Shabby Sweet Friend card

Hello All!

Went a little out of my usual style to make a pastel shabby chic type card.  It was fun to do...I may have to make another one soon!

The card layout is based on the sketch at Cardabilities.  Colors chosen to fit JustRite challenge Spring Cheer.  The card base is corrugated board (by Reflections) and I applied Tim Holtz Picket Fence stain along the edges for a soft white washed look.  The layered papers (My Mind's Eye, In Bloom...stashed for a little while now!) were all distressed with a nail file and Picket Fence applied at will.  :)

The sentiment "Sweet Friend" (JustRite's Grand Sentiments) was stamped in the corner and three pale yellow gems were added.  The lovely flourish under the flowers is the flourish from Spellbinders Venetian Motifs.

The inside is more shabbied In Bloom paper.  The sentiment and border (Grand Sentiments again) was die cut using Spellbinders Resplendent Rectangles.  Bling applied around the sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you all have a bright and happy week!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
JustRite, Spring Cheer
Cardabilities, sketch
Eureka Stamps, AG
Crafting by Design, Spring
Inspired by Stamping, Flowers
Card Making Mamas, Stack it
Love to Create, Recipe
My Sheri Crafts, Bling
Crafty Hazelnut, Patterned paper on base
Word Art Wednesday, AG
TTCRD, AG
613 Avenue Create, AG (used my In Bloom stashed paper)
Sister Act, AG

Kraft Journal Sketch Challenge card

Hello!

A quick post showing a card for the current challenge at the Kraft Journal- a sketch.

The base was made using Kraft card stock, die cut with Spellbinders Timeless Rectangles.  Paper from The Romantic Garden mini pad (Meg's Garden) was applied to the base.  Three strips of sheer ribbon was assembled.  Spellbinders D-Lites Medallion One die was used to cut white card stock.  JustRite's Vintage Label and Banner Dies was used to cut the mini Kraft card stock banner with the white embossed sentiment "Thanks" from JR's Grateful Heart Vintage Labels Two stamp set.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Have a great week!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the Kraft Journal Sketch challenge and Word Art Wednesday, AG.

Blue Butterflies

Happy Sunday, All!

I am so enjoying seeing the happy spring cards that are popping up in the blogosphere.   The spring challenges are starting to bloom. :)

The card I am sharing today should help continue those thoughts of spring and summer.  The butterfly background is a new purchase from a Canadian company called Chapel Road Artstamps, a division of Class Act Inc.  A local crafty store, Carsand Mosher, is starting to carry them and I am loving their stamps!  To spread the word of this new company, I thought I would make a card to enter into several challenges.

The background was stamped and heat embossed using Versafine's Majestic Blue.  The background was assembled to a card base made from Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles.  Spellbinders Decorative labels Twenty Eight was assembled next.  White card stock was embossed using Crafts-Too embossing folder Vintage Flowers.  Stickles was applied to the raised areas as shown.  I fussy cut a flower from the Chapel Road Butterfly Background stamp, applied stickles and adhered.  Next was Colleen's Double Bow.  On top of the bow is a hoarded flower.  This flower came from a bag of flowers a friend gave to me in 2006!  She gave the flowers to me before she moved and I very rarely use any of the flowers.  (Miss you Andria!)

Hope the card made you think of spring!
Thanks so much for stopping by!  
Have a great week.
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
Craft Boarders Anonymous, Blues
Class Act Inc, Spring
Craftin Desert Divas, Glitter
Inspired by Stamping, Flowers
Die Cut Divas, Emboss
613 Avenue, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG
Sister Act, AG
Challenges 4 Everybody, AG
Card Concept, Floral: classy and elegant

Crafting Musketeers Challenge #11- Art Deco

Hello Crafteteers!

A new month means a new challenge at Crafting Musketeers: Art Deco!  I bet there will be many glamorous, lavish, gorgeous and architectural designed projects submitted this month.  What a glorious age and style- Art Deco!

Before I get onto the card details I just want to note that it has been a week (gasp!) since my last post.  During this week I have tried three new techniques or tools.  My card today is using one of them- my Cricut.  I have had this machine for two years and used it to cut out the word ("Thanks") to give to my husband.  Six months later I took a class and was unimpressed.  I think it was the card that was made or the cartridge used was not my style or perhaps I just was not ready for the Cricut.  My friend Rebecca tried showing me the advantages of it but I was still not interested.  Lately I have been considering selling it.  That thought changed on Monday when I went to Michaels and saw the Cricut "Art Deco" cartridge.  The shapes drew me in, loved the style and I saw a lot of uses for the cartridge.  Hmm...maybe it deserved another try.  That night my friend, Janice, taught me (again) how to use the machine and then "Voila!" a card was started...

Of course, I had to use Graphic 45's Couture collection for the card.  I fussy cut around the two classy ladies, the postage stamps and the beautiful block.  The black deco background was from the Cricut Art Deco file.  The feathers were a treasure found at Hobby Lobby.  Behind the ladies is black fringe tassel ribbon.

The inside is more G45 Couture paper.  The quote is from the G45 Couture stamp set 3 set on a Spellbinders Fancy Tags die.

Thanks for trudging through this long post!  Looking forward to seeing your Art Deco project this month at Crafting Musketeers!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday, AG
613 Avenue, AG
Sister Act Card Challenge, AG
Cuttlebugmania, Feel it (die- Spellbinders tag die, feel it- feathers and tassles)

Grunge Thank you card

Finally...the weekend!  

You know what I like about weekends in the winter?  Crafting.  :)

Just a quick post sharing a manly thank you card.  I decided to go grunge and use some paper a good friend of mine so kindly gave me: Tim Holtz' Destinations.  The card uses one of the pages as the card base, two more patterned sheets were distressed and adhered as shown.  

I fussy cut a car from one of the other sheets in the same paper pad.  I applied Ranger's Glossy Accents to the car to add depth and make it look like an actual toy card.  The bling was purchased at Michaels (do not recall the brand).

The chalkboard sentiment "Thank you so much" is from Me & My Big Ideas, Cards in an Instant package.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a good weekend!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
Hiding in my Craft Room, three patterned papers
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper Challenge
613 Avenue Create, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG
Card Makin Mamas, Stack it up!
Sister Act, AG

JustRite Challenge- Botanical Bliss

Hello Crafteteers!

The current challenge at JustRite is Botanical Bliss.  We can use flowers or butterflies or both on the JustRite project.  

I decided to go with both and make a card that reminds me of summer.  The height of flower time in my gardens is when the beautiful black eyed Susans are in bloom.  They have spread in one of my gardens to create a glorious tribute to summer.  Surrounding the Susans are the other summer beauties: daisies, lamb's ear, bee balm and various types of cone flowers.  I so love coming home after work to see this garden!  When I tend the garden, bees are buzzing from flower to flower, butterflies flutter by and hummingbirds whiz by my head.  The garden is glorious and full of life!  I will have to take photos this year to share with you.  :)

Thinking of that garden drew me to the JustRite stamp set Black Eyed Susan.  The main cluster of Susans were colored with Spectrum Noir markers then covered with Ranger's glossy accents.  Stickles in Lime Green was applied to the leaves and stems.  Light blue chalk was applied to the background.  Next I colored and fussy cut the butterfly and bee from the set.

I die cut the flower cluster using Spellbinders Opulent Ovals.  Gold paper was also die cut from the same set.  I next cut a small sliver of plastic from a Spellbinders packaging tab and attached the butterfly.  It was adhered to the back of the die cut ovals to make it look like it was flying near the cluster.

The card was die cut using Filigree Delight.  The card base has the sentiment "Find true joy and share it with others" (same stamp set) on a die cut circle (Spellbinders) and foam taped to a Spellbinders Parisian Accents die cut.

I considered adding a bow or a banner across the flower cluster but I did not want to take away from the flowers.  It truly is a lovely stamped image.

Thanks for stopping by!  
Have a great week and think happy thoughts...spring will arrive soon!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
JustRite, Botanical Bliss
613 Avenue Create, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG

Craftin Desert Divas Challenge- Bring on the Glitter!

Bring on the glitter!  

