Digital stamp Monster Christmas card featuring Pretty Grafik Christmas Monster digistamp

If you're a Paperesse reader for a while now, you know I'm always on the lookout for Christmas stamps that are just a little bit quirky, not your everyday run of the mill Santa stuff (although, hey, I like those, too!).

Today's card fits the bill, featuring a Christmas Monster stamp from Pretty Grafik. There are 6 different monster stamps in this kit, as well as other stamp goodies, making its current sale price of $0.99 a real buy! The sentiment was created with Smarty Pants BTN font.

I also like using non-Christmas paper on Christmas cards. I dug around in my scrap file for these. Although they aren't Christmas papers per say, the first project I used them on was also Christmas – this Hanging With My Gnomies card.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, digital paper
Digital stamp –  Pretty Grafik Christmas Monsters
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Toga Polaroid die
Embellishments – felt brad, googly eyes
Font – Smarty Pants BTN

I'm linking up with: Little Red Wagon #526 – Wrap it.

Digital stamp Christmas card featuring Di's Digi Stamps Mice Making Snowman stamp

Got your Christmas cards all done? No? Me either.

Today's card features Di's Digi Stamps Mice Making Snowman digital stamp. And as I am want to do, I've teamed it up with a digital sentiment from Kim's Digital Stamps - Twelve Christmas Greetings sentiment sheet. I find these circular sentiments go so well with Di's stamps (case in point, this Di's Digi Stamps Ellie Elephant birthday card).

The paper is a grocery store find – Craft Sensations Christmas pad. I'd give you a link...if I could find one. Most of the real 'papers' I buy (not digital) are grocery store finds – my local Aldi, or as in this case Coop. Not because I'm trying to avoid craft shops, it's just that there aren't any here!

Embellishments are ribbon and a sparkly star sticker.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Craft Sensations Christmas paper pad
Digital stamps – Di's Digi Stamps Mice Making Snowman, Cuddly Buddly Crafts Kim's Digital Stamps - Twelve Christmas Greetings sentiment sheet
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics circle stax
Embellishments – ribbon, star sticker

I'm linking up with: Di's Digi Challenge 29/11/19 – Animals acting like humans.

A Pumpkin Spice card idea and a Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the USA today! Enjoy the feasting, but most of all enjoy being with loved ones; that's what's most important.

Last year I didn't get any specific Thanksgiving cards mailed out (although I got one posted on the blog) and this year is a repeat of same. In fact, this year I didn't even get one made. Which is a shame because I really do like Thanksgiving cards. Oh well, I did create this Pumpkin Spice Latte themed Happy Autumn/Halloween/Thanksgiving card for my niece, and since I did include Thanksgiving wishes in the inside sentiment, it will just have to do for this year. My niece loves all things pumpkin and coffee so it was a perfect match.

The image is a free coloring page from Crafting with Sarah. The papers are free digitals from The Coffee Shop Blog – Autumn Afternoon and Fall 4.

I debated what to use for embellishments. The image and papers are so pretty it really doesn't need anything. Just to give it a little something extra, I decided to add some CANDi dots from my stash (sigh...so sad they don't make these anymore).

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, The Coffee Shop Blog Autumn Afternoon and Fall 4 paper packs
Digital stamp – Crafting with Sarah Pumpkin Spice Latte digital coloring page
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics rectangle stax
Embellishments – CANDi dots

Bat birthday card using QKR Stampede's bat digital stamp

This masculine birthday card features QKR Stampede's bat digital stamp. You might think bat = Halloween, but no, not really. You can use it for Halloween, but it works for a birthday or any type of celebration (think Bat wishes! I'm batty about you! Have the bat birthday ever!, etc). My inside sentiment here says, ' ...'cause it's your birthday!'. I've used this same sentiment and another bat image on this Bat Christmas card (yes, a bat on a Christmas card).

I dug around in my digital paper printout scrap bin for the papers. All of the papers (and paper 'ribbon') are bits left over from other projects. It doesn't show up much in the photo, but the center paper has little bats on it. In looking up the aforementioned Bat Christmas card, I noticed this bat paper was used on two other cards before this one and that it actually dates back to a 2017 Bat Halloween card (am I being thrifty or what?!). This card's gray plank paper is originally from that project as well.

Embellishments are simple mat enamel dots that pick up the red in the bat's eyeglasses and that bit of striped scrap digital 'ribbon'.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, digital patterned paper
Digital stamp – QKR Stampede bat digital stamp
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – no brand stitched circle dies
Embellishments – mat enamel dots
Font – Mister Sirloin BTN Rare

I'm linking up with: QKR Stampede Challenge #373 – ATG,  Colour Crazy Challenge Week 46 – ATG, Polkadoodles Craft Challenge Wk 47 – ATG, Digi Choosday Craft Challenge Week 47 – ATG, and Seize the Birthday #179 – Touch of red.

