Let me make it up to you

Sorry for the long absence.  Life happened.

To make up for the almost month away, I will post ALL of the goodies in my "to be posted" stash.

First up is the latest card I have completed for my Open Swappers Group.  Click HERE for more information on joining the group and to see what the other swappers created.

Supplies:

Stamp set: Pleasant Poppies

Card stock: Whisper White and Poppy Parade (retired)

Inks: Poppy Parade (retired), Daffodil Delight, Certainly Celery

Accessories and Tools: Certainly Celery 1/4" grosgrain ribbon (retired), Brights brads, and Simply Scored tool.

I used the new Pleasant Poppies large background stamp.  This is really an easy card.  I water colored the poppies using and aqua painter.  I did not worry about staying in the lines because I wanted a very soft look.  The scored line on the top and the bottom just adds a hint of interest to the card.

Project number 2:  I made this for my friend.  She just moved into a new home and is moving on in her life after a marriage ending.  This is her time to bloom, so I made this to remind her of that.  The colors match the colors she has chosen for her new master bedroom.

A closer look at one of the "Hydrangea" blooms.  I used the Trio Flower punch (retired) and sponged each flower in  Perfect Plum.  There are over 1,000 flowers on the two blooms!  This took me longer than I planned and left me with purple fingers.  The butterfly is from a big box store and just matched! It so fits in with the idea of rebirth.  I used straight pins to push the flowers into a Styrofoam ball.  Another reason for purple fingers.  After pushing in over 1,000 pins, the pad on my thumb had a bruise!  The idea for the project came from a catalog of another stamping company.

Supplies:
Sizzix Timeless Type Alphabet Die
Card stock:  Whisper white, Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery
Inks: Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant
Trio Flower Punch (retired)
Certainly Celery 1/8" taffeta ribbon (retired)
Candlesticks and Styrofoam balls

Project 3:  Sometimes giving a tip in a nice little envelope is cool.   These are made from the Scallop Envelope Die.  Add an appropriate label and they're ready to use. 

Supplies:
Stamps: Perfect Punches (retired)
Ink: Pear Pizzazz
Bigz Scallop Envelope Die
Card stock: Whisper white
DSP: Berry Blossoms (retired)
Pear Pizzazz 1/4" organza ribbon (retired SAB)
Punches: Scallop oval, Moder label

I punched a hole in the center of the flap and brought the ribbon up through it to tie the bow.  Keeps the flap closed and gives it a finishing touch.

Project 4:  These are the thank you cards for orders placed last month.  I really love the Mixed Bunch stamp set. 

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Mixed Bunch, Loving Thoughts
Card stock: Whisper White
Inks: Summer Starfruit, Primrose Petal, Gumball Green
Adorning Accents Embossing Folder
Punches: Blossom, 1" circle
Basic Rhinestone

Project 5:  This card is a CASE of a card made by Mary Brown.  I love her style.  This was a card from a workshop that I had.  The clouds are made from the cupcake builder punch!  My downline made a card using the punch as a cloud and I adored the idea!

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Up, Up and Away, Friendly Phrases

Card stock: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Marina Mist

Inks: Midnight Muse, Basic Black, Raspberry Ripple, Pumpkin Pie

Punches: Build a Cupcake

Polka Dot Embossing Folder 

Project 6:  This was another card made at the same workshop as the balloon card.  It has a special gift card holder!  The idea for the card came from a convention swap last year.  There was no name on the swap, so I have no idea who to give credit to for the design.

See how the ribbon pulls out the gift card holder?!  Clever eh?

Supplies:

Stamp set: Betsy's Blooms Wheel (on the gift card at the bottom)

Framed Tulips Embossing Folder

Card stock: Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze, and copy paper for the envelope

DSP: Floral District

Inks: Rich Razzleberry

In Color Designer Series brads

1" circle punch

Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon

Final share:  This is a birthday card I did for a friend.  This is also a CASE of Mary Brown.  Told ya I love her stuff! 

I have been working on this post for most of the day.  Having my family home is wonderful, but it is difficult to get anything done!  The minute I sit down, another interruption. I know any mom out there can relate. 

Thanks for visiting.  It is appreciated.

Kristine

Some cute gifts

One of the things I like to do is create some hand made gifts for workshop attendees.  Here is the gift I made for the last workshop.

Even if I do say so myself, these potted flowers are cute, cute, cute!  The idea is not my own.  I found this tutorial on a blog that has a wide variety of ideas called The Diary of Two Crafty Girls. Isn't that a cleaver blog name?  This tutorial is from Natasha and she made it easy peasy to do.  Go to their blog and search Flower Pot Gift Idea tutorial.  I used the stamp set Fabulous Florets, just like Natasha did in her sample. The colors of the blooms are the new Summer Starfruit and Primerose Petals.  The leaves are the new Gumball Green.  See, a showing of the new In Colors! Ahh, I may be a wee bit clever/crafty too! 

