Word Play and Travel Journal DSP

I just love when the ole' brain clicks on and I get some inspiration for combining products!  I wanted to use my new stamp set called Word Play and I love this particular image.  I decided to make my husband a "just because" card and maybe slip it into his briefcase before he leaves for work one morning.  So now to come up with a masculine color scheme.  But wait!  I have a whole package of  Travel Journal Designer Series Paper from the Summer Mini Catalog that I haven't even opened!  Those colors would be perfect for him!  And then the real light comes on!  The map paper is just perfect with the "world" sentiment!  Oh, yeah!  I'm cookin' now!

The rest was easy — the "world" saying just had to be in a circle, right?  I simply colored in different parts of the stamp with my Stampin' Write Markers to coordinate with the colors of the designer paper, added a bit of Pumpkin Pie 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon and I'm done!  Color scheme is Pumpkin Pie, Night of Navy, Bashful Blue and Garden Green.  Main circular image is popped up on Dimensionals.  I think he'll really like this one!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 120308 Word Play wood mount $41.95 OR
Item No. 120651 Word Play clear mount $28.95
Item No. 117156 Travel Journal Designer Series Paper $9.95
Item No. 119760 Pumpkin Pie 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon $6.95
Various Stampin' Write Markers $3.50 each

Don't Forget!

To spend a minimum of $50 with me and be entered into a drawing to win!  Ribbon Shares count as a qualifying $50 purchase!  Click HERE for details about the drawing!

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

Our Journey

This card begins with Kraft (soon to be Crumb Cake!) card stock; the card measures 5-1/4"x5-1/4".  I cut squares in Real Red and Bermuda Bay card stocks that measure 2-1/4" and placed them in each of the four corners.  The three images are all from Sentimental Journey stamp set stamped in Real Red, Bermuda Bay and Chocolate Chip Classic Ink then punched out with the 1-3/4" Circle Punch and adhered with Dimensionals.  The sentiment is from In A Word and is stamped directly to the white card stock in Chocolate Chip Classic Ink then again on scrap white card stock in Real Red Classic Ink.  The "our" is punched out with a 3/4" Circle Punch and adhered over top of the Chocolate Chip letters using a Dimensional.  Three Gold Brads and some 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon add some more accent.  Once finished with the card, it looked like it needed a "little something"!  So I grabbed my Log Cabin Smooch Spritz and gave it a couple of squirts.  Just the right touch!  Wouldn't this make a beautiful anniversary card?

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:

Item No. 118513 Sentimental Journey wood mount $23.95 OR
Item No. 120075 Sentimental Journey clear mount $17.95
Item No. 117143 In  A Word wood mount $12.95 OR
Item No. 120057 In A Word clear mount $9.95
Item No. 119921 Log Cabin Smooch Spritz $4.95
Item No. 109051 Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon $7.95
Item No. 104337 Gold Brads $6.95
Item no. 107217 3/4" Circle Punch $10.95
Item No. 112004 1-3/4" Circle Punch $15.95

Don't Forget!

–To sign up for the Cards for Him card class!  Click HERE for details.
–To sign up for the June Scrapbooking class!  Click HERE for details. 
–To purchase all of the retiring color products you need!  Click HERE to order.
–To take advantage of this month's scrapbooking special!  Click HERE for details.

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

New Summer Mini Products

You're going to LOVE the new Summer Mini Catalog products!  As a demonstrator, I'm able to pre-order merchandise from this fantastic publication in order to get ready for my May workshops.  Here's a card I created using many new items.

I began with a base of River Rock card stock!  Yes, I said RIVER ROCK!  With the new color renovation (HERE), we are bringing back this terrific neutral color that was an In Color a couple of years ago.  You'll be able to purchase the card stock, ink, reinker and marker on July 1st.  I stamped the background with Sanded background stamp and Chocolate Chip Classic Ink.  Next came a piece of Chocolate Chip card stock, then Baja Breeze card stock run through the Big Shot using the Stampin' Up Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates.  Yes, BAJA BREEZE is making a comeback as well!  This was such a popular In Color and it's returning on July 1st also!

To add more interest, I used a new product called Smooch Spritz in the color "Log Cabin" to put some shimmer in the background.  It doesn't photograph as shimmer, but this is a pearlized accent spray that will add a dash of color to any project.  They come in a ready-to-use spray applicator and are great for cards, scrapbook pages, chipboard and more.

