Holiday Cheer Candy Bags

I made some candy bags filled with different flavored Hershey Kisses, and was just going to tie them with a silver ribbon, but then had a different idea...

I used the Simon Says Stamp Fancy Holiday Cheer die to make headers for my candy bags!  I partially die cut the backgrounds, so the tops were like a folded card.  I then stapled the die cut in two places to keep it attached to the candy bag...  

I die cut a single background in white cardstock and then adhered it to the stapled partial die cut.  This way, the sentiment looks nice, with no staples showing. I used some old shimmery cardstock I had that I thought would go great with the sparkle of the kisses, diecutting the sentiment from it.  It was very thin paper, so I adhered some white cardstock to it before die cutting, so it had a nice slight heft to it.  I adhered it to the background panel and this was what a single bag looked like...

This will be my last post until after Christmas.  My family, like Santa, is coming to town for Christmas, and will be staying with Noah and I for a few days, so I will be loving on family through Christmas!  I hope you have a Christmas filled with holiday cheer and lots of love and laughter! 

Thank you so much for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Daisy Love

I have used the pretty new Simon Says Stamp Petal Heart die set, from the new Smitten release, to make a card expressing love...

I know this new release is here with Valentine's Day vibes all over it, when I saw this die, although I knew it would be perfect for that special day, I couldn't help but think that it would be wonderful for any day...so I made it into a daisy!  I die cut the hearts from two different yellows of cardstock.  I die cut and layered the Love Ya tag die sentiments, keeping the heart of the sentiment yellow, too.  I adhered them all to a panel with gray inks blended on it, and embossed with the Simon Wooden planks folder.  Here's a close up...

I LOVE this flower die....so much fun and I love the finished flower!  So cool how you could make it all pink and red for Valentine's Day, or any color for any day...love is for EVERY day:)!!

Thank you for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Smitten Release!

There is a new release today at Simon Says Stamp...Smitten!  I have used one of the very cool new dies from the release to make a card full of love...

I used the new Lined Love You die...I think this die is soooo cool!!  I die cut and layered the sentiment in white cardstock.  I then embossed the background piece in white.  I did that, so I could see where I would be blending the three colors of ink.  I blended all the inks in an ombre way, and then die cut the background and layered.  I popped up the sentiment on a panel that I had embossed with an old Sizzix folder...just liked all the hearts on this folder, with this die!  I added a die cut and layered heart and piece of a sentiment strip, then onto a panel and card that I had brushed more of the same ink onto the edges.  Here's a close up...

I have provided a link, below, to the new release...there are so many pretty and fun new products to get you crafting after the holidays!!  Hope you are not too frazzled with Christmas around the corner...hang in...take care!!  

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Cozy Wishes Snowflakes

I have used the pretty and cool new Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Burst Pinpoint Plate die as well as the Cozy Wishes die, from the DieCember® release, to make a winter card!...

When I looked at this snowflake plate, and then l ran it through my die cutting machine the first couple times, I thought of the very old punched tin panels in cupboards and such.  These were plates that look like the one below, where the tin has little punched holes in a pattern or design.  So...I chose to die cut the silver cardstock from the backside, on the non metallic side, then the prickly part of the design would stick out of the silver, like a punched panel below...

I added a layered sentiment that I had blended two different color blue inks.  Below is a close up...

Such a simple card...but perfect for letting someone know you're thinking about them this winter!

There is a new release in the morning over at Simon Says Stamp...hope you will check it out!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Elegant Ornament

A fun Christmas card, made with a pretty new die and embossing folder, from the Simon Says Stamp DieCember® release!...

I die cut, then adhered all the gold and red glitter die cut pieces together.  I also die cut the sentiment from the red glitter cardstock and layered.  I adhered the ornament and sentiment to the embossed panel and then the panel to the card,  Here's a close up...

I hope this post finds you well!  I also hope, if you are one that celebrates Christmas, that you are taking this month in stride and are having happy moments amidst the chaos!  Take care!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Hugs!! Lisa

Gold Christmas Tree

A simple, easy Christmas card today!  I have made this with stamps from Simon Says Stamp...

I stamped the tree  with versamark on black cardstock, and gold embossed.  I added the sentiment underneath, also in gold, and added enamel accents very lightly on all the dots of the tree.  I actually had to dot them twice, as the gold was kind of showing through after the first round.  I adhered the panel to another panel that I had embossed diagonal stripes on(a VERY old PTI impression plate), and adhered them both to a card.  Here's a close up...

Christmas cards don't have to be complicated...fast and easy can be very Christmassy too!!  Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

DieCember® Blog Hop 2!

I am so thrilled to be a part of today's second day of celebration over at the Simon Says Stamp's Blog, celebrating Simon Says Stamp's DieCember® release...a celebration of dies!!  This is Simon's 11th year of DieCember®, and celebrating dies in December definitely makes this the most wonderful time of the year!!  

