Dear Anonymous-

Anonymous left me a comment the other day on this post. She gave me a nice compliment on my card and was thankful that I didn't use "Bee's of the Corn" in my card. What???? OK, well this is an inside joke. I know who said this it is one of my Stampin' friends and we recently discovered that we graduated from the same high school in the same class- whoa! That is pretty cool eh? Anyway, basically she doesn't like these little bees from Just Buzzin' By for some reason. I don't know what is wrong with her, because they are sooooooo CUTE! Anonymous, what is wrong with you?!?! ;) I mean you are young and hip and cool, you are funny, what gives?! Well I made these cards just for you and I hope they change your mind about the little Bees! ;)


This first little card is so fun to me. When I saw the new Ocassions Mini Walk in the Park DSP with this little hexagon shaped paper in saffron, it reminded me of honeycomb, so I made it so. I just cut around the lines and cut out a few shapes, I stamped my CUTE little bees and placed them in and around the honeycomb, like they are little worker honey bees. I used crystal effects and gold glitter to make honey drizzle off of the comb. What do you think Anonymous?

This second card is just fun. I like the way the CUTE little bees fit in the build-a-brads. I think the colors are playful. I have been really wanting to use my Sweet Slumber Specialty DSP so this is why I picked the colors. I enjoyed all the layers and playing with the stamps and colors. Hope that everyone, including Anonymous, enjoys these cards made with the DARLING little bees.

PS- go class of 1997!

Fun with Rub-ons

Today I made a couple of cards using rub-ons from the Hand Drawn Bundle and the Sweet & Sassy rub ons. Here they are!

KWerner Challenge #50

Time for another Kristina Werner Challenge! yeah!!!!!!! Well if you want to check out the challenge, you can here. But in case you don't, here are the colors.


Here is my take on the challenge. It was really fun to create. It doesn't even have any stamping- whoa!!! You can barely see the chocolate chip, but it is there, in the sky. I also got to use my new pretties kit.


thanks for stopping by!!!

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Just a few fun cards today. This first card is something I CASEd (copied and shared) from splitcoast stampers but I can't remember who from. Isn't it cute! I already made my Mom for Mother's day, but might give her this one instead. We'll see....
Here is the inside view. Did you notice the flowers aren't the same? Well this is actually a different card, I made three :) I used my new sizzix die and cut a bunch of flowers and so made several.

Now here were some of my favorite swap cards from Regionals last week.

Thanks for stopping by.

Scrapbook class- May 2nd

Happy Wednesday! Yeah! It is "misting" here today, but we have had so many nice days that I am OK with it today. I say that now anyway....

So remember I mentioned a scrapbook class coming up? Well here is what we will be making, isn't it cute?!

I still have spots in the class if you want to come, here are the details:

When: May 2nd, 12-2pm
Where: Edmonds, WA (details provided upon RSVP)
Cost: $10 for this 12X12 double page layout but if you put in a $40 merchandise order the day of the class, I will give it to you for FREE!
**Class to go also available, cost is $10 plus shipping.
RSVP Please RSVP to katieannbrooks@gmail.com with prepayment (checks or paypal-ask for details) by Thurdsay April 30th.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Now for something else fun. This is a picture of Anne-Claire and me with Shelli Gardner, the owner and CEO of Stampin' Up! We attended Seattle Regionals this last weekend and got to learn some fun new stuff and make some great projects. I will have more pictures of what we made and some of what we saw to show to you later in the week.

Enjoy your Wednesday, rain or shine!

A rose by any other name....

First of all, I want to give a BIG shout out to my Secret Sister for the lovely gift I received this month- THANK YOU! She is such a talented artist, I love her style. Just check out that beautiful card with the distressed edges. I love the little basic gray taffeta ribbon tied to the blue, nice touch. This stamp set isn't one I would purchase, not my style, but now I love it! And the coordinating basket- awesome! One more item, not shown here, she got me the fun Filigree Brads. So basically, she Rocks! If you are wondering what the heck I am talking about you can go back to this post to read more details.


