Non-Traditional Christmas
I really like the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week and thought that I would play along. I wasn’t going to buy the Christmas Cuties stamp set but thought that it would be a good one for my grandchildren to use to make cards for their friends. Anyway, you can’t have new product without trying it out and this sketch gave me the inspiration.
I started by attaching Marina Mist card to Whisper White card which was then embossed using the Softly Falling Embossing Folder (I really love this folder!). The embossed card is attached to scored and folded Pool Party card. My next layer is daffodil delight which I attached using dimensionals. 
The cute little angel from the Christmas Cuties stamp set is stamped onto Whisper White card using the new Basic Black Archival ink and then coloured using a Blender Pen and the following inks – Pool Party, Marina Mist, So Saffron, Daffodil Delight and Pink Pirouette. I punched the image using the 2-1/2″ Circle Punch before attaching to Pool Party card cut using a Circles Collection Framelits Die. The image is attached to the card front using dimensionals so that it would sit flat onto the Daffodil Delight card.
I decorated the inside by attaching a narrow strip of Daffodil Delight card behind one long edge of Marina Mist card before embossing using the Softly Falling Embossing Folder. The embossed card is attached to Whisper White card stamped with Merry Christmas from the Sassy Salutations stamp set using Marina Mist ink.
Isn’t it cute? I might have to play with this stamp set a little more before letting my Grandchildren have their turn.
Now what is really exciting is that the 2015 Holiday Catalogue launches today! Yay! That’s right, you can now place your order for your “must haves” for the holiday season. Don’t have a catalogue – you can view it by clicking on the picture on the right hand side of this page. Don’t have a demonstrator, then contact me to get a copy of this wonderful catalogue.
Bye for now,
Kris
Product Used:
Calypso Wedding
I had a request from one of the ladies at my Beachmere Class to create a Wedding card as her granddaughter is getting married soon. She showed me the invitation so that I could match the colour and I think Calypso Coral is perfect. I embossed Calypso Coral card using the Happy Hearts Embossing Folder and attached it to Whisper White card. I stamped the greeting from the Teeny Tiny Sentiments stamp set using Calypso Coral ink onto the right hand side of the Whisper White card. I wrapped the top of the Calypso Coral card using the Silver 5/8″ Satin Ribbon and tied a knot. 
The panel is attached to scored and folded Smoky Slate – I love how this card takes on a real silver look and is a perfect match for the ribbon. I stamped the hearts from the Hello Life stamp set onto Whisper White card using Calypso Coral ink and cut them out before attaching to the card front. I punched out a small heart from Calypso Coral card using the punch from the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack and attached it over the other two.
Inside I kept the card pretty simple -I attached a piece of Smoky Slate card behind one long edge of a narrow piece of Calypso Coral card embossed with the Happy Hearts Embossing Folder.
Fortunately the lady who asked for the card loved it and all in all it was a great success this week in class. I’d love to hear what you think.
Bye for now,
Kris
Product Used:
Peaceful Chistmas Card
Here is another card I made using my pre-order. This time I used the Peaceful Pines stamp set and the Boughs & Berries Embossing Folder. I attached the embossed Whisper White card to scored and folded Real Red card. I used the Lots of Labels framelits to cut the Whisper White card and the Real Red card. These pieces are attached together and then to the card front using dimensionals. I stamped the tree onto scrap Whisper White card using Garden Green ink and cut it out using the matching Perfect Pines Framelit Die. I used another die from the same set to cut the holes in the stamped tree. 
The stamped tree is attached to a Real Red tree cut with the matching Perfect Pines Framelit. I love how you get the colour coming through the stamped tree to create the look of a wreath around the tree. So clever! I stamped the tree pot using Real Red ink, cut it out using the matching framelit which is also in this set before attaching it with a dimensional over the tree trunk. (Actually I cut the dimensional in half so that the pot would sit properly over the tree trunk.) I punched a star from Red Glimmer Paper using the punch in the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack and attached it to the top of the tree. 
I decorated the inside of the card with a piece of Real Red card which I embossed using the Boughs and Berries Embossing Folder. It is quite easy to line this up so that it decorates the Real Red card perfectly. I attached the embossed card to Whisper White card and wrapped the card with Garden Green 1/8″ Striped Ribbon. Before I attached the panel to the inside of the card I stamped the greeting with comes from the Peaceful Pines stamp set using Real Red ink.
Such a great set to work with and isn’t it fabulous how we are getting these stamp sets with co-ordinating framelits. You have to love that, no more fussy cutting. Yay!
I bet you can’t wait to place your order for this catalogue. Remember it begins on September 1st, not long now! Unfortunately, I cannot link directly to the new product until after September 1st, so you will have to look up the numbers from your catalogue when you place your order.
Bye for now,
Kris
Product Used:
August Bonus Project
Each month when I hold my class – I tease the ladies who are coming by telling them that as well as completing the five cards I have shown them, they will make a “surprise” project which I try to make some sort of 3d project. For my August Class we made a box using the Baker’s Box Thinlits Die.
Our Baker’s Boxes were cut from Whisper White card and since I wanted the ladies to be able to make it from an A4 sheet of Whisper White card, we cut the first box piece with the “handle” piece in the centre of the card and then flipped the card around and cut the second box piece – you need two pieces to create the box. Most of the videos I saw recommended using 12 x 12″ card stock that is cut down to 6″ squares and cutting both pieces at the same time. Anyway, once our two pieces were cut we layered them together to cut out out handle. You get a choice of 3 handle styles with this die – we used the double hole handle style. The boxes went together very easily using Fast Fuse. We also added Fast Fuse to the base of our box to make it extra strong.
Since we focused on the Build A Birthday stamp set for this class we used this stamp set to decorate the box. I stamped the “banner” image onto Whisper White card using Bermuda Bay ink and punched it out using the 2″ Circle Punch. I attached it to a 2-3/8″ Scalloped Circle cut from Tip Top Taupe card before attaching it to the front of the box. I stamped the largest of the “cake layer” images onto Whisper White card using Crushed Curry ink and cut it out. “Birthday wishes” is stamped onto the Crushed Curry image using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and I cut a small “v” in each end. The “banner” was curled between our fingers and attached to the front of the box using dimensionals in the centre and a glue dot on each end. The rest of the panels were decorated with Bermuda Bay card which was embossed using the Lucky Stars Embossing Folder and attached to Tip Top Taupe card. We tied a length of the beautiful Tip Top Taupe 1″ Dotted Lace Trim through the holes created in the handle. Obviously we didn’t tie a knot because we need to fill our box before we give it away.
Want to see how it works, watch this video by Stampin’ Up!.
This is such a cute box and will hold quite a lot of chocolate or jewellery or even a mini cup cake! I’d love to hear what you think.
Bye for now,
Kris
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A sneak peak
I’m sorry I haven’t been sharing with you as much of late but I seem to have been very busy – so busy that my pre-order sat on the floor in my craft room for a week before I got to open anything and have a look! So today I will share with you the first card I made using some of the great products in my pre-order – a simple Christmas card I made using the Reason for the Season stamp set. Now although I am showing new product, the catalogue does not go live until 1st September, so get your note pad out and start making a list. If you are anything like me it will be long!
I embossed Real Red card using the Softly Falling Embossing Folder. I attached the embossed card to Whisper White card and wrapped it with the very beautiful (and new) Real Red 1/8″ Striped Ribbon. This ribbon comes in a pack of two ribbons with a Garden Green Striped Ribbon as well. I stamped the greeting which is from another new set called A Little Something using Old Olive ink. The Whisper White card is attached to scored and folded Sahara Sand card. The image is stamped in three steps. First the outline of the flower which I stamped in our new archival Basic Gray ink. 
The flowers were stamped using Real Red ink and the leaves using Old Olive ink. I attached the image panel to Old Olive card and then to the card front using dimensionals. I also added a large Basic Rhinestone to the centre of the flower.
Inside I added a piece of Real Red card embossed using the Softly Falling Embossing Folder which has a narrow strip of Old Olive card behind one long edge.
I love my first try using this stamp set and can’t wait to play with it a little more. One more fantastic thing is that the Reason for the Season stamp set is sold as a bundle with the Festive Flower Builder Punch which co-ordinates with some of the other leaves in the stamp set. Woo Hoo. Hooray for Bundles – you can save 15% by purchasing your supplies this way. If you don’t have a demonstrator please contact me so that I can arrange for you to get one.
