Happy Birthday

Have you missed me?! Sorry for the unexpected hiatus. I have been buried deep in paperwork and organization, a migraine or two here and there and planning my next couple of months of classes and projects! A few projects are centered around birthdays, so I'm starting back by sharing a birthday card with you!

Since I've been out of it for a bit, I turned to the Internet for some inspiration and found myself checking out some online challenges. I found three that inspired me - the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch, the colours over at Fusion Card Challenge and then I decided to mash it all up using Friday Mashup!

I'm pretty proud of myself that I managed to work with three challenges on one card and really loving how it all turned out too. Are you wondering where my stencils came from? I used the "garbage piece" from the last Paper Pumpkin - Hello Sunshine.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Shop online anytime - www.hofkissed.stampinup.net

• Paper - Pretty in Pink, Shimmer Specialty, Silver Glimmer Paper
• Ink - Soft Sky, Smokey Slate, Night of Navy
• Stamps - Age Awareness
• Tools - Balloon Builder Punch

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You Send Me Soaring

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you're spending the day with loved ones. I'm readjusting back to the cold temps here in Canada. I just returned from sunny Florida and I think I might be hibernating in my studio for the next week. ;)

Today's card features the ever-popular The Sky is the Limit stamp set from Sale-A-Bration - only available until tomorrow - it's a limited time set (SAB runs until March 31st though!). I paired it with Timeless Textures from the Occasions Catalogue, and the little heart from last month's Paper Pumpkin kit, Cute Conversations.

I started by stamping in Real Red and when I got the look I was after, I stamped the plane in Basic Black. The sentiment was punched using the Decorative Label Punch, but I trimmed off the top and bottom piece so that the Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper that I punched with the the same punch would pop through.

On the inside, I simply created the same border as I did on the front.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

The Sky is the Limit

Today's card is simple, but I really LOVE how it turned out! It's a congratulatory card, fitting for a graduation. Check it out:

I started with a piece of watercolour paper and inked up the stamp from Work of Art using a select number of Stampin' Write Markers that resembled rainbow colours. Before stamping that on my piece of watercolour paper, I spritzed it using a Stampin' Spritzer that I filled with water. A couple good spritzes should do the trick. This gives the image a softer look and the colours blend together as they would in a rainbow.

I punched a few cards from Whisper White Card Stock and sponged the edges with some Pool Party ink. The sentiment is stamped in Basic Grey and then I traced around the letters with my Pool Party Stampin' Write Marker to give it a softer look.

On the inside, I stamped the sentiment from the Sky is the Limit freebie you can currently earn for FREE during Sale-A-Bration. It's a limited time only stamp set and will be around until February 15th only. Behind the sentiment, I stamped the plane image, making sure to stamp off once.

You can earn this set for free by buying all the supplies I used to create this card, or anything you desire for $60 before taxes and shipping. Contact me for details!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Bee Mine

Today's card was inspired by one I saw on Pinterest by Amy Ingram. I used the stamp set from January's Paper Pumpkin - Cute Conversations and paired it with the adorable Balloon Builders stamp set from the Occasions Catalogue.

There are so many possibilities with the Balloon Builders set and I love that there are sentiments too! It had a perfect one for this Valentine's card. I stamped it inside and added a few more hearts and sequins from the trim.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Valentine's Treats with Paper Pumpkin

Today is a quick post! I used January's Paper Pumpkin in a slightly different way. I used it to make 30 Valentine's for my daughter's class.

The hearts were meant to use as a banner or treat holders, but I just created a simple Valentine using a retired stamp set (it's a perfect one to keep around for my young kiddos). My daughter used the banners to write her name and then I attached it with some of the sequin trim that was included with the kit. I attached it to a little treat bag...

The kit is called Cute Conversations and you can currently purchase the refill kit if you are a Paper Pumpkin subscriber. If you aren't subscribing yet (why not?!) don't fret. A 3-month subscription is on sale until March 31st. I dare you to give it a try!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Lost Without You

Valentine's Day is coming up (Sunday, February 14th for those that aren't aware), and perhaps you're having trouble with a card for the man in your life. Here's a great set to have on hand - perfect for "lovey dovey", birthday's and more!

I used products from the Going Places Product Suite in the Occassion Catalogue (you'll find it near the back). It's coordination at its best! I inked up the embossing folder this time instead of running it through the Big Shot - did you know you could do that?!

Here's how: Ink up the raised side, lay your paper inside, close the folder (carefully!) and then press/rub until you have a decent image.

It won't be perfect, but I love the effect! Plus, it gives you more use out of those embossing folders!

From there, the paper stack and stamp images did the rest.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

It's a Boy!

Recently, I was commissioned to create a bunch of baby cards for a customer. They were a gift to a mom-to-be who was having a boy. I enjoyed working on them, here's one of the designs I created.

I started with a neutral layer and randomly stamped a background using two of my favourite collage stamps - Gorgeous Grunge & Timeless Textures. The "baby" lettering was easily created with the Layered Letters Alphabet. The photopolymer stamp sets are perfect because you can see exactly where you're stamping!

The stars are from a retired set, but the images are perfect. A current substitute could be the Be the Stars set - it has both images and sentiments.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Paper Pumpkin Thanks

If you follow me, you know how much I love Paper Pumpkin. You probably also know that I love to hang on to scraps and all the "garbage" pieces from kits. Here, you'll see two thank you card designs I created from one of the past Paper Pumpkin kits - Layers of Gratitude.

All I did was cut down some Thick Whisper White paper and then used some scraps of DSP for some added colour. The card in behind uses the letters and the one in front uses the "garbage" piece. For that one, I just cut various pieces of different DSP's to fit in behind each letter. I didn't pay much attention to the patterns (other than making sure I didn't duplicate) because it just all seemed to work!

Paper Pumpkin kits are fantastic. You can use the kit as is, or change it entirely. There are always extra pieces too! What you may not know is that the 3-month subscription is on sale until March 31st AND by purchasing one, it'll also qualify you for a Sale-A-Bration freebie! Once you subscribe, you can also take advantage of purchasing past kits - a benefit only to subscribers!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Wedding Accessories

Today is a very quick post - just wanted to show you a couple of coordinating items I made to go along with the card I showed you yesterday. I love Stampin' Up! for that very fact. Everything coordinates so beautifully!

The letters I cut are from a retired die (still shown below), but there are many great stamp sets that could work also.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Happily Ever After

Hello! This was a card I designed back in October, but never got around to posting. Some of the products I used are retired, but could easily be substituted. Check it out:

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen the video I posted when I heat embossed this card. I looooove heat embossing. So much fun and a big wow!

I kept the colour pallet neutral and embossed everything. The gold brads are not SU!, but did you know that you could heat emboss those too?!

To add some more detail, I punched all the corners with the Curvy Corner Trio Punch - love that thing! - and of course, added some more heat embossing to the inside too.

Come back tomorrow to see the other items I created to coordinate with this card (for a wedding).

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

We All Scream for Ice Cream!

Here's a quick and simple card using a freebie from Sale-A-Bration and some Notecards - this particular notecard is retired, but you can still find two varieties in my store. ;)

This card came together very quickly - I added a few layers of Washi Tape and then fussy cut my images after stamping them on card stock. I popped the top two scoops up using Dimensionals.

The sentiment is from the RMHC stamp set - Sprinkles of Life and I stamped that on a Whisper White scrap piece I had in my drawer.

It's hard to tell in the photos, but I did add a little glimmer with my Wink of Stella brush to each scoop of ice cream, as well as the cone.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Hello

Sometimes you need a card just because, or for an occasion that just pops up on you. This card is perfect and features the Botanical Blooms suite in combination with a Sale-A-Bration freebie!

The card layer was created at the Demonstrator-Only event (OnStage) back in November, but I just recently turned it into a card. I mounted it to the far right so that some of the card base popped.

I stamped the sentiment on a scrap of Whisper White paper and punched the end using the Triple Banner Punch. I didn't bother gluing it down because the super-cute Bow Clip held it in place.

Here's a closer look at the delicate cuts the dies make:

The cool thing also about the stamp set is that it coordinates nicely with the DSP - some of the image layers are stamped on! ;)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Colouring Box

I needed to bring a little crafty escape with me (on a trip), and although Paper Pumpkin would've been great, I felt like colouring would be a better option. I have various "adult colouring books" lying around, so I picked a few of my favourite pages and ripped them out. Once I did that, I wondered how I was going to bring them with me... The Stampin' Up! Full Wide Stamp Cases were the perfect thing!

I started with the case and added a piece of scrap (retired) DSP to pretty it up. On the inside, it holds my pencil crayons, paper & a few other items too. Check it out:

The right side holds my colouring pages and paper, an eraser, binder clip and sharpener. I discovered that my case would also hold all my pencil crayons too on top, but I didn't want to have to remove them every time I needed to get some paper, so I created a little holder for them. :)

With some scrap cardboard, I created a box that's approximately 1/2" x 5" x 1-1/2" and covered the front with a piece of one of the colouring pieces. To hold my pencils in place, I added some scrap ribbon that I can easily tie and untie. See, it's great to keep scraps around!

My colouring pages were 8" x 8" to start so in order for them to fit in my box, I had to cut them down to 5" x 7"... frankly, a nice size to work with. I also cut some Whisper White paper and created some thrifty clipboards with thick cardboard and a binder clip.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog