NEWS FLASH! Stampin' Up! Year-End Closeout Starts December 3!

Stampin’ Up!’s Year-End Closeout is almost here! Beginning December 3 and while supplies last, save big on a selection of retiring and surplus items including holiday catalog items, stamp sets, and Paper Pumpkin past kits. Shop early to avoid missing out! Supplies are limited and popular items will sell out quickly. This amazing sale ends on January 2. 

Make a note to stop back December 3 to see everything that's on sale.  Don't forget to stop back, because items DO sell out fast (like the very popular moose punch).  My suggestion is to go through your Holiday Catalog now, marking which products you love, so that on December 3 you are ready to shop my online store.

Herringbone Technique With Wrapped In Plaid Suite

If you live in the US, how was your Thanksgiving holiday, friend?  I cooked the entire feast (with the exception of dessert) and it wasn't that bad!  Allrecipes magazine had a day-by-day planner in an issue from last year and it was fantastic - easy to follow, simple but delicious recipes, and everything cooked at the same oven temperature.  No hiccups whatsoever!  The best part was that I WON our turkey this year.  The small, all-volunteer fire department the next town over holds its famous Turkey Bingo every November and I won a game on the first night!  Woo-hoo!  After enjoying it roasted with a honey butter glaze, that turkey's carcass is right now in my crockpot on low heat making stock for winter soups.  I also made a ginger-pear cranberry sauce that was delicious.  Allrecipes magazine is a winner in my book - we've never had a disappointing recipe.

Let's jump from turkey leftovers to PAPER leftovers!

The herringbone technique is an oldie but goodie.  It's a classic that sticks around because it makes such beautiful use of the smallest pieces of paper.  It's the equivalent of a quilt making excellent use of leftover fabric (or at least I imagine it to be; I've never been a quilter).  There's a photo tutorial for the herringbone technique below.   

I used Wrapped In Plaid Designer Series Paper on both these cards.  Once the strips were glued to a Whisper White cardstock panel, I wrapped Shaded Spruce/Gold Striped Ribbon around it like you would a present and tied it in a bow.  Then, I matted that panel to a Shaded Spruce (top card) or Cherry Cobbler (bottom card) cardstock panel.  The card bases are 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" Thick Whisper White folded in half.

The tree tags were made with the Pine Tree Punch and Cherry Cobbler (top card) and Shaded Spruce (bottom card) cardstock.  The sentiments were stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with White Stampin' Emboss Powder and a Heat Tool.  Sentiments are from Perfectly Plaid ("Ho Ho Ho") and Snowman Season ("To/From"). Solid Whisper White Baker's Twine was used to tie the trees around the bow.

Tip: To stamp "Ho Ho Ho" vertically, ink just the first part of the sentiment as shown in the photo above.  Stamp once, ink the same way again, and stamp a second time just below the sentiment.  Repeat the process to stamp the sentiment a third time.

Herringbone Technique Photo Tutorial

Apply adhesive to a 3-1/2" x 4-3/4" Whisper White cardstock panel.

Diagonally lay a DSP strip.  Your strips can be any width you like.

Lay down a second DSP strip that is perpendicular to the first strip.

Lay down a third DSP strip that is parallel to the first strip and perpendicular to the second strip (see where the arrow is pointing in the photo).

Lay down a fourth DSP strip that is parallel to the second strip and perpendicular to the third strip (see where the arrow is pointing in the photo).

Repeat that process until that section is finished.  The same steps are used to complete the other sections of the Whisper White cardstock panel.

5 Days of Christmas Begins Monday December 1

If you like these photo tutorials, then connect with The Joyful Stamper in any of these ways:

• Shop my online store using the host code 7YNXHH3W and receive as my gift to you a 6 Pack of Christmas Card Tutorials ($15 value).  
• Shop the Clearance Rack for fantastic deals.
• Request a catalog, if you are not already working with a demonstrator you love.
• Join My Joyful Stampers team - instant community of people who love stamping as much as you do!
• Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, the monthly crafting kit for those who like neat, simple solutions to their crafting needs.  As part of your subscription, you'll receive a monthly newsletter with alternate ideas and an instructional video.
• Attend one of my local, in-person classes - laughter is good medicine!
• Follow me on Facebook for more interaction and spontaneous fun!
• Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration.
• Subscribe to my YouTube channel to see stamping demonstrations.

  

Thank you for choosing me, Nicole Steele, as your demonstrator!  I appreciate your business!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations. - Psalm 100:4-5

I wish everyone a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.  For those of you facing sorrowful and difficult circumstances, I'm so sorry.  Please know that I will be saying a prayer for you at my table.  In Christ's Love, Nicole

Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge

I'm up to my eyeballs in Thanksgiving Day food preparation today.  I last made this feast 21 years ago when I was 23 and with the help of my mom (so in other words, half a lifetime ago)!  My brother, sister-in-law, 7 year old niece, and 5 year old twin nephews are also coming to stay with us in our one-story, 1200 square foot home.  Oh, and did I mention we have one bathroom and 3 children of our own?  And that we're all running a Turkey Trot tomorrow, including the cook (me)?  It sounds like the Griswald's Christmas Vacation movie!  But not by a long shot, because we love our family and are excited to see them!  My little niece and nephews are adorable and funny.  And my sister-in-law is an incredible cook, so nothing can go wrong with this feast that she can't salvage!

No matter what, though, there's always time for stamping 😊  And a Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge comes to the rescue when I need a quick creative fix.  

Not gonna lie - I am patting myself on the back for this card.  I ADORE those gorgeous, deep, rich autumnal hues.  I especially love the contrast of the dark Early Espresso card base and Stitched Rectangle panels with the leaves die-cut with Come To Gather Designer Series Paper.  The Cajun Craze and Merry Merlot colors in that paper really stand out!

Just arrange the die-cut leaves on the panels and trim off the excess.  Adhere the panels with Stampin' Dimensionals and add sentiment strips stamped in Cajun Craze and highlighted with tiny Gold Brads.  The measurements and supply list are in the tutorial below - just click the image!

Enjoy the downloadable tutorial.  Don't forget to print it and add it to a binder, along with my other free tutorials (look for the "Click here for free tutorial image on my blog posts)!

Stay connected with The Joyful Stamper

• Shop my online store using the current month's special host code for thank you gifts.
• Shop the Clearance Rack for fantastic deals.
• Request a catalog, if you are not already working with a demonstrator you love.
• Join My Joyful Stampers team - instant community of people who love stamping as much as you do!
• Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, the monthly crafting kit for those who like neat, simple solutions to their crafting needs.  As part of your subscription, you'll receive a monthly newsletter with alternate ideas and an instructional video.
• Attend one of my local, in-person classes - laughter is good medicine!
• Follow me on Facebook for more interaction and spontaneous fun!
• Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration.
• Subscribe to my YouTube channel to see stamping demonstrations.

  

The Joyful Stamper Tuesday Stampin' News

5 Days of Christmas Blog Series: Gift Card Holders

Gift cards are one of the most popular gifts at Christmas time and I'll show you ways to give them with style.  Follow my site by entering your email address in the "Never miss a post" box and you'll be notified when each project is up.  December 2 - 6 is the week so have your craft supplies ready!

Adorable Hostess Gift

Did you see this on my site a few weeks ago?  It holds six sweet little 3"x3" mini note cards and envelopes (or a gift card or Ghiradelli chocolates).  Any hostess would love to receive this as a thank you!  If it's too late for Thanksgiving, then make it with Christmas-themed papers.  You'll find the tutorial link and more photos here.  

Fun By The Mail

Did you miss November's Paper Pumpkin Winter Wonderlands kit?  Watch the unboxing clip now:

Stampers love Paper Pumpkin for its portability and simplicity.  Travelling?  Pack a kit or two to complete on the plane or at your destination!  Waiting at a child's lesson?  Bring Paper Pumpkin and whip up some cards!  Have limited craft space and/or time?  The compact kits are filled with consumables and designed to be completed in 30-45 minutes (that's one TV show)!

Sign up by December 10 to get the next kit, Something For Everything.  The included stamp set has 13 all-occasion sentiments so you are covered for every event.  The colors are so happy and spring-like, too!  

Subscription options:

• Month-to-Month
• 1-Month Prepaid
• 3-Month Prepaid
• 6-Month Prepaid - save $1 per month per kit!
• 12-month Prepaid - get 12th kit free!

  

Cookies and Cards Class December 11

I'm so excited about this class!  Baking cookies is something my youngest daughter and I enjoy so why not combine the two, right?  We'll make 4 Christmas cards while enjoying a fresh batch of homemade cookies.  Two sessions are being offered and RSVP is required because of space limitations.  Class fee of $15 is payable at the class and it's BYOA (bring your own adhesive - adhesive will be available for sale at the class). 

