My First Christmas Workshop of the Season!

Almost 2 weeks ago, I did a workshop for one of my mother-in-law's friends. She specifically requested that she wanted to make Christmas cards. I was 100% on board, especially because it would give me this great opportunity to start playing with some Christmas stuff early and be thinking ahead on other events I could hold as Christmas draws near. She also wanted it to be a 3/$5 card making workshop. I have started doing these a lot more than just the one free make n take like a "true workshop" is intended to be. I usually offer that if any of the guests spend $30 or more, the cards are free!

The hostess wanted one of the three cards to be religious-themed and I had remembered that my mother-in-law had ordered the Christ is Born stamp set at my Open House in May 2009 when I first started as a demo. It was the perfect set to use and now my mother-in-law will be making these for her Christmas cards (and bought all the supplies for it!) I was also able to teach the ladies how to use the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig with this card so they could place the "Christ is Born" sentiment in the corner for there to be just enough room for the poinsettia.

Inside Greeting: Wishing you the joy and wonder of the first Christmas.

Stamp Sets: Christ is Born

Paper: Very Vanilla, Garden Green

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Garden Green, Markers: Riding Hood Red & More Mustard

Accessories: retired Alpine Originals ribbon, Top Note Die, dimensionals, gold Stickles (non-SU!)

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For the second card, I really wanted to use a new stamp set, but since I hadn't purchased many Christmas items yet, I didn't have a lot to choose from. I came up with this design after fiddling around for quite some time...seems to be the trend these days for me. Re-arranging a design more than a dozen times before I feel it's just right! Even though the snowflakes were from a retired stamp set (Best Wishes & More), it gives it the perfect touch with the white embossing.

Stamp Sets: Perfect Punches (love this set!), Best Wishes & More (retired)

Paper: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Versamark (for use with embossing)

Accessories: Whisper White taffeta ribbon, Polka Dot Embossing Folder, dimensionals, white embossing powder and heat tool, scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch

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This last card I designed is probably a favorite. I love the Delightful Decorations stamp set. This was a purchase I made for myself with one of my last orders, and of course buying the punch was on that list, too! The ladies really enjoyed this card. I hadn't purchased any of the new Christmas-themed DSP yet, so I went with some retired paper that was in last year's catalog. I look forward to reproducing this card using some of the Jolly Holiday DSP and switching the Real Red for Cherry Cobbler.


Stamp Sets: Delightful Decorations, Christmas Greetings

Paper: Real Red, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' DSP (retired)

Ink: Real Red, Old Olive

Accessories: 1/8" Real Red taffeta ribbon, dimensionals, ornament punch, eyelet border punch, Big Shot Texturz, mini glue dots, red rhinestone (non-SU!)

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I ended up preparing more card kits than what was needed (way more!), but I also decided I would make up any of the leftovers and will be using them to sell at any upcoming bazaars that I might participate in. I had 10 card kits of each card and will be selling them in groups of 5. Works for me!

Look for another post soon for the treats I made for each guest and the cute gift card holder I made for the hostess!

3/$5 Card Making Night - September

I started my 3/$5 card making nights again after taking a break in August. I was so excited to get back into this, not only to have friends over, but to do a little more stamping again! I like having these events because it gives me the chance to get in my craft room and play with all of my "toys"!

I had seen this "four square" concept in my search for finding a cute Fall-themed card and this is what I finally came up with after fiddling around with it for a little bit.

Stamp Sets: Season Of Friendship

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Cajun Craze

Accessories: 1 1/4" striped Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals

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This was one of those cards I created that I was so happy with the way it turned out that I couldn't wait to share it with others! I spent a lot (and I mean A LOT) of time trying to come up with this design. I'm such a perfectionist!!


Stamp Sets: On Your Birthday

Paper: Rose Red, Regal Rose (flowers), Pink Pirouette (heart/scalloped oval), Old Olive (branch), Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand (owl eyes), Whisper White, Rose Red DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Two-Step Owl Punch, Rose Red double-stitched grosgrain (retired), silver brads, Little Leaves Sizzlits Die, dimensionals

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I CASEd this card from the wonderfully and super talented Andrea Walford. I wanted something a little quicker and easier to reproduce, so I simplified it a bit.


Stamp Sets: Perfect Punches

Paper: Whisper White, Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Sunny Garden DSP (love!)

Ink: Early Espresso

Accessories: oval punch, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates, dimensionals

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Just yesterday, I did a 3/$5 Christmas card workshop...I'll be back later to share those cards, as well!