Bloggers challenge ~ A sketch

How simple and fun is this sketch?? When I saw this card sketch i knew i wanted to try it, so I used it for a card for my technique club. We did this 3D flower by cutting out 3 flowers and layering. We sponged each layer and added dazzling diamonds with a 2-way glue pen. Everyone got to pick their saying, because we used chit chat rubons! Super fun sketch! Please check out what the rest of the bloggers challenge ladies are up to and leave them a comment so they know you're looking! :)

Selene Kempton

DCBD 125 ~ A sketch challenge

Time for another week to join the Diva's Coffee Break Design team for a sketch challenge. I had so much fun making the first card, I made a second for this weeks challenge! This beautiful stamp set "for all you do" will not be available until the July 2009 release of the stampin up Idea book and catalog. It was a gift to all incentive trip achievers and given with a "make and take" packet in Hawaii. When I saw the sketch, even though I had been thinking it should stay on the shelf until we get closer to July, I pulled it off and mounted it to have a little fun.
First, I ran the white background through my bigshot with the swirly texture plate. I tied a ribbon on the designer series paper and used my eyelet border punch to create the design element on both sides of the DSP. I stamped the sentiment in chocolate chip and punched it out with the square punch, and layered that with the square scallop punch.

The inside of the card is almost more interesting than the front! I inked up the butterfly in baja breeze and "rock & rolled" it in chocolate chip to get the outside dark outline. I stamped off once and then stamped on the inside of the card. I also added a thank you which is also part of the stamp set.
Both of these cards are relatively simple and are really pretty. I think I cased myself for the second card. I made a card using DSP down a little further on my blog. This one has a little more white. I like clean and simple cards. This one was very similar put together. I used the bigshot for the background, and added some ribbon around that layer. I used a rubon right on the ribbon and markers to ink my images. I used the bojo blossoms punch to punch out my wise owl "dad" for this fathers day card. I know flowers are not typically masculine, but I think the half bead from the pretties kit works nicely as a center to the white flower button. They are both attached with a glue dot. Well, that's about all folks! I hope you have a chance to check out what the other diva's are doing today. I know I'll be grabbing a cup of coffee and moving down the list after I drop my little one at school. If you have time to play along, I'd love to see what you are making with this sketch too. It's a quick and easy one! I hope you have time to stamp something fun today.
Selene Kempton

If glitter could heal ~ Kristina Werner color challenge

If only glitter could cure the sick, paper crafters would have the power to heal the world! I certainly would have enough glitter in my craft room to take care of most of the eastern coast of the US. I'm not sure where I have been, but I feel like I have missed a few of these fabulous color challenges from Kristina Werner.

This beautiful card is for a dear friends hubby. He has been going through some extensive chemo, dealing with sore throats, trying not to get sick, having dental problems in the middle of all of it and trying to keep his spirits up in the midst of all of that! I can't even imagine. Thank GOD he is on the road to recovery, and I think about their family a lot. Somehow when I'm making a card for the right person, for the right occasion, it seems to come together quickly for me. If I'm trying to just make "something" and there's no purpose.. I don't know it's just not the same. This one is a labor of friendship and love.

The layout is pretty simple. I cut some shapes and started playing. I laid the colors on top of my chocolate base and they just found their own home if that makes sense. I took two of the large fabric flowers from the pretties kit, and added a bit of red ink to the outside edges of the petals. One flower didnt seem like enough, you could see through it. Adding a second flower did the trick. I found this cute little image, again from the princess set i've never used until today and took the time to cut the pretty daisy flower out by hand. I used a push pin to poke a hole and added a yellow corderoy button/brad. I added ONE PIECE of glitter to that. (i know, i'm crazy) I used crystal effects and a push pin to adhere the glitter. Just pick up a little tear drop of crystal effects and drop it on any surface, then use your push pin to pick up the one flake of glitter you want to use. How's that for getting the most out of a jar of glitter???

The sentiment is "I hope you feel better" and I used a rubon for that on the front of the card, and in my own script writing, I wrote "Lots Better" on the inside of the card. If you dont know me, sometimes I have dorky reasons for doing something on a card. I used one piece of glitter to say "feel better" and added a gazillion pieces of glitter using a BIG BLOB of crystal effects and a boatload of glitter, for the Lots Better. Kind of like the "I love you THIS MUCH" thing.. I told you I'm a dork, but that's why those of you who know me well love me right?

Thanks to Kristina for another AWESOME color challenge. I think I need to go hand deliver this one tonight. I feel good about it and I hope it lift's Dean's spirits. If you think of it, while you are saying your prayers, say a little one for Dean and Michele that this will be just a quick blip on the computer screen of life and he will recover without a hitch ~ that would be awesome. Rubber Hugs to you all and thanks for visiting.

Selene

How about some Mojo on Monday!

It's been so long since I have had time to play along with Julee and the girls on the mojo monday blog. Every week there is a new sketch for you to play with, and you can post your creations on line and then link back so people can find you! SO FUN!!!

