Countdown to Christmas & Background Basics: Striped Sweater Day #5

It has been a crazy, fun filled 8 days of stamping here at my house. And now, it is done. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself! While I figure that out, how about a blog post with more projects? I've got the Group Post  #2 for Papertrey Ink and my last few projects with my new Background Basics: Striped Sweater.

Let's get started. I found a long lost friend yesterday. It's been awhile since I've seen her. Why hello there scrapbook page. Where have you been the last few years? Let's get you all decorated with Heather's new Countdown to Christmas + Additions set. 

I used a page from the Large Calendar Basics pack as my starting off point on the right hand side. My journaling, title, and a few select dates are highlighted.

Hey...never realized you can make some pretty neat photo frames with the Mega Mat Stacks. Got to remember that. The upcoming Layered Postmarks die collection, Limeade Ice Patterned Paper Collection, and BB: Striped Sweater gussies up the left hand page.

The numbers 1-25 are included in Countdown to Christmas to highlight specific days during the holiday season. I mounted my "25" (for Christmas Day) on the sun image from Back Pocket Basics Die Collection and Limitless Layers 1.75" Circles. The calendar stamp, month, and saying are all from the Additions set.

It was fun to dabble again in my former favored art form. But it was nice to get back to the cards too. Here's one using Countdown to Christmas and the Additions. Remember how I mentioned that the numbers 1-25 are in the set for the days in December? Well, they work equally well to stamp years. Instead of Dec 20 and Dec 12, we've got the year 2012. Very versatile! Definitely could put this to use year around.

For my diagonal striped background, I impressed the new Super Stripes Impression Plate onto Limeade Ice and used that as a guide to adhere Topnotch Twill in Pure Poppy and Simply Chartreuse. The topnotch twill in particular is the same width as the smaller strip side. Could I do this without the impression plate. Sure, but this way is a lot less hassle. I'm into that nowadays.

Moving on to my last few Background Basics: Striped Sweater projects. I just recently received a crochet baby blanket for my new little boy and owe my most generous friend a thank you note. Yes, granted  knitting and crochet look different. But she's a knitter too, so I thought I'd use the stamp set here.

I wanted to try creating an intarsia look. I first stamped the solid knitting strip in Fine Linen and die cut the elephant from Bitty Baby Blessings Die Collection in the middle. I then stamped the same stamp on Spring Rain cardstock in Blueberry Sky and placed it behind the elephant opening, making sure I lined up the stitches. There you go...intarsia! I stamped the elephant for some visual weight. Which worked out nice because it matches the sentiment from Thanks All Ways.

And lastly, a card using the Striped Sweater Impression Plate and the new Ocean Tides Patterned Paper Collection.

Hopefully you can see it more here. I stamped a line of sentiment from an oldie but goodie Around and Around in between the impressed knit stripes.

And that, is a wrap for me. Whew! Hope you enjoyed all my projects this week and feeling like getting inky. Remember, all new products are available on the 15th.

There's still more to see. My colleagues have some wonderful stuff to show. Click on over to see more:



Nichole Heady
Maile Belles
Jessica Witty
Dawn McVey
Melissa Phillips
Heather Nichols
Betsy Veldman
Cristina Kowalcyzk
Danielle Flanders
Ashley Cannon Newell

Supplies


Layout
Stamps: Countdown to Christmas, BB: Striped Sweater, Santa Stationery, Label Basics, Fabulous Frames, Simply You
Dies: By the Numbers, Back Pocket Basics, Mega Mat Stack 4, 
Limitless Layers 1.75" Circles, Layered Postmarks, Fabulous 
Frames, Small Scalloped Border, Wonderful Words: Holiday Collection
Patterned Paper Collections: Pure Poppy and Limeade Ice
Cardstock: Pure Poppy
Ink: Pure Poppy, Ripe Avocado, Limeade Ice


Countdown to Christmas Card
Stamps: Countdown to Christmas and Additions, Layered Postmarks, Framed Out #7
Cardstock: Limeade Ice, Pure Poppy, Simply Chartreuse, Stamper's 
Select White, Dark Chocolate
Ink: Pure Poppy, Ripe Avocado, Simply Chartreuse
Simply Chartreuse Patterned Paper
Simply Chartreuse and Pure Poppy Topnotch Twill
Dies: Mega Mat Stack 5, Layered Postmark, Limitless Layer 2.75" Ovals, Double Ended Banner
Limeade Ice Vintage Button


Elephant Thanks
Stamps: BB: Striped Sweater, Bitty Baby Blessings, Polka Dot Basics 
Cardstock: Blueberry Sky, Vintage Cream, Spring Rain
Ink: Fine Linen, Blueberry Sky, Enchanted Evening
Fine Linen Grograin Ribbon
Dies: Bitty Baby Blessing Collection
Vintage White/Cream Button Collection
Other: Spellbinders Nestabilities
Ink: Enchanted Evening


Ocean Tides Get Well
Stamps: Around and Around
Carstock: Aqua Mist, Kraft
Ocean Tides Patterned Paper Collection
Vintage White/Cream Buttons
Ocean Tides Ink
Ocean Tides Saddle Stitched Ribbon
Kraft Topnotch Twill
Rustic Button Twine