Welcome to the October Tour de Freak tour which officially starts October 20th! We are so excited that you have joined us today on our fifth Blog Tour. This month we are featuring Christmas Cards!
Our tour is nice and short and features some of your favorite Control Freaks Stampers. I'm stop #9, but you may have come here by way of Erin's Blog. If so, welcome! At the end of my post you will be directed to the next stop so make sure to keep on reading and don’t forget to click through on to Shona Watson's blog.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the tour!
I'm starting off with Stampin' Up!'s newest product...My Digital Studio! I used elements from the Christmas Jingle Designer Kit, Old Saint Nick Stamp set (not in our main catalog) and Alpine Ribbon. The first image is the digital image and the second is a photo of my printed card.
Here's another one that I did in Real Red. Then I wondered what it would look like with the colors reversed.
Here they are printed out.
I printed all three My Digital Studio cards on my own printer which does print border to border. If you do want to print from your own computer, beware of the following:
1) The Real Red card took a LOT of my ink cartridge.
2) The printed color does not match Stampin' Up! Real Red.
3) If you want to do "hybrd" papercrafting (printing and adding "real-live" embellishment), the colors are not guaranteed to match.
Now onto my handstamped cards...
One of my favorite new stamp sets is Autumn Days. I love all of the different "nature" style stamps...great variety. I was really drawn to the pinecone image. So that is what I used for my last two cards.
I made one quick and easy, for mass producing your holiday cards. The other card is for that very special person in your life!
Aren't they beautiful? I so happy with the way they turned out.
Here's the quick and easy card which was inspired by a Halloween card I received from Penny at Founder's Circle.
Supplies: Autumn Days, Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Sets, Very Vanilla cardstock, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip Markers, Old Olive 1-1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals.
Here is my "step-it-up" card...
Tips for the "step-it-up" card:
1) Use sponge daubers (vs. Markers) to ink up your stamp. This is quicker and less stress on your markers, especially when you're doing several repeat images.
2) I used a Versamarker to add versamark ink to select places on the pinecones. Then embossed those areas with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder (hard to see in the picture).
3) The PEACE is from a verse that comes with the "Gifts of Christmas" stamp set. Use a marker to ink up the word you want. You get more use out of your stamps this way.
Supplies: Autumn Days, Gifts of Christmas (for peace), Very Vanilla & Chocolate Chip cardstock, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip Ink Pads & Sponge Daubers, Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Chocolate Chip 1-1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Gold Cording, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, 1/16" punch, Versamarker, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals.
I hope you enjoyed this stop on the Tour De Freaks Tour. Be sure to visit the next stop with Shona. We look forward to seeing you again on December 20th for our next Tour de Freaks Blog Tour!
Enjoy~Dawn O
CLICK HERE FOR THE NEXT STOP ON THE BLOG TOUR!
These are really nice. I like them a lot. I wish on this Christmas someone send me one of these.
Posted by: christmas shopping | November 04, 2009 at 06:34 AM
Love the autumn days cards! Just beautiful!
Posted by: Beth M | October 26, 2009 at 08:46 AM
your pine cone cards are wonderful! it was part of my favs from last week - i hope you don't mind!
http://www.toptencreations.blogspot.com
Posted by: cassie | October 26, 2009 at 12:38 AM
I love your cards! I am so amazed by the Autumn Days card and had to order the set for myself. Thanks for your always inspiring work!
Posted by: Kate | October 23, 2009 at 08:30 AM
Dawn, what a beautiful job you have done! The Autumn Days cards are just so so elegant! LOVE them!
Chris in Calgary, AB Canada
Posted by: Chris Hnatiuk | October 21, 2009 at 01:09 PM
I LOVE your pine cone cards! Beautiful! I'll end up getting that set yet!
Ilene B.
Posted by: Ilene B. | October 21, 2009 at 06:30 AM
Dawn - those Autumn Days pinecone cards ARE TO DIE FOR! They're the BEST use of that stamp I've seen - FABULOUS!
Posted by: Cheryl Wilcox | October 20, 2009 at 11:43 PM
Fabulous range of cards, Dawn. I loved seeing the digi cards printed out! TFS!
Posted by: Brandi Wiggins | October 20, 2009 at 11:31 PM
You are just rocking those MDS cards! LOVE 'EM!! Although I have to say the simple Autumn Days card is just FABULOUS!!!
Posted by: Mary Brown | October 20, 2009 at 07:56 PM
I love the card with the layering done in the same color. Would never have thought of that, and yet it looks so elegant!
Posted by: Shala | October 20, 2009 at 03:15 PM
Dawn...these cards are just WONDERFUL. You do such a GREAT job in MDS. Ditto on the Autumn days. I have been using that one a lot lately too.
Posted by: Bobbi | October 20, 2009 at 01:17 PM
Your cards are so pretty!!! Thanks for the ideas with MDS, and now I really need to think about getting that Autumn Days stamp set...I didn't think I needed it, but now I'm not so sure ;-)
Posted by: Kimberley Morris | October 20, 2009 at 09:09 AM
Dawn...Love the MDS & printed out cards. I don't think anyone who receives the "quick & easy" card would feel they were missing out on ANYTHING! They are both great cards! Erin
Posted by: Erin Blair | October 20, 2009 at 08:55 AM
Spectacular work! I especially love your "tips" that you share.
Posted by: Staci Miserlian | October 20, 2009 at 08:15 AM
Oh Dawn -- each and every project is just georgeous!I've done a lot of scrapbook pages with MDS but haven't tried printing out cards yet -- thanks for inspiring me! So good to be on the tour with you -- blessings, Gretchen
Posted by: Gretchen Barron | October 20, 2009 at 06:49 AM
LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! Of course, you know me and MDS ... :) :) Patty
Posted by: Patty Bennett | October 19, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Hi, Dawn
I am very impressed with what can be created with the MDS, and totally in love with those two pinecones cards! They are SOOO darling! I love how elegant the simplest one is, and the vintage with a modern twist look to the second one. And I love how you used the wide striped ribbons! Now, you are making me wish I had that pinecone set!!!
Cindy :)
Posted by: Cindy Major | October 19, 2009 at 10:35 PM
Gorgeous, Dawn! Love what you are doing with that stamp set!
Posted by: Robin Spinner | October 19, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Wonderful, wonderful, WONDERFUL and amazing!! I LOVE what you did with your MDS cards (LOVIN' that program, too!)! Those cards just embody Christmas!! And your Autumn Days cards!!! That is my new favorite set, and you ROCKED it, girl!! Excellent!! :)
Posted by: Wendy W. | October 19, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Dawn...fabulous cards as usual! Love the online vs printed comparison and the step-it-up!
Posted by: Connie | October 19, 2009 at 10:09 PM