Letterpress Winter Thank You Card

Happy New Year's Eve!  Today is an exciting day for many reasons.

1. It's time to start thinking about all the changes you want to make this year to make it a successful year.  New Year's Resolutions or a "Want I'd Like To Accomplish" List like I tend to make instead. 
2. It's time for me to start planning out my crafting year.  I take the time to plan out what I would like to continue to do, change and add for classes, clubs and craft fairs during the upcoming crafting year.



My little girl

3. A Birthday Celebration...My wonderful daughter turns 6 today!  I have no idea where the time has gone and how she has gotten so big all of a sudden.  She's my "on time" baby since December 31st was her due date and her daddy told her not to be late or she would not ever get an allowance. LOL.  He was just kidding.  But she didn't wait and she graced us with her presence 6 years ago today.

Why is today an exciting day for you?  Are you making New Year's Resolutions?  Rethinking/planning your craft room?  Getting ready to throw or attend a New Year's Eve party?  Or are you ready to craft the day away?  Whatever you have in store for today, the bakers here at Pink Paper Bakery and I hope you have a Wonderful New Year!

Letterpress Winter Thank You notecard

Now onto the reason you stopped by today...my card post.  Today's card is simple and gives quite the "WOW" factor.  I CASeD the idea from our Stampin' Up! demonstrator magazine - Stampin' Success.  This time of year we are always in a rush to prepare for the holidays, clean up after the holidays and get back into the swing of things that "Thank You" sometimes slips past without us noticing.  To make an effort to say "Thank You" for gifts you received or a special time spent with a friend or coworker this holiday season, plan on creating some of these simple "Thank You" cards.

All Is Calm DSP on envelope

I used the Whisper White Note Cards set that Stampin' Up! sells to make it even easier for me to create lots of "Thank You" cards in a short amount of time.  All you need is the Letterpress Winter Photopolymer stamp set, some ink, the All Is Calm Designer Washi Tape, Frosted Sequins or some Rhinestones, and a set of Whisper White Note Cards.

First, stamp the medium snowflake in the middle of your card and all four corners with a lighter color.  Add the flourish frame stamp around the center snowflake.  Then, stamp "Thank You" or whatever greeting you want in the center in a darker color so it stands out.  Add washi tape to the bottom of your notecard and add sequins or rhinestones to your card.  You can also add some DSP to the outside flap on the envelope and then trim it to make the notecard look even more "WOW" when you pass it along to the recipient.

Ingredients

·         Stamps:

o   Letterpress Winter Photopolymer

·         Paper:

o   Whisper White Note Cards and Envelopes Set

o   All Is Calm Speciality DSP

·         Ink:

o   Lost Lagoon

o   Pear Pizzazz

o   Soft Sky

·         Tools and Accessories:

o   All Is Calm Designer Washi Tape

o   Frosted Sequins

o   Glue Dots

Watercolor Winter - Merry Christmas Card

Watercolor Winter Simply Created Kit - Merry Christmas card

In need of some quick and easy holiday or winter cards for upcoming birthdays, anniversaries or just a thinking of you card?  Order the Watercolor Winter Simply Created Kit right now!  It includes everything you need to create 20 beautiful cards, including matching envelopes.  All you have to do is add some ink, use a greeting stamp or two and adhere the pieces to the pre-made card base.  Simple, easy and absolutely beautiful watercolored cards.

Merry Christmas card with matching envelope

Take a look above at what my Club members created this month using this kit.  It was so simple and lots of fun to feel like an artist when watercoloring.  Be sure to order your set now while it's still on sale as the Year End Closeouts for only $9.99 (originally $24.95 which is still a great deal)!

Watercolor Winter Simply Created Kit - item #135869

Ingredients

Stamps:

    o   Four Seasons (retired)

Paper:

    o   Whisper White card stock and banner - pre-cut and embossed for you

    o   Bermuda Bay card stock- pre-cut and scored for your cardbase

    o   Vellum holly leaves and Whisper White letters "Merry" for this card - pre-cut for you; this kit has additional
         letters so you can create your own words/message for you cards

Ink:

    o   Old Olive

    o   Bermuda Bay

Tools and Accessories:

    o   White Sequins - included in kit

    o   Gold Glimmer Paper for holly berries - pre-cut and included in kit

    o   Glue Dots (not included in kit)

Season's Greetings Card

Winter Wonderland Simply Created set - red sled card

Sorry I've been missing from the blog for the past few weeks. I've been sick with a cold then a sinus infection, my kids have been sick and then I pulled a muscle in my back and have been having back spasms for a few days.  To say the least stamping was the last thing I could do.  It was mostly rest, hydrate and rest some more for me.  It's been challenging for me to take a break.  I have a "Type A" personality and always have something that needs to get done.  Guess my body knew that I needed some rest before the upcoming holidays.

