Stampin' with Kristin

More Mail!

In a few months, Claire and I are going to be holding our next semi-annual demonstrator event, Fall Fest.  One of my responsibilities is to gather and keep track of registrations.  The best part?  I'm getting lots of beautiful cards in the mail!  Chris sent me this card.  It features the Strenth and Hope Stamp Set out of the Summer Mini.  Have you picked up this stamp set?  It's only available until the end of this month!!!

I love the color combo Chris chose:  Marina Mist, Sahara Sand, Old Olive, and Cajun Craze.  It's not a color combo I've used but I LOVE it and will be using it!!!  Most of the cards I've seen made with this set used pinks.

Note:  I'm not sure when I'll be posting next.  I'm posting this on Saturday evening as I'm listening to the weather reports about Irene.  We are right in her path.  We've received phone calls from the power company telling us we should expect to be without power for 3-4 days.  Yikes!  So, we'll see how we make out.

Claire's Diva Night

Do you remember my posts from last week?  The Italian Feast that I cooked for my top performing demonstrators?  Well, my upline, Claire Lawrence, also holds a similar event quarterly (that's where I got my idea)!

Claire had us over several weeks ago for a Mexican Fiesta.  She made guacamole, salsa, and a yummy taco bar!  She also made a fantastic peach crumble/cobbler thing.  It was yummy - and I don't even like peaches!!!

I wanted to share with you the cards that we made!  They've been on display in my classroom for a few weeks, but I realized that they haven't been posted!  I love that she used the same stamp set on all three but came up with three very different looks!  The stamp set is Fabulous Florets.

Shelli's Box

One of the projects Shelli shared on the ship was this one.  I fell in love with it!  It was one of the projects that I had to come home and make for myself!

Shelli used glimmer brads for her box.  But I decided to use this as a project at a workshop last week and I didn't have enough black glimmer brads to go around.  I had to find something a bit more cost effective.  I created black glimmer circles using some Basic Black cardstock, Sizzix Adhesive Sheets, and black glitter from the Fine Galaxy glitter collection.  I punched out the circles using the circle punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack.

Cinco de Mayo & Celebrating Divas!

Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!  I wanted to share with you a stamp set many of you have probably never seen before, Cinco de Mayo!  It's part of Stampin' Up!s Spanish collection of stamps.  Did you know there's a whole catalog filled with Spanish stamps???  I bought a bunch a year or so ago with the intention of posting some projects on Cinco de Mayo!  Well, I finally did it!

This past Tuesday, I held a Mexican Fiesta for 11 of my demonstrators who achieved "Diva Night".  There are a variety of ways that they can earn it.  But, Diva Night is an evening where I provide dinner, stamping, and some stamping goodies.  Because I'm a HUGE fan of Mexican food, and because Cinco de Mayo was right around the corner, I made them a Mexican Fiesta!  I served them a menu of:
- Chips with homemade Pico and Guacamole
- Tacos
- Cilantro Rice
- Refried Beans
- Strawberry Shortcake or Boston Cream Pie

The Cilantro Rice recipe is a new favorite of mine.  I mix it up whenever I make it.  Here in S Jersey, it's hard to find Serrano Chiles.  I've omitted it before, used it, or used a Poblano Chile.  I also squeeze in the juice of a lime.  I'm not sure I've made it the same way any time.

Okay, back to Diva Night...after the Mexican feast, we did some stamping!  I designed four simple cards featuring the stamps in the Summer Mini Catalog.   I wanted them to be simple so that they could use them in their workshops.  Or, if they don't own the stamp sets, it was a nice addition to their sample basket for their workshops.  Everyone seemed to love them!

After stamping, I then "awarded them" the Diva Night award.  I created the Celebrate card shown at the top of this card for each of them.  I wrote a personalized message for each of them and created a Gift Certificate for FREE STAMPS in My Digital Studio!

Here are some pictures of the divas!  If you're interested in learning more about the opportunity to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and attend fun events like this one, give me a call (856-503-7459) or e-mail me ([email protected]) or just sign up today!  I'd love to have you join our group!

From left to right:  Gail, Sue, Tanya, and April

From left to right:  Jill, Kristin, Lynn, and Megan

Kristin's concentrating on coloring those ties!!!

April and Tanya look happy to be Divas!

Lynn and Megan are really concentrating on something!!!

Gail and Sue are smiling about something - but there were a lot of smiles Tuesday night!

Jill is smiling, but is NOT happy that I made her cut out a flower!!!

 

Pretty Postage

I just love creating Love Notes - 3x3 mini cards!  They're fun and adorable!  And, based upon the comments on Sunday, I'm not alone in loving these guys!

Here are the supplies I used to make these three cards:
Stamps:  Pretty Postage, Touch of Kindness
Paper:  Melon Mambo CS, Daffodil Delight CS, Tempting Turquoise CS, Whisper White CS, Melon Mambo DSP, Daffodil Delight DSP, Old Olive CS, Tempting Turquoise DSP
Ink:  Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories:  Ribbon Punch, Pretty Postage Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Bird Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Pearls, Whisper White 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

Strength and Hope Campaign

Did you notice the elegant stamp set on the last page of the new Summer Mini Catalog called Strength and Hope?  I made sure every person at my Open House saw it - we used it on one of the Make & Takes!  Stampin' Up! is donating $2 from your purchase of this stamp set to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation!  BCRF is dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime by funding clinical and translational research worldwide.  For more information about BCRF, visit www.bcrfcure.org.

I wanted to share with you some samples of cards that I've made with this beautiful set. 

The card on the left was the Make & Take from Sunday's open house.  The card in the center is a fun little 3x3 Love Note, and the card on the right was designed by Stampin' Up!  I "cased" it from our monthly Stampin' Success magazine!  Here are more details on each card:

Like I mentioned above, this first card was Sunday's Make & Take.  The colors used on the card are Whisper White, Crumb Cake (which everyone fell in love with), Rose Red, and Pink Pirouette.  The sentiment is actually an accident!  When I originally designed the card, I didn't have a sentiment.  But, at the last minute decided to stamp the "H".  Well, it was crooked.  Can you relate to that?  So, I quickly pulled out my "Hope Happens" stamp set, punched it out, and hid my mistake!

Next up is that cute little 3x3 love note.  Most of the cards that I've seen that use this set feature the butterfly cut out.  However, those antenna are a killer to cut! I love this butterfly cut out!  This card was also inspired by Stampin' Success magazine!  Of course they cut out their butterfly.  So I cheated!  I inked up the antenna, stamped it on my card base, then adhered my cut out butterfly (without the antenna) on top!  Don't you love that idea?!?!?!

Finally, here's a card that I cased from Stampin' Up!  I love that they send demonstrators a wonderful magazine packed full of business tips and projects and techniques every month!  I think I fell in love with the color combo on this card first!  Can you guess what colors I used?  I'ts Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait, Baja Breeze, and So Saffron.

Introducing the 2011 Summer Mini Catalog!

Many of you have received this catalog in the mail and have told me how much you loved it!  Well, the wait is over!  The products contained within are available to purchase starting today!  And, to welcome the catalog properly, I'm hosting an Open House in its honor!

Feel free to stop by my house between 1pm and 8pm today to check out all of the new, wonderful products!  You can also sign up for all of my upcoming classes!  You can also sign up for my classes online if you can't attend my open house.

In addition to the new products in the mini, Stampin' Up! has also put a selection of stamps and MDS products on sale for 30% off during the month of May!  Be sure to check them out, too!

I hope to see you later today!!!

Heat Embossing!

I've been having lots of fun heat embossing over the last few days.  Stampin' Up! is introducing a small selection of custom embossing powders that match three of our colors - exactly!  There are some FUN things you can do....so I scheduled a class!!!  This card is one of the projects that we'll make in the class - check it out!  Those surfboards are embossed with three different colors - at the same time!  How'd I do that?  I guess you'll have to attend the class and see!

The card was inspired by the box - pictured to the right.  The box was designed by Stampin' Up!  I fell in love with it and was SO excited that my (now stale) salt water candy from Stampin' Up! matches the embossing powder, too (sorta).  You can see both of these projects, and more, at my Open House on May 1st!

