May TCP Tuesday Challenge!

Hello!! It's the first Tuesday of  May (seriously!!??!!) and so that means it's time for a new TCP Tuesday challenge at The Cat's Pajamas!  Last month's ode to flowers brought out so many of your gorgeous creations, I hope we've started a trend! *wink*

This month Alma's challenged us to get our CAS (clean and simple) on which is one thing I love!!  Now I truly appreciate those who can make a gorgeously loaded card with just the right amount of "stuff".  You know people like that, however I am not one of them!  I'm a pretty CAS girl at heart so I love this challenge - and I cannot wait to see new and exciting cas ideas and layouts from you all!

My card today was so much fun to make! I actually made it for a class I taught several weeks ago I just haven't shared it yet.  I used Sock It To Me from The Cat's Pajamas of course but it all starts with a fun and easy background!  To make a watercolor/splatter wash background I simply used my reinkers slightly watered down and a straw.  Just load up your straw with a bit of color and blow it across the surface of your cardstock.  Work quickly, the ink soaks in fast, but you can keep adding color until you achieve the look you want.  I even added just a few splatters of color by just shaking the straw over the paper.

The monkey was stamped, colored and fussy cut before he was adhered to the card with foam adhesive.  I made his striped pjs by just coloring them with Copic markers.  I wanted the colors to slightly blend and bleed together so it was pretty quick and easy!

Head over to Alma's blog and to our Member Company Forum on SCS to see all the details of the challenge and find out what other Cat Packers are posting today.  Then go forth and stamp!  Happy Tuesday!

Cardstock: (White) Neenah), (Blu Raspberry) My Favorite Things, Stamps: (Sock It To Me) The Cat's Pajamas, Ink: (Black) Marvy, Accessories:  (Rhinestones) Kaiser, Tools: Straw, reinkers (assorted, SU, Memento), Copic markers

Let's Pear Up!

Happy Monday morning!  My Kitchen Sink Stamps card today is also for the Featured Stamper challenge at SCS yesterday.  I chose this card from Naturecoastcrafter's wonderful gallery because it looked like a great CAS layout and I wanted to use some more fun washi tape!

I used Multi-Step Pears from Kitchen Sink Stamps and tried to use a bit of a retro look, you think?

My ink colors are (all Memento):

Pear:  Step 4 - (Sweet Plum), Step 3 - (Pistachio), Step 2 - (Pear Tart), Step 1 - (Dandelion)

Leaf: Step 3 - (Olive Grove), Step 2 - (Pistachio), Step 1 - (Pear Tart)

I think the washi tape adds just the right amount of retro and I think I'm officially in love with this stuff!  It's so  affordable and easy to use - lots of possibilities! Oh, the inside of the card finishes the sentiment with "for some fun!"

Take some time to visit the rest of the KSS Crew today and have a great day!!

Connie • Lisa • Lynn • Makiko • Maria

Cardstock:  (Solar White) Neenah, Stamps: (Multi-Step Pears) Kitchen Sink Stamps, Ink: (Pear Tart, Pistachio, Dandelion, Sweet Plum, Olive Grove, Black) Memento, Accessories: (Washi Tape) Chickydoddle, Tools: (Corner Rounder) WRMK

Avocado Arts August Set!

*** It's a 2 post kinda day, please scroll up for my TCP Tuesday post! ***

Good morning my friends!!  It's time for the Pit Crew Too to post our brand new projects with the Avocado Arts August Stamp of the Month, Perfectly Perfect Day!!  Visit the Avocado Arts blog for a list of who is posting today and while you're there check out all the cards from the 1st - beautiful!!

I went pretty CAS with my card for today but it's so awesome when you have elements within a stamp set that stand alone or even with other stamps to make a quick and easy card that looks great!  This set is just that, there are so many details and elements that work great together or alone!

Don't you just love that font and the layout of the sentiment?  The clouds were cut using the Digital Image File that is available for each of the AA stamps set.  It really makes life so easy when you can just push a button and have your images all nicely cut! :)

Thanks for visiting today, please be sure to check out these blogs too:

Teri Anderson

Emily Branch

Kelley Eubanks

Emily Leiphart

Avocado Arts blog

Cardstock: (White) Neenah, Patterned Paper: (Authentique, Stamps: (Perfectly Perfect Day) Avocado Arts, Ink: (Black, Gray Flannel) Memento, (Stormy Sky) Ranger, Tools: (Digital Cut File for Perfectly Perfect Day) Avocado Arts

TCP Tuesday 218

It's TCP Tuesday over at The Cat's Pajamas but since I never got a chance to post for last week's challenge I'm doing that today.  Last week's Hipster Hostess was Lori with a super cool color combo (one of my current favorites!), check it out!