Gasp!  I just noticed that I took a picture of the BACK side of the pot!  The front is the same, but has the raffia ribbon bow.  I do not have another to take a picture of!  {sigh}  Oh, what to do with a middle-aged mind.   Ah well, we will all pretend that the picture has a bow.  Anyway, the original idea was to put a bulb in the little pot.  But the workshop was postponed past bulb planting time, so I did the next best thing and filled the little pots with candy! (Maybe the ladies liked the candy more than they would have the bulb?  It's that instant gratification thing.  Yummy candy now vs. a flower in three months.)

Here's a peek at the inside.  Hey!  You can see the bow on the front!  See, I'm not fibbin'  about the ribbon!  That rhymes...fibbin' and ribbon.  Onward...

And here is the box waiting to go to the workshop. Happy little box!

I had another special gift for my hostess.  Some yummies inside this as well. :-)  The flower is what I want to share.  I made it using the Paper Daisies.  One daisy as a bottom and then folding the daisies into forths and hot gluing them to the base until you have the fullness you want.  I spong daubered this with Primrose Petals Ink and swipped the edges with Bravo Burgandy ink.  A Basic Rhinestone in the center adds some sparkle. 

I think it kinda looks like a carnation?  The box is made from the retired Bigz XL Box #2 Die in Bravo Burgandy Textured cardstock.  White taffeta ribbon to wrap around.

There you have it!  Some gift presentation ideas.  Thanks to all of you for giving of your time today. I wish you a pot full of candies!

Kristine

Inspire, Create and Share

Every once in awhile, I hold an event at my home for my customers.  I would really like to hold more events, but I do what I can do.  :-)  At my last event I made some card boxes as booking gifts.  Anyone who booked a workshop with me, received a box.  When my daughter, Olivia, and I made the boxes, we had a bet.  She picked the colors for one box, and I picked the colors for the other.  Our bet was...whose box would be picked first!  We had a wonderful time creating the boxes.  Here they are...

This box uses the Berry Blossoms DSP from the Main IBC.  It is so bright and cheery!  We accented the box with some Black 1/2" Scallop Ribbon.  Vanilla Hodgepodge on the side of the box for a label to be added.  Here's a closer look at the lid.  We made Rossettes with the Rossette Die and then layerd flowers on the top. The flowers are from a retired punch, Trio Flower Punch.  However, you can still purchase the punch from the clearance rack last time I peeked.  The pearls are SU's Basic Pearls which we colored with a green Sharpie!  That is such a cool thing to change the colors of the pearls and rhinestones!  They are instantly dry and ready for the project.



And here is the second box.  Muted tones from the DSP Beau Chateau.  Victoria Crochet Trim and Basic Pearls--the Jumbo ones from the Occasions Mini adorn this box.

Here's the top view of this box.  Another Rossette, lots of little pearls and some retired Satin Roses. A very soft, vintage box.

So, any guesses as to which box is Olivia's colors and which is mine? :-)  Leave me a comment!

Below is some of the gals working on the cards.  Which reminds me, I have not posted those cards yet!  I think I still need to take pictures of them. I had two more tables in another room.  My house is not large, but I can manage 20 ladies for an event.  No one minds a bit of coziness. :-)  My husband moves all of the furniture out of the way.  Good man.

Thanks for stopping in.  I hope you get your fingers inky soon.

Kristine

A day of Grace

Today is February 29th.  It's the extra day of the year, so it's kind of like a bonus day.  An extra day of grace if you will.  With my "extra" day, I had to take my daughter to a neurologist.  We have been making the rounds of docs working to figure out a diagnosis.  When my daughter and I returned home, she wanted to rest, so I came to my crafting area to "chillax" (a new favorite word taken from the TV show Modern Family.  Love that show!).  I know I am a blessed person, but I decided to make something for myself, something that I can see on a daily basis that will remind me of God's Grace in my life.  I opened My Digital Studio (MDS) and made this project.

The frame is one that I had on hand, and I loved the way the page looks inside it.  MDS is becoming easier and easier for me to use.  This project took me no more than 10 minutes from inception to print.  Can you see the flourish from the brush set Baroque Motifs behind the words?  One of the things I like most about MDS is the capability to take an image and have your way with it -- make it bigger, smaller, or more transparent, like you stamped it in Versamark.  I printed onto Very Vanilla card stock.  It's very elegant looking IRL.  The color of the flourish and the text is Cherry Cobbler. 

