Fill out your Christmas Wish List even if it a week until Christmas Eve.  It’s not too late.  You may think that I am a bit wishful thinking I could get your order here before December 31st.  However there is a way to do your list so that you can get new Stampin’ Up! products.  Woo Hoo! Who doesn’t want new Stampin’ Up! products.

Did I hear you ask “How is that possible?”.  Well it is possible if you purchase a Simply Said with Karen Gift  Certificates.  Click HERE and you will be taken to a page with all the pertinent details.

Purchase Gift Certificates in $25.00 denominations are available by email to you as soon as I receive payment from PayPal.  If you wish a Gift  Certificate in other denominations, please EMAIL me and let me know the denomination(s) you wish to gift to yourself or others.  Yes, you can gift yourself!!!!  I will then send you instructions on purchasing the Gift Certificate and how and when you will receive it. Easy Peasy!

Signs of Santa

I would like to leave you with one more Christmas card.  The Signs of Santa stamp set and die cut framelits are no longer available due to their popularity.  However, if you do have the set, use to create another Christmas Card or Gift Certificate Holder.  The recipient will love it!

Recipe

Stamp Sets:Signs of Santa

Ink:Whisper White Craft, Tuxedo Black Memento, Real Red.

Paper:Real Red, Call Me Clover, WHisper White, Balmy Blue, Sparkle Glimmer.

Accessories:Big Shot DIe Cutting Machine, Santa’s Signpost Framelits Dies, Craft Sponge, Stampin’ Blends:Real Red Duo, Shaded Spruce Duo, Light Smoky Slate, Dark Daffodil Delight, Dark Crumb Cake, Petal Pink Duo, Balmy Blue Dark, Soft Suede Light, Santa’s Workshop Enamel Shapes.

A Few Details

• Sponge the Balmy Blue card stock with a sponge and Whisper White Craft ink.  This technique will subdue the blue color.
• Trim the Sparkle Glimmer Paper with a pair of scissors to make snow hills.
• Once you have all the images colored, arrange on the card front as you like.  If you have the Santa’s workshop Specialty Designer Series Paper and don’t have time to color the images, the cut the various images from the paper with the die cuts.

You can purchase the  Stampin’ Blends from my ONLINE STORE. I find myself using the Stampin’ Blends to color images more and more.  They are sooooo easy to work with.

So, it’s not too late to fill out your Christmas Wish List.  I would love to hear from you.

The post It’s Not Too Late to Fill Out Your Christmas Wish List! appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Did you miss the latest Christmas/Holiday Card Class?  Well, you have another chance to get in on the next one!

A few weeks back, I wrote a post on “What You Missed at the Last Christmas Card Class”.  Read It Here

In addition to the cards I showed you in the former post, I am going to share 2 more cards that we did at that class.  As well, I will give you details of the next and last Christmas Card class of 2018!!!

All Is Bright

Stamps: Making Christmas Bright, Merry Christmas to All

Inks: VersaMark, Call Me Clover, Daffodil Delight, Real Red.

Paper: Call Me Clover, Real Red, Gold Foil, Whisper White, All is Bright Designer Series Paper..

Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machines, Swirls & Curls Textured Embossing Folder, Layering Circles Framelits, Christmas Bulb Builder Punch,  All is Bright Paper Clips, Real Red 3/8: mixed Satin Ribbon, Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder.

Details A

This card is fairly easy to recreate. One of the techniques to note is stamping on designer paper.  Stamp the sentiment with VersaMark and heat embossed with gold emboss powder.  To set of the green patterned designer paper, 2 strips of Gold Foil are attached to each side.

The coloured bulbs are stamped and punched with the Christmas Bulb Builder Punch. Stamp 1 bulb in Real Red, 1 bulb in Call Me Clover, and 1 bulb in Daffodil Delight ink.  Stamp the light string with  Call Me Clover ink. across the Whisper White Circle. If you want the bulb to appear glowing, use a sponge dauber and sponge each color beneath the bulbs.

Stamp the inside of the card using words from the Merry Christmas to All.

Winter Woods

Stamps: Winter Woods, Merry Christmas to All.

Inks: VersaMark, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake.

Paper: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Kraft, Crumb Cake, Festive Farmhouse Designer Series Paper, Vellum.

Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machines, Corrugated Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Layering Circles Framelits, Leaf Punch,  5/8″ Striped Burlap Trim, Festive Farmhouse Cotton Twine, Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder.

Details 2

Emboss the Cherry Cobbler cardstock with the Corrugated Dynamic textured Impressions Embossing Folder and attach to Very Vanilla card base.  Stamp the Birch Trees trunks on Crumb Cake with Early Espresso Ink.  Sponge the Crumb Cake with Crumb Cake ink with a Sponge Dauber.

Attach panel to designer series paper.  Stamp the large sentiment from the Merry Christmas to All stamp set on Very Vanilla with VersaMark and heat emboss with Gold embossing powder.  Die cut with the Layering Circles Framelits.

Punch 2 sets of leaves from the Vellum paper, attach a strip of  5/8″ Striped Burlap Trim to go behind the sentiment and tie a length of the Festive Farmhouse Cotton Twine around the card..

If you missed the latest Christmas/Holiday card class, don’t miss out on the next class.If you did not attend this class, you missed out on 8 Christmas Cards to add to your stash. All the hard work of cutting and measuring cardstock is done for you, you receive all the supplies to create the card, kits for each card is assembled and placed in an envelope so that you have all your supplies on hand.  It’s always fun to stamp with like minded people and have some laughs.

My mission is to increase your knowledge of the different stamping techniques. aim to show new techniques at each class that you can replicate as you create your own cards.

Check HERE for the next class.  You can RSVP right on the calendar page.  Hope to see you December 7th. If you have questions, please EMAIL ME.

The post Latest Christmas/Holiday Card Class Don’t Miss the Next One! appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

If you did not make the Christmas Card Class last week, you don’t know what you missed!  So, in this post, I will share some of the cards we created so you won’t miss the next one!  Here are 2 cards that we created and I will blog about the other 2 in my next post.

I know it’s hard to make an in home class if you don’t reside in my area.  But, if you you do, visit my events to see what’s up next.

November Classes

December Classes

Oh! Christmas Tree

Create this card with the Star of Light stamp set and the Starlight Thinlits Dies, and the Winter Woods and Woods Framelits Dies.  You can purchase the Winter Woods and matching framelits as a bundle  and save 10%.  Do heat embossing , silver die cut stars, to decorate the card.  Add a free cut mound of  snow from Sparkle Glimmer paper.

Merry Wishes

This card features new Merry Christmas to All stamp set and the Merry Christmas THinlits Dies, the Joyous Noel Specialty Designer Series Paper, Joyous Noel 6″x6″ Glimmer Paper and the Merry Merlot & Copper 5/8″ Reversible Ribbon. What make this card unique is the texture add by the glimmer paper.  The Glimmer Paper comes in a pack of 24 with 8 sheets each of Copper Merry Merlot and Tranquil Tide. The Designer Series Paper has Copper accents on one side of the paper and beautiful designs.  The Merry Merlot Ribbon is reversible, so that you can show the Copper side or the Merlot side. In addition, there is a punch that coordinates with this suite, the Sprig Punch.  When I first saw this punch, it reminded me of Reindeer Antlers.  So you could use your imagination when creating different projects.  Have fun with it.

Be sure to check back for my next post to see the other cards from the Christmas Card Class.

The post Christmas Card Class-Part 1 – Sign Up For the Next Class appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Easily create children Christmas cards with the Signs of Santa Stamp Set and the Santa’s Signpost Framelits Dies. Although this set is great for kids, it’s also great for the “young at heart”.

Recipe

Stamps:Signs of Santa

Ink:Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper: Thick Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Whisper White, Santa’s Workshop Specialty Designer Series Paper.

Accessories:Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Santa’s Signpost Framelits Dies, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Triple Banner Punch, Red Rhinestone Jewels, Garden Green Baker’s Twine, Stampin’ Blends: Poppy Parade Duo, Crumb Cake Duo, Smokey Slate Duo, Daffodil Delight Light, Petal Pink Dark, Ivory, Color Lifter.

Many parents try to keep the spirit of Santa around for many years.  It’s like the right of passage for children, it’s the magic, and the belief in something good.  So often, today, there is not a lot to cheer!

Details:

If you are using Stampin’ Blends to color the images, you need to use the Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  This ink is great for alcohol markers and will not bleed and ruin your images.

In the 2018 Holiday Catalogue, Stampin’ Up! expanded their line of Stampin’ Blends giving us more options for coloring.  In addition to the blends in the Annual Catalogue, there are the following appearing in the Holiday Catalogue: Real Red (dark & light), Shaded Spruce (dark & light), Basic Black (dark & light), Mango Melody (dark & light).  Remember that all Stampin’ Blends can be purchased in combined light & dark set, or individually.  You can see and order all the Stampin’ Blends HERE.  And, the Whisper White cardstock is a dream to use with the blends.  Make sure your work surface is covered so that you will not damage your desk or table.  The blends will bleed through to the back of the cardstock and this is a GOOD THING.

So, create children Christmas cards with Sign of Santa Stamp Set and matching Santa’s Signpost Framelits Dies. Receive 10% of the individual cost of the stamp set and the framelits when you purchase these as a bundle.

Have fun!

The post Create Children Christmas Cards With Signs of Santa appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Do you have busy Santa Elves decorate your Christmas Tree? As it gets closer to Christmas, I wish I had Santa Elves. Every year I think I should downsize my decorations, and every year, I think it’s too hard to make the decision on what to keep and what to do.

When the kids were small, we would decorate the tree together. Now they are grown-up, married and with their own kids.I sound like I am lamenting and I guess I am.

Recipe

Stamp: Signs of Santa, Winter Woods.

Inks: Poppy Parade, Memento Tuxedo Black, Garden Green.

Paper: Whisper White, Santa’s Workshop Specialty Designer  Series Paper.

Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Santa’s Signpost  Framelits Dies,Farmhouse Framelits Dies, In The Woods Framelit Dies, Santa’s Workshop Enamel Shapes, Garden Green Baker’s Twine, Blends: Poppy Parade Combo, Call Me Clover Combo, Soft Suede Combo, Petal Pink Combo,  Bermuda Bay, Light, Ivory, Color Lifter.

Details

This stamp set and matching framelits is so cute.  You can let your imagination go wild when creating different Christmas cards.

Stamp the elf images with Tuxedo Black ink.  This is your go to ink when coloring with the Blends.  Blends are alcohol ink and will not cause the Memento ink to smear.

Color the elves faces with the Light Petal Pink Blend and give them rosy cheeks with the Dark Petal Pink Blend. Color the wagon with Soft Suede Combo Blends and the parcels with various Blends.

Cut bows with the bow framelit from the Farmhouse Framelits Dies and attach to the tree for decorations.

Attach a length of the Garden Green Baker’s Twine beside the tree and cascade it down the other side.  Attach the elves to the twine so that they look like they are hanging on to a rope.

To create your own busy Santa Elves Christmas card, click on any of the images below and you can order from my ONLINE STORE.

Product List

The post Busy Santa Elves Decorate the Christmas Tree. Signs of Santa Stamp Set appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Create a frosty morning Christmas card with the Winter Wood Stamp set from Stampin’ Up!.  Can you feel the foggy frosty morning?  Use elements and colors that that appeal to the senses.  For example, use a white  against a dark colored card base, and different shades of grey. With the addition of the green tree, the scene pops.

I really enjoyed creating this card.  I am not sure why.  Sometimes when I finish a card, I am not sure whether or not I am satisfied with how it looks.  Does this happen to you?  When I encounter this situation, I put the card away, and then the next day, I take another look and then I think to myself that the card looks pretty good.  However, with this card, I liked it right away.

Recipe

Stamps:Winter Woods, Wishing You Well.

Ink: Grey Granite, Granny Apple Green, Blueberry Bushel.

Paper:Blueberry Bushel, Whisper  White, Festive Farmhouse Designer Series Paper, Sparkle Glimmer Paper.

Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, In the Woods Framelits Dies, Gently Falling Textured Emboss Folder, Embossing Mats, Galvanized Buttons, 3-/16″ Braided Linen Thread.

Details

• Cut a wide strip of wood-look from the Festive Farmhouse DSPand wrap a piece of 3-1/16″ Braided Linen around it 2Xs.  Attach this strip to the Blueberry Bushel card base.
• Ink the birch tree stamp with Grey Granite and stamp on a  Whisper White panel. Emboss the panel with the Big Shot and the Gently Falling Emboss Folder.
• Die cut 3 Birch Trees from the Sparkle Glimmer Paper.  Attach 2 trees to either side of the  Whisper White panel and attach.
• Shape a piece of the wood-look paper from the Festive Farmhouse DSP into a snow-like mound and attach over the die cut trees.  Attach the 3rd die cut tree in the middle overlapping the grey wood-like paper.
• Cut a piece of Whisper white to resemble a snow drift.  Emboss with the long-curvy die cut.  Don’t forget to use the embossing mats. Attach to the bottom of the embossed Whisper White.
• Stamp the evergreen tree with Granny Apple Green ink on Whisper White cardstock and die cut.  Stamp another tree with the Ganny Apple Green ink on Whisper White cardstock and die cut with the decorative tree die cut.  Lift the cut branches with a bone folder.  Attach this tree to the full cut tree and attach both trees with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
• Thread a piece of the  3-/16″ Braided Linen Thread through a Galvanized Button and tie a knot. Attach to one side of the card.
• Stamp the sentiment with Blueberry Bushel ink on the DSP.

