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

Excited to Share with YOU!!

Guess what?!! As I've been brainstorming and trying to narrow down which cards to use for my upcoming March Stamp Camp I kind of stumbled into making this card. Has that ever happened to you before? You know, you've got random things laying around while you're toying with a vague idea, then something else happens and all of a sudden you've made a card that you hadn't envisioned at all and you just love it?! Well- this is it!

Isn't that diamond texture pattern amazing? Oh I am having so much for with my Big Shot and these new Texturz Plates I can't wait to show you! The butterfly is also from a Big Shot die and it is so awesome because it can make FOUR different sizes of butterflies!! I can't wait to use it on a scrapbook page! The funny thing is I had planned to use the other side but ended up liking this side better!

This designer paper is from the Sale-a-Bration pack called Delicate Dots and you know the best part (aside from it being FREE of course)- it comes with FOUR sheets of each pattern. If you're like me that is a bonus because you don't have to feel nervous about using up your last piece then wishing later that you had a whole piece again.

Another of my favorites parts of this card is using the ribbon and rhinestone brad to finish off the butterfly as antenna! And I thought of it all on my own- I swear! Totally my idea- feel free to borrow it! ;)

Since I have decided to use this at my Stamp Camp I am thinking of having a surprise inside! I haven't worked on it yet, but I've got ideas swirling.

Anyway, since I promised an enticement for my upcoming class, here is a picture of the cards you'll be making for only $10 (and yes, that price probably includes some kind of chocolate too!).

The hinge card was featured on my blog earlier today and is a fun interactive technique that is great for many occasions! The third card I haven't shown you before is inspired by Dostamping on SCS- I just adored hers and the simplicity of it. Each of these cards feature stamp sets that can be FREE with a $50 order through March 31st.

Some of the other products that you will get to use at this class include rhinestone brads, Styled Silver Hodgpodge ribbon slides, wide and narrow grosgrain ribbon and four punches: Label, 5 petal flower, square and scallop edge.

Please contact me today to reserve your spot in this class and enjoy a lovely evening on a budget! Doors will be open from 6-10pm so you can come at your convenience. Plan to spend 1-2 hours. Bring a new guest and get a free gift (please register both of you).

Materials for this class, including printed directions, can be sent to you to do at home for an additional $5. All materials will be precut and/or punched and you can add your own sentiments.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kristin

A Hinge Card!

As a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator I receive a monthly magazine published by Stampin' Up! called Stampin' Success. It is a wonderful, color magazine full of wonderful business ideas, stampin' tips and beautiful samples of cards, scrapbook pages and projects using the current products and specials!

Well, March's issue arrived yesterday and in it is a hinged card that I just had to try. I changed the colors and stamp set but kept the layout and measurements exact.

The picture at the right shows how this card opens. It is hinged by the brad and the top portion (bashful blue in my sample) tucks neatly behind the lower portion (Brilliant Blue here).

This was fun and fairly easy and I can't wait to try again. I see lots of possibilities with this technique!

For my upcoming Stamp Camp on March 6th we will be doing this technique (may be this exact card or another that I've yet to design). I can't wait to teach this to all my favorite customers!

If you are in my area in NW Ohio and would like to attend my Stamp Camp I'd love to have you! I will teach you great stampin' techiniques, as well as money saving ideas and even show some affordable gift ideas for upcoming birthdays or even Easter & Mother's Day! The class is only $10 and you'll complete 3 projects to take home, along with all the inspiration and ideas you'll be bursting with.

Please contact me today to reserve your spot!

~Kristin

PS- Want to see what else we'll be doing at Stamp Camp? Stay Tuned...

Stampin' Up! Supplies

Stamps: Bontanical Bouquet (FREE right now with a $50 order!), All Holidays

Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Brilliant Blue, So Saffron, Whisper White

Accessories: Scallop Edge punch, distressing tool, So Saffron Wide Grosgrain (Also FREE right now with a $50 order!), Rich Regal Brad.

It's Wednesday: DCBD116

And you know what that means! A new Diva Coffee Break Design Challenge. This time we were challenged to use this awesome color combination: Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Gray and Whisper White! Even though these colors are bright and fun I really wanted to use my new stamp set Thoughts & Prayers since I hadn't inked it up yet! I decided to be subtle with cardstock color but get my turquoise and green in with ink- works like a charm.

I tried my hardest to add ribbon, but in the end it just looked best without it. I did add a layer of vellum across the middle for a softer look, and then did some tiny detail cutting to add a raised flower to the sentiment. The tiny touch of fine cosmo glitter finished it off.

If you haven't already checked out the new Diva Blog, be sure to do so! There you will find a little sneak peek of each Diva's contribution to this challenge, and links to each of their blogs! Remember, these are all Stampin' Up! Demonstrators using all current Stampin' Up! products. Please check them out!

Thanks for visiting!

~Kristin

Stampin' Up! Supplies

Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers

Paper: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Vellum Cardstock

Ink: Basic Gray, Tempting Turquoise & Green Galore markers

Accessories: Scallop edge punch, Fine Cosmo Glitter

My DD the Little Stamper

Yesterday my DD was antsy and wanting to stamp. I had already been working with inchies and thought she would enjoy them too. I gave her some ideas, paper and a stamp set and then I got back to blogging. Next thing I know she says she's done and here's what she did all on her own!

Initially she was making them to give her teacher but she decided she really wanted to keep them to use as quick little cards to go on birthday packages. We have lots of birthday parties it seems and inevitably are searching my piles for a card at the last minute, so these will be perfect! They are little 3x3 cards which will fit in SU's small envelopes and you can get three out of one sheet of cardstock- BONUS! The only thing she failed at is punching the squares out of both sheets of the same paper instead of all out of one piece! UGH! I pointed it out so that next time she'd realize. I guess that's not too bad for a 7 year old. At least it was retired paper too.

Anyway, she was very exciting to ask if I would post these on my blog and Splitcoast so I agreed! How could I refuse? And I think they are pretty good too!

Thanks for visiting!
~Kristin (& my DD)

Stampin' Up! Supplies

Stamps: Darling Dots

Paper: Sahara Sand, Playhouse DSP

Mojo Monday- again!

Yippee- the best thing about Monday's is Mojo Monday sketch challenge! This week the sketch is no exception- awesome as usual! Sometimes the pink/red/black combination in the sketch grabs me and I have a hard to considering another color combo. Not today- it dawned on me that with my first order from SU's new catalog I had to have the Bright Delight Rub-ons (and I earned them for FREE: Bonus!). Well, I was determined to use them on this sketch, and I did!

Here it is! I actually used 5 different rub-ons from this pack- can you find them? You keep looking and I'll list them below. You may be thinking that I'm missing a few layers, but I'm trying to keep to my clean & simple style while still using the sketch. I think that's OK.

If you're wondering about the portion of the Top Note die that is on the right, yes it does hang over the edges a bit. I had planned to trim it off, but I like it so much that it is here to stay! I think it will even fit in an envelope still.

OK, so for the Rub-Ons, this pack is so exciting for me because of the colors it contains! They come in Old Olive, Ruby Red, Tangerine Tango and Chocolate! Yummy! Alright, so did you find them? Here they are: "Thank you so much", the owl, the flower on the owl is separate, the rows of detail on the chocolate cardstock on the right side of the main panel, and under the sentiment label. That one was applied first, and while I liked it I decided that was really the best place for my sentiment and I liked it peeking out from underneath. You may need to click on the picture to get a better view of this one.

The chocolate twill ribbon is in place of another strip of paper there. I tried and tried to put a strip of CS but nothing worked for me. The chocolate twill that I hadn't used in a while was perfect!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you like it, and will consider using your Rub-ons for a card or two!!

~Kristin

Stampin' Up! Supplies

Stamps: none

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Tango Tangerine, Whisper White

Accessories: Bright Delight Rub-ons, Earth Elements brads, Curly Label punch, Top Note Die, Big Shot, Chocolate Twill, Chocolate Chip marker.

Look Out! There are NEW Divas in town!

That's right, our very own Mrs. Diva herself has "hired" not one, not two, but THIRTEEN new Divas to join our group! They are:

Christine Pleiman

Denise Stoner

Elisa Giffin

Ellie Augustin

Erin Rockafellow

Ilse Vargas

Kelly Swienton

Kendra Wisenbaker

Krista Visser-Driessen

Pamela Browne

Shari Taylor

Stephanie Zeto

Tammy Fite

Please stop by each of their blogs and give them a big welcome! I can see we will be stepping up our game a bit in the DCBD challenges each week!

Just as exciting is the announcement of our very own DCBD blog! You can find it here, or click on the newly designed Diva link at the right (I know it's too small to read right now, they're working on that).

From now on this blog will list our challenge each week and also give a glimpse of each Diva's design for that week, with links to our blogs. Be sure to check it out and play along!

