Mojo Monday ~ On the flip side

Good Morning Stampers!

This morning's mojo Monday sketch challenge was just what I needed to work on the paper I'm hoarding..

I really didn't want to cut into this paper! I'm going to use it for stamp club this week, just to make sure I'm over it.. :D

You know, I think ever paper crafter has that one package of paper that they hold on to and don't use. This is my design for that! Every time I go in my craft room, I touch this paper, but I haven't played with it, until last night!

The two background patterns shown here are on the flip side of one another. This paper is HEAVY duty, textured card stock that feels like you could make a card base with it.

The focal point was inked with markers and cut out, then I popped it up on the 2 1/2" square with some dimensionals. I hope you have a wonderful week!

Selene Kempton

Saturday Sketch challenge 170

Tonight operator Gretchen is taking a turn at the sketch board and she did a phenomenal job!

To play along just go to the stamping411 blog.

I just love this beautiful sketch and I'm VERY happy with my card as well! I love a good sketch challenge!

I embossed the black, razzleberry, and DSP all together with the spiderweb embossing folder. I used a black stazon pad, and just brushed over "direct to paper" with the inkpad. It picked up the stazon and colored my DSP to get the embossing to really pop.

I used this card for my team meeting last Sunday night to show water-coloring with markers. So the next thing we did was add a little color, then used an aqua painter to move the color.

Now ~ I have to say.. I need a few more rolls of this pumpkin taffeta.. It is so delicious looking! I just tied it on.. Now if you want a really cool tutorial on how to tie a cool bow, I suggest you check out Robin Merriman's post here.

So onto my measurements:

Base: Pumpkin Pie 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"
Layer 2: Razzleberry 5 1/8" x 3 7/8" (1/8" larger than layer 3 on two sides)
Layer 3: Black 5 x 3 3/4"
Layer 4: Razzleberry striped DSP (from the patterns pack) 5 x 1 7/8"
Layer 5: 2 7/8" x 3 7/8", Pumpkin Pie
Layer 6: 2 3/4" x 3 3/4" Very Vanilla

What a wickedly fun sketch! Have a great weekend!
Rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Raffles!!!!

Day by day, we are Making Strides to make this an unbelievable event! We hope to see YOU at the event in Burlington Massachusetts on October 2nd! Make a day of it and leave with some handmade cards, while helping a WONDERFUL organization. Let me know if you need hotel information, we have a block at a discounted rate!

First, here is what Stampin' Up sent me to donate to our raffles for the event. How awesome is it to work for a company that supports the community in such a robust manner?!? I have no doubt that I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to, at exactly the right time in my life with the most wonderful company EVER!! So ~ would you like to win some of this?

We have also received a $25 gift certificate to market basket and a raffle item from Lisa Lloyd, a local pampered chef consultant.

I will also be raffling off a big shot. To be entered for the big shot, you just have to register for the event! That's it!

Less than two weeks to go, and we are hanging fliers and pounding the pavement to raise awareness about our event.

To register for the event, just make a $20 donation to our team member "event registration" by clicking the link. After next Wednesday, and at the door, registration will go up to $25. We want to encourage you to make your donation DIRECT to the charity!

To receive the directions, to recreate the projects shown below, click here and make a $20 donation to our team member "stamping team"

For more details, here's a link to the flier..

We hope to see YOU at the event in Burlington Massachusetts on October 2nd! Bring your friends, bring you family members.. Make a day of it and leave with some handmade cards, while helping a WONDERFUL organization.

Rubbah hugs,

Selene Kempton

Fangtastic Mojo

Happy Monday Morning!

I did this cute card for the mojo monday sketch challenge.

I had the supplies mostly cut already from my team meeting last night and you'll see this guy again later this week. He's a sweet little fella, getting ready to do his trick or treating.

I embossed the purple layer right on top of the black and razzleberry. Then used a black marker so you could really see the webbing on this card.

This is my kind of Halloween set. I'm not a big fan of "scary" but I love scary cute!

The main image was done with markers and an aqua painter.

I hope you have a fangtastic week!

Rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton

Team Swap Card

Tonight is my monthly team meeting. I usually try to get the girls together every month or at least every 6 weeks! :D

This month's swap theme was to case the catalog. I chose this card (which was originally done in blue in the catalog. I had fun water coloring the image.

I think this card is a LOT cuter in real life and the photo doesn't do it justice, but I wanted to share anyway.

Happy Sunday and rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton

Saturday Sketch Challenge 169

Good Evening Friends!

It's my favorite time of the week, sketch challenge night on stamping 411.

