Monday, June 4, 2018

Life is so Much Better!

Recently I finally broke out my "Petal Palette" stamp set. I know, I know. It seems like everyone has this stamp set and had stamped the living daylights out of it. And I have loved all the things that I have seen. But it seems that when there is a really popular stamp set and I own it also, I just have a harder time coming up with things to make using it. But I have finally put ink to rubber and made a card. And I must say that I love how it turned out!

Take a look:

 All supplies used are from Stampin' Up!:
Stamp Set: Petal Palette
Inks: Blushing Bride, Night of Navy, Emerald Envy (oops, this one is now retired), 
StaZon Jet Black Ink, Daffodil Delight
Card Stock: Blushing Bride, Night of Navy, Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Blender Pens, 
Watercolor Pencils (Melon Mambo only), Whisper White & Silver Baker's Twine, 
Dimensionals


On the rose images I used a blender pen with the Blushing Bride ink. I then used the Melon Mambo Watercolor Pencil on the inner edge of the rose images. It gives the roses depth and shadow. You can see it better on the close-up image, I think. Aren't they pretty!!

I hope you know how much better life is with YOU in it! I appreciate you stopping by to visit my little blog, and I hope you come back again soon!

Thanks,
Kathryn

Sunday, May 27, 2018

Coloring and Birthday Blooms

I know that I have mentioned this before, but...I LOVE to color! And I also love flowers, so naturally, the Birthday Blooms stamp set would be a natural choice for me to use when I wanted to do a bit of coloring with Stampin' Up!'s Watercolor Pencils. I thought it would be a good choice to show my process as well. Now, I do not have experience with making videos, so I just did a photo tutorial to share with you.

Here is my finished card, and the process photos will follow:
 All supplies are from Stampin' Up!:
Stamp Set: Birthday Blooms
Inks: StazOn Jet Black Ink
Card stock: Soft Sky, Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Vellum Card Stock
Accessories: Big Shot, Lots of Labels Framelits Dies, 
Springtime Foils Specialty Designer Series Paper (retired), 
Stampin' Up Watercolor Pencils, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Dimensionals

The first three colors that I used were: Calypso Coral, Real Red, and Rich Razzleberry, in that order. 
First, I colored the main flower completely with Calypso Coral (except for the little center parts of the flower).
 Then I used Real Red to start the shading process. I started at the bottom of each petal, and then colored going up the petal, but not going all the way to the top, trying to be the darkest at the bottom of the petal.
 In order to make the shadow part of the flower even darker, but not by using the black pencil, I decided to use the Rich Razzleberry pencil at the very base of the petals, and the centermost of the flower (except for the little center knobby parts that will be colored yellow). I followed this same process on the 3 smaller flower buds.
 There are three twigs that I colored with Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, and Old Olive. The stems I used the Early Espresso on, and the leaves I colored first with Daffodil Delight, then added some Old Olive to give them some more color and depth. (It is a little hard to see. Sorry!) I also colored the center, sticky part of the flower (the stigma) with the Daffodil Delight pencil. (I looked up the name.)
 The larger leaves I colored using the following colors: Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, and Early Espresso.
I followed the same pattern as with the flowers. Lighter overall color (Old Olive), followed by a darker layer at the base of the leaves to show shadow.
I used a darker layer of Old Olive, but also added a little bit of Pacific Point, and some Early Espresso to give depth. I also added a little bit of Daffodil Delight toward the ends of the leaves to give variety. I tried to blend the colors together really well so that they didn't look blotchy.
And there you have it...my finished coloring of the flower image. What do you think?  Leave me a comment if you have any tips for me.
 To finish off the card, I "fussy-cut" the image out, along with die-cutting the largest label from "Lots of Labels" framelits dies using my Big Shot. I stamped the birthday greeting using Staz-On ink because the label is cut out of the heavy vellum (a card stock vellum) and Stampin' Up!'s classic ink would not dry quite as fast... I also glued a little bit of Dazzling Diamonds to the stigma part of the flower to give it a little bit of sparkle.


I love how this card turned out! I hope you do too!

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you again soon!
Kathryn

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Hey There, Happy Camper!

I have several friends who are big on camping. I understand how they feel, but my husband and my kids are not big on spending time in the great outdoors. My husband grew up in the big city, and he was never one for "roughing it". I guess my boys get it from their dad. LOL! Anyway, I plan on giving this card to one of my camping friends. Her birthday is the end of the month, and I think she will get a kick out of it!

Over on the TGIF Challenges blog this week, they had a sketch to help inspire creativity. Here is my card, but I did not get it completely done in time to join in the fun. Oh well...maybe next time. Anyway, here is my card:

All supplies are from Stampin' Up!:
Stamp set: Glamper Greetings
Card stock: Dapper Denim, Tranquil Tide, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink pads: Archival Basic Black, Chocolate Chip, Lemon-Lime Twist, Tranquil Tide, Smoky Slate, Crushed Curry, Whisper White
Accessories: Color Theory Designer Series Paper Pack, Stampin' Blends Alcohol Marker (Cherry Cobbler Light), Aqua Painter, Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker, Linen Thread, Dimensionals

Here is the challenge graphic, but you will not find my card over there:


Thank you for visiting today! I hope you come back soon.
Kathryn

P.S. I added the curtains in by hand, with a Stampin' Write marker.


Monday, May 7, 2018

Hello Birthday Blooms - #tgifc158

What a beautiful morning! So happy to be here with all of you today!

I had some time to craft on Saturday, and so I decided to see if there was a blog challenge that I might want to participate in...and there was! Over on TGIF Challenges blog, they are celebrating their 3rd "blog"-iversary (blog anniversary, if your not familiar with that term), and it is a wonderful color challenge. I have participated in several of their challenges over the past three years, so I thought I would have a go at it this time.

Here is my card for challenge #tgifc158 :

All supplies are from Stampin' Up!:
Stamp sets: Birthday Blooms, Hello Friend
Inks: Archival Basic Black, Berry Burst, Lemon-Lime Twist, Versamark
Card stocks: Whisper White Thick, Basic Black
Accessories: Aqua Painter, Stampin' Emboss Powder (White), Heat Tool, Linen Thread, 
Wink of Stella (Clear), Dimensionals

Did you notice the flower image and the greeting is cut out? That is not from a die. I had to fussy cut them with my paper snips. I usually use my Big Shot to cut out images, but not everything has a die to go with it. That's okay though. I don't mind fussy cutting sometimes, if I've got the time.


I used my Aqua Painter to watercolor the floral image. I love to watercolor! I also heat embossed the "hello" greeting, and used clear Wink of Stella on the little center pistils of the flower for a touch of bling!


Here is the challenge graphic from the TGIF Challenges blog:


I hope you enjoy my blog challenge card, and please go check out their website: tgifchallenges.blogspot.com


Thanks for stopping by to visit, and I hope to see you again soon,
Kathryn

Saturday, May 5, 2018

A Magical Day is One of a Kind

I have been wanting to make a card using the unicorn from the "Magical Day" set ever since I bought it. I happen to know some young people who love unicorns, and pegasus (or is it "pegasi"?), and I wanted to make something with them in mind. Plus, I got to do a little coloring on it. (I love to color!)

This is one of my favorite kinds of folds to use. It is called a Z-fold card. You fold it in half, just like you would a regular card, and then the front half you fold in half again, back on itself. If you look at it from the bottom cut end, it looks like a Z, but with a long foot on the bottom. Take a look:

All supplies are from Stampin' Up!:
Stamp set: Magical Day
Card stock: Pink Pirouette, Daffodil Delight, Lemon-Lime Twist, Whisper White
Inks: Archival Basic Black, Versamark
Accessories: Myths and Magic Specialty Designer Series Paper,
Big Shot, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Magical Mates Framelits, Petal Pair Textured Impressions Embossing Folder,
Stampin' Write Markers: Berry Burst, Pink Pirouette, Daffodil Delight, Lemon-Lime Twist, 
Pool Party,
Iridescent Sequin Assortment, Fine-Tip Glue Pen, Stampin' Emboss Powder (White), Heat Gun, Wink of Stella (Clear), Dimensionals



I hope you all remember that YOU are one of a kind, and that I wouldn't be doing this little blog without all of you. I appreciate all of you so much, and hope you continue to visit me here. Have a wonderful day!

Thanks for stopping by,
Kathryn

Friday, April 27, 2018

You Are So Beautiful To Me (Just Add Text)

Being an adult is hard sometimes, when there are things you want to do other than be responsible. I mean, I would rather stay home and stamp instead of going to work all day. Do you feel that way too sometimes?

But I can still stamp and make things. It just takes me longer to get things finished. And if I am trying to participate in a blog challenge, well, it just doesn't alway happen on time. This is the case with this card. I finished it, but not in time to participate. But still, I got it done, and here it is!!

