KSS Moving Sale!

Happy Memorial Day to you all and a big thank you to all those who have sacrificed for our country!!

I am having technical difficulties with my laptop again . . . so I'm sorry that my presence here as been spotty.  Hopefully things will get straightened out soon!  Until then, I have some Kitchen Sink Stamps news . . .

To celebrate our exciting news and the Memorial Day weekend … Kitchen Sink Stamps is having a MEMORIAL-MOVING DAY SALE… all weekend long!!!

25% off everything in stock!

Starting this Friday until Monday (May 27 to 30th – midnight, PST)

Promo Code: MOVEKSS

Also, remember . . .


There’s still time to sign-up & multi-step stamp Friday, June 17, 2011 at Toyrifix, Smithville, OH

… and again with Stamping Around Ohio's workshop, Friday eve. & all day Sat. at Toyrifix.  We're getting SO close and there isn't much time - sign up today!! :)

Pucker Up!

Good morning and Happy Friday! We've been having some beautiful weather here and we're so thankful for it!  I have a quick, fun little card for you to today using Beyond Borders from Mint Motif at i {heart} papers.  I was looking at all the fun border stamps and this one just caught my eye and reminded me of lemons and limes so I went with it.

From Mint Motif

So as you can see I stamped the border twice onto X-Press Cardstock (which is so awesome for using with Copics) once in green and once in yellow and then colored them with Copic markers.  I then found a lemon shape online and printed it on yellow textured cardstock adding some shading with Copics.  All that was left was to cut it out and add it with some foam adhesive to the card - easy peasy! :)  I added 2 lime rhinestones to the top corner to balance out the sentiment (which is from Papertrey Ink).

Have a great day peeps!  Enjoy your holiday weekend - maybe with some lemonade!  :)

Cardstock: (Yellow) We R Memory Keepers, (White) X-Press Copic Blending Cards, (Green) Bazzill, Stamps: (Beyond Borders) Mint Motif, i {heart} papers, (sentiment from Tiny Treats Valentine) Papertrey Ink, Ink: (Black) Versafine, (Kiwi Kiss, Summer Sun) SU!, Accessories:  (Rhinestones), Tools:  Copic markers

TCP Tuesday 160 - Swanky Sketch!

Good Morning!! It's time for another fun sketch challenge for TCP Tuesday - hosted by our sketch queen Leigh!!  I love this one, it's really great to show off some awesome dp and with that nice big image panel, any swanky The Cat's Pajamas stamp!

I pulled out What a Blast which I sadly hadn't used in a few weeks - LOVE this stamp!!  PJ with a big, beautiful pinwheel = Cute!

I had to use my brand new 6x6 Fly a Kite Lime Twist pad from My Mind's Eye (you can buy one too at i {heart} papers!).  I love that it's a 6x6 pad but the paper is double-sided paper just like 12x12!!  I pieced the pinwheel and PJ's tummy and used Copic markers to color in the rest of the "scene."  I also colored his nose on a scrap piece of cardstock, cut it out and popped it up on foam tape for some dimension. I also used the small pinwheel from the Pinwheels Cut-Ups die and some yummy Brown Sugar Divine Twine!

 I even finished the inside on this one . . .

So now it's your turn - pull out your TCP goodies and get stamping!! Check out the details on Alma's blog - which is also where you add your card to the guestbook.  You can also pop over to the TCP Forum on SCS to check out everyone's cards for the challenge and chat along with us!  Have a great day!

Cardstock:  (Kraft) Papertrey Ink, (Green) Bazzill, Patterned Paper:  (Fly a Kite, Lime Twist) My Mind's Eye, Stamps:  (What a Blast) The Cat's Pajamas, Ink:  Marvy, Accessories:  (Ribbon) May Arts, (Divine Twine) The Cat's Pajamas, brads, Tools:  (Pinwheels Cut-Ups die) The Cat's Pajamas, (Nestabilities) Spellbinders, Copic markers, sewing machine

Sweet of You!

Good morning!  I don't know about you but we've had a ton of rain here and it looks like we'll have a bit more this week as well.  It's hard not seeing the sun for days on end, but I have to remind myself that all this rain is probably good for the plants and vegetables - we must need it! :)  My children have already asked me when it will be strawberry picking season but that's still several weeks away.

