Sunday, December 29, 2013

Wreath Christmas Card (Rozy Smith)




Wreath Christmas Card
by Rozy


Use a base card of 6" x 5 1/2", then cut out card front (same dimensions) out of glitter paper of choice. Using American Craft Glitter Tape make a cross shape on your glitter paper. Attach metal corners.

Use Holly Berries & Leaves die to cut out as many leaves and berries as desired.

Run the items through an embossing folder of choice (this one used Spellbinders M-Bossabilities EL-014).

Cut a ring from white card stock, run through Xyron machine. Flipping adhesive side up, start applying leaves randomly.

Distress with Staz-on Forest Green. Apply berries (this card has Glittered Gumdrops). Adhere a small bow. Using dimensional dots for depth, apply the wreath to the card.

Decorate the inside using patterned Vellum for the base, Hero Arts Woven Lace Ribbons, Little Angel die and Merry Christmas from Mix & Match Christmas Dies.



Apply Elizabeth Craft Design glitter dots to show movement.


Saturday, December 28, 2013

December Challenge (Design Team)


The December Challenge was a color challenge; you and the Design Team were challenged to make something using the following color palette.



If you want to participate in the challenge and have a chance to win a prize from Frantic Stamper, upload your card that meets the color challenge AND uses a Frantic Stamper stamp or die and then share the link to that card in the comments.

Here are the design team responses to the challenge.




Fa La La
by Rozy


5 1/2" x 5 1/2" White Card Base
5" x 5" Dark Blue Cardstock Layer
4 3/4" x 4 3/4" Light Blue Cardstock Layer

On light blue layer place My Minds Eye Mistletoe Washi Tape on the top and the bottom.  Apply Elizabeth Craft Design Glitter dots to the notes for sparkle. Adhere the card layers.

Create tag using 4" x 2 1/2" Dark Blue, layer with 3 3/4" x 2 1/4" Light Blue and 3 1/2" x 2" white layer. Use Anna Griffin Christmas Kitsch Sticker, Fa La La , adhere layers. Use dimensional dots to apply to card base.

Use Gold Foil to cut out Musical Score, Small Music Notes and Bunting Banner.

Use Light Blue Swirl paper to cut out Small Birds.

Attach banner to top of tag and apply the word Joyful to banner.

Apply snowflake to bottom left, dots around the card using Fancy Pants Decorations

Adhere Musical Score, Musical notes & Small birds.

Distress edges with Ranger Broken China Distress Ink.

Place two Mulberry flowers in the top right corner and attach leaves.







Gold Doily on Blue (A Color Challenge)
by Lis Whiting


I really love challenges!  It makes me stretch my creative "muscle" so to speak (and it's so much fun seeing what everyone has come up with - I would love to see yours! So don't forget to participate!)

This is a color challenge.  I chose some really pretty blue patterned papers and backed them with a dark solid blue.  I chose Authentique because they have collections in color choices. For yellow, I used a yellow ribbon and some gold (as a different shade of yellow).  I embossed the gold pieces - I was going for a similar design as the background blue paper. Can you tell? Isn't this tiny doily die just too cute!  And I was amazed at the intricacy of it too!  Easy to make die cuts.  I finished with a cameo and a single dark blue crystal.








Da Vinci and Doodles
by Sharon Jeffs


When I first saw the colors I immediately thought of layers of doodles in the colors!  I thought this patterned paper was perfect for this, the pre-drawn doodles made it easy to plan what to color and a super quick card to finish!



Products Used for Rozy's Project:





Friday, December 27, 2013

Christmas Flutter (Rozy Smith)








Christmas Flutter
by Rozy Smith

The new Moveable Flutterbye Die is hard to lay down! Loving this die! If you are a butterfly person this is the perfect die.  Making butterflies is a passion and this die meets all the requirements!

Shop the sales "after the holidays" and store them away for future use!

This project was started to learn how to use Deco Mesh. Start with a 6" wire wreath, using pipe cleaners to anchor the Deco Mesh, bundle approximately 6" of ribbon and anchor with a pipe cleaner, work around the wire wreath filling in the wire base. Fluff the ribbon after completing and shape as desired.

Use glass jar, glue a piece of floral foam inside. Cut out 2 strips using the Dazzling Diamonds Border die, anchor the border around the bottom of jar and apply pearls over the top.

Insert Christmas Sprig through the center of the wreath,  run through the wire base to anchor the sprig, then insert into foam base of jar.

Butterflies are made with Blue Swirl Glitter paper (top layer), back layer is cut from matching Christmas Ribbon used for the bow. Butterfly body is cut from extra Poinsettia leaves and anchored with teal brads. Cut (2) extra bodies and glue to the backside giving support to the body, then use hot glue to attach floral wires.

Now decorate as desired. Decorating is a personal style. Some like less, some like more!

Having fun is the point!



Products used:

Sunday, December 22, 2013

A Joyous Mr. Penguin Card... (Kathy Berger)




A Joyous Mr. Penguin Card
by Kathy Berger


I wanted a fun and festive card to send to my daughter who is away at graduate school. She was in the midst of finals, so I wanted to send her something that would brighten her day. I thought a card featuring Mr. Penguin would definitely fit the bill!

I cut Mr. Penguin from white card-stock and then used my Copic Markers on the parts that required color; black for his body, red for his hat and scarf, and orange for his bill and feet (They could have been cut from individual colors but I didn't have any orange left after Halloween, and I like to color!) I then used a clear Wink of Stella glitter marker on all the parts. I assembled Mr. Penguin (using Tombow Mono Adhesive) and set him aside.

I sketched the letters "J" and "Y" onto a piece of scrap paper, making sure they would fit onto a 4"x5 1/2" card, then cut them out and traced them onto the back of my patterned papers, and cut them again. I also die-cut a couple of holly leaves and a berry cluster.

I glued all the pieces onto my card, including Mr. Penguin standing-in for the letter "O". I then trimmed my card with a wide border around the letters and the bird to make it into a shaped card.

I hope you will try a simple shaped card like this one sometime, too. It was a 'joy' (pun intended) to make, and I hope it was fun to receive, too!


Products Used:

Christmastime; A Card to Celebrate the Season! (Lis Whiting)



Christmastime!
by Lis Whiting


This is a very easy card to make using Frantic Stamper's die! 

My base card is white card stock. I matted a white pearl patterned paper on it.  I added a designer Christmas Tree cut from gold glitter card stock and decorated it with cabochons of red and pink in two sizes.  I attached a dimensional star (Tim Holtz) at the top.  I added a wrinkled ribbon bow and my sentiment and done! 

Enjoy!







Products used:

Rejoice (Lis Whiting)




Rejoice!
by Lis Whiting


I wanted to use the new Angel cutting die from Frantic Stamper; I decided to cut it out of gold glitter card stock.  I chose on a a card base of plain white and I covered the front with a white patterned pearl paper. 

I edged the entire card front with one row of white pearls.  I also decided to add a little color and cut out some holly on a rich green suede paper. I attached my angel with glue stick (TIP: I dabbed it on  - don't rub or you'll get clumps because of the intricacy of the die cut.) I used the flourish from the cut out of the angel as the "music" she was blowing on her horn.  I added a few music notes (another great Frantic Stamper die) in gold glitter also. 

I added my green suede holly branch at the bottom of my card. I used some red jewels for the berries and added a couple of poinsettia flowers in acrylic and the word "Rejoice" (from a Dazzles sticker set). 

I really like the way this card turned out.  The suede paper adds a tactile accent and the two acrylic flowers add that 3-D effect I like so much.





Inside of card:



Products used:

Merry Christmas / Parisian Lamp Post & Reindeer (Rozy Smith)




Merry Christmas / Parisian Lamp Post & Reindeer
by Rozy


Use 6 1/2" x 5" Dark Brown Cardstock Base then layer with a 6" x 4 1/2" patterned paper.  On the smaller layer, punch one corner using Martha Stewart Wildflower Corner Punch.

Cut out a Parisian Lamp Post, try using Art Emboss Light Copper Metal or metal of choice. Back the lamp globes with yellow paper to simulate light.

Cut out Reindeer using Nutmeg Suede Paper.

Cut out Merry Christmas using Mix & Match Christmas dies.

Have fun decorating with bling, ribbons and embellishments.....

Most people like red and green, but blues and dark chocolates look really nice together.



Products used:

Birch Grove (Kathy Berger)


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Birch Grove
by Kathy Berger


This card was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest. I loved the white on white look of the card (though it looks less white in this photo than it did in real life! The sponged color and glitter appear darker in the photo).