The new challenge at Craftin Desert Divas is Glitter and it will be so much fun!  I picture everyone's crafty areas covered with the glitter, finger tips glittered and clothes shiny with glitter.  I really don't see any of that as a problem...one can never have too much glitter in life.  :)

For my DT card I used Graphic 45's peacock patterned paper- "Stunning"- from their Couture Collection.  White card stock was embossed using Tim Holtz Alterations folder "Floral Frames".  Inkadinkaclings rubber stamp "Papercut Peacock" was stamped using Ranger black archival ink.  Scattered Straw, Peeled Paint and Broken China Distress Inks were applied in areas shown.  "Lovely" from Graphic 45's Cling Stamp Couture 3 was stamped in black on a tab, distress inked and adhered under the embossed paper.  Stickles in Lime Green was applied to the peacock feathers.  Black fringe tassel ribbon was adhered under the embossed paper and all were applied to the card base.  

Thanks for stopping by!  I look forward to seeing your Glitter project at Craftin Desert Divas!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

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

Voting has begun!

Good Saturday, Everyone!

It was a great Valentine's Day week at Quietfire Creations.  Their talented design team held a week long blog hop.  If you have time, it is well worth checking out their projects!

Also, the voting has begun at the Quietfire Creations Queen of Hearts Challenge!  My Valentine's Day card posted earlier in the week is the first entry in the challenge.  If you want to vote for my entry, feel free to cast your vote by clicking on the heart in the upper right corner of the image.  

card inside using beautiful Quietfire Creations sentiment

Thank you for your vote and your time!  Have a wonderful weekend!
Hugs.
Kathy Jo

Valentine's Day Card- "I Love you"

Happy Monday!

Last week the Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Blog announced their first challenge "What is your style?"  It is interesting to think about your own style.  I started with trying to determine what I use most frequently and it seems that I consistently use my Spellbinders dies.  My favorite cards to make use Spellbinders dies as the base.  That was the seed to my design and I made a card using some of my favorite Spellbinders dies.

For the base I die cut two pieces of ivory paper using Spellbinders 5x7 Elegant Labels 4.  

Spellbinders Gold Labels Four provided the elegant die cuts in red and ivory.  The ivory paper was embossed using an Anna Griffin Cuttlebug folder- poppy. The next layer was my hoarded item- my gold paper.  My mom purchased this paper for me quite some time ago...I am guessing it was about five years ago.   The gold paper is unlike the stiff gold card stock paper that you usually find in the craft store.  The surface finish is soft to touch and the paper is thin.  I actually keep it in a protective sheet cover in a binder.  So, yes, this uncut sheet of gold paper was definitely hoarded!  The hoarded gold paper was die cut using the larger lace heart from Spellbinders Lace Hearts.  Ivory paper was die cut using the smaller heart die from the same set.  "I love you" from JustRite's Just the Right Words was heat embossed as shown.

The inside is a fabulous sentiment stamp from Quietfire Design.  What a perfect sentiment for a Valentine's Day card!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
Craft Hoarders Anonymous, What is your style
Quietfire Design, Queen of Hearts
Cut it up challenge, Valentine's Day
Craftin Desert Divas, Red, white or pink
Cuttlebugmania, A touch of red
Red Carpet Studio, Love Actually
Addicted to Stamps, Hearts
My Sheri Crafts, Valentine
613 Avenue, AG
Crafting by Design, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG
Sister Act, AG

Kraft Love card

Hello again!

This is my second post today.  I did not think I would post two cards today but I just finished a Valentine's Day card and I believe it fits the challenge ending soon at The Kraft Journal.

For the card background I stamped JustRite's Elegant Corners Labels Four onto Kraft card stock.  The corners were colored in with a pink copic marker.  Spellbinders Gold Labels Four die cut a scrap pink of paper that was distressed with TH Victorian Velvet and Walnut Stain.  Next was a white layer of card stock die cut with Spellbinders Labels Four.  Love was stamped using Memento's Rich Cocoa.  Seam binding was dyed using TH Distress Stain in Victorian Velvet.

This will be a card that I may make a few of and bring to work.  My department consists of all guys and me.  Valentine's Day is coming soon and I have a feeling they may be in search of a card on Friday.  Too bad I don't have roses and chocolates, too.  :)

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great evening!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenge:
The Kraft Journal, Here's my Heart
Craftin Desert Divas, Red, pink or white
Word Art Wednesday, AG

"Have a Lovely Day" Chalkboard card

Happy Sunday All!

Just a quick post to share my first chalkboard card.  :)

The My Mind's Eye Chalk Studio paper pads were on my wish list for a while and I finally picked all three of them up at Winner's recently!  What a great find!  The papers are so cute and are great for girl or guy cards.

