Breaking News

Hambo Hoedown has another cxhallenge, another chance for you to receive a free digi image when you play!  This week the challenge is to use Newscaster digi image (or any other Hambo image) and incorporate newspaper on your creation.

Growing up, my parents always gave us kids the comics to read while they went through the meatier oart of the paper.  My sister and I loved to read Peanuts, so I used Peanuts patterned paper for that comic page look, and filled in some of the bubbles.

My card is an easel card.  When closed, just the part you see standing up is shown.  When you open it, that part rests against the sentiment on the bottom half, forming an easel out of the card.
So when my sister, whose birthday is coming up, opens the card, she gets to see the first part of the message, "This just in" and then opens the card for the rest of the message "You're having a birthday!"

I printed my image twice and used both for a little dimension.  I colored him with Copics, my ink of choice these days, and cut him out, placing him on the cover just under a bubble that I placed one of the sentiments you get when you buy this terrific digi.  The other sentiment was framed in black cardstock.  There are two more sentiments that come with Newscaster, for a total of FOUR sentiments---great deal!!  and you can find him HERE.

Have fun at the Hoedown this week!

Halloween Mojo Inspired by Queen Kat Designs

My Halloween mojo is really cranking out some projects!  Today I’m making Halloween candles for party decorations using images from Queen Kat Design's Witch Sisters stamp set by Marlon T...

Which reminds me of the time when Kitty and Batty were just learning their spells and almost set the whole town on fire.  Kitty and Batty (my names for them) are stamps from the Queen Kat Designs October release stamp set called Witch Sisters by Marlon T. 
Well, Kitty was reading spells out of the big book left to them by their great, great grandmother.  Batty was only half listening, as she had her eye on the last chocolate chip cookie on the plate.  Did I mention Batty loved chocolate chip cookies?
Suddenly, Kitty snapped the book with a bang and jumped from her perch on the arm of the couch.  “Let’s try it!” she exclaimed.  Batty didn’t want to appear inattentive (again) so she jumped up with her sister and agreed, to what she had no idea!
Kitty set about gathering up leaves and cinnamon and ashes from the fireplace while Batty pulled out the battered cauldron from under the stairs and took it outside.  Kitty filled it with the materials she had gathered, held Batty’s hands in hers and whispered to her that it was time to close their eyes and recite the words to the spell.
Since Batty had been accused many times of not paying attention, she just closed her eyes and whispered words that she thought sounded “magical” and that rhymed rather nicely.
When a wave of heat blasted her in the face, she opened her eyes to see a jet of fire pouring out of the cauldron!
Kitty was running around the fire, exclaiming that this was NOT supposed to be so large and waving her arms about in a helpless fashion.  So Batty did the only thing she could think of to help---she kicked the cauldron over and…
It started to roll down the front yard and into the street and straight down toward town (cauldrons are a bit rounded on their bottoms, you know).
Well, that shook Kitty right out of her useless circling.  She hopped onto her broom and flew straight up to the sky.  Meanwhile, poor Batty had gone running after the cauldron in hopes of catching it.  Just before it bounced into the vicar’s fence, the cauldron caught a draft (steered along by Kitty and a helpful cloud) and veered right into the town well, where the fire was drowned in a hiss of steam and slightly orange smoke.
No one but the vicar saw the cauldron nearly miss his fence and steam up at the well, and he never alluded to it (and who would believe him?), but from that day forward he always kept an eye out for the two Witch Sisters.

Oops, I got sidetracked there, back to my Halloween candles.  I stamped and colored my images onto mulberry paper (tissue paper works just as well, just has less dimension).  I used both witch sisters and three different sentiments, and each candle will be either green, orange or purple.  I tore my mulberry paper to fit the pillar candles I bought and then cut a piece of wax paper the size of the candle.  I placed first my paper on the candle, then the wax paper over it.  Holding it tightly to the candle, I used my heat gun to heat up  the wax and seal the paper onto the candle.  I don’t know if you can tell from the photo, but when finished, the candle looks like the paper and image are beneath the wax.  To finish off the candle, I added adhesive-backed beads to the bottom.  I’m making about a dozen of these to help set a festive table come the Halloween party.

