Holiday Catalogue - Sneak Peak Blog Hop

Wow!! The year is moving so quickly & it wasn't until I signed up to this Blog Hop that I realised how neglected my Blog is...eeeek!!

So I'm super glad to be here & working on it & finding some inspiration from others.

ESAD is such a wealth of knowledge relating to SU!, as well as giggles, support & inspiration, (as mentioned above!). It is my go-to for SU! questions & beyond!!

That being said, let's get to why we are here: this Blog Hop!!

I've decided to work on a couple of cards that show-case items & techniques for the Beginner stamper, but it would also work for the time poor & those who may not have many supplies, for many reasons.

There is something organic & magical about blowing the seeds of a dandelion & watching them float away - I still do it, ad an adult & when I watch them drift away with the breeze, the world stops its ugliness, just for a minute... *sigh*

I've used the Hammered Metal 3D embossing folder, Sweet Silhouettes dies and NO STAMPING as such, only some dragging of the Soft Suede cardstock across the ink pad to give the 'dirt' some texture.

Using the negative part of the dandelion for the wispy parts floating away, it gave my card the sense of movement...& adding a bit of bling, is always necessary, right?

I've cared for turtles for many years & this little stamp image made me smile!!

I cased the first card & then made the second card to give to a turtle professional who helped me when my current little friend was ill. 

In this example, the Hammered Metal embossing folder looks exactly like a turtle's shell, so this card didn't need much else to dress it up.

Did you notice the difference between which way I've used the embossed cardstock?

When I stamped the turtle again, for the inside of the card, I used a baby wipe to wipe away his sadness & used the Basic Black marker to lift his smile the right way!!

During my preparing for this Blog Hop, my order wasn't going to arrive in time, so I raced to my fellow demo's house, Alison & she had purchased the Memories of Home stamp set. While I love the tree & its details, I wanted to team it up with something else, so that it didn't take up the whole card. 

The Dashing Deer stamp looks gorgeous on Cherry Cobbler & then clear embossed, (just like the snow falling, behind the tree).

Adding a simple Red Rhinestone to make this deer the very popular Rudolph, was a given!!

I decided to step up my stamping for the next card. It could encourage the Beginner or Casual stamper to learn new techniques.

 Using our Difference Maker stamp set, Nature's Beauty, (when you purchase this set, a portion of the money is given to various charities), I coloured the gentle doe with our Watercolour Pencils, ran the Crumb Cake ink pad over the Woodlands embossing folder before putting it through the Big Shot. 

I teamed these items with Sweet Silhouettes & Stitched Rectangle Dies with the gorgeous Wink of Stella for a little touch of shimmer.

I do love the dimension that the leaves give & her soft face peeking through the branches! I used this as a swap that I participated in also but I just had to share it with you also!!

Well considering I only had 2 of the items & a stamped image from the incredible Holiday Catalogue, (available from 4 Sep to 2 Jan), I'm pretty happy with how they can be added to various items from the Annual Catalogue.
Increasing the use of each item means that they are more affordable, gets the creative juices flowing & therefore makes even more creations, obviously!!

Thanks for looking at my cards, I's love to hear which product grabbed your attention...& don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss any of my posts.

Happy hopping to the next Blog! Cheryl's work is gorgeous!!

Blog hop participant list:

1. Sharon Dalton

2. Cathy Pinchbeck

3. Tanya Rees

4. Sandra Mastello

5. Shannon Kissane

6. Rochelle Blok

7. Lou Kitzelman

8. Nicole Wilson

9. Bronwyn Eastley

10. Peta Stephen

11. Siobhan Fitzsimmons

12. Libby Dyson

13. Jo Weedon              (This is me :)

14. Cheryl Algie

15. Rochelle Laird-Smith

16. Denise Buetler

17. Rebecca Scurr

18. Kelly Kent

19. Monique Fielder

20. Maree McIntosh

21. MelissaGifford

22. Barbara Williams

23. Angela Meiritz-Reid

24. Jackie Aitken
25. Lauren Meiklejohn

Card #1:

Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Basic Black, Soft Suede

Ink: Soft Suede.

Big Shot items: Hammered Metal Embossing Folder, Sweet Silhouette dies.

Accessories:  Red Rhinestones, Fine Tip Glue, Tear n Tape adhesive, Stampin' blocks.

Card #2:

Cardstock: Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla.

Ink: Momento, Mossy Meadow & Old Olive markers.

Big Shot items: Hammered Metal Embossing Folder, Little Alphabet.

Accessories:  Googly eyes, Fine Tip Glue, Tear n Tape adhesive, Stampin' blocks, baby wipes.

Card #3:

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Old Olive

Ink: Crumb Cake, Versamark.

Big Shot items: Dashing Deer dies.

Accessories:  Clear Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy, Embossing Tray & Brush, Fine Tip Glue, Tear n Tape adhesive, Stampin' blocks.

Card #4:

Cardstock: Mossy Meadow, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla.

Ink: Soft Suede, Mometo Black, Mossy Meadow.

Big Shot items: Stitched Rectangle dies, Sweet Silhouettes dies, Woodlands Embossing Folder

Accessories:  Paper Snips, Watercolor Pencils, Fine Tip Glue, Tear n Tape adhesive, Stampin' blocks.