This card was made using an Impression Obsession die, a woodgrain embossing folder, a Martha Stewart pine branch punch, and a white Wink of Stella glitter pen. Die cut, punch, emboss, color, tear, glue... nothing really special, technique-wise, to making this card. But I think the card is special and kind of dramatic!


Products Used:
  • Impression Obsession Birch Trees die
  • Darice Embossing Folder, Woodgrain, Size A2
  • Martha Stewart Medium Punch, Branch
  • Zig Wink of Stella Glitter Brush Marker, White
  • Hero Arts Mid-tone Ink, Wet Cement
  • White ribbon
  • sponge


Saturday, December 21, 2013

Let It Snow Art Journal Page (Sharon Jeffs)




Let it Snow Art Journal Page
by Sharon Jeffs

To mark the beginning of the Christmas season I decided to create a page for this special season.  Where I live its the exact opposite of cold and snowy, we never see snow so I thought I'd make a bit for myself!

I painted the whole page with Weathered Wood Distress paint then added snowballs using dabs of Picket Fence, Stormy Sky and Chipped Sapphire Distress paint and once dry, outlined them in black pen.

To finish my page, I die cut a few snowflakes from double sided adhesive paper.  Once in place, I added a thin layer of glitter.



Products used:

Quicksy Christmas Tags (Rozy Smith)




Quicksy Christmas Tags!
by Rozy Smith


Quick & Easy Christmas Tags are made using Paper Accents assorted white tags as the base, then layer on any scrap paper, glitter paper, foil ribbons and embellishments to create a one of a kind tag.

Authentique Joyous Details Sticker Sheet was the primary embellishment used.

Remember, it doesn't have to be difficult! Start creating and be amazed at the finished product. Have fun, that's the most important theme!


Halo'd Angel Christmas Card (Lis Whiting)




Halo'd Angel Christmas Card
by Lis Whiting


I love this time of year!  The papers and embellishments are extra gorgeous and the old time stamp and die images remind me of when I was a child at Christmas. So, today's card is a Christmas Angel that I made using two of Frantic Stamper's Precision Dies: Angel and Peacock (that's right - peacock!)

My card base is white and measures 5 1/2 inches x 4 1/4 inches. I used gold ripple card, a pretty red and white patterned, gold glossy and red suede papers for my mats. I glued the gold glossy and the red suede paper to each other and left a longer piece of gold showing at the bottom. I ran this through with the Frantic Stamper Livermore Loop border die before attaching to my card.

The angel die (I used the smaller one) has a lot of cut outs. For this card I left in the wing and head cut outs because I did not want the background to show through.  I took a very small piece of tape and taped the cutouts on the back so they wouldn't fall out later.  I used a thick liquid glue like Aleene's Tacky and dotted the back with glue and then attached to my card.




I hope you enjoyed this card - thanks for stopping by!


Products used:

Friday, December 20, 2013

Winter White (Kathy Berger)




Winter White
by Kathy Berger


I just love white on white cards because they have a simple elegance to them. And the holidays seem like a perfect time for white on white cards; they envoke for the snowy season here in the northern hemisphere! This card almost made me feel the cold!

First I die-cut the Oregon Fir out of white card-stock with the Frantic Stamper Precision Die. I scribbled a little glue onto the fir, and added ultra-fine glitter, and set it aside to dry.

Next, I die-cut an oval in the top layer for the card front. I embossed that layer with the ?? embossing folder. I taped a piece of acetate behind the oval, and set the layer aside.

I die-cut a snowflake out of white card-stock and colored it with a Wink of Stella clear glitter brush. I affixed it to the top layer. and added a small rhinestone to its center.

I stamped the inside of my prepared card with my sentiment, then I glued the Oregon Fir into place on the card front (being careful of its placement within the oval on the top layer!)

I attached the top layer to the card front with foam dots. I then glued the word "peace" into place over the acetate window and the top layer, and added a bow to finish the card.


Products Used:

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Merry Wishes (Kathy Berger)





Merry Wishes
by Kathy Berger


There comes a point in my holiday card making where I need a few more cards but my time and energy are both running out. This year that time came on Saturday evening at about 9 PM. It was time to find a way to make cards that would look nice but require a bit less effort than my other 93 cards needed. I was able to put together a half-dozen of these cards in just a few minutes, and I was pretty pleased with the results.