To help make the transition back into stamping and paper crafting easier for me, I used the Watercolor Winter Simply Created kit so I wouldn't have to find my creative mojo right away.  This kit is amazing!  It's so much fun to watercolor the sled or some letters to make a word.  It makes you feel like an artist!  And putting it all together to create a beautiful card is so easy.  Stampin' Up! has already die cut everything for you so all you have to do is punch out the gold glimmer paper, the vellum snowflakes or holly leaves, the sled or letters after watercoloring them, and adhere them to your card base.  The best part...your card base and envelope are already printed with fake snow and/or lines for an address.  What could be better than quick and easy cards this time of year?

Sled card with matching envelope

Watercolor Winter Simply Created Kit - item #135869

This kit includes everything you need to create 20 cards and envelopes.  All you need to add is a greeting stamp, ink, adhesive and a very small bit of your time.  If you think these cards could only be for the holidays, think again.  My Club members were creating winter birthday, anniversary, and thinking of you cards with this kit as well.  So order your kit (or two) today and have fun creating some beautiful cards.  Bonus: this kit (Watercolor Winter Simply Created Kit - item #135869) is on sale right now for only $17.49.  A great value for $24.95 but even better with the Year-End Closeout Sale! 

Ingredients

Stamps:

    o   Four Seasons (retired)

Paper:

    o   Bermuda Bay card stock - precut for you

    o   Kraft-like card stock- precut and scored for your cardbase

    o   Vellum snowflake and Whisper White sled - precut for you

Ink:

    o   Cherry Cobbler

    o   Bermuda Bay

Tools and Accessories:

    o   Very Vanilla Baker's Twine - included in kit

    o   White Sequins - included in kit

    o   Gold Glimmer Paper - precut and included in kit

    o   Glue Dots (not included in kit)

hello and Enjoy! Gift Card Holders or Treat Bags

Since I participated in a Craft Fair at my daughter's preschool last week, I thought I would share this treat bag/gift card holder with you today.  I found this idea on Stampin' Up!'s blog and loved how bright and colorful it was and how simple they are to create.  In this season of gift giving, you may be looking for a quick and simple way to present your thoughtful gift.  This is one way to present those awesome gift cards everyone loves to receive!

Inside of Treat Bags - A card that you can add a handwritten note or stamp a sentiment on.

These treat bags/gift card holders are so simple to make.  Use Stampin' Up!'s Chevron or Polka Dot bags as the envelope or treat holder.  Add a banner in bright colors with a simple sentiment punched out with the 2 1/2" circle punch and layered on top of tea lace paper doilies.  If you want to add a little embellishment, add a little bit of ribbon behind the circle punch or layer two different ribbons on top of each other as I did above.  To adhere the banner to the chevron or polka dot envelope or bag, just attach with a mini clothespin.  For the inside, add a simple Whisper White layer to a bright card base punched out at the bottom with an edge border punch.  Quick, simple and easy way to present a thoughtful gift this holiday season.

Ingredients

Stamps:

       o   Four You

       o   Simply Celebrate (retired set)

Paper:

       o   4" x 5 ¼”  Whisper White card stock for card inside

       o   2" x 3 ¾”  Melon Mambo card stock for banner - used framelits to cut out banner

       o   4 ¼” x 6” Coastal Cabana card stock for card inside and scraps for punch

Ink:

       o   VersaMark ink pad

       o   White Embossing Powder
Tools and Accessories:

       o   Natural 5/8" Chevron Ribbon

       o   Melon Mambo 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

       o   Glue Dots - to keep ribbons together

       o   2 ½" Circle Punch

       o   Scallop Edge Border Punch - I used the Scalloped Edge Border punch and a retired Edge Border Punch to 
           give some of the cards a feminine look as well.

       o   Banners Framelits

       o   Tea Lace Paper Doilies

       o   Mini Paper Clothespins from Tag A Bag Accessory Kit (retired) - I suggest using the mini metallic
           clothespins (1" long) or the natural clothespins from SU! that a big bigger (1 3/8" long)

       o   Stampin’ Dimensionals

hello Fall! Wreath Card

hello Fall!  This card was CASEd from Pinterest, one of my favorite craft obsessions!  It allows me to get my creativity mojo back when I feel like it's been too long since I've had time to craft.  Kristi Gray did a great job creating this card.

I love how this Wondrous Wreath set allows for use during all seasons and not just for the upcoming holidays.  I used the Baby Wipe technique for the wreath which allowed all the beautiful colors of fall to come out.  If you've never used the Baby Wipe technique, it is so simple and really adds a "WOW" factor to your cards.  For the Baby Wipe technique, you need some ink refills, a baby wipe or hand wipe, card stock and a stamp.  Tip: don't use a line art stamp or you won't be able to see the different colors from your baby wipe on the image you stamped.  Also, place a paper plate under your baby wipe so you won't ruin your table or crafting space underneath.  Squeeze the ink refills in a circle pattern or a line pattern (whatever you look you are trying to achieve).  Just a drop or two will do and add the different ink refill colors in this pattern until your space is filled up.  Place your stamp on top of the baby wipe where you have left the ink refill drops and lift up.  Stamp onto a sheet of card stock and lift straight up when you are done.  It leaves quite the impression and "WOW" once the stamp is lifted off the card stock. 

Close up of the wreath....I love how realistic these fall colors look on this wreath!

For this card, I used the Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry ink refills on a baby wipe.  I place the drops of ink from lightest to darkest to make sure that I have all the colors on the baby wipe before I stamp.  Tip: If you are creating more than one card, be sure to clean off your stamp each time you use it or you will end up with a mess of colors all mixed up on your stamp.  After the wreath was stamped onto Very Vanilla card stock, I cut it out using the coordinating Framelits and adhered it to the card with dimensionals.  This card has a Very Vanilla layer embossed with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder on top of a Soft Suede layer and adhered to a Very Vanilla card base.  A banner was created at the bottom of the card using markers and the "hello FALL!" sentiment from the For All Things stamp set.  I cut it out using the Banner Framelits and adhered it with dimensionals.

Ingredients

·         Stamps:

o   For All Things

o   Wondrous Wreath 

·         Paper:

o   3 ¾” x 5”  Very Vanilla card stock and scraps for the wreath and banner

o   4" x 5 ¼ "  Soft Suede card stock

o   5 ½” x 8 ½” (scored at 4 ¼”) Very Vanilla card stock

·         Ink:

o   Daffodil Delight ink refill

o   Pumpkin Pie ink refill

o   Old Olive ink refill

o   Rich Razzleberry or Blackberry Bliss ink refill and marker

o   Early Espresso marker

·         Tools and Accessories:

o   Blackberry Bliss 3/8” Stitched Satin Ribbon (this ribbon color seems to match the Rich Razzleberry in the wreath)

o   Banners Framelits

o   Woodgrain Embossing Folder

o   Wonderful Wreath Framelits

o   Stampin’ Dimensionals

White Christmas Card

I was in desperate need to stamp this past week.  Stress and daily life can sometimes be too much so I usually reach for some stamps, card stock and ink the night away.  It's my personal therapy.

For this card, I stamped the trees from the White Christmas stamp set in Early Espresso to give them a realistic look.  I love how versatile this stamp set can be!  I can already picture using just the trees on a card or using the car, cardinals or star on a card or two in the near future.  Next, I added the polar bear and cardinals using the Memento Ink Pad.  I wanted to make sure the black ink didn't smear on the card stock so I used a permanent ink instead of Basic Black which can smear on the Whisper White card stock. Then, I added a touch of color with my Real Red Blendabilities to fill in the cardinals and gave the polar bear a shimmery-snow look by using some Dazzling Details (a glitter adhesive).  Tip: Squeeze the bottle lightly.  There can be air bubbles at times as you are putting the Dazzling Details on the polar bear.  Also, fill in any empty spots after you are done filling in the polar bear with the Dazzling Details.

Close up of Dazzling Details on polar bear

I think the polar bear looks like he is covered in snow as he goes through this winter scene.  I added this scene to a Lost Lagoon card stock layer.  Then adhered it with dimensionals to a Whisper White card base that I layered with some Basic Gray card stock and a bit of All Is Calm DSP.  Finally, I added a bow with Lost Lagoon ribbon and a small sentiment from the Good Greetings stamp set that was available as a promotion during September and October.   I stamped the "merry & bright" greeting in Real Red, punched it out with the Word Window punch and layered it on top of a Lost Lagoon layer punched out with the Modern Label punch.

Ingredients

·        Stamps:

          o   White Christmas

          o   Good Greetings

·         Paper:

          o   4 3/8” x 3 1/8”  Whisper White card stock

          o   4 5/8" x 3 3/8”  Lost Lagoon card stock 

          o   2" x 3 3/4" All Is Calm DSP

          o   5 ¼” x 4" Basic Gray card stock

                 o   4 ¼” x 11” (scored at 5 ½”) Whisper White card stock

·         Ink:

          o   Early Espresso

          o   Real Red

          o   Black Memento Ink

·         Tools and Accessories:

          o   Lost Lagoon 3/8" Silky Taffeta Ribbon

          o  Word Window Punch

          o   Modern Label Punch

          o   Stampin’ Dimensionals

          o   Dazzling Details Glitter adhesive 

Grateful Four Feathers Card

Grateful Four Feathers Card

This card design was CASEd from Pinterest and Kristine McNickle's blog.  I loved how simple the card design looked and how great the colors looked together.  I changed the Baker's Twine to all Whisper White Baker's Twine and I used Whisper White for both of the feathers.  I also didn't use DSP on the card like Kristine did on her card. I hope you will enjoy the simplicity of this card design and give it a try too.  After borrowing the Four Feathers stamp set and the Feathers Framelits from a friend and using them for a few cards, I fell in love with how easy it is to create simple cards with this stamp set and framelits bundle.  So I ordered the bundle right away and you will too if you see the gorgeous cards created with the Four Feathers set on Pinterest. 

