Inkin' It Up With Kendra!: January 2007

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

A little spin on a Favorite!
This is one of my favorite layouts and I use it often - it's my "old standby". lol I needed some more valentine cards and had seen some really cute stamps that had "flower hearts" - I don't have any stamps like that so I thought I would make my own. I used the heart from the Like It a Latte set and hand-drew some stems. I used my Rose Red reinker with my blender pen and watercolored around the hearts to make them a little softer, then stamped around with hearts with one of the stamps from Itty Bitty Backgrounds. The scallop punch was sponged around the edges with Rose Red ink. Last but not least, I added some velvet and gingham ribbon and of course some self-dyed Rose Red SU! ribbon. This card was really easy to make and is great if you are having to do multiples. It is 30 degrees here in Texas, lightly snowing and sleeting - great day to be in the house stamping. :)

| 8 comments

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Happy for Polka Dots and Paisley!
I just can't get enough of this set, it is one of my absolute fav's! The Signo Gel Pen is just perfect for filling in the paisley's - really makes them pop off the page instead of disappearing into the background. I used Very Vanilla, Elegant Eggplant and Tempting Turquoise - wow what a color combination! I haven't used it in forever and thought it would look great with this set and boy was I right. I stamped Linen using Elegant Eggplant over the Paisley's - gives it lots of texture. Added some dimensionals, stickles to the flowers and LOTS of ribbon (you can't go wrong with dimensionals and ribbon). When I got home yesterday from work I had two packages awaiting me - woohoo - I love to get goodies! The first package I opened contained one of my favorite things - Cindy Ribbon! I get some of the most amazing ribbon from Starlit Studio (Cindy Lyles). She has so much to choose from and her prices and service are great. I buy from her all the time, she is top notch! My other package contained Basic Grey Blush paper from Eclectic Paperie - I got their website info. from Taylored Expressions and decided to check them out..........their prices are reasonable and their shipping - super fast! Oh and one other place you should check out is my good blogging friend Christie's website - Paper Pretties - card kits in a box delivered to your door - with the stamps included - and not just any stamps, but the adorable Stamping Bella stamps! Go and sign up for your card kit in a box today! Have a wonderful Tuesday!

| 8 comments

Monday, January 29, 2007

Just a little Cuttlebug Love!
Yes, I know I should have posted this yesterday but I was working like a maniac on an order for 3 altered lunchpail tins filled with cards and pens included! It's a big order that's for sure...........I worked fast and furious and I still don't have all the cards completed that I need. The tins and the pens will go pretty fast though. :) And to answer the question I know you are asking is "Yep, I am lovin' the bug!". I don't know how I got along without it! LOL It is soooo easy to use and really enhances your cards. I used the flower embossing folder on pretty on pink for the background, then sponged close to cocoa ink over the top. The large/small flower are cuttlebug flowers I cut out of chipboard and added basic grey blush paper. (ohhh love that stuff!). Well of course I had to use my scalloped circle punch - I needed something to layer the flower on. lol Enjoy the rest of your day and check back because I definitely have more cards to post. :)

| 13 comments

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Cuttlebug Clippies

Ever since I saw the Giant Cuttlebug Clippies by 11valerie11, I have been dying to get a cuttlebug and give them a try for myself! I finally got that chance today and here is my take on them. I used some extra patterned paper I had laying around from Hobby Lobby. I used a Stardust Gelly Roll Pen to outline the flowers - it gives them lots of sparkle, then tied some black gingham and black satin ribbon to polish them off. I am really happy with how they turned out - can't wait to get my new paper from the winter mini so I can make some to give my stamp club girls for Valentines Day. If you get a chance head on over to my good friend Cindy Keery's blog - she has some yummy blog candy she is giving away! Well, I am off to finish creating some more cards........I will post those later. :)

