On the topic of Valentines

Hello hello hello!  Right back at ya with yet another Valentine.  Funny, I don't send many... I probably have a stash of Valentine's I've made over the years and never sent.  I should send them- there are a few people I love.  Or I could just sign them and slip them under a few pillows.  Hmmm, like that idea. 

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I used a sketch today.  Yep.  Isn't it fun?  I'm all about asymetrical so it spoke to me.  You should see all the sketches I DON'T use.  Seriously, there are tons out there.  I only bring you the best.  :)  This one is from Splitcoast Stampers- they have a sketch every Wednesday. 

Kept this one pretty simple.  A little stampin', little embossin', little punching.  Ooh, did you notice my cupid's arrow??  Can you guess how I did it?  I'm the last one on the bandwagon, but I finally have SU's large snowflake punch.  If you have it punch one and play around- I'm confident you can figure out this arrow.  And YES, I did have to cut some things and glue some things.  It didn't come out exactly like that.  The seam is hidden behind the sentiment piece.

More embossed dots, did you notice??  I have gotten my money's worth out of that embossing folder.  Actually, I didn't even pay for it.  Jackie Pedro sent it to me a LONG time ago! 

As promised, here's the inside all done up.  Fast and easy. Thanks for stopping by! 
~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Love you Much, Short & Sweet

Colors:  Rich Razzleberry, Night of Navy, Pink Pirhouette, Whisper White

Accessories:  Big Shot, Polka Dots embossing folder, Large snowflake punch, large heart punch, markers, scalloped trim border punch, Modern label punch, Pearls, Narrow Rich Razzleberry ribbon

Picky like that

OK, alright, you guessed it.  I'm addicted to sketch challenges!  Frankly, I like them better than color challenges.  You see, I am picky about colors and combinations of colors and sometimes my mood even determines what colors I want to use. 

(don't ask me what my favorite color is like my daughter does often.  I CAN'T possibly answer that.  Like I tell her, I like all colors, just not together, not for everything and not on certain days)

I kind of get the attitude like "don't tell me what colors to use"... but I'm fine being given a sketch.  In fact, I prefer it.  That probably says something about my brain and ability or lack thereof, to design.  That might also explain why I've resorted to giving YOU a color challenge.  I'm bossy like that. 

So today I've used a sketch from Pals Paper Arts.  Love it- gives me JUST enough to work with.  Gets those creative juices flowing. 

Today I've also used some contraband.  Shhh.  The only reason I'm pointing it out is because otherwise I imagine I'll get someone asking where in the SU catalog are those embossing folders I used.  No where.  Well, not entirely true.  I used my trusty polka dots, so of course you can find them.  And the newer one (the oval frame) called Designer Frames.  Those are in there too.  The others, not so much.  They are in a set of 5 skinny strip folders called With Love by Provocraft.  That's all I'm saying 'bout that. 

And before you ask, here is the inside.  Crummy picture, even with all the editing in the world and beautiful sunlight.  Crappy camera (user).  That center piece is actually Pool Party which is why it looks so off white.

So after all the fuss, what do you think of my color combo?  I had it written down as a future challenge to use here... but got antsy and couldn't resist it.  (Same with yesterday's card!)  It is Concord Crush, Pool Party and Basic Gray.  With white of course. 

Well, I already mentioned almost everything I used in this card but I know some of you aren't reading a word of this (can't blame you) and will just cut to the list of supplies if you even want to know.  So here it is, and thanks for stopping by!
~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Best Yet

Colors:  Concord crush, Basic Gray, Pool Party, Whisper White

Accessories:  Big Shot, contraband previously mentioned, Polka Dot embossing folder, Designer Frames embossing folder, Concord Crush Stitched Poly ribbon, Basic Pearls

A Punchy Window

OK, so I'm a few days late.  I have a good excuse... I didn't get around to it.  :)  Anyway, this week I'm using the MOJO sketch challenge and if I remember to link it there as soon as I'm done with this post then I might actually make it in time.  (their linky closes on 1/22 so get busy!) 

I've seen this idea to use the Heart to Heart punch in this manner.  Like a window you can see through.  It fits nicely in the big 2 1/2" circle punch which I stamped with the hearts from the Confetti stamp set.  Finished it off with a Printed Designer brad in Calypso Coral, some Vanilla Seem binding ribbon, touches of dazzling diamonds glitter and a paper pierced border.  Oh, can't forget the embossed dots either.  Sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, my go to set!

Since I told you to call me out on it I'll just state for the record that I DID do the inside as well, but it is just a few punched hearts bundled in the corner with a touch of the ribbon.  And it didn't photograph well.  So you'll have to trust me. 

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kristin

Don't forget, you still have time to play along with my first challenge ever!!!

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Confetti, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Colors:  Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral, Poppy Parade, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Big Shot, Polka Dots embossing folder, Printed Designer Brad, Vanilla Seem Binding, 2.5" circle punch, paper piercing tools, Heart to Heart punch, dazzling diamonds

Owl You Do

Good morning!  How about some cute little owls to start your day?!  Today I'm playing along with the sketch challenge at Create with Connie & Mary as well as the color challenge at Color Throwdown.  My original plan was to use 6 different owl stamps, which I did manage to find in my collection.  But I wasn't sure I'd like the end result so I stuck to just this one from Aviary with the idea that I'd also use my owl punch to make a larger one to be offset.  Well, I couldn't figure out how to get it on the front side so he ended up on the inside.  Voila! 

I've been having fun doing up the insides of my cards lately.  Sure makes it easier when I grab one to send, or when I need to increase my stash to sell at the local consignment shop.  I've even started stamping the envelope to match then slipping them in a clear envelope for safe keeping.  Just stick on my address label and a clear label to show what is stamped on the inside and it's ready for sale. 

Anyone else trying to design the inside as well?  I used to dread it because I was always ready to move on to the next card, but it is SO much more enjoyable to send and receive a card with the inside all cute-ified!  This is one of my New Year's resolutions.  Feel free to call me out on it if I don't keep it up! 

 Thanks for visiting me today!  Stop back tomorrow for my first Valentine of the year! 

~Kristin

SUO Supplies:

Stamp:  Aviary, Petite Pairs, Picture This (inside sentiment), Punch Bunch (inside owl)

Colors:  River Rock, Soft Suede, Soft Sky, Daffodil Delight

Accessories:  Styled Silver Hodgepodge, small oval punch, corner rounder, scallop border punch, owl punch, Daffodil Delight pompom trim, basic pearl, punch pack (small flower on owl inside)

How 'bout a color challenge??

Good evening my fellow stampers!  Exciting news- I've been playing around and decided to throw a color challenge your way.  I found some time to play this weekend and started a list of some color combos I'd like to use soon.  Then one thing led to another and I figured out how to make a Color Challenge...uh, logo-thingy and even signed up for a free Inlinkz account.  Yes FREE so we won't have thumbnails, but who knows, if everyone plays along then we can progress to the paid stage, right? 

Anyway, the challenge is to use Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant and Marina Mist together somehow.  I did on my card above which also features last week's Mojo Monday sketch.  I missed the deadline for the submissions, but still love the sketch! 

I used my fierce Extreme Surfer dude with Extreme Elements for accents. 

Ooh, almost forgot to show you the inside.

Well, can't wait to see who plays along and what you come up with!  I'd love to feature one of you on a future post.  The collection closes on January 30th so you've got two weeks.  On your mark, get set, GO!  (But come back!)

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Extreme Surfer, Extreme Elements, Party Hearty

Colors:  Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant, Marina Mist, Whisper White

Accessories:  Large star punch, Elegant Eggplant narrow grosgrain, Marina Mist ribbon, Top Note die & Big Shot

___________________________________

Miss you!

Hello again!  Well, here is another card and another attempt at creative photo editing with my new software.  I'm still learning obviously, it seems a little overprocessed to me, but I think this is an improvement over yesterday. 

Anyway, had fun playing with this sketch from the Clean & Simple blog.  Not sure why, but as soon as I saw it I thought I wanted to use this map paper from the Newsprint collection of Designer Series Paper.  The hot air balloon from Up, Up & Away set came to mind next.  Colors are Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, black and vanilla. 

Did you happen to notice the embossed clouds on the Lucky Limeade card base??  Here's a hint at how I did those.  It's been awhile since I've tried making my own texture plate so took me a few tries, but in a nutshell here's how you do it:  punch or cut out shapes from scrap cardboard (this was a thin piece that I was able to punch).  Next, glue the cutouts to a scrap piece of cardstock.  I use a piece that is exactly 5.5"x4.25 so I can line it up with my card front.  Finally, stack it like this:  Multipurpose platform first (no tabs), then a cutting pad (clear plate), your template with clouds or whatever, cardstock, silicone rubber, then impressions pad. 

You may need to experiment with the "sandwich" a bit to find out what works for you... but please BE CAREFUL, Big Shots are NOT indestructible!  I'd start with a lean sandwich first then make it thicker until it works for you.