Sail Away

Do you see a sailing theme in my posts these last couple of days?  Not sure what brought that on other than there's alot of sailing-themed stamps and accessories coming out!  Before I begin, I admit that watercoloring is not my strength!  But, I'm still trying!  I used the Aquapainter and my ink pads to create this card - definitely not one of my favorite techniques, but I'm not giving up! 

I used Baja Breeze to do a wash over the entire image before I started.  I used a mix of Marina Mist and Not Quite Navy for my water.  Can you see the Daffodil Delight in the flag at the top of the sail?  Nope, I didn't think you would but it's up there!  I used Cherry Cobbler on the sails and Soft Suede on the boat. 

There are a ton (well, maybe not a ton) of new masculine stamps coming out in the Summer Mini.  I used three of them on this card:  Sail Away, Best Dad Ever, and The Open Sea!

This card will be one of five that we make in my Let's Hear It For The Boys class this coming June!

Did you see the special I posted yesterday?  You still have time to enter yourself in the drawing for over $45 in products!  Check it out!

Sailing in Sydney

If you read my last post, you probably knew that I was scrapbooking yesterday.  I couldn't wait to show you what I made!  Inspired by the Stampin' Success magazine, again, I created this page!  Stampin' Up!'s page was titled "Cherish" and featured 2 little kids.  Well, since I'm not really a "kid person", I didn't have any photos!  So, I figured I'd tap into the nautical theme of the stamps and paper.  One problem - I don't sail either.  My family owns a boat, but it's not really the type of boat that works well with the products in the Summer Mini.  However, while in bed last night, I remembered I had some sailboat photos from my trip to Australia back in 2005 - I just had to find them!  Oh what fun it was to dig around an ancient hard drive looking for pictures! 

I've always loved this picture.  Can you read the name of the boat?  It says "Noah's Ark" on the side!  I snapped this picture while riding a ferry from the Sydney Opera House over to Manly Beach my first day in Australia.  I loved riding the ferries.  There were always TONS of sailboats out on the harbor.  I wished I had taken a photo of one in front of the Opera House or under the Harbour Bridge.  So, you'll just have to trust me that this boat is in Australia!

This page uses TONS of sneak peek items out of the Summer Mini Catalog.  This page - along with many other projects - will be on display at my Open House on May 1st!  I advertised that I'd have "hundreds" of projects on display - and without any big Stampin' Up! events this time of year, I don't have any swaps to suplement my projects.  So, I'm making them all!!!  Therefore, you'll probably only see about a tenth of the projects on my blog!

Here are the products that I used on this page:
- Stamps:  The Open Sea (Summer Mini)
- Ink:  Sahara Sand, Not Quite Navy, Early Espresso
- Paper:  Soft Suede Textured CS, Not Quite Navy CS, Whisper White CS, Sahara Sand CS, Cherry Cobbler CS, and Nautical Expedition DSP (Summer Mini)
- Tools & Accessories:  1/2" Circle Punch, Postage Stamp Punch (Summer Mini), Boho Blossoms Punch, Big Shot, Simple Letters Alphabet Die, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Petal Cone Die, Sanding Block, Cutter Kit
- Embellishments:  Naturals Buttons, Regals Buttons, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine (Summer Mini), Early Espresso Baker's Twine (Summer Mini), Log Cabin Smooch Spritz

Have you placed your order to qualify to win my bundle of FREE Stampin' Up! products?  Click here to check it out!

Fun Flowers Pot

Each month every Stampin' Up! demonstrator receives a complimentary copy of Stampin' Success Magazine in the mail.  Each issue is packed full of stamping and business inspiration.  My favorites are always the ones that come out around the time a new mini catalog is released because they showcase the new products.  In last month's issue, a GORGEOUS flower pot was pictured on one of the pages. I immediately knew I wanted to try to make it.

While I was at out shopping last weekend for pillow gifts for my incentive trip, I came across some cute flower pots that I thought I could decorate in some way.  The first I used as a flower pot - inspired by the one in last month's Stampin' Success magazine.  My inspiration actually had leaves glued up and around the edges of the pot - I skipped those.  And, my pot was larger so I doubled the number of flowers.  My flowers are Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, and Daffodil Delight.  I cut them with the Fun Flowers Die and embossed them using the Polka Dot and Lattice embossing folders.  The centers of the smaller flowers didn't turn out exactly as I  hoped, but I like them anyway.  I took a 1-3/4" circle punch and punched out a piece of card stock. I then adhered Brights Buttons to the centers of each flower using Glue Dots.

