It's December and time for another Monday Montage Blog Hop.  This month has already got me overwhelmed! It's that time of year I guess. Anyone else? I keep telling myself I only need to get through this week and then things will be a little slower. I'm probably fooling myself...

I was so excited to get new product when I attended OnStage at the end of November but then I didn't have time to use any of it! I finally pulled out this fun Sale a Bration set that we all got for attending.  It's called Beautifully Happy and it's a great two step stamping set. It will be available in January. 

I created three samples with this set.  The first is what my friend Kristy named a "SIPs" card--stamps, ink and paper only. Incredibly easy but it makes a pretty card. 

For the next one I added a piece of Designer Series Paper to border it, popped up my sentiment on a die cut and added some bling.  The Distinctive stamp process gives it such a great watercolor look. 

For my final stepped up card I layered two die cuts, fussy cut the image and added some twine.  The flowers definitely stand out. 

If you are local I only have two more classes this year! I still have room in Saturday's "Giftables" class and the final class is my monthly four card class on the 15th.  I offer it at 10 am and 7 pm.  

Thanks for stopping by and have fun hopping along today.  Be sure to click next to check out Julie's great work or back to see what Elizabeth ha for us this time. Happy December! 

I can't believe it's November and another Monday Montage Blog Hop day! This fall is flying by and I'm not ok with it. Time slow down...

​I've been using the new Fitting Florets a lot! The frame dies offer so many options for mixing and matching and the paper in this suite is one of my all time favorites.  Here are a few different cards I've made so far.  Be sure to check out the classes I'm offering with these. I have options both in person and via mail. 

This first card shows off the pretty flowers from the Designer Series Pack. I know not everyone likes fussy cutting but I don't mind it and it is so worth the effort!  Although one of the flower designs in the paper can be cut with a die the others need to be fussy cut. 

The heart border is such a fun look!  This die does not cut out any full frame pieces but die cuts the frame of hearts. 

This monochromatic card shows off more of the pretty paper.  I love the subtle embossing around the edges of this frame. 

I've had the Pearlized Enamel Effects since the mini catalog pre order but they've been sitting on my desk.  I finally found the perfect way to use them! I love the shimmery dots on the oval. 

The bold Polished Pink shines on this card.  This shows another combination for the frames after they've been cut out.  Overall this is a very simple card layout but it definitely stands out. 

I've become a little obsessed with the T-square/one sheet wonder technique.  I decided to try it with the Framed Florets stamp set even though they are smaller and more open images than I'd been using for this technique.  I do like how it turned out! I used Pear Pizazz, Mossy Meadow, Mango Melody, Flirty Flamingo and Highland Heather. 

Don't wait too long to grab this suite.  The Framed Florets will be in the next catalog but the other items (Framed and Festive, paper and embellishments) are while supplies last or through the end of the year. I suspect the paper will sell out! Current host code is KTT2YZHC. Order the full suite this month and you'll get a four card class featuring the suite sent to you for free! 

Be sure to hop through to see all the amazing projects being shared! Click next to go to Julie and back to check out Elizabeth.  Thanks for hopping with us. 

Here are some of my alternatives with the Ho Ho Ho Paper Pumpkin kit from October.  As usual St! created a wonderful kit.  Originally designed to create nine cards but I chose to make alternatives. 

I love when they include a die cut that works as a stencil.  This snowflake design was perfect! Grab your Blending Brush and a ink of choice and you can create this background too.  I chose the back side of the piece to apply color to so that I could still use the intended side on a card when I was done. 

Here is a closer look.  

The Real Red Pearlized Enamel Effects were a great addition to the middle of the snowflakes.  

This Santa stamp is so cute.  I stamped him and fussy cut him out. I paired him with a piece from the Celebrate Everything Host DSP pack. 

If you've seen my designs in the past you know I like to cut up the printed envelopes as well.  This card was one I created with pieces of some of the envelopes after I had cut them. 

This is another card using part of the envelope as well as a leftover piece of the card bases I cut down. I cut apart the hohoho die to create three separate pieces as well. 

This is one of my favorites and it's such a simple design! I adore the fonts in the new Framed & Festive stamp set. 

One final alternative. 

If you are not a subscriber you can sign up here.  The November kit is tags that coordinate with this kit! 

To say I'm excited about this new suite would be an understatement.  The Framed Florets Bundle will be in the upcoming Jan-June mini but the other items are only while supplies last through the end of the year. The paper in particular is stunning and one you do not want to miss out on. 

I'm excited to offer a few class options with these great products.  If you are local check out the in person class I'm holding on November 16th.  If you are not local, or can't make that date, check out these options.  

Here is the first card I made with the set.  It's such a simple design but I love it and can't wait to recreate in other colors.  

Here's a look at the suite.  You can click on the PDF below to see a full showing of each product and the bundles available.

I'll be sharing more projects with it this week so check back or be sure to follow my Facebook and Instagram pages.  

It's been a crazy busy few weeks! How did October become the busiest month? I finally had a little time to craft yesterday and tried out this fun technique that I had been seeing all over. I've done "one sheet wonders" before but this one is different. You stamp in a cross or plus size on the sheet (scroll down to see a messy photo). 

I chose the Christmas Season set along with the Framed & Festive (that you can order next month...or add to a Starter Kit now!) to use on this batch. Grab a bunch of colors and you are set. Here's a photo showing the pieces after I cut down my card stock sheet. 

I decided to try to layering them in different ways. 

Here's a look at the colors I chose.  I added the Coastal Cabana to give it a little brightness. 

If you wanted a visual of what this looks like before it's cut here you go! It's a messy photo but shows the fun. I really enjoyed this process and think it will work with so many stamp sets. 

I did decide that trimming my white base to 8 x 10.5 before I stamped made it easier to complete the cards quickly.  It meant that I could simply cut in 1/2 both directions and not need to do additional trimming. 

After making all the holiday cards I decided I needed to try it with a different set so here is my alternative. I love the bright colors. 

Have you tried this before?  What stamp sets did you use? 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll continue on with our blog hop. Click next for Julie's amazing fun and back for Elizabeth's great work! 

I had a lot of fun with this kit! I loved the boxes it was designed to create but it was easy to use the pieces for cards as well.  

For this first card I paired it with the Scary Cute stamp set from the July-December mini catalog. The line of trick or treaters makes such a cute background. 

When I cut apart one of the lids to use it had score marks already so I added more to create a fun background.  A little splatter with a marker and some of the various elements from the kit makes a simple but festive card. 

Here I cut the web section from the box lid and then layered it on another piece of the white lid. A few web stamps and it's a quick and easy card!

The plaid design in all the fun colors might be my favorite part of the kit.  This is another very simple card layout that is easy to recreate. 

When I cut apart the lids I ended up with the flap pieces leftover but I didn't want to throw them away.  I decided to try layering them and thought it turned out pretty cute! The Glitter Washi tape has quickly become a favorite. Anything that adds sparkle without mess!

I had this piece of Designer Series Paper from the Host paper pack Celebrate Everything sitting on my desk and thought it was perfect to pair with the purples! 

Which is your favorite?  Do you send Halloween cards? 

If you enjoy seeing my alternatives each month consider subscribing to get your own kit! I love them, both for the projects as intended and for the fun alternatives I manage to create. New for my customers is an exclusive set of PDF instructions for alternative projects emailed to them each month.  These are designed by a number of different demonstrators so you get lots of styles of projects.  The PDF's are emailed typically by the end of the first week of the month. Sign up for Paper Pumpkin here. 

The weather is finally changing and it's starting to feel like fall! I'm ready to think about Halloween and I've having fun creating with this new set called Scary Cute.  

This card was a take on a sample in the catalog on page 56. I changed up the colors and size but I loved the idea of using the line of Trick or Treaters as the background. Paired with the Black & White Designs paper pack which is a a perfect compliment to Halloween cards. Don't forget those Matte Black Dots which happen to be on sale this week. 

More of the Black & White paper pack plus I added in the glitter washi tape and some metallic ribbon and I think I have a fun card! I love to combine green, purple, orange and black for Halloween cards. 