Click the session for which you'd like to register:

December 11 -- 10 AM to Noon

December 11 -- 7 PM to 9 PM

Come for the festivity, food, and fellowship!

Stay connected with The Joyful Stamper

• Shop my online store using the host code 7YNXHH3W and receive as my gift to you a 6 Pack of Christmas Card Tutorials ($15 value).  
• Shop the Clearance Rack for fantastic deals.
• Request a catalog, if you are not already working with a demonstrator you love.
• Join My Joyful Stampers team - instant community of people who love stamping as much as you do!
• Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, the monthly crafting kit for those who like neat, simple solutions to their crafting needs.  As part of your subscription, you'll receive a monthly newsletter with alternate ideas and an instructional video.
• Attend one of my local, in-person classes - laughter is good medicine!
• Follow me on Facebook for more interaction and spontaneous fun!
• Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration.
• Subscribe to my YouTube channel to see stamping demonstrations.

  

OnStage Card Swap Slideshow

Hello, friends!  I'm popping in this Monday to post a short (1-1/2 minutes) slideshow of the gorgeous swaps I received at OnStage in Las Vegas last weekend.  I showed them in my Tuesday weekly Facebook Live, but you'll get a much better, much closer look at them here.  I'd never swapped before and was overwhelmed at the ideas and creativity!  There are a couple gift card holders in here that I want to make, especially since it's the time of year when we're all buying them as gifts.  So, enjoy the slideshow, and if you have any questions on what was used or how something was done, please ask me!  My goal is for you to have your best stamping experience so never be shy about contacting me - nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com  

I'm here for you, friend!

Pick a way to connect with The Joyful Stamper:

• Shop my online store using the host code 7YNXHH3W and receive as my gift to you a 6 Pack of Christmas Card Tutorials ($15 value).  
• Shop the Clearance Rack for fantastic deals.
• Request a catalog, if you are not already working with a demonstrator you love.
• Join My Joyful Stampers team - instant community of people who love stamping as much as you do!
• Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, the monthly crafting kit for those who like neat, simple solutions to their crafting needs.  As part of your subscription, you'll receive a monthly newsletter with alternate ideas and an instructional video.
• Attend one of my local, in-person classes - laughter is good medicine!
• Follow me on Facebook for more interaction and spontaneous fun!
• Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration.
• Subscribe to my YouTube channel to see stamping demonstrations.

  

Thank you for choosing me as your demonstrator!

Snowman Season

I was really excited about today's project but then something just TRIPLED it.    I stood there attempting to catch my breath when I read this enormous news.  It's news about an event many - not just me - have been hoping and wishing and praying for.  And it's actually going to happen!  Are you ready for it?  Really ready?

Ken and Brad and James are having a Jeopardy! showdown January 7.  Can you hear my heart pounding with excitement?!

No?  Because who are Ken and Brad and James?  The three greatest Jeopardy! players ever are going against each other - Ken Jennings, Brad Rutter, and James Holzhauer.  I am a certified nerd that gets a rush from ideas and trivia and history, so I get it if you don't share my enthusiasm.  But please tell me we share the stamping bond!

Surely, this card has you at least a smidge grinning!  Coastal Cabana, Real Red, a punched out snowman with a felt scarf on.....and sponging!  I love sponging Soft Suede on the edges of paper to give it a slightly shabby feel.

Seriously, it's the little details on a project that make me smile big - like this sentiment strip that is slightly curled and lifted.  I ran a bone folder along the Real Red piece to get those waves, then adhered it with a Stampin' Dimensional to keep the shape.

The snowman and his hat were punched with the Snowman Builder Punch and embellished with pieces from the Let It Snow Embellishment kit.  And that little piece of glittered washi tape underneath the sentiment is in the kit, too!  The kit comes in a cute box that you could re-gift filled with homemade cards or tags.  The Let It Snow product suite has been my favorite from the Holiday Catalog this year. 

See more Let It Snow projects on my blog here.

Real Red cardstock (on sale!)

Soft Suede Ink (on sale!)

