TBC Crafters Thrilling Thursday ~ (#TBCcrafters) Week 5 ~ Stamping Christmas Cards!!

As the name of my blog indicates, I love stamping. I don't get to stamp as much as I used to, but I was fortunate enough to be able to get around to some today and wanted to share it with you. All of the cards I am showing today are using Stampin Up products. I love that company and my demonstrator  Kathy Hazen!!  I didn't include all the steps in the card making process, but I will try and explain a lot of them for you. Believe me, all the cards are really simple and fun to make!

The first one is using a two stamp method. The first stamp is done with the solid color to make the inside of the design. The second is the outline done in a different color. I purposely offset the stamps so I could get that funky look to them. The stamps I used are from a set called Watercolor Winter. I stamped them first then cut out the poinsettias to attach to my card fronts.

In this picture I was stamping the saying for the inside of the card in coordinating colors. The coordinating ribbon was attached to the bottom of the printed paper before attaching it to the card front. Hides the ends of the ribbon! 

Here is the final card. The shaped piece of paper with the pine cones on it (stamps from the same set as mentioned above) was made using a template and the Big Shot Die Cutting Machine. I used a sponge with the same color ink (Chocolate Chip) as used for the pine cones and the Noel to smudge the edges of the paper to give it more of a worn look. It is such a simple card to make, so it is the kind you could make a bunch of quickly to give out to family and friends. 

This card was even easier to make!! The first thing that has to be done is to stamp the images for the gingerbread boy and the canning jar and top. After you stamp them you use the Big Shot and the Cannery Set of Framelets to cut out the shapes. Framelets are small diet cut frames made specifically for certain stamps. It makes stamping and cutting so fast!! In no time you can stamp a bunch of them and cut them out and have a regular assembly line to get a lot of cards done fast! And it is always more fun to do it with a friend or two!! 

The edge of the card was punched using a border punch. I love these!! You make your first punch in the center of the card and then line up the design that is pictured on the punch and finish out the edge by just moving it along the paper lining it up with each move. You can do borders and strips of paper that end up looking like lace with these punches! I attached a printed strip of paper just above the punched area.

Assembling the parts of the canning jar are, well easy as pie!! 

Place the jar on the front.

Add a cute knotted ribbon and a phrase or greeting and you have a quick, simple and lovely little card!!

Here are a few more of the cards I made today.

All of these cards I made at what is called a Stamp-a-Stack Class. Kathy has a lot of the pieces all ready to go and you get to sit and create, visit with friends and come home with a stack of beautiful cards! I love classes like this and it is easy to go back home and re-create yourself. The one card I did not make today but will be is this one:

Shhhh!! Don't tell any of my friends or family, but this is what I am making for my Christmas cards this year! It is just gorgeous and is something I know I will enjoy making to share with everyone!

I know that stamping is not something that everyone will get in to, but I do suggest just once in a while trying it or taking a class. A class is a great way to go since you don't have to invest in any products yourself and it gives you a chance to see what it is like. But there really is something to be said about a card that someone took the time to personally make for you! They mean a lot.

Any of the Stampin Up products shown above can be ordered through your demonstrator or through my friend Kathy Hazen (she's a peach!!). Just click HERE: