The Card Kitchen Blog

Awesome new blog!

2012-01-27T10:03:00.000-08:00

After attending the Stampin Up Leadership convention in San Antonio last week, I decided I needed a change. We learned all about the company's commitment to change and their eagerness to support us demonstrators as we do business "OUR WAY!"

"MY WAY" of doing business is focusing on my customers, like you! I always enjoy sharing my creativity with others during a class or a workshop, so why not share it online too?

I'm so excited to announce my newly created blog called "Paper Playdates!" I decided on that name because, well, let's face it.... whenever you stamp don't you feel like you're playing? And whenever I stamp with friends or my kids, or even when I'm teaching a stamp class or holding a workshop with my customers, it FEELS like a playdate!

So this year I made a resolution to bring all of YOU to my playdates so that you can join in on the fun. I am even going to try my hand at creating videos and tutorials to share and hopefully you will have some fun learning new techniques. Who knows, maybe you will be inspired to have your friends over for a Paper Playdate too!

Check out my new Paper Playdates blog header:

Pretty Stinkin' cute, huh? And I made it using My Digital Studio! I plan to get to know this product very well over the next few weeks so hopefully I can share ideas with you:)

I have set aside time this weekend to fill the blog with pictures of what I've done in the past 6 months... I know, can you believe I haven't blogged since August???? But that's because I've been so busy making cards and other paper craft items.... I have had a lot of Paper Playdates!!!

Some other exciting news I wanted to share is that my husband is building an app for me and my Paper Playdates website! Pretty soon you will be able to receive my newsletter, get blog updates, participate in challenges and contests, upload your own creations to my gallery, and have techniques and tutorials delivered right to your mobile device!

HOW COOL IS THAT!!!

The app will be FREE of course (because I love to get free stuff, don't you?!) and you can be the first to know about it if you are a member of my new blog "Paper Playdates"

so be sure to CLICK HERE and become a member!

Thanks for stopping by today!

FREE Designer Series Paper

2011-08-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite promotions that Stampin Up offers. It's so easy to create beautifully coordinated cards when you use our Designer Series Paper! Right now you can order three packages ($10.95 value), and get one for free. Now is the time to stock up, or get those DSP's you need to make your Christmas cards.

We have some beautiful new DSP's this year. Don't forget to order through my online store

I am getting ready to place a "pre-order" from the new holiday mini catalog and I am super excited! It turns out I want everything, scratch that..... NEED everything!!! The catalog doesn't start until September 1st, but one of the perks of being a demonstrator is getting to "pre-order" before everyone else! This gives us an opportunity to test out the new product and make samples for our workshops. During the month of July I got to welcome 11 new demonstrators to my fabulous team of stampers so now they get to have a sneak peak at the new product as well! Please join me in OFFICIALLY welcoming the following demonstrators:
Brian B.
Chris R.
Crissia H.
Christina S.
Laura P.
Jen M.
Porsia T.
Juliet M.
Amanda S.
Michelle M.
Sandra C.

It's not too late to join my team.... if you're interested, email me and I'll explain how you can get started with little to no money out of pocket!

Thanks for stopping by today!

More Christmas in July!

2011-07-27T10:47:00.000-07:00

I am so in love with all the new Christmas items in the holiday mini catalog! I WISH I could show you the actual product, but you will have to wait just a little bit longer:) For now, I will show you some of the holiday projects that were on display at convention....

First, some handmade ornaments:

And handmade garland:

And finally, a beautiful handmade tag:

Don't forget about the $99 Starter Kit promo going on til the end of month! That's right, if you've ever thought about becoming a Stampin Up demonstrator NOW IS THE TIME! When I signed up over 3 years ago I just wanted to be able to get all my stamping supplies at a discount (LOVE that 20% off!!!) But I got so much more than that.... free stamp sets, new friends, an awesome team, and more! I'm confident that you would like all the benefits of being a demonstrator too, and I want to give you a $100 shopping spree as a thank you for joining my team! Just imagine all the new holiday items you could get from the new mini catalog! Be sure to sign up by the end of the month! It's super easy!!! Just click here or on the Stampin Up logo in my side bar and you will be directed to my Stampin Up website! From there, just click on "Join the Fun" and go through the steps of signing up. When you get to the "getting started" page it will mention the kit price of $175, DON'T BE ALARMED... when you click on "continue" a menu will pop up and that is where you select the $99 starter kit option.

If you want to try it, but don't want to spend the $99, I'll pay for your kit instead of giving you the $100 shopping spree! YES, I REALLY AM THAT CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!

Send me an email if you have ANY questions. My team is growing and I would LOVE to have you be a part of it! (from anywhere in the United States.... Thanks Crissia in Texas!)

Have a wonderful day!

More Christmas in July

2011-07-19T10:38:00.000-07:00

So I'm still sort of on a high from Convention but I promised you Christmas cards in July and July is almost over. I know, It's hard to believe isn't it? Well, I just had to share with you some of the cards that were on display at convention. These cards were made using stamp sets out of the new Holiday Mini Catalog. Once you see them I know you'll want to see the whole set, but unfortunately I can't show the actual product:( Sorry, but it's Stampin Up's policy.

Here is the first card:

Too cute, right? The sentiment is from "Hand Penned Holidays" and the Stockings were stamped using "Stitched Stockings" and then PUNCHED (yes, you read that right, punched) with the new Stocking Builder Punch. I'm way super excited about this new punch... the ideas are just spinning in my head!!!

Here's the next totally cute card:

This set is called "Forest Festivities." It has lots of cute little critters and really lends itself to the watercoloring technique.

And the last one for today:

I think I might be MOST excited about this new set called "Bright Hopes!" It also includes images of a snowflake, wreath, a decorative element and two sentiments. BUT, the BEST part is that it matches our brand new Personalized Name Stamp!!! So now I can be totally coordinated with my Christmas cards this year! I plan on getting the "Bright Hopes" set and also getting the Personalized Name Stamp with our address.... how fancy will I be?!!!

Well, I hope you enjoyed today's "Christmas in July" cards and I hope you come back to see more!
Leave a comment and let me know which one is your favorite!

Thanks for visiting!

More Convention

2011-07-16T22:02:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is a picture of Artisan Award Winner Heidi King and her beautiful display:

Check out these close ups of the detail in her work:

Isn't she amazing? I am so lucky to be in her group! Last night she went to a special dinner with Shelli (the founder of Stampin up) & all the other Artisan Award Winners. A perk of being in Heidi's group is that we got to see all the incredible projects she swapped with them:) I am sure she will post pictures on her blog so be sure to check it out!

I'm still in Utah and I don't know what it is but the connection at this hotel is super slow. Perhaps if it were better I would post more of Heidi's projects. But, it's late and I've got to get some sleep... we are going shopping tomorrow before we head to the airport. I WISH I could tell you we were going "shopping" shopping, like for clothes or shoes or something fun like that, but no. We have to go shopping for additional suitcases!!! We got so much free stuff it's ridiculous! I am looking forward to getting home and playing with all my new stamp sets... especially the extra one I got from the Prize Patrol! It's a Christmas set that isn't even available yet! It's Stampin Up's policy that we can't post pictures of products before they are released, so I can't show you what I got. But, I CAN show photos of any projects I make using the set. Hopefully that will be soon as I plan on making more cards for "Christmas in July" when I get home:)

Thanks for stopping by today!

