Friday, July 29, 2011

Saturday Sketch Challenge 214

Good Evening Friends!

It's time for another sketch challenge from the operators over at stamping 411!

I hope you have a fun weekend of activities planned. I'll be working at the new job.. and I'm already feeling so inspired by that! :D

This week Gretchen took a turn at the sketch board. I love the shape in the top left hand side of the panel, and I decided to swap my shape out with the top note die.

To get started, how about some dimensions:

Base: whisper white 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"
Layer 2: baja cardstock 5 x 3 3/4"
Layer 3: Just add cake DSP 4 7/8 x 3 5/8"
Layer 4: A little more than half of a top not die cut out and sponged with baja ink.
Layer 5: is the ornament punch. I used my paper snips to cut some of the angles off the end, to make it look more like a hot air balloon.

I used the new polka dot in color brads for the lower right hand corner. Such a fun card to make, and it was really easy! If you have time this week, please consider checking out some of the other creations over at stamping411 and try making a card of your own with this week's sketch. Even if you dont post your creation, just trying out a sketch challenge can get you making pretty cards, pretty quickly.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Selene Kempton
Friday, July 22, 2011

Saturday Sketch Challenge 213

Good Evening Friends!

TGIF! I'm writing this post pretty early in the morning. It is HOT STUFF outside this morning. I went out to take some pictures, and realized how hot is is out there! So I got the hubby out of bed at 6:30 so we could pack up the camper and get outahere!

I'm usually NEVER awake this early... but I fell asleep about 8:30 last night. My daughter was reading her 3rd book to me and I was out like a light. This morning she told me that she turned the light out, but made sure I was sleeping first. Too funny!

We're headed to the white mountains of NH this weekend and I'm hoping it's a little cooler up there!

Are you loving the new doilies from Stampin' Up!? Every year I like to make a pink snowflake card, so I'm getting it out of the way early this year!

Measurements:
Base: 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"
Layer 2: 4 1/8" x 5 3/8", basic black
Layer 3: 4 x 5 1/4" pretty in pink, embossed with the snowflake embossing folder.
Layer 4: Flirtatious Specialty Paper 4 x 2
Layer 5: satin ribbon 5/8", whisper white... 5 1/2" strip going across
Layer 6: a doily cut from the flirtatious specialty paper.. you get 16 per sheet and they are double sided (pink or pumpkin with white on the flip side).
Layer 7 and 8: I used the same punch twice. I cut the darker pink in an X shape and mounted the 4 pieces beneath the focal point to form a pink border.

The Merry Christmas and focal point sentiment were both embossed in black.

Not too shabby. A non traditional Christmas card on the hottest day of the year! By the time you're reading this I hope to look like a prune from sitting in the pool all day. :D

Have a wonderful weekend and please stay cool!

Selene Kempton
Thursday, July 21, 2011

Potential Club Card

Outside my comfort zone... That's a great way to describe this card... Yet I sort of like it! This card is using a brand(y) new stamp set I got at convention... and I'm thinking that maybe it should be my club card for next week?

Talk to me... If you were/are a club member, would you like to make this one?

It's funny how my artwork can sometimes mirror what's going on in my personal life.

I had a whirlwind few weeks. Convention was an absolute BALL, and I got to see so many good friends and make some new ones too! While I was there I got a phone call for a potential part time DREAM job. I interviewed this past Monday morning (after taking the red eye home on Sunday), and was offered a position at the interview!

I quickly accepted my new position of Professional Newborn Photographer, at a local hospital near my home. I'm very excited, hoping that it will be enough to help my family and the GREAT news is that I plan to continue my stampin up business as well! In fact, I'm feeling encouraged that with a little less stress about money, I'll be feeling more and more creative and relaxed!

So I got a new job around babies, and I'm feeling very bright.. Guess that explains my card today! I would also like to mention that I found the sketch for this fabulous card over on split coast. What a great sketch!

While we're on the subject of being MORE creative!... Guess what?? My good friend JoAnne, who has been crafting with me for just about five years, FINALLY decided to join Stampin' Up! She joined my AWESOME team of demonstrators yesterday! Check out the cool box that we BOTH receive because she signed up!
JoAnne and I will get a kit each to create this AWESOME project, and it has a $40 value! Isn't that awesome?? We are planning to get together and make our boxes together. If you want to join us, maybe you should check out the starter kit!

It's on sale till the end of the month and it's only $99! Everyone who was here for my monthly team meeting is planning to attend convention with me next year. I came home with 9 free stamp sets.. Everyone who went received 7, then I got two more for awards in sales and recruiting because of all of you (and my fab team). I really feel blessed... and I have a bunch of cool new stuff to play with !!!
If you would like to check out the promotion, just click here to go to my website, or give me a call! I'd love to help you with your $99 kit.

By the way.. Would you like to see what JoAnne is getting? The kit was so awesome by itself that she didn't substitute any of the items out. But you may trade items in the kit for different stamp sets if you prefer. All this plus the FREE project kit = over $200 worth of products... amazing....

