The Babies came early...quick, I need a card!

Well, my co-worker had forewarned me that she would be needing a card for twin boys. At that time I had plenty of time to mentally create. Then, out of the blue, came a phone call. The babies came early!! The babies came early!! Well, that sent everyone into a tail spin and off to the drawing room it was for me. No sooner did I hang up the phone, I was emailing my Stampin' mother if she had any "onesies, animals, or sweet peas". I was out of luck. "I have a lamb or a carriage, would that do?", she replied within 10 minutes. They weren't conguring up any images for me so I had to reject. Onward and upward. I will complete this mission. I haven't really made any baby cards as of yet and so wanted this one to be somewhat acceptable. It was really hard as I didn't even have any real "baby" stamps or any animal stamps until I came across "My good egg". I thought, yes, hatching, babies, I could use this one. The twins names begin with B+ D so got to use my handy dandy die-cut machine for the alphabet and number. Whoo-hoo!! I added stickles to the chicks lower shells to add a sparkle. The buttons were adhered with glue dots and I used linen thread as a tie. The cardstock was pacific point, tangerine tango, certainly celery, ivory, bashful blue, summer picnic DP and petals and paisley DP (not sure of the real name). I also used alot of dimensionals to give that added lift. Hope you like it. Thanks for visiting. I've had my weekly challenge so go and make a card that challenges you. Send me a post.

Karen

Inspired by understanding blue...

Thanks to Lydiaf at http://www.understandblue.blogspot.com/ for the inspiration for this card. I pretty much cased her card and then added two more. I used more mustard, pacific point and kiwi kiss as the main colour choices. I used versamark for the large grass image and then embossed with clear EP. I then brayered with one of each of the above colours. I am thrilled to frame these three all together and hang it on my newly renovated living room/dining room wall. I can foresee an abundance of artwork coming from this stamp set Inspired by Nature by Stampin'Up!. How can something so simple look so elegant. This is a great example of marrying stamp sets and home decor. This is going to complement some of the vinyl wall art that is new to Stampin'Up! So many possibilities.... Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog. I hope you can find some inspiration for yourself and try out some of the projects that are showcased here. I am forever thankful to all the stampers out there on "planet stamp" who so graceously share what they do and in doing so, inspire so many. This is what makes "the arts" so fulfilling. Self-accomplishment does alot for the soul. Have a great evening.

Karen

Always and forever...

I thought I'd dust off this set as it made it into the new catalogue. I do love these stamps. Very versatile and appropriate for many occasions. In this card, I used the new "in colour" pacific point, basic black and bella rose designer paper from Stampin'Up!. I decided to emboss the heart, berry branch and greeting with black EP as it seems to always jump out more. I cut the heart out and mounted it with dimensionals. I also use striped real red ribbon to add some more colour. I wish to thank Beckyte for her inspiration for this card. I pretty much followed her sample but changed the colours, and greeting and ribbon. I had a hard time capturing the right light environment and as well one of our newly adopted kittens kept wanting to get into the action. I had to prop up my card at one time right on him. What a ham. I know he'll be stampin' in no time. LOL. Have a great day and thanks for visiting.

Karen

Post-edit: I just tried faux metal technique and used the same heart from the Always stamp set. It really does look like real metal. I added it to the same card to show the effect it has. I followed the tutorial from Stampin'Up! website. One thing is for certain, you do have to press really hard as I must not have done that in one corner of the stamp as you can see. But oh well, just a sample of things to come. I know better now!! Do try it. It's easy, fun and quite amazing.

Live and let die-cut....

I'm getting reacquainted with my die-cut machine and now am really excited about all the possibilities that await me. I really wanted to use my alphabet die-cuts and will be making another scrapbook layout for my kids. School starts again in a few weeks so I've got no excuses. My son will be going into grade 4 and my daughter starts grade 2. Hannah can hardly wait to start again but Axel, well boys will be boys.

This halloween card is the start of my new adventures with die-cuts. I'm making halloween folders for my daughter's class (picture will be coming) and will put each initial of each child on their folder. We will fill it with candy and a card. I'm using the hostess level 3 stamp set in this card. I also used the new scallop edge punch from Stampin'Up!. This punch is so easy to use and the final cut is so precise. I know I will be using this alot. I used the new colours for card stock and of course, bella rose for the designer paper. I really like to use textured CS now for the base card. It just adds another punch. I used my blender pens to colour. I never have a problem getting into the smallest of spots. Thanks for looking and happy stamping.

Karen

Celebrate in style....hodgepodge that is.

Well I finally got a chance to use some of my pewter hodgepodge hardware from Stampin'Up!. I love how it really "steps up" this card. I made this for my mom who is 76 years young. She is so much fun and really has a great time at whatever she does. I recently showed her all of my Stampin'Up! cards and projects and now she is hooked! And at her age, she enjoys it as much as any one . She is very young at heart and is a great inspiration. And so without a doubt, this card used the new and fresh Bella Rose DP and all the new "in colours" cardstock for 2008-2009. Tangerine tango, kiwi kiss, riding hood red, very vanilla just to name a few. The stamp sets I used are from One of a Kind and So many scallops. And I finished it off with real red grosgrain ribbon and of course used pewter HPH. I know my mom will be so proud of this one. Off to create....

Karen

There's a BIG SHOT in the house....Sizzix that is.

Stampin'Up! just announced at Convention 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah that they've partnered with Sizzix. And this is what resulted. Lucky for us at Stampin'Up!. Here's what they said:

"There's a new big shot in town--the Sizzix Big Shot for Stampin' Up! The Big Shot is a sturdy manual die cutting machine used to die cut materials for use on crafts, home décor projects, and even clothing--it's a big deal! You'll love what the Big Shot machine, a 6-time winner of Creating Keepsakes Reader's Choice Award for best die cutting equipment and dies, can do for you.
Design your own custom pillow appliqués using the Tulipe Bigz die or make custom fabric flowers to embellish a quilt. From sewing to quilting to home décor, the Big Shot is the perfect tool for many types of crafting. Use our Stampin' Up! exclusive dies to create die cuts and stencils with our artwork and designs for all your craft needs. "

Stay tuned for more information. More will be posted as updated information is passed on.