I took the sketch this week and turned it, so now, my card looks backwards but the sketch was just rotated 90 degrees to accomodate that crown stamp that I have NEVER used before. This stamp set has been sitting lonely on my shelf for so long.

it all started with the Designer series paper. I cut the paper following the sketch and thought that it looked very girly. When i went searching for a stamp for the sketch, this one popped out at me. I used blender pens to add some red to my crown. For the most part, i just used the ink from the stamped image to add color. I also mixed some dazzling diamonds with crystal effects and painted it on in certain places on the card. You can really see it too good in the photo, but this one is VERY sparkly in real life. I removed some crystal brads from their casing and used my crystal effects mixure as glue to attach the floating bling. Under the three in a row above the crown, I used some cut out black circles. Again the photo didnt capture it, but there is a 1/16" border around those bling in real life. just a hairline to see the border, the same as the 1/16" border around some of my layers. This was a really fun sketch and I was so happy to play along. This could be a new tradition!

Many Masculine Cards ~ boxed set Class

Finding the perfect card & gift for a man is always challenging ….until now. Be ready for any occasion with this fantastic set of four masculine “fun-fold” cards and briefcase-shaped gift box. Each card is based on an original template and is created out of one sheet of DP making it a unique card & gift-card holder- in-one!

Date: June 3rd
Time: 6:30 PM
Cost: $25

Location: Selene’s Stampin” Pad

To reserve your seat please call or email me at e.selene@verizon.net.

Are you a demonstrator who would like to offer this class to your customers?? Send me an email for the details!

DCBD 124 ~ A Color Challenge

What a fun time I had with this color combination! This week was to use, whisper white, Very Vanilla, Going Grey or basic grey and basic black. All I could think is that these colors lend themselves to black tie wedding!

With that in mind I wanted my card base to be a bit fancy. I started with a piece of patterned designer series paper that I wanted to use for my card base, but it would have seemed a bit flimsy by itself. Also, the back was blue, so I couldnt keep that! I used a piece of whisper white and stuck both pieces together. I added the snail to one side and closed the card. Flipped it over then added to the other side and adhered it while it was folded in half. Why would I do that?? Well, if you stuck the piece of paper together and then folded it, the other paper would buckle and show through due to the fold. This is a back view of my card, so I didnt just cut the DSP down to the card front size, it is the entire card base which makes it a bit more regal, dont you think?

Next, I pulled out my embossing gun, buddy, pal, and paintbrush! Even when I use the embossing buddy, it seems that ONE LITTLE GRAIN of embossing powder can muck up a perfectly PERFECT image, know what i mean?? :)

I embossed my bride and groom, but I didnt stop there. Next I embossed a rose and sentiment inside the card on my whisper white... and I couldn't resist a tiny bit of water color just to give the flowers some color. It takes total restraint to only color the flowers on the card, but again, I think it adds something without going over the line. All and all I had a fantastic time with this challenge.

Please check out what my girlfriends are doing at the Diva's Coffee Break Blog, and if you want to play along, I'd love to see what you come up with. On the blog there is a place to submit your artwork with these fun colors. Totally Fun! Happy Wednesday!

Selene Kempton

Bloggers Challenge ~ A color Challenge

I literally made this card in 10 minutes. It took me longer to photograph than it did to contstruct the entire card.

This weeks Bloggers Challenge is a color challenge. Use Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, Always Artichoke and neutrals as needed. I thought it would fun to make a fathers day card. These colors lend themselves to a masculine design.

I started with our textured designer series paper and cut it at 4 1/4 to make my card base. I cut one ince off the end to make it 11, and used the 1 inch peice in the rest of my design. It went together super quick with a few markers and the new stamp set from the mini catalog forest freinds.


I finished it off by tieing a ribbon so there was a knot in the middle and sticking that across my card front. The sentiment is a rubon right on the ribbon. This 1 1/4" ribbon looks really wonderful with rubons on it. :)


Please check out my other friends from the bloggers challenge group. I can't wait to see what they come up with. Have a great day and a better weekend!


Selene Kempton

Diva's Coffee Break Challenge

Oh what a fun sketch this is! It's great to hang out with the diva coffe break design group.

I needed a baby card, but i really wanted to go a little outside the box today. I always see baby cards in the traditional pink blue yellow and green colors, but this textured cardstock DSP really helps break the mold a little.

I cut the center panel (white) of this card to 3x4, and cut the blue waves 3 x 2. then i ripped those panels in half and stuck them on to create my waves. I used blender pens and ink pads to ink up my stamp and cut it out to make the boat.

I removed 3 crystal clear brads from their casing and glued them on with crystal effects. A simple yet gorgeous sketch. Would you like to play along?? Join us over at the diva's coffee break blog and submit your card with mr. Linky!

Happy Wednesday!

Selene Kempton

Featured Artist ~ Christine M.

A quick post for Easter Sunday.

My girlfriend Christine made these adorable baskets for her family today. These are so flippin cute! This uses the scallop envelope die from the sizzix machine. Aren't they the cutest?? I'll be figuring these out this week for sure!

