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

Newsprint Valentine

Well, I've got another Valentine for you today.  This time my little owl punch got some use with a Newsprint belly!  This sketch is from the Splitcoast Stampers sketch challenge for this week (posted on Wednesdays). 

There is also a fun new set of Stampin' Up! Demonstrator challenges on Splitcoast and this month we are challenged to use hearts of any form (punches, stamps, dies etc.) as well as the color scheme Riding Hood Red, Vanilla and Black.  These new challenges are only visible to demos, but YOU are welcome to play along as well.  The keyword for the color challenge is:  CCREW0111DF, Creative Crew.  Keyword for the theme is:  CCREW0111HF, CreativeCrew.

Also, today I'm proud to share an award that I was given by Nance!  She has given me a great compliment with this award and her sweet comments.  The best part is I love her style so this is an honor! 

One of the responsibilities of a stylish blogger is to share 8 things about myself.  Let's see what I can come up with...

1. My dad & I enjoy critiquing cards together- not really critiquing, but pointing out our favorite aspects, like balance, color, craft, design. 
2. He critiques mine too, but only says good things.  :)
3. My mom says my artistic ability does not come from her... but she scrapbooks, makes amazing jewelry, and fabulous pillows!  (She really needs her own Etsy store!)
4. I did quite poorly in the only art class I took in college, Graphic Design.  My teacher was mean!
5. I worked up a sweat reorganizing my closet yesterday.  (as if you really wanted to know that)
6. I help coach 3rd-6th graders in volleyball on Sunday afternoons and love it!
7. I just found out a few days ago that we have a 4th dog.  My hubby and kids coluded to hide this fact from me for nearly a week!  Kids still don't know I know... and I'm keeping it that way because they keep volunteering to go out and feed/water them without my asking.  They know that I would NOT be happy about yet another hunting dog.  Not only am I using this fact so I don't have to traipse out in the cold, I am also tormenting them daily by suggesting I might go out and take one of the dogs for a walk.
8. I don't even know this new dog's name.

Well, how's that for random facts??   I believe I get to pass this award along as well...  Here are a few Stylish bloggers that you really shouldn't miss (and be sure to go visit Nance too- she does great work!)

Chat Wszelaki

Erica

Tessa Wise

Tina

Ilina

OK, I've got to quit there.  Not that there aren't so many more Stylish bloggers, but I've spent too much time already seeking out the perfect blogs to post here.   I need to go do some cleaning! 

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

~Kristin

An Early Valentine

Good morning!  I've got something new for you today!  I needed a good challenge yesterday and decided to play along with the PPA Color Challenge as well as Connie & Mary's cool sketch!  I thought the Scalloped Envelope would work perfect for the sketch and was happy to fill it with punched hearts from the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set.  Love how one of the stamps coordinates with the Heart to Heart punch! 

Did you notice the inside of the envelope (barely showing) was wheeled with the new Music Notes wheel?  That wheel is new to me- I decided I couldn't live without it any longer since I've always had a bit of a musical background. 

Hope you like it!  Tomorrow I'll be back with another Valentine that is completely different!  Thanks for stopping by today!  It is so good to be back to blogging regularly and reading your sweet comments.  They make my day!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts, Well Scripted

Colors: Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White

Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Envelope Bigz Die, Heart to Heart punch, Decorative Label punch, Basic Pearls, White Organza Ribbon, Music Notes Wheel

BIG POST!

Trying to make up for my random posts lately. Did I ever mention that my husband was out of town for 5 days last week on a hog hunting trip in Florida? That was my primary excuse for not doing much stamping... that and the incredible amounts of snow we got. Yes, it kept me home but it kept my kiddos home as well and we all know what that means. Less "me" time!
So here's the first card I made. This is a CASE of my own card seen here. I had the supplies out for my downline to make at our meeting on Friday and decided to try it out in these colors instead (Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum and Very Vanilla). I must admit that I prefer the Soft Suede version for some reason and think it is better as an anniversary card because of the "kissing" birds. However, the texture does show up a bit more in the Pale Plum, wouldn't you say?

Here are the little treats I made for my girls! These were so quick and easy. I made four out of 1 sheet of cardstock. The measurements are 2.75" wide by 8.5" long. Scored at 1", 4.5" and 5". I'm sure I saw a similar idea somewhere on-line, but I have no idea where. If this idea was yours originally feel free to speak up! The top scalloped edge just folds over the front and I added a bit of repositionable adhesive so they could be opened and closed. The candy hearts are in a tiny ziplock plastic bag and stapled inside at the top. The tag is made with the retired "Say it With Scallops" stamp set and the scallop square punch with a small heart punch added on!

