Thursday, May 31, 2012

The Sky is the Limit

Good morning!  Back with a quick post today before I'm off and running.  The last few days I've been stealing a moment here and there to choose favorite samples from the new Stampin' Up! 2012-2013 Idea Book & Catalog to CASE (copy and share everything).  I can begin ordering out of this fabulous new favorite catalog of mine TOMORROW, June 1, but in the mean time I'm just recreating some of my favorites samples with stuff I already have. 

This time I copied the first card on page 79.  Used a similar color scheme but different stamps and papers, and slightly different accessories.  I also separated my panels instead of having them all on one piece. 

Anyone else want to play along?  If so, choose a favorite sample from the current or new catty and see what you can do with it.  Tomorrow I'll share another one from page 71. 

Have fun!
~Kristin

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Baby Shower Gifts... Part 4

Finally, what I've been waiting to share with you.  My favorite of the Baby Shower Gifts.  Saw this idea on Pinterest and thought it was adorable.  It was so much fun to use cherished things from my stash, some old and some new!  So many possibilities with this one.  This little canvas is a 6"x6" and came in a four pack so I can do THREE more before I need new supplies.  Isn't that awesome?!  The ideas have been swirling ever since I bought them. 
Here's a view of the edge so you can see how it is wrapped in Old Olive striped ribbon.  Love that finishing touch even though the sides were nice.  Many of these buttons and brads were from my SU stash and some were from my "random buttons that fell off" stash.  I did buy a few too, but not many.
I was finally able to upload my picture of the whole set.  If you'd like to see them individually please see the previous 3 posts. 

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you've enjoyed these as much as I did making them! 
~Kristin

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Baby Shower Gifts.... Part 3

If you go to the trouble of making unique, coordinating gifts then it is a MUST that the packaging and card match too!  Using several repeating elements tie them all together regardless of what they are.  Here is the gift bag I gussied up to go with the gifts.  I tried to keep it simple and elegant.   


Here is the card I made.  It turned out so nice compared to my first idea!  Let's just say it got scrapped before I even got very far.  Don't you just love these colors together?!  Thought the embossed dots would soften it all up and add a tiny bit of whimsy.  Hope you like it!  Up tomorrow is my most favorite part of all!  And hopefully I can add my picture of the entire group (fingers crossed).  Thanks for visiting,

~Kristin

PS- In case you missed them, here are the other parts to this gift so far. 

Monday, May 28, 2012

Baby Shower Gifts.... Part 2

If you saw my teaser yesterday you are ready for the second installment of "Baby Shower Gifts" so here it is.  I thought it would be fun to make a door hanging "Do Not Disturb" sign.  This could be used on the baby's bedroom door, or even on the front door so as to warn visitors to avoid using the doorbell. Of course it has to have a decorated flip side too!  Even if it isn't used it will be a cute matching decor item just for fun!
In case you missed it, here is the first item in this series.  The details can be found HERE.

Same supplies used as yesterday plus the Labels Collection Framelit.  And I think it is kind of appropriate that the free font I downloaded from the internet is called Reisling.  Just what a new mama needs, eh?! 

Hope you'll stop back tomorrow for Part 3 in my Baby Shower Gifts series.  Hint:  Everything must match!
~Kristin

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Baby Shower Gifts.... Part 1

Did I mention before that I was working on something really exciting??  Well, I went to a baby shower today of a very special family friend and decided to put my best effort into creating something unique. Since my photo of all the gifts, card and packaging won't upload for some crazy reason I am only showing you the first part today.  That means I can drag this out for a few days and you'll have to come back to see the rest.  Of course, I'll save my favorite part for last.  (How's that for a teaser?)

I managed to find out ahead of time that baby Noah is whom we are anticipating and his room will be decorated in Chocolate, Olive and Turquoise.  Isn't that a fun color combo?  I hope she'll send pictures when the room is all complete! 

