Happy Moments! New SAB set!

The Color Throwdown blog did it again - another BEAUTIFUL color challenge! Baja Breeze and Certainly Celery two of my favorite SU colors, paired with Elegant Eggplant - it's just too much fun!

I wanted to share with you my Happy Birthday card that I made for the CTD color challenge and the Stampin' Royalty sketch challenge! I stamped my little bird cage from the Happy Moments SAB stamp set in Elegant Eggplant ink - then colored in the frame of the cage with Certainly Celery Ink and blender pens! I changed around a few things on the sketch - I tied my ribbon at the top instead! I wanted to keep this card simple since I honestly think the colors are just so pretty together as is!

It's so sad Baja Breeze retired last year! Anytime there are color challenges that use this wonderful shade of blue - I'm so thrilled to get my old supplies out and play along! The patterned paper I used is also retired, it's the Urban Garden DSP! But some fun news is that I did get try the new SU punch format (click here for more information) and the new Scallop Trim Border Punch, which you can get for FREE with a $50 order! The new punches are so great and easy to store! This is great for all of you that love organization!

To Shop for Stampin' Up! On-Line, CLICK HERE!

Stamps: Happy Moments (118664 - SAB)
Ink: Elegant Eggplant (105210), Certainly Celery (105217)
Card Stock: Elegant Eggplant (105216), Certainly Celery (105125), Whisper White (100730), Baja Breeze (Retired)
Paper: Urban Garden (Retired)
Punches: Scallop Trim Border (118402 - SAB)

Embellishments: Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (109025), Linen Thread (104199), Sherbet Buttons (116312)

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder (117335)

Just Us Girls....a card swap!

For several years now, my friends at church and I have been doing card swaps! We each make 25 cards and trade! I usually make 2 sets of {25} and I this time I wanted to share with you the cards I made for our first swap of 2010! My first set (pictured above) is my masculine set - since we always need those right!?! For those great men in our lives! I made 'Happy Birthday' cards using the Well Scripted set I just got from the the Occasions Mini Catalog! I LOVE the font of this stamp set - it's SO pretty! I stamped it on Very Vanilla card stock and punched it out with the Wide Oval Punch! The scallop background it's layered on top of is a tag from the Lots of Tags Sizzlits 4-Pack dies!

My other set also uses the Well Scripted stamp set and says Wonderful Mother! I thought these cards could work for many occasions such as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or Birthday! The layout of these cards is from a Mojo sketch a few weeks back! I love layering so this was fun!

To Shop for Stampin' Up On-Line, CLICK HERE!

Stamps: Well Scripted (117072)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908), Bravo Burgundy (105214)

Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Whisper White (100730)

Embellishments: Silver Brads (104336)

Punches: Wide Oval (112082), Photo Corners (109042), Eyelet Border (113692), Trio Flower (109183), 1-3/8" Circle (104401)

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Lots of Tags (114508)

It's the Most Wonderful Time of Year!

It's the most wonderful time of the year! That song is stuck in my head as I write this post! Hehe! But it's true, I do think Sale-A-Bration (SAB) is the best time of the Stampin' year! FREE STAMPS!

I don't have a card or project to share with you today, just some fun information on SAB so you can make the most of this great SU promotion! Now is the best time to stock up on goodies and supplies you may need since you earn a FREE item from the SAB brochure or catalog for EVERY $50 purchase! For example, if your order is $150 - you earn 3 SAB items PLUS the free hostess set and benefits too! Yipee! To start shopping now, CLICK HERE!

The sets this year are cuter than ever and with the addition of the free catalog items (see page 11 of the brochure), I totally think this truly is the best SAB ever! Thank you Stampin' Up!

I signed up to be a SU demonstrator during SAB six years ago (February 2004)! Whoa! Time flies! But this year the deal is even sweater for those stampers who would like to join my Essentials team! The starter kit is 15% off PLUS you get a FREE stamp set from the IBC valued at $47.95! WOW! I'd love to have you join SU as a demonstrator, and you can quickly and easily sign-up on my website by clicking here and you'll need to enter a password, which is: signupwithkarilinder

For those of you who read my blog regularily, I added some new features! The link to the right for the Big Shot has a new photo and a great PDF you can download if you're interested in some more information on this fabulous tool (I use mine ALL the time)! I'm also working on collecting some sweet sentiments from my friends & customers and adding those under a section called 'Simply Said'. Thank you Rachel, Becky and Meghann for writing such kind and thoughtful things! I'm also selling a few of my cards online in my Etsy shop, and a link to my store has been added to the left side bar as well! Last but not least, at the very top of my blog, there's a link and photo of the stamp set, I {Heart} Hearts, which benefits the Haiti Disaster Relief effort!

I hope to post some cards using the SAB sets soon! Tonight I'm going bowling - 80's style, so until next time, have a fantastic Friday! Thank you!
Hugs,

Kari

Cards for Texas Children's Hospital

Oh how I love making a difference! I found a fellow card making enthusiast, Winter and her blog Winter Wonderland, she is organizing a Valentine's Day Card Drive for Texas Children's Hospital! I was able to send a few cards to her to be given to the sweet kiddos in the hospital and/or their families! Here are a few pictures of the cards I sent (sorry the color/lighting of my picture didn't turn out quite right)!

The whole batch:

A close up:

Here were some of the guidelines for the card drive:
* Cards need to be a Valentine theme.

* Cards can't have anything about 'Get Well Soon', 'Feel Better', or anything reminding the kids of being sick. (Only Valentine Cards).

* Cards for any gender or age.

* Cards must be able to fit into a 4-1/2" X 5-3/4" envelope.

Isn't this fun?!? I'm so blessed to be able to be apart of this! My cards were sent yesterday and I've been praying all week for the kids - that they'd feel loved and happy! Can't wait till Winter posts an update on her blog!

Stampin' Essentials Tips:

• Each card said 'Happy Valentine's Day' on the front using a stamp from the Stampin' Up! Teeny Tiny Wishes set stamped in Certainly Celery Ink!
• I used non-traditional Valentine's Day colors - just to be different and to look springy!
• My card base was 4" x 5-1/2" of textured card stock
• The Heart and Wings was a Sizzix die I used with my Big Shot cut out of lavendar textured card stock

I'm hoping to be apart of more card drives in the future, so I'll make sure and give you all the heads up so that YOU can be involved too! But in the meantime, here are a few ways that you can make a difference through Stampin' Up!:

• For every 'I {Heart} Hearts' stamp set sold, Stampin' Up! will donate $2 to the Haiti Disaster Relief effort! For more information, please click here!
• For every 'Very Thankful' stamp set sold, Stampin' Up! will donate $2 to the Ronald McDonald House Charites! There are 3 RMHC houses in Oregon so I personally love purchasing this set each year! Stampin' Up! designs a new set for the RMHC every year and I can't wait for it's release each year in July! For cards I've made with the Very Thankful set, please click here! For more information, click here!

To Shop For Stampin' Up! products On-Line, 24/7, please click here!

I hope you join me in making a difference! Every little bit helps!
Blessings,
~Kari

Round or Square?

The Mojo Sketch gave us two options this week, round or square! I chose square, along with a fun new color challenge, Curtain Call Act 14! Oh boy, was this a challenge for me to use these colors together! They look so pretty together, but WOW it was a struggle for me, but I hope it turned out okay! It was about time I made a baby boy card! Girl cards just SEEM so much easier! Hehe!

Hopefully I'll have time this week to try the round layout as well! Scallop Circle die! Whoohoo! This was a fun sketch and I liked moving things around! I played with using flowers versus buttons, but landed on buttons! The boat from the Stampin' Up! Nursery Necessities set inspired me and I made my own with punches rather than stamping the image and cutting it out! My 'Boat' is made with the 1-3/4" Circle Punch (cut in half) and the 'Sails' are triangles I cut out after punching squares with the 1-3/8" Square Punch!

To shop for Stampin' Up! goodies On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamps: Nursery Necessities (113506)

Ink: Bashful Blue (105209)

Card Stock: Bashful Blue (105120), Almost Amethyst (102158), Orchid Opulence (100969), Whisper White (100730), Soft Subtles Textured (108695)

Paper: Bashful Blue DSP (112151)

Embellishments: Silver Brads 104336), 5/16" Jumbo Brads (112534), Linen Thread (104199), Sherbet Buttons (116312)

Punches: Scallop Edge (112091), Modern Label (116630), Word Window (105090), 3/16" Corner Rounder (109047), 1-3/4" Circle (112004), 1-3/8" Square (103375), Star (109045)

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate (114512)

Finished Size: 5-1/4" Square

Essentials: Whisper White Square Envelopes (107289)

Have a Wonderful Wednesday,
~Kari~

The Happiest Business in the World!

