No Time To Stamp?

It’s Hip to be Square!  Well, with the NEW JustRite Square Monogram products, it certainly IS Hip to be Square. 

I had a specific purpose in mind when I set out to create today’s project.  I have over 100 people on my Christmas card list, and as much as I’d love to make them each a hand made card, I just can’t due to time constraints.  I sent out many store-bought cards last year (hanging my head in shame — LOL!).  Well, this year I JUST may be able to make those 100+ cards if I continue in the same vein as today’s project.  Take a look at my cards and I’ll explain to you what I’ve done to make these SUPER quick and simple.

Has anyone been shopping at Wal-Mart lately?  The base card is in a boxed set of 18 I purchased there.  I made the small panels to adhere on the front, giving my cards that totally hand made feel!

My panels were made using the NEW JustRite 2″ Square Monogram Stamper and a border from the NEW 2″ Square Decorative Frames (contains 6 square borders).  And rather than do a monogram in the center, I chose to use one of the Christmas centers from A Merry Little Christmas.  It works perfectly here and I loved how the scrolled lines on the center mimicked the design on the frame itself.

Here’s a clearer view of the stamper, frames and center.

And here’s a look at the cards I purchased as a boxed set of 18 from Wal-Mart for $5.00.  The interesting thing about these cards is that they are designed to have a photo adhered in the center, with  sticky tape stripes included.  Also the design is such that it is in need of a focal image, SO rather than a photo, I figured I could make a focal image and turn these very quickly into hand-made cards for Christmas.

These are the 3 little focal image panels I made.  They measure 3 x 4.25″.  A nice small and very do-able little piece, even if you may have large quantities to make.  The overall card is 5.25 x 7.75″.

As luck would have it, SU’s Close to Cocoa cardstock was a perfect match to these purchased cards — a total bonus!!!  I love the POP created by using the pure white cardstock against the Close to Cocoa and the pure white 100% Silk Ribbon.    My bows are made using the Bow Easy, and the how-to for this fun and flirty ribbon treatment can be seen here.  My focal image is stamped in VersaMark and gold embossed, then cut with my Classic Square Nestabilities by Spellbinders.  My Close to Cocoa and White rectangular mats are merely cut on my paper cutter.

This card was done in horizontal orientation. That was another thing I loved about these particular cards — you could use them either vertically or horizontally and they *worked* due to the way the text is on the card front.  The sentiment inside is printed in a square perimeter format, so the inside *works* as well in either orientation — so that was a fun feature using these cards.

These 2 cards were done in a vertical orientation.  The measurements for all three panels shown today are the same.  The only difference is the placement of the stamped focal image and the ribbon within that basic rectangular frame.

Here’s a graphic of the product used — the NEW 2″ Square Stamper purchased alone ($9.95), and the NEW 2″ Square Decorative Frames (contains 6 borders)($12.95).  Border enables use of 6 or 15pt font to create custom sayings. 2″ and 1 5/8″ Centers fit in the center area.  These items can be purchased individually as show above, OR they can also be purchased within a kit, shown below:

The NEW 2″ Square Monogram Kit ($24.95) contains the 2″ Wood Stamper, four 2″ Square Decorative Frames and 95pt uppercase Special Occasions font set (36pcs), 50pt uppercase Spec Occ font set (92pcs), and an uppercase 15pt Spec Occ font set (264pcs)– that’s 392 characters!

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Shopping:

JustRite Stampers for the entire line of JustRite Product, including the items featured on today’s project:  2″ Square Stamper, 2″ Square Decorative Frames, A Merry Little Christmas.

The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store carries these items used on today’s project:

2″ Square Stamper, 2″ Square Decorative Frames, A Merry Little Christmas all by JustRite

100% White Silk Ribbon by May Arts in 1.25″ and 1/4″ widths and the Bow Easy

VersaMark Ink

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Now, make sure you check out all the fabulous inspiration on these blogs!  I can’t wait to see what everyone has done!

Starting off at the JustRite Blog

Barb Schram

Debbie Olson

Heidi Blankenship

Kathy Jones

Kellie Fortin

Angela Barkhouse

Lauren Meader

Lisa Somerville

Michele Kovack

Michelle Wooderson

Sharon Harnist

Sharon Johnson (that’s me!)

Thanks for taking the time to stop in today!  Have fun checking out all the wonderful samples provided in the links above.  Wishing you a wonderful autumn day and see you real soon!

