Thank You! ... and A Snowman Layout

I would like to start today's post with a huge 'Thank You' from my heart
          --- to all those who have taken the time to leave a comment and/or sign up as a follower.  It means a lot to me that you take the time to do this.  I love to share what I do with others and your actions inspire me to continue to do so.

Today's post seems unusual to me because it involves snow and a snowman and I feel like we've hardly had any snow this winter.  Now, I'm not complaining.  I think one good snow per winter is enough for me.  I can admire the beauty of it and then be ready to move on:)  I'd be quite content to live in my Birk's year round.  I did like creating a snowy layout for one of my recent classes, so meet my chubby snowman!

My color story is Baja Breeze with Concord Crush.  This color combo really sets off the snow and punched snowflakes.

If you look very closely, you can see that I added tiny touches of clear Dazzling Details to the snow and to each snowflake.  It just adds a bit of sparkle to the layout.

I used our Concord Crush ribbon for his scarf.  It is easy to fray the ends to look like the fringe on a scarf.  I tore the snowman (and 'coal' pieces) free hand from card stock.  I cut his hat to fit his head.  The hat band is a piece of Concord Crush ribbon that is cut to 1/2 the width.  His nose (Tangerine Tango) is created  with the pennant punch.  Cut 1 side; attach a sticky note (to hold onto it) and slip the nose back into the punch so you can cut down the other side to a narrower width; round off the larger end of the nose with paper snips.

Since we didn't have much snow this winter, I will have to dig out some old snowy photos or save the layout for a winter with more snow.  In the meantime, my little snowy guy has a happy, silly grin and seems content to wait for someone to join him in some snowy fun times.

I don't plan on making too many more winter layouts just now because Spring is calling my name.  I will be sharing other layouts with you soon, that's for sure.  Now, go dig out some of your favorite photos and get scrapbooking.

A Christmas Layout and Stocking Builder Punch News

Here's a Christmas layout I made with the Frostwood Lodge DSP.

Do you recognize the 'quilt squares' from a previous post?  I used the same technique to decorate a box lid for a gift box.
After creating the 'quilt square' pieces, I punched scalloped circles from cherry cobbler CS, punched snowflakes from whisper white CS, and attached them with rhinestone brads, using our piercing tool.
The 'Merry Christmas' sentiment is from the stamp set Hand-Penned Holidays, in our current holiday mini catalog (p.15).
I also used a pair of felt mittens from our Winter Wishes stitched felt pieces --- love these.

The numbers are from the Number It stamp set, which also coordinates with the Letter It stamp set.  They're on p.170 in our IBAC.  I embossed them with VersaMark ink and Cherry Cobbler EP.  I 'hung' them on our cherry cobbler Baker's Twine. 

Tip:

Check out these previous posts for the gift box, quilt cards and another layout all using these same techniques:
Nov. 17:  Gift Box with quilt top
Dec. 2:    2 Quilt cards
Dec. 5:    another Christmas layout using Frostwood Lodge DSP

Important Stampin' Up! update:

The stocking builder punch will NOT be carried over to the next catalog.

You'll find this punch on p. 34 of the current holiday mini.  It's #124095.  You can order it from me today or go online and order it directly from my Stampin' Up! website.
www.lanahorton.stampinup.net
Once the supplies are gone; that's it.  Don't wait and miss out on this great punch!
Here are a couple of cards that I made with it.

News from Stampin' Up! ---
"Our occasion-specific mini catalogs allow us the opportunity to share the latest seasonal products with you and your customers, and we often carry over products from our mini catalogs into the following Idea Book & Catalog. This time, however, we have decided not to carry over the Stocking Builder Punch (item 124095) from the 2011 Holiday Mini Catalog into the next Idea Book & Catalog. Instead we will offer other great designs in its place--not to mention a trendy, new design planned for next holiday season.
Once the current inventory of this punch has been depleted, it will no longer be available for purchase. We hope many Stampin' Up! stockings will adorn cards and brighten holiday projects this season and look forward to seeing what you create with the next seasonal design."

December 22 and counting...

Happy stamping!

A Quilt Card!

To help inspire you on your creative journey today, here's a holiday card that was inspired by a Kraft gift box that I decorated and showed in my Nov. 20 post.  I used Cherry Cobbler CS with Frostwood Lodge DSP.  I made 2 versions:  for Christmas and for a birthday.

Here's another reason I'm so proud to be a part of the Stampin' Up! family!

At Stampin' Up!, we believe in making a difference in the lives of others--whether they're our demonstrators, our employees, the people who use our products, or children in need of a way to express their creativity.

Since 2005, Stampin' Up! has been honored to participate in the TODAY Show's Holiday Toy Drive. This year, Stampin' Up! will be donating over $500,000 worth of stamping and paper crafting products to the following organizations:

• Action for Boston Community Development Inc.
• Alliance for Children's Rights
• Boys & Girls Clubs Harford County
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York
• Community Partners of Dallas - Rainbow Room
• Diocese of Saint Augustine
• Friendship Project
• Help USA
• Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN)
• Kids In Need Foundation
• National Council of Jewish Women, Cleveland Section - The Dignity Project
• Operation Homefront
• Puerto Rican Family Institute
• St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital
• Stephen Siller Foundation/Katrina Fund
• Welcome House
• Youthbuild USA

In conjunction with the donation, Stampin' Up!'s Shelli Gardner will make an appearance on NBC's TODAY Show on Tuesday, December 6. We are honored and excited to once again participate in this annual holiday tradition of giving back and making a difference! 

Let's all try to make a difference -- to make the world a better place.

 

December 2 and counting...

Happy stamping!