Awesome Job Christine and Happy Easter everyone!
Selene Kempton~

Bloggers challenge ~ our favorite technique

Decisions decisions. it's almost impossible for me to decide what my favorite technique is. I will tell you that I sponge on many of my creations, so I decided to case a card originally done by my friend and wonderful stamper Lee Conrey. Lee's card was made with a different color set and a different stamp set, but it's where I got the main idea for this beauty.

I started with the designer series label punch and cut the top and bottom pieces off.

With a darker coordinating color I sponged one side of each "vase" to add a shadow. Next, I put a post it note across my card and sponged some "grass" with celery green. I really love how small the flower is in relation to the vase. It reminds me of vases around home. :) I used crystal effects to attach one bead to make the center of my flowers. I thought having the bunny in the middle was kind of funny.

Finally, I used a rubon to add the sentiment. This card ends up being a few of my favorite things, but choosing was the hardest part of this challenge.

Happy Easter,

Selene Kempton

DCBD 122 ~ Use the big shot!

Well I had some fun altering this old frame. I have a few frames hanging out on my back porch. it seems to me that wallet sized photos tend to get tossed aside. I know i've used this image quite a bit, but this frame is for Brian (dad's) office. I made a simple scrapbook page, but the use of a frame is fun for doing layers.

I started with a plain blue piece of paper and some so saffron ribbon. Then I added the photo with a rose red matte.

I added the word "love" from SU's decor elements line of vinal.

Next I cut the large daisy out of shimmer white cardstock and layered two of the pieces together. I slipped the ribbon through the hole and tied a knot. I pulled the two ends (on the back side) to make the knot tight, and added the whole piece using stampin dimensionals to adhere it to the glass on the frame. The whole project probably took 10 minutes, but I think Dad is going to love it, dont you? :)

Check out what my girlfriends are up to over at the Coffee Break Blog and let them know you're visiting!

Kristina Werner, color inspiration #43

I signed myself up for a post Hawaii Scrapbook swap and honestly, I like 12 x 12 scrapbooking. The thought of doing 6x6 pages makes me nervous. :) So, I was bouncing around online and ran across another fabulous color inspiration palette on Kristina Werner's blog.

I started with a textured chocolate chip base, and cut a baja layer on top of that to 5 1/8". On top of the baja piece, I did a whisper white layer at 5". At this point I stamped the stems for my hawaii flowers, and blended them out with a blender pen in the kiwi kiss color. I stamped one flower on the cardstock, then stamped a second, colored it and cut it out. I did cheat a tiny little bit and added summer sun to the middle of the flower to make it look authentic, and sponged baja breeze ink around the edges, leaving some white like the true beautiful flowers you see in Hawaii. I really love the satin ribbon on this and think it give it some class.

Do you think other demonstrators who earned the trip will like this for a sunset page? My second page needs a title or sentiment of some sort. not sure what I'm doing with that yet. I'll take any suggestions! ~ please.

Thanks for looking and have a great night.

Selene~

Ribbon Window

I did this with my technique club this month. I was really excited how it came out. I used the large star punch in the front panel. There are 3 layers of dimensionals on this card and it uses the Sale a bration paper from stampin up.

I sponged around the inside of the star to add more depth.

Friends ~ more Hawaii Photos

One of the best parts of a stampin up event is getting to see friends!

Me, Tiffany, and Robin

Me and Joann

Jan and I

Brian and I, Jon and Tiffany & Marc and Robin out for dinner at Merriman's! We hoped to get a family discount, because Robin & Marc ARE Merriman's...

Bloggers challenge #93 ~ It's good to be home

This GREAT SKETCH is by Lisa Somerville! I'll be making a few more with this layout, simple and gorgeous! I always love going to stampin up events to see my girlfriends. As excited as I am to see everyone while I'm away, I got the opportunity this morning to spend some time with some girls from my team and it totally rejuvinates me. I'm left grateful to be associated with such a wonderful company and feel blessed to be surrounded by inspiring women who make me a better person, just to know them.

Getting back to this week's project, i had some fun with my big shot and kept cutting dies... I layered them on a piece of textured cardstock and cut that out. Then i finished my "grateful for you card" and know that I need to get this one in the mail to one of my fabulous girlfriends. Although I'm grateful for all of them, I don't send the handstamped cards as often as i would like to, so maybe I'll start today and just send this one.

Thanks for looking and if you are interested in seeing other cards using this sketch, check out what some of my girlfriends are doing on the bloggers challenge group! You'll be glad you did!

DCBD 121 ~ A sketch challenge

Well it's nice to be back to take a coffee break with the Diva's team once again! This week's challenge is a really cool sketch. I immediately thought of my new favorite retro set and thought that the little image would fit this sketch quite nicely. Do you like my linen thread tied in the bird's mouth? I thought it would make a nice little bow for the nest. :)

This is a double challenge for me. I also design for the late night stampers yahoo group and this weeks challenge is bird's of a feather. I think this fits the bill for both challenges! Too cool!

This simple design would be quick and easy to reproduce. Contact me today to see just how easy it is to make.

Would you like to play along with the diva's?? Well there is a new blog where you can play along and submit your great creations with this sketch using Mr. Linky! Check out the diva's coffee break design group here!