BC 88 ~ An altered item.

It figures that I finish my project in the knick of time to post my challenge and my camera battery ~ completely dead!

I decided to alter a SU album with the new decor stencils! I went and bought some stencil paint. (i'm still not sure how to get it off the brush). I purchased three colors to match my album, two blue's and a silver. I also added some satin ribbon and silver hodgepodge. I cut the backs of the brads down so they wouldnt show, and used crystal effects to attach the hardware.

I started by taping my stencil to the front of the album. then I added my light blue, put some dark blue on top then added the silver. I wanted each color to show, so i didnt go too crazy with any one color. The photo of when I was done with that is down at the bottom.

Shelli Garnder did this at Stampin' Up's leadership conference and I really wanted to try it. With so many babys coming, do you think this might make a good baby album?? I hope you have as looking as I had creating and I hope you have time to stamp something fun today!

Selene Kempton

So Many Babies!

I know about 5 people that are pregnant right now. I was pretty psyched when I saw Kristina Werner's color challenge this morning because i need to make some boy cards and it gave me just the push I needed to get it done! This one is for a baby shower this weekend that I cannot make because I'm working. But I'll send this one shortly after the mom's shower! (so i cannot say who). :)

The dsp came from the level 3 hostess set in the current SU, idea book and catalog. It's really cool, i'm not sure about my rolling water, but what can you do... :)

The buttons in the photo dont look straight, but they do when you're looking at the card... so funny. :)

I hope you have time to stamp something cool today.

Selene Kempton

P.S. For Donna~~ I use a waterbrush and picked the color up from my inkpad and rolled it on... like rolling grass or water and just kept making layers. The whole card took me about 30 minutes. :)

Simple Stamping with markers

I made 30 of these babies with 1 and a half sheets of designer series paper. I was working with DSP from one of the simply scrappin kits and wanted to make a masculine birthday card. I inked my stamp with not quite navy and chocolate Chip ink. A quick huff and stamp and i had a gorgeous image to work with.

A few months ago, i came up with the "spotted watercolor" technique. I simply dot the bold end of a marker in a lighter color. You can also use multiple colors with this image, in this case I just used bashful blue and not quite navy. Once you have "spotted" your color on with little dots, take a blender pen and soften/blend the ink out and you get a really beautiful blended soft look. I like it because it's almost a weepy look. However for a birthday card like this one, you may want to skip the blender pens and keep the dots. Either way, I love this tree!

Spread so thin ~ you can see through me

I once heard a SU demonstrator say, "I'm spread so thin, you can see through me" and I remember thinking, how could you be THAT busy. With 3-5 stamping events per week for the past month, I know EXACTLY how she feels. It's like if there's one more thing added to my plate, everything might fall off. I'm going try to scale back on my calendar and in the mean time, i'd like to share two personal pictures that my sister took today of Brian, My daughter Alexis and me! The photos were taken at a birthday party for my Godson. We had a wonderful time, and more importantly, I got a little time off.

Breaks are important!

Rubbah Hugs,

Selene Kempton

Bloggers challenge inspiration

Hey Everybody... I'm so sorry I'm late! I made this card for bloggers challenge last night. I will write more details later on.

Diva's Coffee Break Challenge

I really LOVE the sketch for this week's challenge. I desperatly want spring to come so that I can take my daughter outside more, and here we go again... It's supposed to snow tonight.. (my fault for living in new england)..

I flipped the sketch on it's side because I really wanted to use this awesome stamp set when I saw the sketch.

I pulled my favorite spring colors out for this project. Artichoke, Rose Red, Regal Rose, and Apricot. I stamped the main layer on shimmer white... oh so pretty.. To color the image, I used watercolor crayons and a water brush.

I'm really happy with this one, I may use it for my class tomorrow night. :) Hope you have some quiet time to stamp something today.

Rubbah Hugs,

Selene Kempton

Praying for you ~ again!!

I have been upside down for the last two weeks, with stamping events, and am playing catch up today. (Not that I'm complaining! ~ there are many folks looking for work, and I'm happy that I'm able to work during such unsteady times). This card is for a swap I'm in.

Here is the recipe:

Stamps: Thoughts and Prayers
Ink: Markers, choc chip and Old Olive, Old Olive Ink Pad for use with the texture plates
Paper: Old Olive, Choc chip, Confetti White
Accessories: Sizzix die cut and embossing machine, Top note die, texture plates (with old olive ink on top), embossed with the sizzix and sanded with a sanding block to make the color “pop”, curly label punch, tri flower punch, pretties kit bling brads, removed from the casing with the pliers from the crafters tool kit and crystal effects to adhere.

Fun With Decor Elements!

Hanging out with some friends at a stampin party, my friend asked me to install her decor elements. Are you kidding??? I had more fun then they did (but don't tell anyone).

Triple Challenge ~ Bloggers Challenge, Kristina Werner, AND Mojo Monday

Another crazy week but I'm still chugging! I would almost say that this was a quadruple challenge, because I find making cards for my husband quite the challenge. He gives me lots of design advise and he's color blind... He can only see red, black and green really.. He thinks that purple and brown are the same color. I can't even fathom the idea!

So for my bloggers challenge group, the challenge was Valentines Day, for Mojo Monday, the attached Sketch, and Kristina Werner had another color challenge.

Here's my version of all three... plus it's a masculine card for my wonderful, sweet, loving Valentine Brian. I painted the boat with crystal effects and sprinkled some dazzling diamonds on there. I reversed the sketch for the mojo monday, so my little tugboat would fit. I'm really happy with this one.

For Miss Bonnie!

My good friend Bonnie is a wonderful member of my team and scrapbookers club, and last night was her turn to be the hostess. Bonnie is CRAZY for owls... not just drawn ones, she likes the real deal too! I was so EXITED to make this hostess gift for her.

I was at the dollar store when i found this Kiwi Kiss mug. I had already purchased the rubons which come in 4 colors.

I was especially happy that the rubons come with the white behind the owl. So if you were putting this on a piece of paper, your owl could show up on a colored piece of cardstock.

For the bag topper, i used the rubons on cardstock and just layered them, nothing fancy, but I LOVE the effect!!

She will NOT be able to put this in the dishwasher or even wash it by hand, the rubons do come off, but i thought it would be a great little piece for her desk to put paperclips SU embellishments in. Cup of ribbon anyone??

I hope you're having a wonderful day! Stamp something beautiful!

Selene Kempton

DCBD 114 ~ Funky Colors!

Another Diva's coffee Break Challenge and can I just say, I feel challenged by these colors!!!! Holy Moly!!

For my secold layer. I took a craft piece of cardstock and smooshed some ink on one of my texture plates. I ran the craft through the sizzix. The Artichoke ink "stamped" on the cardstock and the rest of the card embossed in craft! I really love the effect and want to try that again! I got this stamp set at leadership and it's quickly becoming my favorite. I stamped all the main images on shimmer white cardstock and tied some craft ribbon on around the bottom. It's sort of springy.. Not sure that i like the final result, but that's part of the fun of stamping. Sometimes you make a masterpiece, sometimes, not so much! :) I really do love those texture plates!

I'm sure my Diva sisters have come up with some amazing creations for this challenge, you can check them out here.

Have a great day, and I hope you have time to stamp something!
Selene Kempton

Featured Artist ~ Karen B.

I am lucky enough to work with some of the most talented and inspiring women ever!!! I keep telling my good friend Karen, that she needs to start a blog of her own... Take a peek and if you want to leave a note for her, I'm sure she'll be excited to read what you have to say!

However, I doubt she'll be as exited as I am to have these in my hot little hands!!! Thanks for sharing your talent!

Selene Kempton

My two favorite people

I was playing with some of my Sale-A-Bration toys today and made this awesome page of Daddy and Alexis.

This photo was taken at the Daddy Daughter dance at school.

I've been working out the pages for my spring scrapfest on February 28th and this will be one of them for sure.

At the class you will make 8 generic pages for $35. These pages will be great for baby, birthday, spring, wedding or anything that you're scrapping that's bright and cheery.

Space is limited to 8 participants and classes are already filling up!

I hope you can make it. If you are interested in signing up for this class, please email me @ e.selene@verizon.net.

Bloggers Challenge # 85 and Kristina Werner Color Challenge

I had SO much fun with Kristina Werner's color challenge today, that when I sat down to make the blogger's challenge card, I used the same colors again.

I really enjoyed making this one. When I looked at the sketch, I thought that it looked like an odd shaped card. Not your standard 1/4 sheet of cardstock card. So I pulled out some of my 3 1/2" x 5" notecards and started there. I cut a piece of cardstock smaller on two sides by 1/8" inch and ran it through my big shot. I (((heart))) my new texture plates.

