Graphic 45 Under the Sea mermaid card

Hello Crafty Friends.

My blog posts have been spotty as of late as not only because summer has been calling my name, but recently I switched craft room locations in my home.  My previous craftroom was in the "nursery" in our home.  It was a cute and cozy room that I enjoyed for several years.  But as time went on and my crafty supplies increased, I began to realize that it was too small to work well.  Many times I would craft on a small space on my floor due to lack of workspace.  Yes, I did several purges in the past year but I still lacked the room.  Last weekend I finally decided to switch the craftroom with the spare bedroom.  The process took over a day to do (in between walking the dog, running errands, etc) and now almost all papercrafting items are in the new room.  After the big move, my hubby and I went into the old craft room.  He asked what I thought we should do with the room.  I suggested to make it a walk in closet (it is not large enough to have a small bed for guests).  His response: "Hmm...I don't think we really need one.  How about you keep this room as extra storage for your craft supplies?"  Is it just me or is that just the sweetest thing to say?  My hubby really is a sweetie and I love how he supports my crafty passions.  (You are the best!)

Now that I am in my new space, my crafty juices have been flowing.  Since last weekend I have made five cards and a scrapbook layout!  The room is my new happy space and I hope you enjoy seeing the projects that will be created in that space.  One project I completed yesterday was a birthday card for a crafty friend of mine...

The card was created using Graphic 45's Voyage Under the Sea.  Oh my, what gorgeous and colorful papers!  The patterned pages provided many images to fussy cut

Impression Obsession's Shell Set dies were used to provide even more underwater embellishments.

The starfish die cut was left in the die and Imagine Crafts' Creative Medium in Iridescent Green (mixed with a drop of Peeled Paint Reinker) was applied.  The remaining amount of medium was lightly applied to the sea shell (see photo above).

After the layout was assembled, it was lightly spritzed with gold shimmer.  After drying, Stickles was applied to various areas such as the mermaid's hair.

The inside had more pretty patterned paper.  ECD's Stitched Rectangle die was used to create a space for writing.

The Voyage Under the Sea papers are stunning...and I think I will need to purchase another pad as I know the current pad will definitely be used!  Luckily there is space in my new craftroom for another pad.  :)

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

This card is entered into the following challenges:
MOJO Monday, Sketch 455
613 Avenue Create, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG
My Sheri Crafts, Beach or Seaside

Winter Birdie Holiday card using Cheery Lynn dies

Hello Crafters!

Can you believe that Christmas is just a couple of weeks away?  Time is flying by.  We are slowly finishing off our Christmas list and I am finishing up the Christmas cards.  'Tis the season to be busy!

For the first time I purchased the set of Christmas Song stickers from Penny Black.  This set had different winter scenes and I thought they would be neat to try on card fronts.  The card today used a sweet red bird on festive branch.

First I stamped blue card card stock with IO's Cover a Card Woodgrain and green card stock with a Hero Arts background stamp (S5501).  They were trimmed with gold and mounted on a Kraft card base.  Cheery Lynn's Sophia's Heart doily die cut ivory card stock.

The bird scene was mounted on card stock and fussy cut. Gold trim applied.  Stickles was applied to the snowflake, berries and leaves.  A wood button was placed on top of Cheery Lynn's Pine Branches.

The lovely red die cut is Cheery Lynn's Southern Charm Valance.

Pearls were placed on corners and the card was complete.  

I have made a few other cards using the sticker set which I will share later this week.  

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 challenges:
ScrapyLand, AG
Cheery Lynn, Red and Green
613 Ave Create, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG
Simon Says Stamp Monday, Stamp it

Thanks card

Hello All!

Today I am sharing a card using the theme suggested by the Kraft Journal Challenge this week: Nature.  

The card base was made with ivory card stock.  Impression Obsessions Swirl Tree die was used to die cut Kraft card stock.  Martha Stewart's butterflies punch was used to die cut scrap green patterned paper.  Tim Holtz's Alternations embossing folder was used on scrap green card stock and Lime Green Stickles applied.

The inside contains a Kraft die cut (Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles Two).  Quietfire's new Thanks stamp was applied using Distress Ink in Peeled Paint.  (Probably my favorite Distress color...such a great color!)

I do hope you liked the card!  It was nice to make a happy summer card...makes me look forward to summer.  BTW, we still have snow on the ground here.  Isn't that nuts?  I can't wait until it melts and my tulips start to emerge!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a great day!

Hugs,

Kathy Jo

Cheer grunge Christmas card

Hello Crafters!