I don't know who Anne S. Eaton is, but I REALLY like this quote! The happiest business in the world is that of making FRIENDS! I love it! This stamp is from the Stampin' Up! Friends 24-7 set (it's on page 100 of the IBC - in case you wanted to check it out)! It is quickly becoming one of my favorite stamp sets! So I had to use it on a couple challenges I played along with! The Color Throwdown blog had a great color challenge of Old Olive, So Saffron, and Melon Mambo! I just used a hint of Melon Mambo - it's on the 24-7 (attached with a library clip!).

The card sketch layout I used was posted at the Sweet Stop blog! Their sketch challenge had a spin and that was to use a sentiment as the main focal point!

Stampin' Essentials Tips:

• Distressing was a fun part of making this card! I crumpled up the Old Olive DSP and the Very Vanilla card stock - even tearing it a bit to achieve the distressed look!
• I stamped the fleur-dis-le in So Saffron ink, off to the side. Then stamped my sentiment in Old Olive ink in the center!
• My three little silver brads in the corner were lined up just so with my Mat Pack and Paper-piercing tool! The template is the best and I use it all the time!
• I attached my big green button with glue dots and tied my bow with Linen Thread - it almost looks like a sew, right!?!

To Shop for the fun SU supplies used to make this project, please click here!

Stamps: Friends 24-7 (113218)
Ink: Old Olive (102277), So Saffron (105213), Melon Mambo (115656)
Card Stock: Old Olive (100702), So Saffron (105118), Very Vanilla (101650)
Paper: Old Olive DSP (112160)
Embellishments: Silver Brads (104336), Clips Assortment (112580), Playground Buttons (116313), Linen Thread (104199)
Finished Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

I hope you have a terrific Tuesday!
Hugs, Kari

Music expresses that which can't be said

Good Morning! Just wanted to say a quick CONGRATS to my dear friend Natalie S. who placed her SU order from my site last night (ya for shopping 24/7) and earned a free SAB set! I love when my friends get stamping goodies for free! Yah Natalie! Hehe! =)

So I played along with a few blog challenges including Mercy's Tuesday sketch and the Color Dare color challenge! The colors are SU's Old Olive, Only Orange (which I swaped for Pumpkin Pie), Chocolate Chip and Brocade Blue! I modified the sketch just a little bit to include the sentiment at the top since it had to be there, right!?!

Stampin' Essentials Tips:

• I used my Blender pens and ink pads to color in the different images with colors! I don't have all the SU markers so using my Blender pens, I can achieve any color with this set of three markers for only $9.95! I pooled color on the ink pad lid (or you can use re-inkers) and used the Blender pen to grab some color and start coloring! I love doing this because I feel like a real artist!
• My background paper comes from the Thoroughly Modern DSP pack and is actually Soft Suede, but it was so pretty and swirly I thought it went along with my stamped image just fine!
• The Music word on the sentiment is actually colored with Brocade Blue ink! I first stamped the whole stamp in Chocolate Chip, used a Blender pen to remove the ink from Music, then used my Blender pen again to add Brocade Blue ink! Good thing these pens are Dual-Tipped and come in a 3-pack! =)

Don't forget it's Sale-A-Bration, earn a free stamp set from the Brochure or catalog by placing an order of $50 or more! Earn a free item for every $50 and bonus freebies for $300! Click on the brochure in the right side bar to download your copy of the brochure!

To Shop for SU On-Line 24/7, please CLICK HERE!

