A Splendiferous Day

This is a quick card that I made while trying to finish SOMETHING before my little darling got up from his nap. (Rolling eyes - he was doing a lot less sleeping and a lot more playing!) While I'm not sure that I'm crazy about the doodling around the outside of the card, I still think it turned out okay. This is a procrastination card, in that I made it while procrastinating for an upcoming swap. :) NEED to do them this weekend!

I used my A Muse sentiment, Mimi's Big Blooms, and Little Pieces to make this card. My color inspiration was this FAB ribbon (AC) - Old Olive, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, and Marigold Morning. I Cuttlebugged the Olive layer with my Bloom Dots folder, and added the silver brads. The Rose flower is elevated on Dimensionals, as is the Little Pieces stamp.

There might be more uploads this weekend, but I'll tell ya to have a good weekend, just in case! :)

xox,
k

Whole Lotta Love

This gal with the heart was one of those images that I had colored a long time ago, and never used in anything, but kept it with my Basic Gray Blush paper for all this time. It was getting on my nerves keeping it, so I decided to finally use it!

The ribbon is American Crafts. Other paper used is Very Vanilla and WCP (watercolor paper). I used my White Gel Pen to color in the top of her dress, and various ink pads to watercolor her and the heart.

Hope you like her!

Blog *candy* Update: I'm SO enjoying all of your comments and suggestions for the Blog *candy* name! BTW, a few of you are getting confused by what I want to "rename" - NOT the blog itself or the banner, just the Blog *candy* name. And you don't have to have a blog, either, as long as I have your name, and you can check back to find out if you've won, I can get your yummy package to you!

Happy Thinking!!! ;)

xox,
k

Drum Roll Please...

ETA: The winner was chosen, and she is KOstvig for writing Naptime Nuggets. See And the Winner Is... post for more info!

Okay, here is the Blog *candy* that I have been talking about! I finally was able to pull together what I think is a pretty desirable package. What I'm offering is two packages of Doodlebug Design Inc. Cute Clips - one in a birthday assortment and one in a baby assortment, two packages of American Crafts Elements Metalgrams - one in black capital sans and one in silver lowercase serif, an EK Success Multi-Stamp in 12 Thinking of You phrases, an assortment of American Crafts Greenhouse Flowers - in various sizes, colors, and styles, a hand-stamped card created by Me (seen in this post), AND a Stampin' Up! unmounted Bitty Blossoms background stamp (no longer available!). Is that worth playing for??? I hope so - so here's the deal...

Everyone has an adorable Blog *candy* name (Jen has Tarts, Julie has Truffles, etc...), and I've racked my brain trying to think something original with no such luck, SO there is the contest... Whoever comes up with the most creative Blog *candy* name will win IT! And yes, it is subjective, but after all, it IS my contest! {grin}

I will read each one and decide by April 4th. That gives you a week to be thinking and commenting. There is no limit for how many times you can play. So lay 'em on me! :) Help me celebrate over 10,000 hits and over 100 subscriptions!!!

I Shore Do!

Could this little guy BE any cuter??? (Said in total Chandler from Friends voice.) I have so much fun coloring in these new Whipper Snapper stamps! I was inspired for the color combination by some Crate Paper, but didn't end up even using it! LOL My favorite part of this card is the big glob of sunscreen on his nose (courtesy of my White Gel Pen)! Hope he brightens up your day a bit! :)

Deets -
Stamps - Whipper Snapper mouse, Crab and Company (sentiment)
Paper - Turquoise, Celery, Rust, Olive, WCP, Caribbean, Transparency (top circle layer)
Ink - Brown Stazon, and numerous others for watercoloring
Misc. - Cuttlebug (Bubble folder), Circle Punches, Michael's ribbon, Basic Gray fiber, QuicKutz corner die, White Gel Pen

xox,
k

Card of the Week (3-26-07)

Happy Monday! I'm glad that you're back to check out this week's Card of the Week! This one is actually a sympathy card, and there's a reason for that, but, thankfully, not a serious reason. I have a lot of customers who have a great need for sympathy cards, and ask for them all the time. Also, I like to have a few on hand, in the hopes that I won't actually need them!

This one uses a very popular set, Heartfelt Thanks, and a newer set in this year's catalog, called Close as a Memory. I stamped the main image and tag on Shimmer White cardstock, and the sentiment is stamped on a transparency with White Stazon. The black brad was made with embossing powder. (See this post.)

Here are the specs...
Paper:
Lovely Lilac - card base and 3 1/2 x 2 1/4 (pierce left edge)
Basic Black - 2 3/4 x 3 and 1 1/8 x 2 1/8
Going Grey - 4 1/8 x 5 3/8
Shimmer White - 2 7/8 x 2 5/8 (pierce right edge) and scrap for tag
Transparency - 2 1/4 x 2
Ink:
Basic Black, White Stazon, Markers - Grey and Lilac
Accessories:
Black Embossing Powder
Heat Gun
3/4 Circle Punch
Silver Cord
White Wide Organdy
Tool Kit
Dimensionals
1/16 Circle Punch

Okay, now you're ready to get started! Start by stamping your main image, using the 2 step stamping process. (I stamped off with the solid flower stamp.) Next, stamp the "sympathy" sentiment with Black over the flower stem, and stamp the other sentiment on the transparency, in the lower right hand corner. Lastly, stamp one of the flowers from the Close as a Memory set, that you inked with the Lilac marker, and punch it out with the larger circle punch. Add the black brad, and hang it from the tied ribbon with the Silver cord. Now just layer as shown, and you're done!

Hope that that was a bit clearer than mud! My dear sweet husband (insert slight sarcasm here) is bugging me to finish, so I'm slightly distracted! Let me know if you have questions!

Happy Stamping!

xox,
k

Blogger RAK from Jana!

Look at what I received in the mail Saturday!!! This wonderful card is from a very sweet fellow blogger, named Jana (my sister's name, by the way!).

She stamped the whale on Shimmer White paper, so it's extra pretty. The background is iridescent, and looks like bubbles.

Thank you so much, Jana!

Blush Blooms

No, there is no Blush Blossom ink or cardstock on this card, but I did use one of the newer lines of patterned paper from Basic Gray, Blush. The "blooms" are from the new Spring Mini set Big Blooms (courtesy of my friend, Mimi:)). We were just playing around the other night, and I thought that these flowers would look good with this paper, so...voila!

I stamped the flowers with Pretty in Pink, More Mustard, and Rose Red, spritzed them with Sage Shadow and Rose Markers, cut them out, and elevated them on the PP (patterned paper) with Glue Dots and Dimensionals. The card base is Rose, and all of the brads are from my Antique Brass HPH (Hodgepodge Hardware) collection.

The sentiment is from the previous Mini, called Carte Postale, and says "Merci". It is stamped in Chocolate Chip, and mounted on the nesting Chocolate and Sage ovals that fold around the card. Then I just added the ribbon! Pretty quick and easy!

I'm praying I feel better by tomorrow morning, but I'm going to Regionals either way! :) Have a great weekend!

xox,
k

No Peeking

How stinkin' cute is this little guy, with his little eye peeking out from between his fingers!!! I so love him! Anywho, just a little card that I made last night, while my friend Mimi was over. The stamp is one of my new Whipper Snapper stamps. So fun to watercolor!

This patterned paper is from the Magnolia line from My Mind's Eye. It's very yummy. I used my Cuttlebug for the slider, and cut it out of the backside of one of the patterned papers in the line. It's very similar to Pumpkin Pie. The little "flower" that is popped up with the Not Quite Navy brad is from Little Pieces, and I watercolored the Circle of Friendship sentiment with the Bordering Blue ink pad.

Specs:

Paper - Not Quite Navy, WCP (watercolor paper), Magnolia

Ink - Pumpkin Pie, Jet Black Stazon, and lots of others to watercolor

Accessories - Ribbon (not sure of the brand), Cuttlebug, Brad, Dimensional

Hope you like it! Only 2 more days till Regionals! Yeah!

xox, K

So What Do Ya Think???

Well...isn't it WONDERFUL!?! I love my new banner - Beth did a super job, and I couldn't be happier with it! Also, I'll concur with all of the reviews of Beth that I read, and say that she certainly DOES work with you, to get you exactly what you want. I asked her to make several changes, and she was awesome with each one. She even added it to my blog herself!!! Check her out at Fun Freckled Designs.
Let me know what you think!!! :)

Some News

No, I have not forgotten about the Blog "candy", but I haven't decided on a wonderful gift yet. I DO know what the contest will be, though! I'm looking forward to celebrating my 10, 000 mark with you! More on that later, though...

Super awesome customized blog banner coming soon, courtesy of Beth Silaika! Stay tuned for the unveiling! :)

I am now the proud owner of several Whipper Snapper stamps, that I am SO excited to use. (Should be watercoloring as I speak - umm, I mean type.) So watch out for some new creations!

Now to go make some new creations! :)

xox

I Hope You Dance

Meet Bellarina. Isn't she lovely with her spaw-kly slippers and tutu???

