Kits

Sending Joy

We thoroughly enjoyed our quick little trip to the country. The weather was perfect and we managed to find a spot where the fish were biting. But most importantly, we simply enjoyed being together!

During the afternoons when it was a tick too warm to fish, we enjoyed time cooling off in the cabin. And that meant a little crafting time here and there to play with the new Calm & Bright Kit.

This kit includes everything you need to make 3 different holiday card designs. And I brought along just a few extra things to make some simple variations.

Today’s variation includes a wide band of Pretty in Pink soft shimmer paper, some Lost Lagoon soft cording, a touch of Wink of Stella, some iridescent striped trim, and an assortment of faceted gems and sequins.

I also worked a little on my photography for this one. I still worked with the early morning light but got outside before the sun peeked over the horizon. So I got much better soft light without so much orange undertone. Needless to say, I won’t take for granted my nice studio setup quite so easily anymore! *wink*

It’s back to the regular work grind for the remainder of the week, along with the fast and furious last-minute, late-night crafting for this weekend’s craft fair.

Kits

All is Calm & Bright

Welcome to a brand spankin’ new week! I hope you enjoyed your weekend.

We are definitely enjoying our time at the lake for a little family Fall Break getaway. The weather is perfect and we are soaking up the time outside.

And since I’m on the go, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to highlight the perfect line of products for crafting away from the crafty stash — Stampin’ Up! kits. And a gorgeous new holiday card kit is coming your way and I’m going to give you a little sneak peek.

SU! Calm & Bright Kit

Meet the Calm & Bright kit. This gorgeous kit offers you 3 different clean and simple holiday card designs. Kits include everything you need to create the designs shown. You can literally throw the box in your bag and be able to create on the go! And that’s exactly what I did with a little bit of free time I had yesterday afternoon.

While the on-the-go photography may not be quite as good, the crafting is perfect! I brought along just a few extra goodies to create an easy punched-up alternative design. The card on the left is assembled according to the included instructions, while the design on the right is my variation. I added a sparkly layer of Pretty Peacock glimmer paper under the main panel to make the colored elements really pop. I wrapped the focal panel in Lost Lagoon soft cording rather than the white linen thread included in the kit. I added some Wink of Stella to the house for a touch of twinkle and offset it from the snowy stamped background. I used the smallest snowflake stamp for the tag detail to coordinate with the background stamping, and I finished things off with some iridescent gems for subtle twinkle in opposing corners of the focal panel.

It’s hard to decide which design I like better, but one thing is for certain — I love being able to craft on the road!

Kits

Share a Smile Kit Alternatives

Welcome in, friends! We have officially made it to Friday. This week, I have been off by a whole day, which has made this week feel especially long. Do you ever have weeks like that? Needless to say, I’m ready for the weekend!

Today, I’m sharing with you the alternative card designs that I made using the new all-in-one Share a Smile card kit by Stampin’ Up! This kit is even cuter in person than it is in photos, if you can imagine that. This is a no-stamp kit. So all of your kit components are provided for you and you get all the fun with zero mess!

Last weekend, I hosted a card class using this adorable kit. For kit classes, I love to provide design alternatives for class attendees to see how they can use a kit to create designs that are different from those provided in the included instruction guide. For this particular set of design alternatives, I showed how you could mix and match the included kit elements and even changed the orientation on one design. I also used some extra embellishments from my stash of retired products, which I also make available for in-person attendees to use if they wish.

Have you tried any of the Stampin’ Up! Kits? I’m one who generally loves to start a card from scratch, but I must say that I’ve really enjoyed purchasing kits for those times when I’m in a real time crunch (see yesterday’s post *grin*) but still want to spread a little sunshine to friends & family. Check out the full kit collection in my online store OR, better yet, join me for an in-person class. June class info going up this weekend!

Kits

Painted Wishes Kit Alternatives

Happy Saturday, crafty friends! Today is class day here in the studio and class prep took a bit longer than anticipated, which is why Sketchy Fridays was a no-go this week. Sometimes it just works out that way and we have to pivot. BUT I have lots to share with you today!

