Often, stamping items needed get in the way of the stamping items on my wish list and vice-versa.  When a new Stampin’ Up! catalogue comes along it’s easy to want everything Do you like to have every item in the catalogue or do you set yourself a budget and stick to itl

Because I am a Stampin Up demo, it is important to remember the products that interest my customers and the products that attract me.  Sometimes these 2 rational thoughts collide.  So what to do?

One stamp that meets the “what my customers want” criteria is the Fable Friends on page 30 of the 2019 Occasions Catalogue.

Recipe

Stamps: Fable Friends.

Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento, Lemon Lime Twist.

Paper: Thick Whisper White, Whisper White, Balmy Blue, Gingham Gala 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper.

Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Springtime Impressions Thinlits, Layering Circles Collection, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Stampin’ Blends: Crumb Cake Duo, Balmy BLue Duo, Old Olive Duo, Calypso Coral Duo, Real Red Light, Color Lifter, Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets, Calypso Coral 3/8″ Satin Ribbon.

Shop my ONLINE STORE 

Why This Stamp Set Meets the  Criteria

• The stamp set consists of 3 image stamps and 4 different sentiments.
• All images can be colored with Stampin’ Write Markers, Stampin’ Blends and or Watercolor Pencils. If you are new to stamping, you could just stamp the images and leave them a black and white image.
• Cards made with this stamp set may include:  baby cards, spring cards, Easter cards, birthday cards for young and old.
• Add different elements such as paper, die cuts and embellishments.  You can use what you have to make a cute card. To add interest, the flowers die cut from the Springtime Impressions Thinlits adds a bit of elegance to this baby card.

Leave me a comment and tell me how you balance stamping items need with stamping items on your wish list.

Shop My Online Store

Product List

The post Stamping Items Needed Vs Stamping Items On My Wish List appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Today, I have a card that will provide male birthday card solutions.  The one question I hear and/or see most often, is the lack of stamps to create male birthday cards.  Well, with the 2019 Occasions Catalogue, there are solutions. One solution is the Classic Garage Suite.  There are many guys and gals out there that really are into hot cars and like everything that goes with them.  And, of course, there is nothing to say about gals having this type of birthday.  However, there is sometimes a lack of stamp sets and papers that depict a guy’s taste.

Recipe

Stamp Sets: Geared Up Garage

Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento

Paper:Whisper White, Tranquil Tide, Galvanized Metallic Paper, Classic Garage 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Big Shot Cutting Machine, Garage Gears Thinlits Dies, Blends: Real Red Duo, Smoky Slate Light, Classic Garage Metal Elements, Black/Silver 1/4″ Striped Metallic Ribbon, Banner Triple  Punch.

Details

• Stamp the car in Tuxedo Black ink and cut with Garage Gears Thinlits Dies.  Color using Real Red Duo Blends and highlight with Color Lifter.  TIP:I find that die cutting before coloring sometimes prevents having to recolor because the die cuts have slipped and cut into the image.
• Cut out the group of gears from the Galvanized Metallic Paper.  The  gears are attached together, and if you want, you can cut some apart to use in other places on your card, or there are separate gear die cuts to cut even more greats.
• Punch banners with the Banner Triple Punch, using 2 different patterns from the Classic Garage DSP.  Stagger the lengths of the strips.
• Stamp the sentiment on the DSP with Tuxedo Black ink.
• Attach a length of the Black/Silver ribbon to a metal key embellishment and secure with adhesive to the back of the  Tranquil Tide card base.
• Layer the die cut gears, and then the banner strips.  Attach the car with Stampin’ Dimensionals.  Secure the key  with a Mini Glue Dot

The Classic Garage Suite will be available to purchase starting January 3, 2019 and of course, Sale-a-Bration rewards  are  available to order with a minimum of a $60 CDN order.

If you purchase the Geared Up Garage Bundle, (item # 150610), you have enough for 1 SAB reward. Also, by purchasing the bundle, you will save 10%.  WHAT  A DEAL!!!  Shop my ONLINE STORE 

So if you like my male birthday card solutions, leave a comment below this post and let me know your thoughts.

