A Tribute

It's been thirteen days now since my mom unexpectedly passed away in her sleep on July 6.  I knew I counted on her, relied on her advice and wisdom, appreciated the selfless, generous things she did for me... I called her all the time for the most mundane things- like paint color and ant problems and especially parenting, but she didn't mind and had such a knack for common sense (that not everyone has I must say!)... but I didn't realize I banked on her always being here.  The morning my dad called at 6am it was the last thing I expected to hear- I didn't even seem to be a joke, just NOT POSSIBLE. 

I'm here at their house in Michigan now, helping my dad in any way I can (which is helping me too) and it still doesn't seem real.  But, my faith is stronger than I realized and I am comforted by all the things my mom loved:  family & friends, sunshine, gentle breezes, ripples on the water, birds at her feeders and the gorgeous blooms in her flower beds. 

Please, for me, take a moment to figure out who your rock(s) is/are in your family and hug them tight, express your love and appreciate evey moment.  I'm so very fortunate to have had the mom that I did and to be left with so many memories and no regrets, no words unspoken, no gesture unappreciated. 

Rest in peace mom. 
~Kristin

Don't Faint!!

I know it's been quite a while, an eternity for me, but I am back with two different cards.  I thank those of you that noticed I have been missing and took the time to ask about me.  I'm OK!  My long absence can be explained mostly by a sudden disappearance of all desire to stamp!  Can you believe it?  I never usually lack the desire to stamp.  In any case, it might have been related to being quite busy with all things related to the end-of-the-school-year and also a very busy ball season. 

I really have been trying to get back to it, and finally managed to squeeze out these two cards one day.  I would've continued stamping if life hadn't intervened again.  I used the sketch from the Clean & Simple blog (FTL145) as well as the CAS challenge on Splitcoast to do a tall & thin card. 

I used papers from the old Hostess pack of 6x6 In Color patterns.  The center rectangle is made with vellum so the patterns peek through. 

 Next is an anniversary card.  Can you believe I used vellum again?!  The only two cards I've made in months and I used vellum for both!  The flourish on the front is actually embossed in white on the underneath layer.  I wish I would have made this a wedding card because I need one for tomorrow!  If you recognize the sketch for this one let me know because I wrote it down at home and am away right now.

Here is the inside- another surprise that I took the time to do the inside.  And I like it! 

Well, I hope you didn't faint seeing that I've stopped for a quick post.  I am hoping to stamp more this summer but no guarantees of how often and when. 

Thanks so much for sticking with me!  Hope you are having a great summer!
~Kristin

Oops, a little late on the Diva challenge!

Oops, I can't believe how distracted I've become lately.  Barely any stamping time, and I didn't notice that I'd forgotten to post my Diva card last Wednesday.  Ah well,  I guess we all experience different phases in our lives and changes therein.  Who knows what tomorrow brings, right?! 

Anyway, here it is. 

We had a lovely sketch to work with last week- and considering I have barely stamped a thing lately I'm surprised at how much I like what I came up with.  I pulled out some old felt flowers, the Finial Press embossing folder and my favorite reliable stamp set, Aviary. 

Here's a shot of the inside since I did that as well.  Hope you like it.  I'll try to be back soon.  Might not be so hard with the rainy forecast I'm seeing... although we've also got baseball games forecast for nearly every day.  Have a great week and thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to go visit the Diva blog to see the sketch and other fine examples. 

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Aviary, Picture This (retired)

Colors:  Certainly Celery, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive

Accessories:  Big Shot, Felt Flowers, Finial Press embossing folder, Scallop Trim border punch (inside)

Weeding, Reading and Baseball but little stamping

Hello and happy Tuesday!  I sure love spring and being outside, but sadly all that weeding and reading and the baseball games have kept me from much stamping.  But, I'm back today with a little birthday card I made for my father last week.  I enjoyed using the sketch challenge from Stampin' 411 as well as the color challenge on Splitcoast last week.  Boy, I'm sure behind posting it though! 

Surprise, I even photo'd the inside to show you.  It is quite clean & simple and didn't take long to make either.  I love the newsprint for a background- not something I've done much but will do again for sure! 

This is the birthday RAK I received from Lisette aka scrapinnut620.  Isn't it beautiful?!  I love how she used my favorite background stamp, Medallion!   And those dimensional butterflies are still sitting here on my desk making me smile (the whole card is I mean, I didn't rip them off)! 

Finally, I promised a few before and after pictures of my big bathroom project from a few weeks ago...  if I can get them to upload this time I'll be sharing them...  And if you guessed purple for my new color you are exactly right!  If I were to name a Stampin' Up! color I suppose I would call it Lovely Lilac.  Hope you like it.

BEFORE                              AFTER

   

Anyway, you get the idea.  Thanks for stopping by!  I'm going to try to have a Diva card for you tomorrow... but it is looking awfully sunny outside right now.  ;) 

~Kristin

A Lovely Mother's Day

Warning:  this post is full of pictures!  Not only do I have the weekly Diva challenge for you but also some RAKs (Random Acts of Kindness) I've received recently that made my day!  Enjoy!

 Here is my Diva card using the color combo Soft Suede, So Saffron and Regal Rose.  I've also employed the fabulous sketch by Card Patterns. 

Here's a peek at the inside as well.  I enjoyed working with the Medallion background stamp again- it's been awhile.  Also, the Big Shot came in handy with the Framed Tulips embossing folder as well as the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and the Beautiful Wings embosslit for the butterlflies inside and out.

This is a birthday card I found in my mailbox from my good pal and frequent virtual stampin' buddy, Lisa Henke!  Isn't it beautiful?!  It did have a rhinestone in the center of that bottom flower when I opened it but lost it from the mailbox to here. 

Here's another from Lisa who thought of me and cheered me up when I needed it most.  Perfect timing and friendship to make a gal perk up! 

And to make me feel even more special, this card and the next both arrived from perfect strangers who just send RAKs out of the kindness of their hearts!  This is from Joan aka Smileyj on Splitcoast...  thank you Joan!  Oops, looks like the other one didn't load.  I'll work on that and see if I can't show you tomorrow. 

Here is the DCBD color challenge for this week if you are inclined to play along.  We'd love to have you join us!  Heck, we might even choose your card to feature on our weekly "Featured Artist" post. 

Ooh, almost forgot.  My before and after bathroom redo pictures...  well, I've got them taken just need to upload.  Any last minute gueses as to what color it is?  I'll work on that post for tomorrow... my power is supposed to be out this morning so I feel like I'm working on borrowed time as it is or else I'd just add them right now.   

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kristin

With Sympathy

Hello stampers!  I'm back today with a creation for the Diva Coffee Break Designs sketch challenge.  I was in the mood for something sort of pretty and elegant and needed a sympathy card so this is what I came up with.  Obviously I've turned the squares on their sides so I've got a little different look than the sketch. 

I hope you like my color combo!  It is Soft Suede, Sahara Sand, Vanilla and Cherry Cobbler.  Doesn't that Cherry Cobbler seem binding look pretty?  It has such a nice sheen in real life! 

Well, gotta run (again).  Baseball practice and weeds are calling my name, not to mention dinner and laundry.  I did finally get my bathroom all complete and will take some after pictures to share with you tomorrow (hopefully).  I am so pleased with how it turned out- despite all the work and effort it took (about 5 days). 

 Please stop by to see what the other Divas have done for today's challenge!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Watercolor Trio, Fine Flourish

Colors:  Soft Suede, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Cherry Cobbler seem binding, pearls, Lattice die, Big Shot, small oval punch

WOW! 11 day hiatus!

Wow, I can't believe it has really been 11 days since I posted last!  Actually 12 by the time this goes live.  Well, I've had some issues... first one being I spilled tea on my new laptop last Monday!  OMG, I almost threw up.  But it turns out, after letting it sit and dry out for 5 days it is up and running.  The only residual problem is that my 3 key doesn't stay put (because I pried it off in my panic) and the keys where I spilled sound a little different now.  I guess I can't complain.  Better than buying a new laptop!

  Anyway, I've also been painting my kids' bathroom.  It has been bright yellow- not kidding, like Daffodil Delight- for probably 8-10 years!  Any guesses as to what color it is now?  I'll post some before and after pictures when it is all complete.  I'm so excited- I think it is going to be fabulous! 

