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

Feel Better Soon - Tea Bag Holder

Happy Monday!  Oh wait, it's Tuesday, isn't it?  Holiday weekends always get my week all goofed up.  I'm sure it will all be back to normal by Friday!!  The weekend was really very creatively productive.  I got a lot of stamping and creating in as well as some unfun house "stuff".  The weather was gorgeous.  We got to have a fabulous barbeque at my parents house yesterday.  I LOVE my dad's ribs.  They're so tasty!  All in all, it was a nice weekend all the way around!

My share for you this morning is this little tea bag holder, template courtesy of the Stampin Addicts 3-D Challenge.  You can check out the challenge and project instructions here. I  know when I'm not feeling well, a cup of hot tea is often just what the doctor ordered.  I think this little card would make anyone smile, especially when they need a nice pick me up.

Now I'll be honest.  The sick dog from Wellness Wishes has never been one of my favorite stamps.  It's kinda creepy.  This is the second project I've stamped with him in as many days, however.  I might actually be falling for him!  I guess if you think about it, when was the last time you looked like a supermodel when you weren't feeling well? This poor little guy is ill and looking pretty pathetic, just like I know I do when I'm feeling less than perfect.  Ok, I know it's a stretch, but I'm going with it because it works great for this project! 

That's all for today, folks.  I'm off to make myself a nice cup of coffee and get going with my Tuesday that feels like Monday!  Happy Stamping!!

Project Recipe
Stamps - Wellness Wishes, Word Play
Ink - Black Stazon, Marina Mist, Pacific Point, Sahara Sand
Card Stock - Sahara Sand, Pacific Point, Cajun Craze, Marina Mist, Naturals White
Accessories - Scalloped Lace Border Punch, Tag Corner Punch, Marina Mist 1/8" Ribbon, Cajun Craze Stampin Write Marker, Blender Pen, Big Shot, Texturez Plates, Sticky Strip, SNAIL Adhesive, Tea Bag

Super Set Sunday - All Occasions Gift Set

It's time, once again, to plan for Super Set Sunday!  Held on the last Sunday of each month, Super Set Sunday is a fun afternoon of stamping!  On September 26 at Noon, I'm continuing on with the exploration of our color families, this time with the Regals collection.

This Super Set will get you ready for any card giving occasion. Happy Birthday, Thinking of You, Get Well, Thank You and blank all occasion cards fill this really cool "buckle box".  You will make 10 cards, two each of five different designs, all featuring the Regals colors. All participants will also receive written instructions for the buckle box so you can make them over and over. This set would also make a wonderful gift for anyone who loves to send handmade cards.

The cost for this class is $20 or with your merchandise order of $30, your class is FREE!  Korner Klub members take $5 off of the class fee or order minimum.  Make a full second set for just $12 or a $15 merchandise order.

Please RSVP for this class no later than September 19.  Happy Stamping!!

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!