Kraftin Kimmie Stamps Challenge #117

It's challenge day at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, and this week it's an awesome sketch:

Visit the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps blog for links to all the designers who have samples to share, and to link up your creation when you're ready to play along!

For my card, I've used a GORGEOUS peacock image from the new Tweets & Twitters 2. I colored in a blue and green palette with Copic markers, then inked and distressed the edges. The sentiment is die-cut into a tab using one of The Cat's Pajamas Circus Label  dies (trimmed down). I flipped and rotated the sketch to best work with my image.

I want to thank Kimmie and the whole Krafty Girls crew for the incredible opportunity to guest design with them this month. I've had an absolute blast! Thank you, KKS!

And thank you for visiting! Have a fantastic weekend. I'm headed out to an all-day crop and hope to make some substantial progress on my Project Life album. I'm not much of a "public" crafter, so when I filled out the registration form portion that asked who I wanted to sit with, I wanted to write an electrical outlet and leave it at that! LOL! It's not that I'm anti-social -- it's that I can't seem to mix social and productive! Wish me luck :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day - DS40

It feels like I blinked and Valentine's Day had passed right on by! For that matter, all of January and the better part of February. Is it just me, or is the year flying by? I thought I'd whip up a little something for St. Patrick's Day before that, too, passes by. I've used Verve's new Lucky You stamp set and coordinating Shamrock Die Set. The papers are Echo Park A Walk in the Park, and the layout is the awesome Deconstructed Sketch #40. Love this sketch!

Check out all the fantastic samples from the Deconstructed Sketch Girls:

Amber Hight

Amy Sheffer, Guest Designer

Arielle Gordon

Donna Wardle

Jen Shults

Jessica Diedrich

Kadie Ensley

Lori Boyd

Pam Varnell

Sheri Gilson

And when you're ready to play, just link up your creation HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

TCPTues198: Bestest Friend Ever

Bring on the pastels and join The Cat's Pajamas for its weekly TCP Tuesday challenge! Here's the soft, sweet color challenge Lori has provided this week:

I pulled out the adorable Kick Some Grass set and some lovely My Mind's Eye Dolled Up papers. The bunny is nestled in some grass that I die-cut with TCP's Grass Border CutUps die. I added some teeny clear rhinestones to the flower centers for a bit of sparkle.

TCP Tuesday Challenge Details:

1. Each Tuesday we will give you a challenge.
2. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
3. Add your entry to the Inlinkz Gallery or upload to the SCS Gallery, using the keyword TCPTUES198 for this week's challenge.
4. TCP stamps are not required for this challenge, but highly recommended.
5. There will be one randomly chosen weekly winner, announced on Tuesdays who will win a Gift Voucher for use on The Cat's Pajamas website.
6. There will be one winner, The Swanky Stamper, announced the 1st of each month. They will win several sets from an upcoming release and get to play along with us at our Pajama Party and Blog Hop.
7. The winner has one week from the day the winner is posted to contact me for his/her voucher code.

Here's the February SFYTT:

The February SFYTT is sponsored by Your Next Stamp, which has generously provided a discount code for SFYTT participants. Enjoy!

Thanks for visiting!

Everything Is Going To Be Okay

Surprise!! A group of us are hijacking this week's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge in order to pull off a surprise blog hop for Julee! She and her husband Mark soon will be welcoming twin boys into their family, and we wanted to share our congratulations and best wishes with them!

Did you arrive here from Susan Liles's blog? If not, head over to Teresa Kline's blog, where the hop begins. (You'll also find the full hop order there, just in case there are any glitches along the way.) Be sure to visit our guest of honor, Julee, to share your love and well wishes!

As part of the hop, we thought we'd share some words of advice and/or wisdom for the parents-to-be. I think the most profound insight I ever had as a new parent was when I realized, and I mean really, truly realized, that just as God gave my child to me, God also gave me to my child. It was easy for me to see my baby as a gift from above, but much harder to think of myself as God's gift to my baby, especially since most of the time I felt like I didn't have the first clue about motherhood. Julee and Mark, may you find empowerment, encouragement, peace, and awe in the awareness that God Almighty Himself chose YOU to be the parents of these precious boys. He knows exactly what He's doing, so, indeed, everything is going to be okay!

The sentiment I've used is a brand-new Plain Jane, Be Okay, that Julee surprised us with last week. If you haven't seen the beautiful card Julee made with Be Okay, check it out HERE. What a great phrase to have in stamp form!

And here's today's Mojo Monday sketch #229: (I turned the sketch upside down and tilted the inner rectangle cluster.

To play along, link up your creation to the Mojo Monday blog.

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To continue with the surprise blog hop for Julee and Mark, your next stop is Taylor Van Bruggen!

Thanks so much for visiting!


  

Kraftin' Kimmie Release Hop

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps' release day is here, and to celebrate, we're having a Release Hop! If you need to go back to the beginning and get caught up, then head over to the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge Blog, where you'll also find the full hop list. 

As you hop from blog to blog, be sure to leave a comment at each and every stop because some lucky stampers will win packages of these incredible stamps from the new release. And when you’re done hoppin’, visit the Kraftin’ Kimmie shop, because ALL the new images are NOW available! Gimme Kimmies kits, for those who "need it all," are also available at a discount, but for a limited time only. 

There's so much to see along the hop today. The February release includes the adorable Cheryl Alger Lulu and Friends set, two different sets of fantastic feathered friends, Tweets and Twitters 1 and Tweets and Twitters 2, both illustrated by Emilie Goulet, the amazing new collection of six Annie Rodrigue Superheroes, and, finally, a perfect new set to work with all your stamps, In Stitches.

I chose to show off the adorable Rescue Ranger from the Superheroes collection. Gotta say, this is my kind of superhero! My personal secret weapon cure-all? A pint of Ben & Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar Crunch. Works every time! (Or maybe it just tastes so good you forget about the icky stuff!)

I colored the image with Copics and die-cut it with a Spellbinders Labels Eighteen die. The papers are from the My Mind's Eye Fiddlesticks 6x6 pad. I tell ya, I'm going to need an intervention with the woodgrain patterns and paper doilies if I don't soon stop! I embellished with buttons, satin ribbon, lace trim, burlap string, and an open scallop border die-cut.

The sentiment continues on the card inside, which is also decorated to coordinate with the card front.

Thanks so much for stopping by. To continue with the hop, you'll want to visit Peggy next. I'm sure she's got something gorgeous to inspire you -- she always does! 

Enjoy the hop and have a wonderful Sunday!

Stamps: Rescue Ranger Superhero (Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps)
Paper: Copic X-Press It card stock, Papertrey Fine Linen card stock, My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline "Fiddlesticks" paper collection
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Tumbled Glass Distress
Accessories: Copic markers, Spellbinders Labels Eighteen and Labels Fourteen Nestabilities, sanding block, distressing tool, foam adhesive, Papertrey ribbon and button, May Arts burlap string, white lace trim from stash, My Favorite Things Open Scallop Border and Medium Scallop Border Dienamics, The Cat's Pajamas Circus Labels Cut-Ups, paper doily, sewing machine
Size: 5 1/2" square

Kraftin' Kimmie Peek: Superheroes

Today's Kraftin' Kimmie peek is Marvelous Mom, one of the new Superheroes images by Annie Rodrigue. It's also challenge day, and this week, we have a sketch challenge.

Visit the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps blog for additional challenge details, more fabulous sketch inspiration, and looks at all the different Superheroes images -- CUTE! Hope you can play along!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Kraftin' Kimmie Peek: Tweets & Twitters

Okay, SUPER fun image to share with you today from the upcoming Kraftin' Kimmie release (which is this coming Sunday, BTW). I'm no ornithologist, so I drew coloring inspiration from ... Rio!

Meet Blu ...

... here to wish you a Happy Bird-Day! 

This crazy cute fella is from Tweets & Twitters. Check out all the KKS design team inspiration today! Links are on the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps blog.

Side note: I first imagined this image all colored up in a rainbow of bright, tropical colors; however, with one or two lonely exceptions, rainbows and I just don't play together nicely. I opted for an all-blue bird, thinking the final colored image would be easier to work with. Are you kidding? You could conduct a traffic stop with this shade of blue! And I can assure you not one of my three bazillion pieces of patterned paper has this particular blue in it! All of this to say ... I'm a little skeered posting this one!

Have a great day, and tune in tomorrow for more Krafty peeks!

