A quick masculine card

Sometimes the cards that challenge me the most are the ones I make for the males in my life.  I have come to understand that the simpler the card, the better it is received.  Hence a very simple card for a male birthday.  (He loved it by the way.)  The stamp set I used is Plant Hope. I stamped in Stazon and colored with watercolor crayons and a Blender Pen. 

Not only did the recipient like the card, it was a nice break from all the bling and ribbon of my Christmas cards of late. 

Thanks for stopping in.
Kristine

Quilted Christmas Cards

I have been on a kick as of late using the same layout and creating multiple cards with varying materials.  For these cards, I went to my stash of Christmas Designer Paper.  I think each card has a different feel based on the DSP used as well as the ribbon.  I used the technique of embossing over the DSP to give the look and feel of a quilt.  I really like this technique!  I used the new Snowburst Embossing Folder on each of the cards.  You can really see it in the first and third samples.  I think the colors and design overwhelm it a bit on the middle sample.  I also used the White Gel Pen to create faux stitching on the card.  The Snow flake punch, a Rhinestone brad, and Basic Pearls embellish each card.  When I showed the finished cards to my family, my daughter Olivia and I both liked the first one best.  My son, Thomas, like the second one best, and my husband, Mitch liked the third best.  These cards will be sent as my contribution for the Open Swappers swap this month.  Each swapper will receive a different card!  I hope they like the one they get!

Two versions

I have been getting inky a lot lately, but finding the motivation to take pictures and upload to my blog has been lacking.  When I think about taking a picture, the natural light I use is gone for the day. But, today I got some pictures taken.

This first card was a result of wanting to make something using the accordion fold medallions I have seen on other blogs.  These medallions, or lollies as some refer to them, are not hard to make when using the new Simply Scored tool from Stampin' Up.  I also wanted to do something using the DSP Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Paper.  What I ended up with is a New Year's card. 

I really like this card.  It has an elegance to it.  I used Champagne Shimmer Paint on the black panel as well as embossed it with the new Stripes Embossing Folder. Both of the medallions are made from the Mocha Morning paper.  I also used the Brushed Gold Card stock for the subtle shimmer on that layer of the card.  Even though the card has a lot of shimmer and bling, my husband still liked it!

I liked the first card so much that I decided to try the same layout and make a blinged-out Christmas card.  Here is that result.



I made a different kind of medallion for this card, and switched up the placement of the sentiment, but the rest of the layout is the same.  I actually don't like this card as much as the first.  I don't even know why.  lol.  It uses my favorite DSP, Frostwood Lodge but even with that and the happy mittens and the jingle bells...ehhh.  Not so thrilled.  Ah well.

What do you think? Which card do you like better?  I would love some comments.

Kristine



Holiday Stamp Camp

Yes, another bit of time has sped past me.  I have been over run by putting together a Stamp Camp--which ended up being enjoyed by all, so that's good!

The cards below are the cards that we did at the camp.  Each guest at the camp made two of each design, so they left camp with 14 cards! None of the other demonstrators have blogs, so I have no where to point you for more of their art work.  Below the cards are some pictures I took at Camp.

Enjoy!

 This is my card.  Have I told you how much I love the Christmas Lodge Stamp Set.  Yes, I'm sure I have.  I just realized that I forgot to take the clear sleeve when I photgraphed it!  I am tired. Oh well. :-)

 Card designed by Fabiola Baughman

Mary Cargill.  She did this card as well as the one below.

 Designed by Lynnette Parker.

And finally, we had two new demonstrators join us in this Camp.  They did great!

Here are their cards.

Designed by Cheryl Lyman

Designed by Michelle Burrows.

Here are some pictures from Camp.  We had 43 guests! Lots of stamping happening here!

Christmas is coming

Last year I managed to have three different Christmas Card Stamp-a-stacks.  This year...well, I managed to have a class where I offered three cards.  Something is better than nothing!  I am considering moving into my van with all of my crafting supplies.  I spend  A LOT of time in the transport of my children.  Maybe I'd get more done if I just set the back up with supplies? Hmmm.

Anyway, the three cards below were the cards we made two weekends ago.  (Golly, I am far behind in posting!)  I had a lovely group of ladies join me for the day.

This card used the Stiched Stocking stamp set as well as lots of bling.  I was going for the idea of a mantel with the stockings hanging and some silver garland (I used Crystal Effects and Silver Glass to make the faux garland) across the top.  The DSP is from the Frostwood Lodge collection.  L-o-v-e that paper!  Add some Jingle Bells with some of the Cherry Baker's Twine and it is darling, even if I do say so myself.

This card is not my design.  I love the work of so many other paper crafters, and sometimes I want to make something I see.  So I make it and I love it even more, and it becomes a project in a class!  This traditional, country card is the brain child of Lee Conrey.  Beautiful, yes?  YES!  The DSP at the bottom of the card is once again my beloved Frostwood Lodge DSP.  Notice the stripe embossing behind the pinecone panel.  (Kinda hard to see in the picture, dang it!) How easy is that step up on the card to add the Stripped Embossing Folder! It just adds the right, finishing touch.  The ribbon is the Espresson Quilted Satin Ribbon from the Holiday Mini.  Yummy stuff!  You know when you put espresso, quilted and satin together the result is gonna be good. :-) Makes me think of a comfy bed with a cup of yummy coffee reading a wonderful book.  

The final card for the class is also a copied card.  My upline, Jill Olsen, made a card using the Silver Glimmer Paper but instead of leaving it silver, she used reinkers to make it pink!  I think that is just too cool for school!  I like using the blues and white in Christmas cards, so I used Tempting Turquois reinkers and painted the silver glimmer paper with the ink and an Aqua Painter.  When it dries, it is a very close match to Baja Breeze Cardstock, which is what is used as the main card.  This is just such a happy card! Think of all the colors you can use to make Silver Glimmer Paper into something!  How about pink hearts for Valentines, or a shimmery green shamrock for St Patrick's Day.  The hint with this technique is using the darker colors--think Concord Crush rather than Wisteria Wonder.  The inks do dry much lighter.

I have other items to post, but I have run outta time! I'm thinking I need to call my mom and thank her for all the transporting she did for me as a child. 

Kristine

Simply Sent Christmas

One of the promotions right now through Stampin' Up! is to buy two Simply Sent Kits (page 192/193 in the main catalog) and get a coordinating stamp set from those same pages FREE!  Since I am in the Christmas mode, setting up for a Holiday Stamp Camp, I decided to make the Simply Sent Kit Everyday Elegance into Christmas cards.  I think they turned out great!  And seriously, they were fast!  I'm talking making 8 cards in less than 30 minutes! Yeah, that fast.

Here they are!

A closer view of the Cherry Cobbler card--blinged out with Basic Rhinestones.  I just noticed my ornament is a little lopsided.  Ooops.  Just pretend it's perfect. :-)

And the Baja Breeze card softened with those wonderful Basic Pearls and some Velvet Ribbon.  I did not design this card.  It is a CASE of a wonderful demonstrator Sandi MacIver's card.  She is very inspirational for me!  I loved it so much I HAD to make one too!

If you'd like to make some of these cards for Christmas, and you do not already have a demonstrator, please visit my Online Stampin' Up site to place an order.  The link is on the right side bar. (The little computer mouse pushing a shopping cart.  Isn't that a great picture!)

I've listed below everything I used to make these cards. You can, of course, substitute in any sentiment sayings you already have.

Stamps:
Tree Trimmings 116722 $14.95
Christmas Greetings 115448 $10.95
Stiched Stockings 123784 $19.95

Inks:
Cherry Cobbler Classic 119669 $5.95
Baja Breeze Classic  111833 $5.95
Craft White 101731 $7.50

Punches:
Stocking punch 124095 $16.95

Embellishments:
Basic Pearls  119247 $4.95
Basic Rhinestones  119246 $4.95
Jingle Bells  124116 $2.95
Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine  123125 $2.95
Very Vanilla Velvet Ribbon 125637 $7.95

Thanks for stopping by.  Maybe you can take some time over the weekend to get your fingers inky! Yeah!

Kristine

The last of summer

There are snow flurries today in Reno.  Crazy weather.  It is truly fall.  In honor of summer fading, I made a last summery card for my Open Swappers group.  I used a set that I bought because I think the images are serene and beautiful.  It's called Plant Hope. That is a good directive too...plant some hope somewhere.  Maybe someone's heart, maybe in your own heart.  Here's the card.

Stamp: Plant Hope, Line Background, French Script

Paper: Crumb Cake, Barely Banana, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla

This is a CASE card from an older SU IBC.  I used almost all retired items on this card.  The nifty thing about my group, the Open Swappers, is we can use retired items.  We are "Open" to using ANY SU merchandise whether it be brand, spankin' new, or from the first years of the company's production.  There's no themes mandated, no musts.  It is for pure fun and enjoyment.  Use what ya want 'cause you want to use it! 

To see what the other members of the group designed, click on the picture of the white Alpaca on the right sidebar.  If you would like to join in the swap, send me an email and I'll get you the details of the swapping.

Thanks for stopping in.

Kristine



Mojo #208

This is a quick post.  I've had this card to post all week, but finding the time to sit and post was not possible until now.  Busy week.  For this card I used two things I had not opened yet from my stash, the stamp set Tagtastic, which is a hostess set, and the DSP Just Add Cake.  You know what, most of life would be better if we followed the advice of that DSP...Just add cake...and waalaa wouldn't life be sweet...literally.  Okay, here's my interpretation of the Mojo Monday #208 sketch. 

Happy card, no?  Yes!  I like the colors in the DSP.  I actually bought the paper for a baby scrapbook I'm making.  But, it's good for a card too. ;-)

Thanks for stopping in today.  If you still have a little time, and a fresh cup of coffee or tea, stick around a bit and putter through my blog.  I hope you find something that inspires you to pick up your own supplies and get a little inky.

Kristine

A little swishy dress

There is one thing that has always appealed to me...light, swishy, classic dresses.  Alas, I do not have the body build to wear them, but I love them.  Do you remember the dress Julia Roberts wears in the movie Pretty Woman?

She is at the race track and has on a brown and white, spotted dress along with a wonderful floppy hat.  I love that dress!!  My daughter and I were at Stein Mart Department store last week, and they have a wonderful breezy dress with this same color and pattern.  It was a filmy material in a shirt waist style.  Oh, if I only had the kind of figure that could pull it off, I would have bought that dress!  {sigh}  I have thought about that dress ever since seeing it on the rack. 

Then as I went through my DSP, I came across the polka dot pattern in the Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Paper.  It was kismit!  It was a way for me to express my love of the dress!  So, long story shorter...I made a card.

I wanted to keep the card clean and simple, and I wanted that polka dot design to be a main focal point.  I blinged up the card just a smidge by adding some Champagne stickles to the flower centers. (Didn't Julia's character sip champagne in the movie?) The flowers come from the Posey Punch set.  A piece of Espresso Satin Ribbon to cinch the card's "waist", and a Curly Cute sentiment finishes it off. 

Maybe not as glam as Julia Roberts in her dress, but I likey.  Plus, it's easier to make this card than shed the 30 pounds needed to fit into the dress at Stein Mart! lol!

Still for sale:

I am still taking orders for this Christmas Card/Tag workshop.  The next order will be placed on October 1st and will ship to you by mid October.  Please click HERE to see the full details.

And a final note:

I have added a few items for sale in my Selling Spot Blog.  Click on the link on the right side-bar with the For Sale sign to see the retired items I am selling!  Thanks!

Thanks for spending time with me today.

Kristine





Another Christmas Card

I seem to find myself with more time this fall than I have had in falls past.  I am putting that time to work by joining in on some of the wonderful challenges out there.  Last week I did the Color Throw down and a sketch from the Stampin Queens Sketch challenge.  This week I selected the Paper Players Challenge #63  (because I saw a beautiful card made by Ann Schach and decided I needed to play too!)


and paired it with Create with Connie and Mary Sketch #166.



 I think the colors of the Paper Players Challenge speak Christmas!  So I made a Christmas card using one of the sets I received free at Convention called Warmest of Wishes.  This is a hostess set, so to be able to get it, you have to hostess a workshop.  However, if you buy $150 worth of merchandise, this set can be your freebie choice until the Winter Mini ends on January 3, 2012.

Here's my interpretation of the challenges.

 I like this card so much that I used up all of the DSP (The DSP is retired and is called Cottage Wall.)  I had and made 6 more to send out at Christmas!  I feel so ahead of the game!  This card was the first time I used the new Stripes Embossing Folder.  What a simple way to add a little something.  The ribbon is the Basic Gray Taffeta which I made into a double bow and secured with a Clear Rhinestone Brad.  That is the only bling on the card. 

When I showed my husband this card, he really liked it, but then said, "What does No El mean?" I was baffled by his question.  Then I realized that his mind is not in Christmas mode like so many of us crafters, and I laughed.  He did not see the letters as belonging to one word.  So I jokingly said  that it translated to "No the."  He was even more baffled as to why there was a stamp for this saying. I could have teased him more, but when I told him to think about Christmas, he got it. 

I hope you enjoyed the card.  And, thanks for stopping in.  Please leave me a comment.  I love those!
Kristine

A Challenging Day

As kids grow up, it's hard to find something that the child still likes to do with the parent.  Thank heavens that my daughter Olivia (who's 11) likes to stamp.  Since she comes home earlier from school than her brother, we found ourselves with some time this week.  We decided to challenge ourselves and find a sketch challenge as well as a color challenge and each create a card.  For me, the idea for the sketch came easily.  Working with the colors...not so easy.

Color Throw Down #158.  The sketch challenge came from a new place. This is only the third challenge, but I like the design! The site is called The Stampin' Queen's Sketch Challenge.

And here are the cards that Olivia and I made.  I decided to go with a square card.  I had a REALLY hard time with the colors.  Peach Parfait didn't seem to go with the other colors.  But the more I look at the card, I'm not hatin' it as much.  I do like the ribbon.  It is the first time I have worked with the new 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon.  Yup, I likey it!

Stamps:French Foliage, Petite Pairs

And here is Olivia's card.  She was speedy with her card.  She was done in 30 minutes.  I dragged along trying to make myself like the colors!

She said she didn't notice the other layers in the card, but was happy to keep hers clean and simple.

And a reminder...

I am offering a virtual workshop using the stamp set Christmas Lodge.  Here's what it entails...

If you would like to make all the cards in the picture, click here for more details.

Thanks for stopping in.  I would love a comment.  They make my day!

Kristine

Christmas Lodge Workshop

I have been working on putting together a Workshop on the Go for my customers the past week.  When the Holiday Mini was given to us at convention, the set that I fell in love with immediately is the set "Christmas Lodge."  It is so old fashion!  So soft and detailed.  I had to have it.  So I bought it in my preorder as a demonstrator and began playing with it.  That turned into the idea of creating a workshop for my customers that they could do on their own, at their own pace, but with all the card stock cut and directions.  The resulting workshop I am calling the "Get Together Workshop" and I plan to offer them periodically.
Here are the three projects in the workshop...

And here is what you get in the workshop!!

There is enough materials for 6 of each project to be completed.  Just think...one kit and you are a dozen cards closer to being ready for Christmas plus 6 gift tags ready to go!  AND, you will have a beautiful stamp set to keep and use again as well as left over bling.

You will notice that the workshop comes with the clear mount Christmas Lodge set, a package of Basic Rhinestone, and a bottle of the new Dazzling Details Glitter.  All of the card stock and ribbon comes cut and ready for you, or you and some friends, to assemble. 

I have this Christmas Lodge Get Together Workshop available now.  Would you like one?  What if you already have the stamp set and just want the card kits?  What if you just want the instructions?  No worries...I offer all three.

I am placing the order for the materials for the workshop on September 15th.  I will begin shipping the workshops out as soon as I get the order returned and kits prepared... I'm expecting to have them shipped by the end of the month.  I will email you the PDF instructions when I ship your workshop. 

Option 1: The Entire Get Together Workshop is $70 (shipping and tax are already included.)

• including the stamp set,
• rhinestones,
• glitter,
• prepared card stock and ribbon is .

Option 2: Just the prepared card stock and ribbon is $35 (shipping included)

• You can order multiples of this.  There are enough prepared kits for 6 people to complete 1 each of all three projects.

Option 3: If you only want me to send you the PDF instructions with cutting guidelines, the cost is $3. Lots of photos to help!

Order now and then set aside some time to get together with a friend, or maybe even 5 friends, and make the Christmas Lodge Workshop.

Workshop contents

Entire Workshop $70.00 Card kits only $35.00 PDF Instructions only $3.00

Hello Again

Sorry to be MIA for a little time.  My husband had the last three weeks off, and we have been enjoying time together as a family.  Blogging didn't make it into the timeline!

This is a card whose color palette is different for me.  I started with the DSP paper Berry Blossom and then went to my Color Coach to coordinate some card stock.  The colors used are Calypso Coral, Baja Breeze and Daffodil Delight along with the basic Whisper White.  I think it's a happy card!  A customer of mine, Kimberley, gave me a subscription to Better Homes and Gardens Magazine this past Christmas. After making this card, I realized that the color combo is used in the magazine as a room makeover! How cool is that! This will be my order thank you card for August.  I thought it would be a quicker card, but it took me and my daughter, Olivia, some time to run all the pieces through the Big Shot and to punch the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch for each.  There is a learning curve on that punch--at least for me. :-)  The original design came from a convention card swap made by Arlene.  (Her last name has been smudged, and I cannot read it!  No blog address to refer you to. Sorry.)

One of the reasons I decided to CASE this card is the use of the Ornament Punch used as the vase.  I have seen this idea before, but I have not used it.  If you look closely at the flower, you will see that it has been run through the Polka Dot Embossing Folder.  First I adhered the flower pieces together and then ran them through together.  The littlest part of the flower, punched out in the Baja Breeze, is the flower punch found in the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack.   The card also uses one of the new triple punches Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch. Finally, the sentiment is from the set Curly Cute. I masked the thank you to make it run vertical rather than horizontal.

Next up is a card we did at the class I held on August 13th to show how to convert wood mount sets to the clear mount style.  Man, did we get sticky!  This is a card that came from Convention, too. Stampin' Up in their +One program gave each convention attendee not only the Make and Takes that we could complete during a workshop time there, but also gave us a gift bag filled with materials to do a workshop at home, including a hostess gift, a demonstration card, and 10 make and takes. We did the make and takes at the class. I think they're pretty cute! Very simple, but I like that.

What I like about the whole thing is the use of the open envelope with the circle cut out of it.  I also like the ribbon tied around the envelope and not the card.  Makes it feel like a present!  One of the new items SU will have available in the new Holiday Mini Catalog is dazzling diamonds in a little bottle.  I love adding shimmer and bling to cards, but it can get messy.  This new product works like stickles and putting it on a card ain't nothin' but a thing!  Can you see that the frosting is glittery as well as the pompoms on the platter?  The coloring of the image was done with a blender pen and classic inks.  One thing I have to mention is that this stamp set is really a great one.  It is called Easy Events and it was one of the FREE sets given to convention attendees.  (Aside: One thing I really like about SU is that there are always opportunities to get free things as a demonstrator.  Since I joined SU I have received more than 100 sets free. That's a conservative guess.  It could be more than that.  Isn't that cool?!)  If you want to buy one stamp set that will cover many occasions, put your money in Easy Events.  It's worth your money.

Alrighty all.  I should be back to my weekly postings now.  Thanks for sharing some of your time with me.

Kristine

Wine anyone?

I created this wine label for a friend.  I like the way it turned out. Always nice when that happens.  I didn't have the exact date for the event, so I just put question marks in just so she can get an idea of the label's look.  I will swap that piece of the label out when I know the date. I think personal wine labels are a pretty cool idea for a gift on a wine bottle. 

