Nine ideas for Snowman Season

We are rapidly approaching Christmas – I know, right? This year has been so weird that some days I have to remind myself it’s November.

In preparation for the Big Day, I have been running craft sessions using the Snowman Season stamp set, after taking quick bookings in one day during the Flash Sale. I held three sessions – two short daytime events and a longer Saturday morning. 

Guests signed up for all three sessions, which included the stamp set and instructions so they could make the cards even if they couldn't attend. This is how I send out my kits – packed in plant-based biodegradable cello bags in boxes made from recycled card, held together with paper tape.  Just doing my bit to avoid plastic waste!

These sessions were popular both with the guests and with me; I cannot tell you how much easier it is to design projects when everyone has the same stamp set! Having said that, preparation coincided with my holiday in the Lake District so I inevitably turned to other talented crafters for inspiration.

So in one mega blog post, let’s take a look at the projects we made...

I love this one, which was heavily inspired by Mary Fish. I switched to the Evergreen Forest 3D Embossing Folder because it’s new and I love it. I cut my snowy hills with the Pine Woods Dies, although I expected the guests to cut them freehand. Sorry, ladies!

I coloured the images using ink pad lids and blender pens – my most-used method because I always have both on hand. But what about black? You can’t squeeze the Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad to get ink in the lid, so simply swipe the pad onto a clear block or other shiny surface and pick up your colour from there. Because it’s water-based, it will clean off easily.

Our second project for the first session was this little notecard which we stamped all over in Pool Party. A simple but fun design which I blatantly CASEd from Kim Quade.

The Saturday session saw us tackle five cards, starting with this cute little notecard. To get the shading behind the snowman, we just sponged directly onto the die-cut label (which I’d pre-cut using the Tasteful Labels dies), then the snowman is stamped separately, fussy-cut and popped up on Dimensionals. Yes, even his little twig arms! The sprigs are punched using the Sprig Punch – I wasn’t die-cutting that lot for 10 people, sorry!

More sponging for this card – I’m all about the sponging at the moment, have you noticed? For this one, we cut a snowy hill freehand from scrap paper (you can also tear it for a softer effect) and used it as a mask for sponging. You need a very light tough on the sponging here. The sky is also sponged, working from the corners inwards. 

I love this design, which is an almost direct copy of one by Laura Mackie. We named the snowmen Tom, Dick and Harry so I had a frame of reference when talking the ladies through this project. 

The trick here is to stamp the two right images (Dick and Harry) twice. Stamp them once on the background, along with Tom’s twig arms. Then trace the ground onto some scrap paper, cut this out and use as a mask for sponging the Pool Party. (My sponging is a little rough because I made this one on holiday and didn’t have my sponges with me so compromised using a tissue!)

Next stamp all three snowmen onto some Whisper White cardstock and cut them out. This means you can cut off those fiddly twig arms as they will be there on the background for you. Then you can add all the cut-out images to the card base, popping up for some dimension.

Another blatant copy here, this time of a project by Karina Chin. The only change I think I made was to use Feels Like Frost Designer Series Paper, which is SO versatile because of its white and silver side. This means you can sponge or brayer it in any colour to match your project. 

Just to mix things up a little, we made a snowman-free card simply by stamping and sponging onto some Whisper White cardstock and cutting it into three equal strips. Want to make this one quicker and easier? Use Designer Series Paper and a punched greeting label instead – you’ll have a batch of Christmas cards in no time!

 

This is one of my favourite cards of the sessions, with this cheery little snowman who looks like he’s practising his yoga and saluting the sun. Not a wise move for a snowman, if you ask me. To get an even flag, you can use one side of the Tailored Tag Punch, which I did here. 

Our final project was this snow globe-inspired card. I took inspiration from Bonnie O’Neill but changed things up a little as it seemed a shame not to use my Snow Globe Scenes dies. Working on the theory that if you’ve got it, use it, I mounted this onto a scalloped circle from the Layering Circles Dies, too. Cutting round the greeting freehand gives you an interesting shape – and it’s really easy to do, too.

I hope you’ve been inspired by these Snowman Season projects, many of which can be adapted to other images, too. 

If you’d like to order anything you see here, please visit my store and, if shopping in November 2020, please use the host code RMK743TS. The host code allows me to earn Stampin’ Rewards which I use to order thank you gifts for my online customers.

Perfectly Plaid goes green... and silver

Perfectly Plaid is one stamp set which you won’t regret adding to your Christmas craft stash. With the co-ordinating Pine Tree Punch, you can create great cards, tags and even bunting in minutes.

I’ve combined it here with the Feels Like Frost Designer Series Paper (silver side up) to add a touch of festive glitz.

When using a dark card base like the Mossy Meadow I've used here, you’ll want to line the inside of your card, either with a paper insert or a layer of Whisper White cardstock. Decorate it for your favourite recipients, or just stamp a simple greeting if you’re in a hurry. 

Fox in a box... and on a box

It was my friend Donna who accidentally gave me the idea to put a shaker dome inside a pizza box lid, so it seemed only fitting that I should use this same idea to package her birthday gift. And, as her gift was a fox brooch (she loves foxes), this image from Nature’s Beauty was ideal. It’s coloured with Watercolour Pencils (Assortment 2) and blender pens.

The ribbon is actually four pieces, all held together with Glue Dots. Why make life difficult for yourself? I started with a loop, joined at the back. A second loop goes around the centre, again joined at the back. Then I cut two more pieces to poke out from beneath.

Nature's Beauty meets Feels Like Frost

If only real winters were as beautiful as the Feels Like Frost Designer Series Paper!

I've used this pack for loads of projects already and it still shows no signs of running out. The beauty of this pack is that you have lovely wintry views on one side, and white and silver foil designs on the other, which you can colour, brayer, sponge... you name it, you can do it.

This was the Make & Take for a party on Friday evening; guests could choose their piece of paper so all their cards were different.

Cut your Designer Series Paper slightly smaller than the white panel on the front of these Silver Foil-Edged Cards and you get the appearance of an extra layer without adding bulk or weight. 

Peaceful Boughs with Feels Like Frost

The fact that I have pine cones in every project photo should give you a clue that I love woodlands... which is why Peaceful Boughs was the first stamp set to go on my shopping list when I saw the Autumn/Winter catalogue back in August.

I’ve patiently held off with the set until now as I know my customers’ enthusiasm for Christmas projects doesn’t start quite as early as mine, but this is my stamp set of the month for October so there's no more holding back!

I’ve been creating lots of projects with this beautiful bundle. I can’t show many just yet as they are for classes and events to be held this month but this is one that didn’t make the cut. I’ve used the gorgeous Feels Like Frost Designer Series Paper (every sheet has a silver foil design on the reverse) and the new Hammered Metal 3D Embossing Folder, too.

When using embossing paste, be aware that it soaks up any ink beneath it. One way to reduce this is to apply a thin layer first and allow it to dry before applying thicker paste on top. 
 

Nature's Beauty with Feels Like Frost DSP

Woodland theme again! You can't escape it on this blog because it's my favourite theme. And how gorgeous is the Feels Like Frost Designer Series Paper with this lovely Nature's Beauty stamp set?

The animals are coloured with Stampin' Blends but I was concerned the colours weren't quite right so I gave the rabbit and deer a swipe with some Seaside Spray ink on a sponge to tie them in with a hint of blue.

The silver birches are stamped in Seaside Spray, too, but stamped off so they don't overwhelm. I used the Stamparatus for perfect positioning - just move the plate along one slot each time.

The copper leaf accent brings out the colour of the fox (coloured in Calypso Coral Stampin' Blends). I made sure to position them on opposite sides of the card to balance it out. 
 

Feels Like Frost? Not with these cheery colours

Silver Designer Series Paper is very hard to photograph, especially when you're wearing an orange T-shirt. Unfortunately, I didn't notice this until AFTER I'd sealed all the envelopes with these cheery cards.

They’re going out to my team members who achieved qualified status – they get a £30 voucher, too, so I’m sure they'll be pleased to receive them!

I used the new Feels Like Frost Designer Series paper, which has a photorealistic image on one side, and shiny silver designs on the other. To make it less Christmassy, I sponged the white areas in Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight and Granny Apple Green. 

The sentiment panel is die-cut with another new product: Beautiful Boughs dies, which is quite intricate but I wanted it to stand out more from the background. Using a journalling pen, I doodled a simple design around the edges. This can be daunting but is quick and easy really – I simply drew a dot at each “junction” then a line in between, without joining them up. Give it a go and see how it looks!