New Home

I created this card for my cousin who is moving into a condo this weekend. The card featured on page 77 of the Spring-Summer 2009 catalogue was my inspiration. Because they are moving into a condo and not a house, I decided to make my card two stories high.

I don't own the "All in the Family" stamp set so I borrowed it from my friend, Erin. She also lent me her "Family Accessories" which helped me fill in the bottom floor of the building. Thanks Erin! I really think this is such a cute set, but found it quite fiddly to stamp with as you have to stamp the heads, then add a body and then add arms. You definitely need a Stamp-a-ma-jig! Please pass on any hints you have for using this set!

I didn't put a sentiment on the card because I wasn't sure where I could fit it. What do you think? Does it need one?

In the picture, it looks like the Baja Breeze is showing behind the roof, but that is just the back of the card.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Baja Breeze Textured C/S, Old Olive, Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White
SU Designer Paper - Chocolate Chip
Ink - StazOn Black
SU Stamps - All in the Family and Family Accessories
Accessories - Stamp-a-ma-jig; 1" punch, gold brad, Cricut and Cricut Design Studio, SU Markers (Ballet Blue, Rose Red, Old Olive, Lovely Lilac, More Mustard, Regal Rose, Ruby Red, So Saffron, Blush Blossom)

Measurements
Card base is - 4 1/2" by 6 1/2"
Window Frames - 1 1/8" with the opening slightly smaller than 1" - used Cricut Design Studio
Door - 1" x 2"

Valentine's Day Love

I created this card for my sixteen year old daughter for Valentine's Day. I used Dawn's cute card for inspiration. My challenge is trying to recreate cards I love with the supplies and tools that I have.

I used my Cricut with the Cricut Design Studio trial software to create the scallop similar to Stampin' Ups scallop punch. My scallops are slightly smaller than Stampin' Ups so I'll have to adjust that for the next time. I also used the Cricut to create the scalloped circle, the circle and the hearts.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Riding Hood Red Texture, Pink Pirouette Textured, Kiwi Kiss Textured, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip
SU Designer Paper - Bella Rose
Accessories - Cricut, Cricut Design Studio, Stampin' Dimensionals, 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Riding Hood Red Ribbon

Measurements

Scalloped Circle 1 1/2" Mini Monogram Cartridge
Kiwi Kiss Circle - 1 1/4" Mini Monogram Cartridge
Riding Hood Red Heart - 1 " George Cartridge
Whisper White Heart - slightly bigger than 1" - used Design Studio so I could make it slightly bigger, but not 1/4"
Letters - 1" George Cartridge

Snowman Thank You

I like this colour combination - cool and soft looking. There's not much to say about this card as it is pretty self explanatory. I made it for my husband's, sister's mother-in-law who always sends us a gift each Christmas. I made the inside so I could write lots as I know she loves receiving letters - plus I wanted to cover the brad backs... they were an afterthought!

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Bashful Blue, Lavender Lace, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
SU Designer Paper - Bashful Blue
Ink - VersaFine Onyx Black
Stamps - Snowman - Provocraft - handed down to me from my sister-in-law; Sentiment from Greetings Galore
Accessories - Bashful Blue brads from Pink Hedgehog Papercrafts; Rectangle and Scalloped Rectangle Nestablities; Stampin Dimensionals; Ticket Corner Punch; Word Window Punch; Cuttlebug Snowflakes Embossing Folder; SU Markers (Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Lavender Lace and Pumpkin Pie)

Color Inspiration #38!

I'm pleased with this card because:

1. I designed it myself. For somebody who still mostly CASEs cards that's a pretty big feat!

2. I'm entering my second Kristina Werner Color Inspiration!

I made this card for my sister-in-law's birthday at the beginning of February. She loves the colour, orange so I wanted to make sure I had lots of it on the card. I love orange and pink together!

