A Week in Review

Hello!

This is the first post of many weekly installments I'm entitling "A Week in Review".  These posts will showcase a variety of projects, many of which I have teased with on Instagram, but here, you'll get more detail. ;)

Cards:

This first one features some current & new products that are coming up in the new Occasions Catalogue (live January 3rd). I used the Ronald McDonald Stamp Set - Sharing Sweet Thoughts - in conjunction with the Everyday Jars Framelits and some new products, including some yummy DSP and a tiny strawberry punch! I kept the card fairly simply, but created a small shaker element. I stamped some strawberries & coloured them with Stampin' Blends and used some punched strawberries as the shaker pieces.

This next card features many new products, including a sequin embossing folder!! Eek!! Speaking of sequins, there are some self-adhesive sequins in the new catty too! The other elements, some scalloped velvet trim and silver vellum embellishments, are part of an embellishment pack. It's pretty fabulous. To make some of those vellum pieces really pop, I burnished the vellum to make certain areas white and this technique also naturally curls the vellum, making it look more dimensional.

This last card is one I designed for my class tonight. I love the Half Full Stamp Set. To give the wine glass extra depth, I coloured them in with my Stampin' Blends, followed by my Fine Tip Glue Pen - did you know it hardens and turns glossy, as well as glue? I love using it to accent pieces of a project!

Scrapbooking:

One of my goals for the new year is to keep up with my memory keeping. I've got years of catching up to do! Here's a simple layout I created. I was inspired by a quilting pattern for the snowman. I cut my pictures with Layering Circles Thinlits and laid some silver Foil Snowflakes in behind. I also snuck a few new embellishments (from that same embellishment pack I chatted about above).

3D Projects:

Obviously I love handmade, but when it comes to holiday decor, I love adding a new piece or two every year to my decorating. Here's a table centerpiece I created. I repurposed the base from a floral arrangement I had received and added some floral foam & cotton balls. The tree "trunks" were from a past Paper Pumpkin kit and the "trees" were originally going to be from a past kit as well (October 2014). That kit included pie-shaped boxes, but they weren't in colours I wanted for this project. While I could've covered them in DSP, I opted to trace the boxes and create new ones instead. I hammered three different sized holes on all sides and from the inside, covered a few randomly with Glimmer Paper in all the metallics and the remainder with Vellum. The pieces then have interest with or without light.

My last project is with the little Pizza Boxes - how cute are they?! They're perfect for a some homemade baked goods or small treats. I created a removable band for them, as well as some Santa cinnamon sticks. My mom used to make them when I was younger, so I thought I'd give it a try. I painted the ends and then added the beard and pom pom with Embossing Paste. I think they make the perfect topper to my boxes.

Hope you enjoyed this first installment of many. See you next week for my Week in Review. ;)

Until then, stay crafty!
Steph

If you would like to purchase Stampin' Up! or take a class, visit www.hofkissed.stampinup.net or check me out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hofkissed

September's Paper Pumpkin

Welcome to another month of our Blog Hop! This month we're sharing fall-themed projects with you. My Paper Pumpkin arrived yesterday and what perfect timing that was! I decided to put it together, and if you're itching for more, be sure to pop in again tomorrow because I'll have a whole heap of alternative projects!

You got so much product in this kit! There were enough pieces to create eight pillow boxes & eight mini cards with envelopes PLUS tons of extra pieces. Stampin' Up! is always really great at giving you extra pieces. ;)

In the kit, you got a large maple leaf stamp (my fav!) and then you layered that with multiple other leaves, including a gold foil laser-cut one.

What made this kit extra special was that the boxes and card bases were embossed! That was something that has never been done before with Paper Pumpkin Kits and it made me so happy to see that extra touch.

Paper Pumpkin kits are the perfect addition to your home - great for all crafting levels. It arrives right to your door every month and is an all-inclusive kit - stamps, ink, adhesives (glue dots &/or Dimensionals), kit pieces & instructions. If you're thinking about giving it a try, make sure you sign up by October 10th. :)

Make sure you check out the other hoppers:

1. Hofkissed (Steph) << You Are Here
2. A La Cards (Leena)
3. Lolly & Sand (Sandy)
4. justBstamping (Barb)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

If you would like to purchase Stampin' Up! or take a class, visit www.hofkissed.stampinup.net or check me out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hofkissed

Carols of Birthdays

Welcome to another month in our Blog Hop! We've got a new hopper this time around so be sure to scroll down to check us all out...

This month, we've got an early release from the upcoming Holiday Catalogue (live September 1st) - the Carols of Christmas Bundle. It includes an awesome stamp set and coordinating Framelits set. I wanted to show you though that it's not just for Christmas!

