Embedded & Embossed Flowers

Wow, now 3 posts in one day! LOL!

This is another card I just finished yesterday using a technique that I found on Split Coast Stampers called embedded embossing. I found this in the Challenges Forum under F4A59 from 4/8/11...took me a while to get to this one!

Basically, to do the technique you glue die cuts, punch outs, etc. to paper and then emboss it. My colors are a little blah, it would be nicer with colors that are more vivid for a contrast. Also the paper flowers once flatten out kind of loose their shape, but it was still a fun technique to do.

The frames and leaves were actually leftovers from other projects I did and saved in my organized stash!

Supplies I used:

Paper: old olive (SU), vintage rose 8x8 scrapbook kit (Colobok), palo verde (Bazzills)
Misc: felt bird sticker (Puffies - KIMemories), glitter paint writer, paper flowers, 1/4" punch, branch with leaves die (Sizzix), pearl stickers, large labels die (Spellb.), stylus, square lattice embossing folder (SU)

I actually didn't do any stamping on this one! Thanks for looking!

Blessings!

Kathy

Framed Blue Bird

Hi there!

Wow, 2 posts in one day!

This is a card I just finished up using my Labels 4 dies by Spellbinders. I wanted to create a frame using them. The image is from SU's Seasonal Birds. I used my Prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits to color it. You can't see it in the picture, but I added gold stickles to the flower centers and bud bases that go really pretty with the rose button.

Supplies I used:

Stamps: seasonal birds, teeny tiny wishes (SU)
Paper: baja breeze, very vanilla (SU), old world mat stack (DCWV),ancestry mat stack (K&CO)
Ink: timber brown (StazOn), wheat (VersaMagic)
Misc: prismacolor pencils, mineral spirits, sponge, markers, gold stickles, white opal liquid pearl, pearl stickers, button, ribbon, labels 4 die (Spellb), doily lace edge punch (MS)

Organization of Card Bases, Mats, Diecuts, Images

Hi there!

I guess it's been a while since I posted! I've been busy and have lots more I want to do!

I have another organizational tip that I've been using the past couple of months that has REALLY helped me out. Hope you find it helpful too!

I had a hard time keeping track of and organizing leftovers, rejects, etc. from projects, and decided to keep them all in one place and organized. I originally bought smaller recipe card holder for these at Michaels, but recently found these larger holders that fit even better for $3.00 each. The good news is, I saw these today at Michaels at 60% off...great deal!

These are the two boxes I have.

I have one box that contains all card bases ready to be used. Some of these I made and didn't use, and some I just made extras of to have on hand.

The other box I have I put Die Cuts, Images Stamped (blank), Finished Images Stamped, and Mats that I made, but didn't use.

I find I'm constantly going through these now to see what I already have when I do a project. I keep these on my desk at my fingertips

If you're like me, have leftovers and like to be organized, this might be something you may want to try!

At some point, these would be fun to decorate too!

I LOVE to be organized! It helps me to have more time to do what I love to do...create joyfully made designs!

Blessings!

Kathy

Acrylic Stamp Storage

Hi there!

I thought I would post some more pictures and information about how I try to keep myself organized in my craft room!

This is how I've started to store my acrylic stamp sets and I really like the way it is working out. Just like my Samples Book Binder, I'm using the small binders (5 1/2" x 8 1/2") to store most of the sets in. I just find these easier to use than the large binders. So far, I have 3 small binders with most of my sets, and 1 large binder that has 2 sets that I couldn't fit in a small binder and couldn't cut them down to fit.

I cut white card stock in half to 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" sheets. I used double stick tape to adhere each acrylic stamp sheet to the paper (each set has it's own sheet of paper), labeled them and put each set into the 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 sheet protector. I was able to fit 2 sets in each sheet protector (back to back) and about 10 sets per binder. Here's a couple of pictures of the inside.

This is a picture of a set taken out. Really easy to just remove it to use and file back later when I'm done.

These are the sheet protectors I used in case anyone needs it.

This is the large/normal size binder with the 2 big sets I couldn't fit...yet. I did have a couple of sets that I cut down to fit on 2 separate pages.

This is how I store my Studio G acrylic stamps...those little sets you can get at Michaels for $1.00. They're in a normal size binder. I use baseball card storage sheet protectors for these. I leave each set on it's acrylic sheet and fit the packaging sheet behind it so I know where it's from.

Here's a closeup picture of them.

That's it for my acrylic stamp storage! I love being organized! Hope this helps someone out that was looking for some ideas! It may not be ideal for others, but it works great for me!

Blessings!

Kathy

Bathtub Riley Moose in Pinks

Hi there!

I made this card for 2 challenges on Split Coast Stampers. The first, is for a color combination of light pink, medium pink, and dark pink (#CC326). The second, to use a stamp that "you had to have", but never used (F4A68).

This is a stamp called "Bathtub Riley Moose" from Hanna Stamps that I just had to have, but never used the poor little thing. It's so cute too! I WAS surprised at how few stamps I had that hadn't been used yet...from my older ones anyway.

For colors, I used pink pirouette for light pink from Stampin Up, Chablis from Bazzills for medium, and Melon Mambo (SU) for dark pink. The other papers used were Whisper White and Black from SU and Solar White from Neenah. Ink used was Versafine in Black which is a new ink I bought and I really like the image quality it gives, the quick drying time and easy cleanup. It's my new favorite ink now!

I colored the image using my Prismacolors pencils and mineral spirits and Diamond Stickles. I used Spellbinders dies in circles and scallops which I have barely used. With the round shaped image, I decided to make a card in a square shape of 5" x 5" which is different for me.

Thanks for looking!

Blessing!

Kathy

The Greatest Gift

Hi Everyone!

Hope you all had a nice weekend!

This is a card I made this weekend with an image I've been wanting to use for quite a while from the "Spiritual Sketches" set by Indadinkado. This is the same set I used to make the Bible and flower card titled "Glorious Pink" a few weeks ago.

I used my Prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits and a little bit of LePlume markers to deepen the burgundy color in the flowers. I used one of my favorite color combo's of pinks and greens. The papers are Neenah solar white, Mariposa Mat Stack (DCWV), chablis (Bazzills), old olive (SU), black (?).

Here is a picture of the inside of the card.

I'll be posting this in my Split Coast Stampers gallery if you would like more details on the supplies I used which you can see by clicking the link on the left sidebar. Thanks for looking!

Blessings!

Kathy

Apples for Mom

Hi there!

Hope everyone is have a wonderful weekend!

I have my third card to show you from Elphine House Australia with a design by Elisabeth Bell. I LOVE this little guy! He is SO adorable! Even the little kitty is adorable! I am still so excited to be on a design team and work with images I already really loved! It doesn't get much better than that!

Here is the front and the inside of the card!

I colored this with my Prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits and added a dab or two of marker to intensify areas a little. This is also my first time using Neenah paper that I just bought...very nice paper to work with. The pattern paper is "Jack & Jill" from Graphic 45. The other papers were just odds and ends I had for a while. I found the little overall buckle at Jo-Anns and just had to include it with this. If you would like more details on the materials I used, I posted this on my SCS gallery with all the info which you can find here.

Blessings!

Kathy

To purchase this stamp and check out others, click on the purple link on my sidebar for Elphine House Australia!

Center Step Greeting Chimes

Hi there!

I wanted to try out a new technique I found on SCS called "Center Step Card". I decided to use the "Greeting Chimes" stamp again because of the shape of the image. In case you missed my other post, this is a new stamp from Elphine House Australia by Elisabeth Bell. (This is available at their website now along with a few other cuties, just click the purple link on my sidebar!) This image is SO cute!

Here is the card from the left side.

Here's a view from the right side.

I even decorated the inside of the card.

I adjusted the size of the card to be a little wider to make it fit the image better. If you would like to try out this technique, you can find the instructions here on Split Coast Stampers. It looks harder than it is, it's actually fairly simple to make.

In addition to using "Greeting Chimes" (Elphine House Australia), I used Teeny Tiny Wishes and Yummy (Stampin Up). The papers I used are soft suede, baja breeze, not quite navy, manchester DSP (SU), linen closet (DCWV), natural white (Neenah). Ink used is dark chocolate (Palette), soft suede (SU) and wheat (VersaMagic). I used my Prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits to color the image and accented with markers a little. If you would like any additional details, I posted this in my SCS Gallery which you can see here.

Hope I inspired someone to try something new! Have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings!

Kathy

Greeting Chimes

Hi everyone!

I'm back with my second Design Team card for Elphine House Autralia called 'Greeting Chimes'. This is another adorable image by Elisabeth Bell. This stamp is now available at Elphine H. A. which you can see by clicking the the purple image on the left sidebar.

I did this one in blues, but I can totally see this for a Christmas card! This is the first time ever I did a 6"x6" card. Amazing how a different size can give you a learning curve, but I realized I just needed to add more "stuff"!

The reason I did this one in blues is because of the pattern paper that I really wanted to use. I guess I always start with some sort of 'reasoning' for what I want make! The other reason for the blue was the fiber bow I made to go with the paper early on. The bow is made out of a pearl cotton fiber in a beautiful blue. This is a fiber I had leftover in my weaving stash from when is use to do weaving. I just loved the way the bow came out and the brightness of the color and I was determined to include it.

The pattern paper is from Watercolor Bouquet (K & Co). The other papers are whisper white (SU), palo verde (Bazzills), deep ocean blue (ColorMates). The word stamp is teeny tiny wishes from SU. I colored this with my Prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits and added a little detail with markers. I also used a stylus on the plant pot to create lines and also on the bush giving it tiny lines. This is the first time I did this technique which was easy and fun and I liked the way it came out!

If you need any additional details, please see my Split Coast Stampers gallery by clicking the link on the left sidebar! Thanks for looking!

Blessings!

Kathy

Cherry Blossom Card

Hi there!

I made this simple card a couple of days ago. I was in the mood to use kraft paper and this cherry blossom stamp...don't ask me why! I paired it with baja breeze and browns. This is one of my "go to" sketchs that I use frequently.

The stamps I used were Cherry Blossom stamp from Rubber Stampede, Oval All and Vintage Vogue from SU. For inks, soft suede (SU) and dark chocolate (PTI). Papers are kraft (PTI), whisper white, regal rose, baja breeze (SU) and expresso (TPC). I colored this with my Prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits. If you need any additional info, I will be posting this in my Split Coast Stampers gallery with complete details. The link is listed on the sidebar here to the left! Happy stamping!

Blessings!

Kathy

Flowers for You

Hi everyone!

I'm so excited to show you my first ever card as a Design Team Member for Elphine House Australia! This is an ADORABLE image designed and copyrighted by Elisabeth Bell called "Flowers for You". Isn't she sweet?

Here is the inside view.

I colored this in mostly purples in honor of Elphine House Australia's (EHA) purple logo. I used Stamin Up papers, lavender lace, certainly celery, whisper white. Stamps used are Noteworthy and God's Blessings (inside card) by Stampin Up. Miscellaneous items used: modern label punch (SU), framed tulip folder (SU), fence punch (Marth Stewart),Labels 4 (Spellbinders); ribbons, pearl stickers, lace, flowers, white gel pen, black marker, charm all from Michaels or Jo-Anns.

This stamp is offered exclusively at Elphine House Australia. This is a clear polymer stamp and it is now available along with a few other cuties here!

Watch for more of my creations with this new, adorable stamps!

Blessings!

Kathy