I have used two of the amazing new dies, to make a couple birthday cards!  I have used the So Many Candles die in a couple different ways...one with the die cut candles all together, and one with just a handful of the candles, cut apart...

The first one was the one that I chose to cut the candles apart.  I had used a rainbow of colored cardstock strips. along with white glitter strips, adhered together, to die cut the candles...

  When looking at all the candles together, I wasn't really thrilled with the fact that they all blended into each other, as their lines all went together, so I cut them apart and mixed them up, then the colored stripes were in different places on the candles.  I used the new Wish Big die, die cut from black glossy cardstock, and layered.  I topped the candles with die cut glittered flames.  Here's a close up...

Here's my second card (can't stop laughing over the background paper...found it in a stack of papers, and just HAD to use it!!)...

For the second card, I die cut the candles, then colored the candles by brushing ink onto each candle....masking off each candle while inking.  I then layered the candles several times to give them some depth.  I die cut the flames from glittered cardstock, and layered with a piece of foam rubber to match the depth of the candles, with ease.  I added a sentiment that I made into a strip to go across the bottomo of the candles, and the card.  Here's a close up...

Okay...I had SO much fun making my cards!!  My fun was above, your fun is below!!

Simon is generously giving a $25 coupon to every stop on the hop from our comment sections, so the more hop blogs you comment on, the more chances you will have to win!  Winners will be chosen and posted on the Simon Blog on Wednesday, December 13th, so make sure you check the Simon Blog on the 13th, to see if you are a winner!!  If you are a winner, you can email Simon to claim your prize!

The list of participants in today's hop are listed below...

Simon Says Stamp Blog 

Nina-Marie Trapani

Caly Person

Suzy Plantamura

Amy Rysavy

Debby Hughes

                                 Lisa Addesa<-----You are Here

Alberto Gava

Kulbir Kirkland

Sandi MacIver

Lea Lawson

Jennifer Kotas

Two things before I end my post...There was another hop, last week, so I hope you will check it out at the Simon Blog HERE!  There is a whole bunch more inspiration and more chances for you to comment and possibly win one of the $25 coupons!  

The second thing, please don't forget about the offer in the banner at the top of my post!  The offer is for a free Simon exclusive Aidan Snowflake die!  There are directions on how to do that in the banner above...follow the three easy steps and the beautiful die is yours for FREE, until the end of  today,  December 8th, or until supplies last!!

Thank you so much for stopping by, and please keep on hopping! 

Hugs!  Lisa

Holiday Cheer

I've made a couple cards with a couple of the beautiful new Simon Says Stamp die sets, and embossing folder, from the new DieCember® release!!...

They are both holiday cards, but this first one says so!  I die cut the leaves and berries in white cardstock, anmd colored the leaves with Simon Pine ink.  I die cut the berries from red cardstock, and glossy accented them a couple times for some heft and some shine.  I die cut the sentiment from silver cardstock, and layered with foam rubber for height.  I embossed the background panel with the folder, and adhered all the pieces to it.  I then used a dark green colored cardstock for the frame.  Here's a close up...

The second one, I thought the leaves and berries were mistletoe...so it is all about love...

I colored the leaves and stems of the die cuts, and adhered white cardstock berries to the leaves/stems.  I then coated the berries with enamel accents...again a couple layers.  I die cut a heart and popped it up over the stems.  I added a sentiment to the off white background.  I hope whoever receives this, will "get it"...mistletoe/love.  This card could be for Christmas...winter...holidays?!  Here's a close up...

Hope I'll see you at the Simon Blog Hop Day 2 at the Simon Blog on Friday...celebrating the DieCember® release...there will be inspiration galore, and...it is so much fun!!  

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Fretwork Snowflake

I have used the beautiful new Simon Says Stamp Fretwork Snowflake die, along with a new sentiment,  from their DieCember® release, to make a CAS card for winter...with cozy wishes...

I die cut the snowflake four times, and adhered the outsides together. The middle section, I also adhered a die cut middle made from foam rubber to give it some extra height.  I then used one of the panels that I had die cut the snowflake from, and stamped the sentiment and silver embossed.  I put extra thick glue squares uder the panel, adhering the snowflake on/in the panel, with the dots, as well.  This raised the panel and kept the snowflake raised, as well.  Four layers thick, it also had some pretty height above the panel.  Adhering the middle to the blue card panel made it sit just inside and under the height of the outer snowflake...thought it looked "cool" that way!  I also thought of putting enamel dots, rhinestones...and the like on parts of the snowflake, but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it just plain...I didn't want anything to take away from the pretty of the snowflake!  Here's a closeup...

We had a couple warm days here in VA, 69 and 72...but back in the 50's today....cozy wishes to you wherever you may be!!  Don't forget to check out the blog hop this coming Friday, the 8th, at the Simon Blog(I'll be a part of it...fun!!).  Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today!!

Hugs to you!  Lisa

DieCember® Release!

It's December 1st and that means that over at Simon Says Stamp, it's the DieCember® release!!  That's a registered trademark Simon Says Stamp release... lots of dies in December!!  I have used one of the new dies, to start this month long celebration of dies(along with some wonderful stamps, embossing folders, and other products!)!...

I used the pretty new Boho Celebrate die just as the die, inlayed into the panel, for my first card.  I also used a Simon embossing folder of balloons to give the card the birthday feel.  I used Simon Rainbow Splash rhinestones for added bling...but colored them.  Yes, I colored the jewels to go more precisely with the colors of the inks I used.  You can color them with markers, but there is a "way" to do it...purple was done with the light pink and colored purple...green was colored on a yellow stone, dark pink was made from a colored light pink stone...hope that makes sense...way to get more out of your rhinestones!  Here's a close up...

The second one, I used the leftovers of the first ...

I used all the remnants of the first die cut, along with a white die cut sentiment, along with a cool new embossing folder from this release, and more colored rhinestones!  Here's a close up...

Hope you will check out the wonderful new release over at Simon...dies are AMAZING...and SUCH FUN!!!  There will be TWO blog hops at the Simon Blog to celebrate this new release, one tomorrow, Saturday the 2nd, and one on Friday, December 8th...hope you will hop along and check out all the wonderful inspiration!! Happy December and happy DieCember!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Walter the Penguin

I have made a clean and simple Christmas card with the adorable Tim Holtz Walter the Penguin die set! 

Just a note:  I edited my card early the next morning.  Did you ever have a card that you "like", but the more you think about it, maybe even a day later, you just think you should have done it just a little differently??  Well, even if you haven't, that is what happened with me and this card.  I just started feeling that all the white was just a bit too much, and needed to be broken up with some color...just a tiny bit of color.  And honestly, snow, unless a white out, doesn't look ALL white, so I felt a tiny bit of color in the background was what was needed.  I think it looks perfect, now....happiness!! Amazing what just a tiny bit of color can do!   To do it, I used Simon Fog gray ink and a brayer on the flat side of the embossing folder, and ran it through my Bigshot with a piece of cardstock in it.  I kept up the first card, so you could see the slight difference... 

I made my Walter with a Christmas hat and scarf, but the die set comes with a bow tie and glasses, too, so you can make your Walter have all different looks!!  I die cut and adhered all the pieces, the added the Simon Says Stamp sentiment, along with one of their embossing folders for snow!  I tore a piece of cardstock to make a snow mound and have  a place for the penguin to stand on.  Here's a close up of both...

There is an offer going on right now, over at Simon Says Stamp, for this adorable penguin die set...

It's for a limited time only...just saying😊!  Countdown to Christmas...tomorrow is December 1st!!  Keep breathing....just keep breathing....deep!  Hang in!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Peace on Earth Christmas

I have used a couple beautiful products from the Simon Says Stamp All the Joy release, to make a Christmas card!...

I used the Branching Corner Holly die set, as well as a sentiment from the Hark the Newborn King stamp set, and the Soft Snowfall embossing folder, for my card.  I die cut the stem from green cardstock, along with a second green for the extra couple leaves on the die, as well as red for the berries.  I outlined the sentiment with silver cardstock, along with bordering the white snowfilled panel with silver, as well.  Here's a close up...

My family just left a couple days ago, so I am back in my craftroom, getting ready for the Simon Says Stamp December® release on, what else, December 1st, just a couple days away...see you then!  I hope all is well with you...please take care!! 

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Mid Century Holiday Plate

I have used the very cool new Simon Says Stamp Mid Century Holiday Plate die from their All the Joy release, to make a couple Christmas cards!

I decided to use two shades of red and two shades of green shapes on my cards...traditional Christmas colors.  The first card, the pieces sit IN the die cut panel.  On the second card, I layered and adhered the shapes ONTO a card panel that I had embossed the plate image on, so they are raised! 

I die cut one frame, and adhered it to a piece of cardstock with adhesive all over it.  I then placed the pieces into the die cut spaces, and adhered two more layers of die cut frames over it.  I did make the frame a bit larger than an A2 card...liked the bit of space around the edges.  I added a die cut and layered sentiment, and adhered it to a black background made from glossy cardstock.  Here's a close up...

The second one, I embossed the design on a piece of cardstock and adhered layered pieces onto the designated spots on the embossed piece...

This card is an A2...my attempt to see how it would look if I made it "as is".  This one may have taken a bit more time than the first one, as I had to layer each piece...but SO...MUCH...FUN!!  Here's a close up...

Hope your Thanksgiving was delicious and full of fun!! Have had family here...chaos, but so much fun! Onward Christmas!!  

                                                 Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa