embellishment share - now open

***Edited - if you have been redirected to this page from PayPal, I am currently waiting for a new group of 8 before I bill you for the paper pack. Please E-mail me to add your name to the waiting list***
Please do try to use the "Buy Now" button first - as of February 3rd, I do have Embellishment shares available for purchase. Thanks!!

Have you fallen absolutely in LOVE with the brand new embellishments in the NEW Stampin' Up! catalog? I am organizing an Embellishment Share and you can recieve a sampling of each of the new items at a fraction of the cost of buying a full package of each new item. If you were to purchase one package of each of these items, you would be spending $107 plus shipping and tax, BUT instead you can join this embellishment share and have everything packaged and shipped directly to you for only $18!! YES, I did say SHIPPED to you - shipping is included in that price. Isn't that exciting?!!

Your embellishment share will include these 52 pieces: (Click on each picture for a larger view)

3 Kiwi Kiss Corduroy Buttons, pg. 176
3 Chocolate Chip Corduroy Buttons, pg. 176
3 Kraft Corduroy Buttons, pg. 176
3 Pacific Point Corduroy Buttons, pg. 176
3 Pumpkin Pie Corduroy Buttons, pg. 176
3 Summer Sun Corduroy Buttons, pg. 176

3 - 1/2" Library Clips (one Chocolate Chip, one Old Olive, one Whisper White, pg. 176
3-5 Latte Buttons (one of each style), pg. 176
10 Jumbo 5/16" Brads (one Chocolate Chip, one Very Vanilla, one Whisper White, one Silver), pg. 174
4 Jumbo 5/8" Brads (one Chocolate Chip, one Very Vanilla, one Whisper White, one Silver)
9 Clear Rhinestone Brads, pg. 174 (not pictured here)
4 Flower Assortment brads (one Pumpkin Pie, one Pretty in Pink, one So Saffron, one Chocolate Chip), pg. 175

This share includes the 52 pieces described above, and they can be seen on pgs. 174, 175 and 176 of the NEW 2009 Spring-Summer Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog.
This offer is for readers within the United States. If you are interested in joining my Embellishment Share, please click the "Buy Now" button below.

See my Paper Lovers Pack - paper share HERE

paper lovers pack - update

Hey there - I'm going to put in the order for paper on February 1st, so if you are interested in jumping in during the first round, email me and I'll get you in. We still need 4 people to completely fill a group of 8. You can see the original post HERE, or by clicking on the paper pack icon on my sidebar. I will be taking orders for the paper share through June 30, 2009.

For a larger view of the papers, please click on the picture...

Thanks!

Karen

sweet sunday sketch winner

Hello! I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting all day - it's been a crazy day and I completely forgot about this until just now. Oops! Today's winner is #5, Alanna! I love Alanna's creative take on the sketch, turning it vertical and adding the sentiment to the side. And you just can't go wrong with buttons!!

I am simply amazed by all of your cards. It's like when I make myself a sandwich - I love my sandwiches. They're perfect with everything I like on them. But then when my husband makes me a sandwich with the same ingredients, it tastes so much better! I love what you all have done with the sketch this week. Thanks so much for participating - I really am looking forward to see what you all come up with next time!

I'll be back Sunday with another sketch -

Karen

cupcake anniversary card #5

This card uses Vicki Chrisman's sketch for Taylor's cupcake anniversay challenge and it was fun to do, although I'm not crazy about this card - maybe because it make my eyes go a little crazy! So much going on with all the patterns I guess... Alright - on to the next one!!

Karen


recipe -
stamps: party hearty
ink: bashful blue, pumpkin pie, brilliant blue
paper: pumpkin pie, wild wasabi, whisper white cardstock, jersey shore dsp
accessories: heidi swapp borders bling, scallop edge punch, stampin' dimensionals

cupcake anniversary card #4

Have you seen this sketch over at Sherrie Siemens' blog? This was so much fun to do - very unique! This sketch is part of Taylor's cupcake challenge for the week and I'm thinking the door is about to swing closed for me here - I've done 4 cards and have 5 more to do!! It's been so much fun trying all of these sketches - you know me, I'm a sketch girl. Hopefully I can get a few more done before the deadline...