This started out as a Sketch Challenge card, but I finally had to give that up! LOL It just WASN'T going to work!

Anywho, the sentiment is from Inkadinkado, and says "Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels...Faith Whittlesey". I thought that that was absolutely PERFECT for a Bella! The music notes stamp is from Rubber Stampede.

Here's some specifics...the bottom of the Pixie layer is Cuttlebugged with the Bloom Dots folder, the sentiment is stamped on a transparency and a bit elevated off the Pixie CS, and her "foot" is cut out of the larger main image piece.

More specific specifics...
Paper - Pretty in Pink, Pixie Pink, Lovely Lilac, Garden Green (to match the ribbon), WCP (watercolor paper), and transparency
Ink - Pixie and Black Stazon

Acc. - Heidi and Prima flowers (the new ones with the "stamens"), Michael's ribbon, "Enjoy" Making Memories "doo dad", Cuttlebug, Stickles, and $1 Store rhinestones.

Hope you like her, and I hope you dance! (Reference 90's country song of an artist who's name I can't remember.)

Card of the Week (3/19/07)

Happy Monday, it's Card of the Week time! This is another Bundle of Joy card, this time, also using other Spring Mini sets called That's Nice and Polka Dots & Paisley. I wasn't sure that this card was going to happen today, as I'm not feeling too well (eating a piece of toast as I write!), but here it is!

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Deets:

Paper: Tempting Turquoise (card base), Regal Rose (3 3/4 x 5), So Saffron (2 1/2 x 2 1/8), WW (2 1/4 x 1 3/4), Old Olive (2 3/8 x 1 7/8), Petals and Paisley Designer Paper (stripy - 3/8 x 5 & flower - 2 x 5)

Ink: Black Stazon, Olive, Markers - Regal, Olive, Turq.

Etc...: Hodgepodge Hardware, Ribbon, Spritzer, Sponge Dauber, Dimensionals

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Start out with stamping the bear and giraffe, and cutting them out. For the giraffe, I stamped it on two patterned papers, and "cut and pasted" him together. His "hair" is ruffled, and their heads are elevated for some dimension. Next, ink up the sentiment stamp, and stamp! This piece, as well as the patterned paper are spritzed and their edges are sponged with the dauber in Olive ink. Layer the sentiment on the Olive. Last, stamp the bkgd on the Saffron from the Polka Dots and Paisley set, and layer the bear and giraffe.

The rest is just assembly! Just use the pic as your guide!

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Hope you enjoy it! I love the animals in the patterned paper - saves on the watercoloring! :)

Happy Stamping! :)

Mirror, Mirror

And what girl DOESN'T need a "spaw-kly" Regal Rose blowdryer???

I know that I use the phase "I SO love..." a LOT, but I'm quite passionate about the things that I love, and want to tell y'all 'bout it!!! This frame is da Bomb!!! Fits most of the Bellas perfectly, plus a plethora of other stamps! AND, I heart the ribbon! The pink ric rac has the sweetest texture (AC, of course). The black wide organdy is new, too (SU), and you have to fiddle with it a bit, but it makes a dramatic statement on a card.

Meet Dryabella. At first I thought, cute, but what in the world would I do with THAT one??? Well, you know I can find a use or two for a stamp! lol I thought of all kinds of sentiments, after I put my mind to it - like this one! :) It is from A Muse, and says "good friends never go out of style".

I loved this Bella with this frame (also found at Stamping Bella - see site links), because it reminded me of a looking in a mirror. I watercolored the scallops with the Regal ink pad, and added some Stickles to the blowdryer.

For paper - Pretty in Pink, WW, and BB.
For ink - Black Stazon, and various ink pads to color
For chotchskis, etc... - Ribbon, Tool Kit, $1 Store "bling", Stickles, ummm...think that's it! :)

Have a great weekend!!!

XOX

ETA: The frame comes from Stamping Bella as well - check it out here!

Air Mail

I made this card playing with another new sentiment from A Muse and another neglected set, By Air. I specifically got this sentiment so that I can use this set!

The plane and sign are masked, so that I could stamp/sponge some clouds. It was a pretty quick card, and I'm fairly happy with the results. I gotta love the ribbon, anyway! :)

Paper - Real Red, Sahara Sand, Mellow Moss, and WW
Ink - Bashful Blue, Sahara, Real Red, and Markers (Regal and Sahara)
Other things - Red Brad, Mellow Eyelet, AC Ribbon, Tool Kit

It'll make a good "just because" card for my hubby! :)

XOX

ETA: The cloud stamp is included in the By Air set. :)

Worm Wishes

I so loved coloring this stamp! She, of course, is a Bella (Stacyfishabella), the small oval is from A Muse (see links on sidebar), and the sentiment is from Bugs and Kisses. It says "sending worm wishes". The celery background is (hard to see) embossed with my Cuttlebug and a Fiskers Texture Plate that has bugs, frogs, and worms on it - really cute.

