Winter Sleigh Template

______________________________

How about a bonus template for the holidays? That's right, this month we are offering an additional template created by our resident template guru, Sue Berker. Can't you see these as place card settings or cute secret Santa gifts! You can visit Sue's blog for a step-by-step tutorial on how to put this adorable sleigh together.

Winter Sleigh Template

Designer Spotlight KIM HOWARD

Today we have the pleasure of introducing Kim Howard.....

Q: When did you start stamping?
A: I started stamping about 8 years ago. I was visiting in Nebraska for work and staying with a friend who pulled out her stamping stuff one day and I've been hooked ever since. I had scrapbooked for years before I discovered stamping so now I enjoy combining the two.

Q: Describe your style?
A: Oh, this is a hard one! I guess I would say that I'm a clean & simple stamper who likes clean lines & layers. I'm not one that has dabbled a lot with techniques on my creations.

Q: What is your favorite CSS set and why?
A: I have to pick just one huh? WOW!!! I think the one I seem to use a lot is Tennis Darling. I love coloring her and there is so much you can do. If I could pick 2 more, I can see Banner of News and Bitty Alpha Modern in my top 5 list.

Q: What do you like about being on a design team?
A: I love being part of this team showcasing stamps they love. I love all the feedback that the DT gives as well as the support of the stamp company owners, who are awesome! I have a blast every month when I get new stamps creating new projects. There is an added amount of excitement knowing that you are creating projects to showcase stamps for a great company.

Q: What advice to you have for new stampers?
A: Experiment with different techniques and styles to find one that works for you. Don't be afraid to join swaps to get new ideas-we all started stamping at one time or another. Ask questions if you see things you like and learn how to do them.

Q: If you had to get rid of all your tools, and could only keep one, which tool would you keep and why?
A: I would have to keep my Janome sewing machine. I am hooked on sewing on my cards.

______________________________

As part of Kim's interview, she created a beautiful holiday ensemble perfect for celebrating the New Year.


Be sure to visit Kim's blog Basement Stamper for more information on how she designed this New Year's Resolution set! Notice the little Basket of Thanks? You can find that adorable little template on our sidebar.

Winter Days Collection Release

The Winter Days Collection
is now available!

Peaceful Pines / Winter / New Year
Winter Sentiments / Ski Darling / Hockey

______________________________

CSS Stamp of the Month

Fall Studio

Build your collection of Clear and Simple Stamps
and Copic Sketch Markers at the same time each
month with the SOTM Copic Bundle Package.

SOTM Copic Bundle

Add Copic Trio Yellow Green 1 and save $4
Valid thru Nov 30th.
______________________________

NEW BackgroundsWall Flower

This set contains three background images:
Snazzy swirls, a bold fan and a simple flower motif pattern.

______________________________
Want it all?
Click here to order the
entire collection in one single click.
This is a package valued at $120, including all
{8} newly released stamp sets.

Party Like It's 2010

______________________________

If you walk into any store these days, you will see retailers have completely blown past Thanksgiving and are well into Christmas decorations. Well today, we're going a step further by celebrating the New Year. This sneak peek comes from our NEW YEAR stamp set which will be available this Sunday. And we'll be partying like it's 2010! As we continue to sponsor the Caardvarks Challenge this month, we were inspired to create a New Year's circle card.

______________________________

______________________________

Caardvarks Countdown Circle Card:

• Cut (2) black circle cardstock bases that measure 4.25". (TIP: don't have a circle cutter? No worries our friends over at Embellish Magazine have supplied a free circle template that you can use - thanks Ashley!)
  
• Score one of the circles at 3/4" from the edge.
  
• Apply adhesive and adhere to the second circle.
• Stamp large New Year sentiment in white ink on the top 2/3rds of of the circle.
  
• Stamp the Happy New Year image on white, and color in with Copics Markers. (TIP: Add touches of liquid glaze to make the glasses shine.)
  
• Layer the image on black and trim closely. Then repeat with silver metallic paper and trim closely.
• Stamp countdown on a 1/4" strip of pink paper and set aside.
• Randomly adhere stickers to the card base along the edges.
• Pop layered image in the center of the card.
• Pop smaller stars to overlap sides of main image.
• Take pink countdown strip and adhere on card base at an angle.
  
• Trim pink strip to follow the curve of the card.
• Embellish with silver pearls and clear gems.

______________________________

Looking for more NEW YEAR Inspirations?
Be sure to visit with the DT for more great ideas:

• Cheers to New Year's
  

______________________________

Stamps: New Year (available November 15th)
Paper: Black, Pink, Silver Metallic, Silver Tissue Paper
Accessories: Silver Paper Stars (Jolie), Copic Markers, Liquid Glaze, Pop Dots, Silver Pearls, Clear Gems, Ribbon
Ink: Black, White

Fall is in the Air

______________________________

Want to play along and Take the Challenge this month? For November it's all about the colors of Fall. Make a project using yellow, orange, brown and green and load it to our forum on PCP here.

______________________________

Fall is in Air Card:

• Cut 8.5" x 5.5" piece of brown cardstock. Score at 4.25" and fold along crease.
• Cut orange cardstock 2 1/8" x 5.5".
• Stamp orange cardstock with large leaves and emboss with gold powder.
• Repeat stamping and embossing on the right half of the brown card base.
• Adhere orange cardstock to brown base.
• Stamp sentiment in green in the empty spaces all over the card base.
  
• Cut gold cardstock 1/8" x 5.5", and adhere strip down the center of the card.
  
• Cut cream cardstock 2 3/8" x 1 1/4".
  
• Layer cream cardstock with gold cardstock panel that is 2 1/2" x 1 1/2".
• Stamp mini leaf silhouettes in different color ink on the cream panel.
• Stamp sentiment in brown ink above the row of silhouette leaves.
  
• Stamp larger leaf image from the Fall Studio stamp set in different colors of ink, trim out closely and adhere around the border of the cream sentiment panel.
• Adhere panel to card base.
  

______________________________

Looking for more Fall Studio Inspirations?
Be sure to visit with the DT for more great ideas:

• Fall Foliage
  

______________________________

Stamps: Fall Studio
Paper: Cream, Orange, Brown, Gold
Accessories: Gold Embossing Powder
Ink: Brown, Yellow, Orange, Green, Embossing

Take the Challenge Tuesday (TTC)

This month we have a seasonal Fall Color Challenge - the perfect way to ring in November. Join in the challenge and create a fall inspired card using Yellow, Orange, Green and Brown.

Click here to view samples or to play along - select the TTC: Fall Foliage Forum.

We'd love for you to play along. Add the keyword tag: TTC11 to your challenge cards uploaded to any online galleries.

______________________________

______________________________

Fall is in the Air Card:

• Cut 7" x 5" piece of kraft cardstock. Score at 3.5" and fold along crease.
• Punch orange, green, and yellow 1 3/8" circles.
• Punch out three white 1 1/4" circles.
• Adhere white circle to colored circle.
• Stamp larger leaf image from Fall Studio stamp set in brown ink on white cardstock.
• Trim leaf image and pop dot to colored circles.
• Adhere circles to card: orange, yellow, then green in a straight row.
  
• Stamp sentiment under green circle in brown ink.
  

Leaf Miniature Pillow Boxes:

• Print and cut out mini pillow box template on kraft cardstock.
• Punch orange, green, and yellow 1 3/8" circles.
• Punch out three white 1 1/4" circles.
• Adhere white circle to colored circle.
• Stamp larger leaf image from Fall Studio stamp set in brown ink on white cardstock.
• Trim leaf image and pop dot to colored circles.
• Stamp Dots and Lines background images on white labels.
• Adhere labels to nuggets.
  
• Assemble pillow box and insert nugget.
• Secure closure and adhere leaf circles to pillow box flap.

______________________________

Looking for more Fall Studio Inspirations?
Be sure to visit with the DT for more great ideas:

• Basket of Thanks
  

______________________________

Stamps: Fall Studio, Dots and Lines
Paper: White, Kraft, Orange, Yellow, Green
Accessories: Pop Dots, Circle Punches, Hershey's Nuggets, Mini Pillow Box Template (Martha Stewart), address labels
Ink: Brown

On the Slopes

Are you ready for a sneak peek from the Winter Days Release?

______________________________

Introducing Ski Darling....our resident snow diva! This set is full of snow flakes, winter sentiments, background and ski related images. You can't go wrong with this set when planning a Ski Weekend with the Girls!

______________________________

On the Slopes Card:

• Cut 7" x 5" piece of kraft cardstock. Score at 3.5" and fold along crease.
• Stamp kraft card base repeatedly with snowflake images from the SKI DARLING stamp set in white ink. (SNEAK PEEK: Ski Darling will be releasing November 15th)
• Cut (2) pieces of white cardstock 2" x 3.5". Punch a decorative border punch with a wave patterned to replicate the look of snow banks.
• Adhere (1) of the snow banks at 4" down from the top of the card. set card base aside.
• Stamp Ski Darling image on white card stock and color with your Copic Markers.
  
• Layer Ski Darling Image onto a dark blue cardstock and trim closely leaving about an 1/8" border.
  
• Adhere Ski Darling panel to card base at a slight angle. Make sure it is placed just a bit below the snow bank.
• Stamp the sentiments from the set on the bottom right corner of the second snow bank.
  
• Add the second snow bank along the bottom edge of the card. This should create the layered snow bank to your card.
• You can add stickles or glitter to the snowflakes and/or the snow banks to make it pop!
  

______________________________

Stamps: Ski Darling (releases November 15th)
Paper: White, Blue, Kraft
Accessories: Decorative Edge Punch, Copic Markers
Ink: Black, White, Blue