Add a pine bough and and pinecone to the inside of the card.

Want to create this Frosty Morning Christmas card and need supplies. To purchase, click on the images below which will take you to my ONLINE STORE.

Product List

The post Frosty Morning Christmas Card – Create One for Your Stash appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Create simple Christmas cards this year.  It will help with the stress factor. First, you need to decide on a stamp set, colors, and papers.  The Rooted in Nature stamp set and the Nature’s Roots Framelits Dies is one that you can use for “simple”.

When I first saw this stamp set, Christmas is not what it said. But, after playing with various images and dies, it occured to me that there was the possibilities of christmas cards with this set!  Christmas trees in the forest is a scene that no one can resist.

Recipe

Stamps:Rooted in Nature

Ink:Tranquil Tide, Grapefruit Grove.

Paper: Whisper White, Tranquil Tide, Grapefruit Grove, Nature’s Poem Designer Series Paper.

Accessories:Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Nature’s Roots Framelits Dies, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Layering Squares Framelits, Linen Thread, Share What you Love Artisan Pearls.

While this card doesn’t resemble a Christmas card, by changing the papers and embellishments, you can achieve the Christmas Card look.

Recipe

Stamps:Rooted in Nature,Wishing You Well.

Ink:Shaded Spruce, Merry Merlot.

Paper: Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Joyous Noel Specialty Designer Series Paper.

Accessories:Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Nature’s Roots Framelits Dies, Merry Merlot & Copper  5/8″ Reversible Ribbon,Shaded Spruce 1/8″ Ribbon.

Look closer at the 2 cards and it’s easy to see where the changes are.  I don’t think I can even say that it is a “step-it- up” card.

So, what did I do to make them different but the same? Besides the colors and the cardstock, here are the major changes:

• Christmas cardstock and ribbon,
• Designer  Series Paper,
• Layout,
• Ribbon treatment.

This year, with very little time and effort, you can create simple Christmas cards.

Looking for supplies to create these cards?  Look no further, shop my ONLINE STORE.

The post Create Simple Christmas Cards Eliminate the Stress appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

First Frost 2018 Holiday Series features cards created with the Frosted Floral Suite.  Over the next few weeks, I will be featuring other products from the Holiday Catalogue. This suite was the first one I saw that I had to have in my collection.  Ok, there will be additional sets, however, we will get to those in later posts.

Recipe

Stamps: First Frost

Inks: Blackberry Bliss, Tranquil Tide, Mint Macaron.

Paper:Gray Granite, Blackberry Bliss, Whisper White, Frosted Floral Specialty Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Frosted Bouquet Framelits Dies, 1/2″ Lace Trim, Frosted & Clear Epoxy Droplets, Champagne Mist Shimmer Mist..

The first thing that drew me to this set was the Frosted Floral Specialty DSP. The designs are exquisite and look like watercolor, the colors are fabulous and to top it off, the paper has a pearlized finish. For this card, I used the Gray Granite with the frosted twigs.

The flowers appear to be 3 dimensional resulting from the stamp design.  The stamp is cut to provide the shading at the same time you are stamping on your paper.  There are matching die cuts for the flowers and the bonus is that there are 2 die cuts for the smaller flower, so that you can cut 2 saving you time.

The label frame has 2 parts: a solid frame for a sentiment and a narrow frame that you can use to either use on its own or in combination with the solid frame.  There is a leaf that you can use (no stamp) to cut and use on your card.  The negative is a great stencil which I used on another card and will post at a later date.

Finally, the Frosted & Clear epoxy Droplets are delicate and very pretty.  They come in 2 sheets.  One sheet is clear and the other sheet is frosted.

Please check back often to view other cards in the Frosted Floral 2018 Holiday series.

The Holiday catalogue goes live on September 5th and you can then order the holiday products. 

The post First Frost 2018 Holiday Series Use to Create More Than Holiday Cards appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Create cards for Fall and Christmas with the Blended Seasons stamp set.  I know that the words Fall and Christmas at this time of year may not be the greatest to use.  As much as we don’t want summer to end, we always need to look ahead.

Yes, the Color Your Seasons bundle (Blended Seasons stamps and Stitched Season Framelits) will be available to purchase starting August 1, 2018.  To find out the information on this promotion, visit this LINK

Use the leaf stamps in many ways to add interest to your Fall cards.  In addition, use the leaf framelit in conjunction with the stamps. As for the Christmas stamps, there are evergreen boughs with holly and berries, and a Christmas bell.

Recipe:

Stamps: Blended Seasons, Bokeh Dots.

Inks: Gray Granite, VersaMark, Memento Tuxedo Black, Pumpkin Pie.

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Gray Granite, Champagne Foil Vellum.

Accessories:Big Shot DIe Cutting Machine, Stitched Season Framelits, Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Banner Triple Punch, Stampin’ Blends: Pumpkin Pie Duo, Pear Pizzazz, Color LIfter.

Ink the Bokeh Dots stamp with Gray Granite ink and stamp the Gray Granite cardstock.  Overlap the images changing the direction of the stamp. You will achieve an interesting background. Stamp the leaves with the Memento Tuxedo Black ink and color using the Stampin’ Blends.

Stamp the Velum with Pumpkin Pie ink and heat emboss with Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder.  Die cut the leaf from Champagne Foil paper and apply to card front.

Add the layers of the card and slip a strip of Champagne Foil behind the Pumpkin Pie banner.

Recipe

Stamps:Blended Seasons.

Inks:Memento Black Tuxedo, VersaMark.

Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, Call Me Clover.

Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Softly Falling Emboss Folder, Stitched Season Framelits, Tiny Spatula, Aqua Painter Brush, Call Me Clover Marker  Real Red Marker, Coastal Cabana Marker, Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Gold 3/8″ Metallic-Edge 3/8″ Ribbon.

Stamp the holly bough 2 times on the Whisper White cardstock. Use the Call Me Clover Marker to outline the  holly. Draw the color into the leaves with a bit of water and the Aqua Painter Brush.

Stamp “Merry Christmas” in VersaMark between the holly  boughs.  Make sure that the ink in the previous step is dry and use the Embossing Buddy to eliminate static before applying the Gold Emboss Powder. Heat with Heat Tool. Die cut the Whisper WHite Panel, and die cut the Real Red panel using the largest Stitched Season Framelit.

Apply the ribbon across the center of the Real Red die cut and attach the Whisper White panel.

Emboss the Call Me Clover panel with the Softly Falling Emboss Folder and attach to Real Red background,

Using a tiny spatula apply VersaMark to the stamped bell.  Emboss with Gold Emboss powder and heat set. Color the ribbon with Real Red Marker. Attach to upper right.

If you create a portrait card, you will need to trim the Real Red die cut a bit on each side.

Tune in on August 1st to shop for the Color Your Season suite and you can create your own Blended Seasons Fall and Christmas Cards.

Keep in touch with all Stampin’ Up! Promotions! 

Download the Color Your Seasons Flyer

The post Use Blended Seasons Stamps – Fall and Christmas appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Create easy beautiful handmade cards using the Memories and More Card Packs. Christmas is 4 days away!  Do you have all your Christmas card done?  No? Well, let me share with you what I did with some cards this year.

I was quickly running out of time and I wanted to send my customers a Christmas card this year. So, I decided I needed help to create Christmas cards using the Memories and More Card Pack.  However, I still wanted to add embellishments such as ribbon, die cut a few things, and use a mix of stamps and ink. So that is exactly what I set  out to do.

Before I get too far into this Blog Post, I would like to wish each of you, my readers, a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2018.

Recipe

Memories and More Christmas Cards

Stamps: Carols of Christmas, Cookie Cutter Christmas, Watercolor Christmas

Ink/Marker: Cherry Cobbler, Tuxedo Black Memento, Real Red Marker, Early Espresso, VersaMark, White Craft.

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Kraft, Merry Music Specialty Designer Series Paper, Merry Little Christmas Designer  Series Paper..

Accessories: Big Shot, Layering Circles Framelits, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Card Front Builder Thinlits Dies, Gold Emboss Powder, Cookie Cutter Builder, Light and Dark Blendies, Whisper  White Baker’s Twine, Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine, Cherry Cobbler 1/4” Double Stitched Ribbon, Mini Tinsel Trim Combo Pack (Silver), Merry Little Christmas Memories & More Card Pack.

A Few Details

• Use various cards from the card pack.  Cut cards down to size to make the layers on the cards, sentiments, and  focal images.
• Die cut and punch elements to add interest on the card fronts. Cut the trees with the Card Front Builder Thinlits.
• Use Whisper White craft ink  and the snow stamp to add an interesting effect on the printed circle.
• Stamp various verses on the inside of card.

There are various Memories and More Card Packs that you can use to make other types of cards.

Click on any of the images below and you will be taken to my ONLINE store where you can view the various card pack.  You, too, can create easy beautiful homemade cards.

Product List

The post Easy Beautiful Handmade Cards Use the Memories and More Card Packs appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.