Real Red Goodie Gear Simply Created Kit

How cute are these Real Red Goodie Gear bags from Stampin' Up? 

So key-yoot!! And so easy to make. And so inexpensive. The Real Red Goodie Gear Simply Created Kit (132161) is only $4.95 and you get enough elements to make 10 goodie bags. The kit contains die-cut Kraft paper tags, die cut banners, stickers, Bermuda Bay Baker's Twine, and the cellophane bags. The kit coordinates with the "Oh, Goodie!" stamp set (131886 $10.95 for wood; 131889 $8.95 for clear). All you need to add is goodies for the bag. (OK, and you'll need adhesive, too.) I got some inexpensive bags of starlite mints--on sale!--at the grocery store. It took me less than an hour to put together all ten adorable bags.

These real red goodie bags would make great teacher's gifts, sweet gifts for your teen to give her friends at the holiday season, Secret Santa gifts, gifts for co-workers, holiday party favors. You name it.

And there is a Pumpkin Pie Goodie Gear Simply Created Kit, too! (132792) Fill that one up with candy corn or candy pumpkins (oh, how I love those candies!!) and you've got cute favors for your child's elementary school Halloween party. Or give the bags to your Sunday School class. Hey! I know my co-workers would love them, too!

The members of my Christmas card making club are going to get goodie bags as one of their surprise gifts for joining the club. I know they'll love them--and you will, too!

First Three Cards for My Upcoming Christmas Card Class

Following the lead of one of my fave stampers, Lyssa Zwolanek, whom I've mentioned several times in my blog, I'm running a Christmas card making club. I'm designing 3 different Christmas cards each moth and my club members will stamp 4 cards of each design. So, they'll be making 12 cards a month.  We're meeting in August, September, October, and November--and we'll have 48 hand-stamped Christmas cards completed before Thanksgiving!! That's unheard of in my life! I'm going to be stamping along with my club members. Thanks for the terrific idea, Lyssa.

Wanna see the cards? Here are the first three. Don't you wish you were making these, too?

(Stamp Sets: Tag It,Oh Goodie!; Card Stock:  Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler; Inks: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler; Accessories: Stylish Stripes Embossing Folder, Chalk Talk Framelits; Season of Style Designer Washi Tape, Neutrals Buttons; 2-1/2" Circle Punch; Whisper White Twine)

(Stamp Sets: Lovely As A Tree, Petite Pairs, Wood Grain Background; Card Stock: Pool Party, Island Indigo, Very Vanilla; DSP:  Silver Glimmer Paper, Modern Medley and Winter Frost DSP Stack ; Ink: Pool Party, Island Indigo; Accessories: Northern Flurry Embossing Folder, Circles #2 Die, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-1/2" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Ribbon Punch, Basic Rhinestones)

(Stamp Sets: Tags 4 You, Wishing You; Card Stock: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Whisper White: DSP: Season of Style DSP Stack; Accessories: Thinlits Label Card Die, Polka Dot Embossing Folder; Label Bracket Punch; White Stampin' Chalk Marker)

Quick Color Challenge Card

One of my favorite stampers--Lyssa Zwolanek--posts a color challenge every Sunday.  Even though this last-week-before-school has been the most hectic last-week-before-school ever, I played along with Lyssa's challenge.  The three color combinations are

1. Smoky Slate, Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral and Basic Gray
2. Strawberry Slush, Wisteria Wonder, Soft Sky and Elegant Eggplant
3. Blushing Bride, Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo and Smoky Slate

I choose combo #3...and then realized I only had a few scraps of Melon Mambo cardstock. Doh!  I pulled a this card together really quickly.  It's not what I originally had in mind.  I made several creative changes during the process.  In the end, I think it turned into a pretty card--and a really interesting layout.

You can play along with Lyssa, too.  You can find her Song of My Heart Stampers by clicking on the link over there on the right, under stamping blogs I love.  Song of My Heart Stampers is right at the top.  If you play along, send a photo of your card to Lyssa's email address.  Tell her I sent you!

(Stamp Sets: Mixed Bunch, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Card Stock: Blushing Bride, Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Smoky Slate; Inks: Smoky Slate, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay; Accessories: Word Window, Modern Label, and Boho Blossoms Punches, Brights Candy Dots)

It's Here! It's Here! My Paper Pumpkin Is Here!

I took advantage of the super deal on My Paper Pumpkin and subscribed for only $10 for the first two months.   After you read this post, you're going to want to take advantage of this deal, too!!

I got my first My Paper Pumpkin in the mail today.  Everyone gets the same first kit.  Subsequent months have new projects.  Here's what it looks like when it arrives in the mail.

