Merry Monday Thank You

Happy Monday friends!  I hope you all had a restful and relaxing weekend that included a little creative time.  I was able to spend quite a bit of time in my craft room this weekend, which made my creative heart very happy!

This Merry Monday brings you a wintery Thank You card, inspired by the amazing Mikaela Titheridge.  She created a beautiful card with the Winterly Tree Tops stamp set, using Basic Beige rather than Basic White for the birds.  I love how the Basic Beige softens the stamped image!

I wanted to go with a softer shade for the berries, but after coloring them in Calypso Coral, the berries looked like something totally different and maybe a bit inappropriate...so Real Red it was!

I added an extra layer of greenery behind the birds to make it a bit more festive.  The pop of red behind the birch pattern Nests of Winter DSP, along with the sentiment embossed on red give this card the warm, wintery feeling.

 

Just a hint of texture was added using the Birch Wood 3D Embossing Folder.  I think I'll be making a lot of these to send out as Christmas Thank You cards this year!

Happy Stamping!

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Merry Reindeer Fun

 Monday has, once again, snuck up on us way too fast! Why must the weekends go by so quickly?!?  At least this weekend was another creative weekend for me. I had my monthly card class on Friday and celebrated World Card Making Day with a friend on Saturday...so much fun!  And I even managed to get in some stamping on Sunday, just in time for another Merry Monday post!

The Reindeer Days Suite Collection is my favorite in the holiday mini catalog.  I love the adorable stamped images and the DSP is so festive and fun!

I played along with the latest Freshly Made Sketches challenge as a starting point for the card.  You can never go wrong starting with a grea656t sketch!

How cute is this sweet buck and little baby deer?!? I love this pine tree pattern of Reindeer Days DSP...the greens are so good together!  I used the Painted Trees embossing folder to add a little texture in the background and love how it turned out.  And let's talk about the Real Red & White Baker's Twine...do you all love it as much as I do?  I'm really hoping the bring back more twine like this in other colors!

Here's to a happy Monday and a fantastic week.  May your week go by quickly and your weekend drag on!

Happy Stamping!

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Seasons of Green & Gold

Two posts in one day?!?  That doesn't happen very often, but when you have a weekend FULL of stamping you have lots to share!

It's another Merry Monday the beautiful Seasons of Green & Gold DSP. Isn't this paper gorgeous!

I didn't purchase the dies that coordinate with this paper, but I was happy to snip away the golden bells and pretty greenery.

I love this Christmas die cut from Peaceful Seasons dies, especially paired up with the Peaceful Season stamp set.  I may have bought the bundle just for this one die...

Happy Stamping!

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Surf's Up Santa

 I can't let a Monday go by without sharing a Merry Monday card!!!

You all know how much I love to color, so I just had to add this Surfing Santa to my collection of stamp sets.  I'm loving his Christmas tree shorts!

I stamped the waves in Coastal Cabana and fussy cut them to layer them in the perfect surfing wave.  Santa and his surf board, along with the sunshine and sentiment were also fussy cut and popped up for some added dimension.

The So Swirly Embossing Folder is my go-to for any ocean themed card.  Isn't it perfect?

May your days be sunny and bright!

Happy Stamping!

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Merry Monday Christmas Friends

It's a Merry Monday Montage kind of day!

Today I'm sharing all of my Christmas Friends together on one card!

These fluffy winter friends are so fun to color! I paired them up with the Take A Bow DSP for a festive little gathering!

Our Monday Montage hop has moved exclusively to Instagram, so be sure to hop along with all of us there.  You can find me @craftsomia and find all of my Monday Montage friends there too!

Happy Stamping!

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Merry Christmoose

 Happy Monday friends!  Today I'm sharing one of the cutest critters from the new Christmas Friends stamp set...an ice skating moose!  I may have bought this stamp set just for the moose!

Isn't he the cutest?!?  I stamped this jolly guy in Memento and colored him Pecan Pie.  His sweet little nose and antlers were colored with Crumb Cake and I used Real Red and Granny Apple Green for his cozy scarf and socks.  And I can't forget the Pebbled Path hooves.

This great circle die comes with the coordinating Christmas Friends Dies, which was perfect to complete the sketch for this weeks Freshly Made Sketches Challenge.  Take a Bow Designer Series Paper is my holiday Mini Catalog favorite...I love the Bright and Regal traditional Christmas colors!

