Korner Challenge - Polished Stone

Inspiration comes from a variety of places.  So often, my inspiration comes from YOU!!  During a Hostess Club swap this past Wednesday, one of my incredibly talented downline created this gorgeous Halloween card using the Polished Stone Technique.  Tell  me that's not just killer??  Patty inspires me with so many different ideas with her swap cards and this one is no different.  As soon as I saw it, I knew today's challenge was going to be Polished Stone!

Polished Stone is a technique created using glossy card stock, a cotton ball, rubbing alcohol and reinkers.  The link above will take you to a wonderful tutorial in Split Coast Stampers if you're new to this particular technique.  For my card, I'm still working on fall colors.  the leaves in my yard are starting to turn and pretty soon, I'll have enough of them on the ground to fill a couple dozen lawn bags.  While I'm not a big fan of raking, I love the blanket of color it gives.

Now it's your turn!  Grab some glossy paper and your favorite reinkers and make try this fun technique.  I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Kelli's Card Recipe
Stamp Set - Upsy Daisy
Card Stock - More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Basic Black, Glossy White
Ink - Versamark Pad, Daffodil Delight Classic Reinker, More Mustard Classic Reinker, Cajun Craze Classic Reinker
Accessories - 5/8" Basic Black Satin Ribbon, Black Stampin Emboss Powder, Cotton Balls, Rubbing Alcohol, Heat Tool

Korner Challenge - Emboss Resisting

Happy Friday!!  Thank goodness, right?  It's been a really busy week in Kelli's Korner. We're having a yard sale at our house on Saturday.  I've dedicated my day and night today to getting ready for the sale.  It's a lot of work but I'm really hoping it will be well worth it.  I'm really looking forward to decluttering my life :)

Today's Korner Challenge is a technique called Emboss Resisting.  I think Emboss Resist is cool because it gets out your Craft inks (or Versamark), lets you get your fingers inky, and makes a beautiful card!  There is a great tutorial on Split Coast Stampers that you can visit for step by step instructions.  The one thing I did differently from the tutorial is that I used More Mustard Craft  ink instead of Versamark because I wanted more color in my design.

This card was another that we made for Korner Kards on Monday.  Since summer is officially over, I was really feeling some fall inspiration.  I love this color combination for fall.  I can't wait until the leaves start to change and really show such these wonderful pictures in nature.  So let's see what you can do with your Emboss Resisting.  Grab some embossing powder and get creative!  I can't wait to see what you create!

Card Recipe
Stamp Sets - Upsy Daisy
Card Stock - More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla
Ink - Bravo Burgundy Classic Ink, Cajun Craze Classic Ink, More Mustard Craft Ink
Accessories - Clear Stampin Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, SNAIL Adhesive

Fast & Fabulous

Last week I was lucky enough to share some fabulous cards by some of my fabulous customers and downline members that they've made by following the Korner Challenge.  Inspiration breeds inspiration!!  One of my Kathy's made a card similar to this one.  I took her card, changed around the colors, and presented this beauty as part of Monday night's Korner Kards class!

The background Designer Series Paper is from the Play Date package.  The pattern is subtle but elegant and honestly, I wouldn't have thought to look in that bright and bold package for a softer background.  So my tip for the day...don't forget to use the "back" of your Designer Series Papers!

Card Recipe
Stamps - Fast & Fabulous Hostess Level 2
Card Stock - So Saffron, Sahara Sand, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper - Play Date
Stampin Up Classic Ink - So Saffron, Early Espresso
Accessories - Gold Brads, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin Dimensionals

Sharing Samples from my Friends!

For some reason, it's been a really long week.  I'm glad we're finally past the hump but there are still a couple long days to go!  I haven't put a stamp to paper since Sunday :(  I feel like I'm really missing out on some serious stress therapy.  I'm definitely stamping tonight to get read for tomorrow's Korner Challenge.  Maybe I'll have to find a few minutes to take a break in my day and stamp a special card for a coworker or something.

Since I've been such a slacker stamper, I'm happy to say that I do have wonderful projects to share with you from my wonderful downline!  Kathy x2 have been playing along with the Korner Challenge and have been generally creative.  I love that they're taking time to play with my little ideas and are turning them into great cards of their own!  I love getting copies of cards that have been CASED or inspired by my work.  It's really one of the best forms of compliment a girl can get! 

Keep up the great work, ladies!!  Keep the inspiration coming!

P.S. - To Kathy x2, you guys have a special gift coming from me! Thanks for letting me share your work on my blog!!!

