Creativity

The following card was created using bits and pieces from the Simply Scrappin' Kit Just Delightful.

The card features Antique Copper brad, celery and rose grosgrain ribbon and dazzling diamonds glitter.

The scrolling around the edges of the card was hand drawn in using Always Artichoke.

I am looking forward to sharing some fun projects with you in the upcoming weeks. I have put together my January calendar and am offering classes with the following themes: (I will of course be uploading images to my blog as the samples are created for classes.)

Pastels- showcasing 1,2, and 3 step poppin' pastels as well as the chalkboard technique and pullin' pastels

Be Mine- Cards and 3D items to celebrate Valentines day. I have some fun card samples, amazing box patterns as well as some cute lollipop covers put together for a fun valentines themed class.

Embossed Foreground Technique- My last class for this month is a technique class, my customers come and create a 6x6 technique page and 2 cards using this technique. I am very excited about this class (the samples have already been created) and I love the way they turned out. I will be uploading these on the 1st so be sure to check back!

As we venture into the new year I would like to offer a friendly reminder to my blog subscribers and friends that the artwork posted on my site is strictly for personal inspirational purposes and is not to be used for publication purposes (this includes the web/on-0line art galleries/etc). My work may not be copied and submitted for contests, or used for monetary gain of any kind without my consent. I hate to put this reminder out there as it is already posted on my blog but I have recently had some issues with this and appreciate your help in protecting my artwork and ensuring the continuation of my blog. Want to know more, click here.

Fruit Cake... Basic Grey

Our community recently had a new scrapbook store open and I wanted to check out the goods for myself. I love Basic Grey papers but until recently we have not had an opportunity to purchase them locally. The new store houses some amazing papers and products. I have signed on to offer classes and I am very excited about using all their great products! This is a gift bag I made using the Basic Grey Fruitcake papers and coordinating fibers. I cut out the ornaments and popped them up to create some dimension. I have also added dazzling diamonds glitter to the images. The fiber at the top of the gift bag is basic grey and is attached to the bag with off white organdy ribbon.

Happy Holidays~

Blog to go Private... Please Read

I have decided to let my blog go private for a while in hopes of curing some issues that I am currently having. If you would like to continue your subscription to this blog please email me at kylamaestas@msn.com so I can add you to the safe list. Please do not respond to this message, please email me directly instead. My apologies for any frustration this may cause but it is necessary at this point. Thank You and Happy Holidays!

Kyla Maestas

P.S. In your email please include your Name (no log ins the real thing please) and your email address.

Christmas Parties Today!

Just wanted to check in and wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I am not sure how many posts you can expect between now and Christmas, I am hoping to post a little something today after the kid's Christmas parties.... but the next post will most likely be after Wednesday next week... so until then..

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!!

~Kyla Maestas
P.S. Here is a delicious fudge recipe shared by my good friend Jana!

Super Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla
7 oz jar peanut butter or 12 oz chocolate chips
7 oz jar marshmello fluffoptional: 1 cup walnuts

Cased!!... Card cased from yesterday's post!

Yesterday's posted card was a cased creation from a diva swap. For details about this case please see yesterday's article Cased Diva.

Here is the card created by Michelle VanWiggeren (Thanks so much Michelle for letting me post this on the blog). I am guessing on the card details... but hopefully I get it right!!

Stamp set is Sweet on You from the Winter Mini Catalog. Designer paper (Loves Me) and Flirty ribbon originals are also from the Winter Mini Catalog. Flowers were stamped in Whisper White and sweet in Chocolate Chip.

Thanks again Michelle for letting me post this sample, I am so glad everyone will get to see it.

Casing a Diva....

As I mentioned earlier in the week I manage a group of on-line demonstrators who have become some of the best stamping buddies a girl could ever have. The thing I love best about our group is without a doubt.... the swaps! Recently I participated in a Winter Mini Catalog themed swap and received some amazing cards back. Stamping samples for upcoming classes, I thought Michelle VanWiggeren's card would be a perfect card for a class featuring our amazing punches!

Her card used several sizes of circle punches as well as the oval punch (I just got these and I absolutely love them). She had used the striped pattern of our new designer paper (, with the influence of 32oz. of hot chocolate I decided to go with the pink and close to cocoa for my version of the card. Michelle currently does not have a blog, but I will see if her card is available on-line for viewing.