So for Kitchen Sink Stamps Monday I decided to play a bit with Multi-Step Berries and make a fun strawberry card!  I had a copy of the most recent Paper Crafts Magazine on my desk and was totally inspired by the pretty tomato card by Nancy McKinney on the cover so I used that for my sketch.  I simply changed up some of the colors and the border shapes.

Don't those strawberries look yummy?!  These shapes are so easy to mask and with the awesome Masking Paper in the KSS store it's even easier!   I really love that these masking papers come flat - very easy to stamp and cut out!

 

I added a bit of glitter to the berry flowers and it's a nice subtle look.  I should also mention that the ink colors I used came straight from the Color Recipe section of the KSS Forum!  Did you know about that?  Maria has made up a bunch of awesome color recipes for so many of the KSS sets - it's a wonderful resource!!

Take a few minutes to visit the rest of the KSS Crew today!  Just a reminder also that if you are in or near Ohio you should check out my next Stamping Around & Kitchen Sink Stamps Workshop!!  All the details are HERE - we'd love to see you there! 

Cardstock:  (Soft Sky) SU!, (Kraft) Papertrey Ink, (White) Gina K Designs, Patterned Paper:  (Playground) Echo Park, Stamps: (Multi-Step Berries) Kitchen Sink Stamps, Ink:  Step 4 - (Imperial Purple) Versafine, Step 3 - (Sweet Plum) Memento, Step 2 - (Rhubarb Stalk) Memento, Step 1 - (Lady Bug Red) Memento, Leaves:  Step 3 - (Cottage Ivy) Memento, Step 2 - (Bamboo Leaves) Memento, Step 1 - (Pear Tart) Memento, (Black) Versafine, Accessories:  (Divine Twine) The Cat's Pajamas, (Button) Papertrey Ink, (Glitter) Palette, Tools:  (Big Pinking Border, Inside Pinking Cut-Ups dies) The Cat's Pajamas, (Swiss Dot embossing folder) Provo Craft

Birthday Buttons

Good afternoon!  Seems like I get later and later every day this week - ha!  Well today I have another quick CAS card - this time using FTL#141.

I pulled out What a Card from Mint Motif at i {heart} papers and began seeing the lone strip of poker chips as buttons so I decided to give it a try!  What do you think? Buttons right?

I decided on colors from the Dutch Mustard Soup pad by Jillibean Soup.  I stamped the "buttons" on X-Press Copic Cardstock which I really love for it's great blendability!!  After coloring the buttons I punched holes in them and tied on the twine.  I love this simple layout and in case you were wondering my card measures 5" x 3.5" - perfect for smaller scale designs.

I tried a few things in the place of the circle accent but most just overpowered the card so I ended up going with a Scalloped Circle Nestabilities die cut layered with two color coordinated buttons.

Thanks so much for visiting today!  Have a great weekend!

Cardstock: (Kraft) Papertrey Ink, (White) XPress Cardstock, Patterned Paper: (Dutch Mustard Soup) Jillibean Soup, Stamps:  (What a Card) i {heart} papers, Ink: (Rich Cocoa, Potter's Clay) Memento, Accessories:  (Twine, Buttons) Papertrey Ink, Tools:  (Scalloped Circle Nestabilities) Spellbinders, Copic markers, paper piercer

Waltzingmouse Stamps 2nd Birthday Tea Pary

Now that "summer" is here I have a tiny bit more free time and am hoping to get in one or two other stamp challenges every week.  There are so many stamps out there that I {heart} but time (and funds) are limited.  I've had this one on my to do list ever since I saw it and this week I had the chance!  Waltzingmouse Stamps turns 2 this month!  It doesn't seem possible that it's been 2 years since the exceptionally talented and lovely Claire Brennan took a leap and began her little company.  However, if you take a peek at her website you'll see the product of those 2 years - a multitude of fabulous stamps!!  I have a big wish list

To celebrate Waltzingmouse is hosting a Birthday Tea Party.  You can read all the details HERE.  I chose to use the free template and Roses in Bloom.  This set is very special to me because the card that I won the 2010 Stamping Royalty contest was made with this beautiful set! :)

I started by stamping a whole sheet of XPress cardstock with roses & leaves - I was going for a the shabby chic floral fabric look you see. I stamped them with Desert Sand ink so that the outline wouldn't overpower the design.  Then I sat at my desk and colored . . . and colored . . . and colored.  I began to wonder if I had been crazy to start, but seriously, it wasn't that bad.  Then I used a few of the little decorative doodads from Very Vintage Labels No. 4 in Sky Blue and the word "Friend" from the Roses in Bloom set in Desert Sand.  After I cut out the template and put it together I even sponged the edges for a softer look (I know, right?! I sponged!! hee hee).

