This Christmas, you won't want to go past the new In Color, Gumball Green...

Stamps: Betsy's Blossoms (wood: 126004, clear: 126006), Itty Bitty Banners (wood: 126255, clear: 126257). Card/Paper: Whisper White (106549), Gumball Green (127543), Garden Green (108605), Lucky Limeade (124388), Wild Wasabi (111850). Ink: Gumball Green (126861), Garden Green (126973), Lucky Limeade (126984), Wild Wasabi (126959), Early Espresso (126974). Accessories: Champagne Glimmer Paper (127885), Crumb Cake Designer Button (Neutrals: 119743), Early Espresso Baker's Twine (123124). Tools: Big Shot (113439), Bitty Banners Framelits (129267), 1-3/4" Circle Punch (119850), Merry Minis Punch Pack (126882), Glue Dots (103683), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430).

The colours on this card compares the new Gumball Green with three other current Stampin' Up! colours. The colours, from top left going clockwise, are Garden Green, Lucky Limeade, Wild Wasabi and Gumball Green (bottom left). Gumball Green is warmer (less blue) than Garden Green, but not as yellow as Lucky Limeade. Being more saturated than Wild Wasabi, Gumball Green is a crisp, rich green - just in time for Christmas!

Have you seen the Champagne Glitter Paper on page 18 of the Holiday Catalogue? Here it is punched out with the little star from the Merry Minis Punch Pack (page 6, Holiday Catalogue)...

Glimmer Paper is a stunning, no-mess way to add glitter. Great for all your Christmas projects.

Over the weekend I attended the annual Stampin' Up! Heartfelt Stampin' Event in Auckland. It was a lovely day with hands-on play, learning techniques, forging new friendships and sharing with others. I was honoured to be asked to contribute to the day by demonstrating some of the new products and tools, and teaching stamping techniques. Prior to the event, I was given some new stamps and products to play with and asked to produce some samples for display. One of the stamp sets I was given was the Christmas Wishes hostess stamp set from the Holiday Catalogue. Here it is on some of the Christmas projects I made using Gumball Green, Early Espresso and Whisper White...

The card at the back is a variation of the box card I taught at the recent September Worskhops...

Stamps: Christmas Wishes - Hostess (wood: 127982, clear: 127985). Ink: Early Espresso (126974), Gumball Green (126861), Early Espresso Stampin' Write Marker (119680), Gumball Green and Summer Starfruit Stampin' Write Markers (2012-2014 In Colors: 126856). Card/Paper: Gumball Green (127543), Early Espresso (121686), Whisper White (106549), Gumball Green Core'dinations (127847), Early Espresso Core'dinations (127848). Accessories: Early Espresso Baker's Twine (123124), 3/16" Metallic Brads (119741). Tools: Big Shot (113439), Petite Pocket Bigz XL Die (123131), Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (127821), 1/16" Circle Handheld Punch (101227), 1/2" Circle Punch (119869), Scallop Oval Punch (119856), Large Oval Punch (119855), Stampin' Sanding Block (129367), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430).

The two-toned effect on Santa in his balloon was achieved by using the Rock and Roll technique, where you ink up your stamp in the lightest colour then roll the edges of your stamp on a darker ink pad. For this particular image, I inked the stamp it in Gumball Green first, then rolled the edges on Early Espresso before stamping it on Whisper White card stock...

Box cards are great for giving a card and gift in one. Inside the card you can put vouchers, a small flat gift, or in this case, a little pocket of Christmas Tags. Using the Petite Pocket Bigz XL die to hold hand-cut and stamped Christmas tags was inspired by Shelli Gardner...

Are you loving the texture? The I created the woodgrain by using two new products from the Holiday Catalogue...

• The gorgeous Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, found on page 33.
• And the Core'dinations Card Stock, found on page 6. The Core'dinations card stock is textured and the outside layers are the exclusive Stampin' Up! colours. But the inside core of the card stock is a surprise! When you distress, tear, or sand you reveal the inside layer.

The front of the box card and the Petite Pocket are the result of embossing Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock with the Woodgrain embossing folder, then sanding the high areas to produce this scrummy wood-effect.

And finally, here's the Christmas cracker I made using the same colours...

Stamp Sets: Christmas Wishes - Hostess (wood: 127982, clear: 127985). Ink: Early Espresso (126974), Gumball Green and Summer Starfruit Stampin' Write Markers (2012-2014 In Colors: 126856). Card/Paper: Early Espresso (121686), Whisper White (106549), Gumball Green Core'dinations (127847), Early Espresso Core'dinations (127848), Snow Festival DSP (126908). Accessories: Whisper White 5/8" Organza Ribbon (114319), Early Espresso Baker's Twine (123124), 3/16" Metallic Brads (119741). Tools: 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch (119854), 1-3/8" Circle Punch (119860), 1/2" Circle Punch (119869), Stampin' Sanding Block (129367), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430). Cracker design by Delys Cram.

The Gumball Green Core'dinations card stock was used for the cracker's tag. This time I didn't emboss, I just sanded back the texture of the card stock to reveal the inner core.

Love what you see?

• Click HERE to contact me to place your order for products from the Annual and Holiday Catalogues. Gumball Green ink and card stock?