I die cut the trees and moon/stars (how awesome are those?!) from my layer and then I embossed it using the Woodlands Texture Impressions Embossing Folder. I added some Silver Glimmer Paper in behind the starry sky and Old Olive behind the trees. I then popped up the die cut trees with Dimensionals... the mini ones are perfect for the tops.

I added some ribbon to the bottom and tied a couple of knots for interest. The birthday sentiment is from the Happy Birthday Gorgeous stamp set.

On the inside, I die cut a couple of trees and then popped on up. Easy-peasy, right?! And not just for Christmas either. ;)

Here's a closure look at this awesome bundle:

Make sure you check out the other hoppers:

1. Hofkissed (Steph) << You Are Here
2. A La Cards (Leena)
3. Lolly & Sand (Sandy)
4. justBstamping (Barb)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

If you would like to purchase Stampin' Up! or take a class, visit www.hofkissed.stampinup.net or check me out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hofkissed

Rainbow Decor & Embossing Paste Tip

Hello! I don't know about you, but my months are just flying by! Life with small kids, especially in the summer months, is quite busy. I love creating all these memories, but unfortunately it means my blog has been ignored. Not to fret though, my youngest will be starting school in the fall, which means I'll have more time to dedicate to blogging. ;)

Here's a decor piece I came up with. If you've been following me on Facebook or on Instagram, you've probably seen that I've been purging and in a "use it or lose it" kind of mood. This is another example of just that! I used a frame I purchased about two years ago and some leis that I picked up secondhand, also a while back. I don't know why I bought them, but I finally put them to use. ha.

I cut a roll of brown paper down to size and them started by adding some clouds with Embossing Paste. I had to move the stencil around several times because the area was quite large and then (not so) patiently wait for it to dry.

To both cover some "boo boo's" and add more interest, I punched some more clouds from brown paper with the Tree Builder Punch and then added some detail with my White Gel Pen. I glued some flat and popped some up.

Lastly, I created this cloud piece using my retired Little Letters Thinlits and my Labeler Alphabet stamp set. I really love how this turned out.

Overall, I'm happy with how this piece came together, but my 7yo did point out that my rainbow colours weren't in the correct order. ha.

Lastly, I wanted to share this tip with you. Sometimes a spill-out can happen with Embossing Paste and you may feel like throwing out the entire project. However, once it has dried, grab some fine sandpaper and just gently start sanding away the "boo boo's". It's less noticeable on lighter paper, but as you can see, works on dark paper also. It's not perfect, but certainly better.

Until next time, stay crafty!

Steph

If you would like to purchase Stampin' Up! products, want more info or to take a class, check me out at www.hofkissed.stampinup.net or find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hofkissed

Christmas in July - Double Whammy!

I can't believe it's mid-July already! That not only means that it's time for another Blog Hop (yay!), but it's also Christmas in July (double yay!!). If you can believe it, this is the time of year that I start crafting and thinking up Christmas projects... and I've got TWO for you today!

Ok, seriously, how cute are these pigs?! I just couldn't resist dressing this guy up in a little Santa suit and hat, complete with cotton trimming. :) The stamp set is called This Little Piggy and the paper is from the Coffee Break DSP.

On the inside, I used Labeler Alphabet and a strip of DSP. Did you know that if you cut your 12" x 12" DSP down to 4" x 6" pieces, you can have a piece for the front and one for the inside when you cut 3/4" off. ;)

Here's a closer look at this cutie. Don't you just love when you're able to take your products further?! Did you think I could take some coffee paper and a pig and make a Christmas card??

Speaking of using "non-Christmas" products to make Christmas cards... my Paper Pumpkin arrived today and the kit was so cute, I just couldn't wait to play! However, I didn't create as intended. If you follow me, this shouldn't come as a surprise. haha

I used a few pieces from the kit, but then mixed it with the Oh, What Fun and Flurry of Wishes stamp sets and played a little with the Embossing Paste. That stuff is so cool!! When I saw the wooden mountains contained in the kit, I just thought of white tips and the paste was the perfect thing to make that happen, along with some falling snow. If you're wondering about that braided accent... it was created with the tissue paper that Paper Pumpkin kits come wrapped in.

On the inside, I mixed an image from the stamp set I received in the kit, along with one from Flurry of Wishes. I kept it pretty simple.

Here's a closer look at some of the detail. I did add some paste to areas on the stamped snowflakes, however, I'm not sure that really added much to the project.

Thanks for tuning into this long-winded post! I hope you enjoyed the two projects I shared with you today. I'd love to hear what you think!

Don't forget that this is a Blog Hop... so hop on over to my friends too:

1. Leena at A La Cards
2. Sandy at Lolly & Sand
3. Me, Steph at Hofkissed <<You Are Here

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

To purchase Stampin' Up! and to view all my classes & upcoming events, visit me at hofkissed.stampinup.net

Tri-City Stampers Blog Hop - Month #2

Hello! Welcome back to a new month and our Blog Hop - happens on the 15th of every month! Thanks for checking in. If this is your first stop, be sure to scroll down and continue moving through the tour. You won't be disappointed!

Today's card focuses on the Birthday Memories Suite. I really have been loving this one! Perfect for kids projects and for someone who loves fussy cutting (me!!). These poodles are pretty sassy and you get an entire page filled with them in the Designer Series Paper pack. One of them you can even cut out with the Framelits.

I chose three of my favourites and then accessorized them with more fussy cut images - a party hat, present and balloons.This suite is so fun and colourful that I think you'll fall in love too!

I hope you've liked today's project - don't forget to jump on over to my other amazingly talented friends too. ;)

1. You are here >> Hofkissed - Steph VanDorp
2. A La Cards - Leena Girsa
3. Lolly & Sand - Sandy McCullough

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

To purchase Stampin' Up!, subscribe to my newsletter, or request a catalogue, visit www.hofkissed.stampinup.net You can also check out my events while there, or visit me on Facebook.

Quick & Easy Tuesdays

Hello! Welcome to another week of Quick and Easy. Today I'm sharing several cards I made with one of the new Memories & More suites from Stampin' Up!. I used the Colour Theory Pack. It includes over 70 double-sided cards in 3x4 and 4x6, plus some acetate sheets and sticker sheets. What's awesome about this line is that there are also several coordinating products (something Stampin' Up! does so well) that include paper, stamps, dies and embellishments.

Above is the first card. I simply used two of the 3x4 cards, some twine and one of the stickers from the kit. Quick & easy, right?! No stamping required!

For card two, I again used one of the included cards and some stickers, but then also stamped the sentiment with the coordinating stamp set - Colourful Seasons.To give the camera some dimension, I punched the white circle out with a 2" Circle Punch, glued that flat on the card base and then popped the rest up.

Card three builds on one of the printed cards. I simply cut one of the 4x6 cards down and stamped the sentiment on it. To add some dimension, I cut some cherry blossoms using the coordinating Thinlits, Seasonal Layers.

For card four, I created a shaker card. Did you see that one coming when I told you above that the kit includes acetate sheets? ;) Again using one of the 4x6 cards (that happened to have a blank square on it), I carefully cut it and glued my acetate sheet to it. The snowflakes are cut from the same Thinlits as above - you get 17 dies in that set! Not only did I add a few of the snowflakes in the shaker compartment, but I also layered them together on the front of the card.

Hope you liked today's samples... I feel a class coming soon with this kit. You really can do so much with it. I've only begun to explore (and used a mere 6 pieces from it!).

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

To purchase Stampin' Up!, subscribe to my newsletter, or request a catalogue, visit www.hofkissed.stampinup.net You can also check out my events while there, or visit me on Facebook.

Quick & Easy Tuesday

Hello! Welcome to another "quick & easy" Tuesday. I'm happy to get back to creating! To be honest, I've been going through a huge creative block for several weeks. I think I just needed a good break & rest because when I held a class last Friday, it all came back and I can't tell you what a relief that was!

Anyway, today I'm showing you a quick home decor project (with some new products, available June 1st). Home decor doesn't have to be complicated. Several years ago I framed some Designer Series Paper (DSP) in colours that match my other decor and get complimented on it all the time. How simple, right?!

Here's my newest creation and also very simple when you have the right tools:

I got the idea from some Muskoka Chairs (as they're referred to here in Ontario, Canada, Adirondack Chairs elsewhere) that my brother built years ago with a maple leaf back. These chairs remind me of summer, cottage life and relaxation. So peaceful! Not only does this piece fit my decor in my living room, but it also symbolizes the Canadian Flag... very fitting since it'll be Canada's 150th birthday on July 1st. ;)

All the pieces were die cut from the Seasonal Layers Thinlits that can be purchased alone or as part of a bundle with the coordinating stamp set - Colourful Season. I also featured some of the set in this post.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

For a listing of all my classes and to purchase Stampin' Up! products, please visit my page at www.hofkissed.stampinup.net You can also find me on Facebook - www.facebook.com/hofkissed

Sneak Peek Blog Hop!

Hello! Welcome to my first ever Blog Hop! I'm so excited to be participating with some other very talented ladies. Together, we're showcasing some new products that are coming out on June 1st! I decided to focus on one of the suites entitled Color Theory. At first glance, it didn't really inspire me, but once I took a deeper look, I realized how much potential there was!

I've been playing around a lot with this suite - there are thinlits, stamps, ribbon, paper, and embellishments! Not only is this suite focused on colour, but also the seasons! While I didn't end up using the stamp set for this card, you can create projects all year long with just this one suite... how awesome is that?!