I used the Labels No. 4 set to make the panel stamped with Fresh Snow.  The sentiment is from Blessed by You - another great set!  I was thinking of different uses for this sweet little pouch - tea is obvious, but I thought that it would be fun to make some little potpourri sachets.  Pretty simple really, I used coffee filters and ironed them flat.  Then I stamped some roses, leaves and "friend" on them.  I added a small bit of potpourri in the center and tied it up with natural twine.

The little tea bag label is part of the template set and was stamped with another doodad from the Vintage Labels No. 4 set and I wrote "potpourri" on them so the receiver would know not to brew these - lol!

The final bits are some silk ribbon died with Glimmer Mist, a button on the closure and some pearls.

Thanks for sticking with me on this long post!  Go take a peek at the other entries in the Birthday Tea party, there are some really neat projects!!  Happy Birthday Waltzingmouse Stamps!! :)

Cardstock: (White) XPress, (Kraft, Spring Rain) Papertrey Ink, Stamps:  (Roses in Bloom, Very Vintage Labels No. 4, Blessed by You) Waltzingmouse Stamps, Ink:  (Sky Blue, Desert Sand, Angel Pink, Bamboo Leaves) Memento, (Fresh Snow) Papertrey Ink, (Frayed Burlap) Ranger, Accessories:  (Pearls) Kaiser, (Silk Ribbon) May Arts, (Button, Natural Twine) Papertrey Ink, (Divine Twine) The Cat's Pajamas, Tools:  (Labels No. 4, Small Scalloped Circle Nestabilities) Spellbinders, Other:  coffee filters

TCP Tuesday 159 for Lori!

Hello friends!  I'm horribly late today and I hope Lori will forgive me (knowing Lori, I'm pretty sure she will!)!  I'm sure you've seen that today is a HUGE Birthday Mob for our friend Lori Craig.  I couldn't not participate! Lori is about one of the nicest people out there, really real and just someone we'd all like for our neighbor!  (Plus her husband is a hunter like mine so we're hunting widows together!)

I combined my post today with TCP Tuesday 159 which is hosted by the fabulous Susan Liles!  Our challenge today was to use a stamp from The Cat's Pajamas with a flower on it.  I chose Fun in the Sun because I just love Sprinkle sporting the swanky grass skirt and lei! :)

I'm late for swimming lessons so I'm running out the door but will be back in a few hours to add all the deets and links!!  Again, forgive me???!! :)

ETA: Ok, back from swimming lessons . .  . so, the other pertinent facts about my card are:  I used 3 of TCP's fabulous Cut-Ups dies, Grass, Flower Buttons and the sentiment flag is on the Easy Rosette die.   The patterned paper is from the Echo Park's Summertime pad from i {heart} papers. Oh one more thing, the sketch is this week's Sweet Stop Sketch.

I hope you can play along with us this week - check out all the facts and sign the guestbook on Alma's blog to be in the running for this week's Cat Cash!  Then hop over to the TCP Forum on Splitcoaststampers and leave us a link!  Have a wonderful day and Happy Birthday Lori!!

Father's Watch

Good morning! How was your weekend? Are you ready for a brand new week?  I have a Father's Day card for you today for Kitchen Sink Stamps Monday!  I can't believe Father's Day it in just a few short weeks - which also means that Stamping Around Ohio is in just a few weeks!!!  If you leave in or near Ohio we'd love to have you join us for a fun weekend of stamping - check out all the details HERE!

My card today uses Father's Pocket Watch from Kitchen Sink Stamps along with Connie's Friday Sketch from the KSS Forum.

I had to resist the urge to add some pretty ribbon, but this is supposed to be a masculine card so I left it a bit more "clean".  The script is the background stamp from Multi-Step Letters from the Past,  I did add some stitching and found that I had the perfect color thread to match the Ripe Avocado cardstock!

