Saving the Best for Last

Hi Stamping Friends

As promised, I decided to post the last dozen of my 2012 Christmas cards before I begin my 2013 cards!  I haven't stamped all week...but I am keeping the blog alive!

I started these before vacation, but finished well after.  Once again, I relied on "The 12 Days of Christmas!"

My card base is early espresso, and I added a layer of river rock, embossed with the tulip frame folder.  This gorgeous image is from Our Daily Bread Designs, "Peace On Earth."  It is stamped in early espresso craft, then heat embossed.  I sponged this layer with soft suede and cherry cobbler ink.  The cherry cobbler tulle adds some softness.  The sentiment is from SU's "Greetings of the Season," stamped in early espresso on very vanilla, punched out with the scallop circle and sponged lightly.

These colors are a bit unexpected for Christmas...but I really like the warmth and texture. Good chance I will make a similar design this year!

Thanks for coming by today!  I hope to be stamping again next week!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Oh, by the way...

Hello Stamping Friends!

I have been super busy with stuff for work.  Or at least, I am trying to be busy!  So much to do, that my concentration level is way off.  Ever feel like that??  Any who...I haven't stamped for several days, and  probably will not stamp all week because of a prayer service coming up for my ministry.  But, I want to keep my blog active.  Well, I realized I have 2 dozen Christmas cards that I never posted.  I made them after Christmas vacation...so technically in 2013...but I mailed them as 2012 cards!  So I will post some cards today, and the others later this week.  I want to get these posted before I start THIS year's Christmas cards!

I had the card bases, sentiments, and inside panels done on these cards ages ago.  But my original design called for lots of water-coloring...and I just never got around to it.  So, I took a long-time favorite image from SU's "Miracle of Christmas."  The card base is island indigo.  The vertical strip is pool party, embossed with Petals-a-Plenty.  The sentiment is from "Rejoicing in Christmas," punched with my scallop oval and sponged lightly.  After I stamped the image with island indigo, and sponged with soft suede (to go with inside dsp), I knew I needed a pop of color.  So, I layered it with raspberry ripple.  (a few cards have bravo burgundy...had to use a scrap!)  The last detail is some soft suede grosgrain ribbon, plain side showing.  I didn't like the white polka dots with the vanilla card stock.  Picky picky!

Not my fave card this season...but not bad.  I am saving my favorite for last!  Stay tuned!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Sympathy Card

Hello Stamping Friends!

Today I have a card for last week's sketch challenge on SCS.  I needed a sympathy card for a volunteer who lost her best friend.

The card base is sahara sand.  My dsp is retired SU Parisian Breeze (maybe?).  I am not sure, but I had these scraps laying out.  I layered the dsp with bravo burgundy.  The image is from SU's "Bliss" stamped in pink pirouette and bravo burgundy, using the rock-and-roll technique.  The sentiment is from"Teeny Tiny Wishes."  I sponged so saffron on this panel, and a bit of burgundy on the edge, layering with sahara sand.  My embellishments are burgundy grosgrain ribbon, scrunched up using tacky tape, and a felt flower with silver brad.  My last touch was sponging the edges of the card base.

I loved this sketch...great for using scraps.  I may have to try it again sometime.

Have a great Sunday!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Endless Thanks

Hello again!  Yep, I am posting twice on the same day...because I want to get my blog challenge cards in on time!  This one is my first Mojo Monday card!  I have often seen others post mojo cards in their gallery, but I had not yet taken the plunge.

This past week, the ministry received a HUGE financial gift (well, for a non-profit our size!)  The family who gave generously has done so before...recently, in fact.  So I knew instantly which sentiment to use.  This stamp comes from the retired set "Very Versatile."  I use this stamp more than anything else in the set!  The sentiment is stamped in not quite navy ink onto whisper white, which was cut out in my big shot with the doily sizzlit I ordered from SU just before I ended my time as a demo.  I forgot I had it...but it is perfect for this sketch!  Under the sentiment is SU's "Stemmed Silhouette" in kiwi kiss.  I sponged the doily with baja breeze.  The card base is basic gray, and I pulled out the Urban Garden dsp again...it's not to feminine, so it works for a husband/wife duo.  Plus I hope to finish off this pack in the next month.  (Using up my stash is a big goal for the year!)  The other touches include baja breeze card stock, with scallop trim punch detail, and kiwi kiss taffeta ribbon.

This card was fun to make, as I prayed in thanksgiving for the generosity of special friends.  Nothing like combining my job with my hobby, right?

Thanks for stopping by again!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

...and for Staci...

Hello Again!

As promised, here is the other card I made for one of my staff members.  Three new people joined the team last October, so each received a 90-day evaluation and a hand-crafted card this week!  This card features the Freshly Made Sketch challenge found here.



Staci is my new Client Services Manager.  As this card states, she is "fantastic!"  She is smart, creative, and takes initiative.  I am so blessed to have her on staff.

The card base is pool party.  I already had a piece stamped with Serene Snowflakes, using pool party, island indigo, blushing bride, and wisteria wonder.  I cut it in half for the sketch, and paired it with the wisteria wonder, embossed with a cuttlebug embossing folder.  I added blushing bride pleated ribbon.  My sentiments are from a SU hostess set, Perfect Words, stamped in island indigo, punched out with the modern label punch and lightly sponged.  The center has a felt snowflake, finished with a polka dot brad.  This is definitely a puffy card...great for hand delivery...even at a job evaluation!

Thanks for coming by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Cards for My Staff

Hello Stamping Friends!!

Last October, I had three new people join the ministry staff.  That means that this week, I had three 90-day evaluations to complete. Each of these women are doing great work, so I enjoyed making cards for them.  I will post 2 cards today, both using daily challenges on splitcoaststampers.  The third one used a blog challenge, so it will have its own post.  :-)

The first card was for last Sunday's Featured Stamper challenge.  It had been ages since I participated in this challenge, but when I saw that Lynn (aka allee) was being honored, I had to join in.  She frequently makes comments on my cards...so I wanted to share the love!  You can see my inspiration card by clicking here.  I made the card for Julie, our new Director of Operations.  It is a new position for our ministry...and having her in-house allows me to spend more time connecting with the community and individual supporters.  My card base is peach pizzazz, with a layer of very vanilla.  I used various acrylic blocks to stamp with peach pizzazz, pumpkin pie, daffodil delight, melon mambo, and primrose petals.  My sentiment is from Stampabilities, stamped with pumpkin pie craft ink, then heat embossed.  The image is from "Of the Earth," a retired SU hostess set, also heat embossed.  I punched it out with a scallop circle,then sponged with peach pizzazz.  It sits over pumpkin pie taffeta ribbon.

The next card uses a recent SCS color challenge:  very vanilla, soft suede, and raspberry ripple.  I made this card for Kelley, who had been a volunteer, but was hired after a longtime staff member moved  away.  Kelley has been a blessing!  My card base is raspberry ripple.  The layers of soft suede and very vanilla were embossed in the Big Shot with the fancy fan folder.  I added both suede and raspberry ribbons.  The sentiment is from Stampabilities.  The flower is from SU's Mixed Bunch, punched out with the coordinating punch, and finished off with a gold brad.  I used my bird punch to get the soft suede leaves.

Thanks for stopping by!  It feels good to be stamping and  blogging on a regular basis again!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Time for Paper Players

Hello everyone!  I am posting another card I made this weekend.  This one is for the Paper Players challenge...which was a color challenge (you know I love those!)  Plus, like yesterday's card, I combined it with an old sketch from splitcoaststampers.

The challenge to use two bright colors with gray was a bit tricky for me.  I wanted to add something...perhaps some bright green or pink, but I contained myself!  My card base is basic gray.  The 2 different bright pattern papers are from SU's Beyond the Garden; the gray pattern paper is from Urban Garden.  In the background is the SU single stamp, Stemmed Silhouette. The sentiment is from Stampabilities. I added a punched butterfly with a small button from a past sale-a-bration.

Having colors and a sketch established with the challenges made this card quick and simple to make!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

It's the Birthday Mash!

Hi Stamping Friends!

Well, I haven't blogged for a week, but I have stamped.  So here I am catching up a bit.  I definitely want to get this card posted, since the blog deadline is in about half an hour!  LOL

When I saw the Friday Mashup posted last Friday, I saw the colors and was stumped.  VERY tough combo...especially since I am not a big fan of summer starfruit or tangerine tango.  BUT I had to give it a try...it IS a challenge, right?  The colors were tricky (summer starfruit, island indigo, tangerine tango, early espresso, & sahara sand), but the challenge to use different patterns helped out.  I also found an old sketch challenge on splitcoaststampers to get my creative juices going.

My card base is sahara sand, with a layer of very vanilla.  Using dsp, it was easy to get different patterns.  The strip of indigo and the square of espresso houndstooth are both from SU's Festival of Prints.  The starfruit square is from SU's Comfort Cafe. My image and sentiment are from SU Flight of the Butterfly, an easy 2-step stamping set.  Tangerine tango and sahara sand layers were also added.  The ribbon is basic gray taffeta (I was thinking I needed to add gray...oops), and the big designer button has a bit of indigo bakers twine.

I am pretty happy with the results.  But what amazes me the most is this:  this card has already been mailed to its recipient!  Created Sunday, photographed Monday, mailed Tuesday, blogged Wednesday!  Not bad, huh?

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Thanks for the Ride!!

Hello Friends!

Just a quick post today.  Simple card...no challenges.  I don't drive, so I often have to get rides from friends, especially for out-of-town appointments while dear hubby is at work.  Well, this past Friday, I needed such a ride, and my good friend, Mark, helped out.  I have known him for years...as long as I have lived here.  He plays guitar at church, I sing.  We each were a part of the ensemble at each other's weddings.  He's a great guy.  So I made this card...love how Snoopy is giving Woodstock a ride!

The card base is poppy parade, and the dsp is from last year's SU Sale-a-Bration...something vintage??  Funny...now that I am not a demo, I forget those details!  I stamped the image (from Stampabilities) in stazon black, and colored it with my SU markers:  poppy parade, basic gray, going gray, daffodil delight and pumpkin pie.  I layered it with pool party card stock, and added 2 tabs of poppy parade ribbon.  The sentiment is from Whimsical Words, punched out with a SU circle punch.

I hope to stock up on similar cards...for each of my friendly "chauffeurs!"

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Cool Birthday

Hello Stamping Friends!

I made a couple of cards yesterday that have already been given to their recipients!  Fortunately, I had dear hubby take pics first!  I'll post one tonight.

This card was for my nephew.  He has a very short attention span, so I figured the card was more for his mom than him!  LOL!  But I included a DQ gift card inside, so that went over well!

I really had no idea where to start, but I had to make something since we were headed to visit him that afternoon.  My friend, Dawn, was the challenge hostess for the Free 4 All on SCS, which called for a snowy, frosty card.  Had to play along with my friend, right?  Then, while spending (too much) time on Facebook, I saw the Friday Mashup sketch.  I decided to use it, but did not look at the actual blog post, so no mashing up this week.

The card base and ink are island indigo.  The dsp is a retired SU baby boy pattern (can't remember the name).  The image is from SU's Zoo Review, and I added a few Serene Snowflakes in Pool Party.  After sponging the edges, I added dazzling diamonds.  The sentiment is from Happiest Birthday Wishes, with my addition in basic black.  I used a felt snowflake, mounted to some pool party (punched and sponged circle) so the polka dot brad tips would not show.

My sister-in-law loved the card.  Ethan loves the DQ!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Get Well, Jason

Hello everyone!  Here I am, blogging my 3rd card of the year...2nd card today!  I started my week by listing all of the cards I need for this month.  It was quite a list, since I have 2 new great-nieces, 2 people I know having surgeries, 8 birthdays, a cousin whose long-time boyfriend passed away, and my nurse manager preparing to retire February 1st.  Oh, not to mention those last minute 2012 Christmas cards!  LOL!

Today's card features the sketch challenge on SCS found here.  At first, I had no interest in using it, but decided to give it a go.  It isn't a complete match, but close! One of my nephew-in-laws had out-patient surgery today.  He loves cars (works as an auto mechanic), and hopes to get back to work soon.

My card base is soft suede textured card stock.  My layers are river rock and 2 patterns from Well Worn dsp, and I used my ticket corner punch.  The sentiment is from SU's Thoughts and Prayers, stamped in not-quite-navy.  The two embossed images are from Tim Holtz, as are the metal gears, which I attached with Tombow glue.  I sponged with soft suede and not quite navy ink.  My dusty durango ribbon is a little low for the sketch, but I did not want to cover the car!

I had fun creating this, as it is always a challenge to make guy cards.  I hope Jason likes it!  Even more, I hope he truly does get well soon!

Thanks for coming by again!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Baby Amelia

Hello again!  2 days in the New Year... 2 blog posts!  WooHoo!

As I mentioned yesterday, I am sending some cards to my niece, including a baby gift and card.  The nursery is decorated in lavender and green, with lady bugs.  My card starts with wisteria wonder, and has polka dotted paper in wisteria, along with wild wasabi and baja breeze.  The flowers are from an OLD 2-step SU set called Fanciful Flowers.  I used concord crush for the outlines, wisteria for the petals and so saffron brads.  2 scallop circle punches make the bug, along with a small circle in basic black.  I used my marker for the antenna and dotted lines, and sponged the sky with baja breeze ink.  Teeny Tiny Wishes greets my great-niece!

Thanks for stopping by again!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Happy New Year!

Hello Stampin' Friends!

Happy New Year!  I hope you are having a great day...starting out 2013 with family and friends.  I have to go back to work tomorrow (sort of...I work from home on Wednesdays) so I am going to do a bit more stamping today...then probably watch a movie with dear hubby.  I guess I could start the year out with exercise too..hmmm...I'll let you know!

Quick card today for the first color challenge of 2013 on splitcoaststampers, found here:  Gold, silver, and white with the dessert option being to make an anniversary or wedding card.  Well, I don't know anyone celebrating a 25th or 50th anniversary anytime soon.  No wedding dates set, even for the young couples I know who just got engaged...so what to do?

Well, one of my nieces got married just over a year ago.  We need to send her a package for a baby shower later this month, so I decided to make an anniversary card too. The card base is metallic gold.  My layer of white is embossed with the Big Shot and Elegant Lines embossing folder.  You can't see it in the pic, but I lightly sponged some shimmer spritz on it as well.  I added several rhinestones, and silver glimmer paper cut with the Tasteful Trim die.  The stamps are from Memorable Moments, a set that includes digits to work for any anniversary or birthday.  I just put several separate stamps on one clear block, stamped in gold and heat embossed.  The decorative label punch was used twice to get this layered look.

So congratulations Rachel and Michael!  Hope you have many more years to come!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim