My daughter’s boyfriend is graduating from high school tomorrow and I realized that I didn’t have any appropriate stamps to make a card with.  So I started playing around and came up with this card, which I think turned out rather cute:

I wanted to use the school colors – black and gold, so I chose Basic Black (duh) and Summer Sun.  I was trying to make the black look sort of like a chalk board (though I’m not sure the kids graduating even know what a chalkboard looks like!).  I used the Congrats set from Sale-a-Bration and the new Jumble alphabet which will be coming out in the new 2009-10 Idea Book and Catalog (and you can still purchase until the end of this month as a sneak peek!), and stamped with Whisper White Craft ink.

I also texturized the Summer Sun card using the Texturz plates and the Big Shot, but I just couldn’t get a camera angle that shows the texture (dang it!).

I used my Basic Black marker to create the pupils, and then added a highlight from my white gel pen.

I was really struggling trying to decide between cute and more serious, but I think cute just won out!  And to complete my card, I made my own envelope using the Sale-a-Bration designer paper.  I love using the double-sided designer paper for making envelopes, because your envelope has an instant “liner”!

Now I wasn’t originally certain about giving this type of card to an 18-year old boy, but considering his graduation invitations were from the movie Madagascar – I figure he’s got to be game!

Don’t forget there are only a couple of days left to take advantage of this month’s specials – Buy 3 Get 1 Free on designer papers and 20% of the sneak preview of the new Jumble alphabet.  Head on over to my online store to order now.

I needed some thank you and birthday cards for friends and family this month and came up with the following layout:

I believe I saw a similar layout on someone else's blog, but I cannot find it now. If this is your layout or you know whose it is, please let me know so I can give credit.

I decided to use my Delicate Dots DSP (free sale-a-bration product!) and my Big Shot and the Top Note die (love this die!). And since the Eyelet border edge punch was still sitting on my desk, it just screamed at me to use it – so I did! I also played around with my Scallop Circle punch and 5-petal flower punch to create some blooms on my card (the corner seemed a bit bare). Hope you like them:

Happy Birthday

Thank You

Stamps: Sincere Saluations, Elegant Thank You

Ink: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Sahara Sand

Paper: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, So Saffron, Delicate Dots DSP (SAB)

Accessories: Ribbon bundle (SAB), 5-petal flower punch, scallop circle punch, ½" circle punch, eyelet border punch, stampin sponges

You still have some time left to take advantage of Sale-a-Bration. Click here to start shopping now.

- Kari

As a demonstrator for Stampin' Up! we receive a monthly publication called Stampin' Success. This is a fabulous magazine full of business ideas, stamping tips and stamping projects – it's wonderful! One of the projects that they highlighted in one of the recent magazines was this cute 3x3" note card using the Botanical Blooms from the sale-a-bration catalog. I thought it was so cute that I just had to reproduce it.

As I mentioned in the previous post, once you see an idea that you like – regardless of color or layout – you can change it as you desire. That's the fun of stamping! In this case, I changed the Ruby Red card stock that the original designer chose, for Riding Hood Red textured card stock (I love our textured card stock!). I also decided to use the eyelet border punch instead of the scallop edge punch (probably because it was sitting on my desk at the time LOL!). I love using watercolor paper especially with our Watercolor Wonder Crayons. It gives such an artistic look, even though I'm no artist. J

Stamps: Botanical Blooms (SAB), Congrats (SAB)

Ink: Basic Brown

Paper: Riding Hood Red textured card stock, Blush Blossom, Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Watercolor Paper

Accessories: 3/8" white taffeta ribbon, dimensional, Crafters' Tool Kit

Have you ever thought about starting your own stamping business? Well now is the perfect time because Stampin' Up! is offering a sale of 15% off the regular $199 Starter Kit! Plus, you can choose any retail stamp set (a value up to $47.95) from the current catalog when signing up during sale-a-bration (only good through March 31). That's $335 worth of products for only $169! If you are concerned about the up-front cost you can also take advantage of our Three Easy Payments option. You can even sign up online and get started immediately – how cool is that?! Contact me for more information.

And don't forget that you still have a little over a week to take advantage of Sale-a-Bration. You will also receive a FREE Idea Book & Catalog for ordering online, and you can earn free stamps or other products from the Sale-a-Bration catalog for every $50 in merchandise you purchase.

Click here to start shopping now (then click on the Shop Now button in the upper right hand corner).

I am asked this question fairly regularly and thought I'd share that you can find ideas just about any place you look. Currently I am looking at a box of tissues, and the patterns and colors of the box are inspiring. I could create a card or scrapbook page using these soothing colors of greens (hmm, I'm thinking scrapbook page right now – will have to work on that later), or I could incorporate the swirl design into my project.

That being said, there is always a fabulous place to go for ideas when you are "stuck". Your Idea Book & Catalog and the mini catalogs! Yes, these publications are just filled with all sorts of ideas that are just waiting for you to recreate them. You can "copy" a project as is, or change out the stamp sets, papers or the colors to something that fits your personality.

I have to admit that I fell in love with most of the products in the Sale-a-Bration brochure this year, and mostly because of the awesome projects that were shown along with the sets and other products. I loved the accordion flower card on page 5 (shown at right) and wanted to recreate it. I didn't change much – just the size of the card and the stem, but I had a blast making this card! It reminded me of paper folding when I was in elementary school – anyone else remember that?

Anyway, here is the card that I made:

Stamps: Stem Sayings

Ink: Certainly Celery

Paper: Kraft (5 ½" x 8"), Whisper White card stock (2 ½" x 4"), Delicate Dots DSP (SAB – 3 ¾" x 6", 1x12" plus scraps for circle)

Accessories: Ribbon Bundle (SAB), foam dots, Sticky Strip, 12" paper trimmer, 3/4" circle punch, Crop-a-Dile

I folded the 1 x 12" strip of DSP, accordion-style, approximately every 1/4". Then I stuck the ends together (this forms a circle/loop) using Sticky Strip to ensure it holds. Now you have to work it some, but put some Sticky Strip down on my card where I wanted my flower to be, then I turned the folded paper inwards, creating the shape of the flower as seen above. This embellishment is quite dimensional, so you will either need extra postage (at least in the US) or I would recommend hand delivering this card.

So next time you are looking for some inspiration, don't forget one of your best places for inspiration – the Idea Book & Catalog!

Check back in a couple of days for another project that I copied from a Stampin' Up! publication. Inspiration is everywhere!

- Kari

I have been having so much fun playing with my new Stampin' Up! goodies that arrived last week! This little box has probably got to be my new favorite (though to be fair, since we're away on Spring Break right now, I haven't had a chance to play with the new Matchbox die – I can't wait!!).

I have been having so much fun with it, that I decided it's going to be one of my projects for this month's Hostess Club:

I also used the new Friendly Words jumbo wheel which is part of Shelli's Signature line - *love it*! I also used some items from the Sale-a-Bration brochure, which I earned for FREE! (Gotta love free.) I used the Delicate Dots DSP as an accent around the box and to create a liner. I also used the Yummy stamp set. Now that all of our stamp sets are die cut, it only took me about 3 minutes to put this stamp set together – woo hoo! That's such a time saver. This Yummy set is going to be with me for a long time – I can see so many uses for it.

I don't want to spoil too much of the surprise for my club girls, so if you are interested in the recipe, please let me know.

Wouldn't you love to make projects like this every month? Then you should definitely think about joining one of my clubs (I have some for scrapbooking and card/project stamping). You can join a club at any time – the more the merrier! Contact me for more information. Live long distance and can't attend my club meetings? I've been thinking about creating monthly club kits and/or instructions for each of the projects. If this is something you might be interested in, please let me know.

- Kari

I've seen a card similar to this on a couple of different blogs and loved it so much that I had to try my hand at one. Here's what I came up with:

Can you keep a secret? There is almost no stamping on this card at all (well, the inside is stamped with Easter Wishes and I stamped the back with my name). Only the egg has some polka dots from Itty Bitty Backgrounds – stamped in Barely Banana, so I'm not even sure you can see it in the picture. J I also finally received my backordered Texturz Silicone Rubber mat and Texturz Backgrounds 1, so I could play with dry embossing my card stock using the Big Shot! Unfortunately you can't really see the dots on the yellow card stock (if you click on the picture to bring up a larger view, you might be able to see it better). In real life, it is really just too darn cute! Even Chuck (my husband) commented on how cute this card was (yea!).