$99 Starter Kit + Free Project Kit!

During July, you can join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator for only $99! This limited time Starter Kit—valued at $185—comes with the following high-quality products:

  • Easy Events Clear-Mount Set*
  • Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Set*
  • Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
  • Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad
  • Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad
  • Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
  • Brights 8-1/2" x 11" Assorted Card Stock
  • Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper*
  • Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon*
  • Note Cards (20)
  • Clear-Mount Block C
  • Blender Pen (1)
  • SNAIL Adhesive
  • Business supplies

*Brand new to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog!

Much love to you all! Can't wait to get back to stamping!

Selene Kempton

e.selene@verizon.net

Friday, July 15, 2011

Saturday Sketch Challenge 212

Good Evening Friends!

It's time for another Saturday Sketch challenge from the operators at stamping 411.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this weeks sketch and card! I used this for an organized swap that I'm in and I hope they love this card as much as I do!

So how about some measurements!

Base: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored and folded at 4 1/4", blushing bride
Layer 2: 4 x 5 1/4", whisper white
Layer 3: 2 x 5 1/4, blushing bride, with a decorative punch (takes a 1/4" inch off)
Layer 4: 1 1/2" x 5 1/4, striped DSP
Layer 5: poppy cardstock cut with a top note die and embossed with the vintage wallpaper embossing folder.
Layer 6: 1 3/4" circle punch, then ran through the big shot with the polka dot die
Layer 7 (icecream triangle) is the pennant punch
Layer 8: build a cupcake punch for the ice cream top. Notice how perfectly the glitter is on each dot of the ice cream? Well I used tombo multipurpose adhesive, and dotted the glue on, then just sprinkled the glitter over and let it dry. I put this layer on with a dimensional
Layer 9: (hello sentiment) is the decorative label punch. first I punched out a whole one, then stamped "hello" on each side of one cut out. Then I flipped the punch and punched again, just leaving the tiny sentiment.. So cute!!
Layer 10: I used some blushing bride twill.

So here's another peek at the sketch.

I will not have my computer while I'm away at convention but will have lots to share come sunday I hope! :D

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton
Thursday, July 14, 2011

Convention Swaps

Good Morning Friends!

Wouldn't you know... that before I could finish making my swaps for convention, my big shot broke?

So I made this adorable card and used watercoloring? I also used tombo multipurpose adhesive to apply my glitter to the balloon and the cake. It's SO fun! It makes your paper look like the glitter came on it!

Stamps: Curly Cute and 121175 Elebration (single stamp from the new book that I HAD to have on the first order)
Ink: Basic Grey ink pad, wisteria wonder and pretty in pink markers with an aqua painter for watercoloring
Paper: Flirtatious Specialty paper
Accessories: Organza ribbon 114319, and a decorative border punch!

Such a pretty card, and made without the big shot! Can you imagine?? :D

Having a great time at convention, I'll be swapping this card today... and wishing you were here beside me! :D

Rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton
Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Thinking about you!

Good Morning Friends!

Right about now, I'm ((hopefully)) sleepy in salt lake city! :D I flew in around midnight so chances are it was 2 am before I got to bed!

I hope you're having a BRIGHT and sunshiny day! This is a card I made last month for a workshop. Each of the guests made three of these, and two other designs as well! So very fun!

Stamps: 123203 (clear mount) Touch of Kindness Stamp Set (from the mini catalog)
Ink: Pumpkin pie
Paper: Oh the DSP is retired, but it's so pretty, right? :D
Punches! Lots of punches!!!

Well I hope you have a wonderful day and that this card inspires you to stamp 4 fun today!

Talk to you tomorrow!

Rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton
Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Off to convention!!!

Good Morning Friends!

I'm off to convention in just a few hours! Just imagine thousands of AMAZING, AWESOME, TALENTED people all in one place! I just can't wait to see and hug some of my best buds!

Here is one of my swap cards for this week!

Stamps: 122757 (clear mount) up up and away
Ink: peach parfait, and baja markers
Paper: 124339 Just add cake DSP
Accessories: 2 1/2" circle punch, ornament punch, I sponged the balloon with pumpkin ink!

That's it for today! I hope you have a wonderful week and if you see me at convention, come introduce yourself and give me a hug!
Friday, July 8, 2011

Saturday Sketch Challenge 211

Good Evening Friends!

It's time for another Saturday night sketch challenge from my buddies over at stamping 411.

It's been a crazy week here. We were away camping over the 4th, then my birthday was the 6th. Perhaps that's why I wanted to make such a bright birthday card with this week's sketch. I'm really digging poppy parade lately. I ran through about 3 packs of it in the past month or so and had to order some more (with my first order of the new catalog)... Oh I want so much more.

Suffice it to say, it's been an eventful week two. My laptop is on it's last leg.... buying a new one may mean me running out to get the full version of photoshop too, which is like buying two computers.. LOL The washer broke, but thanks to a wonderful mother in law, a new one of those is on order, and then the fun part...

We have a queen sized bed in our camper that sits on rails and slides out the back of the camper... well, the rails are no longer connected to the ceiling on the inside... so we'll have to deal with that sometime this week. Then, last night.... Oh yea, I broke my big shot! Luckily that has a 3 year warranty when you buy it through your SU demonstrator (as opposed to a big box store ~ wink wink)! They are sending me that in a hurry so I can finish my swaps! I love Stampin' Up! Alas ~ today, when given the opportunity to take my little one to the movies for $9, I jumped at it and ran out the door with her. This too shall pass, but when one thing breaks, they all go! :D I have a tiny bit of guilt now, having signed up to go to convention but for me, it's like a class that pays for itself all year long. I love going to convention and meeting up with all my bestest buds. If you're there and see me, please come and say hi! I'm flying solo this year, so I dont even have any dinner plans (except for Saturday).

Well enough about my week... How about we talk about this cute card!?! I love pulling a color combination by using my designer paper.. 99% of my cards start with a designer paper because frankly, it make designing so darn easy! This paper is from the new Idea Book and catalog and is called Just Cake. i cut a piece of this off at an angle to get the candle stripes to go on an angle like a real candle would. :D So let's talk measurements:

Base: Crumb Cake Cardstock 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" scored and folded in half at 4 1/4" ~ embossed with the polka dot embossing powder
Layer 2: poppy parade 3 1/2" square, embossed with the vintage wallpaper embossing folder
Layer 3: (DSP from Just add Cake) 1 3/4" x 2 3/4" and corner rounded.
Layer 3A: (the flame) is a piece of daffodil cardstock, punched from the blossom petal builders die and sponged with poppy ink
Layer 5: is an extra large oval.
I matted layer 5 with two of the blossom bouquet triple layer punches. It makes a cute little border. I used baja 1/8 taffeta for the strip going up the side.. and that's all she wrote!

I hope you have time to play along this week, and I hope you have time to stamp4fun this week too!

Rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton
Monday, July 4, 2011

Happy Birthday America & When the music stopped.

Good morning friends! Happy Independence Day! This morning my little one flipped her first pancake. Pretty soon, she'll be cooking her own breakfast. Talk about Independence!Today I'm reminded that EVERY DAY people are out there fighting for the very freedoms that we take for granted some time. To all those service men and women who proudly serve our country, spending days, weeks, and months away from their children and families, today and every day we salute you.

Here's a little story that was forwarded to my by my friend Seongsook. I was really moved by it and thought I'd like to share it here with you.

Happy Independence Day to all!
When the Music Stopped...
(For those who are unaware: At all military base theaters, the National Anthem is played before the movie begins. This is written from a Chaplain in Iraq :

I recently attended a showing of 'Superman 3' here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services and other large gatherings. As is the custom at all military bases, we stood to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going well until three-quarters of the way through The National Anthem, the music stopped.

Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sit down and yell for the movie to begin. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place.

Here in Iraq , 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again and the Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. But again, at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect 1000 Soldiers standing at attention to do?? Frankly, I expected some laughter, and everyone would eventually sit down and wait for the movie to start.

But No! You could have heard a pin drop, while every Soldier continued to stand at attention. Suddenly, there was a lone voice from the front of the auditorium, then a dozen voices, and soon the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off:

"And the rockets' red glare,
the bombs bursting in air,
gave proof through the night
that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave,
o'er the land of the free,
and the home of the brave.."

It was the most inspiring moment I have had in Iraq and I wanted you to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you. Remember them as they fight for us! Pass this along as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer for all our soldiers serving us here at home and abroad. Many have already paid the ultimate price.

Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins. LSA Anaconda is at the Ballad Airport in Iraq , north of Baghdad.
Friday, July 1, 2011

Saturday Sketch Challenge 210

Good Evening Friends!

By the time you're reading this I should have a s'mores in one hand and some sort of fruity concoction in the other.. :D

Camping season is finally here and we're headed out for our first spin with the trailer this year! I really can't wait for the mountain air (and a family cookout at the lake on Sunday).

Tonight, we're bidding a fond farewell to the very talented Connie Babbert, who has been with the team since it's inception in May of 2009. She is one talented lady and will be very missed.

We also announced a bit of a break. We will continue to do the sketch challenges, but are taking the month off from our normal extra posts and required comments. I'll still be looking to see what those folks who are playing along are making. So how about tonight's sketch. The measurements of my card are:

Base 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"
layer 2: 5 x 3 3/4"
Layer 3: 4 7/8" x 3 5/8" (just an 1/8" smaller than layer 2)
Layer 4: DSP 1 x 4"
layer 5: 3 1/8" x 2 1/8", chocolate chip
Layer 6: 3 x 2, whisper white.

Pretty easy peasy! I stamped the bird and the tree with markers, using baja, chocolate and poppy. I cut the bird out and popped him up on a dimensional. Such a cool sketch from the very talented Gretchen Barron.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Cheers,
Selene Kempton