I stamped the Bella and masked her feet (with a sticky note) to stamp the oval on top, in order to "ground" her. I used Watercolor paper - my personal favorite to watercolor on with Timber Brown Stazon. I also used Cert. Celery, Lavender Lace, and Chocolate Chip cardstock. The coolio flowers with the "stamens" are Prima, of course, and the ribbon is American Crafts.

This was a fun one to make, mostly because of the watercoloring! Hope you like looking at it as much as I did making it!

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ETA: A couple people asked me what type of watercolor paper I use, and it's Stampin' Up! brand. Although, I DID just buy a pad at M's that I haven't tried yet to hold me over till I get my SU! order. The only thing is that I wish that they offered a "whiter" color. But as for coloring, it's great - a world of difference from the WW. HTH (that means "hope that helps":))

Wheely, I Do!

I was playing around with some of my new stamps last night, and came up with this one. The new one is the "i wheely like you" sentiment from A Muse. I love the fact that you can buy their sentiments individually.

The other stamp set that I used was the By Land set that I have had for what seems like forever, and hardly used! I thought that it would be great for scrapping (as well as the By Air and By Sea!), but I haven't been doing much of that lately.

The paper is WW, Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, and the Dots and Dashes designer paper. The ribbon is SU! except for the stitched orange pieces (don't remember where I got that, but I should have gotten more!?).

The background is spritzed with the Taken with Teal marker, and the top two pieces of the truck are cut out and slightly elevated with Mini Glue Dots. The Glorious Green "dots" in the circles were punched with the 1/4 circle punch, and the corners of the Turquoise layer were Ticket Corner Punched. I used the Tool Kit (of course) for the piercing.

I've got lots of nephews, so I'm sure that I'll find "someone" to give this too! :)

XOX

What a Bella!

I just wanted to let you know about how great Emily is from Stamping Bella. I received an order the other day that was damaged in the shipping process - by no fault of hers - and emailed Emily about it. She responded the same day, apologized (which she didn't have to), thanked me for letting her know, and sent a replacement the next day via FedEx. The arrived just a couple of days later - and let me tell you - a shipment from Canada to SW Florida normally takes a LONG time to her here! {Imagine the state of my fingernails d/t nail biting in anticipation from my frequent Bella orders, as of late!!! LOL :)}
I just wanted ot give her a "shout out", and thank her for such great service! :)

Card of the Week (3/12/07)

It's Monday, and you know what time it is...Card of the Week day!!! (Just kidding about the sing-songiness...LOL...but it really is:)) This is another card that I made with the new Spring Mini set, Bundle of Joy. I tried to keep it fairly simple, but with some added detail. I'm happy with how it turned out. Let me know what you think!

Here we go...
Paper - Lovely Lilac (LL) - card; Cool Caribbean (CC) - 2.5x4.5; Certainly Celery - 1x4.25; Pretty in Pink (PIP) - 2 3/8 square; and Watercolor Paper - 2 1/4 square
Ink - LL, Old Olive, CC, Timber Brown, and Chocolate Chip and Close to Cocoa for coloring the cutey bear; plus markers for the spritzing (Tempting Turquoise and Elegant Eggplant)
Stamps - Bundle of Joy
Other shtuff - Soft Subtle Buttons, Linen Thread, Pink Gingham, Tool Kit, Round Tab Punch, Soft Subtle Brads, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, 1/8 circle punch, Spritzer

I started off by spritzing the LL and CC layers with their coordinating markers, and sponging the CC, Celery, and Lilac layers with a sponge (of all things!). Then I pierced the detail in the bottom corners of the card.

Next I stamped the moon and stars onto CC layer with CC, the "stitched" stars on the Celery with Old Olive. The bear, sentiment (PIP paper punched with the coolio new punch in the Spring Mini), and heart (stamped on Watercolor Paper, watercolored with LL ink pad, and cut out) were stamped with the Timber Brown (Stazon does not bleed AT ALL while watercoloring!) ink pad. (Hope that sentence was not too confusing!!!) I watercolored with ink pads, reinkers (since it was a lot of brown), and a Aqua Painter.

I layered as shown, using Dimensionals b/w all the layers (I use so many, that I've started cutting them in half, and sometimes even in quarters!!! LOL). Remember to add the ribbon, and brads before adhering. Lastly, I tied the thread through the buttons, and stuck 'em down with glue dots!

This is for one of two girls I know having a baby girl. Hope they like it as much do!

Happy Stamping! :)

PS...

I know, LOTS of posts today, but what can I say... I have a lot to say today! Anywho, just and FYI ...
1. Wyatt seems to be on the mend, although still very weak. Today he has (fingers crossed) managed to keep everything down - but he's not eating very much either! And I'm SO tired of cartoons right now!!!
2. The "combined personal AND stamping" voters are seriously winning out in the poll.
3. The asterisks in the middle of the posts are to separate the paragraphs. I don't know about you other Blogspot-ers, but it keeps deleting the spaces that I have put between the paragraphs - any help would be appreciated.
4. I'm using acronyms AND writing it out in paragraphs so that people might be able to reference what a particular acronym means in future posts - or should I just write out a dictionary???
5. I'm working on a Blog "Candy" type of thing for later this week...Don't know all the deets (reference below post:)!) yet, but it'll be GOOOOOD! Stay tuned for more info!
and 6. I need to get off the computer and come up with tomorrow's Card of the Week!

xoxox (or as my friend, Jeanine, says "mwah mwah ooh ooh" :))

Happy Sunday, Part II

This is the other ATC that I made for the swap that I'm in.

I am happy with the end result - after MUCH manipulation! It has Stickles on the dots on the flower and Stardust Pen on the "doodles" on the Pumpkin layer that make it nice and "spar-kley". :) I also used the spritzer on the Pumpkin layer. Have I mentioned how I love the spritzer???

The sentiment is from Love Matters (Winter Mini), and says "all things grow with love". Paper is from MME (My Mind's Eye), Magnolia line (so love that paper!).

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Other "deets" (details) not mentioned:

Tool Kit for piercing

Ink Pads and Aqua Painter for watercoloring

Ticket Corner Punch for corners :)

Paper - Pumpkin Pie, WW (Whisper White), and Not Quite Navy

And last but certainly not least - Stamps - Doodle This and (above mentioned) Love Matters

First Blogger RAK!

This is my very first Blogger RAK, and it's funny because I didn't even realize that Michelle added me to it! I had asked her about it a while back, and she told me how to go about getting signed up, but I didn't know... Well, suffice it to say that I was very pleasantly surprised to see this adorable card in my mailbox!

This is a card from a new blogger friend named Charmaine, and her is her blog. What a sweetie! I love the detail in the bottom right corner! Make sure that you go check her out! Thanks, Charmaine, you made my day (and it wasn't such a good one either - see this post)! :)

Happy Sunday!

Yeah! I'm done the 2 of my 5 groups of swaps, and I'm pretty happy with how they've turned out. This one is an ATC (check out the soon-to-be new "home" of my received swaps here!) that I made using my Beachabella and an A Muse sentiment. I tried to come up with something that is "me", and I think that this one works - I love these colors and stamps, and I really *heart* her in her polkadot bikini!

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I figured, "hey, we're from Florida, and it's been snowing like crazy up North, what would be better than this???"! I hope that everyone likes her!

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Paper - Rose Red, Watercolor Paper, Tempting Turquoise

Ink - Jet Black (Stazon), and various ink pads for coloring

Other Stuff - Tool Kit (for piercing), AC (American Crafts) flower, Brad, Ribbon, Markers, Aqua Painter

Case of the Yuck

Sorry, I've got nothing to show you tonight. :( Wyatt's got a stomach virus, and you can just use your imagination as to what kind of a day (and night) I've had. (Many of you mommies out there don't HAVE to use your imagination!) Put it this way, we've had at LEAST 5 baths today, and that's not counting Baby Wipe downs. But enough about that...

I DID finish one of the two ATC groups tonight, and I think that they turned out pretty cute. I've also got the other "mock-up" done, I just have to reproduce it. Yeah!!!

In other news, I got my new Bellas yesterday, so you'll be seeing more of them in days to come (barring the spread of the dreaded virus which I believe is impending...)! One of them is the Staceyfishabella, and I have no idea what I'll do with her, but I so LOVE her. She makes me smile. :)

Also, make sure that you take (literally) like 1 second to take the poll for combined or separate blogs - I'm keeping an eye on it, and I think I know what I want to do, but I still want to know what you all think!

Have a good weekend!!!

Happy Dance!!!

Anyone notice what's new with the pics below??? My Watermark!!! I FINALLY got it to work! After staying up WAY too late last night, I was able to find a program on my computer that works! Mine was designed by a very nice lady, named Cindy that I found from Kendra's blog. Just wanted you to check it out!

