Guest Blogger at Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine- "Sunlight to my heart" card

Hello Crafters!

Exciting news: Canadian Scrapbooker magazine asked me to be their Guest Blogger!  Yay!  
Today I will show a couple of photos and project materials list for my first card.

No big surprise, the first card used several dies.  :)  But the focal point of the card is Quietfire's stamped sentiment "You are Sunlight to my heart".

The dies and papers used are as follows from the base up: ivory tent fold base, Prima's Almanac patterned paper cut to size, ivory card stock die cut with Spellbinders' Lovin' Diamonds and Distress ink (Worn Lipstick) applied, tan card stock die cut with Spellbinders Floral Ovals, ivory card stock die cut using the heart dies from Lovin' Diamonds and double gold heat embossed, and ivory card stock die cut using Spellbinders Labels 34 and Worn Lipstick applied. 

Below is a closeup of the card center.  I also added several gold pearls around the center just for extra accent.

A big thank you to Canadian Scrapbooker for having me as a guest blogger!  It truly is an honor!

Thanks for stopping by!  Feel free to hop on over to the Canadian Scrapbooker blog to see the post.  :)
Have a great day!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

"Thanks" gift card holder using Graphic 45's Couture

Hello Fellow Crafters!

Today I am popping in to share a gift card holder using Quietfire's new "Thanks" die and Graphic 45's Couture papers.  I like to keep gift card holders in my stash because you never know when you will need a last minute gift.  

The holder was cut from 12" card stock.  For this card I went 6" wide but I have also made it 4" wide.  The card template is below:

Such an easy fancy fold!  The flap does not need to stay rectangular as I did on this card.  I have also made it before with a die cut edge.

I wanted this card to be feminine and chic and the Couture collection is just that.  It looks great against the black card stock.

The inside has more of the beautiful papers and an area to hold a gift card.  

I used Quietfire's "I love that you will always be my friend sentiment", fussy cut the sentiment, and adhered to a die cut Spellbinders Oval Bliss.

Hope you enjoyed the card!  
Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day! 
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

Shabby and girly "Hello" card

 

Hello Crafty Friends!

Yesterday I posted a manly card using the new Quietfire Design die "Thanks".  Today's project is at the other end of the spectrum: girly.  :)  This girly card is using Quietfire's new "Hello" die.  

The card is following this week's sketch at MOJO Monday.  (See sketch below)  The lovely vintage papers are from Graphic 45's A Ladies Diary.  Gold and ivory paper were die cut using "Hello" and placed as shown.  A fussy cut butterfly from Olde Curiosity Shoppe was adhered at the end of the "o" flourish.  Two circular dies (Cheery Lynn's French Pastry Tiny Doily and Spellbinders' Splendid Circles) were the background features behind the yellow roses:

For some glitz, I applied Stickles to the flower petals:

A sweet double bow and the card was complete:

Hope you enjoyed this sneak peek at the Hello die!  Tune in this weekend for another peek.  :)
Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
MOJO Monday, Sketch

613 Avenue Create, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper, AG

Masculine Thanks card using new Quietfire die!!

 

Hello Crafty friends!

Yes, your read the post title correctly,,,Quietfire now has dies!  Woo-who!  Today I am sharing a card using the new Quietifre "Thanks" die.  

The dies- just like all of the Quietfire stamps- were designed by Suzanne Cannon.  They cut through 100lb paper like butter and pop right out.  Yay!  For the card I die cut navy blue and ivory card stock then offset them slightly.  The sentiment was mounting on wood grain paper (scrap piece) and then mounted on Graphic 45's Good Ol' Sport papers.

I had this old brass button with a golfer that I was holding onto for just the right project.  It looks great with the sporty Graphic 45 papers.

Here is another view of the card and die sentiment:

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Hope you like the new die!  The other dies look just as beautiful and are worth a peek!  :)

Have a good day!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

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

Technique Time! Make your own metallic bling using packaged pearls and gems

Hello Crafty Friends!

I don't know about you all, but sometimes I forget how I made a card- specifically dimensions.  Special fancy fold cards may be made by me once and then 5 months later I decide to make another card using the same folds.  The frustrating part is that I hardly ever write any of the dimensions of the original fancy fold down.  Every time I am in this scenario I think to myself  "I really need to make a page on my blog for fold dimensions and special techniques".  Finally, the page is started and this post will be the first technique linked.

Many of you probably already color your gems and pearls with markers.  The results are good and it is nice not to have to buy gems and pearls in numerous colors.  The same idea can be used to make metallic bling.  Instead of alcohol markers, I use metallic Pen-Touch markers from Sakura.  I have the markers in gold, silver and copper and although they are a little pricy, the markers last a long time.  

First, start with your gems and pearls.  Leave them on the original sheet and, if possible, keep them spaced apart on the sheet.  If they are too close then you cannot color them well.

Today's bling will be colored with gold.  I have two styles of  Pen-Touch: one is a "calligrapher" tip and the other is a round tip.

Two items of note: I recommend using the calligrapher as the round tip does not apply as well.  Also, gems are easier to make metallic than pearls. 

Apply the tip directly to the bling.  (You may need to press down on the marker to apply more metallic but do not press too hard or too much metallic will flow out.)  

You can see the ring around the bling from using the round tip.  It is not as prevalent in the calligrapher tip:

On the gems I used the calligrapher tip.  You can see on the top right gem that I pressed too hard and too much metallic was applied:

I scooped up as much as I could back on  my pen tip and continued on.  You can see that the more metallic applied, the smoother the gem appears:

The pen tip was drier when I reached the bling on the bottom row.  There is no "right finish" to this- it is about personal preference and/or project details.  Sometimes I keep the dry bling as is and use them for grunge projects, as an example.  

The bling takes time to dry so I usually make several of them before I leave my craft room at the end of the night.  By the next morning they are dry and there are no concerns with smudging.

Hope you enjoyed the first technique tip!  Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below.

Have a good day and thanks for stopping by!

Today is the last day to enter the draw!

Hello Crafters!

Don't forget, today is the last day to enter the draw for Quietfire's beautiful Garden Delights set!  You have two places to enter: 

Last Tuesdays post on my blog 

and

Last Tuesday's post at Quietfire

Good luck!
Have a great Monday.
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

"Be Yourself" Graphic 45 and Quietfire corrugated card

Hello Crafty Friends!

On Friday night I planned on cleaning my craft room.  It was such a mess and I have so many projects on the go that I have zero work surfaces available.  For example, my Grand Calibur was sitting on the floor- as was I- and that was how I made my last project.  (But let's face it, wouldn't you rather craft than clean?)  Well, it ended up that I cleaned off my desk surface and was quickly distracted.  That "distraction" was this card. :)

The corrugated base was something I had started a while ago.  I had made a corrugated card with Ranger Ink's white Distress Crackle a couple of months ago.  I decided since I was crackling one base, I may as well do two. Next Graphic 45's paper from By The Sea was cut to size and distressed with my Zutter.  Ivory paper was die cut using Spellbinders Floral Doily Motifs.  Brown twine was woven as shown below:

On the smallest die, Quietfire stamp "Be Yourself" was stamped using Graphic 45 ink.  The Quietfire stamp is from a larger set called "The Woods would be very silent":

Starfish were fussy cut from By the Sea and adhered.  Stickles was applied to each star.  Silver pearls were added for accent and the card was complete.  

Admittedly, this was the most fun I think I have ever had "cleaning my craft room".  

Well, I guess I actually have to go and clean my craft room now...or at least a small area of it to get "distracted" again.

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

This card is entered into the following challenges:
Loves Rubber Stamps, AG
613 Avenue Create, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG
Sister Act, AG
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper, AG with patterned paper

"You are Sunlight to my heart" card and winner announcement!

Happy Friday, All!

Just wanted to pop in to share a new card and to also announce the winner of the stamp from Monday's post. Today's card is using Quietfire's newly mounted stamp, "You are sunlight to my heart".  Such a heartwarming stamp (no pun intended). :)

There is a lot going on with this card so I will start from the base up: tent fold base from ivory card stock, patterned paper from Graphic 45's Time to Flourish 6x6 pad, ivory card stock die cut using Spellbinders Grand Decorative Labels One, Time to Flourish paper die cut using Spellbinders Grand Labels One, Time to Flourish paper die cut using Spellbinders Victorian Medallion Two, ivory card stock die cut using Spellbinders Decorative Labels One and the sentiment heat embossed on that top die.  The corners are ivory card stock die cut using Spellbinders Victorian Corners.  The corners are raised and you might be able to see the raised corners in this view:

A quadruple loop bow was made using crinkle ribbon and an antique style button adhered to the center.  Pearls were applied on the corners and on the medallion die cut.

Thanks for reading about the card.  Now onto the winner...  

