Tutorial: Botanical Edging Technique

Hello Crafty Friends!

How is your day going?  I hope great!  Are you enjoying a little down time to check out some crafty projects and possibly learn some new techniques?  If you are, today is my day to post at Quietfire Creations and I am providing a tutorial on a Botanical Edging Technique.  This technique was used to create the mixed media project posted shared a couple of weeks ago:

And also on the card shown below:

I had so much fun making it that I had to share the steps I used in making the edging.  Plus, it was a perfect excuse to play with inks and stamps again!  Feel free to hop on over to Quietfire Creations and check out the tutorial.

Thanks for stopping by and have a happy, crafty day!
Big Hugs,
Kathy Jo

Wee "Man's Best Friend" card

Hello Crafty Friends!

As many of you may know, our household is full of furry family members: three kitties (Pepper, Ginger and Nico) and our big boy, Teddy.  The furries tend to follow my in my craft room and hang out while I work on a project.  The kitties find a spot on a shelf or table while Teddy plops right in the middle of the floor.  He is such a good crafty partner and critic.  When I complete a project I show it to him, he gives it a sniff and offers no complaints or criticism.  Below is a pic of the Tedster in his usual craft room sleeping spot...he is such a good boy!

Last week I realized that since Teddy is my crafty partner, that he should "make" a project to give to his BFF: my husband.  Sure, I did most of the work on it (ok, all of it) but it was definitely from Teddy.

The stamp is from the oh-so-cute Penny Black stamp set, Man's Best Friend.  It was stamped onto colored pencil paper, colored (Prismacolor pencils) and gamsoled.  The bowl and the dog tag had Glossy Accents applied.

The image and colored paper were die cut using Elizabeth Craft Designs' Dotted Scalloped Squares die set.

Greg was very surprised and happy to see the wee card from Teddy.  Sometimes it is just nice to know that your BFF is thinking of you for no special occasion.

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a happy, crafty day!
Big Hugs,
Kathy Jo

"We are never so lost that our Angel cannot find us"

Hello Crafty Friends!

How is everything in your crafty world?  Have you worked on any new projects?  Even though summer is in full swing, I find that crafters always find time to squeeze in some crafty time during the summer days.  Feel free to leave a link to your newest project in the comment section below and I will make sure to leave some love on your post.  :)

The card I am sharing today was started last fall, I lost my mojo halfway through making it, then I put it aside and it was lost in the craft room until earlier this week.  After seeing it again, the mojo returned and the card was finished.  The card used a sweet stamp from Quietfire Design, "We are never so lost":

It was stamped using Distress Ink in Faded Jeans.  The dies are Spellbinders Exquisite Labels 11 and 5x7 Heirloom Legacy.  Brushed Corduroy and Faded Jeans Distress Inks were used on the die cuts.   The flowers were from my stash and the crinkle ribbon  is also from Quietfire Design.

Isn't it funny how crafting works?  We step away from a project for an hour, month, or season and then can finish the project without issue.  I guess this card just needed time to "think".  :)

Thank you for stopping by!  Have a happy, crafty day!
Big Hugs,
Kathy Jo

Crazy Dog Tim Holtz birthday card

Hello Crafty Friends!

It is a gorgeous day here in beautiful Nova Scotia.  The birds are chirping, butterflies fluttering and the squirrels...well...acting squirrel-y.  This morning we took our Saint Bernard, Teddy, for a nice walk at the Shubie dog park.  He saw many of his "friends"  and took numerous dips in the lake.  It was a good day for the Tedster.  Just look at the face below- he looks very happy.  :)  

The walk with Teddy today reminded me that I needed to post the card I made for my dad's birthday.  It used Tim Holtz (Stampers Anonymous) Crazy Dogs stamp and die set.  The patterned papers are also from Tim Holtz.

Below is a close-up of the birthday dog.  He was stamped onto colored pencil paper and colored using Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol.  Stickles was applied to his hat.  Glossy accents was used on his eyes, balloons and the bone.

The dogs are perfect for masculine and feminine cards.  I may also use them for Teddy scrapbook pages.  :)

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you are having a happy, crafty day!

Big Hugs,

Kathy Jo

Cheerful "Happy Birthday" mixed media card

Hello Crafty Friends!

Don't you just love it when you start playing with crafty supplies and the next thing you know you are finishing up a project you never planned on making?  That happened when I was playing in my craft room with Wendy Vecchi's Stamp it- Stencil it Bouquet set.  The crafty time started with a stamp/stencil set and ended up with a cheerful birthday card.