| 6 comments

Thursday, January 25, 2007

And the Winner is............... Susan Liles aka susiestampalot!!!!! After cutting out each and every comment, I drew one out randomly and Susan was the winner! Susan send me your snail mail addy and I will get your goodies out to you ASAP! I had 79 comments to the blog candy - WOW thank you all so much for your oh so wonderful comments about my blog and about my cards - I was pleasantly overwhelmed! I will definitely be having more blog candy in the future, so don't worry - you still have another chance to win. On another note, I cleaned house last night and finished the laundry so I could have all weekend to stamp. I will be designing some new cards as I have an order for 3 altered lunch tins with 15 cards included in each. Whoa will I be busy LOL Oh well, I wouldn't have it any other way. Check back over the weekend and see what goodies I have posted. Have a Happy Friday all my blogger friends! :)

| 1 comments

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Watermark! Thanks to Cindy Keery, a really good blogger friend of mine, I now have an amazing watermark to put on all my creations!! THANKS GIRL! She can make one for you too - she charges a very small fee to make these - I JUST LOVE MINE! Just click on her name and it will take you to her blog where she has a special section called "watermarks". Go check it out - you will be glad you did!

| 0 comments

Just a Little Joy!

Could I tell ya'll just a couple more times about how much I love Polka Dots and Paisley stampset?? lol When it arrived in my SU! starter kit in December, I was so pleasantly surprised because I had no idea I was getting it. I am a lover of paisley, so for me this set got those creative juices flowing. This card turned out better than I expected when I started working on it. I used Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink - in the picture the colors look more like Coral. The Paisley layer is up on dimensionals and I used my Signo Gel Pen to color in the Paisley's to make them "pop" a little more. I distressed the edges of the white cardstock then sponged on some chocolate chip ink. I want to take a minute to thank each and every one of you that left me a comment about the blog candy and my blog! WOW - you all are so sweet and said so many nice things about me, my blog and my creations. {blushing} Have a Happy Tuesday! :)

| 13 comments

Monday, January 22, 2007

It's Time for some Blog Candy!
Yep, that's right - I have had over 10,000 hits on my blog (WOW!). I have only had my Blog up since November and can't believe I have already had that many hits - it's amazing! Thanks to all of you who subscribe to my blog, visit me daily and leave me such super nice comments and emails! I have a very talented person working on a banner for me - It is going to be sooooo cute, can't wait for her to get it to me. :) I have had several people ask me about my distressing/sponging technique........I distress the paper then I sponge on the ink. :) Now on to the info. about the candy: Leave me a comment and let me know why you like visiting my blog and if there is anything you would like to see me touch on involving stamping or whatever else. :) On Friday morning I will draw the lucky winner!

| 77 comments

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Look, No Scallop Punch!
I opted for watercolor paper instead. lol I so love the Sassy Stems set, but haven't used it in quite some time..............it looks great watercolored. I used my re-inkers and blending pen to watercolor the flowers and vase, distressed the edges and sponged with cranberry crisp. The card base and background are both stamped with Linen background (hard to see in the photo - but it looks great IRL). I added satin ribbon to polish off the card. This was so fun and easy to make - definitely great cards for my "stash". I am creeping up on 10,000 views to my blog and will be posting some Blog Candy soon! :)

| 9 comments

Friday, January 19, 2007

Birthday Bouquet for my Card Stash!

I was looking through my "card stash" box last night and realized I didn't have much of any variety in there for quick "card emergencies"! Most of the cards were used during christmas for gifts, card tins, etc. I was on a mission to sit down and make several Birthday cards that I could grab at a moments notice and package up to give as a gift. (this was one of my New Year's Resolutions!) I knew right away I wanted to use Marigold Morning since it is one of my newly acquired colors. hmmmm what could I pair it with..............well Basic Black of course - with a little Whisper White to make it pop. I searched through all of my flower stampsets and came across Mixed Bouquet. I used craft white for the flowers on the card base and on the BB, my wonderful Tim Holtz paper distresser to distress the edges of the matting, stamped the rose image with Black Staz-On and used my Marigold Morning Reinker with a blender pen to watercolor. Polished it off with a large polkadot brad, some ribbon and YES my giga scallop punch (i sponged Marigold Morning on the edges). The sentiment is from the It's Your Birthday stampset. I am quite pleased with the way it turned out! Check back for more goodies - I will be stamping all weekend. :)

