Saturday, November 27, 2010

Designed 2 Delight Blog Hop - The Season of Holiday Giving

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!
I'm sure you are full steam ahead for the December Holidays and to help you on your way we are having team blog hop over at Designed 2 Delight!
We all have made a little gift that is super easy to recreate and perfect a gift for teachers, bus drivers, postal workers or anyone you just want to send a Holiday Thank You too!

My idea came from a super blog run by Mary and you can find all the details of the project at Cardz TV



Challenges:
Totally Stampalicious - Hot Cuppa
City Crafter - Hot Cuppa
Lollipop Crafts - Christmas
Alota Rubber Stamps - Let's Celebrate Christmas
Scrappy Frogs - Merry Christmas
Crafty Creations - Christmas is Coming
Fresh Brewed Designs - Winter or Christmas
Sew Many Challenges - Red and Green
Wags N Whiskers - Wrap It Up (bag, tag, box, gift)
Hodge Podge Shop - Anything Goes
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Anything Goes
Paper Cutz - Anything Goes
For Fun - Anything Goes
Fab N Funky - Go With The Flow (anything goes)
One Stitch At a Time - Season or Event
Stamptacular Sunday - A Time for Giving
Papertake Weekly - Cut It Out (use die cuts or punches)
Paper Pretties - Clean and Simple


Card Recipe:
Images- Dollar Delights
Paper- Happy Holidays Hobby Lobby
Medium- Copic Markers
Sentiment- Printed
Leaf Punch- Martha Stewart
Ribbon- Michaels


This is a great project and so easy your kids can get in on the crafting fun too!
There are surprise prizes for comments on the projects so be sure leave me and the rest of the team a little love to be in with a chance of winning!
To visit all the members blogs and get all the details be sure to check back to Designed 2 Delight and have a wonderful rest of your Holiday Weekend!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Digital Delights - Oralie the Sleepy Mouse

It's my second card on this Thanksgiving Day.
It's time for another fabulous sample from Digital Delights and I hope you are going to love this little card, it's the second one I've made this year with this adorable image!

Challenges:
Alota Rubber Stamps - Let's Celebrate Christmas
Scrappy Frogs - Merry Christmas
Fresh Brewed Designs - Winter or Christmas
Sweet Stampin - Sketch
Die Cut Dreams Christmas Club - Anything Goes Christmas
Crafty Creations - Christmas is Coming
Fuzzy Wuzzy - Seasonal (with an animal)
One Stitch At a Time - Season or Event
Digi Doodle Shop - Red and Green
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Anything Goes
For Fun - Anything Goes
Fab N Funky - Go With The Flow (anything goes)
Papertake Weekly - Cut It Out (use die cuts or punches)
Anything Challenge - Animals
Whoopsi Daisy - Holidays


Card Recipe:
Image- Oralie the Sleepy Mouse
Medium- Copic Markers
Paper- Homemade Christmas Stack DCWV
Metallic Paper- American Crafts
Boarder Punch- Martha Stewart
Sentiment- Wal-Mart




This little guy is so cute, he just makes me smile.
The papers I used are embossed and glittered and so I kept the rest of the embellishments to a minimum to show off the depth of these.
I hope you've liked my cards today, now it's time for Turkey!!


Guest designer at AI Factory - Friendship

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
A few weeks ago I won a challenge at AI Fcatory and they asked me to do a guest spot and today is the day!
The theme of the challenge is Friendship and I got to work with a really cute image!

Challenges:
Hodge Podge Shop - Anything Goes
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Anything Goes
Midnight Madness - Sketch
Papertake Weekly - Cut It Out (use die cuts or punches)
Belli - R is for Ribbon (or any R named embellishments)
Fab N Funky - Go With The Flow (anything goes)
For Fun - Anything Goes
Gingersnaps - Vintage Hues
Anything Challenge - Animals


Card Recipe:
Image- AI Factory
Paper- The Guy Stack DCWV
Medium- Copic Markers
Die Cut- Spellbinders
Flowers- Spare Parts
Due Drops- Robin's Nest
Ribbon- Unknown
Boarder Punch- Martha Stewart



I'm really not usually a dog person (cats rule the house here :)) but these two friends look so cute that I got past that quickly! The papers are so of my favorite, I often why I don't make more masculine cards as the colors and patterns are so of my favorite.
So now it's your turn to step away from the Holiday cards for a moment and play along with the friendship challenge over at AI Fcatory


Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Pixie Cottage #46 - Let It Snow

It's time for another sketch and theme challenge over at The Pixie Cottage.
With the cold weather coming to visit us here in Texas and snow forecast for most of my homeland of the UK (and lots of Europe too) you'll be glad to see the theme fits perfectly!

Challenges:
Alota Rubber Stamps - Let's Celebrate Christmas
Scrappy Frogs - Merry Christmas
Crafty Creations - Christmas is Coming
Cards For Men - Christmas for a Man/Boy
Digi Doodles Shop - Anything Goes
Hodge Podge Shop - Anything Goes
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Anything Goes
Daisy Doodles - Anything Goes (but you must a Daisy Doodles or Pixie Cottage image)
Paper Play - Let It Snow
Simon Says Stamp - Let It Snow
Stampin B's - Snowflakes
Crafts and Me - Snow
Treehouse Thursdays - Glitter
One Stitch At a Time - Season or Event
Scrap It With A Song - Winter Wonderland


Card Recipe:
Image- Winter Window by Sandra Hammer
Paper- Homemade Christmas Stack DCWV
Medium- Copic Markers
Sentiment- 7 Gypsies
Glitter- Stickles Icicle
Shine- Liquid Embossing Sepia Gloss Finish


This is the sketch you can choose to work with this week.



I added lots of Stickles for the snow on this one, took 2 thick coats to get it as sparkly as I wanted!
I really like this image, nice to make a classic looking card instead of cutesy for a change and I hope you like it too.
Katie

Cooking It Up #39 - Paint Me a Rhinestone Angel!

It's time for another great recipe from my Cooking It Up With Katie challenge blog!

This weeks challenge ingredients are:
Use some Paint
Add a Rhinestone or two
And make it Angelic (or at least for the holidays)

We are sponsored by the fabulous Pixie Dust and I got to use one of their super cute images!

Challenges:
Alota Rubber Stamps - Let's Celebrate Christmas
Scrappy Frogs - Merry Christmas
Crafty Creations - Christmas is Coming
Crafty Pad - Red and Green
Digi Doodles Shop - Anything Goes
Hodge Podge Shop - Anything Goes
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Anything Goes
Treehouse Thursdays - Glitter
One Stitch At a Time - Season or Event
Crazy 4 Challenges - Circles
Speedy The Cats Friends - Circles
Papertake Weekly - Cut It Out (use die cuts or punches)
Belli - R is for Ribbon and Rhinestones (or any R named embellishments)


Card Recipe:
Image- Pixie Dust
Paper- Homemade Christmas Stack DCWV
Medium- Copic Markers
Sentiment- 7 Gypsies
Boarder Punch- Martha Stewart
Die Cut- Spellbinders
Paint- Polymark Fabric Paint
Glitter- Glamour Dust
Ribbon- Michaels



I used fabric paint on her wings topped with super fine glitter and she looks so cute (couldn't catch it very well on the photo though).
It was a squeeze to actually get the card done this week and my printer just died on me and if it wasn't for my lovely hubby buying me a new one yesterday I'd have been up the river without a paddle so to speak! LOL
Although it's Thanksgiving tomorrow I still have a card set up for you to see so be sure to drop back in between bites of Turkey!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Think Ink Guest Challenge - Punching!

A few weeks ago I won a challenge at Think Ink and the prize was to be a guest designer for a challenge and to set the challenge too!
So today's the day and my challenge to you all is a super simple one, I want to see you using Punches! Now there are so many fabulous ones out there (I'm a little addicted to the Martha Stewart ones myself) that I know you don't need an excuse to play along do you?

Challenges:
Moving Along With the Times - Sketch
One Stitch At a Time - Season or Event
Alota Rubber Stamps - Let's Celebrate Christmas
Scrappy Frogs - Merry Christmas
Lexi's - Traditional Christmas Colors
Crafty Pad - Red and Green
Die Cut Dreams Christmas Club - Anything Goes Christmas
Papercutz - Christmas with lots of Bling
Stamps R Us - Sparkles and Scallops
Meljens - Sparkle and Shine
Oldie But Goodie - Glitter (old image and NO digi)
Treehouse Thursdays - Glitter
Simon Say Stamp - Sparkle
Crafts and Me - Glitter
If The Shoe Fits - Tickle me With Tinsel (make it sparkle and shine)
Fresh Brewed - Show Your Own Style (more is more and lots of sparkle!)
Paper Romance - Favorite Things (at the moment my are anything glittery and shiny)
Anything Challenge - Let It Snow
Crafty Calendar - Winter/Snowflakes
2 Sisters - Snowflakes
Totally Papercrafts - Snow or Snowflakes
Paper Play - Let It Snow
Stampin B's - Snowflakes
ECP - Snow
Stamping Vacation Music in You - Winter Wonderland
Rainbow Lady - Edge It
Digi Doodles Shop - Anything Goes
Hodge Podge Shop - Anything Goes




Card Recipe:
Image - Post A Note by Artful Inkables
Paper - A Homemade Christmas by DCWV
Medium - Copic Markers
Paint - Puffy by Tulip
Glitter - Glamour Dust by Viva Decor
Border Punch - Martha Stewart
Snowflake punch - Emagination Crafts
Ribbon - Michaels
Sentiment - Hobby Lobby



I again used one of my favorite Christmas card technique which is to use Puffy Paint for the snow and while it is still wet I sprinkle it with super fine glitter and then heat it to pop it up. This is so easy, really inexpensive and I think it adds a great dimension to your project. It looks wonderful on the fur on Santa's suit too :)
I hope to see lots of you playing along this week so be sure to add your entry at Think Ink
Katie

Friday, November 19, 2010

Designed 2 Delight - Joy To The World

This new image of Kaela as An Angel is just so adorable and she was so wonderful to color.
I added Liquid Embossing to her wings for a glass finish as I thought glitter may not work as well with the distressed look I was going for.


Challenges:
My Partner in Crafting Crime - Marker Madness
The Paper Players - Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke and a Neutral (mine are muted versions but I think they still work)
Stamping Vacation Very Vintage - Rose, Moss and Cream
ABC Design - Sew Special
Stamp With Fun - Square
Digital Tuesday - Anything With Wings
Flutterby - Fairy, Butterfly or Angel
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Distressing
Frosted Designs - Distressing
Flourishes - Just Do It! Make A Christmas card :)
ABC Christmas - X is For Xmas
Alota Rubber Stamps - Let's Celebrate Christmas
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - Christmas (with a digi)
2 Sisters - Christmas
Karber Christmas - Use a Digi
Midnight Madness - Sketch
Tuesday Taggers - Peace, Love and Joy (use one of those words)
Crafty Creations - Beautiful Insides
Top Tip Tuesday - Buttons
Tuesday Throwdown - Buttons and Bows
City Crafter - Little Children
CCEE Stampers - Buttons
Daring Cardmakers - We Three...(things in 3's, I did 2 lots of 3 buttons)
Digi Doodles Shop - Anything Goes
Hodge Podge Shop - Anything Goes



Card Recipe:
Image - Kaela As An Angel
Paper - K and Co Classic K McKenna
Medium - Copic Markers
Gloss (on wings and stars)- All Night Media Liquid Embossing in Sepia Glass Finish (can't find it online but I bought it at Michaels)
Lace - Walmart
Buttons - Stash
Embossing Folder - Basic Grey for Sizzix



I really like how she turned out, I'm sure you'll be seeing her again here before Christmas ;)
Katie

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Digital Delights - Little Gingers Gift Box and Card Set

It's time for another fabulous sample from Digital Delights and I hope you are going to love this little set perfect for Holiday gift giving!