Next, I cut a circle with the circle scissor plus and made some scallops with a new technique I found through one of my friends from bloggers challenge.

If it's your technique, can you email me so I can link to your cool post that shows how to do that? Finally I used markers to ink up my now ~ favorite ~ stamp set. I sponged the scallops with some more mustard ink, because it needed something. I'm really happy with these. I love this sketch and the colors from Kristina.

On a personal note, I made a bunch of praying for you cards today, addressed them and mailed them out. Got a lot of bad news over the past few weeks about friends with different types of cancer ~ all of a sudden.

It seems to me that there are a ton of folks struggling with health issues right now and it makes me look at my life and really appreciate that I have my hubby and daughter and we're all happy and healthy. I also appreciate my friends more, and waste less. So, I guess that's a good thing. I hope God is watching over all my friends who have had some crazy news lately, and over all who read this message. Counting my blessings.

Rubber Hugs,

Selene Kempton

Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration #40 ~ A card for Michele and Dean

Here is another fabulous color combination by Kristina Werner.

I received some shocking news this week from my very good friend Michele. Her hubby has taken ill and they have been told that it is going to be a long road. When I saw these colors, I thought that it was just what I had been thinking about. I needed to make a card for Michele and Dean.

This is a gorgeous color combination ~ and something I would have not chosen on my own! Thanks Kristina for another wonderful color combo! I cant wait to get this one in Michele's mail box.

Rubber Hugs,
Selene Kempton

DCBD 113 ~ Happy Bird-Day Sketch

Well it's time for another weekly challenge from the Diva's coffee break design team!

I had my girlfriend Karen here this morning and we worked this one out together. (so fun). Stamping is a little like having a few drinks... Makes you feel good and it's much better when someone else is there! OH BOY... I'm in a goofy mood today!

Well anyway.. This was a terrific sketch and I can't wait to see what the rest of the team comes up with. I used urban garden dsp for my background and made the scallops with my 1 3/8" circle punch and coordinating scallop punch. Take your snips and cut the scallop open then cut half way down in each of the scallop's "valleys" this makes your cardstock easy to move... So You can put it around any rounded shape. :) Totally fun!

I hope you're all having a FABULOUS day and if you havent already, try and stamp something... More Importantly, try and stamp something with a friend.

Rubber Hugs,

Selene Kempton

Party Hearty

Good Morning!

I am a part of the late night stampers demonstrator group. Actually, I'm lucky enough to be chosen as a design team member. This was a color challenge for this week.

This is a super simple card that would be easy to reproduce! :)

Stamps: Party Hearty
Ink: Garden Green, bashful Blue, Not quite navy
Paper: Garden Green, bashful Blue, Not quite navy, Riding hood red
Accessories: crystal effects, paint brush, red bead duos, red riding hood taffeta.

Rubber hugs and thanks for looking.
Selene Kempton

What A Slacker!! Blogger's Challenge is FINALLY up!

I had a busy week but a really good one! Back to back workshops and classes this week and TWO new team members signed up with me today! No excuses, but I finally got a few minutes to myself to stamp something while I watched the come from behind win for Pittsburgh today!

I really love the bloggers challenge group and look forward to see what all the fabulous ladies have stamped from week to week!

Normally I have trouble with masculine cards, but tonight I was in the mood. I'm rather happy with my chef dude and his matching coat. That's a really simple technique called paper peicing. Just stamp your image a second time on some designer paper, and cut it out. I used a 2-way glue pen to glue him to the front of the image on the white cardstock and stuck him down. Easy peasy and totally fun!

Stamps: Viola
Ink: Stazon black, bashful blue, kiwi kiss, Blush Blossom, Banana Yellow, Going Gray
Paper: Bashful Blue, Black, Basic Grey, Whisper WhiteAccessories: Grey Taffeta Ribbon.
Technique: Paper piecing (stamp on the DP, and cut out, use a 2-way glue pen to glue it on top of the main image.

but

Regular Friday Night Girls Group

I'm really excited about this month's "Friday Night" class. Many of my customer's have been requesting cool birthday projects so here's one that everyone will really remember!

This class will be held on Friday, February 20th at 6:30 at my home. If you are interested in attending or are interested in a class to go, just send me an email at e.selene@verizon.net.

Make your next birthday celebration an event to remember when you gift your friend or loved one with this mouth-watering cupcake - themed card set! Are you a demonstrator who would like to offer this class to your customers? Just send me an email to get started!