This was a lot of fun to make, and it makes me want to try some other "critters". Want to know how I made it? Here you go:

Stamps: Itty Bitty Backgrounds, All Holidays (for the Easter greeting on the inside)

Ink: Barely Banana, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Pretty in Pink marker

Paper: Delicate Dots DSP (Sale-a-Bration), Yoyo Yellow, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango

Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note, SU Backgrounds 1 Texturz plates (dots), Scallop Circle punch, 5-Petal Flower punch, Spring Blossoms punch (retired) Wide Oval punch, Small Oval punch, Eyelet Border punch, Blue Gingham Ribbon (retired), Crystal Effects, Fine Supernova glitter, sponge dauber

Instructions

1. Fold Whisper White card stock (8.5 x 5.5") in half to form card.
2. Tear Delicate Dots DSP (4x6") approximately 1/3 of the way, and attach the blue side to the top of the card (like the sky), and then turn over the paper and attach the green side to the bottom of the card, overlapping in the middle.
3. Using the Big Shot and Texturz plates (dots), dry emboss a piece of Yoyo Yellow card stock (5x6").
4. Using the Big Shot, cut a Top Note die using the dry embossed piece of Yoyo Yellow card stock. Note: I cut the Top Note from one end of the card stock leaving the other end to punch out the wings and eyelids.
5. Punches:
   1. Yoyo Yellow scraps: punch out 1 Scallop Circle and then cut it in half and 1 small oval and cut it in half
   2. Whisper White: punch 1 small oval (cut in half) and 1 wide oval
   3. Tangerine Tango: 1 5-petal flower punch (cut off one petal for the nose); use another punch of choice – I used the retired Spring Blossoms punch – to punch out the feet
6. Decorate the Easter egg (white wide oval punch) as desired. I used more of the Delicate Dots DSP and punched using the new Eyelet Border punch along both sides. I also stamped the egg using Barely Banana and the dots in Itty Bitty Backgrounds (to mirror the dry embossed dots on the chick). I drew a simple line with the Pretty in Pink marker, echoing the lines of the border punch. To add some glitz (that the picture doesn't show well), I used Crystal Effects and extra fine glitter to outline the edge of the eyelet border.
7. Sponge the edges of all of the Yoyo Yellow pieces (Top Note, Scallop Circle, Small Oval punch) with More Mustard ink to help define the edges.
8. Attach the Tangerine Tango feet to the back of the Chick body (Top Note).
9. Attach the chick (Top Note) to the front of the card.
10. Punch and attach or draw eyeballs on the Whisper White eyes (small ovals) then attach the eyelids over the top. Attach to the face of the chick.
11. Attach the nose to the chick's face.
12. Attach the egg and wings in the desired position.
13. Use a sponge dauber and Pumpkin Pie ink to create the cheeks.
14. Tie a bow in the blue gingham ribbon and attach to the top of the chick using your favorite method (glue dots are nice to use, though I used the Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive).

Thanks for the inspiration Sharon Field!

- Kari

I love making little decorated holders for different items, and this little treat pouch would be perfect to hold some homemade (or store-bought) cookies for a friend or loved one!  And with the FREE sale-a-bration set - Yummy - you can make all sorts of quick and easy treats and holders!

Instructions

1. Fold Bashful Blue card stock (8-1/2" x 8-1/2") in half to create triangle. Fold front of triangle down so that tip of flap is approximately 1/2" from bottom edge. Fold right side of triangle in so that top edge of side is even with the top edge of flap. Repeat with left side. Pull right and left sides back and pull flap up, then fold sides in and fold flap over.
2. Stamp dots image repeatedly in VersaMark ink on inside of pouch. Wrap Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon around pouch and adhere.
3. Round corners of Pretty in Pink card stock (3" x 2") using 3/16" Corner Rounder punch. Adhere Old Olive card stock (3" x 1/4") to Pretty in Pink card stock.
4. Stamp "A little yummy for your tummy" in Chocolate Chip ink on Whisper White card stock. Cut out image. Stamp heart image in Rose Red ink on Rose Red card stock. Cut out heart and adhere to yummy piece. Adhere to Pretty in Pink card stock using Stampin' Dimensionals. Adhere entire piece to Bashful Blue pouch using Stampin' Dimensionals.
5. Tie Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon in a knot and adhere to left side of pouch.

Check out the adorable Yummy set:

Stamps: Big Bold Birthday, Yummy (FREE Sale-a-Bration set with qualifying order)

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, Versamark

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Whisper White, Rose Red, Bashful Blue

Accessories: Bone Folder, Paper Snips, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, corner rounder

- Kari

I think I mentioned previously that I have a lot of checkbook boxes, so I had to play around again and make something new out of something old again. (Did I also mention that this is just a lot of fun?!)

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the "finished" project – after I added all of the rub-ons. I gave this to my hostess and totally spaced taking an after picture. Sorry! I used our beautiful Porcelain Prints double-sided designer series paper and covered the top of the box. Then I made a belly band out of Certainly Celery and Whisper White. The flowers were stamped using Blue Bayou from the Sale-a-Bration set – Friendship Blooms. I also used the Love & Happiness Rub-Ons (also Sale-a-Bration) on the top of the box, but in this picture you can only see the "for you" in the upper right hand corner.

3x6" cards fit wonderfully in these boxes, so I made a couple of them using Blue Bayou cardstock and the Porcelain Prints DS paper. This first card also uses the Wild Rose and Lots of Thoughts stamp sets. It's a bit hard to see in this picture, but I added Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the center of the flower. And of course I had to decorate the envelopes to coordinate (don't you just love getting a card in the mail where the envelope has been decorated?)

Here's a close up of the flower center.

The second card also uses Lots of Thoughts (another FREE Sale-a-Bration set!) and coordinating buttons. Simple, quick and elegant.

I've got to go get ready for my workshop today, so I've got to run. I love to pamper my hostesses, so you should consider booking your Stampin' Up! party soon!

Happy Stamping!
- Kari

I really liked the sketch challenge this week from Splitcoast Stampers and decided to join in. I also noticed that I have quite a bit of Soft Sky card stock and challenged myself to use this color in my card. I'm pleased with how it turned out.

I used Soft Sky, Whisper White, and Basic Gray (have I mentioned how much I like our new gray color? Hee hee). I stamped the background with Soft Sky in an overall pattern using the swirl stamp from Friendship Blooms. I tied a piece of Soft Sky double-stitched ribbon across the top and matted it with Basic Gray and then adhered it to my Soft Sky card.

I used the same stamp to stamp on the Soft Sky square with both Soft Sky and Basic Gray – sort of gives it a dimensional look (you may want to click on the picture to enlarge it). I sponged the edges of this piece with gray to give it more character, then I matted this on Whisper White and again on Basic Gray.

For my focal point (what looks like the star in the sketch challenge) I stamped the large flower on Whisper White with the gray and colored it using my blender pen and the Soft Sky ink pad.

You still have time to earn this stamp for FREE with a minimum qualifying purchase, so contact me today and I'll help you put your order together.

Happy Stamping!
- Kari

I may have mentioned in the past that I am enamored with our new Rub-Ons; especially the FREE ones in the Sale-a-Bration catalog! I'm not really a sticker person, so I think it's rather amusing that I like the Rub-Ons so much. Weird, huh?

Here's a really cute project you can make with the Love & Happiness Rub-Ons in the Sale-a-Bration catalog.

Instructions

1. Apply large flower, heart, and "Friend" Rub-Ons to mug using wooden stick included in Rub-Ons assortment.
2. To create treat tag, ink greeting using Old Olive and Real Red Stampin' Write markers, and stamp image on Whisper White card stock. Layer Whisper White card stock on Bashful Blue textured card stock.
3. Set Silver eyelet in top of tag using Crafters' Tool Kit. Tie to treat using Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon and crochet thread. Tuck treat inside mug.