Stampin' and Scrappin' With Kristin

MDS Monday - Sale-a-Bration!

This week's challenge over on the UDI blog was to create a card in MDS using the digital content you can get for free with SAB.  The first thing that came to mind was a card we recently made at Rose's workshop using all SAB products.  I knew it would be fun to recreate in MDS!  I love that you can get ALL of the SAB items for free on the Digital Content CD with just one $50 purchase!

For this card, I used the Ice Cream Parlor DSP and buttons to make the fun circles!  I simply added a few circle punches and a scallop circle punch to my card and filled them with DSP.  Unlike working with paper, I love that you can zoom in or our to make the DSP patterns larger or smaller.  I then "stamped" the sentiment and the flower from the So Happy For You Stamp Set.

Want to see what this card looks like using paper?  Here's the original card that I made for Rose's workshop earlier this month!  If you have the opportunity to earn the digital content CD, you'll love it because you will NEVER run out of this fun, festive DSP!  Don't forget, you only have four days left to cash in on our favorite sale of the year!  Click here to shop online now!

Want to see what the rest of the design team came up with this week?  Hop on over to the UDI blog and check them out!

Extreme Skateboard!

At one of my workshops last weekend, my hostess challenged me to a theme for which I don't often create:  Cards For Teenage Boys!  YIKES!  Well, I decided to design last Friday morning/afternoon - when I had 110% of my stampin' mojo!  I guess it had been building up last week while I was sick on the couch.  I'm pretty pleased with this card.  It has a couple of techniques.  It certainly screams "Teenage Boy".  And, there's NO RIBBON!  That's tough for me.  I'm sure you've NEVER seen me use these stamps!  But, it's a perfect card for Sale-a-Bration because you can earn Extreme Skateboard for FREE this month!

Here's how we made this card...First, we textured some roof sheathing (is that how you spell that?).  I picked it up at my local hardware store months ago for my Die Cut Divas.  I ran it through the Big Shot using the Texturz Plates.  It required a couple of shims, but it works!  It cuts down easily using the SU Tabletop Cutter.

Next, I cut out a 3" Circle (in Not Quite Navy) using my Big Shot and the new 3" Circle Die.  I stamped my skateboarder in Versamark and heat embossed him with Silver Embossing Powder to match my roof sheathing!  But, the card needed something extra and buttons and ribbon and scallops weren't gonna cut it.  So, I pulled out my Extreme Elements stamp set.  I rarely use this stamp set when stamping.  However, I "pull it out" a lot when using My Digital Studio.  I added some subtle elements on the Riding Hood Red layer using Riding Hood Red Ink.  And, I added some "splotches" on the Crumb Cake card base using Crumb Cake ink.

But, I was really stuck when it came to the sentiment.  I have NO teenage boy-style words.  There are a few in the catalog, but I don't own them.  I know, hard to believe.  And, the one thing I had that could work just wasn't going to fit.  So, I pulled out Fundamental Phrases - another set I haven't used in ages - and purposefully stamped "Happy" and "Birthday" slanted.  What do you think?

A Birthday Sale-a-Bration!

Here's another (free) product that I don't think I've shown you at all - the Ice Cream Parlor DSP and buttons.  I tore my house apart yesterday morning looking for the remnants of this DSP and was thrilled when I found it.  How fun is this card?  I used this layout a year or so ago and decided it was time to ressurect it.  What do you think?  I used an assortment of circle punches  (3/4", 1", 1-1/4", and 1-3/8"), the DSP, and some coordinating card stock to make the focal point(s).  It's kinda hard to tell from this photo, but I embossed the Daffodil and Mambo circles with my Big Shot and the Polka Dot embossing folder.  I thought it added some texture to the card.  I popped a couple of the circles up with dimensionals.  And, I added a single button from the Ice Cream Parlor Ribbon & Button Pack as a final embellishment.  The sentiment comes from the So Happy For You stamp set which is also FREE during Sale-a-Bration!

Dozens of Door Prizes

Wow!  What a fun day today has been!  I decided that I was going to sit down and make 30 door prizes for my March workshops!  Unfortunately, door prizes are the last thing I usually think of when preparing for a workshop - so they're usually the thing that gets "cheated".  But not this month (and hopefully every month after March). 

If you're coming to one of my workshops in March - one of these could be yours.  And, if you're hosting a workshop in March, one of these IS yours!  My hostesses ALWAYS win a door prize on top of whatever gift they also receive from me.

These are made using the Petal Cone Die in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  It's the same die I used to make the basket yesterday.  WOW!  Was that a hit!  I had seven Die Cut Divas show up last night and I think this die is now on EVERYONE'S wish list (they're not too thrilled with me)!  Ha Ha!

I cut the box from Baja Breeze Card Stock and stamped the small flower image from Bliss (free during Sale-a-Bration).  I cut the scalloped flaps out of Very Vanilla.  Sticky strip works best to glue it all together.  There are a variety of ways to seal the box.  The one I like best (because it takes care of decorating the top) is to punch two holes in the scalloped flaps, lace some Rose Red Seam Binding through, and tie a pretty bow.  It's easy to open and close as well.  I may decide to add a tag later.  I still think the top looks a little bare. 

What's inside?  Well, I can't give away all of my secrets!!!  You'll just have to be a lucky guest at one of my March workshops to see!!!

Birthday Swaps

Last night was my downline meeting.  My downline never ceases to amaze me.  And, I love gathering with them to stamp and share ideas each and every month.  One of the highlights are the cards!!!  We swap card fronts every month.  I love the variety of styles and techniques!  Today's card is the card I decided to swap.  It's a fairly simple card - but I like clean and simple!  Here are the supplies I used to make my card:

• Bring on the Cake Stamp Set (Occasions Mini)
• Daffodil Delight PomPom Trim (Occasions Mini)
• Melon Mambo Card Stock (scraps for punches)
• Daffodil Delight Card Stock base (8-1/2" x 5-1/2")
• Whisper White Card Stock (5-1/4" x 4" - I also stamped the sentiment and punched it out of this layer before adhering it to the card)
• Pacific Point Card Stock (5-1/8" x 3-7/8")
• Ice Cream Parlor DSP (SAB - 1" x 3-7/8")
• Pacific Point Classic Ink
• Designer Label Punch
• 2" x 1-3/8" Oval Punch

Feeling Blissful

Today I'm stamping with Cheryl and her friends.  She asked for a custom stamp-a-stack.  I thought I'd share with you one of the cards they'll be making this afternoon.  For inspiration, I looked through some of my samples.  I came across a card that my upline, Claire Lawrence, designed for us to make at her New Year's Party last December.  I loved her card but I changed it up just a bit.  I kept the colors but changed the layers.  I also changed the shape of the center focal point as well as the ribbon.

While I was designing this card, I kept thinking...boy, I wish we sold Baja Breeze ribbon.  I strolled over to my ribbon racks thinking that I could change the card to Marina Mist when I spotted...BAJA BREEZE SEAM BINDING!!!  It's PERFECT for the card!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE SEAM BINDING!

Here are the supplies I used on my card:

• Bliss Stamp Set (FREE during Sale-a-Bration)
• Say it Simply Stamp SEt (Occasions Mini)
• Baja Breeze Card Stock (8-1/2" x 5-1/2")
• Soft Suede Card Stock (5-1/4" x 4")
• Very Vanilla Card Stock (5-1/8" x 3-7/8" & Scraps for Punching)
• Baja Breeze Seam Binding
• 1-3/4" Circle Punch
• 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch
• Crop-a-Dile
• Baja Breeze Classic Ink
• Soft Suede Classic Ink

A Romantic Valentine?

I am back from Hawaii!  Did you even know I was gone?  I hope not - I scheduled blog posts to show up daily so you wouldn't miss me.  I got home last night and am back to work already!  I have a workshop tonight - and in true "Kristin Style", hadn't planned a thing before I left! 

My hostess had some very specific requests for the projects she wanted to work on.  She wanted a Romantic Valentine.  What on earth does that mean?!?!!?!?!?  Seriously.  Does "romantic" mean the same thing to everyone?  Right now, to me, that means something frilly and feminine. Hopefully Suzie likes this one!

Because I was running short on time, I turned to CASEing my friends' cards!!!  I remembered seeing a card awhile back on a Tiffany Bauer's blog.  You can click on the link to see her original card.  Well, since vintagey (is that a word?) is more Vanilla than White (at least in my opinion), I had to change up the colors. 

What do you think?  Did I accomplish a Romantic Valentine Card? 

Here are the supplies I used to make this card:

• Very Vanilla Card Stock (8-1/2" x 5-1/2")
• Blushing Bride Card Stock (4" x 5-1/4")
• Rose Red Card Stock (4" x 7/8" & 2-1/2" x 2-1/2")
• Springtime Vintage DSP (4" x 3/4")
• Victoria Lace Ribbon
• Heart of Hearts Embosslit (I totally forgot we sell this thing until I saw it on Tiffany's card)
• Framed Tulips Embossing Folder
• Big Shot
• Small Vanilla Rosette
• Three Little Words Stamp Set (you can get it for FREE during SAB)
• Rose Red Classic Ink

Say It Simply!

Did you overlook the Simply Sent kit in the Occasions Mini Catalog?  It is GORGEOUS!  This kit is perfect for non-stampers, new stampers, and seasoned stampers alike!  It's pictured on page 41 of the Occasions Mini Catalog.

The kit comes in 3 parts: 

• Consumable cards & Envelopes
• Stamp Set
• Ink Pad

I LOVE that the consumable parts are separate from the stamps and ink!  Why?  Well, why would you want to have multiples of the stamp set and ink if you wanted to make more than 8???  Brilliant!  These kits USED to come with everything you needed including stamps and ink.  But, what if you wanted more?  Did you really want to spend over $40 for another kit?  Or, did you really want to buy full packs of everything?  That would be expensive too for a newbie.

The Simply Sent Medallian Medley (121788 - $11.95) comes with gorgeous EMBOSSED cards in Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Baja Breeze, and Vanilla.  Love that color combo!  They are prescored so all you have to do is fold them on the score lines!  It also comes with 16 self-adhesive labels where you can stamp your sentiment.  Hello???  Perfect for me!  They give you twice as many labels as you need - plenty of back-ups!  And, if you've ever stamped with me, you know I NEED back-ups!  And, it comes with 8 envelopes!

The stamp set they've paired with it is "Say it Simply" (122324 - $7.95).  It is perfectly proportioned for the card.  But, many of our other stamps would work, too!

I used Soft Suede ink to make my samples.  However, you could use any of the colors that are in the kit!

What would you say if I told you that you could get this for FREE?  During Sale-a-Bration, if you sign up to be a demonstrator, you get to purchase the starter kit for 15% off (it's only $148.75) PLUS, Stampin' Up! is throwing in a Simply Sent Kit, Simply Sent Stamp Set, a punch, and the color coach absolutely FREE!  That's over $360 in products for only $148.75!   Did you do the math?  That's a 60% discount!!!  If you want to join, it's EASY!  Simply click HERE to learn more and join!

PJs and Paper Crafts - and a Video Tutorial!

Welcome to the first day of the rest of my stamping career!  As of today, being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is my only job!

I thought I'd start by posting a video tutorial of me making a card.  To some of you, this card looks familiar.  I designed this card for my open house last weekend.  What a fun, simple card!  I cranked out a dozen of these for this week's downline meeting.

Here are the supplies I used:

• Wild Wasabi Card Stock (5-1/2"x8-1/2")
• Whisper White Card Stock (5-1/4"x4" and 2-1/2"x3")
• Early Espresso Card Stock (2-3/4"x3-1/4")
• Sweet Stitches DSP (1-1/2"x4")
• Button, Button Stamp Set (OM11)
• So Happy For You Stamp Set (SAB11)
• Tangerine Tango Classic Ink
• Melon Mambo Classic Ink
• Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink
• Daffodil Delight Classic Ink
• Wild Wasabi Classic Ink

Video Tutorial:

 

Thank You Cards

One of my New Years Resolutions is to send thank you cards....and LOTS more of them.  We're not even halfway through January, and I already had a list of 20 people that needed to be thanked!  Who am I thanking?  Anyone who placed an order or attended a class!  I thought I remembered seeing a card similar to this somewhere.  So, I turned to Stampin' Connection to see if I could find it.  I found one by Emily LaBonte that I liked.  I tweaked it a bit and continued to use the Basic Gray and Real Red combo with some of the Love Impressions DSP.

So, what else did I use on this card?  Well, here's a full list:

• Valentine Defined Stamp Set (121941-C or 123057-W)
• So Happy For You (SAB 2011)
• Owl Punch (118074)
• Real Red Classic Ink
• Basic Gray Classic Ink
• Real Red Card Stock
• Whisper White Card Stock
• Basic Gray Card Stock
• Love Impressions DSP (121780)

Don't forget, you can order any of the supplies to make this project online 24/7!