Inkin' It Up With Kendra!: February 2007

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Delight in Teal!
Taken with Teal is my most recently acquired color - yes, I know, I should have had it long before now! But to be honest, I wasn't sure if I really liked it. Well, once I actually had it in my hot little hands - I now love it! lol Delight in Life was calling out to me yet again and I decided to pair the Taken with Teal using black and white and my white craft ink. The large polka dot brad from Hobby Lobby and polka dot ribbon from Wal-Mart were the perfect touch to polish off this card. I am planning on renovating my kitchen this weekend (painting, laying new flooring, etc.) so I probably won't get much if any stamping done (what is wrong with me? lol), but.........I do have the next few evenings free and am still needing lots of cards for some tins I am working on - so hopefully I will have some new creations to post. :) Thanks to all of you who check in daily and leave me some wonderful comments and emails.......they are all appreciated!

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Monday, February 26, 2007

Little Pink Piggy! *ETA*
When I very first saw this set in the Sellabration Catalog I really wasn't sure that I was going to like it. BUT, after seeing so many cute cards posted on SCS using this set, I decided it was one that I was going to NEED! LOL I must say that the little pig is my favorite! I used my cuttlebug flower embossing folder (of course) on Pretty in Pink cardstock for my background, and my marvy scallop and circle punch for the background for my cute little piggy! I did just an itty bit of doodling (as I am not the greatest at it) on the circle. I watercolored my piggy with my prismacolor pencils, blending stumps and gamsol - then added a little bit of stickles to him for some sparkle! Once I got the white gel dots on the scallop punch, I decided that black polkadot ribbon would be just what the card needed! This card was eezy schmeezy! I am going to definitely make a ton more of these - cute stuff!

As most of you have noticed, I have a new banner! Isn't it just the cutest?! I have been having one specially designed for me for the last month or so, but it is still in it's creative stages and won't be ready for a little while longer - but I have been dying to fill in that empty space at the top and my wonderfully sweet talented friend Beth Silaika (myprecious on SCS) offered to make me one in the meantime!! Who was I to say no? lol THANK YOU SO MUCH BETHIE - it looks amazing! Big Hugz! Beth can make one for your blog too for a small fee - check out her site FRECKLED FUN DESIGNS and she can give you all the info! Here is some Big news on SCS: Beth is also the new Hostess for the SCS Featured Stamper (and this week's featured stamper)!! Congratulations!! Check out this link, read the instructions for the challenge and take a look at Beth's cards and CASE one yourself!

*ETA*
I would like to send out a great big THANK YOU to one of my best blogging friends, Cindy Keery! When she saw I posted a new banner - she made a watermark especially for my page! I love it - isn't it just gorgeous?! Thanks so much Cindy - you are awesome - I love everything you make for me! Cindy can make something like this for you too - just click here and she will give you the info.

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Saturday, February 24, 2007

Happy Spring Daisy

I was inspired by the temperatures we have been having here in Texas - they have been in the 70's! Spring is just around the corner so I decided to pull out my Looks Like Spring set. What better colors to use than So Saffron, Chocolate Chip and Cameo Coral. I stamped the Linen Background using Chocolate Chip on the So Saffron Cardstock and on the Cameo Coral. The daisies were stamped using the rock'n'roll technique then handcut - wow, that was a chore - we definitely need a big punch for these flowers! lol I used a small circle punch and punched out some Cameo Coral cardstock for the center of the flowers (sponged a little chocolate chip on the edges). I also punched out some So Saffron circles and placed them on the flowers on the background - I think they look neat that way. All the layers are up on dimensionals. The Happy Birthday sentiment is from Happy Everything. This was a fun card to make and definitely makes me wish for spring to get here. Well, I am off to do more stamping.......

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Friday, February 23, 2007

AND THE WINNER IS.......

Shadowcatcher (Julee)! WOW what an amazing amount of comments! Thank you all sooo much for all the wonderful things you said - they were all very much appreciated! I am so glad you all enjoy my blog and enjoy my postings!

Here is what Julee had to say:

I just love reading your blog and seeing your wonderful creations. I absolutely LOVE these two cards you're offering up! Thanks for sharing your talent with us all!- Julee aka Shadowcatcher

Julee - email me with your snail mail addy and I will get your goodies out to you!

I am stamping all weekend, so hopefully I will have some new creations to post for all of you faithful blog readers!

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Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Invitation Order
I was asked if I could create some wedding shower invitations - 75 of them to be exact! *whew* Of course I said "sure"! This is what I came up with - I am now waiting on my paper order from SU! so I can finish making these babies! I decided that simple and elegant was the way I wanted to go - especially since I am having to make so many. I get lots of orders for cards, but never for that many at once! hee hee Happy Harmony was the perfect set for this order! I used my Blush Blossom and Mellow Moss markers for the flowers, Blush Blossom for the base and stamped it with linen (you can't really see it in the photo) then I ran the vanilla cardstock thru my cuttlebug and sponged Blush Blossom on the swirls. I distressed the edges of the Vanilla and sponged a little close to cocoa on the edges. The Scallop Circle is up on dimensionals - added a little cindy ribbon to polish it off! It turned out just like I envisioned it - it was so easy (which was the gameplan) but it looks super elegant! Now I need an assembly line LOL :)

My blog candy will be running until Friday night - so if you don't have your name in yet you still have plenty of time - just leave me a comment on the blog candy post below!

Here are a few of my blogging friends that are offering up blog candy too - you might as well double or triple your chances! *wink*

Alex (sillybirds)
Rachel Hope (hope stamps eternal)
crafty thoughts

A big hello and hug to my wonderful talented friend Laura (Lu-La's Corner) who is such a sweetie pie! I talk with her almost everyday via email - she makes me smile and always says the sweetest things. Her blog is wonderful, she updates often and always has the cutest cards posted. Love ya girl!

I also would like to give a big Texas HOWDY to my friend Beth (freckled fun)- she made my day yesterday (she knows why lol) - you are simply hilarious - love your emails!

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Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Blogger Club RAK!

Look what I got in the mail today from my good blogging friend Susan Liles (susiestampalot)!!! Isn't it just beautiful?! I couldn't get the envelope open fast enough to take a peak at what was inside!! Susan this card is gorgeous and the words inside were much appreciated! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! I want to come stamp with you and Jen *insert smiley face here* - I am just about 2 hours away!!!! Big Hugz!

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Monday, February 19, 2007

BLOG CANDY!!!

By popular demand I am offering up some more blog candy for all you avid bloggers out there that come and check in on me daily and leave me so many wonderful comments and emails! After numerous requests, I will also be adding two of my most asked for creations plus a brand new Stampin' Up! Horizontal Slot punch, some yummy Ribbon and some Spare Parts white brads. All you have to do is leave me a comment on this post - I will randomly draw a winner on Friday night! Good Luck!

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SCS Bloggers RAK Club - Sign Up Now! *ETA* I saw a post this afternoon on my good friend Laura's blog and it reminded me that I signed up for this club last week..........Michelle Laycock has started an SCS Bloggers RAK club. If you have a blog - go and sign up - it will be so much fun so come on over and join us! Here is the link to the info: Blogger RAK Club (you must already be a member of the SCS RAK group in order to view this link). P.S. I have gotten a ton of emails about maybe offering up one of my cards with my blog candy, so that is what I am gonna do!! I will be posting my BLOG CANDY later this evening so check back and sign up for the freebies! :)

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Sunday, February 18, 2007

I'm Finally Back...........

with something new! Yes, it took a couple of days, but I have been so busy with life I haven't had a chance to update my blog! It's not like me to be MIA for so long. I got to sit down this afternoon and create just to create, wow was that actually a chore - my mind was a blank! I guess because I have had so much going on, my mojo left me for a little while - hee hee, but not to worry, I found it again. :) I also had great difficulty deciding what set to reach for - Delight in Life was calling out to me.......so I went with it. I used my cuttlebug swirl embossing folder on the chocolate chip base of the card and then sponged craft white over the top. I used Chocolate Chip ink to stamp the flowers on Blush Blossom and Cool Caribbean cardstock, cut them out and kissed them with the Linen Background using Close to Cocoa. (I stamped the background using Linen also). My trusty Signo Gel Pen and stickles came in handy on the flowers - they are so sparkly! The ribbon is brown and blush polkadot ribbon from Starlitstudio's ebay store (i love her ribbon!). Everything is up on dimensionals - i just LOVE 3-d! :) I am working on several orders that I have received over the last week or two for card sets, altered lunch tins and I just got an order for 75 wedding shower invites! Keep your eyes peeled! I am hoping to give away some blog candy soon *wink*

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Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Here is the pic of the beautiful flowers my dad gave me for Valentine's Day! Aren't they beautiful?

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Valentine Milk Carton
Yep, I fell victim to the milk carton craze! lol This was a lot of fun to make, but very time consuming - at least for me *grin* The cutting and scoring weren't the problem, it was actually folding and putting it all together ha ha I guess I am somewhat challenged in that area! Anywho, I think it turned out pretty darn cute...........I filled it with Whoppers and am giving it to my boss today - I hope she likes it! I used whisper white cardstock for the base and Loves Me designer paper for the strip around the middle - the heart stamped in Regal Rose is from Like it a Latte (what, did I use that again? lol) I sponged chocolate chip all around the edges of the carton for that worn look. Happy Valentine's Day to all of you - I hope you get some pretty flowers or maybe some yummy chocolate! I got a GORGEOUS bouquet of flowers from my dad - I will post that later today!

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Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Like U a Latte!
This is a card I made for my stamp club swap this month - you all know about my love affair with Like It a Latte - I just can't resist it - it is just wonderful for valentine cards! I absolutely love the Loves Me designer paper - I think I might get one more package before the winter mini is up. This card came together really quickly and when I was thru it was exactly what I had envisioned.....awww chocolate chip and regal rose look amazing together! I used tulip puffy paint for the foam and added some stickles to the straws, the heart is up on dimensionals and I sponged around the word window punch then adhered it to the heart. Lastly, I added some of that yummy grosgrain ribbon and signo gel pen doodling around the scallop punch to polish it off! I have been working non-stop every evening trying to finish my valentine goodies for all my family and friends - whew what a chore! LOL I got a lot accomplished last night, but still have a list of projects that have to be completed tonight - can you say "i will be up late"? lol

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Monday, February 12, 2007

My First Coaster Boxes
I am not really sure what took me so long to get my new coasters out and try some coaster boxes - it could be the fact that I am a hoarder and can't stand to use my goodies! lol These were so fun to make and so super easy! I am loving them! They are just perfect for gift boxes and will hold quite a lot of stuff. These two boxes are for my aunt and my sister - I filled them with a chocolate bar, hershey's kisses, peppermint patties, a sheet of stickers, gel pens and valentine stamps from the Target Dollar Spot. I still have several more to make before Valentine's Day - oh, I better hurry only a couple of days left! There is an excellent tutorial on these on SCS by Taylor VanBruggen - it is easy to follow. The only thing I did differently is I used my tape runner to adhere the paper to the coasters instead of the Mod Podge because it was warping my coasters. If you don' t have any of these coasters and are wondering where you can get some my friend Cindy from Starlitstudio has them in her ebay store - there are also a couple of people on SCS that sell them as well. These are great fun to work with, so go order some now and get to crafting! :) I will be back tomorrow with more goodies to share!

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Saturday, February 10, 2007

Valentine Candy Bar Sliders

I got this amazing idea for these candy bar sliders from Kristina Werner's blog. The first time I saw them I knew this was something I had to make - I think they are adorable! I used Nestle Crunch bars with mine and adjusted the measurements just a tad because the crunch bars are a little larger than the chocolate bar she used. Her directions are so simple, head on over to her blog, check out the tutorial and make some for your sweeties! The Loves Me Designer paper is perfect for these. Well, I'm off to finish some coaster boxes I need for tomorrow...........see you soon! :)

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Be My Valentine

Here is your first sneak peek at some of what I have been working on over the last week. This little valentine mailbox will be going to my daughter's teacher with a bag of hershey's kisses inside - she will also get a matching card. The scalloped square I cut using my cuttlebug, the glittery heart is from the Dollar Spot at Target and the other foam hearts are from Hobby Lobby. I even decided to do a little doodling on the scalloped circle on the front (I don't usually do too much doodling because I'm not real good a it lol). I think it turned out really cute! We are having my stamp club meeting tomorrow afternoon and we will be altering these mailboxes for them to give to their sweetie! They will also be doing a cover for a box of Sweethearts Candy. I have lots more stuff I am working on, so keep those eyes peeled - you never know, there might be ANOTHER post TODAY! lol :)

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Friday, February 09, 2007

One of my bestest blogging friends, Laura Leonard, is having some wonderful BLOG CANDY today........so hurry over and check out her blog and sign up to win! Don't forget to keep checking back - I PROMISE to be posting some super duper stuff over the weekend! :)

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Thursday, February 08, 2007

Yes, I'm still here......... I have been so super busy getting all my valentine items prepared for home and for the office that I have been neglecting all of my wonderful blogging friends! I promise that as soon as I get a spare minute I will take pics of all the creations I have been working on and share them with all of you. I have been working on some treat bags, coaster boxes, candy covers and of course trying to run my life in the process of it all! lol See you all soon. :)

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Monday, February 05, 2007

Happy Hearts Valentine
I just got the Happy Hearts stampset about a week ago and finally decided to pull it out and do something with it. I just love all the hearts - they are just too cute! The base of the cardstock is Whisper White - I used the Linen Background and stamped it with Real Red - then matted with Real Red and Regal Rose (two colors that are really great together!). On the first layer of matting I used White Craft Ink to stamp the hearts and on the second layer I used the DTP (direct to paper technique) with White Craft as well. I sponged all the edges with Chocolate Chip. The hearts are stamped with Real Red on Regal Rose, then cut out and put on dimensionals. After getting the card all put together and the ribbon put on, I decided it needed a little something extra - so I added some little clear gemstones - they add some nice bling!

