Friday, May 29, 2015

It's That Time of Year

#stampinup   A time for graduations and a time for retiring the 2013-2015 In Color collection.

When I saw this week's sketch at the CAS(E) This Sketch challenge blog, I immediately knew that I would use the "Work of Art" stamp set. I need to make graduation cards, so I also pulled out the "B.Y.O.P." set for the sentiment. The only trouble was I needed two sentiments to complete the sketch and the "B.Y.O.P" set didn't have what I needed....so, I also grabbed the "Celebrate Today" set. Funny fact: When I first started stamping a million years ago, it never occurred to me that I could use more than one stamp set on the same card! Silly me!



I also wanted to use some Coastal Cabana paper and Pistachio Pudding ink before they retire in a few days. All good things must come to an end and I'm sad to see the 2013-2015 In Colors retiring. I'm exciting about the new 2015-2017 In Colors--especially with the way they coordinate with the 2014-2016 In Colors.

I started with a Whisper White panel and used my Stamp-a-ma-Jig to line up the zigzag on the left in Coastal Cabana and then the zigzag on the right in Pistachio Pudding. Both the "B.Y.O.P." and "Celebrate Today sets are photopolymer, so you can see through them for perfect placement.

Next, I used the Chevron Embossing Folder to emboss the top of the Whisper White panel. I tied a length of Coastal Cabana Thick Baker's Twine (retiring) around the card and adhered everything to a Coastal Cabana card base. It's just that simple. Now, which grad will get this card?


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103683s
[103683]
$4.95

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Bloomin' Nacho

#stampinup  It's spring, even though it feels like summer already, and it's time to bring out our bright colors. Today, my card is based on this sketch at the Nacho Average Challenges blog.



I started with a piece of Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper, but abandoned that idea rather quickly when I couldn't get a good color match. So, I switched tack and began again with a Pacific Point card base that I'd embossed with the Large Polka Dot Embossing folder.

Next, I made a bright flower using the "Flower Patch" stamp set and matching "Flower Fair" Framelits. The largest flower is stamped in Daffodil Delight. The middle flower is stamped in Tangerine Tango. And the smallest flower is stamped in Melon Mambo. I piled the flower parts on top of each other and adhered them with Stampin' Dimensionals.

The tag is made from a 2" strip of Tangerine Tango card stock that I punched with the Scalloped Top Label Punch and rounded the corners with the Project Life Corner Punch.

Finally, I stamped the sentiment from the "Flower Patch" set in Melon Mambo on a Whisper White scrap and punched it out with the Large Oval Punch. I attached this with Stampin' Dimensionals. 

I think the simple design and the bright colors are a real WOW!


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Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Pass on Random Acts of Kindness

The three day weekend has gotten me a bit discombobulated. I usually make two cards on Tuesday because I attend Bible class on Wednesday nights and I get home late and don't have time. But Tuesday seemed like a Monday and I plum forgot to make two cards.

So here I am, late again, but still taking a few creative minutes. Fortunately for me--and perhaps for you, my dear readers--my stamping friend Lydia gave me a great idea! On her blog, Understand Blue, Lydia tells the story of a clerk at a grocery store who was especially kind to her in the wake of all the devastating flooding in the Austin, Texas, area. Lydia is fine (thank goodness), but the clerk actively sought to find out that she was fine. Who does that?! Read Lydia's blog entry for the full story.

Lydia invited her blog followers to pass that kindness back to Damian (the clerk) and asked us to make cards to send to him. What a wonderful idea!

I grabbed the "Kinda Eclectic" stamp set because I really like the sentiment "A little kindness goes a long way," which seems appropriate here. I used the sheet of "Adventure Bound Designer Series Paper Stack" that looks like bricks as my background. I stamped the sentiment and embossed it in Whisper White. I think it looks like graffiti on a wall. I backed this with an Early Espresso mat, but thought it was too plain, so I added a length of Early Espresso 1/4" Cotton Ribbon. I hope that doesn't throw off the masculine feel, but the card just needed something. I adhered this to a Cajun Craze card base.