I decided to keep it simple this week. I used some of the new rubons available from Stampin' Up! Aren't they sweet?

The focal point is punched with a very large circle punch and I played with a few scallop circle punches that I cut to emulate the focal point.

How about some measurements?

Base: 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"
Layer 2: 4 x 4 1/4"
Layer 3: Designer paper 1 x 4"
I used ribbon and punches for embellishments. I think it's super easy and I love easy that's also cute! :D

Please join us over on the stamping 411 blog this week and make a simple card for this week's sketch! I hope to see you over there! :D

Have a wonderful weekend!

Selene Kempton

Christmas Bling

Join me for class THIS Friday night for my first of the season Christmas card classes.

Make two of each of these four designs. That's eight cards in all for $25. Each of the cards has ribbon, and bling, buttons and simple bows.

Date: Friday, 9/17/10
Time: 6:30
Place: Selene's Stampin' Pad

To sign up for this class please email me at e.selene@verizon.net

Friday Night Class ~ You Make Me Smile

The funky, bold, bright colors and patterns of the Play Date DP are an eye catching combination that is sure to elicit a “wow” from all who see it! In this class you’ll use the Play date DP, FYI and Funky Four stamp sets to create these four fun cards along with a coordinating window card folder to gift them in!

Date: Friday, September 24th
Time: 6:30PM
Cost: $25
Location: Selene's Stampin Pad
Please email me to sign up for this class: e.selene@verizon.net

Are you a demonstrator who would like to offer this class to your customers? Email me at the above address for more information.

Mojo Monday

Good Morning Friends!

I'm just playing along with this morning's mojo Monday Sketch challenge.

Measurements for this project:

Base: 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"
layer 2: 5 1/8 x 3 3/8" baja
Layer 3: 5 x 3 3/4" white (this layer went through the big shot
Layer 4: 4 7/8 x 3 1/4 (greenhouse Gala Designer paper)
Layer 5: baja 3 x 3 1/4"
Layer 6: white 2 7/8 x 3 1/8"

The ribbon is daffodil delight taffeta ribbon. I used the self adhesive "jewels" from stampin up for the bling accents.

I stamped the image with multiple marker colors.

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton

Stamp Out Breast Cancer Event

This was the first week of school for my 5 year old daughter. During our morning routine Friday morning she said "mommy, if we can get rid of the cancer more people will be around, right?" I said, "that's it Alexis, you've got it".

She's seen mom working on this event for quite some time and now I feel like I can finally roll it out to all of you.

Imagine a world with more birthdays, a cure... That moment with my daughter is my personal "why" moment. It's not just for you and I, but for all the generations to follow. Those who have passed and watched our loved ones slip away. For my mom's friend Barbara G. who left behind a very large and loving family. For my friend Amy, who I went to high school with and countless customers and friends. For my girlfriend Christine, who lost her mom to breast cancer at a very young age. Please join me and my girlfriends for the first annual Stamp Out Breast Cancer Event Fundraiser, in conjunction with the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Walk.

World Card Making Day seemed like the perfect time to have an event to benefit cancer! So here are some more details. The day before the walk on October 2nd, a team of 12 demonstrators from across Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire are gathering to provide a set of 5 cards for $20. All the supplies for the event are being donated by the demonstrators. 100% of your $20 donation will be going directly to making strides. In fact, part of the registration process is to make your donation direct to making strides on our team site (to our team member "event registration").

If you are unable to attend the event, but would like to purchase the directions to make the 5 projects shown above (designed by convention display stamper and just a super talented lady, Kerin Sylvester), you can donate $20 to the "stamping team" team member on our making strides site and you will have the directions emailed to you.

For more details about the event, or to make a donation of any amount (which will certainly help a whole lot!) check out the flier here.

I hope to see you at the event on October 2nd.

Here is a quick picture of the planning meeting for our big event! This is just a few of the demonstrators involved in making it all happen. I hope to have more pictures for you as time goes on. This event has been in the planning stages for many months and we are very excited to present a stamping opportunity for all, that will help raise money for a cure.
We hope you will join us on Saturday October 2nd in Burlington for Stamp Out Breast Cancer as well as on Sunday October 3rd at the Hatch Shell in Boston for the 17th annual Making Strides walk, if you are interested. If you are planning to walk on the 3rd feel free to join our team!

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is more than just the name of a walk; it describes the progress we're making together in the fight against breast cancer. Nothing can describe the hope that is inspired by walking with others who share a passion for ending this disease. Because nearly everyone has been touched by breast cancer in some way, hope for a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays starts with us. We've decided to show our support and make a difference by stamping as a team in the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event.