One of my favorite things in the current mini is the Glitter Washi tape. If you know me well, you know I love a good sparkle but I HATE loose glitter.  Ask me about my kids and glitter...it hasn't been good.  So anytime there is a glitter product that doesn't make a mess I'm in! I created this card on a Facebook Live in my VIP group and tried it with both Parakeet Party and Granny Apple Green.  I'm still not sure which I like best. 

I wanted to show a way to use this set in a non Halloween way.  I think the little princess is perfect for a little girl birthday card. 

I love the Gingham Cottage paper pack.  Both of these designs  I used on this card are from that pack. 

Be sure to hop along with us today! Next for Wendy or back for Elizabeth.  They are both sure to delight. 

These projects are all part of the Water Color Technique class I taught this week. I wanted to share multiple ways to create water color projects. 

Projects utilized Water Painters, Fluid 100 paper, Shimmery White paper and various techniques with ink on blocks. 

This first card was a technique adding ink with a clear block to Fluid 100 paper that had been spritzed with water. I love the bright bold color is creates.  

For this card we used the largest Water Painter brush to add three shades of purple (Rich Razzleberry, Highland Heather and Fresh Freesia) to Fluid 100 paper to create an ombre look.  After letting it dry completely we added the stamped images with Memento Black Ink. Layering it with an embossed panel creates a fun look! 

This card was created by adding ink to a block, spritzing with water and then inking up the stamp. We stamped the images on Shimmery White card stock.

​Shimmery White is great for water coloring.  It doesn't absorb the water the same way that Fluid 100 does but it doesn't warp like regular Basic White does when water is applied. 

This photo gives you a look at the supplies used. 

The last card we created used the smallest Water Painter to color in the apple from the Apple Harvest stamp set. When I water color, or use my Blends, I like to start with the dark color along any solid lines and work my way in with lighter colors.  

Are you a fan of water coloring?  Which of these have you tried before?

Be sure to check out the rest of the stops on our hop this week! We have a full line up.  Click next to go to Julie or back to go to Elizabeth. 

I overlooked Apple Harvest at first but when Stampin' Up! issued dies to go with it I was intrigued. After playing with it I'm in love! It's a great set for coloring.  

I used the thin brush Water Painter to color this one in. I chose Poppy Parade for the skin and Petal Pink for the blossoms and inside.  I used Granny Apple Green for the stems and leaves.  

The Artistic Mix Decorative Masks paired with a Blending Brush created a fun background on the card base. I finished the card with Matte Black Dots and Gingham ribbon. 

This was my second take with the same coloring but I wanted to add in the blossom dies as well. 

For this card I used sponge daubers to add the color to the image. It gives it a much more subtle look. 

When you don't have coordinating ribbon remember you can create your own with the Whisper White Seam Binding Ribbon and Blends. The Gingham Cottage paper pack includes 40 sheets of amazing paper. 

Remember these dies are only here for the month of September or while supplies last.  Happy crafting! 

This is one of my top five kits of all time! It is so beautiful.

I thought I'd share a visual of how I cut down my card bases to create extras. I take each one and trim on the long edge to make it 5 1/4 in and then rotate and trim to create two 4 in pieces. If the strips are of varying colors I'll keep them to create a card using only strips. 

With the sunflower water color piece I cut it in 1/2 again to create two focal pieces I could use. 

The larger piece on this card is actually from an envelope. I cut out main design with a circle die (which you can see on the last card). I layered the other pieces so they would cover the area that I had cut out. I also tied the ribbon through the edge of the circle so it did not go all the way around the layered base piece. 

Stamping on a printed piece of paper can create a fun look. 

Another technique I used on some of the cards was to make the included gold honeycomb pieces a mask.  Using a blending brush I was able to add a subtle pattern to my card stock. These are very simple single layer cards! 

This is another very simple card that lets the beautiful watercolor do the work. Cards don't have to be complicated to be amazing!

Another card where I used the honeycomb as a mask. 

This is the card I created with the cut out piece from the envelope. I stamped the leaves behind it and layered it on a scallop circle. The Solid Faceted Gems are one of my favorite embellishments. 

Which is your favorite?  You can sign up for Paper Pumpkin here or email me with questions.