Close up of feathers, washi tape and Gorgeous Grunge stamped on card stock

Ingredients

·         Stamps:

o   Four Feathers

o   Gratitude for Days

o   Gorgeous Grunge

·         Paper:

o   4 ¼” x 11” (scored at 5 ½”) Whisper White and scraps for feathers

·         Ink:

o   Lost Lagoon

o   Pear Pizzazz

o   Silver Encore

·         Tools and Accessories:

o   All Is Calm Washi Tape

o   Whisper White Baker's Twine

o   Feathers Framelits

o   Rhinestone Jewels

o   Stampin’ Dimensionals

Four Feathers Bird Card

Fine Feathers Bird Card

This card was inspired from the Around the World Stampin' Up! Challenges - Animal Theme.  Kristine McNickle created a beautiful card using the Fine Feathers stamp set and the bird punch for this challenge.  I used her card as inspiration and a starting point for my card.  I decided to use three feathers in the color combinations of Pear Pizzazz, Smoky Slate and Wisteria Wonder.  For this card, I used the Silver 1/8" Ribbon and pulled one of the threads until the ribbon frayed.  I feel the frayed ribbon looks like a part of the bird's feathers.  I love how this worked out!  I added a "thankful for you" greeting in Basic Black punched out with a Word Window punch and backed with a Modern Label punch in Smoky Slate at the top of the card.  Tip: When fraying the ribbon, pull the loose thread lightly or it may not unravel.  If it starts to knot, cut the ribbon and try again. 

Close up of bird with silver/white ribbon feathers

A second version of the same card with a different greeting, minus rhinestones and the frayed ribbon curled when I pulled the thread this time.

Changed up greeting and no rhinestones on this version

Close up of silver/white ribbon frayed for feather look (curled up more than the first card)

Ingredients

·         Stamps:

o   Four Feathers

o   Good Greetings (hostess set only available through October 31st)

·         Paper:

o   Smoky Slate scraps for bird punch and punch

o   4 ¼” x 11” (scored at 5 ½”) Whisper White and scraps for framelits and punch

·         Ink:

o   Pear Pizzazz

o   Smoky Slate

o   Wisteria Wonder

o   Staz On Black

o   VersaMark

·         Tools and Accessories:

o   Silver 1/8" Ribbon

o   Word Window Punch

o   Modern Label Punch

o   All Is Calm Washi Tape

o   Feathers Framelits

o   White Embossing Powder

o   Rhinestone Jewels

o   Stampin’ Dimensionals

Fall Fest Ghost Card

CASEd card but with ribbon coming out of side

Are you in need of a Halloween card?  This adorable ghost card caught my eye right away so I had to CASE it from Becky Roberts at Inking Idaho blog.  The bright colors and cute looking ghost was so much fun to put together.  The only difference between Becky's card and my card is that I changed the DSP banners, I used smaller googly eyes, and I didn't choose to emboss the Basic Black layer of my card.  I love how the ghost on this card seems very similar to Casper the Friendly Ghost I remember from my childhood.  Give this adorable ghost card a try and make a few extra to have on hand for the upcoming Halloween holiday.

Changed up the greeting to Trick or Treat and used a different DSP from the original card

Ingredients

·         Stamps:

o   Mingle All the Way (Spooky Scary Halloweeny stamp)

o   Tags 4 You (Trick or Treat stamp)

·         Paper:

o   approximately 2 ½” x 3 ½”  Bermuda Bay card stock for cutting out ghost

o   Whisper White scraps to put behind cut out ghost

o   5 ¼”  x 4”  Basic Black card stock

o   5 ½” x 8 ½” (scored at 4 ¼”) Tangerine Tango card stock

·         Ink:

o   Staz On Black

o   Project Life Journaling Pen to draw the mouth (the thin tip makes drawing so much easier for the purpose of drawing the ghost's mouth)

·         Tools and Accessories:

o   White & Tangerine Tango Two-Tone Trim

o   Basic Black 1/8" Ribbon

o   Confetti Celebration DSP

o   Fun Fall Framelits

o   Stampin’ Dimensionals

o   (retired) Goggly Eyes