The image was stamped on watercolor paper in Jet Black Archival Ink and colored using Tim Holtz' Distress Markers.  Clear gloss gel was dyed using Festive Berries Distress Reinker and applied to the stencil.  After drying, Elizabeth Craft Designs' Prills were glued to the flower centers.

Quietfire Designs' Happy Birthday was stamped onto more watercolor paper, cut to size and mounted on red corrugated board.

Authentique's Cheerful papers were die cut using Memory Box's Stitched Rectangles dies to create a happy frame and background.  

The card is so cheerful with the bright, summery colors and different textures.  Fun to make, easy to reproduce and to mail!  Yay!

Thanks for stopping by!  I do hope you enjoyed the cheerful birthday card.
Big Hugs,
Kathy Jo

"The Music in my heart"

Hello Crafty Friends!

Today is my day to post at Quietfire Creations and I created a card using the newly released stamp: The music in my heart.

I cannot help but think of my mom after reading this stamp as she used to love to sing and play a guitar.  Even though I cannot hear her music anymore, I have the fondest memories of her music.  The stamp would be perfect on a scrapbook page of her.  Also, it would be great on a card to send to a friend to let them know you are thinking of them or a happy moment shared together.

To obtain more details and instructions on the card, feel free to hop on over to Quietfire Creations.

Thank for stopping by.  I do hope you enjoyed the card!

May you always have beautiful music long after it was heard no more.
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

"I Ruff You" Fur-ever

Hello Crafty Friends!

Last Sunday my sweet hubby and I celebrated our 10th anniversary.  Wow- time has flown by!  We both cannot believe it has been 10 years.  I guess time passing quickly is what happens when you marry not only your love but your best friend.  

His anniversary card needed to be something that represents us and Art Impressions Fur-ever hug stamp set was perfect.  Every time I see that stamp I smile because it is so cute.  It was stamped on watercolor paper and colored using Tim Holtz Distress Markers.  After drying, it was die cut using Memory Box's Stitched Squares dies.  The patterned paper is from Graphic 45's Artisan Style collection.

The inside is stamped "I Ruff You" (from Tim Holtz' Crazy Dogs).

He really liked the card...especially when I pointed out that I thought I was the cat and he the dog.  :)

Thanks for stopping by!  I do hope you enjoyed the card.
Have a happy, crafty day.
Big Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenge:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, AG

"Wishing you sunshine and puppies"

Hello Crafty Friends!

Last week I shared a mixed media project using the newly released Quietfire Design Whimsy stamp set and the Paw Prints stencil.  I could not put the new goodies away without making another project with them.  This time I created a clean and simple card.  

The paws stencil was used with Distress Inks (Festive Berries, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Broken China and Wilted Violet).  It was die cut using Elizabeth Craft Designs' Stitched Rectangles die.  Next, Wishing you was stamped onto white card stock, die cut using Cheery Lynn's Banner Die and inked using Broken China. 

The inside of the card was stamped with "Sunshine & Puppies" and die cut with another ECD Stitched Rectangle die.  Isn't "Sunshine & Puppies" so cute?  Who wouldn't like the wish of a day filled with sunshine and puppies?  :)  

The card was put together in a flash and the result was a happy card to give to a friend.  

Thanks for stopping by!  I do hope you enjoyed the card and that you have a happy, crafty day.

Big Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenge:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, AG

GIVEAWAY!! Last day to enter!

Hello Crafty Friends!

Just a reminder that today is the last day to participate in the Quietfire Quick Fx Stencil Blog Hop!  All blog posts are located on the Quietfire Creations blog...easy peesy to leave comments.  

Here is a list of all of the posts:

• Suzanne  on Sunday May 28th
• Yogi, Yvonne on Monday May 29
• Teresa on Tuesday May 30
• Robyn on Wednesday May 31
• Wanda, Diana on Thursday June 1
• Kathy Jo (that's me!) on Friday June 2

A new release stamp set will be given to a randomly drawn comment on each post and there is a Grand Prize winner that will win all of the stencils!  

Hop on over to Quietfire Creations to leave your comments and enter in the giveaways.  

Good Luck!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

Quietfire Quick Fx Stencil Blog Hop- Sunshine & Puppies Mixed Media

Hello Crafty Friends!

Have you heard the news?  Quietfire Design is doing a blog hop this week.  There are many prizes: newly released stamp sets and a grand prize winner will win the entire new release of stencils!  Woo-whoooo!

My Blog Hop project was a 12x12 mixed media layout.  You will have to hop to the blog post to see all of the project details...but below is a close up snippet of the new paw prints stencil and stamp set:

So, hop on over for your chance to win!  Good luck! 

Have a happy, crafty day!
Big Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This project is entered into the following challenge:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, AG