Hot Cuppa Cocoa

Today I’m sharing a Snowman Soup gift holder that I made for this week’s Totally Stampalicious Challenge – Hot Cuppa. 

I am not a hot beverage kind of girl.  I start my day with a nice cold Diet Pepsi over ice.  I love my Diet Pepsi!  I NEVER drink coffee, only drink hot tea when I’m sick, and really the only hot beverage that I enjoy is Hot Cocoa.  So today I decided to make a snowman soup for the Hot Cuppa challenge.  I used the Treehouse Stamps digital set Christmas Tags for the Snowman Soup tag.  

 

Supplies

Paper:  Close to Cocoa , Ruby Red, Whisper White

Stamps:  Christmas Tags (Treehouse Stamps)

Ink:  Basic Black, Real Red

Accessories:  Houndstooth embossing folder, Fisker’s embossing plate, stickles, twine, Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa packet - GLUTEN FREE :), candy cane, marshmallows.

 

ETA:
Measurements:  8 1/2 x 5 1/2 Close to Cocoa paper.  Score at 2", 2 1/4", 6", 6 1/4"

Ruby red paper is 3 1/4 " x 5 1/4"

Thanks for checking out my Hot Cuppa Cocoa!

Julie

 

Beautiful Christmas

It's Treehouse Challenge Thursday!  This week's theme is GLITTER.  I absolutely LOVE using glitter!

My sample was made using the newly released Christmas Ornaments stamp set from Treehouse Stamps.  You can find the set HERE.  The sentiment is from the Peaceful Noel stamps set at Treehouse Stamps.  You can find that set HERE.

I used the Clean and Simple sketch #116 for the layout.  Although this sketch looks "simple" I spent a long time trying to line up the digi printout with the top note die and then struggled to get the bottom layer to line up.  In the end I'm very happy with how it turned out.  I wouldn't call it "simple" though.

The potted plant prop I used is actually a Christmas decoration that I made years ago from a small terra cotta pot.  I painted it in burgundy and gold and added the pine leaves, pine cone, and ribbon with beads.  The color combo in this card matches perfectly with this little pot.

Here are my supplies:

Paper:  Very Vanilla, Bravo Burgundy, Basic Black
Stamps:  Christmas Ornaments,  Peaceful Noel (sentiment)
Ink:  Basic Black
Accessories:  Stickles, Top Note Die, Basic Black Ribbon


Check out these great samples that the Treehouse Stamps Design Team put together:

Ashley Bowen

Neva McMullen

Kelly Hampton

Maria Levine

Gloria Morizen

Kimberly Lowrey

Stephanie Serrano

Monique Hansen

 Thanks for checking out my card!  I hope you join us for this week's challenge!

Julie

Treehouse Stamps New Release & Splitcoast Sketch Challenge

Well I almost finished this challenge at Splitcoast Stampers this morning before work...then the dogs started barking like crazy....come to find out there was a beautiful doe in our yard.  It all worked out though because the glitter needed to dry anyway.

This adorable Polar Bear ice fishing is a new release from  Treehouse Stamps Digital Line.

I'm really proud of how the bow came out on this one. This ribbon is from Joann's and it only had polka dots on one side.

Thanks for checking out my card!

Julie

THT075 - Sketch Challenge

 It's time for another Treehouse Thursday Challenge!  This week's challenge is a sketch.  Here is my sample.  To play along with this week's Challenge simply post your project online and upload it to the Treehouse Blog here.

Supplies
Stamps:  Polar Bear Holiday
Paper:  Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Certainly Celery, DP
Ink:  Going Grey, Bashful Blue, Old Olive
Accessories:  Large Scalloped Circle Punch, Large Circle Punch, Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Large Rhinestones


Check out these great samples that the Treehouse Stamps Design Team put together:

Ashley Bowen

Neva McMullen

Heather Prince

Kelly Hampton

Maria Levine

Gloria Morizen

Kimberly Lowrey

Stephanie Serrano

Monique Hansen

November Treehouse Contest & Free Digi Image

It's time for another Treehouse contest.  This month's image is an adorable little birthday cake.  You can pick up your free digi HERE and play along.  