Using my paper snips, I spiral cut each center then curled them up.  I used a 8-1/2"x11" sheet of Crumb Cake Card Stock that I cut into narrow strips and ran through my crimper (yes, I finally found it) to make the "potting soil/grass".  To embellish the tin, I frayed some 1-1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon (Daffodil Delight) and tied it around the pot.  Somehow I needed to tie in the Summer Mini Catalog - since this project was ultimately created to be a sample at next month's open house.  So, I punched the "thanks" sentiment from the Pretty Postage Stamp Set and adhered it to a piece of Melon Mambo that I'd punched with the large tag punch.  And I used my favorite new accessory - White Baker's Twine - to tie the tag to my pot!

Demonstrator Cards

Last night I was in the mood to stamp.  Usually Mondays are my day "off".  But, I just wanted to create!  But, I wasn't really in the mood to sit and design a bunch of things.  I decided to stamp a stack of cards for all of the demonstrators on my team.  That used to be a quick and easy task.  But, it is no longer - and that's not a complaint!  My team has grown SO much over the last year, it's unbelievable.  As I was making cards last night, I wondered to myself how much longer I'll be able to keep making cards for all of them each month - that was my goal this year!  This is only the second month I've been successful.  But, my group of demosntrators is FOUR times the size it was this year!  That's growth that I never could have dreamed possible!  If that keeps up, I won't be able to! 

Here's the card I made for them.  It uses the Blueberry Crisp DSP.  You'll probably see me using a lot of DSP (patterned paper) over the next few months as I prepare for the next big catalog.  Traditionally most, if not all, of the DSP in the big catalog retires each year.  I can only imagine that will be the case again this year.  We'll all know for sure in June when Stampin' Up! posts the "retired list".  But, I have a large supply of DSP (as always) and I'd rather use it up than store it to sell at my retirement sale.  Do you recognize the sentiment on the card?  No?  I didn't think so.  It's a sneak peek from the Summer Mini.  It's part of the Happy Greetings stamp set.  I can't stop using it!!!

Summer Mini Sneak Peek: Happy Greetings

I wanted to share another class sample that I designed earlier this week.  This one uses the Happy Greetings Stamp Set.  This stamp set will be featured in the Happy Greeting Class in June.  (Yes, I'm designing projects for my June classes already!)

I had fun with this card!  I actually embossed the sentiment with this card using Versamark, Pacific Point Classic Ink, Clear Embossing Powder, and a Heat Tool.  Some of the new accessories in the Summer Mini Catalog are new embossing powders in fun, summer colors!  Unfortunately, Pacific Point wasn't one of them.  No worries! In this class and in my heat embossing class later this summer, I'll teach you how to do this!

Here are the supplies I used on this card:
Stamp Sets:  Happy Greetings, Fabulous Florets
Ink:  Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Versamark
Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Whisper White, Beyond the Garden DSP
Accessories:  Daffodil Delight 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer Tool, Brights Brads, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Summer Mini Sneak Peek: On the Grow

I had A LOT of fun yesterday playing with all of my new Summer Mini Catalog goodies!  I even got quite a few of the samples for my May and June classes completed!

This card was made using the On the Grow Stamp Set.  I am not a watercolorer, but I fell in love with this cute little set almost immediately!  You can actually make this card in May in my On the Grow Class. 

The layout for this card was inspired by a card by Diana Gibbs.  She also gave me the idea to cut my striped ribbon in half, fray it, and tie it around the card.

I colored this card using blender pens and Watercolor Wonder Crayons.  It's just one of the techniques you'll learn in the On the Grow Class.

Here are the supplies I used to make this card:

Stamps:  On the Grow, Tiny Tags
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand, Early Espresso, Watercolor Paper, Elegant Soiree DSP
Ink:  Early Espresso, Jet Black Stazon
Watercolor Crayons:  Perfect Plum, Elegant Epplant, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Baja Breeze, Marina Mist, Not Quite Navy, Crumb Cake, and Soft Suede
Accessories:  Vintage Trinkets, Old Olive Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Jewelry Tag Punch, Blender Pen

Summer Mini Sneak Peek - Triple Layer Punches!!!