And here's the packaging inside.  I think it looks elegant--like someone has wrapped a wonderful gift for me!

Here's all the fun stuff inside this kit.

The kit contains enough material to make 4 cards.  PLUS in the first kit you get an acrylic block (size D), two high quality Stampin' Up stamps--they are the same quality as the regular clear mount stamps, and one ink spot.  I did some figuring and here's what I came up with.  Block D sells for $8.50; when we carried the ink spots they were 11 spots for $12.95 which comes out to $1.99 per spot.  Conservatively, the two stamps would sell for $4.95.  That's a total of $15.44 in non-consumable product--these are supplies that you get to keep to use over and over again!  And you get paper, envelopes and embellishments to make four cards.  The Simply Sent kits from our current catalog make 8 cards and go for $11.95 and those kits don't have non-consumable product.  You have to purchase the stamps and inks to go with the Simply Sent kits.  I'm tellin' ya:  My Paper Pumpkin at the regular price ($19.99, plus tax--shipping is included!) is a bargain--but at $10 for the first two months--it's like they're giving them away!! You gotta get in on this deal.

Here's the cute card you make when you follow the included instructions:

And here's what you can make with a few extras:

You gotta get in on this deal--and you only have a few days left!! The offer expires on August 31. 

 

Join Paper Pumpkin by August 31 and pay only $10 a month (plus tax)—including shipping—for the first two months! Promotion applies only to the first two months of a new subscription. After the first two months, each month’s kit will be offered at the regular price of $19.95.  Visit mypaperpumpkin.com to join. Click on the “subscribe” button, put 1 in the quantity  box, and use the promotion code PUMPKINDEAL. Don’t forget to enter me (Kathy Kartak) as your demonstrator.

Splitcoast Challenge--Clean and Simple

Last week's Clean and Simple (CAS) challenge was to CASE (copy and steal everything) another Splitcoast Stamper's work.  Since I have so much trouble making clean and simple cards, I thought this was a good opportunity to play along.  It's easy enough to CASE someone else's work.  I do it all the time when I'm fresh out of my own ideas.

The card I CASEd is here.

And here's my version.  I was sooo tempted to add ribbon, but I restrained myself.  I did have to add some bling.  I just couldn't stop myself!

(Stamp Set: Sweet Essentials; Ink:  Strawberry Slush; Card Stock:  Whisper White, Strawberry Slush; DSP:  Quatrefancy Specialty; Accessories: Mosaic Punch, Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder; Basic Rhinestones)

Ain't Nobody Got Time For That!

Ain’t nobody got time to design 48 hand-stamped Christmas cards.

Ain’t nobody got time order all the supplies you’d need to make the cards.

Ain’t nobody got time to drag out all the supplies and sit down and make the cards (and then clean up afterwards).

So I'm going to make it easy-peasy lemon squeezy for you!  I’ve designed 12 different Christmas cards. I’ve prepped all the materials and bought all the supplies. I’ve cleaned my house (well, let’s imagine that’s true) and I have a spot for YOU!!  Take advantage of my design and preparation and make 48 beautifully hand-stamped cards and have them ready to send BEFORE Thanksgiving! All the details are below (with one slight change from the original).

You do got time to get in on this deal…but I need your commitment to join the Hand-Stamped Christmas card club by Monday August 19. Contact me today!

P.S. If you think you ain’t got time for crafting, you should try Paper Pumpkin during  Stampin’ Up’s  sweet deal:  Join Paper Pumpkin now and pay only $10 a month (plus tax)—including shipping—for the first two months! Promotion applies only to the first two months of a new subscription. After the first two months, each month’s kit will be offered at the regular price of $19.95.  Visit mypaperpumpkin.com to join. Click on the “subscribe” button, put 1 in the quantity  box, and use the promotion code PUMPKINDEAL. Don’t forget to enter me (Kathy Kartak) as your demonstrator. Join before August 31, 2013 to take advantage of this deal!

Hand Stamped Christmas Card Club:  Want to create hand-stamped Christmas cards but don’t feel like you have the time to make them and don’t feel investing in the stamps, ink, paper, and embellishments?  Then this is the perfect, short-term club commitment for YOU!  We will be meeting at my house once a month during August, September, October and November to create 12 Christmas cards each month—4 each of three designs—for a grand total of 48 beautiful holiday cards at the end of the four sessions.  I will be designing a variety of styles and color schemes so there will be something for everyone.

We will be using AMAZING new products from the 2013 Holiday Catalog! There is some amazingly cool stuff in there, like silver foil papers, new embossing folders and Big Shot dies, new double-sided  papers, snazzy new ribbons and embellishments, new Thinlits, and of course, lots and lots of new stamp sets!  We’ll also be using some stamps from the Annual Catalog and Carry-Over List.

Our club sessions will be at my house from 1:00-5:00 PM. The dates are August 31st, September 28th, October 26th, and November 23^rd.   Cost is just $15 per person per month for the four month commitment*, $60 total. If you pay in full at the first meeting, I will throw in a package of notecards and envelopes totally free and you can stamp those to match each month!!  (Why would I throw in envelopes—I always include them with my events!)  Add $20 to your check and you’ll get a SNAIL adhesive and three refills, so you don’t even have to remember to bring your adhesive—how awesome is that?? Snail will be available individually at regular price ($7.00 for the snail, $4.50 for a refill) at each club meeting as well. 

 If you’d like to join me in being prepared in advance this year for the holidays, be all done with your cards before Thanksgiving, and have a fun stampin’ afternoon out once a month, call or email me today to reserve your spot!  

kkstamper@comcast.net (410) 480-8166 

The DEADLINE TO RSVP is Monday, August 19^th.

*by signing up, you agree to pay the full $60 fee and to attend all 4 sessions;

I must have 5 committed stampers by the deadline for the club to happen.

 PS--PLEASE FORWARD THIS LINKTO YOUR FRIENDS!! If one of them RSVP’s, I will have a gift for you both at the first club! : ) 

 PSS—if you have a prior commitment for one or more of the sessions, but still really want to participate, let me know! 

PSSS—need more than 48 Christmas cards total? Consider signing up for two spots! You won’t be able to get them all finished in one session, but you could do all the stamping and prep work and then assemble at home at your leisure.

Happy Birthday To My Wonderful Twins!

I can't believe that it was 14 years ago that my beautiful Becky and wonderful Alex were born!  What a surprise to find out I was pregnant!  What a shock to find out it was twins!  We had no idea what would hit this family when Robbie wished for a brother or a sister and got BOTH!  Of course, we couldn't imagine our lives without them.  Becky and Alex will start high school this year--what an exciting time in their lives.

To celebrate their birthday, I created this page using My Digital Studio (MDS).  It's a snap to bring together a digital layout.  I've honestly found MDS to be the easiest digital scrapbooking software to use.  And I love that it has all the Stampin' Up colors and papers and embellishments. 

Happy Birthday Alex and Becky!  Mama loves you very very very very much!

Hello Again!

Here's a simple card made with the "You're Amazing" set.  I was going for neutral colors because I wanted to use the Crumb Cake Seam Binding I had on hand.  I love that stuff!  I originally had a panel of crumb cake, but it lacked that somethin'-somethin'.  So I cut out the balloons--one stamped "full strength" and the other stamped as a "second generation" so it comes out just a tad lighter.  I had a piece of DSP from the Sweater Weather pack sitting on my desk turned to the yellow plaid side.  I flipped it over and found a subtle dotty piece of Soft Sky DSP--and it already had a bit of distressing on it!  Yay!  I think the Soft Sky makes the card POP and I like the way it refers to the sky in which the balloons are floating--and come to think of it, the Fancy Fold Embossing Folder resembles clouds.  How about that? I accidentally pulled a theme together!

(Stamp Sets:  You're Amazing, Lacy & Lovely; Ink:  Early Espresso;  Card Stock: Basic Black, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake; DSP:  Sweater Weather; Accessories:  Fancy Folder Embossing Folder, Crumb Cake Seam Binding)

Don't forget about Stampin’ Up's sweet deal for Paper Pumpkin:  Join Paper Pumpkin now and pay only $10 a month (plus tax, where applicable)—including shipping—for the first two months! Promotion applies only to the first two months of a new subscription. After the first two months, each month’s kit will be offered at the regular price of $19.95.  Visit mypaperpumpkin.com to join. Click on the “subscribe” button, put 1 in the quantity  box, and use the promotion code PUMPKINDEAL. Don’t forget to enter me (Kathy Kartak) as your demonstrator. Join before August 31, 2013 to take advantage of this deal!

Hello There!

I'm still playing around with my Thinlits Label Card Die.  I was poking around in my stack of Epic Day This & That DSP and found an awesome piece that I didn't remember was in there!  I love it when that happens!  My new favorite color combination is gray and yellow.  I really like Summer Starfruit and Basic Gray, but this DSP uses Daffodil Delight with Basic Gray, and that suits me just fine.

I got the "You're Amazing" stamp set at Convention last year and I haven't used it much.  I adore that elephant, but I could never come up with an idea to use him, try as I might.  The Epic Day This & That DSP started calling to me and my elephant and here's what I came up with.  I like the way the honeycomb embossing plays off the hexagons in the DSP, which has a "global" feel to me.  I'm pretty pleased with how this all came together.  What do you think?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

(Stamp Sets:  You're Amazing, Timeless Talk;  Inks:  Basic Gray, Island Indigo; DSP:  Epic Day This & That; Card Stock:  Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, Smokey Slate; Accessories:  Thinlits Label Card Die, Word Window and Modern Label Punches; Antique Brads, Basic Gray 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon; Honeycomb Embossing Folder)

It's a Fab Friday Color Challenge!

The design team over at the Fab Friday Challenge blog have come up with another color challenge.  This time the challenge is

I knew right away what I wanted to do when I saw these colors, but I had a little trouble with the final design.  I hadn't used the Ovals Collection Framelits before and I was hoping that the largest plain oval would fit right inside the large scalloped oval.  Well, it doesn't.  The large scalloped oval is ginormous IMHO and so there was too much crumb cake showing.  I cut down the stamped image and used a mat of pistachio pudding.  That helped, but a girl can still wish the ovals fit together without such a big gap.  Oh well.

Here's my creation for the Fab Friday Color Challenge #24.

(Stamp Sets:  Wildflower Meadow, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Ink: Crumb Cake; Markers: So Saffron, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding; Card Stock:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Crumb Cake, Pistachio Pudding, So Saffron, Whisper White; Accessories:  Perfect Polka Dots and Wildflower Meadow Embossing Folders; Ovals Collection Framelits; Modern Label and Word Window Punches; Crumb Cake Seam Binding; Basic Pearls)

Timeless Talk

I bought the "Timeless Talk" stamp set to use for my swap cards at this year's Stampin' Up Convention.  This set can either be "very vintage" or clean and modern.  I think it's very versatile.  I love the sayings in the set and the little bubble that makes the element seem like it's talking.  So cute.  In clear mount, this set (126607) is a bargain:  7 stamps for only $16.95!

I only brought a few supplies with me on vacation, so I've been having my very own "limited supplies" challenge all week.  Fortunately, I brought a sponge with me so could sponge the stamped image and greeting to tone down the whisper white and make the card more vintage-y.   Here's the card I made with my limited supplies...turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself.

(Stamp Set:  Timeless Talk; Ink:  Island Indigo; Card Stock:  Summer Starfruit, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla; DSP:  Soho Subway; Accessories:  Word Window, Modern Label, and 1" Square Punches, Naturals Designer Buttons, Early Espresso Bakers Twine)

Christmas Card Making Club Now Forming!

Want to create hand-stamped Christmas cards but don’t feel like you have the time to make them and don’t feel investing in the stamps, ink, paper, and embellishments?  Then this is the perfect, short-term club commitment for YOU!  We will be meeting at my house once a month during August, September, October and November to create 12 Christmas cards each month—4 each of three designs—for a grand total of 48 beautiful holiday cards at the end of the four sessions.  I will be designing a variety of styles and color schemes so there will be something for everyone.

We will be using AMAZING new products from the 2013 Holiday Catalog! There is some amazingly cool stuff in there, like silver foil papers, new embossing folders and Big Shot dies, new double-sided  papers, snazzy new ribbons and embellishments, new Thinlits, and of course, lots and lots of new stamp sets!  We’ll also be using some stamps from the Annual Catalog and Carry-Over List.

Our club sessions will be at my house from 1:00-5:00 PM. The dates are August 31st, September 28th, October 26th, and November 23^rd.   Cost is just $15 per person per month for the four month commitment*, $60 total. If you pay in full at the first meeting, I will throw in a package of envelopes totally free and you can stamp those to match each month!!  Add $20 to your check and you’ll get a SNAIL adhesive and three refills, so you don’t even have to remember to bring your adhesive—how awesome is that?? Snail will be available individually at regular price ($7.00 for the snail, $4.50 for a refill) at each club meeting as well. 

 If you’d like to join me in being prepared in advance this year for the holidays, be all done with your cards before Thanksgiving, and have a fun stampin’ afternoon out once a month, call or email me today to reserve your spot!  

kkstamper@comcast.net (410) 480-8166 

The DEADLINE TO RSVP is Monday, August 19^th.

*by signing up, you agree to pay the full $60 fee and to attend all 4 sessions;

I must have 5 committed stampers by the deadline for the club to happen.

 PS--PLEASE FORWARD THIS LINKTO YOUR FRIENDS!! If one of them RSVP’s, I will have a gift for you both at the first club! : ) 

 PSS—if you have a prior commitment for one or more of the sessions, but still really want to participate, let me know! 

PSSS—need more than 48 Christmas cards total? Consider signing up for two spots! You won’t be able to get them all finished in one session, but you could do all the stamping and prep work and then assemble at home at your leisure.