This trio of coordinated Christmas cards using Christmas Joy by JustRite Stampers is super easy to make.  I like things quick and easy when it comes to Christmas preparation.  These cards are a  quick, quicker and quickest type of project - -LOL!!!  Here’s the trio:

To make this project move quickly, I used the same image from Christmas Joy, stamped it in Memento Rich Cocoa and Copic colored the tiny leaves.  I used a Gold Spica Glitter Pen on the bow and a Red Spica Glitter Pen to dot over the berries.  The images are all cut with my Classic Oval Nestabilities by Spellbinders.

This card is the quickest.  My image is merely die cut once, no layers, popped up on dimensionals.  For all these cards, my bottom dotted DP is cut 1.5″ deep.  Fun paper that I’m loving!  It’s the Dear Santa Collection by Kaisercraft.

This card was stepped up just a bit with the addition of a strip of 1.5″ wide Silk that is shirred under the oval with a strong double sided tape.  The focal oval is also matted.

This card is the most decked out of today’s trio.  Again, the bottom dotted DP is cut 1.5″ deep. This card is a side fold allowing me to wrap my Antique Gold Silk around the card front.  Instructions on how to do this type of fun and flirty bow can be seen here.  I used the Bow Easy.

A close look at this pretty image — it colors up so quickly!  There are 6 centers and 6 borders in Christmas Joy and it is used with the 1 3/4″ by 2 5/16″ Oval Stamper, which is the Small Oval Stamper.

Here’s a visual of Christmas Joy for you.  Love this set for Christmas.  It  has so many fun styles — spanning from the fun penguin to the lovely image I used with a vintage feel.

Please check out all the samples for fun projects at the JustRite Blog.  It’s a good stop!

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Shopping: 

JustRite Stampers has the Christmas Joy set as well as the Small Oval Stamper required to use it, as well as their full line of JustRite product.

The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store carries these items used on todays card trio.

Christmas Joy Set with the Small Oval Stamper by JustRite

Dear Santa Collection DP by Kaisercraft, Memento Rich Cocoa Ink

100% Silk Ribbon by May Arts (Antique Gold) and the Bow Easy

Classic Oval Nestabilities by Spellbinders and the Scor-It

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Thank you kindly for stopping in.  I’ll have another few posts popping up over the weekend, featuring brand new product from both JustRite Stampers and Flower Soft, so I best get busy!!!  Hope to see you all soon and wishing you a GREAT weekend. Oh, and stay tuned for a fun Flower Soft Blog Hop on 11/01, which is Sunday.

3 Panel Accordion - Accordion cards are some of my favorite things to make, and that’s just what we’ll do today.  We’re taking it easy with just 3 panels today.  Your accordion may be as large or as small as you like it.  It may serve as table decor or it may tie closed as a little gift waiting to be opened. Anything goes — just do a 3 panel accordion card. But beware — they are ADDICTING!!!  Be sure to check out all the DT girls links to get some GREAT ideas and to get your juices flowing!

Keyword ssnotime111 - There is no time limit. You can play this challenge and upload your project at Splitcoast and/or your Blog, anytime at all. You (and that means anyone and everyone, blogger or not!) can play as many times as you like!!! The point is to keep it simple, quick and have fun!!! Please link back here.

Check out the great samples for the Stamp Simply Challenge today on the blogs of these fabulous designers:

• Amy, October Guest Designer
• Janine   
• Julie 
• AJ
• Tammy 
• Deb  
• Barbara
• Jenny
• Barb Schram (Barb is kindly filling in for a bit as Jennifer Buck takes some much needed time off — enjoy your break, Jennifer — we’ll miss you!)

Please bear with us all as we each upload and link on Thursday night.  Everyone should be up and set by Friday morning.

You may see all SCS Gallery Submissions here.

Now I must apologize for this very late post.  Today just did not go the way I had planned — it’s nearly 4 a.m. so I’m only going to post the photos of my project.  I’ll come back tomorrow morning to add the supplies and details for you — thanks for understanding.  Editing:  Added!!!  Measurements provided below as well!

Journal Notes (Christmas),  Flower Soft Vintage Envelope Sentiments, Flower Soft Polar White, Flower Soft Glue,  SU Dazzling Diamonds applied with Quickie Glue Pen, Basic Grey Buttons, May Arts White Ruffled Faux Suede Ribbon, Offray Wired Ribbon from Wal-Mart, Hairy Yarn from Wal-Mart , SU Bella Bleu DP, Pewter Jumbo Eyelets and Felt Snowflake covered with Dazzling Diamonds

There is NO stamping on this project and it is so soft and pretty, IRL, with tons of texture from the Flower Soft snow on each panel and the glitz of the Dazzling Diamonds, which is lost in the photos — so sorry.

All images are from the Christmas Journal Note pad I carry in the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.  Here I’ve made my snowy border very textural with Polar White Flower Soft and added a bit of glitz to the birds and berries with Dazzling Diamonds.  Doing something on this order to a Journal Notes image would make a quick and easy card front for Christmas!

This center panel is SO sparkly and glitzy IRL.  The bottom is the Polar White snow and the trees are all Dazzling Diamonds.  The piece is a bottom half (journal portion) from the Jouranal Notes pad.  I intended this panel to be where the giver would sign the *card*.  These cute envelopes are all from the Vintage Envelope Sentiments by Flower Soft, put on with an SU Dimensional.  They add a nice touch!

This panel is the bottom half of the first bird panel from the Journal Note sheet (Christmas).  I am LOVING this 5/8″ Ruffled Faux Suede.  The pure white looks so good with a Christmasy/wintery theme.  It’s soft and easy to tie.  My buttons are all by Basic Grey.

Here’s the how-to for this sized accordion:

Cut paper 12″ x 5″.  Score at 4″ and in again 4″, or at 4 and 8.  This gives you the 3 panels.

Working on a surface with diagonal lines (I used my Scor Pad), use a ruler and pencil to mark your *peaks*.  Take to paper cutter and cut on your pencil lines.

Cut DP strips 4″ wide and adhere one strip over each panel.  Once applied, it is easy to now come with scissors and cut the DP along your *peak* lines - no measuring — super easy. 

Apply ink direct to all edges of panels for a finished look and decorate away.

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Please note the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store has several sales running right now:

30% off on the boxed JustRite Monogram Sets — Damask, Special Occasions, Curlz

15% of on ALL ribbon orders BY THE SPOOL (not cut yardgage)

Buttons at greatly reduced prices.

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Thanks for stopping in!  I hope all the great DT samples encourage you to try a fun 3 panel accordion card — I just LOVE decorating these fun little projects!  I have many more projects to share over the weekend, so hope to see you soon.  Have a wonderful weekend ahead!

Yes, another sale!  The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store is offering 15% off the price of all SPOOLS of ribbon in my store — ALL spools!  The sale starts today and runs THROUGH NOVEMBER!!!   It’s my way of trying to get some really great ribbon in your hands in large enough quantities that you can make your Christmas projects without worry of running out or feeling you have to skimp!  Nothing says “Christmas” on a project more than some beautiful ribbon!!! 

To place an order or ask questions, email me at ssj@up.net.  Thanks!

Please note the 15% off applies to ribbon BY THE SPOOL ONLY.  The reduced price is not on cut yardage of ribbon, though cut yardage is certainly available to you at all times, in any quantity you wish.

Please also note, I can not totally deplete my spool supply as I need to keep spools on hand to cut yardage from.  Depending on what you order and the demand for that particular ribbon during this sale, their MAY be a delay in shipping of up to 5 days.  I will advise you when you place your order as to when your order will ship.  Thank you for understanding.

And here’s a simple to reproduce Christmas card with a vintage feel using the Burgundy 100% Silk Ribbon, some non-traditional paper that I think works just GREAT for a vintage Christmas card and a single layer tag:

My paper is from Vintage Findings by Making Memories - I LOVE to use non-traditional papers and colors for Christmas cards!  The lacey border is a Martha Stewart Punch, I edged the bottom of the floral layer with a Gold Zig Painty Pen, and my corners are rounded using an SU Corner Rounder.  I applied ink to my paper edges direct from the pad using the tiny cat’s eye format of Colorbox Chalk Ink in Creamy Brown.

My pretty tag could NOT have been any more quick and easy.  I used the sentiment and outer border from Christmas Joy by JustRite on the smaller Oval Stamper, which is  1 3/4″ x 2 5/16″ inch.  Using VersaMark ink I embossed the stamped image in Gold and added just a hint of color to the leaves with a green Copic, then cut out with my Classic Oval Nestabilties.  It is just taped on to appear that it is hanging from the ribbon — gotta keep it quick and easy, right?

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The following items used on this card are available at the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store:

100% Silk Ribbon in 1.25″ and 1/4″ (Burgundy) by May Arts and the Bow Easy

Christmas Joy and the 1 3/4 x 2 5/16″ Oval Stamper by JustRite

Classic Oval Nestabilities by Spellbinders

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I’m so glad you stopped in today — hope you had a great weekend!  We had a TON of rain and cold weather, but now have hopes of hitting into the 50’s this week, so that is very GOOD!!!  I have so many projects to work on this week - keeping my fingers crossed they all get done in good time!!! Wishing you all a wonderful week again — see you real soon!

