Believe

How about another quick, clean & simple Easter card.  Used the sketch below from the Clean & Simple blog, as well as the color challenge from Fab Friday!  Check them both out while there is still time to play!

Thank you for stopping by today!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies:

Stamps:  Pleasant Poppies, Just Believe

Colors:  listed above with the exception of using Blushing Bride instead of Pink Piouette

Accessories:  Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Modern Label punch, vintage faceted button, Calypso Coral Baker's Twine, Dazzling Details glitter glue

Clean & Simple Easter

I can't believe Easter is coming up so quickly.  This blustery weather in Ohio sure doesn't feel like spring!

Here's a peek at the inside.

Today's card is for the Paper Players sketch challenge.  Can't get much more clean & simple than this can it?!  This week's theme challenge over at SUO Challenges is Easter.  Think this fits the bill?!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes

Colors:  Calypso Coral, Sahara Sand, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso

Accessories:  Calypso Coral ribbon & button (both FREE right now during Sale-a-Bration), Postage stamp punch, Calypso Coral Baker's twine, Needlepoint Border embossing folder, Tea for Two DSP

An Easter Layout

Good morning!  Who is up for some scrapbook pages?!?  Now that I've finished the 215 wedding invitations (picture at the bottom) I've had some spare time to scrap.  What a job that was- but I'm happy to say it went well thanks to good planning and working a few hours a day on them.  

For this layout I used the new Tea for Two Designer Series paper available in the current Spring Catalog.  Thought it was perfect for an Easter page with the soft springy colors.  I also used my new oval framelits for the Big Shot as well.  I wanted to mimic the hexagon shape from the paper so I used my very old Creative Memories cutting system for the pictures on the right.  

 Here is the left page... the title and the bunnies were cut with my daughter's Cricut.  Love that thing!

I am glad to say I've completed my 2004 Family Album and am now diligently working away at our 2005 album!  I am actually happy that I'm so far behind because I love the pictures from when my kids were so little.  They've changed and grown so much since then.  

Here is the box of wedding invitations I completed on February 27th.  Believe it or not, I did really enjoy doing this project!  By the last few days I was ready to get it over with because it had consumed all my free time for quite awhile, but thankfully I allowed just enough time to get them to the bride right on time without rushing.

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be back with more scrapbook pages and then I'm sure I'll be back to doing some cards soon.
~Kristin

Celebrating Easter

I don't know about you, but Easter has sure snuck up on me this year!  I suppose it could be because my mom is no longer here to make plans and remind me.  *sigh*  But instead of  mopping the kitchen floor today, which desperately needs it, I decided to stamp and blog.  I had stamped a tree just like this a few years ago for a class and had a few leftover which I thought I'd use... but ended up restamping it so the paper was the right size. 

I loved the MOJO sketch for this week and tried to figure out how to incorporate this image with that sketch and here is what I came up with.  True to form, I took some artistic liberties.  But my punched circle scallop is supposed to suffice for the large circle. 

Here's a quick shot at the inside.  Simple and sweet, I think.  Are you wondering what on earth I'm photographing my card on?? 

Well, here is a project I did recently which I hadn't thought to share with you until now.  It is a display piece I made to showcase my cards at our local consignment boutique.  Isn't it neat?!  Just took an old frame that went through college with me and spray painted it, distressed it some and added chickenwire.  It is BIG and holds LOTS of cards.  I bought Stampin' Up's mini clothespins to hold the cards on. Big clothes pins worked but bent the cards and bit and took up too much space.

It is kind of fun and handy to photograph on!  I'm going to hate to give it up, but I can always make another one or two.  ;) 

Thanks for stopping by today and giving me the perfect excuse to not mop!

~Kristin

ETA:  Sorry for so many photos.  Trying to upload the best one but none of them look near as good once uploaded as they do in my photo editing software.  This is a new problem.  Yikes! 

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Branch out, Well Scripted, Wonderful Words

Colors:  Certainly Celery, Rose Red, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Blushing Bride

Accessories:  Big Shot, Dotted embossing folder, large scallop circle punch, Crop-a-Dile, jumbo eyelet, dotted scallop ribbon border punch, Beautiful Wings embosslit, pearl

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

Featuring Easter

Good morning stampers!  I've got a card for you today.  This is for the Featured Stamper Challenge over on Splitcoaststampers.  Here is the card of BFinlay that I decided to use as my inspiration.  You'll see it was the sketch that I copied.  I tried to do a bit of a modern twist by punching my flowers out with a circle punch and keeping the details simple, like paper piercing around the edges of the circle.  Added a few rhinestones for detail and bling.  This stamp set is one of the currently available Sale-a-Bration sets which you can get for FREE with any $50 order!

Made it an Easter card for the Pals Paper Arts challenge as well.  Hope you like it!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Sweet Summer, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Colors: So Saffron, Concord Crush, Whisper White, Pale Plum, Always Artichoke

Accessories:  1" circle punch, circle cutter, Basic Rhinestones, Concord Crush ribbon, markers, white gel pcn, paper piecing tools

Classic, almost vintage, whimsical Easter

This week's Diva Coffee Break Design challenge is a color challenge which I don't think you'll have any trouble with! Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink and Close to Cocoa. Easter came to mind right away when I considered these colors... One of the scrapbook pages I did this weekend was inspired by a sketch and includes a LOT of ribbon. I loved this layout right away and Lisa mentioned she'd like to try it on a card. Well I'm trying to beat her to it. LOL! This isn't quite the same, but has the idea of a ribbon variety being showcased. Initially I had a bow on every ribbon but decided it was too messy looking on a card and the Easter image was being overshadowed. So, I trimmed them all except one, added the Latte button to the center and called it a day.

The main image from An Eggcelent Easter is watercolored with an aquapainter and Watercolor Wonder Crayons. Used the markers for the detail on the eggs. Sentiment is from Well Scripted stamp set.

Notice the texture on the Close to Cocoa background? That is a new-to-me textured impressions embossing folder called Finial Press. I think it goes perfectly with this classic, almost vintage, slightly whimsical style, don't you?!

Anyway, thanks for visiting with me today! Hope your day is great! Be sure to go check out the Diva blog for more ideas with this color combo and a chance to play along!
~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: An Eggcelent Easter, Well Scripted

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Close To Cocoa

Accessories: Latte designer button, Finial Press Textured Impressions folder, Big Shot, Top note, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Aquapainter, ribbon: Pink & white taffeta, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery grosgrain, Pretty in Pink gingahm, wide pink organdy, wide celery twill

Welcome Sunshine!!!

Boy am I thankful the sunshine is back today! In fact, it is expected to be fairly nice and warmer this whole week from what I understand. WOOHOO!! Today I decided to take a break from the stresses of tax preparation and actually stamp a little. I've got tomorrow's Diva challenge card done so be sure to stop back tomorrow for a great new sketch. For now I'm sharing this card with you. I used the Mojo Monday sketch challenge from yesterday. LOVE this sketch! It's got some great details that are specific, but can also be interpreted in so many ways. Love that!

I intended to make a sympathy card today since I am out of them, but decided I was too happy and just felt like making a happy card. This old set of textured papers is called Parisian Breeze Specialty papers. I'm so glad I have some left to play with- they are gorgeous and really the star of this card. I only added a bit of piercing and some kraft taffeta ribbon, then embossed the sentiment from Well Scripted (a favorite!) and that's it.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you are enjoying sunshine in your neck of the woods today!
~Kristin

Stampin' Tips:

• Short on time or inspiration?? Grab one of SU's wonderful packs of Designer Series Paper, ANY of them, and let the patterns and colors do all the work!