Masculine cheese-y birthday card featuring The Paper Shelter's Pepe digital stamp

This masculine birthday card was for my cheese loving husband's recent birthday and features Pepe l' Souris digital stamp from The Paper Shelter (for the sake of grammatical correctness I feel obliged to point out that should be Pepe la Souris). Although I'm not a great fan of mice in real life, they do make awful cute digi stamps and there are several cards on the blog featuring them, like this Maurice the Mouse get well card.

This cheese looks like a good Swiss Emmentaler to me, so I decided to color Pepe's beret Swiss red.

Paper is from The Paper Studio Antiquity paper pack (retired). The sentiment was created with Montey font. Embellishment is a simple wooden heart, red button and twine bow.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock,The Paper Studio Antiquity paper pack
Digital stamp – The Paper Shelter Pepe l' Souris
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-Namics oval stax
Embellishments – wooden heart, button, twine
Font – Candy Round BTN

I'm linking up with: Craft Rocket Challenges #65 – Happy Birthday, QKR Stampede #372 – ATG, Polkadoodles Week 46 – ATG, Creative Fingers #175 – ATG, and Colour Crazy Challenge Week 45 – ATG.

Alpaca birthday card idea

Do you get the pun-ny sentiment on this Alpaca birthday card's front? Would it help if I told you the inside says, '...and send them in a card to you! Happy Birthday X!'? I didn't even try to run this by my French husband, I thought that was expecting a bit much. After all, I didn't want a repeat of the Peas on Earth incident. I decided for the sake of this card, this is an alpaca, but it could be a llama (lots of pun opportunities there). Although in reality they aren't the same thing and don't look exactly alike, I think your average lay person isn't going to know the difference.

The digistamp is from Pretty Grafik's Dessert Llama set. If you click on the link and take a look you'll see there are several stamps included in the set apart from the llamas/alpacas, making it a very good buy (especially as it's on sale right now for $0.99). Their digital paper packs (also $0.99) are very nice as well. The cactus, for example, is a separate stamp in the set. I used the PNG version of the stamp to layer it behind the alpaca. See this tutorial, if you'd like to know more about layering PNG images.

Patterned papers are Aldi finds – Max Bringmann/Folio paper pads. Embellishments are a simple thin ribbon and two resin flowers. The sentiment was created with Segoe font.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Max Bringmann/Folio paper pads
Digital stamps – Pretty Grafik's Dessert Llama set
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics square stax
Embellishments – ribbon, resin flowers
Font – Segoe

I'm linking up with: WWC246 – ATG w/feminine twist, Crafty Calendar Nov. – Cute & Girly, Crafter's Castle #23 – ATG, Pattie's Creations #164 – ATG, and Colour Crazy Week 44 – ATG.

I'll be gnome for Christmas – Christmas themed cards using KLM Designs digital stamp freebies

Today's post has four cards I created for November's Simply Cards & Papercraft issue #198, (available for purchase on newsstands now) using KLM Designs gnome digital stamp freebies (click HERE to download). All sentiments shown are from Kim's Digital Stamps 12 Christmas Greetings sentiment sheet. All patterned papers are from Snap Click Supply Co. Oh Joy Cosmo Cricket digital paper pack.

The Gnome image on this card comes with 'interchangable' hands. I chose the ornament image, but you can also choose to show him holding a candy cane, gingerbread man, or package. I added a wooden snowflake (my favorite Christmas embellishment!) and velvet brad with the fasteners cut off.

I liked this little guy all tangled up in Christmas lights. I kept his embellishments simple with some coordinated buttons.

The ribbon on this card is meant to mimic the ribbon on the package the gnome is holding. I accented it with a gold button.

I fussy cut the holly leaves around the candles' base on this circular card and added a bit of ribbon as embellishment.

In addition to these digital freebies, there are all sorts of goodies provided with this issue, including super cute tag cutting dies and coordinating traditional stamps! Simply Cards & Papercraft is easily found at newsstands across the UK and at  Barnes and Noble, Jo-Ann’s, Michael's, Books-a-Million and AC Moore stores in the US. In Canada you can find it at Indigo Chapters.

I'm linking up with: Winter Wonderland 01/11 – Use holly or ivy on your card, Crafty Friends Challenge #122 – ATG, My Time to Craft #409 – No rectangle or square cards (I'm entering my circular card for this one), Digi Doodle Studios Challenge Blog #22 – Christmas/Winter, and SheepSki Designs Challenge #32 – Christmas is Coming.