| 9 comments

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

My New Cupcake Stamp!
Isn't this just the cutest stamp? I absolutely love cupcakes (can't have 'em now 'cause I am on a diet - so this is as close as I can get lol). I have been eyeballing this stamp for a while and finally decided to buy it. This stamp is by Lockhart Stamp Co. I got this one on Ebay with a gift certificate, but you can also get this stamp and other great stamps from Ellen Hutson in her storefront. She has a ton of great stamps, her prices are great and so is the service. I used Rose Red for the base of this card (I just love that color), WW and of course Basic Black to layer with. The frame around the cupcake is a stamp from SU! Label Classics, I just stamped it and then cut it out (yes, it was time consuming lol), then matted it with a Rose Red scallop circle and dimensionals. The cupcake was colored with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol then covered with stickles for lots of sparkle! This is gonna make a great birthday card for somebody special. :)

| 10 comments

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Hi, I'm Kendra and I'm Addicted to Like It a Latte!

Yes, I have a serious problem of always wanting to reach for the Like it a Latte stampset these days!!!! lol I just can't seem to put it down, it's a definite addiction I tell you (an addiction similar to the love affair I have with my Scallop Punch!). This is a card that everyone will be making in my stamp club. I already have everything cut and ready, but I had to cancel our meeting the other afternoon due to the icy weather and had to reschedule - I was bummed. I used Regal Rose, WW and Chocolate Chip cardstock - I just love that color combo. I am feeling like giving away some Blog Candy soon.......I have been having so many sweet comments left on my cards and so many emails sent to me and of course a bunch subscribing to my blog. Thanks you girls! :)

| 8 comments

Monday, January 15, 2007

It's Cold Here!

Brrrrr! It is sooooo cold here in Texas! It has been sleeting and in the 20's the last several days so I decided to pull out my Happy Winter set...........it's brand new and never been inked! Amy Rysavy inspired me with a card she did with this set. I used linen on the background (which is hard to see) then stamped the snowflakes in craft white. The trees are stamped in handsome hunter. I didn't want to pair it with the usual red and green so I added so saffron and WW instead. YEP, I used the scallop punch again - I swear to you I can't put it down! LOL I sponged the scallop circle and the edges of the card with close to cocoa. I like the way it turned out, I think I will make a few more of these and put them back for christmas :)

| 7 comments

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Blue Delight

My Stampin' Up shipment finally came in and this lovely Ballet Blue paper was in it! I can't believe I didn't order this color sooner..........i absolutely love this shade of blue! I stamped all the flowers in black staz-on, then colored in the smaller flowers with my re-inker and a blender pen. I used craft white for the flowers on the base of the card. I popped up the layering on dimensionals and then added stickles to all the flowers. I polished off the card with my satin ribbon from hobby lobby (it's actually my new favorite ribbon - i know, contraban lol). Another simple, yet elegant card! It is sooooo cold here today and I am not leaving my stampin' room! lol so keep checking back for more new cards! :)

| 9 comments

Friday, January 12, 2007

Mini 3x3's - Love and Kisses

I made these cute little 3x3 cards to go into one of the Target Mailboxes I will be working on - hopefully this weekend. (yes, I was lucky enough to find some super sweet ladies on SCS willing to send me several of those!) These are the first 3x3 cards I have ever made and I gotta say, I like the size of them and will definitely be making more. I am still in my white cardstock mode (don't know when I am gonna get out of that lol)!!! The lip stamp is from Hobby Lobby - got it quite a while ago and forgot I had it. The heart is from the Like It A Latte set - I cut it out and it is up on dimensionals. I then sponged real red ink on the edges. We are getting some super nasty weather today and through the weekend!! The highs during the day will hover around 32 and at night will be in the teens........we are expecting ice/sleet/snow for the next several days! This is TEXAS people, 32 is pretty darn cold LOL I will be holed up in the house all weekend stamping and staying warm!

| 3 comments

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Caribbean Delight!

I am in love with the color cool caribbean, but don't use it near enough for some unknown reason! When I was in my "crankin' em out" mood this past weekend I reached for cool caribbean and came up with this sweet card. I didn't really know where I was going with it when I started creating...........it just sort of wound up this way. Since I have had it posted on my SCS Gallery I have had a ton of really, really sweet comments on it. It was yet another simple yet elegant card. Of course, I had to use my scallop punch - who can do a card without one of these? lol Apparently, not me! *hee hee* I used my inkpad and paintbrush to watercolor the flowers - then added a touch of stickles to them. The ribbon is from Hobby Lobby - some that I had in my stash! I will definitely be stamping this weekend as it is supposed to be very cold and possibly snow here this weekend - so check back! :)

| 12 comments

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Rose Red Polkadot Delight!

I decided to post something other than a valentine card today! I know you are shocked LOL This is a card that I made over the weekend that I basically just threw together, but when I got finished with it - I LOVED IT! I didn't even use any layers - yes, I am a layer queen.....I like lots and lots of layers *grin* This card was ever so simple to make, yet turned out pretty darn elegant looking. After I got the flower portion of the card finished I was looking thru my drawer of brads, bling, etc. and came across a box of big polkadot brads I bought at HL and thought that would be perfect for the center of the flower. The ribbon is black satin ribbon and is so pretty on the card IRL. I am definitely making more of these in different colors and bagging them up for gifts..............maybe valentine gifts for friends!

| 4 comments

Monday, January 08, 2007

Yep, I've Gone "Valentine" Crazy!

Well, at least I can admit it. lol I am absolutely, positively enjoying making these cards! You will probably see several more on here before I decide to move on to something else. *smirk* Like It A Latte has got to be one my most favorite sets right now - the minute I saw it in the winter mini, I knew I had to have it - and then there is my scallop punch that I can't seem to pry from my fingers! I swear I could put one of these on every single card I make! :) I made six of this particular valentine card - three with real red, three with pretty in pink - they all turned out even better than I had hoped. Adding a little layer of chocolate chip just made the card pop. The ribbon came from Hobby Lobby - you gotta love that 1/2 off ribbon by the roll they have had going on forever now - they have so many different styles to choose from! Oh and of course I can't forget the Tulip Puffy Paint for the foam - love, love working with this stuff!

| 8 comments

Sunday, January 07, 2007

LOVE Struck!

Yep, I'm still stuck in Valentine Card mode right now!! *snicker* I am getting so many made it is just crazy! I figure while I am on a roll I should just finish all of them and have them ready for when Valentine's Day gets here. I just love red and pink together - one of my fav's! This one actually came to me when I went to bed last night and I tried to remember it this morning. It was super easy. I distressed all the paper with my paper distresser, sponged the edges with chocolate chip ink, stamped hearts on the patterned paper with rose red, popped the letters up on dimensionals (love those things), added some ribbon and polished it off with a mini safety pin and heart shaped clip. It is exactly what I envisioned while I was creating it. I love it, I don't think I will want to give it away (well, I made more than one so I just might keep one for myself). Well, I must get back to my stamping, ideas are swimming around in my head!

| 2 comments

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Be My Valentine! {early}

So I went to the Target Dollar Spot today to get a few more valentine tin buckets and gel pens and it put me in the Valentine red/pink mood, so when I got home I decided to sit down and make a few valentine cards. The first set I thought about grabbing to create with was Living Large. If you don't have this set, you definitely need it! These are AWESOME for girlfriend cards!!! I think this is one I will reach for often. I broke out my Watercolor Paper, Prismacolor Pencils and my Gamsol to watercolor the heart and the dress. I used the heart from the Like It a Latte set (another great one) to stamp the bottom portion of the card - i love the heart from that set. I polished the card off with satin ribbon from hobby lobby (10yds for 50cents each - a bargain!). I think the card turned out so cute and definitely what I had envisioned when I was working on it. Well, I am back off to do some 3x3 cards and work on my project card for my stamping club. :)

| 4 comments

Friday, January 05, 2007

Friday Delight!

Happy Friday everybody! Friday is my favorite day of the week (last day of the work week lol)!! I have been working on a lunchtin for a friend of mine and needed a few extra cards to put inside and it just so happened that my Delight in Life stampset had just arrived the day before..............sooooo of course I needed to break it in. Rose Red is my newest color to arrive so I decided to pair it up with Regal Rose and Elegant Eggplant - the colors together IRL are just gorgeous! I watercolored all the flowers using a tiny paintbrush and my ink pads, then cut them out and put them on dimensionals. I then added stickles to the middle of all the flowers for that little touch of bling that I like so much - this photo shows absolutely no sparkle whatsoever! uggh - those darn digital cameras! I plan on getting some good stamping time in this weekend since there are no plans now that the holidays are gone. I am thinking I might start working on some valentine's projects. Have a great Friday! :)

| 2 comments

Thursday, January 04, 2007

A Little Mixed Bouquet Happiness!

I finally got the Mixed Bouquet stampset I have been wanting for quite some time. I just love the flower sets, you can never have too many of those IMO. For this card I decided to go with the whisper white cardstock base (i know, i have been stuck on this lately.........I just love how it looks). Cool Caribbean and Real Red were screaming out at me, so that's what I went with. I stamped the roses in versamark and Real Red then used irridescent ice EP on them - they look beautiful! I then sponged some Real Red onto the flowers. For the small flowers out to the side I stamped them in versamark and then used irridescent ice EP on them as well - they are sooooo shimmery! The background flowers are stamped in Cool Caribbean, stamped off first then stamped on the cardstock. Can I just say how much I love the SU! ticket punch? Well, I do - I try not to use it on everything, but it's almost impossible! LOL I added a few brads, some dimensionals and ribbon - VOILA! I am glad I made a few of these, because this card is actually for a friend! I hope you all are having a great day - the weekend is almost upon us! woohoo! More stamping!

| 3 comments

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

The UPS Man Came to My House Today......

and look what he brought! I ordered a couple of stamp sets (Living Large and Label Classics) along with some cardstock and they finally all arrived today! I have been eyeing Living Large for a while - I think this set is so perfect for cards for your girlfriends! I decided to go with some bold colors and real red and tempting turquoise definitely fit the bill. I have been obsessed lately with using white cardstock for my base - I just love it - I think it adds a little somethin', somethin' LOL I am so glad tomorrow is Wednesday - halfway through the work week! Today was definitely a Monday even though it was Tuesday..........work was a madhouse, I was glad when 5:00 rolled around. Tomorrow is back to school for my girls, they aren't real crazy about it - it is probably gonna take an act of congress just to get them up in the morning b/c they have been staying up most of the night and sleeping most of the day (all of you with teenagers know what I am talking about lol). Well, I better get to sleep myself, I have to go to work tomorrow to support my addiction. :)

P.S. A real sweetie on SCS made me really happy today - Lyndie (also her SCS name) graciously offered to sell me some of her little $1 mailboxes from the Target Dollar Spot - she had a lot of extras. Our Target here does not have any of these adorable mailboxes (boohoo). Anyway, I sent her the money this evening and she is shipping them to me - i'm so excited! THANK YOU LYNDIE!!!!

| 2 comments

Monday, January 01, 2007

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a great weekend, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day! I had a great New Year's Eve - I went over to a friend's house last night and we stamped/scrapbooked until about 3:00 this morning. I got several cards made and even got my cards finished for my stamp club. The cards above are some that I have been working on - these were really simple, but I think they turned out pretty elegant. Cameo Coral and So Saffron are some really great colors to pair with black. I am still working on an overdue card tin.........well, I am working on the cards that go into the card tin lol I used most all of my card stash for christmas so I am working on getting my cards built back up. I cleaned my stamp space a few days ago, which is really helping me get more stamping done. Who would have thought organization would help with that? lol I have more cards to post and will be doing that over the course of the next few days. Check Back :)

| 5 comments