2011 Convention Fun Day One!

2011-07-15T00:48:00.000-07:00

Well, it's not ACTUALLY day one..... the convention kicked off with a party Wednesday night, but this was day one of general sessions and breakout classes. The real day one was a little stressful. First off I hadn't finished all my swaps and stayed up all night trying! Staying up all night wasn't too big of a deal though because the plan was to leave the house at 3:30 am to get to the airport in time. It is my opinion that if you need to leave the house at 3:30, you would probably be getting up at 2:30 and if you have to wake up at 2:30 then you may as well stay up all night! Besides, I still had those darn swaps to finish! But I felt really good because at least I got everything stamped and cut out so all I had to do was assemble and surely I could do that on the plane, right?
WRONG! even with my nose to the grindstone I didn't get them finished! But have no fear because I'm traveling with the "Crazy Stamping Ladies" team. Maureen, Heidi, Julie, Maria & Christel.... you guys are lifesavers, thanks for all your help finishing my swaps! I managed to get them done with an hour to spare! The swap was a lot of fun and I met some really wonderful demonstrators from all over the US. Saturday the Crazy Stamping Ladies are getting together to do a shoebox swap of our own and also to take pictures of the swaps we have all received during the convention. After that I will post pictures of my favorites!

But for now, here are a few pictures of the Crazy Stamping Ladies having fun so far at Convention this year:

All the first time attendees got to walk across the stage and here's Christel:

Anyone who recruited also got to walk, and here's Heidi, Maureen, Julie and Maria:

Look how cute Heidi and her mom Maureen are:

This was at awards night. Way to go Heidi.... you so deserve to be an Artisan Award Winner!

Here is Heidi on Main Stage with the other winners.... doesn't she look great up there?!!!

Tomorrow I will get a picture of Heidi's display so you can see her winning entry.

Lastly, a photo of the gifts I made (in the hotel room) for my convention buddies:

Maybe my new nickname should be "last minute girl!"

I can't wait to share more convention highlights with you, but for now I'll say good-bye. It's late and I need my beauty sleep!

Dazzling Dasher

2011-07-06T19:13:00.000-07:00

I am so glad "Dasher" got to stick around for another catalog year... he is one of my most favorite single stamps! I'm calling him "Dazzling Dasher" because as you can tell by the photo I took a glitter pen to his antlers.....

I hope you like this first installment of my Christmas in July card posts!

Here's what I used:
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler
Stamp sets: Dasher, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Cherry cobbler
Ribbon: Victoria 5/8"
Other: Retired DSP, Word Window Punch, Jewelry Tag Punch, Glitter pen (not from Stampin Up)

If you would like to purchase the supplies to make this card, please visit my Stampin Up site HERE and then clicking on the "shop now" button

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check back tomorrow for another Christmas card post!

Happy Stamping!

"Almost" Christmas in July...

2011-07-04T10:42:00.000-07:00

So I am getting ready to start posting this year's cards for my "Christmas In July" but before I do I wanted to get your opinion... I was thinking about using this photo of my kids for my Christmas card this year, what do you think?

"FELIZ NAVIDAD!"

We just returned from our family vacation in Play Del Carmen, Mexico and this picture shows the kids having fun playing dress up in one of the gift shops!

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the REAL start of my "Christmas in July!"

Thanks for stopping by:)

It's here! It's here! Finally, It's here!

2011-07-01T21:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, the new catalog is finally here and I am just a little excited. Okay, that's a lie..... I'm SUPER DUPER excited! I received it a while ago, but couldn't order any of the new products until today. I didn't go too crazy though. Just a couple packs of the new Designer Series Paper, a spool or two of the new ribbons, a few single stamps, a couple of new birthday stamp sets, a new sizzix die, a new punch, some new builder wheels, a small assortment of Christmas stamps and accessories..... okay, so maybe I went a little crazier than I thought! I HAD to do it. I am getting set up for this years "Christmas in July" blog posting event AND I need to make my swaps for convention.

Speaking of this year's "Christmas in July," I am planning the first post for Tuesday, July 5th, so stay tuned.....

I'm not sure how many samples I will have time to make but I am hoping for a dozen!

Hey, If you want to check out all the new product, you can do so by clicking on the picture of the catalog to the left (in my sidebar)

Happy 4th of July everyone!

St. Patty's Day Birthday

2011-03-16T08:39:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been about a month so I guess that means it's time for another post! That seems to be my MO doesn't it? I mean to post more often, but life with three kids and a husband who works out of state keeps me busy doing lots of other things! That's why I LOVE it when someone asks me to create a special card for them..... it's an excuse to put things on hold and stamp! My friend Cathy has a daughter in my son's class and since her birthday is near St. Patrick's day she asked me to come up with a themed birthday card for her. Let me know what you think:

This first one is from a retired SU set called "Pinch Proof." It was a bit tricky because I had to color on the stamp itself as I wanted the leprechaun to have a red beard and a green suit. I don't know where the shamrock paper is from... I've probably had it for years. My kids are involved in Irish dancing and so whenever I see Irish themed scrapbook paper I buy it!

This next one is made using the new SU cupcake punch.... I LOVE this punch and it makes cards come together super quick!

This last one is my favorite. But you probably guessed that when you saw it was from the SU "Greeting Card Kids" stamp set, huh?! (remember how many Christmas cards I made with this set!) I cut a slit by her hand, made a little four leaf clover and slid it under the slit to hide heart... pretty clever don't you think?

Hopefully it won't be another month before I post again, but I make no promises. Especially this week when my kids have several Irish dance performances. If I can remember I'll try to post a picture of them... they look fabulous all decked out in their costumes!

Until next time.....

Happy Stamping!

Classroom Treats & A GIANT mess!

2011-02-15T09:58:00.000-08:00

Before I show you the picture of the classroom treats my kids made, I wanted to show you a picture of the one MY friend made:

It turned out to be my favorite! This one came from my friend Michelle. She makes beautiful beaded jewelry. She called me one day and asked if she could borrow a fish stamp to make tags for the treats she was making for her son's class. I said "sure! come on over" and she did. But there was one small problem..... out of the many 1000's of stamps I have, I didn't have one single fish stamp! But then I remembered seeing the ornament punch used to make a fish so I grabbed that off my wall and brought it to her. I didn't have a sample to show her and I had never made one, but for Michelle I knew it wouldn't be a problem. When I handed her the punch she saw the fish right away and turned it sideways! Then she went to town and created the most adorable Valentine tag.... not at all "girly" and just perfect for her son's class! She brought me one of the finished treats and lucky for you I remembered to take a picture of it before my son ate it! In case you're wondering.... it's a chocolate covered Oreo... and YES, she piped on the seaweed and added the edible pearl bubbles! See... I told you she was creative!!!

Now, here is a picture of the Valentines that my kids made:

Their friends came over to work on Valentines too. It never ceases to amaze me how creative kids can get when you let them have the freedom to experiment! All I did was make a sample or two so they could have a little inspiration. I put out different colored cardstock, extra scrapbook paper, scraps of this 'n that, some glitter (gotta have glitter), a few assorted punches, glue, glue dots, tape, scissors, ribbon, pearls, etc. Well, let's be honest here.... I pretty much threw everything but the kitchen sink at those poor kids!!! They barely had enough room to work! Check out this mess:

Thanks for stopping by today!
~Theresa

LOVE banner

2011-02-14T14:20:00.001-08:00

Well, Valentine's day is finally here and it's time to show you what we made at stamp club earlier this month....

It's not the greatest picture, I know, but can you see how incredibly cute it is? I LOVE Valentine's day! Not for the romance or chocolate or even presents! Nope, I love it for it's "Pinkness" (Is that a word?) Well you know what I mean. I love pink. It's the greatest color in the universe! I wouldn't dare post a picture of me right now (I just came from the gym) but even my workout gear has pink in it. It's a t-shirt my husband bought me for Christmas from Victoria's Secret. (a store I love not for the bras and panties... even though they are quite nice... but for the "pinkness" of it!) Anyway, on this particular t-shirt there is a giant heart made of silver sequins! You can see me coming from a mile away! But I digress... back to the Love Banner!

I let the girls choose whatever backround papers they wanted and all sorts of little embellishments were set out so they could play with them and make their banners unique! In these photos you can see the details that finish it off so nicely:

Are you ooohhhing and aawwwwing over that red glitter paper? It's brand new from Stampin Up! I have purchased three packs already! Now only if they made it in pink!!! To get your hands on some, just head over to my Stampin Up website by clicking on the logo in my side bar.

The kids worked on Valentines for their classmates over the weekend. I'll post pictures of what they did tomorrow. Until then, have a "Pinkalicious" day!

~Theresa

Teacher Appreciation Day!

2011-02-03T17:47:00.000-08:00

Today was "Teacher Appreciation Day" at my kids' school and each student was asked to write a note of appreciation to their teacher. Now I don't know about you, but I don't really have a whole lot of teacher themed stamps in my collection. However, I do have this super cute "Kid" themed stamp set that I got from Stampin Up in 1999!!! I have used this set MANY times and I still love it! Here are a few of the cards I made:

Tomorrow I will begin posting the Valentine cards we made at my February stamp club get together. But for now I've got to go and prep about 100 valentines... my kids are out early tomorrow and I promised them they could stamp their classroom valentines as soon as they get home! YIKES! What was I thinking???

Thanks for stopping by today!

Blogger Award.... for moi?????

2011-01-31T22:29:00.000-08:00

A great big thank you to the leader of our group of Stampin Up demonstrators..."The Crazy Stamping Ladies"..... Maureen! Can you believe she sent me a blogger award? Now I really have to live up to it and start posting more often! So in order to accept the award I have to tell 8 random things about myself....

1. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for almost 19 years.
2. I have 3 fantastic kids who love stamping as much as I do!
3. I LOVE to bake and HATE to cook.
4. I listen to country music & always sing to the radio even if I don't really know the words.
5. I love reality TV... especially The Amazing Race, American Idol & So You Think You Can Dance.
6. I eat popcorn nearly every single day.
7. I decided to try Irish dancing as an adult, fell in love with it and even did a few competitions before I tore my plantar facia (for the second time) and ended up quitting.
8. If I could only have one candy for the rest of my life it would have to be plain M&M's.

So there you have it... some random info about me!

And now I would like to nominate my dear friend Christy, owner of "1 Creative Bug" to receive the Stylish Blogger Award! Be sure to check her out here. She is an amazing scrapbooker with tons of great ideas!

And since I now have to live up to an award, I will definitely be posting more often. In fact, here is one of the cards we made at my monthly stamp club meeting:

This card uses the new "Take A Spin" stamp set from the Occasions Mini Catalog. Isn't it fun?
I'm having the group over again tomorrow for the Feb. meeting.... be sure to check back if you want to see what we make!

Happy Stamping!

Christmas Card No. 7 "Another Greeting Card Kid!"

2010-12-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

Can you believe Christmas is only a week away? Are you ready for it? I can't wait! I only have a few more gifts to get and then I get to spend next week baking and just enjoying time with my kids and my husband! He's working from home and it will be so nice to have him around. We plan on going Christmas caroling, decorating gingerbread houses, delivering our cookie platters to friends and neighbors, playing games, and planning the festivities for the company that's coming to spend Christmas day at our house! It's also my oldest Daughter's birthday on December 25th so we make an extra effort to plan special birthday activities with her in mind!

Here's a quick look at another card I made using the "Greeting Card Kids" stamp set:

Blue and red aren't colors I normally use together (Unless it's patriotic), but in this case I think the color palette lends itself to the whimsy of this set. The silver ruffle ribbon is a great addition too. I can't remember where I got it..... but I can tell you that I've had it in my craft room since before I had kids so it's at least 14 years old.... probably closer to 20! Anyway, I hope you enjoy today's card.

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Card No. 6 "JOY"

2010-12-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a very simple card to make and mass produce. Start by stamping the letters "J," "O," and "Y" all over a piece of cardstock. Then punch out with desired size circle punch. Go one size larger and punch out a bunch of circles in desired color for backing. Pick some fun and festive Designer Series Paper (I used a retired one from Stampin Up!) Add a scalloped edge piece, some ribbon and you're done!

See.... easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Sorry for the short post today... my kids are out at noon and I have lots to do before I go to pick them up!

Have a great weekend!

Vellum Tealight Tree

2010-12-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

Earlier this month Maureen held a holiday party for her entire downline. It was so much fun and in addition to the great food and drink, we exchanged gifts to reveal our secret stamping sisters and did a "make & take." This is what we made:

There was a cone shaped template that we traced onto vellum and then embossed with gold swirls. After assembling the tree we got to embellish our trees with pearls and attach a star at the top. The base is a small box with a hole in the center that holds the battery operated tealight.

Wouln't it be great if there was a cone shaped sizzix die? It sure would save time not having to trace and cut. Well...... guess what???? THERE IS SUCH A DIE! And it will be available starting January 4th in the new Stampin Up! Mini Catalog... "Occasions"

As a demonstrator I get to order items before they become available to the general public (one of the MANY benefits of being a Stampin Up! demonstrator!) So of course I ordered that die right away, and let me just say I am LOVING it! The first project I'm doing is 80 Christmas tree candy holders. All three of my kids are Irish dancers and every year the teacher holds a party in her garage for all the students. It is the highlight of the year... the kids pick "Secret Santas" in advance and then bring a gift. They also have to bring a boxed food item that is collected and then given to our local food bank. All the parents sign up to bring something and every year my friend and I bring the candy cups. A few years ago we decided to kick it up a notch and do something different. So instead of buying plastic cups and filling them with candy, we made three tiered snowmen and put different types of candy in each tier. There are more dancers going this year so we had to do something a little easier... "Cone Shaped Sizzix Die to the rescue!!!" As soon as we get them made I will post pictures so be sure to check back!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Christmas Card No. 5 "Come to Bethlehem"

2010-12-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

I really love silhouette images. Not only are they super easy to stamp, but they look so classy and elegant too! I was very excited to add this set to my collection this year. I knew it would make a beautiful Christmas card, but I had a really hard time trying to come up with something. After several attempts (and too much wasted cardstock) I decided to ditch the traditional red and green color scheme and look what I came up with....

See! Who says red and green are the only Christmas colors?!!
After making a dozen or so sample cards with red and green colors, images of Santa, reindeer and snowmen, glitter and ribbon embellishments..... I asked my 8 year old son which one he liked best. Well, this is the one he picked! Hope you like it as much as we do!

Happy stamping!

Christmas Card No. 4 "Peace on Earth"

2010-12-14T12:16:00.001-08:00

So here is card number 4. My friend Juliet asked me to make her Christmas cards this year and when I came across this card I knew she would like it. She LOVES the look of the embossed background! I completely cased this card from Laurie Zoellmer's blog. The only thing different is the sentiment (even though it is from the same set!)

All supplies from Stampin Up unless otherwise noted:
Stamp Set- "Peaceful Season" Hostess Set from Holiday Mini Catalog
Inks- Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Basic Black
Cardstock- Whisper White, Crumb Cake
Misc.- Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz (LOVE THIS SUFF!!!)

Don't forget... you can ONLY order products from the Holiday Mini until January 3! There are so many great sets this year I think I ordered almost all of them! If you'd like to order any of the items listed above just
CLICK HERE and you'll be directed to my Stampin Up! Website.

Thanks for stopping by today. Come back soon to see more Christmas cards and also some great ideas for Holiday Treat Holders!

Happy Stamping!

Christmas Card No.3

2010-12-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post today. I wanted to share another card I made with the Christmas Collage background stamp. I love the simplicity of monochromatic cards.... What do you think of this one? It's pretty flat and would be easy to mail since it is not heavily embellished!

Sorry this post is so short today... Busy day... lots to do! I'll be back soon with another Christmas card.

Happy stamping!

Christmas Card No. 2

2010-12-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks for stopping by again! Here is the second card I made using the awesome background stamp "Christmas Collage" from Stampin Up! I went a little more vintage this time around adding one of the images from the "Greeting Card Kids" stamp set. Did I tell you how MUCH I love that set? I think I might even be starting to enjoy water coloring!!! To get the vintage look I started with Very Vanilla cardstock. (Whisper White seemed too bright) I knew the black ink would be too harsh so I went for the Early Espresso which looks great on the Very Vanilla by the way! I sponged the edges with early espresso and also used the color spritzer tool to make it look a little more aged. After everything was colored in, I took a white gel pen to the hat, scarf and coat on the little girl. It helps it to stand out, don't you think? Anyway, This was the card we made at my monthly stamp club meeting. The ladies in my club really liked it and I hope you do too!

Stampin Up Supplies:
Stamp Sets- Christmas Collage, Greeting Card Kids, Bells & Boughs
Cardstock- Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler
Ink- Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Pink Pirouette
Other- Blush Blossom and Early Espresso Stampin Write Markers, White gel pen, Gold Waffle Paper, color spritzer tool

If you want to see more samples with these sets come back to my blog in a few days... Or better yet, receive updates by email automatically! You can become a subscriber by clicking the link in the sidebar of my blog! I have two more samples with these sets, plus a few other Christmas cards to share as well as some Christmas projects!

Happy Stamping!

Cutie Patootie!

2010-12-07T08:00:00.001-08:00

Isn't she adorable? I got the "Greeting Card Kids" Stamp set a long time ago and colored this cute little witch just to test it out. I set it aside for several weeks and then right before Halloween I pulled it out and made this card. I'm not a big fan of water coloring but I do LOVE the way it looks! Maybe these will be the stamps to change my mind.... wait til you see the rest of the set. There is an image for Christmas, one for Valentine's Day and more! Last week I decided to try my hand at water coloring again and made a few different Christmas cards using this set. I'll be posting those ones soon so come back and visit my blog again!

Happy Stamping!

Christmas Card No.1

2010-12-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

Here is the first Christmas card I want to share with you. It came together lickety split! I CASE'd it right out of the Holiday Mini Catalog from Stampin Up! The thing I love the most about our catalogs is that there are a ton of ideas and inspiration.

The Christmas Collage background stamp is stamped on a Crumb Cake base with Soft Suede ink. I tore a piece of Riding Hood Red CS, added a piece of striped grosgrain ribbon, punched some various snowflakes, added some pearls and a rhinestone brad, some die cut numbers and voila!

Hope you like it!
Check back soon for another card made with this awesome background stamp!

Introducing.... Gidget!

2010-12-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know I haven't blogged in forever... GUILTY! But I have a very good reason. Meet Gidget:

Isn't she just so adorable? In June we said goodbye to our beloved Maggie... a 16 year old Queensland Heeler beauty! My husband got her for me for Valentines day right after we bought our first house and I told him I wanted to have a baby! Maggie was the best dog in the world! She never had any health issues, she was super well mannered and got along with everyone... kids, dogs, you name it! She was a rescue dog who loved life. Although I never thought we would find another dog as great as she was, Gidget managed to work her way into our hearts immediately. She too is a rescue dog. There is something about those rescue dogs.. I think they know somethings up when they are placed in a shelter. When they get adopted I think they must sense that they are being "saved" and they are just so thankful... they are the best dogs! There are so many dogs out there looking for a forever home.... if you are thinking about getting a pet, please consider a shelter or rescue dog... they will love you to pieces!

Here's a few more Gidget pics:

She is a funny sleeper. She starts out all snuggled up and curled into a ball. then after a few minutes she ends up like this:

And here she is doing homework with the kids:

We might try to do a funny Christmas photo this year if we can get her to cooperate... I'll keep you posted on that one!

And now back to stamping... I've uploaded all the photos of the Christmas cards I've made this year and they are set to post over the next few days so be sure you check back soon. And don't forget you can automatically receive updates if you subscribe to my blog. Just click "subscribe" in the sidebar!

Have a great weekend!

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?

2010-12-03T16:21:00.000-08:00

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS!

So my daughter was invited to her friend's 12th birthday and I heard she still loves Spongebob (of course, who wouldn't?) so I decided to make her a special card. My son just happened to be wearing his Spongebob t-shirt to bed so as I was putting this card together I kept calling him into my craft room so I could have another look. Poor guy... after the umpteenth time of climbing the stairs he finally took his shirt off and said "here!" as he tossed it to me! (Or was he throwing it at me???) Anyway, here it is:

Happy Stamping!

New Blog Layout!

2010-10-13T17:53:00.000-07:00

So I was thinking I will change up the blog a bit. SOMEONE (and I won't mention any names...) said there was too much pink! Can you believe it? What an absurd statement... "too much pink." My favorite color is pink so I personally don't think there is such a thing as too much pink! Anyway, I hope you like the new layout!

I'm almost ready to post those Christmas cards I've been telling you about. It's looking like I will have some free time to post this weekend so be sure to check back then.

In the meantime.... Happy Stamping!

2010-10-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know I said Holiday cards were coming soon..... and they are. I just wanted to show you this adorable witch hat that we made at my friend Heidi's last week.

And check out the inside:

Too cool, right?!
She is so talented! To see more of Heidi's wonderful projects you can visit her blog by clicking on the "Stampin King" blog link in my sidebar!

Happy Stamping!

Spooky Halloween Card

2010-10-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm back with the second project from my Monthly Hostess Club! This card was very easy to make and came together quickly.
Isn't the moon cool? To achieve that look I punched a circle out of a post-it and stuck it over my embossed stamped image. Then I sponged different layers of ink around it until I was happy with the way it looked. Let me know what you think!

All Supplies from Stampin Up:
Stamp Set- House of Haunts
Cardstock - Basic Gray, Basic Black, So Saffron
Ink - Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black
Misc. - Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, VersaMark Pad, Raven Lace Trim, Stampin' Dimensionals

If you live in the Conejo Valley and would like to join our monthly stamping club, send me an email and I'll let you in on all the details! Every member gets a FREE Stampin Up Catalog Idea Book. When it's your turn to host you will receive all the benefits that month, Including a FREE level 1 Hostess stamp set, a minimum of $15 in FREE Stampin Up product and a special gift from me! We meet once a month on a Wednesday morning at 10:30. You can also become a "Virtual" member! Interested??? Send me an email to learn more!

Right now I'm working on a basket of Holiday cards for the auction at my daughter's school so I am going to start posting some Christmas cards. Make sure you subscribe to my blog so you don't miss out! I hope to bring you lots of ideas and inspiration this holiday season!

Happy Stamping!

Monthly Hostess Club Begins!!!

2010-10-06T17:41:00.000-07:00

Boy was I anxious to get this club started. A few months ago my friends were asking me to start a daytime stamping club. So after putting together all the details last month we finally got started. I have been a participant in monthly stamping clubs for a few years now but I have never RUN one! We are a very small group but we had a lot of fun creating two Halloween projects. The first one is this "fangtastic" treat box I CASE'd from fellow demonstrator Angie Kennedy Juda. To watch her video tutorial on how to make this box click here.