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Pretty in Pink, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red, Whisper White
SU Designer Paper - Sweet Always
Accessories - SU Spring Bouquet(Retired), Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Fiskar Mini Scallop Scissors, Brads from Pink Hedgehog Paper Crafts; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Stampin Dimensionals

You've Got Mail

I LOVED Jennifer's card when I found it. Of course, CASING it turned out to be a bit of a challenge for me... you don't want to know how long this card took me! First of all, I don't have Nesties in the heart shape. I also don't have the Quickutz envelope die.

I was quite pleased with myself when I easily made the envelope shape using my trial version of the Cricut Design Studio and the George cartridge. I just welded a rounded corner rectangle with a rounded corner triangle. If anyone wants the cut file just e-mail me and I'll send it to you.

The scalloped heart didn't turn out to be so easy. First of all the hearts with the George cartridge are not perfect hearts - both are a little more funky. They are not scalloped and they also do not "nest". I tried making a larger white heart and cutting it with my Fiskar's small scallop scissors, but that did not go well. The only other cartridge I have is the Mini-Monograms and it doesn't have a heart on it.

I scoured the Internet, but did not come up with a cut file for a scalloped heart. I was "this close" to buying the Sure Cuts A Lot program to use to make a scalloped heart when I decided to try and venture out a little more on my own while CASING Jennifer's card. I'm happy to say that I'm pleased with my end result.

I think I really want the Sure Cuts A Lot program, but I don't want to spend the money right now and I realy want to make sure that the program will do all the things that I dream it will do. Unfortunately I downloaded the trial version of the program but didn't play enough with it before the the tiral ran out. While I have used the Cricut Design Studio quite a bit, I think the Sure Cuts A Lot program is a better program because you don't have to buy all the Cricut cartridges. I also find the CDS program a little frustrating because I can't always input the size values I want and I have difficulties selecting shapes onces I have placed them on the mat. Does anybody else have those programs? I won't complain too much as I'm using the program for free (trial version) and it has given me more opportunities to use my Cricut, which at one point I wondered if I should have bought.

The card also looked great without the Nestie's scalloped oval and "Love You" sentiment, but I decided I wanted to mail this one to my mom. She gave me the Nestablities ovals and scalloped oval for Christmas so I wanted to use them on a card for her. She is down in Yuma until April and we talk almost everyday on MSN. At the end of our converstations we always say "Love You", so I needed to have that sentiment on her card. I know that I said this card was made for my mom for Valentine's, but I think I'll send this one to her instead. I can use the other one for either my sister-in-law's or my step-sister's birthday - both of them are in February.

I also tried a trick that I had read somewhere about using acrylic stamps. I inked my stamp with VersaMark before using it with the SU Chocolate Chip ink. It worked much better than when I used the SU ink alone. It is quite crisp and solid - especially considering I stamped it on textured card stock.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red textured c/s, Pink Pirouette textured c/s
SU Designer Paper - Riding Hood Red
SU Ink - VersaMark and Chocolate Chip
Stamps - Studio G ($1 Stamp from Michael's)
Accessories - 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon in Riding Hood Red, D'Vine Swirls Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Cricut, Cricut Design Studio, Nestablities, Stampin' Dimensionals (for the oval)

Measurements
5 1/2" Whisper White Card Base
5" Chocolate Chip Square

4 1/4" Pink Piroutee Square - I cut the 3" heart from this square to save paper

4" Designer Paper Square

3" Heart

Scalloped Birthday Card

Denise's card was my inspiration for this card. It proved to be more difficult for me to make than I thought. I even rated it a 2 in the Splitcoast gallery! I like my card, but not as much as I like Denise's! I think I'll try it again someday using my hints below. Ithas been tough getting a good picture as there aren't many sunny days here in the winter... but tons of them in the summer! I have tried adjusting the levels in Photoshop, but I should do a little reading on that topic, as I don't think I've got it quite right.

Since I don't have Nesties in the circle shape, I decided to use my Cricut for the card base. I decided to use a 5 1/2 inch scalloped circle using the Mini Monograms cartridge. Now that I've made the card, I know that a 5 inch scallop would be better because I needed a smaller white circle so it would fit in my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder like on Denise's card. I also should have made my Perfect Plum circle smaller so I wouldn't have to cut it off at the top. Another hint is when cutting folded card stock, you need to temporarily stick the two sides together when it is cutting so it doesn't shift around. I used a little roll made with green painter's masking tape.

I got one more card made that I'll show tomorrow. Now that I'm back at work the weekends seem to be my only time for stamping.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Whisper White, Perfect Plum, Pretty in Pink
SU Designer Paper - Perfect Plum
SU Ink - Pale Plum, Perfect Plum
SU Stamps - Simple Sketches
Accessories - Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon; Cricut, Cricut Design Studio, 1/8" Hole Punch
Measurements
5 1/2" Scalloped Circle Card Base
4 1/2" Perfect Plum Circle
4 1/4" Perfect Plum Designer Paper
3 1/2" Scalloped Circle in Perfect Plum
3" Pretty in Pink Circle
2 1/2" Scalloped Circle in Whisper White

The World Over

Well, now that I am looking at the pictures of this card, I'm not sure that I like it all that much. I don't remember feeling that way when I made it. I can't look at it again in real life because I've given it away. (I've yet to get to the point of having a stash of cards that I've made. I'm usually making them for a purpose.)

I'm not sure I like the cutting around the snowmen and it looks like I need another layer behind the white Cuttlebug embossed snowflakes layer.

I thought about not posting this card, but since my main reason for this blog is for me to record my cards, I decided to go ahead and post it anyways. I do like the little embossed snowflake in the circle, but I would make the circle slightly smaller if I did it again. It was my way of getting around not having a snowflake punch or a Cricut cartridge with a snowflake. I almost bought the Sure Cuts A Lot program just so I could cut out a snowflake, but then decided I'd wait.

I should have another card in the next day or two as my niece's birthday is next week and I need to get a card in the mail.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Night of Navy, Whisper White, Brushed Silver
SU Designer Paper - Prestwick
SU Ink - Basic Black
SU Stamps - The World Over
Accessories - Cuttlebug Snowflakes Embossing Folder, Cricut, Cricut Design Studio, SU Markers (Night of Navy, Brocade Blue, Garden Green, Close to Cocoa, Rose Red)

Measurements
3" Designer Paper Circle (Should have been bigger);
3 1/4" Night of Navy Circle;
3 1/2" Brushed Silver Circle;
1 1/2" Whisper White Circle for Snowflake

One Flaky Mitten

I'm back to work today after two weeks holidays so I guess my card making is going to slow down... I've got one more card in my camera to post and hopefully I'll be able to make one tonight.

I used the Stay Put Bow for this card. I love how nicely this bow sits and think it will be the only way I tie bows for now on. The brad is from Pink Hedgehog Paper Crafts. It's great to have brads in every SU colour - so many choices!

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
SU Designer Paper - Old Olive
SU Ink - Chocolate Chip
SU Stamps - Flaky Friends
Accessories - Chocolate Chip 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, SU Markers (Close to Cocoa, Summer Sun, Old Olive, Ruby Red), Cuttlebug Snowflakes Embossing Folder, Old Olive Brad (Pink Hedgehog Paper Craft's Olive)

Measurements - Designer Paper Strip - 2" Wide, Very Vanilla Circle 1.5", Old Olive Circle 1.6"

Flaky Mittens

I used my Cricut to create 1 1/2" circles in Very Vanilla and then used my trial version of Cricut Design Studio to create 1.6" Chocolate Chip circles for a thin frame around the Very Vanilla.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Ruby Red Baja Breeze Textured C/S, Very Vanilla
SU Designer Paper - Holiday Treasures
SU Ink - Chocolate Chip
SU Stamps - Flaky Friends
Accessories - SU Markers (Old Olive, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa, Summer Sun), Stampin Dimensionals, Cricut, Cricut Design Studio, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Corner Rounder

Make a Wish

Vera was so kind to leave a comment on my blog so I checked out her blog. She has lots of great cards and I saved a couple in my Favorites folder to use for inspiration.

I loved this card of hers and I knew that it would be a great layout to use for my almost 14 year old nephew's birthday that is later this month. Like so many stampers, I struggle making masculine cards. I think my nephew has received birthday cards with stars on every year since I started stamping! Hopefully he'll realize it is because I think he is a star. For the sentiment, I used my new Papertrey Ink Stamp set, Mixed Messages that Santa brought me. I think those little sentiments are going to be quite useful.

Here is what I did on the inside:

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Baja Breeze Textured C/S, Kiwi Kiss Textured C/S, Very Vanilla, Pacific Point Textured C/S
SU Designer Paper - Muirfield
Ink - VersaFine Onyx Black
Stamps - Papertrey Ink Mixed Messages
Accessories - Stampin' Dimensionals, Cricut, Ziggy Painter - Silver, Silver Eyelets

Measurements - Circle 3 1/2", Patterned paper 2" wide, Stars - 3", 2 1/2", 2 ", 1 1/4"

Parisian Celebrate You

I used Chat's card as an inspiration. There is a Bravo Burgandy scallop below the Sage Shadow scallop. In the picture it looks like a shadow. I'm wondering if I should have layered the Parisian Summer Designer Paper with Sage Shadow rather than just putting a scallop on the bottom. What do you think? (I get a kick out of writing as I'm not sure that my blog is even read by anybody as I have seldom have a comment. I just feel like I'm talking to myself...)

Here's the inside. It looks like it isn't glued down at the bottom of the designer paper. I'll have to check that out.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Pink Pirouetten Textured C/S, Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy, Sage Shadow
SU Designer Paper - Parisian Summer
SU Ink - Basic Black
SU Stamps - Greetings Galore
Accessories - 5/8" Ribbon in So Saffron (Buttercup from Pink Hedgehog Papercrafts); Su Markers (Pale Plum, Bravo Burgundy, So Saffron, Sage Shadow); Cricut; Cricut Design Studio Trial; Corner Rounder

Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration #36

I decided to give Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration #36 a try. I've been reading her blog for quite awhile and really enjoy her style. Many of the other blogs I have in my reader were found by looking at Kristina's Color Inspiration Round Up and I look forward to seeing all the cards in her round up each week. I love the colours she chose this week - rose red, pretty in pink, old olive and whisper white.


Since Valentine's Day is just around the corner and the pinks of the inspiration work for that holiday, I decided to make a card for my mom. One problem I have is that I have a limited amount of stamps and other than a few hearts, I don't really have a Valentine's Day stamp. I feel that I need to work on my colouring skills. I was beating myself up a bit about it and then decided to give myself a break. I've only had the markers for a few days and this card is definitely an improvement from the ones I've made in previous years. It's hard when you are comparing yourself to all the wonderful stampers that are out there. I am so thankful that they share their creations so that I have something to aspire towards. The positive thing I can say about this card is that I tried Michelle Skillicorn's Stay Put Bow for the first time and I love how it turned out.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Pretty in Pink; Rose Red; Old Olive; Whisper White
SU Designer Paper - Old Olive
Ink - VersaFine Onyx Black
SU Stamps - Send a Celebration
Accessories - Rectangle and Scalloped Rectangle Nestablities; Pink Satin Ribbon from Wal-Mart; SU Markers (Pretty in Pink; Rose Red; Old Olive); Rhinestone from the Dollar Store

Masculine Birthday

Happy New Year! This card was inspired by Annie's card. I picked up some VersaFine ink the other day and it made all the difference when stamping with the Studio G acrylic stamps. I was quite frustrated with those stamps as they didn't give a crisp clear image. The right ink makes all the difference! Here's the inside:

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Riding Hood Red Textured C/S; So Saffron, Bashful Blue; Pumpkin Pie; Whisper White
SU Designer Paper - Washington Apple
Ink - VersaFine Onyx Black
Stamps - $1 Stamps (Studio G) from Michael's
Accessories - Stampin Dimensionals; Cricut