Saving lives from breast cancer starts one team, one walker, one stamper and one dollar at a time. Join us, and together we will create a world with less breast cancer and more birthday celebrations.

Click here for more information.

Rubbah hugs,

Selene Kempton

Good Evening Friends!

I've been in a bit of a slump with my mojo and have been struggling coming up with projects that I really like.

I've been putting a LOT of work into a breast cancer fundraiser, and I hope to roll out more details this weekend. My brain is full so pardon me if I sound silly at anytime!

Well, I really do like this little penguin dude.. :D

I stamped him on whisper white and punched him out with the brand new punch from the mini. I sponged the outside with blushing bride and colored his scarf with real red. Next I cut his hands out from the cardstock, so that when I added the happy birthday banner. Oh so stinkin cute!

Here are the measurements I used.

Base: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored and folded at 4 1/4"
Layer 2: 4 x 5 1/4", real red
Layer 3: 3 3/4" square Designer paper from the new mini!!
Then the shapes on top were just punched, and I ran a ribbon across.

Easy peasy! Got to love that!

I hope you'll join us over on stamping 411, make and post a card so I can go leave you a comment! Have a great night!
Selene Kempton

Saturday Sketch Challenge 167

Good Evening Friends!

It's time for another sketch from the stamping 411 operators! I have to say, this week I struggled with my own sketch.. :D It certainly happens.. I emailed a few of the operators, got some opinions, set the card aside for a few hours then came back and reworked it. I'm MUCH happier with the result.

I started with a piece of the new fabric and cut it based on the sketch. I attached it to my card with sticky strip (sticky red tape).

After last weeks post many of my friends and customers asked me about the pleated ribbon technique. In particular, Betsy asked me how this technique works so I'll do a quick tutorial here on how I do the pleated ribbon. I first saw this technique on my girlfriend Tiffany's blog. She saw a project on Kimberly VanDiepen's blog. The original project was done with paper and punched with the eyelet border punch, then pleated. Tiffany made this card with her inspiration. So you can see tiffany's paper pleating here and then her first neatly pleated card from back in March. After seeing Tiffany's post, it took some time to sink in, but I was inspired to make a card for mojo Monday that used three different pleated ribbons, and you can see that card by clicking here... Back then, I used snail adhesive to put my pleated ribbons together, but snail doesn't hold as well as the alternative, sticky strip for pleating my ribbon, so I decided it was time to show you how I do it now.

LOL Did you get all that?? It's really fun to see how an idea evolves. Now this technique is all over the internet and everyone is pleating their ribbon. Everyone is different and we all have different ways of doing the same thing. Here's how I do it....

Add a piece of sticky strip to where you want your ribbon to stick. If the ribbon is going to go to the end of the layer, I like to wrap the sticky strip around the back, like I did with the past two stamping 411 cards I've created (below).. (click the stamping 411 label on the right to see the list of cards below this post). So stick the sticky strip down on your card well, then peel back the red backing to expose the super sticky layer.

Now I know you cant really see the sticky strip, but it's under there. Start by sticking a ribbon to the end of your card.. I love using the new seam binding from Stampin up because the ribbon is so thin it's VERY easy to manipulate.
Then using your thumb, pleat your ribbon. mine is certainly not as neat as Tiffany's first perfectly pleated card, but I like to just bring my ribbon to the top and bottom making a fun, ornate, imperfect shape with my ribbon.
Here's what it looks like when it's completely done. Again, if you want to have your ribbon go across an entire layer, continue your sticky strip to the back of the layer, and flatten it out in the back so it doesnt get too bulky.
My card this week was certainly a labor of love. You cant see it from the card above, but that music paper is at the bottom of the eyelet border punch and the music is peeking out from underneath that layer. I find the vintage look beautiful, but I really do struggle to make it come together sometimes.. I gravitate towards the clean and simple, but it was fun to get my fingers dirty and play.

So what else did I do to this card... Well, after I cute the fabric and ribbon I pulled at the edges to fray and make it look a little aged. I sponged some vanilla craft ink out on the edges and added some pretty self adhesive pearls.

I stamped the girl from greeting card kids in stazon ink, and water colored the image with markers. When I was done, I finished it off with smooch accent ink, shiny, sparkly top coat and carried the red ever so slightly through the scarf and the trip on the coat and hat. It's actually very sparkly in real life. The ground also has sparkles which makes the ground look frosty. In any case.. I had fun...

Have a great holiday weekend! Next week my daughter will be going to kindergarten, so I'll be posting a little more frequently. I'm going to enjoy the last few moments of summer this weekend. Give someone you love an extra hug this week!

Rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton