Good morning, good morning, good morning.   I am posting this and then I will run off to finish my Christmas shopping.  I just have one person left to buy for, my Mother.  My mother is the hardest one to buy for.  Especially since when you ask her what she would like for Christmas she gives you answers such as a Million Dollars, new car, new brain, lol.  We finally got a list from her so I will be able to finish all my shopping and hopefully wrap everything too. 

Today’s tutorial is a holiday card.  I am sure you all have your cards all made and in the mail to the lucky recipients.   🙂  Me, I am still plugging along.  Just when I think I am all done, I think of someone that I missed.  I sent out around 150 cards.  Postage is a killer, lol.  Enough whining from me.   I have a announcement to make!

  The winner of the Stampin’ Up ink pads is. . . . . . . . . . .

Sandy S, TN who wrote “I would love to make a home for the inks, right now our funds are pretty tight and that would be a wonderful Christmas present (for me). Our family has agreed not to exchange gifts this year and just be glad for what we have. So thank you for the chance to receive your ink gift.”

Congrats Sandy S!   Please e-mail your mailing address to me at mzindorf@aim.com and I will pop these homeless pads into the mail to you.

Thanks everyone for playing along.  🙂

One more thing, I updated my Travel photo page finally.  Thanks to everyone that has sent me photos from my brayer workshops they attended.  Here is a link if you want to check it out:  http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/travel-photos/

Or you can access it from the tab “Travel Pics” at the top of my blog.

Now on with today’s tutorial .. . . . . . ..

Supplies:

The new Stampin’ Up! 43 page Occasions Mini Catalog and Sale-a-Bration catalog will be out January 5, 2010.  E-mail me your address if you want a set for free and you are a resident of the USA.  If you are a customer of mine you will automatically get a set from me.  🙂

Are you getting inspired and enjoying this blog.   One way you can help support it is to order your Stampin’ Up products through me.   You can order from me 24-7 from this link:  http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net or e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com.  If you are within the United States.  Want a copy 2009-2010 Stampin’ Up Catalog for $9.95 with free shipping, just e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com and I will get one in the mail to you.  Want to become a Stampin’ Up Demonstrator and earn instant income?  Consider being part of my Stampin’ Up Team.  Also check out the Stampin’ Up specials, click this link to check it out:  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/michellezindorf/promotions

On a 4.5″ x 6″ piece of Whisper White card stock, stamped the Sentiment using Versamark only.  Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Stamped the skaters by first loading my stamp with Versamark and then Basic Black ink before stamping it.  Heat embossed the skaters using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Masked the bottom of the card stock with post it notes, leaving about 1″ of the card stock showing at the top.   Sponged Not Quite Navy ink in the un-masked area.

Sponged Night of Navy ink right at the post it note edge to darken the horizon line.

Added Pretty in Pink marker to the skaters.

Added Real Red marker to the skaters.

Added creamy Caramel marker the male skater.

Added Sahara Sand marker to the skaters.

Colored in the girls collar and cuffs with Pretty in Pink and Real Red markers.

Colored the skater’s faces in with Blush Blossom marker.

Colored over the skaters with a Versamark marker, being very careful to stay within the embossed lines.  Also it helps to start with the light areas first and work your way to the dark areas, cleaning your Versamark marker tip often.   This helps keep the areas from bleeding into one another.

Heat embossed the skates using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Tore some post it notes and masked the sky and snow areas. 

Brayered Tempting Turquoise ink into the pond area.

Added Brilliant Blue ink to the top of the pond area.

Edged the top of the pond using a Brilliant Blue marker. 

Removed the post it note masks and wiped the ink off of my embossed images using a paper towel.

Using a torn post it note, sponged Tempting Turquoise ink at the torn edge of the post it note to create hills in the snow area.

Masked the sky area with post it notes and sponged Tempting Turquoise ink at the post it note edge to add color to the top of the snow area.

Added the line from the greeting to the skaters skate using a White Gel pen.  Also added a few dots in the sky.

Added Tempting Turquoise and Brilliant Blue Panels.  Also Added two large Whisper White photo corner punches.

Added Tempting Turquoise Brads to the photo corner punches using a piercing tool to start the brads.

Here is the finished card measuring 5″ x 6.5″

Before I close for today I want to share with you something I received from my friend, Gail Emmons but it was written by Linda Payne.   Gotta love it!  This is not just a recipe, lol.

Cranberry Bread 
By Linda Payne 
Quick Recipe: 
Grab a box of Pillsbury Mix while at local grocery store. Rush home. 
Pull out loaf pan and turn on oven, break open box and dump contents into a bowl. Add eggs, oil and water per box. 
Mix by hand – who wants to clean beaters – until all is moist. Pour batter into loaf pan, dump bowl and spoon into sink. 
Set oven timer for time on box…ask hubby to carry in the rest of the groceries! 
 
Long Recipe 
Get all dressed up. Have your hair and nails done. Go shopping with a friend. On the way home make short stop at local grocery store (a one bag stop and include box of quick bread). Call hubby and let him know you’re making him something special when he gets home…if he’s already home – perfect! Once home – change into something comfy and cute and give hubby a wink… because you’re making him something special! 
Pull out your Kitchen Aid mixer…turn on some music. Bring out your eggs, oil, measuring cups…put on an apron…give hubby a wink…because you’re making him something special!! 
Turn on oven; prepare your loaf pan by spraying it with non-stick spray. Pour contents of box into mixer bowl. Add oil – start mixer on slow…watch it for a few seconds…turn it off. Carefully add eggs – start mixer on slow…watch it for a few seconds…turn it off (is hubby watching? send him a wink! because you’re making him something special!) 
Carefully measure and add the water…..start mixer on slow…watch it for a few seconds…turn it off. Scrape your bowl…turn mixer on and let it mix for two minutes…check oven. Throw away box, egg shells, and wash measuring cup – put away oil. 
Stop mixer. Scrape bowl …slowly pour batter into loaf pan and scrape mixer bowl. Put loaf pan in oven. Light a candle or two… (Is hubby watching…send him a wink! because you’re making him something special!) 
If kids are in bed or away…you should have his attention by now…would suggest setting the timer in case you are “distracted”…but if you’re at my house… I’ve ditched the apron and have begun stamping and need to hear the buzzer so I don’t burn up my “something special for hubby”!!! who is so engrossed in the Andy Griffith show for the umpteenth thousand time that he doesn’t even realize how hard I just worked on the Long Recipe! 
Ladies, you decide which recipe you prefer! LOL 

May you be blessed today!

Huge Hugs and Happy Holidays,

Michelle

Get ready for Brayer Workshops!  I am coming to:

2010

Dayton, Ohio at Marco Paper

Phoenix, Arizona

Monroe, Louisiana

Jacksonville, Florida

 St. Louis, Missouri

Mechanicsville, Virginia

Raleigh, North Carolina 

Colleyville, Texas

Colorado Springs, Colorado

 Boise area of Meridian, Idaho

Riverside, California (Southern California)

Salem, Oregon

Wheaton, Illinois

St. Cloud, Minnesota

Rockville, Maryland

North Chili, New York (near Rochester)

New Johnsonville, Tennessee

Kenova (Huntington), West Virginia

Helena, Montana

Middleburg Heights, Ohio

Venice, Florida

Grinnell, Iowa

Piedmont, Alabama (Near GA border close to Cedartown)

Auburn, Washington (near Seattle)

Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Savannah, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

North Liberty, Indiana

Saledad, California

Here is a link to my workshop calendar where you can see all of my travel schedule and to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops:   http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar 

Link to my Stampin’ Up website where you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7:  http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net

Frequently asked questions answers:  http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/ 

My last post was of a non-traditional colored Christmas Card.  Well today’s is definitely a traditional Christmas card.   This tutorial is a long one since I show how to build a scene using the embossed resist technique.  

Before we get into the tutorial, I want to give away some homeless ink pads and reinkers.  One of these pads have never been used and the rest have been used very little and have lots of good life left in them.  This give away includes the following Stampin’ Up Classic ink pads:

Riding Hood Red, Tangerine Tango, Pink Pirouette, Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss and 2 pads of Baja Breeze.  Also included is a reinker of Pacific Point and Kiwi Kiss.  🙂

Can you give these pads a good home?  If so, leave a comment on this post to enter the give away.  If you are receiving this post via e-mail you will need to click this link and then leave a comment at the bottom of the post:   http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2009/12/11/traditional-santa-tutorial-286-and-homeless-ink-pads/

I will select the winner using a random number generate on Monday, December 14, 2009.  Please help me find them a good loving home.  Thank you.  🙂

Now on with the tutorial. . . . . . .

