New INKS! ...well...to ME

Hello-

Don't forget to check out the Giveaway Post from yesterday...

I have been on what seems like the endless quest for the perfect inks...I figured out a while ago that I definitely prefer dye inks to pigment (just my personal preference) - but finding the perfect ink has been TOUGH!

I think I have finally found my favorite.  I have had several issues with some other inks that I thought were great... the colors changed drastically over time.  This did not make me happy :( Especially since I often make things ahead of time.

I tried several companies inks, and right now, the two I am most happy with are Memento Inks and Hero Hues.  With the Memento inks, I find that I have to use my Embossing ink first, in order to get complete coverage (not splotchy), but I don't mind. With the Hero Hues, they give me great coverage every time.  The only drawback (if you can call it that - some of you might not mind) is that some of the colors do stain my stamps.

Today, I am sharing my color comparison chart of Hero Hues in case any of you might be interested in trying them out :-)

Kristen

Announcement... and a Giveaway!

Hello!

Well I finally feel its time to explain why I just haven't really had the time to give to my blog 100%.  A few months ago, we found out we were blessed with this...

It's our first :-) I am currently 5 months along and we couldn't be more excited!!!

We will be announcing the gender during halftime of the Superbowl this Sunday. To celebrate, I would like to give away an Adhesive pack from Scrapbook Adhesives to one lucky blog follower.

Please leave me a comment *on this post* telling me what your guess is: "Boy" or "Girl" and on Monday I will pick a random comment to win the following package (Unfortunately, due to high postage costs, I can only offer this to US residents ONLY. Sorry!)-

Included in the package are:
- 1 pkg small foam squares - Black
- 1 pkg small foam squares - White
- 1 pkg foam squares (mix) - Black
- 1 pkg foam squares (mix) - White
- 1 pkg crafty foam tape - Black
- 1 pkg crafty foam tape - White
- 1 roll of Crafty Power Tape (My favorite!)
- 2 pkgs Clear Mounting Squares
- 1 MyStik Dispenser with Permanent Strips (refills are interchangeable whenever - not just when empty!)
- 1 Mystik refill - Repositionable Dots
- 1 Mystik refll - Permanent Fine (can be used for vellum or paper)
- 1 EZ Dots Mini - Repositionable
- 1 EZ Dots Mini - Permanent

Just leave me a comment  *on this post* with your guess BEFORE February 4 (Monday).  Be sure to leave me your email, a link back to your blog, or be sure to check back on Monday to see if you have won! (US Residents only)

Kristen

Sympathy Card Set

Sympathy cards are always tough to give, and even tougher to make when needed.  I created a set of 8 Sympathy Cards - just to have on hand.

I am loving this set from PTI, I really don't know why I waited so long to get it!

-Kristen

Baby Brag Book

Hello! I have a post up over at the Scrapbook Adhesives blog today!  Hop on over and see how I made this simple Photo Album.

Make it Monday #99, Take 2

Hello again!

Today's card for Make it Monday features an older set - that is brand new to me :-)

I have been eyeing this set for a LONG time... so glad I finally took the plunge.

I switched up the classic order so that the red focal point was right where I wanted it. The outline cars are stamped in Summer Sunrise, Harvest Gold, Simply Chartreuse, Ocean Tides and Plum Pudding.

I stamped the sentiment (from Lovely Leaves)using Vintage Cream and the entire card is mounted on Pure Poppy card stock.

Have a great weekend!
-Kristen

Make It Monday #99

I finally found some time to play along with this week's MIM, even though the ideas have been floating around in my head all week!

For this card, I used "Through the Trees" and inked it up with Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, Harvest Gold, Simply Chartreuse, Ocean Tides and Plum Pudding.

I added a strip of distressed grey paper from my scrap pile and the sentiment which is also from this set. Everything was mounted onto True Black card stock.

I'll be back tomorrow to share another card using the Repeating Rainbows technique :-)

-Kristen

So Many Smiles...

Hello!

Today I have a post up at the Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L blog.  Please stop by and check it out!

Kristen

Landscape Calendars

Hello!

Today I am sharing some landscape calendars I made for Christmas gifts.  The original idea came from Amber here.  Love love LOVED these calendars as soon as I saw them.  Amber graciously offers PDFs of her calendar templates and I snagged them up for this year's project.

Here is my take on it :-)

 

All Stamps are Papertrey Ink, Waltzingmouse Stamps or October Afternoon.

Kristen

Papertrey December Blog Hop Challenge

Hello and Happy Holidays!

I haven't played along with the monthly blog hops in awhile, and thought I'd get one in for the end of the year! :-)

This month's challenge was white on white.

I stamped the sentiment "Peace" (From Peace, Love and Joy mini set) in embossing ink and added clear embossing powder before heating.  It's a tad bit hard to see in the photo, but in person it has a neat effect.

I also ran the top panel through my Big Shot along with the woodgrain impression plate after die cutting the mat stack window.

I raised the panel using Crafty Foam Tape from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

Happy New Years!

-Kristen

Christmas Card Holder - part 2

Yesterday, I featured a Christmas Card Holder I made for the blog hop.  Today, I am showing another one I made this year, but with different papers - this one uses Cosmo Cricket papers and features the snowflake die from Papertrey Ink.

I love making these for gifts... and MYSELF! :-) What a great way to keep all your Christmas cards together year after year.

Happy Holidays!

Kristen

Blog Hop with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L and Graphic 45!

Graphic 45 and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L are hosting a week long blog hop - be sure to stop by!   Today I am featuring a post on a Christmas Card holder I made :-)

Christmas Greetings Tag

Hello!

I have a post up today on the Crafty Power Blog - be sure to stop by and check it out!

Happy Holidays!

-Kristen

Feel Better Soon

Hello!

Today I am sharing a get well card I made for my friend that recently had back surgery.  Making masculine cards is so hard.. its even harder for a 30-something male!  Then I got to thinking, video games!

Have a good week!
-Kristen

Lovely Layers Birthday Card

Hello-

What? 2 posts in one week? I KNOW!!!  I'm taking full advantage of the holiday time off to get crafty and catch up on my blog.

Today's card is a birthday card with a feminine theme. I used Lovely Layers (I LOVE this set!)

I stamped a white panel with the complete design from left to right using Hibiscus Burst ink.  The panel was adhered to a Spring Moss base to coordinate with the other stamped elements.

I stamped the leaf veins on Spring Moss cardstock using Simply Chartreuse ink. Next was a combo of Hibiscus Burst and Pure Poppy, followed by Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise and Canyon Clay.

The inside was stamped with an image from Birthday Tags 2012 in Spring Moss.

Thanks for stopping by!

Kristen

Masculine Birthday Card

Hello-

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving :-)  I celebrated mine by running a 5k in the morning, and filling up on sweet potatoes in the afternoon! PERFECT!

Today's card is a masculine card I made for my cousin, Jeff.

I stamped the Ocean Tides panel with a background from Market Street Stamps. I used Ocean Tides Ink for the argyle.  

I used Birthday Tags 2012 for the circular element, stamped in Kraft.

The front sentiment and the inside sentiment are both from the Think Big Favorites collection.

Thanks for stopping by!

Kristen