Kitchen Sink Stamps is one of our class sponsors at Stamping Around Ohio - in fact, Maria herself will be teaching the class!!  That's right - come and learn from the designer herself!! :)  And because we know you love KSS, sign up to come to the all-day KSS workshop on Friday, June 18 before Stamping Around starts!  Make a whole fabulous stampy weekend of it!

Check out the rest of the KSS Crew's work today and then pull out your supplies and make something beautiful! :)

Cardstock:  (Fine Linen, Ripe Avocado, Vintage Cream) Papertrey Ink, Patterned Paper:  (Little Boy) Echo Park, Stamps: (Multi-Step Letters From the Past, Multi-Step Father's Pocket Watch), Kitchen Sink Stamps, Ink: Step 3 (Rich Cocoa) Memento, Step 2 (More Mustard) SU!, Step 1 (Desert Sand) Memento,  (Frayed Burlap) Ranger, Accessories:  (Brads), Tools: (Nestabilities) Spellbinders, sewing machine

With Love

Hello!!  I'm so happy that Blogger is back, aren't you?! :)  I have another pretty quick card to share with you today.  Have you seen the most recent challenge over the Moxie Fab World?  Following-up on the Moxie Fab column in the May/June issue of Paper Crafts Magazine, Cath has challenged us all to use chevrons - you know, a zig zag stripe!   Well, I just happen to have the perfect stamp so I couldn't resist!

Beyond Borders from Mint Motif at i {heart} papers has a great chevron stamp included and I love it because, like all the stamps in that set, it is long enough to stamp the entire front of a card.  I stamped the chevron using Fresh Snow ink and then used a little heart from Sweet Hearts.  I bet you have a lot of little stamps that would look great stamped in those "valleys" of a chevron! :)

The card measures 5" x 3.5".  The red circle, die cut with Circle Nestabilities, was stamped using one of the images in Very Square and I wanted to have a little doily behind it but I only have a bigger size doily die.  However, I discovered that I could cut it with a big scalloped Nestie and it still shows some of the pretty doily detail!  The sentiment is from Very Square Sentiments.

Pop over and give the challenge a try, chevrons are fun and Fab!! :)

Cardstock: (Kraft) Papertrey Ink, (White) Gina K Designs, Stamps:  (Very Square, Beyond Borders, Very Square Sentiments, Sweet Hearts) Mint Motif, Ink: (Fresh Snow) Papertrey Ink, (L'Amour Red) Palette, (Black) Versafine, Tools: (Doily die) Cherry Lynn, (Big Scalloped Nestabilities) Spellbinders, (Corner Rounder) We R Memory Keepers

Wet Puddle - TCP Tuesday 158!

Good morning!!  Our newest TCP Tuesday Hostess with the Mostest is Tori Wild!! Tori loves color so hosting the color challenge will be perfect for her!  This week's colors are a challenge but I love that - it makes you think and grow! :)  Besides gray is a hot color right now so it was fun to incorporate it into my crafting!

I used Wet Puddle for my card today - seriously, how fun is this little cutie with her rain boots and slicker?!  I also used the Icing Cut-Ups die which is a definite favorite!

I don't know what's going on with my pictures lately - they seem to be fuzzy when I add them here - anyone else have that problem?  Oh well, I paper pieced the raincoat and boots and after shading in a little puddle I used a Clear Glaze pen to make it slick (which you really can't see here but believe me it's nice and shiny!). :)

The sketch is Jen's SFYTT for May and I love it!! I will definitely use it again!  As I finished up and I was looking for something to fill the circle I came across this sweet little Easy Rosette that I had made last week - it has the blue and the green in it so I thought a fun pop of a few extra colors wouldn't hurt either! :)  Oh and did you notice the Divine Twine over on the side?  The color is Oyster - perfect for this challenge!

Be sure to check out the details on Alma's blog and sign the guestbook there when you finish your card - there's weekly Cat Cash and the monthly Swanky Stamper title up for grabs!

