Stampin' with Kristin

Sheltering Tree

If you're like me and you surf blogs and Pinterest, chances are you've seen lots of home decor projects featuring Sheltering tree.  I love this stamp set and have been wanting to make my own for months!  I already had a 10x10 shadowbox frame from Pottery Barn that I knew would be perfect!

Each of my vanilla squares are 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" mounted on Early Espresso cut to 3-5/8" x 3-5/8" mounted on Pear Pizzazz cut to 3-7/8" x 3/7" mounted all on Early Espresso Card Stock.

I used the sample cards in the Occasions Catalog as my inspiration for the squares and I'm pleased with the result!

Here are some tips for each of the seasons:

- Winter:  I used a 2-Way Glue Pen to add small dots of Silver Stampin' Glitter.
- Spring:  I used a 2-Way Glue Pen to add the Crisp Cantaloupe sequins to the tree.
- Fall:  I inked the tree's leaves in Crushed Curry and then colored sections with the Cajun Craze M arker before stamping the image.

Click Here to Order Stampin' Up! Products Online

Stampin' Supplies:  All of the supplies I used to create the project are displayed below.  Feel free to click on each item to learn more about each product or purchase them in my online store.   There's also a nifty link on the bottom left that'll allow you to create your own printable list of all of the supplies!

• Sheltering Tree Photopolymer Stamp Set - 137163
  Price: $24.95
• 2013-2015 In Color Sequin Assortment - 133631
  Price: $4.95
• Silver Stampin' Glitter - 133756
  Price: $3.95
• Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad - 126975
  Price: $5.95
• Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad - 131181
  Price: $5.95
• Pear Pizzaz Classic Stampin' Pad - 131180
  Price: $5.95
• Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad - 126974
  Price: $5.95
• Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad - 131172
  Price: $5.95
• So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad - 126957
  Price: $5.95
• Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad - 126959
  Price: $5.95
• Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad - 132708
  Price: $5.95
• Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad - 126949
  Price: $5.95
• Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad - 131173
  Price: $5.95
• Regals Stampin' Write Markers - 131262
  Price: $28.95
• 1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon - 132140
  Price: $7.95

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Stamper's Dozen Blog Hop - Sale-a-Bration Accessories

Welcome to my blog!  I hope you've been enjoying this month's Stamper's Dozen Blog Hop.  I'm guessing you arrived via Janet's or Jodi's blogs so you've probably figured out our theme this month.  If not, our theme this month is: Sale-a-Bration Accessories.  I personally think this year's selection of Sale-a-Bration products is AMAZING.  I'm absolutely in love with the color combo in the DSP and accessories.

I set out to make a home decor project.  While the banner wasn't my first idea, I'm in love with the way it turned out!  I was momentarily stumped because I didn't own any "current" dies that made letters large enough for the banner.  Then I remembered the Celebration Basics Kit.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to spell - Celebrate definitely wasn't it.  Then the word "create" popped right out at me!  PERFECT for a craft room banner.   My next problem - those letters are SO large, they are almost too big for any of our banner-creating dies.  So, I handcut them using the pennants in the kit as my inspiration.  I popped each letter up off of the pennants with dimensionals.  For the flowers, I used white filter paper cut using the Bouquet Die from the Occasions Catalog spritzed in Calypso Coral and Crushed Curry.  With the Best Year Ever buttons, ribbons, and some white baker's twine I completed the banner - the first wall-hanging in the new house!

And, don't worry - I've already put the more of the Celebration Basics Kit to good use - stay tuned this weekend to see what I did!

Wanna see where I put the banner????

If you follow my blog, you may have read that I recently moved from NJ to UT.  I've been VERY quiet on my blog over the past month - I've been driving across the country, unpacking boxes, buying furniture, and all of the fun stuff that comes with moving thousands of miles across the country.  While I brought most of my Stampin' Up! and crafting supplies to Utah (some are left in my craft house in NJ for classes when I come back east), I sold most of my craft room furniture to my mom.  Therefore, before I could really unpack the craft room I had to find, buy, and assemble new furniture - and that happened last weekend.

Today's project hangs proudly over my most favorite new piece of furniture - the Liatorp Sideboard from Ikea.  I quickly realized that I needed a table where I could stand and cut paper and use my Big Shot.  I instantly fell in love with the sideboard - I could imagine my Big Shot storage boxes lined up on the shelves, Project Life boxes in the cabinets, and all of my catalogs from over the years easily accessible.  Before I purchased it, I didn't measure anything.  But when it was assembled and filled, I literally cried tears of joy.  It was better than I'd imagined!  You  may be asking where I found the hutch that stores my punches - that came from a Crate & Barrel Outlet in NJ.  My scrap storage is from Pottery Barn.  Everything else is from Stampin' Up!  Wanna see the rest of my new craft room?  Check back tomorrow!