Here's a closer look at the prayer.  It is a prayer written by Marjorie Holmes which I read today in a book entitled Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach.   When I read the prayer this morning, I knew I wanted to have it start more of my days.  What better way to remember the prayer than to put it in a frame on my dresser for use each morning?!  

Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope your "extra" day has been lightened by Grace.

Kristine

That's one big Rossette!

This is another project that I made using the new rossette die from the Occasions Mini catalog.  If you use the entire cutting surface of the die, you will need 2 whole sheets of 12x12 paper to complete the circle.  Here it is...

The finished rossette measures 1 foot across!  Wowza! I placed some dried flowers in the center in the shape of a heart and finished off the project with some Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon  I did use a piece of light cardboard on the back to sturdy the rossette.  This is a hostess gift that I made.  An easy decoration for Valentines!

Thanks for stopping in!

Kristine

Some rosettes to celebrate

The last couple of weeks have flown by in a haze--both literal and figurative.  I spent some time in Portland with my BFF mid month and had a wonderful time getting reacquainted with her almost 2 year old son.  My kids are 11 and 13.  I have forgotten how much energy is needed to keep up with a 2 year old! 

Then the day after I came home, a wildfire happens and we end up having to evacuate our home!  I know, wildfire in January?  Yup.  Anything is possible in Northern Nevada.  We did not have much time to get out, so all of my stamping things were left behind. Only what could fit in the back of my mini van and my husband's civic was taken.  Honestly, when I looked around to decide what to take, there was not a lot that I "needed."  We have a comfortable home, but I have never been a "big ticket item" kinda gal.  It was such an eerie, surreal feeling driving away from our home.  The smoke was so thick that I could not see the road well, but the orange glow of the fire was there.  A frightening experience.  Driving away knowing that there is a good likelihood that when you come back the home will be gone...well, that is hard.  My children were understandably upset, but the whole experience has been a good lesson in gratitude. Sometimes it is good to be reminded of the blessings. We have been blessed again, and for us, all has ended well and we are home.  The fire was very close, but no damage.  Some friends were not so lucky and lost everything.  It just breaks my heart.

So when the clamor of getting back in the house was over, and some tears of gratitude and exhaustion were shed, I had to sit with my stuff and create.  I bought the new Rosettes Die from the Occasions Mini catalog and decided to make myself a paper flower bouquet.  It is a celebration of life.

The die creates almost any size rosette you want.  I made all of the pictured rosettes using the one die.  The largest rosette you can make is 12" across.  It's huge!  I made another project with that rosette that I will share later. You could also cut off the edging of the rosette before you fold it and edge punch the paper with another design if you desired.

I used my paper shredder and shredded paper for the "grass."  You can see in the above picture one of the smaller rosettes.

Can you see the butterflies?  I punched out some butterflies with the Butterfly punch in Silver Glimmer Paper and then used Window Sheet strips to make them "float" above and around the bouquet.  It turned out just right.  It is happy and playful.  Olivia, my DD, did all of the folding of the rosettes as well as gave me embellishment ideas. 

Thanks for visiting my blog.  If you are of the mind, please include in your prayers the families in Northern Nevada who lost their homes in the fire.  Unfortuately, there are more than a few of them.

Stay safe.

Kristine

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



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!

"Purse"only speaking

Until recently, I did not make many 3D projects.  But now I see so many cute things that I must try them for myself.  Case in point, this little purse!

I have made many of these purses of late-- for raffle prices, guest prizes, and for my friends.  They are just so cute!  They are made using the little composition notebooks that you can buy for less than $1 at the big box stores. I must confess that this is not my idea.  The kudos belong to a wonderfully inventive stamper, Becky Roberts, who has a blog named Inking Idaho.  She has provided a tutorial on making these nifty purses!  Isn't she wonderful!  Rather than re-invent the wheel and tell you how it's done, I'm going to send you to her tutorial! Click here to see the how tos! 

Next up is a "purse" that I designed based on a card box I saw at my friend Mary Cargill's, a fellow SU demonstrator. (Hi Mary!) I wanted my card box to look more like a spring purse!  Here's what I came up with...

I was tickeled pink when it was finished!  My children and even DH said it was cute.  My, my, my, such flattery! It uses a SU stamp block case (which only demos can purchase, so be nice to your demonstrator if you want one! hehehe).  I placed a Trinket Key coming out of the front pocket since that is usually how my keys ride in my purse.  Amazing that I have never lost them. 

Here's a side view.