Feeling Square? - Today’s challenge has to do with shape — squares.  NO rounded corners on todays card — so that means NO oval or circular punches or die cuts — only square shapes.  The card must be square, any size, as long as it’s square and all layers added must have squared corners.  Only your small embellishments can be round or oval — so you can use buttons, brads, primas, etc. as embellishements, even though they may be round. So if you’re feeling a little square, today is YOUR day!!!  You know, it’s TOTALLY HIP TO BE SQUARE!!!!  Have fun!!!

Keyword ssnotime110 - There is no time limit. You can play this challenge and upload your project at Splitcoast and/or your Blog, anytime at all. You (and that means anyone and everyone, blogger or not!) can play as many times as you like!!! The point is to keep it simple, quick and have fun!!! Please link back here.

Check out the great samples for the Stamp Simply Challenge today on the blogs of these fabulous designers:

• Amy, October Guest Designer
• Janine   
• Julie 
• AJ
• Tammy is taking the night off!  Get a good rest, Tam!
• Deb  has some great Blog Candy today!
• Barbara
• Jenny
• Barb Schram (Barb is kindly filling in for a bit as Jennifer Buck takes some much needed time off — enjoy your break, Jennifer — we’ll miss you!)

Please bear with us all as we each upload and link on Thursday night.  Everyone should be up and set by Friday morning.

You may see all SCS Gallery Submissions here.

And here’s my Square creation for today:

A 5.5″ square card — Stamped VERY Simply.

Image is from Old Fashioned Christmas by JustRite, used on the 3 1/4″ Wood Stamper, stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and it is Copic Colored — the square is 2.5″.

Sentiment is from Many Merry Messages by SU, stamped in Versa Fine Onyx Black Ink, my favorite ink for crisp and clean sentiments.

Double Embossed Lines are made with my Scor-It, spaced 1/4″ apart.  Using Perga Soft  makes your scoring tool just glide over even the heaviest of papers.

Trying to show you how deeply impressed you can get your embossed lines when using a Scor-It.  Makes for very professional looking embossed designs.

All items linked in the text above are available at the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.

Thanks much for stopping in — it’s been an exhausting day so I’m signing off without much chit chat! 

If you are interested in any of the JustRite Monogram Kits at 30% off, please scroll down one post, or click here to read about them — thanks!  See you all real soon!!!

Today I made a Christmas Gift Tag for this week’s 2 Sketches 4 You weekly sketch challenge.  JustRite Stampers is sponsoring this week’s sketch and they are offering a $100 Gift Certificate to the weekly winner. I’m a bit late in playing myself, but you still have until midnight, Mountain Time, tonight (Sat., 10/17) to enter if you haven’t already.  It’s a fun sketch, it’s fun to play and you JUST might be the lucky winner.  Check it all out here.

I followed the sketch provided to make my Christmas Gift Tag, personalized with our family name and year.  This tag is all set to be adhered to a box or have another length of ribbon run through it and tied to a bag.  The small blank tag on top is all set for me to write in the name of the recipient.  I’ll add this to my stash for use this Christmas season!

Here’s a closeup of my focal image.  I think it’s so pretty in these colors.  The paper is all Fruitcake by Basic Grey, a 12 x 12 pack.  In those packs you get a sheet of tags.  The large tag I used was one of those tags you just punch out — easy and fun!  My image is colored with Copics and as I wanted white candles I just colored them with a Spica Clear Glitter Pen and they are SO pretty IRL.  I used Petite Circle Nestbilites to do all my cutting and Kaiser Pearls in Snow for the accents.  I like to use Versa Fine Onyx Black for crisp and clear sentiments and I used Memento Tuxedo Black for my image that was to be Copic colored.  My ribbon is 100% Silk by May Arts — totally scrumptious!

These are the 3 sets I used to make my focal image.  The 2″ Wood Stamper with Bonus 15 pt Font was used to create my personalized message, “From the Johnsons 2009″, along the bottom of the border.  I use one of the Holiday Demi Phrases, Warm Winter Wishes,  along the top of the border.  My pretty trio of candles comes from a Merry Little Christmas Set, used on the 1 5/8″ Wood Stamper. 

Here’s how I set up my stampers.  Now, some of you may remember, several weeks back I set up the 2″ Stamper with our name and date.  And I left it, and I will leave it until the Christmas season is over. It is all set for me, whenever I need it.  (That’s the advantage of having more than one 2″ Stamper on hand!) I used a Holiday Demi Phrase on top, and I can quickly change that out to suit the theme of my project.   My pretty candle image is on a 1 5/8″ Wood Stamper.  And please note that I did cut the image out.  It was a circle, but I cut off the excess rubber along the edges.  That rubber sometimes has a tendency to pick up ink from the ink pad and leave ink marks on your paper, so to avoid that it’s easy enough to just cut it off!  Don’t be afraid to cut your JustRite stamps!

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Stamps:   2″ Wood Stamper with Bonus 15 pt. Font and Center, Holiday Demi Phrases and A Merry Little Christmas used on a 1 5/8″ Wood Stamper, all by JustRite Stampers.

Paper:  White and Fruitcake DP by Basic Grey.

Ink:  VersaFine Onyx Black and Memento Tuxedo Black.

Accessories:  100% Silk Ribbon (1.25″ and 1/8″) in Burgundy, Petite Circle Nestabilities and Tag Trio Dies by Spellbinders, Kaiser Pearls in Snow, Dimensionals.

Shopping:

JustRite Stampers carries the items used on this project (all linked above) as well as their full line of product.

The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store carries the following items used on this project:

2″ Wood Stamper with Bonus 15 pt. Font and Center, Holiday Demi Phrases and A Merry Little Christmas used on a 1 5/8″ Wood Stamper, all by JustRite

100% Silk Ribbon by May Arts

Petite Circle Nestabilities by Spellbinders

VersaFine Onyx Black Ink, Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, and Kaiser Pearls

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So glad you stopped in today — hope you have time to try at winning the $100 Gift Certificate offered by JustRite!  I hope to get a little more stamping done this weekend if things go as planned and I wish you good and relaxing times this weekend as well!!! See you soon!!!

Gatefolds  — Today’s challenge deals with how we fold our card — we are going to do Gatefold cards today.  Fun for a change!  Gatefolds are cards that fold in from each side, meeting in the middle, so it opens like a gate.  The folds don’t have to be symmetrical, your opening can be off center if you like.  Check out all the DT samples for some great ideas with this fun fold!!!

Keyword ssnotime109 - There is no time limit. You can play this challenge and upload your project at Splitcoast and/or your Blog, anytime at all. You (and that means anyone and everyone, blogger or not!) can play as many times as you like!!! The point is to keep it simple, quick and have fun!!! Please link back here.

Check out the great samples for the Stamp Simply Challenge today on the blogs of these fabulous designers:

• Amy, October Guest Designer
• Janine   
• Julie 
• AJ
• Tammy 
• Deb
• Barbara
• Jenny
• Barb Schram (Barb is kindly filling in for a bit as Jennifer Buck takes some much needed time off — enjoy your break, Jennifer — we’ll miss you!)

Please bear with us all as we each upload and link on Thursday night.  Everyone should be up and set by Friday morning.

You may see all SCS Gallery Submissions here.

And here’s my Gatefold creation for today:

A Christmas card simply made using a Winter Cotton Scrap, a Vintage Envelope Sentiment from Flower Soft, 100% Silk Ribbon (Burgundy), a die cut corner and pretty SU paper, Autumn Traditions  (a fall pack, but I love a few of the prints in it for Christmas).  My gatefold opening is off center and you can scroll down to get measurements for cutting and scoring this fold.

I’m trying to capture the glitz here.  My Cotton Scrap is sewn onto Soft Suede SU cardstock which I distressed afer sewing, using my scissor blades.  I like to sew in this meandering fashion because then you don’t have to be so careful that’s it pefect, and that’s good!  Santa’s hair and beard where dazzled up by drawing lines with my Quickie Glue Pen and sprinkling on SU Dazzling Diamonds.  SOOOO pretty IRL.  The envelope is a fun cutout from a pack called Vintage Envelope Sentiments by Flower Soft — PERFECT for that finishing touch!

Here’s the inside.  I adhered Very Vanilla cardstock, used a Cuttlebug die cut corner inside to match the one on the front, and stamped my inside sentiment with one of the centers from Christmas Treasures by JustRite, used on a 3 1/4″ Wood Stamper.  And can you see on the Cotton Scrap panel how I adhered a piece of cardstock to the back to cover up all my stitching lines and give the inside a cleaned up look?  It also served well in this instance as I could sandwich my ribbon between the layers.  This is the only place where the ribbon is attached to the card.  It merely wraps around the card and you tie your bow on the side.  The recipient then has to open the bow to open the card — FUN!!!  I think so anyway.  It gives a bit of a *present* feel to your card.

My paper is cut to a standard 1/2 sheet - -5.5 x 8.5″.  I used my Scor-It Mini to score my fold lines.  I scored 1 3/4″ from one edge and 2.5″ from the other edge.  Once folded it gives me the standard A2 size of 5 1/2 x 4 1/4″.

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Shopping:

Flower Soft carries the Vintage Envelope Sentiments as well as their full line of product.

