I can't believe it's time to start gearing up for the holidays. I plan to make 50 to 60 homemade cards so a head start is crucial to prevent my pre-Christmas "gotta get my cards done" meltdown. Not typically a fun period for my family 🙂
Today's card focuses on an adorable Stampin' Up! stamp set called A Flower for All Seasons (images below). The colors selected are all part of the Earth Elements Collection (except White) and include Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red and Old Olive.
I stamped the sweet cardinal and poinsettias image in Chocolate Chip on Whisper White card stock and used Stampin' Up! Markers in Ruby Red and Old Olive to color in the flowers and leaves. TIP: I stamped the image again, colored with markers and added some sparkle to the leaves using a Sparkle Gel Pen. Vavoom! The sparkly flowers were snipped out and mounted on Stampin' Dimensionals. Three shiny gold 
Stamp Sets: A Flower for All Seasons, Kindred Spirits, Warm Words (dormant but available)
Paper: Ski Slope Designer Series, Whisper White, Ruby Red, Old Olive Textured, Chocolate Chip Textured
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Stampin' Up! Markers Ruby Red and Old Olive
Cool Tools: Paper Piercer and Template (Stampin' Up! Crafter's Tool Kit), Big Shot, Round Tab Punch, Fiskars Scallop Scallop Border Punch, Nestabilities
The Perfect Touch: Gold Micro Brads
TIP: Did you know that by clicking my order button (top right or here), you can
search for any of these Stampin' Up! products by name? Plus, the feedback from my
customers about the ease of my 
Oh Wow! Mary, that is sooooo very pretty. I LOVE everything about this card. The frame, the scalloped border, the tiny brads, the popped up poinsettia. Awesome
Get better soon! Hugs and smiles
Hi again Mary,
I just figured out my confusion about Warm Words and I checked on the SU site. This set isn’t retired, it was moved to the dormant list and can still be ordered until Jan 18, 2009 when it will either be added back to the Idea Book & Catalog or retired.
Occasionally Panic is a good thing – lol!
Hi Jean: You are SO right. Warm Words is on the dormant list and still available. I updated this post and can’t thank you enough for the heads up! Hugs M
Hugs – Jean
THIS CARD IS ADORABLE , THE PAPERS THE COLOR , THE BIRD ARE GREAT.
I love that little stamp set! I love that you made it into a Christmas card. Nice framing with the Nesties…very clever.
Thanks for sharing!
as always, totally beautiful and very inspiring!
This is completely gorgeous!! I love it!!
Mary..I just finished my 36 cards for Christmas. Woohoo! I got a head start!
A card party really sounds like a plan for next year!!
RATS! I talked myself out of getting this set and I’ve seen soooo many darling cards made with it but yours is the cutest so far!
Hi Mary,
What a lovely card to wake up to. Love all the layering and detail – especially the detail. Had to think a minute about the Warm Words being retired (darn it that’s one of my favorite sets) although after a little page flipping I realized I could substitute Short & Sweet’s “very merry” for a similar effect at my next Stamp a Stack!
Thanks for sharing your time and talent with the rest of us!
Blessings and Joy my dear Mary -Jean
We should organize a Christmas (Holiday) Card making party!
Get a bunch of ladies together and start working on our Holiday cards.
Watcha’ think?
OMD!!!!! I Love it…AS ALWAYS!!!
We don’t have “kindred Spririt” in our catalog……….
Have a nice day, dear Mary!
yes, i am beginning to feel the christmas card pressure. i only need 40, but i end up making several each of various designs and always end up with too many. i must say, i never was even interested in kindred spirits but i love how you have used it as a BG of sorts on the ruby red. hmmmmm. beautiful card!!! love all the layers. am i going to have to have that fiskars punch that already has holes in it??? i like how your scallop edge runs along the top of the card instead of the bottom. I WANT TO LIVE IN YOUR HEAD FOR JUST ONE WEEK!!!!
I’m in the same boat as you – I need to make about 50 Christmas cards too.
Gorgeous card! I love all your layers of different paper on this one.
Have a wonderful day!
Mary, I just love the way you combine your stamp sets and elements, and your keen eye for color combos. This card is simply adorable!