I Had Fun With This One!

Today I made a card using a QKD digi image called Mermaid Braids by the lovely Maigan Lynn.

I decided to use an embossed card front that I "tweaked" by coloring the unraised parts and Stickling the raised parts (I thought these looked like waves).

I colored Maigan's mermaid with Copics, then fussy-cut her off of the rest of the image.  I adhered her to my card with dimensional tape.

To embellish, I lined up some like-colored ribbons and covered the staples I had used to fold them with a spray of flowers.  A few clear skittles add to the underwater look of my card and it's finished.

Oh, and I added a tiny starfish charm to her wrist.  Uh oh, looks like she lost an eyelash!!  Better do an emergency make-up recovery job on her before she gets mailed out!

Like what you see?  Go on over to the ALL NEW Queen Kat Designs Shop to choose your favorites!!  Tell them Pat sent you!

To Paper Piece or to Paper Pierce, That Is the Question

This week brings a new challenge from Squigglefly:

  "Challenge this week to either do a Paper Piecing or Paper Piercing....or if you are super creative, do both!"

The BandAids on my fingers tell me I am NOT a paper piercer, so I stuck to a card featuring paper piecing.

I am showcasing a July new release from Squigglefly called "Cup with Cherry" by artist Pammie Lehto.  I printed the image three times-once on card stock and twice on patterned paper.

After coloring the contents of the cup, I fussy-cut the images on my patterned paper.  One is the full cup and saucer; the second is just the cup, which I adhered with dimensional tape for a more 3D effect.  The sentiment is another separate digi from Squigglefly that I thought looked and sounded right for my card.

I embellished with a leftover sprig of flowers, a couple silk leaves and a "pebble" sticker.

Remember, if you use a Squigglefly image in the challenge, you can win a free digi!!  So get out your patterned papers or your piercing needle and come play in the Squigglefly Challenge this week!!

Where Did Christmas in July Come From?

According to Wikipedia, "In the southern hemisphere, winter falls in July. Therefore in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in order to have Christmas with a winter feel Christmas in July events are undertaken.  The earliest known occasion to make the phrase Christmas in July literal was in July 1933 at a girl's summer camp in North Carolina.  The term was given national attention with the release of the Hollywood movie comedy Christmas in July in 1940.  American advertisers began using Christmas in July themes in print for summertime sales as early as 1950."

In the crafting world, it's as good an excuse as any to start my stash of Christmas cards for the holiday.  And evidently QKD is in sync with my plans, releasing new Christmas images this month as well.
Check out my card today using the QKD July release, "Swirl Deer."

I decided to try a gate-fold card--amazing that I'd never made one before, but true!!  Once I picked out the patterned papers from my Christmas stash, I printed my image on white cardstock and inked the background with Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Worn Lipstick, Bundled Sage and Gathered Twigs).

I found the sentiment in my Christmas box and inked it to coordinate with my image, then attached them to opposing sides of my card.  The star is from my button collection.

I put a little shimmer on my deer's antlers with black Stickles, but otherwise left my card Clean And Simple.

Ready to tackle Christmas cards yet?  The QKD Shop is your go-to place!!  Not ready yet?  There are plenty of stamps and digi images just released--go check them out!!

T MINUS SIX DAYS AND COUNTING

My son's wedding to celebrate the sacrament of marriage is coming up this Friday.  My new daughter-in-law, co-mother-in-law, daughter and I have been very busy!!  We are all crafters (I love that he is marrying one of "my kind."

Cami, my DIL, has made all the centerpieces, the bridesmaids bouquets and the Table Numbers.  Her mom has made all the rest of the flowers, and made some amazing cards and favors for the shower.  I have been busy making the following items for this event:

I bought a paper mache chest for the cards that guests will drop into the box.  Using black acrylic paint, distressing it while still wet, and rubbing some Tim Holtz distress inks, I gave the "straps" on the chest a leather look.

I used patterned papers and Mod Podged them onto the chest, front, back sides and bottom.  I used black ink and rubbed it onto the edges for an aged look.