Challenges:
Crafty Cardmakers - Card and Matching Gift
ABC Challenge - H is for Holidays
Stamp and Create - Tis The Season
Scrappy Frogs - Christmas
Alota Rubber Stamps - Let's Celebrate Christmas
Totally Gorjuss - Traditional Christmas Colors
Reasonable Ribbon - Ribbon and Christmas
Crazy 4 Challenges - Christmas
Flourishes - Just Do It! Make A Christmas card :)
Bee Crafty - Christmas (with a digi)
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - Christmas (with a digi)
Stamp Something - Something Digi
Drunken Stampers - Stitching (I did faux)
My Partner in Crafting Crime - Marker Madness
Stamp With Fun - Square
ECP - Red
Sassy Studios - Anything Goes
Going Grey - Inspired by a Song (Deck the Halls with boughs of Holly, Tis the Season to be Jolly)


Card Recipe:
Image - Gingerbread Holiday Set
Paper - DCWV The Christmas Combo
Medium - Copic Markers
Ribbons - Stash
Sentiments - The Paper Studio
Border and Corner Punches - Martha Stewart
Flower Punch - EK Success
Bandaid Tin - Provo Craft







These images are so cute and I know I'll be using more of them soon.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Pixie Cottage #45 - Ribbons and Bows

It's time for another fabulous sketch and technique challenge over at The Pixie Cottage and this week we want to see you getting out those beautiful Ribbons and Bows on your projects!

Challenges:
CCEE Stampers - Store Bought Flowers
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
Character Cafe - Embossing
Drunken Stampers - Stitching (I did faux)
ABC Design - Sew Special
Wee Memories - Patterned Paper
My Partner in Crafting Crime - Marker Madness
Reasonable Ribbon - Ribbon and Christmas
Stamp and Create - Tis The Season
Alota Rubber Stamps - Let's Celebrate Christmas
Scrappy Frogs - Christmas
Flourishes - Just Do It! Make A Christmas card :)
Paper Cupcakes - Christmas, Glitter and Ribbon
Stamp With Fun - Square
Sassy Studios - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Whatever Makes You Happy


Card Recipe:
Image - Hannah with Candle by Sandra Hammer
Paper - DCWV The Christmas Combo
Medium - Copic Markers
Flowers - Prima
Embossing Folder - Sizzix
Border Punch - Martha Stewart
Sentiment - The Paper Studio
Ribbon - American Crafts
Paint - Puffy by Tulip
Glitter - Glamour Dust by Viva Decor


This is the great sketch we worked with this week.



I added Puffy Paint to the snow in the image for texture. Before I heated the paint to make it puff I added Glamour Dust glitter on top.
We'd love to see you come along and see what other wonderful creations the team made and play with us along at The Pixie Cottage.

Cooking It Up #38 - Punch Your Golden Family!

It's time for another recipe challenge over at my Cooking It Up With Katie challenge blog.
This week I asked the team to create a card with the following "ingredients":
Use a Punch
Add some Gold
Make it for your Family

Challenges: (I admit to going a little over the top today!)
Character Cafe - Embossing
Critter Challenge - Texture
Stamp Something - Something Digi
Crazy 4 Challenges - Christmas
Ellephantastic - Christmas
Alota Rubber Stamps - Let's Celebrate Christmas
Thrilling Thursday - Anything Goes Christmas Theme
The Stampman - Christmas
Flourishes - Just Do It! Make A Christmas card :)
ABC Christmas - X is for Xmas
Creative Inspirations - Christmas or Winter
Bee Crafty - Christmas (with a digi)
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - Christmas (with a digi)
I Did It - Christmas with Burgundy and Gold
Lexi's - Traditional Christmas
Stamp and Create - Tis The Season
Scrappy Frogs - Christmas
Crafty Calendar - Winter and Snowflakes
Die Cut Dreams Christmas Challenge - Snowflakes
Speedy The Cat's Friends - Snowflakes
Sweet Stampin - Snowflakes
Stamp It Crazy - Snow
My Partner in Crafting Crime - Marker Madness
Annabelle Stamps - Gold
The Crafty Pad - Christmas Sparkle
Polly Craft - A Glittery Christmas
The Secret Crafter - Sparkle and Shine
Crafts and Me - Glitter
Gingerloft - The Great Outdoors
Riley and Co - Outdoors
Creative Inspirations - Winter Wonderland
Karber Weekly - Card for a Family member
My Time To Craft - Window Fun
Stamp With Fun - Square
ECP - Red


