Blog Candy winners and a Fall Wreath

Thanks to Nancy and Nance for posting a comment or sending me an email.  Both ladies picked the embossed version.  (See my last post to understand what I'm talking about.) I will have the cards in the mail to you both toot sweet.  Since only two people responded, I decided to make them both winners!!

Are you curious which version Hubby picked? He liked the plain Gumball Green card stock.  I've always said he likes the simpler cards.  I should have known, huh?

Now onto today's share.  A Fall wreath. 

 

 

I saw a card similar to this when the stamp set Day of Gratitude first came out.  This is a simple layout, but the card itself takes some time to make.  Cutting out the leaves and acorns is time consuming.  Fortunate for me, I love paper cutting.  I made ten of these cards. Yes, that's 90 leaves and 50 acorns I cut out.  It was a couple hours of meditative paper cutting.  Ahhhh. 

 

 

Thanks for popping in.  Sending thankful thoughts to you for being one of my blog readers. 

 

Kristine

 

Recipe:

Stamps: Grateful Greetings, Day of Gratitude

Wood grain Embossing folder

Card stock: Whisper White, Early Espresso

Inks: Bravo Burgundy, Cajun Craze, Gumball Green, Early Espresso

Linen Thread,

Punches: Corner Rounder, Oval



October swap and some RAKs

Hello All.  Happy cooler weather!  Makes me do the happy dance. 

My share today is my swap for the Open Swappers group.  (Click on the Alpaca in the right side bar to see what the other swappers created.) I decided to create a holiday card.  This stamp set had not yet seen ink {gasp.  I love the drinking glasses and the fun sentiments.

This was the first version.  I liked it.  Then I got this bee in my bonnet that said one more thing.  Put some embossing on the Gumball Green card stock.  So I did.

Version 2.0

I showed the two versions to my son.  He said, "I like the one with the embossing."  (An aside...how many 14 year old boys love their mother enough to KNOW what embossing is?  I know!  I am loved.  {Big grin.})  Later in the day, after making all the swaps with the embossed back ground, I asked my daughter which version she preferred, totally anticipating that she would go for version 2.0 as well.  She didn't.  She liked the smooth paper better.  (Can you see the confuzzlement on my face?) Dear Hubby comes home.  He gets the question... which does he prefer? He was the tie breaker.  I was hoping he would go for the embossed version.  I had ALREADY finished the cards...all of them embossed.  Can you guess what he said? 

Wait!  A game.  You leave a comment as to which version you prefer and I will draw a name to win.  What do you win?  The card you prefer!! I'll draw a name before next week end.  Okay, off you go to make a comment.

Recipe:
Stamp set: Happy Hour
Dies: Spellbinders classic oval, Framelits Labels
Snowburst Embossing folder
Cardstock: Be of Good Cheer DSP, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green
Inks: cherry cobbler
Ribbon: Scallop Dots 1/2" Cherry cobbler
Punches: Wide Oval
Fun stuff: Dazzling details, Basic Rhinestone

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Something that is so cool, well besides the weather, is a card that comes in the US Postal Mail for no reason other than the sender was thinking of you.  Here are some cards I recently received as Random Acts of Kindness, or RAKS in the stamping/card making world.

 

Thanks Eleanor and Joanne for the kindness shared! 

 

 

Thanks for stopping in! 

Kristine

A Fall card

Demonstrators for Stampin' Up! get a monthly magazine called Stampin' Success.  There is always something in there that gets a response from me.  This time it was a card designed by Lisa Dolson from the great state of Montana.  I copied her card, except that I do not have the same stamp sets she has, nor do I have the patience she has to score a card the way she did.  I have searched the vast web to see if she has a website/blog. I cannot find either.  I cannot legally show her card on my blog, soooo you'll have to either imagine what she did, or become a demo to see the magazine. :-)  Here's some differences...she used a leaf stamp set different than the one I have used, she had a different sentiment, and she scored the die cut piece whereas I used the new wood grain embossing folder...so much cinchier. (is that a word?  Mr Spellchecker says no, but I'm using it anyway.) Colors and layout are the same.   

