Top 2 and 1 of 2011

Hi Stamping Friends!!

Well today's the day!  The day I reveal my two top favorite cards of 2011.  I'm sure you've been sitting on pins and needles all week just waiting to see what stamping goodness I have picked out.  ;)  Well the wait is over!!  May I have a drum roll please............

#2

And my all-time favorite card from this past year, was also a crowd favorite.  It won a couple of online blog challenges.  So without further ado........

#1

Ta-Da!!  I just love all the textures and soft colors on this card.  And it has just enough chic without being too shabby.  Funny thing about my Top Ten favorites from 2011 is that most of them were the shabby chic style.  Which is not my typical "go to" style.  I've always considered myself sort of a colorful, fun, simple kind of stamper.  But the cards I like best are the ones with lots of layers and textures and "stuff".  The kind that you only make one of.  :)

Well I continue to be a stamping maniac.  Yesterday I stamped another 18 cards.  I can't wait to start showing them to you on Monday.  But first I need to take pictures of them and upload them to my computer.  Bummer is, my computer monitor only shows blue and green tones at the moment.  Makes it really difficult to edit photos!!  Anyone have any idea why the color would go bad on a monitor?  I'm on my third one!!

Also, I created a Facebook Fan Page.  I have no idea what I'm going to do with it, but if you like to hang around FB, search for Krystal's Cards - Stampin' Up and be my first fan!!  If I was really smart, I would have a button on my sidebar that would link you straight to my page, but I haven't figured that all out yet.  There's always a new techno adventure waiting around the corner!

Don't forget to take advantage of all the great Stampin' Up! clearance items for sale at my online store: KRYSTAL'S CARDS.  Some items are up to 80% off!!  Hurry and shop while supplies last!

Thanks for taking the time to hang out with me today!!

Happy New Year and

Happy Stamping!!

Top 4 and 3 of 2011

Hi Stamping Friends!!

I can't believe this week is almost over with already.  My how time flies when you are having so much stamping fun!!  I stamped so long yesterday, my legs hurt!  (Yes, I stamp standing up.)  I've designed (mostly CASEd!) 7 different cards.  I've been making 6 of each design.  That means that I've stamped 42 cards since Monday!!  Yes.  I'm on a roll.  Don't stop me now!  Since these cards are going to be sold, I use up lots of my retired stuff.  I also use a few favorite retired stamp sets.  But I will still share them with you here on the blog.  And I'll tell you what I tell all my customers when they see something they want, but it's retired... BUY IT NOW (before it retires)!!!  :)

Here are two more of my favorite cards from 2011:

#4

#3

Be sure to stop back by tomorrow and see my #1 favorite card from 2011.
Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!

Top 6 and 5 of 2011

Hi Stamping Friends!!

Today I am continuing my Top Ten stamping countdown of 2011.  Looking through all my past projects from this year really inspired me to stamp again.  It made me realize that I do know how to stamp and I need to stamp more!  Most times the busyness of life gets in the way of my stamping time.  That's why I'm taking advantage of this Christmas vacation and I'm stamping my little heart out!!  At least it will give me lots of cards to use for blog posting.  Hopefully I will blog more than 6 months next year.  :)

Next up are #6 and #5 of my favorites from 2011.  I hope you like them too!

#6

#5

Stampin' Up! added more items to the Clearance Rack.  Some supplies are up to 80% off!!  Be sure to check it out at my online store: KRYSTAL'S CARDS  They have lots of the old-style punches for only $10!!  Be sure to shop soon.  You wouldn't want to miss this fabulous sale!!!


Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!

Top 8 and 7 of 2011

Hi Stamping Friends!!

I had such a wonderful day yesterday.  I got to stamp!!!  I can't remember when was the last time I stamped so much.  I'm trying to increase my birthday card supply, so I can bring some cards to my friends bakery (Goodies Cookies).  She lets me sell them there and she just asked me for more.  My goal is 100 before January 18th.  Yesterday I stamped 12 for her and 6 for me.  I have some cards laying around from my hostess classes that I can use.  They just need a little fancying up, so I think I'm up to about 30.  Only 70 to go!

Enough with my boring little life.  Let's get to the stamping stuff!!  Here are two more of my favorite projects from 2011:

#8

#7

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!



Top 10 and 9 of 2011

Hi Stamping Friends!!

This week I will be posting my favorite stamp projects from 2011.  I will post two projects each day, for a total of ten favorites.  It's so much fun to look back over the year and see everything I've made.  There weren't as many projects to choose from, since the only stamping I've done from May to the present, is my monthly hostess class.  I hope to remedy that situation in the next few weeks.  I plan on doing some major stamping during Christmas vacation.  And since we don't start school again until January 18th, I should be able to make a nice, big, creative mess!!

Starting backward at number ten, here are two faves from 2011:

#10 So Happy For You

#9 Word Play

Don't forget to shop the Year-End Clearance Sale going on at my Stampin' Up! online store: KRYSTAL'S CARDS.  Lots of fabulous Stampin' Up! products on sale for up to 80% off!!  But you better hurry.  This sale is only good until January 5th or while supplies last!!

Stop back by tomorrow and see more favorites.
Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!

Merry Christmas!!

Hi Stamping Friends!!

Merry Christmas!!  Here is the Christmas postcard I designed in My Digital Studio, that I never mailed.  If you want the full story of why I did not mail out Christmas cards this year, check out our "family" blog post: The Christmas Card Blues.

This is a pic of my three kiddos at my brother's wedding this past July.  15yo man-child was an usher, 6yo DS was the ring bearer (with 7 flower girls!!), and 13 yo DD got a pretty dress and hair-do "just because".  Can you see the nice "shiner" the 6yo is sportin'?  His 4yo cousin, the day before the wedding, decided to whack him in the eye with a hard plastic toy.  It was a big day of "firsts" for him.  First time being a ring bearer and the first time he had a black eye.  Great memories!!

I hope you are enjoying a blessed Christmas.  And since I'm not very original and like to CASE everything, I'm going to CASE a Stampin' Up! sentiment...

"May the miracle of Christmas

find you safe in the Peace of God,

warm in the light of Christ."

Merry Christmas!!!

12th Day of Christmas

Hi Stamping Freinds!!

We have finally reached the end of my 12 Days of Christmas tour.  I can't believe I've blogged for 12 days straight!!!  And I'm super excited because beginning on Monday, I'm going to start my Top Ten of 2011 series.  Each day, Monday through Friday, I will be posting two of my most favorite cards from 2011, for a total of 10 projects.  It's been kind of fun to look through what I've created this past year.  Especially with the little stamping I've done recently.  It's nice to remember that I do actually know how to stamp.  :)

Today's card is another CASE.  Very fun and easy card to make.

Stamps:  Medallion BG, Perfect Punches

Paper:  Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Red Glimmer Paper, Whisper White

Accessories:  Red Satin Ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch, Circle Punch

Not sure if you noticed it, but my Perfect Punches stamp is not so perfect.  See the little gap in the line around the sentiment?  That is a flaw in the rubber.  Looks like something touched it while the rubber was still warm and damaged it slightly.  Stampin' Up! is so good about replacing flawed stamps like this.  They just send you the rubber replacement in the mail.  Problem is I've been too lazy to bring it to their attention.  I should just email them this pic and save myself the trouble of having to explain to my stamp club why the stamp doesn't stamp perfectly.  But since Stampin' Up! is closed for the holidays, I'll probably forget until I'm ready to use the stamp again.

Hope you are enjoying your Christmas Eve!!  Tomorrow I'll be posting the Christmas postcard I created in MDS, but didn't mail.  ;)

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

11th Day of Christmas

Hi Stamping Friends!!

One of the first things I just "had to have" out of the Holiday Mini Catalog was the Holiday Stocking die and the coordinating Stocking Accents die.  My Big Shot is one of my most used tools and I love all the Stampin' Up! exclusive dies.



 Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Whisper White, Frostwood Lodge DSP

Accessories:  Holiday Stocking and Accents die, Snow Flurry EF, Eyelet Scallop Punch, Mini Jingle Bells

I love these little stockings because they are the perfect size to slide a gift card into.  This particular stocking is going to hubby's grandma with a Mimi's Cafe gift card tucked inside.  If you haven't ordered these dies yet, you still have until January 2nd.  Don't miss out!  We just found out this week that the Stocking Builder Punch will not carry over to the big catty.  So you never know how long they will be offering things.  Got to get em while there hot!!  ;) 

Ready or not, tomorrow is Christmas Eve.  I thought I would brave Costco this morning.  Can't imagine what it's going to look like tomorrow!!  I think I have everything I need.  If I've forgotten anything, I'm going to make a midnight run to WalMart.  They've been open til 1am all week.  Crazy!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

10th Day of Christmas Special Guest Stamper

Hi Stamping Friends!!

Today is the first official day of Christmas Vacation here at our house.  Didn't have to wake 15yo man child up to go to school or bust out the homeschool books either.  Wahoo!!  As a celebration, we are having a cousin's cookie decorating party after lunch today with my nieces and nephews.  My sister and I are bringing the cookies, everyone else is bringing the frosting, and we are going to let the kids have as much sugar as they can stand.  :) 

I have a very special card to share today created by my very special guest stamper.  My 6yo DS created this card to give to his cousins at the cookie party.  Being the son of a Stampin' Up! demonstrator does have lots advantages.  You have access to all sorts of fun tools, like punches, and stamps, and even a little bit of sparkly snow.

Here's a close-up of his masterpiece:

Don't you just love the sparkly snow?!!  Finally used the Mica Flakes!!  And they are so fun and easy to use.  Just squeeze on a little bit of Multi Liquid Glue, sprinkle on the flakes, press them down a little and then shake off the excess.  Now see how easy stamping is?  Even a 6yo can do it!!

Make sure you visit my online Stampin' Up! store: KRYSTAL'S CARDS to take advantage of all the amazing year-end clearance items.  You could save up to 80% off some supplies.  But you need to hurry as the sale is only while supplies last!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!





9th Day of Christmas

Hi Stamping Friends!!

Today's card is another CASE from out in the stamp sharing cyberworld.  It's also one of the cards we did at my stamp club.  Are you starting to see a pattern here?  Seems every time it's club time, I'm CASEing cards!!  But I always fess up to my ladies.  They know they rarely get "Krystal original" designs, and they are glad.  I always tend to make cards with layers and layers of stuff and paper and stamping.  They would really have something to complain about if we started taking an hour to make each card.  :)

Stamps:  Pennant Parade

Paper:  Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White

Accessories:  Square Scallop die, Pennant Punch, Old Olive Grosgrain, Petals A Plenty EF

Love the 3-D effect of this card.  Tomorrow if you stop by, I will have another card I CASEd for my club.  Oh surprise!  :)

If you haven't checked out the year-end clearance going on at my Stampin' Up! website: KRYSTAL'S CARDS, you really should.  Like right now.  Cause once it's gone... it's gone!!  And a sale like this only comes around once a year!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

8th Day of Christmas

Hi Stamping Friends!

Quick post today as I'm headed out the door to work.  Today's Christmas card was created with My Digital Studio.  I designed this for my sister.  She is the proud mother of two sets of twins.  Yes.  You read that correctly.  She gave birth TWO sets of twins!!  With no help from infertility treatments.  She needs no help.  She quite fertile all on her own, apparently.  :) 

I designed their Christmas card last year as well using MDS:

My Digital Studio is a fun, simple way to design custom photo cards.  That way your Christmas card can be unique and won't look like every other persons card, who happens to shop at the same big box store as you.

I hope you are enjoying this last week of Advent and are looking forward to celebrating the reason for the season... JESUS!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!



7th Day of Christmas

Hi Stamping Friends!
Today's Christmas card was one we made at our November Stamp Club.  I just love my "stamp ladies" (as my children loving refer to them... "Are the stamp ladies coming over?").  We have such an enjoyable time stamping together and visiting.  It's been such a blessing in my life.  I've made so many wonderful friends over the years, just because of a little ink and paper!!

Stamps:  Four the Holidays

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer paper

Accessories:  Cherry Seam Binding, Decorative Label punch, Stocking Punch, Snow Flurry EF, Dimensionals

Another super easy card to make.  I love Stampin' Up! glimmer paper!!  It adds so much sparkle and shine. And Christmas needs lots of sparkle and shine.  The Silver Glimmer Paper is especially sparkly.  When you hold it under a light, it's almost like it's covered in crystals, it's so shiny.  My sentiment did not fit inside the Decorative Label punch, so I cut a strip of paper and then just punched each end, separately, with the label punch.  And now it's the perfect length!

You still have time to take advantage of Stampin' Up!'s year end clearance.  Check out my online store for more details: KRYSTAL'S CARDS

Hope to see you again tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

6th Day of Christmas

Hi Stamping Friends!

It's a Clean and Simple Sunday today.  I used this card for a class I did with new stampers.  It was perfect.  Even a 9yo little girl made one.

Stamps:  Delightful Decorations, Sincere Salutations, Baroque Motifs

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Petals A Plenty EF, Top Note die, Ornament punch, Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals

Like I said, super easy.  Even a 9yo can make one.  ;)  Love how the Baroque Motifs swirl looks just like a tree branch.  For this class I pre-embossed the cards.  I didn't want newbies getting frustrated with using the Big Shot.  We just concentrated on stamping.  The rhinestone adds just the right amount of bling.

Don't forget to visit my online store: KRYSTAL'S CARDS and take advantage of all the fabulous Stampin' Up! deals on the Clearance Rack.  Nearly 200 items have been added.  Some supplies up to 80% off!  But only while supplies last, so hurry on over.  Just click the SHOP NOW button on the top-right side.  Then look on the left sidebar for the CLEARANCE RACK button.

Tomorrow is day 7 of the 12 Days of Christmas.  I hope you'll visit again!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

5th Day of Christmas

Hi Stamping Friends!

"On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me..."  Actually it's a gift I gave myself last night.  The gift of stamping a card, purely for the joy of creating!!  I haven't done that in a very long time.  And the best part is I got to play in a few of my favorite blog challenges!!  I can't even remember the last time I've done that either.

Stamps:  Winter Post, Four the Holidays, Tiny Tags, En Francais BG

Paper:  Sahara Sand, Lucky Limeade, Cherry Cobbler, Frostwood Lodge DSP, Confetti Cream

Accessories:  Boho Blossom Punch, Designer Frames EF, Vintage Wallpaper EF, Tag Punch, Basic PEarls, Cherry Seam Binding, Victoria Crochet Trim, Vintage Brad, Paper Piercer, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Linen Thread, (can you tell I LOVE accessories!)

Sketch Challenge:  Create with Connie and Mary #180

Color Challenge:  Scrapmaster's Paradise #130

Theme Challenge:  SU! Only Challenges #34

Theme Challenge:  Hand Stamped Sentiments #97

Wow!  Now I remember why I love blog challenges!!  I had so much fun creating this card.  I just kept adding and adding to it.  Not even sure if it resembles the original sketch anymore, I've altered it so much!!  Who knows when I'll have the gift of "creating for no reason" again, so I thought I better fit as many challenges as possible into one card.  Which is pretty much my MO anyway.

Don't forget about the amazing Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack Sale.  Get up to 80% off select Stampin' Up! supplies, while supplies last.  You won't want to miss these amazing deals!!

Come again tomorrow for the 6th Day of Christmas.  I'm also planning on doing my Top 10 Faves of 2011 during the week between Christmas and New Years.  I hope you'll join me for that as well.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

4th Day of Christmas & For Real Friday

Hi Stamping Friends!!

Today's Christmas project is a direct CASE of the very talented Nancy Riley at iSTAMP.  This is what we made at our final Fall 2011 Hostess Stampin' Club this past Sunday afternoon.  The ladies loved it!

Stamps:  Winter Post, Delightful Decorations

Paper:  Frostwood Lodge, Wild Wasabi, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Glimmer Paper

Accessories:  Scallop Circle Punch, Ornament Punch, Blossom Bouquet Punch, Stocking Punch, 5-Petal Flower Punch, Bird Builder Punch, Snowflake Punch, Star Punch, Owl Builder Punch, Tag Punch, Petite Pennants Punch, Petals A Plenty EF, Snow Flurry EF, Polka Dot EF, Square Lattice EF, Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals

This was so much fun to make!!  I did change mine around a bit from Nancy's original, but not much.  Each square is 2" x 2".  The frame is 8x10.  I was so happy to find these black frames at our local 99 cent store.  They were perfect!!  I just took the glass out.  To make things go a little quicker for my group of 6, I had all the squares pre-embossed.  That way there was not a long line at the Big Shot.  Here is another pic that's a little closer-up.

Right now, Stampin' Up! is having an amazing sale at their Clearance Rack.  You can save up to 80% off select Stampin' Up! products.  There are tons of the "old-style" punches for like 10 bucks!!  Visit my online store: KRYSTAL DE LEEUW and click the "SHOP NOW" button on the top right corner.  Then click on CLEARANCE RACK on the left sidebar.  Remember, this sale is only while supplies last!!

If you're here for the stamping fun only, this is where you'll want to skip out.  Because I'm about to start chatting about my fam, and who knows how long it might take!!  :)  It's been quite a while since I've done a "For Real Friday" segment, so there is a lot to catch up on!!  But I won't keep you all day, I'll just bore you with the highlights.

Hubby, the kids, and I are on a year long challenge that we began in September called the Radical Experiment.  If you are interested in following our adventure, check out our blog: We R Livin Crazy.

Fall is a busy season for us, as it is water polo season.  15yo man-child played on the varsity team this year and hubby was an official for girl's JV.  You can pretty much always find us at the pool for either a game or practice.  We were very happy when man-child was awarded the co-MVP award.  But even more exciting was the call we got this Tuesday from his coach.  We was voted to be a member of the all county team!!

Besides driving to and from the pool, we also spent a few months bringing 13yo DD to church for practices.  She was part of our church musical, The Christmas Post.  It was an amazing performance.  The story was set in a WWII era, "Norman Rockwell" small town.  Her part was as a "newsie".  She did a great job and helped keep the other younger newsies in control and on task.

And as for 6yo DS, what can I say.  Poor guy gets stuck in the car A LOT, driving his older bro and sis to all their activities.  Thankfully he has an easy-going personality and really knows how to roll with it.  It's so fun to have a "little one" in the house.  He brings so much joy to all of us.  Here's a pic of him in Mexico, where we went during Thanksgiving week to help build a house for the Village of Hope mission organization.

So that's just a little to get you up to date.  Hopefully I'll be able to share more in the future.  Tomorrow I will have another Christmas card for you.  Stay tuned for the 5th day of Christmas!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!



3rd Day of Christmas

Hi Stamping Friends!

You know when you have the perfect layout in your head and then you go to design the card and it turns out nothing like you wanted?  That's what happened with this card.  And it doesn't help that I was trying to CASE this card and it still turned out bad.  Maybe it had something to do with the fact that my class started at 1pm and I started putting this card together at 12:55pm.  There was no time to redo anything.  But here it is, in it's "not quite right" glory.

Stamps:  Winter Post, God's Blessings

Paper:  Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Confetti Cream, Early Espresso

Accessories:  Artichoke Seam Binding, Designer Frames EF, Oval Punch

The "To: From:" stamp should have been lower, and the cancellation stamp should have been higher.  Plus the sentiment should been higher as well, so the ribbon didn't have to be so low.  And it just feels like it's missing something.  Not sure what.  The top is just kind of boring.  Ah well, enough complaining!!  That's not what you came here for.  I do love this color combination.  Cherry Cobbler is just the prettiest shade of red for Christmas.  It's dark and rich, yet bright and fun.  After this class, everyone wanted to make sure they owned Cherry Cobbler ink and paper.

Tomorrow I have a non-card Christmas project, plus I will be doing another "For Real Friday" feature where I bore you with the life and times of my family.  I hope that won't scare you away from coming back!  :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!