I hope you all have a fabulous week!

Happy Stamping!

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Merry Monday and Weekend Recap

Happy Merry Monday friends!  It's Day 13 of Martin's Mayhem #30DayChristmasCardMaking Challenge and the theme is Elfed Up.  I love all of his themes and the fun inspiration and interpretation that come from them!

I used the cute elves from the Jolly Words stamp set.  After stamping and coloring the images, I fussy cut each piece and rearranged them in a fun and festive way.  I have a newfound love for Bubble Bath, especially when paired up with Poppy Parade and Granny Apple Green.  What do you think?!?

Before we jump in to a new week, I want to share a bit of a recap from this past weekend.  Many demonstrators from all over the world gathered for the OnStage@Home virtual event.  While nothing beats in person events, my heart is still full after spending time with everyone virtually.

Along with some business updates, demonstrations and stamping, some BIG news in my crafty world was finally revealed.  I am honored and beyond blessed to have been selected to be a part of the 2023 Artisan Design Team!

Once upon a time I was an Artisan Finalist, back when it was only US residents who made up the team.  There were 20 finalists and only 10 were selected.  Unfortunately, I did not make it on the team at that time, but I didn't give up on trying.  It took some time, but thanks to the amazing guidance, support and love from so many stamping friends, my dream finally came true!

            

This beautiful tin arrived before the OnStage@Home event, but I waited until the morning of the event to open it.  Along with personalized Artisan stamp, we also received a beautiful engraved clear block.  I love it and will proudly display it in my craft room!

I can't wait to create with all of the amazing Artisan Design Team members in 2024.  Hopefully some of us will have the opportunity to meet up in Houston!

Happy Stamping!

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Sending Merry {Monday Montage} Cheer

It's just another Merry Monday...Monday Montage Blog Hop, that is!  Hop along with us as we take you on a creative journey again this week!

I'm doing my best to keep up with my Merry Monday challenge, creating at least one Christmas card each week. This Monday I have THREE to share!

In an effort to make sure I'm using ALL of my stamp sets more than one time (I know I'm not the only one who does that, right?!?) I have been trying to make at least 3 cards with a stamp set before I put it away.  When you have a stamp set as cute as Sending Cheer, it's not too hard to do!

First up is a jolly ol' Santa hat. You can never go wrong with a Santa hat for a Christmas card.  I used some of the fun Brights 6 x 6 DSP for some cheerful color and added in a few Merry Bold & Bright DSP trees.  I love how well these paired up! A little added texture was added to the Santa hat with the embossing paste. Fun, right???

Next up are some sweet and simple stockings on an Exposed Brick 3D embossing folder background.  Parakeet Party, Sweet Sorbet and Coastal Cabana is one of my favorite Christmas color combos!

And lastly is this jolly little gingerbread man that looks like he's party of an ugly Christmas sweater!  I got a little carried away with all of the Merry Bold & Bright DSP patterns, but in the end, I kind of liked it. He's sending ALL of the Christmas cheer!

I hope you have a very Merry Monday and cheerful rest of the week!

Don't stop here...keep on hopping by clicking on the next or back button below to make your way through the hop!

Happy Stamping!

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Merry Monday Grinch

It's another Merry Monday and day 20 of #30daychristmascardmakingchallenge.

Today's theme is Bah Humbug.  No Bah Humbug's allowed around here, but we do love the Grinch and how the Christmas spirt enters his heart!

One of the Potted Succulent dies has always reminded me of a Grinch hand, so I put it to good use for today's card.  A little strip of Poppy Parade made the arm and one of the Potted Succulent small floral dies worked perfectly for the snow-white cuff. A Poppy Parade Spruced Up ornament was the only thing this Grinch-y hand needed.

I struggled with a sentiment and ended up going with one of my favorites from Christmas to Remember, stamped in Poppy Parade.  This time of year can sometimes bring out the Grinch in all of us, but remember...'Tis the Season to let your heart grow be filled with the spirit of the season!

Happy Stamping!

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Merry Monday Trees for Sale

 Monday is almost over, but I can't let it get away without sharing a Merry Monday card with you!  It's been a crazy day getting back on track after being gone for OnStage in Anaheim, but I think I'm about caught up!

I've been playing along with the #30DayChristmasCardMakingChallenge and today's challenge was Step into Christmas.  For me, it always feels like the Christmas season is officially here when Klickers Tree stand opens up for the season.  Their beautiful little tree farm was inspiration behind today's card.

I used the Trees for Sale stamp set to create a mini tree lot, complete with festive Solid Faceted Gem lights.  Aren't those lights the cutest?  Those cute little gems helped me to dust off my pack of Melon Mambo card stock for the sentiment.  It's been so long since I've used this color, but you can be sure I'll be using it again soon!

You are also getting a sneak peek of a brand new stamp set, Hand Drawn Dots from the January-April 2023 Mini Catalog.  These dots stamped in Whisper White on Night of Navy reminded me of falling snow.  There will be so many great uses for this awesome new background stamp.

Happy Stamping!

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Spruced Up Celebration ~ Merry Monday Montage

 

Hello friends!  Welcome to another Monday Montage Blog Hop!  Hop along with us and enjoy all of the amazing projects these talented stampers have to share today.

I'm still keeping up with my Merry Monday Christmas cards.  Between my own personal challenge of making a Christmas card every Monday AND trying to keep up with the #30daychristmascardmakingchallenge, I will certainly have enough Christmas cards to send out to all of our family and friends this year!

I am all about BRIGHT Christmas colors and absolutely LOVE the colors in the Christmas patterns of Celebrate Everything DSP!   Pulling some of my favorite colors, I die-cut 4 of the adorable packages using the Spruced Up Outline dies.  

I was going for a simple card, but the packages felt like they needed a little something extra.  I originally was going to add a bit of the silver Simply Elegant Trim around the sentiment, but after a happy mistake of curling a strand, I knew I had to add it to the packages!

How cute are those little silver curls of ribbon?!?  A Rhinestone in the center helped to hold them in place, while adding just a little bit more bling.  Sweet and simple and all kinds of festive!

Click on the next button below to keep on hoping along with us!

Happy Stamping!

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HOHOHO - Merry Monday

It's time for another Merry Monday post!  As promised, I'm back today with some fun alternatives to this months October HOHOHO Paper Pumpkin kit. 

First up is a jolly and joyful Santa.  I added a left over frame and flipped this card vertically from the original.  I wasn't originally going to add the Santa, but I'm so happy I did!  To balance the card out, I heat embossed the sentiment on the Shaded Spruce strip, cutting the words out for just the perfect placement.

 

I flipped the Crumb Cake die-cut snowflakes over, using the white side for this next card.  Using the Layering Circles Dies, I die-cut the starlit sky.  I stuck with the layout of the original from the most part from here, other than adding a Sweet Sorbet bakers twine bow.

And now you can see why I used the white side of the die-cut snowflakes panel on the last card!   I used the Crumb Cake side as a stencil for this card and it is my favorite of them all!  I used the rest of the left over bits and pieces for a simple, yet cheerful layout.  And of course I had to stamp my own Santa to color...you know how much I love my Stampin' Blends!  

Have you had a chance to play with this months Paper Pumpkin kit yet? I can't wait to see all of the alternative projects that everyone makes.  This kit is the cutest!

Happy Stamping!

Merry and Bright...

....or neutral!

There is something about a neutral colored Christmas card that just makes me swoon...they are always so peaceful and pretty!

My good friend Cynthia over at Ink-A-Doodle Creations as me if I wanted to play along over at this weeks Merry Monday Challenge.  After one look at the challenge, Snowflakes, Neutral Colors and Dry Embossing, I was happy to join in the fun.  (I forgot the dry embossing on my card...oops!)  There is something about a neutral colored Christmas card that I absolutely love!

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Kraft, Under the Tree Specialty DSP, Typeset DSP, Gold Glimmer Paper

Ink ~ Early Espresso, Gold

Stamp Set ~ Endless Wishes

Other Supplies ~ Angled Tag Topper Punch, Star Framelits, Itty Bitty Accents Punch, Venetian Crochet Trim, Gold Sequin Trim, Gold Bakers Twine, Snowflake from Many Merry Stars Simply Create Kit

 

Some of you fellow demos may recognize bits and pieces of this card....I CASE'd a few different projects from the front of the most recent Stampin' Success catalog :-)  One of the fun perks of being a demo!

 

Wishing you all a Merry and Bright Day!

 

Happy Stamping!