Bright Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....a bright one at that!  I love bright colors, especially on my tree!  This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we want you to find some inspiration in a photo of some brightly glittered bulbs.  This is what I came up with....

I painted the "Merry Christmas" stamp with the coordinating markers to match the banners behind it.  Super easy and super fun!

Here is the photo....be inspired my stamping friends and join our challenge this week!!

Happy Stamping,

Krista

Water Color Winter #2

Today I wanted to show you a different card using the stamp set Stampin' Up! gave me to work with for the SU! magazine.  This one was not included in my 4 entries.  

This week over at Hand Stamped Sentiments we are challenging you to make a project using fancy folds.  Here is my card....

It's called the Joy Folds Card.  I found the tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers.  Click here to see the directions.  Basically it's a card within a card.  Super cute and very easy!!

It is the same size as a regular 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card, but it has different folds and layers to create this look.  

*Helpful Hint* I actually put a tiny drop of the Tombo Multipurpose glue under the front flap and let it dry before I shut it.  That created a removable glue dot so it would stay closed when I wanted it to.

So hop on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments and get scoring to make some fancy folds!!

Ingredients

Stamps: Watercolor Winter, Greetings for the Season

Colors: Real Red, Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade and Very Vanilla,

Accessories: Vintage Brads, Swirl die (retired), Window Frames Framelit

Tools: Scoring Tool, Paper Piercing pack, tool and mat

Happy Stamping,

Krista

Watercolor Winter #1

A while back I announced that I was featured in the Stampin' Up! Magazine for Demonstrators.  I made 4 projects with the stamp set called Watercolor Winter.  I wanted to post all four of the projects I made over the next few days, with the exception of tomorrow....I'll be using the same stamp set, though.

Here is the card that I made.  It's actually part of what they call "online extras".  There was A LOT of cutting involved in this one...all the way down to the flowers and the holly.

Can you see that Champagne Glitter Paper?  I used that in 3 of the 4 projects.  It sure adds a nice sparkle to this card!!  I also used the stamp set called "Greetings of the Season" from the Holiday Catalog.

I hope you like it!!  I had a lot of fun being asked to do this super fun project for Stampin' Up!  I can't wait to show you more!!

Happy Stamping,

Krista

Thankful Fall Layout

Although our fall season came late here in Southern California, making projects like the one I made this week really helps me get in the mood for Thanksgiving and the cooler weather.  That is DEFINITELY what I'm thankful for....cooler weather.  It was SO hot this year for so long, it's nice to be in the 60's during the day!!  Still mostly sunny, but it's a lot nicer!

Enough about the weather, let's be thankful!! 

Page one has a cute little safety pin with 2 tiny tags hanging from it.  I can't wait to fill this page up with photos from this years Thanksgiving!!  I also embossed all the solid color leaves using a variety of patterns.

I stamped the background of both pages with the leaves from the Gently Falling Stamp Set. I went back and added photos on this page to enter it into a weekly challenge.  Makes it look even cuter!!

Thank you to Erica Cerwin for inspiring me to pair the button with some of our lovely tulle (Pictured below). She's so good with the details.  Check out her blog Pink Buckaroo Designs!! 

Here are those 2 cute little tags.  Love!! Can you see the embossing on the leaves, too?!

Oh yes, I will be entering this at the Friday Mashup Challenge.  Check out their fabulous projects by clicking here.

Happy Stamping,

Krista

A Little Flake

It's finally getting cooler here....that means it's in the 60's-70's.  Burrr....right?!  Hee hee!  I think this week's challenge with a "snowflake" theme is taunting me.  Actually the snow capped mountains that are just to the North of me are taunting me.  I'm not much of a snow person, but those mountains make a nice backdrop.

Here is my project for this week....I saw this quilled snowflake on Pinterest and then found the tutorial on Martha Stewarts website.  Where else?  LOL!

Here is a shot of it straight on....

Here is the other side/angle....

Here are the instructions that I "borrowed" from my pal Martha:

Before working on the ornament, practice some quilling basics. Wind a strip of paper around the needle; it will form a tight curl. Play with the paper to stretch it back out to the shape you want. Try folding a strip in half and curling both ends in for a heart shape, or curl them out for a V shape. Quilling paper is easy to manipulate, but working with it is not an exact science: It takes some practice to make the same shape twice.

Tools and Materials

8 strips of quilling paper, 3/8-inch wide and 4 1/2-inch long
Quilling needle or round toothpick
Clear-drying craft glue
Metallic thread

Snowflake Ornament How-To

1. Fold each strip of quilling paper so that one of the halves is about 1/2 inch longer than the other, and curl the ends. Repeat with seven more strips.

2. On a flat surface, fit pieces together with their points in the center. Using tiny dabs of glue, attach pieces together in pairs, and then join the four pairs. Let glue dry, and attach a piece of metallic thread to hang ornament.

Tip: Use glue sparingly on quilling paper; dab it on with a toothpick to control the amount.

I won't take credit for the idea, but I will take credit that I DID make one.  It actually was pretty easy.  I thought about putting it on a card somehow, but I was running out of time....the kids were screaming for me.  I was hoping they wouldn't notice that I left the room.  Oh well, it was just long enough to whip up this adorable snowflake.

Happy Stamping!

Krista

Christmas Gift Card Holder

I really like making gift card holders, but the bad thing is, I find myself never giving them away.  I like to buy gifts because I like wrapping presents in boxes.  I know, weird, but I think it's fun to shop for people and to wrap them up all pretty.  :)

This is a gift card holder that we made at my demonstrator downline meeting this past week.  I really like the simplicity of it, but I also love the bright colors.

So, here's how you do it:

1. Take a 4 1/4" x 11" sheet of cardstock and score at 3 1/4", 5 1/2" and 7 3/4"

2. Fold it into a "W" shape 

3. Using the Word Window punch...punch out 2 times side by side, but only slide the paper in so only 1/2 of the window is punched out.  See photo below:

4.  Take a 1" circle punch and punch a half circle out in the center.  See above photo.

5.  Adhere the center fold so the gift card won't slide out.

6.  Decorate up the front and attach a ribbon to tie closed.  

I need to be better about taking photos of each of these steps.  Please comment below if you have questions. These are so super easy...anyone will love it!!

Happy Stamping,

Krista

Fall Gift Giving

I bet you can't guess what this is?

If you guessed a gift card holder, then you're right!!  I like to whip these out by the dozens over Christmas time.  But I thought it would be fun to do a fall themed one.

I'm loving the new Autumn Accents Die.  I cut a couple of them out in Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant and More Mustard.  Then I took the Vintage Jumbo Wheel over the background then used my blender pen to add some color with the matching inks to the leaves.  Add a button and a tag then you're done!

Here is what the middle looks like:

Stop by here (my blog) tomorrow for the step by step instructions on how to make this!

But first, hop on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments this week to join us for a color challenge and check out the other fun creations.

Happy Stamping,

Krista

Fall Gift Giving #2

I don't always drink from a bottle, but when I do I drink Sparkling Cider.  LOL!

This year I wanted to create fun ways to thank a hostess for being so gracious at Thanksgiving.  Yesterday it was a mason jar....today it's a bottle tag.

Here is a close up shot of the leaves.  I love this die!  The leaves can be funky, realistic and vintage.  Depending on how you use them!  So versatile!  And you can't go wrong adding some sparkle paper with your bottle of sparkling cider.

Wanna join me for this class?  Contact me today to save your spot!

Happy Stamping,

Krista

Fall Gift Giving #1

Fall would be so fun to have!  However here in Southern California it's been so hot!  In fact, today we went to Balboa Beach for lunch, a stroll and some ice cream.  It was GORGEOUS!!  We celebrated my mom's Birthday!

So, in honor of those that actually get to experience fall weather I'm hosting a Fall Craft Class this week.  Here is my first project....a mason jar with a lovely bow and a super fun tag.

Here is a view of the top.  I cut a 6x6" piece of Designer paper, got it wet and folded it around the lid of the jar.  It forms so nicely, kinda looks like fabric!!  Then I tied it off with the SU! Early Espresso tulle.  Love this stuff!

Then I tied on a rosette that has a nice embossed leaf and a little gratitude stamp from Friendly Phrases stamp set.

I plan to fill these with something yummy!  

Happy Stamping!

Krista

Snowman Stamp...They Are My Family

Okay, the title IS catchy....so here's the story.  I saw this stamp in the Holiday Catalog and immediately saw MY family.  Here they are folks, from Left to Right....

Bryan(daddy), Luke, Tyler, Me (mommy) and Travis in the front

Needless to say that I HAD to have this stamp. I came up with this card for my downline group gathering this past week.  I love the colors...Pool Party, Cherry Cobbler and White.  So crisp and bright and fun!

I hope you all enjoy your holidays, because before you know it, it's gonna come and go!

Happy Stamping, 

Krista