Stamping with Kim

Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbons, in Red & Brown

2009-11-11T06:53:12-05:00

In Monday's post I mentioned that I had planned on getting started on my Christmas packages this week. Lucky for me - SU! had just posted an online video tutorial (for demos) featuring this new Holiday Mini stamp set called "Berry Christmas".

I copied the little tags that they made, and added one to each of these three SU! boxes.

From left, this is the all-new magnetic box featured in the mini. I love, love, love this box!! First of all, it folds flat for shipping and storing. Second, it's reusable. Third, it's the perfect size for jewelry or a gift card. And fourth, it looks like leather. Oh, and fifth - it's VERY AFFORDABLE @ 2 for $4.95!!

The box on the right is a Fancy Favor die cut box, made from Chocolate Chip TEXTURED cardstock. And the box in back is a new favorite of mine from the big catalog (p. 159) which is not only stunningly gorgeous - but EXTREMELY AFFORDABLE @ 5 for $3.95!! If you haven't checked this baby out - RUN to your catalog and order them today!!

I'm working on some Christmas cards now for an upcoming Holiday Craft Fair this weekend - a make 'n take for the show, and also some more Christmas Card Crank cards! So be sure to check back over the next few days if you need some holiday ideas.

Happy Stamping!!

Stamping for a Cause

2009-11-09T19:30:31-05:00

I'm skipping my recipe share today to tell you about some very worthwhile stamping that I was thrilled to participate in this past weekend.

My friend, Kathy, and her family have a tradition of adopting a special project every year for the holidays. This year they have adopted 3 soldiers - and all the soldiers that they are responsible for - which is a total of 55 soldiers. Now THAT is quite an adoption!! In addition to shipping some personal and practical items to these soldiers that will be away from home for the holidays - Kathy volunteered to supply a hand-made card for every one of them. That's where the rest of us come in...

We started by choosing a very simple design that we could stamp 55 times. That was easily agreed upon - we chose THIS card - which was also one that all the girls had stamped recently in one of my Christmas Card Crank classes.

We made approx 8-10 of these cards in 6 different color schemes.

In less than 2 hours we had the entire project completed AND that included taking time to enjoy the yummy Cinnamon bagels from Panera Bread that Kathy brought for everyone!

Here we are - left to right - Chris, Kathy - our fearless project leader, me and Karen.

This project was so much fun, and I know it's going to warm 55 hearts during the holidays.

So I decided to share this story with you today instead of a recipe so that you, too, could set aside some time and do something special for our soldiers this year. It takes just a very little bit of time - and I know they would love to know that you're thinking of them.

Thank you, Kathy, for including us in your project this year!!

Happy Stamping!!

Big Shot Monday

2009-11-09T06:59:25-05:00

Didn't I tell you that we were going to have fun with this LATTICE DIE from Sizzix this month?? Sarah has done exactly that!! Isn't this out of this world?!!

I know you know the rules of the club - simply order the Lattice die from SARAH or from ME at any time during the month and we will send you templates & directions for all the projects at the end of the month. Easy, peasy!

Now, we're both off to run like wild women this week!! You know the holidays are just around the corner, and it's time right now to start getting a jump on some of the small things. I actually have a couple of gifts to wrap up already - and that's what I'll be doing. Be sure to check back to see how lovely SU! packages are when tied up with pretty bows & tags!!

Happy Monday!!

Catalog-Card-Swap-Karen

2009-11-07T16:07:00-05:00

I just came across this picture & since I had just mentioned in my previous post (about the Catalog Card Swap) that Karen Duke was responsible for it - I thought I'd show you KAREN!! She's the sweetie in the middle here, and that's Judy Garza on the right. Both girls are my lovely new friends!!

This picture was taken in Sept. at Founder's Circle, at a place in Kanab, UT called "Shelli's Park". Look closely at Karen's eyes - they really do twinkle!!

This is a park that Shelli & Sterling Gardner - owners of Stampin' Up! - bought & built for the community. If you look closely at the ground you will see RUBBER!! That's the leftover chips of rubber from the manufacturing facility which is just a couple of miles away.

Here are just a few more pics of this area & what your purchases of Stampin' Up! products have made possible.

I had to share this picture with you - just look at that backdrop! Imagine taking your own children to this park and enjoying the scenery as they played on the swings.

This picture is the pavillion when we arrived for lunch. The girls from SU! had the cutest little buckets for us - Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst and White - filled with linen napkins & some other little goodies - and our lunch! It was adorable!

This last pic is Mary Fish - the #1 Rising Star in SU! last year. Now THAT IS SOME AWARD!! That means she was the best NEW demonstrator around. woo hoo, Mary! You go, girl!!

So now I'm laughing as I re-read this post because what started out as simply showing you Karen Duke's twinkling eyes, has turned into a tour of Shelli's Park in Kanab, and the #1 Rising Star in the company.

Now you know how my brain works. Or doesn't!!! LOL!! Have a great weekend!!!

Catalog Card Swap, part 2

2009-11-06T16:01:01-05:00

As promised, here are more of the beautiful cards that my downline made for this swap.

Trina created this little beauty, and you really have to look closely to see some of the detail. The Rose Red circle in front has texture added to it, and the card itself is Chocolate Chip TEXTURED cardstock. Very nice!

Pam created this next card, and it is PACKED with detail! Starting with the real-live sewing - on a MACHINE, no less! The colors on this card are stunning.

I love all the flowers, and colors on this one. :-) WINNER!!

This little snowman card just melts my heart! I have such a love of snowmen & snowflakes, and this one does not disappoint. Mary copied this card and did a beautiful job!

This next card "Upsy Daisy" was Susan's copy. Don't you love the colors here? This is such a versatile set, and I think the very subtle effect here is perfect with the bold/bright cardstock colors. Lovely!!

I saved Sue's card for last because - believe it or not - I had FIVE PEOPLE that signed up to use the Ronald McDonald set in their swap! And the limit was 1 person per catalog page. So Sue submitted this card from "Very Thankful", and it is just beautiful!!!

So I want to thank my group again for joining the swap, and for producing the best swap that I've ever participated in!!

I hope all of you will do this - at least once - pick a card in the catalog and copy it. You WILL be pleased with the results!!

I hope you have a fun weekend planned! The girls are coming over Sunday morning to make cards for soldiers. I am soooo looking forward to that. I'll try to post a picture and give you more detail about that.

Happy Stamping!!!

A bunch of copy cats!!

2009-11-05T18:28:12-05:00

Well, um, that would be my downline and me!!

A few weeks back I hosted a catalog card swap with my downline to COPY any card in the catalog - EXACTLY as it is in the catalog. That involved going online & getting the recipe, and following it EXACTLY. That's what my email said....EXACTLY! By the time they read the email I'm sure they were all shaking their head & saying "she's a little weird, that upline of ours, we get it!!" LOL!

This brilliant idea wasn't mine, it came from Karen Duke - a Canadian Demo - that I met at Founder's Circle. She actually had the first card shown here (robots) & told me that she was making it for a swap. I fell in love with it and praised her wonderful talent. Then she smiled her sweet smile - and her eyes actually twinkle when she smiles!! - and said to me "I copied it from the catalog!" Then she told me all the details of hosting this swap with her downline and how they all love it! Thanks, Karen, you're brilliant!!!

So I offered the swap to my directs and "management" in my downline, and here are some of the cards that we decided to copy.

The first one "Lots of Bots" was the one I made, copied from Karen, who copied from the catalog.

The next one - the snowflake one "Best Wishes & More" - was copied by Melissa. You know I love snowflakes - and snowmen - so this one got special favors by me! (Melissa was teachers' pet for 1 minute!!)

The next one - the beach chair one "Peace Within" - was copied by Carol.... who said "I can't watercolor!" Well, just look at that STUNNING JOB she did!!! Then she said "I just copied the one in the catalog". HELLO!! That was the name of the game!! LOL!! Gorgeous!!

And the last one here - Frankenstein "Batty for You" - was copied by Sandy. I love him!! Good copy job, Sandy!!

And this last one, the drinks one from "Cheers to You", was copied by Sarah. hmm...she's been using this set a lot lately, I wonder if we need to have a talk?!! hahaha!!

I have to admit, we ALL had so much fun with this swap. And, these cards are SO MUCH PRETTIER IN PERSON THAN IN THE CATALOG!!! They are...seriously. As my father-in-law (bless his soul!!) used to say...."now this here is the truth!!" I love him!!

Come back tomorrow and I'll post more cards from this swap! In the meantime, pull out your own catalog and pick a card to copy. You can get the recipe online OR from your favorite demo. Make the card, and I think you, too, will be pleased with how beautiful these cards are in person!

Remember....CASE! Copy And Share Everything!!!

Happy Stamping!

Snow time!

2009-11-04T18:09:32-05:00

Actually...it's CLASS TIME! This is one of the cards the girls will be making tomorrow in my 3rd Christmas Card Crank class. I just love snowflakes (and snowmen!). They will make 3 of these, and 3 each of 3 other designs. In case that's a little fuzzy math *wink* that's a total of 12 cards plus envelopes - all in one class!

This card combines Bashful Blue and Real Red - a beautiful combo for winter. They will use the Big Shot to make the large snowflake out of Whisper White cs. That is layered with a small snowflake (unknown punch) and white brad.

These are layered onto Bashful Blue DSP & Real Red cs, mounted with Dimensionals.

The card base is stamped with Serene Snowflakes (Holiday Mini) in White Craft ink, and sentiment (from "Four the Holidays") is stamped in Real Red. The girls will have their choice from 4 stamps in this priceless ($13.95) stamp set from the Holiday Mini. Check it out!!

If you've missed my classes, there is ONLY ONE LEFT before Christmas! You can get the kits in the mail, or attend in person. But not this week - this class is full, full, full!! Check my schedule for the December class & join us - we would love to have you!!

Thanks for visiting me today!