Go For Greece | Merry Christmas with Blended Seasons…

How to make a fun Coloured Christmas Card using Blended Seasons from Stampin' Up!

StampinByHannah Go For Greece Merry Christmas with Blended Seasons…

Go for Greece Blog Hop

I have been having a heap of fun with this month’s Exclusive stamp and die bundle: Colour Your Season… I shared a fun Facebook Live with you last week with heaps of ideas using it, and I have a free class download when you spend £45 in my shop this month using it too! The cards I’ve shared using the Blended Season’s stamp set, so far, have been pretty generic…. until now. Please let me share my first Christmas card of 2018!

Bright and fun Christmas Card using Colour Your Season bundle from Stampin' Up!

I shared a sneaky peak of this one on my Facebook Page, and got a few questions about how I coloured the images. It’s really very simple, and I will do a Video Tutorial soon… but basically it’s just an ink pad and a Blender Pen. Blender Pens are different from Blends Markers (I know, it’s confusing!) but a Blender Pen contains clear ink, and allows you to pick up ink from the ink of a ink pads and colour with it (or spread Watercolour Pencil!)… they are an absolute staple in my craft room…

Merry Christmas Card using Blended Seasons from Stampin' Up!

The trick is to be fairly quick, and not rub over the same spot of card stock too much as Blender Pens have a nasty habit of ‘piling’ card stock… and that’s not a pretty look!

The rest of the card came together pretty quickly, with some die cuts from the coordinating Stitched Seasons Framelits, and a Gold Faceted Gem to finish

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Christmas Countdown | Designer Series Paper Crackers…

StampinByHannah Christmas Countdown Designer Series Paper Crackers…

Christmas Countdown Video Tutorial Series StampinByHannah Stampin' Up! UK

Oh my goodness…. we are at Week 12 of this years Christmas Countdown! We are however, going out with a BANG  (quite literally!)

I do appologise for the late-ness of this week’s Christmas Countdown. I had started to write it on Wednesday, but was called into the day job at very very short notice and didn’t get chance to get my post finished. But, I am up (not very) early this morning and I will Live Blog the rest!

Square Crackes Video Tutorial using Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up!

Yes…. we have CRACKERS! These are super quick and simple to make… and they only use a piece of Designer Series Paper that 6 x 5-1/2″ (15 x 13 cm), so you can get 4 out of a single piece of 12 x 12″ Designer Series Paper.

Measurements:

Designer Series Paper –  6 x 5-1/2″ (15 x 13 cm)

Score on the long side at; 1, 1-1/2, 2, 4, 4-1/2, and 5″ (2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 10.5, 11.5 and 12.5 cm)

Score on the short side at 1-1/4, 2-1/2, 3-3/4 and 5″ (3, 6, 9, and 12 cm)

The trick to make the ends of the crackers is all in the use of the Envelope Punch Board! Check the video for how it works…

Square Crackers Video Tutorial using Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up!

I do hope that you have enjoyed this years Christmas Countdown! I am super sad that this is the last one…. but it does mean that my Techniques videos return next week, And I am SO excited about that!

Which has been your favourite Christmas Countdown project this year?

Chocolate Truffle Box

Twist and Close Candle Box

Cookie Packets

Hot Chocolate Stirrers

Calorie Free Advent Calendar

Origami Advent Calendar

Dress up your Chocolate

Year of Cheer Gift Card Set

Cutlery Wrappers

Bauble Gift Tags

DIY Baubles 

Stampin' Up! End of Year Sale

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Simply Sketched Saturday Colour Challenge

Simply Sketched Saturday Colour Challenge Christmas Card using Cheers to the Year from Stampin' Up!

StampinByHannah Simply Sketched Saturday Colour Challenge

Stampin' Up! Sketch Challenge

Man, I have missed blog hopping with this group of lovely ladies! This month’s Simply Sketched Saturday Challenge blog hop is bitter sweet, not only is it the last one of 2017, its also the last time we are hopping under this name (although, we will be back in the new year even bigger and better!).

Simply Sketched Saturday Stampin' Up! Blog Hop Christmas Card Challenge

The lovely Dee set this colour challenge, and while I LOVE a good challenge, this scared the pants off me! I mean, seriously, I had a good few weeks of sitting and looking at these two colours before ANYTHING came to mind.

Simply Sketched Saturday Colour Challenge Christmas Card using Cheers to the Year from Stampin' Up!Fresh Fig is one of my favourite Stampin’ Up! colours, and I couldn’t help but make it the main focus of this card. The Designer Series Paper here is Year of Cheer, which comes in white with metallic foiling. While I do LOVE the look if it plain, I have taken a sponge brayer to it here and coloured in in Fresh Fig. This is one of my most used techniques at the moment, colouring Designer Series Paper to create totally custom projects!

The sentiment is stamped in Island Indigo using the Cheers to the Year stamp set, which is then die cut using the Layering Circles framelits.

Simply Sketched Saturday Colour Challenge Christmas Card using Cheers to the Year from Stampin' Up!To pick up on the Gold foiling from the Designer Series Paper I also die cut a scalloped circle from Gold Foil Paper as a matt for the sentiment.

The card is completed with a ribbon bow in Island Indigo Ombre Ribbon.

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Christmas Countdown #11 | DIY baubles using Snowflake Sentiments from Stampin’ Up!

Christmas Countdown DIY Clear Bauble using Snowflake Sentiments from Stampin' Up!

StampinByHannah Christmas Countdown #11 DIY baubles using Snowflake Sentiments from Stampin’ Up!

Christmas Countdown Video Tutorial Series StampinByHannah Stampin' Up! UK

This Christmas Countdown project has become somewhat of a tradition in the McCurley household. I bought these clear, fillable baubles a few years ago, and I am sure that you could still find something very similar on Amazon or eBay. Each year I bring them back out and use current Stampin’ Up! goodies to make new filling for 2 of them…. my plan is to have a heap of different, personalised baubles on one of the Christmas Trees in my home. This year I am up to 3 different styles, and I love them all!

Christmas Countdown How to fill your clear Baubles using Stampin' Up! UK products

I have shared the previous two years of using these baubles, and have videos for each year. You can find them HERE and HERE.

As in previous years I have used the Layering Circles dies to cut out layers of card stock for the centres of my baubles. This year there are two different colour-ways; Dapper Denim, Champagne and Whisper White, and Cherry Cobbler, Gold and Very Vanilla. I don’t think I could choose a favourite, how about you?

Christmas Countdown DIY Clear Bauble using Snowflake Sentiments from Stampin' Up!

Next week is the final Christmas Countdown of 2017! I cannot believe we are already into December, this year has been crazy and I am seriously hoping for a more relaxing 2018.

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Make It Monday | Be Merry Project Kit Tips and Tricks

Make It Monday How to Make Christmas ornaments using the Be Merry Kit from Stampin' Up!

StampinByHannah Make It Monday Be Merry Project Kit Tips and Tricks

Make It Monday

I love making my own decorations at Christmas time! I think it comes from being a child of the early ’90’s where the paper chain was king and every Christmas tree was topped with some sort of handmade (and usually deformed) Christmas angel. Stampin’ Up! make creating your handmade Christmas super simple with this fabulous kit. Be Merry is designed to give you 12 cute hanging rosette ornaments…. but as usual I have pulled the kit to pieces and have made not only some of the rosettes, but some cards too!

Make It Monday Video Tutorial Stampin' Up! Be Merry Kit Tips and Tricks

The kit contains everything you will need, except adhesives. Stampin’ Up! suggest that you need Fine-Tip Glue, Dimensionals and a Hot Glue Gun for this one, but I would actually suggest swapping the Fine-Tip glue for some Snail, I’ll come to why shortly!