Kraftin' Kimmie Peek: Lulu and Friends

Today I'm joining the Krafty Girls of Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps for peeks of the upcoming release! This adorable image comes from the Lulu and Friends stamp set. Isn't she just precious?! Coloring is with Copics, papers are from the Dilly Dally 6x6 paper pad by My Mind's Eye, and the layout is this week's Deconstructed Sketch. Head over to the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps blog for all the release info and links to all the designers posting peeks today. Tune in again tomorrow and Saturday for additional peeks and on Sunday for a release hop. The new stamps will be available for purchase Sunday in the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps store.

And here's the new Deconstructed Sketch, #39:

Lots of sketch inspiration from the Deconstructed Sketch Girls, too:

• Amber Hight
• Amy Sheffer, Guest Designer (that's me)
• Arielle Gordon
• Donna Wardle
• Jen Shults
• Jessica Diedrich
• Kadie Ensley
• Lori Boyd
• Pam Varnell
• Sheri Gilson

To play along, just link up your creation HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!




Stamps: Lulu and Friends (Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, releasing Sunday, 2/19)
Paper: Copic X-Press It card stock, Papertrey Fine Linen card stock, My Mind's Eye Dilly Dally 6x6 pad
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Old Paper and Pumice Stone Distress Inks
Accessories: Copic markers, paper doily, sewing machine, foam adhesive, yellow trim (unknown), Papertrey ribbon and buttons, May Arts twine, Verve Wavy Hearts and Loopy Blooms dies, dew drops, My Favorite Things open scallop border die, distressing tool
Size: 5 1/2" square

TCP Tuesday: Get Well Cuppa

This week's TCP challenge, hosted by Julie, is an ABC challenge -- Anything But Card. All the details, plus Julie's crazy adorable treat project, are posted in the TCP Forum on Splitcoast. Can't wait to see all the entries!

With a few different friends ill or just down in the dumps, I've been in a get well mindset. I found a yummy looking package of gourmet chicken noodle soup mix at the grocery store and decided to pretty it up a bit by first putting the ingredients into a glass cracker jar (from Target) and then decorating the jar. The front label is done with stamps from A Cuppa. I colored with Copics, paper pieced the apron with patterns from My Mind's Eye's new On the Bright Side Two 6x6 pad, then trimmed out everything and layered over a paper doily.

I embellished the jar top with layered circles and a rosette made with TCP's Easy Rosettes CutUps die. This sentiment is also from A Cuppa.

Last I tried some raffia around the jar lid and hung a shipping tag printed with the name of the soup on one side and cooking instructions on the other.

Thanks for stopping by!

Kraftin' Kimmie Pins & Pearls

This week's Kraftin' Kimmie challenge, hosted by Sandie Dunn, is to use pins and pearls. I knew the lovely and elegant Elaine would be perfect, especially paired with the beautiful papers in the Howdy Doody paper pack by My Mind's Eye. I colored with Copics, then trimmed out Elaine to fit the layout, which is this month's Sketch For You To Try. The rolled flower at the top was done with a My Favorite Things die, and the others flowers are from my stash. The pink pearl stick pins and light green pearls are both from Pizzazz Aplenty.

Check out Kimmie's blog for LOADS of challenge inspiration. You will be amazed! That's where you'll link up to play along, too!

And here's the SFYTT that I used:

Those three little circles are proving tricky for me! This time, I went with a loose interpretation using scattered flowers and a button. Remember, the SFYTT Sisters are posting weekly sketch inspiration. Today (after 11 am), you can also see samples from Amber, Megan, Becky, and Iwona. When you're ready to play, link up your creation HERE. If you play along each month, you'll be eligible for a huge prize pack drawing at the end of the year. 

See you again soon, and in the meantime, have a fab weekend!

Stamps: Elaine (Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps)
Paper: Papertrey Vintage Cream and Fine Linen card stock, My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline Howdy Doody 6x6 collection
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Old Paper, Tea Dye, and Walnut Stain Distress Ink
Accessories: Copic markers, Spellbinders Classic Circle Nestabilities, paper flowers from stash, May Arts ivory burlap string and crochet trim, My Favorite Things Rolled Flower and Medium Scallop Border Dienamics dies, Pizzazz Aplenty pink pearl stick pins and 4mm Jade Ice pearls, Papertrey button, paper flowers from stash, sewing machine, foam adhesive
Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2

Deconstructed Sketch #38 - Thank U

Happy Thursday! Happy Deconstructed Sketch day :)

Here's what we get to play with this week:

I had a blast making my challenge sample. The sketch is fabulous and so, so easy to work with, the Verve You and I stamp set and coordinating I Heart U Die Set are among my favorite Verve ever, and the papers (Howdy Doody from My Mind's Eye's Miss Caroline line) are just beyond gorgeous. Lots of distressing, stitching, sanding, flowers, twine, ribbon, trim -- all my favorite things!

Ready to play along? Go HERE to link up your creation. And be sure to hop around for lots of sketch inspiration: 

• Amber Hight
• Amy Sheffer, Guest Designer (that's me)
• Arielle Gordon
• Donna Wardle
• Jen Shults
• Jessica Diedrich
• Kadie Ensley
• Lori Boyd
• Pam Varnell
• Sheri Gilson

Stamps: You and I (Verve Stamps)

Paper: Papertrey Kraft card stock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White card stock, My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline Howdy Doody 6x6 collection

Ink: Stampin' Up White craft ink, Ranger Frayed Burlap Distress Ink

Accessories: Verve I Heart U Die Set, Spellbinders Picot Circle Nestabilities, Papertrey button, May Arts twine, lace trim (from stash) Papertrey Berry Sorbet ribbon, Stampin' Up So Saffron ribbon, Recollections mini roses, distressing tool, foam adhesive, sewing machine

Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Let's Take Off {TCP Tues}

Part of my sweet new gig with The Cat's Pajamas will be playing along in the weekly TCP Tuesday challenges. Not necessarily on Tuesday, I should add (I do know today is Wednesday {grin}). The challenges run all week, and so The Cat Pack rolls out inspirational samples all week, too. 

For this week's challenge, Jen gives us this inspiration collage: 

How's that for FUN?! 

I confess the only way I know how to handle a rainbow of color all at once is to go CAS (clean and simple). Love how the white space lets the colors pop without being too overwhelming. The image, from Up, Up & Away, is colored with Copics, the sentiment is from Away We Go, and the clouds are cut from the Clouds Border CutUps die.

Want to play along? Here are some details you will want to know {including how to become the next Swanky Stamper!}…

1. Each Tuesday we will give you a challenge.
2. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
3. Add your entry to the Inlinkz Gallery on Alma’s blog or upload to SCS using the keyword TCPTUES196 for this week’s challenge.

4. TCP stamps are not required for this challenge, but highly recommended.
5. There will be one randomly chosen weekly winner, announced on Tuesdays who will win a Gift Voucher for use on The Cat’s Pajamas website.

6. There will be one winner, The Swanky Stamper, announced the 1st of each month. That winner will win several sets from an upcoming release and get to play along with us at our Pajama Party and Blog Hop.

Good luck!

Meowy Good News!!

I've just about been dying to share this happy news -- I'm joining Sprinkle and the gang as the newest member of the The Cat Pack, a.k.a. The Cat's Pajamas design team! Alma (TCP owner) has a little announcement over on her blog, too -- hope you'll check it out!

And since I couldn't let one more minute go by without trying on my swanky new watermark, I put together this last-minute number for the current TCP Tuesday challenge, hosted by Leigh O'Brien:

The image and sentiment are from Ewe Complete Me. I used one of the TCP CutUps dies, Circus Panels,   for the base part of my banners. I just cut them in half, then stitched traditional triangular pennants on top.

I colored primarily with Copics, then added the grass with Prismacolor pencils. Here's a closer look:

I've always thought that the stippled-style shading looks really fun and decided to give it a go here. I have no idea if there's a "proper" technique, but little marker dots in a few different shades of light blue-greens, warm grays and even a light blue-violet seemed a good place to start..

Thanks for sharing my happy news! Meow ;)

 


Stamps: Ewe Complete Me (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Papertrey Smokey Shadow card stock, Copic X-Press It Blending card stock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White card stock, My Mind's Eye Love Me 6x6 collection
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up Soft Sky, Tim Holtz Pumice Stone Distress Ink
Accessories: TCP Circus Panels CutUps, Spellbinders classic circle Nestabilities, Wilton doily, Pizzazz Aplenty 2mm clear rhinestones, paper piercer/needle/thread, sewing machine, foam adhesive, Copic markers, Prismacolor pencils, corner rounder, Papertrey buttons, Cotton Candy Divine Twine
Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"