Diva Blog Hop - Its Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

(You arrived from Denise's Blog)

This time of year families and friends gather to celebrate. Many of us send out annual greetings. Nothing says I am thinking of you like a handmade greeting card. I have a few ideas to inspire and get your creative juices flowing to send your own homemade card.

The first card I started by using up extra supplies from a previous swap. The card base, burlap ribbon and DSP were the extra items I had. For some reason I was inspired to create folds. And thanks to my daughter who suggested the black strip which ended up looking like Santas belt. The card has a rustic santa feel.

Supplies:

135068/135071 Merry Everything Stamps
126966 Cherry Cobbler Ink Pad
101650 Very Vanilla Cardstock
121065 Basic Black Cardstock

135825 Under the Tree Specialty Designer Series Paper

133704 Typeset DSP (thin and amazing paper)
133719 Gold Glimmer Paper
135860 Note Tag Punch 
133787 Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack
104294 Sticky Strip

On the next card (by now my daughter was getting into this assignment and helping me.) She suggested Van Gogh's Starry Night for inspiration for layout and color. I said to her I think I can work with that.

Supplies:

135068/135071 Merry Everything Stamps
126971 Night of Navy Ink Pad
100867 Night of Navy Cardstock
111350 Pacific Point Cardstock
101650 Very Vanilla Cardstock
133678 Hello Honey Cardstock
133520 Decorative Dots TIEF
133723 Stars Framelits
135817 Lucky Stars TIEF
104430 Dimensionals
Retired Champaign Mist paint mixed with rubbing alcohol (because the background needed a little glitz and I want this product unretired)

My inspiration for the next card, again my daughter helped me out. She was describing what she would like to see, something very natural, and she said the word "rustic" and I was off. I think this might be my fave of the four cards. It was easy to do, and would be easy to replicate. I did split the cardstock for the door and rejoined the two pieces together with Scotch tape before adhering to the card base.

I do apologize for the accidental retired products on this card. There should be some easy substitutes.

Supplies:
Stamps - apparently a retired set with great fun greetings.
133032/133035 Hardwood background stamp
100052 Real Red Stampin' Write Marker
131262 Regals Always Artichoke Stampin' Write Marker
126981 Basic Gray Ink Pad
126976 Saraha Sand Ink Pad - used to add "dirt" to the barn doors
101650 Very Vanilla Cardstock
126972 Always Artichoke Cardstock
131202 Smoky Slate Cardstock
133719 Gold Glimmer Paper
134563 Real Red 1/4" cotton ribbon
119849 Modern Label punch
119873 3/4" circle punch
127012 Floral Frames Collection Framelits
Retired script TIEF - sorry. I didn't know it was retired. Just about any TIEF with curves would give the same effect - Zig Zag, Beautifully Baroque, Lovely Lace, Fancy Fan
104430 Dimensionals
103683 Glue Dots

For my final card since I had covered the Santa look, traditional. and stars, I thought was else does the season encompass? Presents! Another easy to replicate look. The presents look like they are staged on a hardwood floor.

Supplies:

Stamps - that same retired set that said Merry & Bright. Grrr
126981 Basic Gray ink pad
100730 Whisper White Cardstock
121044 Basic Gray
133687 Hello Honey Cardstock
133701 Moonlight Designer Series paper stack
133672 Lost Lagoon 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon
127821 Woodgrain TIEF
126883 Ticket Duo Builder punch
119246 Rhinestone Basic Jewels
124262 Whisper White Bakers Twine (used to make the bows and is hidden)
104430 Dimensional (4 per package)

I hope that you find your holidays merry and bright and that these cards inspire you to send your own homemade greetings this holiday season. If you do want a quick, easy and affordable solution to  mass reproducing cards try My Digital Studio 130646 $19.95 and you will never run out of ribbon or paper again!

Hop on over to Autumn's blog next and see what she is cooking up this holiday season. http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stampingave/blog

Divas that blog hop

Sue:  

http://www.stillstampingwithsue.typepad.com/

Denise:
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/denisewilson/blog

Sandy:
http://www.needsaribbon.blogspot.com

Autumn:
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stampingave/blog

Amy:
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/amyspage/blog

Pam:
http://www.pamskraftykorner.blogspot.com/