I just want to say a quick Hello to my good friend, Cindy Keery! She is one of my bestest blogging buddies (you too Laura!) and she is also amazingly talented!!! Not just in her card creations - but that girl can also knit, cook and quilt like a professional! She is also becoming quite "famous" in our little blogging world for her wonderful and unique watermarks. If you don't already have one, but would like one go on over and check out her blog and click on her watermark link - she will create a special watermark just for you and will tailor it to your specifications! My new name watermark in the upper right hand corner is my newest creation from Cindy................. Thanks Cindy for all my wonderful stuff!! :)

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Sunday, February 04, 2007

Kourtney's Monogram Notecards

I have been working trying to finish up all my valentine cards and getting all my gifts together. Still have a few more things to make, but I have time. lol I am making three similar monogram notecard sets for all three of my girls - this is the first set I have made, which will belong to my middle daughter Kourtney. Not much stamping here, but I love the set anyway! I used Headline Alphabet and Label Classics for the frame around the letter - the K is stamped in Black Staz-On. The base of the notecards and the noteholder are Very Vanilla, then matted with Ruby Red and SEI Patterned Paper from Hobby Lobby. The flower in the center of the notecard holder is a chipboard cuttlebug flower up on a dimensional. I used the SU Horizontal Slot Punch on each side of the noteholder and tied on some black plaid ribbon to keep the holder closed. This set was really simple and didn't take me long at all to complete. She is gonna love these - can't wait to give them all their goodies! :) For those of you who are wondering how I made the notecard holder - check out cannontc's directions on SCS - they are easy to follow and she has an open sample. :)

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Saturday, February 03, 2007

Happy Harmony Sellabration

I finally got to stamp with my new Happy Harmony set - I have been seeing so many cute cards on SCS! For this card I used Brilliant Blue and Ballet Blue together with some Basic Black for "pop". The background is the Print Pattern background stamp - I used a ballet blue stampin' write marker to outline only the edges of the pattern, then added some white gel pen dots - makes for a really great look! I inked up the flower stamp with brilliant blue and garden green stampin' write marker the spritzed with a little bit of water before stamping - then blended the flowers a little bit with a blender pen - gives it a softer look. I then added my signature ribbon tie, some brads and of course popped the flower layer up on dimensionals. Wow what a super easy card! I better get busy, lots more creating to do! :) Happy Saturday!

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Friday, February 02, 2007

Looky, Looky what I got!
My ribbon arrived from my Ribbon Share! I was so excited when I got home yesterday and saw the priority box - I knew exactly what it was! I just loooovvveeee getting goodies in the mail! This ribbon came from a striped ribbon share that I was lucky enough to get in on - the ribbon share was put on by none other than texasjodylynn (confessions of a ribbon addict). She does ribbon shares pretty often - so you should go and check out her blog. Right now she is doing a Prima share! Those are so yummy! THANKS SO MUCH JODY! It will break my heart to have to tear off the paper and actually cut it - I am a hoarder! Now I just have to figure out how to store all this amazing ribbon! :)

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Thursday, February 01, 2007

Just a little bit of Joy!

I wouldn't have normally put brocade blue and chocolate chip together, but I had this paisley patterned paper that matched these two colors perfectly. I decided I would pair them with the polka dots and paisley set (imagine that lol). I of course used my Cuttlebug swirls embossing folder for the background and sponged a little chocolate chip across the swirls. All of the cardstock and the patterned paper were distressed with my Tim Holtz paper distresser for a little bit of a worn look. I couldn't leave out my scallop punch - I used some matching patterned paper and punched out the scallop circle then matted it with a chocolate chip circle - then used my white craft ink to stamp the flowers. Add the ribbon and brads and voila! These colors together have grown on me - I like 'em! :) It is still freezing cold here in Texas - I wish it would hurry and warm up! Me and a couple of my sweet girlfriends are stamping tomorrow night at my house - so I should have some great stuff to post this weekend! :)

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