And here is the side view:

A few things I LOVE about this little treat box.... first is the sparkly bat! I have been putting him on almost all my cards and Halloween projects this year. You will fall in love with our Smooch Spritz after just one use. All you do is shake & spray! Voila! You can turn any paper into sparkly awesomeness! Second is that way cool spider web raised background. You'll be seeing a lot of that in my Halloween projects too! It's not a specialty paper, it's just a piece of Basic Black cardstock run through the Big Shot with the new Spider Web Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.... Voila! (wow, I'm French now?) Another easy way to kick your projects up a notch!

Stampin Up Supplies used for this project:
Stamp Sets - Fang-Tastic
Cardstock - Whisper White, Roch Razzleberry, Basic Black, Certainly Celery
Ink - Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, Certainly Celery
Ribbon - Rich Razzleberry 1/4" Grossgrain, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta
Misc. - Spider Wed Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 1-3/4" scallop circle Punch, 1-3/8" circle punch, Bitty Bat Large punch, 1/16" circle handheld punch, Stampin Dimensionals, Blender Pens, Silver Foil Smooch Spritz
Non-SU Supplies: 2" scallop circle punch, embroidery floss

We also made a spooky Halloween card. Wanna see it? I'll show it to you when you tune in tomorrow!

Happy Stamping Everyone!

Don't you just LOVE a good bargain?

2010-10-05T12:45:00.000-07:00

I really do pride myself on being a fantastic bargain shopper and I rarely pay full price for anything. In fact, that's the main reason I became a Stampin Up demonstrator..... so I could get all my stamping supplies at a discount! Well, If you like bargains like I do then you'll want to check out the clearance rack on my Stampin Up website. Here you will find a ton of bargains with discounts up to 80% off! But you better hurry, because when they're gone..... they're GONE!

When you click on this link you will be directed to The Card Kitchen Pantry Stampin Up website. From there just click on "products" at the top of the page then "shop now"

Have a great day & Happy Shopping!

Monster Birthday

2010-09-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

Wow! It really has been forever since I've posted anything. Hopefully you will enjoy this Birthday card I made for my Husband's Goddaughter who has a birthday right before Halloween.

All supplies are Stampin Up! (except the googly eyes)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red, Pacific Point, Old Olive, retired DSP
Ink: Basic Black
Stamp Sets: "Make a Monster", "Look Who's Turning"
Real Red grossgrain ribbon
Various circle punches to make the "8"

I made some other cards over the weekend too. I'll try to post them in the next few days. In the meantime... Thanks for stopping by & Happy Stamping!

Convention Fever!

2010-07-27T14:28:00.000-07:00

Yep! I caught it!
Pre-Convention I considered myself a "hobby demonstrator"... not putting too much thought into it. In fact, the ONLY reason I even went to convention was to get away from real life and just enjoy some stamping fun with a few of my fellow Crazy Stamping Ladies (that's the name of our group of Stampin Up Demonstrators) Well, one of the classes was on workshops and sharing what we love. I absolutely LOVE stamping... the whole point of signing up to be a demonstrator was so that I could get my fun stamping product at a discount. I've never had a workshop before but I HAVE done competitions before... especially when there were prizes involved! So at this workshop class, they announced an awesome new hostess promotion AND put forth a little competition. SO I sat for a few minutes browsing through the new catalog but I just couldn't stand it... I love competition! So I started making phone calls and sending text messages to a few of my friends and guess what? They said "YES"! SO it looks like I will have to do a few workshops now. At first I was nervous, but now I'm super excited! The theme for convention this year was "Share What You Love" and at my workshops I plan to do just that!

My hostesses are going to be happy they said yes too! Here's a quick look at this great promotion:

Stampin' Up has just announced another fabulous offer for hostesses between today and August 31st! For every workshop totalling $350.00 or more you will receive an additional $25 in free merchandise!

As an example, if you host a $350.00 workshop, you'll receive:
•A free Level 1 or Level 2 stamp set of your choice. To learn more, see pages 9 - 16 of the new 2010 - 2011 Idea Book and Catalog.
•Receive $65.00 in FREE Stampin' Up! product ($40.00 + $25.00 EXTRA HOSTESS AWARD)
•If needed, I will even hold the workshop in my home for you! You provide the guests and snacks and you get the hostess benefits.
•Workshop includes a personal demonstration, instruction and materials for fun make and take projects, lots of paper crafting tips and prizes!

Please visit my Stampin Up! website (by clicking on the logo to the right) to learn more about this and many other Stampin Up promotions. And if you'd like to take advantage of the benefits of hosting a workshop too, just let me know. A stamping event is the perfect excuse to get your friends together!

Thanks for visiting!

My Convention Swaps!

2010-07-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

Well, I told you I would figure out what to do with all those little packages I made a few days ago. Here is what I came up with:

Don't the little packages look GREAT! I didn't get my order of Designer Series Paper quick enough so I had to improvise and make my own. I am very happy with the way this card came out... it looks so cheerful! I was able to make 20 swaps. I am not sure if that will be enough, but since this is my first time to convention I felt that was a good number.

Here is a list of supplies:
(All from Stampin Up! of course!)
Cardstock- Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler
1/8" Taffeta Ribbon- Daffodil Delight
Classic Stampin' Pads- Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Cherry Cobbler
Stamp Sets- "Playful Pieces" (Level 3 Hostess Set) and "A Word For You"

I'll try to post some pictures and do some blogging while I'm at convention... as long as you try not to be jealous of all the fabulous things I get to see & do!!!

Well, that's it for now... thanks for visiting!

Convention Swap Sneak Peak

2010-07-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

AS PROMISED..... Here is a little sneak peek at what I'm putting together for my convention swaps. And when I say "little," I mean it literally... take a look at these:

Aren't they just the cutest "little" gift bags you ever saw! As soon as I got this Hostess Set I knew I wanted to make little gift bags. This level 3 Hostess Set is called "Playful Pieces" and comes with 30 different stamps! I can't wait to play with it some more... my mind is just going crazy with all sorts of ideas for different cards. But all that will have to wait until after convention. Right now I've got to focus on getting my swaps made... convention is ONLY 5 DAYS AWAY!!!

As soon as I've got it all sorted out, I'll post a picture of the completed swap along with a list of materials.... so be sure to check back in the next few days to see what I come up with!

Thanks for visiting!

Woo Woo! Convention here I come!

2010-07-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

I am SO excited to be going to the SU convention this year! It will be my first time and I can't wait to get away with my some of my stamping gal pals! Heidi came up with the idea that we should do a shoebox swap one of the nights we are there. I'm not sure what I was thinking when I said "that's a great idea!" Especially considering I was leaving for 6 weeks and I couldn't possibly take that many stamping items in my carry on luggage! So I decided to take ONE stamp, 4 markers, 2 stamp pads and some cardstock! And even though this little cupcake stamp is from a retired set I just LOVE it! So here is what I came up with for the swap... I sure hope they like it!

Oops! I just noticed that the cupcake in the upper right corner is a bit funky... oh well, I guess it just adds charm! Besides, nobody ever said handmade items had to be perfect, right?

All Supplies are from Stampin Up!
Cardstock- Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Basic Gray
Stamp Pads- Melon Mambo, Basic Gray
Markers- Real Red, Melon Mambo, Basic Gray, Early Espresso
Extras- Retired DSP, dimensionals, Scallop Oval Punch, Oval Punch, retired cupcake stamp

Thanks for visiting today! I hope you'll come back tomorrow for a sneak peak of the swaps I'm making for convention!