The Witch Sisters stamp set by Marlon T comes with a variety various bewitching sentiments like the ones I used on today’s project.  They are a great addition to all crafters who like to stamp some fun this Halloween, and can be found HERE.

Don't forget the 5th birthday celebration over at QKD on Facebook.  Lots of surprises and fun for all!  Click HERE to RSVP.

As Crisp October Gives Way to Bone-chilling November



October Rose

 We need to always keep a tiny piece of summer in our hearts.  That's why I made another Addicted to Stamps card featuring October Rose by Mitzi Sato Wiuff. 
I love to color this image over and over!  I keep trying to darken the colors, but I still get the feeling of lightness and airiness, no matter how I color it!
Today I used some yellow rose patterned paper with bits of lace and a butterfly.  I cut the image out as an oval for a more formal framed look.  I used Copics: E00,04.11,71; Y00G00,02; YG67 & RV34 (her lips).  And I just couldn't resist using some black Stickles around the rim of the frame, as well as distressing the edges with black ink.
I am going to keep deepening the colors until I can see a darker October Rose.  I'll let you know when I succeed!  Until then, keep crafting!

Two Cards, Two Challenges



October Rose

 I recently acquired a new image from Addicted to Stamps.  It's called "October Rose" by Mitzi Sato-Wiuff and I absolutely adore it!  In fact, I just printed four images and made a card with my first finished image.  It's a birthday card for Susanna Boyd of Paper Craft Planet, and an entry into the Super Nova's Birthday Party Challenge that runs from October 22 through October 30 on PCP.
I colored my image with Copics, putting a tiny bit of shine with Stickles on each rose and her lips.  The card was pieced together with leftover cardstock and patterned papers.  I added some coordinating roses from Michael's and a couple leaves, one gold-embossed, and finished with some ribbon and a feather.

Next up is a card I made for Joan's Garden challenge.  They ask that you use a DIE, a CHRISTMAS SENTIMENT, some kind of LIGHT, and the colors RED and WHITE.  I found a Whiff of Joy image called "Willow with Lantern" with which to play, and believe it or not, I made MY FIRST CHRISTMAS CARD this year!!
I colored with Copics: R05,29; YG03,05 and E08,15.  I added some shine with Stickles.  I framed her in a diecut frame of deep red with a white background, added a cardstock sticker sentiment, and added to the whole shimmery effect with pearlized snowflakes.
I think with this card I have shaken the dust off my craft table and any remnants of Halloween cardmaking.  I need to send those spooky creations to my friends before the holiday passes!  I still want to make a few Thanksgiving cards, but Christmas has definitely stirred my muse.
Whatever holiday you're crafting for, have fun and don't forget to check out Joan's Garden for this week's challenge!  

Gratitude is the Best Attitude

Badonkadonk digi image

I got the coolest image from Squigglefly and couldn't wait to share my card with you!  It's called Badonkadonk digi image and I created a thank you card to go along with this week's Squigglefly Challenge, which is to show your gratitude by making a thank you note or something that expresses your thanks.

I paper pieced this sexy mama's dress from patterned paper and colored the rest of the image with Copics.  I found the sentiment on TheQuoteGarden.com.

If you have a Squigglefly image, you can play along with the challenge for prizes.  If not, grab a FREEBIE and play for your chance.

Happy Crafting!

Make Halloween as Hare-raising Holiday...

...with Hambo Stamps ZombieBunny digi image and a little imagination!  That's what the challenge is at the Hambo Hoedown this week, so hop, stomp, or drag yourself over to the Challenge Blog and come play with your Hambo images for a chance to win!

I used my image with this week's required sketch (see below) to make one of my last Halloween cards of the season.  As you can see, not only is my Hare caught up in the spirit of the holiday, but he has friends!  This is the reason why I love digi images---you can print them any size, any color, and as many times as you like!
The digi comes with not one, but THREE ghoulish sentiments.  Mine is on the inside of the card and reads "Hope your Holiday is Hare-raising".