Thanks for stopping by, and WELCOME to each of the new Divas!

~Kristin

VSN! What's that?!

Virtual Stamp Night! SCS hosts this once a month I believe and this is the first time I've participated. Every hour they give a stamp challenge and you have 45 minutes to complete it. I believe they award some prizes, but I was just enjoying the various challenges!

Here's what I made so far. I'll hopefully have more to post later too!

For this one (FEB09VSNH) we were to think of something we are almost obsessed with a make a card around that thing. Besides stamping, the first thing that came to mind was my Earl Grey tea (if I'm stamping I am generally also sipping on some hot tea)! This one took me 41 minutes. I like the concept behind this one, using the scalloped envelope to hold the tea bag, but this turned out way gawdier than I anticipated. But it was a challenge and it's complete so then I moved on...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Frames With a Flourish, Wonderful Favorites

Cardstock: Brilliant Blue, Basic Black, Brushed Silver

Accessories: Silver EP, black brads, Scalloped Envelope Die, Big Shot. Non-SU: silver ribbon, tea bag.

This one was for FEB09VSNK: Long Lost Love. We were to find an old stamp set that used to be a favorite but hasn't been used for a long time. For mine I had tons of choices since I've yet to ever part with a stamp set, but I chose an old SAB set called Paint Prints from 2005. I really enjoyed this one and completed it in only 34 minutes! This stamp set is hard to mess up. I just chose a color scheme from the color wheel (in fact, I closed my eyes and spun, determined to use whatever I turned to- a very scientific process!) I grabbed some scraps, and went to town. The Not Quite Navy card base is stamped with Canvas in Very Vanilla ink. I went with a shabby look with the roughed up edges, and the Canvas stamp helped out with that. There's some canvas stamped on the flower too.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Paint Prints, Canvas

Paper: Not Quite Navy, Sage Shadow, More Mustard, Very Vanilla

Accessories: 5-petal flower punch, spiral punch, Earth Elements brads, distressing tool, sponge.

The last challenge I completed was FEB09VSNL, "A Wee Bit 'O Love". We were to use Inchies for this one. What is an inchy? As far as I can tell, basically a 1" square of whatever you want. We could use as many or as few as we wanted, and they could be stamped or not. I've heard of this fad before and hadn't ever gotten it, but I have to admit they are fun, easy and quite addicting. I could think of so many ways to finish off my cards that I could've kept going and going. The one on the left is made up of entirely SAB freebies that are available right now. The one on the right is the same DSP, but I used a SAB stamp set from last year as well as a brad from the Styled Silver Hodgepodge collection. My photos were taken last night, so they aren't the best.


Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Polka Dot Punches, Yummy, Very Punny

Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Basic Gray, Delicate Dots DSP

Accessories: Wide Saffron Ribbon (SAB), Word Window Punch, Styled Silver Hodgepodge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Kristin

Just for Fun!

I've seen this before and decided I would finally do it. This list is a questionaire of sorts. You are supposed to bold the things you've done. Feel free to play along!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland, (Disney World)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community (actually, LIVE in one! No, I'm not Amish, but they go past my house every day!)
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke (it wasn't pretty!)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (yes, but I wasn't the injured party- it was my sister at my bachelorette party. There might have been drinking involved.)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving,
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (technically yes, but they wouldn't give me gloves to pick the cigarette butts out of the urinal!! This was my first job as a teenager with an immature creep of a boss who should've been convicted of something, I'm sure!)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (from an airplane, does that count?)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had Chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life (I've pulled a few kids out of swimming pools)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Blogger Award from Juanita!

Actually, it's a comment award- isn't that cool?!! I don't always leave comments- I feel like I frantically scramble through blog-land and am always in a rush to get back "home" so I can start stamping and use some of that inspiration I've soaked up. BUT, when I do comment I try to leave something meaningful- usually I just type what first came to mind when I happened upon whatever just amazed me! Sometimes it is hard to put to words when your jaw just drops, but it is fun to try!

Anyway, thanks to Juanita for awarding me! Go check out her blog, and leave her some good quality blog comments! ;)

Well, I am passing this award along because I so love reading all the comments you leave me. I really don't want to leave anyone out but I had to pick a few to award so here are some of my favoritist commenters (in alpha order)- love you guys!:

Angie Tieman

DCBD girls (see the coffee cup logo at the right!)

Heather P.

Jeannette (doesn't have a blog, but she knows who she is!)