For All of My Sistahs!

From this title you thought that this would have something to do with Bellas, right??? Wrong! Keep reading...

February brought all kinds of excitement my way, I tell ya! I, now, have myself signed up for 5 swaps on Splitcoast!!! FIVE, I said!!! I have NEVER participated in a SCS swap before, and here I go signing up for FIVE!!! Well, I'm super excited about them all, but one of them is an ATC swap... I had never made an ATC before in my life when I agreed to this one, but how could I pass it up, right??? Besides the other SUPER FABULOUS people in the swap with me, it also gives me a chance to alter something! :) You know the saying, "once you alter, you never go back"...or...maybe that's not the saying, but you get my point, right??? IT'S ADDICTING!


So, you know that ATC book in the Stampin' Up! minis, that you thought "why would one ever buy that?" Well, you know after signing up to (now 2 groups!) of the ATC swap, I marched right over to the computer an ordered myself one! (Like I was very far away from it anyways, right!)

Here it is, and I really LOVE how it turned out! The pics aren't the best, but no matter how many times I took the picture, the "o's" (inherently, because they're CLEAR) are very hard to see! So you have to click on the pic to get anywhere near the actual idea of how it looks IRL! And even then, not the best.

I used all kinds of really cool things on this project! First of all CHIPBOARD! Oh how I love my chipboard - anyway I can get it, hmmm...sounding a whole lot like chocolate! I digress... So I used, not only the On Board ATC Trio book, but the Simon Lower alpha. I covered the front and back of the book with my new Au Chocolate paper (that I swore I wouldn't get), using Mod Podge and a sponge brush both to adhere and to protect. Then I sanded the edges of the book, and inked the edges and the cracks of the spine with Chocolate Chip Craft. The letters were covered with Pretty in Pink paper, then "smoodged" (very technical stamping term) with Versamark and sprinkled with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder - not unlike the card of the week this week - and heat set it.

I used my HEIDI SWAPP Clear Acetate letters (the two "O"s in "book"), by tying them onto the chipboard letters to make the word "book". This is MUCH easier to see IRL (in real life, for those of you, like my sister who was scratching her head, trying to figure out what that meant! - you know who you are!!!)! I used all American Craft RIBBON on this except for the real skinny stitched chocolate piece, which comes from one of the Ribbon Essentials sets. The "b" also uses a piece of HODGEPODGE to both tie on the ribbon and hang the "O" from.

I used my QuicKutz Olivia in my CUTTLEBUG to make the word "my" in Regal Rose, and Mod Podged the letters down. The "ATC" is STAMPed with my Rough Edges Alphabet on a scrap piece of Au Chocolate, Mod Podged down, and "fancied" up with more hardware and a couple Pretty brads.

Then (stay with me - we're almost to the end!), I used a few strips of Chocolate Chip and Pretty in Pink (2 of each), to make the layered scalloped edge on either side of the ribbon with my Slit PUNCH (thanks to whoever was the first one to use the punch like this!), and Mod Podged them down. Next, I just wrapped the wide AC ribbon around a couple of times and tied. Lastly, I added some BLING, in the form of Dollar Store rinestones, along the spine edge.

I hope that you like it - I just HAD to have something special to house all of the tiny WONDERFUL creations that I will be receiving! So, if any of you out there are reading this, know that they will be going to a good home! :)

New Poll!!!

Okay, so my other poll is not very widely used. The purpose of it is to determine to which level of stamper I should gear my Cards of the Week. So, if you feel they're too simple or difficult, you can use that to SPEAK UP!

This poll, however, labeled "What Do You Think" is different. I'm trying to figure out if I want to create a second blog for personal pics (mostly of Wyatt), family anecdotes, etc... OR if I want to add some cute little pics here and there on THIS blog. I would like to know what you all think...

My thoughts are this...
I worry about safety issues, regarding Wyatt. I worry about boring you all with too much of my personal life, ALTHOUGH I love reading/seeing stuff on other blogs about THEIR families!?! A friend of mine, Jeanine (see Nene's Bloggish) thinks that it would be too much upkeep to maintain 2 blogs. Other friends think that it might make things more interesting.

Please let me know your thoughts! Since you're the ones reading my rambings, you opinions matter a LOT!

Retail Therapy

So a certain someone (you know who you are!:)) sent me an email earlier today asking for another Bella card... I love her!!! :)

So here it is, and I hope that it meets your expectations!