In today’s class, we’re going to be working with the Painted Wishes Kit by Stampin’ Up! These kits are terrific for those who are new to paper crafting or for seasoned pros with not enough time for a full-on crafting session. This is an all-in-one kit, meaning it comes with everything you need to make beautiful cards. You can make them exactly as shown and have 3 birthday cards, 3 thank you cards, and 3 friendship cards. OR with a few things from your crafty stash, you can elevate the card designs into beautiful alternatives. Today, I’m going to show you how I adapted this kit to make 6 alternative designs.

For our first 3 design alternatives, we’re adding some paper and ribbon from the crafty stash and otherwise just taking liberties with the way things are combined and how they look.

Alternative 1

The kit uses the birthday sentiment with the rose card base, but here we’re substituting the friendship sentiment and adding Pretty Peacock & Gold metallic ribbon behind the sentiment to help it stand out.

Alternative 2

To punch up the backdrop for our sentiment panel, we’re adding a panel of the Pretty Peacock Season of Elegance paper over the peacock card base. I’ve also cut around the greenery to give more delicate detailing to the sentiment panel, along with adding gold foil specialty paper behind the sentiment to help it stand out. Some Pretty Peacock & Gold metallic ribbon ties everything together.

Alternative 3

For our third alternative, we’re cutting our rose panel into two pieces and giving them lots of detailing along the edges. I’ve also used the Spotlight on Nature dies to add the edging detail to the circle sentiment panel. Isn’t it amazing how those two simple things totally transform these kit elements?

Two of our next three kit design alternatives incorporate items from the crafty stash to punch things up.

Alternative 4

I wanted the gold foiling in the sentiment panel to pop as the main design element, so I chose a lovely foiled leaf pattern paper from the Nature’s Sweetness paper pack and diecut it using the Countryside Corners dies. A little crisscross of Pretty Peacock & gold metallic ribbon behind the sentiment helps it pop. I cut apart the rose panel and used just the greenery as the side accent for the sentiment. The detailing of the greenery pulls together the leaf elements.

Alternative 5

The rose card base is gorgeous all by itself, and I wanted as much of the watercolor beauty to stand out as possible, so we’re keeping things simple behind our sentiment panel with just a few sparkly diecut pieces. I cut a circle from the gold mercury vellum using the Spotlight on Nature dies and then added a Pretty Peacock banner die cut with the Countryside Corners set. A faux bow of the Pretty Peacock & gold metallic ribbon ties all of our sparkly elements together and makes the sentiment pop.

Alternative 6

Our final alternative design uses all of the kit elements but in an unexpected way. First, I mounted each of the background panels a little askew for some visual interest. This really helps pull all of the subtle colors to the forefront and give the card a sense of movement. Using the other portion of the rose panel I cut for card #4, I mounted it along with the sentiment on dimensionals, giving us two planes of view for our greenery.

It doesn’t take much from the crafty stash to transform kit elements into elevated designs. Dig through your stash of leftover kit elements, scraps of paper, or extra diecuts and see what you can pull together.

Next week, we’re taking to the sky with the Everyday Skies designer series paper. I hope you’ll come along and check out all the fun ways we can make this paper soar!

Product List
Back to School

Lunch Box Lovin’

Today we’re rounding out our back-to-school card design series with a cute set of little notecards that a dear friend of mine once referred to as lunch box lovin’. As the name might imply, these notecards are intended to be slipped inside a lunch box to let your kiddo or special someone know that they are loved and on your mind. I mean, who doesn’t love to get an unexpected pick-me-up in the lunchbox?!

A few months ago, I showed the cute cards that can be made using the Stampin’ Up! kit called By Your Side. This adorable pet-themed kit, whick will make 8 cards, includes a whole array of cats and dogs and ultimately leaves you a number of extra four-legged friends to use later. And these extras serve as the starting point for today’s featured project.

This coming week is the start of school in our district, and it’s another year of middle school for the kiddo. No longer part of the new kids on campus but not the top of the heap either, it’s that awkward middle year. So needless to say, there are still plenty of nerves surrounding a new school year. And I thought it might be nice to slip the kiddo a little note in the lunch box a few times this week to help him get through the first week jitters.

