Holiday Countdown 🎃, 🦃, 🎄, ⛄

Published: Tue, 10/05/21

October 🎃 2021 Newsletter - Christine Josti, Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

This may be the month of Halloween, but it's the start of a very busy upcoming Holiday season. I think there are more than one holiday in each of the upcoming three months. What I take this to mean is, get working on your handmade cards & gifts now, so you are not stressed and overworked later!!! Think about what you want to make and see if you have the materials on hand. Do you have enough envelopes (I'm almost out), adhesive, the right color papers, the stamp set you want to use, enough gems, etc. It's better to stock up early than rush around at the end because you can't buy Stampin' Up! products in stores (who who wants inferior card stock?????).

In this email I give you a few ideas for Halloween and Fall. Your Christmas ideas already began with last week's Week 1 of the 12 Weeks of Christmas. I know a few of you have joined my list after that email was sent out (welcome!!!!). Here is a link to Week 1 of the 12 Week's of Christmas project (so you will be all caught up).

If there is anything I can do to help you come up with a holiday project or need help selecting supplies, please contact me. I'll be happy to chat and help.

Halloween Treat Box

I recorded this video last January to be used with the Sale-a-bration free Berry Paper (such a popular pack of paper!!!!). I thought this project would lend itself nicely and make a great Halloween box with the 6" x 6" Cute Halloween Paper, 156479. It's a great box for many occasions and celebrations, depending on the paper and embellishments you use. Follow along with the video with the paper you choose to use.

This video is not searchable on YouTube. You need to use this link because it's unlisted. A perk for you for being on my mailing list :)

Treat Box - https://youtu.be/Nx9fz-HFZuk

The top box uses a 6" x 6" sheet of Designer Paper (perfect for the 6" x 6" paper stack sets). I used the Cute Halloween Paper, 156479 here with some sparkly Highland Heather Grosgrain Ribbon, 155812. The tag was made from the Festive & Bright Bundle, 156566.

This photo may be hard to read (but it's all in the video):

Top Box - 6" x 6", scored each side at 1/2" & 1-1/2"

Bottom Box - 6-7/8" x 6-7/8", scored at 2" each side

What Colors Should I Use Together?

I get this question a lot. Do you have trouble deciding which colors to use together???

We are lucky with Stampin' Up! colors because they are all so great - but not all are great together.

Did you know that Stampin' Up! makes color combination suggestions in the catalogs? You can find them spread throughout their catalogs, along with samples using those colors. For example, if you go to page 113, you will see this image of a card plus the color suggestions listed underneath.

There are many of these suggestions spread throughout both the Annual & Holiday catalogs.

Don't have all the colors they suggest? Not to worry!

Use only two or three of their suggestions and add another color that you do have. Hint - Night of Navy goes with almost all of the colors (& it's my favorite Stampin' Up! color) and should be a part of everyone's color collection.

Fall Color Challenge

As I was thinking of what to write about for this October newsletter this weekend, I was traveling back home from Pennsylvania. We travel over Route 84, which is a beautiful road that goes through different sets of mountains. The foliage is just starting to turn colors, giving a peek at the beauty that is to come in the next few weeks.

I used the colors of the just beginning to change trees of my travel to create this color combination. I encourage you to create a card, tag, gift, scrapbook page using these colors (feel free to add more) and post them on my VIP Facebook page. Not a VIP (Very Important Paper crafter) yet? Time for you to join! This is my private Facebook group which means as a VIP member, you are able to post pictures on the page. There were some GREAT projects posted by members on the page over the weekend.

Click here to join my VIP page - www.mailsomethingpretty.com/VIP

Pretty Pumpkins

I used the stamp set Pretty Pumpkins, 156472 (or bundle, 156478) to make the following Fall cards (with the color challenge above). The cards go from simple to more complex, so hopefully one of them will meet your card making ability (or use the next level to try something new).

Each card used:

An Evening Evergreen card base, cut 4-1/4" x 11, scored at 5-1/2".
An Old Olive layer, 4-3/4" x 3-1/2"
A Basic White layer for stamping, 5" x 3-3/4"

This technique is called Simple Stamping. Stamps, Ink & Paper only. You can google search #simplestamping and a whole bunch of simpler cards will pop up in your search. There is nothing wrong with simpler cards. Simple does not need to equal boring (and sometimes we just need a quick card!)

These are the Blends Marker colors I used to color in the pumpkins. From left to right: Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Ivory/Bronze and Old Olive.

Tip - you can use regular ink colors with your Stampin' Blends (instead of Black Memento). Here I used Evening Evergreen Ink. The tip is, let it dry completely (for several minutes) before coloring. That way the inked lines won't bleed.

Taken up a little notch by adding stamps in the corners.

I used the dies for this card. I stamped the pumpkins with the same Evening Evergreen ink on Pumpkin Pie card stock. Leaves were cut with Evening Evergreen, Old Olive & Pear Pizzazz card stock. I also stamped the sentiment on the Cork paper - doesn't it add great texture?!

The last card shows pumpkins can come in different colors. Did you know a teal (or in this case, Coastal Cabana & Bermuda Bay) pumpkin is a sign that a house will offer Halloween treats that are suitable for any trick-or-treaters who have any food allergies or intolerances? My husband would have loved that when he was a young trick-or-treater. He & his brother had to give away all their nut candy.

To make the white pumpkin, I highlighted the lines with the light Smokey Slate Blends Marker.

I swapped out the Old Olive background layer for Bermuda Bay. I kind of like the pairing of Bermuda Bay & Evening Evergreen. I never would have put them together prior to this card.

Back in Stock Dates

You may have noticed that a few, popular holiday items have been backordered. This is partly due to the shipping delays the world is experiencing. Below are dates when these popular products are expected back:

Week of October 11

- Tombstone Treat Boxes, 156486

- Cloche Shaker Domes, 156387

- Black Glimmer Paper, 153518

- Cork Paper, 156393

- Gingerbread & Peppermint Memories & More Card Pack, 156326

- Whimsy & Wonder Specialty Paper, 156329

- Peaceful Place Specialty Paper, 156394

- Blackberry Bliss Specialty Paper, 156458

November 1

- Penguin Builder Punch, 156452 (& Bundle. Stamp set is available)

- Deer Builder Punch, 156390

Clearance Rack Refresh!

New items will be added to the Clearance Rack TOMORROW (10/6) in the online store. Supplies are limited, and with discounts up to 60%, products will go quickly.

Check out the Clearance Rack HERE.

Peaceful Christmas Crafting Kit

When you picture a peaceful Christmas, what comes to mind? Do you see snow outside your window, softly swirling through the sky? A tree trimmed with tinsel, a fire crackling nearby? Maybe you’re dreaming of decorating a holly jolly gingerbread house. Can you catch a whiff of Christmas cookies wafting through the air?

Whatever it is you think about when Christmas comes to town, picture a peaceful Christmas with the Peaceful Christmas Paper Pumpkin Kit! This glimmering and gleaming kit is your creative kickstart to Christmas cardmaking. With sprinkles of snow, shimmering silver skies, and heartwarming holiday wishes, you’ll have enough elements and embellishments to create 10 Christmas cards and coordinating envelopes.

Speaking of coordination, make even more Christmas magic with Peaceful Place products! Our stunning Peaceful Place Suite Collection (item 156277)* pairs perfectly with the kit’s components. Brew a cup of cocoa, snuggle up with a soft blanket, and prepare for a cozy craft night in!

* This collection is expected back in stock the week of Oct. 11

New Christmas Tags Kit

Santa’s back in a fun and easy tag kit to spruce up your Christmas gifting! The Love, Santa Tag Kit has everything you need to create 12 whimsically designed tags. That means you’ll find printed die-cut tags and labels, sequin embellishments, pink and white baker’s twine, an exclusive stamp set, a Night of Navy Classic Stampin’ Spot, and more in this all-inclusive kit! You can sleigh ride right in without the prep work.

And to make Christmas gifting even easier, the Love, Santa Treat Bags (available for purchase separately) are food-safe cellophane bags that coordinate with the Love, Santa tags! The treat bags come in a pack of 12—3 each of 4 festive designs.

Both will be available for purchase beginning tomorrow, October 6.

Love, Santa Tag Kit - 158375, $19 (12 tags, 3 each of 4 designs, plus stamp set & ink spot)

Love, Santa Treat Bags - 158381, $7 (12 bags, 3 each of 4 designs, food safe)