Cardstock:  (Going Gray, Gray) SU!, (White) Neenah, Patterned Paper:  (Spring Rain Bitty Dot) Papertrey Ink, (Playground) Echo Park, (Blossom Soup) Jillibean Soup, Stamps:  (Wet Puddle) The Cat's Pajamas, Ink: (Black) Marvy, Accessories:  (rhinestones) Kaiser), (Brad) Target, (Divine Twine) The Cat's Pajamas, Tools:  (Icing and Easy Rosettes Cut-Ups dies) The Cat's Pajamas, (Circle and Large Scallops Nestabilities) Spellbinders, Copic markers, Clear Glaze pen

Sunny Thoughts

Good Monday morning everyone!!  It's a beautiful day here and we're excited since we're finishing up our school curriculum this week!  We'll continue with a few things (like reading and math) through parts of the summer) but our "formal" work is done on Friday! Yippy!!

I have a truly 10 minute card for you today - I was pretty proud of myself because this actually took me about 10 minutes (and you know that's not my usual mo!).  I wanted to show you something that I forget to do myself.  We all know how beautifully detailed and realistic Kitchen Sink Stamps can be but you can also use for solid image stamps. In this case, I used Step 1 of 4 different butterfly stamps from 2 different sets, 3 Step Butterflies and 3 Step Hydrangeas.  The sentiment is from 3 Step Get Well Teddy.   (Sorry for the bad photo - I'll try and get a better one today!)

I die cut the bottom edge of the card and added a bit of patterned paper to peek out of the scallops.  By using darker colors and stamping off 2 times I was able to get a somewhat watercolor effect on the smaller butterflies which I think looks pretty neat!  And isn't that ribbon cute?  It's was a little treat from my buddy Kim! :)

Just a reminder that if you want to save 10% on your KSS order anytime, simply click the link or use coupon code JULIE10KSS.  Be sure to check out what the rest of the Kitchen Sink Stamps Crew has for you today!  And stop in to the KSS Forum and chat with us when you can - we'd love to hear from you!  Have a beautiful day!

Angela • Connie • Lisa • Lynn • Makiko • Maria

Cardstock:  (White) Neenah, Patterned Paper:  (Picket Fence) Lilybee Design, Stamps: (3 Step Butterflies, 3 Step Get Well Teddy, 3 Step Hydrangeas) Kitchen Sink Stamps, Ink: (Dandelion, Grape Jelly, Lilac Posies) Memento, (Pacific Point) SU!, Accessories:  (Ribbon) American Crafts, (rhinestones), Kaiser, Tools:  (Medium Scallop edge die) Papertrey Ink

Skipping Stones Design Blog Hop!

Good morning!! It's National Scrapbooking Day and while I don't do much scrapbooking these days I was super excited and honored when Skipping Stones Design asked if I would join them for a National Scrapbooking Day Blog Hop which includes some of their past and current FABULOUS designers.

If you just happened to stubble upon my blog today, your smack dab in the middle of this hop, start at the Skipping Stones Design Blog for the entire hop list. If you just arrived from Ashley Cannon Newell's blog, then you are right place!!  Hop along and see all the fabulous Scrapbook pages  made with Skipping Stones Design stamps!  I promise you will like what you see!!

I used 2 different SSD sets for my page today.  My oldest had a slumber party a few weeks ago for her 9th birthday so Chick Chat was perfect!!  I also paired it up with Pumpkin Seed Sentiments - I just love how it perfectly matched the patterned paper I chose to use (which is Echo Park's Summertime collection that I bought from i {heart} papers)!!

Here's a detail show of the pennant.  I stamped each one in a different color with one of the images from Pumpkin Seed Sentiments.

And then the cute little chicks!

Thanks for visiting today.  Leave a comment on each blog (some are giving away prizes) and when you have finished, go back to the beginning at Skipping Stones Design and leave a comment, telling them what you thought of the hop.  One lucky commenter will be chosen Wednesday, May 11th to win the Skipping Stones Design May release stamp set!!!

Keep hopping along, run off too Barb Turpin's blog!!   Happy Hopping!!

Cardstock: (Soft Sky) SU!, Patterned Paper:  (Sumertime) Echo Park,  Stamps:  (Chick Chat, Pumpkin Seed Sentiments) Skipping Stones Design, Ink:  (Rose Bud, Dandelion, Black, Pear Tart, Grape Jelly, New Sprout, Bamboo Leaves) Memento, (Soft Sky) SU!, Accessories:  (Divine Twine) The Cat's Pajamas, (Buttons), Tools:  (Pennant Cut-Ups die) The Cat's Pajamas

Class of . . . in Print!

Have you all gotten your copy of the May/June issue of Paper Crafts Magazine yet?  I had a chance today to really sit and read it cover to cover and it's a great one!  Of course I could be a bit biased since I have 2 cards in this issue - hee hee! 

One of my cards even made the Table of Contents and was used an inspiration for a specially commissioned masculine card!  Fun!! :)  This is the other card I have in the issue.  It was made using I've Got Your Number from Mint Motif at i {heart} papers. 

I just love using the large numbers to paper piece - they really pop! :)  Thanks for visiting today - I hope you have a wonderful day!!

TCP Tuesday 157 - Buttons, Buttons, Buttons!

Good morning!  I'm thrilled to be the Hostess with the Mostess today for TCP Tuesday!  It's a Supply challenge this week and I want to see what you all can do with Buttons!  We all love them, right?  You can find them in every color, shape and size imaginable!  AND, you can even make them yourself with The Cat's Pajamas awesome Button and Flower Button Cut-Ups dies!

My card doesn't have very much stamping on it, but I used the 2 dies mentioned above as well as the Easy Rosettes Cut-Ups die.  I also used the Nightie alphabet set to spell out "mom" (obviously using the button to replace the "o") and the sentiment is from Simply Said (an all around great sentiment set!).

I had fun mixing and matching the patterned paper in the Jillibean Soup Blossom Soup 6x6 pad (I picked mine up at i {heart} papers) for the buttons and rosette.  I also used some of the yummy Felt from The Cat's Pajamas and of course Divine Twine!

Hope you join in the fun and show us your button-y creations!  See all the details on Alma's blog, where you also need to add your card to be in the running for the $10 Cat Cash weekly prize as well as the Swanky Stamper title!  Please use keyword TCPTUES157 when you upload to Splitcoast - we want to see your projects! :)

Cardstock:  (White) Neenah, Patterned Paper:  (Blossom Soup) Jillibean Soup, Stamps: (Simply Said, Nightie) The Cat's Pajamas, Ink:  (Black) Memento, Accessories:  (Divine Twine, Felt) The Cat's Pajamas, buttons, Tools:  (Easy Rosettes, Buttons, Flower Buttons Cut-Ups dies) The Cat's Pajamas, (Blossom dies) Spellbinders

Wedding Rings

Hello and Happy Kitchen Sink Stamps Monday!  I feel like I haven't posted in forever!  With warmer temps  here finally we've been out working in the yard and doing some spring cleaning!

But today, I have a card which incorporates a few of the most recent challenges from the KSS Forum.  I used Connie's Sketch Challenge from Friday, and my Word of the Week Challenge which was "wed".  BTW, how many of you watched the Royal Wedding??  My girls were up at 5 am to watch and I'm so glad - I loved it!! I just couldn't get enough of it! 

I used Multi-Step Wedding Rings for my card. I love how simple yet just beautiful they are.   I think they really make such a pretty card! For step 4 of the rings I embossed it with Gold Embossing powder to give it an extra special touch.

The patterned paper is soft and pretty, it's from Life is Good collection by Echo Park.  I also added a strip of pearls from Zva Creative to the bottom - pearls always add something special don't you think?.  Both the paper and the pearls are from i {heart} papers.

Be sure to visit the rest of the Kitchen Sink Stamps Crew today for more inspiration!  It's Monday so Lynn will have a brand new 10 Minute Monday challenge in the Forum - they are always fabulous!  Have a great day everyone!

Angela • Connie • Lisa • Lynn • Makiko • Maria

Cardstock:  (Vintage Cream, Black) Papertrey Ink, Patterned Paper:  (Life is Good) Echo Park, Stamps:  (Multi-Step Wedding Rings) Kitchen Sink Stamps, Ink:  Step 3 - (Crushed Curry) SU!, Step 2- (Crushed Curry, stamped off) SU!, Step 1 - (Creamy Caramel) SU!, Step 4 - Gold (Encore), (Black) Memento, Accessories: (Gold Embossing Powder) Ranger, (Pearls) Zva Creative, (Ribbon) May Arts, Tools:  (Nestabilities) Spellbinders