Card Recipe:
Image - Winter Window a freebie from Digi Doodle Shop (I don't see it there now though :()
Paper - DCWV The Christmas Combo
Medium - Copic Markers
Border Punch - Fiskars Apron Lace
Embossing Folder - Sizzix
Sentiment - The Paper Studio
Paint - Puffy by Tulip
Glitter - Glamour Dust by Viva Decor



I love this image and it was really nice to color those rich curtains.
I added Puffy Paint to the snow in the image including making some "snow" falling. Before I heated the paint to make it puff I added Glamour Dust glitter on top.
I love how this card came out and I hope it encourages you to come along and play with us at Cooking It Up With Katie!

Monday, November 15, 2010

All I Want for (a Pink) Christmas....Is You!

It's time for a super sweet Christmas card and this time it's not a Christmas image but I just love it.
And although I really like the traditional colors for Christmas I must admit to loving last years Basic Grey image Eskimo Kisses and the pink theme that runs through it.

Challenges:
Crafty Creations - Buttons
Creative Cottage - Someone Special at Christmas
Paper Playtime - PS I Love You
Lollipop Crafts - Girlie
Crafty Emma's - Pink
Polly Craft - A Glittery Christmas
Creative Inspirations - A Pink Christmas
Thrilling Thursday - Anything Goes Christmas Theme
The Stampman - Christmas
Scrapbook Sisters - Christmas
Creative Inspirations - Christmas or Winter
Anything Goes - Embossing (I embossed the image before coloring as I used Versafine ink that smudges with Copic's unless embossed)
Passionately Artistic - Linky Party (link any and all your projects)
Fresh Brewed - 2 of More Patterned Papers
The Paper Variety - 1 color of mist/Paint, 2 flowers or chipboard pieces and 3 patterned papers
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
Hanna and Friends - Card with "Inner Life" (decorate the inside too)
Crafty Ann's - Non Traditional Christmas Colors
No Time To Stamp - Non Traditional Christmas Colors
Stamps R Us - Sparkle and Scallops
The Secret Crafter - Sparkle and Shine
Paper Romance - Everything But The Kitchen Sink (lots of everything!)
My Partner in Crafting Crime - Marker Madness
Stamping With The Dragon - Inspired by a Holiday Song (the title)
Incy Wincy - Rock On (music inspired)
Crafts and Me - Glitter
The Crafty Pad - Christmas Sparkle
Crafty Purple Frog - Sparkle
One Stitch At A Time - Favorite Colors (I love coloring with Pinks)
Sentimental Sundays - Childhood


Card Recipe:
Image - Sweet Dreams by Penny Johnson
Paper - DCWV Eskimo Kisses
Medium - Copic Markers
Die Cut - Beaded Circles by Spellbinders
Flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts
Border Punch - French Scroll by Martha Stewart
Mist - Homemade with Viva Precious Metal Color Paint in Mother of Pearl
Glitter - Glamor Dust



I see many of my English cardmaking friends using Glamour Dust on their cards and although Decor are an American company you don't see it in the big box stores very often, so it was wonderful to see it in Hobby Lobby in the Christmas department.
I used Elmers glue pen under the the glitter and it worked wonderfully. I only have the Crystal and the Gold but I'm sure I'll be using them both on many cards before Christmas comes :)

Katie

Sunday, November 14, 2010

A Very Special Tilda Project - Lots of Photos inside!