All supplies are from Stampin' Up!:
Stamp set: Just Add Text
Inks: Archival Basic Black
Card stock: Whisper White Thick, Pool Party, Blushing Bride, Vellum Card stock 
Accessories: Big Shot, Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Layering Ovals Framelits Dies, Leaf Punch, Springtime Foils Specialty DSP (retired), 3/8" Metallic-edge Ribbon: Silver, 
Stampin' Write Markers: Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight,
Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Dimensionals


I was wanting to participate in the card challenge over on tgif challenges last week, but I just didn't get a chance to get my card done in time. I am going to try again this week...because, face it, something is better than nothing. Right?!


The challenge was to make a card with the theme of "Random Acts of Kindness", and I thought that this card was perfect for that. I mean, who wouldn't want to be told they are beautiful! And I think I have some people in mind to give these cards to. (I made 4 of them, so I can be scattering kindness all over the place!)

I hope you are all having a wonderful day, and thanks for stopping by!

Kathryn

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Lovely Inside and Out Sweet Sugarplum

"Lovely Inside and Out". This is such a fun stamp set to create background papers with! This stamp makes me think of those dried straw flowers you see at the craft stores. But they are much better because these ones don't make a mess on the floor! LOL!

I was inspired by a color combination that I saw on TGIFChallenges blog (tgifchallenges.blogspot.com) way back at the beginning of February. I created this card to participate in the challenge but never quite got it finished on time. It has been sitting on my desk for several weeks, so I decided that I could still share it with you even though I did not join in the challenge.

Take a look:

All supplies are from Stampin' Up!:
Stamp set: Lovely Inside & Out
Cardstock: Sweet Sugarplum, Blushing Bride, Whisper White, Basic Black
Inks: Sweet Sugarplum, Blushing Bride, Pink Pirouette, Basic Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Lovely Words Thinlits Dies, Layered Leaves Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Classic Label Punch, Glitter Enamel Dots, Dimensionals 


Hope you all have a "Lovely" day, and thanks for stopping by,
Kathryn


Friday, March 9, 2018

Magical Day Mermaid Card

I have a friend where I work who is having a rough go of things right now, so I wanted to give her a card to try help cheer her up. I hope it helped.

Take a look:
All supplies are from Stampin' Up!:
Stamp sets: Magical Day, Hello Color
Stamp Pads: Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White Thick, Regular Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Magical Mates Framelits Dies, 
Flourish Thinlits Dies, Starburst Punch,
 Stampin Blends Alcohol Markers: Bermuda Bay Dark, Bermuda Bay Light, Pumpkin Pie Dark, Pumpkin Pie Light, Pink Pirouette Light, 
Myths & Magic Glimmer Paper, Mini Sequin Trim Silver, Dimensionals


I hope this card makes you happy too. I know it does me. Love that little mermaid!

Thanks for stopping by,
Kathryn


Friday, February 23, 2018

Happy Birthday to Me!

I had a birthday the other day, and in my husband's cute way, he said, "Do you have a birthday card that I could use?" Well, of course, I had many cards...some of them were even birthday cards! But I had an idea in my head that I wanted to make. And I get to keep this card, because my husband will write something lovely inside it that will be just for me. That is the best thing about making cards. Not the beautiful or funny images that might be on the front, but the love that is inside, that comes from the heart of the person that gives it.

That being said, here is MY birthday card:

 All supplies are from Stampin' Up!:
Stamp set: Hello Color
Card stock: Soft Sky, Wisteria Wonder, Thick Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Happy Birthday Thinlits; Stitched Shapes Framelits; Stampin' Blends Alcohol Markers: Pool Party Light, Pool Party Dark, Old Olive Light, Crumb Cake Light; 
Iridescent Sequin Assortment; Dimensionals


Even though my birthday has come and gone, I can't wait to read what my husband writes in my card. It will be epic!

Thanks for stopping by,
Kathryn

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Party Panda Thank You Card

This will be short and sweet! I have a friend, and I needed to let her know that I appreciated what she did for me, so I made her a thank you card. Take a look:


All Supplies are from Stampin' Up!: 
Stamp sets: Party Pandas (Sale-a-bration set), Lovely Inside & Out
Inks: Archival Basic Black
Card stock: Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Stampin Write markers: Real Red, and Smoky Slate, Big Shot, Lovely Words Thinlits Dies, Linen Thread, Dimensionals 

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you are having a wonderful day!
Kathryn