I love the name Noah so had to do something with his name.  This is a banner made with chipboard squares the size of restaurant coasters, just cut from spare chipboard included in random Stampin' Up! products.  I used a retired pack of SU papers called Au Chocolate.  I'm so glad I had a lot left over because they gave me the perfect base to work with!  Here are closeups of each letter:   





I used all Stampin' Up! products with the exception of the pawprint brad on the "O".  I also used the Cricut to cut the letters out.  I will include a list of products I used at the end.  Well, be sure to stop back for Baby Shower Gifts... Part 2.  Here's a hint at what's to come:  Do Not Disturb!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Kristin

SUO Supplies: 
Stamps:  Have a Ball (retired)
Papers:  Au Chocolate DSP, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Variety of ribbons and buttons (some retired), small star punch, Polka Dots embossing folder, Big Shot

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Congrats, Grad!

As a high school teacher and coach my husband is easily invited to dozens of graduation parties every year.  So every year about this time I'm frantically making graduation cards.  This year I actually remembered to take some photos to share.  True to my nature I struggle making multiples of the same design, but I did.  Then came up with a few variations on the design to keep it interesting...and because gluing on all those photo corners became tedious.  And YES, if you're wondering, this is the ONLY graduation stamp set I own!  Love it though, so why not?

Here is an inside shot.  The sentiment, while the same as one of SU's sets that I don't have, is from a Verve set that I won.  Love that phrase and I think it is perfect for a graduation card. 

In case you didn't notice, the large star is punched in the inside making a window to see through.  I just glued on a strip of the First Edition DSP (LOVE that stuff!) to hold the small star in place.  Just for fun!

Here are two more versions using nearly all the same materials.  The card base on these is either Sahara Sand or Crumb Cake (ran out of Sahara Sand!).  Other colors are black and either Real Red or Riding Hood red depending on which card you're looking at.  The ones with the glitter paper circle use Real Red.



So glad you decided to stop by!  Have a super busy weekend planned so may not be back until next week, we'll see.  In the mean time, go drool over the new Stampin' Up! Catalog.  I just got my boxes yesterday and am in LOVE!  My wish list is quite a bit longer than usual.

 
Ooh, almost forgot... used the sketch from Clean & Simple for these last two designs! It was perfect!
 

~Kristin

SUO Supplies
Stamps:  Go, Graduation; Varsity Numbers
Colors:  Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Real Red, White
Accessories:  Glitter paper, star punches, circles punches, Photo corner punch, circle brads, dotted scalloped ribbon in black

Monday, May 21, 2012

Fun New Stuff!

Here's a fun one to share.  Used some new goodies from the upcoming Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog.  The stamp set is called Betsy's Blossoms.  I also added a strip of DSP from the new pack called Floral District, as well as the Specialty DSP called First Edition that will be carried over to the new catalog I believe.  This is neat stuff- not sure why I hadn't tried it before.  An entire pack of light weight paper, all printed like pages from a book.  Can't wait to play with it some more!  This is also my first use of the new Bitty Banners Framelits that will be in the new catalog and available June 1. 
Here's a peek at the inside.  I have a special person to send this one too- someone who did me a HUGE favor! 
And the sketch that I used from Pal's Paper Arts. 
Thanks for stopping to see me today! 
~Kristin

SUO Supplies
Stamps:  Betsy's Blossoms, Petite Pairs
Colors:  Lucky Limeade, So Saffron, Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  First Edition DSP, Floral District DSP, Dotted Rich Razzleberry ribbon, Dotted Scallop ribbon border punch, Bitty Banners Framelits, Big Shot, Basic Pearls


Saturday, May 19, 2012

All You Do

Finally finished up my Artisan entries for the Stampin' Up! design team tryouts so I'm ready for some good old-fashioned stamping.  Used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches with some new goods that will premier in the new Stampin' Up! catalog on June 1st!  This new blue color I used for the card base is a new In Color called Midnight Muse.  It is rich and very pretty.  The designer series paper is also new and called Comfort Cafe.  It has some beautiful jewel tones as well. 
Here's a quick shot of the inside.  Pulled out an old retired set for this called All Holidays.  Below is the sketch.  You should try it! 

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you are having a beautiful day today, like we are here in Ohio! 
~Kristin

SUO Supplies
Stamps:  Simply Soft, For All You Do
Colors:  Midnight Muse, Baja Breeze
Accessories:  Comfort Cafe DSP, Antique Brad, Cherry Cobbler dotted scallop ribbon, Big Shot, Stripes embossing folder, Framelits Labels Collection

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Two More Layouts and an apology

I feel like I owe you an apology.  I expect people to visit my blog, enjoy it, comment and be enticed to come back for more... then I give nothing more.  So, I'm sorry.  I'd love to blog and stamp as often as I think about it, but it just doesn't happen.  But alas, I'm finally DONE with my *ahem* contest entries and ready to ship them off so hopefully I'll be back to something appealing to look at that I can actually show you.  Of course, the weeds are now taller than I am (you are not the only one I've neglected) so that needs to be addressed as well. 

In the mean time, here are two more layouts I completed at my recent scrapbook weekend.  If you are looking for examples of how to get LOTS of pictures on a page look no further!  I'm a pro at this by now.  :) 

This top layout was done with the specialty designer series paper, The Write Stuff.  I really love those colors:  Soft Suede, So Saffron, Real Red (I think), and some Old Olive.  Used the stamp set Circle Circus too. 

This page uses a little Pink Flamingo DSP.  I did both of these titles with the Cricut and various cartridges.  Over the weekend we seriously had probably 100 or more cartridges to choose from!! 

So, thanks for bearing with me and visiting one more time.  Let me know you've stopped by and maybe I'll be motivated to come back with a bang.  LOL! 
Have a great day!
~Kristin

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Sweet!


One of my favorite layouts I finished last weekend!  I am in denial that my beloved Medallion stamp is retiring.  One of the only mistakes I think SU made in the huge list of retiring stamps and stuff!  Doesn't really matter because I don't get rid of anything and will continue to use it. 

So glad I was able to fit all these pictures on one layout but still have the drama of only 2 pics on one side (even though my daughter wasn't looking).  What a fun time in our lives when they were this age!   


Here's another one... our very first camping trip with the kids.  A one-night tenter!  We've since upgraded to a pop-up camper which is quite a bit more luxurious.  What fond memories though. 
All SU stuff, but the title & tree and frame for journaling were all done on the Cricut.  Love that thing!  Now that I'm looking at this one I wish I would've switch the two embellishments on the right side for a more balanced look.  Might still do that!

Thanks for stopping by today.  This Mother's Day weekend take a moment to hug your mom and tell her how much she means to you, if you still have the chance.  Will be missing mine more than ever.
~Kristin

Friday, May 11, 2012

Wild Things

Surprise!  I'm back.  Sorry I've not been posting lately.  I've been keeping myself busy (obsessing) working on some "secret" projects and had a long scrapbook weekend last weekend so had plenty to keep me busy.  Thought I'd pop on and share a few of the 12 pages I completed. 

This first one was quick and easy, but fun to use the Inspired by Nature stamp set to add some grass to the bottom... and the Mixed Bunch stamp set for the flowers.  My title was made with the Cricut.  Everything SU besides the font.  Colors:  Crumb Cake, Garden Green, Summer Sun.
 
Here's another one.  A rare single page layout of my son's first day of preschool.  I copied this layout from some random old magazine- loved it!  Intended to keep it totally simple then as I was all done I got not 1, not 2 but THREE random ink smudges on the "white" areas so had to dream up a few extras to cover them.  Still like it though. 

All Stampin' Up! papers used here, but the alphabet ribbon and charm and stamps (gasp) are not SU.  Both sets, alphabet from MFT and quote from Verve, were sets I've won in various contests lately! 

That's all for today.  I have so much to do today preparing for my family coming for the weekend.  I'll stop back with more scrapbook pages soon.  Thanks for stopping by today!
~Kristin