So first, I cut a 5-1/4 x 10-1/2 piece of Soft Suede (but Close to Cocoa could have been used as well as Chocolate Chip) and scored in half. Then cut a patterned pieceof paper from the Christmas Cocoa Specialty paper collection.

Next I placed a few snowflakes (rub-ons) towards the top of the thin-striped patterened paper, and then border rub-ons at the bottom.  I used the Two-Way Glue Pen to then adhere Dazzling Diamonds to the snowflakes.

Lastly, I punched three ornaments from different papers in the Christmas Cocoa pack, punch a whole a the top of the ornament to tie a bow, laid the string (silver cord) which will appear linked to each ornament, and then adhered each ornament using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Other Suggestions:

• Try White Embossing Powder.
• Add a greeting.
• Stamp snowflakes using the Serene Snowflake stamp set or use the new wheels in the Holiday Mini Catalog.
• Use the Merry & Bright rub-ons collection with the ornaments.

Paper Preparation

In creating this card, I first cut the standard card size from Bashful Blue cardstock, then cust a 2-1/2 x 5-1/2 piece that will be scalloped. Then as mat, cut a 4-1/2 x 3-1/4 piece of Soft Suede, and then cut a piece of Whisper White 1/8 inch shorter on all sides.

Using the Scallop Punch, create the elegant border of the 2-1/2 x 5-1/2 piece of Soft Suede paper.

Creating the Trees

Next, I colored the tree image from the Snow Swirled stamp set in Bashful Blue (using the Bashful blue Stampin’ Write Marker which will be slightly darker than if I inked the image with Bashful Blue Classic Ink).  Then used the Close to Cocoa Stampin’ Write Marker to color the floral like pattern and dots in the image.  Then "huffed" on the image before stamping it on the Whisper White cardstock.  Repeat for 2nd tree image.

Next, use a piercing tool or a handheld punch to make a hole at the top of each tree. Then use Clear Rhinestone Brads with the Filigree Brads and place in each hole.  Adhere Whisper White cardstock to the Soft Suede mat using SNAIL Adhesive.

Next, adhere the scalloped edge to the card front. Then adhere this panel to the card front using SNAIL Adhesive.

The Greeting

For the greeting, stamp Season’s Greeting in Soft Suede on a scrap piece of Whisper White cardstock.  Then stamp a few small snowflakes in Bashful Blue on the greeting. Then punch out with the Scallop Oval Punch.  Then punch 2 more scalloped ovals in Soft Suede.  Combine the two brown ovals to make a mat for the oval greeting.

Completed greeting.

Lastly, adhere the greeting to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Alternatives

• Add glitter.  Many holiday cards sparkle with glitter and I will have more to come with that.
• Use a different type of tree topper – a flower or snowflake punch.
• Emboss the trees or greeting.
• Add more snowflakes to the background or to the Bashful Blue cardstock.

I again used Chocolate Chip Craft Ink and Clear Embossing Powder with the stamped image for the background of the card (another floral stamp from the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set). 

Then I adhered the focal point to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Other Ideas:

• Instead of using embossing on the card front, use another darker piece of patterned paper from Bella Bleu or other designer series paper of your choice.
• Add Vintage Brads to each of the corners on the card’s focal panel.
• Use Vintage Brads or Build-a-Brads in the bottom, right corner area (like 3 in a row).
• Add an entire row of brads along the bottom focal panel (under greeting) and use the mat pack to help align all the brads.
• Add ribbon.

This project includes the following Stampin’ Up! merchandise:

• Magnetic box
• Thoughs & Prayers stamp set
• Chocolate Chip Craft Ink
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Heat Gun
• Bella Bleu designer series paper
• Autumn Meadows designer series paper
• Very Vanilla paper
• 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (Chocolate Chip)
• SNAIL Adhesive

Here is a picture of the magnetic box when first opened:

Here is a picture of the box beginning to fold and take form:

Completed box picture:

Instructions:

• Cut a piece of 3-1/4 x 3-1/4 square of Bella Bleu designer series paper.
• Stamp the tree from Thoughts & Prayers in Chocolate Chip Craft ink, as well as desired greeting, sprinkle with Clear Embossing Powder and then heat.
• Adhere to a piece of 3-10/16 x 3-10/16 square of dark brown paper from the Autumn Meadows designer series paper pack.
• Then adhere that to a piece of 3-3/4 x 3-3/4 square of Very Vanilla.
• Tie and know ribbon around the box and card.
• You’re done! It’s that easy!

Additional Stampin’ Up! Product Used:

• Bermuda Bay Classic Ink
• Chocolate Chip Classic Ink
• Dusty Durango Classic Ink
• Sponges
• Pop-up Glue Dots
• SNAIL Adhesive
• Stampin’  Dimensionals
• Close to Cocoa Cardstock

Technique Used: Sponging

I did a lot of sponging on this card project although it may not all be so obvious.  I used Dusty Durango and Chocolate Chip ink, sponging the edges of the card front panel (a piece of Autumn Meadows designer series paper, 4 x 5-1/4).  A small, striped piece of designer series paper was adhered to the left side of the panel using SNAIL adhesive. Close to Cocoa cardstock was used as the base, standard card size (landscape).

On the Silk Flowers I sponged Bermuda Bay in the middle and then a combination of Dusty Durango and Chocolate Chip Classic Ink on the petals of each flower.  I used Mini Glue dots to adhere the buttons to the flower center and Pop-up Glue Dots to adhere the large flowers to the card front panel.

The greeting was sponged with Chocolate Chip and Bermuda Bay Classic Ink after stamping the greeting in Chocolate Chip ink. Then it was adhered to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Other Thoughts:

• Try adding Dazzling Diamonds to the petals of the flowers.
• Use Rhinestone brads or Filigree Brads for the center of each flower.
• Use felt flowers as the center of the flowers.

Then, the only other Stampin’ Up! products used were:

• Vintage Brads
• 1/16" Circle Handheld Punch
• Vellum Paper
• Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon
• Tearing Tool
• Close to Cocoa Cardstock
• SNAIL Adhesive
• Stampin’ Dimensionals

Other Thoughts:

• Crystal Effects again would have added a nice touch.
• Chocolate Chip Craft Ink and Clear Embossing Powder would have been nice to use with the greeting as well.

Fall is here and brings with it beautiful colors.  This card featuring the new Autumn Meadows designer series paper from the Holiday Mini catalog.  Although it uses Really Rust, More Mustard and Taken with Teal, I used the In Colors Dusty Durange. Crushed Curry and Bermuda Bay – mix and match the colors that you have!  In addition, the following Stampin’ Up! products were used:

• Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango and Whisper White Cardstock
• Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango and Crushed Curry Stampin’ Write Markers
• Chocolate Chip Classic Ink
• Blender Pen
• Dusty Durange Polka Dotted Grosgrain Ribbon
• Lovely as a Tree Stamp Set
• Chit Chat Rub-ons
• Stampin’ Dimensionals
• SNAIL Adhesive
• Crystal Effects

To make this card, first start with the standard landscape card in Dusty Durango, then cut a 4 x 5-1/4 piece of the bark-like patterned paper from Autumn Meadows (or other desired pattern). Adhere to the card front.

Cut a piece of 3×3 Whisper White, 3-1/8 x 3-1/8 of Dusty Durango, and 3-1/4 x 3-1/4 of Bermuda Bay.

Place the Whisper White piece of paper on the patterned designer series paper you selected and then stamp the large tree from Lovely as a Tree on the left and it also goes onto the designer series paper (using Chocolate Chip ink).  Then ink and stamp the horizontal tree stamp from Lovely as a Tree – some of the image on the white paper and some on the designer series paper.

Then adhere the Whisper White to Dusty Durango and then that to the Bermuda Bay.  Cut a small piece of Dusty Durango polka dotted ribbon, fold, and adhere to the back of this panel. Adhere this panel to the card front.

Next cut a small strip of the brown leafy patterned paper under the greeting you select (I used Peaceful Wishes from Chit Chat rub-ons collection).

Then  ink the leaves from Lovely as a Tree in Chocolate Chip, then use the Stampin’ Write markers and color different areas of the stamp in the different colors (Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durange), and then stamp on scrap.  I then used the Chocolate Chip ink and Blender pen to fill in the leaf. 

Lastly, finish the card by adding Crystal Effects to the leaf and set aside for a while to let it dry completely. Then adhered to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Other Thoughts:

• Use Really Rust, More Mustard or Taken with Teal.
• Add sponging with Chocolate Chip Ink.
• Add more "trees" in Really Rust or Dusty Durango.
• Stamp a larger greeting.
• Cut, color and add more leaves (and using Crystal Effects).
• Staple the piece of ribbon to the top/front instead of tucking behind the focal point panel.

First, cut a piece of Night & Day designer series paper (here black with white polka dots) 4 inches by 12.  Then score at the 5" and 7" mark and fold (making a triangle-type of shape).  Since this is designer series paper and thinner than the regular cardstock, I also cut a piece of 2×4 piece of Bermuda Bay paper at the bottom for better support.

For the front panel, I stamped the haunted house image and tree branches in Basic Black ink then used sponges to color "the sky" with Rich Razzleberry and Bermuda Bay.  Then matted the paper on a piece of Bermuda Bay paper. Then sponged the corners of the Bermuda Bay paper with black in as well. Adhere the front panel to the bag front using SNAIL Adhesive.

Fill a small cello bag with Kisses or desired candy or snack.

Lastly, create the desired greeting with black ink, Whisper White and Bermuda Bay cardstock. Then align the greeting, the bag, and the paper and hold close while punching a hole.  You can use the Crop-a-dile to create a large hole or a handheld punch if creating a small hole.  Thread the ribbon through them all and tie a bow.

Other View:

Other Thoughts:

• Use the Brayer Tool instead of Sponging.
• Use Black Embossing as in the In Color House of Haunts card.
• Use a brad or Build-a-Brad instead of ribbon to hold the bag shut.
• To make the project even simpler, don’t do any sponging, instead stamp the house image in Rich Razzleberry and the greeting in Bermuda Bay (for example). Eliminate all sponging and this project is a cinch, fast, and can be duplicated quickly to prepare many treat bags for your upcoming Halloween visitors.

Don’t forget to view the Holiday Mini to see more fun Halloween samples and new product!

The first Deal of the Week is on punches!

To take advantage of this great deal, you can email me at sharon@stampingsharon.com or you can Shop Online.  This deal will expire at 9:00 am (CT) on Monday, October 12.

If you have any questions on My Digital Studio, please post a comment or send me an email.