Daffodil Delight!

2010-07-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

I just LOVE this new color from Stampin Up!
It is a nice buttery, cheery yellow.

Here is a very simple quick and easy card I made using the level 2 Hostess set "Fast & Fabulous" I love it because it requires no coloring, cutting or anything fancy. It even creates a watercolor effect without having to watercolor! This card came together so quickly I plan to make several more!

Stampin Up! Supplies:
Cardstock- Whisper white, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight
Stamp pads- Basic Black, Daffodil Delight
Ribbon- Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta
Stamp Sets: "Fast & Fabulous" (Level 2 Hostess Set), "Because I Care" (Level 1 Hostess Set)

Long Time, No Post!

2010-07-12T10:57:00.000-07:00

Boy has it been forever since I posted! Well, I guess that's how it goes sometimes, right?!
So I'm spending some time in Indiana this summer and didn't pack too many stamp items so I decided a trip to the local craft store was just what I needed. I came across this cute little owl stamp (you can never have too many owl stamps!) Besides, it was ONLY $1.00!!! Of course then I would need some googly eyes to go with it... luckily the craft store had those too:) Here is the card I made:

Stampin Up! Supplies:
Cardstock- Whisper White, Marina Mist, Early Espresso
Stamp Pads- Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Markers- Marina Mist, Crumb Cake

Non-SU supplies:
Stamps, Googly eyes

FYI.... I placed an order with Stampin Up! this morning (all new items from the new catalog!!!) and should have it by the end of the week. I hope to have some new cards to show you soon!

Thanks for stopping by!

EASY Christmas gift idea!

2009-12-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I enjoy giving a gift just as much as I do receiving one. (well, almost!) Every year in my group of SU demonstrator friends, we pick names and participate in what we call "Secret Stampin' Sisters." Every month we are supposed to make a card for our SSS and/or a small little gift. Then in December, when we have our holiday party, we do the big reveal! Here is a photo of one of the gifts I made for my SSS. It is a deliciously scented holiday candle I picked up during my "black Friday" shopping trip. I think I paid $3.50 for it, but shhhhhh, don't tell!

Doesn't it look like I spent more than that?!!! I took some of Stampin Up!'s Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper and a strip of the Crushed Curry cardstock and made a "belly Band" to go around it. Then I added a matching ribbon, attched a bow, decorated the top using the scallop punches and "viola" a quick and easy gift! I also made her a pocket calendar with a matching pen using the same Designer Series Paper.

One of my favorite things about Stampin Up! is how they make it so easy to coordinate your projects. It makes sense to use paper and cardstock that match the ink... no guesswork involved! If you'd like to see more Stampin Up! products, be sure to visit my Stampin Up! Website or click the Stampin Up! logo in my side bar!

Until my next post...
Happy gift making!

Box of Goodies!

2009-12-10T06:30:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post today to show you what I got. Boy is my friend Heidi talented! Look what she made me for a Christmas present:

And if you think that's nice, check out what was inside:

See! I told you she was talented! She always comes up with the best packaging! And just look at the nice cards and tags she made! If you want to see more of her creativity at work, you should check out her blog.

Well, that's it! See, I told you it would be a quick post!

Have a wonderful day!

Christmas Projects Galore!

2009-12-09T15:30:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you but I have been so busy with Christmas projects lately. I wonder why that is??? Hmmmmmm..... maybe it has something to do with the fact that Christmas is ONLY 15 DAYS AWAY!!!! YIKES!!! So I've been trying something new and I am really enjoying it. I've been hosting Stamp Camps for kids. They are 3 hour workshops where the kids get to create different projects. We ALWAYS do some sort of treat box with candy (because what kid doesn't want to have a treat box with candy!) and then usually a project or two thats nice enough they can use for a small gift and then ALWAYS a card (it is The Card Kitchen, you know!) Anyway, I just love it when the kids get as excited as I do about creating something with paper! Here are a few of the projects we made at one of the workshops:

And this is what we made at the last one:

Pretty cool, huh?!

Keep in mind that the kids range in age from 7 to 13. These photos are from my 7 and 10 year old... I think they get their craftiness from me... wouldn't you agree?

The Santa Pants bucket we filled with candy. Of course this photo is my son's bucket and he ate all his candy! But you could easily put some white fluff in the bottom, toss in a Starbucks card and you are good to go for a cute way to present a gift to your child's teacher or even a co-worker or neighbor! These "Santa Pants" Buckets will be available as a DIY kit on the Card Kitchen website soon.

Until my next post...
Stay warm & enjoy the holiday season!

Thanks for stopping by!

Handmade Christmas Cards

2009-12-07T16:37:00.000-08:00

I just LOVE the holiday season! Some people think it's crazy how it starts earlier and earlier every year.... you know what I mean, with the Christmas decorations going up while there are still Frankenstein costumes, pumpkins, and shelves full of fun size candy bars!! Anyway, I love that it starts so early. That means I have more time to work on my Christmas cards. And this year I REALLY needed that extra time. I was very busy getting my card basket donations ready for my kids' school fundraisers and also for my church's silent auction fundraiser. In total I handmade and donated over 200 cards... and my fingers don't have any ink on them at all! Here is a peek at the cards currently up for grabs:

On the Card Kitchen website these cards retail for $3.49 each. But because it's a fundraiser, a bakers dozen is being offered for just $30.00! That right, you can get a set of 13 of these beautiful handmade cards just in time to send out for Christmas. You'll never have a better chance to get these cards at such a low price. And you'll be supporting my kids' school at the same time! Please visit www.SPBSGALA.ORG to purchase these items and/or see many other auction items that would be great for your Christmas gift giving!

Thanks for stopping by!

NEW! DIY Christmas Card Kits

2009-09-29T11:19:00.000-07:00

Many people have told me they would love to make their own Christmas cards but don't know where to begin. You may have read an older blog post about my friend Cathy who bought a piece of paper and asked me to come up with a card kit for her. Well, since then I have had many others ask me to do the same! So I've decided to add a new item in The Card Kitchen Pantry ... you guessed it.... DIY "Kits"

This adorable "Jolly Snowman" card kit is now available for purchase along with others! If you want me to design a card kit for you just ask! I love coming up with unique creations for my customers. Send me an email or use the CONTACT US tab on the website and I'd be happy to cook up something special just for you!

Thanks for stopping by!

The Blog Candy giveaway is finally here!

2009-09-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

I know I promised this last week, but with the kids starting school and me putting the finishing touches on Thecardkitchen.com, it just got away from me! But, now that we are getting into a routine, I will be posting more regularly. So are you ready for the The Card Kitchen's first blog candy giveaway? I've assembled several doo-dads for you to use in your Halloween cardmaking or scrapbooking.

I'm not sure you can tell by the photo so let me tell you what's included:
2 lovely lilac top note die cuts
2 black larger top note die cuts for layering
4 "you make me smile" pumpkin embellishments
2 black haunted house die cuts
2 "BOO!" black die cuts
2 "Boo! black die cuts
6 black bats

I am sure you will have fun with this little pack of Halloween goodies... IF you are the winner! To enter the drawing all you have to do is subscribe to my blog and leave me a comment! If you are already subscribed, lucky you! You'll get 2 entries in exchange for leaving a comment!

The winner will be chosen by random drawing this Friday at midnight.

Thanks for visiting!

Free Card Recipe!