So I went CAS with just a tiny bit of stamping but I used a bunch of CutUps dies to make my card.

The sentiment is from Simply Said from The Cat's Pajamas.  I used the Window CutUps, the Sunflower Rosette CutUps for the sun and the Heart Border CutUps for the flowers.

The background color has a little woodgrain pattern embossed in it, just gives it a bit of interest I think.

Be sure to check out Alma's blog for all the details of this challenge AND for today's new challenge! I'm hoping to work on mine soon! We'd love to see what you make so remember to come link up and chat with us in the TCP Forum on Splitcoaststampers!  Have a wonderful day!



Cardstock: (Kraft) Papertrey Ink, (White) Neenah, (Ocean Mist) Gina K Designs, Patterned Paper: Echo Park, Stamps: (Simply Said) The Cat's Pajamas, Accessories: (Button) Doodlebug, (Linen Thread) The Cat's Pajamas, (Rhinestones) Kaiser,  Tools: (Sunflower Rosette, Heart Border, Window CutUps dies) The Cat's Pajamas

6 Months Until the Holidays KSS SALE!!

Good Monday Morning!!  It's time again for the great Kitchen Sink Stamps 6 Months Until the Holidays Blow Out Sale!!  Can you even believe we're talking 6 months until Christmas???? EEEEEKKKK -  I won't think about that today . . . ! BUT, it is good news for you because from today until midnight (PST) on June 29 all Kitchen Sink Stamps sets are 40% off and there's free shipping for orders over $65!!  Such a deal, now's the time to stock up!!

Since it's a holiday sale, we thought it's be fun to make a holiday card!  I used my first ever KSS set, 3 Step  Holly & Mistletoe but I wanted to change it up and make it fresh and funky.   I used some non-traditional colors that I think did the trick!

Here's the recipe for my Mistletoe:  Step 3 - (Bermuda Bay) SU!, Step 2 - (Bermuda Bay, stamped off), Step 1 - (Soft Sky) SU!  Berries: Step 3 - (Festive Berries) Ranger, Step 2 - (Rose Bud) Memento, Step 1 - (Angel Pink) Memento

After I stamped all my holly and berries I wanted to add just a bit of something but still keep it pretty simple - enter glitter!! I glittered the berries and then used Scor-Tape to add a glitter border (actually, first used the long thin line from Plaid Plus (from KSS) first to stamp a Rose Bud order around the edge).

Please click HERE to start shopping at 40% off!  And please also visit the other KSS Crew members for more holiday inspiration!

Connie • Lisa • Lynn • Makiko • Maria

Cardstock: (Hibiscus Burst, Aqua Mist) Papertrey Ink, (White) Neenah, Stamps: (3 Step Holly & Mistletoe, Plaid Plus) Kitchen Sink Stamps, Ink: (Festive Berries) Ranger, (Rose Bud, Angel Pink) Memento, (Bermuda Bay, Soft Sky) SU!, (Versamrk) Tsukineko, Accessories: (Glitter) Palette, (Scor-Tape) Scor-Pal

Sweet Thoughts

Good morning! I'm running a bit late today after a beautiful, busy weekend but that's ok! :)  We're expecting a great week here.

It's berry season here and I've heard that it's supposed to be a pretty good harvest this year.  I'm hoping to pick a bit soon but in the meantime I pulled out my Multi-Step Berries set from Kitchen Sink Stamps and made this "sweet" card.

I started by stamping the strawberry multiple times all over the kraft cardbase.  Here's my ink recipe:  Step 4 - (Imperial Purple) Versafine, Step 3 - (Riding Hood Red) SU!, Step 2 - (Lady Bug Red) Memento, (Step 1 - (Angel Pink) Memento.

I then used the step 1 stamp and stamped over 1 berry with Versamark and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I wanted one strawberry to stand out from the rest - the embossing made it a bit darker, but it's also shiny and pretty IRL!  I then used a sponge and sponged some white ink around the embossed berry and around the edge of the card.

A great sentiment from the same set finished off the card.  Please visit the rest of the KSS Crew today

Connie • Lisa • Lynn • Makiko • Maria

Thanks for stopping in today, I appreciate the visit! Have a beautiful day!



