Skipping Stones Design Sketch 117

Hello!

Today begins another sketch challenge at Skipping Stones Design!  This is our final sketch for February provided by Kazan Clark.  I am especially excited to show you my card today because it's a little sneak peek of a gorgeous set that will be released next month.

This beautiful set is aptly named Beautiful Botanicals and it will be available for purchase on March 12.  It is a follow up of sorts to the very popular Dandelion Dreams and the sets complement each other so well- but more on that later. 

For my card today, I inked the large floral image with a light pink ink and followed up with a few pounces of dark pink ink to give it more interest.  I stamped the sentiment in black and matted the stamped image on a piece of yellow cardstock.  I added a piece of doily, some pink pleated ribbon and buttons before adhering all the bits and pieces to a kraft card based covered with pretty yellow paper from the October Afternoon Sidewalks collection. 

Here is a close up of the sentiment and ribbon: 

And here is the sketch the team is working with today:

Wanna give this sketch a whirl?  Link your take on this sketch to today's Skipping Stones blog post for a chance to win a free stamp set of your choice!  Our rules are pretty simple- no more than 5 combined challenges and we need to be able to see the sketch- but feel free to flip it or change it up to let your creativity shine through!!!  New to Skipping Stones?  You don't even have to use our sets to play along, but we sure love it when you do!!!

Be sure to check out the other DT gals and our guests and their amazing cards this week!

Thanks for stopping by!
Katie

Skipping Stones+ CAS-ual Fridays= Too Much Fun!

Hello friends!

Just wanted to let you know that Skipping Stones Design is sponsoring this week's Cas-ual Fridays challenge!

Play along with this week's challenge for a chance to win a fabulous prize from Skipping Stones Design. Just link your new Clean and Simple creation to the CAS-ual Friday's blog for a chance to win! Deadline is Wednesday, Feb 29 at 11:59 EST.

The Girl Fridays did an AMAZING job showcasing some very funny cards, but I couldn't resist playing along too! 

This sentiment totally cracks me up because it's so true- at least for one of my kitties.  We have a little cat we took in a few years ago and sadly after almost 3 years, he is more attached to the other kitties than he is to any if us humans sharing his living quarters.  I know Rocco thinks of me as his warden evidenced by him leaving whatever room I enter. This sentiment, from Skipping Stones Sassy Cats set, just puts a smile on my face!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great weekend!

Katie

Want to Cuddle?

Hello friends!

I am finally getting around to posting a card I created for the Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge.  I used Party Pals, Vogue Abode and Smoocheros to create this little number.

I first stamped the rug from Vogue Abode to create a little spotlight for this adorable hamster that I stamped and trimmed out after coloring the little guy pink with Copics.  I stamped the sentiment onto a word bubble sticker that I picked up from Hobby Lobby, and can I just say that word bubbles are like the most fun ever?

The patterned papers are from KI Memories new Valentine's Day collection and I added a few more die cut heart as a finishing touch.

Here is a close up of the focal point.

Below is the inspiration photo for this challenge.

I was definitely inspired by the hearts and the fun and cute style.  I also incorporated a bit of pinking edging in my heart patterned paper.

I was also inspired to make this card to give to my hubby.  Today is our 11 year wedding anniversary.  To celebrate, our 7 year old made dinner (crunchy scrambled eggs and toast, anyone?) and the girls "put on a show" while we dined at the dining room table on breakfast for dinner.  I just wanted to say, Happy Anniversary Jason and thank you to my girls for such a lovely evening!

Here are a couple pictures of Jason and me on our wedding day in Florence Italy.

Thanks for indulging me in a bit of family nostalgia and thanks for stopping by!  Have a great evening!

Katie

Skipping Stones Design Sketch #116

Hello friends and happy Tuesday!

Just popping in today to share a card I created based on this week's sketch at Skipping Stones Design.

Here is my card:

Tweet Birdie Card

I used many of the images from Garden Stamp Kiss (Feb Set of the Month) to create my card.  First I stamped the text image repeatedly on a piece of rustic cream cardstock.  I then masked off the top 2/3rd of the card and stamped the flowers and polka dots.  For the birdie image, I inked the bird in yellow inked and kissed it with the polka dots ink hot pink ink then stamped the kissed image on a doily.  The sentiment is from the upcoming Heartsong 2 set.

Lastly I added some more dots and circles in the top corner of the card.  A bit of ribbon where the masking took place and a button and bow finish off the stamped panel.  I then adhered the completed panel to a piece of patterned paper from the stash and taped the card front to a card base of kraft cardstock.

Here is another look at this week's sketch:

Create a card based on this week's sketch and share it with us at Skipping Stones Design for your chance to win a free stamp set!

Hope you find some inspiration is what I have shared today.  Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Katie

Tuesday Trigger: Chiclectic

Hello friends-

Found a spare moment this afternoon to create a card for this week's Tuesday Trigger challenge that Cath is hosting over Moxie Fab World.

Here is my card:

I stamped bands on cardstock with various background stamps from the stash.  The diamonds and lines and dots are from Papertrey Ink's Bakground Basic Retro and the bottom panel is Harvest Berries stamped in Raspberry Fizz on Orange Zest.

And here is the awesome inspiration photo:

I was inspired by that patterns and colors to create my card.  What struck most about the inspiration photo is how all the different patterns and styles (geometric, toile, modern, ornate) all came together effortlessly to create one chic space.  I tried to capture the feel of the inspiration photo in my card by combining bands of stamped and patterned cardstock to capture a similar look. As a nod to the framed smooch print on the wall  and the ornate bedframe, I stamped a frame and adhered to my card and layered a glittery sticker sentiment over top.

Hope you like my take on this week's trigger- there is still time to play along- just link up your take on the trigger by Sunday night at midnight!

Thanks for stopping by!

Katie

Fairy Party Invitation

Hello again friends!

So with a paper-crafting, shutterbug jumkie mama in the roost, birthdays are kind of a big deal at the Gehring household.  I start planning months in advance, create elaborate themes and invitations and really try to make the event a special celebration for each birthday princess.  In years past, we have tackled themes from Toy Story to Ballet, Teddy Bear Picnics to Kiddie Cruise Ins and many stops in between.

This year, Sophie has requested a fairy party.  (Keep in mind that she is only 4 and her birthday is not until September, so this could change....) Fairy party, I like, and moreover, I have the perfect stamp sets already in my stash!  Being of the mindset that it is never too early to start planning,  I created this little prototype:

The beautiful fairy silhouette is from The Craft's Meow Butterfly Kisses set.  I paired it with a dandelion seed stamp from Skipping Stones Dandelion Dreams set. I printed the invitation on white cardstock and stamped the images.  I carefully trimmed around the text box and matted the invitation to a piece of green cardstock.  The finished invitation size is 5x7 and with the exception of a small gem that I couldn't resist adding to the "i" in Sophie, it's completely flat and totally mail-able.

As for decor and food, I am thinking something along these lines:

via Pinterest

I just love the butterflies and those bright saturated pinks, oranges, yellows and greens.

Then there is also this scrumptious fete:

via Pinterest

That little party goer is certainly enjoying some tasty treat.  I an thinking of setting up a table and chairs for Sophie and her little girlfriends outside under our large pin oak tree.  The leaves will provide a nice canopy, and the branches are low enough that I can hang lanterns or pom-poms from them.

Of course, this is all months away (as I look out on the 8"+ of snow that blanketed our home this weekend), but in these dreary winter months, it is fun to look forward and plan for celebrations to come!

Have a splendid Wednesday, friends!  Thank you for stopping by!

Katie

Introducing Sassy Cats from Skipping Stones Design!

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday! 

Welcome to Sketch Challenge 115 and the release of Sassy Cats 2! If you just came from JoAnn's blog, you are in the right place. If you just happened along my blog today, start at the beginning of the hop at Skipping Stones Design. The entire hop order is there and you can hop from blog to blog with ease.

Well, due to my recent travel schedule, I do have a card to share showcasing Sassy Cats, but it does not follow the sketch.  Sorry Kazan! 

