My 500th Post!!!

Hi Stamping Friends!!

Today is a pretty exciting day here at the blog! This is my 500th post!!!! I started my blog in October 2008 so it only took me five years to get to 500. :)  I became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator in June 2006. After a few months, I stumbled on to an online stamping community called Splitcoast Stampers. At the time, it was strictly Stampin' Up! stampers and through them I discovered a ton of stamping techniques and also found out about blogging!! 

Here is the first card that I ever posted to my blog (not the first card I ever stamped, just the first card on my blog):

Even though this card is 5 years old, I still like it!! I used to be involved in lots of online challenges, which I loved doing and "met" so many wonderful stampers through. But I discovered as my kids got older (and busier!) that I just didn't have the time to invest in participating in challenges. Now I usually only use my blog to share things we've made at my monthly hostess club meetings. Maybe someday I'll get back into the social aspect of blogging, but right now I'm just happy if I post once a month!!

I do have something new to share with you today as well. I made these "bow angels" for my club gals. I wanted to show them soemthing fun they could make with the Gift Bow die. I love that thing!!

Stamps: None

Paper: Shimmery White, Silver Glimmer, Blush Blossom (retired)

Accessories: Gift Bow die, Beautifully Baroque EF, Rhinestone Jewels, Round and Scallop punches

I've seen various versions of this cute "bow angel" around the internet and had to try one for myself. I love how it turned out!! I've seen it used as an ornament, as a package decoration, or on the front of cards. So fun!!

I also want to take a minute to thank all of you who have encouraged me along my stamping journey by your kind comments over the years. They are deeply appreciated!! Not sure how gals did it before the rise of the internet, but I'm glad I've had the support, encouragement, and advice from so many amazing stampers throughout the whole world!! 

Thanks also to all of you who stop by to see what I've been up to lately.

And most of all, a HUGE THANK YOU to all of my faithful Stampin' Up! customers. Without each and every one of you, there would be no need for this blog and no way I would still be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator after seven years!!! You guys are AWESOME!!!

Here's to the next seven years wth Stampin' Up! and the next 500 blog posts!!! :)

Happy Stamping!! 

Krystal

Festive Flurry Circle Card

Hi Stamping Friends!!!

Today's card is one we made at my monthy hostess stamping club way back in November. It uses the "new" Cicrle Card Thinlit. I say "new" with parentheses, because the Thinlits are not super new, but fairly new. They have been out for a few months, but I did not buy them when the first came out, so they are new to me and my stampers. The bummer thing about the Thinlits is they do not appear in any of our current catalogs. So if your demonstrators has not shown them to you, that's probably why you have not seen them. There is also a Label Card Thinlit that Mr. Brown should be delivering to my door sometime this week. :)


Outside:

 Inside:

Stamps: Festive Flurry, Tags 4 You

Paper, Whisper White, Winter Frost DSP Paper Stack, Silver Foil Paper

Accessories: Label Bracket Punch, Circle Card Thinlit, Circle Framelits, Circle Punch, Festive Flurry Framelits, Northern Flurry EF, Silver Ink, Rhinestone Jewel

I can't believe Christmas is only a week away!! How are your Christmas "chores" coming along? Have you sent out Christmas cards? How is the present buying coming? My cards are sent and I only have a few presents left to buy.

If you still need to buy that special something for the crafter in your life (or for yourself!) be sure to visit my Stampin' Up! website and take advantage of the amazing deals going on during our Clearance Rack Blitz. There are some great products at super low discounted prices. But you need to hurry!! The sale is only while supplie last.

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/krystalscards/

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Krystal

Mosaic Madness Christmas Tree

Hi Stamping Friends!!

Wow!! Can you believe I'm posting again?!! Blogging is like that for me. Sometimes I have the time to post everyday and sometimes I don't. Actually, the real secret as to why I've been posting more is because I have been skipping my morning walk and blogging instead. I should be tying up my tennies right now but truthfully? IT'S TOO COLD!!! Instead I'm snuggled under a cozy blanket, sipping hot coffee and enjoying my warm house. :) Once I realize that my thighs don't take kindly to a sedentary lifestyle, you probably won't see me on the web as much. 

But since I'm here, I might as well show you another card that we created at my December stamp club. This card, like all my cards, was CASEd (inspired by) from various cards I saw on the internet. Thanks goes to the original designer(s) for sharing their mad stamping skills with the world!!

Stamps: Mosaic Madness, Petite Pairs (sentiment)

Paper: Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Season of Style DSP

Accessories: Mosaic punch, Oval punch (retired), Itty Bitty Shapes punch (circle), Cupcake punch (tree base), Cherry Cobbler seam binding, Rhinestone Jewels

I know Christmas is still 2 weeks away, but last week I received my Stampin' Up! Occasions and Sale-A-Bration pre-order and now I have Valentine cards on the brain!! I'm also trying to plan some classes for February and March. And even possibly something in January. We shall see. I'm always super excited when I get new stampin' stuff and then I realize I have this thing called a family and for some reason they think they need food to eat and clean clothes to wear. Every. Single. Day. I don't know what's up with that?! :)

Don't forget to stop by my Stampin' Up! website and place your Clearance Rack order. Items are disappearing quickly!!

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/krystalscards/

Hope you are enjoying a warm and cozy day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Krystal

Rudolph Treat Bag

Hi Stamping Friends!!

Here's a little treat bag we made at our stampin' club last week...

Paper: Season of Style DSP

Accessories: Tag A Bag Gift Bags, Gift Bow Die, Autumn Accents Die, Woodgrain EF, Oval Framelits, Circle Punches, Corduroy Button (retired), Black Polka Dot Ribbon (retired)

I CASEd this cutie from Julie Pitta at Thoughts That Stick. I changed it up a bit by using a leaf from the Autumn Accents die for his antlers. I also didn't have enough red buttons so I looked through my retired stash and found these Corduroy Buttons that worked perfectly!!

Speaking of retired... have you checked out the Clearance Rack yet?! So many great items at drastically reduced prices. Last time I looked, that Black Scalloped Polka Dot ribbon was available.

Here is a link to my Stampin' Up! website:

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/krystalscards/

Cute story about the Rudolph bag. One of my club stampers has young children and they have Jingle the Elf that visits their house during the month of December. One morning Jingle brought back a gift from the North Pole that the kids could open after school. Her 7 year old son looked around and asked, "Where is the present?". She replied, "I guess it's that bag right there." To which he responded, "Oh. I just thought that was something you made." Oops!! Mom almost got caught by her mad stamping skills!!! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Krystal

Christmas Cards from 2012

Hi Stamping Friends!!!

After looking back through my card pictures, I realized that I never blogged about the Christmas cards I created last year. Not sure why, but it seems like a shame not to share them with you. Some of these stamp sets are already retired. But on the upside of waiting so long, some of the products I used on these cards are now available on the Clearance Rack!  :)

The sentiment on most of these cards comes from the stamp set Greetings For the Season. Which I think is still available, even though it is not featured in the main catalog. 

Items you can purchase at my online store that are on the Clearance Rack include Be of Good Cheer DSP, Candlelight DSP, and the Snowflake die. Visit my Stampin' Up! store today as these items are only available while supplies last!!

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/krystalscards/

Just click on the SHOP button on the top right and then when you get to the shopping page, look on the left sidebar for the Clearance Rack button.

I will have more current Christmas cards coming soon. Stay tuned!

Happy Stamping!

Krystal

Top Note Santa

Hi Stamping Friends!!!

Today I have another card from Sunday's stamp club. This card is not a "new" idea, but it was new to me and my stampers, since we've never made one. It's a Top Note Santa and he's adorable!! I took a bunch of ideas I saw on the internet and combines them to come up with this:

Stamps: none

Paper: Gumball Green, Real Red, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer, Blush Blossom (retired), Be of Good Cheer DSP (retired)

Accessories: Top Note Die, Small Oval Punch (nose), 1/2" Circle Punch, (eyes), Bird Builder Punch (mustache), Adorning Accents (scallop edge on hat), Real Red Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Manhattan Flower EF (retired)

I usually don't like to use retired products on cards I make for my club gals, but this time it worked to my advantage because some of the retired products I used on this card are now on the Clearance Rack!!!!

Today Stampin' Up! added TONS of products to the Clearance Rack!!! And some of them are as low as only 99 cents!!! 

Be of Good Cheer DSP #126896  ONLY $4.39

Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder #114517  ONLY $4.79

Don't wait to visit my online store because these items are only available while supplies last!! http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/krystalscards/

Be sure to click on the SHOP button in the top right corner. Then you can click on the Clearance Rack Blitz link on the left sidebar.

One of my favorite retired products that I may just have to get an extra of is the Table Top Cutter:

Tabletop Paper Cutter #106959  ONLY $27.59

Such great deals!!! So go shop today and put your own present under the tree this year!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Krystal

Festive Flurry

Hi Stamping Friends!!

I had a wonderful day yesterday stamping with my club gals!!! They are so fun to hang out with. And what's even better is that they put up with me and my crazy schedule. They are so easy and flexible. I'm looking forward to stamping another 6 months with them starting in January!!

Here is a card we made yesterday using the Festive Flurry stamp set and matching Framelits.

Stamps: Festive Flurries, Teeny Tiny Wishes (one of my favorites!!)

Paper: Smoky Slate, Pool Party, Winter Frost DSP Stack, Silver Foil, Silver Glimmer, Whisper White

Accessories: Festive Flurry Framelits, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Bitty Banners Framelits, Beautifully Baroque EF, Organza Ribbon, Silver Ribbon, Frosted Finishes Embellishments

I LOVE how this card turned out!! It's a mixture of cards that I saw floating around on the internet. There are so many talented stampers out there who are always willing to share and I appreciate their inspiration!! I hope stampers never stop sharing. What will I do?! I am the Major CASEr!! I pretty much "copy" at least one element on every card I make, if not the entire card!! :)

Hope you all had an enjoyable weekend!

Looking forward to sharing the rest of our Christmas stamping creations soon!

Happy Stamping!

Krystal