Lisa Henke

Vera

OK, something else for ya because I'm impatient and like to tease! I am leaving you with sneak peeks of my swaps I did for the GSG New Catty swap that is due next week. Hee hee!

Thanks for stoppin' by, and for all your heartfelt comments! You are truly appreciated!

~Kristin

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.

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

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

Just Right!

Have you ever noticed the stamp set called Nature Silhouettes in the catalog?? Well, it's one I've admired and finally bought recently. I love nature, love silhouette style stamps and my hubby and son are into all things outdoors- so a perfect fit! Anyway, this is the first card I've made with this set and it is for my husband's birthday at the end of this month.

I started out with the Mojo Monday sketch from yesterday. Then decided to use the kraft patterns from Urban Oasis DSP, and finally some Always Artichoke patterned paper. The tree is embossed with Artichoke craft ink and clear EP but my ink spot is SO DRY that it barely was enough to emboss. Guess that reinker is on my next order!

I really love the look of the deer standing under the tree branches but that is too obvious I guess, so I decided to stamp my sentiment there and put the deer head in my circle hodgepodge instead. Hope you like it!

TFL,

~Kristin

Stampin' Up! Supplies

Stamps: Nature Silhouettes, On Your Birthday

Paper: Always Artichoke, Kraft, Urban Oasis DSP, Always Artichoke patterns

Accessories: Clear EP, Silver Hodgepodge, circle punches, natural hemp

Fifth Avenue Butterfly

Phew! After my internet being sluggish and then down most of the day I am finally able to post something today!

I'm excited to share this card with you because it shows off several new items including the new Urban Oasis DSP, the beautiful stamp set Fifth Avenue Floral, and the new Beautiful Butterfly Bigz die for the Big Shot!!

To highlight the sentiment in the center of the card I stamped it first, then punched a wide oval out of scrap paper and temporarily adhered it to the Pink Pirouette paper right over the sentiment. Then I randomly stamped the images from Fifth Avenue Floral in Black, Purely Pomegranate and Pink Pirouette. Before removing the scrap paper I sponged around it with Pink Pirouette.

This is a neat way to add some dimension with only one layer. The double stitched ribbon is the retired Pomegranate, and the brads are basic black. The wire I added last for antenna is ancient, and happens to be a perfect match to the Pomegranate!

Thanks for stopping by! I'll be volunteering in the morning tomorrow but will hopefully be able to stamp and post later in the day since I got most of my cleaning and laundry done today (thanks to no internet playing!).

~Kristin

Sitting right here!

Guess what... I have a card sitting right here that I want to share but my hubby took off with BOTH our cameras! I have a really old camera but I'd have to find it, charge the batteries then try to remember how to upload etc. So not worth it- he'll be home by then!

Today on SCS I found a thread asking us to post our favorite card we've ever done. Well, I thought it sounded fun so I went wading through the 7 pages (at 96 per page= 672) of cards I've posted to my gallery on SCS. What a blast from the past! So nice to see some improvement there! So I thought maybe I'd share those cards with you since they are from well before I started blogging.

Anyway, here they are just for fun (and to stall until I get my camera back)...

Here are the details on this one in case you are interested...

Well crud, I can't find the other one so here's a link to it. 2006 was back before I was very organized in my photo files I guess! This one is from June 2007.

I just remembered that I might have some photos of the kids' valentines projects we did, so I'll go see about posting those...

Have a great Sunday!

~kristin~

It's a STRE-------TCH!

Yesterday's Limited Supplies Challenge on Splitcoast was interesting, to say the least! Basically you could use whatever you wanted, but it had to be outside of your norm, a stretch for you creatively... you get the idea! Well, it was fun. I struggled at first because I'm not sure what my "typical" style is- I love color, lots of different colors, and I adore all embellishments equally (mostly) so I went to my SCS gallery to try and figure out what direction I should go. The thing that came to mind is that I, as you know, primarily stamp in SUO (Stampin' Up! Only). I love it, I sell it, I use it! So my personal stretch is to use non-SU.

So, that's where I went. I can honestly say there is almost NOTHING on here that is from SU. The 2 exceptions are the retired wide organdy ribbon and the use of the Wide Oval Punch. That's it! Oh wait, I also used Tango Tangerine cardstock- my least favorite of the In Colors.

I had to dig deep for everything else. The stamps I used were in the gift at the SCS dinner at Convention last year- I have no idea who makes them, but they are my ONLY clear stamp and I've never used them. The page pebble is from a set I bought years ago that included Rub-ons (that were all stuck to their paper backing and ruined) by EK Success. The only rubon that wasn't ruined is the Get Well Soon one that I put right on top of the pebble.