Stamps: Music Expressions (113718)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908), Brocade Blue (101102), Old Olive (102277), Pumpkin Pie (105216
Card Stock: Old Olive (100702), Chocolate Chip (102128), Pumpkin Pie (105117), Whisper White (100730)
Paper: Thoroughly Modern (115673), Old Olive DSP (112160)
Embellishments: Silver Brads (104336), Clips Assortment (112580)
Essentials: Blender Pens (102845)
Punches: Scallop Edge (112091)

Have a great Monday!
Hugs, Kari

Merci Beaucoup

The weekend is here! Yipee! I have another fun creation to share with you today! I just love the color combination from the Play Date Cafe color challenge!! Bravo Burgundy and Bermuda Bay are a fantastic, elegant duo! The card sketch is from the Cupcake Craft challenge and I just love square card layouts since I can add so many more goodies to my card!

• My card base was cut from Basic Black card stock to 5-1/4" x 10-1/2", scored and folded in half to make a 5-1/4" square card!
• The Bermuday Bay double-side DSP was the perfect back drop for my card, then I flipped the leftover paper over and cut out a scallop circle with my Big Shot!
• Then I took another piece of Basic Black card stock and embossed it with my Finial Press folder - honestly my favorite! This folder is great since the impression is so clear and crisp! The pattern is so elegant too!
• I stamped my Eiffel Tower in Basic Black ink and colored in some of the circles with my Bermuda Bay marker! The brush tip is my favorite! The Stampin' Up! markers are the best since they are dual tipped and come in all the SU colors! Plus this year they are now offering a 6-pack of the In Colors (including Bermuda Bay)!

To Shop On-Line for the Stampin' Up! products used to make this card, please CLICK HERE!

Stamps: Chic Boutique (113744), Gratuitous Graffiti (111636)
Ink: Basic Black (101179), Bravo Burgundy (105214), Bermuda Bay Marker (116329)
Card Stock: Basic Black (102851), Whisper White (100730), Bravo Burgundy (105123)
Paper: Bermuda Bay DSP (115684)
Punches: Photo Corners (109042), Boho Blossoms (110711), Curly Label (112208)
Embellishments: 5/16" Jumbo Brads (112534)
Tools: Big Shot (113439), Finial Press (115963), Scallop Circle #2 (113469)

If you have any questions at all during ordering or about SU products, please email me!

Have a wonderful Saturday!
Hugs, Kari

Thinking of You....

Ummmm, so this card didn't quite work out as I had planned - does anyone else of those days? Where the creativity just doesn't flow??? That's how I feel about this card - but oh well! That's why I love stamping because it's fun and doesn't have to be perfect all the time!! Right?? I wish I could tie bows better - any suggestions? I'd love any and all helpful comments!

I played along with some new blog challenges over at the Just Us Girls color challenge and the Card Positioning Systems sketch challenge! The color challenge was to make a project using the colors: Bravo Burgundy, Blush Blossom, Very Vanilla, and Basic Gray!














Stampin' Essentials Tips:

• I love the font from the Stampin' Up! Kind & Caring Thoughts Hostess Level 3 set! It's so beautiful and part on my blog header too! I simply stamped this sentiment in Basic Gray ink on the Very Vanilla card stock.
• The bottom part of my card is the Blush Blossom card stock and I added some texture to it with my Big Shot and Perfect Details Texturz Plates! I like to add a few pieces of cardboard as a shim so that the texture comes out more prominent!
• My ribbon was tied using the Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon! This ribbon is so easy to work with, I really love how elegant and timeless it looks! Stampin' Up! offers this ribbon in 8 colors!
• Then for my finishing touch, I inked the edges of the card stock! Super easy, but a great way to distress card stock.

To shop for SU products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamps: Upsy Daisy (111710), Kind & Caring Thoughts (115324, Level 3 Hostess set)
Ink: Blush Blossom (102609), Bravo Burgundy (105214), Basic Gray (109120)
Card Stock: Basic Gray (108692), Very Vanilla (101650), Blush Blossom (103318), Bravo Burgundy (105123)
Embellishements: Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon (109064), Basic Gray Corduroy Buttons (114345), Bravo Burgundy Grosgrain Ribbon (109028)
Tools: Big Shot (113439), Perfect Details Textuz Plates (115962)
Finished Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" (A2)

You can make a difference through Stampin' Up! and the Haitian Disaster Relief click here for more information on how to get involved! I hope you'll join me in this FUN endeavor, I'm totally thrilled about it!

Blessings,
Kari

Technique Thursday: Ink to Paper

I'm so excited about Stampin' Up!'s announcement regarding the Haitian Disaster Relief and how we stampers can get involoved! It totally blesses me and inspires me that we can make a difference! I've been in a super good mood ever since I read about their $2 contribution for every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set sold - either clear mount or wood mount! I love it and can't wait to order mine!!! If you do order the clear mount stamp set, the coordinating clear block size is: D.

Okay, so onto today's card, the Stampin' Royalty blog posted a fun challenge: a Single Layer project! Not as easy as it sounds! But my Manhattan Embossing folder is so pretty by itself, that I thought it'd be perfect for this challenge!

Stampin' Essentials Tips:

• The technique I used on this is a pretty simple one, it's called ink to paper! After I embossed the card front with the Manhattan Flower, I turned my Baja Breeze ink pad upside down and applied it directly to the card.
• Obviously the raised, embossed parts of the flower will catch the ink first so I moved my ink pad in several directions to get ink all over the card! This technique is great because you can be a little messy - but it still looks good!
• Then I stamped my sentiment from the Upsy Daisy stamp set in Chocolate Chip ink in the top right hand corner since there was the perfect amount of blank space for some sweet words!
• A touch of 1/4" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon around the top of the card adds just the right amount of embellishement in my opinion!
• I miss the retired color Baja Breeze SO much (it retired in 2009)! I just had to use it on this project! I think the color is just so beautiful! Be sure to check back later this week because I'll be posting more cards using my favorite Stampin' Up! color: Baja Breeze!
• The Manhattan Flower embossing folder is perfectly sized for a standard size A2 card front. It measures 4-1/2" x 5-3/4". These are my favorite texture folders since they leave such a deep impression and turn out really beautiful! Plus it's a steal of a deal for only $7.95!

To Shop for Stampin' Up! On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamps: Upsy Daisy (111710)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908), Baja Breeze (retired)
Card Stock: Whisper White (100730)
Embellishments: 1/4" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon (111367)
Tools: Big Shot (113439) Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder (114517)
Finished Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

SU Haitian Disaster Relief

I'm so excited to share with you what Stampin' Up! is doing to make a difference in the Haitian Disaster Relief! Stampin′ Up! and it's demonstrators have a long history of making a difference in the lives of others--especially when disaster strikes and the need is greatest. So here is the plan on how YOU can get involved with making a difference!

From now until February 28, 2010, $2 from every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set you buy will be donated to the American Red Cross’ Haiti Relief and Development Fund. The Red Cross is already well-established in Haiti, and this money will be used to provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.
This includes both the wood mount and clear mount stamp sets and can be combined with other products on your order! Here are the product numbers for ordering:

I {Heart} Hearts Clear Mount - Item # (118571) - for $18.95
I {Heart} Hearts Wood Mount - Item # (117010) - for $26.95

To order Stampin' Up! On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

I hope you join me in making a difference! I'm so excited about this opportunity!

Here for You, Clean and Simple Style!

This is my first time playing along with the Clean & Simple (FTL#74) card sketch! This was super fun, plus I also incorporated the color challenge from the Colour Q blog! I think these colors are super bright and cheery together! I busted out a new stamp set that I haven't ever used before! The Stampin' Up! Greenhouse Garden set is a very pretty 2-Step Stampin' set!

Stampin' Essentials Tips:

To distress the paper, I just crumpled it up, recrumpled it and bended the corners! Very easy! So I might be just a little bit paticular about my flowers so I ended up lining everyting up with my stamp-a-ma-jig! The stems are stamped in Bravo Burgundy Classic Ink, but they almost look brown, huh? To add just a little touch of embellishments, I used a wire clip and tied some grosgrain ribbon through the top! Super easy and simple! My sentiment is from the Friends 24-7 stamp set (I just love the vintage look of this font), then I stamped it in Melon Mambo ink!

To Shop for Stampin' Up! On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamps: Greenhouse Garden (113824), Friends 24-7 (113218)

Ink: Bravo Burgundy (105214), Pretty in Pink (101301), Pumpkin Pie (105216), Melon Mambo (115656)

Card Stock: Whisper White (100730), Melon Mambo Textured (115719)

Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade (115675)

Embellishments: Bravo Burgundy 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (109028), Clips Assortment (112580)
Essentials: Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049, Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Happy Mother's Day

Hello! Happy Tuesday to you! I had so much fun playing along with the MOJO sketch this week! It was a beauty designed by a fellow demonstrator! How cool is that!?! Then I also played along with the Color Dare and used their colors from their challenge: Melon Mambo, Barely Banana, and Garden Green! So.... guess what? I couldn't find any of my Barely Banana card stock for the life of me! I hunted all throughout my stash and couldn't find it, then I remembered I used it all for a make-n-take at my last workshop! Oh boy! So I had to improvise a bit on the yellow and use So Saffron! But I do think it worked out alright! Then I incorporated a butterfly on my card from the challenge at the Flutter By Wednesdays blog!

This year I just had to get a new personalized stamp, so I opted for the new Stampin' Up! Butterfly 'hand stamped by' stamp (115602). For only $18.95, this was a fantastic investment for a super cute stamp! If you'd like your own or have questions about ordering one, please email me and I can help! Unfortunately these can't be ordered directly from my SU site, but I can place the order for you if you email me! Don't forget it's Sale-A-Bration time and that means FREE stamps for every $50 order!

Here's the Mojo122 sketch:

To Shop for Stampin' Up On-Line, CLICK HERE!

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)

Ink: Melon Mambo (115656)

Card Stock: So Saffron (105118), Garden Green (102584), Melon Mambo (115320, Whisper White (100730)

Paper: Melon Mambo DSP (115687)

Embellishments: 5/1/6" Jumbo Neutral Brads (112534), Whisper White Organza Ribbon (114319)

Punches: Scallop Oval (114889), Modern Label (116630), Word Window (105090), Boho Blossoms (110711), Scallop Edge (112091), 3/16" Corner Rounder (109047)

Tools: Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439), Perfect Details (115962), Backgrounds 1 (114512), Beautiful Butterflies (114507)


Stampin' Essentials Tips:

Texture, Texture, Texture! Oh yes how I love my Big Shot and Texture Plates! They take plain card stock and make them simply gorgeous! I used the Perfect Details Texturz Plates for the Garden Green card stock piece and also the So Saffron larger layer of the Butterfly! Then on the Melon Mambo smaller butterfly, I used the small dots from the Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates! An alternative to this, would be the NEW Perfect Polka Dot Textured Impressions Folder (117335) from the Occasions Mini Catalog! I can't wait to order mine! This new die measures 4-1/2" x 5-3/4" and is perfectly sized for embossing a standard A2 card front! My little green flower for the body of my butterfly is from the Boho Blossoms punch on page 187 of the Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog! This great punch punches out 3 different sized flowers at once! Love it! And of course there's a coordinating stamp set, One of a Kind on page 130 of the IBC! Then I added a 5/16" Whisper White brad in the center of the flower! These great brads come in an assortment of Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Whisper White (which I used), and Silver! There are approximately 80 brads, 20 each of 4 colors in the container! Woohoo!


Tomorrow is the last day for my BLOG CANDY! Have fun!! =)
Hugs, Kari

Sharing in Your Sorrow

I made this sympathy card since it's just how I felt this week! My great-aunt Cele passed away this past week and it was just a difficult week with all the events in Haiti as well. Feeling kinda blue, but clinging to the truth that all things work out for good since we serve an awesome God! The Crazy 4 Challenges blog posted a great card sketch which I tried to follow! Hehe! I did modify it a bit, but kept my card pretty simple! The Our Creative Corner blog posted a color challenge of blues and greens, which just happen to be two of my favorite colors!

Stampin' Essentials Tips:

I love the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set on page 52 of the SU Idea Book & Catalog! It's a beautiful set of 8 stamps for $25.95! My favorite stamp in the set is the tree! The branches just make me happy! It reminds of the verse in John, that He is the vine and we are the branches! I stamped the tree in Soft Suede ink on Whisper White cardstock and matted it on Soft Suede textured card stock and then another layer of Bordering Blue card stock! The Soft Suede Polka-Dot ribbon is so great! I kept it simple (in a straight line) and adhered it to the back of the Navy DSP, which is found in the Patterns Pack DSP III - a Level 1 Hostess set! You can earn this pack of paper FREE with a $150 order! Then I stamped my sentiment in Night of Navy ink and punched it out with the Scallop Oval punch! The finishing touches were the two white buttons in the top corner tied with Linen Thread! Viola! =)

To Shop for Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers (113252)

Ink: Soft Suede (115657), Night of Navy (102977)

Card Stock: Bordering Blue (102265), Whisper White (100730), Soft Suede Textured (115719)

Paper: Patterns Pack III DSP (116234, Level 1 Hostess set)

Embellishments: Soft Suede 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115612), Button Latte (114333), Linen Thread (104199)

Punches: Scallop Oval (114889)

Essentials: Mini Glue Dots (103683)
Finished Size: 5-1/4" Square

Happy Birthday Princess

Happy Saturday! I made this birthday card for several fun challenges, including a new blog, Stampin' Royalty (doesn't it go perfectly with my princess theme!?!). My sketch was from the Taylored Expressions sketch challenge and The Pink Elephant blog had a challenge to make a birthday card and the Cupcake Craft blog had a challenge to make it Girly! So I had fun making this a girly birthday card with great SU colors and fabulous sketch!

Stampin' Essentials Tips:

My crown is from the SU Princess Party kit and it works perfectly with these colors since it's Pale Plum! I matted two crowns together so that it has some depth! Then I added Clear Rhinestone brads at the top of each point! I love that the Stampin' Up! package of brads comes with over 80 brads in 3 sizes, so I put the largest sized brad at the top with 2 medium sized brads on the sides! My white border at the bottom of the card is from the Curly Label punch, I just punched out two labels, and cut them in half and layered them behind the DSP. The Elegant Eggplant rick rack ribbon adds a fun touch as well! Then in the bottom left hand corner (to follow the sketch) I added all three sized brads!

To Shop for Stampin ' Up! products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Stamps: Princess Time (116720)
Ink: Elegant Eggplant (105210)
Card Stock: Elegant Eggplant (105126), Whisper White (100730)
Paper: Princess Party Kit (115525), Cottage Wall (115671), Rich Razzleberry DSP (115685)
Embellishments: Clear Rhinestone Brads (113144), Orchard Ribbon Originals (116232)
Punches: Curly Label (112208)
Finished Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

Birthday Celebrations

Yeehaw! Today's my mom's birthday and although I already sent her card off, I wanted to share another card I made!!! The colors were a fantastic combination from the Color Throwdown blog, the sketch was another beauty from Mercy, and the Pink Elephant and the Crazy 4 Challenges blogs both had a theme of making a birthday card!!! So fun!

Here's Mercy's Tuesday sketch with I modified just a bit for this card!

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Stamps: Trendy Trees (113258), Upsy Daisy (111710)

Ink: Garden Green (102272), Mellow Moss (102774), Rich Razzleberry (115658)

Card Stock: Whisper White (100730), Rich Razzleberry (115316), Garden Green (102584)

Paper: Patterns Pack III DSP (116234, Level 1 Hostess Set)

Embellishments: Rich Razzleberry 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115613), 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo Brads (112534)

Punches: Scallop Edge (112091), Scallop Oval (114889), Large Oval (107305), Boho Blossoms (110711)

Tools: Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049)

Finished Size: 5-1/4" Square

Essentials: Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Sticky Strip (104294), Whisper White Square Envelope (107289)

Have a Terrific Thursday!!! Don't forget about my BLOG CANDY!

~Kari

Here for you!

Color Challenge and a Card Sketch, it doesn't get much better than that! Oh how I love challenges! Here's another great Mojo sketch and the colors for the Colour Q challenge were super! I honestly think every color looks beautiful with Basic Gray! So very chic and stylish!

Stampin' Essentials Tips:

Oh this was a fun card to make! I love the colors and the sketch was great too! I started out stamping the flower in Basic Gray ink, then coloring it in with Pumpking Pie and Certainly Celery ink! Then for the sentiment I first stamped the fleur-de-lis in Certainly Celery ink, then stamped the sentiment on top in Basic Gray ink. Then using my 1-1/4" circle punch, I punched it out and layered it on Basic Gray card stock and a Certainly Celery scallop circle!