This one was also a M&T for my downline meeting Friday and is a CASE of a great card I found on a link from a link from some blog I visit and no kidding, I can't find it again. It was one of those things that I copied right from the screen instead of saving it to my hard drive like normal. Please speak up if this is your design. In the mean time I will continue looking for the original. It was so neat- I know I changed the DSP I used so the colors are different, but pretty much everything else is the same. A very quick and easy card and a great use for the Full Heart punch! I used Razzleberry Lemonade paper here.

ETA: FOUND IT! This is the card I was so inspired by. It is by Nancy Riley who was CASING Bard Mann whose card I don't have a link for. Thanks Nancy and Barb!

Here's another of the M&T's I had ready. I'm not exactly crazy about this card but it was to be a challenge to everyone to come up with a unique card using these same supplies. Unfortunately no one was able to make it to my downline meeting so I didn't get to see what they all would've done with this. For this one I used the Beautiful Wings Embosslit to make the butterflies, and the Fine Flourish single stamp to make the pattern at the right. The sentiment is from the Sale-a-Bration set Whimsical Words. See my link at the right if you're interested in earning this set for FREE! Also on this card are Cottage Wall DSP, Rich Razzleberry dotted grosgrain, and silver brads.

Finally, here is the Valentine I made for my daughter's class this year. I know the colors are pretty hideous. I went through and used my retired paper stash for all 25 of them. I think this is the old Mint Medley and the old version of Regal Rose (can't even remember the old name right now). In a big pile they all looked great, but I forgot to photo them and this was the only one left over. On the back I put a Full Heart punched out and she wrote "Peel Here" on it. They were attached with a repositionable adhesive over the 3/4" hole punched through so the candy could come out.

And if you're wondering, no my son didn't get homemade ones this year. I had the best intentions but found out too late that he needed 35 (for both 4th grades) instead of the 23 I had planned for so I didn't have enough supplies. He was going to get the circular treat cups on his. Turns out he didn't really care- and didn't mind getting store bought Valentines the night before his class party!

So how's that for a makeup post??

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kristin

XOXOXOXO

Did anyone else grow up using xoxoxo for Hugs and Kisses in your notes, cards and letters?? It seems to me this was instilled by my grandmother and I actually forgot about it until I got a thank you note from my sister last week that had XOXOXO at the bottom.

Anyway, I missed posting yesterday's Diva Coffee Break Designs challenge card. We've been seriously snowed in (with another 6-8 inches on top of the 12-18 we already had) so my kids and hubby have been home hampering my computer/blog/stamping time. Instead we've made Valentine's, worked on a jigsaw puzzle, went sledding, and watched TV together.

This week's challenge was to use Bravo Burgandy, Pretty in Pink and Soft Suede to make a Valentine! Not too hard, eh?! I used my Movers & Shapers heart die as well as the full heart punch to make the window on this card. Inside I used the heart from Love You Much, stamped in Burgandy then watercolored with Watercolor Crayons and aquapainter then added touches of glitter to the center of the flowers. I also textured the Soft Suede piece with the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder. Added some ribbon and the little round sentiment from Love You Much, then stamped the inside sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

I hope you'll consider playing along with the Diva's challenge this week- go ahead and make an extra Valentine for your honey, or someone else that might be least expecting it then get it in the mail TODAY! Also, be sure to check out THIS POST on the Diva Blog to see the Featured Artists for the last few months, and a blog candy winner!

And ONE MORE THING! Today the call for a new Clean & Simple Design Team on Splitcoast came out! I'd love to have all of you try out! This opportunity is for EVERYONE- so please don't hesistate to go for it!

Thanks for stopping by today!
~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Love you Much, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Colors: Pretty in Pink, Soft Suede, Bravo Burgandy, Whisper White

Accessories: Movers & Shapers heart die, Big Shot, 1" circle punch, Bravo Burgandy grosgrain ribbon, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder, Full Heart punch, Watercolor Crayons, Aquapainter, glitter

Retro Candyland... and some beer

What on earth?!? Is that what you thought when you read my title? LOL! Well, today's Clean & Simple challenge over on SCS is to find inspiration on this website Candy Crates Retro Candy Store. Well, I was looking for something really graphic to be inspired by (the candy just wasn't doing it for me) so I went in search of something sweet for the guys where I found this Killians Red beer sign. Perfect! Or so I thought. I love the bold colors and graphic nature of the image but I gotta tell you my first two tries were U-G-L-Y. Even my sweet sweet daughter who approves of everything I do with a resounding "IT'S BEAUTIFUL!" said "yeah, it's not your best mom" or something along those lines to which I totally cracked up!