Sassy Cats is one of those hilarious sets that Skipping Stones is famous for!  I couldn't resist using this kitty image paired with one of the many funny sentiments included in this set.   You see, I have always been told by my helpful friends and family that if you have to ask, that's your answer (LOL)!!  

I stamped the rear facing kitty on white cardstock with black Memento ink and colored him in with Copics.  I then drew a frame with some zig-zags around the image and mounted in to a chartreuse rectangle. I stamped the sentiment on a word bubble sticker from the Paper Studio and adhered it to the card.  The arrow is a piece of chipboard that I covered in cardstock and also added a hand drawn border. The patterned paper is from KI Memories.The completed card front was then adhered to a card base on kraft cardstock. 


Here's another look: 

  

If you would like to play along with this week's sketch challenge (and who wouldn't love to win some free stamps??), just upload your take on this week's sketch to the Skipping Stones blog.  Here is the sketch to use for this week's challenge:

Also, Skipping Stones Tweetheart Sale has been extended another week to accommodate the release of Sassy Cats. Here's how it works.  Buy any 3 stamp sets and get Heartsong 2 for FREE. Heartsong 2 won't be available for purchase until April, so this is your opportunity to be one of the very first to get your hands on what is sure to be another best-selling set! Here's a peek: 

The sale is being extended for one more week only, so don't delay and order today!

Be sure to hop along and leave comments on all the fabulous designers’ blogs. This month we are welcoming Cyndi Bundy and Barb Turpin to our team as Guest Designers!  Kazan Clark  will be providing all the fabulous sketch inspiration this month including the sketch we're using in today's hop!


Thanks for stopping by!!  Have a great day!


Katie

This one is for my girls

Hello-

I have been having a cozy sort of day getting settled back into everyday life and remembering our recent vacation.  I thought I'd share a photo of the girls + Snow White at Cinderella's Royal Table.  The girls had just been Bibbidi Bobbidi'ed at the castle boutique, so they are looking a bit like extras from Toddlers and Tiaras. Check out Paige with the fabulous weave! Sophie looks so sweet in her ballerina bun and Tiana dress (which was the least itchy dress in her opinion, ergo the one we purchased). The girls were sprinkled with pixie dust by their fairy godmothers and loved every minute of it.  That is what is important, right?

And I have some words of advice that I would like to share with my girls and all the princesses of the world (and their Queen Mums)....

 via Pinterest

Have a great evening!

Katie

Pinterest Project- Celebration of the Cityscape

Hello friends!

I know it's been a little quiet on the blog front, but for good reason.  The family and I just returned from a 7 vacation at Walt Disney World in Florida.  It was, sigh, magical! I will have some photos to share on the blog soon!

As I have been getting settled in and caught up with some life stuff, I came across a very cool print that I had pinned to Pinterest a few weeks ago and decided that last night was as good as any to create a card based on this inspiration print:

via Pinterest

And using one of my newer sets from The Crafts Meow, I came up with this card:

Celebrate- City Style

On dark gray cardstock, I embossed the cityscape image from the Happy New Year set in Mustard Zing embossing powder and the fireworks in Teal embossing powder. Below the dark gray cardstock, I added a strip of light gray cardstock that I stamped with PTI's Background Basics Circles in yellow ink.  I added the sentiment from one of the Fillable Frames sets in black and accented the sentiment with a turquoise gem. I added some ribbon in Hawaiian Shores where the two colors of cardstock meet and adhere the finished panel to a card base made from the light gray cardstock.

I hope you find some inspiration in the card and print I shared today.  I will be popping by later in the week with some more fun things to share- like the release of Skipping Stones newest set- Sassy Cats and a sweet party invitation inspired by another image from Pinterest.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!

Katie

Skipping Stones Sketch #114

Hello!

Welcome to the first sketch challenge of February!   Here is my card:

I used Heartsong and Timeless Textures to create this little card.  The papers are from My Mind's Eye and the felt flower is from Maya Road. 

Here is a closer look at the focal image: 

What to win a FREE Skipping Stones set?  Upload your version of this week's sketch to the Skipping Stones blog for a chance to win!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great week!

Katie