Happy Birthday, Lynell!

Help me celebrate today, Lynell Harlow's birthday, owner of Dreamweaver Stencils.  Actually, her birthday is on Saturday, but we are surprising her by posting birthday cards in honor of her special day...So Happy Birhday, Lynell!!

In addition to our birthday party, we are celebrating the New Year with a new monthly challenge.  In honor of all those New Year's Resolutions that we are hoping to achieve, our challenge is "Losing the Weight...aka Clean and Simple Cards (CAS)".  If we all try really hard to simplify our cards without losing the creativity, we can all say at the end of the month that we've lost weight.  Maybe not off our waistlines, but of from our cards.

Be sure to see all the creative CAS cards from our Design Team:

Dream It Up!

Laura Drahozal

Lyn Bernatovich

Pam Hornschu

Louise Healy

Cyndi Bundy

Lee Kellogg

Liz Martin

Terrece Siddoway

Lea Kimmel

Cherylyn Moser
Kristi Parker Van Doren

Please be sure to help us wish Lynell a very Happy Birthday...and join in the fun this month with this New Year's challenge.  We all would love to see what you create with stencils in a Clean and Simple style!

Merry Holidays

I know Christmas is past, but many of you are thinking about what you are going to make for cards next year!  With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it's nice get a little ahead.

 In the card I am showing today, I used the Poinsettia clear stamp set from Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps for accents on the cards.  For this card, I stamped the Presents on white card stock and colored them with Copic Markers.  Then I cut it out with an oval die.  Because the background paper is quite busy, I added a strip of brown paper to break up the design.  Then I cut out the Poinsettias with the matching die, stamped the flowers and then cut them out with Copic Markers.  After I layered the flowers, I popped them over same holly springs that I did cut with the Cheery Lynn die.  For more inspiration...go to the PPRS blog!

Embellished Reindeer

With this simple holiday card, I stamped the reindeer onto kraft paper with brown VersaFine ink.  Then I sponged around the oval with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.  This time I cut the Poinsettias from designer paper, then stamped the flowers with the Aged Mahogany Distress Ink.  I didn't layer the flowers, but left them one dimensional.  I liked the vintage feel of this Christmas card, but I felt it needed to be lightened up a bit, so I add the lace that I cut out with the Cheery Lynn die. Finally I added the sentiment and the pearls.  I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season.  See more beautiful ideas on the PPRS blog.

Tis the Season

Today, I am using some of the new Christmas designs from Prickley Pear.

First, I have the Hanging the Ornament stamp that I colored with Copic Markers.  I cut her out and popped her up over the To be Jolly background.  Then I added a piece of doily, a die from Cheery Lynn and a banner.  Finally, I added the pine bough, for something to hand the ornament on.

Here is a simpler version of the Hanging the Ornament stamp.  It was simple stamped on white card stock, then matted on red and green oval dies.  I then added a sentiment onto a banner and sponged some Frayed Burlap Distress ink on it to add some color and details.  Finally, I added some gold pearls for a little more embellishment.  Check out some more Holiday Cheer on the PPRS blog.

Have a Happy Holiday Season!

Pixie Wishes

This sweet Pixie, roasting marshmallows is a cute addition to your Christmas card.  I colored her with Copic Markers, then cut out around the frame.  I then used the floral border die and the pine branch die for added accents.  The Happy Holidays was a sentiment from the Flourished Oval 3 - holiday set.  The embossed border is a Darice folder and Candi finishes the card.  Check out more beautiful creations on the PPRS blog.

Christmas Magic

Christmas is fast approaching and there is so much to do!!  This month, the Dreamweaver Design Team are posting projects with "Holidays in a Hurry" as the theme.   Here is an idea of getting caught up with cards in a hurry.  I first of all cut a piece of white card stock 3 1/2" x 8" and placed the Poinsettia stencil in the middle of the paper.  Then I taped all four sides and colored the flower with stencil brushes and Distress Inks.  I used Barn Door and Peeled Paint Distress Inks.  Then I removed the tape.  Cut the paper in the middle at 4", then cut in half the long way 1 3/4".  Now you have four pieces with poinsettias on them.  Use the ScorBuddy and ScorBug to add the pierced edges.  Punch out a border to dress the card up a bit.  It only takes about 15 minutes and you have four cards complete!  Check out more projects in a hurry starting with:

Dream It Up!

Laura Drahozal

Stacey Rumsby

Lyn Bernatovich

Pam Hornschu

Louise Healy

Cyndi Bundy

Carolling

It's after Thanksgiving and Christmas music is in the air.  I am using the Bundled for Winter stamp from Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps for my image on today's card.  This is such an adorable stamp.  I colored them in Copic Markers.  Then I used the Decorative square from from Cheery Lynn Designs.  The Fa La La La La stamp is also from PPRS and cut out with a label die from Cheery Lynn.  Poinsettia and holly accents dies are also from Cheery Lynn Dies.  Hop on over to the PPRS blog for more inspiration.