Patchwork Snowmen

Today's Ways To Use it Challenge (WT241) on SCS is to use patchwork on a card somehow. This idea of using various patterns with the Top Note die is not at all original- you've probably seen it everywhere! But I've never done it until today. I love the look of these retired textured papers called Parisian Breeze Specialty. I just used my square punch and glued them all on a base scrap of cardstock with the intentions of running it through the Big Shot with the Top Note die... but then I noticed a HUGS pile of these Top Note frames sitting in my leftover pile and decided to go that route instead.

The inside edges are sponged a bit and the ribbon runs underneath the edge of the Top Note frame. Since I was on a roll with using a retired stamp set and paper, I went ahead with the retired Baha Breeze corduroy button and chocolate felt ribbon! Baseically the only thing current on here is the use of the Snowflake & Top Note dies... oh, and also the black craft ink and clear embossing powder.

You know it's a good day when a challenge inspires you to try something new instead of forcing you to do something you'd rather not! Thanks for stopping by today! And don't worry- tomorrow I've got a card made with not only no retired products, but TWO brand new stamp sets you've never seen me use! In fact, one of them isn't even current yet and has never been seen in a SU catalog.

Have a great day,
~Kristin

SUO Supplies (mostly all retired)

Stamps: The World Over

Colors: Baha Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Kraft, Basic Black

Accessories: Clear Embossing powder, square punch, Snowflake die, Big Shot, Top Note die, sponge, chocolate felt ribbon, Baha Breeze Corduroy button

Stretch Your Stash!!!

For Thursday's Ways To Use It challenge on SCS we were to use something frugal- whether it be a great find, a great deal or whatever. Something to stretch our stampin' supplies, and therefore our stampin' dollars (who doesn't want to do that now adays?!).

First of all, have you SEEN the price of a store bought card these days? Especially one with anything dimensional, and forget about a card with something metal on it!!

That just heightens the joy of making a card like this with a piece of an old bracelet I used to wear in college, and a little metal button that fell off an old outfit of one of my kiddos. (Don't worry, I won't have trouble sending this for nostalgia's sake- I have several more pieces from that same bracelet just like this and GOBS of buttons laying around!)

I also felt frugal using this, my LAST piece of going gray in my stash (well, of usable size anyway)! I SO wish I could buy an entire pack of Going Gray. Anyone hate that color and want to trade a few pieces for anything?

Anyway, back to the card. I looked at this bracelet piece for a minute then the word "Boho" popped into my mind. I haven't used this set Boho Backgrounds in a while, so pulled it out (and NO, it is not retired). The Riding Hood Red Top Note I had cut for another project and it didn't get used so it was from my scrap stash also. I worked my keister off on this card trying to get it just right and I gotta say, now that I see it in photo form I like it much better. I think I had just looked at it for too long!

Anyway, stop by again for more tricks for stretching your stash!

~Kristin

Stampin' Up! Supplies

Stamps: Boho Backgrounds, All Holidays (what a versatile set that is!), Sanded background

Paper: Basic Gray, Riding Hood Red, Going Gray, Basic Black, Whisper White (Lots of neutrals!)

Accessories: Top Note Die, Big Shot, Scallop punch, circle punch, Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon , White Gel Pen. Non-SU: old bracelet part & old button

Wahoo!!

You ever finish a card and are so excited because it either came together really easy, or you just adore the colors or everything is just so YOU about it?? That's what I just did. I've got some deadlines coming up for big swaps so I challenged myself to a 30-minute-or-less card today and this is what I came up with! You may think I cheated by using a sketch challenge, color challenge and Ways to Use It challenge but I don't! Hey, we do what we can. Besides, I really like these colors together (Rose Red, More Mustard & Kiwi Kiss) and the sketch is awesome I think, plus if you know me well you may know that I've always LOVED stripes (on cards anyway)!

The fun part is I not only embossed, but also used the Big Shot, great accessories and enjoyed some older stamps that I hadn't used in a while! All that and it was still fast! The large white brad in the center of the felt flower is NEW! They are the 5/16" jumbo brads in neutrals- FUN!

Thanks for stopping by! I can't wait to be able to share my swap cards with you- I designed them last night and I really like them. They won't be posted here until the due date probably, which is Feb. 27th- sorry for the wait!
~Kristin

Stampin' Up! Supplies

Stamps: Curvy Verses (isn't that just the most versatile sentiment set?!!), Polka Dot background, Simple Stripes background (very retired)

Cardstock: Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss, More Mustard, Whisper White

Accessories: White EP, Felt Fusion, scallop border punch, Big SHot, Scallop Circles #2 die, 5/16" brad, earth elements brads

Frosty Morning Sunrise

For today's Ways to Use it Challenge we were asked to utilize any type of color combo website or chart and choose a combination to try. Julia suggested this website which I checked. The closest I could come to the color scheme I chose called Frosty Morning Sunrise is Ballet Blue, So Saffron, Marigold Morning and Chocolate Chip.

The colors are some I'd use again, I think. The branches from Eastern Bloom are embossed with chocolate ink and clear powder. The rest is pretty self-explanatory I think. Hope you like it! Thanks for stopping by.

~Kristin

One Word Only...

For yesterday's WT189 on SCS, Ways To Use it Challenge, we were to use only one word on the front of the card. Hopefully my french script background (on the basic gray) and the script in the Fresh Cuts stamp don't make me a cheater. :) I took this picture last night so I may try to get a better one today. I really wanted the light to show through the paper piercing around the edges so I had to leave my flash off which made it quite yellow and a bit blurry. I will try to fix it.

I am so happy with how this turned out- we were also required to have at least a touch of pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Well, I did more than a touch. A few retired sets were used here. Some of you might have not even heard of them, but this is SUO! The black flower is from Art of Life, a beautiful old set that I can't get ride of. The "friend" is from Noteworthy, an old SAB set I believe, that I've always admired. There is also a bit of French Script- a treasured background in my collection. I combined them with the current sets Fresh Cuts and Heartfelt Thanks for a soft feminine look.

A touch of dazzling diamonds on the flower and edges of the curly label adds a touch of jazz as well, as well as the taffeta ribbon and paper piercing at the edges that is really neat with the light showing through.

Thanks for stopping by- I love having you!

Striped Wipes Technique!!

I've done techniques with baby wipes before, and plenty with glossy white, but I've never done one that I am this excited about! How cool- it is fast and easy and fun! Love the look of it too. Anyway, here are two cards I've done with this technique. I thought and thought about how to further embellish them but in the end realized somethings are better left alone!

Hope you like and here is a link to the Tutorial for this technique. What do you think??

Stampin' Up! Supplies

(card 1)

Stamps: Stem Silhouettes
Paper: Glossy White, Eggplant Envy, Elegant Eggplant
Ink: Eggplant Envy, basic black, whisper white
Accessories: Ink Refills: Eggplant Envy, Perfect Plum, Vintage Violet, Brilliant Blue, Buckaroo Blue; large oval punch, baby wipe, notched corner punch, Crafter's Tool Kit

Stampin' Up! Supplies

(card 2)

Stamps: Inspired by Nature
Paper: Glossy White, Basic Black
Ink: refills: Cranberry Crisp, Tangerine Tango, Marigold Morning, Kiwi Kiss, True Thyme, Basic Black
Accessories: spiral punch, wet wipe
Techniques: Striped Wipe