Here is my sample:

Supplies:
Stamps:  Free Digi from Treehouse Stamps
Paper:  Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, DP
Ink:  Basic Black, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana
Accessories:  Scallop Square Punch, Three for You Flower Punch, Fiskers Embossing Plate, Pearl Embelishiments, Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Stickles

Winner will get:

• 
  
  December Guest Design Team Spot (Dec 1st- Dec 31st, 2010)... you will get all of the DecemberTreehouse Digi releases for FREE! :)
• 
  
  You will also get a $25.00 gift certificate to use on any of our digital stamps 
  Thanks for checking out my card!  I hope you play along this month!
  
  
  Julie

Old Olive & Ivory

I am so excited I get to participate in today’s ways to use it challenge at Splitcoast Stampers – WT295 use GREEN!

It's Treehouse Challenge Thursday!  This week's theme is a color theme - "Old Olive & Ivory....add another color too if you like".  I decided to add some Real Red.  Here is my sample:

Since I chose a Christmas theme for this week's card I wanted to make something that would be easy to mass produce (ie. clean and simple). This card will also breeze through the US Postal system another great benefit for mass mailings.


What I like about this card...it reminds me of a Grandma's Christmas Apron.  I guess it's the row of flowers with the eyelet border but I think of my Grandma whenever I look at it and that is a Joy!


To play along with this week's Treehouse Challenge simply post your project online and upload it to the Treehouse Blog here.

Check out these great samples that the Treehouse Stamps DT put together:

Ashley Bowen

Neva McMullen

Heather Prince

Kelly Hampton

Maria Levine

Gloria Morizen

Kimberly Lowrey

Stephanie Serrano

Monique Hansen

And Guest:  Jessica Lessner

Supplies
Stamps:  Wonder of Christmas 
Paper:  Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Real Red
Ink:  Old Olive, Real Red
Accessories:  Old Olive Ribbon,  Labels Four Nesties, SU Eyelet Border Punch, Real Red Brads

Moon & Cascading Stars

This week's Treehouse Challenge # 073 is "Things that go bump in the night".  Here is my sample:

 This is a pretty simple card.  I struggled with different layouts and papers but the project finally came together when I added the moon and cascading stars.


I'm also playing along with the following challenges this week:



Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge #26 - Use Die Cuts or a Punch (I used 2 punches)
Crazy 4 Challenges - Halloween
Paper Playtime Challenge #22 - Halloween
The Corrosive Challenge Blog #87 - Halloween




To play along with this week's Treehouse Challenge simply post your project online and upload it to the Treehouse Blog here.

Need some more inspiration?  Check out these great samples that the Treehouse Stamps DT put together:

Ashley Bowen

Neva McMullen

Heather Prince

Kelly Hampton

Maria Levine

Gloria Morizen

Kimberly Lowrey

Stephanie Serrano

Monique Hansen

And Guest:  Jessica Lessner


Supplies:
Stamps: Kid Dracula, Halloween Extras
Paper: Basic Black, Lavender Lace, Daffodil Delight, Ivory & Black Striped DP, Very Vanilla
Ink: Basic Black, Lavender Lace, Real Red, Basic Grey, Blush Blossom
Accessories: 1" circle punch, SU Small Star Punch, SU Word window Punch, SU Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

Halloween S'mores

Halloween is only 1 week away so I thought I'd share these cute and easy Halloween S'mores.  I made them for my daughter to pass out in her 3rd grade classroom this year.

This is another example of why I like digital stamps.  I used the Treehouse Stamps Ghost Kid Digital Stamp and a font I found online "Space Out Open" to make these labels.  I actually printed them out in 2 steps.  The first step I printed the sheet out with the "Halloween S'mores" text and then I ran them through a second time and printed just the ghost kid.  Doing it this way kept the image from covering up the text.  Since there are about 28 kids in my daughter's class being able to print a sheet of labels was a real time saver.  I think her classmates are going to be excited to have these yummy Halloween Treats!  

Here is a close up of the labels:

Here's the supply list:

Bag Topper:

Rich Razzleberry - cut to 2 1/2" x 3" and scored at 1 1/4"

Avery 5160 Labels

Stamps:

Ghost Kid

Treats:

2 Graham Cracker Squares

1 Fun Sized Hershey Bar

2 Pumpkin Peeps

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my Halloween project!

Bountiful Blessings, Fall Card (THT072)

It's Treehouse Challenge THURSDAY!  This week's theme is - What Are You Thankful For.  Here is my sample:

I used they layout from Clean & Simple Stamping (FTL112).  You might have noticed I also used this layout for my anniversary card (posted on 10/16/2010).  It's been a busy week and having this sketch to use really came in handy! 

What am I thankful for?  This week I'm very thankful for my gluten free life.  Being gluten free isn't always easy but the alternative is even worse.  I was reminded of that this past week when I had two encounters with gluten.  I'm back to my pain free self now and so thankful that my gluten free lifestyle has improved my health in ways I never really thought possible.

I'd love for you to join us on this week's challenge!  Just load your "What Are You Thankful For?" card to your blog or online gallery and link to it at Treehouse Stamps Challenge.

Need some more inspiration?  Check out these great samples that the Treehouse Stamps DT put together:

Ashley Bowen

Neva McMullen

Heather Prince

Kelly Hampton

Maria Levine

Gloria Morizen

Kimberly Lowrey

Stephanie Serrano

Monique Hansen

And Guest:  Jessica Lessner

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Bountiful Blessings (flower), Beary Thankful (sentiment)
Paper:  Really Rust, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Designer Paper from Pebbles (Trunk), So Saffron (inside panel)
Ink:  More Mustard, So Saffron, Basic Black
Accessories:  SU Eyelet Border Punch, Button, Twine, Gold Rhinestones

THT071 - Candy Wrapper

This may be my favorite Challenge with Treehouse Stamps!  This week's theme THT071 is Candy Wrapper.  Here is my sample:

I'm also including this in this week's Tuesday Morning Sketch Yummy Treats.


Who wouldn't love to receive one of these treats for Christmas?  I used the Treehouse Stamps digital stamp set "Joy to the World" for the image and sentiment.  I used MS Powerpoint to size the image panel, printed it out cut and matted it on black cardstock.  For the wrapper I used designer paper cut to 5 3/4" by 7"; Scored at 1" and 4 1/2".  That's it ~ easy peasy!

Supplies:

Paper:  Frosty Snow DP, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink:  Basic Black 
Accessories:  One 4 oz. Cadbury Candy Bar (I used Caramello)

The Treehouse Stamps Design Team has created some YUMMY samples this week ~ you can check them out here:

• Ashley Bowen
• Neva McMullen
• Heather Prince
• Kelly Hampton
• Maria Levine
• Gloria Morizen
• Kimberly Lowrey
• Stephanie Serrano
• Monique Hansen
• And Guest: Jessica Lessner

Come Join the fun with us!  Just create a Candy Wrapper and load it to the Treehouse Website!

THT070 - Spooky Colors

Today's Treehouse Thursday Challenge is to use Orange, Purple, and Black in your card.  Here is my sample:

 I used the digi stamp set Spooky House & Sign for the image panel.  I made the roof using layers of the scallop edge punch.  I outlined the scallops with stickles.  The moon is punched from sparkly orange paper.

This card is being sent to UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in honor of this month's Hope You Can Cling to card drive at Splitcoast Stampers.  I intentionally left the sentiment off this one because it is for the Unsentimental Challenge (HYCCTO3).  For more information on how you can participate in this card drive - click on the pink blinkie at the top right hand corner of my blog!