I used the stamp set Best Friends Forever. I like this set more than I would have thought.

Thanks for stopping in. 

Cheers!

Kristine

3D from convention and a personal note

This is the 3D swap I made for convention.  I used up all of the embellishment holders I had.  Each one was filled with peppermint and cinnamon hard candies.  My daughter Olivia helped me make them.  I was not sure what to make for a 3D, but these seemed to be fine. Kind of patriotic.  IRL, these do not look as splotchy as they do in the picture.  Maybe that's the flash? IRL, they just sparkle.

On a personal note:

Today is a special day.  Nineteen years ago today, I married my hubby.  Can you believe it!?! We have actually been together for 21 years.  In two more years, I will have been with Mitch longer than I was single.  Go figure.  He still makes me laugh, he still makes me feel loved, and he still makes me feel like I am THE luckiest woman to have married him.  He's a sweety! I am thankful for him EVERY day.  Together we can get though anything...we know. I love you Mitch!

Post Convention

I returned home from Stampin' Up! Convention last Sunday.  Those days at convention went by super quick! I missed my family terribly, but had a blast in SLC.  As I mentioned in y last post, I went to college in SLC.  It was great to see how the city has changed.  I went back to Westminster and looked around a bit too.  My, my, my Westminster has grown and prospered.  Good to see!  One of the great things about convention is the plethora of ideas! My head was swimming with trying to prioritize all that was coming at me!

I don't have a card to share today...just some pictures from Convention. Enjoy!

 This is the main entrance to the Salt Lake City Convention Center, called the Salt Palace.  Some very interesting architecture.

Stampin' Up put the decals on all of the doors.  I had to take the picture from the wrong side of the door because my camera could not understand the lighting from the other direction.  Here is the first of the many signs that reminds us that Stampin' Up! is not just a place to inspire, create and share, but also a place to grow--the convention theme.

Here are the sets of stamps ready to be picked up by convention attendees.  Man, I made out with a ton of loot at this convention!!!

This scene made me laugh. We get our bags and free stamps and new binder for our catalogs, and we all plop down wherever we can find the nearest seat and begin putting things together.  DO NOT get in the way of a SU gal with new booty! :-)

Me standing next to one of the ginormous flowers placed throughout the convention hall.  I love these flowers! You can see my new bag on my shoulder.  You're jealous now, huh!

Me and my friend Mary.  Mary talked me into going to convention.  I am actually a very shy person, and the idea of being at a convention made me near faint.  But she was persistent and had the support of my husband, so I went.  So glad!  Thanks Mary! We are inside Memento Mall buying up souvenirs and business items.  There were paper flowers everywhere! The umbrellas are cute, but a gal from Reno has little use for an umbrella. Almost bought one anyway! Hey, I was caught up in the excitement!

I spent the majority of my time with a group of demonstrators in Mary's upline and sidelines.  They are from Hawaii and they are WONDERFUL! We are on a tour of the Stampin' Up home office in Riverton, Utah.  Being a former librarian, I am always interested in how things are organized.  This plant, and how they get the orders filled absolutely fascinated me. Pictures L-R: Martha, Me, Lori (also a first time convention attendee) and Zeny (gosh I hope I spelled that right?)

The infamous Stampin' Up! rock.  I have seen many a demo pose here in blogs.  I had to pose too!

The kick off party for the convention had us wearing Gardening attire and hats.  I love the hats the Hawaii group put together! Aren't they cute?! Pictured in the center is Cindy--she is the upline for the group and she is super sweet.  Thanks Cindy for letting me hang with y'all! Pictured L-R: Lori, Cindy and Martha

Here's Mary in her hat.  Aren't they great?!

The main stage.  All I could say was "Wow." The colors of the stage changed each day, and the flower images behind the main stage grew and changed.  So very cool.

and finally a picture of what I love most about SLC--the Wasatch Mountains. 

Thanks for stopping in.  I'll have a card for you next time.

Kristine