Looking through my Stampin Up catalog...

and saw this paper bow. Decided it couldn't be that hard to make, and it isn't!!!

The following step by step instructions should allow you to make an easy paper bow for your cards. You can follow the size I made or make your own sizes and use any patterned paper or card stock you like!

First cut three strips 1/2" x 7".

 Fold one in half.

Apply a small amount of double back tape to the inside where you folded. Then bring the end to the middle and tack down.

Do the same for the other side.

Fold a second piece in half.

Tape to the back of your "bow". Using the fold to match up with the original fold.

Now grab your square punch.

Place the end of the long piece into the punch as shown above.

Then punch!

You will end up with this look.

Do both ends.

Tape down the last piece over lapping a bit to the center of the "bow".

Trim for a short piece that tapes to the back.

There you are, a finished three dimensional bow!

You can use glue instead of the tape!

 

See, told you it was simple!!!

One stamp...

was a class that my friend, lynda (http://paperartscafe.blogspot.com/), taught at her stamp store. The premise being that you can do so many card versions starting with just one stamp.

Here's the one I decided to do my Christmas cards with this year:

This is a Hero Arts Stamp.

I searched around the net for some inspiration and found a similar stamp from a Stampin Up set called "Snow Swirled".

I'll start with  the easiest. The base card is from a 50 card pack of white 5" x 7" cards I bought on sale from AC Moore. I love that as I don't have to buy the envelopes separately.

 Layer red, layer patterned paper (all the patterned papers I use in these cards are from pads I picked up on sale after Christmas over the past few years).

I inked up the tree with red ink and stamped it off once then onto the card stock. The saying was stamped with the full inked image!

Now the hardest, and the only card I made without using my tree stamp, not really hard but a little longer in steps.

This is my favorite, I only made one, and it will be going to my bestest stamping friend!!!

I stamped the Martha Stewart snowflakes with Versamark ink on cream card stock. I embossed the flakes using clear embossing powder. After the card cooled down I inked the Stampendous "Jesus First Christmas" saying with Staz On Blazing Red ink and stamped the image onto the card, yes, right over the embossing.

REAL IMPORTANT at this point to allow the ink to dry thoroughly before attempting the next step.

I used Tim Holtz Frayed Burlap Distress ink and his foam to rub the ink onto the card, now you see why you needed to let the other ink dry first!!!

Ever so gently with a tissue remove excess ink from the snowflakes. Don't rub too hard or you might remove the lettering from the saying.

The rest is easy. The base card is from another set of cards I bought on sale, but this time Kraft colored. Layer red and tie a knot in some sheer ribbon, then tape the ends to the back of the main piece. Apply main piece, punch out poinsettias and apply pearls. 

Done!!! 
See not really hard just more steps.

These are the rest of the cards I made using one stamp. Any of the ideas could be done with other images. 

How about a big snowflake!

OR a poinsettia!

Enjoy creating with one stamp!

It's a positive and negative thing...

that I worked on last week. 

I wanted to get all my upcoming holiday cards 

done so I could get some 

quilting and sewing done before Autumn.

Halloween cards - done

Thanksgiving cards - started

Christmas cards - ideas but not started

Now to the Thanksgiving main card..

 Every time I look at or consider buying more patterned paper hubby says, "PAPER BAD!!!"

To a degree he is right. I have my Grandmother Johnson's hope chest filled, standing on ends, with patterned paper pads. But I LOVE paper. So I decided to clean out some papers by, this will be a shocker, using them!!!

The above card is made from one such pad. I find that when you buy the pads you get a better price than single sheets, and you usually get coordinating papers. Such as the pumpkin and gourd colors in the card above. I stamped them using a Stampin' Up set and brown Staz On ink. Then, while watching "Under the Dome" with hubby I trimmed them out. Enough for 30 cards!!!

I ran the dark brown Bazzill card stock through my Cuttlebug with a large oval die and the kraft cardstock with a slightly smaller oval.

Then ran the kraft card stock through my Cuttlebug with a leaf embossing folder.

Stamped one of my favorite sayings based on a hymn, layer, glue and tape. Card one done. Twenty nine more and Thanksgiving was done.

BUT...

I still had all the ovals left over and , of course, more patterned paper.

Back to the drawing board, actually just back to my craft table!

 I found another wonderful Autumn saying that I stamped with my Kaleidacolor ink pads. Punched a few leaves from the same patterned paper I used on the background and card two done.

Twenty nine more accomplished now I have used both the negative and the positives from my Cuttlebug cuttings!!!

Hope you have a fun time playing with your positives and negatives.

Have a wonderful Autumn if I don't get to post again before then.

As you know I'm now off to make my Christmas cards.