I also distressed the brads and lock with inks and distress embossing powder.  Then, since the wedding has a tropical theme, I added a couple star
fish, and before gluing the box partially open, I attached

strings of pearls hanging out of the chest.

Another project I finished was the ring bearer's pillow.  Nothing more than to hot glue another large star fish onto the pillow and tie ocean charms onto the ends of the ties.

I think I previously posted the boutonnieres for the groomsmen, but here's where my daughter's help came in.  I made the prototype and she put them all together.  Here's a photo of the boutonnieres with a "steal of a deal" from Hobby Lobby.

The starfish decoration was on 80% clearance.  Both were colored purple, which is the bride's favorite color (her sash is called regency Purple) and is mounted to a piece of white-washed wood.

I placed the boutonnieres in small white boxes and tied them up with lace (like the guys will appreciate that touch).

I'm still working on the tent cards that will become Table Assignments.  Each card base is a different set of colors depending on the entree choices of the guests.  Their name and table number will be printed on the front.  All that's left for me to finish these is the actual table assignments, which I hope we work on this weekend!

I'll have more pictures next weekend!

Beach Birthday Party

Some people think that when you live in Chicago, a beach party is impossible.  But Chicago lies on one of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan, and our beaches are elbow-to-elbow packed with families, jocks and swim bunnies.  So I had to come up with an appropriate package for my birthday present for an upcoming party at the beach.

For this project I used a Maigan Lynn digi image called Mermaid Braids.  I colored her with Copics and framed her with coordinating cardstock.  I have had a couple wooden boxes/containers in my craft room forever, so I grabbed one and Mod Podged some hound's tooth-patterned tissue paper to cover it.

After adhering Maigan's image onto the front, I had my way with the embellishments!  I'll be dropping a gift card to Bubba Gump's Restaurant into this handmade box.  I know she'll like it!

Check out all of the July releases from the Queen over at the Shop today!!  For more inspiration, check out our Facebook Fan Page.

And as always, keep crafting!!

Who's the (em)Boss?

This week brings a new challenge from Squigglefly:

"Add something embossed to your card, it can be any of the wonderful backgrounds that have embossing in them, any of the spellbinders that have embossing, any brass stencils that use dry embossing, or add a great embellishment or cardstock that already comes embossed"

In addition to the new theme, if you use a Squigglefly digi, you will be in the running for a free digi!!  Don't have a Squigglefly image yet? Check out the FREEBIES at their store.

My card front features embossed white core cardstock, which I love to distress to get that textured feeling.  The card showcases a July new release from Squigglefly called "It's a Jump Rope Kind of Day", designed by artist Cheryl Grant Alger.  I colored him with Copics, then used a Sakura gel pen for a shimmery look on the jump rope.

I embellished my card with an adhesive-backed chain of crocheting (not handmade) and an earring whose "ring" and mate I lost.  Which proves I am a crafter-I never throw away something that maybe might have the possibility of a use in my crafts).

I hope you like my card, and it has inspired you to try a little embossing in your crafting.  For more inspiration, check out Squigglefly's blog and their Facebook page!!

Squiglefly Shy Bear Blog Hop-A Day Late and A Dollar Short

Hello everyone!
Welcome to the Squigglefly Shy Bear blog hop.

This hop is dedicated to Melissa Chettle and her son Justin. She was a friend of Design Team member Charlene and she passed away unexpectedly this June at just 43 years young.  Melissa was an avid crafter and a HUGE fan of the Shy Bear images. She had even commissioned Charlene to design many Shy Bear cards for her. Unfortunately she never saw them. So we are having this wonderful Blog Hop in her honor, using all Shy Bear cards. 
My card uses Shy Bear Hi Bella, which is a Squigglefly freebie image   There are loads of Shy Bears to choose from, plus many others.  Please go check them out at the Squigglefly Store today, then post a comment on the Squigglefly Challenge Blog for a chance to win some goodies!!

Under the Sea with A Maigan Lynn Mermaid

I am just loving the new July releases from Queen Kat Designs.  Here's another one I got to play with and want to show off.  It is called Mermaid Braids by the very talented Maigan Lynn.