The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store carries the following items to create this project:

• Christmas Treasures Set on the 3 1/4″ Round Stamper by JustRite

• VersaFine Vintage Sepia Ink

• Scor-It Mini

• Burgundy 100% Silk Ribbon by May Arts

• Winter Cotton Scraps by Crafty Secrets

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So glad you were able to stop in again today — wishing you all a wonderful weekend ahead, and hope you can try a Gatefold card if you are so inclined.  They’re fun!  See you soon!

This week JustRite Stampers is sponsoring CPS134 with Christmas themed cards.  For my card I used 2 different centers from A Merry Little Christmas, used on the 1 5/8″ Stamper.  Take a look:

Simple blue (SU Bashful Blue) and white.  The card is 5.5″ square.  The snowflake is a Cuttlebug die.  Petite Circle Nestabilities by Spellbinders were used for the remaining die cuts.  My ribbon is 1.5″ Striped Grograin that I carry.

The smaller center snowflake is from A Merry Little Christmas Set, as is the sentiment.  The snowflake is dressed up with Kaiser Pearls and some glitter, popped up with Dimensionals.  Hope you like it!

JustRite Stampers carries their full line of product.

The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store offers A Merry Little Christmas, the 1 5/8″ Stamper, the Petite Circle Nestabilities, VersaFine Ink and 1.5″ Striped Ribbon used on this card.

My friend, Carolina, has another video posted today in her bow tying series,  the Modern Bow.  FUN treatment — be sure to check it out!   Thank you, Carolina!

Thanks much for stopping in — truly do appreciate your visits!!!  See you soon!

Today begins the Mega JustRite Font Blog Hop and with 54 designers sharing ideas it continues through tomorrow as well.  Be sure to read through to the end of my  post.  Tons of links are shared as well as info on the week long Font Sale at JustRite and some fun Blog Candy offerings.  Now, on to my project.  I have a lot of photos, so I’ll be brief with my words.

A trio of Christmas cards — Stamped Simply — using both Times New Roman Uppercase Font and Times New Roman Lowercase Font on the Harmony Rectangle Stampers.  I feel it’s best to keep projects simple for the holidays.  These cards were a pleasure and a breeze to make.  What a feeling of accomplishment when they go together so quickly.

Here’s a visual of what I used — Times New Roman Font Uppercase and Lowercase on the Harmony Rectangle Stampers.  I’m loving these 2 sentiments for this style of Christmas card, so I’m sure I’ll be leaving the letters in tact for some time yet.  I’m blessed to have several stampers — something you may want to consider, too, especially now when they are on sale!

My sentiment is gold embossed, outlined with a gold leaf pen (I actually use a Calligraphy Pen by Marvy Uchida — it’s my latest favorite gold pen — the tip is a bit smaller than some).  My sentiment is then nestled between rows of double embossed lines.

A similar card in a vertical orientation.  Note here how the sentiment is only adhered on the ends, allowing it to rise up over the ribbon — kind of a nice touch, I thought!  Kaiser rhinestones are used to add some glitz.  My Red 100% Silk Ribbon by May Arts is tied in my favorite fun and flirty fashion with the Bow Easy.  You can read this post to see how it is done.

This card is the same as the first, just reversed with the ribbon at the bottom.  Can you see how I’ve lined the insides of the cards in pure white? I like an inside that is easy to write on and also easy to read.   The card itself is Gold Brushed Metallic paper.

To emboss the double lines in my cards today, I used my Scor-It Mini.  I left a 1″ space for my sentiment to be placed and my double lines are 1/4″ apart.  If you use a Scor-It, using the Perga Soft on your scoring tool tip helps the tool to glide over your paper.  It feels like you are gliding over butter — totally effortless.

I have a hard time taking pictures to get the embossed lines to show up as they do IRL.  That’s what I’m trying to show you here.  I really like the depth of the embossing when using a Scor-It.

Here’s a nice closeup of the heat embossed sentiment, lined with gold leaf pen.  A couple of tips for you:

1)  People think they can’t draw a straight line so they couldn’t use a gold leaf pen. WRONG!  The pen tips are soft, like a marker.  You push the tip into the paper, starting at one corner, and draw the pen towards you with just a tiny bit of pressure. The paper forms sort of a groove in the tip and the line comes perfectly straight.  It truly could not be more simple — if you haven’t done this, give it a try.  An easy way to dress up a simple project.