If you like what you see, then you should check out the Hambo Store NOW.  They're celebrating Hogtoberfest, and there is a fantastic sale going on and it won't last forever. 

Enjoy your week ahead, and keep on crafting!

Hopping With Scrapbook Place

Hello, crafters!  I hope you're up to some fun, because this is just one stop on the Hop, the Scrapbook Place October Blog Hop, that is!  If you came here from Anna's blog, you're on the right track.  If not, better start over at Your Scrapping Place blog.  You wouldn't want to miss all the fun, inspiration and crafting!

For my part, I have gathered together some of the projects I have made for Halloween.  My newest creation is an altered soup can (photo above).  It will be filled with treats for a special neighbor child when she comes trick-or-treating this year.  I used my pampered chef can opener so that the pop-top lid is still closed and ready to pop.  After I finish filling it with candy, I'll use my CTMH Liquid Glass to reseal the top lid and won't she be surprised when she opens the can!!

 I also made a few cards, some of which are pictured.  One of them uses a Hambo Stamp digi image against a sheet of patterned paper from DCWV's Once Upon a Time Paper pad.

For decorating (and munching), I made some spider candies,  which are just those little round mint patties, papercrafted to look like spiders.  My granddaughter got a kick out of these!  I also made a couple of candles with QKD stamps and mulberry paper.

I made a few special treat holders for neighbor kids.  The one in the middle is a pull-treat card.  Place a full-sized candy bar into the card from the top, and when the child wants her candy, she just pulls up on the ribbon at the top and the candy bar comes up with the ribbon.  Squigglefly's Nerdy Girl Devil dig-image is on the front.

Another treat bag uses Hambo's Wee Henrietta Witch, and I can fill that one up with Goldfish, as it's for a much younger neighbor child.

I made a large Treat bag (photo right) with which my granddaughter can go trick-or-treating, but her Daddy bought her a plastic Dora Halloween Bag for candy collecting, so I guess my Bag will have to hold the candy we give out at the door this year!

If I have time, I'll add the Fall-themed projects I've made this month as well.  For now, I hope you've seen something that will inspire you to create.  Now hop on over to Annette's blog for more crafting fun and inspiration.  If you get lost, come back here and check out the full blog order below:

Linda - http://scrappingheaven.blogspot.com/

Shannon - http://shannonleffew.blogspot.com/

Anna - http://scrappenings.blogspot.com/

Pat - http://patacakespages.blogspot.com/

Annette - http://annettesfunstuff.blogspot.com/

Donna - http://nana2cede.blogspot.com/

Teresa - http://www.teresasscrappinspot.blogspot.com/

Diane - http://www.scrappindianeh.blogspot.com/

Melissa - http://www.melissa-thoughtsonpaper.blogspot.com/

ScrapbookPlace blog - http://yourscrapbookplace.blogspot.com/

Here's my favorite quote of the season:

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came -
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.
~George Cooper, "October's Party"

Party on, crafters!!

I decided to enter my pop top "unopened" treat can in the Just Us Girls Challlenge.  This week thay ask for a template or 3D project with a Halloween theme!

Forest Night in October

Isn't the month of October great?  Cool days, falling leaves, crisp air, crockpot dinners.  And Fridays in October are best, because I get to show off another great Queen Kat Designs card!!  So Happy Friday, all!

Z-card featuring Forest Night by Terra Bidlespacher

I just can’t stop coloring this great Queen Kat Designs stamped image, called Forest Night, by Terra Bidlespacher.  Today I made a Z card and decided that this fairy needed to have a mossy tinge to her skin what with living in the forest all the time.

I threw this card together using leftover bits and pieces of patterned paper and my last roses from the closing of my local Michael’s store (rest in peace, you will be missed).

If you like Forest Night as much as I do, you can get it HERE.   In fact, you can find so much more than fairies and fantasy images at the STORE.  My shopping list at QKD is a mile long! 

Enjoy this bewitching month of crisp autumn air, falling leaves and the smell of mulled apple cider!

And in November, don't forget the 19 day celebration of QKD's 5th birthday!  Click HERE to RSVP that you're attending.