For this card, I used a new 6x6 Paper Stack that has several Ombre patterns. I used one sheet and cut it using a scallop edge from the Thinlits. The branches and cherry blossoms are cut from the same set. Don't you just love them?!

I created lots of depth by curling the scallops and layering the blossoms and of course adding some jewels, coloured in various pinks (with Sharpie Markers) to match the ombre look.

Don't forget the inside of your card! Since I didn't use the stamp, I added some more die cuts to the inside too. I just can't get enough of them!!

Be sure to follow along as I continue showcasing this amazing suite of products in the weeks ahead. This is just the beginning! In the meantime though, catch some more sneak peeks as you hop on over to my friends...

1. You are here >> Hofkissed - Steph VanDorp
2. A La Cards - Leena Girsa
3. Lolly & Sand - Sandy McCullough

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

If you'd like more information on Stampin' Up!, the products I used and/or my class offerings, head on over to www.hofkissed.stampinup.net

Quick & Easy Tuesdays

I know it's been a few Tuesdays since you've heard from me and I apologize for that. I was taking a trip and got busy planning for that and finishing up a few orders before I left. Anyway, here's a pretty little gift package I created that holds 6 mini note cards & envelopes. Choose your favourite double-sided paper (I recommend Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper) and pull your colour scheme from the paper to create your cards.

Here are all the cards I created. I used the Timeless Textures stamp set and I'm happy to report is in the new Annual Catalogue! It's such a versatile set and as you can see below, you can create all sorts of collage stamping with just one set! I had a lot of fun just stamping and then added a few small embellishments to a some of the cards. To coordinate, I added some paper to the flaps of all the envelopes. I love doing that for special projects!

Lastly, here's a better look at my favourite design. I just love all the different types of stamp images that come in this set and how you use them to "colour" different aspects of each stamp set.

Here's a quick video on how to put together the little pouch. I've added the written dimensions in the YouTube description.... just take note that one of the measurements I said in the video is wrong - the right measurement is 1-3/4", not 2-1/4". ;)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

If you would like to purchase Stampin' Up!, or view my list of classes and events, please visit www.hofkissed.stampinup.net

Quick & Easy Tuesdays

Welcome to another Tuesday featuring quick & easy projects. The following are actually what we're making in class tonight. Quick & Easy classes happen monthly on the second Tuesday of the month.

Stampin' Up! makes it really easy to create beautiful projects with all the coordinating suites! For these cards, I used one of my favourite sets - Best Birds - which I'm happy to report is in the new catalogue (live June 1st!).

This set is fabulous because it offers both images and sentiments. I combined some stamping with some paper from the Serene Scenery Paper Stack. My colours were chosen from the paper - Crumb Cake, Pool Party and Early Espresso.

If you're loving this set, it's currently bundled with the coordinating Framelits at a 10% discount. Buy it now or pay full price starting June 1st.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

To view & purchase Stampin' Up!, please visit my website at www.hofkissed.stampinup.net

Quick & Easy #2

Wow... twice in one day! I wanted to enter the challenge over at Just Add Ink, so I thought I'd share another post with you. I've had this idea for a while and is inspired by various "Punch Art", but geared toward kids. I created a couple of characters just for the "Just Add... Critters" Challenge #353.

I created these projects for an upcoming kids class I'm offering. They'll make various punch art figures using just circles... those are the most versatile shape! Above is a bunny card, just in time for Easter. Isn't he cute?!

Normally when I create punch art, I use various shapes and add some sponging, but I wanted to show that punch art doesn't have to be complicated. I bet the kids will love creating these whimsical critters.

Until next time, stay crafty,
Steph

Quick & Easy Tuesdays

Hello! So sorry I missed posting last Tuesday... it was a week of Migraines! :( Anyway, I'm back today with another "quick and easy" project. Check it out:

The kids were doing some paper weaving a couple weeks ago (remember doing that in school?) and it gave me and idea to do a little on a card with some pretty paper. This would work well with your paper scraps too! I love Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper (DSP) because it's double sided and the quality is fabulous. It makes it really easy for coordination AND made this project really quick and easy because I could just flip over the paper and knew it would look great!

Another reason why I choose this card to feature today was because I used the Swirly Bird Stamp Set & Coordinating Thinlits. This set has so many fun shapes to create a variety of projects. For the sentiment, I used the Tin of Cards Stamp Set. By adding some heat embossed elements in gold & using a little Gold Glimmer Paper, you really don't need many layers either.

I hope you'll give paper weaving a try on your next project. To achieve this look, just cut yourself 6 strips of patterned paper, each measuring 3" x 1/2".

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

To purchase Stampin' Up! products, subscribe to my Newsletter and more, check out my website at www.hofkissed.stampinup.net