Stampin' Up! always has some really outstanding host only stamp sets in the catalog, and when the new Stampin' Up! Catalog released in June I was immediately drawn to Time of Year. It's all the way at the back of the Stampin' Up! Catalog, so be patient or just start at the back! The fonts are beautiful, and I love that you can literally use this stamp set at any time of year. I adore making Christmas cards in the summertime (it's blazing hot here in South Texas and making Christmas cards helps me think of cooler times approaching!). And although I will make some Christmas cards with a modern vibe and cool colors, I like to start my Christmas card-making with very traditional images and colors. Red and green always says Christmas to me!
I created this pair of cards for my recent training event (aka stamp camp in San Antonio) and went for simplicity to really showcase the stamp set and to keep supplies to a minimum. Stamps, ink, and paper is where it all starts. Of course, the Big Shot makes its presence known with the gorgeous new Holly embossing folder:) I sponged it tone on tone (Garden Green card stock sponged with Garden Green ink) which really brings out the texture. And I added some tiny bits of embellishment: the new Real Red 3/8" Stitched Satin ribbon in little knots for some soft texture, the new In Color Doilies (flipped to the back side so they are white!) and the new Metallic Enamel Accents–one of my absolute favorite new embellishments!
All the banners that you see punched out are done with the Big Shot and the new Bunch of Banners Framelit Dies. You truly get a bunch of different banner shapes with this die cut set.
Mark your calendars now for my next Training Event/Stamp Camp in San Antonio: October 1 where we will be making projects for the holiday season. You need to be there! Check out all my events here on my Stampin' Up! site.