Happy Sunday!
Today I have a labor of love to show you and I'm hoping you'll like it as much as I do.
Michelle at Michelle's Scrapbooking and More had a brand new product in store and it just called my name out to be played with!
It is a blank clock byKaisercraft with little windows in for photos.
Now if you remember a project I did earlier in the year with a set of tiny shelves in a wooden "house" then you may have guessed why I wanted to make something with this one! Now I implore you to click on the photos to see the "big picture" so to speak as you cannot see the details in the little photos on blogger.
I will try and add notes under each photo with a fee technique pointers as to how I made this.

Challenges:
Our Daily Bread - Anything But A Card
Paper Romance - Everything But The Kitchen Sink (lots of everything!)
AI Factory - Die Cut or Punch (used both)
CCEE Stampers - Store Bought Flowers
My Time To Craft - Roses
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Use an Image
Penny's - Alter Something
Passionately Artistic - Linky Party (link any and all your projects)
Basic Grey - Wings (Tilda has wings)
Crazy Challenge - Things with Wings (again Tilda is an Angel with wings)
Something Completely Different - Wings
Flutterby - Windows (OK it said Window card so I may be pushing it a little here :))
Drunken Stampers - Stitching (I did faux)
ABC Design - Sew Special
Our Creative Corner - Rust, Blue, Gold and Brown
Wee Memories - Patterned Paper
My Partner in Crafting Crime - Marker Madness


Project Recipe:
Clock - Kaisercraft Beyond The Page MDF Frame Clock W/Movement & Hands
Medium - Copic Markers
Paper - Mellow by Basic Grey
Flowers - Mini Roses from Prima
Die Cut - Beaded Circles by Spellbinders
Border and Corner Punch set - Martha Stewart French Scroll
Pearls - Basic Grey Opalines
Chipboard Numbers - Provo Craft
Letters - Walmart
Paint - Illuminate by Smooch
Images - Tilda as Shepherd
Tilda with Flowing Hair
Tilda on Christmas Morning
Tilda with Flowers
Standing Fall Tilda
Kitchen Tilda
Stylish Tilda
Peachy Tilda




I used two sheets of the same patterned paper on this project, one went on the base layer (the layer you can see through the windows) and the same again in exactly the same spot on the top layer (where the windows are).
I lined the paper up at the top left corner and then trimmed around the edge (the clock is 11" square.
On the top layer I turned the block over (patterned side down) and used my exacto knife to cut out the paper covering the windows.
So when I turned it back over and lined it up the paper on the bottom layer showed through and matched up exactly with the top layer.


I chose my Tilda's simply on the hair styles/hats I liked as I knew only the heads would show through.
I colored them down about halfway on the images so when i trimmed them to fit it would be blended correctly.


Each Tilda was trimmed to fit the spaces and then matted with a narrow brown mat to make the image stand out. Then using my Copic Multiliner I faux stitched the edges.
I colored them to match the paper color closest to the window they would be sitting in and arranged them (uncolored first) so that they would all be facing toward the center of the clock.


I decided that I needed to clock to look a little larger and more "decorated" so I added a border all the way around (on the outside of the clock base) using a Border and Corner punch set from Martha Stewart. This was super easy to do as I just used a 12" by 12" piece of coordinating cardstock, lined up the corner punches and then filled in with the borders (the punches are designed to fit a 12" square piece perfectly). I cut out the middle of the cardstock so the clock workings fit and then glued the cardstock "mat" to the back of the clock.
I used my ATG gun as it is good and sticky and I knew the cardstock would stick well.


After that I used a 1/4" wide stitched ribbon around the whole front edge of the clock to give it a more finished look. Then I added a very narrow strip of brown cardstock all around the side edges of the clock so you couldn't see the unfinished MDF edges.
Then I added the clock workings with a Spellbinders die cut under the hands, topped with paper flowers and pearls. The numbers are white chipboard that I colored with an R37 Copic Marker to match the paper.
To finish I added paper flowers to two corners and acrylic letters to the two larger window panels.


It now hangs proudly in my studio.
The photos were taken outside as I wanted to give you a better idea of the true colors of the paper.
I absolutely loved making this project and to be honest I didn't want it to end and want to make it all over again!
I hope you liked this and maybe it has inspired you to create "out of the box", just in time for a handmade Holiday gift maybe? :)
Katie