Off to the beach..

I am off to sunny Florida in the morning for ten glorious days. I can't wait to soak up some of that beautiful sunshine. It has been cold here the last few days so the warm weather will be very much enjoyed. I tried to pack a few stamping things. Trying to remember what could go in my carry-on and what had to go in my luggage was driving me crazy. I can't tell you how many times I had to rearrange things. I hope to have a lot of new cards to post when I get back.

Hope you all have a wonderful week and I'll do my best to have one also. Some how I feel that is going to be a little easier for me than it is for you.

Have fun and enjoy!

~Kim

New Stamps

The third Thursday of each month we meet at a local stamp store (Mary Maxim) for our stamp club. That night and for that entire weekend we get 25% off anything in the stamping and paper craft department. Look what I found this month. Anyone who knows me as a stamper, knows I love crowns. So I just had to have the set from K&Company. I also fell in love with this Hero arts set. I especially like the script circle because I can see using it on flower embellishments. Use a dark ink on a lighter flower. It really adds a nice touch. I think I am going to take these with me to Florida so I will post my creations when I get back. I will try to remember to do up a flower so you can see what it looks like.

I have a lot to do before I head down to Florida on Monday. I want to take some stamping things but it has to be light so I will have some decisions to make. I am not very good at trying to create something with out my stash around me. This is really going to be a challenge. My dear friend Carol who has a heart of gold and is the most selfless person I know told me not to bring anything that she has plenty of everything. She always jokes that she couldn't live long enough to use up everything that she has. I just feel like I have to bring something. Of course there is going to be plenty of shopping for new things that I can always break in while I am there.

I will try to post again before I leave on vacation. I can't say that I will get anything posted while I am away. We'll have to see how that goes.

Have fun and enjoy!

~Kim

Hip Hop Horray...

As usual the bunnies are multiplying. I found these cute little things at Hobby Lobby in the Easter isle. I tried stamping purple polka dots on one and they looked great on his little behind but once I got to the head his eye disappeared and he looked funny. So I decided to just put a few flowers on him. I think I might try a pink so the face still stands out.

With the time change I keep thinking Easter is sooner than it is. Oh and by the way- Happy St. Patrick's Day to ya. I had to make sure I saved my lime green scrubs for today to celebrate the occasion. My mother's maiden name was McCormick so I have a little Irish in me- maybe even more than a little. My father is thinking about taking a trip to Ireland. How I wish I could go with him but I am trying to be a little conservative with the $$$. My husband hasn't been able to work since his massive stroke 3 years ago and my son Elliot will be done with the community college here in town and off to a university next year. I can't be sure about my job in the health care industry so I am trying to plan for the worst; god forbid.

I am trying to get this posted before I head off to work. I have a lot to get done before I leave next week. I am just as busy if not more at work, the days before I go on vacation than when I get back trying to catch up. Murphy's law- I have more meetings this week than usual.

Have fun and enjoy!

~Kim

Stamps: Hero Arts
Paper: Paper Pisazz- Lavender Rosebuds, The Paper Company- Spring Pinwheel Stripe, SU- Lavendar Lace
Ink: Ranger Adirondack- Eggplant
Accessories and Tools: SU scallop square punch and designer label, satin ribbon, Sandylion Essentials paper flowers

So simple

I wanted to create a card that was simple but had a touch of elegance to it. I think beginners get intimidated by the complexity of some of the beautiful cards out there that they don't even attempt to take their stamping to the next level. When I started my blog I wanted it to be a place where fellow stampers could get inspired and get a tip or two every now and then. I remember the days when I first started stamping and everything seemed overwhelming. Hence the reason for today's card. I know there are a lot of new stampers out there who are combing the blogs for inspiration. This one is for you!

This card took me all of 15 minutes. Notice that there isn't any stamping on it; which is usually against all my beliefs, but I had just purchased this new paper and chipboard from JoAnn's and I immediately saw an quick creation. These are both from the La Cre'me line of DCWV. Isn't it just gorgeous. I purchased the 4.5''x6" stack because of the price (sale $5.99 for 72 sheets) and I liked that the patterns were smaller than the larger stacks. Both the paper and chipboard are black flocked which gives it such a wonderful texture. The lighter flecks on the flower and the veins on the leaves is actually black but the way the flash hit it; makes it look silver. Wherever you see the darker black is where it is flocked. The ribbon was on clearance to 50 cents for the whole spool and the gemstones are from Hero Arts.

I will leave you with my so simple card. Today is going to be a beautiful sunny day so I want to get out and get some fresh air.

Have fun and enjoy!

~Kim

A little green...

Just a little green for the Irish. With St. Patrick's day coming I thought I would try this color scheme. I'm not much for green but every now and then I like to push myself out of my comfort zone. Life just gets too boring if we do the same thing over and over again. Besides who knows, I might just find I like it. The green is Wild Wasabii which is no longer available from SU -sorry. I have a lot of it so I still need to make some projects with it as one of my goals is to use what I have. I used my new SU eyelet border edge punch and then I layered a 1/8" polka-dot ribbon over the top edge. Everything else is pretty self explanatory. I actually thought this card turned out nicely, in fact I think I really like it as one of my favorites. Maybe I am just amazed because I pushed myself into this color combo. Hope you like it too.

Not much new has been happening here. The time change has really affected me this year. I don't seem to have much energy in the evenings to create anything new. Looks like I will have to put together a few extra things this weekend to keep my blog supplied. With that, I think I will call it a night!

Have fun and enjoy!

~Kim

Pretty in Pink...

These are a few cards that I made while at our stamp club. I don't bring a whole lot with me so that is why the cards are so similar. I find that I have a hard time creating when I am not in my studio. I have somewhat of an idea of what the card is going to look like before I start but the embellishments are almost always decided on after I see the card. It is so much easier for me to have my things around me and I "try them on" sort of speak.

One of the gals commented that I seem to be the only one that gets something accomplished at club. I try to make good use of time. There are nights that I am just dead tired when I get home from work and I don't feel like creating anything to fill my blog. The "Happy Birthday" stamp was new and it wasn't until after I stamped it that I realized it wasn't on the wood block straight. Of course it couldn't have been a tag that I was stamping it on for the first time- nooo, it had to be the card itself. Oh well. I remember someone saying these are the things that show it is handmade. Looks like I need to re-ink my black pad also.

If you are anything like me I find myself getting lost when visiting someones blog. I go from one link on a blog to the next and then visit some of their favorite places and before you know it I can't find where I started from. On occasion I come across something great by accident and here is one of them- Craft Critique and they are having a great give-a-way. Don't even ask me what or who led me to their site. Check them out. I look forward to reading this blog to get some great insight and tips.

PS. The turkey dinner was great and I am getting as brown as that butterball bird did.

Have fun and enjoy!

~Kim

Stamps: Inkadinkado- Butterfly; Imaginisce-Tree, Stampendous-Happy birthday

Paper: The Paper Studio; SU Pink Passion, Black, White

Ink: SU Classic Black

Accessories and Tools: SU ticket punch; Paper Studio-Spare Parts flowers and Gingham brads; Black satin ribbon; Rhinestones

You make me smile...

This is a card that I did for a Verve Stamp challenge. You can find it here as well as the list of all the entries so you can go directly to their submission. The "Tre's Jolie" paper by My Mind's Eye is what drove my color pallet. I would not have put these colors together on my own. The peach scallop ribbon is just a cheap dollar spool from JoAnn's. Boy I didn't think I shopped that much at JoAnn's but when I explain where I got things from that store pops up quite a bit.

I only have 2 sets of Verve stamps and they are Christmas and winter so I wasn't able to use one of their sets for my submission. They have a new stamp release party tonight and will be releasing 8 new sets. I might just have to skip on over to there to pick up a new set. Three winners will be randomly selected from the challenge to pick one of the new sets. Wouldn't that be great if I won.

Not much else to post today. I have been busy with my Turkey dinner. The house smells wonderful and the weather is cold and dreary. I can almost imagine it is Thanksgiving, but I won't.

Have fun and enjoy!

~Kim


Stamps: Hero Arts
Paper: My Mind's Eye- Mon Cheri; SU Baja Breeze and Close to Cocoa
Ink: SU chocolate chip
Accessories and Tools: Nestabilities- Labels one, Marth Stewart edge punch, ribbon, buttons

Laugh...

As promised, here is another card in that luscious chocolate color. I had this card with me at a stamp club I belong to and one of my friends looked at it and said she never thinks of using brown as her main color choice but after seeing this one I think she might just give it a try. The darker solid brown nestabilities center was what was left over from the frame I used on a card that I posted earlier in the week. I used all the same papers and ribbon. I like to make at least 2 cards that are similar but not exactly alike when I sit down to create. It helps me to use up scraps and it is quite easy to come up with another design since my creativity is already heading in that direction. I like them to be a little different so the person that receives the card is actually getting a one-of-a-kind.

We have had some warmer weather here in Michigan. Yesterday it was 60 degrees so I find myself getting more excited about my Florida trip now that I can imagine what warmer weather feels like. As I have said my friend Betsy and I are going to see our stamping pal Carol. It sounds like Carol has a wonderful time planned for us. I told her she doesn't have to entertain us; that a little stamping and sitting around the pool is enough for me. Of course I will need to feed my shopping addiction by hitting a few of the stamping stores down there.

We are expecting rain and thunder storms this weekend. I love to be in my studio with a candle burning as I watch it rain outside and my creativity flourishes. I hope we get a little break to cook some steaks out on the grill tonight for supper. Nothing like the smell of a steak on the grill to remind me of warm weather. I picked up a 21lb. turkey this week and it is now thawed so I plan on cooking that tomorrow with all the trimmings. I love having leftovers from a turkey dinner to get through the week. I had to laugh because I went to the tanner to get some color before heading down to Florida and as I lay in the tanning bed I felt just like that turkey thawing out and ready to be cooked. Now I am not a big advocate of tanners but I also know the danger of severe sunburns not to mention how miserable they can be. Without a base I would certainly burn and I don't want to ruin my vacation. And yes I do plan on using a good sunscreen once I am down there.

Have fun and enjoy!

~Kim

Stamps: Studio G clear stamps

Paper: DCWV's sweet, SU chocolate chip, Paper Pizazz- crushed suede

Ink: SU chocolate chip
Accessories & Tools: Nestabilities label one, SU sizzlets- "Lots of Tags", satin ribbon, Memory Boutique hardware, Class A'Peels gold corner stickers, gems.

Ribbons...

I wanted to show you how I store my ribbons. I wrap them around straight clothespins that I get at hobby lobby. There are 30 of them in a package for $2.99 but I wait until the wood items are 50% off. To keep the ribbon from coming undone I use the tiny straight pins used for attaching sequins and beads to the satin balls used to make Christmas ornaments. I keep them color coordinated by color. As you can see there is one jar that has some pink in with the yellow only because I can't fit another pink one in it's own jar if I tried. There are five more jars behind these that have my white/cream, browns, blacks and reds.

Not only does this store them so I can see what I have, it also looks pretty. I love walking into my studio and seeing all of the colors. It reminds me of going into a little country store that carries everything from food to material to hardware. Can you tell I was a big "Little House on the Prairie" fan. I always wanted to be Laure Ingles and put that Nellie Olsen in her place. OK so I digressed a bit.

This little project was created using direct to paper technique for the background. The bottom black tag was done using a flourish stamp with VersaMark. Then I layered gold paper, black paper and then the direct to paper. I used a piece of black chipboard and just lightly brushed Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy, Crimson and Gold pads over the top. The "Sisters" are a piece of clip art I had stashed away. The ribbon is my favorite part. The sheen on it can't be enjoyed as much as in person. It changes from a bronzey gold to dark gold. I have a very small shelf in my kitchen area that is black and I have a few of my creations on it. They are all black coordinated so it makes a very nice grouping.

Well that's it for tonight. I need to do some tidying up a bit.

Have fun and enjoy!

~Kim

Choc-o-late

Rich creamy chocolate. My mouth just waters thinking about it. This card certainly symbolizes chocolate. I fell in love with this glitter paper "Sweet" from the DCWV line. The decadent chocolate satin ribbon is the frosting on top. Brown used to be a drab and boring color but not any more. There are really a lot of colors that go well with brown.

I used my Spellbinders labels one to make the frame and the center piece that was left over I used on a similar card that I will share with you later this week. The center white label is one of my new sizzlets from SU. It is the "Lots of Tags" number 3. I really changed it by using a stamp from the "Frames with a Flourish" set from SU. No I didn't use my favorite Martha Stewart edge punch on this one. It is a little deceiving but the white scallop is actually a part of the DS paper as is the tan stripe that the three gold pearls are on. The metal corners are were a great bargain from JoAnn's awhile back. I believe they are from Memory Boutique. Hope you enjoy it and I am sorry if you are now looking through the cabinets for some type of chocolate.

It is still in the teens here in Michigan but by Friday we will be up in the 50's with rain. My poor sinuses are really taking a beating this winter. I am hoping that warm Florida sunshine will be a miracle cure for me.

Have fun and enjoy!

~Kim

Layers

This looks like a very nice card, right. I thought so too, at first. It is simple and elegant and I am sure the person receiving it would think it was fabulous. I was trying to make several cards to have on hand when I first got my cuttlebug. Each one didn't take me long at all and they were far from being plain janes, but I didn't spend the extra time to add more layers. I just wanted to show you how you can take your stamping to the next level by layering. This doesn't take long at all. I just had to cut two extra pieces of paper and attach it.

Take a look at the next picture. It is the exact same card, but I took it apart and added a simple layer of white card stock . Look at how it pops and how much it adds. I also added just three small pearls in the bottom corner. I think it took me less than 10 minutes to get out the supplies, cut the paper and attach the pearls and look what I got.

If you really want to see some beautiful cards, take a stroll on over to Amy Sheffer's blog. She does a lot of layering and it sure shows in the beauty of her cards. They all look so rich due to the depth of the layers. I love her work and it is an inspiration for me. I'm sure you will be as amazed as I was the first time I went to her blog.

Well my ticket is booked and I am off to sunny Florida in three weeks. My friend Betsy and I are going down to visit our stamping buddy Carol. This may be a dangerous combination. The three of us sitting around the pool drinking wine and hitting some awesome stamping stores. It is only 19 degrees here right now so you can only imagine how excited I am.

Have fun and enjoy,

~Kim