I made a mixed media card using patterned papers, lace, ribbon, wired jewels and Stickles.  I colored my mermaid with Copics and placed her in a tropical setting using those patterned papers.  I adhered her with dimensional tape.

The wired jewels came off a frame or basket (that was butt ugly).  Its only saving grace was the wired jewels, which I of course threw into my crafting stash, throwing away the basket (frame?).

Maigan is one of the many artists at QKD whose images I love to play with.  And this one is a new DIGI!!  Digi's are very versatile, because you can print oin any type of paper, resize the image and even flip it to face the other way.

Go check out the QKD blog for loads of inspiration this month using the new releases!! Our design team, which we refer to as the Royal Stamping Maidens, has been super busy showing off their creativity.

A Special Thank You

Today starts a new challenge over at Squigglefly Challenge Blog.  The theme is a "Special Thank You."  Who doesn't need a handful of thank you cards in their life, right?
Well, there is also a special surprise to this challenge--for the owner of Squigglefly Designs!  Unbeknownst to her, both teams got together to show her how much we love and appreciate her.  Every "Thank You" card that BOTH design teams have made are FOR HER.  (Yes, she is THAT awesome)

My thank you card features a new July release called Quilted Frame by artist Pammie Lehto.  I chose to cut it out and frame another amazing digi inside hers.  The hands shaping a heart is from artist Lynne Stansbery, another one of my favorite artist in the Squigglefly lineup. There are over fifty talented artists working with Squigglefly to give you the best of their creativity.
Now let me finish this post with a personal message for our dear leader, Holly:
  I am so lucky and blessed to be able to play with the lovely new Squigglefly images that come out every month.  The challenges have really stretched my creativity and imagination.  While a Design Team member, I have learned so much, met so many talented and friendly artists, and had so much FUN!!  You are a wonderful and generous "boss" to work for, and a true friend.
  So Thank you, Holly!!

Don't forget to play in this week's challenge with your own Anything Goes Thank you card--use a Squigglefly image for your chance to win!

Make a Wish!

Tomorrow the Queen releases new images, but I wanted to give you a sneak peek of one of them.

The digi image is called "Swirl Deer" and due to its fabulous antlers, I decided to use it for a birthday card.

My card showcases the image with patterned paper, fiber, a ribbon bow, inked edges and an embellishment I found on clearance in the wedding aisle of Hobby Lobby.

I like to cruise through Hobby Lobby without a specific item in mind, so that I am open to discovery.  Most times when I have an objective in mind, like replacing my adhesive, or a certain color of card stock, I miss out on little surprises.

That's why I also like to cruise through the rubber stamps and digi images at the QKD store.  If I keep myself open to surprises I find an image that I might have missed previously, and fall in love with it!

Whatever your "plan of attack" is when it comes to craft shopping, I hope you find something that inspires you.  Speaking of inspiration, check out the QKD Facebook page!!

A Passion for Purple

Do you have a passion for purple?  If you do, it's your lucky week!  The new Squigglefly Challenge this week is to use purple passionately, along with a Squigglefly digi.!!

I colored this cutie-pie of a digi image with my purple Copics.  The image is called Baby Upside Down by the very talented Fawn Palmer.

After coloring the image, I fussy-cut it and popped it onto a diecut lacy circle, cleverly inked with a coordinating purple.  the box, which will hold treats and serve as a favor for a baby shower,is from a leftover die cut.  It stands about 4 inches tall.

I inked all the edges with Tim Holtz Distress ink and adhered a border of lace on the top.  I wanted my image to pop, so the only embellishment I use on the front was a line of adhesive jewels.

The top of the favor box, however, is a different story!  I went all out with lots of purple flowers, since everyone will see the top while the favors are sitting on the table.

Here's a shot of my finished box.  I like this one, so I know that a table full of twenty or so of these favors, all sporting Fawn's digi image, will look fabulous!

You'll find all kinds of inspiration to get your creative juices flowing over at Squigglefly Challenge blog.  One random winner will get a free digi of her choice, so have fun with the color purple, and happy crafting!!