Click Here to Order Stampin' Up! Products Online

Stampin' Supplies:  All of the supplies I used to create the cards are displayed below.  Feel free to click on each image to learn more about each product or purchase them in my online store.   There's also a nifty link on the bottom left that'll allow you to create your own printable list of all of the supplies!

Note: The products that have a price of $0.00 below are items you can receive for FREE between now and March 31st!  When you order $50 in products, you can choose an exclusive, Sale-a-Bration item for FREE.  There's NO limit to the number of free products you can earn!

Celebration Basics Kit - 133007

Price: $14.95

Best Year Ever Accessory Pack - 138634

Price: $0.00

Best Year Ever Designer Series Paper - 138633

Price: $0.00

White Filter Paper - 129393

Price: $2.95

Bouquet Bigz L Die - 137367

Price: $39.95

Twine Baker's Whisper White - 124262

Price: $2.95

Painted Blooms Cotton Twine - 137873

Price: $6.95

1/8" Circle Handheld Punch - 134365

Price: $8.95

Stampin' Spritzer - 126185

Price: $2.95

Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Ink Refill - 131158

Price: $2.95

Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Ink Refill - 122934

Price: $2.95

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Peekaboo Hexagon Hive

Today's card is one that I created for my stamp club earlier this week.  it features the Hexagon Hive thinlit.  Would you believe I'd never used this thinlit?  Don't get me wrong, I love almost every card I've seen that uses it.  It was inspired by this card by Sarah Sagert.  I changed up the colors and the orientation, but the idea was all hers.

I used the Retro Fresh Washi Tape as well as the Summer Silhouettes stamp set.  What do you think?  I love it!

 

Spring Cleaning

Hello friends!  I'm sure it seems like AGES since I've posted an actual stamped project on my blog.  I just looked - it looks like it's been over 2 weeks!  Yikes!  Well, that's probably because I haven't stamped much this month.  Why?  I've been bitten by the Spring Cleaning Bug.  Mike and I have both spent quite a bit of time recently cleaning out closets and rooms and sections of our basement.  It hasn't left much time for stamping.  But, I have squeezed some in here and there. 

Today I wanted to share with you a card I made a couple of weeks ago for my stamp club.  It was inspired by this card created by Kimberly Van Diepen a couple of years ago!  I wasn't looking for a card that included triangles, but in the back of my mind, I really wanted to use the new triangle punch.  So, when I stumbled upon her card, I knew I had a layout that I loved!  I think this card (with the exception of the pearls) coudl make a very nice masculine birthday card.  What do you think?

Yippee Skippee!

Yesterday was such a dreary day here in New Jersey that I just had to make a bright and cheerful card!  For inspiration, I turned to the Color Coach.  Do you have one of those?  It gives you ideas for color combos.  Sometimes I find it to be good inspiration for me.  Granted, yellow and gray isn't exactly a new color combo.  I love these colors together, but stumbling upon them simply reminded me that I like them!  The layered fringe was inspired by a project I saw in the Stampin' Up! demonstrator magazine, Stampin' Success.  I also hadn't yet used the On Film Framelits and really wanted to.  So, add all of those ideas together, and here's what ya get!

Here are the products I used to make today's card:

- Yippee Skippee Stamp Set
- Petite Petals Stamp Set
- On Film Framelits
- Petite Petals Punch
- Fringe Scissors
- Jet Black Stazon Ink
- Whisper White Card Stock
- Daffodil Delight Card Stock
- Smoky Slate Card Stock
- Basic Gray Card Stock
- Brights Collection DSP Stack
- Rhinestones

Coming Soon: Stamper's Dozen Blog Hop

If you follow stampers' blogs, I'm sure you've stumbled upon a blog hop or two.  I know I have.  I love hopping from one blog to the next checking out the variety of styles and designs.  Well, a group of demonstrators (including myself) decided to start a new blog hop! 

I've gotten to know just about all of the participants at Founder's Circle, on incentive trips, at Stampin' Up! events, or just through social media.  We all belong to a Facebook Group for Stampin' Up! demonstrators who have achieved a certain title.  I love the ideas that these women share.  And, I love them!

It all happened very quickly.  Patty posted to our group wondering if anyone was looking for new participants in a blog hop.  Well, a flood of demonstrators chimed in that we'd love to be involved in a blog hop and a new group was born.  In fact, SO many people wanted in, that we had to take the first 13 responders (thus the name - Stamper's Dozen).  A new Facebook group was formed, logos were created in MDS, rules were put together, themes were brainstormed, and we had our blog hop group - in under 5 hours!  The first hop is scheduled for this Saturday, February 15!  With the Olympics upon us, the first theme will be "Go For The Gold".  Plus, Gold is super trendy right now.  Have you seen all of the accessories in the Occasions Catalog that feature gold?  There's vellum and foil paper and ink and washi tape!  I'm sure you'll be seeing many of those products on the hop this weekend.

Here's a teaser for one of the cards I was playing with as I was designing my "official" hop project.  It features many of the new gold products. 

I typically show my completed cards to my husband, Mike, to get his opinion.  He cracks me up.  He opens up every single card to read the inside greeting.  My cards NEVER have inside greetings!  I actually wondered if I should just set this aside for our 5-year anniversary next month, but I decided against it.  Turns out he LOVED this card.  He said it looks like an anniversary card that's fancy.  It's not playful.  He tends to buy funny, playful cards.  I'm glad this one was a hit.  Think he'll forget that he saw it when I give it to him next month???

Here are the supplies I used:
- Perfect Couple Stamp Set- Gold Foil Sheets
- Watercolor Wonder Designer Washi Tape
- Gold Encore Ink
- Hearts Framelits
- Pearls
- Very Vanilla Card Stock

Getting my Mojo Back

Have you missed me?  Last week was a crazy week with the storms and travel for me.  I had to fly up to Canada on Monday afternoon in the middle of all of that snow.  Granted, if you live near me you didn't get any.  But, just a few miles up the road they got TONS.  I made it safe and sound, attended my all-day meeting in Toronto on Tuesday, and flew back right before the ice storm on Tuesday night.  I've felt so far behind all week long!  But, after a restful weekend of sleeping in, visiting with friends, a date night, and a birthday party later today, I'm feeling more like myself again!

I don't have any stamping events on my calendar this week.  So, I had some time to sit down and stamp just for the fun of it.  I often turn to the Mojo Monday website for some good card sketches and decided to take a stab at sketch 330.  Today's card is what I came up with.

Here are the supplies I used:
- Starburst Sayings Stamp Set
- Starburst Framelits Dies (the stamps and framelits are available as a bundle)
- Bermuda Bay Card Stock, Classic Ink, and Candy Dot
- Silver Encore Ink
- Corner Rounder Punch
- Basic Black and Whisper White Card Stock
- Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper
- Silver 1/8" Ribbon
- Arrows Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Tune in tomorrow for an exciting announcement!

A Romantic Valentine

On Friday I had another one of my favorite, annual Stampin' Up! workshops at Suzie's house.  And, as usual, I asked for any requests.  Turns out Suzie had some very specific requests!  The first project she wanted to make was a Valentine's Day card using the Happy Watercolor stamp set.  Well...to be honest, I never thought "Valentine's Day" when I saw that stamp set.  But, I was up for the challenge. 

As usual, I turned to Pinterest to look for inspiration.  I still had the card I posted on Friday in my head.  I just loved the color combo and thought it looked very "vintage romantic".  That would work for a Valentine's Day card, right?  Then I stumbled upon this card by Natasha Zandbergen.  But, I changed it up a bit to look a bit more romantic and Valentine-y...is that a word?  I loved her color combo, too, but it did NOT scream Valentine's Day!

I taught the group an interesting new splatter technique that Shelli demonstrated on stage at Leadership.  You take a marker, color on the Glue Dot paper (after glue dots have been removed), add a teeny tiny bit of water and the flick the paper.  I'm pretty sure I was the only one who tried the techinque.  The hostess quickly ran to her craft room to grab Gorgeous Grunge!  The sentiment on my card is from the Follow My Heart stamp set that is available while supplies last or until February 14th.

Spiral Flowers - Gorgeous!

I'm in love with this very unmailable card!  This is the third card my stamp club created on Wednesday night.  It was also inspired by a card on Pinterest - this one by Wendy Weixler.  You can probably tell that I changed this one up quite a bit.  But I loved her color scheme and grouping of roses.  I loved the Hardwood Background, but thought I could simplify it a bit for my stamp club and still make it gorgeous.

The colors I used were Crisp Cantaloupe, Baked Brown Sugar, Pistachio Pudding, and Very Vanilla.  If you haven't seen it, the roses were created by the fabulous, new Spiral Flower die.  I use my hot glue gun to adhere the flowers.  But, I'm sure you can use others.  I prefer hot glue because it cools/dries so quicly!

The sentiment is from the Perfect Pennants stamp set that is bundled with the Banners Framelits that I used on their other two cards.

Happy Watercolor for People Who Don't Watercolor!

I like to think that the new Happy Watercolor Stamp Set is for those of us who don't like to watercolor!  There are these cool "blotches" in the set that are pretty darn awesome that help you fill in the flowers or just add color! 

If you saw yesterday's post, you might have guessed that this is the second card that my stamp club made last night.  I was browsing to find a different style.  And, knowing that I had a request to use this stamp set on Friday, I was hoping to find something that would work for both.  This doesn't.  But, I loved it.  I loved the style.  It was inspired by this card created by Jenny Peterrson.  I think what stood out was her use of ribbon - just strips of it in the background - and the color combo - Daffodil Delight and Bermuda Bay!  I stamped the Dictionary Background stamp in Smoky Slate and the flower outlines in Jet Black Stazon.  The pennant was cut using the new Banners Framelits.  

A Stamp Club Valentine

Tonight's my first class/workshop/club of the year.  I'm so excited to get back to stamping with all of my fabulous customers!  I've been in my craft room whipping up all sorts of projects since my Open House.  I've made dozens and dozens of cards.  I've even sent out a big ol' stack. 

This card is one of three cards my stamp club will be making tonight.  The hostess didn't give me any requests which meant I was free to do whatever I want.  And, I think these projects get better and better as I created!  I'll be sharing all three over the next few days.

I had pretty much run out of stamping mojo when I sat down to design these cards so I turned to my favorite inspiration website - Pinterest!  I stumbled upon this card created by Amy O'Neill.  I absolutely love her style so I wasn't shocked when one of her cards jumped out at me.  I changed a few things around. 

The colors are Coastal Cabana and Real Red.  I used the Language of Love and Love You to the Moon Stamp Sets.  The DSP is from the Fresh Prints DSP Stack - love that thing!!!

Thank You!

I wanted to share with you the thank you cards that will be mailed out today!  I made a HUGE stack of these - so I had to keep them fairly simple.  I got the idea from a swap or an idea on Pinterest or something.  I honestly can't remember, but it's definitely not an original idea to adhere several strips of washi tape (Retro Fresh in this case) and then layer over it the negative image cut from the Hearts Collection Framelits dies.  I thought it needed a little something so I added a rhinestone and stamped a sentiment from the Simply Celebrate stamp set in the Occasions Catalog. 

Happenings - Simply Created

Do you like kits?  I know many of you like creating cards that are gorgeous works of art.  I know I do!  But, sometimes we just need a quick card to send.  We don't have time to sit down and create something brand new.  That's when kits come in handy.  Stampin' Up! has quite a few card kit options!

Today's cards are part of the Happenings Simply Created Card Kit in the Occasions Catalog.  I personally don't think the photo in the catalog does this kit ANY justice!

The kit comes with supplies to make 15 cards and costs $14.95.  Yes, that's less than $1 per card!  This kit doesn't include adhesive, ink, or stamps like some of our kits (which keeps the cost down).  And, I'm guessing you already own ink, adhesive, and stamps!  I made the mistake of forgetting to order the stamp set that Stampin' Up! has paired with the kit.  I was pretty bummed at first.  Then I realized that I could use ANY stamp set - and so can you!  I used some of the sentiments in the new Occasions Catalog stamp sets.  I stamped in Coastal Cabana, Strawberry Slush, and Baked Brown Sugar.  I made my cards exactly as Stampin' Up! suggested.  But, you can certainly mix them up any way you want.  I do love that all of the pieces are die cut.  You don't have to cut ANYTHING - well, you might want to trim the baker's twine!

I Know It's Not Perfect...

I know it's not perfect...but I did it!  I know you've probably seen TONS of cards that include some stitching.  But, not on here - made by me.  I've never done it.  I've been too scared.  But, Shelli shared quite a few cards where added a little stitching, I just had to try it.  AND...YOU ALL WERE RIGHT!  It's SO easy!  Some of my card club girls are probably cheering for me.  Debbie has been asking me for YEARS to sew on a card.  Look out Deb!!!