Colors for this card include Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, and Chocolate Chip. The patterned paper comes from the Loves Me Designer Paper from the Winter Mini Catalog. I also used my favorite combinations of ribbon (flirty ribbon originals with organdy and grosgrain ribbon).

Stamps used include the dots background from Polka Dots and Paisley along with the scrolling from Delight in Life, and Sweet On You set. The bottom of the card is pierced and the scallops were created using the slit punch (I have seen this a lot lately and cannot wait to share this with my customers). Punches used to create this card include 1 3/8" circle, 1 1/4" circle, 1/2" circle, word window, large and small oval punches, slit punch and 1/16" handheld.

For the rest of my punch class projects I will be creating more simplistic samples and using some of the ideas that were presented at Convention this last year in SLC (they had some amazing samples created using various punches).

Love Matters

When I pre-ordered sets from the Winter Mini catalog this was one of the first ones to make my list. The other stamp sets from the mini catalog have amazing images and definitely portray my personality best, however I loved the words that were featured in this set and the hearts were absolutely adorable (I was a huge fan of the Smitten stamp sets, and the hearts have been hard to find replacements for).

Today is absolutely freezing in Wyoming for the 3rd day in a row, our temperatures this morning were -4 degrees. We have no wind and the sun is shining bright but it is so cold LOL, I couldn't imagine doing anything but stamping today.... I dropped the kids off at school and stopped by Starbucks for a hot chocolate and then home to stamp. The reason I mention the hot chocolate today is you are sure to see it's effects on my color choices today.

Creating this card originally started with a sketch, I did go a little off but for the most part I think I kept the basic elements of Sketch Challenge #10. You can view complete details about this sketch by clicking here. Colors for this card are Chocolate Chip, Close to Hot Cocoa, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White. The hearts are stamped in layers, colored with Stampin Write Markers, cut out and layered on the card. The ribbons used include Flirty Ribbon Originals, organdy ribbon in white, and rose grosgrain ribbon. The decorative lines around the card were freehand sketched doodles drawn in close to cocoa. The sentiment at the bottom of the card is stamped in close to cocoa and reads "is such a big word it really should have more letters".

Well... if it doesn't warm up soon I may be stamping cards in Florida with the Aloha set LOL!

Happy Holidays!

Stamping Today...

My grandma is traveling to visit today and we plan to do some stamping. She is planning on finishing up some family scrapbooks that she has been working on for Christmas gifts and I am hoping to cut into this beautiful SAB simply scrappin kit. It has been laying on my desk for weeks just waiting to come out of the packaging and today is the day. I am also planning to create some cards using stamp sets from the Winter Mini Catalog in hopes of planning some of my classes for January! I am very excited about the sets from the winter mini catalog and have already created several samples but I have not done much with the Love Matters and Tagger's Dozen stamp sets. Traditionally I try to do one 5 for $5 class using sets from the current mini catalog quarterly... it seems to do very well for me and everyone loves to come and sample the buffet of mini catalog sets!

I will of course be uploading images later on today and throughout the rest of the week so be sure to check back!

Happy Holidays

Last but certainly not least...

I wanted to finish posting my creations to my blog, I know many of you have already seen these samples in my SCS gallery but for those who haven't these are the last two projects I created in my stamping frenzy last night. Just a funny FYI... I made all of these cards in about an hour and a half... I had to take a break and run my daughter to dance and then came back and finished putting them together. It was a great evening spent doing what I love... stamping!! These last two samples basically use the same supplies that I have been doing on all the of the Rebecca series cards featuring the Polka Dots and Paisley stamp set. I did use a bit of the antique copper hodgepodge hardware on these cards to add to the list of embellishments and supplies.

No rambling today LOL lots to do. I have gifts to wrap, cookies to bake and have to pick up the kids in 2 hours and take them to their dance Christmas party!

Enjoy!!

P.S. for those of you who are demonstrators, I hope your stamp sets arrive soon! Happy Stamping!

Gift for the Bride and Groom

As promised earlier this week... here is the card and gift I created for the bride and groom. The colors used for both projects are Sahara Sand, Perfect and Pale Plum. I have not used these colors in a while and thought they would be perfect for a wedding gift.

The wedding bells from Wedding Elegance (I was sad to see this set retire, it is still my favorite for weddings) are embossed in silver embossing powder and sponged with Pale Plum classic ink.

The silver hearts were found at Wal-Mart's craft section with the wedding stuff, they make great card charms.


The card uses Filigree background (another stamp I was sad to see retire), it matches the design in the wedding bells nicely. This was a very fast card to produce, I have made a huge stack of these to send out as Christmas gifts as part of a card
assortment.

My card assortments usually contain 5 of the same card with various themed cards (birthday, baby, wedding, sympathy, thank you, etc). I have given these as gifts for the last 2 years and they have been well received.

I have a few more of these cards to finish for my own personal card box, I don't know many who are getting married or plan to be but I thought it wouldn't hurt to have a few of these around.


Thanks for looking, Enjoy!


P.S. If you haven't seen the wedding invitation you can check it out in the archives~

Polka Dots and Paisley Goes Plaid

Playing with yet another card sketch challenge... SC40. I have been using designer paper from the Rebecca series and have really been struggling trying to find something to use the plaid for. It is a very busy pattern (JMHO) but when I started playing this sketch and decided to combine the look of plaid with the circles needed for this sketch it just kind of came together.

I absolutely love using punches, they speed the card making process up so you can spend more time getting ink all over your fingers LOL. I used the 1 3/4" and 1 1/4" circle punches as well as the word window punch.

Supplies used: Polka Dots and Paisley
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Rebecca Designer Paper
Stampin' Write Markers: Close to Cocoa, Regal Rose, Sahara Sand
Other: Organdy Ribbon (white), Chocolate and Rose Grosgrain Ribbon, and Color Spritzer. Of course a sprinkle of the dazzling diamonds (I think it would be a rare thing for me to create a card and not use it LOL)

Yet Another Polka Dots and Paisley.... Sick of them Yet?

Another fun attempt at Sketch Challenge #97... this is one of my favorite sketches, it works great for designer papers of any kind. Again using the Polka Dots and Paisley and Rebecca Designer Paper but adding a fun tool.... the color spritzer. This is a tool I have had for a long time and seldom drag it out to use it. The speckles were added using this fun but forgotten tool with the Sahara Sand marker. The hodgepodge hardware is aged copper. The colors for this card are the same as before with the addition of the Close to Cocoa, I love adding monochromatic colors for a fun twist.

Ribbons again are more from the Flirty Originals with chocolate and rose grosgrain ribbon. The white dots were colored in using the gel pen (a tool I use a lot).

For more details about Sketch Challenge #97 click here. Thanks again for visiting, I know how busy the holidays can be... just a few more days until Christmas.

Happy Holidays!!

More Polka Dots and Paisley

This is quickly growing to the top of the favorites list for me. I created several cards last night to ensure that I have plenty to share over the course of the holidays. This card again uses the Rebecca Designer Paper with a new addition.... Flirty Ribbon Originals from the Winter Mini catalog. I love the class it adds to this card. The colors are the same as the last card, for details see the post from yesterday!

To no surprise this card is yet another card sketch. If you haven't taken the time to play with the sketches I would challenge you to give them a try, they are so much fun! This is Sketch Challenge #23 from SplitCoastStampers, you can view details about this challenge by clicking here. Thanks for stopping by and best wishes for a fabulous holiday!!

P.S. This photo was taken in my stamping room.... a few things to point out (If you look closely you can see ink on the table, I miss and I miss often LOL). You will also notice that the table is actually cleared off, which in itself is absolutely amazing!!

Polka Dots and Paisley

I was very excited to hear we were receiving free stamp sets from Shelli, this is of course one of my favorite perks LOL. I loved this set from the beginning, and not just because it was free. I have seen so many combinations using various Paisley background stamp sets in combinations with flowers and this had the best of both worlds in one box, and polka dots to go with it... absolutely fabulous! After looking at this stamp set closely, I realized that I had seen this paisley before.... after a quick glance at my designer series paper I was right... it is the Rebecca collection! I love the paper and stamps together, it is a perfect fit~!

The card showcases the color combination coordinating with the paisley designer paper: Sahara Sand, Regal Rose, and Chocolate Chip. The layout of the card is another card sketch, this sketch challenge is #86 from non other than SCS. Click here for original details about this sketch.

