Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to you!  Please take some time today to reflect on all the blessings you have received and the people who love you.  Here are my table decorations ready to set out on the tables.

Let our lives be full of both THANKS and GIVING!

Autumn Wishes

Here is a quick and simple card made with the Woodland Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and Among the Branches stamp set.  This is a lovely fall card to send for any occasion.  I also used the Gold Glitter Ribbon as an accent.

ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA!

The Stampin' Up! Online Extravaganza begins Monday at 12:00 a.m. mountain time.  There are special Flash Sale deals on Monday, November 23, and Monday November 30.  All the other items listed are available at these prices from November 23 - November 30.  You may also include regular catalog items, Clearance Rack items, or Holiday Catalog items on your order.  If you want to see the Holiday Catalog Retiring List while shopping on my website, click the red box that says "See What's Retiring."  Please use Host Code 9FKD42AP when checking out.  Everyone who uses this code will have their name entered into a drawing for a FREE gift.  When you have finished shopping, click on "view shopping bag" and you will see a box in the lower left corner for a code.  Paste 9FKD42AP in the box and click "apply."  Then I will enter your name into the drawing.  If you order multiple times, your name will be entered in the drawing each time you order.  Be sure to choose "allow Demonstrator Contact" when you are checking out or I will not know who you are to enter your name into the drawing!  If you are a Stamp Club member and prefer not to have your name in the drawing, but would rather have your order credited to the December hostess, contact me for your special code.  

If your order is $150 or more, do not use the code and you will receive FREE Stampin' Rewards for yourself.

Select Past Paper Pumpkin kits are available on the Online Extravaganza to both subscribers and non-subscribers.

If you are ordering bundles, you must use the bundle number provided on the Online Extravaganza list in order to receive the discounts.  If you enter the regular catalog item numbers, you will not get the discount.  These bundles will only be available for the Online Extravaganza.  They will not be available after November 30.

When you are ready to shop go directly to my online store at www.SmilesAcrossTheMiles.stampinup.net.  

Enjoy the bargains!  

Vintage Leaves Again

This stunning card was CASED from Michelle Zindorf.  I simply fell in love with the rich tones created when you combine Delightful Dijon and Cajun Craze!  Add in a touch of Basic Black and Mossy Meadow with Gold Embossing Powder and you really have some impact!  My stamp sets used here are Gorgeous Grunge and Vintage Leaves. The Mossy Meadow leaves were cut out with the Leaflets Framelits.  The sentiment is from Lighthearted Leaves.  The black tuxedo bow on the front is made with the Bow Builder Punch.  A little Versamark applied to the edges with a Blender Pen and some Gold Embossing Powder give it a little extra class.

I think square cards are extra special any way.  This one looks extremely rich and elegant!  Thanks for the inspiration, Michelle!  What do you think?  Please leave me a comment!

2015 Holiday Catalog Items Retiring

Click here to shop now.

A list of items that are retiring from the 2015 Holiday Catalog is now available.  Click HERE to view the retiring list.  Check your wish lists and be sure to order your favorites before they are gone for good!  Stamp sets will be available until a week or so before the end of the catalog period on January 4th, but some other items that have to be ordered from overseas may run out sooner, due to the lead time required to order and receive the items in the Stampin' Up! Warehouse.  So don't delay, place an order today for all the Holiday items still on your wish list!  Please use Host Code FJ3363RN when shopping and I will enter your name into a drawing for a FREE gift.  If your order is $150 or more, don't use the code and you will qualify for FREE Stampin' Rewards.

Vintage Leaves and Lighthearted Leaves Together

More leaves!  Today's card shows images from the Vintage Leaves stamp set combined with a sentiment from the Lighthearted Leaves stamp set.  Aren't those leaves just so beautiful?  I used Kraft cardstock as the second layer of the card and trimmed the edges to match the die cut of the sentiment.  That die came from the Square Pillow Box Thinlits Die.  There are so many things you can do with those Square Pillow Box Thinlits!  I just love it!  The ribbon is a cut edge of the Burlap Ribbon that I frayed at the edges for a softer look.  I used some Soft Suede ink to sponge a little softness all over the Kraft cardstock. 

This card is also a favorite of mine this fall.  I think the colors are just so soothing together.  I would love to hear your comments.

Lighthearted Leaves

I love leaves and especially love all the colors of leaves in the fall.  This card adds a touch of shimmery gold that was made using the Happy Patterns Decorative Masks.  I simply used Versamark ink on a Sponge Dauber to ink up the cardstock through the mask, then sprinkled Gold Embossing Powder after removing the mask.  What a cool background it makes!  The rest of the card is so simple and basic.  Stamping the leaves from the Lighthearted Leaves stamp set and cutting them out with the matching Leaflets Framelits made a nice accent for the card.  The sentiment also comes from the Lighthearted Leaves stamp set and is definitely one of my favorites this year!  I used the Deco Labels Framelits to cut out the sentiment.  I softened the color of the Mossy Meadow Striped Cotton Ribbon by sponging a little Delightful Dijon ink on it before wrapping it around the Cajun Craze cardstock and adhering it to the back.  Taking another piece of the same ribbon, I pulled the threads from the green stripe apart to get 3 fine pieces to tie around the center leaf.  I think the final result is a lovely fall card to send for Thanksgiving.

What do you think?  Please leave me a comment.

Embellished Ornaments

This is a lovely card that is crisp and bold with its traditional Christmas colors.  I used the Embellished Ornaments stamp set and the matching Delicate Ornament Thinlits Dies with Whisper White Thick Cardstock as the base.  This cardstock is so fabulous when you want a simple white card base!  It holds up very nicely and the ink does not show through the other side--not even this bold Real Red.  The finish on this paper produces a beautifully stamped image as well.  A few dabs of glue from the Fine Tip Glue Pen and some Silver Glitter make the ornament sparkle.  A Silver Foil top and Silver Cording Trim top it off.  Using a Blender Pen, I lightly colored in the leaves that were lined up using the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig.  The berries are Red Glimmer Paper pieces that I made with the 1/8" Hole Punch and glued on with a tiny dot from the Fine Tip Glue Pen.  I popped the ornament up with Dimensionals.

Traditional and bold!  What do you think?

Vintage Leaves Grateful

This is a quick card to make but the lovely leaves and DSP give it a lot of impact.  The DSP is part of the Into the Woods Designer Series Paper and the leaves are stamped using the Vintage Leaves stamp set and cut out with the matching Leaflets Framelits.  Both the Vintage Leaves stamp set and the framelits can be found in the 2015-2016 Annual Catalog.  I am a huge fan of anything with leaves!  I think they exude a wonderful quality that can be fun and lighthearted or soft and subtle.  Often some of the best masculine cards are made with leaves.  It just seems to work well for men--get away from the many varieties of flowers we so love to use.

For the sentiment I used A Little Something stamp set found in the 2015 Holiday Catalog cut out with the Lots of Labels Framelits from the Annual Catalog. This set has so many cute little images that work perfectly on cards like this where the paper really is the focal point.  They also make great tags for boxes and bags, including the Square Pillow Box Thinlits Die.  You can bundle the stamp set and the dies together for an even better bargain and get 15% off!

Take a few minutes and look through all the beautiful designer series paper Stampin' Up! has to offer.  Keep in mind that the catalog really doesn't do the patterns justice.  Pick a paper you love and create a card with it!