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Thursday, January 8, 2015

NBUS and "The File": Oh My Stars!

Two of my favorite people are having challenges on their blogs.

Kara, at K and R Designs, is celebrating her 200th week of the Friday Inspiration File - her Pinterest board of weekly favorites. Kara's personal work is absolutely amazing, and her Pinterest board includes her favorites from other cardmakers throughout the week.  Even though I follow the same blogs, seeing these cards pinned in one place is a treat every Friday.

Darnell, at djkardkreations, is holding the third NBUS challenge - that's "Never-Before-Used Schtuff"!  Since Darnell coined the term NBUS, I have made sure that I keep all of my new stash in a separate place, and it can't get filed away until I have used it.  For someone as obsessively organized as I am, that's a powerful incentive to get it used.  The new stamps NEED to get put away by company and the new dies HAVE to get out of their counter tray and into the neat little slots organized by theme.  But somehow the NBUS stash never seems to shrink.  It changes all of the time, it just never shrinks!!

For Kara's challenge, I chose this card by this card by Cristina.  The card is a lovely floral with amazing dimension.  I knew that I needed to go in an entirely different direction, because I knew that nothing would quite measure up to the original.  (Not to mention that to begin with, I hadn't noticed that it was Cristina's card.  I've always loved her cards, but I developed a bit of hero worship after I read her most recent novel - The Book of Unknown Americans.  There's a main story and there are glimpses into other people's lives which is perfect for an avid people-watcher such as myself.  Plus I loved that simple events became special, for example, Maribel's first laugh over the word "oatmeal".)

I was inspired by the color scheme of her card.  Then when my card wasn't quite working, I studied her card again and added the dimension to my flags which ended up being exactly the right touch.

Oh My Stars

There are two NBUS items on this card.  The first is the Star Garlands die by Memory Box which I originally purchased for Christmas but I'm glad to realize that it will work throughout the year.  The second is the Shine Happy Sentiments stamps from Lil' Inkers Designs.


By the way, have I mentioned my new must-have craft tool?  It's these Eyelash Extension Microbrushes.  It's all based on Jennifer McGuire's first technique for adhering intricate diecuts.  It works fabulously! The Star Garland die was my first real test and I got it adhered without a single mumbled expletive!!  If you order the microbrushes, you should know that they come all the way from China.  Given that anything Jennifer promotes becomes a top seller, I have a mental image of a warehouse in China with all of the workers scratching their heads and wondering what is going on with the sudden run on microbrushes!

SUPPLY LIST

I have linked one of MFT's Fishtail Flags die.  They actually have two sets, the main one and a layers set - I've mingled my two sets and never know which exact one that I am using on a card.


17 comments:

  1. Amazing,Kim!! WOW! I love this die you have used as your background and the dimension of your flags is like you said,the right touch! Perfect!!!

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  2. Kim, you've done Cristina proud with this card! It's amazing! LOVE that star banner, and those pops of colors in the flags is just perfect. Great card!!! I hope you don't mind if I pin this - it's really wonderful! Stay warm. Bev

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  3. Oh, my stars! Those colors make me swoon. I love that die background too. This card is gorgeous, Kim!

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  4. Oh my stars! First off, happy 2015. All the best coming your way this year I hope. Your inspiration - I missed Cristina's card. Wow, what a piece of art! Your take - and that you lifted several flags to capture the feel - how perfect. Which only goes to prove that you are an A+ cardmaker. Don't ya love this "hobby"?

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  5. Oh my this is totally beautiful, love the dimension given to the flags

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  6. Those starry banners look amazing on grey card base, such a cool design !

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  7. Oh, this is FUN!! I like your thought on the micro brushes too!

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  8. What a happy card, Kim. The colors for the flags are so cheerful and look great against the gray with white stars.

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  9. Oh My Stars indeed Kim! Love this, just super! Hazel x

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  10. Beautiful card! Cristina is one of my favorites and so are you! Thanks so much for joining me!

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  11. This is amazing, Kim! The gray background is perfect for the die-cuts and colorful flags.

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  12. Oh, my stars! (You knew I was going to say it!) Kims, you have done an A+ job of CASEing Cristina! I love that star garland, which - YES - so fits this fun card, and how you stacked and offset the flags! Of course, your trademark button and bow look fabulous, too! Thank you so much for playing in my NBUS Challenge #3!! Hugs, Darnell

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  13. Your card is a star in its own right, Kim: absolutely beautiful! The grey/garland panel is the perfect canvas for allowing that lovely banner/sentiment cluster to shine! Love this! Checking out your ingredient links; more additions to the wish list for sure!
    ~c

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  14. Loving the colour combo and the way they pop on the grey! Hugs xxx

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  15. Super fun card, Kim! Lovin' all of those colorful flags!

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  16. I saw ​your card linked at the NBUS challenge and just had to come see it in more detail. Awesome card! I am now your newest follower and would be honored if you visited my blog and became a follower too. http://karenskreativekards.blogspot.com/

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