Bye for now,
Kris
Product Used:
A Christmas Card
Already! It’s coming sooner than you think! We are going to be making one Christmas card each week from now till the end of the year. I was inspired by one of the samples in the new Holiday Catalogue to create this card (Catalogue starts on the 1st September so contact me or your demonstrator to get your copy). I hadn’t received my pre-order so I used what I had. I cut a square in Whisper White card using one of the Squares Collection Framlits Dies and stamped the greeting from the Sassy Salutations stampset onto the bottom of the Whisper White card using Mossy Meadow ink. I wrapped the card with Real Red 1/4″ Cotton Ribbon and tied a knot. 
I stamped a square of Whisper White card with the single tree from the Lovely As A Tree stamp set using Mossy Meadow ink (I made sure that the card was slightly larger than the cut out window). I stamped the image multiple times without re-inking. I wanted to create a feeling of depth, so just kept adding images until it had the look of a “forest”. I attached the trees behind the square cut in the card front. The card front panel is attached to scored and folded Real Red card using dimensionals. I stamped the same tree onto the lower left hand corner of Whisper White card three times without re-inking and attached to the inside of the card.
I love this card and can imagine it in many different colours, can’t you?
Bye for now
Kris
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Try Stamping On Tuesday Challenge 230
Oh my goodness I can’t believe how long it is since I completed a card sketch challenge, I always seem to be busy creating cards for my weekly class and never have time for the challenges each week. So this week I decided to create the cards for my class using the challenges to get my “mojo” going. The challenge at Try Stamping on Tuesday this week is to use a photo and sketch or just the photo or just the sketch. I used the sketch.
I attached Whisper White card to scored and folded Pink Pirouette card. Next I rounded the corners on a piece of Mossy Meadow card using the Project Life Corner Rounder Punch and embossed it using the Brick Wall Embossing Folder. 
The embossed piece is attached to the Whisper White card. I stamped the branch image from the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set onto Whisper White card using Mossy Meadow ink. I rounded the corners of the stamped card, attached it to Pink Pirouette card, also with the corners rounded and then the card front using dimensionals. I punched the flowers from Pink Pirouette card using the Tree Builder Punch, gave them a little dimension and attached them over the stamped flowers using a little Tombow Glue to hold them in place. I also added the three flowers to the top right hand corner of the Whisper White card. Each flower has a tiny Basic Pearl in the centre as well. 
I stamped the greeting from the Petite Pairs stamp set onto Whisper White card using Mossy Meadow ink and punched it out using the 1-1/4″ Circle Punch. The greeting is also attached to the card front using dimensionals.
Inside I added a panel of Mossy Meadow card which is embossed with the Brick Wall Embossing Folder, a narrow strip of Pink Pirouette card and three more flowers.
I’ve always loved the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set, which I have had a long time, but I tend to use my newer stamp sets and leave the older ones neglected on the shelf. Another reason I don’t use this one so much is because it is a Wood Mount set and I have to get out my Stamp-a-ma-jig to position it correctly. I guess I am getting spoilt by all the photopolymer stamp sets I now own. What about you? Are you like me, do you neglect your wood mount stamps in favour of the newer cling mount or photopolymer stamp sets?
Bye for now,
Kris
Product Used:
Anchors Away
Here is a card we made last week at my Beachmere Retirement Resort class. These classes are really so much fun. Some of the ladies have been coming for around 3 years now, making 3 cards a week and generally having a lovely time, catching up with each other. They make me feel like “one of the girls” and I love our weekly get together. I believe that making new friends and spending time with people who are doing something creative and fun at the same time has been the greatest benefit of being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator.
I started by stamping “happy birthday” from the Guy Greetings stamp set onto Whisper White card using Night of Navy ink. The stamped card is layered onto Night of Navy card and then scored and folded Crumb Cake card. 
I embossed another piece of Night of Navy card using the Boho Chic Embossing Folder and attached it to the stamped Whisper White card. I used a Banner Framelit Die to cut the end of a strip of Crumb Cake card and then embossed it using the Stylish Stripes Embossing Folder, however, I made sure that the embossed stripes ran down the length of the card. I stamped the banner image from the Amazing Birthday stamp set onto Whisper White card using Crumb Cake ink and cut it out using the matching Banner Framelit Die. Both Banners are attached to the card front and then a circle of Whisper White (cut using a Circle Framelit Die) is attached over the banners using dimensionals. I stamped the anchor image from the Guy Greetings stamp set onto Whisper White card using Night of Navy ink and cut it out before attaching it to the Whisper White circle.
Inside the card I added a strip of Night of Navy card embossed using the Boho Chic Embossing Folder which has a narrow strip of Crumb Cake card attached.
Simple but a great guy card, don’t you think?
Now let me tell you a little secret. I completely forgot to take the Guy Greetings stamp set with me to class. Soooo, I borrowed a greeting stamp set from my Mum (who also lives at the Retirement Resort) which the ladies used to stamp happy birthday and instead of the anchor some of the ladies stamped the cake image from the Amazing Birthday set using Night of Navy ink and attached it to a layer of Night of Navy card and then the Whisper White circle. A few ladies just left the circle blank and I will take over the stamp for them to complete next week (I write myself a note so that I don’t forget). The moral of the story being that there is always something you can do when you don’t have the same supplies as you need. The ladies are very forgiving and just laugh and smile and get on with their creating.
Bye for now,
Kris
Product Used:
A Dino-birthday
I just knew I had to have the No Bones About It stamp set when I first saw this year’s annual catalogue. It is so cute and I have at least 3 grandchildren who are a bit dinosaur mad. I created this card as an easel card for last week’s class at the Beachmere Retirement Resort.
I started by attaching Pacific Point card to the left hand side of Very Vanilla card before embossing using the Arrow Embossing Folder. I added a layer of Real Red card which I embossed using the Chevron Embossing Folder. I stamped the dinosaur onto Very Vanilla card using Tempting Turquoise ink which I stamped onto scrap paper first. The “bones” were stamped using the same ink, without stamping off first. I attached the stamped card to Basic Black card and then the card front using dimensionals. I stamped the greeting which is from the same stamp set onto Very Vanilla card using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and punched it out using the Large Oval Punch. The greeting is attached to an Old Olive Scalloped Oval and then the image panel.
I stamped a narrow piece of Very Vanilla card using the “footprint” stamp and Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I attached the stamped panel to Real Red card and then Very Vanilla card using dimensionals.
Isn’t it cute? I bet you know someone who would love this card, don’t you? Just click on the links below to take you to my store to purchase everything you need to re-create it. Easy isn’t it.
While I’m talking about my store, do you know that there is a section in the store called Project Ideas. In this section you will find heaps of projects and when you click on them you are given a list of product required to recreate your favourite projects. The projects themselves are ones that are showcased in this year’s annual catalogue. I love this feature! Since we don’t have a Stampin’ Supplies list anymore, this allows you to find your project and purchase any additional supplies you might need to recreate the one’s you love. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Bye for now,
Kris
Product Used:
A Drive in the Country
I have had an idea in my head for a while now to use the car from Guy Greetings and the group of trees from the Lovely as a Tree stamp set. When I finally sat down to make the card, I couldn’t find either of these stamp sets. They have completely vanished! So I had to re-order them to make this card.
I cut an oval in Tangello Twist card and then embossed using the Brick Wall Embossing Folder. I attached the embossed card to scored and folded Soft Suede card. 
I stamped the car from the Guy Greetings stamp set onto Whisper White card using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then covered it with a mask. I stamped the trees from the Lovely as a Tree stamp set over the top using Mossy Meadow ink. Before I removed the mask I stamped the long thin image from the Work of Art stamp set below the car to look like a road using Basic Gray ink. I removed the mask and using a Blender Pen and Lost Lagoon ink, coloured the car. 
I cut the image panel using a smaller oval than I had used on the front of the card and attached the panel to the card front using dimensionals.
Inside the card I stamped the car onto the lower left hand corner of Whisper White card using Memento Tuxedo Black ink, masked it and once again using Mossy Meadow ink stamped the single tree from the Lovely as a Tree stamp set. I stamped the long thin image using Basic Gray ink and removed the mask. Once again I coloured the car using a Blender Pen and Lost Lagoon ink.
I love with this card, it really does remind me of driving in the country. What do you think? As for my missing stamp sets, I live in hope that they will turn up one day.
Bye for now,
Kris
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