Stampin' Up! Abstract Christmas

Instagram Inspiration

Sometimes, while scrolling through Instagram posts there is something new that grabs me. If you are an avid Instagram lover you know what I mean. 

I have always had a flair for the abstract anyway, but when I happened upon an Instagram post from a company called Ampersand Design Studio, I was smitten.

One thing I love to do is to mix patterns and colors. 

I even do this with my outfits. I am the one who pairs a pair of cowgirl boots with a cocktail dress and not in same color family. 

There are even times when I have to ask my husband if something outrageous I put on works, and every now and then he tells me...no. I do push the limits from time to time.

All of this and more brings me to tell you about Ampersand Design Studio. Can I just say, and by the way, I cannot explain it, but I am and have always been infatuated with the ampersand. Perhaps, that is one of the many reasons that drew me to this company.

They play with colors. Perhaps, even colors that may not go together on any other palette, but the way they thoughtfully throw in shape and design, it just works!

Before, I share my Ampersand Design Studio inspired Christmas card, I have to share a quick sad story.

I did a little homework on where this company was located, I was hoping it was in my backyard, but alas, they are in Kansas. That was a great second location, because my eldest son lives right outside of Kansas in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Well, I headed out on a road trip with my husband to visit my son for a long weekend. We took some time, during the trip, to head to our favorite Italian market to purchase some incredible and tasty sausages to bring back home.

And let me say, before I go on, I can be pretty dense. It is only one of my short comings, but I digress... 

My husband and I are in this wonderful little homespun and a must destination shopping market in Kansas City and I was only an arm length away from some of the of the wonderful crafted products created by the Ampersand Design Studio and did not even know it! 

Isn't that just the saddest! I wanted one other T-shirts! Unfortunately, I have fluffed up my waist line to such an undesirable degree, and I am not quite sure if I need to go up a size in their shirts. That is the only reason, I have not purchased online yet. 

I was right there, so close, to trying on what I have wanted from afar and did not know it until I got back home and realized I was right in front of a shop that sold Ampersand Design Studio products. I am grieved beyond words Y'all!  

Well, without further ado, here is my Ampersand Design Studio inspired card.

Just so you know, they also sell cards in their online store and have stationary products right in your hometown Target! 

Check out their website by clicking on any mentions of their business title above and visit your local Target. Both of which, I love!

I used a handful of Stampin' Up! products to create this fun card. 

While I could have simply cut a number of squares to size, I used a Layering Square Die (141708), well, to stay square.

Even though, I can hear my husband's voice say, "Work smarter, not harder," I wanted to make sure one or a few of my squares were not off. 

In hindsight, I probably could have filled up the entire card face, which I would have perferred, if I figured out the right size of square needed, instead of using a preset dimension...next time.

I tried to use a circle punch, but it was hard to center, so I used a Layered Circle Die (129381) instead along with a heart die from the retired Sweet & Sassy Framlits (141707). 

Again, in hindsight, I could have punched some holes with a 1" punch (119868) and then used the square die.

In the end, I cut out a number of squares and placed the circle and heart die together in each pass with my BigShot. 

However, I did use a combination of the retired 1 3/4" and 2" (133782) Circle punches for the layered sentiment, which came from my favorite Holiday set Cup of Christmas (150491) and was heat embossed in White (109132).

I almost forgot, the color combination! I love my Stampin' Up! products! Cardstock colors include: Basic Black (121045), Night of Navy (100867), retired Perfect Plum , Petal Pink (146985)119793), Poppy Parade (119793), Rococo Rose (150882), Shaded Spruce (146981), and Whisper White (100730).

If you have not already, take a minute and check out Ampersand Design Studio and follow them on Instagram!

💗 Vally