Tips and Tricks

  • When pinching your mesh circles, twist the pinched end – this stops them from pinging open
  • Put your Hot Glue Gun on a Silicone Mat
  • Apply Snail Adhesive to the back of the sentiment die cuts before removing them from the carrier sheet
  • Separate your mesh circles BEFORE you start making your rosettes…. they are very stuck together!
  • Watch both my video and the Stampin’ Up! version before you start! and Have fun!

Make It Monday How to Make Christmas ornaments using the Be Merry Kit from Stampin' Up!

Like I mentioned at the top of this post, I have also had a play with the parts of this kit and made some cards too…

Be Merry Kit alternative ideas using Stampin' Up! products

This one uses the centre of the tree die cut, which has been sponged in Old Olive ink to match the colours from the kit. I did supplement the kit with some stamping from Christmas Pines, like the ‘Christmas’ sentiment, stamped here in Old Olive.

The second card even made use the Rosette piece…

Be Merry Kit alternative ideas using Stampin' Up! products

The rosettes are held together with a single strip of card stock. Cut this off and you have a straight piece of foiled card stock, I covered the now ‘raw’ edge with a piece of the Real Red ribbon from the kit, added one of the candy cane pieces and a Dapper Denim stamped sentiment from Christmas Pines to finish this one.

What will you be making with this kit? Share your creations with me on my Facebook page.

Before I go, I just want to let you know that Stampin’ Up! are offering FREE Postage and Packing TODAY ONLY!

Stampin' Up! Online Extravaganza Free Shipping

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Christmas Countdown | Bauble Gift Tags using Christmas Pines from Stampin’ Up!

Christmas Countdown Bauble Style Gift Tags Video Tutorial using Christmas Pines from Stampin' Up!

StampinByHannah Christmas Countdown Bauble Gift Tags using Christmas Pines from Stampin’ Up!

Christmas Countdown Video Tutorial Series StampinByHannah Stampin' Up! UK

I am always being inspired by my crafty friends. I was lucky enough to spend a whole weekend with them a couple of weeks ago for Stampin’ Up! OnStage in Birmingham. We had heaps of fun chatting crafty, checking out the brand new Stampin’ Up! Spring / Summer catalogue (coming in January!)… and enjoying a fun team day filled with productivity tips, chocolate cake and LOTS of laughs. I am actually not sure if I will be invited to another, after me and my friends Sam and Julie spent the whole day in hysterics…. being generally inappropriate… and munching on sweeties rather than crafting!

Christmas Countdown Bauble Style Gift Tags Video Tutorial using Christmas Pines from Stampin' Up!

This project was totally inspired by my friend Caroline, who made something similar for a video hop we did a few months ago.

These are super easy to put together using the Layering Circles framelits. These are a true work-horse in my craft room, they are ALWAYS out on my crafty table, and coordinate with so many projects, stamp sets and even other die sets too. I LOVE them, and totally couldn’t be without them. One of the things I love about the Stampin’ Up! circle dies is that they are sized perfectly for card fronts…. and that they have matching scalloped circles in the set too!

The stamp set I have used here is called Christmas Pines. You might have missed this one, it’s a little buried in the middle of the Annual catalogue…. but it is fabulous! I use it often for both Christmas and non-Christmas projects. AND it has a coordinating set of thinlits too… the Pretty Pines thinlets include that lovely ribbon die (actually there are two, one big and one small!) which is perfect for that added something that isn’t going to add a heap of bulk onto your card and make it difficult to post.

Stampin' Up! Online Extravaganza Black Friday Cyber Monday Stamping Sale

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Christmas Countdown | Cutlery Wraps using Merry Little Christmas

Christmas Countdown Super Sized Treat Pockets Video Tutorial using Merry Little Christmas Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up!

StampinByHannah Christmas Countdown Cutlery Wraps using Merry Little ChristmasChristmas Countdown Video Tutorial Series StampinByHannah Stampin' Up! UK

I have been seeing this project all over Pinterest… but as a dinky treat holder, so today I am super-sizing it and making a fun Cutlery Wrap for you Christmas table!

Christmas Countdown Super Sized Treat Pockets Video Tutorial using Merry Little Christmas Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up!

