My hand at a vintage look

The New Year has started, and I can feel it in my bones that it's going to be a good year.  So far each day in 2011 has brought me a little, nice surprise.  What fun!

For this week's card, I was going for a vintage look.  You know, vintage is all the rage.  But I am a pretty simple girl who goes more for the clean lines.  BUT, I thought I'd give it a try.  I don't think I made my goal of a vintage look (other than the distressing of the card stock), but I do like the way it turned out.  The stamp set is one of my favorites, Friends 24-7.  I like the Fleur-de-lis in the set.  As you can see, I used that as my background.  The little tag hanging off the ribbon is stamped with a sentiment from a new set in the Occasions Mini catalog called You're a Gem.  I like phrase sets.  I tell ya, this Occasions mini is packed full of things I want.  I am really having to hold myself back from breaking the bank buying everything on my wish list!  Anyone know where the line is drawn between something being a hobby and when it becomes an addiction? :-)

Have a lookie:

It's hard to see in the picture (geesh, when will my photography improve?) but there are "smudges" of ink on the background as well as on the vanilla floral piece.  I used the Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon which has a light feel to it.  It reminds me of the kind of ribbon I used to find in my grandma's sewing basket.  The card stock I used is Soft Suede and Pear Pizzaz.  There are also mini Basic Pearls in the flower centers.  Me likee. You know what would have made this card more vintage?  More schtuff.  Ahh well, not vintage, but I like it.  :-)

Thanks for popping in.

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. 

Three more Christmas cards

One of the nice things about Stampin' Up! is the people you meet as a demonstrator.  I belong to a group of demonstrators here in the Reno area.  A few of us are orphans, meaning our uplines are gone.  To support each other, we get together and play and talk shop.  We got together a week ago and made Christmas cards.  Below are some of the cards others brought to. 

The first card is designed by Lynnette Parker.  Her stuff is always wonderful.

Next is a card provided by Mary Cargill.  I didn't finish it while there, so mine looks a bit different than hers.   I just love the sparkle of the card.  The trees are stamped in wild wasabi craft and then embossed with irridescent ice embossing powder.  Really pretty IRL.

And finally is a card from a newbie to our group, Nancy Stafford.  This card is too cute.  Easy to put together as well--a huge bonus for Christmas cards if you're going to make a lot!  The card is basically punches punched, cut and arranged into Santa's jolly face.  Makes me laugh that just by placing the eyes a wee bit differntly, you can gve Santa lots of expressions!  I was going for a jolly expression, but he actually looks a little baffled to me.  Ah well, that more clearly reflects me! lol

Details on Greenhouse Garden and Concord crush post and a birthday card

First, I want to share a birthday card I sent to a customer.  A sun flower for a sunny person! 



Next, on my last post, I was left a comment asking for the details on the card below.  Thanks for the comment!  I adore getting comments!  Another picture of the card, and then the specifics for making the card:

Stamps used: Greenhouse Garden, Afterthoughts (Hostess set in main IBC)
Inks: Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi (for the flower stems) and Concord Crush (To make the flowers, ink your stamp, then stamp off once on a scrap paper before stamping on the project.  When adding the flower detail, that is inked and directly stamped.  It makes it look like two colors, but both are Concord Crush, one is just lighter than the other due to amount of ink on the stamp.)
Card stock (CS):
Early Espresso, 4.25x11, 2x2.75, 3x2, 1x5.25
Crumb cake: 4x5.25, 1.5x2.25
Concord Crush DSP from the Hostess level 1 paper pack. 2 7/8 x 1 7/8
Whisper white punched with the XL Decorative Label Punch found in the Holiday Mini on page 25.

Dry embossing using the Backgrounds Texturz Plate #1 on page 215 of the IBC.  I took a sponge and lightly highlighted the raised portion of the paper with Early Espresso ink.  Use a light touch.
The scallop down the right side is the Scallop Trim Border punch done in Early Espresso CS.  I then added the smallest pearls from the jewel package of Basic Pearls on page 188. I wrapped a piece of 1/2" Concord Crush ribbon over the punch strip and tucked it under the scallop strip and Crumb Cake piece.

To finish the card, use a Corner rounder punch on the small piece of Crumb Cake, add Silver brads to the centers of the flowers and pop the flower image up on Dimensionals.  To make the faux brads in the left corner, punch three 1/4" circles out of Concord Crush CS and adhere to the front with Mini Glue Dots. The VERY LAST THING you should do is add some Crystal Effects to the little circles to add the shine.  These will need to dry, for a bit, but when they are dry, they look like brads!

There you go!

Thanks for stopping in.  I appreciate your time.

Kristine

Greenhouse garden in concord crush

This is a card I did for my demo swap group.  Something about the concord crush and the espresso spoke to me.  I tried a different layout (yeah, some of us tend to get in a layout rut) and I really like how the flower focal point pops off the card.  The background is embossed and then sponged with espresso ink to make the design stand out a bit.  Baby pearls along the side add a little somthin' somethin'.  The DSP behind the flowers is from the Patterns Paper Pack that is the Hostess Level 1 gift.  You know, those packs are great.  I am always pleasantly surprised by what's in them!  To finish the card, I punched three 1/4" circles, adhered them with mini glue dots and then put some shine on them with crystal effects for the faux brad look.  The sentiment is also a hostess level 1 set called Afterthoughts.  It's true...I do love being spoiled!

If you would like any more details on the card, drop me an email.  If you would like to receive the hostess paper patterns pack or the Afterthoughts set, contact me about hosting your own workshop!

Thanks for stopping by.

Kristine

Some more Christmas cards

I have continued making Christmas cards.  You'd think I have enough by now!  Here are a couple more to share.

The first card is one of my favorites.  It came together easily for my, which is unusual, and I still like it after looking at it days in a row! lol  The paper is from the Nursery Specialty Suite DSP.  I would not have thought to look in this DSP for Christmas paper, but as I was browsing my papers, this pattern popped out.  It's always fun to use a paper for a purpose it was not intended.   Makes me feel like a rebel!  Wohoo, I'm such a wild and crazy girl. :-)  Now the bow...oh my.  I went to Lee Conreys blog, and she has these magic bow makers for sale.  Yup, bought one.  Love it!  Hey, doesn't my bow look fan-tas-tic!? And the bows just whip right up.  Ain't nothin' but a thing!  Thanks Lee!  The punch is from the Martha Stewart collection.



The next card is for my Open Swappers group.  This is a card making group that swaps once a month for four months.  Materials have to be Stampin' Up!, but they do not need to be current.  If you would like to be a part of the next swap group beginning in January and continuing through April, please contact me.  I can give you all the specifics.  It's fun, and you get to use anything SU!  Anyway, onto the card.  This card has an old fashion feel to me.  I really like it, but it got mixed reviews from my family.  I did one of my new favorite tricks on this card, which is to adhere DSP before running it through the Big Shot with an embossing folder.  I like the look!  All of the edges of the paper are "frosted" with craft white.  I liked using the eyelets again too!  I wonder why they went out of vogue?  I would love to know your honest opinion about the card.  Leave me a comment!

Next is my very sweet daughter, Olivia.  She wanted to do the Mojo Monday challenge for one of her Christmas cards.  Here she is with her finished card. 

And here is the sketch she followed...

And here is the close-up of her card.  Beautiful!!  I think this is one of her best cards.  It's hard to see in the picture, but the snowflakes have dazzling diamonds on them!  A little pretty bling!  As you note, she used the Magic Bow Maker too.  Soooo easy!

I have more cards to share, but will save them for another post.  Thanks for stopping by.  I hope your Thanksgiving was a wonderful time with family and friends, and you had some time to stop and reflect on all that you have to be grateful for. 

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