938, $8.00)
• Accessories –
• Mini Glue Dots (#103683, $5.25)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $4.00)
• Tools – Big Shot, Layering Ovals Framelits (#141706, $35.00)

LOYALTY REWARDS - When you purchase $50 or more, you qualify for my Loyalty Rewards program!  This Frequent Stamper program is my way of saying "thank you" to my returning customers in appreciation of their business and is in addition to other Stampin' Rewards.  Earn FREE stamps with MarieStamps.com!