We're Back!

We're back from our holidays over at Sunday Stamps and hope you'll play along with us this week. We've got a colour challenge for you - Night of Navy, More Mustard & Sahara Sand:

Paper: Night of Navy, Sahara Sand, More Mustard
Ink: Night of Navy, More Mustard
Stamps: Simply Soft (Hostess, Retired)
Tools: Mini Curly Label Punch (Sneak Peek SAB Item!), Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslits
Accessories: Linen Thread

I know the stamp set I used is retired, but it just spoke to me as I was staring at all my sets wondering what I was going to create this week. I've had a tad of a struggle getting back into my stampin' after the holidays. :)

I started with creating a tiled look with the NEW Mini Curly Label Punch that will debut in the 2013 SAB catty starting January 22nd! I created different layers by punching in my card layer and using Dimensionals. After stamping my image, I created a bow using Linen Thread and added some butterflies.

What do you think? Hope you'll play along with us this week!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Happy Dirtday!

Today I'm showing a card I made for my daughter's friend who turned 4 last week. This was the first time I inked up my I Dig You stamp set:

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Packing Paper
Ink: Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Old Olive
Stamps: I Dig you, Memorable Moments
Technique: Paper Piecing

I created a dirt hill from the packing paper I received in one of my shipments - I tore the edge and crumpled it up to give it some texture. I stamped my dump truck in Chocolate Chip and before paper piecing the cab and bin, I stamped a bunch of fours.

To finish up, I stamped a set of presents in the dirt hill and the sentiment. This card was a hit with both the four-year-old and his parents.

What do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Merry Christmas

Wishing you & yours a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy holiday season!

Paper: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Festival of Prints DSP Pack
Stamps: Snowflake Soiree
Tools: Big Shot, Window Framelits, Lacy Brocade TIEF, Heat Tool
Accessories: Gold Embossing Powder, 1-1/4" Cherry Cobbler Ribbon (retired)
Techniques: Heat Embossing

Of course, I also have to show you my last Christmas card of the season. :) This card was made using scraps on my desk from previous projects, but I like the way it turned out and I hope you do too. I added a banner out of ribbon and some heat embossing. I also popped up the ornament to give the card some depth.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Sparkly Snowflakes

It's my second to last day to show you some Christmas cards... it's a snowflake card:

Paper: Island Indigo, Whisper White
Ink: Island Indigo
Stamps: Snowflake Soiree
Tools: Blossom Punch
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds

This is a CAS card using just two main items - the Snowflake Soiree stamp set (that has both images and sentiments), and the Blossom Punch that just so happens to fit one of the snowflake images.

To add lots of sparkle, I used Dazzling Diamonds on the snowflakes and sentiment.

Hope you like it...

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Christmas Lights

As promised in yesterday's post, here is another card using Crystal Effects:

Paper: Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Island Indigo
Ink: Island Indigo, Real Red, Old Olive, Tempting Tourquoise
Stamps: Jolly Bingo Bits, Wacky Wishes (Hostess)
Techniques: Crystal Effects

This card is a CASE from one I saw online, but unsure who to give the credit to. I used my Stampin' Write Markers for the lights and then to draw in the wire. I covered each light with Crystal Effects and like yesterday's card, it's hard to tell in the photo that each light is raised and shimmers.

This was a fun and funky card using bright and non-traditional Christmas colours... not my typical style Christmas card, but I like it!

What do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Christmas Candy

I don't know about you, but around here, Christmas and the holiday season is filled with lots of food and yummy treats... so I thought I'd share this card with you today:

Paper: Whisper White, Be of Good Cheer DSP, Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Stamps: Delightful Dozen, Jolly Bingo Bits
Tools: Border Punch
Techniques: Crystal Effects

It's hard to tell from the photo, but I used Crystal Effects to raise and give a shimmery look to all the candy treats. I forgot how great this stuff is! Once I applied it on these, I couldn't stop and created several cards with the same effect (will show the next card off tomorrow). It did take a couple of hours to dry, but leaving it overnight to be sure is always a good idea.

Once my panel was all ready to go, I didn't do much else other than add a few banners and a sentiment. I wanted the focus to be on my yummy candy treats.

What do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Tree Shining Bright

Since we're so close to Christmas, I'll be posting the few last Christmas cards for 2012. Today's card has a lot of sparkle, thanks to the Glimmer Paper!