Karen

recipe -

stamps: love you much

ink: riding hood red

paper: pink pirouette, riding hood red, very vanilla cardstock, candy lane dsp

accessories: scallop circle punch, circle nestabilities, mini twinkle dots (a.muse)

cupcake anniversary card #3

This is another card for the Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge anniversary contest using Jackie Pedro's sketch, which was so much fun to play with. Here again is more retired paper I'm still working through. I can't believe how long these paper packs last! This is Eastcoast Prep paper, fun huh?

Ok, off to try to squeeze in time for another card before dinner - thanks for stopping by!
Karen


recipe -
stamps: party hearty, short & sweet
ink: real red, tempting turquoise
paper: real red, tempting turquoise, whisper white cardstock, eastcoast prep dsp
accessories: real red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, circle nestabilities, large/small oval punches, 3/4" circle punch, stampin' dimensionals

cupcake anniversary card #2

Well, it seems like my free time has been sucked out of this house lately and this is the first time I've been able to sit down and work on Taylor's Cupcake Challenge anniversary sketches. I'm starting off with Stephanie Hargis' sketch right now, which is very much my style! I just love Stephanie's blog - her cards are amazing and simple and perfect. Love them! So I'll try to get some more time to make the rest of the 9 sketches and post them - Thursday is the deadline!

Have a great day!
Karen


recipe -
stamps: it's your birthday
ink: versamark
paper: pumpkin pie cardstock, party pieces simply scrappin' kit
accessories: old olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, white embossing powder

sweet sunday sketch challenge #2

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use Mr. Linky down at the end of my post to enter your card. On Thursday at 10 AM (Mountain Time), I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog. So, as long as your card is linked in the Mr. Linky box by 10 AM each Thursday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC02 if you plan to post your card at SplitcoastStampers.

My sample today uses the now retired Banbury paper (so sad!) and also the Everything Baby stamp set, which is also retired now. I just ordered it, haha! This set is a keeper though, I love it!

Good luck and have fun with it!!

Karen

recipe -

stamps: everything baby, nursery necessities

ink: close to cocoa, pink pirouette

paper: pink pirouette, close to cocoa, certainly celery cardstock, banbury dsp

accessories: celery stitched grosgrain ribbon, 3/4" circle punch, scallop edge punch

paper lovers anonymous

***Edited - if you have been redirected to this page from PayPal, I am currently waiting for a new group of 8 before I bill you for the paper pack. Please E-mail me to add your name to the waiting list***

Are you a paper junkie like me? Do you want ALL the new designer series paper in the new catalog - even the new textured designer paper? YES? Well I would love to help you get all of these papers in a very cost effective way! Here's how - let's do a Paper Lovers Pack! How this works is I will send you a 6x6 sheet of every designer series paper in the current Stampin' Up! catalog for only $25!! That's 120 sheets of 6x6 paper for only $25 - it's a steal of a deal.

A group of 8 will share each pack of Designer Series Paper and once a group is filled I'll order the paper and get it ready to deliver to you. Sound good?

There will be a $4.95 priority shipping charge, unless you are in the Fort Collins, CO area and would like to pick it up. Place your order directly by clicking the "Buy Now" button below.

***please note that this paper pack does NOT include Patterns Designer Series Paper and is only available for US orders. If there is interest in a separate paper pack for Patterns dsp, please let me know and I can set it up.

Thanks!
Karen

a very exciting anniversary!

Taylor is celebrating the one year anniversary of the Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge! Each of the ladies on the Weekly Cupcake Crew has designed their own sketch for the celebration. I'm featuring Jami Sibley's sketch challenge. You can check out the sketch on her blog and find out about the prize you can win by participating!

Don't forget to check out Taylor's blog, the anniversary celebration headquarters, for all of the sketch challenges as well as an awesome grand prize for one random winner who participates in ALL 9 sketch challenges and believe me you are going to want to win this fantastic prize! We hope you'll help us celebrate this yummy occasion!

If you are planning on uploading your card to SplitcoastStampers, please use the keyword TECC52JS - Good luck!

Hop on by these fantastic blogs to see more samples of Jami's wonderful sketch too!
Jami Sibley
Charmaine Ikach
Steph Kraft
Renee VanStralen


recipe -
stamps: love is sweet (exclusively at taylored expressions), short & sweet

ink: ridinghood red, black, pink pirouette, close to cocoa, sahara sand

paper: ridinghood red, pink pirouette, white cardstock, candy lane dsp

accessories: ridinghood red taffeta ribbon, blender pens, nestabilities rectangle/circle and scallops die templates, stampin dimensionals

color inspiration 39

Hello again! It's time for Kristina's color inspiration this week and it's a DOOZIE! Basic Black, Real Red, Green Galore, So Saffron, and Whisper White. Wow... I don't think I've used Green Galore in a looooong time. I was just slightly frightened by the thought of putting this bright green on a card, but then I thought, hey - what a perfect opportunity to get rid of some Green Galore buttons I have. Sweet!!! See, you always have to try and find the positive in a situation... haha! Somehow I felt the need to make a 'get better' card since we've all been so sick (but on the mend!) and this little stamp is so perfect! It's from Event Full, which I believe is an old hostess set. I hope you like it - it's growing on me and I'm so happy I stuck it out using the Green Galore. Reminds me of Sour Apple candy actually, so it can't be all that bad, right?

Karen

recipe -

stamps: event full

ink: staz-on black, real red

paper: basic black, so saffron, gable green, stampers select white (papertrey, ink) cardstock, so saffron prints dsp

accessories: real red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, bold brights buttons, blender pens, stampin dimensionals, mini glue dots, nestabilities die templates

sweet sunday sketch winner

Hello! A gigantic THANK YOU to everyone who participated in my first challenge - all of your samples were fantastic! I am just so excited you thought it was a good sketch, so I'll go whip one up for this coming up Sunday too!

Random.org selected #15 as our big winner - that's Emily Wundrock. Isn't her card wonderful? I just love all the flowers and accents she put in her image. Thanks so much Emily! You can see more of Emily's fantastic creations at her blog, Emily's Expressions.

I'll have a new sketch for you on Sunday, so please come back by and check it out.

Karen

love you

Hello! Well, we've had quite the round of sickness come rolling though our house. I've been fighting an awful cold since New Year's Day and then over the weekend I somehow got strep throat. Isn't strep throat for elementary school kids??? I haven't had it since I was a kid and it's awful. My hubby also has a horrible cold and I think we should buy stock in cough drops! So needless to say, I haven't been able to create anything for a few days and last night after the kids were in bed I jumped at the chance to make a quick card. I found a cute little card in the Stampin' Up! Fall/Winter Collection 2007 that was perfect to finish in a relatively short time. It's on page 105 if anyone is wondering what card I CASE'd - oh, and if you still have the old catalog.

Alright, well I'm off to finish up "house" stuff that's piled up over my weekend in bed. I'll be back soon though - you just can't keep me away too long!

Karen

recipe -

stamps: simply said, short & sweet, polka dot

ink: close to cocoa, rose red, regal rose, brocade blue

paper: regal rose, whisper white, brocade blue cardstock

accessories: flower fusion felt flowers, fresh favorites II buttons, stampin' dimensionals, mini glue dots, staples

and the winner is...

#84!

Shelli is our big winner and here is what she said...

My biggest dream would be to improve all the relationships in my life. Especially the one I have with God! Thanks for the fun and inspiration!
Shelli

Shelli, if you could please email me your snail mail address, I'll get your goodies right out to you.

Thank you everyone for all of you comments - your dreams are very inspiring: from having a baby, family health, a healing miracle, job security, to more time to stamp. My big dream for the year is to work on having more projects published and really making time to enjoy everything in my life. Sometimes I get a little too focused on myself and I need to change that this year.

Here's to another fun year!

Karen

my sweet sunday sample

Well here it is, my card for the first challenge - I found some left over Fall Flowers paper and thought the patterns would work well together. So hop on down to the next post and give the sketch a try! I can't wait to see all your samples.

Have a great day!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: in my thoughts

ink: close to cocoa

paper: sahara sand, old olive, soft sky, whisper white cardstock, fall flowers dsp

accessories: old olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, flower fusion felt flowers, vintage brads, trio flower punch

sweet sunday sketch challenge #1

Good morning! I am so excited to introduce to you my first sketch challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use Mr. Linky down at the end of my post to enter your card. I love this Mr. Linky guy - now we can all see everyone's cards just by clicking on a name! On Thursday at 10 AM (Mountain Time), I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog. So, as long as your card is linked in the Mr. Linky box by 10 AM each Thursday, you're card will be in the drawing. Be sure to only link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card.

If you would like to post a picture of the sketch on your blog, that is great, but please save the image to your computer first. You can use the keyword SSSC01 if you plan to post your card at SplitcoastStampers, then we'll all be grouped together. I think that is it for now - I'll be back in a bit to post my sample of today's sketch. I just ran out of time last night.

Good luck!!
Karen



Links have been closed - Thanks so much for participating!

the journey continues...

As I start my second year of blogging *gasp* I want to ask you a question - Would you like to see challenges here on my blog every week? If so, what would you like to participate in? What would you like to see more of? This year I want to kick it up a notch for myself and for all of you, so please give me your thoughts and ideas, they will be greatly appreciated!

Ok, off to stamp!
Karen

don't forget your january card kit

That's right! Tomorrow (Saturday) is the LAST day you can order my January Card Kit. 10 cards for $18, includes shipping and all the goodies to make your cards. Check out all the info HERE. A huge thank you to all who have ordered this "first edition", ha! Seriously, thank you so much!

color inspiration 38

Hello and HAPPY FRIDAY!! I am so ready for the weekend - we've been so busy, and sick, busy this week and I'm ready for a rest. It's time for Kristina's color inspiration and this week she's chosen Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, Pretty In Pink and Whisper White. I would have never thought to put these colors together, but I love the way they work! For this card, I stamped my own background using the heart and sparkle images from Sweet Shapes (retired). I haven't used this set in a LONG time, but I love it still. I also used chipboard letters from Loads Of Letters and glued Pretty In Pink cardstock to the front of each letter and then filed the edges to smooth them out. I bought a set of 6 precision files from Basic Grey that are (in my opinion) a must have for chipboard. You can really get in the little grooves and crannies of the chipboard. The Pumpkin Pie heart is cut from the Sizzlits die template, Hearts Set.

That's it for today - don't forget to enter the drawing for my blogoversary candy!
Karen


recipe -
stamps: sweet shapes (retired)
ink: pretty in pink, ruby red, pumpkin pie
paper: pretty in pink, ruby red, stampers select white (papertrey, ink) cardstock, pumpkin pie patterns dsp
accessories: on board loads of letters (chipboard), pumpkin pie striped grosgrain ribbon, hearts set sizzlits die template, tombo multi adhesive, stampin' dimensionals

time for some blog candy...

That's right! It's Blog Candy Time! First of all, a HUGE thank you to all of my readers - you have all been so supportive and kind with all of your encouraging comments. This past year has been such a fun journey for me and I've grown so much as a stamper/card-maker/paper crafter. Your kindness has helped me find a place where I am comfortable and excited to show off my little hobby. Thank you all SO much.

Ok, drum roll.... Here is your candy!

Included in your candy today is: 1 Friends & Flowers Simply Scrappin' Kit (unopened and brand spankin new), an assortment of Almost Amethyst Prints designer series paper (double sided, 12x12 sheets), a yard or so of amethyst polka dot organdy ribbon, an assortment of American Crafts paper (double sided, 12x12 sheets), 2 boxes of American Crafts coordinating embelishments, 1 roll of coordinating American Crafts ribbon, 2 Hodgepodge Hardware kits - almost complete (missing the square frames and a few brads, sorry about that) in aged copper and antique brass.

So what do you need to do to get your hands on all this fabulousness? Just leave a comment! Leave me a comment telling me what your biggest dream is for 2009 and I'll pick a random winner on Sunday, the 18th. Please be sure to leave an email address for me to contact you in case you are the lucky chosen one. Everyone is eligible to win, both near and far, so sign up! I'd love to hear from you.

Good luck!!

Karen

big milestone

Yes! Today is my blogoversary, 1 fantastic year!! I think we need some blog candy, so come back later today to sneak a peek at some goodies to grab!

It's also my mom's birthday today and here is the card I made her using Julee's Mojo Monday sketch. Isn't this sketch fun?! It's been cold and snowy here the past couple of days, so I wanted something fun and flowery and springy (is that a word??) to brighten up her day.

Be sure to come back later for some fun freebies!

Karen


recipe -
stamps: on your birthday
ink: certainly celery
paper: so saffron, whisper white cardstock, spring fling dsp (retired)
accessories: 5 petal punch (ek success), filigree brads, regal rose grosgrain ribbon, circle/scallop nestabilities die templates, 3/4" circle punch, soft subtle brads, stampin dimensionals

fall to layout 23

Hi! I found this card sitting on my desk after I had cleaned off the clutter and realized I had never photographed it to post for you! That never happens, mostly because I'm creating cards the same day I post them. Clean & Simple Stamping had a new Fall To Layout to try and this is the card I came up with using the sketch - do you like it? I thought I'd try using Kraft cardstock and some Blue Bayou paper and make a man card. I pasted the paper, put on the ribbon (without a bow, no less) and then I needed something circular to put in the top corner and see what happened? Yes! Another scallop with scallop doodle art. That's not going to a man, I can tell you that. So the quest continues...


Karen


recipe -
paper: kraft, bayou blue cardstock
accessories: love & happiness rub-ons, blue bayou double stitched grosgrain ribbon, vintage brads, scallop punch, stampin' dimensionals

color inspiration 37

Wow, I am really excited to show you today's card - it turned out SO much better than I was picturing in my head. I love it when that happens! I'm still using up my Love & Happiness rub-ons from last year's Sale-A-Bration - that's my resolution this year: Stop Hoarding Supplies!!! Sheesh... I used Kristina's color challenge for inspiration today; Old Olive, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, and Whisper White. Now leave it to me to take perfectly good masculine colors and girl it all up! I did substitute Soft Sky for Baja Breeze because I don't have Baja Breeze yet.

Thanks for stopping by today,

Karen

recipe -

paper: chocolate chip, soft sky, old olive cardstock, pumpkin pie patterns dsp

accessories: pewter hodgepodge hardware, vintage brads, pumpkin pie striped grosgrain ribbon, scallop edge punch, trio flower punch, mini glue dots

celebrate

Hello! Here is some more delicious Maine Blueberry paper for you, Mojo style today. I have been trying to use up some old supplies lately and this card has helped me out - Love & Happiness rub-ons and some Hodgepodge Hardware, woohoo! I used Julee's Mojo Monday sketch for the week as inspiration, but I might do another one to make it more Mojolicious. It's the first sketch of the year and she offers prizes for the best one, so I may have to revamp this card. We'll see if that actually happens though... ha!

Have a fantastic day!

Karen

recipe -

paper: not quite navy, bashful blue cardstock, maine blueberry dsp (soon to retire, hurry and get it!!)

accessories: love & happiness rub-ons, pewter hodgepodge hardware, vintage brads, bashful blue grosgrain ribbon, large oval punch, jumbo pewter eyelets

maine blueberry flowers

I found a sketch over at Little Treasures and thought it would be fun to use some Maine Blueberry paper with it and of course some big ribbon! My flower brads have been ignored for some time too, so I thought I would add those and put 1/2" circles behind them to make them stand out a bit more against the patterned paper. Another tip when adhering cardstock with large brads to another sheet of cardstock - put some mini glue dots on the back of each brad and then add all your adhesive. The glue dots really hold the brads to the bottom sheet of cardstock and it won't lift off the paper.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: pocket silhouettes

ink: bashful blue, not quite navy

paper: stamper's select white (papertrey, ink), not quite navy cardstock, maine blueberry dsp

accessories: flower brads, 1" double stitched bashful blue grosgrain ribbon, 1/2" circle punch, stampin' dimensionals, mini glue dots

framed heart

Ok, I am LOVING the Sizzlits Stampin' Up! offers - how fun is this little frame?! So perfect for the 'i {heart} you' sentiment. This time I decided to add a little sparkle by using some Iridescent Ice embossing powder - here's a tip for those who don't have every color of Craft ink. Stamp your image once in Classic ink using the Stamp-a-ma-jig (or other stamp positioner) and then without moving the positioner, clean off your stamp, re-ink in Versamark and stamp again. You'll stamp your second image exactly over the previous one and then you can heat emboss. Voila! I did that with this card and you can see it more clearly in the close-up.

Have a fantastic day - see you back soon.

Karen

recipe -

stamps: a happy heart

ink: rose red, versamark

paper: chocolate chip, pretty in pink, stampers select white (papertrey ink) cardstock, rose red prints dsp (retired)

accessories: 5-petal punchs (ek success), hearts sizzlits, pretty in pink grosgrain ribbon, iridescent ice embossing powder, stampin' dimensionals

dream...wish...grow...

Hello again, I have been on a creative rampage this past week - very rare and exciting for me! Today's card is inspired from Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge. Every Friday Taylor creates a new (and fabulous) sketch for all of us to use and I have to say I'm addicted. My nephew is turning 6 next month, so I thought this card would be perfect for him, not too girly, hehe. Maybe I should rub it in dirt or something, that would do the trick *wink*.

Ok, that's it for now - I should really start taking the ornaments down from the tree and so starts the process of packing up all the Christmas decorations and the house goes back to bare. So sad...

Karen

recipe -
paper: pumpkin pie, apricot appeal cardstock, party pieces simply scrappin' kit (retired)
accessories: old olive stitched grosgrain ribbon (retired ribbon originals), cuttlebug alphabet

baby mojo

It's Friday and I finally have my Mojo Monday card, ha! I had a craving for a baby card today and thought I'd use some Darling Doodles paper from last fall's catalog. Seems like the paper is retired so quickly with 2 catalogs a year and I miss using most of it, bummer huh? To create the 'welcome baby' sentiment, I cut out a strip of paper 3/8" wide and then slid it through my word window punch - slide it through the top and then inbetween the metal plates. Does that make sense? That way you are only punching one end of the paper at a time.

Have a fantastic day!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: wild about you, short & sweet

ink: groovy guava (retired), versamark

paper: stampers select white (papertrey, ink), brocade blue cardstock, darling doodles dsp (retired), groovy guava prints dsp (retired)

accessories: brocade blue grosgrain ribbon, vintage brads, word window punch, white embossing powder, stampin' dimensionals

just because i care

Happy 2009! So here comes the old cliche - Where has the time gone?!! Ok, I'm done with that, hehe. I was looking for inspiration today and I found this card at Dawn McVey's blog and wanted to CASE it. Her card is so stunning! I used some Mulberry designer paper and thought the branch in my Eastern Blooms set would work perfectly together. I found a tip on another blog (and I can't remember which one, sorry about that) when using multiple colors on a stamp. For the branch images I stamped the whole stamp in night of navy and then used a blender pen to wipe away the ink from the branch where I would color it in with my close to cocoa stampin' write marker. You just brush the blender pen over the ink you want to 'erase' and then clean off the blender pen and go again until the ink is gone. It's much easier with smaller images, but it wasn't too bad for this one.

I had mentioned blog candy in an earlier post and I'm planning on giving away some for my 1st blogoversary which is coming up this month! So stay tuned - I'm on my way to search for something yummy for all of you who have kept me motivated and inspired!!

Wishing you a very blessed 2009 -
Karen

recipe -
stamps: eastern blooms, best yet (hostess, retired)
ink: bashful blue, night of navy, close to cocoa
paper: bashful blue, night of navy, old olive, whisper white cardstock, maine blueberry dsp
accessories: old olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, scallop edge punch, stampin dimensionals