Welcome to our October Tour de Freaks! This tour is brought to you by the Control Freaks Stampers members and if you have been following the tour, you should have gotten to my blog by clicking on the link provided by Robin Spinner on her blog. If you are just starting out, make sure to visit all fifteen blogs that are part of the tour today by following the links provided at the bottom of each post. Our theme this month is Christmas Cards, so without further ado, here are the fun projects I would like to share with you this month!
My first project: Joyful Wishes
How fun are those colours together, right? I have paired our new Melon Mambo with Old Olive and Always Artichoke for an unconventional Christmas combo.
Project info: The card base was embossed with the Finial Press embossing folder, and I added some Old Olive ink by swiping a dauber on the raised surface of the design to make the details stand out more. The ornament was stamped twice: with Always Artichoke on Whisper White and in Versamark on Melon Mambo and then embossed in silver. I cut only the word out of the silver ornament and glued it on top of the punched Artichoke one. I added a Melon punched snowflake, a piece of matching polka dot ribbon and a sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set. The plaid patterned paper is from the Razzleberry Lemonade DSP pack.
Supplies
Stamps: Jolis ornements (Delightful Decorations), Voeux mignons (Tenny Tiny Wishes)
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Whisper White
Papers: Razzleberry Lemonade DSP
Inks: Always Artichoke, Versamark
Punches: Ornament, Small Oval, Snowflake, Scallop Edge
Accessories: Silver embossing powder, Finial Press embossing folder,
Melon Mambo polka dot ribbon, dauber, 5/16-in. brad
My second project: Ornament Triptych
I loved my newly discovered color combo so much that I used it on a second project! This just goes to show that you can create various designs using the same supplies
Project info: The background was embossed with a Texturz plate and the Melon Mambo band, with the Finial Press embossing folder. Once the cardstock was embossed, I used a sponge to add Champagne Mist shimmer paint all over those two pieces of cardstock to add a golden glow to them. The rest was easy-peasy stamping and punching and knotting, but look at the little surprise waiting inside...
Supplies
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Whisper White
Inks: Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Versamark
Punches: Ornament
Accessories: Silver embossing powder, gold cord, Champagne Mist shimmer paint,
Finial Press embossing folder, Texturz plate, Stampin' Dimensionals,
Melon Mambo polka dot ribbon, sponge
My third project: Peaceful Winter
This a softer color combo that provides an alternative to blue snowflakes: Soft Suede + Almost Amethyst + Very Vanilla.
Project info: Don't forget that even though Branch Out is not currently featured in the catalogue, it is still available for purchase on the Dormant List! It is one of my favorite set - both fun, elegant and versatile. Here, I have cropped part of the tree for a smaller, circular image, and I have used the snowflakes provided in the set to add falling snow in the background. The Amethyst background was stamped with the beautiful Serene Snowflakes background and then run through the Big Shot with the polka dots Texturz plate. Don't forget if you are going to add embossing to stamp your images first, while the cardstock is still flat!
All of the cardstock edges were sponged with a dauber for a vintage, softer look, and the sentiment, that comes from the All Holidays set, reads "Peace, Love, Joy."
TIP: Don't forget to create matching envelopes for your cards for a nice finishing touch. And switch the fold of the card around for a different look. This card base was created with a 4-1/4 x 11 in. piece of cardstock, folded in half. Make sure to score the cardstock at 5-1/2 in. before folding to avoid a cracked fold (since you will be folding against the grain of the cardstock).
Supplies
Stamps: Branch Out, Fêtes diverses (All Holidays), Serene Snowflakes
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Almost Amethyst
Inks: Soft Suede, Almost Amethyst, Bashful Blue
Punches: Wide Oval, 1-in. Circle, Eyelet Border, 3/4 Square, 1/2 Circle, Boho Blossoms
Accessories: Circle Scissors Plus, Texturz plate and Big Shot, daubers,
purple rhinestone brad, Soft Suede polka dot ribbon, Crop-a-Dile
And your link back to the first stop on the tour: Patty Bennett's blog!
Oh my goodness, Cindy!! I LOVE the vibrancy of the pinks and greens together! And your wonderful little "floating" ornament!! FABulous!! I have kind of forgotten about the "Branch Out" set . . . you have inspired me to pull it out again!! :)
Posted by: Wendy W. | October 19, 2009 at 22:12
Wonderful cards...love your non-traditional color choices! Great job!
Posted by: Connie | October 19, 2009 at 22:18
Beautiful as always, Cindy! Your little ornament is a fun! Love your projects!
Posted by: Robin Spinner | October 19, 2009 at 22:46
Such pretty cards, Cindy! Love the non-traditional colors on the cards!
Posted by: Lisa Martz | October 20, 2009 at 07:41
So pretty! I love the hanging ornament inside the card, and I love seeing Almost Amethyst on a winter card. Thanks for sharing your creativity :-)
Posted by: Kimberley Morris | October 20, 2009 at 08:43
Great cards Cindy! Love the hanging ornament.
Posted by: Dawn Olchefske | October 20, 2009 at 09:21
Cindy...Love the unorthodox Christmas colors...who would have thought those would go together for Christmas??? I guess you did & you were right! I really liked the little surprise ornament inside the Triple Ornament Card...very clever & creative! Erin Blair
Posted by: Erin Blair | October 20, 2009 at 09:22
These are all such very pretty cards. I love that you used alternative colors for these Christmas cards. The last one in the Soft Suede, Almost Amethyst, and Very Vanilla is my personal favorite of the three. Well done and again, wonderful color combos!
Posted by: Amanda | October 20, 2009 at 10:03
Love them all! Just beautiful!
Posted by: Shona Watson | October 20, 2009 at 11:00
Hi Cindy -- they are all so beautiful, it'a hard to pick. I love your newly discovered color combo but really love the little spinning surprise inside the Delightful Decorations card! Great job! Thanks for the inspiration and for being part of this months tour! Blessings, Gretchen
Posted by: Gretchen Barron | October 20, 2009 at 12:30
Love all these projects but my favorite is the ornament project...beautifully done and awesome colors!!!
Posted by: Laura Pinto-Nguyen | October 20, 2009 at 16:58
Wow! What great cards!! I love the green and pink, so fun!
p.s. Thanks for the tip on the light table; I think I'll put it on my Christmas list this year too!
Posted by: Angie Tieman | October 20, 2009 at 19:41
Oh how I just LOVE unusual colors on Christmas cards and yours are just FABULOUS!!!! I love all the detail on your first card!
Posted by: Mary Brown | October 20, 2009 at 20:03
I love them all, Cindy! But I have a serious soft spot for Branch Out. TFS!
Posted by: Brandi Wiggins | October 20, 2009 at 23:15
Very pretty! I love Christmas cards in non=traditional colors. The pink and green are gorgeous together!
Posted by: Lisa T | October 21, 2009 at 09:15
WOWser! Fabulous projects Cindy! Love the spinner card with the cool fold...I've never seen that before and I think I need branching out now...it's never looked so good!
Posted by: Laura (scrapnextras) | October 21, 2009 at 23:30
WOw! All three cards are incredibly beautiful Cindy!
Posted by: vicki | October 22, 2009 at 15:36
Wonderful, creative colour combos!
Posted by: Lisa N | October 27, 2009 at 09:23
Dang girl! All three cards look amazing. You know what's really cool? Your first card has the layout from my coming sketch challenge for this Friday.
Hugs and smiles
Posted by: beate | October 28, 2009 at 09:53