So the lines aren't straight and the stitches aren't even and one of the hearts is glued on top of the stitches because it fell off...I'm so stinkin' proud of my first attempt!  Okay, okay....is anyone shocked that I wouldn't start easy?  I'm guessing you're not!  Starting easy isn't my style.  I dive in head first into the deep end.  I wouldn't start with a few stitches, I had to try something that required me to turn the card front SIX times and go through the center of TWENTY little tiny hearts!

It may have helped if I'd replaced the batteries in my sewing machine.  Yes, that's right.  I used a rinky dinky little sewing machine that might have cost $10 that I picked up before becoming a demonstrator.  I'll be honest...I was pretty shocked when the batteries weren't all acidy. 

So....here you have it....my very first machine-stitched card!  The supplies are few - I used the Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack and Small Heart Punch.  Shelli sewed her little hearts directly onto Whisper White Card Stock.  I decided to swap it out with Crumb Cake so you could see all of my little, incredibly imperfect stitches!  I encourage you to pull out your sewing machine and give it a try....that is if you didn't do that YEARS ago!

Burlap and Blooms Wreath Kit

Did you notice the Burlap and Blooms Wreath Kit on the bottom of page 21 of the 2014 Occasions Catalog?  It was so much fun to put together and looks great!  I made this one the other night after being inspired at the Leadership Conference.  I absolutely adore those fringey flowers.

The Burlap and Blooms Simply Created Wreath Kit comes with everything you need to make the wreath except for adhesive, scissors, and a bone folder.  And, I'm sure you all have those!

I will be offering this as a class this winter/spring!  So, if you'd like me to walk you through how to make the wreath, this class will be perfect for you!  I'll be announcing all of the details at my open house on Saturay, January 25 and posting them online shortly after!

I just wandered over to the Stampin' Up! blog and see that they're also featuring this wreath today!  Great minds think alike!

Stampin' Up! Leadership 2014 - Swap 3

Today's the last day of the Leadership Conference.  By now I really hope I'm out of swaps!  (I typed this last Sunday.)  Truth be told - I hate swapping.  Yes.  I find the process to be torture.  I'm not good with making the same card over and over again.  I hate walking up to people HOPING they like my card and want to swap with me.  I hate carrying a big ol' box/bag of cards around everywhere.  I hate having to pack them safely and hope the airline doesn't lose them (it's never happened).  I always worry that I'll have to bring some of my swaps home because everyone else ran out of swaps before me (that's never happened).  It's just COMPLETELY stressful for me. 

BUT....I absolutely LOVE coming home with a fabulous assortment of cards in a wide variety of styles.  In the end, all of that pain and suffering is TOTALLY WORTH IT!  And, I'll have all 151 cards on display (plus others) at my Open House later this month.  Don't you want to see the end result of all of this torture?

Anyway...after designing two cards that just weren't quick (but they were gorgeous), I came up with today's design.  I think it's "just okay".  It's a perfectly acceptible swap card.  And, silly me had to slow down the process and COLOR each of them.  I made 35 of these.  Why 35?  Easy.  I could get 18 out of a sheet of Designer Series Paper.  And, I kept this one to display later.  The actual swap ended up having a shorter focal point.  I thought this one had a little too much white space so I made it 1/4" shorter.  It also made the ribbon not look SO lost.  I like this color combo (Bermuda Bay and Basic Black).  The DSP is from the Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper.  I also used the Crushed Curry sheet with the little white triangles.  That one looks super cool, too.  I kept everything the same but the DSP.  I can tell this will be my second favorite color combo over the next few months.

Here are all of the supplies I used to make 35 of these cards:
Pomp & Circumstance Stamp Set (NEW)
Jet Black Stazon Ink
Bermuda Bay Stampin’ Write Marker
Bermuda Bay Card Stock
Whisper White Card Stock
Basic Black Card Stock
Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper (NEW)
Bermuda Bay 1/8” Taffeta Ribbon

Stampin' Up! Leadership 2014 - Swap 2

Hello!  Are you ready to see the second swap I designed?  You may remember me mentioning that I thought yesterday's card was too time-consuming so I decided to try to design a simpler one.  I failed.  But, I still made 50 of this one.  Why isn't this one simple?  Because I used the Stamp-a-Ma-Jig to position the colors inside of the banners on the tag and the sentiment.  Any time you use a Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, it's not going to save time!  But, I LOVE this card!!!

It had to be "vanilla", because I'd already pre-cut 160 layers for yesterday's design.  AND, the only DSP in the Occasions Catalog to include vanilla is Retro Fresh.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE how this card turned out.  Have I said that already?  These colors are AWESOME together.

Again, I used the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch therefore I had to round the corners on the bottom.  That's just gonna always bother me if the bottom of these tags are square.

Here are all of the supplies I used to create 50 of these cards:
Happy Congratulations Stamp Set (NEW)
Regarding Dahlias Stamp Set
So Saffron Classic Ink
Baked Brown Sugar Classic Ink
Coastal Cabana Classic Ink
Tangerine Tango Classic Ink
So Saffron Card Stock
Very Vanilla Card Stock
Baked Brown Sugar Card Stock
Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper (NEW)
Gold Baker’s Twine (NEW)
Very Vanilla Seam Binding
Scalloped Tag Topper Punch (NEW)
3/16” Corner Rounder Punch
Stamp-a-Ma-Jig

Stampin' Up! Leadership 2014 - Swap 1

Greetings from Houston, Texas!  I'm down here for the annual Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference.  And, like every Stampin' Up! event, there's swappin' goin' on!  I made 151 swaps this year.  Yes, it's a very random number.  I started out making 160 of one design until I realized how time-consuming it was to create.  So, I stopped after making 66.  Don't ask why I stopped at 66 - it just happened that way. 

You may recognize this card.  I actually posted it last Friday but didn't really draw much attention to it except to talk about how I created the layer with the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch.  I absolutely LOVED this  layout from my holiday cards. Click here to view the original.  I changed up the colors to coordinate with the Retro Fresh Designer Series Washi Tape.  I AM IN LOVE with the Retro Fresh color combo:  Baked Brown Sugar, Tangerine Tango, Coastal Cabana, So Saffron, and Very Vanilla.  And, what cracks me up is that I don't even like 2 of those colors!!!

Here are all of the supplies I used to create this card:
Perfect Pennants Stamp Set (NEW)
Spiral Spins Stamp Set (NEW)
Coastal Cabana Classic Ink
So Saffron Classic Ink
Baked Brown Sugar Classic Ink
Coastal Cabana Card Stock
Very Vanilla Card Stock
Gold Foil Paper
Retro Fresh This & That Designer Washi (NEW)
7/16” Natural Trim Ribbon
Gold Baker’s Twine (NEW)
Gold Sequin Trim (didn't make it onto the actual swaps) ( NEW)
Chalk Talk Framelits
Scalloped Tag Topper Punch (NEW)

I'll be posting more about the Leadership Conference as the week goes on.  Be sure to check back daily.  I'll also be posting the other two card designs I'm swapping this week.

Happy Watercolor

Wanna see the first Thank You card design of 2014?  I made up "just in case" I had some orders in the first couple of days of 2014.  Silly me.  Of course I would!  THANKS! 

Unfortunately, a former customer of mine passed away the day after Christmas. (I say former because her daughter and granddaughter became demonstrators and she no longer ordered from me.)  I hoped that a handstamped card would put a small smile on their faces during this sad time.  She was a wonderful woman and will be greatly missed. 

You may be wondering why I changed the subject kinda ubruptly.  Well, after making the Sympathy cards, I decided to make some Thank You cards of the same design.  I had seen this idea over and over online and knew immediately that the design would be flexible enough for almost any occasion.  The colors were inspired by the Retro Fresh line of products in the Occasions Catalog - Tangerine Tango, Baked Brown Sugar, So Saffron, and Coastal Cabana.  I'm not sure if it's appropriate for a sympathy card, but I added some dazzling diamonds to the flowers.

Do You Have a January Birthday?

As part of my resolution to send more cards in 2014, I want to send YOU a birthday card!  However, I probably don't know your birthdate!  SO...if you'd like to receive a birthday card (and a special surprise) from me, shoot me an e-mail (kristinkortonick@yahoo.com) with your birth month and day.  AND, if you aren't sure if I have your snail mail address, it's probably a good idea to include that as well!

Today's card is one of the cards I'll be mailing out this month.  It uses several new products!  First, the sentiment is from the Another Great Year stamp set in the Occasions Catalog.  I stamped it in Basic Gray and colored it with Summer Starfruit, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Pool Party.  The fun banners were made using some Sale-a-Bration items!!!  That's right!  You can make those banners absolutely free!!!  I used the adorable Banner Punch and the gorgeous Sweet Sorbet DSP.  You'll be able to choose one of those items for every $50 you spend between January 26 and March 31, 2014.  The banners needed to be connected somehow - so I chose to use rhinestones.  This was an idea I spotted on Pinterest on a card created by Nicole Tugrul.