So, due to those and other events I haven't stamped since the last card I posted.  I'm not really even feeling withdraw yet... I suppose my creative outlet has been the bathroom.  But, I do owe you two Diva Coffee Break design challenges so I decided to combine last week's sketch with today's color challenge.  I hope you like it... you know I struggle with bright colors.  Be sure to stop by and check out the other Divas' creations and then play along with us!

Thanks for stopping by!
Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: For All You Do

Colors: Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories:  Newsprint DSP, Rhinestone, narrow Rich Razzleberry ribbon

Vintage Wishes

This is a little out of the ordinary for my typical style, wouldn't you say?!  Not exactly clean & simple, that's for sure.  It took quite a bit longer than normal too, but I'm still pleased with it.  I decided to try out the sketch challenge on Splitcoast this week.  I love sketches that have enough details to get me started but leave lots of room for interpretation. 

The stamp set I used is called Nature Walk and will be available a bit longer in the Occasions mini catalog, until April 30. 

To add dimension and texture true to a vintage style, I used a number of things like the old Linen background stamp, pearls, rows of scallops, heat embossing on the bird cage, dry embossing with the Big Shot and the Square Lattice embossing folder, bitty punch flowers and a fussy cut butterfly with one wing raised on dimensionals.  Other details include the chantilly lace ribbon, distressed and some sponged edges a well as a bit of French Script stamped in Very Vanilla ink on the card base.

And guess what, I remembered to photo the inside also!  I layered a few simple scallops and a faint birdcage enhanced with a single flower to coordinate with the front of the card. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a fantastic weekend!  I'm planning to enjoy some beautiful weather!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Nature Walk, Linen background, Oval All

Colors: Always Artichoke, Rich Razzleberry, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Clear embossing powder, scallop oval punch, large oval punch, bitty flower punch, basic pearls, distressing tool, chantilly lace ribbon, narrow Rich Razzleberry ribbon, scallop border punch

Vase o' flowers

Good afternoon!  Sorry I'm a bit late posting my challenge.  Have gotten distracted by a number of things today, including a sick kid at home for the third straight day. 

Today the Divas have a color challenge for you and I've got to admit- I am not a fan of this combo.  Those bold bright colors are just not my favorites and when combined together I just cringe.  With that said, I do like how this card turned out... but it was WORK! 

I toned down the brightness by adding my trusty neutrals Early Espresso and Very Vanilla.  Then distracted the eye with some accessories like the antique brad, some linen thread and the vellum vase.  Which, by the way, was made with the small oval punch trimmed at top and bottom, then watercoloring with the aqua painter and some Pacific Point ink.  Really looks like water, I might add.   Also added a tiny detail with the spiral punch.

I hope you find these colors a bit less challenging than I did.  Please be sure to link your creaction to the Diva blog so we can all come take a look! 

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Greenhouse Garden, French Script

Colors:  Early Espresso, Pacific Point, Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla

Accessories: linen thread, spiral punch, vellum cardstock, antique brad, pop dots

Unique You!

OK, I'm back with not one but TWO cards for the Clean & Simple blog sketch challenge.  I hadn't used this Tart & Tangy stamp set in a while so decided to try it out for the sketch.  I popped up one of the slices, made it orange and added some Dazzling Diamonds.  Pierced a frame around the edge and popped on a sentiment from Define Your Life. 

Next up is a graduation card!  Tis the season almost so why not get started early.  My hubby is a high school teacher so we always need plenty of graduation cards each year!  I love how this one turned out- hope you do too! 

Thanks for stopping by today!  Be back tomorrow for another Diva Coffee Break Designs challenge!!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Tart & Tangy, Define Your Life

Colors: Marigold Morning, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight

Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, 1.25" circle punch, Modern Label punch & matching die, Big Shot

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Go, Graduate

Colors:  Sahara Sand, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Riding Hood Red striped ribbon, square punch, scalloped square punch



Spring-like!

I've got a two-fer for you today!  My daughter stayed home sick today and while the Tylenol was working she felt up to making a card (she's back on the couch now).  I made the top one and she made the bottom card.  Mine is using that sketch I posted a few days ago from Card Patterns that I've wanted to use.  Took me long enough but I finally got to it.  I tried to give you a little peak at the inside as well since I rarely do up the inside, let alone remember to show you.