To mass-produce them I started with gathering and preparing the materials. FIrst I colored a small piece of white card-stock with Wink of Stella clear glitter, set it aside to dry. Next, I cut and folded all the card bases, then cut the top layers and punched their corners. I laid them out on a sheet of newspaper, spritzed them all with a bit of Perfect Pearls in water, and set them aside to dry. Next I die-cut all the lamp posts out of black paper. and I punched the branches out of dark green card-stock. Lastly I punched the snowflakes out of the glittered white card-stock. My final prep was to tie 6 small bows out of red 1/8"-width satin ribbon.

Next I stamped all the card insides with a sentiment, and all the layers with the Merry saying.

Assembly was then a breeze! I glued the lamp post into place on each of the layers. Next I glued the branches onto the lamp post, and the bow onto the branches. The snowflakes went into place next. The layers then got foam dots on their backs, and they were put into place on the card fronts. I made 6 cards in much less than an hour....and my holiday cards were finished for the year! Thankfully!

I vow to do better this year. I AM going to stamp at least 5 holiday cards/month this coming year. Trying to do so many cards in December is just TOO hard!

Anyone want to join me?

Smiles,
Kathy


Products Used:

Friday, December 13, 2013

Cardinal on Holiday Tree (Kathy Berger)



Cardinal on Holiday Tree
by Kathy Berger


I just love how well the Frantic Stamper Precision Dies work with dies from other manufacturers. This card is a PERFECT example of that. The branch and bird are Frantic Stamper dies but the ornament and the bow come from Memory Box. I think they work in perfect harmony and hope you agree!

This card has a couple of special techniques on it that I would love to share. First, I want to tell you about the shimmery ornament on the card. To make it I cut the ornament shape in the front face of my card and cut a matching ornament out of green patterned paper using a Memory Box ornament die.

Next I placed my opened card face down on a non-stick sheet, then on the inside of my card front I affixed a piece of clear packing tape over the hole cut by the die (the non-stick sheet is really important so that the packing tape will stay sticky AND not attach to something accidentally). I turned the card over and poured transparent glitter over the packing tape. I burnished the glitter into the adhesive on the packing tape and shook off any excess. I then taped the green patterned paper to the inside of the card front, lined up with the hole, using another piece of packing tape. I then glued a piece of card-stock to the inside of the card front to line the whole front.

The second technique I wanted to share was that the die-cut bow was modified to suit my design. When cut normally, the bow is at the top of the string, but I wanted the string at the top of the bow. After cutting as usual, I simply (though carefully) cut the string part of the die-cut away from the bow and glued it in the preferred orientation. Die-cuts don't have to be used exactly as they come out of the die!

And lastly, in the same vein of modifying die-cuts, I cut the feet off of my cardinal die-cut (which can also be used as a jay if colored blue, white, and black instead of red!) because I wanted him to be resting on the branch, not standing up on it.

I hope you have enjoyed the card.

Smiles,
Kathy


Products Used:

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Holiday Forest (Kathy Berger)




Holiday Forest
by Kathy Berger


This card is inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest, a card by blogger Darota_mk. I loved the trees in her card (they reminded me immediately of the Frantic Stamper Oregon Fir) and the soft colors, and I wanted to create something with a similar "feel", but a little more fitting with my simpler style.

My card started with 6 trees die cut with the Frantic Stamper Oregon Fir Precision Die, lightly sponged with Ranger Distress Evergreen Bough and Tumbled Glass inks. I attached the trees in two rows to a piece of heavy white card-stock which I had very lightly sponged with the same inks.

I added two snow drifts created by cutting a piece of card-stock with a curvy shape, and then embossing it with a Darice wood-grain embossing folder. It, too, was then lightly sponged with ink.

Next, I added three deer I die-cut from white card-stock using a Memory Box Deer Trio die.

I tied some pale blue American Crafts jute cord around the card, and then I distressed the edges of the layer. I next very simply stitched my layer onto a larger piece of heavy card-stock (the size of my card front). This panel was then attached to my white standard card with foam squares.

I finished the card by gluing on the "Merry" die cut from white card-stock using the Frantic Stamper Mix 'n Match Precision Die, Merry Christmas.

I hope you have enjoyed my Pinterest inspired card!

Smiles,
Kathy


Products Used:

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Quick & Easy Christmas Cards (Rozy Smith)




Quick & Easy Christmas Cards
by Rozy Smith



Hi ladies, hope you are all having a great weekend! I thought today I would show you how easy it is to put some Christmas cards together without breaking the bank or using up all your free time!

There is an A2 size, a 5X5 size and a 5X7 size. Several fun examples.

The red card was very simple, just use a red card base, the Authentique Joyous Details Sticker sheet, some lace and American Craft Glitter Tape and Sticko flourishes. So easy!

The blue card used Bo Bunny Snowfall (there is a limited amount left in the store if you like this line). Layer over a blue card base, go around the edges with blue Washi Tape. The "Wishing you the joy of the season" came from Hero Arts Clear Stamp set Merry Christmas Messages. Message was stamped on white card-stock, distressed with Ranger Gathered Twigs ink, then layered on matching paper, wrapped with twine and a small blue rose. Use pop dots to add dimension. Use Frantic Stamper's Heralding Angel die and voila your card is ready. (One really nice thing about the dies, use the negative for beautiful flourishes. Double duty!)

The Merry, Merry, Merry Card used a white cardstock base, layered with Bo Bunny Silver and Gold Collection. Stamp the Merry phrase, in three different colors, using Hero Arts Large Word Tag set, layer on red cardstock. Add some Bo Bunny Silver & Gold Brads, a ribbon of choice and any type of embellishment available.

The inside of each card is decorated just for fun!

Just have fun, you can whip out several cards in an hour and surprise all of your friends and family with your own personalized creations. Just remember it doesn't have to be difficult! Create and be amazed!


Sunday, December 08, 2013

Oh Dear! December Challenge


I just realized that the challenge post that was set up to be posted automatically on December 1st wasn't posted! Please accept my apologies, and still try to play along.

We didn't have anyone try to win the prize last month, but we aren't giving up. We would LOVE it if you would join in, and if you do, you could win a wonderful prize from Frantic Stamper. Just make something that meets the challenge and use either a Frantic Stamper stamp or a Frantic Stamper Precision Die in the project. Take a photo of your project and upload it to the web, then post a link to that photo in the comments to our DT Challenge post (posted on or about the 15th, but you can comment right up to the end of the month). The winner will be chosen randomly from qualifying entries (if we have any) and will be announced at the end of the month. Fran will send out the prize to the winner and the winning project will be posted to the blog.

Without further ado, here is this month's challenge. This month we have a color combination to challenge you. Use the following four colors in your project. Be creative with them and have fun! We look forward to seeing what you come up with!



Get crafting!

Wednesday, December 04, 2013

Warehouse Wednesday (Shopping by Theme)


Have you ever wanted to shop for a craft item for a particular holiday but had no idea what you are looking for? I know I often get in that bind when I am starting my Christmas cards. I know I want something seasonal, something just perfect for the holiday, but often I am not sure what that might be.

Frantic Stamper makes finding that perfect something a little easier by providing shopping by theme. The themes change as the shopping year progresses, giving shoppers the links to hundreds of products that are timely for the upcoming holiday or season.

Right now there are more than 3000 Christmas products available under the Christmas theme. (Just click on "Christmas theme" to see them now.)

There are also 1400 Winter-themed products listed, and nearly 3000 items in the Valentine theme.

When you are in the store, you will find links for the current themes in the Category bar on the left of the store window. Just click on the theme you are interested in, and all the items for that theme will be displayed.






The shopping themes are a great way to view all the wonderful seasonal products available at Frantic Stamper. Keeping checking back all year round to find those perfect items for all your paper crafting needs!

Tuesday, December 03, 2013

NEW Frantic Stamper Precision Dies


Frantic Stamper is going to release several new Precision Dies tomorrow (or at least that is the plan!), and I wanted to give you a chance to see what is coming. We hope you will love them!

Amour Medallion:


Amore Ribbon:


Cartoon Speech Bubbles:


Double Heart Lace:


Filagree Heart:


Heart Full Panel:


Heart Gears:


Heart on My Sleeve Edger:


Heart Strings:


Keys to My Heart:


Lace Heart Square:


Long Stem Rose:


Love Accessories:


Love Postage Stamp:


Love Filled Heart:


Oval Nested Frames:


Singing in the Rain:


Valentine Garden Accent:


Valentine Garden Border:


Wedding Day:


Be sure to check the Frantic Stamper New Products tomorrow to order your dies!