Kween Bee Kreations

Build a (Bare) Bear

Isn't this bear just the cutest?

Over the weekend, I was able to play with my new Stampin' Up! goodies.  One item that I've had a blast with is the new Build a Bear Bigz Die.

He (or she) stands 4 1/4" tall and can be fully customized to your liking. 

I kept my little bear - bare - because I wanted to show off his little heart.

If you are familiar with Build a Bear Workshops, you know that in the store, your child gets to put a special heart inside his (or her) stuffed animal before it is stiched together.

My card today is full of heart - it's a thank you card.  The sentiment reads "Life Without Stamps ... Unbearable!" 

This stamp is an exclusive image that came with my Build-a-Bear teddy bear I bought at Convention.  I love the sentiment - it certainly rings true with me and the recipient of this card.

You can find this bear bigz die in the new Holiday Mini Catalog along with many other Build-a-Bear items.

Before I go, I wanted to share my son Devlin's creation using this die.  He had so much fun creating with my new dies - he even got "first dibs" on playtime!  He made this card for his Kindergarten teacher. 

The dies are so easy to work with - even a 5 year old can create with little help from Mommy!

CLICKABLES

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Leaving on a jet plane ...

I'm off to Stampin' Up!'s Convention today... it officially starts tomorrow.  But I'll be high in the sky this afternoon on my way to beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah.  I can't wait! 

TIP:  Stay tuned to my blog (or better yet, subscribe) - I hope to report back on the events (as much as SU! allows). 

I don't think I've ever been away from my little guy, Devlin for more than 2 days.  This trip will keep me away for 5 full days.  While I'll be having a blast, I'm really going to miss my little guy.  He's already telling me daily "I'm going to miss you, Mommy". 

So, to make him feel extra special while I'm gone, I made this cute card set.  Daddy will be the mailman and make a delivery every day starting Wednesday. 

I had a fun idea to use the round tab punch on these cards.  Using the Three Little Words stamp set, I carefully aligned my sentiments using a stamp-a-ma-jig (click for a tutorial).

While these cards are simple in nature - the details required careful attention.

I snipped out little animals from the Tall Tales designer series paper (DSP) collection.  Each card has a different animal raised up on stampin' dimensionals.  Devlin is going to be really excited about this 3D effect.

So, as much as I'm going to miss him - Mommy will still be at home in his hands with these cards.  I know he'll keep each one in his special treasure collection.

On to photos of the individual cards (also in my card gallery) 

Click each one to enlarge

    
     

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Stampin' Supplies 

Stamps:  Three Little Words (113254)  Paper:  Kraft (102125), Tall Tales DSP (115678)  Ink:  Soft Suede (115657)  Tools:  Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049), Round Tab Punch (108340), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

WOW Factors

These colors were SO fun to work with.

Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Ballet Blue & Whisper White was the color pallate I worked with.

I participated in two challenges for this card.  Splitcoaststampers sketch (SC237) and Kristen Werner's color challenge (#56).

Today I'm going to talk about two WOW factors.  1)  Using Stampin' Write Markers and 2)  Using sketches.

Using Stampin' Write markers I inked up the large image from Razzle Dazzle, to allow for a custom colored image. 

Here's how you can use your Stampin' Write Markers:

• Use a marker to apply ink only to the desired parts of the image
• Add other colors if desired
• Breathe on the inked image to remoisten the ink with your breath before stamping onto paper

Easy right?  But packs such a WOW factor.  Try it on your next card and I guarantee you'll love the results. 

Another easy way to pack that WOW into your card is to use a sketch.

Sometimes it's hard to come up with your own creative  ideas.  Not only does it help with the layout, but it also helps me in other ways too.

The number 4 spot in this sketch for example is the first thing I looked at.  I always think "what stamp image will fit in the focal point?"  Razzle Dazzle came to mind in this case - big & bold. 

Creative Tip:  You don't always have to follow the shapes of sketches.  In my card - I used a circle focal point vs. a rectangular one.  Be creative and your card will start to flow in no time.

Check out the Stampin' Write Marker Collections

Do the math - you'll see the savings add up by purchasing markers in sets vs. singles.


$125.95 - Many Marvelous Markers (48 markers)
Item #105541


 
$31.95 - Sets by color family (12 markers)
Soft Subtles Item #105537
Bold Brights Item #105538
Earth Elements Item #105539
Rich Regals Item #105540


 
$17.95 - In Color Markers (6 markers)
Item #116329



$10.95 - Neutral Markers (4 markers)
Item #109126


$3.25 - Single Marker
Several item #'s - Visit online store to see selection
Found under Ink-Cetera

Stampin' Supplies 
Stamps:  Razzle Dazzle (116714), Hope Happens (113722)  Paper:  Kraft (102125), Real Red (102482), Tall Tales DSP (115678), Cast-a-Spell DSP (115677)  Ink:  Real Red Marker (100052), Pumpkin Pie Marker (105115), So Saffron Marker (105114), Certainly Celery Marker (105106), Ballet Blue  Marker (100066) Accessories:  Earth Elements Brads (106955), Soft Subtles Brads (106954)  Tools:  Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049), Paper Piercing Tool (116631)

Simple Sketch

Recently, my partner in Stampin' Up! crime made the move from Wisconsin to Arizona.  Boo Hoo!

Although we didn't spend much time face-to-face, I certainly miss her already.  But I do wish her the best of luck and hope to visit Arizona in the future.  I wanted to make her family a card to let them know they are in my thoughts. 

This card idea instantly came to mind when I saw last week's sketch Splitcoaststampers.com

The All in the Family stamp set is the perfect fit for this sketch.  On my card you'll see ... from top to bottom (left side), my Aunt Mary, my Uncle Scott, and my cousin Caroline.  Top to bottom (middle), you'll see their cat Mozart and the bottom circle is their dog, Isabelle. 

Finally, along the right side, you'll see images from the Loads of Love Accessories stamp set.  These little images tie this card together and have a similar "feel" as the All in the Family set.

TIP:  Use your Stampin' Write markers to isolate portions of the stamps image (see the end of my post for the full image set).  I did this with the "just moved" sentiment. 

Here's how:  Ink up the word "just" with the marker, stamp it on your cardstock, then clean your rubber.  Ink up the word "moved!" with the marker,  and stamp it on your cardstock.   With a few punches of the 1" circle and 1 1/4" circle punch, you'll be rockin' this card.  So easy, right?

Don't overlook that Tall Tales designer series paper I used on the card front.    Simply adorable - but also grown up at the same time.  Everything is mounted to my favorite (and in my opinion, most versatile) card base - Kraft cardstock. 

Download & print my handy DSP chart to help you coordinate colors.

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• $85.00 Mini Starter Kit
• Free items with $199 Starter Kit
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Stampin' Supplies

 
Stamps:  All in the Family (113488), Loads of Love Accessories (115024) Paper:  Kraft (102125), So Saffron (105118), Whisper White (100730), Old Olive (100702), Tall Tales DSP (115678) Ink:  Chocolate Chip Pad (100908), Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker (100071) Accessories:  Chocolate Chip Corduroy Buttons (114339) Tools:  1" circle punch (109046), 1 1/4" circle punch (104403) , Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)