StampMom's Own "Bring It On" Challenge

When I saw this sheet set in a catalog from Williamsburg, I was immediately inspired to make this Christmas card.

So I thought to myself, "Self" -- quietly, so my kids didn't think I was wierd -- "if *you* were so inspired by this, maybe someone else will be, too!"

So here it is, my first official StampMom Bring It On Challenge. I hope you enjoy it. Would love to see what it inspires from you -- post a comment with a link so I can see your handiwork.

Thanks for looking, and happy stamping!

Stamp Something Black Friday Challenge

In honor of Black Friday, the Stamp Something blog challenged readers to use black somewhere in a card. I used the branches from my retired "All Season Wreath" to make a Christmas wreath, then hand-cut flowers from the Holiday Treasures designer paper and scattered them around the wreath. A bow of Riding Hood Red, with silver "sleigh bells" made from Holiday Treasures DP (punched out the snowflakes) and silver brads, adds a whimsical touch. My sentiment is a Season of Cheer rub-on (note: still on sale until Sunday!).

Thanks for looking!

Holiday Extravaganza Sale!!

Forget Black Friday and Cyber Monday! Why wait? StampMom's got you covered RIGHT NOW on some great shopping deals from the comfort of that chair you're sitting in. :-)

From now until December 1, get up to 50% off select Stampin' Up! products. Find the perfect present for all the stampers and paper crafters in your life--or just stock up for yourself!

Everything from stamp sets (family, manly, seasonal, alphabets, backgrounds) to chipboard to punches and powders. Order online 24/7 from me.

Don't worry about any Doorbuster 4 am wake-up time. Sleep in -- I'm here when you're ready! :-)

Beate's Weekend Sketch Card

Making progress on my Christmas cards, one sketch at a time, LOL. This time I turned my mistletoe into a blueberry bush in honor of my Mom in Maine (waving hi down here in VA, Mom!). This is based on Beate's sketch, with Baja Blue snowflakes and wide ribbon, offset by Night of Navy in my berries and oval sentiment. The Designer Paper is a combo of "Holiday Treasures" and "Ski Slope". Here's Beate's sketch if you want to give it a try over the holiday:
Thanks for looking and Happy Thanksgiving!!

Christmas Rub-Ons Rule!

Wading through my scrap pile of designer paper yesterday, trying to avoid laundry and whiny kids, I came up with this Christmas card -- no sketch, no color challenge, just fooling around. The Season of Cheer rub-ons are at the top and bottom.

From now until Nov. 30th, spend $20 on any Stampin' Up! products and you can get 20% off Rub-Ons. Perfect for cards, gift tags, scrapbooking, cookie tins, votive candles... the list goes on and on. Shop online 24/7 via my Stampin' Up website!

Snow Sketch Card

Snowflakes galore on this one -- ran it through my Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder, touched up the flakes with a glitter pen, then used layers of last season's "Wintergreen" designer paper to create this card based on Jen's Sketch for You to Try. I added a rub-on sentiment to my ribbon, so easy and a neat and different way to express your thoughts (without the stress of centering a stamp, LOL!)

My other one is a simple card based on Julie's Color Concoction 26 of using white plus only one color (except... gasp... I used black as well...). The half-pearl from my Pretties Kit was the perfect center for my felt snowflakes (from the Mini-Catalog, in Baja Blue just like my ribbon). It's a take-off from a sketch I saw on the Prairie Paper and Ink blog.

Thanks for looking, and hope you're enjoying some Sunday Stamping, too!! :-)

Christmas Color Challenge Card

The SCS color challenge this week was Real Red, Basic Black and Kraft (or Creamy Caramel) and I knew I needed to get started on some Christmas cards so I came up with this. It's based on the sketch for Our Creative Corner, except I changed the placement of both the sentiment (above the ribbon instead of below) and the ribbon.

I like the look of my new Hodgepodge Hardware in Vanilla against the black, don't you? My main panel looked a little plain so I used my stipple brush to stipple some Creamy Caramel and Real Red over it to add dimension. I used the Curly Label Punch to make my opposing corners.

Here's the sketch:


Thanks for looking!

CORRECTION re: cards for soldiers

Holiday cards should be mailed to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD. 20791-5456

All cards must be postmarked no later than Dec. 10. Cards should not be mailed or delivered to Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

For more information, visit www.wramc.amedd.army.mil or www.redcross.org/holidaymail for Holiday Mail for Heroes program guidelines.Walter Reed is not accepting mail addressed to "A Recovering American Soldier."

Thanks to Suzanne for correcting this info!

Cards for Recovering Soldiers

GREAT IDEA!! When doing your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to this address. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would get.

When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

If you approve, please pass it on.

A card for the bride

This isn't a stamped card but will hopefully be meaningful in years to come for my co-worker, Jennifer, who just got married last weekend.

I took bits and pieces of her program, table place card, some ribbon from her invitation, and even the matchbook cover, de-constructed them and then reconstructed them into a card which will include a gift card from Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Happy Stamping!

Holiday Specials for Everyone on Your List (Including YOU!!)

Are you looking for unique holiday packaging ideas this year? Stampin' Up! has the perfect solution!

Two of their tins are available for purchase. The turquoise Punch Box tins are perfect for holiday treats and the silver skinny Accents & Elements tins make great CD or gift card holders. Each tin is sold individually so you can buy the exact number you need. These items are only available while supplies last, so place your order for this great packaging idea today!

114673 -- Turquoise Tin, $3.95
108333 -- Silver Skinny Tin, $1.95

And there's a new Rub-Ons promotion that just began, perfect for decorating those spiffy tins!!

Spend $20 and qualify to purchase any Rub-Ons assortment at 20 percent off:

Item #	Page #	Rub-Ons Description
111416	178	Chateau Bella
111417	178	Word Flurries
111414	178	Hidden Garden
111277	178	A Perfect Day
110283	179	Take Note
111806	179	Chills & Thrills
111804	179	Chit Chat
111415	179	Greatest Moments
111805	179	School Days
110282	179	Anchored
112844	11*	Old Saint Nick
112843	17*	Season of Cheer
112735	39**	Hidden Garden Blossoms

*From Holiday 2008 Mini Catalog

**From Celebrando Creatividad

Stampin' Up! has created a fabulous new online gift-giving (and, let's face it, getting!) guide with price ranges. Why not create your own Wish List? Your family and friends can order online with me 24 hours a day from the comfort of their own home, get it delivered directly to them and be all set for Christmas. It's never too early to start browsing!

Another sketch challenge card

I'm having such fun playing with the beautiful poinsettia print that's part of the Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper. This time it's part of a card based on Jen Del Muro's Sketch for You to Try. There are lots more layers than I usually do but I got a little carried away.

What do you think?

RECIPE
Stamps: A Tree for All Seasons, Punch Pals
Ink: Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Basic Black
Paper: Holiday Treasures DP, Riding Hood Red, Kraft card stock
Tools: Word Window Punch, Scallop Square Punch
Embellishments: Felt Fusion snowflakes, Ruby Red button, American Crafts glitter marker, SU! dimensionals, glue dots, SNAIL adhesive

Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge

Used my scallop circle punch to create this super easy, high impact sunflower based on a tutorial I found by Chat aka nitestamper on her blog Me, My Stamps and I. The colors are from the Color Challenge on SCS.

Keywords: CC190 WSC64

Stamps: Beautiful Borders, Eastern Blooms

Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla, Pixie Pink

Ink: Old Olive, Pixie Pink

Accessories: Cuttlebug & Swiss Dots folder, Scallop Circle punch, Boho Flowers punch, Filigree brads, Old Olive ribbon, Scallop border punch, paper piercer & Mat pack

Thanks for looking!

Modern Bamboo Concoction

Julie's Color Concoction recently was perfectly matched with this week's Inspiration Challenge on SCS. The JCC25 colors were riding hood red, always artichoke, chocolate chip, and very vanilla.

I used the bamboo stamp from the beautiful "Embrace Life" set, stamped in Always Artichoke and then used my blender pen to add a bit more color to it. I sponged a bit of Very Vanilla craft ink along my panel of Riding Hood Red card stock before adding the ribbon over it. My stipple brush worked great to use Chocolate Chip for a bit of dimension all over the background panel. My sentiment is from the "Best Yet" Level 1 Hostess Set (p. 18 of the Fall/Winter 2008 Idea Book & catalog)

And this is the artwork ("Modern Bamboo") that I took my inspiration from:

Another TO DO List

My DH and I have begun a "Christmas Challenge" to get fit and lose a few pounds. Time to break out a list to keep track of weight loss, workouts, meals, etc. A perfect excuse to whip up another one of Julie's TO DO Lists.

I used my Flower Power Simply Sent Card Elements kit, which has awesome designer paper and textured card stock in the kit, along with self-adhesive die cut flowers. A half pearl from my Pretties Kit adds a little somethin'-somethin' to the center.

The sentiments in my "Live Like You Mean It" stamp set were so appropriate for this list. I mean, that's really what we should all try to do, live with purpose every day. I added a scrap of leftover Elegant Eggplant ribbon, and used my Large Oval Punch and Designer Label Punch to mat my large "Life".

Thanks for looking!

My favorite trick-or-treaters!