I used, yet another, AC ribbon AND the Cuttlebug AGAIN. I can't NOT use them!!! I used the Mesh Texture folder because it reminds me of leather - like a purse or bag. I used the Word Window twice and tucked them under to make it look like another layer.

These ladies are the Shopabellas, and they are totally groovy! (Wow, that's a word that I don't normally use!) The sentiment is from A Muse, and is one from my little recent purchase! How I love all of my new stamps!!! In related news, my 3rd order of Bellas should be here any day!!! Yeah!!!

Here's the scoop...

Paper - Perfect Plum, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Watercolor Paper

Ink - Jet Black, and various others for coloring

Other Stuff - Cuttlebug, AC Ribbon, Tool Kit, Aqua Painter, Brads, and Word Window Punch, oh yeah - and Stickles! (on two of the purses and a top)

Hope it measures up!!! :)

Something to Consider...

I recently found a post from a very talented stamper, Julie Ebersole (juliehrr on Splitcoast), on her blog. I think that it is worth noticing...

Check out her post, Copyrights and Wrongs and What's the Point of the Discussion, to see if it changes any of your ideas on the whole "creating" business.

I have since edited one of my posts to give credit to a wonderful stamper, atomicbutterfly, for her card that she uploaded to her SCS (Splitcoast) gallery. It in no way was a CASE, but it was definitely inspired by her card. I gave her credit for it in my SCS gallery, but had forgotten to do it here.

Make sure you read Asela's comment in the second post. I think that she summed it up pretty well. The whole discussion sure did made me think of things more carefully, because regardless of how I feel, someone else might have a very different opinion, and I would never want to offend a person that inspires me!

Let me know what you think...

Card of the Week (3/5/07)

Happy Monday! This is a card that I did for a class. It features the Dazzling Diamond Dust technique (check out this great tutorial by Beate Johns) that makes the main image sparkle. You MUST try it. (Click on pic for better view.) This layout was a Sketch Challenge on Splitcoast.

Here are the details...
Stamp Sets
Small Sayings
Wash Day Wheel
Wild About You (one of my absolute favorite sets!)
Paper
WW - 5 1/2x1/4 and 1 3/4x2 1/2
So Saffron - card base
Bordering Blue - 1 3/4x2 1/2
Not Quite Navy - (2) 2x2 3/4
Inks
Not Quite Navy
So Saffron
Versamark
Accessories
Ribbon (when do I NOT use ribbon, right???)
Tool Kit
White Gel Pen
Irridescent Ice Embossing Powder
Heat Gun
Powder Pals
Not Quite Navy Marker

I first wheeled the Wash Day across the paper using the Saffron ink pad (just don't have the cartridge). Then I detailed the butterflies with the White Gel Pen.
Next, I pierced (with the Tool Kit - a MUST have) the thin white strip with 5 on and 5 off to make a bit of a pattern.
Then I stamped the ellie, sentiment, and stars - making sure to "dot the eye" (so to speak) of the ellie with a Not Quite Navy marker.
After stamping the ellie layer, I "smoodged" the Versamark all over the main image to cover it, and quickly "dusted" the embossing powder all over it (use the Powder Pals so as not to make a HUMONGO mess!), and heat set it with the heat gun. Make sure not to "overcook" it, because it will loose it's sparkly-ness if it is heated too much. It is kind of hard to tell if it is all melted, but if you look at it from the side, then you can see what is still "dusty" looking. I just heat it till the glitter "stops moving" - it sounds weird, but you'll know what I'm talking about when you do it!!!
Next, just layer the pieces as shown, and punch the side of the main image for the ribbon, and tie on!
That's all there is to it!

Hope you try this, and let me know when you do - I'd love to see your creations!

Happy Stamping!

Cards for the Troops

I got an email from a very sweet lady, named Debbi, regarding sending some cards over to troops in the military. Check out her link here. I think that it's a great idea, and I am currently gathering up some to send her. The idea is that it gives service men and women cards to send back to their loved ones in the states. Don't worry, I'm not going to get political, but I DO think that the people over there representing us needs as much help and support as they can get. Click on Debbi's link, and see what you think!

Little Polka Dot Bikini

Here I am sitting here, recovering from a bad migraine, with my little one in his highchair watching a TiVo'd Blue's Clues, with my husband pounding on the roof {he's building a lanai (that's a screened in back porch, if you're not from FL :) - reference any Golden Girl episode!), and right now he's putting up the shingles - which is VERY good for the recovery process}, so I thought, why not upload that other Bella card I made??? (Wowza, that was a LONG sentence!)