The Treehouse Stamps Design Team has created some Awesome samples this week ~ you can check them out here:

• Ashley Bowen
• Neva McMullen
• Heather Prince
• Kelly Hampton
• Maria Levine
• Gloria Morizen
• Kimberly Lowrey
• Stephanie Serrano
• Monique Hansen
• And Guests: Linda Cummings and  Jessica Lessner
  

In Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

For the month of October Splitcoast Stampers is running a month long card drive to benefit those affected by breast cancer.
I created this card today and will be sending it to UT MD Anderson Cancer Center on Monday for this wonderful cause.

This card is for the Hope You Can Cling To Pink Holidays Challenge.  I used the Treehouse Stamps Digital Set Gobble and Wobble for the image and sentiment.  All paper is Stampin Up.

Thanks for taking the time to check out my card!  I hope that it will brighten someone's day!  

For more information on how you can participate in this card drive - click on the pink blinkie at the top right hand corner of my blog!

October Treehouse Contest

I'm so excited to share my sample for the October Treehouse Contest!  This month's image is an adorable Halloween Cupcake!  Since I am a gluten free girl my cupcake is also gluten free ;-)


Here's my sample....

I thought a Halloween Themed card was the perfect place to use my white gel pen on black background.  The frosting on the cupcake is filled in with Dazzling Diamonds.  I used the Gimp program to put my watermark on my photo.  My sample also fits this week's Speedy the Cats Friends Challenge # 22 to use a pumpkin in your card.


Here are the supplies I used:


Paper:  Basic Black, Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Whisper White
Stamps:  Halloween Cupcake from Treehouse Stamps, Halloween Extras
Ink:  Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  White Gel Pen, Scallop Oval Punch, Black Grossgrain Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, Dazzling Diamonds

Here are the details for the October Contest:

We at Treehouse Stamps are proud to announce that we will be holding monthly card contests for all of you! You have a chance to win gift certificates and a "Guest Design Team" spot! Yep, that's right...if you've ever dreamed of being on a design team...now could be your chance. :)

Winner will get:

• 
  
  
  November Guest Design Team Spot (Nov 1st- Nov 30th, 2010)... you will get all of the November Treehouse Digi releases for FREE! :)
• 
  
  
  You will also get a $25.00 gift certificate to use on any of our digital stamps

Contest Rules & Help:

• 
  
  
  Create a project or card using the FREE digital images found below... Just RIGHT CLICK the images and save to your desktop! :)
• 
  
  
  Once you create your project... post it to your blog, link back to the October Treehouse Contest post and provide a link directly from your entry (not your entire blog) in the inLinx below the post.
• 
  
  
  All Entries MUST be submitted by October 29th @ 12:00am! The winner will be announced on November 2, 2010.

Questions about Digital Images?

Do you have questions on how to use digital images? I have made two tutorials showing you how to use them in GIMP and Photoshop! Gimp is a FREE downloadable program for Windows and there is also one for MAC users! :) Please feel free to email me with any questions you may have!

• 
  
  
  Gimp Tutorial
• 
  
  
  Photoshop Tutorial

We look forward to seeing your creations!!! :)

So here is this month's contest image:

Just right click to save this then print and create.  Then load your entry at the Treehouse Stamps blog here:  October Treehouse Contest so we can see what you came up with!

THT069 - Grid Technique from SCS

This week's Treehouse Thursday Challenge is to use the Grid Technique from Splitcoast Stampers.
I used the soon to be released "Beary Merry Christmas" digital stamp set for this card.  You can join our challenge here:  Treehouse Thursday Challenge.

I used the grid technique for both the image panel and the light blue background panel.  I printed the image panel, colored it with my Stampin' Up markers, and then scored it on my paper cutter.  I added dazzling diamonds to the snow and snowman's hat after I scored the paper.  For the background paper I scored the paper, sponged it with bashful blue and silver inks.

Here are the supplies I used:

Stamps: Beary Merry Christmas - Digi Set Treehouse Stamps
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, Real Red, Old Olive
Ink: Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Real Red, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Word Window Punch, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder
Techniques:   Grid Technique, Sponging

The Treehouse Stamps Design Team has created some Amazing samples this week ~ you can check them out here:

• Ashley Bowen
• Neva McMullen
• Kelly Hampton
• Maria Levine
• Gloria Morizen
• Kimberly Lowrey
• Stephanie Serrano
• Virginia Lu
• Monique Hansen
• And September Guests:  Margo Smith and Linda Cummings

Santa Sneak Peek & A Blog Award

Here is a little sample I put together with the Treehouse Stamps Santa digi that will be released on October 1st.

I colored the image with coloring pencils.  I used diamond stickles for Santa's beard, hat, and sleeves.  The top note die panel was embossed with a sizzix embossing plate.  I used paper piercing around the edges of the red cardstock for this week's Stampin B's Design Team Challenge #77.


Also this week I got a blog award from my friend Brenda

.

 I'm so excited to pass this award on to 7 blogs that inspire me!  I wanted to share this award with all of my design team at Treehouse Stamps so I ended up passing it along to 9 blogs....

Neva: Neva's Crafty Cave
Heather:  Princess Scrapper Stamper
Maria:  Ria Creations
Stephanie:  Stephanie's Stampin Spot
Kelly:  Kelly's Stampin Habit
Gloria:  CrafterGM
Monique:  For the Love of Paper
Kimberly:  Creating for Sanity
Virginia:  Yes, Virginia


These ladies work so hard to put together beautiful samples and they continually inspire me with their creativity.

THT068 "Teacher Gifts & Blessings" & Sneak Peek

This week's Treehouse Challenge is Teacher Gifts & Blessings.  I made this little gift set for my daughter's 3rd Grade teacher - Mr. Murray.

I used the Treehouse Stamps "Alpha & Numbers" stamp set which will be released on October 1st.  This set is so versatile.  It is great for creating monograms.  The letters and outlines can be colored in to coordinate with any project you're working on.  I colored the letters in Old Olive and outlined them in Early Espresso using Gimp - a FREE graphics editor.  There is a great tutorial on how to use GIMP on the Treehouse Stamps Blog.  

Here are the supplies I used:

Stamps: Alpha & Numbers - Digi Set Treehouse Stamps
Paper: SU designer paper Summer Picnic, Real Red, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Ink: Old Olive, Early Espresso

Accessories: 5x7 Picture Frame, Mike & Ike's, Top Note Die, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, 1 1/4 Circle Punch, Photo Corners Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Dimensionals
Techniques:   Digital Crafting with Gimp & Stampin' Up My Digital Studio

The Treehouse Stamps Design Team has created some Amazing samples this week ~ you can check them out here:

• Ashley Bowen
• Neva McMullen
• Kelly Hampton
• Maria Levine
• Gloria Morizen
• Kimberly Lowrey
• Stephanie Serrano
• Virginia Lu
• Monique 
• And September Guests:  Margo Smith and Linda Cummings

SSSC86 - VSN Random Drawing Goodies

Today is a GREAT day!  I got to make a card using the goodies I WON from the random drawing over at Splitcoast Stampers Virtual Stamp Night.  Addicted to Rubber Stamps supplied the prizes.  I only had time to participate in two challenges so I feel extra lucky that I won!  Since I won the stamps and designer paper I thought it was only right to make a project with them :)

I used the Owl stamp from Hero Arts and the designer paper is from the prize too! I used this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge for the layout. The sentiment is from Treehouse Stamps digitial set Fall Blessings.

Supplies List:

Stamps:  Hero Arts Flower Branch with Owl, Fall Blessings Digital THS
Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Barely Banana, Pebbles Giddy Designer Paper
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Real Red
Accessories:  Button, Elastic String, Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Large Circle Punch

Thanks for checking out my card!