When opened there are cards for the recipient to use.  These are very simple cards which all use the Sweet Summer Sale-a-Bration Set and the always classic Sincere Salutations.  They are what I call "Onederful" cards since they are single layers and easy peasy, get-out-the-door-now cards. Stazon Black Ink and markers of your choice are all you need besides some Whisper white Card stock.  I made 8 cards to fill this purse.

Here are the 8 cards.  They were designed by my upline Linda Gutierrez. Pretty "Onderful" huh?!

Have I overused the word wonderful? Maybe I should get out the thesarus...hmmm. Snazzy, ideal, beyond compare... are those synonyms for wonderful?  OH!!!  I know a synonym for wonderful!  YOU!

Thanks for checking in with me. (Or should I say checking up on me?)

Kristine

Cheers!

I have a class this coming Friday.  I wanted to give little, fun gifts to my guests.  So I decided to make paper mugs!  The original idea came from a fellow blogger, Lisa Young.  She is wonderful, and provided instructions for the cup.  I have gads of DSP, so I picked bright colors and started cutting and assembling...and cutting and assembling...and cutting and assembling...and I realized that I had undertaken (again) a project that did not seem so large in the inception, but got a bit overwhelming in the production.  But I am pleased with the results.  The mugs will not hold water--being that they're made of paper!--but they are the perfect containers for chocolate!!  The tube sticking out of each cup is rolled waxed paper.  Did you know that to keep your punches working well, every so often punch them through some heavy tin foil followed by wax paper?  The foil "sharpens" and the wax paper "oils."  Nifty huh!  Most ladies have foil on hand, but not all have wax paper in the cabinet.  I think the rolls look a bit like a straw sticking out of the cup.  I'll go with that.  In fact, would you believe I planned that?  No?  Me neither.  Have a look!

And a close up...

The tag is made with the Scallop Oval Punch, the Small Oval Punch.  The sentiment is from the Occasions Mini set You're a Gem--a fave of mine from this mini.

And a sampling...

I can't wait to see the project tables set with all the mugs!  If you're coming to class, act surprised when you see them. :-)

Remember to be grateful for all your blessings.  Thanks for sharing some time today with me.

Kristine

3Ds for Valentines

For Christmas I made a lantern and a candy holder using Christmas Designer Paper and colors.  (Click here to see them.) For Valentines, I decided to do the same projects, just changing the colors and adding another bird for the lantern.  I think I like the Valentine colors better, even though I like Christmas much more.  Go figure.  I will fill the candy holder on the right with dark chocolate Ghirardelli squares before I give it away.  The lantern does have a flame less candle inside.  As I was making it, it made me think of a gift my husband and I received when we married many moons ago.  The gift was a beautiful crystal bell.  The note that came with it said to set the bell in a special spot if you have had an argument and are ready to talk, or ring it if you are ready for some "love."  I thought, hey, this lantern could be a sign for a significant other!  Light the candle inside and set it somewhere your partner will find it, and they will know "you're in the mood."  That just makes me laugh.  What fun!

Next is a project by my daughter, Olivia.  I had made some letters decorated with Designer Paper as gifts at Christmas.  (Click here to see those.) She really liked them and wanted to do something for her room.  I love how she put her baby picture in the center of the "O."  She's clever.  She turns 11 in March and she is wanting to change her room.  Make it more "who she is."  Lordy, the teen years are a comin'.

Thanks for sharing some of your time with me today.  I hope your day brings you happiness.

Kristine

Finishing up the year

I have a couple of projects to share with you from the past month.  I have been creating, but not blogging.  I'd make a New Year's Resolution about blogging more often, but that resolution may go the way of many and not be realized.  So I won't make the resolution! lol 

I hope you have a wonderful New Year with lots of fun and time to do the things you love most.  Enjoy the following posts. 


A card I made to send to the troops.  I made a bunch of these so that they could be sent to the troops and the troops would have time to receive them and then be able to send them back home to a loved one for Valentines.  This was a challenge made by Gretchen Barron on her blog.  The card design is a CAS of Rhonda Beadell.

Next, a gift using DSP on letters from Joanne's.  Of course I had to bling them up just a tad.

Exploding gift boxes.  These boxes use just one sheet of 8.5x11 card stock plus DSP or stickers as you desire.  These are filled with chocolate. :-)

My first ever Hanukkah card made for my friend Dan. 

A little bitty lantern.  Soooo cute.  The idea came from a fellow demonstrator (and very nice person I might add) Laura Lipe.  I changed mine up a bit from hers.  This was a club project for December.  Inside is a flame-less tea light. 

Another December club project.  Chocolate Ghirardelli squares are always a great gift, but when presented in this decorative box...well they become just a little more special, yes?

And the final club project for December was punch art gift tags.