Paper: Pool Party, Very Vanilla, Champagne Glimmer Paper
Ink: Soft Suede
Stamps: More Merry Messages
Tools: Big Shot, Delicate Designs TIEF, Lacy Brocade TIEF, Holiday Framelits
Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon

With a little raised texture from the embossing folders, some colour from the Seam Binding Ribbon and lots of bling with the Glimmer Paper, this card came together quickly and has a CAS look to it that I just love. Also feeling the non-traditional colour scheme for Christmas.

What do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Yummy Goodness

These gingerbread cookies look good enough to eat thanks to the Scentsational stamp set and coordinating Holiday Collection Framelits.

Paper: Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Festival of Prints DSP Stack
Stamps: More Merry Messages, Scentsational
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Tools: Big Shot, Holiday Collection Framelits, 1-1/4" Scallop Punch
Accessories: Jewels, 1/8" Real Red Taffeta Ribbon, Red Dazzling Details

This isn't an original idea... there are many cards floating around the WWW with half-eating gingerbread cookies. I used the 1-1/4" Scallop Circle to take chunks out of my gingerbread cookies. Then I added some Dazzling Details and popped each up with Dimensionals.

The sentiment is from More Merry Messages and to finish off, I added some ribbon trim with a tiny bow and jewels for added detail and bling.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Watercolor Easel

Today is another sketch over at Sunday Stamps... my sketch in fact! Hope you'll play along with us this week! Actually, you have TWO WEEKS to play along! The challenge closes Saturday, December 29th.

Paper: Whisper White, Brushed Gold Specialty, Neutrals DSP Pack
Ink: Soft Suede, Gold, Versamark
Stamps: Watercolor Winter, Come to Bethlehem
Tools: Lace Border Punch (retired), Heat Tool
Techniques: Heat Embossing
Accessories: Pearls

I'm just about at the end of making Christmas cards. I know you've probably heard me say that several times already, but I really am nearing the end. :) I still had a few more cards to make for clients, so why not show them off to you too.

I followed the sketch pretty closely and ended up making an easel-type card. I added lots of shimmer with the Brushed Gold Specialty Paper, gold ink and heat embossing. I did a lot of fussy cutting with this card, but I think it was worth it.

I hope you like what I've created and are inspired by the design team this week so that you can play along with us over the holidays!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Clearance Rack Blitz!

Beginning today, Stampin' Up! has added almost 300 products to the Clearance Rack in the Online Store, with some discounted up to 80 percent!!

Hurray up and place your order as these are only available while supplies last! Also, only available on online orders.

SU! has added stamps (surprising!), ink, markers, tools & accessories, & much, much more! What are you waiting for?! Go to my online store and check out the savings!

Happy Shopping!
Steph

Christmas Scraps

Can you believe that Christmas is less than two weeks away?! I can't! Like every year, this time is always crazy busy and I've been in full Christmas production crafting mode for many months now. With all the crafting and cutting, I'm left with a ginormous pile of scraps... so I decided to make some cards using mostly scraps I had lying around. Take a look:

Paper: Very Vanilla, Poppy Parade, Whisper White
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Stamps: Greetings of the Seasons, Jolly Bingo Bits
Tools: Big Shot, Petals-a-Plenty TIEF, Scentsational & Labels Framelits

I was able to make four identical cards using these scraps: a cutout from the Labels Framelits, tree cutouts from the Scentsational Framelits because I had made many tags with the negative cutout of this image and a piece of Poppy Parade card stock left over from making my Santa Gum casings.

After a little stamping and embossing, this card came together quickly! Why not try making something with the scraps you have lying around? You'll be surprised what you can make!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Snowflake Ballerina

Welcome to another week at Sunday Stamps! This week is a colour challenge, so you're free to do what you want with the colour scheme. As much as I wanted to steer away from Christmas (because I'm tired of making Christmas cards already), I just couldn't resist with Holly's colour theme this week.

My card was 100% inspired by some snowflake ballerina garland I saw on Pinterest:

Paper: Real Red, Basic Black, Brushed Silver Specialty, Printer Paper
Ink: Versamark
Stamps: The Sounding Joy (retired)
Tools: Heat Tool, Black Embossing Powder
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds

Here is the link to the template I used to cut out the ballerina. As soon as I saw these ballerinas in Pinterest, I thought about The Nutcracker and just had to make one to fit on a card. I used the template found on the website, brought it into MDS and resized it. The tutu was cut by hand from a 3x3 piece of paper. I used ordinary printer paper for both because of the numerous folds in the tutu.

To add some sparkle and bling, I covered the tutu in Dazzling Diamonds and heat embossed the sentiment.

I hope you're inspired to play along with us this week!

Until next time, stay crafty!

Steph

Thin Snowman in Disguise

I just recently (finally!) purchased the Snow Much Fun stamp set during the recent sale. I've loved it for a long time but it just always got pushed down on my wish list. This is the first card I've made with it:

Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue
Ink: Black
Stamps: Snow Much Fun
Tools: Big Shot, Northern Flurry TIEF, Circle Punches - 1", 1-1/4", 1-3/8"
Accessories: Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon (retired), Linen Thread, Dazzling Details

I don't know why my brain thought to disguise this thin snowman into a fat one, but it seemed cool in my head, so I created it! The card is 4-1/4" square. I scored it at 2-1/2" and 6-3/4". I stamped the snowman twice - once on Whisper White and a second time on Bashful Blue. I used my circle punches to punch him out and then used the punched Whisper White piece as a template to make sure I got my circles punched in the right spot on the front of my card.

I didn't want to have any other stamping on the card, so I ran my base through the Big Shot using the Northern Flurry TIEF for added texture. I paper-pieced my circles together on my Bashful Blue piece and then added my ribbon trim for some added colour. To finish things off, I used Dazzling Details on all his buttons.

What do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

MDS Tags

Don't you just love MDS2?! If you haven't yet tried it, what are you waiting for?? You can try it out for 30 days for FREE! Click here to give it a try.

One of the many things I love about MDS2 over the original is that you're able to colour stamps using multiple colours. Check out this tag I created:

I love creating hybrid projects because as much as I love MDS, I still love working with my hands too. :) I created the bird image in MDS so that it would fit inside my XL Oval punch. Once I sized it, I started colouring the image. So quick & simple! I printed several on my home printer and punched them out.

The tag itself is cut using the Layered Labels Framelits and I rounded off the one end. I cut a banner from Cherry Cobbler Coredinations and ran it through my Woodgrain TIEF. Gave it a slight sand and glued it to the tag. I popped up my bird with Dimensionals.

For the "bow" at the top, I cut strips of Tulle from Cherry Cobbler & Crumb Cake. I gathered it and tied with Linen Thread in the middle and then looped it through my tag and tied it in place.

I hope you like... why don't you give MDS2 a try?!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

100 "Likes"!

 
My Facebook page reached 100 "likes" this morning... so I'm having a draw! If you don't "like" Hofkissed on Facebook yet, what are you waiting for?! Especially since there will be a draw today for Hofkissed Christmas merchandise (all handcrafted paper goods!).

www.facebook.com/hofkissed

Aside from that, I'll also share a project with you... perhaps one that will be given to the winner of my draw this afternoon (among other things)! Some adorable gift tags:

Paper: Naturals Ivory, Whisper White
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Gumball Green, Black
Stamps: No Peeking
Tools: Big Shot, Two Tags Bigz Die, Scallop Punch
Accessories: Pear Pizzazz Baker's Twine, Jewels

Don't you just love these little characters?! They're from the No Peeking set. I coloured directly on the stamps with my Stampin' Write Markers and then punched them out with my Scallop Punch. I did the same for the sentiment (minus the punch). The tag was created with one of the two you get when you roll the Two Tags Bigz Die through the Big Shot. The scallop fits perfectly with it.

To finish off, I added some Baker's Twine and a few jewels for some bling.

Don't forget to get on over to Facebook to "like" my page (if you haven't already) and then comment on my post there about my draw for a second entry today by 2 p.m. EST.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Frosty Friends for Sketch Week at Sunday Stamps!

It's sketch week over at Sunday Stamps! Monica has prepared a good one this week...

Paper: Pool Party, Whisper White, Festival of Prints DSP
Ink: Island Indigo, Black, Stampin' Write Markers
Stamps: Frosty Friends, Merry Messages (retired)
Tools: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots TIEF, Layered Labels Framelits
Accessories: Whisper White Sweater Trim, Jewels

I veered slightly away from the sketch this week, but I think it still works! This is the first time I've gotten a chance to ink up Frosty Friends. Such an adorable Á la Carte stamp. It's hard to tell in the photo, but I stamped on a piece of printed vellum (with snowflakes on it), coloured the image and then puffed up the snowmen for a 3D look.

I added some texture with the Perfect Polka Dots TIEF and what better accent than Sweater Trim?!

Hope you'll play along with us this week!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph