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

14 Days of Love Day 5

Hi Stamping Friends!!


Today might be the biggest football party of the year, but I think I'm going to stamp instead! :) I need to create a few more Valentine's to share with you all. Course if I wait one more day, I will have lots of new Stampin' Up! goodies to play with. The "man in brown" is supposed to drop off a package (or two or three or more!) at my house on Monday afternoon. I can't wait!!! 

LOVE FRAME

Stamps: None
Paper: Real Red, Basic Black, Pretty In Pink, Red Glimmer, Designer Series Paper (retired and I can't remember the name!)
Accessories: Scallop Squares Duo die, Serif Essentials Aplhabet dies, Heart to Heart Punch


I was so excited to find this wooden frame at the 99 cents store. It was a yucky white color so I painted it black with some acrylic paint. Then I put my Big Shot to use and cut out the squares and the letters. Super easy!! It's always fun to break away from card making once in awhile.


Now is the perfect time to purchase those Big Shot dies that you've been wanting. Because with each $50 purchase (now through the end of March), you will be able to choose one item from our Sale-A-Bration catalog for FREE!! And free stamping supplies is always a good thing!! Be sure to visit my online store today!

Another way to earn even more fabulous Stampin' Up! products for free is to host a workshop. During Sale-A-Bration, hostesses have the opportunity to earn an ardorable Everyday Enchantment tote. I can't wait to get mine! Don't have time to host a workshop? Then how about a catalog party?! Email me for more info: krystalscards(at)sbcglobal(dot)net.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge #2

Hi Stamping Friends!

Woo!  Hoo!  It's Thursday... time for another STAMPIN' CELEBRATION Inspiration Challenge!  Isn't this robot party just "out of this world"?!  I love the bright "boy" colors.  I found these images over at the HOSTESS BLOG.  There are so many fabulous entertainment blogs out there, that I could get lost all day looking at all the fun parties people have.  My 4 yo DS would love a party like this.  A couple of his favorite movies are Iron Giant and Robots.  Here's what I came up with for this challenge...

 

MATCHBOX DIE

Isn't this just too funny?!  I loved the little robot centerpiece and wanted to recreate it as a possible party favor.  I used three matchbox dies stacked on top of each other.  The top one is Yoyo Yellow, the middle one is Tempting Turquoise and the bottom is Basic Black.  I used the Brushed Silver cardstock, ran through the crimper, for his metal parts.  The only thing I'm not satisfied with on this little guy are his arms.  I should have scored them one more time so they would lay flatter.  He kind of looks like he's ready to fly into space with his wings!  You could tuck some fun candies in his head and feet.  Is middle is pretty much taped shut.  Then I decided to make a smaller scale version of this guy for a card...

ROBOT MAN

This would also work great for a party invite.  The card base is Tangerine Tango.  Since it is coming back as a Core Color, I thought I should start using it again.  The base is embossed with the Checker Texturz Plate.  I cut out most of the pieces with my Table Top cutter and used various punches for the other parts.  I had a leftover piece of crimped Brushed Silver cardstock laying around, so I made a quick something with it...

STAR HOLDER

I know, why another napkin ring?  And what's with all the straws?  Well I was thinking it would be a cute holder for Pixie Sticks, like in the inspiration pic.  But since I didn't have any Pixie Sticks in the house, and decided my children did not need to eat sugar from a straw, I just put some empty straws in there to give you an idea of what it might look like if I had some Pixie Sticks!  :)

I hope you can play with us this week at STAMPIN' CELEBRATION.  Remeber to post your projects by noon on Tuesday.  Then on Wednesday, we will reveal our Top 3 DT faves.  If I didn't inspire you enough, then you should take a look at the amazing projects the other Design Team members came up with.

Allison at SWEET IMPRESSIONS

Candace at CJ LAWLOR DESIGNS

Kari at STAMPIN' ESSENTIALS

Rochelle at I STAMP, I CREATE, I HAVE FUN!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge #1

Hi Stamping Friends!

Well it's finally here!!!  The debut challenge of my very own challenge blog: STAMPIN' CELEBRATION!  If you've followed my blog long enough, you know I L-O-V-E to play in all kinds of stamping challenges.  Well, one crazy day, I chatted on my blog about possibly starting a "party-themed" challenge.  One thing led to another and here it is!  The very first challenge of the Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge aka SCIC01.  I'm so super excited!!!  The idea behind the challenge is to inspire you to use your stamping and papercrafting talents for ALL of life's "celebrations".  So we hope you will play along this week.  Just use these inspiration pictures to create any Mother's Day project.  Then post it to your blog, or other online gallery and upload it to the STAMPIN' CELEBRATION linking system.  It's that easy!

Here's the first project I was inspired to create for this challenge:

How could I not use the Daisy #2 die?!  It's so perfect!  This is the Sweet Sunday Sketch #67 from Karen Giron's blog: the sweetest thing.  I really love the bright colors of the inspiration pic.  For this card I used Only Orange, Pink Passion, and Pink Flamingo DSP.  The ric rac is retired from awhile ago.  The sentiment comes from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.  Love that set!!

My 11 yo daughter loves to make me breakfast in bed on Mother's Day.  This is my tray from last year... blueberry muffins, toast with jam (with a heart cut out of it), and hot tea.  See how she decorated the plate with the Tart and Tangy set?  It matched the strawberry and orange slice on the plate.  Too cute!  And of course a handmade card.  She's a SU! demo in the making!  The breakfast has improved over the years.  One year she made me cold cereal.  Problem was, she got up about a half an hour before me, so I got to eat mushy cold cereal, with a smile on my face saying how delicious it was!  I'm so glad she knows how to bake now!!  But this gave me an idea for my next project, a simple napkin ring to use for breakfast in bed or a Mother's Day Luncheon.

This uses the Daisy #2 die and the Perfect Setting die, with a Pumpkin Pie Corduroy Brad.  It would be super fast and simple to make a bunch of these for your Mother's Day tea party.

And every mother deserves a little pampering every now and then.  My next project would make a great gift for any special woman in your life.

I bought all of these items at the Target Dollar Spot, even the metal container.  So I only spent $6, but look at how cute it is!  Just a little paper and ribbon can really add alot to a simple gift.  Again, I LOVE these bright, cheery colors.  Here are some closeups of the items:

I thought my projects were kind of cute and fun, until I saw what the other STAMPIN' CELEBRATION Design Team members came up with.  They totally blew my projects out of the water.  Their projects are completely AMAZING!  You HAVE to check out what they created for this inspiration challenge.

Allison at SWEET IMPRESSIONS

Candace at CJ LAWLOR DESIGNS

Kari at STAMPIN' ESSENTIALS

Rochelle at I STAMP, I CREATE, I HAVE FUN!

I hope you've been inspired!  I can't wait to see what fabulous Mother's Day project you create with the Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge!  Be sure to stop by every Thursday to join the party!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Today is your lucky day!

Hi Stamping Friends!

Well today is your lucky day because I have three projects to share today! 

We don't really "do" St. Patrick's Day in my house.  When I was a kid I always made sure I wore something green to school so I wouldn't get pinched.  When I told this to my kids (who are homeschooled) they asked me why and I had no idea why people pinch each other on March 17th.  They thought it was weird. 

There is not an Irish bone in my body.  Now, if they was some national Dutch holiday, we'd be all over that!  Bring out the tulips and klompen and serve up some ollie bollen and stroop waffles and I'm there! 

I do have some "Irish" stuff to show you today.  One project is new and the other is old, but both celebrate today perfectly.  The first is a Fancy Favor box that I made with my club ladies last month.  I totally CASEd the idea from the amazing Kay Kalthoff (whose work I absolutely adore!) on her blog STAMPING TO SHARE.  I didn't have the correct shade of green, so I improvised:

Isn't he just the cutest?!  And so easy to make with the Big Shot!  I gave my gals some Hershey's Nuggets with Almonds (since they are wrapped in gold) to put in it.  They loved it.  The box is made with Old Olive and the little guys beard is Dusty Durango.  His face is Blush Blossom.

The second card is a one I posted during a Stampin' Addicts blog hop.  I showcased the Heart of Hearts embosslit. 

I love to see different ways to use stuff and this is a perfect example.  Just because I don't have any St. Patrick's stamps, doesn't mean I can't make a "lucky" card.  Any heart stamp or die cut would work to make this clover.  The sentiment comes from the Define Your Life set.

The final card I have for today isn't a St. Paddy's card, but it does have the correct color scheme of GREEN.  I made this card way back in January for two challenges, a sketch challenge and a color challenge.  But life got so hectic that I never posted it to my blog and now I have no idea what challenges they were for!

This card uses the Upsy Daisy stamp set and also Circle Circus.  The colors are Always Artichoke and Old Olive.

UPSY DAISY  #111710  $18.95

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Diva Color Throwdown

Hi Stamping Friends!

Today I have a double challenge card for you combining a sketch challenge from the Diva Coffee Break Designs blog DCBD153 and the Color Throwdown blog CT68.  I was kinda in the mood to  make some Christmas cards (finally!) but the color challenges so far this wek are no where near Christmasy!  When I first saw these colors, I was at a loss of what to do.  Then I saw the Diva sketch and an idea started forming.  Here are the challenge inspirations:

Really?!  Only Orange, Real Red, and Crushed Curry?  Wow!  Not the colors I was hoping for.  But I have to say, I really like how this card turned out.

Isn't it so bright and cheerful and fun?!  I love Gerbera Daisies and these colors remind me of them.  The Big Shot Daisy #2 die makes cutting these little guys out sooooo easy.  And best of all, you can make them in any color you want, unlike pre-made embellishements which cost a chunk of change and only come in a limited variety of colors.  Can you tell I love my Big Shot?!

The card base is Basic Black, layered with Real Red Textured cardstock.  The daisies are cut out of Real Red, Only Orange and Crushed Curry, with a Circle Fire Rhinestone in each center.  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes (LOVE this set!) and is punched out using the Modern Label Punch.

Flower Daisies #2  #114520  $19.95

SHOP NOW at my Stampin' Up! website.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Takin' A Cake Walk

Hi Stamping Friends!

Since I don't have the 3 Tier Cake XL Bigz Die, I thought I'd show you what some other very creative stampers have done with this fabulous die.

Here's the sample from the Stampin' Up! website:

Linda McClain at her blog Catered Crop has some AMAZING creations:

Mary Jo Albright on her blog Beauty Lies Within showed off these adorable "cakes":

Now don't you wan to buy this die?!  I know I do!  You can purchase this fun die on sale, now through Sunday 10-18-09 at my Stampin' Up! website.

3 Tier Cake XL Bigz Die  #116760  reg. $39.95  SALE $25.49

SHOP STAMPIN' UP! 24/7

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

September Mystery Hostess Club Projects

Hi Stamping Friends!

Just thought I'd share pics of the projects we created Sunday at the Mystery Hostess Club gathering. If you missed your chance to join one of my clubs this time, new clubs will be forming in January. It's so simple to be a club member. Just agree to spend $25 per month for 6 months (this time it was $30 for 5 months) and during one of those months, you will have a chance at being the hostess. This means you will receive all the benefits of hostessing a workshop, but you'll never have to clean your house or harass your friends to do it! :)

Since Halloween is just around the corner, I chose to use my Halloween Frights set. We made three projects: a card, a banner and a favor box.

















Can you tell I love my Big Shot?! The banner and box were made using Big Shot dies. The Only Orange pumpkin on the Fancy Favor box was made by punching out three ovals and layering them. The jack-o-lantern face is a stamp from the Autumn Harvest stamp set. The Green Galore stem is one of the flowers from the Boho Blossom punch. The sentiments on the card and box were punched out with the Modern Label Punch.
And the day would not be complete without another Christmas Jingle card. Remember, if you can't make the class, I can put a kit together for you and you can make the cards in the privacy of your own home!


















Remember to check out Stampin' Addicts for more Stampin' Up! fun!
Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

19 Christmas Jingle Cards Left!

Here's another card for the Christmas Jingle class I will be having on Nov. 14th and Nov. 15th. The cost is only $45 to create 20 unique Christmas cards. Be sure to send in your registration payment today!





For this card I used the SU! Scallop Envelope die to hide an extra little greeting in. Too fun!












And here's another card I did for a challenge over at Stampin' Addicts. This was for a sketch challenge. I used the Razzleberry Lemonade DSP AGAIN! I just love that stuff! So fun and juicy! I'm really lovin' the new in color Melon Mambo. But Rich Razzleberry is a strong second. I haven't had a chance to play with Bermuda Bay yet, but I'm sure I'm gonna love it!





Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!

Oh wow!!

I can't believe I haven't posted since April! Time sure flies doesn't it. Well, I'm back and I hope to keep blogging again. At least for a while. :) I joined a new stamping community called Stampin' Addicts. It's a very friendly place and I look forward to getting to know more paper fanatics like myself. They have lots of wonderful Stampin' Up! projects. I tried out their color challenge. Considering I haven't stamped since May, this was a challenge!

















Basic Gray, Barely Banana and Whisper White. I used an old stand by set and sketch. I also want to show you what we did at the August Mystery Hostess Club night. Two fun projects with lots of purse-onality!









Aren't they cute!! I totally CASEd them from the gallery at SCS. They use the new in colors, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, and Melon Mambo. Plus the gorgeous DSP Razzleberry Lemonade. Stay tuned this week for more fun stuff. I put together 20 cards this weekend for my Christmas Jingle Card Class coming soon. I'll posting a card a day for 20 days. The class will cost $45. Not sure the date and time yet, but I'll let you know soon.
Thanks for stopping by!!