Anyway, flipped a layer over, then threw it away and started over in my thinking and finally got to this. I'm happy with it. My first idea was way too literal and it wasn't going to be very clean or simply anyway.

After I used half a bottle of reinker to refill my vanilla ink pad I managed to emboss the word Wanted with it, and even stamp some weathered background. The hearts are from the Heart to Heart punch, and "Hugs & Kisses" is from All Holidays (which I get a LOT of use from).

Well, thanks for stopping by and stay tuned. While I was busy working yesterday my DD made her own card that I think is pretty awesome for an 8 year old! I'll post it next after I get them off to school.

~Kristin

I {Heart} You!

Ever since the Clean & Simple challenge on Monday to make a Valentine's card I've been wanting/meaning to make another one. Not sure why it took me this long, but I've finally put to paper the idea I've had in my head that whole time. Of course it's not the exact idea but it's close.

Calling this Clean & Simple might be a stretch though... it is clean enough I think with a lack of layers, but simple might be debatable considering I embossed the heart, made a Build-a-Brad, used the Big Shot on the card base, not to mention chipboard, ribbon and a fancy Scallop Trim punch. But CAS is up to us, so this is gonna count this time!

I had this all laid out and ready to glue down when I decided I really wanted to use one of my new Real Red Sending Love Epoxy Brads (now available in the Occasions Mini catalog). But the Real Red just wasn't working with my Melon Mambo so I suddenly had a thought that I can make my own! I pulled out my Build-a-Brad kit, stamped the pink heart (from the trio of hearts stamp in Love You Much) then punched it out with my 1/2" circle punch. Voila- my own almost epoxy heart brad in Melon Mambo! Just what I wanted.

The big heart is from that same stamp set, Love You Much. The chipboard letters I liked in their original kraft color since that is the color of the card base, but I wanted to spruce them up a bit so I stamped the "i" with an old set called Beyond the Basics, and the "u" with my Polka Dot background- stamped twice. I also colored in a few of the details on the big heart with my handy-dandy Melon Mambo marker.

The Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder (p. 35) and black satin ribbon (p. 27) are now available in the new Occasions Mini Catalog also!

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a great day!

Oh, I almost forgot! I have GREAT NEWS! I will be offering my FIRST EVER BLOG CANDY next week. Be sure to check back frequently for a chance to win! I can't wait to show you what it's all about!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Love You Much, Beyond the Basics, Polka Dot background

Colors: Kraft, Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder, chipboard, Black Satin ribbon, Build-a-Brad, 1/2" circle punch, clear embossing powder, Scallop Trim Edge punch

To Infinity and Beyond!

Buzz Lightyear to Star Command, come in Star Command! OK, so I've watched Toy Story a few too many times! Anyway, this is for today's Diva Coffee Break Designs challenge- that's right, we're back after a well-deserved two week break! We've got this great sketch to work with this week.

Took me a while but I finally decided to use stars for my three elements on the left so naturally I had to dig out my fun spaceship from Pun Fun for the main image. Don't recognize the sentiment? That's because I printed it on my computer. It's fun, try running your cardstock through your printer and then you can use any sentiment you want! I used the star punch to make the point on the end of my sentiment piece so it is the exact same angle.

My color scheme for today came from the Color Challenge on SCS yesterday to use Certainly Celery, Bermuda Bad and Handsome Hunter together. Love that combination and I never would have thought to use it. I also added in some Whisper White for my neutral.

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by!

~Kristin

PS- I nearly forgot... well, I did forget but you shouldn't. Take some time to go visit the Diva blog to see many more examples using this sketch, then be sure to play along!

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Pun Fun, Extreme Elements

Colors: Certainly Celery, Bermuda Bad and Handsome Hunter, Whisper White

Accessories: Silver brads, Blender Pens, small and large star punches

Thinking ahead to Valentine's Day!