My daughter, 9, is very proud of this card and I'm proud of her!  It was her idea to do an Easter card and she chose the colors and design.  I gave her a few pointers here and there and tied the ribbon for her, but she did the rest!  She is excited because I told her we could enter this in Shelli's April Showers contest.  The sketch she used is from the Clean and Simple blog- which I happened to be using myself at the time (will post my creations with that sketch tomorrow).  She was concerned about flipping the sketch but I assured her that was just fine.  The part she got the most excitement from is when I showed her how to use this Tulip Frame border embossing folder!! 

Speaking of April showers, we are definitely getting them today!  Hope you are staying dry!  Thanks for stopping by!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Punch Bunch

Colors:  Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Always Artichoke

Accessories:  Big Shot, Large scallop die, Dotted embossing folder, scallop circle punch, Melon Mambo pom pom trim, scallop trim border punch

Stamps: An Egg-celent Easter

Colors:  Pale Plum, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Perfect Plum

Accessories:  Big Shot, Framed Tulips embossing folder, square punch, scallop square punch, white organdy ribbon, Daffodil Delight narrow ribbon, embossing folders:  Square Lattice, dotted, Petals-a-Plenty, oval punch

Concord Note

If you read my last post you already know that Lisa Henke and I did some virtual stamping again yesterday afternoon.  We enjoy doing this as often as possible as it makes us (me anyway) feel a bit more creative and spontaneous.  I don't sit for a long time looking for the perfect challenge or perfect starting point- Lisa usually provides one for me.  Then I do the same and we both do both challenges.  FUN!  The only thing that could be more fun would be to stamp together IRL- but that just doesn't happen often being nearly 3 hours apart. 

For my flower on this card I found an OLD flower die called Large Daisies that I've had since the original red Sizzix days!  I have no idea if it is available any longer and it was never sold by SU as far as I know.  The paper is the 6x6 In Color paper pack that is a level one hostess set. 

Anyway, my challenge for us was to incorporate at least 2 items from the following list: 

• Color combo: Neutrals plus one color*
• Something old something new: use a stamp set you haven't used in AGES and something relatively new together
• brads *
• wheel*
• No DSP
• Big Shot*
• CAS*

I've starred the items I did on my card.  We'd both love it if you'd decide to play along!  Please leave a comment here or on Lisa's post so we can come ooh and ahhh over your work. 

Thanks for stopping by!
~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Sweet Little Sentiments (re4tired)

Colors:  Whisper White, Concord Crush, Basic Gray

Accessories:  Music Note wheel, Filigree Brad, Big Shot, Large Daisies flower die, Concord Crush print patterns

Sugar & Spice

Yippee!  Today Lisa Henke and I had another chance to virtual stamp together.   What a great time!  I highly recommend finding an on-line pal that you can virtual stamp with.  We are physically nearly 3 hours apart but we challenge each other and enjoy knowing we're stamping at the same time.  Then we reveal our creations to each other and enjoy seeing how different they are!  If you ever need an on-line pal to virtual stamp with feel free to drop me an email with a date and time and I'd LOVE to be your vitual stamp buddy as long as I'm available!

This time we decided to do this week's sketch challenge on Splitcoast shown below.  We were also supposed to add flowers for today's Ways to Use it challenge and complete it in 30 minutes or less.  Well, I got the sketch part but failed miserably on the rest! I thought the flower part would be easy until I ended up doing a baby card.  The 30 minutes or less I might have gotten but I searched high and low for my dotted emobossing folder and never found it.  

Either way, here is what I came up with.  Considering how many times I tore it apart and started over I'm fairly pleased with it.   

The main image is a new stamp to me from the Sale-a-Bration set Punch Bunch.  I hadn't used it yet so just wanted to get it inky.  My long sentiment at the bottom is an old favorite of mine called Word on Word.  I just love how this stamp is designed to have the larger words in the background a bit faded while the smaller script is more bold.  How creative those SU designers are!!!

Since this is obviously for a baby girl I had to add some pearls and pink dotted ribbon with a pretty scallop border.  Now I just need someone to give it to.  I hope you like it and that you'll stop back tomorrow to see how else we challenged each other. 

If you'd like to play along we'd LOVE to have you join us for our 3rd challenge that neither of us has started yet... it is:  use the sketch from Card Patterns and make your card in under 30 minutes.  If you'd like an extra credit option try this (Lisa doesn't even know about this):  use something metallic.  Can't wait to see who joins us!  When you're done stop back here and link your card in a comment and I'll come check it out!  Be sure to go visit Lisa to see what she did too!

Hope you had a great Thursday!  TGIF!! 

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Word on Word, Punch Bunch

Colors: White, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Pacific Point, More Mustard

Accessories:  Tag punches, Melon Mambo dotted ribbon, Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder, pearls, Scallop trim border punch

Because...

Good morning!!  Let's get right down to business today.  The Diva Coffee Break Design challenge for you is this sketch.  As you've probably come to expect form me I went pretty clean & simply with very few layers and embellishments.  The embellies that I did use pack a punch though, don't they?!  I bet you'll notice the strip of white flowers as my scallop edge right away.  That is from the Flowers Sizzlit Strip (on the Clearance Rack still I believe).  I've had it for a few months now and had forgotten all about it.  It actually cuts a 12" border so it is ideal for scrapbook pages as well. 

Like this color combo?  It is straight from the Color Coach:  Early Espresso, Dafodil Delight and Cherry Cobbler.  I love it!  The embossed heart is called the Scalloped Heart of Hearts and is an embosslit so it works with the Big Shot to emboss and cut at the same time!  My little owl on here is from the stamp set Love Bandit.  I also have a little raccoon on the inside but forgot to photograph it- sorry! 

My sentiment is from Define Your Life stamp set which I cut into strips so as to qualify for Monday's CAS challenge on Splitcoast.  And what do you think of my homemade brad?  I used the Build-a-Brads and a heart stamp from the new Create a Cupcake set.

I hope you'll join the Divas for this great sketch challenge.  I'd love to see what you come up with!!  Glad you decided to visit me today! 

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Love Bandit, Define Your LIfe, Create a Cupcake

Colors: Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White

Accessories: Scalloped Heart of Heart embosslit, Flowers Sizzlit Strip, Big Shot, Build-a-Brad

Something Scrappy

I had the opportunity to work on a few layouts on Sunday so I thought I'd share them today.  Apologies for the crummy photos- the lighting just wasn't working for me yesterday.  First layout is a spread from my son's fourth birthday.  I used the Big Shot with the Cupcake Sizzlit set for the large cupcake, and the scallop circle as well.  My sparkly 4 is a "sticky cut" with some glitter that completely matches Rich Razzleberry!  The confetti stamped on the background is a stamp set called Itty Bitty Backgrounds.  Not sure why I didn't think to use the current set called Confetti!! 

Here is the entire layout together.  The background paper on the right side is from one of my favorite packs of DSP called Urban Oasis.  Colors are Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and Dusty Durango with touches of white.

Here's one featuring my kiddos at 4 and 2 eating ice cream in the car- what was I thinking??  For colors I used Pacific Point, Wild Wasabi and Bermuda Bay.  How's that for a combo?  I especially think they are striking on the black background. 

Here is the entire layout together.  A few things on these pages are not SU like the stickers (Nature's Garden by Colorbok circa 2003), photo corners (?) and the clear flower (?) with polka dot center brad (Queen & Co.).  Everything is from Stampin' Up!

And finally a Christmas layout.  I actually like how this layout worked since I managed to get 13 pictures on!  Pictures at Christmas time are never great since it is such a hectic holiday, but still memories to preserve.  The patterned paper is an old SU pattern (I forget the name) but the ribbon on the left and the sticker title on the right are not SU products. 

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope these inspire you to get back to your scrapbooking if you've taken a break.  I'll be back tomorrow with a fun Diva challenge and I've used something that you've NEVER seen from me before!  Can't wait to show you.  Have a great day!

~Kristin

Sweet Summer Wedding

Good morning!  I hope you're ready for another Diva Coffee Break Designs challenge today!  Here are the colors we challenge you to use together:  Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink and Perfect Plum. 

Would you like an awesome sketch to pair with our color challenge??  How about this one from Stampin' 411?!  I loved it and it really helped get me going on this card when I didn't have much time to crank it out. 

So glad you stopped by today!  I hope you'll visit the Diva blog and consider playing along with our challenge.  We'd love to see what you come up with!