One of the best perks of being a demonstrator is the ability to pre-order products before customers can!  I have a BIG weekend getaway coming up this weekend with a couple of my top demonstrators.  I wanted to be sure I had new stuff to play with!  I wish I could take a photo of the box when it arrived yesterday, but I'm not allowed to show photos of the actual products until May 1st.  My absolute favorite new tools in the next Summer Mini Catalog are the two layering punches!  You've just got to see these punches to fully understand the POWER!  I used the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch to make this card.  You'll see LOTS of scrapbook pages and cards and projects that use these shapes.  But, you can make out the three different shapes this punch creates.  First, it punches the full background piece - best seen on the Certainly Celery "flower" on the left hand side.  Then you move a switch and it punches a border and smaller "flower" - best seen on the Plum/Baja "flower" in the bottom left hand corner.  Then you move a switch and it punches out a petal flower in the middle of the smaller layer - best seen in the bottom right-hand corner.  YES!  You get ALL of these shapes out of ONE PUNCH!  There are some tips I learned when punching:

1 - DO NOT hold your punch up in the air (like you normally do) when punching.  It WILL NOT punch!  You NEED to set the punch on the table and punch.
2 - Get used to the fact that it doesn't feel like it's punching when you're punching the full, large flower.  You barely feel like you're pushing down, but it's punching!  The more complex the image, the farther down the punch will compress.
3 - Keep your scraps!!!  I punched each of these in the various colors and had fun piecing them together.

I used a color combo from one of the thank you cards I made for Kara last week:  Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Early Espresso, and Sahara Sand.  Kara and Kathleen (and me) loved this color combo!  I was excited to use it again.

There are a couple of other sneak peeks on this card.  Can you find them?  Recognize that stamp set?  Nope, I didn't think so!  It's one of six sentiments that will be part of a NEW stamp set called "Happy Greetings".  I even have a class that features this stamp set on my calendar in June!  The other sneak peek...can you find it?  Is that white thread?!?!?  YES!!!  I'm TIRED of linen thread.  Stampin' Up! has a new collection of baker's twine coming out.  This one was pure white.  LOVE IT!!!

Here's a list of everything I used on this card (hopefully I get it all):

Ink:  Baja Breeze, Perfect Plum, Early Espresso
Stamps:  Happy Greetings, Dot Dot Dot, and A to Z
Punches:  Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer, 3/4" Circle, 1" Circle, 1/2" Circle, 1/16" Circle, Corner Rounder
Card Stock:  Perfect Plum, Early Espresso, Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, and Old Olive
Accessories:  Pearls, Subtles Buttons, Brights Buttons, Big Shot, Lattice Folder, Polka Dot Folder, White Baker's Twine

Sneak Peek: Travel Log

This past Monday was our second wedding anniversary!  And, I thought that I should probably make my husband a card.  I'm SO bad about giving cards.  I ALWAYS have been.  I know, it doesn't make sense.  My husband is SO thoughtful and romantic.  For our first anniversary last year, he went to my favorite restaurant and bought me some gift certificates.  You're probably thinking - that's nice but not so special.  Well, do you know WHY he went to that particular restaurant (other than the fact that it's a favorite)?  He remembered that they still issue PAPER gift certificates!  And, the traditional gift for the first annivesary is paper!

Anyway, I wanted to make him something romantic but masculine.  Glittery hearts were out.  So, I started to think about this journey that we've been on together.  We've experienced quite a bit in the past couple of years; and we love to travel.  We've been to Hawaii twice, Puerto Rico and the Southern Carribean, Arizona, Utah, Virginia, Las Vegas ,and various other little trips.  We've already got a trip to Alaska this spring and a vacation in Disney World next May on the books!  We love exploring and experiencing new places.  Our marriage has certainly been an adventure.  And that's when I realized which stamp set I'd use to make Mike's anniversary card - Travel Log.  You've never seen this one before.  It'll be coming out in the Summer Mini Catalog in May.  Stampin' Up! gave it to us in Nashville back in January.  It kinda seemed appropriate!  To be honest, I didn't like this stamp set when I initially saw it.  But, it's kinda workin' for me now.

Happy Anniversary, my love!