Vintage Sympathy

The Paper Craft Crew Challenge this week is a sketch challenge. I had a piece of Soho Subway DSP out waiting for the right time to use it to create a vintage card. I'm really going to miss that DSP--and this particular sheet really lends itself to a vintage card.

By accident, I found a way to make Stippled Blossoms "vintage-y." I was showing my friend, Jenny, how two-step stamping works. I first showed her how to use two shades of the same color. Since Jenny loves purples, I started with Perfect Plum as the base and added the flower details in Elegant Eggplant. Then I said, "You can use two different colors, too," and ran off to get a yellow to go with the purples. I meant to grab Daffodil Delight, but I grabbed Crushed Curry instead. Wow! The Crushed Curry base with Elegant Eggplant details was really cool--and very "vintage-y." You'll have to take my word for it, cuz I sent Jenny home with the samples and didn't take picture.

The Soho Subway DSP has Crisp Cantaloupe as a base and Early Espresso as the accents, so I thought I might be able to get a "vintage-y" flower to go with the DSP. 

Here's the Paper Craft Crew Challenge sketch #92:



And here's my vintage card. I fussy cut the smaller flowers and popped them onto the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

(Stamp Sets: Stippled Blossoms, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Inks: Crisp Cantaloupe, Early Espresso; Card Stock: Early Espresso, Crisp Cantaloupe, Very Vanilla; DSP: Soho Subway; Accessories: Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Extra Large Oval Punch, Soft Sueda Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Pearls)

Brightly Colored Many Thanks

I'm turning, once again, to Create with Connie & Mary for inspiration. This week's challenge is a color challenge. For me, it was a little more "challenging" because I've already cleared out my retiring stamp sets to make room for the NEW sets but I don't yet want to use those new sets. So I have only a few choices...well, I have a LOT of choices, but it seems like many few choices!

Here's the color pallet for this week:



and here's my creation. I think these colors are are really bright and cheery. what a pleasant "thank you" card!

(Stamp Set: Mosaic Madness; Inks: Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight; Card Stock: Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White; Accessories: Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder, Mosaic Punch, Bermuda Bay Candy Dots, Bermuda Bay 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon)

 

Work of Art

I wanted to do a quick and easy make and take for my new catalog open house. My guests are going to play with the new Blendabilities markers--and that takes a bit of time. We'll also be making a new In Color sampler, which is simple, but takes a bit of time, too. So I wanted a quick card. I usually do more layers, but I think the new Work of Art stamp set works well for a single layer card. I couldn't do a card without at least one embellishment, so I used the heart stamp from the new Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack with an off-kilter Basic Rhinestone.

I'll be creating something a little more "stepped up" using the Work of Art stamp set in an upcoming blog post. Stay tuned!

(Stamp Set: Work of Art; Inks: Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder, Wild Wasabi, Pool Party, Basic Gray; Card Stock: Whisper White, Calypso Coral; Accessories: Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Basic Rhinestones)

I Think I Can Color!!!

I'm so excited that Stampin' Up will be selling their own line of alcohol markers called Blendabilities. We demonstrators got a sneak peek at them and I ordered a set of Cherry Cobbler and a set of Old Olive. Now that I've had a chance to play with them, I wish I had ordered MORE colors.

Here's my very first attempt. I think it turned out pretty well for an absolute novice at using these markers--especially one who is never satisfied with her coloring. I forgot that you're not supposed to color right up to the line--you need to leave a little room for the color to bleed. But even so, I think this turned out nicely. What do you think?

I also colored the Basic Rhinestones with the darkest Cherry Cobbler marker! Coolio, huh?!

If you'll be at my new catalog open house on Saturday, you'll get to color with these fabulous pens--well before they're available! We just learned that the Blendabilities won't quite be ready when the new catalog goes live on June 2nd. So, you'll just have to wait a little longer. And the wait is well worth it, believe me!!

(Stamp Set: Blended Bloom, Petite Pairs; Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Cherry Cobbler; Blendabilities: Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive; Card Stock: Whisper White, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White; Accessories: Honeycomb Embossing Folder, Whisper White Stitched Grosgrain, Oval Punch, Basic Rhinestones)

Project Life by Stampin' Up

I was so excited to see that Stampin' Up has partnered with the Project Life scrapbooking system. This is a quick way to get all your pictures into a scrapbook--and to use exclusive Stampin' Up colors and designs in the process. 

I never wanted to scrapbook--it just seemed too complicated and time-consuming. But Project Life by Stampin' Up makes it so easy! The hardest part for me was digging out the scads of photos that I had hidden in my closet for that "someday" when I would get around to scrapbooking. And then I realized that most of the pictures I've taken over the last umpteen and a half years are, well, not "scrapbook quality." But I persisted and pulled together a couple of pages so I can show you, my faithful blog readers, and have a couple to show at my open house this week.

Here's what I came up with in less than 30 minutes (not counting the search for appropriate photos).

There's a great board on Pinterest featuring Project Life by Stampin' Up--check it out!

Variations on a Theme

When I was thinking about yesterday's card (yeah, I think about stamping all day....), I thought it might be nice to do one in grunge and one in vintage (which my DD thinks is just grunge with lighter colors).

Today I'm using another sheet of the Soho Subway Designer Series Paper that I love. The DSP has an aged feel to it, so I sponged some Soft Suede onto the Tea Lace Paper Doily to make it have a more vintage look--and so its bright white didn't glare off the card. I added a medallion cut from Early Espresso Core'dinations Specialty Paper (retiring) that I sanded a bit to age it. The sentiment is from the "Hello, Lovely" set (retiring). I stamped it in Early Espresso onto Very Vanilla and then fussy cut it right against the edge of the stamped image.

(Stamp Set: Hello, Lovely; Inks: Soft Suede, Early Espresso; Card Stock: Early Espresso, Crisp Cantaloupe, Very Vanilla; Early Espresso Core'dinations Specialty Paper; DSP: Soho Subway; Accessories: Tea Lace Paper Doily, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Victorian Lace Trim, Linen Thread)

The Not-So-Long Goodbye

It's that in-between time of year on the Stampin' Up calendar. Loads of stamps and accessories are retiring--but they're still current--but they're selling like hotcakes!! And the new items are available to demonstrators on a sneak peek. So I have new stuff I'm dying to play with and retiring stuff that I want to squeeze the last bit of energy out of.

My favorite designer series paper of the Stampin' Up 2013-14 year is Soho Subway. I've been hording that paper because I love it and because I'm always sad when I've used up my favorite DSP. But it's time to let it go and just use it.

I've made a quick, grungy card using the Soho Subway DSP and the Alphabet Press Embossing Folder. I sponged Early Espresso and Island Indigo ink on top of the letters on the embossed panel. I cut the DSP with the Angled Tag Topper Punch, but because I wanted to use the Burlap Trim (cut in half, lengthwise) I needed a bigger hole, so I used one of the hole punches from the Chalk Talk Framelits.  The saying from the Perfect Pennants set is stamped in Early Espresso on a Summer Starfruit (retiring) tag that was also cut from the Chalk Talk Framelits. The star embellishments are cut from one of the many elements in the Circle Card Framelit.

(Stamp Set: Perfect Pennants; Inks: Early Espresso, Island Indigo; Card Stock: Island Indigo, Crisp Cantaloupe, Early Espresso, Summer Starfruit; DSP: Subway Soho; Accessories: Alphabet Press Embossing Folder, Chalk Talk and Circle Card Die Framelits, Burlap Trim, Linen Thread)

Announcing: Creation Station!!

I'm thrilled to announce the launch of a brand new design team/blog hop called CREATION STATION. And I'm super excited to be a part of this awesome team of stampers. I'm actually pretty nervous because many of the design team members are some of my stamping heroes and I can't believe that I've been accepted into this elite group. I'm really going to have to step up my game to keep up!!

If you've come from Ilina Crouse's blog, you know that the Creation Station team is top notch! Aren't her projects wonderful? If you're starting with my blog, just hit the "next" button at the bottom of the post and you'll be able to tour the entire blog hop.

The Creation Station design team will be posting every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. We're going to feature a couple of Stampin' Up stamp sets and one product on our blog hops.  For our inaugural hop, we're featuring the Stippled Blossoms stamp set, the Geometrical Stamp set, and the Tag a Bag boxes.

For my project, I've made a Mother's Day gift set using the Stippled Blossoms stamp set and the Happy Mother's Day stamp from the April Paper Pumpkin. These dahlias inspired my multi-layered flower atop a Tag a Bag box. I stamped eight of the largest flower from the Stippled Blossoms set in Perfect Plum and Elegant Eggplant. Because I knew I would be using each blossom as one petal on my flower and that the back of the paper would show, I brayered the reverse side of the paper in perfect plum.  I shaped the petals by curling them with my bone folder. I cut a small slit at the base of the petal so that I could "cup" them. Once I had two layers of Stippled Blossoms petals, I added two flowers made with the Spiral Flower Originals Die--one Perfect Plum and one Pear Pizzazz--to the center. I popped a Jumbo Rhinestone in the Center.

I made a Pear Pizzazz belly band to wrap around the Tag a Bag box and embossed it with the Fancy Fan Embossing Folder.  I used the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch for the tag and tied it onto the box with Whisper White Organza Ribbon.

Here's a close-up of the flower: 

I made a card to go along with the box to complete the Mother's Day gift set. I fussy cut one flower and popped it up on Stampin' Dimensionals to give the card, well, some dimension.

(Stamp Sets: Stippled Blossoms, Framed Love; Inks: Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Pear Pizzazz; Card Stock: Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White; Accessories: Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Apothecary Accent Framelits)

Here's the complete Mother's Day gift set.

Next up on the blog hop is Cindy Beach. I know you're going to love what Cindy has made!!!

 If you'd like to go back to Ilina's blog, click the back button.

 






 
 

You're Invited to a New Catalog OPEN HOUSE!

You are invited to attend an open house where the NEW Stampin’ Up catalog—and sneak peek products—will be revealed!! The new catalog and new product are super wonderful!!!

This event is FREE to you. Here are the deets.

Attendees will                    

Receive samples of the yummy new 2014-2016 in-color cardstock

                                                  

Create a Make & Take using a new stamp set

                                                 

Color with the new Blendabilities alcohol ink markers

                                                 

See the New Project Life by Stampin’ Up scrapbooking system

The first 8 stampers to RSVP will get a FREE new catalog!!

Bring a friend (new to me) and get a FREE pass for BOTH of you to any of my “events.”

Place a $50 (or more) pre-order (won’t be submitted until June 1^st) and I’ll add a FREE stamp pad to your order.

Schedule a workshop and I’ll add a FREE stamp pad to your order when you hold your workshop.

Where:                 Kathy’s house

                             8521 White Winter Court

                             Ellicott City Maryland 20143

When:                  Saturday May 10 2:00-4:00 (drop in and out at your leisure)

Call (410-480-8166) or email me to let me know you’re coming so I can have everything prepared for you.

Saying Goodbye: Retirement List

(This post will stay at the top of my blog for a while. Scroll down for new content.)

GOING FAST!!! Some items are sold out already!! Click on this link to go the retirement list on my webstore. Remember: These items are only available until they're sold out. When they're gone, they're gone forever!

A Little Something Different--A Scrapbook Page!

I've only made a handful of "real" scrapbook pages in my life. "Real" scrapbooking seems like a bridge too far for me. To do it right, it seems like a lot of work for one page--and you have to make dozens of pages to make an entire book! I've done some digital scrapbooking with Stampin' Up's My Digital Studio. It's a really easy program and the results were fabulous. Still, I'm just not convinced I'm "scrapbooker material." That's why I'm soooo excited by our new product: Project Life by Stampin' Up! Now that's a quick and easy system that I can and will use!

So, with that lead-in, I'm sure you're thinking I'll be presenting you with my first Project Life by Stampin' Up page. Well, you'd be wrong. I have a "real" scrapbook page. But first, a little explanation of why I've actually made a "real" scrapbook page.

Whenever Stampin' Up has an event, they have beautiful displays of cards, scrapbooks, 3D items that stampers from everywhere have made. Seems like half the time I spend at a Stampin' Up event is taking pictures of cards on a display board. Here's a long shot of last year's display board. Can you see what it says? 

This year Stampin' Up has invited demonstrators to apply to be a display board stamper. To enter, you have to create (or collect) three cards, one scrapbook page, and two 3D items. Well, I've been creating and blogging to beat the band this year, so what do I have to lose? I'll just pick a few things and put them on a Pinterest board and {cue screeching tires sound effect} Did they say scrapbook page?! Yikes! 

So I pulled up my big girl panties and I made one. I'm not 100% satisfied with it. But it's done. My DD said it was really cool, but that it looked like it had blood splatters on it. Yeah. I noticed that too, but I was "all in" on the color scheme by that time.

In the end, I decided not to enter. But I may try again if they offer us the chance.

Here's the page. Let me have your feedback. I'd be so appreciative. And I'm looking for constructive criticism here.

(Stamp Sets: Gorgeous Grunge, Perfect Pennants; Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip; Cardstock: 12x12 Crumb Cake base, Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Burlap Trim, Banners Framelits, Arrows Embossing Folder, Circle Card Framelit (for hearts and stars), Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine)

#SUcatalogreveal

If you follow me on Twitter @kkstamps then you'll have already seen these pictures. I thought my blog followers might want to see my tweets from the Stampin' Up catalog premiere. It was a really fun time!

My BFF, Lynn, and I arrived at the movie theater about 45 minutes before the show was to start. The live reveal took place in Long Beach, California, and was broadcast to about 80 theaters in the United States and some in Canada. 

Here are my tweets for posterity. Oh! I'll be tweeting other Stampin' Up news, along with news about my family, and I'll be tweeting live from #SUconvention2014. So please follow me, if you want all the SU deets.

And the excitement builds. #SUcatalogreveal

#SUcatalogreveal check in!!!  

 
#SUcatalogreveal---wrist bands!! Know what that means? PRIZE PATROL! 

#SUcatalogreveal I want this as my screen saver!

#SUcatalogreveal 5 minutes!!!
 
#SUcatalogreveal Heeeeeere's Shelli MSLF!

#SUcatalogreveal 7600 participants country-wide!

#SUcataligreveal I heart Bonnie Thurber!


#SUcatalogreveal OMG fab new in colors (can't share yet). New catalog layout is great!!! 

#SUcatalogreveal Brian Pilling on the big screen in a tux. #livingthedream 

#SUcatalogreveal catalog. Stampin success free stamp set.WOOOOQ

 

#SUcatalogreveal New catty, yo!

 

#SUcatalogreveal here it is!!