5 Days of Christmas Series | Gift Card Holders | Day 1

The last 5 days have been active and full.  My brother and his family stayed with us for several days and Emma was home from college.  We had 10 people packed into our little one-story, 1200 square feet home.  The cousins played games and read books, Brian wrestled with his 5 year old nephews (something he rarely did having 3 daughters), and my parents and grandmother came over for dinner each day.  Brian and I took our niece and nephews to Fun Fore All one morning and got to be silly and crazy - we attacked robots, played fooseball, raced each other on snowmobiles, and ate ice cream for lunch.  And now it's quiet because they returned home and Emma's back at college.  Alaina and Caitlin are still here, of course, but 6 fewer people in a small home is noticeable!  

So let's begin the blog series, shall we?  It's all about creative ways to gift the ever-popular gift card.  First up is an A2-sized holder (A2 is a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" card).  I received one as a swap at OnStage and loved its ease to make and that it can be mailed in an envelope for a standard sized card.

The first version has a shabby, vintage look that goes so well with the Toile Tidings set and Designer Series Paper.  The cardinal was stamped on Very Vanilla in Real Red ink, then a Blender Pen was used to color over the image.  This smears some of the ink to give it a soft, colored-in look.  I added scraps of Very Vanilla Scalloped Lace Trim for an extra vintage touch.  Let me show you how to make the basic gift card holder!

Cut your cardstock to 4-1/2" x 11"; score at 2-1/2" and 5-1/2" on the long side.

Add Tear 'N Tape to the 2-1/2" section.

Cut three pieces of Designer Series Paper: 2-3/4" x 4"; 2-1/4" x 4"; 1" x 4"

If you want to add a vintage touch, add Soft Suede ink to the edges of the designer series paper with a Stampin' Sponge.

Glue designer series paper to the pocket card (not shown is the 2-3/4" piece glued to the front); Use a circle punch (any size) to create a notch, then remove Tear 'N Tape liner and fold to create a pocket.

This is a cleaner version of the one above - no sponging, no Blender Pen coloring, and no lace.  I kept the Early Espresso mat cut with the Layering Square dies.

Here's one that uses the Let It Snow product suite.  I used Pool Party ink to stamp "Let It Snow" as a background for the happy snowman.  Snowfall Accents Puff Paint and a Heat Tool were used to create touchable snowballs.  A strip of washi tape from the Let It Snow Embellishment Kit runs along side panel and the Layering Square mat was cut with Sparkle Glimmer Paper.

This one looks similar to the first except I eliminated the stamped background and highlighted the snowflakes with Basics Holiday Rhinestones Jewels and a Coastal Cabana Stampin' Write Marker.

These gift card holders are so easy to make!  Pick your favorite set and designer series paper and follow the tutorial above.  

Don't forget about this big sale that starts tomorrow PLUS another special from me!

  

• Orders must be placed with Nicole Steele at my online store between Tuesday, December 3 and Sunday, December 15.
• Free shipping applies to orders of $70 or more (before shipping and tax)
• Shipping will be refunded by a check mailed to you from me, Nicole Steele.  Checks will be mailed by December 15.
• Orders must use the Host Code B422JZJ2 if between $70 - $149.  
• Orders $150 or greater do not need to use the host code - I want you to receive your Stampin' Rewards and you will still get free shipping from me, Nicole Steele.
• Questions?  Ask me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com.

Perfectly Plaid Serene Scene

As you are reading this, I am in Las Vegas to attend Stampin' Up!'s OnStage.  It's a mini-convention and they pack it with presentations, giveaways, business training, and fresh ideas.  The energy and excitement is contagious.  I come back pumped up and brimming with new ways to provide value and fun to you, my friends and customers!  I need to pinch myself to believe that this wonderful hobby is my job!  If you'd love a wonderful hobby that includes a shopping discount, or would like the opportunity to make some (or more than some!) extra cash, or you have your own great reason, talk to me!  This is about you and the richness it brings to your life - so share with me what that is.  There is definitely a place for you on My Joyful Stampers team!

It's ironic that in the middle of Las Vegas, I am posting a calm, quiet, serene card.  Ha!  This was made with the Perfectly Plaid stamp set and a Shaded Spruce ink pad.  I used a technique called generation stamping - inking up an image, then stamping it repeatedly without reinking.  Each stamping produces a shade just a touch lighter than the original color.  It's a fantastic, economical way to get many colors from one ink pad.

I added a line of Snowfall Accents Puff Paint just below the trees.  

Tip: apply the puff paint just below the stamped trees, tilting the cardstock slightly downward to prevent the liquid from touching the trees.  Why?  Well, see the photo below!

When the puff paint touches ink, it turns that color - green snow was NOT the effect I wanted.

See more examples using Snowfall Accents Puff Paint here.

Choose a way to connect with The Joyful Stamper and see sneak peeks of new products and project displays from OnStage Las Vegas!

Facebook

Instagram

Click on the links below to shop my online store for these supplies:

Perfectly Plaid stamp set

Itty Bitty Greetings stamp set

Snowfall Accents Puff Paint

Whisper White Baker's Twine

Metallic Pearls

Shaded Spruce ink pad

Whisper White cardstock

Versamark ink pad

Night of Navy cardstock

White Stampin' Emboss Powder

Heat Tool

Adhesives

A Flurry of Snowmen From Snowman Season!

Hello, friends!  How was your weekend?  Friday evening I got to visit with my aunt and uncle whom I haven't seen in 15 years!  They are active people who have many interests, so there is always something to talk about.  My uncle is in his 60s and taught himself to play the ukelele recently.  My aunt loves to read so we talked about books we enjoy.  Then Saturday we got up at 5 AM and drove 3-1/2 hours to watch Emma run her final cross country meet of the season.  It was an important meet, she had a goal for herself, and she crushed it!!  She ran a new PR!  What a way to finish the season, right?  I'm SO proud of her!  

I think this card has to be one of my favorites ever.  I was actually jumping out of my chair as I made it and clapping with glee!  

What I love about this card:

• all the beaming snowmen from Snowman Season (I'm just as happy about the cooler weather as they are 😊)
• the use of a Light Pool Party Stampin' Blend marker and Color Lifter to give a bit of presence to the snowmen
• the random way they are positioned (tucking and layering are techniques I LOVE to do on my projects)
• the bit of snow and sparkle at the top (created with Snowfall Accents Puff Paint and Ice Stampin' Glitter sprinkled in before heating)
• the chubby rhinestones on the sentiment strip

The snowmen are stamped and punched using the Snowman Builder Punch, then adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Don't be afraid to have a bit of fun with your stamping!  Tilt your snowmen, tear your cardstock, add rhinestones where you want some sparkle - there are NO RULES!  That's what is SO amazing about this art!

Here's a neat trick for using a punch that punches out multiple pieces at one time, like the Snowman Builder Punch.  It uses a stamp positioner tool (Stampin' Up!'s Stamparatus is one or I used a Mini MISTI in the photo tutorial below).

Punch into cardstock and keep negative piece.

Place negative piece in stamp positioner.  Lay stamps in punched out spaces (Snowman Season set used here).

Close stamp positioner lid to pick up stamps.  Place blank cardstock in positioner and anchor with magnets (they come with the positioner).  Ink up stamps, then close lid to stamp on cardstock.

Remove stamped cardstock from positioner and insert into punch.  It lines up perfectly!

That little tip makes stamping life easier, doesn't it?  It works for any of our Builder punches.

If you enjoyed this post, 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).  If you liked the one above, you'll enjoy these!
• 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.

  

Snowman Season and Wednesday Sketch Challenge

My little stamp space in the corner of our family room has been a happy, busy place recently.  Good thing I stamp mostly when everyone is at work and school because I talk to myself!  I'll try something and love it so much that I'll burst out, "That is SO pretty!" or "Ooooh, I can't stand the cuteness!"  Lily my pup, who snoozes on a giant pink beanbag next to me, will even get startled occasionally.  Stamping is not a quiet hobby here.

Here's this week's sketch on which my card is based.

My mind immediately went to LAYERS.  The more the better!  And since I had Snowman Season on my desk, that's what I used, along with some other super fun products.

These colors of Flirty Flamingo, Coastal Cabana, and Real Red are so fresh.  I'm not so great with combining colors, so when I use Designer Series Paper, I pull my colors from that.  This paper is called Let It Snow and did you know that Stampin' Up! prints the colors used right on the chipboard backing that comes with the paper?  So handy!  The colors are also listed in the catalog in each DSP pack's description.  Each time I order a DSP pack, I check my cardstock in the listed colors to make sure I have enough.  If not, I add a few packs and it ensures NO disappointment!

This snowman is SO happy!  I had to make him even happier by adding Snowfall Accents Puff Paint to the snowballs in the image.  This stuff is magic in a bottle.  Just shake it up, squeeze a bit out, then aim your heat tool at it and watch it puff.  It's addictive.  I have a stack of cards to share using this stuff, because I could not stop playing with it.  Watch the video here to see it in action and to see another card that uses the puff paint on a cloud image.

Card Recipe:

Snowman Season stamp set 

Let It Snow Designer Series Paper

Snowfall Accents Puff Paint

Whisper White Baker's Twine (backordered, but still orderable)

Stitched Rectangles dies

White Stampin' Emboss Powder

Heat Tool

Stampin' Write Markers: Coastal Cabana, Real Red

Cardstock: Basic Black, Flirty Flamingo, Whisper White

Ink Pads: Real Red, Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black

Adhesives: Multi Purpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals

Paper Trimmer

Paper Snips

November's Host Code Gift

Use 7YNXHH3W if order is less than $150

$150 or greater = no code but you'll get the gift PLUS Stampin' Rewards

Shop here!