The post Male Birthday Card Solutions – Classic Garage Suite Sneak Peek appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Fill out your Christmas Wish List even if it a week until Christmas Eve.  It’s not too late.  You may think that I am a bit wishful thinking I could get your order here before December 31st.  However there is a way to do your list so that you can get new Stampin’ Up! products.  Woo Hoo! Who doesn’t want new Stampin’ Up! products.

Did I hear you ask “How is that possible?”.  Well it is possible if you purchase a Simply Said with Karen Gift  Certificates.  Click HERE and you will be taken to a page with all the pertinent details.

Purchase Gift Certificates in $25.00 denominations are available by email to you as soon as I receive payment from PayPal.  If you wish a Gift  Certificate in other denominations, please EMAIL me and let me know the denomination(s) you wish to gift to yourself or others.  Yes, you can gift yourself!!!!  I will then send you instructions on purchasing the Gift Certificate and how and when you will receive it. Easy Peasy!

Signs of Santa

I would like to leave you with one more Christmas card.  The Signs of Santa stamp set and die cut framelits are no longer available due to their popularity.  However, if you do have the set, use to create another Christmas Card or Gift Certificate Holder.  The recipient will love it!

Recipe

Stamp Sets:Signs of Santa

Ink:Whisper White Craft, Tuxedo Black Memento, Real Red.

Paper:Real Red, Call Me Clover, WHisper White, Balmy Blue, Sparkle Glimmer.

Accessories:Big Shot DIe Cutting Machine, Santa’s Signpost Framelits Dies, Craft Sponge, Stampin’ Blends:Real Red Duo, Shaded Spruce Duo, Light Smoky Slate, Dark Daffodil Delight, Dark Crumb Cake, Petal Pink Duo, Balmy Blue Dark, Soft Suede Light, Santa’s Workshop Enamel Shapes.

A Few Details

• Sponge the Balmy Blue card stock with a sponge and Whisper White Craft ink.  This technique will subdue the blue color.
• Trim the Sparkle Glimmer Paper with a pair of scissors to make snow hills.
• Once you have all the images colored, arrange on the card front as you like.  If you have the Santa’s workshop Specialty Designer Series Paper and don’t have time to color the images, the cut the various images from the paper with the die cuts.

You can purchase the  Stampin’ Blends from my ONLINE STORE. I find myself using the Stampin’ Blends to color images more and more.  They are sooooo easy to work with.

So, it’s not too late to fill out your Christmas Wish List.  I would love to hear from you.

The post It’s Not Too Late to Fill Out Your Christmas Wish List! appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Occasions 2019 Sneak Peek is coming your way!  Yes, it that time again when we start to wait for a new Stampin’ Up! catalogue because we like new stuff! I can’t show you the actual catalogue and the pages inside, but I can show you the cards, gifts packaging and/or gifts that I created using new products.

As an attendee at the Stampin’ Up! 30th Anniversary Convention, I was lucky to receive the new catalogue, Prize Patrol stamp sets and other goodies.  As well, demonstrators attending the convention were able to order select products from the Occasions and Sale-a-Bration catalogues.  Just a few perks received.

Recipe

Stamp Sets:Butterfly Gala.

Ink:Tuxedo Black Memento.

Paper:Basic Black, Highland Heather, Lemon Lime Twist, Whisper White, Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Paper.

Accessories: Big Shot, Die Cutting Machine, Dot To Dot Textured Embossing Folder, Stitched Labels Framelits, Butterfly Duet Punch, Glitter Enamel Dots, Blends: Heather Highland Light, Lemon Lime Twist Light, Cajun Craze Light.

Details:

• Emboss the Highland Heather panel with the Dot to Dot Textured Embossing Folder. Mount on the Basic Black card base.
• Die cut a piece of Lemon Lime Twist cardstock with the Stitched Labels Framelits. As an aside, I am not sure why the Lemon Lime Twist cardstock looks yellow.  Stamp your sentiment in the center.
• Stamp and colour 2 butterflies (a large one and a small one).  There are multiple butterfly designs in this stamp set. Color with the Blends and punch.  Now for the best part, the Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Paper has a number of sheets with butterflies that you are able to punch out with the punch and use on your projects.
• Frame a strip of the designer paper with Basic Black cardstock.
• Attach Gorgeous Grape Glitter  Enamel Dots to the die cut label.

While you are waiting for the new catalogue, be sure to check the Year-end Closeout for Retiring items.  These will be available until January 2nd, 2019 only while supplies last. For a list of the items, download the file HERE. If you wish to purchase, please email me.

The new Occasions and Sale-a-Brations catalogue will be available for viewing on January 3rd.  In the meantime, enjoy the Occasions 2019 Catalogue Sneak Peeks.

The post Occasions 2019 Sneak Peek – Watch For The Catalogue appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Did you miss the latest Christmas/Holiday Card Class?  Well, you have another chance to get in on the next one!

A few weeks back, I wrote a post on “What You Missed at the Last Christmas Card Class”.  Read It Here

In addition to the cards I showed you in the former post, I am going to share 2 more cards that we did at that class.  As well, I will give you details of the next and last Christmas Card class of 2018!!!

All Is Bright

Stamps: Making Christmas Bright, Merry Christmas to All

Inks: VersaMark, Call Me Clover, Daffodil Delight, Real Red.

Paper: Call Me Clover, Real Red, Gold Foil, Whisper White, All is Bright Designer Series Paper..

Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machines, Swirls & Curls Textured Embossing Folder, Layering Circles Framelits, Christmas Bulb Builder Punch,  All is Bright Paper Clips, Real Red 3/8: mixed Satin Ribbon, Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder.

Details A

This card is fairly easy to recreate. One of the techniques to note is stamping on designer paper.  Stamp the sentiment with VersaMark and heat embossed with gold emboss powder.  To set of the green patterned designer paper, 2 strips of Gold Foil are attached to each side.

The coloured bulbs are stamped and punched with the Christmas Bulb Builder Punch. Stamp 1 bulb in Real Red, 1 bulb in Call Me Clover, and 1 bulb in Daffodil Delight ink.  Stamp the light string with  Call Me Clover ink. across the Whisper White Circle. If you want the bulb to appear glowing, use a sponge dauber and sponge each color beneath the bulbs.

Stamp the inside of the card using words from the Merry Christmas to All.

Winter Woods

Stamps: Winter Woods, Merry Christmas to All.

Inks: VersaMark, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake.

Paper: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Kraft, Crumb Cake, Festive Farmhouse Designer Series Paper, Vellum.

Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machines, Corrugated Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Layering Circles Framelits, Leaf Punch,  5/8″ Striped Burlap Trim, Festive Farmhouse Cotton Twine, Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder.

Details 2

Emboss the Cherry Cobbler cardstock with the Corrugated Dynamic textured Impressions Embossing Folder and attach to Very Vanilla card base.  Stamp the Birch Trees trunks on Crumb Cake with Early Espresso Ink.  Sponge the Crumb Cake with Crumb Cake ink with a Sponge Dauber.

Attach panel to designer series paper.  Stamp the large sentiment from the Merry Christmas to All stamp set on Very Vanilla with VersaMark and heat emboss with Gold embossing powder.  Die cut with the Layering Circles Framelits.

Punch 2 sets of leaves from the Vellum paper, attach a strip of  5/8″ Striped Burlap Trim to go behind the sentiment and tie a length of the Festive Farmhouse Cotton Twine around the card..

If you missed the latest Christmas/Holiday card class, don’t miss out on the next class.If you did not attend this class, you missed out on 8 Christmas Cards to add to your stash. All the hard work of cutting and measuring cardstock is done for you, you receive all the supplies to create the card, kits for each card is assembled and placed in an envelope so that you have all your supplies on hand.  It’s always fun to stamp with like minded people and have some laughs.

My mission is to increase your knowledge of the different stamping techniques. aim to show new techniques at each class that you can replicate as you create your own cards.

Check HERE for the next class.  You can RSVP right on the calendar page.  Hope to see you December 7th. If you have questions, please EMAIL ME.

The post Latest Christmas/Holiday Card Class Don’t Miss the Next One! appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

If you did not make the Christmas Card Class last week, you don’t know what you missed!  So, in this post, I will share some of the cards we created so you won’t miss the next one!  Here are 2 cards that we created and I will blog about the other 2 in my next post.

I know it’s hard to make an in home class if you don’t reside in my area.  But, if you you do, visit my events to see what’s up next.

November Classes

December Classes

Oh! Christmas Tree

Create this card with the Star of Light stamp set and the Starlight Thinlits Dies, and the Winter Woods and Woods Framelits Dies.  You can purchase the Winter Woods and matching framelits as a bundle  and save 10%.  Do heat embossing , silver die cut stars, to decorate the card.  Add a free cut mound of  snow from Sparkle Glimmer paper.

Merry Wishes

This card features new Merry Christmas to All stamp set and the Merry Christmas THinlits Dies, the Joyous Noel Specialty Designer Series Paper, Joyous Noel 6″x6″ Glimmer Paper and the Merry Merlot & Copper 5/8″ Reversible Ribbon. What make this card unique is the texture add by the glimmer paper.  The Glimmer Paper comes in a pack of 24 with 8 sheets each of Copper Merry Merlot and Tranquil Tide. The Designer Series Paper has Copper accents on one side of the paper and beautiful designs.  The Merry Merlot Ribbon is reversible, so that you can show the Copper side or the Merlot side. In addition, there is a punch that coordinates with this suite, the Sprig Punch.  When I first saw this punch, it reminded me of Reindeer Antlers.  So you could use your imagination when creating different projects.  Have fun with it.

Be sure to check back for my next post to see the other cards from the Christmas Card Class.

The post Christmas Card Class-Part 1 – Sign Up For the Next Class appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Easily create children Christmas cards with the Signs of Santa Stamp Set and the Santa’s Signpost Framelits Dies. Although this set is great for kids, it’s also great for the “young at heart”.

Recipe

Stamps:Signs of Santa

Ink:Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper: Thick Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Whisper White, Santa’s Workshop Specialty Designer Series Paper.

Accessories:Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Santa’s Signpost Framelits Dies, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Triple Banner Punch, Red Rhinestone Jewels, Garden Green Baker’s Twine, Stampin’ Blends: Poppy Parade Duo, Crumb Cake Duo, Smokey Slate Duo, Daffodil Delight Light, Petal Pink Dark, Ivory, Color Lifter.

Many parents try to keep the spirit of Santa around for many years.  It’s like the right of passage for children, it’s the magic, and the belief in something good.  So often, today, there is not a lot to cheer!

Details:

If you are using Stampin’ Blends to color the images, you need to use the Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  This ink is great for alcohol markers and will not bleed and ruin your images.

In the 2018 Holiday Catalogue, Stampin’ Up! expanded their line of Stampin’ Blends giving us more options for coloring.  In addition to the blends in the Annual Catalogue, there are the following appearing in the Holiday Catalogue: Real Red (dark & light), Shaded Spruce (dark & light), Basic Black (dark & light), Mango Melody (dark & light).  Remember that all Stampin’ Blends can be purchased in combined light & dark set, or individually.  You can see and order all the Stampin’ Blends HERE.  And, the Whisper White cardstock is a dream to use with the blends.  Make sure your work surface is covered so that you will not damage your desk or table.  The blends will bleed through to the back of the cardstock and this is a GOOD THING.

So, create children Christmas cards with Sign of Santa Stamp Set and matching Santa’s Signpost Framelits Dies. Receive 10% of the individual cost of the stamp set and the framelits when you purchase these as a bundle.

Have fun!

The post Create Children Christmas Cards With Signs of Santa appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Do you have busy Santa Elves decorate your Christmas Tree? As it gets closer to Christmas, I wish I had Santa Elves. Every year I think I should downsize my decorations, and every year, I think it’s too hard to make the decision on what to keep and what to do.

When the kids were small, we would decorate the tree together. Now they are grown-up, married and with their own kids.I sound like I am lamenting and I guess I am.

Recipe

Stamp: Signs of Santa, Winter Woods.

Inks: Poppy Parade, Memento Tuxedo Black, Garden Green.

Paper: Whisper White, Santa’s Workshop Specialty Designer  Series Paper.

Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Santa’s Signpost  Framelits Dies,Farmhouse Framelits Dies, In The Woods Framelit Dies, Santa’s Workshop Enamel Shapes, Garden Green Baker’s Twine, Blends: Poppy Parade Combo, Call Me Clover Combo, Soft Suede Combo, Petal Pink Combo,  Bermuda Bay, Light, Ivory, Color Lifter.

Details

This stamp set and matching framelits is so cute.  You can let your imagination go wild when creating different Christmas cards.

Stamp the elf images with Tuxedo Black ink.  This is your go to ink when coloring with the Blends.  Blends are alcohol ink and will not cause the Memento ink to smear.

Color the elves faces with the Light Petal Pink Blend and give them rosy cheeks with the Dark Petal Pink Blend. Color the wagon with Soft Suede Combo Blends and the parcels with various Blends.

Cut bows with the bow framelit from the Farmhouse Framelits Dies and attach to the tree for decorations.

Attach a length of the Garden Green Baker’s Twine beside the tree and cascade it down the other side.  Attach the elves to the twine so that they look like they are hanging on to a rope.

To create your own busy Santa Elves Christmas card, click on any of the images below and you can order from my ONLINE STORE.

Product List

The post Busy Santa Elves Decorate the Christmas Tree. Signs of Santa Stamp Set appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

73 Years married, that is a life-time. It is important to celebrate these milestones.   We, as a family, never know how many more we will get to celebrate with them.

Recipe

Stamps:Wishing You Well, Banners For You.

Inks:Fresh Fig, Mossy Meadow.

Paper:Whisper White, Fresh Fig, Petal Promenade Designer Series Paper.

Accessories:Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Bunch of Banners Framelits, Layering Ovals Framelits,Stitched Shapes Framelits, Share What you Love Artisan Pearls, Medium Whisper White Envelope.

I can’t get enough of the Petal Promenade Designer Series Paper.  It is just beautiful.  Usually, when I have a package of beautiful paper like this one, I hardly use it and so it sits.  However, this year, I am really trying to use my designer series papers.  After all, that is why I have them.  Do you do this as well.  I can’t be the only crafter who does hoards their beautiful papers.

About the Wishing You Well Stamp Set

The “Wishing You Well Stamp Set” is a”distinktive” stamp.  Stampin’ Up! embarked on a new manufacturing process for this stamp.  During the manufacturing process, the stamps under go etching to make the design.  As well as the etching, the stamp is give different opacities or denseness.  The stamped image shows different variations because of the process.  Notice that the bow appears to be sheer and appears like netting.  This process really works the light and dark of the stamp and provides depth to the image.

Decorate your envelope and add the piece of the same Designer Series that you used for your card. Cut a piece of the DSP the width and length of the envelope flap.  Attach SNAIL to the flap and attach the DSP.  Trim the DSP to fit the envelope flap.

For any questions on this card, please leave a comment and I will get back to you.

Create you 73 years anniversary card or any year in between.

Product List

The post 73 Years Married Anniversary Card – This is a long time appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

First Frost 2018 Holiday Series features cards created with the Frosted Floral Suite.  Over the next few weeks, I will be featuring other products from the Holiday Catalogue. This suite was the first one I saw that I had to have in my collection.  Ok, there will be additional sets, however, we will get to those in later posts.

Recipe

Stamps: First Frost

Inks: Blackberry Bliss, Tranquil Tide, Mint Macaron.

Paper:Gray Granite, Blackberry Bliss, Whisper White, Frosted Floral Specialty Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Frosted Bouquet Framelits Dies, 1/2″ Lace Trim, Frosted & Clear Epoxy Droplets, Champagne Mist Shimmer Mist..

The first thing that drew me to this set was the Frosted Floral Specialty DSP. The designs are exquisite and look like watercolor, the colors are fabulous and to top it off, the paper has a pearlized finish. For this card, I used the Gray Granite with the frosted twigs.

The flowers appear to be 3 dimensional resulting from the stamp design.  The stamp is cut to provide the shading at the same time you are stamping on your paper.  There are matching die cuts for the flowers and the bonus is that there are 2 die cuts for the smaller flower, so that you can cut 2 saving you time.

The label frame has 2 parts: a solid frame for a sentiment and a narrow frame that you can use to either use on its own or in combination with the solid frame.  There is a leaf that you can use (no stamp) to cut and use on your card.  The negative is a great stencil which I used on another card and will post at a later date.

Finally, the Frosted & Clear epoxy Droplets are delicate and very pretty.  They come in 2 sheets.  One sheet is clear and the other sheet is frosted.

Please check back often to view other cards in the Frosted Floral 2018 Holiday series.

The Holiday catalogue goes live on September 5th and you can then order the holiday products. 

The post First Frost 2018 Holiday Series Use to Create More Than Holiday Cards appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.