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)

Another Diva Wednesday!!

Are you ready for another color challenge?? Well we've got one for you! This week we are using: Early Espresso, Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz and Tempting Turquoise! What fun- I always love a good combination of a good bright, a luscious subtle and a rich bold neutral!

I'm sure you could've guessed that I'd be using new goodies here real soon and you're right. When I got home from vacation on Sunday evening my father-in-law called to say I had a few boxes arrive that he took home with him. So even though I didn't want to see the inside of a vehicle for a very long time we hopped in the car and went to visit him.

One of the first sets that really called out to me in this new Idea Book & Catalog was this Aviary! I always had a pet parakeet while growing up and also have always loved a neat bird cage as a decorative element. They are so... I don't know, visual I guess. Anyway, Stampin' Up! did not disappoint with this new set which includes 4 different cages, 4 birds and a perfect stand to put them on.

For this card I not only used the Diva's color challenge but also found a fun layout from the Clean & Simple blog to use. In case you haven't figured out I'm not one bit shy about combining old and new SU products. My sentiment here is an old hostess set from the last catalog called Picture This. I initially thought I'd use the "Happy Bird Day" stamp with the obvious connection to the bird in the cage... but then I saw this one and decided I hadn't really had the opportunity to use it. So I added some music notes near the cage by only inking that part with my Early Espresso marker then added the whole sentiment to the bottom.

Are you a fan of a little bit of glitter and bling? If so then SU's new rhinestones might be for you! I was so impressed to see FOUR different sizes of rhinestones on the set that I ordered! They should last me a while, even at this rate!

I'm not sure if you can see it but I finally broke down and bought the French Filigree background stamp with my new catty order. I've always had an eye for it, but now with the new Soiree papers and other coordinating items (like the amazing Elegant Lines textured impressions folder!!!) I couldn't resist any longer. You might even see it again tomorrow! ;)

Thanks for visiting me again!! It's so good to be back to blogland! Now why don't you go visit my Diva ladies and see what they've come up with for you!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Aviary, French Filigree, Picture This

Colors: Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise

Accessories: Basic Rhinestone Jewels, Scallop border punch, Melon Mambo dotted grosgrain, Modern Label punch

Tag, you're it!

This week's Diva Coffee Break Designs challenge is a sketch, and a fun one! Not too hard either. In fact, I took the easy way out. Chose some Designer Series Paper (Autumn Traditions), grabbed my large tag punch and pulled out the Pocket Silhouettes stamps. My focal point tag was easy to do, I just cut a narrow strip of Vanilla cardstock, used the tag corner punch for the top, added the Antique Brass jumbo eyelet with the Crop-a-Dile, sponged the edges and crimped the bottom. I found a piece of scrap twill tape to add to the top and it was done.

It is fun to mix and match the patterns of one collection of DSP in this way because you can flip each piece over to reveal a different pattern which could yield an entirely different look!

Go check out what some of the other Diva's came up with using this sketch, then be sure to play along yourself!

Thanks for visiting today. You never know, I just might have another scrapbook layout for you later this evening!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes

Paper: Soft Suede, Naturals Ivory, Autumn Traditions DSp

Accessories: Large tag punch, Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelets, Crop-a-Dile, tag corner punch, crimper, sponge dauber, twill tape