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!)

Virtual Stamping with my pal Lisa!!

My stampin' pal Lisa Henke and I had a chance, finally, to get some "virtual stamping" time together yesterday.  We try to do this a few times a year and it just worked out yesterday.  Lisa and I met through the Great Swaps group a few years ago and just got along so well we decided to room together for SU's convention in 2008.  We've been friends ever since!  It helps that we both live in Ohio, so we can get together IRL every now and then even. 

When we virtual stamp we take turns making up challenges that we both participate in.  This card is from Lisa's challenge to use the layout and color scheme of the card on page 89 of the current Stampin' Up! catalog.  Click on her name up there to see what she came up with. 

Mine is fairly self-explanatory.  I used Basic Gray, Going Gray, Real Red, Night of Navy and Marina Mist.  I turned the layout on it's side just to change it up a bit.  Hope you like it! 

She even posted her card for our last challenge on that post to use this picture as inspiration, with the added caveat to use dry embossing and circle elements.  It was such a fun challenge and I really like what I came up with.  I'll be back to post mine tomorrow.  Then Sunday I'll show my challenge to Lisa which was to use the layout from the birthday card on page 131 with the color scheme from the inside back cover of the SU Catalog. 

If you are inspired to play along with us we'd love to have you!  Just link your creation in the comments.  Thanks for stopping in today!  I love it when you visit! 
~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Bring on the Cake (Occasions Mini), Extreme Elements

Colors: Basic Gray, Going Gray, Real Red, Night of Navy, Marina Mist

Accessories: Large star punch, Basic Gray corduroy button, White gel pen, tag corner punch, crimper, paper piecing tool

Nature Walk Gratitude

I was finally able to place an order for a few goodies from the current SU mini catalog.  I couldn't resist this pretty set called Nature Walk and the coordinating paper Botanical Gazette!  This collage/vintage style is tough for me so this card took me quite a while to get just right.  Then, when it was all done I tried to smooch spray it and of course it gooped out all over and ruined my main image so I had to start over on that.  The good news is take two is better than take one and I thought to stamp it on this lined paper from Newsprint DSP which I hadn't done originally. 

Here is the sketch I borrowed, from a sketch blog I found recently:  Unscripted Sketches.  Fun!

I need to give an extra special should out today to Chat Wszelaki, Cindy Beach and Patsy Waggoner for nominating me recently for the Stylish Blogger award.  If you know these three ladies, and you probably do, you'll know this is definitely an honor!  Thank you my friends, you've made my week! 

Have a great day everyone and thanks so much for stopping by!  Your comments are so appreciated- you always know how to make me smile!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies:

Stamps: Nature Walk, Fabulous Phrases

Colors: Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede

Accessories: Newsprint DSP, Botanical Gazette DSP, Antique Brad, Linen Thread, Log Cabin Smooch Spray, distressing tool

B&W For You Pansy

Ahoy Mateys!  I'm back today with a fabulous Diva sketch challenge for you.  And you simply MUST go to the Diva blog to check out the variety of creations the Divas have made with it!  I was short on time and went with the first idea to come to mind:  quick punched squares of Newsprint DSP!  The pansy was already sitting on my desk from a few days ago.  It is made with the butterfly punch!  Have you seen this technique??  I just punched two So Saffron butterflies then heavily sponged on some Concord Crush ink.  You could call them done then but I went ahead an spritzed them with my Vanilla Smooch Spray, added a So Saffron Glimmer Brad to the center and drew a few lines with my Concord Crush marker and a ruler. 

My sentiment is from Just Believe and is punched with my favorite, Modern Label punch.  It is lined with scraps bits of Concord Crush cardstock punched with the ribbon punch. 

Hope you like it!  Gotta run and get some dinner for the family.  Thanks for stopping by!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Just Believe

Colors:  So Saffron, Concord Crush, Very Vanilla, Basic Black

Accessories:  Newsprint DSP, Butterfly Punch, Modern Label punch, Glimmer Brad, Smooch Spritz spray, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch

Friend

Hello!  Are you interested in seeing another sketch challenge card from me??  I love the Card Patterns blog and their fabulous sketches!  It is saved in my favorites for places to go for inspiration! 

This is my first use of the hostess set A Slice of Life.  I went with a color combo of Peach Parfait, Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake and some Very Vanilla.  

The vase was actually painted with an aqua painter and some Early Espresso ink.  Not sure why it has the rosy tint, but it works with the colors.  I covered it with a layer of Crystal Effects for a bit of dimension and shine. 

Notice the Peach Parfait organdy ribbon?  I dyed it myself by holding it onto the Peach Parfait ink pad with a sponge and just pulling it across multiple times.  Didn't take long and I have a customized ribbon! 

I hope you like it!  I'll be back tomorrow with another DCBD challenge for you to try your hand at.  Thank you for the comments lately- they have meant a lot and they surely keep me stamping! 

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  A Slice of Life, Fabulous Phrases, Simply Stripes background (retired ages ago!)

Colors:  Peach Parfait, Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake and some Very Vanilla

Accesories: Crystal Effect, Scalloped Trim border punch, Small oval punch, Chocolate Epoxy brad, White organdy ribbon, Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing folder

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

Elegant Lines and a few challenges!

Remember yesterday when I said I stamped a few things but just wasn't thrilled with the outcome?  Well, here they are.  I know, I don't have to share everything, but they aren't horrible... just not thrilling me either.  I think I would really like the first one without the So Saffron ribbon- maybe with a Baja Ribbon instead, but since the Diva Color challenge for today included Baja Breeze, So Saffron and Regal Rose.  Plus, I am all out of Baja ribbon until my new order arrives in a few days!  I colored in the parts of the embossed areas using an Aqua Painter and ink from my inkpad lids.

This was my first take on this challenge and it's just a little too sweet and pastel for my liking I guess.  That's why I changed the sentiment from "Because I Care" to a baby card- more fitting I guess.  

My sketch for these two cards is from the Clean & Simple blog post HERE.  I hope you'll join the Divas today for our color challenge.  Be sure to hop on over to the blog to see what everyone came up with you! 

Hope you had a little bit of sunshine in your life today! 

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Because I Care, All Holidays

Colors: Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Regal Rose, Whisper White

Accessories: Big Shot, Elegant Lines embossing folder, So Saffron wide grosgrain, Decorative Label punch, scallop border punch

The NEED to stamp!

Good morning!  Boy, has anyone else been in a stampin' slump?  I told my husband last night, you know it's bad when I have time to stamp but no motivation or desire!  You really know the winter blahs have set in when you're a stamper that doesn't want to stamp!  So I sat down last night and stamped a few things, neither of which I was crazy about... but this morning I decided to try again and am finally happy with what I did! 

I put the PPA color challenge to work and actually designed my own sketch!  Yep, that means I sketched it out on paper before I even started.  I wish I knew of a way to design sketches digitally and I'd consider having a sketch challenge right here on my blog occasionally.  Maybe some day! 

Anyway, for this card I used a mix of old and new (like always!).  The stamp sets I used are not new, but only the sentiment in the Hodgepodge Hardware is acually retired (Think Happy Thoughts).  The other two are Inspired by Nature and Flight of the Butterfly.  The punches and colors are still available, as well as the DSP Elegant Soiree. 

Hope you like!  And keep your fingers crossed for me that I might be able to hold on to my new found stamping motivation! 

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly, Inspired by Nature, THink Happy Thoughts

Colors: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Night of Navy

Accessories: Itty Bitty punch pack, Desiner Label punch, butterfly punch, scalloped border punch, Big Shot, Dotted embossing folder, basic pearls, Vanilla Hodgepodge

Sweet Friend & Diva Day

Good morning!  And a beautiful sunny morning it is here in Ohio!  Not sure why my picture is less than stellar since I took it at 7:30 am... I guess the sun was still waking up like I was. 

Today I've got a Diva sketch challenge for you.  It isn't a tough one- especially if you take a short cut like I did and use really pretty coordinating designer paper like Greenhouse Gala.  My third and smallest strip is a textured piece of vellum cardstock too. I like that you can see a bit of the pattern and color beneath it. 

I hope you'll join us and play along today!  Go check out the other Diva's creations while you're at it! 

Thanks for stopping by today! 

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Just Believe

Colors: Early Espresso, Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade

Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice Textured Impressions embossing folder, narrow Daffodil ribbon, markers

PS- I HATE blogger!  Why oh why is it so difficult to put wrap text around a picture?  I used to be able to do it with no problem.  GRRRRR!

Bliss is...

...debossing, embossing and creating my own decorative paper with stamps!  For such a simple card I sure have a LOT of techniques going on.  This new FREE stamp set, Bliss, is ideal for making elegant cards with a beautiful demask background!  (maybe that's not what you'd call it)  Anyway, I used whisper white ink on that larger detailed stamp in the background- it shows up awesome on Black paper.  You could even use any light colored craft ink as well!  The main image with the bird on top are stamped with black craft ink then heat embossed with clear powder, then I dabbed a bit of Blushing Bride ink on the bird's belly. 

My circle piece, which is Pink Pirouette, was embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and Big Shot, then flipped over and gently sponged with some ink.  I've also got a large silver brad, small rhinestone and some black satin ribbon on there to step up the bling!  Oh, almost forgot about the paper piecing around the circle- it looks neat if there is light showing through. 

Speaking of forgetting, I started out using the Mojo Monday sketch challenge for this but now am realizing I left off the verticle ribbon piece... may have to rework this so it fits and so I like it a bit better. If I redo it I'll be sure to add it to this post!  I also missed the deadline to enter this.  Oh well, still a fun sketch to use!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Bliss

Colors: Basic Black, Blushing Bride, Pink Pirouette

Accessories: white ink, 2 1/2" circle punch, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, distressing tool, rhinestone, clear EP, large silver brad, sponge, black satin ribbon, paper piercing tools

It's a Diva Color Challenge and a new technique!

Hi and welcome back!  I've got a Diva special coming right up!  Today we've got for you a color challenge that is delightfully feminine- Blushing Bride, Early Espresso and Rose Red.  Not a hard combination to use, especially in February when Valentine's Day is still fresh in our minds. 

As promised on Monday here is a second version of this embossing technique I learned from Stampin' 411 using punched pieces to make your own embossed pattern.  I am in love with this technique!  For this one I used hearts, obviously, and the best part is I used repositionable adhesive to glue them to a scrap piece of cardstock so I can move them around and reuse them as often as I'd like.  The other best part is you can use those thin white pieces of 12x12 chipboard that come with every pack of designer series paper (DSP)! 

The adorable stamp set I used here is called Create a Cupcake which perfectly coordinates with the matching punch to easily cut out the cupcake parts!  Like the inside?  Had to make it cute as well!  The sentiment on the inside is from a new hostess set called Something to Celebrate- a very useful set!

Want to see another card made with the Create a Cupcake stamp set and punch? 

There you go!  A CASE from our Stampin' Success magazine that SU Demos get each month.  Isn't that cute?  And so easy since the punch actually cuts out the cherries too!  No hand cutting. 

Would you like to host a workshop where I teach you and a group of your friends and family how to make cards like these?  I'd love to teach you, so just let me know and we'll work something out! 

Thanks for stopping by today!  Be sure you hop on over to the DCBD blog for more great samples of this color challenge!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies (card 1)

Stamps: Create a Cupcake, Something to Celebrate

Colors: Rose Red, Early Espresso, Blushing Bride

Accessories: Build-a-Cupcake punch, Heart to Heart punch, Decorative Label punch

(Card 2)

Stamps: Create a Cupcake, Woodgrain background

Colors: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Build a Cupcake punch, Dotted scallop ribbon border punch, mini library clip

Build a Blossom

Have you seen this new set Build a Blossom in the Occasions Mini Catalog yet?  And its fun coordinating punch, Blossom Petals?  I've had fun playing with these that I borrowed from my friend and downline Jennifer.  Versatility is always important for me when I'm deciding which stamps and accessories to buy.    So I had to play around before deciding.  This first card is pretty straight forward, using the punch and stamps just as designed.  I've also borrowed the sketch from Create with Connie & Mary.   

SUO Supplies:

Stamps: Build a Blossom, Thoughts & Prayers

Colors: Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Sahara Sand

Accessories: Blossom Petals punch, Decorative Lable punch, Chantilly lace ribbon, Square Lattice Textured Impressions folder, Dotted Scallop ribbon border punch, Big Shot

Here is another use for this set. I saw the idea of using the petals as wings on Create and Enjoy with THIS card.  I just had to try it out and loved it!  I also employed the new Framed Tulips embossing folder for good measure.  Sentiment, from Something to Celebrate hostess set, is stamped in Night of Navy on vellum cardstock and enhanced with basic Pearls.  So what do you think?

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Build a Blossom, Something to Celebrate

Colors:  Sahara Sand, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Marina Mist

Accessories: Big Shot, Framed Tulips embossing folder, Scribbles Swirls Sizzlit, vellum, basic pearls

That buttefly card has me wishing for warmer temps.  Here is a photo I took last summer to brighten your day (and mine too). 

Thanks for visiting!

~Kristin

Stamped My Heart Out!

It's been way too long- too much time away from stamping... so when I sat down to create for an upcoming workshop (after borrowing TONS of mini catalog stuff from my downline Jen, thanks Jen!) I couldn't stop!  I stamped off and on for three days I think.  Of course there were several interruptions since my hubby is out of town but I got seven cards done!!  Here are the first two I'm showing you. 

This first one was done with the new Sale-a-Bration set called Punch Bunch as well as some of the Ice Cream Parlor DSP .  I also tried a new technique out that I learned on Stampin' 411 called Embossed Backgrounds.  Do you see the embossed arrows?  Those were punched with the My Way arrow punch then ran through the Big Shot as shown on the awesome tutorial.  I LOVE to dry emboss with the Big Shot and this opens up fabulous new possibilities limited only by your punch and die cut selections!  Stay tuned, I'll show you another card using this technique on Wednesday for Diva Day!  The sketch for this card is from Pals Paper Arts- PPA81.

Here is another card that is very closely inspired by one in the Stampin' Success magazine that SU Demos get each month.  It is full of fantastic articles and samples to keep us inspired!  See that tiny delicate scallop at the top and bottom??  I used the Dotted Scalloped Ribbon Border punch that I thought I could live without and now know I can't! 

I hope you like these.  I'll be sure to be back with more.  Tuesday I'll show you the projects my ladies did at the workshop I'm having tomorrow! 

Have a great day!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Card 1: 

Stamps- Punch Bunch

Colors- Basic Gray, Melon Mambo, Old Olive

Accessories- My Way punch, Big Shot, circle punches, owl punch, scallop square punch

Card 2:

Stamps- I {Heart} Hearts

Colors: River Rock, Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist

Accessories: Heart to Heart punch, Basic Pearls, Marina Mist narrow ribbon, large heart punch, Dotted Scalloped Ribbon Border punch

A Vintage Birthday

Gotta run, will add the details in a bit! 

OK, I'm back with details.  I cheated a bit and put this up early last night so I could still make it in for the PPA challenge to use a bit of vintage style.  But it is also for today's DCBD sketch challenge.  I've flipped the sketch on it's side which is normal for me. With all its details and layers, vintage style is not normally one I gravitate to so this took me a while... but I'm pleased with it.  I almost called it done before I decided I needed the flowers to stay true to the sketch.  Glad I added them- it was too plain without them.  The flowers were easy to make, just punched about 3 flowers for each one with the Boho Blossoms punch then crumpled them up and layered them and added the pearl.  

I used two different stamp sets to pull this one off:  Vintage Labels and Vintage Vogue.  I guess having "Vintage" in the title was the only way I was sure they could pass for vintage.  LOL!  

If you don't recognize the papers they are from a pack of Designer Series paper called Recollections from, oh I don't know, maybe three years ago.  Quite old for paper! 

Well, thanks for visiting and for your comments- they bring me cheer on these long and dreary winter days.  Thank goodness for sunshine and these 50+ degree temps they keep promising are coming! Make sure to go visit the DCBD blog and play along with this week's sketch challenge! 

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Vintage Labels, Vintage Vogue

Papers: Confetti Cream (card base), Recollections DSP, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Cranberry Crisp

Accessories: Chantilly ribbon, Basic Pearls, Boho Blossoms punch, Wide Oval punch, corner rounder

A few more 12x12 layouts

 

These two pages are actually two different events, but they will face each other in the album so I made them coordinate.  The tree idea with the ornament punch is from the Stampin' Up! Catalog page 35 if you'd like to check it out!  Wondering how I embossed the entire length of the 12" piece of Early Espresso paper on the right layout?  It is actually two pieces of paper, embossed separately, and the seam is covered with the ribbon.  Clever huh?!

This is a layout I have dreaded- mostly because the pictures aren't great and the first time I used these pictures (in another album) I wasn't pleased with the result at all.  Well, this one is better.  Took me long enough, but I actually am somewhat pleased.  Remember the old Wintergreen DSP?  That's what I used on here.  Title was made with the Cricut.

And finally this layout.  I'm now noticing how muted all my colors are.  I must have been in a muted kind of mood that weekend.  This layout puts the Simply Scrappin' Kit Summer Home to use.  Everything is from the kit except the rub-on letters (which are by Making Memories and quite old!) and the brads which are all SU. 

Since I'm backtracking to 2003 to do these pages none of these are digital pictures.  I promise I'll get back to digital one of these days and hopefully be working with better quality pictures!

Hope you are well!  Thanks for visiting today.

~Kristin

Second Post for today- be sure to scroll down to see the Diva Challenge!

 To get back to my lost mojo I have been playing along with a variety of challenges.  The PPA color challenge; Riding Hood Red, Certainly Celery and Rich Razzleberry worked for this birthday card.  Oops, as I typed that I realized I left out the Riding Hood Red.  Good thing I missed the deadline for entry!  Guess my brain is still only partially functioning.  Anyway, I also really liked the looks of this sketch challenge over at Create with Connie & Mary's blog so I used that too! 

Up next is the first of four double page layouts I did recently.  My sister got a Cricut for Christmas so I got to play with that for my title.  Everything  else is from Stampin' Up!  The layout is one I found in an old Creating Keepsake magazine.

I hope you are having a great day!  Live like you mean it!
~Kristin

SUO Supplies for card:

Stamps: Well Scripted

Colors: Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry, Certainly Celery, Whisper White

Accessories: Top Note die, Big Shot, Scallop circle punch, Boho Blossoms punch, Glimmer Brad, Scribbles Sizzlit, Rich Razzleberry ribbon in dotted grosgrain & narrow, White embossing powder, Elegant Lines embossing folder

Sweet Celebration

First of all, thank you for your kind comments and emails regarding my last post.  It was a difficult week and your thoughts and kind words were appreciated.  Since then we've lost another close (92 year old) friend who's funeral will be tomorrow.  A sad time for sure. 

On a happy note though, I am taking some time to appreciate and count my blessings.  And, I managed to actually stamp yesterday which is very theraputic and helped immensely.  This card is for today's DCBD color challenge to use Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette and Real Red together.  Not hard considering Valentine's Day is coming right up.  However, I made mine a birthday card since I'm a bit behind sending some birthday wishes lately. 

I also put to use the Card Patterns sketch 101, but flipped on its side. 

I hope you like it and will consider playing along!

Stampin' Hugs,

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Sweet Scoops

Colors: Pink Pirouette, Basic Gray, Going Gray, Whisper White, Crumb Cake (for the cone), Real Red

Accessories: Silver brads, Sending Love Epoxy Brad, Real Red dotted grosgrain ribbon, crimper, Modern Label punch

Appreciate your loved ones

It's been over a week since I've posted here and I wanted to stop in to share a quick note about what's kept me away.  A dear dear friend of my family, my best friend's little sister, passed away unexpectedly this week.  It is a terrible tragedy and has left everyone who knew her reeling.  Please take a moment to appreciate your loved ones today.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.  I hope to have something to share with you next week. 
~Stampin' hugs, Kristin