Thanks to everyone that took the time to visit my post and leave a comment!  The lucky winner is:

AnneMarch 2, 2015 at 11:14 AM

Such a beautiful tag and sentiment. Fanny Crosby was a remarkable woman who continues to bless so many. Your tag is a beautiful gift for someone. Yay! Spring is on it's way!

Thanks you, Anne, for leaving the sweet comment!  Please leave a comment below stating that you saw the announcement and I will reply via email!

Don't be discouraged if you did not win!  I have three more giveaways coming soon and we will be having a blog hop in two weeks!  Exciting times are coming!

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty weekend!

Hugs,

Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create, AG

Word Art Wednesday, AG

Crafthoarders Anonymous, Heart

Crafting from the Heart, AG

Sister Act, AG

AUD Sentiments, Bingo (ribbon, pink, die cut)

Craft Your Passion, AG

Pennys Challenges, Female card

Today is the last day to enter Monday's Giveaway!

Hello Crafters!

Just a reminder that today is the last day to enter Monday's Giveaway.  Leave a comment on Monday's post to enter.

Also, Tuesday's giveaway is still active.  You have until Monday to enter.

Good luck on both draws!
Have a great day!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo 

I'm published!! Let's celebrate with another GIVEAWAY!!

Happy Tuesday, Crafters!

For a few months now I have wanted to tell you all the great news: I am published!  Woo-who!  It is so exciting!  The card is in the Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine on page 109.

It is easy to figure out which card is mine: the card used a gorgeous Quietfire stamp from the Garden Delights set, specifically the "Some people like flowers" (the sentiment in the top right corner of the image below):


And the card used Graphic 45 paper (Sweet Sentiments collection).  Such pretty paper to compliment the stamp!

To make this even more exciting, Suzanne Cannon- the wonderful and talented designer and owner of Quietfire Design- is giving away the above stamp set (a huge, beautiful set valued at $24!) to one lucky crafter.  (Because of the size of the stamp set, this is limited to crafters with a North American address.)  Thank you so much, Suzanne!

So what do you have to do to get entered for a chance to win?  Enter into the Rafflecopter below for chances to win!  

Don't forget about the giveaway from yesterday's blog post, too!  It is another lovely Quietfire stamp!!

Thanks so much for stopping by to celebrate!  Have a great day and good luck in the draws!!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Quietfire's "Live in the Moment" Graphic 45 tag and A GIVEAWAY!!

Hello, All!

Monday is my day to post at Quietfire Creations and I decided to make a spring card using the beautiful Quietfire stamp "Live in the Moment":

What a great sentiment!  The tag is from Graphic 45 as are the papers (Secret Garden).   For more details on the tag, please stop by the Quietfire Creations blog. 

Now, to celebrate spring (it has to be coming soon!) I would like to do a giveaway.  One lucky commenter/follower will receive the lovely "Live in the Moment" stamp.  Here is what you have to do: become a follower if you are not already and leave a comment.  Easy!  This Friday I will announce the winner and the winner will have one week to respond.  After that, there will be a redraw.

Good luck to you all!  Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This tag is entered into the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG
Loves Rubber Stamps, Use ribbon or lace
Sister Act, AG
Simon Says Stamp, AG
TTCRD, AG
CraftyHazelnut Patterned Paper, March

Graphic 45 "Raining cats & Dogs" scrapbook page

Happy Sunday, Crafters!

Yesterday I woke up at 2am and couldn't sleep.  I hopped on to Pinterest to look at craft pretties when I saw a cute scrapbook page layout.  It made me think of the stack of photos I have that are in need of being scrapbooked.  Next thing I know, I am sitting in my living room surrounded by Graphic 45's Raining Cats & Dogs product.  My husband walked into the room wide eyed: it was 5am and he was getting ready to go work!  Funny how time flies so quickly!  I finished the scrapbook page this morning and took some photos.  One photo down..."too many to count" photos to go!  :)

Here is the layout.  It is a photo of my cat, Pepper, the first day she arrived at our home:

The sketch that inspired:

Another view showing the banners below the photo:

A cat postage stamp banner was added to the top left corner:

Foam tape was used for the photo and embellishments:

Close-up of the C is for Cat (what a cute dress!):

Another look at the layout- flowers were highlighted with Stickles.  The doily was die cut using Cheery Lynn's French Pastry:

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I really hope you enjoyed the scrapbook page.  :)

Have a good day!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

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