Happy Halloween! card featuring Scribbles Candy Corn Mason Jar digistamp

Happy Halloween to everyone observing the holiday today! I've been on a Candy Corn roll this year; this is my second card featuring candy corn (you can see the first one HERE). I doubt I'll have any trick-or-treaters this year. Halloween is not really observed in France (even though mass-market chain stores are trying their best to change that). If you're curious what holiday France traditionally observes this time of year, see this What's Halloween like in France post.

Tell me, do you think the mason jar on this Scribbles Candy Corn Mason Jar digistamp has a lid on it? I studied it long and hard before deciding it didn't and coloring it that way. Whether it does or doesn't I was pleased with how it turned out. I think it makes a very cute non-spooky Halloween card, since not everyone appreciates the spooky factor.

I go back and forth this time of year debating whether to make Happy Halloween or Happy Fall/Autumn cards. Sometimes I choose Halloween, sometimes I choose Fall/Autumn (like this Happy Fall Ya'll card from last year). The plus to an Autumn card is I feel it covers me for Autumn/Halloween/Thanksgiving and needn't necessarily arrive by 31 October. With Thanksgiving just after Halloween and right before Christmas, it's a push for me to do Halloween AND Thanksgiving cards both. Although, having said that, even on the Halloween ones I add to the inside sentiment Happy Autumn/Halloween/Thanksgiving.

Papers are digital freebies from The Coffee Shop Blog – Fall Paper Pack 2 and Fall 4 Paper Pack. The sentiment was created with Harlow Solid Italic font. Embellishments are a few enamel dots and twine.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, The Coffee Shop Blog Fall Paper Pack 2 and Fall 4 Paper Pack digital papers
Digital stamp – Scribbles Candy Corn Mason Jar
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – no-brand stitched rectangle die
Embellishments – enamel dots, twine
Font – Harlow Solid Italic

I'm linking up with: Moving Along With the Time Challenges #109 – Rich Autumn Colors, ITD Creative Playground #10 – ATG, DL Art Thankful Thursday Challenge #248 – Fall, Aud Sentiments #239 – ATG + a sentiment, and Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #245 – ATG.

Boo 2 you! Halloween card featuring Dearie Dolls free digital stamp

Yet another Halloween card for you today, featuring all freebies! The trick or treating ghost digi is a freebie from Dearie Dolls. Although Mary Ellen is no longer posting new freebies, she's graciously left her site up and open. It's a treasure trove of freebie digis for every season. I especially like her fall designs, as seen on this Scarecrow Thanksgiving card.

The Boo 2 You! ring around the digi is a freebie from My Grafico, as is the Boo! paper. Unfortunately, I noticed as I was looking for My Grafico links to share with you, these freebies are no longer available.

I kept embellishments simple with some scattered enamel dots.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, My Grafico Halloween digital paper freebie
Digital stamp – Dearie Dolls trick or treating ghost freebie
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics circle stax
Embellishments – enamel dots

I'm linking up with: Always Fun Challenges #133 – Something Scary, Artsy Stamper Challenge #2 – Patterned Paper, Crafting Happiness Challenges #19 – Halloween Colors, Pammie's Inky Pinky Challenges 1942 – ATG, and Angie's Digital Stamps #36 – ATG/Opt. Twist Halloween/Fall Colors.

Happy Halloween Candy Corn card

When I was a kid I loved candy corn. The last time I ate some I found it horribly sweet and didn't enjoy it all that much. And that was years ago, I really can't remember the last time I ate any. Candy corn is not something I see much of in Europe. But, all that aside, candy corn is still synonymous in my mind with Halloween, hence this card.

The digital stamp is a Gerda Steiner freebie from long ago. This particular stamp is no longer available, but she does have some very cute digital stamps for sale on her site, as well as the occasional freebie. Paper is more freebie digital goodness from The Coffee Shop blog. This time it's the Trick or Treat digital paper pack. Rita graciously shares some stunning free digital papers on her blog; they're worth checking out! The super cute paper on this Cupcake Birthday card is a case in point.

I used my favorite Toga Polaroid die on this card; I use the heck out of this die. The banner here is part of the die. Whatever I use it on tends to turn out great. Just out of curiousity, I checked and I have at least 12 cards on the blog using this die (if you're curious, search the blog by Polaroid and you'll see it in all its various incarnations). Embellishment is a simple felt brad with the tines cut off. Sentiment font is Smarty Pants BTN.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, The Coffee Shop Blog Trick or Treat paper pack
Digital stamp – Gerda Steiner freebie
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Toga Polaroid die
Embellishments – felt brad
Font – Smarty Pants BTN

I'm linking up with: Artsy Stamper Challenge #1 – Autumn Colors, Cute 'n' Crafty Challenge #32 – ATG, The Cutie Pie Challenge #140 – ATG cute, Angie's Digital Stamps #36 – ATG opt/Halloween or Fall colors, and International Art & Soul #69 – Halloween.