Our lunch box lovin’ cards all feature one of the cute leftover critters from the By Your Side kit, along with a sentiment panel and a few other leftover elements. The notecards vary in size based on the pieces I had left and how they looked once I started laying things out. I chose a piece of cardstock to serve as the base for each notecard and selected colors that would be a good neutral backdrop for each. The back of each card is blank for a quick note.

Leftover kit elements or Memories & More packs are perfect for these types of quick and simple projects. Just plop and go in a sketch and you’ve instantly got completed projects to bring smiles to long faces!

And speaking of smiles, who’s looking forward to some Holiday Mini Catalog sneak peeks? Tune in next week as we start dreaming of fall colors and cooler weather!

Hello Hollyhocks · Kits

Hollyhock Hello

We are rounding out our week of card designs using the Stampin’ Up! all-inclusive card kit called Hello Hollyhocks. This one-box-wonder contains everything you need to make 9 beautiful cards. This week, we’ve explored some ways that you can use the kit and some items from your own crafting stash to make new card designs.

Today, we’re mixing things up by using a different combination of elements from the Hello Hollyhocks kit. No other materials required. Let’s take a closer look.

This card begins with the provided hollyhock card base. The sentiment panel consists of a layer of flags — the sentiment and the spotted Calypso Coral flag. Behind the stacked sentiment panel, we layer two of the Pretty Peacock greenery stems. This full panel is adhered to the card base with dimensionals. Sparkle gems finish things off on either side of the sentiment for some eye-catching glimmer.

Have you enjoyed a look at the Hello Hollyhocks all-inclusive card kit? Interested in learning more about Stampin’ Up! kits? Join me for my Let’s Kit Together card class series. Click each graphic for more information on the 3 upcoming classes.

Thanks for coming along with me on our kit tour this week. I hope you’ll join me next week as we Say Hey.

Products used in today’s card:
Hello Hollyhocks
Dimensionals
Adhesives

Product List
Hello Hollyhocks · Kits

Framed Hollyhocks

Hello, everyone! I hope you’re enjoying our look at the new kit by Stampin’ Up! called Hello Hollyhocks. This all-inclusive kit includes everything in the box that you’ll need to assemble 9 beautiful cards. This week, we’ve been exploring how we can use this kit and a few items from our crafty stash to make new designs.

Today, we’re giving a new look to the included hollyhock frame. Let’s take a closer look at how it comes together.

We start with the included speckled Petal Pink card base. I cut down a quarter sheet of Calypso Coral cardstock to serve as the base for the focal panel and allow a full quarter-inch border of card base around each side. To give a fun new look to the include frame, we use our Deckled Rectangles dies to cut a portion out of the center of the Calypso Coral cardstock that is the same size as the center portion of the hollyhock frame. We then adhere the frame to the Calypso Coral panel and then adhere the full panel to the card base using dimensionals. Using a provided banner sentiment panel, we adhere a faux bow of Petal Pink diagonal trim behind the sentiment and then adhere a stem of Pretty Peacock greenery from the kit. The sentiment panel is popped up above the frame layer with dimensionals. The design is finished off with the included sparkle gems.

Tomorrow, we finish off our alternative Hello Hollyhock card designs with a simple twist on everything that’s included. I hope you’ll stop by and check it out!

Products used in today’s card:
Hello Hollyhocks card kit
Calypso Coral cardstock
Deckled Rectangles dies
Diagonal trim
Dimensionals
Adhesives

Product List
Hello Hollyhocks · Kits

Merci Hollyhocks

It’s Independence Day here in the U.S. And I certainly couldn’t be more thankful to live in a place where I have the freedoms to live, work, and believe than I am today. How fortunate we are indeed!

This week, we are exploring the ways that we can expand on the Stampin’ Up! Hello Hollyhocks card kit to create beautiful alternative card designs using the kit and additional elements from our crafting stash. Today’s card adds diecut elements and ribbon to create this lovely thank-you card.

