For my amazing friend {Avery Elle}

 Hello friends,

I am up on the Avery Elle blog today sharing a card featuring the Amazing clear stamp set.  If you like the look and feel of hand-drawn calligraphy, this Amazing set is for you!

So this colorful panel began its life as a plain piece of white card stock.  I sponged and blended Avery Elle pigment inks on it and allowed it time to dry.  The ink colors I used are Daisy, Mimosa, Fizz, Raspberry, Magenta and a tiny bit of Sugar Plum. 

Once the panel was dry, I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment from Amazing with white embossing powder.  I adhered the inked panel to a Fizz card stock base from the Citrus Collection A2 Notecard set.

I also used the Amazing stamp set on the Avery Elle-Spellbinders Spring Fever Blog Hop earlier this week.  Click here to see more about this card. 

That's all for me today, but please stop by the Avery Elle blog for even more inspiration from my talented teamies!  

Take care, 

Katie  

Crafting is my Jam {Neat and Tangled}

Hello friends,

I am on the Neat and Tangled blog today sharing a card I made with the Crafting is my Jam stamp set.

This set is so much fun, and perfect for making cards for all your crafty friends who feel the same way about crafting! I stamped the sentiment on white card stock, masked it with a simple post it note and stamped the curvy line of stitches.  I added the needle through the loop of the “j” so that it looks like the sentiment is part of the stitching. 

I stamped the various images onto the panel, colored them in with Copic markers and added a bit of sparkle with a Wink of Stella clear glitter brush.  Finally, I adhered the completed panel to a black card base. 

Crafting is my Jam is available for purchase in the shop or you can score this set with any $60.00 purchase in March or April as part of the “You’re so Neat” program. 

Before I go, I would like to thank Danielle and her team for graciously having me as their guest this month.  I had a wonderful time, and I appreciate the opportunity to share some ideas using the amazing March release!  Thanks for stopping by! 

Take care, 

Katie

Painting by the Numbers {Waffle Flower Crafts + Paper Issues}

Hello friends, 

This month, Waffle Flower Crafts teamed up with the Paper Issues team for a fun series of projects. We received the February Paper Issues swag bag: 

And along with Waffle Flower's  Calendar Numbers stamp set, we created a project. 

I used the products to create a simple anniversary card for my hubby.  The Calendar Numbers stamp set is great for personalizing dates and milestones.  I stamped and heat embossed the numbers onto some of the journalling cards included with the February Swag Bag.  I trimmed the cards into squares and adhered them to a white card stock panel.  I added a few of the paper hearts also included in the swag bag and adhered the white card stock panel to a kraft card base.  I still have oodles of darling journalling cards and embellishments to use on more paper projects. 

Be sure to stop by the Paper Issues blog for even more inspiration and fun projects!

Thanks for stopping by!

Katie 

Spellbinders Spring Fever Blog Hop with Avery Elle

Hello friends, 

I am so excited to be participating in the Spellbinders Spring Fever Partner Hop today on behalf of Avery Elle. 

For my project I used the Spellbinders Die D-Lites Butterfly die along with Avery Elle’s Amazing Clear Stamp Set to create a colorful card for my daughter.  She went camping with her Girl Scout troop over the weekend, and it’s been our tradition that I tuck a handmade card in her journal so that she know we are thinking about her and looking forward to hearing about her adventures.  

The Butterfly D-Lites die is so gorgeously intricate all on it’s own, but I decided to alter it a bit by covering it with an inky wash of rainbow colors. 

To make the rainbow butterfly, I die cut the butterfly from watercolor paper and sponged on Distress Ink.  I continued adding ink with a sponge dauber until the butterfly die cut was filled in completely. 

 To soften and blend the colors, I brushed over the die cut with a wet paint brush, and I sprayed it with glimmer mist.

After allowing some time for the die cut to dry, I used foam tape to adhere the butterfly to a black card stock panel on which I had stamped and heat embossed the sentiment from the Amazing stamp set. 

I love the contrast between the black and white with the rainbow-colored butterfly.  The black and white patterned paper is from the Neutral Collection paper pad.  It’s hard to see in the pictures, but the shimmer spray adds a nice touch of sparkle too.  

Well, that's is for me today.  Be sure to stop by the Avery Elle blog for more information about the Spellbinder's Spring Fever Blog Hop and even more ideas and inspiration using Spellbinders and Avery Elle.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Katie

Live like it's Spring {Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge}

Hello friends!

It's time for another Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge.  This week is a Designer Draft challenge and here's my take. 

In place of the long banner on the sketch, I used the rainbow clouds from the Luminous Spring stamp set.  I used a stamp positioner (thank you Misti) to lengthen the rainbow to the height of my panel.  

I colored the rainbow with Copic markers- except the purple stripe.  Apparently I don't own any purple Copic markers- so I had to improvise with a Distress Marker.  And needless to say, I will need to add a purple Copic marker or two to my crafty purchase list. ;) 

After all the marker drama, I decided to stamp the sentiment in black and keep the rest of the card pretty simple.  Here's a look at the inspiration sketch: 

So, now it's your turn!  Make a card inspired by this week's sketch and link up your creation to the Paper Smooches SPARKS blog by Saturday, March 28 at 11:59 PST.  The winner of this week's challenge will receive a $30.00 gift certificate to the Paper Smooches shop!  Yay!!! 

Be sure to check out the inspiration from the other Paper Smooches SPARKS team members playing along with this week's challenge: 

Lynn Mangan

Lori Tecler
Larissa Heskett

Savannah O'Gwynn

That's all for me today!  Thanks so much for stopping by!  I can't wait to see what you create! 

Katie

Furry Friends {Avery Elle}

Hello friends, 

I am on the Avery Elle blog today with this card featuring Furry Friends stamp set and the Furry Friends Elle-ments dies. 

I cut some rectangles from the Sorbet Collection Paper pad and adhered them to a white card stock base to form a minimalist window.  I stamped the sentiment on one of the window panes.  

I made a window sill from a piece of kraft cardstock stamped with the Woodgrain pattern from Woodgrain & More stamp set. Next, I stamped and die cut the kitty, colored her in with markers, and placed her on the window sill. 

That's all for me today (for reals)!  Be sure to swing by the Avery Elle blog for even more inspiration from my awesome teamies!  

Thanks for stopping by!

Katie

Felting the Love for Dala Horses {Neat and Tangled}

Hello friends,

I am guest designing with Neat and Tangled this month, and I have been have so much fun playing with the March release.  This week, I pulled out the Dala Horse dies. I just love the Dala Horse images that Miriam designed.  The Dala Horse dies are such a great size and scale that I decided to whip up a little stuffed animal Dala Horse using a bit of felt, some ribbon and thread.

I die cut the Dala Horse shape twice from felt and stitched the layers together using white embroidery thread and a simple blanket stitch. Before stitching the animal shut completely, I paused to add some poly-fill stuffing using the blunt end of a pencil to help push the stuffing into all the nooks and crannies of the animal.  I used tacky glue to adhere the saddle and mane trimmings and stitched a loop of gingham ribbon to the horse to serve as a hanger.  A black brad serves as the horse’s eye.

I stamped the circles included in the coordinating Dala Horse stamp set with Red, Aqua and Yellow ink before adding the sentiment with black ink. I cut around the largest circle and clipped the circle tag to the project with a wooden clothes pin.  The Dala Horse looks so sweet and could be used as an ornament, for gift packaging, in baby room decor or even as a fun tag for a child’s backpack.  

I know these sweet Dala dies are out of stock currently, but if you go to the product page and click the Email Me when Available link and enter your email address, you will get a note when the dies are back in stock.  

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek! 

Katie

Five for Friday: Mod Butterfly Card {Waffle Flower Crafts)

Hello friends!  

I am on the Waffle Flower Crafts blog today talking about Butterflies.  I am all aflutter for this timeless symbol of hope and spring.  I made this card using the mod butterfly images included in the Flutter stamp set. 

I wanted to share a couple tips for making this card.  I die cut the heart using my Silhouette Portrait and to get the heart in the right spot, I created a 4" x 5.25" rectangle and then overlaid the heart.

I centered the die cut panel on the card base and traced the heart with pencil. 

Next I stamped the butterflies in rainbow colors.  