The happy sentiment is from JustRite's Birthday Vintage Labels Four stamp set.  The chalkboard paper was cut using Spellbinders Labels Thirty One and under the label is a piece of vellum die cut from Spellbinders Floral Ovals.  The sweet doily is Cheery Lynn's French Pastry.  The pink banner was embossed using a Lifestyle Crafts embossing folder.

The card has the MME paper on all four sides and it looks great.  (I really need to get in the habit of applying paper, or die cuts or embellishments on on four sides).  The inside is another die cut from Spellbinders Thirty One and stamped swirls from the JR birthday set.  All background paper was die cut using Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics A.

Before I go, I would like to give a huge kudos to Spellbinders for their matting dies.  When I first saw the matting sets I wondered why I would buy a set of matting dies when I can just cut rectangular paper easily on a cutter.  Eventually, I ended up getting a set to try out and I am now using it all of the time.  My matting paper is always cut perfectly, no measuring, no mistakes and it cut down on my cutting time.  Fabulous idea, Spellbinders!  

Thanks so much for stopping by!  "Have a Lovely Day"!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

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

JustRite background challenge card

Hello All!

The new current challenge at JustRite is It's in the Background.  

For the card I wanted to go with a happy botanical theme.  I stamped and embossed the JR Moroccan Background stamp in white onto some sky blue card stock.   

Next I clear stamped/embossed the JR Secret Garden background stamp onto vellum.  I colored the flowers and leaves using Tim Holtz distress markers.  To make the colors pop and to see the clear embossed details on the flowers and leaves I applied "white out" to the back of the coloring.  Doing this makes the colors richer, shows the clear embossed areas and also prevent the Moroccan Background from showing through the colored areas.  (see the white details in the flowers and leaves below)

The card base is Spellbinders Detailed Scallops.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

Craftin Desert Divas Challenge- Red, White or Pink

Hello Crafteteers!

Guess what time it is?  It is time for a new challenge at Craftin Desert Divas!  The challenge for the next two weeks is Red, Pink and/or White.  I am thinking there will be some beautiful Valentine's Day cards shared in this challenge!

For my DT card, I wanted a romantic, frilly, girly card.  I usually do not use pink but I definitely used it on this card!  My Mind's Eye paper pad "Love Me" was just calling my name...as were the white feathers I plucked off a boa my mother in law gave me.  LOL.  The boa was fun to wear and it sacrificed a few feathers for a card.   

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have fun making your red, white or pink project!

Hugs,

Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday, AG

613 Avenue Create, AG

Love To Scrap, Who Loves Ya

Eureka Stamps, Red, White, Pink

Kaboodle Doodles, Valentine

Ribbon Reel, My Valentine

Challenges 4 Everybody, AG

Corrosive Challenge, Love

AllSorts, Love is in the air

Sister Act, AG

Product used:

Spellbinders (Gold Labels Four, Labels Four, Lace Hearts), My Mind's Eye (Love Me mini paper pad), Stampabilities (Faded Test Background stamp), Craft Smart (Happy Valentine's Day Sentiment), JustRite (Grateful Heart Vintage Labels Two, "I Love You"), Memento (London Fog dye ink), Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Aged Mahogany, Weathered Wood)

Crafting Musketeers February Challenge: Butterflies

Hello Crafteteers!

A new month and a fun new challenge at Crafting Musketeers: Butterflies!  I think this may be a tough challenge for everyone...do paper crafters like using butterflies?  ;)

Spellbinders die set Arched Windows One cut the lovely patterned paper from My Mind's Eye pad Follow Your Heart "Be Amazing".  Distress ink was applied and a gold leafing pen was used along the out and inside edges as shown.  Spellbinders die set Tapestry was embossed on plain white paper and Distress Inks were applied as shown.  Shimmer mist was also applied to the embossed paper. The Spellbinders butterflies dies Les Papillions Two provided the pretty butterflies.

I look forward to seeing all of the beautiful butterfly projects this month at Crafting Musketeers!  What a wonderful way for us to start to thinking of spring!

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
Crafting by Designs, Think Spring!
613 Avenue Create, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG

Product used:
Spellbinders (Les Papillions Two, Tapestry, Arched Windows One), My Mind's Eye (Be Amazing mini paper pad), Tim Holtz Ink (Broken China, Peeled Paint, Scattered Straw, Barn Door), Crafty love  :)