Happy Holidays!

Hi All,

I hope you had a wonderful holiday!  My mom, aunt and uncle were in town, so we enjoyed quite a bit of family time.  I had hoped to get this post done prior to all of the holiday excitement, but it didn't happen.  So, let this be inspiration for your 2014 Holiday cards!

A few weeks ago I hosted my first Shoebox Swap.  Have you participated in one before?  They are so much fun!  Each person designs a card and brings all of the supplies for that card for everyone to make.  There were four of us and a couple of girls brought multiple projects...yes, I am lucky to know some over-achievers :)

This was my card for the swap.  I used one of my new favorite stamp sets: Snow Day.  It is available in the Holiday Mini and is a must have for your collection.  Snowmen are just adorable to begin with, but throw in a super cute chevron hat and you have a winner.  I saw cards popping up on Pinterest with this set and had to have it.  I combined these two fabulous cards to create mine: Snow Day Border Card by SereneStamper and Warm Wishes by Rubberfunatics.

This card uses a hand-drawn frame technique.  It looks so very "fancy", but is so very easy.  Tina Weller has a fabulous Youtube video to show you how it's done (just click on her link above).  All you need is a Black Marker and some Grid Paper.  This stamp set is perfect for this technique!

My friend Mary Beth designed two cards:

This card uses two pretty cool techniques.  The first is an emboss using only 3/4 of the embossing folder.  This leaves a flat space at the bottom to stamp your sentiment.  The second technique is one I've been wanting to try for quite some time now.  You punch out some squares from the patterned paper and then you use a corner round to punch opposite sides of the square.  I love the effect that it gives!

Mary Beth's second card uses another embossing folder.  It's hard to see in the pic, but it embosses a brick wall.  Very cool as you can use the embossed side or the debossed side.  You stamp the card first, then run it through the Big Shot to emboss.  It adds the perfect amount of texture.  And, I love it paired with the tree and Grunge Me.

The next card is from a new customer of mine Linda, who has been welcomed into our group.

Her design was based around this wreath stamp. It is a nice size stamp, so you really don't need a lot of embellishing.  We added some red rhinestones, a sentiment banner and finished it off with a bit of ribbon.  A simply elegant card.

The final card is from a fellow SU Demonstrator, Gina.  I also know her as she was a teacher I worked with at my son's Elementary school.  Her and I must have been on the same wavelength as she chose the same stamp set I did: Snow Day.  Great minds think alike!!!

Her snowman is just as cute!  I love that we could show two ways to use this set.  Mine uses more neutral colors and a Whisper White snowman and Gina's combines blues and reds with the new Smoky Slate ink.  One thing we both had in common, we used rhinestones with the snowflakes.  They're just cuter that way!

It's not too late to work on Holiday cards.  Create while you're still in the holiday cheer and you'll have a head start on next year.  I love the Snow Day set and feel it's timeless.  It's a must-have for your collection.

If I don't stop back in before next week, have a fun and safe New Year's and I'll see you in 2014!  Thanks for stopping by this year!

Julie's Card:
Stamp: Snow Day
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White and Basic Black Cardstock
Ink: Whisper White Craft Pad; Basic Black, Smoky Slate, Cherry Cobbler and Chocolate Chip Classic Pads
Accessories: Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker, Grid Paper, Rhinestones

Mary Beth's 1st Card:
Stamp: More Merry Messages
Paper: Old Olive and Very Vanilla Cardstock; DSP
Ink: Cherry Cobbler Classic Pad
Accessories: Square Punch, Corner Rounder, Snowflake Embossing Folder, Red Brads and Pop Dots/Dimensionals

Mary Beth's 2nd Card:
Stamps: Grunge Me, Season of Joy
Paper: Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler Cardstock
Accessories: Brick Embossing Folder

Linda's Card:
Stamp: Wreath Stamp
Paper: Naturals and Whisper White Cardstock
Ink: Garden Green and Really Red Classic Pads
Accessories: Red Rhinestones and Sheer Red Ribbon

Gina's Card:
Stamp: Snow Day
Paper: Pool Party, Really Red and Whisper White Cardstock
Ink: Smoky Slate, Real Red, Pool Party, Chocolate Chip and Basic Black Classic Ink
Accessories: Rhinestones