New Elizabeth Craft Designs Release! "Beautiful" mixed media

Hello Crafty Friends!

What an exciting week: Elizabeth Craft Designs has introduced the new A Way With Words collection!

The first 11 items are Suzanne Cannon's designed dies while the next 7 are stencils...yay!

My first project using the new stencils was the "Beautiful" mixed media wall hanging.  From the bottom up it had a chipboard base, white corrugated board and a mixed media background.  The background was created using various green, blue and grey Dylusions sprays.  After drying the Swirly Flouris stencil and Faber-Castell's Glass Bead Glitter Gel were used.  It was cut to size and Distress Paint in Picket Fence applied along the edges.  The background was adhered to the corrugated board using strong liquid adhesive.

Next was the Beautiful die.  (Gorgeous!!)  It die cut 100 pound white card stock.  In the center of the die cut I adhered 1/4" thick double sided foam and along the outer edges of the die strong liquid adhesive.

Isn't the die lovely?

Two layers of sheer lacing was added to the bottom of the project.

Gem and frosted half pearls were added throughout.

Several pieces of ribbon were tied for the hanging and the project was complete.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed seeing the new release collection and the project!

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

Winter Forest Fairies card

Hello Crafty Friends!

Winter is in full swing in Nova Scotia.  On Saturday we bought our snowblower and on Sunday we were able to use the new toy.  I am used to shoveling as it is nice to take in the winter air and get some exercise...but seeing the snowblower quickly move the snow was nice, too.  :)

To celebrate the start of snow season, I created a winter card using the Quietfire Design stamp, Deep Within the Winter Forest:

The card background was created using various blue, green and grey Dylusions sprays on mixed media paper.  After drying it was cut size and a moon was added using Distress Paint in Picket Fence.  The moon dried and then the quote was stamped using Archival Ink in Jet Black.

Next, I randomly stamped snowflakes from Quietfire Design stamp sets (such as Winter Wonderland and Let It Snow) using Distress Paint in Picket Fence.  Additional snow was created using The Tim Holtz Spritzer tool and a Picket Fence Distress Marker. 

The snow ground cover was created using white tissue paper (adhered using a glue stick) and Stickles.

This 5x5 card will be given to a good friend of mine who adores fairies.  

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

This card is entered into the following challenge:
Simon Says Stamp Monday, Be Square

Graphic 45 Cityscapes mini-journal

Hello Crafty Friends!

Did you make any New Year resolutions?  Every year I make a few resolutions.  This year one of them was to save money for two trips.  In order to have a good understanding of my money and to find ways to save more, I decided to keep a money journal.  The concept is simple: I will keep track of all my spending and log it in my journal for at least a month.  Every cent is accounted for- whether it is my vehicle insurance or a drink from a vending machine.  (It sounds like a lot of work but it is worth it…and it works!)  For my journal, I wanted something that would inspire me and help me stick with the resolution. 

First, I started with a mini composition book.  It is a perfect size for my purse.

Next, I covered the front and back of the notebook with Cityscapes paper and added fussy cut images.  The Eiffel Tower image reminds me of a vacation we had in Paris.  The image did not have tape applied on the entire back side- an area was left “tape free” so that a tag could be slid behind the image. 

Stamps were applied along the edge.  The stamp in the middle is of Chicago which is one of the trips we plan in the next year.   

The back had more Cityscapes paper.  

Of course the Chicago skyline was a must on this journal.

The finishing touch is one of my favorite stamps from Quietfire Design, I dwell in possibility:

The stamped quote was fussy cut and adhered on top of the Eiffel Tower:

After all items were adhered, I applied Stickles at will.  :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I do hope you enjoyed this wee journal.

Have a happy, crafty day!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

"The best kiss" using Graphic 45's Time to Flourish

Hello Crafters!

Today is my day to post at Quietfire Creations and I am sharing a Valentine's Day card using the gorgeous Quietfire Design stamp, The best kiss:

Quietfire Design stamps and dies are so beautiful.  I think they make a perfect pairing with Graphic 45 papers.  For this card, the stamp was paired with Graphic 45's Time to Flourish papers.  The sentiment was stamped on ivory Graphic 45 papers, die cut using a stitched tag die and mounted on the card as shown.  The flowers were fussy cut from Time to Flourish papers.

