Thursday, March 29, 2012

Whatever is sent...

this post could also be titled, "Why I make cards".

 Just a few quick pics of this versatile new stamp set called
Joyful Jar from Close to My Heart.   I also used a doily die from Spellbinders and the Grandma's Doily and Scalloped Circle punches from Fiskars (and a few others tools, punches, and papers in my stash).










*A quick tip...those itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny stamps stick perfectly to the top of a glue stick cap.  I can stick my finger in the cap and stamp, stamp, stamp!

Now, we come to the reason why I make cards.  It was my birthday last week, and this was the card I received in the mail from a family member.  This is a beautiful store-bought card, IF YOU ARE A 99 YEAR OLD RETIRED FISHERMAN!  I'm not trying to sound un-grateful, but if it's the thought that counts, how much thought went into this? 



A beautiful hand-made card (and even a store bought card) can be a gift in itself. 


This is why I make cards.





~Kelly

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Fiskateer Spring blog hop winner...



          Laura @ Laura’s Creations and Thoughts



Please email me at wifiskateers@aol.com by Sunday, April 1st to claim your prize


                        and yes, I did change my blog design---it's spring!

Friday, March 23, 2012

Whatever hops, part 2...

                           
Welcome to the Fiskateers Spring Blog Hop! 

If you have just stopped my blog and want to join in the Fiskateer fun (and you are a Fiskateer) you can start at www.fiskateers.com for a complete list of all the blogs. 

If you are thinking a “Fiskawhat?”, you should know that Fiskateers (www.fiskateers.com) is an online community of craftiness (paper crafts, sewing, gardening, etc.) all based around our love and appreciation of Fiskars (think orange-handled scissors to start).There is a blog, gallery, and message board led by four lovely Lead Fiskateers who along with the other Fiskateers are fabulous at getting creativity flowing via chats, challenges, on-line crops, and interviews with other crafty celebrities. After hopping with us today (see complete list of hop stops below), if you would like to join in the inspiration of Fiskateers, or would like to learn more, you can hop over to Fiskateers at http://www.fiskateers.com/join .

We’ll be hopping all weekend , March 24th  and 25th  to welcome spring! 
The blog hop officially ends on Sunday March 25th at 11pm CST.
Some Fiskateers are offering sur-prizes (like ME)…check directions carefully to participate.

Now...to start the show...
I've been pushing my Fiskars tools a bit, and used shrink plastic to create my own 3-D embellishments.  No 3D glasses needed to check out these cards.


Using shrink plastic sheets (think Shrinky Dinks from when we were little--yes, they still make them!), I punched out clouds and scalloped circles with my Fiskars squeeze punches.  I also cut some rectangular strips to use as rays for the sun.  For the "berry sweet card" I stamped the berries from the Fiskars Simple Stick "Fresh Fruit" repositionable rubber stamp set and then hand-cut around the image.  I inked and colored the shapes before shrinking with my heat gun (this is when the super-power of heat vision would come in handy).



Mini-cards are great with little gifts for friends and co-workers...
a small gift seems so much BIGGER when the card is mini!
They go well with chocolate!

For this last card, I cut 6 strips of double-sided paper (1/2" by 3 1/2").  I curved each strip into a loop and glued the two ends together.  Then, I attached each loop to a scalloped circle.  It is best to place the loops opposite each other as you go along--makes spacing easier.
When all of the loops are attached, flip it over and attach another scalloped circle to this side.  A shrinky "happy birthday" embellishment is set in the center and I've got one more mini-card to accompany some chocolate!

Now, for an added bonus...my blog has a special guest.  It's PattyB #2262!  She is my Fiskateer friend and I sure hope we get to meet one day! 
I made this Spring Fling Shadowbox with Lost and Found papers from My Mind's Eye.  Fiskars tools used include the large and XL Round and Round squeeze punch, the All a Flutter Butterfly squeeze punch, and paper trimmer.  I glue dotted the butterflies to the glass to give them some dimension.  ~Patty
.
Thanks Patty!  You can show off your creations on my blog anytime!