Supplies:

Want a free 39 page, Stampin’ Up Mini catalog?  If you are a resident of the United States,  just e-mail your mailing address to me and I will get one in the mail to you.  Are you inspired by this Blog?  One way you can help support this blog is by ordering your Stampin’ Up products through me.   You can order from me 24-7 from this link:  http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net or e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com.  If you are within the United States.  Want a copy of the brand new 2009-2010 Stampin’ Up Catalog for $9.95 with free shipping, just e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com and I will get one in the mail to you.  Want to become a Stampin’ Up Demonstrator and earn instant income?  Consider being part of my Stampin’ Up Team.  Also check out the Stampin’ Up specials, click this link to check it out:  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/michellezindorf/promotions

Using a Basic Black marker, colored in the part of the image that I wanted to stamp and then huffed my breath on it and stamped it on a 4″ x 5.5″ piece of Whisper White card stock.

Added some Bravo Burgundy marker to the dark parts of his clothing.

Added Real Red marker to his clothing.

Colored his face in with a Blush Blossom marker.

Added Pretty in Pink marker to his cheeks.

Colored his boots and belt in with a Basic Black marker.

Added some Sahara Sand marker to the darker places in his beard and cuffs.

Oops!  Just seen that I colored the white fur on the bottom of his coat red.  Never fail, added some white gel pen to the bottom of this coat. 

Used a heat gun and heated up the image to set the markers.

Colored over the image using a Versamark marker.  Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  Now the image is protected from further applications of ink (emboss resist).

Tore a bit off the top of a post it note and used it to mask my snow in my scene.

Stamped the flourish using Versamark only.  Heat embossed the flourish using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Using a Stamp-a-ma-jig, Over stamp the Flourish by loading my stamp with Versamark and then Tempting Turquoise ink before stamping it.

Heat embossed the flourish using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Brayered Tempting Turquoise ink at the top of the card stock.

Wiped the emboss images off with a cotton towel or a paper towel.  I use an old dish towel.  Trying to stay green.  🙂  Do this after each application of ink. 

Brayered Not Quite Navy at the top of the card stock, not covering all of the Tempting Turquoise ink.

Sponged Not Quite Navy ink at the post it note edge to darken the horizon line.

Stamped the line of trees using Not Quite Navy ink only.  Wiped off the embossed images.

Moved the post it note down and added two hills by sponging Tempting Turquoise ink at the post it note edge.

Created texture in Santa’s beard by streaking White Gel pen on it.

Using a heat gun, heated the embossed images again to bring back the shine and to set the white gel pen.

Added a shadow for Santa by sponging Tempting Turquoise ink under him.

I learn things from my workshop students all the time.  Recently I learned from some smart ladies in Portland, Michigan, when you scrap a sponge full of ink against the card stock edge it is called “Whacking”, lol.  Sorry, when I say whacking it reminds me of watching the Sapranos.  Anyhow, I whacked the edges of the main image panel and a 5″ x 6.5″ panel of Real Red using Basic Black ink.  I like to put dark ink around the edges of my panels.  This saves me from putting a dark panel behind them.

Using my Stamp-a-ma-jig, stamped the sentiment using Basic Black ink.

Punched two Curly Labels from Basic Black card stock and folded each one in half.

Assembled the card, added the punched labels and Gold Brads.

Here is the completed card that measuring 5″ x 6.5″.

Have you been good this year?  You know he is watching!

I realize this post has been long, but I have one more thing to share with you.  This was sent to me by my Aunt Nancy.  She said it remindered her of me since I travel so much and live by my GPS system.

Question:
 What do you get when you mix PMS with GPS? Answer:
 A crazy witch who WILL find you!
Do you think my Aunt is trying to tell me something, lol.

Michelle

  Get ready for Brayer Workshops!  I am coming to:

2010

Dayton, Ohio at Marco Paper

Phoenix, Arizona

Monroe, Louisiana

Jacksonville, Florida

 St. Louis, Missouri

Mechanicsville, Virginia

Raleigh, North Carolina 

Colleyville, Texas

Colorado Springs, Colorado

 Boise area of Meridian, Idaho

Riverside, California (Southern California)

Salem, Oregon

Wheaton, Illinois

St. Cloud, Minnesota

Rockville, Maryland

North Chili, New York (near Rochester)

New Johnsonville, Tennessee

Kenova (Huntington), West Virginia

Helena, Montana

Middleburg Heights, Ohio

Venice, Florida

Grinnell, Iowa

Piedmont, Alabama (Near GA border close to Cedartown)

Auburn, Washington (near Seattle)

Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Savannah, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

North Liberty, Indiana

Saledad, California

Here is a link to my workshop calendar where you can see all of my travel schedule and to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops:   http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar 

Link to my Stampin’ Up website where you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7:  http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net

Frequently asked questions answers:  http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/