Celebrating #6

Today marks my 6th anniversary as a demonstrator with Stampin' Up!  Gosh.  Has it really been that long?  I have met some really great friends through this hobby and I am grateful for the chance to spend a little time each week using the right side of my brain being creative. 

When I first signed up as a demonstrator, I did it because I l-o-v-e-d, LOVED the stuff and wanted the demonstrator discount.  It was a time in my life when I was stressed, and I discovered that stamping and creating made the stress disappear while I was in the "Stamping zone."  Then I was asked if I could show someone how to make the cards.  And I became a demonstrator in the technical sense of the word.  Six years down the road and SU has become more than I thought it ever would.  I am grateful for all it continues to bring to me.  Tonight I'm having a little party, with stamping included, to celebrate the day.  We're making 10 cards and eating and chatting...and I can't wait! I'll share those cards with you in the next post.

Today I want to share two projects made with the new felt, stitched, Sweat Pea flowers from the Occasions Mini.  I received these as a gift from SU because I did the work to become certified in the My Digital Studio software.  At first I looked at them and thought, "Hmmmm? Those are...interesting."  They just didn't "speak" to me. Even though I was a little non-plussed by them, I was still happy to have received them.  Then I bought the HUGE (I mean this thing is BIG) pad of DSP papers and there was a piece that I liked and then I had the thought that, "Hey, those felt flowers could work with this!"  And here's the thing, the felt pieces look rather strange as they are photographed in the catalog, but they do make very nice flowers when layered...lookie!

And this was a fast, simple card.  The sentiment is from the Chit Chat rub ons, so there isn't even any stamping on this card.  I really like how it turned out.  I gave this card to a friend, and I hope she likes it.

Then, because I liked the card so much, I found myself in "stitched-flower frenzy." (Picture me bopping in my chair, clapping, trying to decide what to make next!)  All of a sudden, I l-o-v-e-d, LOVED these felt pieces.  So I made a couple more flowers and then used the left over pieces of the DSP from the card and made these!

These are going to be raffle prizes at my next event, a Stamp Camp, on March 20th.  Papers really DO look prettier when they are all clipped together with a pretty flower.  Even bills have a little more appeal! :-)

Now I must go get ready for my party tonight.  Fun, fun, fun!

Thanks for popping in for my anniversary day!

Kristine

Just in CASE cards

For one of the last workshops I did, my mojo just was not in working order.  Do you ever have those times when the creative juices seem to have just dried up?  Poof...not one idea in the head.  So, when that happens to me, I go to my picture files and copy someone else's creativity!  One of my new favorite sites is the Stampin' Addicts.  All the cards are SU only, which is great for my purposes.  Unfortunately, I do not know who designed these cards originally, so if they are your designer, please let me know and I will gladly give you credit!

The first is simple and eye-catching in white and Bermuda bay. The embossing on the middle white strip adds some easy class.  A quick card that can easily change colors and be just as striking.

I really like the look of the SAB free scallop border punch.  I may like it even more since I got it FREE! lol.

Supplies:

Stamps: Picture this (hostess set from the Occasions mini), Backgrounds I texture plate

CS: Shimmer white, Soft suede, Bermuda Bay

Inks: Soft suede and Bermuda bay markers

Tools: Scallop border punch (SAB choice) white jumbo grommet, Bermuda bay polka dot ribbon, paper piercing tool

This next card is sup-a fast.  Glue, layer, waa-laaa!  The Chocolate and pink make a great color combo. This is also the sketch from mojo122 sketch challenge. Love that sketch!

Supplies:

Stamps: Warm words

CS: Chocolate chip, pretty in pink, Sending love DSP

Inks, Chocolate chip

Accessories: Pretty in pink satin ribbon

Tools: Oval Scallop punch, Large and small oval punches

And the final card was a punch art , very cute, kangaroo for the Valentine card.

Isn't she cute!  Each person at the workshop ended up with a different kangaroo just because of the placement of the pieces.  It was fun to watch all the variety!

