It's Beginning to look alot like......

Christmas!!!

Michelle at Stamper's Dream sent me this beautiful stamp from The Artful Stamper a few weeks ago, but I've been hanging on to it just waiting for the perfect time to use it. You see, I have a little secret to tell you. I have a hard time stamping for Christmas in the dead of summer (or for that matter, stamping for summer in the dead of winter)! Since it's so cool and fall like here, I took this baby out a few days ago and got down to some Christmas!

Have you ever used a stamp from The Artful Stamper? This is my first experience with their stamps, and I have to say, I think I love them. They are really suitable for paper piecing, which I'm a big fan of.

If you look closely, you can see I paper pieced the holly leaves and berry on my card, as well as the little decorative element on the bottom of the ornament. I was going to paper piece the trees too, but decided against it. I colored them with my Copics instead. I'm not 100% crazy about how I colored in the snow, but I can promise you, I'll be working on correcting that in the coming weeks. For this card, I just used my Uniball white gel pen to color the snow. There's got to be a better way. I'll have to keep my eyes open on SCS to see how other stampers use this cool stamp!

I am a kraft cardstock freak these days, using it on nearly every card I make. And I'm also hooked on using my Polka Dot background stamp to make white polka dots on my kraft cardstock! For this card, I wanted the white polka dots to simulate snow...did it work? I used a mask to cover the ornament and then stamped the backgrounder so I wouldn't have polka dots inside my ornament...smart uh?

The main panel is mounted on a base of Riding Hood Red, one of SU's newest In Colors (I think that's what it's called). I really LOVE all the new colors...here's the order in which I like them (or the ones that I've tried so far)...Kiwi Kiss (LOOOOOOVE it), Baja Breeze, Red Riding Hood, and Tangerine Tango. I have not tried Pacific Point (toooooo bright for me if you can believe it), or Pink Pirouette (I will definitely be getting this color the next time I order).

Well, it's been a busy week here at Heartfelt Greetings. I might take a blogging break tomorrow. But I'll be back on Friday for sure with another great recipe for you! I'll give you a little hint....it's something that is served hot, in a bowl...and you eat it with a spoon! I don't want to give it all away, so be sure and come back Friday to see what recipe I'm going to share.

Please don't forget to vote over at the JustRite Blog...I'v decided against begging you to vote for me (although I'll be honest and tell you I DID beg my family and close friends here at home to vote for me, LOL) and am instead just encouraging you to vote for whichever project YOU like the best. I am hoping this doesn't turn into a popularity contest. Every women who has a project in the contest did an amazing job and is worthy of your vote! Have a great day! We'll see you Friday!

Hugs,
Amy