We start today’s card with the included Old Olive card base. We’re also using the small Calypso Coral rectangle, Petal Pink sentiment, and three-stem bunch of hollyhocks included in the kit. I started by diecutting the backdrop for the hollyhock focal image. This is cut from Calypso Coral cardstock using the Deckled Rectangles dies. I cut the three-stem bunch of hollyhocks from the frame and then adhered the flowers to the center of the rectangle. Next, we’ll diecut the backdrop for our sentiment from Calypso Coral cardstock using the Everyday Details dies. I chose my sentiment and then adhered the small rectangle from the kit to the back. I flipped the rectangle over to reveal the white backside because I wanted contrast between the Calypso Coral mat and the Petal Pink sentiment panel. Each of these layers are adhered together and then adhered over the stems of hollyhocks with dimensionals. The full panel is then adhered to the card base with dimensionals. A bow of striped iridescent ribbon is adhered just above the sentiment panel to give the look of a tied bunch of hollyhocks. Things are finished off with the included sparkle gems to draw the eye to the sentiment.

Tomorrow, we’re giving our hollyhock frame a new look. I hope you’ll stop in and check it out!

Products used in today’s card:
Hello Hollyhocks card kit
Calypso Coral cardstock
Iridescent striped ribbon
Dimensionals
Adhesives

Product List
Hello Hollyhocks · Kits

Thoughts of You Hollyhocks

Today, we’re continuing our look into alternative card designs using the Stampin’ Up! Hello Hollyhocks card kit. The watercolored images in this kit are simply stunning, and I just love the color palette that was chosen for the kit elements. You literally do not need anything that isn’t in the kit box in order to make beautiful cards. But if you’re up for a little crafting adventure, then I hope you’re enjoying the alternative designs I’m sharing with you this week.

Next up is a very simple alternative card design. By simply adding a diecut element and changing the shape of an included kit element, you have a whole new look to this card design.

This card design begins with the included hollyhock card base. The sentiment panel consists of three elements — the included circle sentiment, the included speckled Calypso Coral flag, and a diecut circle. We get started by diecutting a radiating circle from Calypso Coral cardstock using the Spotlight on Nature dies. We transform our speckled Calypso Coral flag into a banner by snipping the other end to match with the pennant cutout. I layered the banner behind the sentiment and then adhered them on top of the diecut circle. This full panel is adhered to the card front with a double layer of dimensionals. And things are finished off with the included sparkle gems around the sentiment.

Tomorrow, we’re framing things up in a different way. I hope you’ll stop by to check out the latest card alternative using the Hello Hollyhocks card kit!

Products used in today’s design:
Hello Hollyhocks card kit
Calypso Coral cardstock
Spotlight on Nature dies
Dimensionals

Product List
Hello Hollyhocks · Kits

Thinking of Hollyhocks

Happy Tuesday, everyone! This week, we’re getting a closer look at the beautiful new kit by Stampin’ Up! called Hello Hollyhocks. This kit comes with everything you need to create 9 stunning cards. And each day this week, I’m showing you how you can use the kit elements along with a few items from your own personal crafting stash to create gorgeous design alternatives.

Today, we’re adding an additional diecut cardstock element to the Hello Hollyhocks kit to create this stunner. We start with the provided Petal Pink dotted card base. The backdrop for the image panel is a piece of Flirty Flamingo cardstock diecut using the Spotlight on Nature dies. The larger Calypso Coral rectangle included in the kit is adhered at the base of the circle and together these provide the base for our image and sentiment elements. The two-stem hollyhocks and peacock and olive stems are arranged and then adhered to the back of the sentiment. A faux bow made from the white & silver sheer ribbon is adhered to the Flirty Flamingo circle using tear and tape. And then the sentiment panel is adhered over it using two layers of dimensionals. The sparkle gems included in the kit finish off the design.

Would you like to see how to put together the 3 designs from the Hello Hollyhocks kit? Tune in to today’s episode of Terrific Tuesdays to see this all-inclusive kit come to life:

Tomorrow, we’ll be keeping things simple with our card alternative. I hope you’ll stop by and check it out.

Products used:
Hello Hollyhocks kit
Flirty Flamingo cardstock
Spotlight on Nature dies
Silver & white sheer ribbon
Dimensionals
Adhesives

Product List