How is your weekend thus far?  I hope your weekend has been fun, with perfect Christmas gifts purchased and perhaps some crafty time squeezed in!  My weekend has been good: yesterday I went with my sister-in-law and my cute as a button niece and nephew to see the new Penguins of Madagascar movie.  Afterwards we had lunch and discussed important topics such as the upcoming school Christmas concert, what they wrote to Santa, and how my nephew wished he could wear his Santa hat to kindergarten.   They really are the sweetest little kids.  Hearing them discuss Christmas, seeing the sparkle in their eyes and the grins on their faces makes my heart smile.

Today I would like to share a grunge card I made last week.  The card was started when I purchased the Tim Holtz Holiday Flashcards set:

My friend, Rebecca, was with me when I found it at Carsand Mosher.  I thought it was so cool and she said she would like to see what I could make with it.  Challenge accepted.  ;)

The base was made with corrugated board (yes, I am addicted to it) and it was stained with Peeled Paint and Vintage Photo.  Next, Kaisercraft paper (Twig & Berry) was cut to size and distressed with my Zutter.  White paper was stained using Barn Door then dry embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder.  The embossed paper and the Cheer flash card were distressed using Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo and Antique Linen.  Next was the bell:

The bell was too fun to make.  (And yes, I am also addicted to crackle.)  Card board was die cut using Sizzix' Bigs Die "Christmas Bells, stained, clear crackle applied and then stained again.  Seam binding (thanks, Janice!) was used to make the double bow.  Impression Obsession die "Pine Sprig Cluster" provided the bow bling.

This card was a good excuse to play with ink, crackle and corrugation...but really, who needs an excuse to craft?  :)

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a good Sunday.
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create, AG
Sister Act, AG
TTCRD, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG

Lace and Kraft Valentine's Day Card

Happy Thursday!

How is your New Year thus far?  I hope great! 

This week the Kraft Journal challenge is "Lace it up" and one of the sponsors at Word Art Wednesday is the Kraft Journal...woo-who!  For those of you that have followed my blog for a while, you probably have noticed that I enjoy working with Kraft paper.  Having two chances in one week to participate in a challenge for a gift card from Kraft Journal is a great week!  :)

Instead of using lace ribbon on my card I decided to use my new Cover A Card Rose Lace Stamp on Kraft paper.  (Thanks to my blogging buddy, Shona, for telling me about the Impression Obsession Cover A Card stamps!)  After heat embossing with clear ink and powder, I applied Tim Holtz Picket Fence white stain over the image.  The stain dried and I wiped the stain off of the embossed image with a moist cloth.  The heart with wings was highlighted with TH Barn Door marker and Stickles.

The inside is a stamped sentiment from JustRite (Samantha Walker's For All You Do stamp set). Isn't it just a heartwarming sentiment?

Thanks so much for stopping by! 
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
The Kraft Journal, Lace it up
Word Art Wednesday, AG
613 Avenue, AG
Totally Gorjuss, Ribbon
Shopping Our Stash, Use something new (background stamp)
Love to Scrap, AG with stamp
2 Creative Chicks, AG
Simply Create Too, AG
Sister Act, AG
3 Girl Jam, AG with Ribbon
Allsorts Challenge Blog, Free and Easy

Product used: Kraft paper, burgundy paper (Recollections), Cover A Card Rose Lace Stamp (Impression Obsession), Inside sentiment (JustRite For All You Do), Tim Holtz (Bard Door marker, Picket Fence Stain), VersaMark watermark pad, Brilliance Pearlescent Poppy, Stickles, Ribbon, crafty enjoyment

Crafting Musketeers Challenge #9- Grunge

Happy 2014!

It is the first Crafting Musketeers challenge for 2014: Grunge!  I so enjoy doing the grunge style.  Ripping paper edges and playing with my Tim Holtz distress goodies is a blast.  My hands are always covered in ink afterwards. (Ink covered hands- what I think should be the international symbol for Tim Holtz.)  

For the grunge card I decided to go a little inspirational with every one starting their New Year's resolutions. To make it look like a weathered poster, I flicked water on it.  

The tab off to the side states "the journey is the destination".

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope to see your grunge project at Crafting Musketeers!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
613 Avenue, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG
TTCRD, AG

Products used: 
Impression Obsession cover-a-card stamps (distressed brick, small paisley), Tim Holtz clear stamps (Phrases 1, Here and There, City Central), Tim Holtz ink pads (Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, Fired Brick), TH Distress Stains (Antique Linen, Faded Jeans, Barn Door), TH Distress Powder (Fired Brick*), TH Distress Markers (Barn Door, Faded Jeans), Stickles, Crafty Love  :)
  * Note that when using the Fired Brick Distress powder: tape will not stick to it.  I used Weldbond glue to mount the papers to the background.