The scallop vanilla note card is by The Paper Company (found these on clearance at the grocery store, believe it or not). The satiny rope is by Wrights and was found at Walmart. Last but not least, I used the Dotted embossing folder by Cuttlebug in my Big Shot. How's that for stepping away from SUO?!! A real stretch for me!

Well, I couldn't resist going with my second idea as well. Although I love it, I haven't used my Pacific Point all that much, and just yesterday while I was organizing I realized that I don't use my microbeads all that much (or any beads for that matter).

I don't know how the idea popped into my head, but I am SO glad that it did! The flower from my new set Fifth Avenue Floral was stamped in Vanilla, then I applied heat & stick powder, heated briefly then added my green microbeads!! WOWZERS- I really had no idea if it would work! I am disappointed in my photo because the green in the beads really pops in real life- they almost look like a million little lights. So sorry I can't get it to picture better.

The sentiment here is from the Botanical Blooms set which is one of the FREE Sale-a-Bration choices! And if you hadn't already noticed, the tiny flowers in this set are the same fabulous style as Fifth Avenue Floral and make a great duo!

Anyway, I'd love to have you try this out- adding beads via heat & stick powder- then SHOW ME! I must tell you though, that the beads aren't stuck like cement- too much handling will shake the loose ones free. Keep that in mind when designing your card!

Thanks for stopping by! I'm at a wedding today so not sure if I'll have something new to show you tomorrow or not... we'll see!
~Kristin

Happy Valentine's Day!

Stampin' Up! Supplies

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Botanical Blooms

Paper: Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss

Ink: Very Vanilla, Pacific Point

Accessories: Top Note Die, Big Shot, green Microbeads, kiwi kiss satin ribbon, Styled Silver Hodgepodge

Bitty Bouquet

Ooh, I am loving this new level 2 hostess set that I just got yesterday!!! Such awesome images and a great variety of solid and line drawn! To start off I grabbed a color combination from my trusty Stampin' Up! Color Wheel: Old Olive, Bravo Burgundy, Elegant Eggplant and More Mustard. I stamped a few, then stamped a few more to cut out, popped them up and voila!

The bravo scalloped circle is embossed with my new Texturz Plates but not enough is showing to see the detail. The Olive piece is stamped with the Canvas background (just can't go wrong with Canvas, can you?!).

The sentiment inside and out is from a new Sale-a-Bration set called Congrats (free with your $50 order!).

The final two pieces that I haven't mentioned are not Stampin' Up! but are from my stash- some very soft leather material that I cut into a strip to tie around the stems, and some old old brads from Making Memories. The leather made it on my card because of Thursday's Ways To Use It challenge on Splitcoast! What a fun idea that I possibly have never done. I really enjoyed digging through my fabric scraps from my wedding, old shoulder pads long since removed, and bits of old curtains- seeing possibility in each piece!

Here is the inside- I love overlapping, mix and mingling these flowers. Even the envelope was a snap!

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by! If you'd like to earn this stamp set yourself contact me today to set up your Stampin' Up! Workshop!

~Kristin

Wedded Bliss Club: Welcome New Members!

I have a niece getting married this weekend so I put some of my new goodies to use on this card for her. I'll have to upload a picture of the inside later- I forgot to photo that part.

So this large flower is made with the Flower, Daisies #2 die for the Big Shot. The die has 3 sized flowers on it and I used 2 of the biggest size, then one of each of the smaller sizes, and the smallest blue flower was done with the retired Spring Bouquet punch by SU. The center is a new, and might I saw awesome, corduroy button in Kraft. The Sahara Sand layer of paper was embossed using my new Texturz Plates and the Big Shot also. The "congratulations" is part of the new Sale-a-Bration set called Congrats! The dots on the right were done with the Polka Dot background stamp in chocolate ink.

I hope you like this color combination- I came up with it myself! It is Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand and Very Vanilla. The sketch is from yesterday's SC215 in Splitcoast.

Good to see you again! Thanks for visiting... and to you lurkers, yes YOU, why don't you leave a comment and let me know you're around! I'd love to hear from you!

~Kristin

Another Diva Challenge!

Its Wednesday and you know what that means! Time for another Diva Coffee Break Design Color Challenge! This week we are to use Pink Pirouette, Almost Amethyst, Always Artichoke and Kraft! Ooh, love 'em!

Here is my take on this color scheme. The first one anyway... I do plan to do this one again! I struggled getting the pink in there at first, having only sponged the edges of the kraft square. However, I think I satisified the pink requirement with my sheer organdy ribbon and 2 square rhinestone brads. The flower in the center and the strip on the right are actually cardstock stickers from an older Simply Sent Kit that SU sent me as a thank you last summer called Tagged Etiquette. This is the first I've used it.

This layout is borrowed from yet another Mojo Monday sketch from a few week's ago (Mojo71 I believe).

Be sure to check out the other Diva's work today! We'd love to have you play along as well!

Stampin' Up! Supplies

Stamps: Full of Life

Cardstock: Always Artichoke, kraft, almost amethyst

Accessories: sponge, square fire rhinestone brads, pink narrow organdy ribbon, scallop circle punch, circle punches, Simply Sent Kit Tagged Etiquette.

Perfect Pink Kiwis...

Hey, that's not my title, that's what this challenge was called on SCS today! I know I say it every week (almost) that I LOVE color (& sketch) challenges and this is no exception. Today's challenge was to use Kiwi Kiss, Perfect Plum and Pink Pirouette. Love this combo! My first thought was Easter, but in the end it turned out to be a friend card. Without further ado, here is my take:

I would call this clean & simple, or "CAS" on Splitcoast. If you like a more clean and simple style like this then you can do a search in the galleries on Splitcoast and type in "CAS" in the search field. Also, if you tend to make cards in this style enter "CAS" in the keywords so others can find it.

Now I have never claimed to execute perfect "craft" as it was called in my graphics design class in college. "Craft" is what is referred to when admiring (or not) the quality of cuts, layers, details etc. My layers are rarely perfectly sized, and don't look too close at my paper piercing. Heck, even my cutting is lovingly "hand-made".

You've probably noticed that I can't seem to make a card these days without something "old" on them. I guess I just roll that way- I enjoy getting more uses out of my stamps that are of retirement age! Hope you don't mind. Starting tomorrow, when I get my first order from this new catty, you won't have to worry about that for a while!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kristin

Stampin' Up! Supplies

Stamps: All holidays, Vases in Vogue (retired)

Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Perfect Plum, Pink Piriouette

Accessories: Kiwi Satin ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Crafter's Tool Kit

A New Dress

This weekend we spent the night in Columbus at a hotel where my husband had been for a Coaching Clinic. Yesterday before we left to come home we spent the day shopping at two of the big local malls. While I wasn't wildly successful looking for some updates to my own wardrobe, my daughter WAS!

Our first priority was to pick a dress for her upcoming First Communion that would double as a flower girl dress in May. SUCCESS! For the wedding she was told to get a dress from the expensive Strassburg Children's store- so I'm very glad we can use it in April for her First Communion and get 2 uses out of it! Feels better considering the money those dresses cost! We were told to get cotton so she had three choices. I let her choose knowing that if she wasn't happy with it there may be last minute tears or worse at either of these events (if you have a little girl who is at all particular you'll know what I mean!).

Anyway, this is the dress she chose. It is very plain and simple, and not my first choice, but it also doesn't flair out at the waist which is why she loved it. The other two did and were a NO from the beginning (although, I must give her credit- she was concerned with what I thought and is always so considerate that I could've talked her into my first choice if I really wanted to!).

In her mind, the best news of all is that she finally got her ears pierced! She's been asking for a long time and had a deal with her dad that she'd get them done when she could quit biting her fingernails. It probably took a year, but she has QUIT! I must say, I wish someone would've convinced me to quit that young (I was probably 25 before I stopped!).

So to bore you a little longer, here are a few pictures of her in her new dress!

A Triple Whammy!

I've got a triple whammy challenge card for ya! Don't groan... I know, sometimes I get annoyed when people try to cram all kinds of challenges into one card too! But seriously, I am so glad I did this time. I needed the challenges to get stamping today and it just worked out- so there! LOL.

Anyway, as you may know, we've been trying to liven up the GSG blog lately with new challenges (well, I have anyway). Today I posted a Limited Supplies Challenge today to make a monochromatic card within a set of guidelines. Go check it out to play along! (GSGC14)

I also decided today's Technique Lover's Challenge on SCS wasn't too hard so I added that element as well. The only requirement- cut something out. Be it out of patterned paper, an embossing folder or just a stamped image. (TLC207)

Finally, today's Mojo Monday sketch! (Mojo73) This is my second week in a row refering to the Mojo Monday blog to find a fun new sketch and I'm really enjoying them! I love the unique layout and detail they provide!

Anyway, you are always welcome to play along with any of these challenges that I link to my posts! And I'd love to hear from you that you have played along, or intend to. Post a link in a comment and I'll be sure to visit and show you some love!

So for my card I used blues, with chocolate as my one allowed neutral. I think I followed the Mojo sketch pretty well, and my butterfly is hand-cut after I embossed it, so it should qualify for the TLC. Here is my list of supplies I've used. If you have any questions feel free to pipe up!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Kristin

PS- I'm feeling much better now! Thanks for all the well wishes!

Stampin' Up! Supplies

Stamps: Wonderful Wings (from 2001!), Cute & Curly (current)

Paper: Urban Garden DSP, Not Quite Navy, Soft Sky (retired In Color), Baja Breeze (current In Color)

Ink: Chocolate chip craft, Not Quite Navy, Soft Sky, Baja Breeze

Accessories: Distressing tool, Button Bouquet Button, Double Stitched Wide Chocolate Grosgrain, Clear Embossing Powder, Curly Label punch, Chateau Bella Rub Ons (retired I think), embroidery floss.

A Quick Post!

Sorry I've been absent for a few days. I haven't been feeling well. Anyway, before we leave to go out of town for the evening I thought I'd post something I made the other day. I have a good friend that has a birthday coming up and she really likes purple so this is for her!


I followed the sketch from Splitcoast the other day, although I exchanged the Big Shot scallop circle (in Barely Banana) for one of the layers in the sketch.


I'll post more details tomorrow.

Here is the inside!


Have a great weekend everyone, and thanks for visiting and all the sweet comments!
~Kristin


I'm back with SUO Supplies List:

Stamps: Blooming With Happiness, Doodle This
Paper: Kraft, Elegant Eggplant, Almost Amethyst, Barely Banana
Ink: Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant (inside), Versamark
Accessories: Large Scallop Die, Big Shot, Wide Ivory Grosgrain, Happy Happy Birthday jumbo wheel, Silver EP, Metallic Art Pencils, Crafter's Tool Kit, Scallop circle punch (inside), Wide Oval punch (inside), polka Dot Texturz Plate

Another Diva Challenge!

It's time for another Diva Coffee Break Designs challenge! You know I always love a good challenge, especially a sketch or a color challenge. So guess what- I combined this week's DCBD113 with SCS's color challenge from yesterday to use Creamy Caramel, Old Olive and Cameo Coral. I feel a certain fondness for the colors in the Earth Elements color family because they were my first choice when I signed up to be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in 2004! I've used them a LOT since then.

When I start designing with a sketch in mind I often hunt for a color combo to also work with. While making this card I learned a trick for making a difficult color challenge easier: Don't insist on using every color from the challenge in cardstock! It's OK to use only 2 of the 3 colors in cardstock and get the remaining color(s) in ink! Less pressure, more flexibility, you're not cheating and often the design elements are a little stronger.

For this card I stamped the Olive background with Canvas background stamp. Then sponged all the edges of the vanilla pieces with Creamy Caramel. The faux stitching I drew on with my Creamy Caramel marker. The center flower is raised on stampin' dimensionals for more depth. Did you notice that both pieces of Creamy Caramel paper is crimped? Sometimes digging in my scraps pile yields an unexpected twist like that, without my even planning it!

My sentiment label is a stamp from the retired hostess set Best Yet, which is punched with the label punch and backed with a 1 3/8" circle. The slot punch was used to thread the ribbon through the label. Speaking of ribbon, remember that Old Olive Twill from a mini last year? Ooh, love it and I still have some. I put a knot on each side of the sentiment label just because, then just glued the sides to the back of the vanilla piece. Hope you like it!

Anyway, thanks for stopping by! If you haven't already, go check out the other Diva's blogs to see their work (located on my sidebar under the coffee cup logo). Then be sure to play along and post here so we can all come and see your work! Come on, don't be shy!

~Kristin

Stampin' Up! Supplies

Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Best Yet, Canvas

Cardstock: Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Creamy Caramel, Cameo Coral

Ink: Old Olive, Creamy Caramel

Accessories: Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral & Ruby Red markers; lable punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, photo corner punch, crimper, sponge, Old Olive Twill, slot punch, vintage brads

My Stampin' Space!

I always enjoy looking at other peoples' scrappin' and stampin' spaces, so I thought some of you might enjoy seeing mine. After lots of complaining and saving up I "upgraded" in 2005 and what a difference it has made! I'll show you the before and after so you can really appreciate it! By the way, my space is in our bedroom so this was just stressful to look at every day.


