Origami Dreams du Jour

Tried a technique challenge from Splitcoast Stampers -this would have gone perfectly with my "Know When to Fold 'Em'" cards. Anywho, the challenge was using an Origami fold. Looks complex, but so simple and really is a great look. I love adding different folds to cards, it really adds a bit of WOW factor. If you are new to my blog, scroll down and you're sure to find a bunch :)

So, this card is using the soon to be released Bella Rosa Designer Paper and Dreams du Jour stamp set. I inked up my stamp using Ruby Red, Pretty in Pink and Mellow Moss Markers and stamped onto Whisper White. TIP: Using your markers gives you the advantage of adding multiple colors to your stamp image - color, huff to remoisten and stamp. I cut out my stamped image using my Paper Snips (scissors). I then used my Scallop Punch on Riding Hood Red (New In Color to be released with the Fall/Winter Catalog on Aug 11th) to add a 'frame' around my stamped image. I used my White Signo pen to put some dot accents on my scallops. I kreated my 'blitz base' origami fold with my double sided Bella Rosa paper. Love the polka dots and flowers!! I then wrapped the square with White Grosgrain ribbon and added Ice Rhinestone brads for a bit of glitz on the 'blitz' :) hehehe. Looped another piece of White Grosgrain ribbon under my stamped image and popped it up on dimensionals in the center. Layered the 'blitz base' origami kreation on to Riding Hood Red and there you have another great folded card. If you have any questions on how to kreate this card, email me and I'll be more than happy to help you. So, what do you think? Leave me a comment and let me know!

For now, go kreate
Kim

Tea for Two

Sorry everyone this is going to be a very quick post. We had a wonderful time visiting with family and spending QUALITY time together, but I am bushed!!!!! QUALITY time = not much sleep :)

Anywho... here is a 'card' that can be presented to someone as a little gift.
Oh so adorable!! This card is holding two tea bags at each opening. But you can definitely add your own flare - cafe gift card or I recently sent one with 2 tea bags and 2 little square Ghiradelli chocolates, mmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm - tell me any woman wouldn't like that :)
Brief details...I used the Pun Fun set for my cup and the background is using the flourish stamp from the Priceless set. The steam of my cup is using a stamp from the Simply Said set. The flourish is inked in So Saffron, stamped on So Saffron paper. The cup is stamped onto Whisper White and colored in with my Markers and layered on Real Red. The inside is a piece of So Saffron Designer Paper and the edges are punched using only half of a 1 3/8 Circle Punch. (SU punches are great, they have little notches at the half way point of your image, so you can keep things 'even')

And when opened, your little gift awaits. Perfect for letting that someone know you are thinking about them... And as I said, if you add chocolate - THE perfect touch :)

If you'd like all the details on this card, please feel free to email me. Sorry to be brief tonight ~Gonna go relax from our 'relaxing' get away :) Why is it that many times we need a vacation from our vacation ???? :) I'll go break out my card and have a cup of tea with my hubby - tea for two :)
Enjoy!

For now, go kreate
Kim

Charming Box Sneak Peek

I needed a little something for some neighbors that just moved in. I had the idea to do a simple card with my new Window Dressing set (Lev 3 Hostess set in the new catalog to be released Aug 11th) and some acetate for windows, then I stumbled upon this adorable box with the idea I had in mind for my card. So instead of a card, I HAD to try this box. Isn't this the cutest!! I first kreated all my score lines for my box and then stamped out my window in Close to Cocoa ink onto Tempting Turquoise cardstock. Then cut out my 'windows' with my hobby blade and placed a piece of acetate/transparency (thanks to my hubby for bringing me a piece home from work pronto) behind the window. Then inked up my shutters and precious little girl in Close to Cocoa and stamped them onto Watercolor Paper. I used my Aquapainter and watercolored the shutters with Apricot Appeal and the darling little girl with Pixie Pink and Close to Cocoa. I used my Scallop Punch on a piece of Apricot Appeal DSP to create my 'window valance'. I placed my little girl peering out her window, applied the 'welcome' letter rub-ons (from Take Note rub-ons) and then assembled the box. Placed a white grosgrain ribbon at the top for my handle and this darling box is ready to be filled and delivered to welcome our new neighbors.
Hope you like it!

For now, go kreate!
Kim

PS I'll be going away for a long weekend with lots of family, so won't have time to scrap or post :( But I'll be back Monday with something new - I hope! Enjoy the weekend everyone!!

Winter in July? Sneak Peek

I was very against doing a winter card this early! I'm a HUGE fan of the warm weather and I'm dreading the thought that summer is already half over- UGHH!! But I had the idea for this card with the new Deer Friends set(Hostess Lev 2- available in the new Fall/Winter 2008 catalog to be released Aug 11th)and I had to run with it. In order to qualify for this set you need to Host a party of $300+ or purchase enough goodies yourself :) Contact me for hosting info or if you'd like to place an order.

I used the new In Colors, Riding Hood Red and Baja Breeze. On my layer of Baja Breeze, I used my VersaMark and snowflake, from All Through the Year set, (soon to be retired) and heated it up with Hologram Highlights. On Whisper White I inked my deer, present, santa, and snowman using Ruby Red, Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa, and Black Markers. TIP: You can ink up your stamps directly with your Markers to obtain different colors on your image. Just color, huff to remoisten and stamp. One additional step with my deer, I used Crystal Effects to accent his 'shiny'nose :) Then I used my 1 3/8" Circle Punch to punch out my images. What I love is the little sentiments around each image which brought me to the waterfall technique. With the waterfall effect, the sentiments read as a 'mini' sentence (fragmented,but you'll get the idea) ... 'Deer friend, a little something, from the guy with the red suit, season's greetings'. Love it!! Here is a tutorial how you can make this type of Waterfall card. I altered a few things (beside the obvious) - used Rhinestone Brads instead of eyelets and used my 1 3/8 Circle Punch to punch out my images and layered them on each square instead of just using squares.

If you have any questions, click the link to the right to email me - I'd be happy to help. Let me know what you think, love to read your comments. Enjoy!

For now, go kreate
Kim

Sneak Peek - Scallop Crazy

As a SU demonstrator you get many benefits and one of them is the ability to pre-order products from the new catalog (to be released Aug 11th - can't wait!!) I finally got my goodies Friday night, but with a busy weekend, I didn't get to play much until late last night. But without further ado here is a card using a few of my new things
As you can see in this card I went alittle scallop crazy. I love the new Scallop Edge Punch. I think this will be the 'must have' tool of the year!! It was so easy and quick. So if you are one that has used your slit punch or corner rounder to make each scallop one by one, this is the tool for you!!! I also used a new Designer Series Paper (DSP), Bella Rose that matches the new In Colors. The base is Pink Pirouette and layered under Bella Rose DSP, is Riding Hood Red. Not too much stampin on this card. I took my new stamp set Dreams du Jour and used Mellow Moss, Ruby Red and Pretty in Pink to color on my stamp. Those colors match very close to the DSP. I inked up my stamp, huffed it to remoisten and stamped it onto Whisper White. Placed my In Color layers of Riding Hood Red and Pink Pirouette behind my image and popped it up on dimensionals. Did the same layering with my sentiment that was inked in Mellow Moss as well. This card was very simple to make, definitely under 15 minutes. Not sure its a favorite, but its growing on me. What do you think, I'd love to know!

IMPORTANT FYI: Make sure to check out the 25% off Discounted List to the right. Don't delay, its only WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!!!!

For now, go kreate
Kim

RAK's and 25% off select retiring accessories

I was so surprised to receive not 1, but 2 RAK's (Random Acts of Kindness) in the mail. They are just so beautiful! I'm so lucky to have such wonderfully supportive and kind 'cyber' friends.

The first card is from Kris at Kween Bee Kreations.
Isn't it so pretty!!! AND she used one of the new sets, Dreams du Jour that will be out in the new catalog (to be released Aug 11th). I love the colors, the scallops, the rhinestone bling - what's not to love about this card.



The second is from Mary at Stampin Pretty. This card used Die-Cut Blooms from the retired Occasions Mini catalog. Isn't it lovely. If you don't own these Die-Cuts, you could definitely kreate this type of card with some of our flower punches. Great, right?

Be sure to check out all their magnificent kreations and become inspired!!!

ALSO wanted to inform you that SU announced 25% off select retiring accessories, while supplies last. Check it out here and make sure you stock up on your favorites

Stay tune for the complete list of Retiring Accessories tomorrow.

First Sketch Challenge

Well, I finally decided to go to Splitcoast Stampers and try their Wednesday sketch challenge. Here is the end result.


The Designer Series Paper (DSP) is Le Jardin. I love the soft colors and papers in this set, in particular this paper. I had also used it on a scrapbook page of my daughter which you can see here in a larger piece. I layered the DSP on Mellow Moss which I put on a So Saffron cardstock base. The band is a combination of So Saffron and Mellow Moss again with a White Grosgrain Ribbon through the center. Inked in Mellow Moss is my sentiment from Sincere Salutations stamped on to Whisper White. I again layered with Mellow Moss and So Saffron. At this point my Whisper White was just too stark looking, so I used a Dauber and So Saffron ink and dabbed around the sentiment. Then I took the small flourish from the Priceless set and stamped that in So Saffron Ink as well. Hmmmm, needs something.... finally decided to use my VersaMark Marker and trace my 'Birthday' letters and sprinkle with Clear Embossing Powder. TIP: The VersaMark Marker is a great alternative if you don't have Craft ink or a Stamp-a-mi-jig to do a 2-step embossing with Classic ink. If you own a Stamp-a-mi-jig or can eyeball precise placement :), check out this tutorial from Kween Bee, for embossing with Classic Ink

I heated up my sentiment and it gave it just enough to complete the card. I popped up the 'sentiment layers' on dimensionals and I completed my first sketch challenge! So how did I do? Leave me a comment and let me know. Here is the sketch if you'd like to give it a try.

For now, go kreate
Kim

Buon Compleanno

Does this make you think of an Italian Restaurant? I borrowed this set and I just love this cute chubby little chef. Sorry it is blurry, for some reason I could not get the best picture, either my chubs was blurry or my sentiment. Anywho, pretty simple card to kreate. Real Red was inked onto my Print Pattern background stamp, soon to be retired Aug 10th, and was stamped onto Real Red cardstock. I inked my chef in VersaMark and stamped him onto Watercolor Paper. Sprinkled on some Black Embossing Powder and heated him up- it just really makes him pop. I then used my Aquapainter to add some accents to his attire. TIP: You can kreate a little pool of ink by squeezing the center of your closed stamp pad together and then when you open, the lid will have alittle ink for you to use with your Aquapainter. Pretty cool, huh! One of the many advantages to using SU ink pads. After 'painting' him, I used my Paper Snips (scissors) to cut him out and then popped him up with dimensionals. I then stamped my sentiment in VersaMark and again heated up some Black Embossing Powder to complete the card. Great for a masculine card or the connoisseur in your life. Great options with this set, many accessories to add to your plate! If you like this little guy, check him out in the Spring/Summer Catalog pg 42.
And Voila'...

For now, go kreate
Kim

Basic Baby

Had seen a template of this card a while back, (sorry I have no idea where I saw the original), and since it popped in my head to do a baby card, I thought I'd try and remember how. Without the template bookmarked, I was able to figure it out, so don't be intimated - its very easy to do!! With a 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 (folded at top) piece of cardstock I used my 1 3/8" Circle Punch for the 'legs', at the bottom corners, and the 'neck' at the top center of my card. TIP: SU punches are great, the punch has little notches at the half way point of the punch - making it very easy to get an accurate half circle.
Then I measured about 1" down from the top to kreate my arms and about 1/2" in for the 'armpit' portion. Then I used my craft knife and cut a diagonal from the 'armpit' to the 'leg' on each side of the card to kreate your onesie. Between the leg holes I put two score lines and added my Silver Brads (snaps). TIP: For more accurate brad placement, I used my Piercing Mat and tool. If you click to enlarge the image you be able to see more detail. Now you are ready to decorate. Easy right? If you didn't follow my instructions, let me know and I'll try and make it more clear. A little trial and error never hurts - believe it or not all I had was the picture in my head - if I can figure it out, any one can!! :)
To decorate I used a soon to be retired set, Basic Backgrounds, this little set had seen a lot of ink and I'm sad to see it go! Make sure to place your retiring orders before Aug 10th!
So, I inked up my little swirls in White Craft Ink. Then I used my hippo from Pun Fun and stamped him on watercolor paper in Basic Gray. TIP: When watercoloring an image, you want to stamp it in a waterproof ink to avoid the image bleeding. SU has 3 waterproof colors - Basic Brown, Basic Black, Basic Gray. If using another non watercolor ink, be careful not to come too close to your line image. Another suggestion, emboss your image, that way the line image will not bleed either.
Back to watercoloring... I took my Aquapainter and Brocade Blue ink to color in my hippo. TIP: With your ink pad closed, squeeze the lid of your ink pad in the center and when you open it up, you will have a little pool of ink to use to watercolor. I used Pink Passion for the balloon and bow and painted the little toes with a Rose Red Marker. I Ticket Punched the corners and placed it on the Brocade Blue onesie. Maybe should have cut out the hippo? There's always next time. The final touches... Punched a 1 1/4" Circle and then my Scallop Punch around that to kreate a 'frame'. Placed those scallops around the legs and neck and snipped off the excess. Two small Whisper White scraps kreated the band around the arms. Phew that was a long post - sounds like a lot, but really wasn't! All worth it for this cutie! Let me know what ya think and leave me a comment. Love to hear what you think!

For now, go kreate
Kim

I was just reminded of the site where I had seen this template. Click here to view the card. Thank you anonymous. Check it out cause she has a great step by step tutorial.

Another Dahlia Fold

Here is one last fold card that I had done awhile ago, but forgot to show you all. This Dahlia Fold is done using Jersey Shore Designer Paper. If its not your favorite, any paper will do (But come on isn't this flower cute!). The stamp set used is So Happy, and yes this is another that will be retiring, so get it before Aug 10th so you don't have to say farewell. The Base of the card is Brilliant Blue. Eight circles were punched out of the Jersey Shore paper to kreate the Dahlia. For directions on how to fold your circles to kreate your dahlia flower, click the link to the right and email me. I used a dauber to ink up a small chipboard flower in Pumpkin Pie. Then I adhered the tiny green Microbeads using Crystal Effects. TIP: Make sure this little gem is set aside to dry a bit before placing on your Dahlia with a Mini Glue dot. One more piece from the Jersey Shore paper is showcased across the center of my card. The paisleys and sentiment from the So Happy set were inked out and stamped in Brilliant Blue. Beside the Dahlia flower taking a bit to assemble, this was a pretty simple card to kreate. Any questions, I'm here to help! Hope you like it!

For now, go kreate
Kim

Unfrogettable

Is anyone else humming Nat King Cole? :) I had to have this Unfrogettable set and now that it is retiring, I realize I have 'toadally' neglected these little critters. I've never kreated a scene type card, but I had a lot of fun with this one. It's a little busy, but I wanted to represent each of these cute critters. I love using my Markers to get various colors on one stamp. So I markered up my stamps and then huffed to remoisten the ink and set in place. A few images I colored in as well. I love the way my little snail is peeking through the flowers. My little frog was cut out using Paper Snips (scissors) and is perched upon his 'stool' with dimensionals. I also snipped out one of his dragonfly friends and popped him out with a dimensional as well. Aren't these little guys so cute -I love their big eyes, so I accented them with a dab of Crystal Effects in each eye (if you click on the picture to enlarge it you may see that a little clearer). I kreated the sky and cloud background last, using a scrap Punched Scallop piece and sponging Bashful Blue ink around it. I paper pierced little trails behind my dragonflies using my Piercing Mat and tool. The sentiment was inked in Green Galore and popped it out with my Oval Punch. I punched out another oval in Green Galore and offset it behind the sentiment and popped that up on dimensionals too. I layered my 'scene' on top of Green Galore and then Taken with Teal. Not my usual type card, but I did have fun! Don't miss out on this Unfrogettable set, or any other that is retiring - you only have until Aug 10th to make it yours! Let me know what you think of my little critters :)

For now, go kreate
Kim

Wow Fold

Ever have one of those days... well, I had one! Huge computer operator malfunction when trying to add a subscription link to my blog, still trying to figure it out, but I had pretty much lost my entire template for my blog and it took hours to get it back to its original state. And that wasn't even the worst of my day... broken refridge, weird repairman who kreated a leaking ceiling in my basement, kranky kids... I just want to wake up to a new day! Things could be worse though, and I have paused to be thankful that I am still very blessed despite my day!. Anyway, here is something that makes me smile. Isn't this the cutest card? Such a unique fold and definitely gives it a WOW factor. The designer paper was Fall Flowers and the stamp set used is Wild about You. The stamps were inked out in Old Olive, So Saffron and Ballet Blue and stamped onto Whisper White. Had a little bit of an oops, the center of the open card should just be a square, but I had to extend it to the flap because of a 'kreative glitch' :) But I think it turned out cute with the animals on parade :)
When the card is closed I took a wide ribbon challenge (what do you think Mary?) from the Sherbet Originals Ribbon and placed it around my card with a Build-a-Brad for its closure. For more details on how I made this card please feel free to email me. I just have to get off this computer! :) We weren't exactly getting along today!! But hope you like the card!!

For now, go kreate
Kim

Another Great Fold

Well, here is yet another different "fold" card. Pretty simple to make and it gives it that extra wow factor since its not your typical top or side folded card. Anywho, the card base is Night of Navy and measures 3 3/4" x 4 3/4". The second layer, Close to Cocoa is 4 1/4" x 6 1/2" and scored at 3 1/4 (along the 6 1/2 side ie folded in half). Then you cut a diagonal on the left side and fold your triangle over the square. The third layer is a 3x4 piece of Sage Shadow. The fourth layer is a rectangle of Very Vanilla which measures 7 1/2 x 2 3/4 and again scored in the middle so your opening will be at the bottom. Then the lighthouse, from the set A Light unto My Path, was inked using Markers - Not Quite Navy, Sage Shadow, Close to Cocoa, huffed to remoisten and then stamped onto Very Vanilla. This Very Vanilla piece can be opened from the bottom to add your message to the inside of your card. The sentiment was in Close to Cocoa and stamped onto Very Vanilla and then layered on top of Night of Navy. Fancy shmancy, right? Fun to do, go give it a try! I have one more dahlia fold to show you and one more extreme wow factor fold (at least to me it was - but I'm pretty easy to impress :) So stay tune this week!! Of course if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me - click on the link to the right!

For now, go kreate,
Kim

Peek-a-boo Fold

Hope you all had a great 4th of July and are enjoying the long weekend. This will be a quick post as we have a busy weekend and I need to get some sleep :) Unfortunately this particular stamp set is retired, So Many Scallops from this past winters Sale-a-bration catalog. BUT, you could do a winter theme card and use the Punch Pals set (pg 34 Spring Summer Catalog) or change it up with the Circle Punch and the various stamps that would work with that. Many options... got to love that!!
The card is Cameo Coral and the peek-a-boo opening is kreated using the Scallop Punch. TIP: Take advantage of the notch markings (half way mark in your punch shape) on your SU punches to line them up correctly. The card was tied together using a piece of Apricot Appeal Grosgrain. TIP: I used my Apricot Appeal Marker and colored on a piece of White Grosgrain and you get the color ribbon you need - so great, I love my markers!!!! The stamp was inked in Apricot Appeal and the sentiment on the stamp was inked in Cameo Coral using a Marker and then stamped onto Whisper White.


The image was then punched out with the Scallop Punch. With the card closed, I popped the image through the Scallop to make sure it was a perfect fit. A small Apricot Appeal button from the Fresh Favorites I button collection was added to the flower and two Certainly Celery Grosgrain ribbon 'leaves' were added as finishing touches. Cute right?!!

For now, go kreate
Kim

Know When to Fold 'Em

So are ya hummin the tune to the Kenney Rogers song -hehehe :) Refer to my title if you have a big question mark looming over your head! Can't take credit for the title, this was a stamp camp theme and so much fun!! I had previously done a Dahlia fold and now realized I had never posted it. So I guess I'll have another to show you in the upcoming days. Anyway onto this card.... I used Ginger Blossoms Designer Paper (DP) to assemble the Dahlia, for instructions on this please feel free to contact me. I then used a Build-a-Brad for the center of my flower. If you haven't seen these yet, they are great and you should definitely give them a try! And don't be intimated its VERY simple! I used the same DP for the center of my Build-a-Brad. The base of my card is River Rock, remember this is an In-Color and will be retiring with this catalog, so stock up on any of your In-Color favorites!! So I adhered my completed Dahlia flower to my River Rock base and stamped the sentiment from Sincere Salutations in River Rock ink. It needed alittle something else, so I finished off the card with the Groovy Guava ribbon from the Sherbet Ribbon Originals (pg 190 in Spring/Summer Catalog) Again, these Sherbet ribbons are all In-Color colors so our best assumption is they too will be gone. We'll know for sure when our Retired Accessories list comes out July 21st. But if you love it, don't forget to stock up. Give me a buzz with your orders before its too late!
Stay tune for some more 'Know when to Fold 'Em-s' :)

For now, go kreate
Kim

Great News

I have some great news!!! We got a sneak peek into our upcoming catalog today... do you want to hear some FABULOUS news? All NEW stamp sets will be die-cut in the upcoming catalog to be released Aug 11th. Isn't that great?!! No more taking the time to cut out all your images - just pop 'em out of the die-cut and mount them on your wood. Woo-Hoo!!
Also wanted to make you aware of a great discount going on. All Hodgepodge Hardware (pg 188 of Spring Summer Catalog) is 25% off = $20.96. This is a great accessory set with approx 138 pieces of hardware, plus 100 matching brads. This kit is normally $27.95, so you are getting a great value!!
And you can get any of these 3 finishes -
Aged Cooper(105532)
Antique Brass(105531)
Pewter(105515)
but its only while supplies last - don't miss out!
Today is also the release of the new product line Decor Elements. Don't forget to check it out on the right side of my blog. Click on the Decor Elements picture and you will be able to view the brochure.


I haven't had much time to stamp lately and today was no different. But when I went to my desk, there lay some scraps that looked like they wanted to be together - even the ribbon was slightly unrolled and close by. So, go with it. A while back I had taken my Fresh Cuts background stamp and inked it in VersaMark onto Basic Black and then used my heat gun and White Embossing Powder to finish it off. I put it aside and never did anything with it. Well, as it sat next to a scrap of Basic Grey I figured why not. I layered 2 non-SU organza ribbons, black and white, and placed them over the Basic Grey and then adhered my white embossed Fresh Cuts piece on top. Took both layers and placed them on a folded 4x4 Whisper White card. Even though one step was already done, this was definitely an under 15 minute card to make.

For now, go kreate
Kim