No I'm not buying presents and decorating just yet! But I like to get an early start on making designs of Christmas cards. Although this year I may not make as many since I still have all the ones I made last year and did not send out any because we moved 3 weeks earlier than expected!

For this card I used the embossed resist technique. Start with a piece of Whisper White card stock, stamp your image using Versamark ink and add some white embossing powder. Once you heat set your image and it has cooled use a sponge dauber to get your image to pop!

Supplies
Stamps: Serene Snowflakes, Many Merry Messages
Ink: Night of Navy, Versamark, Bashful Blue
Paper: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Accessories: Silver cord (retired), pearl, stampin' dimensionals, sponge dauber, white embossing powder

~Amanda

Starting today you can order from the NEW Holiday Mini Catalogue! There are 43 pages filled with new stamps, designer series paper, punches, Big Shot dies, accessories and new product!

Found an interesting project in the Holiday Mini catalogue and want to try making it yourself? Check out the Stampin' Supplies before you order so that you have all the items needed to make that project!

~ Amanda

New recruits who join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator from September 1 thru October 18, 2010  will receive a FREE craft tote (valued at $49.95) with the purchase of their Starter Kit.


Click here for Starter Kit details.

Greenhouse Gala Craft Tote Description:
•100% twill nylon exterior; 100% nylon interior
•Dimensions: 15-3/4" x 7-5/8" x 8-7/8"
•Includes attachable shoulder strap for easy transport
•Center section fits 12" x 12" card stock, Craft Keepers, and Paper Cutter
•Outside pockets fit extra-large punches perfectly
•Outside flap pockets offer secure spot for accessories
•Back zipper pocket holds up to seven Stampin' Pads
•Ships free as part of your Starter Kit

~ Amanda

I just had to try making my own punched flower! It actually puffs up really well. I punched 4 flowers out using the Fancy Flower punch then scrunched them up and pulled the layers apart to get 2 flowers from each punch flower. After layering them and adding the brad to the centre I scrunched each layer and the spritzed with water. I made sure to layer the flower how I wanted it to dry. The final touch was to add some Vanilla Shimmer spray to make it all sparkly. The flower dried overnight.

Supplies
Stamps: Curly Cute, Wood grain background stamp
Ink: Early Espresso
Paper: Early Espresso, Real Red, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Accessories: Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta ribbon, Fancy Flower punch, Whisper White 5/16" brad, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, Top Note die, Petals A Plenty embossing folder, Big Shot

~Amanda

My husband turned 30 this month and to celebrate we are having a party for him this weekend. And of course I just had to make invitations to his big bash. I wanted to make a card he would like, so I asked for his input. He wanted a deer image and of course I hadn't gotten around to ordering a deer set yet, so I just had to place an order!!

Originally I had stamped the whole tree silhouette in Garden Green, but it was ugly! My husband asked if I could make it look like fall/hunting season. So out came the markers. I coloured portions of the leaves with multiple colours. For the grass I started with Pear Pizazz, then added a few swipes of Garden Green and to finish it off I used the thinner tip of the Chocolate Chip marker to create some dimension. The deer was first stamped in Chocolate Chip craft ink and embossed with clear embossing powder.

Supplies
Stamps: Nature Silhouettes, Sincere Salutations
Ink: Chocolate Chip Craft Ink, Chocolate Chip Classic Ink, Stampin' Write markers: Pear Pizazz, Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Peach Parfait, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Woodland Walk Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon (retired), sticky strip, clear embossing powder, new label punch from Holiday Mini Catalogue (coming out September 1, 2010)

~Amanda

This was a interesting card to make! I had a lot of fun making this for my secret sister a few months ago. My personal challenge was to use Pacific Point on a card for her.

Supplies
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Sanded background
Ink: Pacific Point, Basic Black
Paper: Pacific Point, Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Real Red brads, scallop border punch, Real Red grosgrain ribbon, Real Red designer button, glue dot, sticky strip, stampin' dimensionals, round tab punch, brayer, Big Shot, Heart and Bracket bigz die, texturz plates backgrounds 1

~Amanda