Cardstock: (Kraft) Papertrey Ink, Patterned Paper: (Pretty Party) Crate Paper, (Summer Fresh) Simple Stories, Stamps: (Multi-Step Berries) Kitchen Sink Stamps, Ink: (Riding Hood Red) SU!, (Angel Pink, Lady Bug Red) Memento, (Black, Imperial Purple) Versafine, (Fresh Snow) Papertrey Ink, Versamark, Accessories: (Ribbon) May Arts, (Pearls) Zva Creative, (Clear embossing powder) SU!, Tools: Nestabilities) Spellbinders

Biggest Fan

Good morning!  We had such a great weekend and it looks like that might continue - aaaahhhh Summer in Maine! :)   It's Kitchen Sink Stamps Monday and I'm pretty happy about my project today, it's very different from most of my other KSS cards!  I was leafing through the latest issue of Paper Crafts Magazine and was inspired by the fan card on the cover.  Here's what I did with that inspiration:

I started with Pretty Tear Drops from Kitchen Sink Stamps (which by the way is currently on sale!) and used a solid petal to make my fan blades.  The double circle image is from Happy Birthday Cupcake, also KSS (and also on sale!).  As I set out looking for a sentiment I was so tickled to find this one in 3 Step Baseball (would you believe, also on sale?!) - it couldn't have been more perfect!!

I kept the whole card simple, just using a flat button for the center and adding a red heart from Multi-Step Ribbons With a Cause.  It just goes to show you how differently you can use your stamps if you just use a little imagination!  Now I'm wondering what other fun things I can make!

I have to tell you my husband commented that he liked the "benzine rings" on my background paper.  LOL!! Yes, honey but we papercrafters call them hexagons and they are oh so in style now! :)

Please visit the other KSS Crew members and enjoy a wonderful Monday!

Connie • Lisa • Lynn • Makiko • Maria

Cardstock: (White) Neenah), Patterned Paper: (On the Bright Side, One) My Mind's Eye, Stamps: (Pretty Tear Drops, 3 Step Baseball, Happy Birthday Cupcake, Multi-Step Ribbons With a Cause) Kitchen Sink Stamps, Ink: (Going Gray) SU!, (Black) Marvy, (Barn Red) Ranger, Accessories: (Rhinestones) Zva Creative, (Button) Papertrey Ink, Tools: (Nestabilities) Spellbinders, (Corner Rounder) WRMK

Firecracker

Welcome to Monday, and it's raining here.  Oh well, I have a lot to do indoors so that's just fine. Plus, it's Kitchen Sink Stamps Monday - always a good time!  For some reason I had a hard time starting my card this week,  but then I went and checked out the Sketch Challenge at SCS and had an idea.

I used 3 sets for this CAS card and instead of using traditional patriotic colors I thought I'd make a card that would work for a masculine birthday card. I used Swirly Hearts & Stars, Playful Stars and Friends of the Moon, all from Kitchen Sink Stamps of course.

I embossed the sentiment (from Ready 4 Any Holiday) using white ep and also added a bit of bling to the stars and fireworks.

Please visit the rest of the KSS Crew today.  Thanks for visiting! :)

Connie • Lisa • Lynn • Makiko • Maria

Cardstock: (Pure Poppy, Black) Papertrey Ink, (Solar White) Neenah, Stamps: (Swirly Hearts & Starts, Playful Stars, Friends of the Moon, Ready 4 Any Holiday) Kitchen Sink Stamps, Ink: (Barn Red) Ranger, (Summer Sunrise, Fresh Snow) Papertrey Ink, (Black) Versafine, Accessories: (White embossing powder) SU!, (Rhinestones) Kaiser, (Lemon Divine Twine) The Cat's Pajamas, Tools: (Nesabilities Tags) Spellbinders

Honoring

Happy Memorial Day and to all our veterans and active duty military, a HUGE thank you for your service!  Please know that your sacrifice (and that of your family's) is greatly appreciate!  My card today is in honor of you!

First, I neglected to let you know that here is a BIG sale going on at Kitchen Sink Stamps!  Until midnight (PST) tonight, all stamps are 25% off and there is FREE shipping for orders over $50! Simply use THIS LINK to receive the discount!

The sketch for this card is FTL#192 from Clean & Simple Stamping, it was perfect for what I had in mind! I used Multi-Step Ribbons With a Cause and Swirly Hearts & Stars (which is on sale!).  the sentiment is from Ready 4 Any Holiday.  The swirls were embossed using some pretty awesome fine detail Silver Embossing Powder that Maria is carrying in the KSS store - it made such pretty silver swirls!

The ink recipe for my ribbon is:
Step 3 - (Imperial Purple) Versafine, Step 2 - (Paris Dusk) Memento, Step1- (Danube Blue) Memento

Remember to visit the other KSS Crew members today. Have a wonderful day!

Connie • Lisa • Lynn • Makiko • Maria

Cardstock: (White) Neenah, (Pure Poppy) Papertrey Ink, Stamps: (Multi-Step Ribbons With A Cause, Ready 4 Any Holiday, Swirly Hearts & Stars) Kitchen Sink Stamps, Ink: (Paris Dusk, Blue Danube) Memento, Versamark, (Black, Imperial Purple) Versafine, (Barn Door) Ranger, Accessories: (Rhinestones) Zva Creative, (Silver Embossing Powder) Ranger

CAS Cameo

Good morning!! I hope you all had wonderful Mother's Days. I was treated to some delicious fresh fruit and homemade strawberry scones for breakfast (oh, that was after O got sick all over my bed at 6:30 a.m - oops!)!  It really was a lovely day and I am so very thankful for the 5 amazing children I've been blessed with - it's really amazing to think they are all mine! :)

I have a lovely CAS card for you today using the new Kitchen Sink Stamps set, Multi-Step Mother's Cameo.  Cameos and silhouette stamps seem to be very "in" these days but personally I don't think a pretty cameo can ever go out of style!

The background paper is some beautiful flocked black damask paper I've held on to for several years. I stamped my cameo with following recipe:

Step 5 - (Paris Dusk) Memento, (Stormy Sky) Ranger, Step 4 - (Bashful Blue 2x) Stampin' Up!, Step 3 - (Bashful Blue stamped off) SU!, Step 2 - (Summer Sky) Memento, Step 1 - (Summer Sky stamped off) Memento

I made a simple frame using 2 different Nestabilities and added some tiny pearls around the oval. There's not much embellishment needed!

I used some Ocean Seam Binding to act as a grounding point for the whole image (I was envisioning a picture hung with ribbon).

Please visit the rest of the KSS Crew today for more beautiful inspiration.  Have a wonderful week!

Connie • Lisa • Lynn • Makiko • Maria

Cardstock: (Natural White) Neenah, (Spring Rain, Black) Papertrey Ink, Patterned Paper: Making Memories, Stamps: (Multi-Step Mother's Cameo) Kitchen Sink Stamps, Ink: (Paris Dusk, Summer Sky) Memento, (Stormy Sky) Ranger, (Bashful Blue) SU!, Accessories: (Pearls) Zva Creative, (Ocean Seam Binding) The Cat's Pajamas, Tools: (Oval and Label Nestabilities) Spellbinders

More Fun with Avocado Arts!

Hello!! I'm here with another post as the Guest Designer at Avocado Arts! If you missed last week's post, take a look HERE.  You should remember that the Stamp of the Month for May is Thoughts and Smiles and it's been such a pleasure to work with. Today I have 2 versions of a CAS (Clean and Simple) card for you.

For both cards I used basically the same layout and the same stamps.  I used the beautiful line art daisy-like flower and for this version the Buttercup paper pad from LilyBee Designs was the inspiration for my color scheme.  The yellow-gold, gray and blue-green look so sophisticated don't you think?

I colored the flowers with Copic markers and then added some Glossy Accents to the centers. I also added some rhinestones and liquid pearls to the center of the daisy chain border stamps.  The sentiment is a combination of 2 of the sentiments included in the set.

The second version of this CAS card was made using white cardstock. I stamped the daisies on kraft cardstock and was pleased to see how nicely the yellow shows up on kraft!

The photograph is not great (bad lighting in the rain), but I hope you can still see the details.  Again, I stamped the daisy chain border stamp above the panel.  The flowers were colored with Copics and this time I added the sweet little ladybug from the set, popped up for fun!

Be sure to visit Avocado Arts website for more info about this darling set and their Stamp of the Month Club! And don't forget the Avocado Arts blog for lots of inspiration!  Thanks again to everyone at Avocado Arts for the treat of getting to play with you!!


Card #1 - Cardstock:  (Blue Bayou) SU!, (Harvest Gold) Papertrey Ink, (White) Neenah, Patterned Paper: (Buttercup) LilyBee Designs, Stamps: (Thoughts and Smiles) Avocado Arts, Ink: (Black) Memento, (Going Gray) SU!, Accessories:  (rhinestones) Kaiser, (Liquid Pearls), Copic markers, (Scalloped die) Papertrey Ink, (Corner Rounder) WRMK, (Glossy Accents) Ranger


Card #2 - Cardstock: (White) Neenah, (Dark Chocolate, Kraft) Papertrey Ink, Stamps: (Thoughts and Smiles) Avocado Arts, Ink: (Black, Rich Cocoa) Memento, Accessories: (Glossy Accents) Ranger, Corner Rounder) WRMK, Copic markers