Squigglefly Challenge Card

Birthday Cake Kaboodle digi

This week Squigglefly has a fun challenge.  It is to FACE YOUR FEAR.  Lots of people are making Halloween cards with spiders, etc., but my card is a very subtle reminder that some people's fears are not taken seriously.  I made a sweet birthday card, with a luscious birthday cake on the front.  The sentiment reads "Everybody knows..." and on the inside "...that birthday calories don't count".
Well, that may be true for some, but with PWDs, or People With Diabetes, ALL calories count, expecially the carbs.  I love dessert.  I have diabetes.  I have more fear of dying from some diabetes-linked illness than that of a few calories.  So when I face my fear, I do so with good choices and plans for a healthy future.
So saying, I used Squigglefly's BIRTHDAY CAKE KABOODLE digi image, coloring her up with my trusty Copics.  I used my Fiskars Oval cutter and cut out my image and coordinating cardstock to frame it.  A 3D butterfly embellishment, some flowers and seed beads and the sentiment finishes this simple card off.
So, what do you fear?  Scrap it, make a card, or just go with the Halloween theme.  Whatever you do, keep crafting and have FUN!  And check out the challenge at Squigglefly Challenge Blog!

What's in the Box?

Just wanted to remind my crafting friends that Queen Kat Designs will host a 19 day long celebration for their 5th birthday!  Lots of fun things are planned.  Just click HERE for the event details and you can RSVP for a chance to win a prize.  There's lots more, starting on November 1.

To put you in the mood for a birthday bash, here's a card I made with a QKD birthday stamp set.  When my granddaughter saw the card, she asked what was in the box.  I told her to use her imagination and think what nice things could be in there.  She must have a GREAT imagination, because she asked me if she could open it!  I told her it was just a card, but she said she thought she knew what was in it.  No amount of persuasion could sway her from her anticipated contents!  I love 4 year olds, but they wear me down.  Does that mean I'm getting old?

Birthday Party with the Queen

Queen Kat Designs, that is!!  The company is coming up on her 5th birthday, and they have lots of fun and crafty plans for crafters.  Check out their event on Facebook HERE.  You can also catch some news on their BLOG.
In anticipation of their celebration, I made a card with the Birthday Stamp set, using the Cake image (so I was hungry, okay?!).  I stamped on both white cardstock and patterned paper, then paper pieced the layers.  I colored the rest of the image with my Copics, and gave the whole works a little shimmer with Stickles, Liquid Glass and SU's Dazzle Glitter.
For lots of fun and giveaways starting November 1st, go to:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=298948620132176

Wrapped Up in Fun

You know why I like digi images?  Because you can print them ANY size!!  So, when Hambo announced their newest challenge at the Hambo Hoedown (COLOR CHALLENGE:  use MUMMY and one of the sentiments this week with purple, orange, black and green for the main colors), I knew I wanted to do this in a BIG way.  So I printed Mummy digi-image at 5x7. 


Mummy digi-image

 Instead of making a card, I wanted to give my granddaughter a homemade trick-or-treat bag.  I used a plain brown gift bag whose front and back measure a little over 8x8.  I covered the bag with BLACK netting, adding a swag of netting at the top with ORANGE Halloween patterned ribbon to tie it up.
I then colored my Mummy in GREENS, ORANGES and PURPLES and adhered him to the bag.  I printed one of the two sentiments that come with the image onto GREEN cardstock, then added a few embellishments for a spooky scene.

So this weekend she saw the bag and couldn't wait to use it.  Her Dad and she and I went to a local OctoberFest, with lots of kids' activities and games and CANDY.  There were several people who stopped us to ask where they could make that great trick-or-treat bag, since one of the booths was for decorating treat bags.  I told them it was handmade and they walked away disappointed (but impressed, I hope).

So when you think digi images, think BIG and you will get more out of them!  Now skip on down to the Hambo Hoedown and check out the inspiration there.  Hambo Stamps has a great assortment of Halloween images to play with, so don't forget to browse the shop.  Happy Crafting!

A Story from the Files of the Witch Sisters (and a birthday celebration!)

Witch Sisters by Marlon T

 I made two spinning swing cards today, using the two new October release stamps from Queen Kat Designs. 
 The first uses one of the Witch Sisters by Marlon T. 
Kitty (my name for her) looks lovely on her broom, so I thought she would love to fly on my card.
















Forest Night by Terra Bidlespacher

  The second card was made using Forest Night by Terra Bidelspacher. 
The full stamp is so beautiful and I promise I will make a card to show off the full image on another Friday post, but for now I decided to make a moving card.  Because the window in which the image hangs is somewhat small, I had to cut the image down a bit.













The design is fairly simple, and I made a video tutorial of it.  You can view it by clicking the following link (I hope):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-BUrxMFmeM

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial!

I have more projects I’ll be posting this month from both these bewitching stamp sets, so keep checking back, and don’t forget the new stamps are available for purchase now at the QKD STORE. 

NOW for the birthday celebration!

QKD will celebrate their 5th birthday on November 19th. If you Facebook, I'm inviting all my crafting friends and I'd love it if you could party with me. Just click HERE for the event details and you can RSVP. Everyone who is attending gets a chance for a prize, and there's lots more where that came from!!

They will have a 19 day long celebration! Lots of fun things are planned!  Sure hope you can join me and others in the celebration!

Fall is the Season of Friendship

Best Friends Humphrey Collection

And with the season comes great cards, like this easel card featuring an image from the Humphrey stamp set called Best Friends.  I was actually cleaning my craft room (a never-ending chore) and came across the stamp set and decided that now was a good time to take a break and make a card.

I pulled out my Crafter’s Companion Ultimate Tool and cut and scored my cardstock to make an easel card with my image.  I used Basic Grey patterned papers and die cuts to make a colorful Fall background in which my little girls can walk together, hand in hand, friends forever.  I love how the die cut vines make it look as if they were walking in a swirling tunnel of falling leaves on a sunny Autumn day.

CC Challenge Blog is offering a fabulous prize to one random winner this month, and all you have to do is use one of their images and a theme of Friendship.  I love their stamps so much, this is my second project for the challenge.  I also have a wish list on their shopping site that I think will have to change into a cart list before the week is out!!  Free shipping over $50 and some great sales!

Child of God

Last Sunday, my granddaughter was Baptized.  I am very happy, as she is 4 years old this week.  My daughter is her godmother, and she is thrilled to be able to guide her in her spiritual and faith life.  The celebration is at the same parish at which she attends preschool, so her class will celebrate in school as well.  The service and party afterword were wonderful!  Even my 100 year old Grandma was there yo celebrate with us!

I crafted a few things for the event, including the invitations on the right.  I decided to make it one sheet with no folds.  Directions and maps were printed on the backs of the invitations.  I used one of my corner punches and matted it against black cardstock before adhering it to my cardstock base.  Each invitation had some kind of embellishment, be it a cross or a flower.

I also volunteered to make the favors for each of the guests. 

I had snagged some boxes at a local dollar store that were on clearance--4 packages for $1--that's 24 boxes for a buck!!  I attached flowers and a religious chain onto each and filled them with chocolates.  One of the perks of working at a Catholic Church is knowing a pastor who receives hundreds of religious items in the mail throughout the years.  He gave me a large bag, chock full of chains and rosaries and medals, and I was able to pick out enough to attach to each box.

Since her birthday was also on Monday, the party was a combo, so I also added a few boxes of Scooby Doo stickers for the kids, but I expect all the white boxes to be taken.

So after Gram told me she was coming, she also mentioned she needed a card for her great, great, granddaughter.  I promised her I would make her one, and this is what I came up with.

Of course, I had already made my Gram a birthday card for her, and so I also had to create a birthday card for us to give her as well as our own Christening card.

My weekend was super busy, with crafting and housework and guests and shopping, besides having my Bella overnight with us from Friday on!!  Luckily, Monday is a school holiday, and since I work in a school...

I hope your weekend was filled with family and creativity as well!