Elements of Inspiration

I get inspiration from all over.  One of the things I really appreciate, however, are my swap cards.  I thin it's one thing to see a photo on the internet but to see a card up close and personal really makes a big difference.

I received a swap card from Judy Carpenter of Decatur, IL while I was at the Stampin' Up! convention that I thought was absolutely beautiful.  My share for you today is a remake of that card with some of my own touches.  I think it's simply gorgeous.  Wouldn't that look beautiful in fall colors? Hummm....I may just have to go back to my Korner.

Card Recipe
Stamps - Elements of Style
Ink - Not Quite Navy, So Saffron, Certainly Celery Classic Stampin Pad, Versamark
Card Stock - Whisper White, Not Quite Navy
Accessories - Clear Embossing Powder, Stampin Sponge, Pearl Ahesive Accents, 1" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Stampin Dimensionals

Korner Challenge - Color Fun

Hello, Friday!!  It's a wonderful day here in Downers Grove.  The sun is shining, the birds are chirping (starting VERY early), and there is a crisp morning breeze.  It's going to be a beautiful day!!

Start your Friday off right by joining me in the Korner Challenge!!  Today we have a color adventure!  Working with Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Always Artichoke, and River Rock, I challenge you to create a card, scrapbook page or fun 3-D item.  If you play along, be sure to share a photo with me!

Today I made a new holiday card with this fun color combination.  One of the things my customers have told me time and time again is that they want to see more samples of cards that use just one stamp set to make a background as well as the primary image.  Fair enough!  I love those kinds of cards, too!  I think Snow Swirled is a great set to do just that.  The card background was stamped with one of the three snowflakes included in this set.  The sentiment is part of this great set as well. With the tree and a holiday verse, this stamp set will make a wonderful addition to your holiday collection!


I love to use ribbon on my cards.  I think it goes a long way in adding a touch of class, elegance, or just a little bit of something extra to make your card go from ok to fabulous!  I used three different layers of ribbon on this card today.  The first layer is our Early Espresso Satin Ribbon.  Next, is the 3/8" Daffodil Delight Taffeta Ribbon.  Finally, the top layer is our beautiful Chantilly Crochet Trim  It really draws out the accent colors in the card.  As another fun accent, I added our adhesive pearls to the stars on the tree.  These are such simple and pretty accents to any card.

I hope you'll play along with today's Korner Challenge.  Have fun, be creative, and stamp the day away!!

Card Recipe
Card Stock - River Rock, Always Artichoke, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla
Classic Ink - River Rock, Early Espresso
Stampin Write Markers - Always Artichoke, Daffodil Delight
Accessories - 5/8" Early Espresso Satin Ribbon, 3/8" Daffodil Delight Taffeta Ribbon, 1/2" Chantilly Crochet Trim, Adhesive Pearls, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin Dimensionals

Creepy Crawly Stampin' Up! Punch Fun

Spiders are creepy...but not when they make googlie eyes at you!  We're getting punchy today with a bunch of punch loving friends!  You're sure to be treated to a whole cast of fun Halloween punch pals that will make you "ooh" and "aah" all the way to Trick-or-Treat!

This little spider isn't an original design.  This little guy has been around as long as the photo corner punch has been in the catalog but I couldn't pass up an opportunity to share him for this fun blog hop.  I was inspired to make him primarily because of the so cool new new Spider Web Textured Impressions Embossing Folder for the Big Shot that you'll find in the current Holiday Mini Catalog.  What goes better with a web than a smiling, googlie eyed spider?? 

All of the supplies used to create this card are from Stampin' Up! {Well, except the google eyes.} The spider was made with the Scallop Circle Punch (head), Photo Corner Punch (legs) and a little piece of the 1/2" Circle Punch (mouth).  The spider web was embossed on a piece of Basic Gray card stock then I went over the embossed parts of the web with some Frost White Shimmer Paint for a beautifully webby shimmer.  Basic Black Satin Ribbon, a Word Window/Modern Label sentiment with Basic Black brads finish off this cute little Halloween Treat.

Ready for some more punch inspiration?  Check out my punch loving cohorts below!!  If you're following along in order, you can go visit Jennifer's Northwest Stamper Blog here.  Happy {{Punching}}!!

Paper Punch Addiction
Blinkin' Thinkin' & Inkin'
It’s A Stamp Thing
Kelli’s Korner {You are HERE!}
Northwest Stamper
Ink Paper Stamps
Gwen’s Paper Expressions
Stamping My Life Away
Gettin’ Crafty
Krafty Kate’s Kupboard
Brenda’s Stamping Corner
Beth-a-Palooza
Bonnie’s Creative Place
Craft Chaos
Stampin' With Heather

Simply Lovely

The weather is very fall like in these parts.  Yesterday I was out with my older son all day and I had to wear a sweater to keep from shivering.  Of course, once he got behind the wheel to get some driving practice in, I had to take my sweater off because I was sweating bullets!  No worse for the wear am I but on our ride, I definitely saw signs of things to come.  Leaves starting to change, a couple falling here and there.  Summer is definitely over, folks.  There are only 111 days left until Christmas!!