I'm highlighting a brand new stamp set called Sentimental Journey.  Purchase this great new stamp set in either wood mount or clear mount and stamp for all different occasions — this would be great for masculine cards and wonderful for scrapbooking your favorite trip.  The suitcase was stamped in Chocolate Chip Craft Ink.  I added some Clear Embossing Powder and heat set it with the Heat Tool.  A Chocolate Chip Jumbo Brad with a So Saffron card stock circle behind ties well with the circles created around the suitcase image.

All Summer Mini Catalog items are available on May 1st, either through contacting me at krisshuels@gmail.com or by direct online ordering at my Online Store at www.stampwithkriss.stampinup.net.  I'll be posting the Summer Mini Catalog in my right-hand side bar on May 1st, so be sure to look through it online.  If you'd like a "hard copy" of the Catalog, please contact me, and I'll see that you get one.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 118513 Sentimental Journey wood mount $23.95 OR
Item no. 120075 Sentimental Journey clear mount $17.95
Item No. 119921 Log Cabin Smooch Spritz $4.95
Item no. 112533 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo Brad $6.95
Item No. 114512 Stampin' Up! Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates $11.95
Item No. 109130 Clear Embossing Powder $4.75
Item No. 100005 Heat Tool $29.95
Item No. 109294 Sanded Background Stamp $17.95

Don't Forget!

To purchase your May Card Kit of the Month!  Click HERE for details. 

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

Enjoy your birthday

Here's a birthday card I made for my son Christopher's birthday.  The new Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack is the bomb!  It's great for masculine and feminine projects, as well as card making and scrapbooking.  So versatile!

I chose my color scheme from the fabulous piece of striped designer paper in this packet — Sahara Sand, Pumpkin Pie and Tempting Turquoise.  The orange print is the reverse side of the striped paper, making it really easy to coordinate!  I used the same colors in 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbons.  The sentiment doubles for the focal point of the card and is from Enjoy Every Moment stamp set.  I picked up the star image from Wanted stamp set.  The coordinating button is from Sherbet Designer Buttons pack.  "Every moment" is stamped and punched out with the Scallop Oval Punch.  Don't forget to order Mini Glue Dots to make adhering your buttons a snap, and some Linen Thread for the centers.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 113622 Enjoy Every Moment   $31.95
Item No. 115106 Wanted   $23.95
Item No. 117161 Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack   $24.95
Item No. 114889 Scallop Oval Punch   $15.95
Item No. 103683 Mini Glue Dots   $4.95
Item No. 104199 Linen Thread   $4.50
Item No. 109030 Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon   $4.95
Item No. 109038 Tempting Turquoise 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon   $4.95
Item No. Sherbet Designer Buttons   $7.95

Don't Forget!

* To Sign Up for our Spring Stamping Retreat Weekend! Click HERE for more details!
* To sign up for the Spring Card Class!  Click HERE for more details and to register.

Life’s Natural Rhythm

A couple of days ago, I got sad news that a good friend and fellow stamper had lost her mother-in-law.  On that very same day, I received the joyous news that another friend and stamper had given birth to her very first child–a little girl.  I'm reminded again of the rhythm of life – one life gone, a new life begins.

Today I'm honoring a life well lived by Kathleen “Peg” Christensen, who had a remarkable 93 years with her friends and family.  Here's a special card for her son Alan and daughter-in-law Judy.

Because it was Alan's mom, I wanted a decidedly masculine card and Splitcoast's color challenge offered just the right pallette.  I used Bravo Burgundy, Basic Gray and Whisper White, with just a touch of Crushed Curry.  Lovely as a Tree stamp set seems my "go-to" stamp set for masculine cards.  I never get tired of it!  The sentiment is from Thoughts and Prayers stamp set; it's stamped in Basic Gray Classic Ink, as are the trees, and punched out with the Large Oval Punch, layered with Bravo Burgundy card stock punched with a Scallop Oval Punch.  A piece of Bravo Burgundy 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon knotted and wrapped around the Basic Gray card stock completes this simple card.

I'll get to work on a special card for that darling baby girl and share it with you soon!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:

Item No. 115026 Lovely as a Tree   $27.95
Item No. 113252 Thoughts & Prayers   $25.95
Item No. 114889 Scallop Oval Punch   $15.95
Item No. 107305 Large Oval Punch   $15.95
Item No. 109053 Bravo Burgundy 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon   $7.95

Injured Cowboy in AZ

At each Leadership Conference, those with the Stampin' Up! title Manager and above are treated to an all-out event during one of the evenings we're there.  This year was no exception!  It was a wonderful evening at a nearby Mexican ranch featuring lots of wonderful food, authentic costumes, traditional dancers and a rodeo!  it was certainly a night to remember!  Especially when one of the cowboys was injured badly while performing a stunt for us.  In true Stampin' Up! form, there was an immediate call to action.  Several of the demonstrators there began taking up a collection for his family.  There were around 500 people in attendance, and if everyone gave just $1, we could help the family out during a very rough time.  And then, of course, someone got the injured cowboy's name and address, and well, you guessed it, we're all sending our get well wishes Stampin' Up! style!  Below is the card I made for him:

I knew that to get both a masculine and a Western feel, I needed to use Wanted stamp set.  I knew the horse in motion would appeal to this cowboy who makes his living by galloping his horse around an arena and jumping onto the back of another unsaddled horse!  Sounds crazy, I know!  I began the card with Soft Suede card stock and stamped tone-on-tone using Sanded background stamp.  Next came a layer of Dusty Durango card stock–this color name just conjures up images of cowboys, doesn't it?  I added a layer of Creamy Caramel card stock and stamped my main image on Very Vanilla card stock.  The image in the right corner is made by stamping that image found in Wanted twice — once in Dusty Durango Classic Ink (then punched out with the Scallop Circle Punch) and another time in Creamy Caramel Classic Ink (punched out with 1-3/8" Circle Punch).  I added a Designer Circle Brad to the center and a luscious piece of Dusty Durango 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon to finish it off.  Get Well Soon, Poly!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 115106 Wanted   $23.95
Item No. 115609 Dusty Durango 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon   $9.95
Item No. 112571 Designer Circle Brad   $5.95
Item No. 109043 Scallop Circle Punch   $15.95
Item No. 104401 1-3/8" Circle Punch   $15.95

Want to see some of the fun we had at Manager's Reception?  Here are just a few pictures:

Here's my upline and daughter, Aly, and me by the fountain.  Such beautiful grounds!

We were welcomed by some wonderful musicians!

Here's Aly and her upline, Missy Shipman, enjoying root beer and the rodeo.  Unfortunately, I couldn't get good pictures of anything going on in the arena.

These two women were making salsa fast and furiously — how fresh and tasty!

Stampin' Up! provided us with beautiful wraps for the chilly evening.

Here's the fabulous table settings at dinner.  The colors were spectacular!  Notice the little gifts wrapped up in brightly colored tea towels at each place.  They contained a brand new stamp set from the Occasions Mini Catalog – Love Bandit!

Don't Forget!   

• To register for the Valentines (and more!) Class — click HERE!  Registration is due by January 22nd.

Register for the Valentines (and More!) Class Today

The deadline to register for the Valentines (and More!) Class that will be held on January 30th is approaching quickly!  You must be registered by no later than FRIDAY, JANUARY 22nd, to be able to attend.

There are TWO time slots and TWO locations being offered -

Saturday, January 30th
10AM to 1PM, Webster United Methodist Church, Webster, NY

OR

6PM to 9PM, 5225 Knapp Rd., Middlesex, NY

Here's a second picture of one of the 5 projects we'll be making.  To see the first project I posted and for more details, click HERE.

Nouveau Chic Birthday

I spent some time yesterday making a special birthday card for a very special son-in-law.  I discovered I didn't have many masculine stamp sets to choose from, but Brad's the "outdoors-y" kinda guy, and I thought this beautiful tree image from Branch Out stamp set might make him smile.

I absolutely love the new designer series paper called Nouveau Chic.  It's a very unusual paper with an interesting color scheme — Basic Black, Basic Gray, Sage Shadow and Apricot Appeal.  For some added interest, I paper pierced the edges of the Apricot Appeal card stock and added a couple of black brads to the corners of the triangles that overlap the main image.

Here's a close-up.  After stamping the tree in Basic Gray, I discovered it needed a little "grounding".  I used my Aqua Painter and some Sage Shadow Classic Ink to paint in a little "grass".  The final touch was to stamp "happy birthday" from Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set in basic black ink, then punch it out with the Curly Label Punch and tuck about 2/3 of the tag up under the main image.

Hope he likes his birthday card this year!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 113200 Branch Out stamp set (on dormant list; not in catalog)   $22.95
Item No. 115370 Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set   $36.95
Item No. 115670 Nouveau Chic Designer Series Paper   $9.95
Item No. 112208 Curly Label Punch   $15.95
Item No. 103954 Aqua Painter   2/$16.95