RAK's Random Act of Kindness Cards!!!

It's FRIDAY! Yipee! I have a pretty simple post for you today! I've received some super cute 'Thank you' cards in the mail lately from fellow Stampin' Up! Demonstrators and I wanted to share them with you because they are so sweet and inspiring! You can scroll down and Click to place an Order On-Line and also to read about all the Stampin' Up! Promotions and latest information!

Made by: Jill Cichosz

Kind & Caring Thoughts - Level 3 Hostess Stamp Set

Made by: Megan Sajkowicz

With All My Heart Stamp Set - page 47 in IBC

To Place a Stampin' Up! Order On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stampin' Up! News and Promotion Re-Cap:

• From now through August 31st, Hostesses can earn an EXTRA $25 in Hostess Benefits when their workshop or catalog party reaches $350 (or more) in total sales! CLICK HERE to read more!
• This is the last month to place orders from the Summer Mini Catalog! Some of the products in the Mini catalog are in the NEW IBC, but most will retire on August 31st! CLICK HERE to download a copy and begin shopping the Summer Mini Catalog On-Line!
• Want a copy of the NEW Idea Book & Catalog (item # 122202)!?! Just send me an Email and I'll mail one out to you via Priority Flat Rate Envelope! They are $9.95 + $4.90 for Shipping and include a Summer Mini Catalog, Definitively Decorative Brochure, NEW color Chart, Wish List, and a Holiday Mini Catalog (which you can begin ordering from on September 1st).
• Stampin' Pastels (item # 120962) are now available for purchase! These {blendable chalks} are featured on page 194 of the IBC and you can CLICK HERE to find out more!
• Want to RetroFit your Stampin' Up! color collection with just the NEW colors you need? Stampin' Up! is offering several NEW Color Kits so you can update your ink pads, markers, pastels, card stock, etc. with just the colors you need! CLICK HERE to learn more about these exciting new Kits! There's {6} to choose from!
• There's a few Wood-Mount Stamp Sets that didn't get featured in the NEW 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog, CLICK HERE to download a PDF of the Stampin' Up! stamp sets that are still available for purchase! These sets include:
  - For the Bride (item # 113216)
  - Shalom Sayings (item # 111686)
  - Taking Care of Business (item # 115090)
• You can Email Me anytime if you have questions about Stampin' Up! promotions, products, ordering On-Line, becoming a Demonstrator, Hosting a Workshop or Catalog Party, and/or stamping techniques! I'd love to be able to help!

THANK YOU!!
~Kari

Clean and Simple Friday

The weekend it here! Yipee! Have a super quick and easy card for you today based upon the Clean & Simple Stamping Card sketch pictured below!

My color choices were inspired by a color challenge at the Card & Things blog! Their challenge was to use Stampin' Up!'s In Colors: Crushed Curry, Soft Suede and Bermuda Bay!

To start shopping for Stampin' Up! On-Line 24/7, please click here!

Stamps: Chic Boutique (113744), Kind & Caring Thoughts (115324 - Hostess Level 3 set)

Ink: Soft Suede (115657), Crushed Curry (115659)

Card Stock: In Color Textured Assortment (115719), Bermuda Bay (115316), Soft Suede (115318), Whisper White (100730)

Paper: Thoroughly Modern (115673)

Embellishments: 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo Brads (112534)

Punches: 3/16" Corner Rounder (109047), Curly Label (112208)

Finished Size: 4-1/2" x 5-1/2" (A2)

I'm going to keep my post simple today and sign off for now! I'll be back tomorrow with another creation to share with you! Don't forget about my blog candy giveaway!!!

~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

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!


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

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"

Best Wishes ~ CTD64

I was so thrilled when the Color Throwdown crew posted this awesome color challenge using my favorite color combination of all time: Baja Breeze, Basic Black, and Sahara Sand! My home's interior paint colors, decorations, and even my wardrobe are primarily in these three wonderful colors! This will be my first time playing along with this great group of stampers, and I'm looking foward to participating in more of their upcoming challenges! Sadly, Baja Breeze retired from the Stampin' Up! Spring-Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog, but it is still one of my favorite colors and I do hope they bring it back some day! To make this card, I followed the amazing, step-by-step directions posted on the Splitcoaststampers website, this card took me less than a half hour to create!

To order Stampin' Up! products Online 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamps: Wings of Friendship (114308) Hostess Level 2 set, Kind & Caring Thoughts (115324) Hostess Level 3 set

Ink: Basic Black (101179) Baja Breeze (111833)

Cardstock: Sahara Sand (105328), Whisper White (100730) Basic Black Textured (108693), Baja Breeze (111352)

Paper: Urban Garden (112042), Urban Oasis (113978)

Accessories: Vintage Brads (109109), Kraft 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon (109068), Flower Fusion Too (112006)

Punches: Round Tab (108340), Trio Flower (109183), Scallop Edge (112091), 3/16" Corner Rounder (109047)

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Beautiful Butterflies (114507)

Essentials: Sticky Strip (104294), Scoring Blade (104154)

Finished Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"