NOW, for a sur-PRIZE! 
Leave me a comment telling me your favorite color (mine is purple!) and you will be entered to win some happy happy mail, including some Fiskars goodies!  You have until Sunday, 11pm CST to enter.  And I'll announce the winner on Tuesday.

I hope you have some chocolate of your own (and maybe a little caffeine too) as you sit down and enjoy the rest of the Fiskateers Spring Blog Hop! 

Your next stop is ...
 
Jennifer Ashley #6361 www.asecretvintage.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping...I mean hopping by!
~Kelly

(aka Kellystar, Fiskateer #6446)

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you get lost along the way, here is a complete list of all our Fiskateer Spring Hop stops!
Kelly 6446 (and PattyB 2262)   www.kellystarsallthingscrafty.blogspot.com
Jennifer Ashley 6361 www.asecretvintage.blogspot.com
Courtney 8459 (and Shelley 8356)   www.youwillwontyou.blogspot.com
Marianne 6701   www.number1aunt.blogspot.com  
Emily 7021 http://emily.kincke.com/fiskateer-spring-blog-hop-giveaway/   (this website is very secure because it is owner maintained, you can read the certificate then simply click continue/allow to head on over to my post) 

Whatever hops, part 1...

Bunnies hop...
Frogs hop...
Kangaroos hop...
Fiskateers hop...

Well, this weekend they do!

The Fiskateers SPRING Blog Hop starts TOMORROW, Saturday, March 24th.
AND, I am the first stop (after www.fiskateers.com).

And to get you in a "Fiskary" mood...



I created this card based on the new website design of www.fiskateers.com that debuted in January.  I used the "snip snip" squeeze punch as the scissors and a circle hand punch to make the handles.  Do you spy some other Fiskars goodies too?

Come back tomorrow for Fiskars sur-prizes too!
~Kelly


Monday, March 19, 2012

whatever is for me...



Whatever is for me.  Like most busy women, that is NOT a phrase I say very often.  "Me" time seems to be a rarity.  But, today is my birthday, so I'm showing a page that actually has a picture of ME.  This one is for "my" book.  I have a scrapbook for each of the kids (I guess I should make that plural, they each have a few), and then I have a file folder where I put pages that I've done that I would like to eventually put in a book for ME.  When I'm feeling a little guilty about spending some "me" time, I need to remember scrapping is for me, but it's also for everyone else.  This page reminds me of that.

When was the last time you made a page for yourself?  Don't wait for your birthday.  Today is the day. Go...right now.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Whatever is green...




And there is a whole lot of green going on here...the grass is turning, the daffodils and day lilies are starting to pop up, and Shamrock shakes are at McDonalds! 

Just a quick green card to share with you...

Have you ever looked at your stamps and thought, what else can I do with these?  Sometimes those creative juices are flowing more freely and I happened to glance over at these banner stamps from Unity and thought, "I could make a shamrock with these".  And so I did.  For background paper, I copied the definition of "smile" from an online dictionary and pasted it a few times with my paper set to 2 columns.  I changed the font color to gray and printed.  It makes a subtle, but interesting contrast, and it's free!

It's going to be in the 70's here today!  Hope things are turning green where you are too!

~Kelly

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Whatever is twisted...

On my never-ending quest to scrap faster and officially make it an aerobic exercise, I have been searching out sketch challenges.  Here's one from TwistedSketches .  Each time a sketch is shown, there is a "twist"...this time the twist was "feather".  I double-dipped and not only used a feather on my page (from one of the items the girls had to find on the scavenger hunt), but I also feather-brushed the background paper with some distress ink (the other papers are from Close to My Heart).




Seeing these photos, is making me long for those sweet spring days.  I know they will be here...

just not soon enough. 
Happy first day of March!


~Kelly