These are a little extravagant… they use a WHOLE sheet of 12 x 12 Designer Series Paper, but I think they are so worth it. Particularly with this pack of DSP, this is Merry Little Christmas, the perfect mix of festive prints and generic patterns in Old Olive, Basic Black and Whisper White. It is certainly one of my Christmas Top Picks this year! I love it!

The wraps are super simple to put together and you could do 6 or 8 for your Christmas table in minutes. When I was talking to James about these he suggested adding some tissue paper for some extra dimension which would totally finish these off! I’m seeing maybe gold or silver napkins in these….

Measurements:

Designer Series Paper – 12 x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm0

Fold in half, diagonally, corner to corner

Then, with the folded, flat edge facing you, take on of the corners and fold it across. Creating a second flat edge, about halfway up your triangle. Fold the second corner over to match.

These don’t require any adhesive, as you then fold the top layer of the top of the triangle down, which holds the other two folds in place

(I think I probably explain this better in the video!)

Christmas Countdown Super Sized Treat Pockets Video Tutorial using Merry Little Christmas Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up!

These wraps are finished with a touch of stamping using Merry Little Labels and some die cutting with my favourite combination; Stitched Shapes Framelits and the Layering Circles.

What are you planning for your Christmas table this year?

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Global Design Project 113 | Colour Challenge

Global Design Project Merry Christmas Card using Snowflake Sentiments from Stampin' Up!

StampinByHannah Global Design Project 113 Colour Challenge

I have NO idea what has happened this morning, I wrote a blog post, I published it, and then it magically disappeared! I have no idea what happened, other than the fact that when I went to copy the link the post was gone! I know that you will already have had this post in your email inboxes….and I am sorry for it appearing again.

I LOVE this colour combination from the Global Design Project this week. It screamed Christmas at me and so a Christmas card is what I made!

Global Design Project Colour Combination

I have a bit of a thing at the moment for colouring Designer Series Paper, and I have recently pulled out all of the Designer Series Paper from the Autumn / Winter catalogue and put it on my desk so it gets used before it retires! So the top piece of paper was this fabulous pattern from Merry Little Christmas, and I took my Sponge Brayer to it with some Pear Pizzazz to create a fun ombre effect.

Merry Christmas Card using Patterned Paper and Die Cuts from Stampin' Up!

The die cuts are from Pretty Pines, and are die cut in the colours from the challenge. They are adhered to the card front with Fine-Tip Glue. I actually made this card twice (ironic seeing as I have had to blog it twice too!) as I wasn’t happy with the first sentiment. This version has the sentiment from Snowflake Sentiments stamped in Cherry Cobbler and punched with the Everyday Label punch, while the first one was in Pool Party.

Global Design Project Merry Christmas Card using Snowflake Sentiments from Stampin' Up!

The card is finished with a few loops of Silver Metallic Thread and a scattering of Cherry Cobbler and Silver Metallic Enamel Shapes.

Don’t forget to shop using the Code Club Code to receive some great FREE product! 

KHY6B4B3

I will be closing this order on the 30th November 2017

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Christmas Countdown | Year of Cheer Christmas Card Set

Christmas Countdown Simple Year of Cheer Christmas Card set using Stampin' Up! products

StampinByHannah Christmas Countdown | Year of Cheer Christmas Card Set

Christmas Countdown Video Tutorial Series StampinByHannah Stampin' Up! UK

Welcome to this weeks Christmas Countdown … I am usually super organised when it comes to my blog, but this past few weeks things have gone a little awry and so I only managed to get this video filmed on Wednesday! Saying this though, I absolutely LOVE this project and cannot wait for you to see it!

How to make a set of Christmas Cards for a Craft Fair using Year of Cheer from Stampin' Up!

One of the most easily missed products in this years Stampin’ Up! Autumn Winter catalogues is the Acetate Card Boxes! I LOVE these! They are great not only for packaging a set of cute Christmas cards, but I have seen them used to pack tealights, chocolates and many other sweet treats. I have made a set of simple Christmas Cards for you today, but I know that you could dress these up further and still get them into the box.

Christmas Countdown Simple Year of Cheer Christmas Card set using Stampin' Up! products

I kept the cards in this card set simple…. partly because that Designer Series Paper does ALL the work, and partly to keep the video to a reasonable length.

Card Measurements:

Card base – Crumb Cake – 29.7 x 10.5 cm, scored on the long edge at 14.85 cm

Year of Cheer Designer Series Paper – 14.3 x 10 cm

Crumb Cake card stock – 7.5 x 7.5 cm

Whisper White card stock – 7 x 7 cm

I have made this card set 3 times now…. the first at a team training event a few months ago. I shared a quick peak at that version in the video, it uses Painted Harvest (which we know is one my all time favourites). The second version uses another firm favourite, Santa’s Suit.

Christmas Countdown How to make a set of Christmas Cards using Santa's Suit from Stampin' Up!

I have to say this one took the longest, thanks to die cutting Santa! But it was definitely worth it… Saying that, now I look at the photo, I realise that Santa has no hands! Might make it a little difficult to check that nice / naughty list this year!

Wrap Measurements:

Crumb Cake card stock – 29.7 x 8.5 cm

Whisper White card stock – 29.7 x 8 cm

Christmas Countdown Christmas Card Set using Santas Suite from Stampin' Up!

This version uses the Merry Music Designer Series Paper for a slightly alternative Christmas colour combination.

Which version is your favourite?

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Make it Monday | 2 Step Stampin’ with Good Tidings

Make It Monday video tutorial how to make a fabulous Christmas card using 2 step stamping and Good Tidings from Stampin' Up!

StampinByHannah Make it Monday | 2 Step Stampin’ with Good Tidings from Stampin’ Up!

Make It Monday

Welcome to Make It Monday! I have two blog posts coming to you today… because I have a fabulous club launching this afternoon (and this project is quite a big sneaky peak!).

I have been playing around with the Good Tidings stamp set for ages! You guys know I’m such a sucker for a technique, and 2 step stampin is certainly one of my favourites. I just love being about to create a fun, detailed, multi-coloured image quickly and easily…. and for that, this stamp set is Perfect!

Make It Monday 2 Step Stamping with Good Tidings from Stampin' Up!

This card uses an unusual colour combination… and not one that you might think of when making your Christmas projects! But I really LOVE the effect when the colours are layered together.

The leaves and berries both use 2 stamps to create this image, and while they are detailed they are easy enough to line up… and even if you’re a little off, it still looks pretty! The trick is to find parts of the two stamps that line up and match exactly. One the leaf stamps its the insides of the images, where there is a cut out for the berries. You could use a Stamp-a-ma-jig to ensure perfect placement, but because these are photopolymer stamps and are therefore see-through it is not necessary.

Make It Monday video tutorial how to make a fabulous Christmas card using 2 step stamping and Good Tidings from Stampin' Up!

The sentiment is also taken from the Good Tidings stamp set. Stamped and heat embossed in White onto a Basic Black die cut stitched circle. I did try something on the original card that I didn’t do in the video… and that was to add a hint of Whisper White craft ink with a sponge dauber for a chalkboard effect… I kinda like it! What do you think?

Because this card is on a Basic Black card base, I also created an inside layer to give you somewhere to write. The inside layer simply features a single holly leaf using the same colour combination as the front. I did make another card using Good Tidings a few weeks ago, which you can find HERE!

Make It Monday Good Tidings Christmas Card Inside using Stampin' Up! products

The card is finished with a trio of the Black Rhinestone Jewels… I cannot get enough of these! They are just so pretty.

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To purchase any of the items featured in my projects please use the links above. To join my team of Stampin’ Friends select ‘Join My Team’ or send me a message!

Please support StampinByHannah, and enter my Code Club Code. For orders of over £150 please do not use this code, as you are entitled to your own Hostess benefits!

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Hannah McCurley

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