Christmas in July - Holly Swag Merry Christmas

 I made six cards using this image.  I haven't used it before, but I thought it would be good with the Merry Christmas banners I needed to finish using up... and I knew it would look amazing with some watercolor pencils.

 I took this picture below because the pic above looks muted.  I thought this card needed some sparkle so I got out my pearl Shimmer Mists and sprayed each of the 6 images.  It's not shiny like Wink of Stella or sparkly like rhinestones or Stickles... it gives the paper a glow. 

On another post I talked about options for using this embossing folder.  Here I wanted the bulk of the snow towards the bottom, and little falling flakes towards the top.  How?  Turn the paper in the embossing folder.

I really like the watercoloring effect on this image.   I think next time...a purple ribbon!
Now all 12 banners are finished.  I have a set of circles to use - stay tuned!

Christmas in July - Merry Christmas, Santa!

 I really enjoy this Santa image.  I got out some country/woodsy DSP and cut different length banners to give Santa a background.

The new Stampin' Up! Pretty Label punch is perfect for my very favorite Merry Christmas stamp!  It also looks great backed by the Layering Ovals. 

Of course, Santa is watercolored.  I tried using the blender pen with  ink pads and I'm just not happy with the look so I stick with the watercolor pencils. 

A Valentine Project with our 4th Graders

I've had a puzzle die for a VERY LONG time!

This year I thought of it in enough time to get the cardstock cut, and took my Cuttlebug to school.

 I used this sample to show the kids how it would look when they were finished, and what their task was to make this puzzle message as a gift.

I stamped the Happy Valentine's Day message in the center, and left the rest blank for the kids...  They wrote and colored the rest of the piece.  I cut each one and placed it in an envelope so they could present it to Mom, or Dad, or Grandparents, or Aunts/Uncles, etc.

OMG! I saw it on Pinterest!

How many times have you heard that?  I know I say it a lot, and I hear others say it as well.  Fashion (not my thing), Home Decor (sometimes my thing), Recipes (DEFINITELY my thing), and crafts....  (almost always my thing)!

I saw cards made with this stamp set and die cut images, and HAD to have them!  I love anything fancy and scroll-y.  This really fit the bill.  The Happy has a really interesting flair to it, and the die cut is SO cool!

No excuses, right?  BUT this was my first try at it, and I've already got another one of these cut I want to use my alcohol markers on to see if it will make it glow.

Stay tuned... this will be used often, and it will look a lot better than this first try (even though I still like it).

HERE is a link to the stamp set, and scroll down for a look a the 2 sets of die cuts.

Pride and Prejudice and Jane Austen

I've had this stamp set for a LONG, LONG time! 

After starting the other blog, Susan Vilar Stamps! for my Stampin' Up! projects - because I didn't want to continue mixing the two styles, I'm going to begin showing my other creations.

 I used vanilla cardstock as my base simply because I thought white would be too harsh with the cameo look.  The cameo and the frame are die cuts coordinating with that stamp set.

I've recently found a little local shop here in town that does consignment type things for crafting.  These two cards will go in with the first 'shipment' of things I take over for sale.

A little story:  I found the 6 hour mini-series by chance quite a few years after it debuted in 1995.  After my husband bought me the DVDs, I watched it almost every weekend for about 2 years?  3 years?  Yes, really.  I still break out the series when I have a lot of intense crafting to do.  It's like an old friend, and of course... Colin Firth.  What could be better I ask you?

HERE is the link to the stamp set, and if you scroll down, the die cuts are also available.