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!

2nd Day of Christmas

Hi Stamping Friends!

This is another card I offered at my Christmas card class.  I CASEd it from somewhere in cyberland.  If you were the original artist, thank you for sharing your wonderful talent with us!  My ladies loved this card.

Stamps:  Winter Post, Season of Joy

Paper:  Soft Suede, Riding Hood Red, Confetti Cream

Accessories:  Northern Flurry EF, Circle die, Circle punch, Linen Thread, Basic Pearls

This card is so simple to make.  Just run your Confetti Cream cardstock through the Big Shot using the Northern Flurry EF.  Then rub Soft Suede ink over the raised parts.  Super easy!!

Come again tomorrow for another Winter Post card.  Then on Friday I will have a Christmas project and also a little "For Real Friday" to get you up to speed on what's been going on at our house (plus I need a little momma "brag time!).

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

1st Day of Christmas

Hi Stamping Friends!

As promised, I'm going to show you 12 Christmas projects, over the next 12 days, to get you into the holiday spirit.  This first card was one from my Christmas card buffet.  The ladies asked for "shabby-chic" style cards.  They love the old-fashioned look, but they hate to sponge all the edges with ink!!

Stamps:  Winter Post, Tiny Tags, Season of Joy

Paper:  Red Riding Hood, Wild Wasabi, Confetti Cream, First Edition DSP

Accessories:  Scallop Circle die, Designer Frames EF, Jewelry Tag punch, Boho Blossom punch, Basic Pearls, retired ribbon, Spritzer Tool

This was my favorite card from that day.  It its loosley based on the card on page 125 of the big catty.  Can you believe I did not own Winter Post until just recently?!  Such a great set and I just started playing with it.  With my luck it will probably retire come June.  :)

Come again tomorrow and see more Christmas stamping fun!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Stamping!

Still Thankful

Hi Stamping Friends!!

Since I started this blog posting adventure with some Halloween cards, I thought it only appropriate to continue the fall holiday season schedule with a Thanksgiving card.

Stamps:  Gift Givers, Falling Leaves

Paper:  Sahara Sand, More Mustard, Bravo Burgandy, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Stripes Embossing Folder, Chocolate Dotted Ribbon, Square Scallop die, Curly Label Punch

Isn't that little turkey just the cutest?!  This card uses a fun technique.  You ink up the Stripes Embossing Folder (in this case with More Mustard), run it through the Big Shot.  Then ink it up again and turn you paper 90 degrees and run it through again.  It makes that adorable gingham pattern.  I did find out one thing while doing this with my club.  THere is a certain side of your embossing folder that you must ink up.  I inked up the wrong side and could not figure out why the ink was not transferring to the cardstock.  Decided to ink up the opposite side of the folder and... Voila!  Perfect!

And here is a bonus card for today.  Simply because it is fall looking and I don't know when else to post it.  :)

Stamps:  Lovely As A Tree, Woodgrain BG, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper:  Early Espresso, More Mustard, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Sponge Daubers, Hemp Twine

The wood background technique was created by the ever amazing Jan Tink.  Check out her blog for details.  She explains it way better than I ever could.  In a nutshell, you stamp the Woodgrain BG stamp on Very Vanilla cardstock.  Then you rub the cardstaock with various color inks.  In this case, More Mustard and Chocolate Chip.  Then you stamp the Woodgrain BG in Very Vanilla, to make it all "pop".  I think I needed to add a little bit more color to my wood.  It's an awful pale looking shade of oak.

Wednesday I plan on starting "The 12 Days of Christmas" here at the old bloggo.  I'll show 12 different Christmas projects leading right up to Christmas day.  Although I really think the 12 Days of Christmas are supposed to start the day AFTER Christmas.  But I'm not a Christmas historian, nor do I want to find out the tradition behind the song.  It just makes for a good reason to blog for 12 days in a row.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Happy Stamping!



I'm still stamping!!

Hi Stamping Friends!!

I know it's been forever since I've posted here, but I justed wanted you to know that I'm still around and I'm still stamping.  It's the blogging thing I seem to be having issues with.  :)  I forgot how time consuming homeschooling a first grader is.  Since I'm so behind on sharing, I just thought I would start somewhere and share a few cards here and there.  Once Christmas vacation rolls around, I hope to blog a little more.  So here are a few cards from October.  What?!  Doesn't everyone need a break from all that red and green and snowmen and elves?  ;)

Stamps:  Gift Givers

Paper:  Tangerine Tango, Basic Black, Basic Gray

Accessories:  Spider Web EF, Decorative Label Punch, Black Grosgrain, Iridescent Ice EP, White Craft Ink

For this card I embossed the spider web, then gently rubbed White Craft Ink over the raised cardstock.  I then sprinkled it with Iridescent Ice EP and heat set it.  Now my web is nice and sparkly!!

This card is very similar, just different colors.  The DSP is retired.

I've taken and edited about a dozen or so pics.  Hopefully I'll be able to pop in here every other day or so until I'm caught up.  Then before the new year, I hope to share my "yearly favorites".  I'd love to say my New's Years resolution is going to be stamping and and blogging more and maybe even jumping in on a blog challenge or two, but that just not realistic.  Maybe when my kids are all grown up and out of the house and don't need rides all over the city.  Speaking of rides... it's time for me to drop DD off at church.  She's participating in a musical, The Christmas Post.  She had one performance last night, two today, and one more tomorrow.  Mom's taxi is ready to roll!!!

More Club Cards

Hi Stamping Friends!!
I'm starting another round of my monthly stamp club.  It runs for 6 months, from July through December.  I was on the fence about offering another club, because I have such a crazy family schedule right now, it's hard to fit it all in.  But my gals are so good to me.  They signed up before I could even make up my mind!!  And now here it is, the last week of July and we haven't even met yet!!!  But this Sunday we will be stamping with each other, and I am looking forward to it.  I thought I better show off a couple of the other cards we've made in months past.  Could someone please slow down the clock?  Time is just flying by!!

BOLD BLOSSOM

Stamps: Bold Blossom
Paper:  Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Accessories:  New Embossing Powders, Scallop Oval Punch, Pom pom trim, Circle Punches

STRENGTH AND HOPE

Stamps: Strength and Hope
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Pretty In Pink, Very Vanilla, First Edition DSP
Accessories:  Crocheted Lace, Top Note die, Scallop Square Punch

LOVE this stamp set!!  And best of all, when you order this set from the Summer Mini Catalog, Stampin' Up! will donate $2 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  How fabulous is that?!!

I can't believe it's almost August!!!  Only 3 more weeks of summer left.  (15yo man-child starts his sophomore year on August 11th!)  Maybe once we get back into the school rountine I'll feel like stamping again.  I hope I remember how!! :)

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!

Pretty Postage

Hi Stamping Friends!!

Since I was sitting at my desktop paying bills anyway, I thought I would make another blog post.  Oh surprise!!  One of the stamp sets that I pre-ordered out of the Summer Mini Catalog was Pretty Postage.  I love it because it has a matching punch and I LOVE my punches!!  Here are a couple of cards I made using this set.

This first card was made for my Hostess Club last month.  I love my Hostess Club gals!!  Can't wait to stamp with them again soon.

Stamps:  Pretty Postage
Paper:  Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Vintage Wallpaper EF, Lattice BS Die, Scallop Square Punch, Postage Stamp Punch, Black Striped Grosgrain, Markers

This next card is a simple Thank You card I made for my 15yo man-child to send to all the people who have been donating funds to his upcoming mission trip to the Dominican Republic.

Stamps:  Pretty Postage
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Retired DSP (trying to get rid of some scraps!!)
Accessories:  Square Lattice EF, Postage Stamp Punch, Chocolate Baker's Twine

Hope you are all enjoying the new Stampin' Up! catalog!!  I LOVE it!!  I can't wait to actually order from it!!  :)

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!

Wavin' Hi!!!

Hi Stamping Friends!!
It's been so longed since I've blogged, that I'm not even sure I remember how!!!  It's summertime, so that's means I've traded my stamping obession for my reading obession.  I've been doing nothing but reading and reading and reading!!!  Love it!!  Well that and driving my kiddos to and from the pool 12 million times a day!!  With 3 kids in swim and 2 of those kids also in water polo and everyone one of them with different practice times and game times, I spend the majority of my time driving to the pool, at the pool, or driving home from the pool.  Not to mention swim meets two nights a week that last until at least 10 pm!!!  No wonder I don't feel like stamping!!

But the good news is, I have stamped a few things but never had the time to blog about them.  I finally had time to take some pics of stuff, so I'll take the next couple of weeks to show them off.

Today I have two cards to show you today.  My youngest brother is getting married on Saturday and our family had the honor of helping throw a bridal shower for his wife-to-be.  And I had the job of creating the invitations.  Lucky me!!!

I had sooooo much fun making these!!!  I gussied them up as much as possible.  The colors of their wedding are Rich Razzleberry with black and silver accents.  I added so many layers and details to these that they ended up costing extra to mail!!  Thankfully my mom paid for the postage.  I ended having to make 36 of these beauties.

The shower turned out beautifully.  We had it in my brother and sister-in-laws backyard.  Just an all around gorgeous day.  One of the "shower games" my family likes to "play" is envelope addressing.  I use the term "shower game" very loosley, as it's really not a game at all.  Every attendee receives an envelope and they are to write their address on the front of it.  The envelopes are then collected and one envelope is pulled from the pile and that person gets a prize.  What's the point?  Now the bride-to-be as all her envelopes already addressed to send thank you notes for her shower gifts!!  Here's the thank you notes I made:

These are much simpler than the invitations.  I was tired after all that work!!  And I didn't want her to have to pay extra postage, so I kept them on the clean side.  Plus, I didn't have enough Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain for each card to tie in a bow.  I ended up making 40 of these.  I figured she could use the extras for whatever else she needs to send a thank you for.

Well this week will be filled up with last minute wedding stuff (making programs, picking up tuxes, rehearsal, finding hubby something to wear!!), work, and more pool duty.  Hopefully I'll remember to post again sometime soon.  Hope you are enjoying your summer as much as I am!!

Happy Stamping!

Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge #50

Hi Stamping Friends!!
Wow!!!  Two posts in the same week.  Something special must be going on.  Actually there is!!!  A year ago this week, we posted our very first challenge at the Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge.  So we wanted to celebrate our first birthday with a bright and colorful party!!!  We hope you can come join the fun!

Stamps:  Punch Bunch (SAB)
Paper:  Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, and various DSP (some retired)
Accessories:  Melon Pom-pom Trim, Scallop Square Punch, Glimmer Brads, Perfect Polka Dots EF, Turquoise Grosgrain

Sketch Challenge:  CREATIVE-SKETCHES CS31

Don't you just love all the bright colors?!!  So many fun shades to choose from.  I made the party hats using the Square Scallop Punch and then just hand cutting them.  Love the little pom-pom tops!!  Make sure you stop by the Stampin' Celebration blog and see what the other designers have created.  We hope you can play along!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!

ColourQ #83

Hi Stamping Friends!!
Can you believe it?!!  I'm finally blogging again!  I didn't intend to take a blogging break, but life started hurrying by, and blogging (and stamping!) got put on the back burner.  But I'm here for now and hope to make at least a weekly blog appearance.  Maybe even bi-weekly.  :)

Today's card is for the color challenge over at the ColourQ blog.  It's been so long since I've played along.  I'm surprised Arielle hasn't taken my picture off the Royal Court Design Team!  I hope you can play with us this week!

Stamps:  Petal Pizzazz, Perfect Punches
Paper:  Ice Cream Parlor DSP (SAB), Turquoise DSP is retired, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango
Accessories:  Daffodil Pom-pom Trim (retired), Big Buttons (retired), Turquoise Grosgrain (retired), Large Oval Punch, Tangerine EP, Peach Ribbon, Baker's Twine, Scallop Ribbon Punch

Sketch Challenge:  MOJO MONDAY #189

I'm really lovin' the stuff out of the Summer Mini Catalog, especially the Baker's Twine and the colored embossing powders.  So fun!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!