Cool Tools, Etc.

I had a Stampin' Up book party recently, and the order came today. I'm in love with Stampin' Up's punches and wanted to give my friends the chance to get some, too. I'm also in love with SU's Peaceful Wishes stamp set, having seen so many beautiful cards on so many blogs made with this set. My cards are simple. I think this stamp set lends itself to simple designs. I love the word, "peaceful" and associate it with simplicity. The colors I used on the card on the right are New England Ivy (textured cardstock), Colonial White, and Vineyard Berry. For the other one, I changed out the green with Ponderosa Pine and stamped the pine cones with Chocolate rolled with Cocoa. A little Prisma Glitter on the branches and pine cones accomplished a frosty look. I also used my new paper piercing guide and mat on both cards. What a cool tool! While the idea I posted a while back about using plastic canvas for paper piercing was OK, I've got to say that the guide and mat are so worth the $9.95 they cost. They make it so easy to line things up, and the thicker mat so so much better to pierce than the foam I used previously. I also bought the brass "Seeing Spots" template which has guides for stamping several circle sizes. More fun for coming days, maybe even tomorrow after I've hit the stores and purchased some gifts for Grandpa to wrap . . . Ho, ho, ho! Later!