Aviary Christmas

OK, OK, here's a card finally!  My desk is all cleaned off and neat so I had to make a card today before getting back to my scrapbook table for the evening.  I decided to try my hand at the Pals Paper Arts sketch and used the Paper Players color challenge while I was at it.  Thought I could probably use a few more Christmas cards and love finding non-Christmas sets to use and experiment with.

The embossing is done with the new Pewter embossing powder from the Holiday Mini.  Until I see it side by side with Silver I'm not sure I see a difference.  Poo!  Like my holly leaves?  Made them myself!  Started with the large oval punch then punched chunks out with a 1" circle punch.  Then flipped them over and, while on the squishy mat from the Crafter's Tool Kit, drew lines with a pencil, making sure to go over them a few times for the embossed look.   Actually turned out better than I expected!  My sentiment tag is 4 pack sizzlit set called Lots of Tags.

Here's a quick peek at the inside.  I had this vanilla piece that was a bit too short so added a few layers of dotted scallop trim and some more Ridinghood Red taffeta ribbon to finish it off. 

Thanks for stopping by today!  And thanks to Paper Players and Pals Paper Arts for the great challenges!
~Kristin

Nature Lovers

Now you know why I haven't posted any cards lately...  more where this came from too.  This is entirely SUO.  Used the Heart to Heart punch, Rich Razzleberry ribbon (narrow and wide), scallop border punch and corner rounder plus Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper. 

See you soon with more pages and who knows, maybe I'll do a card one of these days.  ;) 

~Kristin

Bath Time

Hope you weren't looking for a card today... I'm on a roll with my albums while my table is all set up in the family room!  I am happy with how this layout turned out.  I've been relying heavily on magazines to come up with layout ideas- even if I morph several ideas into one... and even if my magazines are from 2007!  

For this layout I used the pawprint sizzlit "Pawsitively" which cuts and embosses at the same time while going through the Big Shot.  I used the old alphabet called Mod Alphabet.  Patterned paper is from the DSP pack, Thoroughly Modern.  Also added some chocolate felt ribbon, silver brads and an epoxy brad, all SU.  Only non SU product is the hard to see rub on that says Precious Moments, which coincidentally happens to be the only thing I regret about the page- it didn't rub on nicely and just doesn't work for me that well. 

Here's the whole spread together.  You can click on it to see a larger version. 

Thanks for stopping by! 
~Kristin

Scrapbook Smorgasbord

Instead of dragging these out into four different posts, or not showing them at all I'm just loading up these four layouts all into one post.  Hope you don't mind!  I've been kind of stuck doing some layouts with no-so-great pictures lately, but now that my mom is gone I feel stronger than ever that I want the stories in my albums even with so so pictures.  Besides, what great practice for your creative skills... imagine the potential of pages with GOOD pictures!  LOL.  Most everything is SUO on these pages, with small exceptions here and there (like dotted ribbon on this first layout).  I won't post many details but you are welcome to ask if there is something you want to know.

So glad you visited today.  I've got a few more layouts finished or nearly finished that I will share in the next few days.  Have a great day!
~Kristin

Live Right- a scrapbook layout

So here is one of my favorite layouts I've done lately.  Love the colors and the use of the newsprint and the layout designs.  I scoured magazines to find layouts that I would tweak and use for this page.  If you're a long time SU fan you won't believe the colors I used here:  Bermuda Bay (no surprise), Taken with Teal and Mint Melody.  Does anyone else still have some of that color laying around?  I am such a hoarder.  LOL! 

Here's a closeup of my title.  It was the result of a creative brainstorm.  I stamped this sentiment from Inspired by Nature on the page, then cut out these letters with my Big Shot, temporarily glued them to scrap paper and stamped on top of them with the same stamp.  Then I just lined them up on top of the words on the page so the words kind of pop through the title.  A layered look that would be so much better with larger letters and font.  Turned out cool anyway. 

So glad you decided to stop by.  I'll get back to cards one of these days, but for now I'm on a scrapbook roll! 

~Kristin

Sweetheart & a Boy with dirt

Hello and Happy Veteren's Day on this 11.11.11!!  I'm home alone tonight- kiddos out partying with friends- so I'm enjoying some quiet scrapbook time again.  I'm still working on some old pictures from 2004.  Trying to fill in a one-year gap that I found in my chronological scrapbook.  I adored this dress and hat on my then 2 year old.  I love these pictures, but I wish I had my nice Canon camera back then!  My journaling tag is hidden behind the main picture on the top.   

Here's a closeup of the chipboard title which is inked (letters) and covered with paper (heart). 

Since my Sweetheart page was not a double page spread I wanted to do a facing page to balance it out and it just worked out that next in order was this group of pictures of my son.  He was such a livewire as a little kid- FULL of energy!  I always wanted to use the title that I saw somewhere "Boy:  Noise with dirt on it!" so I did here.  He's not dirty in these pics, but anyone with a son knows this title applies anyway!  :)

And finally, here is a card my daughter did all by herself last week!  She used a sketch from somewhere on the internet... I'll see if I can find it. 

Thanks for stopping by!  I've got more pages to show you in the near future!

~Kristin

Bedtime Stories

A few scrapbook pages for you. Running short on time... back with some details soon.

~K

A Variety of Thank Yous

Good morning!  I'm super busy preparing for my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack this Saturday, but decided to take a few minutes to post these thank you notes I made for my daughter to send for her birthday thank yous.  She needs a few more but this is all I had time for recently.  The Clean & Simple sketch FTL 163 came in handy.  I intended to just whip out 6 or so cards all in the same design, but you know me, I just couldn't do it.  Desgining is most of the fun so they all ended up different. 

 The Floral Fusion sizzlit is new to me so I first made a ton of these flowers with an old 6x6 pack of designer print patterns in Almost Amethyst.  The others shades of purple include current In Colors:  Concord Crush and Wisteria Wonder.   

... with the new dotted designer brad and ruffled ribbon in Wisteria Wonder, oh and the Striped Embossing folder too!

...with the new mini silver brad, and Framed Tulips embossing folder.

... with the new-to-me sizzlit set: Lots of Tags, sentiment from Build-a-Roo.

...also new-to-me, the Designer Frames embossing folders, retired Floral background and some Dazzling Details glitter glue on the tiny white flowers inside.

Here's the sketch!  You should try it too!  Which one do you like the best?

Thanks for stopping by today!  Trick-o-Treat tonight for our household- I guess at 10 & 11 I might have a few more years of this.  Trying not to say "ugh".  :)  Actually, I don't mind it if the weather is perfect and there is no last minute running around scraping up costume parts... but there is zero hope of that.  LOL!

~Kristin

Vintage Sympathy and a Layout

How about a slightly vintage sympathy card today?  I put this together last week for a sketch challenge then never got around to uploading it.  I love the new Spice Cake DSP- so many nice colors and designs that look lovely together (even though I only used one here).  Was trying to keep this as Clean & Simple as possible- I think for another CAS challenge somewhere. 

Here is a quick shot of the inside using the new set Four Frames for the sentiment panel.  And I've finally gotten around to sharing a few of the scrapbook pages I did over a month ago.  This one seems sort of vintage to me so thought I'd include it in this post.  More to come! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

~Kristin

SUO Supplies (card):

Stamps:  Nature Walk, French Script background, Petite Pairs, Four Square

Colors:  Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Pool Party, Naturals Ivory (cardstock)

Accessories:  Scallop Square punch, Chantilly Lace ribbon, Dotted scallop ribbon border punch

Dazzling Christmas

OK, here it is.  The second Christmas card CASE I promised yesterday.  Copied from THIS (scroll down to the second card in this post) card by the great Carrie Gaskin.  Once again I had to change up some things since I don't have the stamp set she used.  Did you notice the sparkly details on the tree?  I added that with SU's new Dazzling Details glitter glue with a super fine tip for adding bling in intricate detail.

For extra texture the River Rock strip is crimped and of course the amazing quilted Cherry Cobbler ribbon is textured itself! 

TIP:  Want to know how to make a notch in ribbon like that?  Just fold it in half and cut at an angle away from the fold.  And make sure your scissors aren't sticky like mine were- you'll get a much nicer cut!  For the notch on the end of a strip of paper just use a small square punch, turn it upside so you can see what you're doing, and punch!  Simple as that (with some practice). 

Super simple- hope you like it! 

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Petite Pairs, Pennante Parade

Colors:  Cherry Cobbler, River Rock, Always Artichoke, Whipser White

Accessories:  Pennant Punch, Rhinestone, Quilted Cherry Cobbler ribbon, crimper

Modern Merry

I've been working on more clean & simple Christmas card ideas for our upcoming Stamp-a-Stack.  This one is a CASE of this one by Carrie Gaskin of Artistic Avenger, one of my very favorite stampers!  Her work is amazing- take some time to browse her blog for lots of inspiration!  If I had all the elements she used mine would be even more similar. 

Stop back tomorrow for yet another CASE of the wonderful Carrie Gaskin.  I won't ruin the surprise for our nearly 40 participants just which of these two cards they will be making on October 29th! 

Thanks for stopping by today!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps: Fine Flourish, Short & Sweet, Pennant Parade

Colors:  Whisper White, Concord Crush, Perfect Plum, Wild Wasabi, Soft Suede

Accessories:  Pennant Punch, Decorative Label punch, Basic Rhinestone, white gel pen, mini silver brad, Wisteria Wonder ruffled ribbon

Pennant Christmas

How about another Christmas card today?  Have you seen this new quilted satin ribbon??  Oh my!  It is so luxurious in person!  And it photos nicely too, I'd say.  Had to use my new Pennant Parade stamp set with matching punch to make this Christmas tree, and the new mini silver brads, aren't they cute?!  I've used a few on the inside as well, below.  I would love for this to be a card at our upcoming Stamp-a-Stack, but it is from a new Simply Scrappin' Kit called Christmas Lane and there are only 3 piece so I'm just not willing to give them up. 

Finally, I am really glad I bought Petite Pairs stamp set!  It has 9 sets of sentiments that work together for the front and the inside of a card, like the Christmas set shown here.  I love that they are petite- such a simple and sophisticated look I think. 

Oops, forgot to add a title and the fact that the sketch for this card is from this week's sketch challenge at Splitcoaststampers.com. 

Well, that's all for today.  Thanks for stopping by!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Petite Pairs, Pennant Parade

Colors:  Soft Suede, Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories:  Pennant Punch, Mini silver brads, Quilted satin ribbon in Cherry Cobbler, Designer Label punch

Quick & Complete Recovery Wishes

Hello again!  I'm back today with another Clean & Simple card, but this time with a Get Well Soon sentiment.  The sketch I borrowed is from the Clean & Simple blog (FTL160).  What a great sketch!  I haven't used this tree from Thoughts & Prayers in quite a while and decided it was time.  My layout is quite simple and clean I think, although I did use the Big Shot on three different occasions- the sentiment layer, the texture at the top, and the butterfly!  Can't live without that Big Shot!  I added one more tiny detail with that Dotted Scallop ribbon border punch (wish there was a simpler name for that since I use it so often!). 

Here's the inside.  I put a layer of the same patterned paper at the bottom with a Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch strip... so my sentiment is popped up at the top.  That leaves a little room to write a message! 

Hope you like it,

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Thoughts & Prayers

Colors:  Soft Suede, Pool Party, Naturals Ivory (paper)

Accessories:  Big Shot, Movers & Shapers die, Modern Label punch, Beatiful Wings embosslit, Dotted Scallop Ribbon boder punch, Lattice embossing folder

Here for you...no matter what!

I've finally gotten some new goodies to play with and found time to dedicate to stamping.  Ooh, I love trying out new Stampin' Up! products!  I also loved this sketch, from Monday's CAS challenge on Splitcoast, combined with the color challenge from the Just Add Ink (JAI87) color challenge. 

This set, Up Up and Away, is full of a variety of different hot air balloons and phrases too.  It is FUN!  My main two are stamped on glossy white cardstock with Calypso Coral ink.  The rest are all stamped with Crumb Cake ink on the Crumb Cake card base so they stay in the background.  Also tried out the new "Stripes" embossing folder as well as the stamp sets Four Frames and Petite Pairs.  Ooh, and did you see that new polka dot brad in Pool Party?? 

And here's a shot of the inside too!  I just had to finish it off.  Thank you for visiting me.  I'll be back tomorrow with something new! 

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Up, Up and Away; Petite Pairs, Four Frames

Colors:  Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Whisper White

Accessories:  Decorative Label Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, In Color Printed Designer brad, Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon, Word Window punch



Ice Cream Birthday

Ugh!  Not a very good photo- it is so hard to get a good picture of a light colored sentiment!  Well, you get the idea anyway...  I did this a few days ago for a sketch but I cannot find it anywhere.  If it looks familiar please let me know where I found it so I can add the proper link! 

I was looking forward to using my punches (Pennant & Build-a-cupcake) to make an ice cream cone- so fast and easy!  The background is called "Stitched" and is embossed in white powder.  My white ink by itself just didn't show up enough.  Hope you like it!  Thanks for coming by today.

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Stitched background, Create a Cupcake

Colors:  Pear Pizzazz, Pink Pirouette, Early Espresso, Whisper White

Accessories:  Pennant Punch, Build-a-cupcake punch, scallop border punch, Modern Label punch, glimmer brads, square rhinestone brads, Chocolate chip epoxy brads, Big Shot, dotted embossing folde, white embossing powder

Beautiful Things

Quick post today... trying to get this in for the deadline today at the new sketch blog Freshly Made!  Isn't this sketch fabulous??  I can think of lots of possibilities but really wanted to use this new set with some beautiful fall colors for another blog I found, SUO Challenges, to use fall colors!  So thrilled that I found time today to search for a few new challenge sites- love them both! 



Thanks for visiting today!
~~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Faith in Nature, French Script

Colors:  More Mustard, Concord Crush, Soft Suede, Naturals Ivory

Accessories:  Big Shot, circle punch, Concord Crush ribbon, linen thread, Scallop dotted border punch, Square Lattice embossing folder

Pennant Tree

Sorry about the shadow... had trouble getting a good photo this morning.  Either too much shade or too much sun- couldn't find 'just right'.  How's this for a Clean & Simple Christmas card?  I enjoyed borrowing the sketch from Card Patterns for this one!

This one, or something similar might be in the running for the Christmas SAS I've been posting about lately.  (see THIS post for details)  I have a little surprise on the inside that you can see if you come to the SAS!  How's that for a little incentive?!  LOL

Gotta run, hope you like it! 

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  All Holidays

Colors:  Soft Suede, Pear Pizzazz, Poppy Parade

Accessories:  Pennant Punch, 2.5" circle punch, scalloped dotted ribbon punch, white gel pen, Crop-a-Dile (for red ornaments on tree)

Lovely as a Noel Tree



Good morning!  I've been busily working on Christmas designs for our upcoming Stamp-a-Stack (see THIS post for details).  Here is one I came up with which was inspired by the Stampin' Royalty sketch found HERE.  I'm trying to keep this simple so had to leave a few details off but the design was definitely driven by that sketch. 

I wish the picture could do this one justice- I think it is so pretty in person with the tiny little rhinestone at the top of the tree and the texture of the Woodgrain background on the Early Espresso card base.  In my mind this card kind of tells a story- which might be why I like it so much.  Our family has some neat memories, thanks to my mom, of going to the tree farm and selecting the perfect tree to take home for Christmas.  We'd have so many laughs and stories to tell by the time we got home- including little pranks the FSILs (favorite-son-in-laws) liked to play! 

So here is another picture in my attempt to get the best shot- neither is what I was hoping for but you get the idea.  If you'd like to see it in person (and maybe make one just like it) then be sure to sign up for our Christmas Stamp-a-Stack coming up on October 29th. 

Stop back tomorrow for another potential SAS card... and maybe a scrapbook page or two (I've gotten 12 done recently I could share). 

Thanks for visiting!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Lovely As a Tree, Many Merry Messages, Woodgrain background

Colors:  Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green

Accessories:  rhinestone, Very Vanilla ink, Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon, linen thread, Modern Label punch

Stacked Snowman

What do you think of this stacked snowman?  Isn't he just a fun idea!  Copied him from Connie Babbert's card HERE.  You'll notice his arms are missing... but do you think it matters?  I don't have that large snowflake punch and was trying to decide if I need to order it or leave him like this.  If it seems early to you to be making Christmas cards, well think again... because the ladies and I are working out the details for our annual Christmas card Stamp-a-Stack in October!!  I can't wait and you just might see this card design again.  If you have never been to a Stamp-a-Stack or have never even stamped before THAT'S OK!!  Scroll to the bottom of this post and I'll give you the details. 

This is the sketch I used for my snowman card.  Can't you see all kinds of possibilities with this?  Well, even if you can't the Clean & Simple blog has another sketch up already!  I'm just behind. 

That's all I'm going to say about that... supplies will be listed at the end of this post. 

 That was the view from my front porch this morning.  Isn't that amazing?!  I just want to stare at it- causes one to reflect on life a little bit doesn't it?! I'll take the 39 degree morning if it means having a gorgeous sunrise like this. 

So, you've read this far and you just might be interested in the Christmas Stamp-a-Stack details.  Look no further: 

When:  Saturday October 29th, 9:30am- 4pm

Where:  at the Mary Lou Johnson Library in Kenton, Ohio

What:  $35 to make 12 cards, includes $5 coupon, lunch and snacks

Let me know if you are interested!  We have plenty of room and would LOVE to share our love of stamping with you!  You are welcome to message me on my Facebook page HERE if you want, or just leave a comment on this post.  If you leave me your email address I can forward you the Registration form or find it on my sidebar here on my blog and you can print it out and mail in. 

Thanks for stopping by,

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, Serene Snowflakes

Colors:  Pool Party, Island Indigo, Whipser White, Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black

Accessories:  circle punches, Big Shot, dotted embossing folder, dotted scallop ribbon punch, scallop trim border punch

*Smile*

 

Ooh la la, I'm loving my stampin' time again!  Today I decided to play along with the sketch challenge on Splitcoast as well as the color challenge on Stampin' 411 to use Chocolate Chip, More Mustard and Pool Party! 

So when is the last time you used a Stampin' Around wheel??  I know, it's been forever for me.  The edges were wheeled with Baroque Border in Chocolate Chip.  Next I stamped the large flower image on Chocolate Chip cardstock with Versamark (clear ink) then dabbed the image with More Mustard chalk... OK OK, I must have been feeling nostalgic to use chalk again too! 

I hope you like it.  I've got to run!  Be back tomorrow, hopefully!

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Just Believe, Fabulous Phrases, French Script, Baroque Border wheel

Colors:  Chocolate chip, More Mustard, Pool Party, Whisper White

Accessories:  Antique Brad, distressing tool, wide chocolate chip grosgrain, linen thread, sponge