Bewitching Card

Witch on a Pumpkin by Jackie Matthews

I believe I topped last year's record for Halloween cards made in one month, but they are so much fun!!  Especially when you have some great Squigglefly digi images, like the one I used called Witch on a Pumpkin by Jackie Matthews.
Over at the Squigglefly Challenge Blog their newest challenge starts today, and it asks you to use STRIPES in your project.  I had this lovely sheet of paper by American Crafts that was double-sided, with fall leaves on one side and , as you can see, stripes on the other.  I colored my image with Copics, cut it out and popped it onto my 6x6 card with a bit of ribbon and a sticker sentiment.
I can't wait to mail out all these colorful halloween cards I made in the last few weeks.  In fact, I think I will mail this one out to one of you who leave a little love for me.  Here's how to snag this card: Go to Squigglefly and check out their digital images and let me know which one you like the best.  Post it in your comment and I'll do a random pick and send someone this card, which will be blank inside for your own sentiment, whether to keep or to give away.  Tell me in the post who the artist of your fave image is, and I'll send some halloween embellishments along with it!!
 Each week there's a new challenge at Squigglefly Challenge Blog.  If you use one of their images, you could win a prize.  If you don't have any Squigglefly images (yet), you can snag some FREEBIES.  Have fun, and don't forget to leave some love!!

Friends Make Everything Better

As these little critters will attest, doing something together makes the time go past quickly and happily.  Crafter's Companion Challenge blog has a new challenge this month, and a fantastic giveaway!  The theme for October is Friendship, and the prize to one lucky random winner is Six of their soon-to-be-released Humphrey the Elephant Stamp sets, with a mini-storage binder and a set of the mini panels to put them into!!!


Cute Companions Wishing Line

 When I found this stamp set in my drawer, it hadn't even been placed onto EZ Mount yet, so this card is its maiden voyage, so to speak.  And now that it's ink-ready, I don't think I'll let it sit idle for very long.  I love the way the stamps ink up and print images, clear and sharp.  This set is from the Cute Companions collection called Wishing Line by Jayne Nestorenko.
As soon as I stamped and colored the images, I knew they would work well with a step-fold card, in order to bring out all the dimension from each and every image.  I used CTMH patterned papers for the backgrounds, and colored my images with Copics.  I love the scene that I created with this type of card, and right now I don't plan on giving it out to anyone, but I want to keep it and display it for awhile.  I don't know whether to frame it or to stand it up on a table, it looks great both ways!
Be sure to check out the Crafter's Companion Challenge Blog for your chance to win the October prize.  Happy Crafting!!

Once Upon a Time with the Witch Sisters

Good Morning!

I have Halloween on my mind today.  This is one of my favorite holidays, mostly because of the fun factor.  When else can you dress up (or down) and act a part, or let your goofy personality shine forth (without the help of a few glasses of wine)?  So I inked up a couple of Queen Kat Designs stamps from Marlon T's set called Witch Sisters and I have a little story to tell you...

Once upon a time, there were two sisters who were much like everyone else, except they were lucky enough to be witches.  Not the bad old ugly crones you see in horror movies, just two very spiritual and perceptive witches who channeled the energies of nature into spells and potions and a few nocturnal flights on their broom sticks.
Their names were Caterina and Bathilda, but most called them Kitty and Batty.  Kitty flew when the moon was full, with her pet cat, Midnight, by her side.  Batty liked to fly alongside her pet, Shadow, who was a black bat.
Both girls were young, pretty and had a great sense of humor.  They liked to play tricks on each other, and sometimes on their neighbors, which did not make them very popular when it came time for parties.  No one was likely to forget Alice’s tenth birthday party, to whom the girls were innocently invited. 
Batty gave Alice a beautiful hand mirror, that unfortunately reflected the viewer's secret dissatisfaction with themselves.  Alice went around all afternoon smoothing down a cowlick that was never really there,  and Peter, who swipped the mirror when she wasn't looking, kept picking his nose, sure that the long booger hanging from his right nostril would come out this time.
Batty wasn’t alone in the mayhem-making.  Kitty had stood behind one of the mothers in the food line, and watched as the adult took the last of the chocolate chip cookies.  Kitty graciously offered a cup of punch to the poor woman, who couldn’t stop grunting and squealing like a pig until she woke the next morning.