Polka Dots and Paisley will be available in the upcoming Spring Mini Catalog! I cannot wait to see what else the new mini will have in store!

Blog Candy? You can win this card by replying. I will be doing a drawing at the end of the weekend for it (card will mail out Dec 26)! You have to post to win! Good Luck!

Size Matters....Blog Update

I have been experiencing some difficulty with the sizing of the photos, I am sure many of you noticed if you clicked on anyone of the photos on my blog. I have gone back and repaired most of them, any that I have missed will be checked and repaired after the holidays.

Wishing you the best this Holiday Season!

Kyla Maestas

The Stamping Divas!!

I also manage a small group of demonstrators on-line.... the Stamping Divas. We have a great time stamping together, share business ideas/techniques/class ideas/product info etc. These girls have been my best stamping friends for as long as I can remember.

Recently there has been a trend of blogs coming together from the divas. I am so excited to see them blogging!! I wanted to share some of their blogs with you. I will be adding links to the blogs I visit to the blog. I hope you will visit them often.

If you are a demo and are looking for a fun group to help you with your business, please contact me for details.. kylamaestas@msn.com

The best part about divas is definitely our swaps!
The card sample above is one that I submitted for a recent swap, our theme was the Winter Mini Catalog. The card is created using the new designer paper, soft subtle brads, and one of my favorite stamp sets... Like it a Latte! enjoy~

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Past..... Couple of Flakes

Last year I created a more simplistic version of this card to send to friends and family.... the card shown is a view master card.... the wheel spins to say "Some of my... best friends.... are flakes". The card that was sent to friends and family did not have the view master portion, but a popped up phrase (same as above) that was matted on real red cardstock similar to the Happy Holidays instead. If you would like more information on creating a view master card, visit the tutorial I did for SplitCoastStampers for complete step by step instructions. If you have questions after reading the tutorial, please feel free to post them here and I will check back with help.

The Stampin Write Markers used to color in the snowmen are: More Mustard, Real Red, Night of Navy, Sahara Sand, and Handsome Hunter. The snowflake background was stamped with Whisper White craft, Navy Grosgrain and Reg Gingham ribbon tie the knots and a sprinkle of dazzling diamonds to finish the card.

Click here to visit the SplitCoastStampers View Master Tutorial. They also have a special gallery set up full of other view master cards to inspire your creativity!

Christmas Present... Oh Christmas Star

I know stampers who create a large stack of various Christmas cards to send out to friends and family each year as they celebrate the holidays... I am one of the stampers who typically pick out only one design to send each year. I thought it would be fun to share Christmas cards from present and past, it is always fun to look back at our creations and see the strides we have made. This is our family card for the 2006 Holiday, I will be posting cards from Christmas past over the weekend so be sure to stop by.

Every year I send a fast, fun Christmas card to friends, family, and of course my stamping customers. When it comes to creating Christmas cards I tend to keep it simple, as I usually send between 50-100 cards a year. This card has been tweaked a little from the original design that was mailed to friends and family.... as Jana has already noticed this card is not an easy card... it is really not in me to keep it simple most of the time... so just to clarify the letters were not cut out on the cards that went to family (sorry for the confusion, it seemed clear as mud yesterday LOL). The images are all heat embossed with Winter White embossing powder, and sprinkled with dazzling diamonds. The letters spelling P-E-A-C-E have been cut out and popped up for some fun added dimension. The top and bottom of the card are pierced. This has to be my favorite Christmas stamp set, running a distant second to last year's Silent Night.

My digital camera did not do a great job with this card, I may try to get a better image over the course of the weekend so check back.

~Happy Holidays

Ready for Christmas

Yesterday I spent the day with my mom doing some last minute Christmas shopping, wrapping gifts and getting ready for the holidays. Today I am planning to finish up my Christmas cards and get them in the mail. I am also planning to make cookies and fudge today. Do you have a favorite cookie or fudge recipe you would like to share? I will be adding some of my favorites to the blog over the weekend, if you want a favorite recipe you would like to share please email it to me at kylamaestas@msn.com

I will check in later this evening to share my Christmas card for this year with you, as well as a glance at a few favorites from last year!

Happy Holidays!!

Fun with Sketches

I love using sketches when creating cards, I have several favorites that I have used many times over. This card was created using SCS sketch challenge #82. I used the Delight in Life stamp set, this is a fun 2-step stamping set and gave me lots of practice with the Stamp-a-ma-jig. Colors for this card include Basic Black, Cool Caribbean, and Taken with Teal.

I used the white gel pen to add highlights to the scrolling at the bottom of the card. I used black 7/8" organdy ribbon and silver cording for a classy bow (I am truly more of a knot person).
There is also dazzling diamonds glitter on each of the flowers adding some extra sparkle (I just love glitter).

Just for fun, I have included another card created using this same sketch (SCS SC82). This card features Snow Flurries from the Holiday Mini Catalog, Holiday Thyme Designer Paper and Cranberry and Thyme stitched grosgrain ribbon. The sentiment is from Warmest Regards.
I did a little doodling at the bottom of the card using a white gel pen.


Have a terrific Tuesday, Enjoy!

Enjoying the Delight in Life

I finally had a chance to sit down and stamp today. My down line will be meeting tomorrow for a Creative Training meeting. The Creative Meeting is something new that I have started to offer a monthly injection of Creativity! I like sharing new ideas for new products, the girls are sure to enjoy creating these.

The Delight in Life stamp set is definitely my favorite of all the sets offered for Sellabrations this year, second runner up being the coordinating simply scrappin kit. I am hoping to have time to create some fun projects with it. Be sure to check back later this week for a peak.

The images in both samples were watercolored using various intensities of the following Stampin Up! colors: Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal, Cool Caribbean, Almost Amethyst and Lavender Lace. The watercoloring was done with an aqua painter and re-inkers.

The color palette was inspired by the images featured in the Sellabration Mini Catalog.... I instantly fell in love with this color combination anything with chocolate is always a good thing! I used the white gel pen to add highlights and accents. What card would be complete without tons of dazzling diamonds... it's the frosting on the cake!
This first sample features decorative scissors... I never use these!! I am very pleased with the effects it gave this card. The faux stitching was added in chocolate chip marker and highlights were added to the background scrolling using a white gel pen. I am not sure if you can tell by the photo but there is a lot of dimension to this card. The dark brown ribbon is from the new Flirty Ribbon Originals with orchid narrow organdy ribbon and silver cording tied over the top in a knot.

The second card features my absolute favorite sketch... The strip LOL. This is a sketch that I have used more times than I can imagine. It is great for showcasing a series of random stamped images and a great way to break in a new stamp set. I am very pleased with the outcome of these samples... I hope everyone enjoys them!! I cannot wait to get more of the sellabration sets but I am patiently waiting to earn them for free!
Happy Holidays and thanks again for the encouragement to start stamping and sharing. Thanks to all my faithful readers... be sure to post your comments!! I will be sending this set of cards to a lucky poster this month! The more you post comments, the more chances you have of winning! Good Luck!

Rubber Hugs and Happy Sellabrations!!!

~Kyla Maestas

Crackin' Me Up!

I was tickled this morning as I logged in and moderated comments.... it is good to know that you are looking every day. I will try to post something new everyday knowing I have an audience, the holidays have been crazy but hopefully I will get a few things up during December but look for January because I will be stamping up a storm! I do have some stuff to upload this week, so check back!

What's Coming This week?
*Sellabration Samples
*Demonstrator Training- Creative Meeting
*Winter Mini samples
*A gift for the bride and groom (You've seen their invitation, now it is time to show you their card and gift)
*2006 Christmas Cards

I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!! Anyone doing any baking? I have tons of cookies to make and cards to finish up.

Wishing you the very best this holiday season!
Kyla Maestas

P.S. I am so disappointed, I just checked out the January Stampin' Success and once again my card did not win..... but it was a fun card anyway!! Thanks to those who have been crossing their fingers.

They will be here today!!

It has been a while since my last post, I am very excited at the anticipated delivery to my house today. I just received notice that my Sellabration stamp sets will be here from Stampin Up! I have been dying for them to get here and I am very excited to play. I will of course be uploading photos as I prepare samples for workshops, classes, and demonstrator training.

I have also been working on my Christmas cards and getting the rest of my holiday shopping done. I have not been doing much in the way of stamping but I am excited to play with these new sets.

Happy Holidays
~Kyla Maestas