Make-a-Wish Thank Yous

Today I am using a couple of my favorite Kitchen Sink sets to help a friend with a very special project. Mary is a working mom and Albuquerque, New Mexico native. She and her husband are the proud parents of three young adult sons. Following her youngest son's successful battle with bone cancer, Mary has pledged to support the Make-a-Wish Foundation annually with the donation of 1000 thank you cards. I am putting a set of eight of these cards in the mail today to help her reach her goal. Read about her efforts on Mary's page on the Paper Craft Planet.


Stamps: Heart & Roses Multi Step Clear Stamps and Other Important People Clean Stamps
by Kitchen Sink Stamp

Paper: Riding Hood Red, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette by Stampin' Up

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, and Always Artichoke by Stampin' Up

Tools: Cuttlebug Textile Embossing Folder, Martha Stewart Punch, Sponge

Embellishment: Ribbon

Since it's Monday all my fellow Kitchen Sink Crew members also have posted fabulous new designs. Be sure you drop by to be inspired by their latest Kitchen Sink creations!!

Maria Colosimo

Nicole Cooke

Lori Tecler

Julie Masse

Dee Jackson

Angela Knopf

Tammy Hershberger

Ready or Not, Here I Come!

Today's Kitchen Sink Crew Challenge comes to us from Crew Chief Dee Jackson who invites us to "Ring in the New Year!" I think we are all looking forward to better times to come in 2009. May it be a year of health, happiness, and prosperity for each and every one of you!

Nothing could be more perfect for "ringing" than the Kitchen Sink 3 Step Bells. To create this card, I stamped and cut out 4 bells. The bottom bell was glued to the BasicGrey panel and the remaining bells layered over it with dimensionals.

The pattern used on the Pink Pirouette card front was created using a stamp from Playful Ovals. The sentiment and year were created with Mix It Up!

Stamps: Bells Multi Step Clear Stamps  and Mix It Up! Clear Stamps by Kitchen Sink Stamps

Papers: Pink Pirouette and US White by Stampin' Up, Two Scoops by BasicGrey

Inks: Apricot Appeal, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, and Pink Pirouette by Stampin' Up, Metallic Gold from Colorbox, Versafine Onyx Black

Embellishments: Ribbon and Dimensionals

Be sure to check out the fabulous ways our Crew Members are "Ringing in the New Year" and then come play along with us!! Post a link to your creation on the Kitchen Sink Page at Paper Craft Planet!

Dee Jackson

Maria Colosimo

Nicole Cooke

Lori Tecler

Tammy Hershberger

Julie Masse

Angela Knopf

Family Christmas Cookbook

Since 1997, my husband's family has made a tradition of creating and sustaining an on-going family cookbook which last year expanded into its third binder.

At Christmas each family prepares a recipe page and a brief family history for the year to be added to each family's book. As the children grow and graduate from high school, they become contributing members to the cookbook and get their own binder of recipes. This year I prepared 19 copies of this scrapbook page for our celebration. The back of the page gives events of the year along with photos.

On Sunday we will be preparing our dishes and bringing our recipe pages to share with our family as we celebrate Christmas together this year. It will be a great day of fun and fellowship served up with a whole lot of love!!!

Stamps: House-Mouse & Friends Christmas by the Paper Studio
So Very by Stampin' Up
Hoilday Words by Stampendous!

Paper: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red and US White by Stampin' Up
Figgy Pudding by BasicGrey

Ink: Versafind Onyx Black
Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, and Baja Breeze by Stampin' Up

Coloring: Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol

Embellishment: Ribbon

Tools: Circle Nestabilities, Circle Punch

Christmas Memories Frame

I picked up a bunch of these sheer frames by Making Memories during the after Christmas clearance last year thinking they would make great scrapbook page embellishments. Well, I never got around to that scrapbooking so I decided to use them to make frames for some of my favorite Christmas photos. With Christmas in the air I just cannot seem to put down my beautiful poinsettia stamps.

The sheer frame adheres directly to the photo. I then glued that to a 5 x 7 sheet of Handsome Hunter cardstock which I decorated with Kitchen Sink Poinsettias and red velvet ribbon. I stuck that to the front of a stand-up acrylic frame.

Stamps: Poinsettia Multi Step Clear Stamps by Kitchen Sink Stamps

Paper: Handsome Hunter and US White by Stampin' Up

Inks: Real Red, Purely Pomegranate, Bravo Burgundy, Wild Wasabi, and Handsome Hunter by Stampin' Up

Embellishments: Red velvet ribbon, Sheer Frame by Making Memories, Stickles, Dimensionals.

This is Monday so all the Kitchen Sink Crew Members will be posting their latest creations. Be sure to drop by their blogs to check out their fabulous work:

Maria Colosimo

Tammy Hershberger

Nicole Cooke

Lori Tecler

Angela Knopf

Dee Jackson

Love and prayers going out to crew member Julie Masse today who is down without power following an ice storm. Missing you, Julie, and hope you stay safe and warm!

Kitchen Sink Crew Challenge Hosted by Emilia

What an exciting day for Kitchen Sink Stamps. Hosting today's challenge is Emilia, the winner of the first Kitchen Sink Crew Challenge. Today Emilia asked us to alter a tin or box or bag to give as a gift for a friend using Kitchen Sink Stamps and no designer paper. You can see the fabulous gifts Emilia has created to inspire us and read the rules for her challenge here.

I had stockpiled a bunch of Christmas pins last year during my after-Christmas bargain shopping knowing they would make beautiful gifts for my friends this year. I bought every one of these beautiful crystal poinsettias which they had. Who knew Maria would design the perfect poinsettia this year with which to decorate my tins!!!

I covered the top of my tin with Bravo Burgundy paper which I had embossed with gold Christmas trees. Gold braid was then attached around the lid of the tin with super sticky tape. The tag was created with my square Nestabilities. I embossed the sentiment in gold and added the cut out and popped up poinsettia. The flower center was added with gold Stickles.

Stamps: Poinsettia Multi Step Clear Stamps and Playful Christmas 1 Multi Step Clear Stamps
 by Kitchen Sink Stamps

Papers: Bravo Burgundy and US White by Stampin' Up, Metallic Gold Paper

Inks: Bravo Burgundy, Cranberry Crisp, Wild Wasabi, and Handsome Hunter by Stampin' Up
Versamark

Embellishments: Gold Embossing Powder, Ribbon, Gold Braid, Gold Stickles, Dimensionals

Please view all the wonderful creations by the Kitchen Sink Crew inspired by Emilia's challenge!

Emilia our Guest Host

Maria Colosimo

Lori Tecler
Nicole Cooke
Julie Masse
Tammy Hershberger
Dee Jackson
Angela Knopf

A HUGE thank you, Emilia, for inspiring us today!! This was such a fun project and absolutely perfect for the decorative pins I purchased for my friends this year!!

It's Official! I Have Enough Christmas Cards to Mail!

When I saw the sketch challenge selected by Roxie on SCS this morning, I knew it was perfect for this bold designer paper from BasicGrey and my 3 Step Pontsettia from Kitchen Sink.

Stamps: 3 Step Ponsettia and 3 Step Bells from Kitchen Sink Stamps

Papers: Baroque Burgundy, Baja Breeze, and US White from Stampin' Up, Figgy Pudding from BasicGrey

Inks: Cranberry Crisp, Purely Pomegranate, Bravo Burgundy, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, and Baja Breeze from Stampin' Up

Tools: Nestabilities

Embellishments: Pearl Microbeads, Ribbon, Dimensionals

The poinsettia was stamped on US White and then cut out and popped up on dimensionals.

More Fun with Monograms

I am having the most fun with three of my favorite things: Playful Ovals and Mix It Up! by Kitchen Sink Stamps and my oval Nestabilities. They work so well together to created quick and easy monogram cards for many of the people on my Christmas gift-giving list!!

While creating this card, I also happened upon a bow which lays flatter and doesn't have a hard, thick knot at the center. To attach my ribbon, I wrapped it around the front panel and then pulled both ends through a hole punched in the monogrammed oval. Here is the part that is important, do not cross the ends and tie before you make the first loop. Just make the first loop and proceed with the bow. The result is a bow that is softer and flatter and easier to mail without additional postage!

Stamps: Mix It Up! Clear Stamps by Kitchen Sink Stamps

Paper: Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla by Stampin' Up

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Sahara Sand by Stampin' Up

Tools: Oval Nestabilities, Crop-a-Dial

Don't forget to check out the Blue Plate Special over at Kitchen Sink Stamps today. It's Wednesday so Maria has a special group of items on sale all day long!!

Tie-Dyed Christmas

When I saw the technique which Lynn shared as TLC197 on Splitcoaststampers today, I knew I wanted to give it a try.

The technique by Pat Huntoon of Technique Junkie Newsletter involved braying glossy paper with a Kaleidacolor pad and then spritzing it with Simple Green. After the background dried, I ironed it flat and added these colorful Kitchen Sink trees.

Stamps: Playful Christmas 1 Multi Step Clear Stamps by Kitchen Sink Stamps

Papers: Glossy White, US White, Orchid Opulence by Stampin' Up

Inks: Calypso by Kaleidacolor, Orchid Opulence, Tempting Turquoise, Yoyo Yellow, Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red, Taken with Teal by Stampin' Up

Tools: Brayer, Spritzer filled with Simple Green

Embellishments: Rhinestones and Ribbon

Trim-the-Tree Gift Card or Cash Holder

Well, here it is Kitchen Sink Monday, and I bet I'm not the only one shocked to find that December has arrived so quickly this year. While decorating my tree this weekend, I decided I wanted to find a way to hang my gift card holders on the tree and use them as part of the decoration. With so many tweens and teens in our family, gift cards and cash have found their way to the top of almost everyone's What I Want for Christmas List. When the kids arrive on Christmas morning I'll have my own version of the old German tradition of find the pickle for them to play!!

I crafted this gift card holder by attaching a 1/8 inch thick open-top box to the bottom front of my Nestabilities tag. The gift card drops right in.

Stamps: Playful Christmas 1 Multi Step Clear Stamps by Kitchen Sink Stamps

Paper: Certainly Celery, Riding Hood Red, and Chocolate Chip by Stampin' Up and Figgy Pudding by BasicGrey

Inks: Certainly Celery, Riding Hood Red, Baja Blue, and Chocolate Chip at Stampin' Up

Tools: Rectangular Nestabilities, Round Tab Punch, Crop-a-Dial

Embellishments: Eyelet and Ribbons

Be sure to visit the blogs of all the Kitchen Sink Crew members to see the delightful projects they have posted today!!

Maria Colosimo
Nicole Cooke
JulieMasse
Dee Jackson
Angela Knopf
Lori Tecler
Tammy Hershberger

Blue Bird in a Topiary

Ladies and gentlemen, you better hurry on over to Paper Craft Planet this morning where all kinds of excitement is happening!! Today is the kick-off for their 12 Days of Christmas event. For the next 12 days there will be challenges and prizes from sponsoring companies each and every day!!

The First Day of Christmas is hosted today by Kitchen Sink Stamps. Maria will be giving away her two newest sets, 3 Step Bells and 3 Step Poinsettia, to the lucky winner.

The winner will be selected from cards loaded on Paper Craft Planet which contain a tree and/or a bird for the First Day of Christmas! The key word on your upload needs to be 12day1.

I created my topiary tree by using layers 1 and 2 of the 3 Step Hydrangea, the rose stem from Hearts & Roses, and the sentiment from Playful Christmas all by Kitchen Sink Stamps.

The bird was created with circle punches by Stampin' Up and the fern punch by Martha Stewart.

Stamps by Kitchen Sink Stamps: Hydrangea Multi Step Clear Stamps, Heart & Roses Multi Step Clear Stamps, and Playful Christmas 1 Multi Step Clear Stamps

Papers by Stampin' Up: Cranberry Crisp, Tempting Turquoise, and US White

Papers by BasicGrey: Figgy Pudding

Inks by Stampin' Up: Wild Wasabi, Going Grey, Basic Gray, and Chocolate Chip

Versamark and Gold Embossing Powder were used for the sentiment.

Don't miss the fabulous entries by all the Kitchen Sink Crew designers:

Maria
Dee
Nicole
Tammy
Julie
Lori
Angela

Rachel's Kitchen in the Kitchen

Here it is Monday again and time for Kitchen Sink Crew Challenge #2. Today Angela is hosting our challenge and has selected this photograph by Rachel Denbow of her amazing kitchen for us to use as inspiration! I fell in love with the awesome colors and fifties flair!

Check out Rachel's blog Bling on my Sewing Machine to see more of her fabulous work. What a talented artist!! You can see her Happy*Kitchen here in her remarkable flickr gallery.

As you can see I created my card today using the beautiful colors I saw in Rachel's kitchen. I was also inspired by the pegboard and solid images on the glasses. They remind me so much of the jelly glasses my mother collected when I was a child in the fifties!






Stamps:
Autumn Squirrel Multi Step Clear Stamps and Never a Loss 4 Words Clear Stamps by Kitchen Sink Stamps





Papers:
Cool Caribbean, Not Quite Navy, Really Rust,
Yoyo Yellow, and US White by Stampin' Up

Inks: Not Quite Navy by Stampin' Up, Versamark

Tools: Swiss Dots Embossing Folder by Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Paper Piercer

Embellishments: White Embossing Powder and Ribbon

I hope you are inspired by Rachel's kitchen and join the Kitchen Sink Crew in today's challenge!

You don't have to use Kitchen Sink Stamps to play! Be sure to post your card in the KSS Discussion Group on Paper Craft Planet.

And don't forget to check out what the other KSS Crew Members were inspired to create by Rachel's kitchen.

Angela Knopf
Tammy Hershberger
Nicole Cooke
Maria Colosimo
Dee Jackson
Lori Tecler
Julie Masse

Triangle Fold Medallion

This week's SCS Technique Challenge was exactly that to me, a REAL challenge. I tried it once as soon as Lynn posted the challenge and that attempt ended up in the trash can. Later in the day I returned to the gallery to study all the beautiful samples and decided to give it another try. This card is the result.


Stamps:
Playful Christmas by Kitchen Sink Stamps
Snowflakes by Stampin' Up

Papers:
Baja Breeze and Bravo Burgundy by Stampin' Up
Figgy Pudding by BasicGrey

Inks: Bravo Burgundy by Stampin' Up

Embellishments: Ribbon and Rhinestone Brad

Don't forget that it is Wednesday which means it's time for another fabulous Kitchen Sink Blue Plate Special. Be sure to check in on the sensational items on sale today!! Remember you have just 24 hours to take advantage of today's bargains!