Christmas in July - July 5, 2015

I've seen these snowman cards circulating the past few years.  The first one I received was from my niece.  It was SO cute!  She did a great job with it.
The next one I received was from my craft friend Melissa.  Hers was great too!

I thought it was time for me to finally dive into these snowman cards.  After looking through my stamp stash, I found my set of Kitchen Sink Invisible Snowman stamps.

 They were PERFECT!  I stamped the hat separately and fussy cut it, but the eyes, nose, and pipe are stamped right on the stacked snowman.

Stamp Recipe:  All inks Stampin' Up except the black.
Eyes:  Crumb Cake, Soft Suede
Nose:  Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Tangelo Twist
Pipe:  Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Tsukineko Tuxedo Black
Hat:  Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Basic Gray, and Tsukineko Tuxedo Black

January:  6 cards
February:  6 cards
March:  6 cards
April:  6 cards.
May:  5 cards
June:  6 cards
July:  6 cards
Total:  41 Christmas cards!**Plus the July cards!  Total at the end of the month.

June 2015 Christmas Cards

I was going through my Kitchen Sink stamps looking for something, and found this hot chocolate mug!

I LOVE hot chocolate and have it occasionally when it's cold, but have switched to hot tea because I can drink so much more of it and switch to decaf/herbal tea when it gets later in the evenings.

This turned out to be an adorable set of Christmas cards...  I used Tsukeniko inks for the mug and went back to my regular Stampin' Up inks for the sentiments on the front and inside of the card.

 I used 2 of the Brilliance inks and if you look very closely, you can see the white froth glimmers in the light.

My dear friend Melissa was over the day I made these.  We had lots of fun deciding colors, and watching the layers appear.

January:  6 cards
February:  6 cards
March:  6 cards
April:  6 cards.
May:  5 cards
June:  6 cards
Total:  35 Christmas cards!

Christmas Card Order

The February Christmas Card Challenge was Winter Birds.

Shortly after the challenge posted, I got a call from my favorite uncle....   with an order for 10 cards!

I had to change the Design paper background, but used the same ribbon and stamp sets.

Kitchen Sink Stamps Winter Cardinal set is what I used for this card:
Cardinal - Pretty in Pink (ret.), Riding Hood Red (ret.)  Cherry Cobbler, and Basic Black ink stamped in that order form the cardinals.
Pine Bough - Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, Crumb Cake, and Early Espresso stamped in that order make the pine branch.

The tricky part?  Make sure all the layers line up while you're stamping, otherwise it's a do-over!  I took a little extra time with these, and was a little extra careful and was please I didn't have to do any of them twice. :)

Please enjoy!

2013 Christmas Card Challenge - February, 2013

 Happy February!  Remember, Christmas is coming! 

January's passed, and we are all settling into 2013...  hopefully everyone's had some form of snow or other.  We haven't had much here yet, but I always hope!  If it's very bitter cold, I believe we need some snow just to make it pretty outside since we have to deal with the cold temps.  BUT that's my opinion!  I grew up with snow every winter, and have been missing it a lot of late.

So, first a big THANKS to the participants in the January challenge!  You'll be even happier with those cards when you get to November. :)

Our February theme is inspired by winter.... but not just white or something boring... it's inspired by winter's birds!  I just love seeing Blue Jays and Cardinals out in the snow, their colors so bright against the white background!

February's Challenge:  Winter Birds!  I've included a picture to get you started.  :)

 

Remember, follow the rules of 6 cards with the exception that if you need more than 66 cards to send, adjust your monthly totals.  Stamp the insides and envelopes as well!  Take your pictures and get them posted in the Linky at the bottom of this post by midnight Feb. 20th.

You can use any type of winter bird stamp for these cards, any company, any..... anything as long as it follows the winter birds theme!  Your imagination is your limitation!

Click HERE to view the entire post with all the rules, including small changes for 2013.

Here are my cards...  I used my Kitchen Sink Stamps to make the cards, and some of my Stampin' Up inks and papers to make it special.  Recipe for the inks follow at the bottom.

Here you can see the 6 cards for the set.

 This is the inside of the card - I used the other Cardinal image, and some darker inks, as well as one of my Stampin' Up sentiments.

 I do have the envelope done, but the photo I took was blurry, and I didn't want to post a blurry pic..... it is finished though, and matches the red Cardinal theme.

 Here is the recipe I used for the Cardinal on the front of the card:
Pine Branch:  1.  Certainly Celery  2.  Wild Wasabi   3.  Close to Cocoa (ret.)  4.  Early Espresso stamped off 1x.
Cardinal:  1.  Riding Hood Red stamped off 1x  2.  Riding Hood Red  3.  Cherry Cobbler   4.  Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Sentiment:  Stampin' Up - Riding Hood Red.

Recipe for the inside of the card:
Cardinal:  1.  Riding Hood Red  2.  Cherry Cobbler  3.  Bravo Burgundy  4.  Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Sentiment:  Stampin' Up - Riding Hood Red

Please leave a comment. Thanks so much!

2012 Christmas Card Challenge - October!

 

Well, here we are, it's already October 5th!  Halloween is coming quickly, temperatures are cooling off, or at least I think they should be!  Don't forget that Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and of course, Christmas is coming!! :)

I'm so curious to hear how everyone celebrates Halloween!  We don't do that much.  I buy lots of bags of candy, and we've started setting up the card table and sitting out in the driveway to watch all the little kids and big kids alike coming down the street.  I'll carve pumpkins using the Pumpkin Masters, so it's nice to hear everyone OOOOooh and AAAAAh over them. :)

Alright, here we go!!

The theme for October's Christmas Card Challenge is:  Christmas Lights!

In any way, shape, or form, you must put some type of Christmas lights on your card - Mine are Kitchen Sink stamps.  There are 3D lights, Cricut cut lights on the Christmas Cheer cartridge, stickers, etc.  So many Christmas Tree Lights! :)

As always, there are the basic rules, 6 cards all based on the given theme, and posted here by midnight on the 20th of October, CST.

HERE is a link to the original post with the rules.  Really, very simple and straightforward!

Just can't wait to see what you've come up with!!  Put mine to shame for sure.

 My cards are a version of the One Sheet Wonders, stamped with Kitchen Sink stamps.  I went CRAZY over these when I first saw them...  Just HAD to have 'em, and I use them very often.
HERE is a link to the stamping tutorial I wrote with photos at each step of the way to show how these awesome lights are made.

I used some of the new Stampin' Up products - the Punch Pack, the die cut edges, the embossing folder that compliments it, and one of the new Christmas Stamp sets.

I was planning on adding some ribbon, but started gluing, and when I was finished, I realized it!  Big OOPS there! :)

Click on the link, and enter your cards below!!!

Your comments are always appreciated!
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Cards for Solders 12/10 - 1/7/2011 Valentine's Cards!

Now that the holidays were over, I could again work on my CFS project!!
When I checked the messageboard, the theme was Valentines. I immediately thought of the KSS 3 step Hearts and Roses stamp set! How perfect.... flowers for Valentine's day!!

I've included the recipe at the end of the post. Please enjoy!!






Here are the color recipes for the Roses.

The Red Roses
Step #1: Riding Hood Red
Step #2: Cherry Cobbler
Step #3: Purely Pomegranate
Step #4: Rich Razzleberry

The Pink Roses
Step #1: Pink Pirouette
Step #2: Pretty in Pink
Step #3: Pretty in Pink stamped 2x
Step #4: Melon Mambo

The Leaves:
Step #1: Certainly Celery
Step #2: Wild Wasabi
Step #3: Old Olive

The Hearts:
Step #1: Real Red
Step #2: Riding Hood Red
Step #3: Rich Razzleberry

I also took one of my rose flower wheels, and with the Pretty in Pink, ran the wheel over the entire sheet before I cut it. You can faintly see the pink designs in the white spaces.

Your comments are always appreciated!

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Starting out 2011 with a Checkbook Cover for Dad!

I sent Mom a checkbook cover for Christmas, but thought Dad wouldn't be too excited about one... until I found out that she changed hers over for the new one, and Dad's is now all taped and barely holding together.

This will fix that problem!!
It's already in the mail, Dad!!
:)

Here are the color recipes for the stamped items:
Light Brown boots:
Step #1: Desert Sand off 1x
Step #2: Desert Sand
Step #3: Potter's Clay
Step #4: Rich Cocoa off 1x
Step #5: Rich Cocoa
I then re-stamped step 5 with Tuxedo Black.

Dark Brown Boots: I used an unusual recipe for these since Dad's got a pair of boots that aren't black... aren't gray... Hmmmmm :)
Step #1: London Fog off 1x
Step #2: London Fog
Step #3: Potter's Clay
Step #4: Tuxedo Black off 1x
Step #5: Tuxedo Black stamped twice, full strength.

Longhorn Steer:
Step #1: Desert Sand off 1x
Step #2: Desert Sand
Step #3: Rich Cocoa off 1x
Step #4: Rich Cocoa
Step #5: Tuxedo Black

Cowboy Hat: I used Stampin' Up inks for the hat...
Step #1: Crumb Cake
Step #2: Soft Suede off 1x
Step #3: Soft Suede
Step #4: Close to Cocoa
Step #5: Chocolate Chip

Your comments are always appreciated!
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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

Hot Chocolate and a Chat KSC #29

The Kitchen Sink Crew Challenge for the beginning of October is Monochromatic! I'm totally all over that! I work very often in monochromatic tones, and the new set I got in the mail yesterday was PERFECT for this challenge!

I used Makiko's technique of sponging the edges on the Nestabilities piece.
For the hot chocolate, I used the following colors; 1. Desert Sand, 2. Pearl Beige off 1x, 3. Rich Cocoa off 1x, and for step 4, I inked the bottom with Rich Cocoa, and the top with Moonlight White Brilliance.

That Moonlight White really makes the top look like whipped cream!!

The cookies were stamped like this; 1. Desert Sand, 2. Rich Cocoa off 1x, and 3. Moonlight White off 1x so they would look frosted.

The peppermint stick; 1. Moonlight White Brilliance, 2. Rhubarb Stalk, 3. Ladybug Red.

The background is from the "Once Upon A Time" DCWV stack.


Your comments are always appreciated!

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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

Thank You Cards

Beginning our new school year, we had some community members do some work on the flowerbeds at the front of the school. One of our "Partners in Education" also delivered some supplies for the teachers... so I made these Thank You cards for the staff to sign and send. I hope they know we appreciated their work and help!!





Stampin Up Ink:
Cameo Coral, Riding Hood Red, Purely Pomegranate, Rich Razzleberry, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Brilliant Blue, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Old Olive.
Stampin Up Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (Thank You)
DCWV papers
Sizzix Architectural Corners die-cut on the Cuttlebug.

I sure do LOVE my KSS! They always make me think of the joys of summer!


Your comments are always appreciated!

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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

Color Tutorial for Kitchen Sink Christmas Light Stamps

I am not in any way affiliated with Kitchen Sink Stamps, but I do LOVE their product line!!! The stamps are made of excellent quality clear material, and they are wonderful to use for stamp projects.

I just ordered the Christmas Lights, and have been spending some time playing with the colors. I now have worked out Stampin' Up ink colors to use to make the Christmas lights look awesome!

**Disclaimer - Yes, Stampin' Up is re-working their stamp line, and I will add some of the newer colors in this set of recipes eventually. Some of the new colors are already in these 'recipes', as you will see.

**Disclaimer #2 - Yes, this looks like an incredible amount of work - it's not! This stamping actually goes very quickly.



This is the first stamp for the lights (always your lightest color).
Red
Pink Pirouette
Orange
Tangerine Tango (stamped off 2x)
Yellow
Barely Banana
Green
Certainly Celery
Blue
Bashful Blue
PurpleAlmost Amethyst


This picture shows the second stamping... directly over the first colors.
The new color is highlighted.

Red
Pink Pirouette
Pretty in Pink
Orange
Tangerine Tango (stamped off 2x)
Tangerine Tango (stamped off 1x)
Yellow
Barely Banana
Yo Yo Yellow (stamped off 1x)
Green
Certainly Celery
Gable Green
Blue
Bashful Blue
Ballet Blue
PurpleAlmost Amethyst
Lovely Lilac (stamped off 1x)



This picture shows the third stamping... directly over the first colors.
The new color is highlighted.

Red
Pink Pirouette
Pretty in Pink
Riding Hood Red
Orange
Tangerine Tango (stamped off 2x)
Tangerine Tango (stamped off 1x)
Tangerine Tango (stamped off 1x)
Yellow
Barely Banana
Yo Yo Yellow (stamped off 1x)
Yo Yo Yellow
Green
Certainly Celery
Gable Green
Green Galore
Blue
Bashful Blue
Ballet Blue
Brilliant Blue (stamped off 1x)
PurpleAlmost Amethyst
Lovely Lilac (stamped off 1x)
Lovely Lilac



This picture shows the fourth stamping... directly over the first colors.
This is the last color layer, even though there is one more layer to add after this! :)
The new color is highlighted.

Red
Pink Pirouette
Pretty in Pink
Riding Hood Red
Purely Pomegranate
Orange
Tangerine Tango (stamped off 2x)
Tangerine Tango (stamped off 1x)
Tangerine Tango (stamped off 1x)
Tangerine Tango
Yellow
Barely Banana
Yo Yo Yellow (stamped off 1x)
Yo Yo Yellow
More Mustard
Green
Certainly Celery
Gable Green
Green Galore
Glorious Green
Blue
Bashful Blue
Ballet Blue
Brilliant Blue (stamped off 1x)
Brilliant Blue
PurpleAlmost Amethyst
Lovely Lilac (stamped off 1x)
Lovely Lilac
Elegant Eggplant



OK! After you have ALL that stamping done.... the only color you need now is Black!
For step 5, just stamp black for the threads and filaments. On another piece, I did add some Brilliance Silver ink to the very bottom for the threads.

My plan for this sheet? One Sheet Wonders, of course! These will make great backgrounds for Christmas cards!

Your comments here on the blog are always welcome and appreciated.
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Kitchen Sink Crew Challenge #16! 3rd entry

Here's my third entry for the Kitchen Sink Crew Challenge...

The recipe I used for the raspberries:
Stamp #1: Cameo Coral
Stamp #2: Real Red
Stamp #3: Pomegranate ?? I can't remember the entire name.

for the leaves/stems, I used:
Stamp#1: Wild Wasabi
Stamp #2: Old Olive

One thing you don't know.... I HATE raspberries... HATE 'em!! LOL BUT, this set of stamps is my absolute favorite. What a contradiction, I know! I just can't believe how real these raspberries look!
Now, why do I hate them so much?? Because my mother grew an enormous raspberry patch down the center of our garden when I was a kid, and we had them coming out of our ears!!! We ate them with everything, had to pick them and get scratched up all over the place, had to sort through them, had to finish picking off the stems, and get them ready for flash-freezing so we would have some ALL YEAR LONG! UGH! If I never have to eat Raspberry Torte again, I will be VERY happy! LOL

So, please do enjoy how realistic these raspberries are... because they've done an amazing job in creating them... but just don't offer me any for a snack or in my dessert!! LOL


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Kitchen Sink Crew Challenge #16! 2nd entry

Here's the link to the Kitchen Crew Challenge for August.

I can't begin to tell you how much I LOVE these stamps!!!

This blueberry inspired card is my 2nd entry.

I use the Stampin' Up inks, and they turn out perfect!

The recipe I used for these blueberries is:

Stamp #1: Bashful Blue

Stamp#2: Ballet Blue

Stamp #3: Brilliant Blue - stamped off once

Stamp #4: Brilliant Blue

for the leaves:

Stamp #1: Wild Wasabi

Stamp #2: Old Olive

The stamps are so perfect, they even show the little frilly tops on the blueberries where they attach to the stems!!

For the corner pieces on the card, I used some new Sizzix dies I found.
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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.