Here is my version:

Can you see why it won the art contest?  Once I had all the leaves made and cut, I decided a little shimmer would be extra nice.  Can you see the light sparkle on the leaves?  Purdy.

I liked this card so much that I made more of them for my Open Swappers friends as my swap card.  Click the link in the right side bar (the cute alpaca!) to see what all the swappers made.  Then contact me to join in the swapping fun.

Recipe:
Stamps: Autumn Leaf Prints, All Year Cheer
Dies: Labels Framelit, Woodgrain embossing folder
Paper: Very Vanilla
Inks: Cajun Craze, Lucky Limade, More Mustard, Island Indigo, Soft Suede
Fun embellies: Champagne Shimmer paint, Linen thread, a button from my collection.

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Thank you to those of you who have emailed me to ask after my mom's health.  I appreciate the prayers and support.  She is doing well!! We go back to California this Friday to see how well she has healed from the surgery and to get a prognosis.  More prayers are always welcome!

Thanks for dropping in.

Happy Fall!

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

Catching up

I have a few items to show you that have been sitting in my work area.  The first card was for a demonstrator swap.  I decided to forgo the usual fall colors.  The front squares are popped up on dimensionals.  This card uses the Days of Gratitude set as well.  Such a versatile set!

Next up is a card for fall using the masking technique. 

The next card was one I did for the last Christmas card class.  It uses the letterpress Season on Joy.  I'm not a natural at using a letterpress, but some of my customers were pros!

My next share was a club card for Halloween.  It is almost a direct CAS from Paper Crafts Magazine.  It is the same layout and colors, but I used SU only stamps and materials.  The technique is faux letterpress, which I like MUCH better!

And my final share is of my constant companion, Simon.  He was all dressed up for Halloween. :-)

My daughter decided he should wear her outfit.  He doesn't look too pleased does he? lol.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Happy Fall!

Kristine

Day of Gratitude

This stamp set was the first one to catch my eye when the Holiday Mini came out.  It reminds me of one of my favorite retired stamp sets called True Friend.  Both sets have the same design style--a little western, a little ...Scandinavian?  At least that is what I think when I look at them.  I really like the sample card that is pictured with the set in the mini, so I decided to stick with the Cajun Craze color.  The layout is courtesy of Stampin 411 blog Saturday Sketch Challenge #171.  This will be one of the cards for my club this Friday.  I like the rich, warm colors of it. 

The DSP is the Autumn Spice.  Doesn't that sound wonderful?  Makes me think of warm apple cider.  The ribbon is in Early Espresso, and I used the lattice embossing folder on the Cajun Craze panel for some extra texture.

Here is the inside of the card.

Wonderful sentiment, yes?  I sometimes need the reminder that everyday is a blessing and a reason to be grateful. 

Thanks for stopping in today.  Remember to feel the gratitude today for all of your blessings!

Kristine

A time for friendship and gratitude

Happy thanksgiving All!

I have two things to share today. Many of you have met my wonderful, furry companion, Simon. He is my Standard Poodle who shares my days, my walks and (if he had it his way) my food! He is my constant reminder to live in the present moment. Dogs have a way of exuding joy. He's always ready to play, but just as ready to take a nap in the sun. Today he reminds me that we don't need much to be happy, and I have so much for which to be grateful. Simon loves his friends! In the picture is Simon with his favorite friend, Ada, the boxer. Simon and Ada have weekly play dates. Aren't their faces just the best reminder that friendship is THE BEST!

I also have a beautiful card made by my very talented friend, Lynnette Parker. Her cards always inspire me. This card was made with a stamp called Wandering Words from the SU Holiday Mini catalog. Dangnabit, because of her talents, I do believe I must purchase that stamp set as well!