Gotta run.  Thanks for stopping by again!
~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Up, Up & Away

Colors:  Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Basic Black, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Build-a-Cupcake punch, scallop circle punch, small oval punch, Everyday Enchantment organdy ribbon in Lucky Limeade (a Sale-a-Bration freebie starting Jan. 24!), and Newsprint DSP

Striving for Clarity

Ooh, looks like I sparked a friendly little debate on my last post.  Thanks for your input- all of it!  For clarification, it is correct to believe that I was not trying to alter my card in anyway, I'm actually quite pleased with it as-is. However, I was trying to increase your viewing pleasure by producing the best possible photograph of my card.  With that said, I do quite agree that my frame or "vignette" as one commenter called it needed to be scaled back a bit.  Wish I knew how because then I think I'd have a happy medium that we might all be able to live with. 

I will continue to play with it and strive for that perfect balance, maybe even with my next post, we'll see.  I do have a card done that I'd like to share, and maybe today is the perfect day to play with my new software since the gloomy rain outside will hinder any chance at a perfect unedited photo. 

In the mean time, thanks again for your constructive criticism and happy stamping!
~Kristin

Playing around

Playing around with a new photo editing software I just downloaded called Photoscape... same card as earlier today.  What do you think?  Even managed to get a watermark on there.  I love the look of the gradiant frame, but is this too much?  Input??

Wherever You Go

Have you heard that the new Occasions Mini catalog is now available?!  That's right, and if I was truly a gung-ho business minded demonstrator (I'm a gung-ho stamper, does that count?) I would be showing you a card today made with all new goodies from this mini... however since I don't have them quite yet, instead I'm showing you a card that was entirely inspired by the first sample in the new Mini (p. 4).  The sample was just gorgeous and I couldn't stop looking at it so I finally sat down to use that to my advantage.  Besides, I'm just glad to be stamping!  {Ooh, I just remembered, the Wisteria Wonder twine IS from this mini!!}

My version uses an old retired set called Asian Artistry.  The colors I kept the same, which are Wisteria Wonder (a current In Color) and Soft Suede with Very Vanilla.  I also used many of the same elements like the Wisteria Wonder ruffled ribbon and twine, plus the scallop border punch, Lattice embossing folder and even a mini library clip.  I almost added a pearl or two on there then decided to leave well-enough alone. 

So go check out the Mini Catalog, let me know if something grabs your attention that you can't live without, and don't miss that gorgeous sample.  Then let me know what you think (about my card, the sample, your favorite product, whatever!) 

Thanks for visiting! 
~Kristin

SUO Supplies
Stamps:  Asian Artistry

Colors:  Wisteria Wonder, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Big Shot, Lattice embossing folder, Wisteria Wonder Ruffled Ribbon, Wisteria Wonder twine, Antique Brass mini library clip, scalloped border punch

The Sky's the Limit

Up, Up & Away has been sorely neglected since I got it so I've put it to use here.  I decided to try out the sketch on Splitcoast as well as the Pals Paper Arts color challenge to use Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla.  And a touch of Daffodil Delight for my take on it. 

I made my clouds with the Build-a-Cupcake punch, then ran them through the Big Shot with the dotted embossing folder.  The sun is just a 1 3/8" circle punched out with thin strips of paper glued to the back- easy peasy! 

Here's the sketch!  I can see lots of other possibilities with it as well! 

Ooh, almost forgot:  this is for the SUO Challenge to "Get Punchy" with SU punches!  I think I did just that! 

Thanks for stopping by today,

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Up, Up & Away

Colors:  Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla, Daffodil Delight

Accessories:  Big Shot, Stripes embossing folder, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder

Cheers for a new year!

Hello again and happy 2012!  I'm ready for a fresh new year and some new stamping projects.  So here goes:  a card and a challenge.  Hope you like!  I've used a new set that is a preview of a Sale-a-Bration set called Fresh Vintage.  Don't you just love those mini silver brads?!  The sentiment is a tried and true set called Well Scripted.  The sketch challenge is from Mojo Monday's sketch blog.  Always love their sketches! 

 Here's a quick shot of the inside! 

Thanks for stopping by again!  I've got another card I made today that I'll save for tomorrow. 

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Well Scripted, Fresh Vintage

Colors:  Basic Gray, Pear Pizzazz, Lucky Limeade, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories:  Scallop Circl punch, Mini Silver Brads, Dotted scallop border ribbon punch, scallop border punch, Triple Layer punch