But I lose myself in the story of the Witch Sisters, whose stamps you can purchase HERE.  Now for my project...
I am hostessing a Halloween party, and I love to handmake a lot of my decorations, favors, etc.  One thing I want to have on hand is a pile of containers in which guests can take home treats.  Both hubby and I are diabetic, so we don't want them lingering here, calling to us suggestively in the middle of the night.  So picture this box and others like it filled with a scrumptious assortment of cupcakes, cookies and sweet treats.  Yum, but I think my blood sugar just went up a couple notches writing this!!
I snagged a package of these cupcake boxes on clearance last November, and colored and adhered my Witch Sisters onto the tops with a couple of the sentiments that go with the stamp set.   A pretty Halloween ribbon around the box will complete the "To Go" boxes.

If you want to hear more about Batty and Kitty, I have more projects I’ll be posting this month from this bewitching stamp set, so keep checking back, and don’t forget the new set is called Witch Sisters by Marlon T, available for purchase now at the STORE.  There are several  new stamps this month and you can see great cards and projects using them all on the QKD Blog.  Don't forget to leave some love!

P is for Pat

Wee Henrietta Witch

Put on your dancin shoes, the Hambo Hoedown is Playing my song!  This week's challenge is to use something on your Project (besides a HAMBO image) that starts with the first letter of your name.  Since mine is Pat, I Purposely Pieced Patterned Paper (disPlaying Polka dots), Placed a Pumpkin button, Painted with PurPle (actually CoPics) as the Primary color, Plus I Prettified my card with my corner Punch for a little Pizzazz!!
I am Pleased as Punch with my card, which uses Wee Henrietta Witch digi image from Hambo Stamps.
I hadn't realized all the crafting items that start with the letter P (as well as verbs, adverbs and adjectives).  Those other embellies that I used that don't start with a P include foam stars, felt fusion and my sentiment was Printed on Microsoft Word using a Poem from the Quote Garden.
This is such a fun challenge this week--you have no excuse NOT to Play!  What?  You don't have a Hambo image?!? Then click HERE for Freebies and have sime fun!!!
p.s. This card qualifies for so many other challenges:
Craft your Passion - Anything Goes with Ribbon
One Stitch at a Time - Digi image
My Craft Spot - Too cute to spook
ABC Challenge Blog - A is for Anything Goes

Two Cards Today

I have two cards to show you today.  The first is a Halloween card, as I am just finishing off my stack of cards needed for this holiday.  The folks over at Less Is More (LIM) have challenged crafters to not only make a clean, simple card, but to use the color of the crafter's eyes as the main color on the card.  You can use one more color, and as my eyes are NOT orange, you can see that they are a dark blue edging toward purple at times.
My card uses a Halloween image colored only with two Copics, YR04 & V04.  The textured paper is a violet blue, which doesn'y show up very well in this photo, and I simply punched the tor right corner for an accent, diecut my image with my Epic Six using Nestabilities Labels Four, and added an orange ribbon.
This is not usually my style and i had to work at not adding embellishments and Stickles and everything but the kitchen sink onto it, but it came out how I wanted it to come out, clean and simple.
If you are finding yourself pouring on the embellishments, take time to check out Less Is More Challenge Blog to get your simplicity mojo on!
It's interesting in that ove at the Corrosive Challenge Blog, they are offering a very different challnge, yet my card fits in perfectly!  Their theme this week is PURPLE PASSION, and they ask that you make a card featuring the color purple and one other color!  You can see how well my card fits their challenge guidelines as well, since I used only purple and orange.  For some great inspiration and challenging tasks, check them out HERE.

Onto my second card, which is a birthday card that I made for my sister.  I used Magnolia's Tilda, and tried (in vain as you can see) to keep it simple as well.  I used only two colors for my card, brown and teal, but couldn't stop adding color and shimmer and a flower and ink and...well, you can see for yourself!
I like both cards equally well, and am glad I can give this second card to someone I love.

Happy Birthday, Kathy!!