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Stamps: Friends 24-7 (113218)

Ink: Basic Gray (109120), Certainly Celery (105217), Pumpkin Pie (105216)

Card Stock: Basic Gray (108692), Whisper White (100730), Certainly Celery (105125), Pumpkin Pie (105117)

Paper: Certainly Celery DSP (112154)

Embellishments: Pumpkin Pie Corduroy Buttons (114342)

Punches: 1-1/4" Circle (104403), 1-3/8" Circle (104401), Scallop Circle (109043), Scallop Edge (112091)

Tools: Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439), Elegant Bouquet (115964)

Don't forget about my BLOG CANDY! Click here for more details! Offer ends 1/20/10.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

Hugs, Kari

Happy Birthday Mom!

My mom's birthday is this Thursday, January 14th and I made this card for her! My mom really likes sleek, elegant things with a flair of contemporary so I'm hoping she likes this clean and simple design. She's an interior designer and has a great eye for color and she really likes dark gray since it pretty much goes with every color, and of course she likes birds, bird cages, topiary trees, etc!

The Crazy 4 Challenges blog had a Birthday challenge this week, the Play Date Cafe had a wonderful color challenge, and the Pink Elephant blog had a great card sketch (which I flipped for this card). I had fun creating this card with these challenges in mind! They totally inspire me!

Don't forget my blog candy! There's still time to get entered in the drawing for some fabulous idea books! For more details, please click here!

Texture, texture, texture! I used three different texture plates and folders to add some subtle sophistication to this card! The Finial Press Embossing Folder is totally my favorite! I've used it on so many projects lately, I truly love it! Plus, polka-dot texture plates are awesome! Polka-dots make me happy, especially the small dots patterns! Stampin' Up! has a new Perfect Polka Dots Textured Folder! It's definitely on my must have list! It's on page 35 of the new Occasions Mini Catalog! You can view and/or download a copy by clicking here!

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Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)

Ink: Basic Gray (103274)

Card Stock: Whisper White (100730), Basic Gray (108692), Basic Black (102851), Crushed Curry (115319), Neutrals 12x12 Textured (108693)

Tools: Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439), Finial Press (115963), Backgrounds 1 (114512), Birds & Branches (114529), 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch (109047)
Finished Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday!!!

Hugs,

Kari

Praying for You...

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes yesterday! I had a very relaxing day with my parent's up in Anacortes, WA! We watched football, went on a long walk, read, watched movies, and just had a great time! I'll be heading home tomorrow (back to Oregon) so today I'm enjoying the luxury of relaxing and enjoying the beautiful Pudget Sound (they live on the water)!!!
I'm offering my first ever blog candy and if you'd like more information about yesterday's post, please click here! Oh and some more fun news??? I made the Top 5 at the Taylored Expressions blog for my baby card last week! WhooHoo! Click here to check it out! That sure made my day!!!
Wanted to share with you this 'Praying for You' card I made for the PPA24 sketch challenge and also for the Colour Q color challenge! I love both of these blogs - they have wonderful challenges and the ladies are just so sweet! I fell in love with the color combination of Basic Gray, Bashful Blue, and Whisper White! Oh my, they just look so elegant together!

Stampin' Essentials Tips:

My flower comes from the Level 3 Hostess Set, Kind & Caring Thoughts! I first stamped the whole flower in Bashful Blue ink, then using my blender pen, I removed the color from the stem. I pooled some color from my Basic Gray ink pad on the lid and used my blender pen to color back the stem using the Basic gray ink! The layered piece of Whisper White behind the flower is textured using the Finial Press Texture folder! This texture folder is soon becoming a favorite of mine! I lined up the brads in a row using my Mat Pack and template! The pretty Bashful Blue paper is from the Patterns Designer Series Paper! It's double-sided, which I love! Stampin' Up! offers this DSP in 14 different colors including all 6 of the new In Colors! Oh how I want every color!


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Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers (113252), Kind & Caring Thoughts (115324, Level 3 Hostess Set)
Ink: Basic Gray (109120), Bashful Blue (105209)
Card Stock: Basic Gray (108692), Whisper White (100730)
Paper: Bashful Blue DSP (112151)
Embellishments: Vintage Brads (109109), Whisper White Organza Ribbon (114319)
Tools: Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439), Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (115963), Mat Pack (105826), Paper-Piercing Tool (116631)
Finished Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"