Stampin’ Up! An Ugly Christmas Stockings Sweater!

Mornin’, folks!  Well – I’m in Utah.  And it snowed.  And I drove from the airport across a mountain pass that was way snowier than I’d planned.  Especially since I’d called the front desk of my hotel and the receptionist (who lives here!!) recommended the mountain route versus the flatland route.  Some nonsense about the county taking better care of the mountain route.

Right.  I think not.  My little rental Nissan Rogue held its own, though and I called on snow driving skills I haven’t exercised for years (and drove waaaaay slow!) – and we made it thru just fine.

Pretty sure I’ll go back the other way on the weekend! 🙂

Mr. Finn didn’t have a very good day.  His mom wasn’t there when he got home and they told him/us he can’t do anything but leash walks for 5 days!  That’s gonna be tough on a little Aussie kid.  AND – they put a collar thingy on him so he can’t lick the offending part of him. 🙁  Hopefully the pain med will work and he’ll be able to sleep.  I know his little wiggle-butt is whooped!

Now.  About today’s card.  Before you look at it, know that it was deliberate!  Our upline, Amy Koender, issued a challenge to us to make an Ugly Christmas sweater card.  We took it to heart.  I used the plaids from Warmth and Cheer and some deliberately non-coordinating colors with some Christmas Stocking thinlits to make….this.  I don’t know if I’ll win the contest, but take a look-see:

Right?!  It’s hideous!  Do you guys watch The Goldbergs?  Beverly Goldberg is a fiend for ugly sweaters – but she thinks they’re awesome!  So, I tried to channel her – which meant it had to be spectacularly gaudy and certainly shiny and definitely busy busy!  And it needed to look like someone thought it was going to be beautiful.  Except they failed!

I started out with a piece of the Warmth & Cheer DSP and made a 1 3/4″ cut down the short side, half way across the long side.  I rounded the corners of the “collar” with my Envelope Punch Board outside rounder and folded the corners down and back up – securing them underneath with a Glue Dot.  I filled in the “neck” with another piece of Warmth & Cheer DSP.  Then I rounded the corners with the Envelope Punch Board and SNAILd it to a Basic Black mat.

I cut out a couple of Christmas Stockings Thinlits die cuts from more plaid Warmth & Cheer DSP and adhered them to Mint Macaron card stock back.  That was good, but…I went for a little more gorgeous-gaudy by painting the Mint Macaron inside with my Gold Wink of Stella. Which turned it into a color closely approximating those green appliances popular in the 70’s!  Perfect!

Each stocking also got a Christmas Stockings Thinlits holly sprig cut out of a piece of Mint Macaron design paper from Petals & Paisleys DSP.  I adhered the stockings to the card front with Liquid Glue and added the holly springs.  I made “berries” with some Blushing Bride sequins that I pulled off the Blushing Bride Sequin Trim.  Each sequin berry also got an Enamel Shape in either Melon Mambo or Rich Razzleberry.  Then I added a little Gold Baker’s Twine bow to each stocking with a dab of Liquid Glue.

Any sweater worth its salt has buttons.  First I adhered a little strip of Silver Sequin Trim down the “placket”, and I had some Brights buttons laying around (can’t get them anymore, sorry!), so I added those over the top with Glue Dots.  The top button got a triple bow tied with Real Red, Real Red and White, and Gold Baker’s Twine.  I thought it was important to showcase all the different reds and purples… all together on one awesomely ugly sweater!

I made a sentiment “lanyard” by cutting a Christmas Greetings die cut in Gold Foil and one in Red Glimmer Paper and adhering them together and then to a Gold Baker’s Twine….”lanyard”.  Which I then stuck under the collar with a Glue Dot on each side. 🙂

Finally, I added some more Silver and Blushing Bride sequins with little dots of Liquid Glue here and there across the sweater!  And that was it for my ugly sweater card front.

On the inside, I inked up just the word Christmas from a stamp in the Tin of Tags stamp set using my Real Red Stampin’ Write Marker and stamped it in the middle of a Whisper White panel.  Then I added some more sequins.  Cuz that’s what really “makes” a great Christmas sweater, right?!?

I rounded the corners, SNAILd it to a Basic Black mat and then into my Real Red card base, SNAILd the card front on, and that was it for the card!

My Whisper White Medium Envelope got a Real Red stocking from the Hang Your Stockings stamp set on the front…

…and some more of the Warmth & Cheer DSP to the envelope flap!

Et Voila!  I couldn’t make a “real” sweater – ugly or otherwise – in a month of Sundays.  But – this one was ridiculously easy and a lot of fun!  I admit I had to work to make it ugly – kind of goes against the grain.  But, once I “got into it” – it was a kick! Give it a shot!  Trust me – it’s better than actually wearing an ugly Christmas sweater! 🙂  I’ll give you all the supplies I used for this card – but…use what you’ve got hanging around!  It’s all good! 🙂

Scroll on down for the card cuts and all the goodies you need to make this one for yourself!

HOST CODE FOR 16 NOV – 30 NOV:ADG4FHKU

Use this host code when you order and receive a free gift from me! But, if your order is over $150, please don’t use this code (you’ll miss out on your own Stampin’ Rewards if you use it) but you’ll still get the free gift – your choice of any item valued up to $10.00 in the 2015-16 Annual Catalog or the 2016 Holiday Catalog.  And – you can even select one of the Host-exclusive sets! See my Rewards page for more details.

The Stitched From the Heart Stamp Sale Ends Tomorrow!!

Only two more days to take advantage of the 25% off sale on selected stamp sets! Click here to open up a PDF with the list of stamp sets that are on sale.  Or – you can go right to them in my Online Store….here! 🙂

Details:

• 1 – 30 November 2016: select stamp sets 25% off
• Promotion Deadline (25% off select stamp sets): 30 November 2016, by 11:50 PM (MT)

You guys did good on the Online Extravaganza and my Ordering Special!  Take today and tomorrow to check out the Stitched From the Heart stamp sale one last time – it ends tomorrow night!  🙂

TTFN

Mary

STAMPIN’ UP! PRODUCTS USED IN THIS PROJECT:       
The buttons are retired now – use whatever’s ugly enough to be good! 🙂

CARD CUTS USED IN THIS PROJECT:

Real Red Card Stock: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ (card base)

Basic Black Card Stock: 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″ (mats for card front and for inner liner)

Warmth & Cheer DSP:  4″ x 5 1/4″ (card front); 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ (piece in opening of sweater); Christmas Stocking die cuts; envelope flap

Whisper White Card Stock: 4″ x 5 1/4″ (inner liner)

If you need any stamping supplies, I’d be very happy to be your Demonstrator. Just click on the Order Stampin’ Up! Online Now button on the right side of the screen to go directly to my online store or drop me an email if you have any questions. Happy Stamping!