The Weather is Turning

But it was still a perfect day to make cards--National Cardmaking Day!  I got a chance (a very small allotment of time) on Saturday to play in my craft room, and wanted to show off my creations:
The first card looks toward colder days and memories of summer as the theme, and Hambo Stamps' Dragonfly digi-image was the perfect image on which to showcase it. 


Dragonfly digi image

 I paper-pieced the image after printing it on white once and twice on patterned paper.  The design of my card is inspired by one created by Sally Astill.  That's the Hambo Hoedown challenge this week, to CASE (Copy And Share Everything) a card from their gallery.  Sally's card features an image on top of layers of paper that set the scene, as does mine.  I added the sentiment "Always maintain a kind of summer even in the middle of winter" so that my dragonfly makes sense on a winter card.
I used Copics sparingly on the image, a border punch on the bottom of my card, and google eyes on my image (because they're fun).
Hambo Challenge Blog is saying goodbye to their former Design Team and asking their followers to welcome the new team this week.  I always get great inspiration from the Bacon Bits, and welcome a new crop of crafters to inspire me further!

Join the fun at the Hambo Hoedown.   If you still don't have an image from Hambo Stamps, they are offering FREEBIES with which you can play and enter challenges.  Every player who follows their guidelines gets a new digi image to play with in the next challenge, so what are you waiting for?!

My second card was made at my local scrapbooking store at a free make & take to celebrate the day.  Since they advertised new Memory Box stamps and papers, I was practically the first in line!  Wouldn't you know it, the power went out five minutes after they opened their door.  While we roamed the store to look at what's new on the shelves, the owner's hubby came in with a gnerator while they waited for ComEd to fix the outage.

I love taking classes at Craft Fancy, my lss, and seeing all the new stuff from CHA plus.  The card we made was again looking forward toward the coming winter, and showcased a gorgeous diecut cardinal.  The colors of the papers are in my fave color family, so we bonded very well!






Sandi and I meet up at Craft Fancy in Arlington Hts, IL


And surprise, one of my bestest crafting buds showed up, hoping she could catch me and we could talk.  We get together maybe once or twice a year, but when we do, it's as if we were never apart, we just start off right where we left things!  I am blessed with a few of these soul sisters in my life.  She wants some help getting her own blog up and running, so we're getting together before the weather really takes a turn for the worse!

Whatever you do, make sure you enjoy doing it.  Happy Crafting!

I am a Royal Stamping Maiden for Queen Kat Designs!

Forest Night by Terra Bidlespacher

I have an exciting announcement to make:  Starting this month, I am designing for Queen Kat Designs!  I have loved the cards I see on friends' blogs that feature QKD stamps,and now I get to play and create with them myself!
My first card features "Forest Night" by Terra Bidlespacher.  After coloring my image, I tore it and inked the edges with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo distress ink.  Framing it with patterned paper that coordinated with the colors I used on the image, I found a distressed tag in my stash of leftover supplies and used it to create a frame, also using some pink cardstock (torn, of course) and coordinating striped patterned paper.
The stripes looked too intense, so I toned it down with some webbing, and then embellished with a felt bird, a diecut butterfly, and some rhinestones on the tag.  I finished off my card by inking one edge with gold pigment ink, then rubbing in some Aztec Gold Pearl Ex pigments.

Here are the Copics I used to color my forest fairy.  A motley assortment, you might say, and I would definitely agree with you!  Usually I have about three to four at the most, but I tried for as much definition and depth as possible.  I discovered, however, that many of my Copics are in need of refilling!

Now for my confession: I was struck with a case of doubts as I finished the card.  And those doubts show up in my final photo of my project.  I came down with a severe case of indecision for my first card for QKD.  I kept searching my drawers and files, asking myself  "Is this enough?  Is this too much?  What if I added this?"  And as I searched, the chaos on my desk grew!

I am happy to say that my desk, although temporarily in disarray, has been put to rights again, ready for my next project!

Speaking of projects, if you like this pretty forest fairy, she can be found HERE along with so many other gorgeous and fun stamps.

QKD: www.katstamps.com

Blog: http://qkd.blogspot.com

Store: http://www.katstamps.com/store

Gallery: http://www.katstamps.com/gallery1

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