Supplies:

CS: Whisper white, basic black, real red, creamy caramel

Accessories: real red striped ribbon, natural twine, black brads

Punches: Wide oval, large oval, trip flower, 5-petal, heart to heart, 3/4 circle, word window.

And finally I'd like to share two swaps from my swap ladies.  Thanks Jo Lawrence (1st card) and Ingrid Allen (2nd card). I told them I'd post them, so here they are:

   

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog today. 

Kristine

A few things

I have been a little busy lately.  It's always nice to have workshops! Unlike many in the blogging world, I don't seem to be able to prep for workshops and blog at the same time!  Ah well, "we all have our strengths" as my daughter (a very wise 9 year old) likes to remind me.

I want to share a bunch of things today.  First is something that just made me giggle.  I love to laugh, and this was too cute not to share.  I had a huge order come from Stampin' Up!, and on the top of the largest box is this Caution notice.  I thought, "Gee, I wonder why the caution notice?  Is there something flammable in there?"  Then I took a closer look, and started laughing right there on my porch.  I love the sense of humor!

It's true.  I love getting my deliveries.  I like seeing all the stuff that others have ordered and if the box is full of my stuff, well,... it's just like an extra birthday! 

This card was part of a club workshop.  It is an easy peasy card.  Great way to use up extra scraps of DSP.

I really do like the Well Scripted stamp set.  As a young girl I used to experiment with different types of writing.  Curly, really straight, hearts for an "i", etc.  This reminds me of those times when I wrote with a very curly, flowing writing.  When I was teaching, I noticed lots of girls experimenting with their writing.  Always good to know I'm not alone in a strangish behavior. :-)

The next card is also from the club workshop.  It uses a technique called colorwash batik.  The card design is a direct CASE from Lisa Sommerville.  She uses lots of techniques in her work, and this set, Friendship 24-7 is one of my favorites.  Many times I have wondered what's up with all the birds and butterflies in the SU catalog, but I like this bird. 

It's hard to see in the picture, but the flourish on the left side has an old olive color to it.  Batik is an art form, generally using cloth, in which color is added in steps, using wax to block color from covering an area of cloth already dyed.  So, using watercolor paper, you wash a mix of water, alcohol and reinker to create a color spray.  Spritz the watercolor paper and let dry.  Then, using versamark and clear embossing powder, add an image. The embossing powder acts as the wax.  Then the next color is added--in this case regal rose.  Then the Friendly words wheel is rolled over that using Chocolate chip ink.  You could continue adding images and embossing powder, but I did just the three colors.  When everything is as you like, you melt the embossing powder off using clean copy paper and a craft iron.  The color comes through from underneath and without the shiny embossing, it gives it a really cool look.  But, I warn you, it is a messy technique.  (If you want more specific details on colorwash batik, leave a comment with your email and I'll send some directions to you.)

Here is the same card using Bravo Burgundy and So Saffron.  The bird is stamped once on the oval and then again on a scrap piece and popped up on a dimensional.

The final project I have to share is made by my daughter, Olivia (same wise soul as mentioned above).  When I went back to North Carolina, I picked up this quilting square for her.  This is her first try at sewing.  I think she did great!

 

That's it for now.  I have a few more things to share, but I'll post those separately.  Thanks for popping in today.

Peace.

Kristine

Mojo122 round 2

Just to show how versatile this sketch is, here is a sympathy card with the same sketch as I used yesterday.  Yesterday was bright colors and the sentiment of LIFE.  Today the same sketch brings a somber tone with blues and black.

Unfortunately, this card is for a friend with whom I have sadly lost touch.  I saw her husband's obituary in the paper.  They were one of those couples that were still in love after 40+ years of marriage. If you are of the praying mind, please include Janice in your prayers tonight for peace and acceptance in her heart.

Thanks for stopping in today.

Kristine

MOJO122

When I first started stamping, I came across the Mojo Monday sketches and Julee Tilman.  She's not just a card maker, but has her own line of stamps too.  Crazy talented, she is!  I just don't know how people can keep coming up with different sketches.  Amazing!  When I am short on time, I like to pop over to the mojo site and see what the sketch is.  It is so much easier to put a card together when I don't have to come up with a card layout!  I adore Mary Fish, and this is her sketch.  So, I had to try it.