Here's the before! What a mess. Since then I've painted obviously, ditched the computer table and cardtable and organized! Oh and got a BUNCH more stuff! Ooh, we also got satellite in our room so no more bunny ear antenna!



So here's how it looks today. I'm not saying it is always neat like this- in fact, this is the reason I took pictures today because it is so rare. Now I can lay in bed and admire all my goodies, even though my hubby doesn't necessarily agree that it is nice to look at my stuff. My countertop is 8' long I think which seems great but when you have a big computer monitor on one end and other things all around it seems to shrink! I can't complain though.

My cabinets were all bought from a Home Depot and were unfinished. I spent weeks sanding, staining and finishing these babies. Then my awesome dad installed them and the shelves he made for me! I started with two shelves but quickly asked for 2 more. My cabinet on the left holds mostly all stamps, while the one on the right is my non-stampin' stuff (phone books, computer manuals, printer paper, bills to file etc.). The drawers on the left hold extra markers, tools, my paper trimmers and wheel handles; stampin' spots, wheels, watercolor crayons;

adhesives, all embossing stuff, handheld punches; and lots of misc stuff in the bottom drawer.

The black file cabinet under my counter is full to the rim of 8.5x11 paper, which I organize by color family. The drawers on the right are mostly all office supplies like pens, calculator, computer disks, USB cables, envelopes etc. and one drawer with all of my SU punches!

My tall cabinet on the right was supposed to hold linens for our bathroom which it did for maybe 2 months. Now it's full of catalogs, scrapbook paper, albums, and lots of other miscellaneous stuff I can't live without.

OK, that's probably way more than you wanted to know. Sorry! Why don't you let me know what you like best about your stampin' space!

Now I'm off to work on a card to post for tomorrow's Diva Coffee Break Designs weekly challenge!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kristin

A first for me!

So I've read about these Mojo Monday challenges for some time and in the back of mind wondered just what I was missing out on. Well, I finally ran across the blog recently and saved it to my favorites right away. It appears to have started this year and offers a sketch challenge each week. If you know me at all you know sketch and color challenges are my weakness! They are just a great way to get that creativity or "mojo" flowing!

Anyway, here is this week's sketch followed by my little take on it. By the way, the first of each month is what they call a "contest month" so a prize is awarded for two of the judge's favorites! And anyone is allowed to play along. Even if you don't have a blog or don't upload, try it anyway, let it get you stampin'. Then be sure to let me know.

It's funny because the other day when I felt like stampin' I started by thinking of a set I hadn't shown much attention lately and had pulled out this Boho Backgrounds set. Then I didn't end up stamping that day so it was just the thing for this sketch. The medallion thingy is stamped three times then punched out with the 1", 1 1/4" & scallop circle punches and layered. The words were stamped then punched out with the Word Window punch. Everything else is probably pretty obvious. I'll list the supplies in case you have a question.

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Boho Backgrounds

Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray, Pixie Pink, Whisper White

Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray, Pixie Pink

Accessories: 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, scallop circle punch, Word Window punch, scallop edge punch, Basic Gray Taffeta ribbon

Thanks for stoppin' by!

~Kristin

Sale-a-Brate Today!

Finally! The BIG Stampin' Up! event we all anticipate every year is HERE! Sale-a-Bration! Click Here to view this mini catalog of items you can choose for FREE with every $50 order! This time you can choose from stamp sets, 2 rolls of ribbon and Delicate Dots Designer Series Paper!

Considering hosting your own party? This is a great time to do it because during SAB hostesses earn even more! Contact me before time runs out to take advantage of this great offer! Here are the deets directly from SU:

"Promotion Dates: February 1- March 31, 2009
Promotion Details: Our Sale-A-Bration promotion gives reason for everyone to celebrate!

Customers: Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $50 purchase.

Hostesses: Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product with a $300 or more workshop, in addition to the normal hostess benefits.

Recruits: Choose any retail stamp set (a value up to $47.95) from the current catalog when signing up during the promotion. Plus, get 15% off the regular $199 price of the Starter Kit--that's $335 worth of products for only $169!"

Oh yeah, one more thing... if you order (any size order!) through my website you'll automatically get a FREE Idea Book & Catalog! That's a $9.95 value! ETA: This FREE catalog offer is only good while supplies last or until April 30th, 2009 whichever comes first.

Have a great day and I'll be back with something to look at soon!
Thanks for visiting!
~Kristin