Come Sail Away

I have a card to share with you today - yay! :)

It's a very CAS (Clean & Simple) birthday card for a guy friend of the family, and I used a few "new" things, I'm happy to say. :)

I used the new In Color Island Indigo, and a new stamp from the Summer Mini catalog, Sail Away.  It's one that I've actually been meaning to use for awhile, but like I've said before...I just haven't had much time to stamp this Summer! So I was thrilled to finally put it to use. Remember the Summer Mini is done at the end of August!

Sorry 'bout the picture quality...I forgot to take it at home, so I had to make do with where I was and take it with my phone. :)

It's kinda funny...I tend to go monochromatic when making guy cards. I wonder why that is...

Details: Card base is Not Quite Navy, Sailboat image and sentiment are stamped in Not Quite Navy ink onto Naturals White cardstock, then  layered onto Island Indigo cardstock. The sentiment is punched out with the Word Window punch, and layered on the Modern Label punch.

Well, what do you think?

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Loads of Birthday Fun!

HAPPY AUGUST!  The Summer is flying by, and I can't believe it's been a month since I last posted (1 post in a month???!!)!  Wow. I haven't had many chances to create, that's for sure! Mojo? Pretty much on hold. At times, I thought maybe indefinitely. :-(  Didn't even get to check in on my favorite blogs much in the last month! :-(

Well...I'm happy to say...I'm back! :)

I had a great reason to create...my dad's birthday (which is actually tomorrow), and I'm pleased okay with how things turned out. :)  Considering it's one of my first cards made in a long time (made 1-2 others, maybe CASED? - wink), I'm happy. A few things bug me, but other than that, pretty happy. :) This was completely my own, and it felt SO GOOD to get back in the saddle again. :)

Enough rambling...on to the project! :)

I used Old, Current, and New Stampin' Up products for this card - yay! :)
An old favorite of mine (still current), is the stamp set Loads of Love.

Old - "Hawaii Papaya" Designer paper, Kiwi Kiss cardstock
Current - Chocolate Chip cardstock, Watercolor paper, Stazon ink, Watercolor crayons, Aquapainter, Dimensionals, Circle punch
New - Baker's Twine! Made it's debut in the Summer mini catalog, then continued it's journey in the new Idea Book & Catalog - you can view either one by clicking on the SU Catalog tab above! :)


WHEW!
Well, what do you think?

That's all for today...thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Thinking Tree

Happy Monday to ya!!

I was in the middle of making this "Thinking of You" card, and realized it looked vaguely familiar.  I looked it up out of curiosity, and sure enough, it had a vague resemblance - ha! :)

Since I was halfway through, I decided NOT to do exactly the same thing. I mean, I had already decided to keep it monochromatic, and had used a different vanilla, so at least it differed that way.  I had a piece of cardstock that didn't go all the way around the main image, and thought "that's ok!  I'll keep it that way!"  Since I had already punched the sentiment with the wide oval punch (same as old card), I decided to cut the sides off to make it a little different.

Well, here's today's card:

Sorry about the ribbon...it IS artichoke, the right color, but it shows up funny.

And here's the post I was talking about.  Look a little similar, don't they? lol  Deep down, I must think this is the perfect designer paper for this stamp or something! lol

Well, what do you think?

The Small Print (All Stampin' Up)Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Confetti Ivory
Paper: To The Nines DP
Accessories: Wide oval punch, Always Artichoke gg ribbon, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

It's Your Birthday!

I had these great plans for today...most of which included making a TON of cards.  Ha! Apparently that only happens in my dreamworld, where life doesn't interrupt. ;-) I *DID* finally get a chance to make one card, at least.

One of my cardmaking goals this year includes using up my stashes (remember, I'm a paper hoarder).  Here's a card that uses up some of that retired paper (Good Morning Sunshine).
A bit brighter than my normal taste...but that's ok, right?

I set out to make a masculine card, but after I finished it, I realized it could work for anyone! :)

Well, what do you think?  Honestly, it's not my fave...but I had forces working against me today, so I'm just glad I was even able to create something! lol

The Small Print (All Stampin' Up)
Stamps: It's Your Birthday
Ink: Pacific Point
Paper: Good Morning Sunshine
Cardstock: Pacific Point, Old Olive, Summer Sun, Whisper White
Accessories: Star punches, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Lovely, Lovely, Lovely

So, I had a friend threaten me with bodily harm if I didn't post to my blog soon. Just kiddin'...kinda, lol. ;-)  Glad to know people out there care whether I post or not! :)

I have a little secret, and it explains where I've been.

I've been working on a project...for a blog I'm going to be featured on!!!  Yup - so excited!! Stay tuned for more info on that!  Anyways, that took a ton of my time, and I was in uber-creative mode and could think beyond nothing but this secret project.

But now I'm back! :)  Here's what I made up today...

featuring our stamp set "Lovely As A Tree"

It was so refreshing to create for fun, again! :)  Look for these cards to appear on my Etsy site, soon!

Want a close up of each LOVELY? ;-)
#1 - Lovely Landscape Trees














#2 - Lovely Tall Tree

#3 - Lovely Maple Tree

I used an old (retired) Stampin' Up Designer Paper called "Juntos" - it was from our Spanish Catalog and I fell in love with it the moment I laid my eyes on it!  The colors I used here are so rich...Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, and Very Vanilla. Each main image is up on dimensionals (of course!). :)

Well, what do you think?  Do you have a favorite?

The Small Print (All Stampin' Up)

Stamps: Lovely As A Tree

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla

Paper: Juntos DSP

Accessories: Chocolate Chip Taffeta ribbon, Dimensionals, SU markers

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)

Crystal

Just Add Texture!

I've discovered something.

You know how most of us (me included) have a hard time thinking up/making masculine cards?

Since most guys don't fully appreciate a handmade card, I've learned to simplify when I can.  Not saying the person I made this for doesn't appreciate my cards - I believe that he does. :)  I'm just sharing with you that an easy way to make a guy's card is to include texture, and a simple message. No fru-fru frilly stuff like ribbons! lol

JUST ADD TEXTURE! :)

Here's a card I made earlier this summer:

A simple guy card.  Now I'll admit...it was a bit difficult to make the texture on this one, because of the "cardstock" I used.  I used the big shot texturx plate in combination with....can you guess what?

ETA: The answer is in THIS POST (click on it).

Well, what do you think?

The Small Print (All Stampin' Up)
Stamps: Happy Everything
Ink: Basic Black
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories: Star punches, Black brad, Dimensionals, Sizzix Texturz Plate, Big Shot

Thanks for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Keep On Truckin'

Do you ever feel like that's your motto in life?  Just keep on truckin', keep on truckin'....

Sometimes I do. When I get overwhelmed, when I have a lot going on, so many things to do and be for everyone...

Instead, I should be thanking God for life. Thanking Him for every day that I live, thanking Him for every moment with my children, for a messy house to clean, for food to cook.  So maybe the motto should be Keep On Truckin' and Thankin', and Praisin'! :)

Yes, it's Monday.  A Monday full of things to do...so I won't tary long. ;-)

Today's post is one of those stamp sets that I absolutely HAD to get upon perusal of the new catalog. ;-)  I saw this image specifically, and said gotta have it! :)













It's called "Countryside" and I love it!  Perfect for those hard-to-make masculine cards! :)

One of my favorite techniques to work with in cardmaking is watercoloring.  It so relaxes me!  It's especially nice with Stampin' Up's watercolor paper.  Nice and thick, it absorbs the color, blends well....ahhh..love it! :)  I colored this with my SU markers and aquapainter.

I also used something else that is new...one of my new fave colors, called "Cherry Cobbler"...it's a nice deep red. The Chocolate Chip layer is distressed with our distressing tool from the cutter kit.

Well, what do you think?

The Small Print (All Stampin' Up)
Stamps: Countryside
Ink: Stazon Brown
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Watercolor Paper
Accessories: SU markers, Aquapainter
Technique: Watercoloring

Thanks for stopping by, and have a GREAT day!
Crystal

Happy Graduation!

I realize it's been slow here...so sorry...
I've got a full week of posts scheduled, come back every day to check it out! :)

It's that time of year again...time to celebrate Graduates!

Here's an oh-so-simple layout (love it!) with some texture for added "punch"! :)













I just love this one. WHY?  Because of it's bold clean lines, texture, and simple message. I love that it could be for a male or female, and could work for any type of graduation! :)

I used two "new" items on this...from the Summer Mini! :)  The Stamp is called "Happy Grad," and the texture is from the Square Lattice embossing folder.  I see a lot of CAS masculine (& feminine) cards in my future with this find! :)

Interested in purchasing it for yourself?  Head on over to my Etsy site for this and more... http://www.craftincrystal.etsy.com/ 

Oh, almost forgot. The main image?  Popped up on dimensionals, of course. ;-)

Well, what do you think?

The Small Print (All Stampin' Up)
Stamps: Happy Grad
Ink: Basic Black
Cardstock: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Whisper White
Accessories: Square Lattice EF, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Thank You, Man

In continuing in my Masculine Theme (yesterday's post not included), I've got another CAS card for you.

This time, it's a "Thank You"...but you could sub it for anything! And honestly, it could work for anyone, too. :)

My hubby wanted a thank you card for a guy, and this card totally works for that specific guy!  However, he still hasn't given it to him...must be waiting for some good reason, lol. ;-)

I love the CAS look of this...a bit o' designer paper, a sentiment, a bit of ribbon and voila! :)  Yes, there is ribbon on here.  Sorry, but I sometimes I just can't say "no" to ribbon! lol.  The key is to keep it to a bare minimum. ;-)

Well, what do you think?

The Small Print (All Stampin' Up)

Stamps: Thank You Kindly

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa

Paper: Outlaw DSP (retired)

Ink: Soft Suede

Accessories: Cocoa ribbon, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Masculine Ideas

With Father's Day rapidly approaching,

I thought I'd share some masculine creations.

Masculine cards are difficult for many crafters, including myself. 

Why is that?

Maybe it's the lack of masculine stamp sets out there, or

maybe lack of inspiration. I dunno.

One thing that you can do is focus on something that is a part of their life.  If you don't have stamps to match...get creative! Make something with punches...or ribbon! ;-)

Yes, I just said "ribbon" for a guy card. lol

Here are two samples.
First, the serious one:

...and now the "Dilbert" type version. ;-)

Well, what do you think?

The Small Print (Stampin' Up)

Stamps: Linen BG

Cardstock: Naturals Ivory

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: Lg. Chocolate satin ribbon (retired)

Thanks for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Truckload of Gifts

Okay, really...this is NOT my fave card ever...for SURE. ;-b
But I'll show it anyways, lol.

A very simple guy card to make...

Please don't judge too harshly, lol.  I was going as fast as I could (you know how I procrastinate), using a (going dry) blender pen...hindsight, I would've used my fave, the aquapainter. :)














Overall, not bad for less than 20 minutes, starting with NO idea at all. It helps me to know it's for a guy who most likely does not care about the card. Sorry people, but it's true.  MOST guys could care less.  I've come to grips with that. ;-b

Dare I ask this time? lol...
Well, what do you think?

Don't forget to check out my 25,000 Hits BLOG CANDY GIVEAWAY (click on blue)!

The Small Print (All Stampin' Up)
Stamps: Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories
Cardstock: Sage Shadow, Always Artichoke, Whisper White
Paper: Wintergreen DSP (retired)
Ink: Black Stazon
Accessories: Always Artichoke gg ribbon, Watercolor crayons, Blender pens, Dimensionals, Circle punches

Thanks for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

PS Technique Sample #2

I'll be honest with you.

Today's sample wasn't one I had on hand, as promised.  As I fell asleep last night, an image came into my mind, so very clearly, I decided I had to try to replicate it this morning.

Do you know what day it is today?  Here's a hint:

















Good Friday.  The day in which we remember (though it should be daily) what God, through his son Jesus Christ, did for us.  What an awful thing He went through, so that we might live forever!

Again, the picture doesn't quite do it justice...much more striking in person...a little darker, even.  HOWEVER, I'm thrilled at how it turned out, because it is just as I envisioned.  The black cross against a setting sun sky, made with the Polished Stone Technique.  If you'd like to see how I achieved the polished stone background, view my Video Tutorial HERE.

THE HOW:  For the bottom portion, I used Summer Sun and More Mustard.  Pumpkin Pie and Ruby Red used together, mixing together in the middle. :)  The cross is from the SU set "Refuge and Strength", which I stamped in Craft Basic Black ink and embossed with black powder.  The hilly grassy area is Craft Basic Black ink applied with sponge dauber & embossed as well.  I also sponged around the edge of the cardbase (Dusty Durango), and of course, there are dimensionals behind the black layer.

THE WHY:  Interesting thing...I found this video AFTER I made my card.  Please watch.


The Small Print (All Stampin' Up)
Stamps: Refuge and Strength
Ink: Craft Basic Black
Cardstock: Dusty Durango, Basic Black, Summer Sun, Glossy White
Accessories: Black embossing powder, Heat tool, Reinkers (SS, MM, PP, RR), Sponge dauber, 5/8" black grosgrain
Other: Cotton balls, Rubbing Alcohol
Technique: Polished Stone

Thanks for stopping by, and have a GREAT day!
Crystal

PS Technique Sample #1

Well, hopefully you enjoyed yesterday's video.  Only one comment so far, so hmmm...maybe not? lol

Today, I'm back with Sample #1...
This is the card I made with the colors I demonstrated in my video HERE.

VERY simple card, as I did not want to distract from the technique.  Left side has plenty of room to add a sentiment later, perhaps on a punch of sorts...with dimensionals behind. :) 

Sorry about the pic...just couldn't capture it right...hopefully you can see it ok. :)

Anyways, I stamped the image from "Lovely As A Tree" (a go-to set!) in Black Stazon over top of the technique.  Popped it up (behind the black) on dimensionals...cause you know me. ;-)

That's all!  Seeeee.....fabulously simple! :)
Come back tomorrow for another project made with the Polished Stone Technique!

The Small Print (All Stampin' Up)
Stamps: Lovely As A Tree
Ink: Stazon Black
Cardstock: Mellow Moss, Basic Black, Glossy White
Accessories: 5/8" & 1/4" black grosgrain ribbons, Dimensionals, Reinkers (see video)
Other: Rubbing alcohol, Cotton balls
Technique: Polished Stone

Thanks for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Weathered Birdie

Here's another card made this week...

A masculine "Thinking of You" card without actually saying so. ;-)
Something I really like about this card is that it could be used for many occasions!

Oh, and I love that I was able to use some of my new stuff! ;-)

Well, most of it new to me, anyways.
The BG stamp is Stampin' Up's "Woodgrain", the bird is from Stampin' Up's "Friends 24-7". 

The 5/8" satin ribbon IS new...it's in the Occasions Mini catalog.  Have you checked it out yet?  Oh my....it's WONDERFUL!!  So many fun things in there! Go ahead, go to the RH sidebar & click on the pic! :)

Anyways....here's a bit of what I did:

• I lightly colored the main image with my watercolor crayons and aquapainter...didn't want too much color to overwhelm the project.  Popped the main image up on dimensionals.
• I sponged the edges, into the BG, and around the main image with Close to Cocoa ink, added a punched out piece of "Thoroughly Modern" DSP behind the clear button, tying the linen thread for the finish! 

The Small Print (All Stampin' Up!)
Stamps: Friends 24-7, Woodgrain BG
Ink: Close to Cocoa
Cardstock/Paper: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Naturals Ivory, Thoroughly Modern DSP
Accessories: Sponges, Watercolor crayons, Aquapainter, Clear button, Linen Thread, Pop-up glue dot, Dimensionals

Well, what do you think?

Thanks for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Celebrate Good Times

You have that song in your head now, don't you? ;-)

In life, there are good times and bad.
It's important to celebrate the good times, am I right?! :)

Remember back in this post, I told you my brother was in the midst of all those awful CPA exams?  Since then, he's been notified on two more test results...and he is DONE!  He finished, he passed all the tests (4?), he is on his way to CPA! ;-)

So I made him this card to celebrate the occasion. :)

It was nighttime when I finished, so the picture quality isn't all that great...IRL, all the stars shimmer a bit. :)

Well, what do you think?

The Small Print

Stamps: Celebrate Everything
Cardstock: Basic Black, Brushed Silver, Whisper White, old DSP

Accessories: Large and small star punches, dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

A Fall Pheasant

Okay, it's really sad that I don't know this for sure,
but I'm thinking the main image in this card is called a pheasant?
Ha ha...obviously we're not hunters in this family. ;-)

Here's another card I made to have on display at my Open House...















Used several stamps from the SU set: "Autumn Days"...

Actually started out CASEing this great card HERE,
but decided to change a few things.

Well, that's all for today - amazingly short post! ;-)

The Small Print (All Stampin' Up!)
Stamps: Autumn Days, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Soft Suede, More Mustard, Dusty Durango
Accessories: Soft Suede ribbon, Stampamajig, Dimensionals

 Thanks for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Wonderful You

Another one of those simple cards made recently....
Seriously. Wonderfully, SIMPLE. Yet it makes a nice statement.

PERFECT for a guy! :)

Well, it could be for a gal too...but for some reason, this card screams "guy".

Maybe because it says "For My Wonderful Brother"
Hmmm...yeah, that could be it. ;-)

I made this card for another brother (yes, I have 2), because, well...sometimes I just like to send someone a card!  You don't need to know all the deets, mostly because mentioning stuff like this is probably embarassing enough to them, lol. :)

Anyways...here it is! A clean and simple card for you to try out:

The Small Print (All Stampin Up!)

Stamps: Wonderful Favorites
Paper: Garden Green, Whisper White, Garden Green DSP
Ink: Garden Green, Basic Black
Accessories: Lg. star punch, Silver brad, Dimensionals, Stampamajig

NOTE: Using the "Wonderful Favorites" set is so fun - there are so many options! It comes with two big words: "Wonderful" & "Favorite"....then there are a bunch of little stamps you can add to make it say what you want to! :) The stampamajig (yes, that's the real name) makes it possible to align them whichever way you'd like! :)

Thanks for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Clean, Simple....and Hoarding

In the last two weeks, I've made a TON of new cards for display at my Open House, losing count around 40.  Sheesh... I'm craving simplicity now!

Here's a great way to use those wonderful, glorious paper scraps.

Yes, I keep my paper scraps. ALL of them.
Well....maybe not if they're smaller than 1/2 my pinky finger. ;-)

"Hello, my name is Crystal, and I'm a paper-hoarder"

Why? Well, it's simple:  because I might use them someday! :-)
I seriously DO get excited when I use scraps on a card.  I think because it means it was worth keeping, and I didn't "waste" it by throwing it away!  Maybe that's the bit of Dutch in me. lol ;-)

Does that not speak simplicity?
Think of all the cards you could make just by changing the DSP!
LOVE it!!

The small print (all Stampin' Up):
Stamps: Oval All
Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Holiday Treasures DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Scallop and large oval punches, Chocolate chip ribbon, dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by, and have a GREAT day!
Crystal

You're Grrrrreat!

Here are a couple of camping-related thank you cards I made this summer.

We had some sweet people involved in our camping trips this year, and I wanted to make sure they knew we appreciated them.

I knew EXACTLY which stamp set I wanted to use: "Under The Stars" (Stampin' Up!).  There are two versions, because I was just having so much fun! lol

I stamped main image on SU's watercolor paper, then colored it in with SU's markers and aquapainter.  Ahhhh..I just love watercoloring...it's so relaxing!

Check out the two versions below....hee hee....and check out the last pic too (inside). :)

And inside...

Well, what do you think?  Fun, no?  The marshmallow on the S'more is actually puffy! :)

The small print (all Stampin' Up)
Idea: casegj on SCS...I just changed a few things

Stamps: Under The Stars, Lovely As A Tree

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, More Mustard, watercolor

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Brown Stazon

Accessories: Stampin' write markers, Aquapainter, RHred taffeta ribbon, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by, and have a Grrrrreat Day! :)

Crystal

Happy Birthday, Dude!

I made this card for my brother's birthday.  I really love how it turned out...perfect for a guy's summer birthday!  I made the layout simple, kept the colors to a masculine minimum. ;-)  Oh, and btw, he doesn't say "dude" all the time or anything...I just like that title for this image! lol

The main image (Extreme Surfboard from Stampin' Up!) is embossed in black...there's some sponging around edges, and the inside...well, scroll down to see the inside! :)

Inside, it's a pop-up money holder!  Super-fun, no? :)

The Small Print (all Stampin' Up!)
Stamps: Extreme Surfboard, Four Square
Ink: Black craft, Basic Black & Kiwi Kiss classic
Cardstock: Basic Black, Basic Grey, Basic White, Kiwi Kiss textured, Urban Garden DSP
Accessories: Black brads, Black EP, Embossing buddy, Dimensionals, Sponges, Hobby blade, Circle, square & scalloped square punches
Technique: Embossing

Thanks for stopping by, and have a GREAT day!
Crystal