2009-08-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I have been working on my website everyday trying to stock the pantry shelves and getting ready for my Grand Opening! Be sure to check out the changes I've made by visiting Thecardkitchen.com. Each month I'll spend some time in the kitchen creating a new card recipe. Card "Recipe's" will be available for purchase in the pantry section of the website. However, CK Club Members will get them for FREE. Here is the card I made for October:

Want to re-create this card? Join the CK Club and you'll recieve a list of ingredients and detailed step by step instructions with full color photos. Membership is FREE and in addition to a free card recipe every month, you'll recieve discounts and special offers available only to CK club members!

Not in the trash!

2009-08-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

I love small cute little things. I think that's why I have so much fun making mini cards. Not only are they fun to make, but it is a great way to use up smaller bits of paper! My daughter and her friend got together to decorate their binders before school starts and when they were done they just threw the leftover paper in the trash... IN THE TRASH!!! Can you believe it? Certainly I could make good use of those bits and pieces. Certainly those scraps were large enough to punch out some shapes. Certainly they would not go to into the trash! Here is what I came up with:

A set of six 3"x3" mini birthday cards! The colors are Dusty Durango, Certainly Celery and Marigold Morning. The sentiments are from "A Little Birthday Cheer" from Stampin Up! The patterned paper is from DCWV.

I've almost got the Blog Candy ready for my first giveaway.... are you subscribed to this blog? If you are then you'll be the first to know when I post the giveaway.... it's happening this week!

Latest Card Creations

2009-08-10T21:34:00.000-07:00

Well, it was a very productive weekend to say the least! My mom and my sister came over on Saturday for a "day of scrapbooking" but I just couldn't get in the mood to scrap so I opted for stamping instead. Here are the cards I came up with:

I made this card for my daughter's friend who LOVES owls... and who doesn't just love owls? Especially this one with his great big eyes. I tried to use scraps of paper and ribbon that I had... which turned out to go with the new Dusty Durango cardstock and ink from Stampin Up! The owl stamp is from TPC Studio.

Another cute owl card! For this one I used Melon Mambo cardstock and ink, Bermuda Bay cardstock and ink, and the "All Holidays" stamp set... All from Stampin Up! The little owls in the circles are actually puffy stickers that my daughter gave me for my birthday. (I like owls too!) I think she found them at Borders Bookstore.

I know the kids aren't even back to school yet but I just got this new Sizzix die and I couldn't wait to use it. The back ground is So Saffron from Stampin Up!
and the gingham tie on the front is just a piece of scrap fabric I had leftover from an old craft project. Isn't it cute with the bats popping out over the house?

This wedding card was very easy to make and came together quickly. The bride and groom image is a stamp from Inkadinkado. The picture doesn't show it very well, but I embossed the image with the "frost" Versamark pad and I used white organdy ribbon to "fancy it up." The cardstock colors are Whisper White, Basic Black and Mellow Moss from Stampin Up!

I think this card "ROCKS!" When I got this stamp set from Inkadinkado I knew I wanted to use the guitar with a purple color so I chose Orchid Opulence from Stampin Up! I went shopping at the mall today with my daughter and a few of her friends and it seems that neon has returned! (So the color of this card it "so totally hip!") Now, if I could only find a stamp set with leg warmers and fingerless gloves......

My friend Cathy bought this cherry blossom paper at The Paper-Source and asked me if I could come up with a card for her. She wanted me to come up with something that was versatile enough to use different greetings. This is such a simple card layout and I think it would work well with any patterned paper you may have. I used Real Red, Very Vanilla, Pink Pirouette and Soft Suede cardstock. The greeting is from the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" stamp set, all from Stampin Up! I used a punch for the larger flowers then used foam tape to give it that 3-D effect.

This card is very similar to one that is featured in the Stampin Up! catalog. For mine I used Blue Bayou, Kiwi Kiss, Soft Suede and Whisper White cardstock, and the new "Extreme Elements" stamp set from Stampin Up! I didn't have the surfer stamp that they show on the card in the catalog so I used one from TPC Studio. SO many of my cards are girly... with flowers or sparkles and ribbon, I wanted to do a more Masculine card! think it turned out pretty good, what do you think?

As you can see I was a very busy bee! I'm hoping to get these listed for sale in the card shop in the next day or two. I am also working on putting together my very first BLOG CANDY giveaway! I know it will be Halloween themed but I'm still deciding on what to include. Be sure to check back soon... or better yet, sign up to get my blog updates via email, then you'll be the first to know when I'm doing a giveaway! The sign up link is in the right column!

Chocolate Covered Bacon

2009-08-08T16:12:00.000-07:00

Well, we had a great time at the fair and YES, I did find some inspiration for a few new cards. I will post as soon as I create them! But, my reason for this post is to tell you about the special "treat" we discovered..... CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON!

I know it sounds gross, but like the old saying goes... don't knock it til you try it! We stood outside the booth in disbelief, wondering if it could be some sort of joke. But the guy working the booth said it was yummy and oferred us a free sample. We figured, why not? Well, it was actually quite tasty! The bacon was extra crispy and cold. It was just like eating a refridgerated chocolate covered salty chip. Except for the fact that after you finish eating it there is a bacon after taste. Then you remember that you just ate bacon... covered in chocolate... and then you feel a little sick!!! So I didn't eat anything more than my free sample piece. Jim, on the otherhand ordered a batch for himself (and a beer to wash it all down!) I chose gelato for my treat and it was super delicious. Everyone knows women are smarter then men and here's your proof:

Here are some more fair photos:

Aidan REALLY enjoying his double chocolate gelato, notice all the napkins he needed!

An amazing cake I saw in the Youth Expo. Look at all the awards this 14 year old won!

Off to the fair!

2009-08-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

Today after my physical therapy appointment we're off to the Ventura County Fair! I love the fair. My favorite part is checking out all the contest displays. Of course I like all the home made crafts and the cake decorating, but my absolute favorite is the table setting displays. People are so creative in their centerpieces and the place cards and how they tie it all in together. If I see any "wow" displays I'll take a picture and post it when we get back. Maybe I'll even find some inspiration for a new card! Bet you thought I was going to say my favorite part of the fair was the food, didn't you? I won't lie, I do like the food.... especially the funnel cake and cotton candy, oh yeah... and the bbq'd corn on the cob.... ahhhh the delicious tastes of summer!!!
Have a great Thursday everyone!

Hooray! No Back Surgery for now!

2009-08-01T16:04:00.000-07:00

Well, it was music to my ears at my last Dr. visit. He said for right now I wouldn't need back surgery... that's the good news! The bad news is that I have 2 herniated discs and a small tear in one of my ligaments. So, starting Monday I will be in physical therapy 3 times a week. I am actually looking forward to it though... I read the perscription for it and guess what??? It INCLUDES theraputic massage! That means I get 12 massages this month... lucky me!

I'm also lucky because Jim is home next week! The kids were so excited when he announced that he would NOT be working in Michigan for the next week or two. It will be so nice to have him home:) Hannah already has plans for several bike rides. I have plans for him to install some towel bars in my craft room. I use them for storing/organizing my punches. They work fabulously! I'll try to post a photo of the finished wall organizers next week if we get everything installed... keep your fingers crossed!

Have a great weekend!

"Christmas in July" Day 5!

2009-07-31T19:09:00.000-07:00

Today's post features 2 tags using the "PUNCH PALS" set from Stampin Up! This is one of my favorite holiday sets because it is so versatile... not to mention the snowman is super cute! I think the snowman is my favorite Christmas icon.... I have MANY snowman stamps! These tags are a bit on the large side and there's plenty of room to include a message. My friend Bobbie made these and they will be available for purchase on the website starting Monday!

Ingredients:
Cardstock- Glorious Green, Real Red, Whisper White and Kraft
Real Red gingham ribbon
Markers- Glorious Green, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Only Orange and Summer Sun
(all from Stampin Up!)

That concludes the "Christmas in July" postings. I hope you've enjoyed them and maybe you even found some inspiration to make your own Christmas cards this year!

Be sure to check out www.thecardkitchen.com in the next few weeks as I will be adding more Christmas cards for sale AND a place where you can special order larger quantities at a discounted price!

"Christmas in July" Day 4!

2009-07-31T19:07:00.000-07:00

I know it's a day late, but here it is... day 4! This was a card that my kids and I made last Christmas. We had an assembly line going in an attempt to make 100 cards to send out to all our friends and family. I made about 10 different cards and then we all got together and voted on which one we wanted to send out. I must say this was the "cutest!" But, after making about 10 of them, it was beginning to look a little LESS cute! It ended up being way too much work so we went on to make something else. Come to think of it, we never did finish all our cards and decided to just send out New Year's cards instead. Wait a minute... we never finished those either! Well, I guess we have a huge head start for this year!

Anyway, enjoy the card...

I used a sizzix die and the Big Shot machine to cut out the reindeer and the santa suit. To make the the "fur" trim I cut the santa suit again with white felt. I still wanted more texture so I added brown chenille stems for the antlers and a red rhinestone for his nose!

"Christmas in July" Day 3!

2009-07-29T18:21:00.000-07:00

Today's card is a "NO-STAMP" card. Yes, you heard me right... no stamping! I used pieces from a retired Stampin Up! accessory set. The snowman greeting and striped pieces are actually cardstock stickers. This card came together quick and easy and I really like it's simplicity.

Ingredients:
Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss and Kraft cardstock
Riding Hood Red ribbon
(all from Stampin Up!)

Sorry for the short post...
Tune in tomorrow for DAY 4 of Christmas in July!

"Christmas in July" Day 2!

2009-07-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Wow! 2 days in a row... looks like I am on a roll!
Here is a very simple card thats easy to make. I made this one for a swap I did with the other Stampin Up! demonstrators in my group. This time I used our new Hostess Set, CHRISTMAS PUNCH. It's a level 2 set and I absolutely had to have it the minute I saw it in the new catalog. Everyone knows I HATE to cut stuff out(almost as much as I hate to watercolor!). The great thing about this set is that all 7 images coordinate with one or more of the Stampin Up! punches... which means... NO CUTTING WITH SCISSORS... Hooray! Just stamp, punch and adhere to your card! See... I told you it was easy!

Ingredients:
Stampin Up! Stamp Sets: Christmas Punch (Hostess level 2)
Stampin Up! Cardstock: Whisper White, Bashful Blue
Stampin up! Ink: Bashful Blue, Basic Black
Stampin up! Ribbon: Bashful Blue 1/4" Grosgrain
Stampin Up! Tools: Wide Oval punch
Misc: rhinestones, glitter

Tune in tomorrow for DAY 3 of my "Christmas in July!"

"Christmas in July" begins today!

2009-07-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

That's right, as promised I have the frist cards for my "Christmas in July" 5 days of posting. This is a set of mini cards made using the new SPARKLY & BRIGHT set from Stampin Up! I just LOVE the retro feel of this cute little set. The greeting stamped inside also comes with the set: "may your season be Sparkly & Bright!" Because of their size I think these would be fun to use as gift tags too!

The cards are 3" X 3" and use the following ingredients:
Stampin Up! Stamp Sets: Sparkly & Bright
Stampin Up! Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red
Stampin up! Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive
Stampin Up! Tools: 1 1/4" square punch, 1 3/8" square punch
Misc: red rhinestones, red glitter, patterned paper (Heidi Grace)

Tune in tomorrow for DAY 2 of my "Christmas in July"

Just the latest update from moi!

2009-07-26T14:06:00.000-07:00

Well hello everyone! It sure has been a long time since I posted, hasn't it! I thought I got my blog up and running at just the right time... meaning that school was coming to an end and SURELY I would have lots of time to post... HA! Was I ever mistaken!!! I'm wondering now if I will EVER have "lot's of time to post!"

So the week after school got out the kids were involved in VBS and soccer camp. The following week we left for our family vacation to the beautiful island of Maui! We spent a week there (will try to post some pictures) and then went to Ohau for a few days. We returned home 24 hours later dropped the kids with my parents so that Jim and I could celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary in VEGAS BABY! We had a blast! I had a fabulous day at the spa and we went to see "Love," the Beatles Cirque de Soleil show. We've seen a few of the Cirque shows and this one definitely tops the list. We also attended the Regeneration Tour! Now don't go making fun... if you're a product of the 80's you know you would've went too! We had fourth row seats to 4 concerts in one: Missing Persons, The Cutting Crew, Wang Chung and ABC. We danced the night away for sure!!!

Maybe a little too much dancing though, because the next day I developed a pretty severe backache and had to lay down with seat ALL the way back during the long drive home. It didn't help that I was developing a cough either (which later turned out to be bronchitis) so after a week and a half of visiting the chiropracter every day, I decided to see my orthopedist who took a bunch of xrays and sent me in for an MRI. I won't get the results til Wednesday. BUT, since he put me on muscle relaxers and steroids, I am feeling better... I am even starting to walk upright again! For those who know me well, I have had back pain on and off for the last 15-20 years. This time it felt different. This time I felt completely incompacitated. This was a pain I've never experienced before. My doctor thinks I herniated or ruptured a disc. I have no idea what that means, and until I see him again on Wednesday I don't even want to think about it!

So, all that being said I had to cancel my plane trip to Wisconsin and miss my cousins wedding, cancel our trip to the ranch where we were FINALLY going to camp with our good friends the Sullivans, cancel my hair appointment because it's impossible for me to lean back and put my head under the bowl, and worst of all I had to cancel my training sessions... and with only three weeks left in my fitness challenge I am now going to be flabby AND gray haired for my final photo before the judging... I have a feeling that prize money is going to be just out of my reach!!!

Oh well, c'est la vie! At least with all of my "down time" I was able to work a bit on my website... YAY!!! I believe I have fixed a few of the bugs, worked out the shipping details, and I also added more cards. Be sure to check it out and see what I've been working on.

Now that we're all caught up I can keep future postings brief. Next up will be "Christmas in July"
I'm working on Christmas cards and will post a new card every day for the next 5 days... it's not too early to start thinking about the holidays you know!

The story of how it all began...

2009-05-29T12:58:00.000-07:00

I am addicted to crafts. My husband says I need therapy… but I told him to get out of my kitchen! My friends, on the other hand, encouraged me to start a business…my friends won. Now I’ve “cooked up” so many cards we can’t even use the dining room. My passion for paper started long ago as a child when I would gather up small scraps and put them away for future projects (You know, I still do that too!).

About 12 years ago, my first of three children was born and I turned those scraps of paper into beautiful birth announcements. I was hooked!

Since then, it’s been a constant simmer of scrapbooking and stamping. Of all the crafts I do, card making is my passion. Starting out with a blank sheet of cardstock then adding layers, stamped images and embellishments… never knowing how it’s going to turn out… then seeing my finished card… each one brings a sense of satisfaction.

My love affair with paper continues and I still hoard scraps every chance I get! The different colors, patterns and textures spark my creativity. I draw inspiration from many things including my family, friends and travels.

As a Stampin Up! demonstrator I have been lucky enough to work with some very talented women. Be sure to visit my website: www.thecardkitchen.com, to see the amazing cards they've cooked up!

At the Card Kitchen, we’ve created the perfect blend of technology, art and a personal touch. Everyone loves to receive a handmade greeting… It makes them feel special. I hope you'll share our tasty creations with the special people in your life!”