Hello to all and do I have a FUN post for you today! I know that it has been ages since I have blogged and I have missed you guys…I had shared with you all that this Fall was going to be a super busy time for me with traveling and I have learned one thing…HATS OFF TO THOSE that can travel all of the time and be balanced with daily life!

Don’t get me wrong….it has all been SUPER FUN but I am a pooped stamper and my poor suitcase never gets to make it back to the basement…John and I leave on Wednesday to make a trek to the great state of Texas….to see some very special people….and I do hope to blog about it as I know it will make you smile from ear to ear!

I have not been short of ideas for you and for my blog….it is that darn TIME THING that has stopped me from blogging…..the creating part is the super FUN PART…..it is the taking photos, editing them, typing up the post, linking the products….all of those that are the true timer bandits!

Enough….let’s get to it as I have a C&CKC for you today……yep, that is my new little tag smile maker for you…

Clean & Classic Keeper Card (say that 5 times!)

Holidays always seem to bring out the best of us when we sit to create our cards for our family and friends. Using vellum is always a classic and it instantly will step up the game for you but the one thing that we all seem to have to deal with is…..

How in the heck can we hide the adhesive on the vellum?

Trust me, I GET IT as you know I like to always have a well constructed card with clean workmanship and we all know working with vellum is one of those “special touches” that is fun to implement into our cards but that DARN HIDING THE ADHESIVE GAME can be a challenge!

I do hope that you stay with the length of this post and also the amount of pictures that I have for you today but again, you know me…..I like to make sure that you “get it”

I will be sharing with you tips that YOU DO NOT WANT TO DO…..as well as the TIPS THAT WILL MAKE YOU SMILE! The way that I look at it is….learning from mistakes that I made will save you time in the long run!

I am mainly working with the SUPERSTAR bundle from the Holiday Catalog….the Merry Christmas to All Bundle. It is chocked full of fabulous sentiments to create a classic card but the framelits….yep, to me – they are the show stopper as I am a HUGE FAN of sentiment words. This IS one that will be a yearly staple for you….

Below you will see another keeper, the Swirls & Curls Embossing Folder! This is another dynamic folder that leaves that super deep impression that will bring an instant smile to your face. I used this on all cards today and you will see the classic look it gives and the best thing – you can use this all year long as it is not just limited to the Holidays!

This will be your FREE with a $75+ or more with me this month…if you already have this, no worries….I will glad to substitute with another embossing folder….I just want you to be a happy stamper that STAMPS!!!

I know that you will “get this” and chuckle….we are all pretty good…actually GREAT at collecting things/products……but we need to USE THEM! I will say….I have been a stampin’ machine lately and it has felt great to create and send mail…..that is why I started with SU and I will say, going back to the roots of doing what I love is making me smile!

There is really nothing hard about this layout as it is what I love and do best…keeping it simple! Simple Layers of paper and embossing and then using the circle framelits to create an ornament….PRESTO – DONE…..but here are the DO NOT DO’S as well as the TO DO’S

It is all about using the basics….

The KEY to making this work is to use the Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets and to use MULTIPLE LAYERS OF THE VELLUM CIRCLES before you add the Ornament to the Embossed piece or cardstock!

Keep reading as my photos will be helpful! I heat embossed on the vellum and in the sample below you will see that I used 4 different embossing powders….heck, it’s the holidays and there is nothing like heat embossing and seeing that luscious and rich powder melt to smoothness!

When you heat emboss…..ALWAYS USE the Embossing Buddy….it is the best way to ensure that your end result will be a beauty! Heat Embossing is probably still the biggest WOW that we love to see and do!

Remember when I said that you will need to use MULTIPLE LAYERS OF VELUM CIRCLES WITH THE MULTIPURPOSE ADHESIVE ON THE BACK?…..well….yep  – follow that tip but do NOT heat emboss the sentiment with the adhesive on the back…..

Look below…you can see that the result is terrible  – the adhesive melted underneath and created bubble……

Now look at this one below……a BEAUTIFUL MELT!!!! After you heat set the sentiment….THEN PUT THE ADHESIVE ON THE BACK and then you can go ahead and add more circles of vellum.

I like to use 3 layers of vellum…..I am being totally honest with you as I think that the 3 layers give you the best end result! In this one below……I did use a white circle under the last layer but I think you get the idea of where I am coming from!

Hopefully you will see the adhesive on the back of this below….I am a HUGE believer of making sure that you have the right products at your fingertips so when you take the time to create….you have everything you need at a reach. Having the Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets IS a must have…..(actually I have MANY) as I would never want to be without!

Below you will see another example of what not to do……I ADORE this layout and colors/punch that I used…..but I only had 1 piece of vellum and you can see how the embossing folder shadows peek through.

This would have been TOTALLY AVOIDED if I would have added  2 more adhesive vellum circles underneath the stamped one! I know that O am being super picky….but I am trying to be true! I also loved what I did with the envelope! I really just wanted 2 rows of trees….so adding the 1/4″ strip on the top and on the bottom was a winner!

Look at this beauty…..I love this combo! The copper is just stunning. This would have been PERFECT if I would have added the 2 circles underneath……here is another tip that I always do…I add a bow with a glue dot and then just adhere the anchor to the back of the embossed piece with an adhesive.

I know that some of you might be thinking I am being to type A….but heck – what is it to just add 2 more circles…..

I just love a clean card that the mechanics of it are completely hidden. I know that time is a factor for some of these tips….but trust me, the time you spend to the details is so with it and your style becomes more reflective of workmanship the more you do it.

You know that I adore plaids….and this one I added more of a DSP to the focal of the card but you can still see the classic ornament! To me, this is a great card – I love the colors, I love the style and YEP, there are 3 layers of vellum and then a white circle…..creating a beauty!

I love dimension….and trust me, I have a CA-ZILLION Stampin’ Dimensionals but I also love to use fun foam! It cuts perfectly with the framelits and below you can see that I just used a smaller circle and adhered it!

Why do I like fun foam so much? I love the solid feel it gives to a larger element….if this was smaller, I would have used a dimensional!

Below you will see how I used these products…..all BASICS that created a fun and oh so beautiful of a Holiday Card! This would be a card that would be super easy to MASS PRODUCE and also a great card to use up your DSP…..you could easily use the layout and then just choose the color scheme to what you have on hand!

Well…there you go! I DID IT…I POSTED and I hope that you found this helpful! I know that my posts are so long…but that is the way I roll. It is my goal to make sure that you completely understand how YOU can make this card!

Please feel free to leave a comment and a HUGE CYBER HUG to each and everyone of YOU!!!! Please make sure that you use the HOST code of 76FGF2W6 to get the Embossing Folder with a purchase from me this month!

For those of you that have already purchased from me this month, I will reach out to you as I never changed the offering for this month! You will always find the current host code on the right side bar of my blog!

Go and have a great evening and I hope to be in you “in box” soon……