I erased the pencil lines and stamped the sentiment on the overlay before adhering the die cut card stock to the card with foam tape. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Katie

Numbered Balloons {Avery Elle}

Hello again, 

I am on the Avery Elle blog today with a little card I made using the Numbered Balloons stamp set and coordinating Elle-ments dies.  Numbered Balloons works awesome as a birthday set, but here, I used a few extra number to celebrate a graduation.  

I die cut the numbers from white cardstock, stamped the numbers with Avery Elle's pigment ink (Aquamarine, Raspberry, Fizz and Mimosa) and embossed the stamped die cuts with some clear embossing powder.  I stamped and embossed the balloon strings and adhered the balloons to the card using foam tape. The card base is from the Caribbean note card collection. 

Be sure to stop by the Avery Elle blog today for even more inspiration from my talented teamies!  

Thanks for stopping by!

Katie

Introducing Giving Tree {Neat + Tangled}

Hello, hello sweet friends and happy Friday!  

Today, all the awesome stamps and dies that we have been previewing all week are available in the Neat and Tangled store, but before you go shopping, I have one last card to share with you from this month's release.  

The set is called Giving Tree, and I made a card inspired by the Shel Silverstein book of the same name. 

The Giving Tree is one of my all time favorite books.  It's one of the first books that I read to each of my girls when they were little babies, and all these years later, I struggle to make it through the book without dissolving into tears.  Some books just touch our souls that way.

Anyway, in homage to the Giving Tree and it's shades of greens, grays and blacks, I created a monochromatic card save for a red heart enamel shape in the center of the stump.

Be sure to stop by the Neat and Tangled blog for even more inspiration from the Design Team.

Thanks for stopping by!

Katie

Introducing Meowwwww {Neat + Tangled}

Hi there friends,

Today, Danielle is introducing another addition to the March Neat and Tangled release, Meowwwww.  Designed by my crafty friend and fellow cat-lady, May Sukyong Park, Meowwwww is filled with a series of charming and mischievous feline friends.

Cats sometimes have a strange way of showing affection, and this kitty is showing her love by making a mark on her human's sheer curtains.  I stamped, colored and trimmed the kitty.  Next I cut a panel of vellum and roughed it up a bit with an craft knife and edge distresser before adhering it to my card. Finally, I stamped the Love-Meowwwww sentiment in the top right corner of the card. 

Here's another looks at the kitty- she's really doing a number on those curtains- it must be love!  

Be sure to stop by the Neat and Tangled blog today for more previews and inspiration from the Design Team.  All stamps, dies, and embellishments previewed this week, will be available for purchase on Friday, March 13 from the Neat and Tangled shop. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Katie

Floral Thinking of You Card {Take 2 Thursday}

Good morning!  

Lindsay and I are back today with another Take 2 Thursday.  This week, we are using the Simon Says Stamps March Card kit called Classic Beauty.  Using the stamp set and some of the card stock included in the kit, I came up with this: 

It's a pretty simple, quick card, but I love the color combination against the white and soft gray card stock. 

By using a combination of light and dark ink tones, I was able to layer stamps without taking the time or trouble to mask them off.  

Be sure to stop by Lindsay's blog to check out her take on this fun kit!  

Thanks for stopping by!

Katie

Dala Horse Hoop {Neat and Tangled}

Hello again,

I am guesting with Neat and Tangled this month and today Danielle is introducing Dala Horse.  Dala Horse speaks to my love of all things Scandinavian and using the set, I decided to create a little piece of home decor.

I stamped and die cut the Dala horse and colored him in with Copic markers.  I adhered the horse to a piece of patterned paper that I trimmed to fit inside an embroidery hoop.  I stamped Valkommen or "welcome" in Swedish on a banner and added a couple of the small flowers included in the set on either side of the sentiment. 

I glued the patterned paper to the embroidery hoop and tied a bow with a bit of twine.   I've got the perfect spot in mind for this sweet Dala horse.   

Well that's all for me today, but be sure to stop by the Neat and Tangled blog for even more new release previews and inspiration from the design team.  All of the products previewed this week will be available for purchase on Friday, March 13th. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Katie

Rise + Shine Card {Waffle Flower Crafts}

Hello friends,

For the better part of three months, we have been in a deep freeze in Northeast Ohio.  Subzero temperatures, arctic wind chills, epic snowfalls, and seven (7) calamity days (no school for the kiddos).  I haven't seen my lawn since late December and my lllooonngg driveway could double as a hockey rink.