Isn't the sentiment beautiful?  Perfect for your sweetie this Valentine's Day!

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 challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday, Be Square
Word Art Wednesday, AG
Graphic 45, January Challenge

Graphic 45 manly birthday card

Hello Crafters!

My brother-in-law recently celebrated a birthday.  He is a huge sports fan so my hubby and I purchased a gift card at a local sports supply store.  Of course, I made him a card- sports themed- and it used Graphic 45's Good Ol' Sport papers and Quietfire Designs' Happy Birthday stamp.

On the left side of the card are banners from Cheery Lynn's Pierced Banners set.

Under the image is the Happy Birthday stamped sentiment...looks great with the Graphic 45 papers!

The inside are more Graphic 45 papers.  The image was used to hold the gift card (it was taped on only three sides and the gift card slid in).

I am starting to run low on the Good Ol' Sport collection (gasp!).  Maybe that will be their next Deluxe Collector's Edition.  hint hint :)

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

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

Bright and cheerful watercolor "Thank you" card

Hello Crafty Friends! 

Today I would like to share a watercolor Thank You card. This card is perfect to give to a someone sweet- not only in appreciation but also to brighten their day.

The focal point of the card is the "Thank you" die set:

Watercolor paper was colored using two shades of yellow watercolor.  After drying, pink watercolor was randomly flicked on the background:

The background was die cut with a rectangular stitch die.  It was mounted on white card stock cut slightly larger than the yellow background.  Both were mounted on a scalloped card base.

A watercolor flower, twine, cheesecloth and washi tape was added to the corner as shown.  Stickles was applied to the flower center.

Thank you was die cut twice: coordinating pink card stock (matching the card base) and white card stock.  It was adhered to the card front using liquid adhesive.

Isn't it a bright and cheerful thank you card?  

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

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

"Cozy" birds

Hello Crafty Friends!

Popping in to share a "tweet" card using the Cozy die designed by Suzanne Cannon for Elizabeth Craft Designs.

The card also used the simply adorable birds, also from ECD (and are on sale at ECD!):

Here is a closeup of the feathered love birds:

The plaid papers are from Lawn Fawn and worked perfectly on the bird clothing and behind the Cozy die:

What I like about the Cozy and bird dies is that they go so well together and they make a great wintertime card. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Oh- and here is a link to the current sale at ECD:  Sale!

Have a happy, crafty day!

Big Hugs,

Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenge:

Word Art Wednesday, AG

613 Avenue Create, AG

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, AG

Simon Says Stamp Monday, Start Afresh (never used the plaid papers, Cozy or Birds dies before)

Cards in Envy, Snow birds

Favorite projects of 2016

Happy New Year!

Oh- what a year was 2016!  Have you all looked back at your crafty projects of 2016?  Going through my 2016 craft blog was a nice trip for me.  Crafting is one of my favorite things to do and seeing the projects brought back wonderful crafting memories.  

Below are some of my favorite projects of 2016.  I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I enjoyed making and sharing them!  Links for each project is also listed.

My favorite project of 2016 was the Dream card using the Dream die designed by Suzanne Cannon for Elizabeth Craft Designs.

An exciting surprise for me was being one of the chosen tags for Tim Holtz' May challenge!

Seeing this watercolor poppy card  again made me smile as it ended up being given to a friend of mine's mom for Mother's Day.  

The "Memories" scrapbook page has my favorite photo of my hubby and our puppy Teddy.  

The "God gave us memories" card has the sweetest quote as a focal point.

Another fun card to make was the frightful kitty Halloween card.

Halloween is one of my favorite card making seasons.  This card was part of a set with a treat bag and ghoulish treats.

The "Sometimes I just look up" stamped sentiment touched my heart.  I could not help but think of my mom. 

Last, but not least, was the dragon card I created for my hubby.  The card background was created with Distress Paints, a Brett Weldele dragon scale stencil with Creative Mediums and Distress Inks.  The dragon was watercolored and it was finished with some dies.  On the inside I put the sentiment "...hot stuff".  :)

Thanks for stopping by and seeing my crafty year in review.  I wish you nothing but joy, health and crafty happiness in 2017!

Big Hugs,

Kathy Jo