Pink Persimmon

Sketch Challenge Winner!

Hi all!  Mr. Linky seems to be taking the day off (not sure where our links disappeared to, I will try to restore them once I figure out what happened).  Luckily Mr. Linky emailed me the links each time they were posted so I have a record of the wonderful designs that everyone submitted!  Using Random.org, we came up with Peggy Elms' post on 11/17!  Peggy, if you are reading this, contact me by email to darcy@pinkpersimmon.com so we can send you your prize package! 

Thanks to everyone who played along!  

- Darcy & Judi

Christmas Gift Bag

Kristie Larsen has been busy again creating a coordinated gift package.  The card, bag and tag all use the Holly Wreath stamp set and make a very finished package.  While it is a bit hard to see in this photo, Kristie even stamped on the tissue paper to have a coordinated image.  She gave me a hint that you only need to stamp a 2 inch border on both edges of the tissue paper, since that will be the part visible once the package is put together.   

I don't think it even matters what's inside this package, the gift is beautiful even before you open it! While you're out shopping up a storm on this Black Friday, don't forget that some home-made packaging and cards make a gift even more special.  Happy Shopping!

We are thankful...

We want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving Day (celebrated here in America).  We are thankful for the opportunity to do something that we love and thankful for friends (both near and far away in cyberland) that have made Pink Persimmon a fun place to spend some time.  We are truly grateful for this opportunity. 

Blessings to you and your families.  

 - Darcy & Judi

Card by Kelly Schirmer. 

Holiday Wall Hanging

Add a little spice to your walls this Christmas with a sweet (and inexpensive) wall hanging.  This was created by Kristie Larsen and uses the Santa's Sleigh stamp set.  The frame is from Ikea (a bargain at $3 for a pack of 3 frames) and is painted with a coat of Gesso (white acrylic base paint).  The edges are sanded slightly for an aged look.  The decorative border is stamped with StazOn Jet Black ink.  The ribbon and holly/pinecone bouquet are both hot glued to the frame.  Click on the image if you want to see more detail in a larger view.

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Sketch Challenge deadline is November 30th (8am Pacific).  We already have some really cute samples from Julie Detlef's inspirational sketch.  Plenty of time left to be eligible for the random draw on November 30th.  Read more details here. 

Holiday Wall Hanging

Add a little spice to your walls this Christmas with a sweet (and inexpensive) wall hanging.  This was created by Kristie Larsen and uses the Santa's Sleigh stamp set.  The frame is from Ikea (a bargain at $3 for a pack of 3 frames) and is painted with a coat of Gesso (white acrylic base paint).  The edges are sanded slightly for an aged look.  The decorative border is stamped with StazOn Jet Black ink.  The ribbon and holly/pinecone bouquet are both hot glued to the frame.  Click on the image if you want to see more detail in a larger view.

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Sketch Challenge deadline is November 30th (8am Pacific).  We already have some really cute samples from Julie Detlef's inspirational sketch.  Plenty of time left to be eligible for the random draw on November 30th.  Read more details here. 

Christmas Countdown

There are still a few days left in November to put together a handmade "countdown calendar" or advent calendar for your home.  We have seen some very cute ideas on different galleries and blogs, but so many are very complicated to complete.  This adorable countdown calendar by Samantha Sibbet is sweet and simple that you could finish it up in an evening. 

The tree base is from KaiserCraft.  (We had a tough time finding any of these available online to share a link, so if anyone knows of a retail store that may have them in stock, please share the name!)  Samantha used paper from My Mind's Eye and the Soda Pop Alpha and Small Banner Stamp Sets to decorate the tree. 

 

Sam drew an outline of the tree onto the patterned paper and used a craft knife to cut the tree shape. She then hand stitched the edge of the paper before adhering it to the front of the tree.  The base of the tree was painted white.

 

Each number was decorated in a similar way with stitched papers and some glittered chipboard numbers.  Sam even added a little envelope to the back of the tree to store the numbers that are not in use on that day. 

 

If you have created a countdown or advent calendar to use this season, be sure to share a link in the comments.  We'd love to see what you have made. 

Get Sketchy Blog

This is Sketch Week here at Pink Persimmon!  We are sponsoring the Get Sketchy blog this week, so you have ANOTHER chance to win some Pink Persimmon goodies.  This one is for a $25 gift certificate to the store.  Kim and Kelly volunteered to be guest designers using the sketch, so you can see their designs along with the Get Sketch Design Team.  This one ends in a week, so don't delay.

Don't forget our own Sketch Challenge posted here.  Still plenty of time to play....

Gift Box by Kelly Schirmer

Kelly Schirmer is addicted to Liquid Pearls, but she somehow always finds the perfect place to use them.  Starting with a paper mache box from JoAnn's (for $1.00!), she painted it beige with acrylic paint and then Tim Holtz Crackle Paint in Scattered Straw over the top.  She then gave the box even more of a "distressed" look by using Tim Holtz Distress inks in Scattered Straw, Tea Dye and Vintage Photo.  The Cute as a Button stamp set (appropriately embellished with the Liquid Pearls) makes a pretty little wreath on top of the box.  A perfect blend of vintage, with just a touch of glitz! 

 

A close up of the Liquid Pearls and the distressing technique on the box:

 

Don't forget to play along in our Sketch Challenge! See the post here.  A fun prize awaits one lucky random participant.

Sketch Challenge

We have a fun and simple sketch challenge for everyone along with a nice little prize package to a random participant.  This sketch was designed by Julie Detlef.   We also have samples from the Creative Team on their interpretation of the sketch.  Now you just need to show us yours! 

Put your name and link to your card/layout into Mr. Linky below when you have your design ready.  We can't wait to see what you create!  A random winner will be chosen on Monday, November 30th, so you have plenty of time to play over the Thanksgiving Holiday.  The lucky random winner will receive all three of our Christmas Stamp Sets, along with their choice of Large or Small Banner AND maybe a few other goodies thrown in as well!  This is a great package to get a jump start on your Holiday Cards!  

Season's Greetings by Julie Detlef


Merry Christmas by Linda Beeson


Merry Christmas by Samantha Sibbet




Ho Ho Ho by Kelly Schirmer


Sweet Cupcake by Kristie Larsen



Ho Ho Ho by Kimberly Crawford

Note: This is our first test with Mr. Linky. If you have any problems, shoot me an email right away so I can fix it! (darcy@pinkpersimmon.com).

Holiday Card by Linda

Linda Beeson created this adorable card with Core'dinations cardstock.  We love how you can sand this cardstock to give it a vintage feel and have a secondary color show through!

Notice how Linda used her Apron border punch on both sides of a piece of cardstock to create a "lace" type embellishment that runs across the middle of the card.  Linda first punched one side of a piece of cardstock to create the border, then trimmed the cardstock to the depth of the border punch and punched the other side.  A zig zag stitch around the outside border finishes the look.  Linda used the tree stamp from Little Red Wagon to highlight the simplicity of a sweet Christmas tree and then added glitter 3-D fashion paint to give the tree a little sparkle.  The Spellbinders Label die cut is the perfect size and shape to highlight this stamped image.

 

This card highlights how a balanced (and fairly simple) design can be really special with a few extra techniques.  This would be a great design to reproduce for your family holiday cards.