Here is my take on the sketch.   I got into my new pack of Sweet Pea DSP and picked out some paper. (That pack of paper is huge! Some of my pages now have drool on them.  Purdy stuff.)  Go figure, it's the first time that Crushed Curry has appealed to me.  I had to use my new daisy die cut as well.  The saying is retired, but I really like the sentiment, and it fit the card.  Here's the inside of the card.

Really, Life IS meant to be lived with intention. This I truly believe, and I try to live each day with an awareness and a gratitude toward each moment.  I'm not always successful, but I I'm in there working at it!

As an aside, I watched two movies yesterday.  It's complicated I watched at the theater with my hubby (we were on a date {giggle}) and then in the evening I watched Julie and Julia. Guess I was in a Meryl Streep kinda mood.!  Two very good movies and very different from one another except for the fact that Meryl's character was a foodie in both.  I recommend them both if you have not yet seen them. But the reason I mention this is that in Julie and Julia, the character of Julie writes a blog.  She of course became famous and now has a movie based on her experience with her blog.  How interesting would a movie about a card maker, blogger be? Hmmmm? HEY, WAKE UP!  Yeah, you're right...not so interesting.  Guess I'll have to find my fame elsewhere! :-)

Thanks for popping in to check on me.

Kristine

Supplies: 

Stamps: Live like you mean it (retired)

Ink: Soft Suade

CS: Sweet Pea DSP, Soft Suade, Crushed Curry

Accessories: Pewter Hodgpodge (retired) Fire circle brads, Crushed Curry ribbon

Tools: Big Shot, Nestabilities scallop oval and classic ovals, 3/4" circle punch, Daisy die cut

A Valentine for you

This is a great little Valentine holder.  It's sorta a mini book, note card and treat holder all in one.  I adore things that are versatile (see my other posts to prove this point.) The heart is inked in white craft and then embossed with white embossing powder so it really pops.  It's cute right now, but open it up and....

waa laaa!....there's a little place to put a love/friendship note and another pocket to put a tea bag or maybe some chocolate (Maybe both!). The person I made this for is a tea drinker, so the tea bag works for her.  I used the Sending Love Specialty DSP, so there's a little sparkle on the papers, too. (Yes, this has two of my favorite things--red and sparkle.)  Interesting thought: I hardly ever wear red or bright colors, and the only jewelry I wear is a simple wedding ring, my grandmother's ring and simple earrings.  I'm a pretty neutral gal in real life, but I go for red and bling in my creations. One of the main colors in my house is a deep maroon color. What would Freud say?  hmmmmm?

If your interested in the dimensions and the supplies for this, leave me a comment with your email address and I'll send them to your email.

Thanks for taking the time to see what I've been up to! :-)

Kristine

Black and white and blingy babe!

How does the old joke go?  What's black and white a "red" all over?  A Newspaper! budump-ching! (Sorry...had to get that out of my head.) This card is hopefully more exciting than the newspaper.  The card is for two challenges.  The Saturday Sketch Challenge over at Stamping 411, and The Play Date Cafe Color Challenge which asked for black and white along with silver and gold.

I changed the sketch a bit to make a larger square card .  Here's my interpretation. 

I had a hard time getting the gold in there until I found an old bracelet that my M.I.L. gave me that had fallen apart and made its way into my bling box.  Waaa laaa, some gold! It's hard to see in the picture, but there are crystals in the corners, and the stamped image is done in a mix of black embossing powder and iridescent ice powder, so it shimmers when the card is moved.  My daughter, bling lover like her mother, really liked this card.  It will have to be one that is given in person since the USPS would charge me an arm and leg to send it and then probably crush the stone.  But that's okay, 'cause a card given in person can be given along with the hug!

Thanks for popping in today.

Kristine

Supplies:

Stamps: All Holidays

Inks: Versamark

CS: Night and Day DSP, Whisper White, Brushed Silver

Acc: Black embossing powder, Iridescent Ice embossing powder