Stamping With Kristen

Bottle Top Necklace

I made my first bottle top necklaces this week to for my recruits at the regional seminar this weekend.  They are really quite easy to make!  I copied this idea from Tasha Schwecke.  I used our Soda Pop Tops found in the Spring Catalog.  For $3.95 you get 16.  8- 1" and 8- 1/2".

 

Wondering where the Stampin Up logo is from?  I cut it out from the back of the packaging that is on our designer series paper.  I used our hearts framelits for the heart using our red glimmer paper.  Once I had everything in place I put crystal effects on top of it all to give the glossy look.

I made a tag using our silver glimmer paper large oval punch, and decorative label punch. I started by punching the glimmer paper with our large oval punch, and then turning the decorative label punch up-side-down, I centered the punched out oval and punched the decorative label punch. I finished by punching out a Real Red piece using the decorative label punch and taped that to the back.

Here is the package.  Of course I needed to add a little chocolate!

I am thinking of making necklaces at Abigail's birthday party as a craft for the girls using different designer series paper and punches. 

 

Happy Stamping!

Kristen Bryant

Graduation Card

I designed this gradution card for a card exchange this weekend in Madison, WI. 

This card uses several Big Shot items: Chevron embossing folder, Apothecary Accents Fremelits, Window Frames Collection Framelits Dies, Typeset Alphabet Bigz

click on the items listed above to shop now.

The inside greeting is from the stamp set Word Play.


Here is the same card with the glimmer paper used for the numbers.

How many gradution cards do you have to make this year?

Happy Stamping!

Kristen Bryant

Free Shipping and Color Changes!

I have to take a break from my Hawaii pictures to tell you about 2 important things.  First of all there is FREE shipping on everything April 6-8!

Shop now!


           

With the free shipping offered this weekend, it is the perfect time to snatch up the colors that are retiring before they are gone.  They are only available while supplies last.

Hilton Waikoloa

Our hotel here is amazing, the Hilton Waikola.

Here is the view from our balcony.

We were surprised when we got here to have the option to walk, take a tram or ride a boat to our room!  The resort is set up in like a horse shoe around the ocean.

They have a dolphin experience at our hotel where kids can be with the dolphins.

 

They have a big lagoon area where you can snorkle and see eels, turtles, and fish.  You can also paddle boat, paddle board and swim in it.

All ready to go out.

We went to Roys for supper, a favorite place we have gone to in Kauai.

They so a great job displaying the food.

I got the filet, and Michael had a local fish. 

Today was a great low key day at the hotel.

Kona day one

Our first full day here we drove to Kona to see where the Ironman Championship takes place.  It is a 30 minute drive and this is what you see pretty much the whole way.  Old lava.  It seems like this is what it would be like on the moon.

This sign shows where the swim starts.  It is not at all what I had in mind.  There were many triathletes there training, and not really a area for the "lazy wives" who did not care to swim.  I sat on the ledge, and enjoyed listening to them share stories of their latest races and read.  It was really quite fun!

Here Michael is ready to go.  He swam 1.2 miles 1/2 the Ironman distance.  They said at the turn around point to look for dolphins as they like to be in that area in the mornings.
This shows how the shore is there.  I am anxious to watch the next Ironman as I will be able to better visualize it.  I can see people lined up along the ledge watching it.

After the swim we had breakfast at an adorable cafe overlooking where he just swam called Lava Java.  There was live music for breakfast!  A guy sang while playing his ukelele.  He played current songs and was very good.

Here is a picture of the 2 of us at the same place.
Ready to surf! The lava rocks are tough on your feet so they wear water shoes when surfing here.  He saw turtles while out there.

Isn't this a cool looking tree?  It is like a fan.

I love the trees here.
We are going back to Kona tomorrow.  We plan to stand up paddle board, and then Michael is going to bike part of the Kona course. 

Kristen

Hawaii Volcano

We went to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to get a closer look at the volcanoes.  We started by looking at the Thurston Lava Tube.  They say lava flowed through this 500 years ago.




This is a steam vent. Rain that has seeped into the ground and is heated by Kilaue and comes out as steam.


Looking across it looks like there could be a fire going on, but there are steam vents all over.

Our next stop was to walk across a once-molten lake of lava in Kilauea Iki Crater.  We took a 4 mile hike to see it all.  These hearty ohi'a plants take toot in the cracks where moisture is.

You follow the ahu (stacked rocks) on the trail.

You can see how large it is compared to the people.  The lava "lake" was as high as the top of the cliff.  We had 400 feet of descent, and therefore ascent:)  There is kind of a hollow sound as you walk.  It can make you a little uneasy.  When you pick up some lava rock, it looks like it would be heavy, but because of the holes from the air it is very light.

What amazes me is how this volcano went off in 1959 and how there is still smoke coming out where rain water goes down through the cracks and the heat from below heats it up. 68 million tons of lava poured into the crater.  In 1988 the lava was almost all hard when scientist drilled down 240 feet.  It is now entirely solid, but it is still hot inside. 




Below you can see more of the steam coming up.



On our way back to our side of the island we stopped at Akaka Falls.  You walk through the rain forest.  Check out the roots on this tree!

420 foot plunge.

Not the greatest picture, but I have to put one of us by the waterfall.  We got quite warm on the 4 mile hike earlier.  It was so worth it!

Off to our next adventure!

Kristen

First Helicopter Ride

Michael and I are in Hawaii on the Big Island for a medical conference.  Today we went on my first helicopter ride.  It was AMAZING!  I am so glad we did it!

On our way to the volcano we saw many waterfalls.

 

This is looking over the top. 

Here shows a little remains from a Bed and Breakfast.

This is miles of lava that has destroyed so many homes.

Here is a patch of road that was spared.

For the last 3 months you are able to see lava going into the water.

If you look closely you can see a little red.  Apparently the smell here is terrible.  They have warnings for people to not get close if they have asthma or respiratory problems.

Here is a fresh section of lava. It turns the silver/gray in 3-4 seconds so you can see how recent this is.

We had a fantastic time, and would tell anyone the helicopter is a must if you are coming to the Big Island.

 

Secret Garden

This is one of the designs from my last Stamps In The Mail.  It uses Secret Garden stamp set and framelit dies. The greeting is from the stamp set called Feel Goods.  I also used Simply Scored with the Borders Scoring Plate to add the raised part on the edge of the card.  Here is a close up:

 

The Borders Scoring plate fits right on top of the Simply Scored Scoring Tool.

Happy Stamping!

Kristen Bryant

Sale-A-Bration ends Friday!

I designed this card for my note card class.  It uses 2 free products you can still get through Friday.  Bloomin Marvelous and Sycamore Street Ribbon. 

This is an excellent time to look at your stamping supplies to see what you need to stock up on.  I look at envelopes, card stock, ribbon and adhesive. 

 

Happy Stamping!

Kristen Bryant

Paper Pumpkin

Sweep away the mundane-your creativity carriage awaits!

I'm Paper Pumpkin . . .

I come to your door each month (a fully decked-out creativity carriage). I'll help you to escape your life with some paper fun.

I come in a sweet box, but you'll really love what you find on the inside:

All the stamps, ink, paper, and accessories to create pinable projects. Create stuff like cards, journals, décor, and more!

Paper Pumpkin by Stampin' Up! is a new monthly kit program that anyone (even you) can enjoy!

 

The very first Paper Pumpkin will arrive on your doorstep starting in March-if you sign up before March 10.

Of course, you'll want to know more. So here's the nitty gritty:

• Each month we send you a unique, surprise kit with a project-cards, journals, décor, and more! (We've even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you!)
• Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories-everything but adhesive.
• Each kit gives you and your customer a 30-minute creativity escape.
• We will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month.  
• You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit. If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next month. (Let's say you sign up on May 10th, we'll send your kit around May 15th. If you sign up on May 11th, we'll send your first kit around June 15th.)
• A Paper Pumpkin membership is $19.95 per month (and shipping is included!) The commissionable amount is $14.95 for each Paper Pumpkin.  
• There's no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want.
• Starting in early March, we'll offer a Try-It kit if you'd like to try Paper Pumpkin for one month.

Here's How You Order

Sign up for your monthly Paper Pumpkin by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it. Choose me, Kristen Bryant, as your demonstrator.

Starting in early March, you can try Paper Pumpkin for one month by visiting our online store.

A Free Gift in Your Very First Kit

The Welcome Kit is the very first Paper Pumpkin you will receive in your first month of membership. The Welcome Kit includes a free gift-a clear acrylic block!

 

I can not wait to get my first kit! 

Kristen Bryant