THT067 - Sponge a Background

I'm back with another Treehouse Thursday Challenge
Today's challenge is to SPONGE A BACKGROUND

Isn't this little penguin ADORABLE?  This is a digital stamp from the set "Happy Feet" that will be released over at Treehouse Stamps on October 1st.  I had so much fun working with this adorable digi stamp set!

The swiss dots background layer (bashful blue) has been sponged with frost white pigment ink.  Once that dried I sprayed it with some smooch spritz.  I used my heat tool to speed up the drying for the smooch spritz.

The penguin image panel was also sponged with bashful blue ink for the sky and frost white pigment ink for the snow.  Then I dipped the panel in some dazzeling diamonds.  To make my penguin look all fuzzy I used the 2 way glue pen with dazzeling diamonds.  I added some more dazzeling diamonds to his hat.  The ribbon is 5/8 inch white ribbon that I pleated and secured with a blue rhinestone brad.

Check out the other great inspiration pieces that the design team put together here:

• Ashley Bowen
• Neva McMullen
• Kelly Hampton
• Maria Levine
• Gloria Morizen
• Heather Prince
• Kimberly Lowrey
• Stephanie Serrano
• Virginia Lu
• Margo Smith  (September Guest)
• Linda Cummings (September Guest)

THT065 - Circle Card Challenge

It's Thursday so it's time for another Treehouse Stamps Challenge!  This week's challenge is to create a circle card.  This was a great challenge for me.  I had never created a circle card before.  I was debating between two versions of this card this week.  I ended up submitting the scalloped circle.  I also included my second sample picture  (plain circle) below.  Do you like the scalloped or plain better?

Second Sample:

This is also my last card as the August guest design team member for Treehouse stamps.  It has been a great experience working with the very talented design team there.  I'm sure I'll continue to participate in their weekly challenges.  It's challenges like this week's that really push me to try something new.

I chose to use the newly released Monkey Business stamp set for this one.  I created my ring of leaves using the Stampin' Up two step bird punch.  I hope you like my little monkey card!  I think this guy would be a perfect kids birthday card or birthday invitation.  Since it takes a bit of effort to put the ring of leaves on this card you might not want to mass produce this one.

Here are the supplies I used:

Stamps: Monkey Business Digi Set Treehouse Stamps
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Barely Banana, Whisper White, Real Red, Old Olive
Ink: Close to Cocoa
Accessories: SU Polka Dot Embossing Folder, SU Two Step Bird Punch, SU Large Scalloped Oval Sizzix die, Coluzzle, Scalloped Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch
Techniques:  Dry Embossing, MDS, Die Cutting 

Want to see some other great Circle Cards?  Check out all the Treehouse Stamps Design Team creations for this week's challenge here:

• Ashley Bowen
• Neva McMullen
• Kelly Hampton
• Maria Levine
• Gloria Morizen
• Heather Prince
• Kimberly Lowrey
• Stephanie Serrano
• Virginia Lu

Thanks for checking out my card and my blog!

  

To play along with the Challenge click here:  Treehouse Thursday Challenge

THT064 - Fall Colors

Here is my card for this week's Treehouse Stamps Thursday Challenge - Fall Colors

For this card I used the Treehouse Stamps Digital Set Fall Cupcake.

Supplies
Stamps:  Treehouse Stamps Digital Set Fall Cupcake.
Paper:  Stampin Up Close to Cocoa, So Saffron, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Ink:  Basic Black, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive
Accessories:  Fisker's Leaves Embossing Plate, SU Word Window Punch, SU Eyelet Border Punch, Marvy Scalloped Square Punch

Want to see some other great Fall Colors Cards?  Check out all the Treehouse Stamps Design Team creations for this week's challenge here:

Ashley Bowen

Neva McMullen

Kelly Hampton

Maria Levine

Gloria Morizen

Heather Prince

Kimberly Lowrey

Stephanie Serrano

Virginia Lu

Thanks for checking out my card and my blog!
 
To play along with the Challenge click here:  Treehouse Thursday Challenge