Practicing (THEIR) Creativity

I've been browsing blog land for some Practicing Creativity creations (this may be my fav activity)! I just wanted to share a few that caught my eye this month. I like to call this little feature "Practicing (THEIR) Creativity."

Lora

Isn't this cute? It really has that Hatch Show Print feel that I just love. You can see Lora's original post here using Everyday Prints.

 Angeline Yong Jeet Leen

 Okay so I know Christmas is over, but how can you not love this card. Angeline actually had several cards that I just couldn't pick between. You can see her original card here using Retro Christmas Backgrounds.

Kelley Eubanks

Kelley is a great friend of mine, so I shouldn't really be able to pick her. However, I just love this card using Retro Christmas Backgrounds. It's just fun. Again, I know it's not Christmas anymore, but how can I not show this off. You can see her original post here.

Thanks to everyone that creates with our stamps. I know you're probably tired of hearing this, but I love seeing what you make! I'm always looking at our Facebook page and Flickr group!

Happy New Year with Look Up! Additions

I'll admit it. I'm still in my PJs. Don't you just love the holidays? It's been a much needed break for me already. I've been working hard to finish my December Daily book, and I'll be posting more about that soon. This year rather than trying to get it done and blog about it, I let myself just try to get it done! This morning I decided to make a Happy New Year card with Everyday Prints, Retro Christmas Backgrounds and Look Up! Additions.

1. Make card from cardstock.
2. Stamp background stamp (Houndstooth from Retro Christmas Backgrounds) with VersaMark.
3. Using a pen and ruler, draw a rectangle 1/4 inch from the edge.
4. Stamp banner, three times on cardstock. Stamp inside patterns. Cut.
5. Adhere banners and punch hole where they meet. Tie bow.
6. Stamp sentiments.

Stamps: Everyday Prints, Retro Christmas Backgrounds and Look Up! Additions (Practicing Creativity)
Cardstock: Kraft, Golden Harvest (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: VersaMark, Craft White (Stampin' Up), Spice Tin (Jenni Bowlin for Ranger)
Thread: Divine Twine Yellow
Pen: Night of Navy Writer (Stampin' Up!)

I'm really excited about this New Years. Chase and I will be in North Carolina "practicing" our skiing with some friends in preparation for our trip in April! Hopefully I'll be okay at skiing and therefore not scared to death to ski in the Alps!

I'm off to work on some more projects for next week's release! I can't wait to show you!

Glitz Layout

I've had these two pictures sitting on my desk for a year now, and when I saw this patterned paper I just had to use it. I really love this Scarlett Paper "Polka." Did I mention that I love it?

 

Glitz Design "Scarlett" Papers: Polka

Glitz Design "Love Nest" Papers: Stripe, Floral

Glitz Design "Hoopla" Journaling cardstock stickers

Glitz Design "Love Nest" Peek-A-Boo

Glitz Design "Hoopla" Titles cardstock stickers

Glitz Design Teeny Alpha Green Apple Block

This page combines three different lines, but I really love how well they play together!

And today is my sweet hubby's birthday! Happy Birthday Chase!

Christmas Craft #4

Whew, I took a little break there from blogging for a few days. Things sure seem to speed up this time of year. I did want to hop on here and show you my last Christmas craft from this year. I've actually made this same wreath several times, but I always love the way it looks. Plus, these are fun to hang on doors around the house (and a great way to use up some double sided paper).

For this wreath I really didn't do anything different than I did here in the original: Pattern Paper Wreath. However, I did add some crepe paper. I love that stuff, and it adds some fun texture. Also, I did a video tutorial of how to do this with fabric, but it's the same deal for double sided paper, Fabric Wreath.

1. Cut 144 - 1"x4" stripes of double sided patterned paper.
2. Using a 10" styrofoam wreath and starting at the bottom, wrap a 1" x 6" strip around wreath securing with straight pin.
3. Making a loop with each 1" x 4" strip, adhere to wreath using a straight pin.
4. Continue around wreath using the same paper, changing paper at each level.
5. Finish off wreath with ribbon.

Can you believe Christmas is just a few days away?

Christmas Crafts #3

I've got another Christmas craft for you today! I've been using this tree with one of my centerpieces this year. Its one of my favorite crafts, and it's a great way to use some of your patterned paper.

1. Cut stripes of paper using multiple patterns.
2. On the short side of each stripe cut a snip in the paper every inch, cutting approximately 1" into the paper.
3. Curl fringe by rolling it on a pencil.
4. Starting at the bottom of a Styrofoam cone, attach the two uncut corners to the cone with straight pins. Continue around and up the cone, switching patterns at each level.
5. Tie bow for the top, and adhere button in the middle of bow.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you're enjoying this Christmas season so far. We have a coat of snow outside, so it's certainly getting me in the spirit!

Christmas with Glitz

I've been playing with some more Glitz goodies and making Christmas cards. I actually used several of the Love Nest papers in my December Daily this year. And although they aren't technically Christmas papers, they look great. I'm still working on Christmas cards, so I thought I'd use some of those same papers for my cards.

 

For my first card I used two of the "Love Nest" whatnots. I love how easy it is to make any holiday card with the little calendar. 

Glitz Design "Love Nest" Papers: Block

Glitz Design "Love Nest" Whatnots

Glitz Design "Love Nest" Peek-A-Boo

Glitz Design Teeny Alpha Black Round

Glitz Design Red Tulle

For this card, I really started with the "Hoopla" Journaling Cardstock Sticker in the center.

Glitz Design "Love Nest" Papers: Polka, Block

Glitz Design "Hoopla" Journaling Cardstock Stickers

Glitz Design "Love Nest" Peek-A-Boo

Glitz Design Teeny Alpha Ivory Block

Glitz Designs White Pom Poms

Are you finished with your Christmas cards!

CSS iPhone App Sneak Peek

Hey there. I had the privilege to make a card for the Clear and Simple Stamps iPhone app. If you'd like to get the app, you can find it here. My cards up today so here's a little sneak peek...

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Crafts #2

Hey friends! I have another Christmas craft to share with you today.

This is a pretty quick wreath.

1. Using large circle nestability, cut 2 large circles out of cardstock. Cut one slightly smaller circle using patterned paper.
2. Cut 22 - 4"x4" squares out of double sided patterned paper.
3. Wrap each square into cone and adhere small tip to large cardstock circle using a stapler or strong adhesive.
4. Adhere remaining large circle and patterned paper circle together.
5. Die cut patterned paper using the Labels 4 die cut.
6. Stamp sentiment and adhere piece to circles using foam adhesive.
7. Tie thread through buttons and adhere. Adhere piece to the front of wreath.
8. Attach ribbon to hang wreath to the back.

I've been hanging all of my various wreaths on all my doors. It sure makes the whole house look festive, and it's nice to show of some of my Christmas crafts.

Here's some links to other crafts I've made in previous years:


Fabric Wreath

Pattern Paper Wreath

Bannister Decor

Cardboard Wreath
Button Christmas Tree

Thanks for stopping by!

Look Up! Additions and Nature's Wonder

Both Look Up! Additions and Nature's Wonder are available in the store! I do have a few more cards from the designs team and me.

This stamp set is a remake for me. It was inspired by one of my favorite Look Up! cards:

I really do love Look Up! Additions. I also paired it with the clouds from You're Dandy.

And check out some of the designs team cards:

Karen

Dana

 Paulina

And now check out the fab guest designers. I've loved having these girls!

Vanessa Menhorn
 

Valerie Mangan  

  

Amy Kolling 

Check out each blog for details on how they created the super fun cards! If you haven't checked out Look Up! Additions and Nature's Wonder you can find them at the store!  

Thanks for making this release another special one! 

Introducing Look Up! Additions and Nature's Wonder

Look Up! Additions

$13

Nature's Wonder

$13

Free shipping when you spend $50 or more or a flat rate of $4 in the US.

International orders are a flat rate of $6.

You can see tons of inspiration for these stamps here:

Practicing Creativity Look Up! Additions

Practicing Creativity Nature's Wonder

Thanks for all your support of Practicing Creativity! And if you have a local store, we'd love for you to share with them about our stamps sets! 

December Release Winners

Look Up! Additions and Nature's Wonder will release in an hour at midnight central, but before that I want to announce the winners from this week's posts:

Day 1: Practicing Creativity December Sneak Peek

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 6 

Lisa Petrella said...

Super fun card & tag, Courtney! LOVE THEM!! So, all this talk about sequels is making me think you may have created a "sequel" to one of your existing PCD stamp sets?!?!!!! Can't wait to see what you have in store for us! Day 2: Practicing Creativity: Look Up! Additions True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 3 { kelly jo } said... Courtney- this is a great set! I love what your DT has done with them. FAB!! Day 3: Practicing Creativity: Nature's Wonder StampinCathy said... Courtney, I just love all the sequel stamps. The DT did an amazing and inspiring jobs with all their MOJO! Thanks for letting me be apart of this release. I really enjoyed the hop. Email me at Courtney@practicingcreativitydesigns.com for your prize! I'll be back in an hour to release both stamp sets! Congratulations to Lisa, Kelly Jo and Stampin Cathy!

Practicing Creativity Designs: Nature's Wonder

And now for out second sequel, Nature's Wonder. Karen created this super cute stamp set. I really love this set, and I was in serious need of a sympathy stamp! Are you ready to see it?

Here's one of my cards:

Don't you just love having large sentiments? I do. I've also created a video showing you how I created this card, and a few of the other stamps in the set.


Or you can watch it over on YouTube, here.

Karen

 I think Karen made this card just for me. Okay, not really, but it's right up my alley. To be honest when I got the set I made a very similar card, and then I realized how similar they were! Needless to say I love it.

Dana

 Isn't this so cute? I just love the colors Dana used! I honestly never would have thought of these shades of red, but they are just gorgeous together!

 Paulina

 

Paulina rocked her magic again and combined Nature's Wonder with Retro Backgrounds and Chatterbox. Isn't it so cute? 

And now check out what our three fabulous guest designers created:

Valerie Mangan  

 Well if Karen didn't make her card for me surely Valerie did.. I adore these fabulous layers. Such a cute way to highlight how flexible Nature's Wonder really is!

Vanessa Menhorn

 Doesn't this card just scream classic elegance? I love how it's understated and simply beautiful! Vanessa sure knows how to compose a card to create this gorgeous look.

Amy Kolling

 Amy's card... ahh... so pretty. Isn't that purple just so pretty. I love how she stamped the different silhouettes from the stamp set. It has such a cool watermark effect. 

Check out everyone's blogs for more details on how they created these fabulous cards. 

Now, tonight is the big night. We'll be releasing both Look Up! Additions and Nature's Wonder, tonight at midnight! 

 

But, before the release tonight you have one more chance to win. Leave a comment letting me know what you think about Nature's Wonder, and if you haven't commented on the Look Up! Additions post or the post from the first day make sure you enter there too!