I have a special event coming up.  I don't want to spoil any surprises so I won't tell you exactly which event but it's one I host every 3 months and sounds like "dingo".  For my make-n-take, I wanted to showcase a fun project tha would make a lovely gift for a special neighbor, coworker or maybe a teacher.  We made a card folder similar to this at the preconvention events that I attended this year.   Really simple to make and, I think, a wonderful gift to receive.

I pulled out Lovely as a Tree.  I haven't stamped with that set in a while.  I honestly forgot how much I love it!  It's been sitting quietly in a drawer while I've been playing with all of my new sets.  I'm ever so glad I found it!  I think this set makes wonderful chalked images, which is exactly what I've done to all of the tree images.  Stamp in Versamark, daub with chalk.  I love the way the colors of a stamped image blend so nicely together.  For the card, I pulled out Define Your Life to show how wonderful "simple" cards can be.  On the others I made, I stamped a variety of sentiments from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

For all of you who are coming to that special event that sounds like "dingo", you'll get full instructions on how to make this cool folder and will make your own to take home.  Anyone who wants to come a little early to start their stamping is more than welcome to do so.

I'm off to create this month's Super Set Sunday class.  I've got about 10 hours before my pulled pork is ready for dinner and I think stamping away my day is a perfect way to pass the time.  Happy Stamping!

Korner Challenge - Fall Fun

Happy Friday, everybody!  I have had a pretty long and often challenging week.  I'm so glad I get to break away from my "real job" for three whole days and not worry about anything but family, fun, and stamping for the long weekend!!

I'm glad you've stopped by for my Friday Korner Challenge.  Today, we have another sketch challenge. I certainly hope you'll play along, especially all of my Korner Krazy Stampers and Kelli's Korner Kustomers! Don't sit on all of those wonderful supplies!  Use them!!

I issued a challenge to you in August to follow me with my sketches.  So many of you participated.  I was thrilled with the response to the fun sketch adventure!  As promised, I've drawn one winner from everyone who participated.  And the winner is...Kathy S.!! Congrats, Kathy!  You can thank the youngest child of mine later.  He pulled your number :)  You've won a stash grab.  Kathy participated in every sketch last month and got a total of 4 entries in the drawing.  Way to go lady!!

My card today uses the new Paisley Prints stamp set and matching wheel from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Since we're looking a a high of 70 today, I was feeling a little fallish.  I love the Regals color collection.  It just screams Fall!  I couldn't quite decide which buttons I wanted to use so I made two cards.  One with the Garden Green buttons and one with the Cajun Craze buttons.  Do you have a favorite?  I can't decide which one I like best.

Go grab some supplies and start stamping!  I'd love to see what you've made so feel free to email me your creations and I'll happily share them on my blog!!  Happy Stamping!!

Card Recipe
Stamp Sets - Paisley Prints
Card Stock - Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla
Classic Ink - Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Always Artichoke
Accessories - Paisley Party Wheel, Regals Designer Buttons, Linen Thread, Stampin Dimensionals

Taking steps to Christmas

As of today, September 2, there are only 114 days until Christmas!!  It's hard to believe that Christmas will be here before I'm ready for it.  Time really has been flying by too fast!

This morning I wanted to start working on my Extreme Christmas Cards class.  I've been playing with the Side Stair Step card and thought a tree and matching ornaments would be a great way to showcase this extreme card.

The tree is from Snow Swirled, a favorite from the Idea Book & Catalog.  The ornaments are from the new Holiday Mini set, Tags Til Christmas.  I can't wait to "teach" this extreme card!!

Save the date!!  Extreme Christmas Cards is coming to Kelli's Korner on Monday, November 1 at 7:00pm!!

Card Recipe
Card Stock - Wild Wasabi, Whisper White
Classic Ink - Wild Wasabi, Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight
Stamp Sets - Snow Swirled, Tags Til Christmas, Many Merry Messages
Accessories - Adhesive Rhinestones, Ornament Punch
 

Korner Kards will be Wicked Cool!

The third Monday of every month in Kelli's Korner is our awesome Korner Kards event!  Make 5 great sample cards that you can create over and over again in your personal card making.  This event is $8 or FREE with a purchase of $15.  September's event will feature some fun Halloween cards!  This one I'm showing you today is Wicked Cool, huh?

This card is an adaptation of a card shown at convention this year.  It really serves multiple purposes.  First and foremost, it's one of our Korner Kards!  But next, it helps answer a question that was posed to me by one of my customers.  How do you incorporate Designer Series Paper into your holiday cards without having to buy a pack of holiday DSP?  My answer...Patterns Designer Series Paper!  There is a stack for each color family.  You get four 12x12 sheets of each color for just $19.95. It's a great deal and this paper is truly very versatile.  You'll see on this card, I used a strip of Pumpkin Pie striped DSP on the belly band of the card to give a little extra flair to what would be a pretty simple card.  Grab yourself a pack of Patterns DSP and add a little quick flair to your card...holiday or otherwise!

You'll see underneath the cute little belly band when you make this cute card during Korner Kards.  I don't want to spoil all the surprises!  Have yourself a Wicked Cool day!!

Card Recipe
Card Stock - Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White
Designer Paper - Brights Patterns Designer Series Paper
Classic Ink - Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant, Sahara Sand
Accessories - Old Olive Satin Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, Old Olive Stampin Write Marker, Pumpkin Pie Stampin Write Marker

When you need a quick and easy card...

A piece of Designer Series Paper, a beautiful stamp and a ribbon can go a long way!  I needed a whole bunch of cards this weekend and this design was the winner.  Simple but pretty, I hope these cards get plenty of oohs and aahs.

Another plug for the new Color Coach.  If it wasn't for my Coach, I probably wouldn't have put Pear Pizzazz and Rich Razzelberry together.  The other color in that combination was Tempting Turquoise which, for the record, looks great!  (I made some of these cards in Pear Pizzazz and Tempting Turquoise...yummy!)

Card Recipe
Card Stock - Rich Razzelberry, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper - Greenhouse Gala
Classic Ink - Rich Razzelberry, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories - Rich Razzelberry 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, SNAIL Adhesive

Why I LOVE to Share What I Love

Anyone who knows anything about me at all knows how crazy in love I am with my new nephew.  He's a dream!  It's still hard for me to fathom the fact that I can love a child who isn't "mine" as much as I love this little man.  He came to visit me on Thursday so my sister could finish off her birth announcements.  It was so wonderful to just hold him and love him, and I even got him to crack a little smile.  I've always been astounded by how much little babies grow and change in such a short period of time. It feels like only yesterday that my babies were this size and now, I have one driving.  UGH!  Time flies by way too fast!

When I first joined Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator, my little sister wanted nothing to do with my "hobby".  She's not crafty and has no time to be...so she said.  She's not getting involved with anything I'm selling and especially not stamps. That's just "weird" and she's not interested!  It just so happened that she had some plans fall through on a Friday night and I had a last minute cancellation for a class.  "Come on over, sis!  I won't even charge you for the class." (The things you do for family!)  It was a great class for her to get her feet wet.  We made 60 cards out of a Simply Scrappin' kit.  Not a whole lot of stamping, just quick and easy card making.  Would you know, she had fun!  She had a whole slew of cards that she could now just pull out when she needed a birthday or get well card.  Amazing, isn't it?  She was just pleased as punch with herself.  She was sending them for everything under the sun.  Then I received one of those cards last October.  The inside read, "You're going to be an aunt!"

Today, my not crafty, not coming, not playing, NO WAY little sister is a member of one of my Korner Klubs, attends regular classes, and is the very proud creator of ALL of her birth announcements.  I'm so proud to see the beautiful announcements she was able to make all by herself!  **Note here...my watermark says "Created by Kelli Waters".  It should say "Created by Kelli Waters' Talented Little Sister"**  It's quite a big undertaking with all the cutting of the layers, sizing of the photos, and the stamping.  I love the way they turned out.  I really think she did a great job and the cards are phenominal!  No preprinted designs from a print house for my nephew...now way!  Her little guy's announcements are hand made with love! 

Share what you love!  That's what it's all about.  Afterall, you never know when sharing what you love with someone else may just turn into that same someone sharing what they love with you.

Korner Challenge - Bee Happy

As I sit here ready to create this post, I'm a little sad.  My youngest son started middle school this week and all of a sudden...I'm not needed for the "bedtime ritual".  Yes, I know he's getting older but there's something about being able to tuck him in that always made ME feel a little better.  It's hard to let them grow up when you still want to do the Mom things.  I might just have to sneak in after he's gone to sleep and make sure he's all comfy cozy anyway.  I am the mom and it will make me sleep a whole lot better!  But don't tell him that...please!

Up until this week, I've been participating in a sketch group.  I've been so pleased with the praticipation I've had from so many of my wonderful customers and downline!!  You guys have really been making some awesome cards. I love getting the emails and seeing the live samples of your creations.  It's been so inspiring that I've decided to bring you my very own Korner Challenge! It might be a sketch, it might be a color combination, heck, it might even be a fun 3-D project.  Rest assured, it will be a fun way for you to challenge yourself to use all of the wonderful Stampin' Up! products that we've come to love!  I plan to have them posted for Fridays but if you don't see it til Friday afternoon, don't shoot me!  I'm only human, afterall :-)  Email me a photo or keep bringing your creations to your classes and workshops.  Oh, and don't forget about the August challenge special!!

Given the developments of tonight, this card seems to be very appropriate. I just need to Bee Happy!! Daffodil Delight is definitely a happy color and the stamps in Every Little Bit are just too cute! Where did "happy" come from? Another new stamp set in the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog, Fabulous Phrases. This great stamp set contains 30 individual words that you can put together to make, well, fabulous phrase!  What I really loved about playing with this card design was that I was able to use my awesome clear mount stamps to line up the bee and "happy" on the same block.  It made stamping ten of these little guys so easy.  It's just one more reason for me to LOVE the new clear mount option in our stamps!

So go forth and conquer this simple sketch.  Design your own background, add a little bit of what makes you happy, and make someone's day with a piece hand-made love!

A gift in a greeting

I love to send cards that give a little more than just a greeting.  I love including a bookmark with my cards.  This latest creation incorporates the bookmark right into the design of the front of the card.  I got this idea while I was attending convention this year.  I got a cool card from Bev Laechelt as a swap.  She had used a cool little rooster on the tag and a textured foreground on the card.  I thought the idea was so cool that I started designing one of my own.

The card uses the Word Window punch as a little insert for a great bookmark made from the Two Tags Big Shot Die.  How excited would you be to not only get a wonderful little greeting from a friend, but also a bookmark to pop inside of your Stampin' Up! catalog to mark your favorite stamp set!!  If you want to see a close up of either photo, you can click to get a larger image.

Card Recipe
Card Stock - Night of Navy, River Rock, Whisper White
Classic Ink - Night of Navy, River Rock
Accessories - Big Shot, Two Tags Bigz Die, Word Window Punch, Scalloped Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Night of Navy 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Adhesive Rhinestones
Stamp Set - Just Believe

Sketch Challenge - August 20

This is my last post as a member of the Sketch Frenzy Friday group.  Today's sketch is brought to us by one of our stampin Friends from the other side of the globe, Roz Davidson!  This is a great, simple sketch that anyone can participate with. 

Card Recipe
Card Stock - Rose Red, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White
Classic Ink - Rose Red, Elegant Eggplant, So Saffron, Marina Mist


I pulled out one of my favorite past classes for this sketch.  This card was made using a One Sheet Wonder and made my own designer paper out of the Circle Circus stamp set.  So easy and fun!!

The next stamper in this group is Kim.  Go to Kim's blog by clicking here. 



 

Simple and Bright

Sometimes I like a simple, basic card.  I think this Awash With Flowers card totally fits the bill.  It's simple, it's bright, and gets the point across quite well without any ribbon, buttons or brads -- making it 44¢ to mail!  This was another card we made during the last Korner Kards class.  It was a big hit!  There's a little bling on this card coming from the new Smooch Illuminate Top Coat.  There's just a bit on each flower but it really gives a nice, unexpected pop on this otherwise unassuming card.

Card Recipe

Card Stock - Pacific Point, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White

Classic Ink - Pacific Point, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo

Accessories - Smooch Illuminate Top Coat, Snail Adhesive

Stamp Sets - Awash With Flowers, Fabulous Phrases

Korner Kard Fun!

We had a great time during Korner Kards last night!  We made 5 quick and simple cards and even introduced a new stamper to the fun we have in Kelli's Korner! 

One of my favorite cards from last night was this fun little ice cream cone using stamps from Sweet Treats, a cute little set from the Summer Mini Catalog.  Who doesn't love ice cream?  This will be a great card for any kid or kid at heart!

The next Korner Kards night will be on Monday, September 20.  The cost to attend is $8 or you can place a $15 merchandise order and make the cards for free!

Have A Sweet Celebration Card Recipe
Card Stock - Tangerine Tango, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Classic Ink - Tangerine Tango, Crumb Cake
Accessories - 2-1/2" Scallop Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Paper Snips, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, White Gel Pen, 2-Way Glue Pen, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals.