Learn to Stamp and Scrap with Lynn Larson

Merry Christmas!

I hope that all of you have a wonderful holiday season filled with lot of love, happiness and good health.  May you enjoy the time you spend with your family and friends. 

Bashful Snowflakes

This holiday season, I have been making "simpler" cards for the holidays at my classes and events.  We just don't seem to have enough time during the holidays to create the kinds of elaborate cards we would like to send to people.  Others have so many people on their Christmas card list that making so many of them can be a time consuming process.

Today I have a "quick card" for you that can be done in a couple of different versions.  They are super easy and very quick to make and put together.  You can cut your cardstock bases ahead of time and then punch out snowflakes whenever you have a free minute.  I keep mine in a baggie and carry them with me everywhere I go.  Whenever I wait in the bank drive through line, wait for my hairdresser or at a doctor's appointment, I pull out my scrap cardstock and my punch and I punch away.  You would be amazed at how quickly you can accumulate enough snowflakes to make TONS of cards by doing this! 

Here is the first version of the card.  Both cards are made using Stampin' Up! supplies - Bashful Blue Cardstock, Whisper White Cardstock, Whisper White Craft Ink and White Embossing Powder.  This version uses dollops of Crystal Effects in the center of the snowflakes plus some white gel pen for the faux stitching around the outside edges of the card.

This second version was made by my niece during out girls' weekend using the oh so popular - GLITTER!

 

I hope today's post inspires you to make some "quick cards" of your own for the holidays.  Handmade cards are made from the heart and so special to give to your friends and family!

Thanks for stopping by today.  Stay tuned for more tomorrow.

Lynn Larson - www.learntostampandscrap.com

 
 

Katie's Card Creation

It's now time for me to share one of the cards that my niece, Katie made during our girls' weekend this past weekend.

Here is Katie on Saturday night when we got most of our crafting done.  

 
  

We got a lot of cards made Saturday night - here is one of Katie's:

Katie used a few punches to create her card.  She also mastered the Fiskers Paper Cutter and Paper Snips to do some creative cutting of shapes.  She had a blast with the White Craft ink and used it on just about every card.  

On the back of each of her cards she stamped "Consider Yourself Hugged" which was a personalized stamp I have in my stash.  How cute is that?

Thanks for stopping by,

Lynn Larson - www.learntostampandscrap.com

 

Snowman Christmas Card

Today I would like to share with you a cute little snowman Christmas card.  This little guy was one that I made with Katie during our girls' weekend of hanging out and stamping!

This card was inspired by a cute little snowman envelope gift holder I made with my group at our Holiday Gift Class last week.  I thought it might be neat to try the same idea on a card with a few alterations.  I, of course, added some glitter to make him look a little icy and cold.  I love his squiggly mouth and his pink blushed cheeks!

This card is already written in and in my addressed envelope and going out in today's mail.  WHO will be the lucky recipient?  Could it be you?...

Lynn Larson - www.learntostampandscrap.com

Glitter Overload:))

Today's card is one that I made with my niece, Katie, this weekend.  Katie spent the weekend with me and we stamped/crafted for hours Saturday night and for about an hour Sunday morning before the snow hit and she had to make a "quick escape" while the roads were still good.

This card uses various punches and some paper tearing for the card itself.  TONS of icy glitter were used throughout the card to make an icy snow appearance.  I just love the "little" snowman - he has such a cute face!

Thanks for stopping by!  Stay tuned over the next couple of days for more samples from our card making weekend - including some of Katie's cards.

Lynn Larson - www.learntostampandscrap.com

 

Holiday Bazaar - Grace Christian School, Bennington, VT - Saturday, Dec 5th

I have been crafting away and prepping for the Holiday Bazaar being held at the Grace Christian School in Bennington, VT.  The Bazaar runs from 10 am until 4 pm so be sure to find time in your day to stop by.  I will have many items for sale like my little kids gloves and mittens, scarves, knit hats, adult gloves, jewerly, handbags, totes and wallets for example. 

I have some great items for stocking stuffers and teachers gifts as well as some really nice holiday gifts for the loved ones, family and friends in your life.  Hope to see you there!

Lynn Larson - www.learntostampandscrap.com

Countdown to Christmas - Week 1

I am excited to announce my "Countdown to Christmas" program that I will be offering for the next 6 weeks.  This week, I am suggesting that you get started on the following:

• Update your holiday card mailing list
• Start your gift list (if you haven't already done so) - remember your service people on your list like your faithful UPS man, your newspaper delivery person, waitstaff in your favorite restaurant, postmaster, teachers, neighbors and hostesses whose houses you are going for that special holiday party.
• Start making some of your gifts for people on your list.  How nice would it be to receive a gift like this frame or this journal or even this treat holder (tutorial included) for example.
• Be on the lookout for early holiday sales.  They seem to be bigger and better this year and some of the Black Friday specials started early.  There is less pressure and it is easier to spread out your spending if you do a little shopping each week.
• Mark your calendars for my Holiday Sale and Open House scheduled for Saturday, December 12th from 10 am - 4 pm and again on Sunday, December 13th from 10 am - 3 pm.  I will have TONS of handmade and other gift items for sale as well as retired stamp sets, scrapbooking kits, Designers Series Paper and other crafting accessories.
• Start making your holiday cards.  You might be interested in a post like this one that features quick and easy card variations so you can whip those cards right out and still have them look elegant!

I hope you enjoyed Week 1 of my Countdown to Christmas.  i will be posting Week 2 on Monday so stay tuned!

Happy stampin'

Lynn Larson - www.learntostampandscrap.com

Snow Buddies Christmas Card Sample

Sometimes it is fun to think out of the box and create a card using non-traditional colors for the holidays.  This Christmas Card uses the Snow Buddies stamp set which is a Level 2 Hostess Stamp Set shown in the Holiday Occasions Mini.

Since I was using Ballet Blue cardstock, I decided to check out the Color Wheel to find a different color than I would normally choose to create my card.  When it showed Pumpkin Pie as a complementary color, I knew that I wanted to use that color as my accent for this card.  It makes the focal point on the card just pop and shows off his carrot nose.

I used Frost White Shimmer Paint to paint a shadow on the left side of the snowman and also on the ground.  It is hard to see the shimmer in the paint in this photo, but it is there.  I also stamped a second top hat, colored it in and cut it out so I could add a Stampin' Dimensional and give some added dimension and interest to the card.

Here are the supplies used:

Stamp Sets:  Snow Buddies (Level 2 Hostess set) and Four the Holidays (both sets from the Mini Catalog)

Cardstock:  Ballet Blue, Whisper White and Pumpkin Pie

Ink:  Ballet Blue and Basic Black Classic Stamp Pads; Ballet Blue, Pumpkin Pie and Basic Black Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories:  Stampin' Dimensionals (behind entire layered center piece with snowman and also behind the second cut out hat on snowman's head)

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Be sure to stop by tomorrow when i start to share some fun gift ideas.  Don't forget to sign up for my Holiday Stamp-a-Stack Card Class on Tuesday, December 1st or one of my other classes found on my calendar.

Lynn Larson - www.learntostampandscrap.com

 

Scenic Season - Holiday Card Variations

Here is another card that I have been doing at my workshops lately.  I have been focusing on simple, yet elegant, holiday cards that you would be proud to make and give to your family and friends during the holiday season.  The holidays can be a busy time of year and coming up with a simple holiday card design is really appreciate by many people.  So here is a simple holiday card using the Scenic Season stamp set that can be made in a variety of ways by using a package of Rich Regals Assorted Cardstock and some Whisper White Neutral Cardstock...

This first card started out to be a simple card for some beginning stampers that I had at a recent workshop.  I didn't want to overwhelm them with multiple layers, color inks, stamp sets and embellishments.  This is a great stamp set for both the beginner or for the seasoned stamper.  It has the tree image and the "Season's Greetings" wording all on one stamp set and also has a stamp to put inside your card that says "May the peace and joy of the season be with you throughout the new year."  It is simple, yet elegant using strips of contrasting cardstock to go across the card for a hint of color.  You could also add some faux stitching wiht a white gel pen for added detail if you desire, but certainly isn't necessary.

This next card is just a little step above the first card.  Instead of using strips of cardstock, I added some burgandy grosgrain ribbon, some Tombo Multi All-Purpose Glue and some Dazzling Diamonds Glitter to the trees and to the snow mounds.

This variation uses Handsome Hunter ink and cardstock along with the burgandy grosgrain ribbon, Tombo multi purpose adhesive and Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  With a couple different ink pads and cardstock from the Rich Regals color assortment you could create a beautiful card in Night of Navy, Eggplant Envy or Brocade Blue (to name a few).

If you are interested in making some holiday cards, be sure to register for my Holiday Stamp-a-Stack on Tuesday, December 1st from 6-8:30 pm.  You can check out my calendar of events HERE!

I hope you enjoyed these Christmas card samples.  I will have another great card to share with you tomorrow using the Snow Buddies stamp set which is a Level 2 Hostess only set from the Holiday Occasions Mini Catalog.

Lynn Larson - www.learntostampandscrap.com

Serene Snowflakes Masculine Holiday Card

At my recent workshops, we have focused a lot on holiday cards.  This card was one I created to show some non-traditional holiday colors that you could use for cards for anyone, but especially for the men in your life.

This one uses repeat stamping of the larger snowflake in Bravo Burgandy and the smaller snowflake in Night of Navy.  The bottom portion of the card also had the snowflake stamped in Bravo Burgandy for that tone-on-tone look.

This card has a few layers behind the snowflake focal point.  In the center of the snowflake I added a clear rhinestone brad from the Pretties Kit to pump it up just a bit.

Following are the supplies I used:

Stamp Set:  Serene Snowflakes and Four the Holidays (Peace on Earth wording)

Cardstock:  Bravo Burgandy, Whisper White and Night of Navy

Ink:  Bravo Burgandy and Night of Navy

Accessories:  Dimensionals and Clear Rhinestone Brad from Pretties Kit

Thanks for stopping by, see you back here tomorrow for a fun and easy way to get variety out of your Scenic Season Stamp Set.

Lynn Larson - www.learntostampandscrap.com