2)  Another common question — how do you get the sentiment so straight on that small piece of paper.  Well, I don’t — LOL!!! I don’t stamp on a small piece.  I stamp on at least a 1/4 sheet of paper.  Once your stamper is loaded with letters and ready to go, line up the bottom edge of the Rectangle Wood Stamper with the bottom edge of the paper so it’s nice and straight and stamp there.  Now your sentiment will be straight with the bottom of the paper, so now you can easily trim it down to size on your paper cutter.  If you were using Nesties to cut your sentiment, then it would be of no concern — but today I was cutting my sentiments myself on the paper cutter.

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Shopping:

JustRite Stampers has the Font Sets I used today, Times New Roman Uppercase, Times New Roman Lowercase and the Harmony Rectangle Stampers, as well as their entire Font line on sale for one week.  Take advantage and pick up some extra Harmony Rectangle Stampers as well!

Stamp Simply Ribbon Store  carries the 100% Silk Ribbon by May Arts in 21 colors, the Bow Easy and the full line of Scor-It products.

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JustRite is celebrating a Mega Font Blog Hop, a two day extravaganza with 54 designers, in style with a Super7 Day Font Sale.  If you’re looking for some fabulous font sets, you won’t want to miss this sale, they are offering 30% off all JustRite font sets and the Horizontal and Vertical Font Stampers.  The sale begins September 17th and ends September 24th.

There’s Mystery Blog Candy being given away during the Two Day Just Rite Font Blog Hop!!! Why is it a mystery? Well there will be three blog candy giveaways on each day and you can only win by leaving a comment on the right blog!  The real surprise is you won’t know which blog has the candy. Even the designers don’t know!  So, as you visit each of the 54 designers over the two day event, take time to leave a comment. You may be one of the lucky winners! You have until 12:00 noon on Sunday to leave comments for your chance to win. You’ll want to check back at the JustRite Blog on Sunday evening to find out if you’ve won.

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And now it’s time to start hopping.  Here are the links for today’s player — so grab your cup of coffee or tea and settle in for some fun hopping!  (I’m sorry if these links, or anything else on this post,  are a garbled mess, I’m working on it - MAJOR blog issues going on here today — so sorry.  You can scroll down to an old-fashioned link list if this one doesn’t work.)

Michelle Wooderson

Sankari Wegman

Heidi Blankenship

Eva Dobilas

Beate Johns

Sharon Harnist 

Barbara Anders 

Sharon Johnson 

Deb Saaranen 

Becca Feeken

Kazan Clark 

Lauren Meader 

Tammy Hershberger 

Linda Beeson 

Jenny Gropp 

Lori Craig

Tanis Giesbrecht 

Jenn Balcer 

Lisa Somerville 

Karen Maldonado 

Pamela Smerker

Karen Taylor 

Latisha Yoast 

Julie Overby 

Mary Pfaff

JustRite Blog

Thanks so much for stopping in today!  Truly enjoyed having you here — enjoy your Hop and I’ll be back late Thursday evening with our weekly Stamp Simply Challenge.  Hope to see you then.

Michelle Wooderson
http://michellewooderson.blogspot.com
Sankari Wegman
http://sunnysankari.blogspot.com
Heidi Blankenship
http://embellished-dreams.blogspot.com
Eva Dobilas
http://evafromca.blogspot.com/
Beate Johns
http://beate.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com
Sharon Harnist
http://paperfections.typepad.com
Barbara Anders
http://barspaperpursuits.blogspot.com
Sharon Johnson
http://notimetostamp.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com
Deb Saaranen
http://deborahlynnesdreamincolor.blogspot.com/
Becca Feeken
http://www.amazingpapergrace.com/
Kazan Clark
http://nunutoolies.blogspot.com
Lauren Meader
http://laurenm.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com
Tammy Hershberger
http://stamphappy-tammy.blogspot.com
Linda Beeson
http://pkod.blogspot.com/
Jenny Gropp
http://www.onekraftykat.blogspot.com/
Lori Craig
http://loricraig.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Tanis Giesbrecht
http://papercanvas.wordpress.com/
Jenn Balcer
http://jbalcer.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Lisa Somerville
http://www.lisasomerville.com
Karen Maldonado
http://reallifeinpictures.blogspot.com/
Pamela Smerker
http://www.paperaskew.blogspot.com
Karen Taylor
http://creativeyearnings.blogspot.com/
Latisha Yoast
www.crafteebee.blogspot.com
Julie Overby
http://joverby.blogspot.com/
Mary Pfaff
http://crafty-cabin.blogspot.com/

I have a trio of Christmas cards to show you today and when I set out to make these I had 3 criteria I wanted to meet:  1)  I wanted my Christmas cards to be personalized; 2) I wanted them to be easy to reproduce in bulk; and 3) I wanted a good dose of  *Pretty* and/or *WOW*.  Here’s a group shot:

They are rather hard to see in this photo, so I will give you close ups below.  First I’ll show you the personalization I was after:

It’s clean, it’s simple, it was easy to color and VERY easy to reproduce once the 2″ Stamper with Bonus 15 pt Font was set up with my personalization.  Starting with the mistletoe center from A Merry Little Christmas – I used it on the 1 5/8″ Stamper, colored with Copics and cut and embossed with a Petite Circle Nestability.  Next I set up my 2″ Wood Stamper using *Sending Holiday Joy* from Holiday Demi Phrases on top.  Demi Phrases are 1/2 circle sentiments for the top of the circle, allowing us to customize the bottom half, which is just what I did.  The 2″ Stamper can be purchased with Bonus 15 pt Font. This 15 pt font can be used in the border circle — see how I’ve done *From the Johnsons 2009*?  It probably took me 5 or 10 minutes to set up my stamper, but once its done, it’s done!  I’m fortunate to have several 2″ stampers, so I’m going to leave this one just as is through the Christmas card making seaon.  It’ll be ready for me whenever I need it.  I can easily insert any variety of images into the center.

Here are the stamps as I have used them.  The 15 pt Font comes on a tray along with little tweezers you can use to pick out the letters and insert them into the border ring.  It’s kind of hard to see, but can you see the Demi Phrase on top, and my own lettering on the bottom?  Now I’m all set for my holiday card making!!!  The 1 5/8″ Stamper shown holds the mistletoe image.  And remember, it’s a good idea to cut the excess rubber off the center stamps so they don’t collect that excess ink and leave unsightly marks.  Cutting is A-OK — I do it ALL the time!

This is what the 3 sets I used look like in their packaging.  A Merry Little Christmas is laying on the bottom — the title doesn’t show.  And I do want to point out, if you do want an extra 2″ Stamper  just so you can keep your holiday personalization set up through the season, they can be purchased separately as well.  In my opinion, it’s well worth it.  I also keep one stamper set up through graduation season as I like to personalize those cards with our school name and the year.

OK, now on to better views of each card.

Aren’t these colors gorgeous for the holidays? I just love them (listed in recipe)!!!  My ribbon is the  Burgundy 100% Silk and my bow is made on the Bow Easy.  The DP is SU.

Three simple layouts today — tried and true.  I firmly believe in keeping it simple for Christmas. There is so much to stress over during holiday preparation — let’s enjoy making our cards without a lot of fuss and fretting! 

The first 2 cards were standard A2 sized at 4.25 x 5.5″.  This one is a 4.25″ square.  I do like this size for a change every once in a while!  You can read this post to learn how to do this bow treatment.

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Stamps:  A Merry Little Christmas Set, used on the 1 5/8″ Wood Stamper, Holiday Demi Phrases, used on the 2″ Wood Stamper with Bonus Font and Center, all by JustRite

Paper:  PTI Vintage Cream; Prism Spring Willow Dark and Blush Red Dark; SU Merry Moments DP.

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black for image; VersaFine Onyx Black for sentiment.  Copics to color.

Accessories:  100% Silk Ribbon by May Arts, Bow Easy, Petite Circle Nestabilities by Spellbinders, Scor-It, SU Corner Rounder, SU Dimensionals, Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue

Shopping:

JustRite Stampers offers the sets used today (all linked above) as well as all of the JustRite Line.

Stamp Simply Ribbon Store offers the following items used on today’s project:

A Merry Little Christmas, Holiday Demi Phrases, 2″ Wood Stamper with Bonus  Font, 1 5/8″ Stamper, all by JustRite

1.25″ and 1/4″ Burgundy 100% Silk Ribbon By May Arts and the Bow Easy

Petite Circle Nestabilities by Spellbinders

VersaFine Onyx Black Ink

Scor-It

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And that’s it for my project, but I have MANY fun places to link you to today to inspire you further with Christmas projects in mind.  Here we go:

The 3 sets I used here today are the subject of today’s Product Focus over at SCS.  You can click here to read the reviews AND to see the UTube video  showing how to fully utilize the 2″ Stamper. Don’t miss it!

And these JustRite Designers have come up with some GREAT projects for you using these same 3 sets:

Michelle Kovack
Lauren Meader
Sharon Harnist
Lisa Somerville
Kathy Jones
Angela Barkhouse
Debbie Olson

Barb Schram
JR Blog

Michelle Wooderson will have a project up on Thursday.

Thank you all for stopping in today.  I truly do appreciate it.  I’ll be back on  Thursday night with our Friday Stamp Simply challenge this week — a fun one!!!  Hope to see you then!!!  Have a great Thursday, everyone!