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by!

~Kristin

Happiness Always

Happy Tuesday ladies and gentlemen!  Do you like bird cages as much as I do?  I think they are so graphic and visual- I just love the variation and appeal!  They make me think of a classy boutique.  Anyway, I wanted to try my hand at the Clean & Simple sketch below (FTL132) but just had to think of something unique other than what first came to mind (flowers).  It didn't take me long to decide on bird cages!  The hard part was figuring out a way to make them fit. 

I knew I wanted something sophisticated and whimsical at the same time so I paired them with the Nouveau Chic DSP (retired).  The best part is this gave me an excuse to use my new Baja Breeze seam binding ribbon from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  It is the only ribbon in this color so if you LOVE Baja Breeze, and I know you do, you MUST have this ribbon! 

I did sneak something on here that isn't from Stampin' Up! and that is the tiny glass dew drops.  I've always been enamored by those dew drops and love how the color just seems to go perfectly with Baja.

I hope you've enjoyed today's card I made just for you!  Thanks for visiting!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies (unless otherwise noted)

Stamps: Aviary, Whimsical Words

Colors: Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, Basic Gray, Sage Shadow, So Saffron

Accessories: Curly Label punch, Nouveau Chic DSP, Baja Breeze seam binding ribbon, scallop trim border punch, distressing tool, corner rounder, non-SU dew drops

Catty CASE Birthday

Good morning!  Sorry I ditched ya yesterday- I thought I'd scheduled this to post then realized I had never even started it.  So here is the third and final card I completed while virtual stamping with Lisa last week.  This was my challenge to us both:  to use the birthday card on page 131 of the SU catalog for the sketch and the color scheme from the inside back cover of the catalog which is Soft Suede, Wild Wasabi and Baja Breeze with a touch of Peach Parfait (I know it doesn't look like it!). 

Did you notice the crimper again??  I used it twice on Friday!  Just another way to rationalize why I never get rid of anything, ever!  In nearly seven years as a demonstrator I've only sold off ONE retired stamp set.  I guess I do send lots of stamps home with my mom and sister, and there is the storage tub in my garage that is completely full.... but I dig something out of it once in a while so I just can't let them go. 

Anyway, thanks for stopping by today!  And thanks to Nancy Riley at iSTAMP and Kim Score at Paper Punch Addiction for featuring my Birthday Penguin card from yesterday!  The extra traffic to my blog was amazing! 

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  So Many Scallops (an OLDIE!!)

Colors: Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi, Peach Parfait

Accessories: Scallop circle punch, dotted Soft Suede ribbon, crimper, Big Shot, Dotted embossing folder, Bitty Punch

Birthday Penguin

 Here's challenge number two between Lisa and I.  The picture below was to be our inspiration and we were also to use dry embossing and circle elements on our cards.  It is fun to see how different ours turned out- hers is elegant and just plain gorgeous.  Mine is obviously playful and cutesy. 

I hate to admit just how long this card took.  Piecing together that penguin from the owl punch (thanks to an idea I have saved by Teneale Williams!) and the balloons which have a layer of acetate over them for some realistic shine added a bit of time.  Especially when I kept messing up and having to redo certain parts.  My sketch is from page 88 in the SU catalog- I just love it and will definitely keep it in mind for the future! 

The happy birthday sentiment is from the new set Bring On the Cake in the current mini catalog.  I decided at the last minute to emboss it in white.  It got a little messy but I wasn't about to startover at that point!  Heck, messy embossing is a little like confetti on a birthday card, right?!  At least that's what I'm telling myself. 

Well, thanks for stopping by.  I'll list everything I used in my supplies list in case you're wondering.  Feel free to ask questions if you like, and feel free to join us in this challenge if you'd like!  We'd love to come see what you've done! 

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Bring on the Cake, Party Hearty (hat)

Colors: Tempting Turquoise, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Certainly Celery, Tangerine Tango

Accessories: Owl punch, Glimmer Brad, Dotted scallop ribbon border punch, Word Window, 1" circle and medium oval punch (from Holiday Mini), small star punch (for part of balloons), Big Shot, Dotted embossing folder, Texturz Plates, white embossing powder, linen thread (PHEW!)