Sketchy Monday

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope you had a great weekend.  Yesterday was a simply perfect day weather-wise here...I hope it was as nice where ever you are!  Today I want to share this month's inspiration sketch with you:

September's Inspiration Sketch

Here is an Autumn-themed project I put together based on the sketch:

Thank you card featuring the Banner Greetings Hosetess set (129714) and Sweater Weather DSP (132184)

I so love Fall colours and the Sweater Weather DSP has some beautiful, rich shades and warm, cozy patterns. 

Inside view with leaves die cut with the Autumn Accents Bigz die.

Here is what I used to put this card together:

• I embossed the Chocolate Chip background layer with the Woodgrain TIEF (127821).
• I layered the plaid-patterned DSP on Crushed Curry card stock.
• I used a piece of  1-1/4" Burlap ribbon (132140) for my pennant and adhered it with Sticky Strip.
• I die cut the leaf from Sweater Weather DSP using the Autumn Accents Bigz die (127812).
• The fuzzy-looking twine with which I threaded my button is  from the Simply Created Banner Kit.  I pulled apart some of the thick twine I had left over and used it to thread my button...I like the shabby softness it provides.
• The sentiment is from the Banner Greetings Hostess set and is stamped in Cajun Craze ink.

If you haven't tried creating from a sketch before give it a whirl.  It really is a wonderful way to get your creative Mojo working!

One more...for now...

Happy Friday!  TGIF!!  I survived my first week back at school, but man, am I tired!!  Today I have my final Holiday Kit-to-Go to show you...

Special Season Kit-to-Go featuring the Special Season stamp set (131769) and Winter Frost DSP stack (132183)

I think this is my favourite kit of all.  I love the Special Season stamp set and, paired with the Winter Frost DSP it just makes for such pretty, wintery designs.  Here is what the kit includes:  Special Season clear mount stamp set, Island Indigo and Pool Party Classic ink pads and all supplies with step-by-step instructions to make four of each card shown (for a total of 12 cards) complete with envelopes.  The price for all of this Holiday goodness is just $50, which includes tax.  This is an excellent value because the ink pads and stamp set are yours to use for years to come...a great way to build your stamping stash!  For additional information and to view other kits visit my Kits-to-Go page. To order simply email me...these kits are not available in my Stampin' Up! webstore. 
 Have a great weekend...I'll be back on Monday with some great new projects!

Another Kit-to-Go

Today I am featuring the second in my series on my new Holiday Kits-to-Go.  Check it out:

Kit-to-Go featuring the Wishing You stamp set (131751) and Season of Style DSP Stack (132181)

This kit includes the Wishing You clear mount stamp set, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive and Crumb Cake Stampin' Write Markers and all of the pre-cut supplies and step-by-step instructions to make four of each of the three cards shown, for a total of 12 cards (envelopes included).  All of this is priced at just $45.00, which includes tax.  This kit is the perfect way to add a special handmade touch to your holidays without having to find the time to attend a class.  You can make them in the comfort of your own home on your schedule.  These kits are also a great way to build your stash because the stamp set and markers are yours to keep for years to come.  Visit the Kits-to-Go page for additional information and to view other available kits.  Then email me with your order...these kits are not available through my Stampin' Up! webstore.

Holiday Kits to Go are Here!

I am happy to announce my collection of Holiday Kits-to-Go for this year.  Over the next couple of weeks I will be featuring the different kits.  Today I have the Cards 'n' Tags Kit...

Cards 'n' Tags Kit-to-Go

This kit features four different Christmas card designs and four gift tags.  It uses the Christmas Banner Simply Created Accessories Kit (312697), which is included in the cost of the kit.  You will also receive the Naughty and Nice This and That Rotary Stamp (132278) and a Bermuda Bay Stampin' Write Marker.  In addition to these products, the kit includes all of the supplies to make four cards and four gift tags, along with step-by-step instructions.  So, how much does all of this Holiday goodness cost?  Just $40.00, which includes and tax.  So, want a closer look?

Kit includes all supplies and instructions to make these four full-sized Christmas cards...

...and these four gift tags!

This kit is a great value and makes your Holiday crafting easy.  It's like having a private class with me right in your own home (you can even stamp in your jammies).  To learn more about how to order this or any of  my other Kits-to-Go click the tab at the top of this page.  Get a head start on your Christmas crafting!

Happy First Day of School!

I had hoped to have a cute back-to-school project to show you today, but alas, I spent the entire weekend in the school prepping for opening day and didn't put ink to paper once!  The best laid plans....yadda yadda.  Instead I have a Christmas card I did last week at my Holiday Head Start Stamp-a-Stack. 

Holiday card featuring the Tags 4 You bundle(133294) and Season of Style Designer Washi Tape (132155) and DSP stack (132181)

Since my ladies were making 12 cards each in one evening, I kept the design pretty simple.  Just a little stamping, some Washi and layering and done.

I love how easy it is to create coorinated projects with Stampin' Up! products...everything matches!

Inside view with sentiment from the Wishing You stamp set (131751)

I tied the inside to the front by adding a little more Washi tape...an easy way to add colour and texture just about anywhere.  Have you Washi'ed yet?? 

Brand new product!

Introducing....

The Envelope Punch Board!!

133774

This fabulous new tool is finally here!  We first saw this at Convention and let me tell you, it is awesome!  (Like, make-66-different-sizes-of-envelopes-with-one-tool-awesome!)  Here are the details:

• It creates totally customizable envelopes in up to 66 different sizes (not to mention a million different color and pattern options depending on the paper you want to use). Even tried and true envelope sizes will only take you moments to create!
• It's super easy to use.  It looks intimidating at first glance, but when you realize that all you have to do is measure for the first punch and from there you just turn and score you'll go crazy (in a good way).
• It's small and lightweight.  It's small and light enough that you could use it while watching a soccer match, at a park, at a friend's for craft night-anywhere.
• It even has a slick scoring tool as well as a punch that lets you create rounded corners on your envelopes.
• It's easy to keep it all together; the stylus storage compartment and two punches are designed into the tool so you don't have a bunch of little pieces to keep track of (even the instructions are printed right on the tool so you won't lose them!).
• The price is terrific-especially for a tool that does so much!
• It will be in next year's annual catalog, so it's here to stay.

Are you excited yet?  Still not convinced?  Check out this video and you'll see why I'm so darned excited about this tool!

Fantastic or what??

Now for a little project to get you thinking about Halloween.  Yup...the decorations and costumes are out in all the stores, so it must be time, right?  This is a project we did at my monthy Team meeting last month:

Halloween Card featuring the Tags 4 You Bundle and Witches Brew Designer Washi Tape.

This is another quickie, made super simple with the Washi tape.  No cutting or measuring...just stick and go!  If only they were all this easy!

September....really??

I can't believe the summer is over.  How is it possible today is September 1st??  With a new month comes a new challenge over at The Technique Twist.  This time we're all about bleaching...

Thank you card  featuring the Magnificent Maple stamp (131868) with sentiment from Truly Grateful (131733)

I went a little crazy with the bleach on this card...I used it in three differnt ways!  Here's a quick how-to:

• The background panel is a piece of Cajun Craze card stock that I spritzed with bleach (I just poured the bleach in a Stampin' Spritzer and went to town!).  That lovely yellow spatter is what the card stock bleached out to!
• The focal panel started as a plain piece of Early Espresso card stock that I stamped with the Magnificent Maple stamp, using a home-made bleach ink pad (folded paper towel in a  plastic box moistened with bleach)
• I stamped the leaf again in Versamark and heat embossed in gold.
• I dabbed the edges of the focal panel with a bleach-soaked sponge.  (Amazing how the more concentrated bleach on the sponge resulted in a totally different shade than the leaf image in the background!)
• I embossed the Crushed Curry layer with the Woodgrain TIEF (127821).
• I added some 7/16" Natural Trim (129287) for a little more texture.
• The sentiment is stamped in Early Espresso ink on Naturals Ivory card stock and is punched using the Large Oval Punch.
• I used Crushed Curry Candy Dots (130932).

I love stamping with bleach.  One never knows what shades will emerge when coloured card stock is exposed to bleach. It makes the whole design process much more of an adventure!  Give it a try and then link up at The Technique Twist this week!