Here she is in all of her glory with her aDORable polka dot bikini, heading on down to the beach. I REALLY love this A Muse sentiment with this Bella. Actually, I'm starting to like a lot of their sentiments! But that's beside the point...

I used my Creative Memories wavy cutter to imitate waves, and (hard to see) the bottom of the Navy layer is pierced. And of course, I used my Cuttlebug for the *bloom dots* on the background.

Details:

Stamps - Beachabella, A Muse

Paper - Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Watercolor Paper

Ink - Jet Black, and various others to color

Accessories - Aqua Painter, Tool Kit, Brads, Cuttlebug, AC Ribbon, Ticket Corner Punch {you know, I'm beginning to notice that I could pretty much copy and paste this *accessories* list to most every card!!!}

Hope you lke it, and hope you're having a great weekend!

Funnest Birthday Ever!

Happy Friday! So, last night I was able to make a few cards - all of which were Bella cards, because they are my newest and coolest stamps at the moment - well, and because I am an Addictabella (see previous post)! I have 10 of them now, and am waiting on several more to travel down here to FL from Canada! So. like I said before, you're gonna be seeing a lot more of these ladies!

Also, new on this card is the ribbon. I went on a ribbon spree the other day at the LSS (local scrapbook store)! I SO love ALL ribbon AC (American Crafts)...especially ones that match our Stampin' Up! colors!

The other new thing on this card is my fancy pantsy new sentiment {splurged and got several sentiments AND the small and large ovals, thank you AmyR (self proclaimed Enableabella!)} from A Muse. I must say that their service was excellent - got it in 2 days from Seatle (again, I'm down here in SW FLA!), so that was very impressive, in my opinion. It says (click on pic for better view) "have the funnest birthday ever". Love it!

Okay, here are the details, in no particular order...

Paper - Watercolor paper, Pumpkin Pie, Cool Caribbean, Summer Sun, Basic Black

Ink - Jet Black, and various others to color my Little Lady

Stamps - Cakeabella, A Muse sentiment

Other Stuff - Cuttlebug (birthday folder), Marvy Scallop Square Punch, Dimensionals and Glue Dots (could not survive creatively without these two things!), and AC Ribbon

Hope you like her!

Thankful...

I just wanted to write a little note of THANKS to all of you who have left comments on my little creations and subscribed to my blog (Can you believe I almost named it "Kirsten's Kreations"!!! ACKKK!!!). I'm amazed that in just a couple of months I have 60 subscribers and over 5500 views! I ADORE all of you so much! You each make my day just a bit sweeter when I get up and check the computer. I know that sounds corny, but it is very true.

I never dreamed that I would make friends from doing this whole blogging thing, but I SO have! Through this site and Splitcoast, I've *met* the most AWESOME people, and have been SO inspired in many ways - creatively, technologically, emotionally, and spiritually. The last one has surprised me the most! I am very thankful for all of these things.

Just thought you should know.

Spring Mini Cards

Here are three cards (and a book!) that I have been *pseudo* hiding from you over on Splitcoast :) until the Spring Mini was *orderable*! LOL

The Crab card is from the new set Crab in Company. It's a TOTAL must have for FLA residents!!!


The "Find Joy" card is from the new set Polka Dots and Paisley AND the coordinating wheel. Yes, I actually DID color the wheel with the markers!!! I really like how that one turned out.

The other "Find Joy" card, in Saffron, was a really fun one to make because of the doodles. It's a couple of new stamp sets called Doodle This and Doodle That. I LOVE those sets! I used the White Gel Pen to highlight the doodles, and colored in the flowers to match the paper. This is a card that fits into the Small Open End envies in the Catalog. There are *rinestones* in the flower centers.

Last, but not least...my little 5x5 journal. These things are TOO cute. You must get one and alter it for yourself! I'm using mine for all of the challenges on Splitcoast that I want to keep track of. I used the new paper and stamp set Office Accoutrements.

Hope that you head over to Stampin' Up! to check out the new Spring Mini!!!

Happy Stamping!!! :)

For Allison - Part II...

This is the baby card that I told you that I made for my friend, Allison. I gave her two cards to her last night (other card here), and she said that she liked them, SO I am now confident to post about it!!! LOL

I used one of the new Spring Mini sets (check out the Stampin' Up new Spring Mini here), Bundle of Joy for this card. He's quite fun to watercolor! This is another set that I borrowed from Jamie!

I used the Cuttlebug for the embossing, and then I colored the words with the pastels for a soft look. The bear is cut out, and colored with the Watercolor Crayons. The ribbon is from Michaels, and the little heart on the sentiment is raised up.

I had fun making these cards, and look forward to doing more like these in the future!