A sunset just for you

The art of stamping.  Seems to be making a comeback.  For awhile, the thing to do was create a card with a gazillion layers of card stock. Gosh, a card may not even have stamping on it, but be filled with embossing and designer papers and trinkets.  Nothing wrong with that kind of card. (well, except maybe the extra postage it takes to send it somewhere!)  This card is only two layers and the impact is made with the inks and stamping.

I had to ask my son about making the sunset.  I have really never noticed which direction the colors layer themselves in the night sky at sunset.  Yes, I know the colors of a sunset, but how to recreate it with ink?  My son informed me that his art teacher said, "Dark on top."  So that's what I did.   There is a line under the words Just for you on the actual stamp that I masked before stamping.  I like the top part of the sentiment, but not the teasing tone of the bottom half of the sentiment.  Especially for this card.  I love that with a wee bit of transparent tape I can adjust a stamp to my liking.

Below you can see the glimmer of the card.  I went back over each bunch of flowers with some Dazzling Details and just dotted on a little sparkle. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Serene Silhouettes, Afterthoughts (retired)

Card stock: Whisper White, Night of Navy

Inks: Stazon Black, Night of Navy, Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight

Dazzling details, sponges

Hope you like the card.  Thanks for stopping in!  Special thanks to my followers and subscribers for giving me someone to "talk" to!

Kristine

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

A purple Vroom

Here's a card from my last workshop.

The motorcycle stamp set is retired, but the image is still available in My Digital Studio.  I printed out a bunch of the motorcycles and then ran the image on the cardstock through the Big Shot with the new die. (The name of the die escapes me at the moment!)  (A side note: I am writing this from a  vacation I am on, and do not have my catalog with me. If the names of the items are a wee bit off, that is because my memory is always a wee bit off. Well, let's be honest here...there is more than just my memory that is a wee bit off about me.  However, a tilted personality makes for a unique one! Anyway,  please pardon my mistakes, as I know I will have some!  I'm trying to be brief here.  Successful there, huh! Not. I could look everything up online, but to be honest, I'm too lazy to do that today!!  Hey, I AM on vacation. *smile*)  See how shiny the motorcycle chrome is?  That shine was made using Pearl Ex and Future Floor Wax Finish.  I put the floor finish in an Aqua Painter and then just dip the tip into the Pearl Ex and paint.  Easy and not messy!  The Pearl Ex needs nothing else done to it because the floor finish has acrylic in it and the medium is set as it is applied.  Like I said...easy!  My hostess asked me to demonstrate the Pearl Ex since SU used to sell it, and she had a lot.  Always fun to revisit the past and use something again.  The silver panel of the card is aluminum foil.  Did you guess that?  I know, purdy!  We took heavy duty aluminum foil and cut it to size and ran it through the Big Shot using the new Fan Embossing Folder.  Here's a hint from me, your friend.  Do not apply adhesive to the back of the foil.  Apply it to the cardstock and then press the cardstock to the foil to adhere the foil.  The less you touch the foil, the luckier you'll be in not getting a rip.  We also ran the black strip of cardstock through the Big Shot using another new folder, the Argyle Embossing Folder.  I think it looks like faux leather.  Chrome and leather and a purple motorcycle.  Funny thing, most of the ladies had someone in mind that they wanted to give the card to.  The sentiment on the inside of the card says, "Well-behaved women seldom make history."  So true.  See the paper piercing around the motorcycle? That was done with the new Paper Piercing Pack.  Way cool.  Love the larger size of it.  If you get one new non-stamp thing from the new catalog...that's a great choice.  Don't forget to get the mat.

Okay, my friends, it's back to vacation.  Thanks for the stop in!
Kristine

A love note

Do you get it?  Love notes! HA! The key is the key to the card giver's heart.  Ahhhh...

This card did not come out the way I originally intended, but...well, sometimes a person needs finish what one begins.  The thing that happened with this card was that the black ink was smudging.  It is the new Stampin Up classic ink.  I love that it is black-black, not purple-black. But I was not lovin' that it was smudgin'. It should dry quickly.  Obviously on the textured white cardstock it needed more time. 

I wonder what the music sounds like if the notes were to be played?  It looks like it would be fast. 

This card was for a swap.  I kept the least attractive card for myself.  If you want to see what the other swappers made, click HERE.

Thanks for the stop in.
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

Hello again and Product shares

Hello June?  Where did you go?  Yesterday was my birthday.  I am always startled by the arrival of my birthday.  It is past the middle of the month, and I always wonder where the first weeks of June go?  Since the time I was school-aged, the first two weeks out of class zoom by. 
Z OOOOO MMMM!!  See what I mean!? Fast.  I am also startled by the fact that I am growing older. Anyone else out there ever have the notion that everyone ELSE gets older, but not yourself.  Weird that, I know.

Onward to stamping related information...
I have always offered my customers product shares when new catalogs or minis arrive.  Why have I not put those opportunities up here?  Dunno.  But here they are.

These shares are for ribbon.  In the share you get two yards of each of the new style ribbons.  It is enough to see what you like and make a couple of projects, but not the whole roll.  It is easy to get carried away with ribbon.  This I know.  Love ribbon.  L-o-v-e it!  So think of this as a ribbon buffet.  You get a little taste of all, but you don't walk away bloated. :-)

Share 1:  2012-2014 In Color Ribbon Share
2 yards of each color
3/8" Satin Stitched

Here is how the share will arrive to you:

This share is $10.50

 Share #2:
2 yards each color
1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

This share is $11.75 each

If you are interested in a share, shoot me an email and let me know what you want.  There is no additional shipping to get it to you.  

And some sharing of a different sort.  Here are the gifts my family gave me yesterday.  Roses are from Hubby. Sweet guy he is. 

Olivia set the table "fancy" for my breakfast and lunch.  She makes me smile.  This china belonged to my great aunts.  I knew she was up to something when I heard my china cabinet doors opening and closing before I got out of bed!

The gift they all went in together to get is this beautiful scarf.  I love the colors! It matched perfectly the top I had picked to wear for the day. 



Thanks for stopping in.  Welcome to my new follower, Barbara! I'm glad you have joined me.

Kristine

Did you miss me?

Here I was, plugging along getting a post in not once but twice a week.  It was grand!  Grand, while it lasted.  I have been traveling and hosting for the past two weeks.  I do have a card to share with you though!

Stamps: Wild Rose (retired), Hope Happens (retired)
Cardstock: Pool Party DSP (retired), Gumball Green, Barely Banana (retired), Whisper White
Inks: Daffodil Delight, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz (retired), Gumball Green, Primrose Petals ink mixed with Craft ink and added with a brush.

I made this card for my mom.  She found out last week that she has oral cancer.  Never smoked in her life, but she has the cancer of a smoker.  This is her third battle with cancer.  She had a sarcoma in her Kidney in 2005, then melanoma on her head in 2007, and now carcinoma in her mouth.  She has a good outlook, and her spirit is strong.  She amazes me.  If you are of the mind, a prayer for her would be appreciated.  She is in for some painful surgeries and some blows to her appearance for awhile.

On the good news side of life, my son was honored with an award from his middle school on Wednesday.  His school mascot is the Diamondback (yes, only in Northern Nevada) and they have a education matrix they call S.T.R.I.K.E.  The letters stand for Strength, Tolerance, Responsibility, Knowledge and Empathy.  Thomas was chosen for the honor because the staff at the school feels he exemplified these characteristics for the past three years at the school!  His graduating class is around 600 students, so this is a wonderful thing to be selected among so many. I am such a proud mom! I know he is a wonderful person.  I have been blessed by God with both of my children.

And here is another rascal in my life.  This is my friend's son, Kyle. I think of him as one of my own. He calls me Ne-Ne.  I think that is his attempt at Auntie.  He just turned two.  Lordy I remember the twos.  I will say this...being around a 2 year old when in one's 30s in a heck of a lot easier than doing it in one's 40s!  He's fast. Colleen and Kyle stayed with us for a week.  He adored being with my kids. They adore him, but you know what the best birth control might be for teens?  Put them in a room for a week with a two year old.  Then ask...wouldn't you love to have a two year old around all the time?! (insert menacing laugh here) I love the vagabond beard he has created for himself in this photo.  I know he REALLY enjoyed that ice cream! :-)

And finally, when I came home from my trip, my peony bush greeted me in full glory.  So many luscious blooms that the poor thing was bent to the ground even with a flower ring to support the blooms.  I picked a few to enjoy inside and fill my house with the wonderful scent.

Thanks for sharing some time with me.  You're grand. 

Kristine