So hot...so cool!

It reached a whopping 99° in my crazy town today and I swear it had to have been 99% humidity to go along with it! It was definitely an icky sticky day here in Illinois. What a better way to cool off than with a little snow!

I was having a little BLUE inspiration! Snow Swirled is the stamp set that was able to fulfil my chilly dream. The snowflakes are stamped in Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, and Bordering Blue. The card base is Brocade Blue. The mat is Brilliant Blue. I tried to incorporate the other three Stampin' UP! blues but just couldn't find any more space :) The sentiment is stamped with Whisper White Craft Ink. To finish it off, I created a "cheater bow" out of the 5/8" Whisper White Satin Ribbon. Remember, you can always click on the image for a larger view!

I think this will make a wonderful addition to my Christmas in July Stamp-A-Stack! Register today through my Meetup site or by emailing me now!

I'm Cracked!!

I've been playing with cracked glass again. Oh my! I just love how each piece turns out so differently depending on where the veins of each crack run. I'm not going to reinvent the wheel. There is an excellent tutorial on Split Coast Stampers that explains the process of how to create cracked glass. The hands on experience, however, gives you a much better understanding of this cool technique! I think I may just have a class coming up!


I've been on a Basic Black/Real Red kick lately. So I used that combination to show this quick and easy Cracked Glass card. Each of the flowers was stamped in Basic Black on Whisper White cardstock and punched with my 1-3/8" circle punch. The middle flower was highlighted in the middle of each blossom with a touch from my Real Red Marvelous Marker. Each piece was then embossed with three layers of Glassy Glaze and cracked to perfection!



While I was cracking things, I wanted to get in another project with one of my absolute favorite stamp sets, The Free and the Brave. I'm very sad to see it retire this year but I know that it is being replaced with an equally beautiful Patrioitic set that I'm so excited to get! For this fairly simple card, I colored the stamp using Chocolate Chip, Real Red, and Brilliant Blue Marvelous Markers. After I stamped on some Whisper White cardstock, I colored in the body of the eagle with Creamy Caramel and the beak with Almost Apricot. Then, it was off to emboss and crack. I really like the way he turned out. The card was finished off by stamping the stars on the base of the card with Versamark and adding the sentiment, colored with Chocolate Chip and Brilliant Blue Marvelous Markers.

Seeing Red...and Spots...and Circles...oh my!!

I've really been wanting to do something fun with my new Circle Circus stamp set. It is a new set from the 2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalog that I got in my sneak peek order. It contains loads of different sizes and patterns of circles. I can't wait to be able to show you everything it offers!!

I made this card for a swap in one of my Korner Klub groups (a.k.a. Hostess Club). The inspiration came from a Technique Junkie tutorial called "Depth of Field". It uses three progressive colors to create a background, middle and forward focus of the eye, almost like creating faux layers.

Card Recipe

Card Stock - Real Red, Sahara Sand, Basic Black

DSP - Jackpot

Stamps - Circle Circus, Teenie Tiny Wishes

Ink - Real Red, Sahara Sand, Basic Black

I think this card makes a nice representation of how a little paper and ink can go a long way in creating a beautiful work of heart. You don't have to spend loads of money on embellishments to turn out greetings that you would be proud to give to your family and friends.

Fifth Avenue Vellum

As promised, I've added one of my favorite vellum overlay cards today. I'll be using this card as an example in the vellum technique class I'm teaching next week. I won't get into the how to's of this technique in this post.

I came back to one of my favorite color combo again...Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, and Chocolate Chip. The vellum has been dry embossed with one of the flowers from Fifth Avenue Floral. The back of the vellum was sponged lightly with Not Quite Navy and Old Olive classic ink before meeting the Scallop Edge Punch. The vellum has been layed over a piece of white cs that was randomly stamped with the other two flowers from Fifth Avenue Floral in Not Quite Navy and Chocolate Chip and mounted on a card base made of Not Quite Navy card stock.

One of the hardest things about working with vellum is trying to get it attached to your card without seeing the adhesive. Using brads or eyelets to attach the pieces is a great option but what if your design doesn't work with bling? A great solution is Stampin' Up! Glue Dots! They are small and show very little through the transparent paper. I used them on this Fifth Avenue Vellum card in four spots (and not all in the corners!) The brad is just an accent. Can you find them?

It's a beatiful sunrise, Daisy

I've been doing some playing with my new Stampin' Up! sneak preview items. I have to say, I'm totally in love with the new In Colors, especially the Rich Razzelberry and the Mambo Melon. I just can't get enough of them!

I was playing around and ended up with this particular card. It definitely didn't start out looking like this but I'm very happy with the way it ended up. The stamps used on this card came from the Upsy Daisy set.

The background for the card was made by brayering a strip of Summer Sun and a strip of More Mustard onto some Whisper White CS. I filled in some lighter and darker areas by sponging with matching ink. I hid their joining point by sponging on a layer of Rich Razzelberry between the two. I added a very faint layer of Mambo Melon to the top of the "sky" to give a more sunrise vs. sunset look to the background. I stamped the daisy's in Versamark and covered them with Heat and Stick Powder. I just LOVE that stuff! After heating it, I added some Chocolate glitter, assembled the card and tied it off with a piece of Rich Razzelberry ribbon. The sentiment is stamped on the CS using Versamark.

Supplies for this card:

Inks: Classic Inks in Mambo Mellon, Rich Razzelberry, Summer Sun, and More Mustard; Versamark

Card Stock: Rich Razzelberry - 8.5" x 5.5"; Whisper White - 5" x 3.5"

Accessories: Heat and Stick Powder; Chocolate Glitter; Rich Razzelberry 5/8" Polkadot Ribbon; Stamping Sponges; SNAIL adhesive; Heat Gun

Sponging is a wonderful way to get beautiful multicolored backgrounds and create some very unique works of heart. Don't be afraid to pick up a sponge and just start dabbing. You never know what you'll end up creating. I'll share a couple tips with you that I've found helpful when using my sponges. First, don't be afraid to cut apart your Stamping Sponges. I cut mine into quarters. This gives me more surface area to use to ink up my paper. It also gives me a flat edge and a round edge to work with when creating different textures. Second, be sure to pay attention when you go back to grab a sponge. I'm pretty sure my fingers will be stained Rich Razzelberry for a long time to come! At least it's a wonderful color! I will share a sponged vellum overlay tomorrow! Until then, happy stamping!!

Can you hear the Echoes?

Echoes of Kindness is, by far, my favorite Level 2 Hostess set in the current catalog. This flower is so versitile and works with so many different card layouts. I will definitely miss this set when it retires at the end of this month! I wonder what it will be replaced with?? I think I've seen a "sneak peek" that could be perfect!!

This card is a great "quickie". The materials used for this card:

Kraft Card Stock - Base
Real Red Card Stock - Flower Matting
Very Vanilla Card Stock - Stamp Foundation
Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper
Real Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
Kraft Corduroy Button
Natural Hemp Twine

Enjoy these Echoes of Kindness for today! Be sure to get your own Echoes before it is gone forever! Email me and I'll happily show you how you can get Echoes of Kindness plus at least $55 in your choice of Stampin' Up! merchandise for FREE in June!

Confetti Petals on a Beautiful Spring Day

I was planting flowers yesterday. The pretty splashes of color made me realize I don't use my SU! Confetti Card Stock nearly enough. Inspired by a mixed flower pot, I decided it was time to crack it out and design something beautiful!

This card is made using the Damask texture plate for the Big Shot, a piece of white 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, two flowers and a half back pearl from the Pretties Kit.

This card took such a short time to make but leaves a big impression on this beautiful spring day. I just love how the flecks of color in the Confetti CS gives a little treat to the eye.
Always be sure to look around you. You never know what kind of creativity nature can inspire!

Summer Fun!!

The Summer Fun Campaign has begin. Today through June 30, is an exciting time at Stampin' Up! and in Kelli's Korner!! There are plenty of benefits available for YOU, my wonderful customers and blog friends!

Let's start with the big stuff first...The LAST CHANCE LIST!! Many stamps and accessories will be retiring as of June 30. You will never be able to purchase these items again!! All In-Colors and DSP/Accessories that contain them are all going away! Many beautiful stamp sets are heading to the retired list as well! One of my favorite stamp sets, The Free and the Brave, is heading to the retired list. To see a full pictures of stamps and accessories, click the stamp set image to go to my SU! website, click Shop Now and check out the wonderful list of stamps and accessories available...some up to 50% off!! For a list of retiring stamp sets by page number, click one of the links below:

Click here for Retiring Stamps (Alphabetical) list.


Click here for Retiring Stamps (Numerical) list.
Click here for Retiring Décor Elements.

Hostess Program BONUS

The Summer Fun program is also offering an epanded Hostess Program!! Hold a workshop of $250 and receive an extra $20 in hostess credit. If your workshop total reaches $400, receive an extra $40 in hostess credit...That's $85 in FREE merchandise PLUS a Level 1 and Level 2 Hostess Set!! This is also your last chance to earn the beautiful hostess exclusive stamp sets available in the 2009 Spring/Summer Idea Book and Catalog as they will be retiring with the catalog at the end of this month as well! Schedule your personal, customized workshop now by sending me an email!

Country Living Kit

Stampin' Up! has teamed with Country Living Magazine to offer a wonderful Summer Cookout Kit for you to use to dazzle your guests with creativity!! This set will be available while supplies last from June 15 - June 30. They have also worked with Country Living to offer magazine subscriptions for just $10. To subscribe to Country Living Magazine for the discounted price of $10, click here.

Kelli's Korner Specials for June (aka BLOG CANDY!)

WIN FREE MERCHANDISE FROM THE NEW 2009-2010 CATALOG!!

I've seen the Sneak Peek and I'm SO excited for the new catalog. I am absolutely IN LOVE with the new In-Colors. Some of the new Designer Series Paper is absolutely wonderful. I can feel the excitement and I know you're going to LOVE IT ALL!! Sorry. This drawing is not open to SU! demos.

Between June 1 and June 30, earn entries into a drawing to win one of three fabulous prizes:

• 1 - 8 1/2 x 11 New In-Color Paper Pack
• 1 - New Designer Series Paper Pack
• 1 - New Stamp Set valued up to $30 and a $10 Kelli's Korner Gift Certificate

To earn entries into the Kelli's Korner June Special Drawing:

Earn 1 entry for each blog comment you make on postings made as of June 1. Be sure to leave me your email addy!

Earn 2 entries for joining my mailing list --> see the link on the right

Earn 2 entries for each retiring item you purchase

Earn 3 entries for placing an order over $30 and for each $30 increment (not including S&H)

Earn 3 entries for each Kelli's Korner Klass you attend in June

Earn 6 entries for hosting a qualifying workshop in June

Earn 8 entries for earning extra hostess credit through the Summer Fun promotion

Earn 12 entries for joining my team! Email me now!!

Contact me at any time for your chance to earn more entries into this very exciting drawing! I will be drawing a winner on July 2 and their names will be posted on my blog.

Isn't summer grand?? Don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions on any of these specials or promotions!! kellistamps4u@gmail.com

Happy Stamping!!