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Well Scripted

Papers: Kraft cardstock, Parisian Breeze Specialty papers

Accessories: Kraft Taffeta ribbon, Scallop Trim punch (yes I'm aware that I use it constantly!)

White on White Easter

Good Monday morning! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! I've got a card for you that I did for one of the VSN challenges on Splitcoast this weekend. The challenge was to use all white cardstock, with only touches of color if necessary. Well, of course COLOR is necessary, but I tried to keep as much white space as possible.

I used the stamp set Greenhouse Garden to stamp the flowers, then added the Easter sentiment in the center. The edges are a bit distressed and the top corners punched with Scallop Trim corner punch, then layered on another piece of white paper. The card base is white also, but with a very subtle texture added with the dotted Texturz Plates and the Big Shot.

I'm so glad you stopped by today! Why don't you leave me a message so I know you've been here! Have a great day!
~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Greenhouse Garden, Well Scripted

Colors: White, Blush Blossom, Cameo Coral, Apricot Appeal, Bordering Blue, Perfect Plum

Accessories: White organza ribbon, distressing tool, Scallop Trim corner punch

Sunshine Garden: Easter Blessings 12x12

It's been a while since I've shown you a scrapbook layout hasn't it?! Well, I'm trying to get back into it albeit a little slowly. I did two 2-page layouts last weekend and am ready to share them... well, the first one anyway. I'll save the other one for tomorrow.

Do you have trouble getting back into scrapbooking after a break like I do? If so I highly recommend getting back into the groove with a Simply Scrappin' Kit by SU!! These amazing kits are full of top quality, perfectly coordinating products which make putting a page together a snap! Although this particular kit, Sunshine Garden, is retired there are TEN current SS Kits in the catalog right now (p. 164-167). The themes include topics like Christmas, birthday, babies, kids, wedding, masculine and love! Included in the kits are 12x12 inch double sided designer papers, textured solid colored cardstock and 5 sheets of adhesive die cuts. Check them out!

For this layout I also used the stamp set An Egg-celent Easter, a clear button, satin Bashful Blue Ribbon and the Scallop Trim border punch. The last two happen to be in the current Occasions Mini Catalog! I also used a blender pen and ink to color my images.

Did you notice the title? I used the Billboard Sizzlit Decorative Strip alphabet with the Big Shot to cut it out of coordinating So Saffron cardstock. Isn't it great when everything matches?!

Well, thanks for stopping by and checking out my pages!

~Kristin

Hoppy Easter Basket

Boy did I mess up! Today's Limited Supplies Challenge on Splitcoast is to make a spring card using a spring flower or bulb as the main image and only the Soft Subtles color family! I started out just fine- picked the basket of tulips in the A Flower for All Seasons stamp set- then I made this basket weave background. Next is where I messed up- I decided I should use my NEW Easter set An Egg-celent Easter instead since I've only had time to use it once so far... so I switched. And didn't realize I was breaking the "rules" for the challenge until I had this all done!

Oh well, besides some fairly obvious smudging (crap!) I do like how it turned out. Here's a TIP: for anyone wanting to do something at all similar: USE STAZ-ON black ink, NOT Basic Black!!! I was doing fine adding a tiny bit of shading around my bunnies then without warning my aquapainter flow got a bit too heavy. OK, no problem, I just flipped the image over and tried to dab off the extra water on my grid paper. YIKES! I turned it over and was so frustrated to see that was a big mistake. I had already paper pieced the bunnies' outfits and used the SAMJ to determine just where to stamp them... I wasn't going to start over (although the thought did cross my mind!)

ETA: OK, so I was mixing up the Stamp Something Challenge for today and the LSC on SCS! So this is GOOD for Stamp Something's Spring challenge!
Finished it off with a few easter eggs (which I DID use Staz-On for) and a pretty pink button from the Button Bouquet, topped with some Pretty in Pink grosgrain ribbon.

Hope you like it, even if I can't post it to the LSChallenge!
Thanks for stopping by- hope you're having a great day!

PS- Ha! I just realized while posting my supplies that I accidentally used Sahara Sand and Kraft- not a combination I would recommend! What a ding dong I am today!
~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: An Egg-cellent Easter

Paper: Sahara Sand, Kraft, Very Vanilla, Parisian Summer DSP

Accessories: markers, white gel pen, word window punch, square punch, Button Bouquet, Pink grosgrain

A little something new

As you may recall my mentioning, yesterday my new goodies came from the preorder period for the Occasions Mini Catalog that is available April 1st. This set I used is called An Egg-celent Easter (available to YOU right now)and really I bought it because of this little chick with the eggs on his head.

Have you ever gotten so much new stuff at once that you just got overwhelmed and all creativity goes out the window?? That's what happens to me sometimes. In fact, nearly every time I get a box of new stuff it sits on my desk for at least a day before I can wrap my head around it. I know that is weird!

Well, this isn't exactly an "inspired" work of art... the chick is stamped on watercolor paper and I watercolored her with aqua painters and watercolor crayons mostly. I intended to use mostly barely banana and keep the yellow subtle but the Yoyo Yellow ended up matching better so I found my sole remaining piece of Yoyo! The scalloped oval punch is NEW in this catty and perfectly fits with the large oval punch we've already got (ooh, and an awesome new stamp set that coordinates)! The bottom edge is made with the new eyelet border punch in the big catty. It isn't entirely my style as I'm not very frilly but I've seen so many cute things done with it and it was FREE so why not!

I had a long day helping with school pictures today so I'm gonna stop there and hopefully have something a little more exciting for you tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping!
~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: An Egg-cellent Easter

Cardstock: Ballet Blue, Regal Rose, Yoyo Yellow, Very Vanilla, Watercolor paper

Accessories: Vanilla EP, scallop oval punch, large oval punch, rose grosgrain, eyelet border punch, aqua painter, Watercolor Crayons.

Occasions Mini Catalog Sneak Peek

Are you starting to think about Easter now that spring is just around the corner? Well, Stampin' Up! is and we want to make sure you enjoy an exclusive sneak peek at the Occasions Mini Catalog so you can get brand-new Easter sets just in time for all your Easter crafting!

I know you are excited to see this Mini Catalog, and you will, on April 1st! But between now and then feast your eyes on these three sets (and one coordinating wheel) available early to you.

You may order these items TODAY by contacting me or clicking on the Shop Now button at the right!

To see samples from of the rest of this Occasions Mini Catalog stay tuned because I'll be playing as soon as I get my demonstrator order!

~Kristin

Time for the Divas Again! DCBD115

Another Wednesday, another fabulous sketch for the Diva's Coffee Break Design Team!

I had a lot of fun with this sketch- so much fun in fact, that when my card was all done I couldn't decide which direction I liked it the best! I finally decided on horizontal because I thought it was the most unique to me.

The DSP on this card is one of the Sale-a-Bration options (available now through March 31st) called Delicate Dots. I think this sketch just screams for beautifully coordinating DSP of any variety! Funny thing for me, I chose my papers and had the card mostly put together before deciding how to finish it off. I had these white daisy cutouts, from the Daisies #2 SU Die for the Big Shot, laying on my desk from another project and decided to use them! This time I only layered two of the medium size and added a Build-a-Brad with a little punch of another of these pretty papers in the center. The ribbon is also a FREEbie from SAB- the wide Celery Twill!!

For the inside I didn't want it to just be stamped- how boring and typical for me I'm afraid- so I stretched a little and stamped a frame from my upcoming and coming favorite set Frames With a Flourish, then stamped Happy Easter inside (from All Holidays). So there, I've got an Easter card already finished and I know just who I'm going to send it to! I should just address the envelope now or else I'll be late (don't ask, just trust me).

Thanks for stopping by and please play along and link your creation here for me to see!!
~Kristin