Let It Snow Suite

Card Recipe:

• Coastal Cabana cardstock: 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" card base
• Let It Snow Designer Series Paper: 5" x 3-1/8", sponged with Soft Suede ink
• Real Red cardstock: 4" x 3/4", ends flagged with Paper Snips
• Whisper White cardstock: 3" x 3" piece to punch out snowman and hat
• Let It Snow Embellishment kit
• Stampin' Blends: Dark Basic Black, Dark Cherry Cobbler, Dark Shaded Spruce
• Basics Rhinestones Jewels
• White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Versamark, and Heat Tool for sentiment
• Bone Folder to curl sentiment strip
• Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
• Pool Party ink (to stamp card base background)
• Snowman Season bundle (punch and stamp at a discount)

Today (Friday) is the last day to shop the Online Extravaganza sale in my online store!  Get discounts on select ink pads, cardstock, and bundles.  See what's on sale.

The Free As A Bird Episode

I did something goofy while in Las Vegas.  Before going to bed Friday night, I set the alarm on my iPad for 6:50 AM.  OnStage was the next day and I wanted to make sure I didn't sleep in and miss it!  Well, when the alarm went off the next morning, I struggled to wake up, but I did manage to get out of bed.  I stood there swaying with fatigue for a few seconds, thinking through the fog, "Something doesn't feel right."  Then it hit me - my iPad clock was still on Eastern time, not Pacific, and so it was really 3:50 AM, not 6:50!  Glad I realized that before making it all the way out of the hotel 😂 I would have had my choice of tables at OnStage, wouldn't I?

I took a break from Christmas to use Bird Ballad suite products to make a simple card.  It looks complicated, but it really isn't - a small amount of coloring and a bit of fussy cutting with the Designer Series Paper taking center stage.  The piece of Very Vanilla Scalloped Lace Trim accented with a Bird Ballad Trinket adds such a dainty, vintage touch!
Here's the Card Recipe so you can make it:

Free As A Bird Designer Series Paper: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" 4-1/2" x 1-3/4" Basic Grey: 4" x 3/4" (for sentiment, trimmed smaller after stamping) Whisper White: 6" x 1-1/2" to stamp leaves 2" x 4" to die-cut Stitched Nested shape Thick Whisper White: 4-1/4" x 11" for card base Very Vanilla Scalloped Lace Trim: 2-1/2" piece Stampin' Blends: Light & Dark Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Petal Pink Ink: Basic Grey, Memento Tuxedo Black Embellishments: Free As A Bird Trinkets
Shop the Bird Ballad Product Suite (stamp and die bundle is on sale!)
Basic Gray Ink Pad (on sale until Friday!)
Basic Gray Cardstock (on sale until Friday!)

Don't forget to shop the Online Extravaganza sale in my online store, now through this Friday the 22nd only!  Get discounts on select ink pads, cardstock, and bundles.  Click here to see what's on sale.

Easy Way To Get Snowy Trees With Embossing Powder

I can't throw out my paper scraps - argh!!!  More often, I hear paper crafters say they can't cut into their paper (they "hoard" it).  Well, there are no issues with that in Nicole's Stamping Cottage because I'm usually too excited to use it.  But I save every little piece!  Do you do this...stare at the piece in your hand... think, "Hmmm....I should toss this....it's no bigger than my fingernail....wait, I have a star punch I might want to use with this someday...." and back into the scrap bag it goes.  

Solution: this sketch from Splitcoaststampers that beautifully uses those designer series paper scraps!  Grab a handful, trim them down to 1/2" wide or so, and stick them on your card front at interesting angles.

Can you see how I did that on my card?  The paper is Wrapped In Plaid Designer Series Paper - and no way can I throw out any of that warm and cozy plaid!

Look at the "snow" on my trees!  No, it's not Snowfall Accents Puff Paint (go to this post to see what happens when you add that directly on a stamped image).  I dipped a Stampin' Sponge in a Versamark ink pad, then lightly tapped it around my stamped tree image.  I sprinkled on White Stampin' Emboss Powder then melted it with a Heat Tool.  Isn't that a great effect?  And if you overdo the Versamark, just take a paintbrush and brush off some of the embossing powder.

Ready to make this?  Yes you are!  I made a printable pdf just for you!  

Don't forget to shop the Online Extravaganza sale in my online store, now through this Friday the 22nd only!  Get discounts on select ink pads, cardstock, and bundles.  Click here to see what's on sale.

TOMORROW - Online Extravaganza Sale!

Sale runs Wednesday November 20 - Friday November 22

15% off selected ink pads and cardstock

Additional 5% discount off already 10% discounted selected bundles

Ink pads available in collections or individually

Cardstock available in 8-1/2" x 11", individual or assorted packs

Cardstock available in 12" x 12" assorted packs

See the printable sale list here.

Stop back tomorrow to shop this sale!  What a great reason to stock up to make pretty things!