Second on the list today is this fun card. What do you think? I think it would be nice for a wedding or shower, very elegant look to it. Are you wondering how in the heck I made this? Well, join my advanced technique club, details here, and find out!

Thanks for stopping by today, enjoy the sun (yes, it is sunny in Seattle!!!)!

How would you like a 20% discount on all your SU stuff?!?!

20% off sounds nice right?!?!

Well I can give that to you right now AND I can give it to you at $50 off!!!! Yep, that is the starter kit/ultimate stampin' kit- regularly $199 for $149! But you have to hurry because this offer expires on May 4th and we have to snail mail paperwork in (not available online), so you would need to contact me ASAP for more details! This offer is only from demonstrators who attended Seattle Regional Seminar, which I did, so that makes me & you special!!!! :)

Here is what you can get with the Starter Kit/Ultimate Stamping Kit:

Eastern Blooms Stamp Set*
Fun & Fast Notes Stamp Set*
Bold Brights Birthday Stamp Set*
Fundamental Phrases Stamp Set*
Fast Flowers Wheel*
Stampin' Around Self-inking handle
Pixie Pink Ink Cartridge*
Stampin' Pastels
Bold Brights 8.5 X 11 CS (2)*
Kraft Parisian Damask Decor Elements (Large)
Decor Elements Applicator Tool
Stampin' Scrub
Stampin' Mist
Versamark Pad
Blender Pens
Whisper White Card Stock*
Snail Adhesive
Basic Black Classic Stamp Pad*
Real Red Classic Stamp Pad*
Green Galore Classic Stamp Pad*
Brilliant Blue Classic Stamp Pad*
Pixie Pink Classic Stamp Pad*
Business Forms and Tools

* indicates items can be exchanged for an item of equal or lesser value.

THIS IS A $335 VALUE!

Contact me today!--
Katie Brooks
Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator
www.kbloves2stamp.stampinup.net
www.kbstamps.blogspot.com
206.947.8273

Courtney's Closet & Birds of a Feather

OK, I admit it, I have been hoarding a few things even thought I have been trying not too. Specifically my Rockabilly Specialty Paper and some of the rub-ons from the hand drawn bundle. The time has come to use some of these things, so......

The inspriation for the first card came from Courtney's Closet. See little Courtney there below, isn't she cute! Every week she models some adorable outfit and you can use it to inspire your creations, what a great idea! I have also been wanting to do one of Libby's Challenges- http://stampinlibby.blogspot.com/2009/04/from-courtneys-closet-39-inspiration.html for a while and fortunately for me, they are the same colors as my Rockabilly DSP so I though- what the heck, lets use that paper!

I made the card card using one of my hand drawn stamps. Obviously I wanted to focus on the cherries from Rockabilly so I made the cupcake have a cherry on top. I used a real red brad and colored in my own stem. Honestly, this card took me way too long, but I couldn't get my layout right. I am not 100% pleased but I conquered my fears and used my goods! :)

Here is my second card and this one I love! These little owls are so cute aren't they?! They are from the hand drawn bundle rub-ons. The sad part is I have no more :(, but I suppose the sacrafice was worth it.

To make this card, I started with my green card stock and rubbed on the brown owl. Then I rubbed on part of the white owl masking what I didn't want so it looks like they are standing together, sorta cuddling. I then took the white owl eyes and swapped them. The reasoning for this is that if you have owl friends, it makes sense for one to wink, but not both, so the eyes on whitey there got swapped around and I only used part of the winking eye. Now the fun part is that what was left over from that owl, looks like a leaf, so I saved it- fun right! Once I had my owls, I cut the green to 4X4- wanted to make sure my little owls were centered. Then I took my green tea (retired) dsp and scissor circle cutter and cut out a window (this paper is 4.25X4.25). Glued 'em together and mounted on 4.5X4.5 barely blue CS. I finished off with a tag (lots of tags die) where I rubbed on Birds of a Feather (hard to see) and used some of the ballet blue buttons from my fresh favorites II button set.

So the tips for the day are:

1. Check out Courtney's Closet- http://stampinlibby.blogspot.com/2009/04/from-courtneys-closet-39-inspiration.html
2. You don't always have to use the entire rub-on, you can pick and choose parts!

Hope you enjoyed!

Wanna Join the Advanced Technique Club?

This post will remain on top for a week or more- for newer projects scroll down

I am starting a new Advanced Technique club in May. This club is for those of you that want to learn new and advanced things such as: watercoloring, watercolor resist (example below), stained glass, quilting with the Big Shot, using brayers and more! This is NOT just for stampers, we will create embelishments for scrapbook pages and 3-D items!

Join the Advanced Technique Club and get:
To learn 10-15 new advanced techniques…
A booklet with samples that summarizes the techniques, and…
A hostess stamp set, paper or décor element, and…
(at least) $15 in FREE merchandise, and…
Make (at least) 10-15 free project and create as we go, and…
Spend time with existing or make new crafty friends!

To join: Five individuals sign up for the club. We will meet monthly or every other month, whichever the club decides. If you are out of town, you can still join, but will pay a small additional charge each month for shipping of orders and projects (projects will be sent with complete how to instructions).

Here’s how it works: Club members take turns “hostessing” and receiving benefits. Each person receives 2-3 techniques each time and samples and instructions for their technique book. You will purchase $35 (or more if you desire) in product for each of the 5 months to ensure that the person “hosting” the workshop receives the hostess benefits. At the end of 5 months you will each have a completed technique album, 10-15 projects, a hostess-only stamp set, paper or décor elements and $15 in FREE merchandise.

Contact me today to sign up- www.katieannbrooks@gmail.com

A whole slew of projects

OK, I am behind on my posting just as I was behind getting my Easter cards out. It is so hard to make what I "need" to make, I'd rather make what I want to make. That however, means that I go by my creativities flow and some things that should get done don't. For example, I got my Easter cards out on Thursday and I know they didn't get there in time. I try to do everything.

Speaking of, here is the card I made for my dad, cute but not too feminine. I like this little guy, not sure who makes the stamp, thought it was an AMUSE one, but was checking and can't be sure.

And since we are talking Easter, here are a few shots of my girl hunting for eggs for the first time! She eventually got the idea of putting them in her basket and then would just dump them out again and start over.

And here is one of her with her buddy Samo- we went to the zoo for a hunt and other fun activities. Nice that they do that being that we live in a city and don't have a yard. The kids had tons of fun (although you can't tell in this picture) , it was cold, but didn't rain!

Finally, dyeing eggs. She wasn't interested in the eggs, she just wanted to dip her hand in the vinegar water and lick it off- ew! :)

OK, back to work. (I know, I know, this is going to be the longest post in the world!). So I was inspired last thursday (4/9) to enter the Stampin' Up! Artisan Award contest. Now I should just preface by saying that the entries (10 items- 3 scrapbook pages, 5 cards, 2 3-5) have to be to SU! headquarters by 4/20. That is a Monday and is located in Utah. So basically, I had a week or less to make all this and get it there in time.

#2 (In case you are wondering about #1, that is last). This was one of my first cards I made for it. I thought it had a nice variety of color and the layout was nice, the flowers are cut out and watercolored and finished with some ribbon. Displays that I can do watercoloring.

#2- not what I had originally intended, but what I ended up with. It doesn't display any difficult techniques, but I like the layout. I was slightly dissapointed however.

#3- this is the card that broke me. I used the pop up cake die and put a scene going around it. This took me 2+ hours with the cutting and detailing. Hand made trees, snow capped. The train is very hard to cut out and I made a little man to go in the window. I folded and unfolded it so many times trying to make it just so that the inside stopped popping up. :( Furthermore, I was tired and didn't have the right stamp for the inside, but instead of waiting, just wrote my greeting in and I didn't like that. So- this is where on Saturday night (3 down 7 to go and knowing I wouldnt' have time on Sunday to create) I decided it wasn't worth all the stress and that now that I knew about it I could prepare for next year if I wanted to participate.

4/14 Update: The original idea for altering the pop up cake is not mine, the train was, but Mary Jo Albright made a castle that inspired me. It does not appear that she actually folds her cards, because they remain perfect! You can view her blog here- http://mjalbright.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/stampin-up-pop-up-class-part-ii/

#1- best for last. This was the first item I made. This too took me a long time because I used the swirly sizzlet by cutting them and peicing them back together. I also created a lot of flowers using die cuts. Now I LOVE this page- I love the picture and it is ornate and elegant. So what is wrong with it? One, I wasn't supposed to use a picture of myself and I did. I didn't read the rules was relying on second hand information so after I made this I found out I was going to have to re-make it. :( (so you can see after my choo-choo disaster I was really only at 2 completed projects 8 to go). However, part of me is happy that this page is now mine, I don't have to give it away to anyone, I can keep my fun page of Sophie and I to myself! :)

So now you know where I have been and what I have been doing. I was working on projects for this award and decided that it is too late in the game and the stress wasn't worth it. That just means that I can share my experience and projects with all of you!

Thanks for bearing with me in this LOOOOOOONG post.

Today's Two-fer (Hero's and Mojo's)

OK, today's post is from last night's creations and both are for challenges and for fun. The card I actually plan on sending, hopefully tomorrow (gulp, I still have several to make!) so wasn't just for the challenge, but used the challenge as my layout.

Anyway, this first item is fun. The challenge on the Hero Arts blog was to stamp on anything BUT cardstock- http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2009/04/07/two-on-tuesday/. OK, fun, but what do I do, what do I do. I don't mind using someone else's idea as long as I make it my own you know, but I couldn't think of anything same-same-but-different (shout out to my KK- we say that all the time, a phrase I picked up in Thailand). So I was trying to rack my brain and think about things sittng around my house. Then I thought of this lamp that has been sitting in my closet for about a year- perfect! So I decided to make my ratty old hanging lamp look like a sheek vintage lamp with Asian flair! Ta-dah! (more pics below)

OK, sorry this picture is blurry :(. Recognize the stamp? It is from the new Occassions Mini Catalog- the Soft Summer set. Now, for those of you planning on trying this, I recommend using a square lamp/lantern, working with this oval shape it was REALLY hard to get a good image. In fact, I had to go back in and fill in some of the black lines with my black marker. But fortunately, it worked out because the stamp has that sketchy look to it. I went back afterwards and colored in with my real red, olive and close to cocoa markers. Here is what it looks like in the room.

Oh and I forgot to mention that in addition to choosing red because it has that Asian look to it, I also choose it because my duvet cover is red and taupe mix with flowers- matches well. Here is what it looks like lit- so pretty.

And on to today's second challenge, well actually this was Monday's challenge. This was for the Mojo Monday sketch challenge- - here's the sketch.
and here's what I made. I like this layout, it is different and fun. I used all SU with the exception of the stamp which is an Amuse stamp. This is the new walk in the park DSP, isn't it fab?! I also got some new ribbon and buttons- yeah!!!!

Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed today's post.

Kristina Werner Color Inspiration Challenge #48

Another Kristina Werner Color Inspriation Challenge http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/?p=1218. Here are the two cards I made.

#1. A more classic card using 5th avenue floral. The two cut flowers and on walk in the park (white lily) and hand drawn (baja rose) dsp. I like them on the patterned paper, fun. I like this card best of the two I made, I don't do as well with abstract, I think this card is more classy. I plan to add just a little swirl from the swirly sizzlet die under the white lily in kiwi kiss- just needs a little something there. If I can scrape up enough paper I plan to make these as my regionals swap.

*side note- regionals is like mini convention and is in Seattle on April 18. I am SOOOO excited to go with all these stampin' ladies and trade things and make stuff. I'll probably get to meet someone I know of but don't know or something- so fun. Anyway, I plan to bring back new ideas to share! :)















#2. More abstract, using some of the same paper. The flowers were stamped in versamark and then baja breeze ink on whisper white paper and embossed with glassy glaze enamel. Then I brushed with chocolate chip ink. I was going for a faux brayer technique since I don't have one. I made the rik-rak using my scallop edge punch. The elegant thank you with dimensionals underneath and the clip with some ribbon to top it off. Finally used a library clip, whoo hoo!















Good night and thanks for stopping by!

Sweet Sophie scrapbook page & a card

OK, I want to start by showing you a scrapbook page I made yesterday of little Sophie & I. She is soooooooooooooo sweet, even the page says so. I had a hard time with this page, but am



happy with how it turned out. The little owl and bugs topped it off great along with the ribbon. Isn't she cute- awwww. It is amazing how quickly she is growing! This was 11 mos ago, I can't believe it. Anyway, I am so into the brights right now, ready for spring I guess.



This second picture I am not so fond of. I made this card this evening and it started out that I wanted to do some stained glass. I had stamped the image in staz on and carefully embossed with glassy glaze enamel. I added appricot ink refill for the color. I used my new circle cutter with this- fun. :) The paper behind is so saffron (you can only see it behind the flower) and then apricot appeal behind it all. I think what I don't like is the burgandy ribbon, but again was
having a hard time finishing it off. I think I was just thinking, dramatic is good (referring to the colors) but I am still not convinced. What do you think of these colors together?


OK, off to bed, so tired.

Some gifts

I have been spending a lot of time working on some gifts for friends and I couldn't show them too you for fear of ruining the suprise. But I have given them away (well the bottom pic is today, so hopefully she will be otherwise occupied...) so I can show you.

First, I made three similar versions of the below pregnancy survival kit. Side note: **WARNING**- Do NOT Drink The Water!** I know about 6 people who are pregnant so consider yourself warned! ;) Anyway, isn't this box cute? I purchased the valentines box template from Becky at inking idaho- www.inkingidaho.blogspot.com. Becky has some AMAZING templates she comes out with. I changed it up for my needs and made this little survival box.

Inside the box I put some things everyone woman will need at one time to get through her pregnancy:

• Chocolate (nuf said!)
• Rolaids- to combat the heartburn of the chocolate she just ate
• Tylenol- for anything that ails you (only thing you can take when you are preggers)
• Notebook- to combat memory loss (yep, that happens!)
• Tissue- isn't thsi one obvious, only wish there was room for more. Actually, the one shown here has gum to get rid of that first trimester after morning sickness breath, and some female support tea- but the other two had tissues.

Anyway, I think and hope that they enjoyed them. I had fun making them.

Gift number two is for my friends bridal shower today (again, hoping she is too busy to look at my blog). She is getting married in mexico on May, 1. So exciting! I, unfortunately, am not able to go :(, but do get to partake in the fun wedding festivities (shower, bachellorette, etc). My gift to her is non-traditional meaning nothing off of the bridal registry (I asked her and she said that was OK). I am giving her a box of thank you cards and a gift certificate to a garden nursery store. She mentioned that her and her husband to be were only planting veggies this year but she always has cut flowers, so this will be perfect for her.

She is an amazing papercrafter herself, who does scrapbooking and card making. She made her save the dates and invites- shown below. They are so stinkin' cute with the ribbon that is like a mexican blanket and the bright colors. I love, love, love the save the date with the photobooth announcements. So I tried to make some thank you's that went with the invite color theme and looked tropical. Mine are much brighter (not having so much white) but I think they work well. Hopefully she will like them.

Today's color is....Orange

Today's post contains two items and the featured color in both is ORANGE. Tangerene Tango to be more specific.

#1. The first item is a double 8X8 scrapbook layout I have been thinking of for a while. Well actually all I new is that I wanted to use this picture series and that the background would be orane and the title would be carrots....hmm, what to do, what to do?
So finally I created it, because I had gotten the pictures printed (that is always the hardest part for me- picking and ordering them). I am really happy with it, my daughter is so cute!
Everything used is SU including my NEW circle scissor cutter, except the little carrots- which I got from the dollar bin at Joann's- little foam things- perfect for this! Now that I know how to use my new circle cutter I LOVE it!


#2. is a wonderful gift I got in the mail from my secret sister! Thank you wonderful lady!!!!
I organized a secret sister swap with some other SU demos. It is like Secret Santa but in spring and lasts for 6 mos! Each person has someone they send something to made with SU product, likewise, you have someone send stuff to you but you don't know who sends stuff to whom. Anyway, I love Reeses and this wonderful lady send me some- YUMMY! Is that what inspired the colors in this BEAUTIFUL card and CUTE jar? I'll have to ask...6 mos from now.
Thanks Again Sista! :)

Easter Eggs-press!

As promised, here is my second Easter post for the day. This is the Easter Eggs-press! I made this card with my nephew in mind, I think he is going to love it. Stamps are the new choo-choo with tracks wheel in the mini. The eggs are from the Egg Hunt wheel. The tree is from the trendy trees wheels. This card was a LOT of work with all the cutting, but still fun.

It's April 1st, are you being a fool?

DON'T ANSWER THAT!!!! The question was rhetorical. I am the one being the fool today. Althought I guess not totally, since I did take a vacay day and am at home in my sweatpants. :) And that is a good thing because it is SNOWING here. This is not an April Fools joke, it is snowing! What the???? I mean March I get, it is right after Feb- so close enough to winter but April? Man, what weird weather...So happy April, snow day, whatever.


Now why am I am fool (besides the obvious-wink!)? I wanted to make this quick post and was making the little something to put up here but I couldn't find my black ink. Of all the ink to loose, not the black! so I looked and looked and looked and after about 5 passes of the same areas, I found it (20 min later...). Thank goodness though, that is didn't get permanently lost, but I did feel like a fool since I passed it so many times.


To my credit though, I think the main problem that I have is that there is no space for my supplies and/or for me to stamp. Entering exhibit A below:



Yep, sad but true but this is where I store my stuff, in and next to the hutch in our "dinning room". I dont know if you noticed but there is not space here. What ends up happening is that every time I want to use something it is like The Hunt for Red October with Sean Connery. Eventually I find it, but how much time do I waste getting there?!

Anyway, whine, whine. I am not going to get more space- two bedroom condo- but I am going to get something bigger to put stuff in and get more organized so I don't go insane! I will probably still be a fool- lol- but at least not mental. ;) Stay tuned, hope to have a new system in place soon (and by soon I mean in the next month or two since I have a toddler and a full time J-O-B).


**Oops- that gives me another one of those mom quotes by I don't know who, "the term working mom is redundant." SO TRUE!**

OK, now what you really came here for. I know you were thinking, "stop babbling Katie, get on with the goods!" This adorable little box was pretty easy and quick to make (minus organizational mishaps). I found the example and instructions on Julie Korber's blog- http://www.outtoimpress.blogspot.com/. So cute, so easy. This is the perfect size for a little Easter Candy- say an Cadbury Egg- YUM!

I used all SU, the new egg wheel for the Occasions mini, so appricot appeal paper and the Tea Party DSP. Add a little coloring with markers and some ribbon wha-lah! Oh- just a note, the only thing I added to Julie's idea was a peice of paper to line the inside of the top of the box to reinforce it. You may have to read the instructions to understand what I am talking about, but the ribbon around is the only thing stabilizing the box sides, so a little something extra was nice for me.


Anyway, think I will make a few to send on to my neice and nephew, they'll probably destroy them, but that's OK. :) Oh and I have a card coming up later for them as well (tonight or tomorrow). Hope you enjoyed this (minus the whining) and check out the tutorial. Meanwhile, watch your back today because it's April Fools! :)