This week's Clean & Simple challenge is to make an early Valentine's card. I used my brand new Scalloped Heart of Hearts embosslit. If you haven't tried an Embosslit you just have to! They are so neat in the fact that they emboss and die cut at the same time! The background stamped on the top of this card is the new single called Fine Flourish. Both of these products will be available beginning on Tuesday in Stampin' Up!'s Occasions Mini Catalog. I added some double stitched chocolate ribbon (this is not the 1" that's available in the catalog, but a little wider version from a while back) and a few Latte Designer buttons. If you'd like a copy of the Occasions Mini catalog or the Sale-a-Bration brochure just let me know!

My sentiment is from my hands-down favorite Teeny Tiny Wishes which is in the regular catalog. I hope you like it! Thanks for all your sweet comments and for visiting today! I hope you'll join us for the CAS48 challenge this week!

~Kristin

PS- I used Melon Mambo ink on this card for the background and the sentiment but I'm noticing that they kind of look brownish in my photo.

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Fine Flourish, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Colors: Chocolate Chip, Melon Mambo

Accessories: Double stitched wide chocolate chip ribbon, Scalloped Heart of Hearts embosslit, Latte designer buttons

A Little Early??

OK, so it might be a little early for Valentine's cards... but just like always I started out with one idea and it progressed to this. I wanted to use the new sets I {heart} Hearts as well as the hostess set Holiday Best. A few other things to point out are the sparkly heart- I made this by punching a heart in a scrap of the sticky sheets. Just add it to your project, peel off the label then pour chunky glitter over it. I also used the Movers & Shapers to cut the large heart out then used the punch which is a slightly smaller size and layers perfectly. The smallest heart is from the I {Heart} Heart stamp set.

Can you see the texture on the black layer? I used the Texturz Plate and Big Shot to do that. It adds a neat look in person. Well, it's taken me ALL DAY to get this made and then posted so I'm off to bed now. Hopefully I'll do some stamping tomorrow before the on-line shopping! ;)

Thanks for visiting,
~Kristin

ETA: A much better picture.

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Holiday Best, I {Heart} Hearts

Colors: Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White

Accessories: Real Red Dotted grosgrain, tag corner punch, scallop edge punch, Large heart punch, Heart to Heart punch, Movers & Shapers with Heart die, Big Shot, Textured Plate, Chunky red glitter, Horizontal slot punch, black embroidery floss, crimper, My Way punch

Valentine's Projects

Since I'm busily working on swaps today I thought I'd post my kids' Valentines they did this year.

I didn't have enough of the small cello bags or they would have both made the same thing. Those bags with toppers were much easier, I must say! My daughter could've done them by herself but I did the Big Shot work and the stamping. She put them together. She really wanted to color something so below you'll notice that she put the skunk from Pun Fun in each one as well, with her name on it. They say "I stink you're sweet".

The pillowboxes were tougher. My son didn't like trying to fold them on the score marks, so I did that plus I tried to just use glue and double sided tape to close them for efficiency, but they were not sticking well. He put the M&M's in them and made the tags, but that's about it. Stinker!

They did each make their own Valentine's Boxes this year. They both wanted Robots so out came the foil and paper punches.

Fun new goodies- Sneak Peek!

UPS guy- Rob- gotta love him! He delivered another batch of goodies to me today. Don't worry, I didn't go crazy... just restocked some paper and ribbon and of course I took advantage of the Demo only preorder period for this Sneak Peek of a bundle available as a promo beginning Dec. 23rd (more details later) and in the new 2009 Catalog coming out in January! I know, new catalog already?! Hard to believe, but so exciting as always!

Anyway, Rob showed up just as I was thinking "hmmm, what set will I use for today's challenge on Splitcoast?" *Ding Dong* He can read my mind, I tell ya! (of course if he's not here by 10:45 am on delivery mornings he's in the dog house and he knows it). :)

So here is the first card I've made with the new set called Love You Much. It reminds me of a few very popular sets that I never purchased so I felt totally non-guilty for ordering it!! This sketch is today's SC203 (oops, make that Wednesday's as I'm scheduling this to post on Friday). I'm also playing along on a thread on SCS where you make a card for the person that posts below you (and get a card from the person you posted after)- FUN! If you want to try it out click here. Guess who posted just below me--- Lisa Henke! I get to send my card to a real live friend!

ETA: (11.20.08 I just found out that I am not permitted to post this to my blog until the bundle special is actually announced via the SU website so I am rescheduling this for Dec. 22. Keep in mind that this post was actually written 11.19.08)