My card is all set to go to Damian to thank him for his act of kindness to my friend. I'm sure he's kind to everyone he runs across. People like Damian remind us of the good in this world!


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129053s
[129053]
$29.95

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Paper Pumpkin May 2015: Birthday Bundle

#stampinup  When you see this month's Paper Pumpkin kit, I know you're going to want to subscribe! And now is a great time to sign up because you'll get 50% off the first two months* when you subscribe by June 10th.


https://mypaperpumpkin.com/en/















*The Fine Print:
  • For new subscribers only.
  • Available for month-to-month subscriptions, not prepaid subscriptions.
  • Discount applied to one kit per month for the first two months of a new subscription. After the first two months, the price for each month's kit will go to the regular price: $19.95 (+ tax)
  • Visit PaperPumpkin.com to join.Don't forget to add me (Kathy Kartak) as your demonstrator!
  • Enter the Promo Code, SAVE50 when you sign up.
  • New subscribers must join by Wednesday, June 10, 2015; 11:50 PM (MT). 
When my Paper Pumpkin kit arrives, I usually make one according to the instructions and then I make another stepped up version. This time, I made all the cards (six!) and the gift bags (four!) in one sitting. I wanted to see if 30 minutes was enough time to do everything--and it is! I had fun making these projects and now I'm ready for the next time my kids spring a birthday party on me at the last minute!


So, I guess you want to see the project, huh? Here's the card and matching envelope made "according to instructions." I love this "happy birthday" stamp!!

(May 2015 Paper Pumpkin: "Birthday Bundle")
And if you think that's totes adorbs (and you must!) look at this matching gift bag! I took the picture at an angle so that you can see it's gusseted. And there are a couple variations on the card--I moved the circle with the sentiment to the left side on one card and I made the other card vertical.


(May 2015 Paper Pumpkin: "Birthday Bundle")
Watch this video to see EVERYTHING in the kit--all the Paper Pumpkins come with LOADS of supplies and see how quick and easy it is to assemble the kit. I know you'll want to take advantage of this offer today!




Monday, May 25, 2015

Card Parts Potpourri

#stampinup  I've been doing a bit of rearranging in my stamping room. I've been setting aside stuff that I'm going to sell at a scrapbook and stamping yard sale in the fall. I've been pulling out all the retiring items (boo!) and adding stuff from the new catalog (yay!). 

Plus, I've re-done the lighting in my room. I had an old 5-headed hydra light fixture that was great because I could swing the lights down to my cards to take picture of them. But it was so old, the plastic shields were melted and disintegrating. I got a new floor fixture with shelves and a single spotlight. I thought that would do the trick, but I was wrong! The floor fixture's light is very subdued and the spotlight is really bright. I've been getting funky shadows. 

So, I bought a matching floor fixture and another spotlight. But I had to rearrange some things (well, practically everything) in the room in order to fit the lights in next to my dresser/photo area. Things were going really well, until I realized that I couldn't pull out the drawer of the dresser once I'd move it a foot to the right. My Big Shot station was in the way. Ugh. I had to move some rolling carts and the Big Shot table. It was like one of those square puzzles with the one square missing. I had to give up one of my carts to fit everything in....and now I need to rearrange the stuff in the drawers in the carts. Most of the stuff is just junk that I want to get rid of, but that's a chore for another day.

Needless to say, after all that furniture assembling and moving, I was pretty tired. And my creative juices were all dried up. I stared at some online challenges, but none of them were calling my name. I picked up a few card parts from my desk and started playing round with them...and I surprised myself with what I came up with! The only "new" thing on this card is the Rose Red card base. Everything else was on my desk!!

I love it when a plan, or in this case, a potpourri of card parts, comes together!!


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