All that's about to change, thankfully.  The spring thaw has begun, so I wanted to make a card in celebration of all things bright and sunny using Waffle Flower Craft's Rain Check stamp set and the Partly Cloudy die.

I covered a card with blue patterned paper and stamps the sun rays onto white card stock. 

TIP: For the gingham rays, I stamped the rays with a light colored pigment ink on the back of the patterned paper and trimmed them out. 

I adhered the rays to the card and added a yellow card stock circle cut with the Flower Circles die set. I just love the dotted detail on the Flower Circle die set. 

I stamped and die cut the clouds and stamped the sentiment on the clouds.  I adhered them to the card with a bit of foam tape. 

I am sooo ready for spring and I hope we see lots of bright, sunshiny days ahead!

Thanks for stopping by!

Katie

Easter Treat Bags {Avery Elle}

Hello again, :)

I am over on the Avery Elle blog today with some Easter Treat bags I made using Avery Elle's Treat Topper die and the Easter Blessing stamp set.

I die cut the Treat Toppers from Pixie and Sea Glass card stock and I used the Easter Blessing stamp set to stamp a tone on tone background using the coordinating Pixie and Sea Glass pigment ink.  I adhered the treat toppers to clear bags that I filled with a bit of Easter grass and some yummy candy. 

I die cut the label included in the Custom Panel Elle-ments set and stamped it in Fog ink and adhered it to the bags.  Here's a closer look at the toppers...

These will make perfect treats for my preschool Sunday School class.  Now I just have to hide them someplace safe so that they make it to Easter!  

Be sure to stop by the Avery Elle blog for even more inspiration! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Katie

Celebrate Card {Neat and Tangled}

Hello friends, 

I am so excited to be teaming up with Neat and Tangled this month as their guest designer!  I will be joining the team next week for some of the March release introductions and throughout the remainder of the month with more projects and inspiration. 

My first card for this month is up on the Neat and Tangled blog today.  It features the Just for You stamp set and Gifts for You stamp set. 

I'd love for you to stop over and take a peek!  

Thanks for stopping in! 

Katie

Throw Back Thursday: Thanks A Bunch {Avery Elle}

Hello friends, 

It's Throwback Thursday on the Avery Elle blog and today we are featuring the Thanks A Bunch stamp set.    Thanks A Bunch is a two-step bouquet stamp set and I imagined my card as someone giving this lovely bouquet to a cherished recipient.  

I die cut a panel using the Pinked Elle-ments rectangle and stamped the bouquet with Strawberry, Mimosa, Lemongrass, and Celery ink.  Next I trimmed a strip of patterned paper from The Zen Patterned Paper Pad and adhered it to the card.  Another pinked rectangle makes the sleeve cuff. I couldn't figure out how to fashion a hand from card stock, so I hid it with the tag included in the stamp set.  

Be sure to stop by the Avery Elle blog for even more inspiration using this set.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Katie

Sorry I forgot your birthday {Paper Smooches SPARKS}

Hello friends,

I hope you are having a great weekend!  I am popping in this morning with a card I created for the latest Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge.  This week ANYTHING GOES and here's what I made...

Do you ever have trouble getting birthday cards to their intended recipients in a timely manner?  I sure do and that's just one of the reasons that I just adore the sentiments included in the Happy Birthday stamp set.   I stamped a pair of the sentiments on a journaling card and added the Party Hamster using the Party Posse stamp set and Posse Icon Dies.  I stamped the aqua card stock with the Dippy Dots background stamp for a fun party backdrop. 

So, now it's your turn!  Make anything you like using Paper Smooches Stamps and link up your creation to the Paper Smooches SPARKS blog by Saturday, March 7 at 11:59 PST.  The winner of this week's challenge will receive a $30.00 gift certificate to the Paper Smooches shop!  Yay!!! 

Be sure to check out the inspiration from the other Paper Smooches SPARKS team members playing along with this week's challenge: 

Lynn Mangan

Lori Tecler
Larissa Heskett

Savannah O'Gwynn

That's all for me today!  Thanks so much for stopping by!  I can't wait to see what you create! 

Katie