Hooray It's Your Day and Creative Blog Hop

Hello Crafty People!

To those of you who are following the Creative Blog Hop, welcome, and thank you for visiting! I was asked by Lisa Tyndall to participate in this hop and I thought it sounded like fun because its different in that you don't go in a circle! She is also a very talented and sweet lady, so make sure you check her out at www.lisatstamps.blogspot.com if you haven't just come from there.

Today I wanted to show you a little more of what I demonstrated last week at the My Stamping Friends event that I attended. OK...my mission was to show you what ELSE you could create with one of the 5 kits Stampin' Up! has featured in the Occasions Catalog. I chose the "Hooray It's Your Day" kit because it's designed for making birthday cards and I think birthday cards are a) the best type of card to go rogue with-they should be created to suit the person for whom they are intended, and b) something that is very EASY to change up just a bit, so there's no re-creating the wheel.

So here's what the kit is INTENDED to create...TWENTY (5 each of 4 designs) super cute, fun, embellished cards, with envelopes. Guess what: all the supplies needed to make these little beauties are included! Easy peasy, right?

Well, what if you don't want to make all 20 of the cards? I made one of each design, and then went to town with the rest of the supplies from the kit. Here is one of the cards I came up with, using a few simple add-ons like linen thread and the Stacked with Love designer series paper stack. I also used the Big Shot and the Alphabet Press embossing folder to add a little interest to the Pumpkin Pie piece.

I used the coordinating stamp set and one of the star clips from the kit, plus a bit of linen thread messily wrapped and stuck down behind the sentiment banner. (This messy wrapping of thread/twine and sticking it down in what appears to be a random manner seems to be quite the trending technique. I've seen it done quite a lot, but this was my first attempt.)

For this Hop I need to answer the four questions below….so here goes!

  
1. What are you working on?  I’m working on projects for a fundraiser crop at my kids' elementary school that is coming up in a couple weeks. I provide a make and take project and also usually create a home decor art piece to be raffled off. I attend the crop every year, though I always get more socializing than scrapbooking done. LOL

2.  How does your work differ from others in your genre? Well, truthfully, it probably doesn't. I create what I am inspired to create, and that inspiration can come from anywhere...a magazine photo, Pinterest, I even once created a card set that looked like a tshirt my daughter was wearing that day.

3.  Why do you create what you do? It may sound selfish, but I create for ME. Creating makes me happy, and is one way that I take care of myself, which enables me to take care of everyone else! (I am married to an angel, and have 4 amazing kiddos and without crafting, I wouldn't have my sanity! Hence, the blog name!) I do also love to create something that will make another person smile, or empower THEM to use crafting to bring a little extra happiness into their own life. CREATE. SHARE. EMPOWER. REPEAT. 

4. How does your creative process work? I am a very big fan of the whole CASE idea which you may remember reading about on Lisa's blog. Copy And Share Everything!  I often struggle with coming up with an idea on my own so I will re-create one or more projects I have seen or heard about until my creative juices get flowing. Then the next few projects are usually a little closer to "original" work. That's another reason I like the kits we offer...it gives you a jumping off point, but still allows you the freedom to stray whenever you get ready.

So, to keep the hop going, I will nominate two people who will post next week. You should head over to each of their blogs now and subscribe, and then you'll have the next link on the blog hop delivered right to you as soon as they post...like clues in a scavenger hunt!

First, I nominate Rose-Ellen Eastman whom I met when she hosted her first Stampin' Up! style Regional Event a little over a year ago. She and I are alike in that (I suspect) creating is how she also manages to keep herself in the right state of mind for handling the any challenges AND blessings that are always being thrown her way. You can find more information on her and see all her beautiful work by clicking HERE to head over to her site, My Stamping Friends. 

My second nominee, I met on the very same day as I met Rose-Ellen, although I had been a follower of hers for quite some time before and didn't realize until that day that she and Rose-Ellen were best buds. Small world, right? So please also show some love to Michelle Suit by clicking HERE to visit her site, Suitably Stamped. P.S. If you love Disney, OR punch art, or heaven forbid DISNEY PUNCH ART, you might wanna pack a lunch before clicking that link! She does some unbelievable things with punches!

Well, I hope you made it to the end of this much-longer-than-usual post. Thanks for stopping by!



Ready to order? Go to www.angelakhan.stampinup.net
Have questions? Email me at sakina716@gmail.com

Challenge 229 - Specialty Paper

Hey there crafty people!

Challenge 229 - Specialty Paper

So, the challenge is to use specialty paper - DSP, Vellum, Window Sheets, Glimmer Paper...whatever speaks to ya!  My card for you today is a little bit autumn...my favorite season...and it is modeled after one I did for a swap I participated in at Convention this year.  I thought the concept and the use of the window sheet in this way was really clever.  I put that together with a couple tried and true techniques that I haven't personally used in a while...so it truly was a challenge for me.  After stamping the larger leaf inside and out, I stamped the image onto a sticky note and cut it out.  I then used the sticky note copy as a mask to cover the large leaf while I stamped both layers of the smaller leaf.  As you can see, I also used the rock and roll technique on the inside of both leaves.  I think this is the perfect stamp set to use that technique for, as it just gives such a great look to the leaves.   I'd love to hear what you think!

Don't forget-as always, you can check out the LNS Challenge Blog for samples and inspiration, and upload your own sample once you've finished.  We'd love to have you play along!

Supplies Used:

Stamp Sets: Gently Falling, Thoroughly Thankful (retired)

Cardstock:  Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla

Ink:  Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Garden Green, Soft Suede, Early Espresso

Accessories:  Crushed Curry Chevron Ribbon, Sweater Weather DSP, Basic Jewels Pearls, Large Pearls, Clear Window Sheets (acetate)

Ready to order? Go to www.angelakhan.stampinup.net
Have questions? Email me at sakina716@gmail.com

Eid Mubarek! (almost)

Hey there Crafty People!

Today's share is a card I made to celebrate Eid ul-Fitr, one of the major holidays my family celebrates.  It also fits in with the current LNS Challenge-Fancy Folds...if you haven't played along yet, there's still time!

Pop on over to the LNS Challenge Blog to get some fabulous inspiration and upload your creations!

Thanks for looking!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Come to Bethlehem

Cardstock:  Garden Green, Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold

Ink:  VersaMark

Accessories:  Big Shot, Chevron Embossing Folder, Gold Embossing Powder, Mocha Morning DSP (retired), Basic Jewels Pearls

Ready to order? Go to www.angelakhan.stampinup.net
Have questions? Email me at sakina716@gmail.com

Back from Convention and LNS Challenge 228!

Hey there crafty people!

It's been a whirlwind summer so far with kids out of school, camps, family vacation, and Convention (which is Mommy's annual no-kids vacation!) but now I'm home and have tons of things to share with you!  You'll hopefully be seeing lots of posts from me in the coming weeks as I try to keep you informed about all the specials that are going on right now, the events I have coming up, and all the new products that are coming out!  So, please bear with me, I promise, I'm not just trying to flood your inbox!

OK.....on to the current (well, semi-current) LNS Challenge!  I was supposed to have posted some time ago, but it seems my philosophy lately has been leaning toward "better late than never", so here goes.  Don't forget to go here to check out what the other design team members have done, and upload your sample when you've finished.  We'd love to have you play along!

Challenge 228 - Fancy Folds

The fold on this card is not super fancy, but the card is!  This was a card I made at a shoe box swap I joined at the last minute at Convention.  Some of you may know Miss Pesci (Michelle Lyon) from around the blogosphere...and she hosted the cutest shoe box swap while we were in Salt Lake City.  This was actually her project that we all created, and I love it.  As you can see from the second pic, the card holds a gift card inside!  Sneaky and cute!  And I just love all the bling!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Festive Flurry, That's the Ticket, Sweet Essentials

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Coastal Cabana

Ink:  Coastal Cabana

Accessories:  Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots TIEF, Festive Flurry Framelits, Winter Frost Specialty DSP, Silver Glimmer Paper, Ticket Punch, 3/4" circle punch, White Organza Ribbon, Frosted Finishes Embellishments, Basic Jewels Rhinestones, Stampin' Dimensionals

Ok...stay tuned for more updates, and as always, thanks for stopping by!

Ready to order? Go to www.angelakhan.stampinup.net
Have questions? Email me at sakina716@gmail.com