WIS CHALLENGE!!

Head on over HERE to see the latest WIS challenge and the chance to win a FANTASTIC QKD prize!!!

C'mon and play along!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's easy and fun!!!

xoxo-

This was my post this week on the WIS site!! Check it out!!

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Happy Thursday everyone!!! Thursday is one of my favorite days of the week because it's *kind of * a weekend day...ALMOST! ;) I have received some of THE most amazing stamps this week!!! Today I have to show you STAR!!She is simply divine!!! Sassy and sexy and simply mesmerizing!!! As all mermaids are!!! I think that's their job!! =) *wink*

I really wanted her to pop but didn't want the card itself to get lost in her beauty so I tried my best to show each piece in it's own beauty independently of each other yet obviously together!

The base of the card and the other designer papers are all from the new Euphoria line from Basic Grey. I've always been one of their biggest fans.

The purple, mint and tan papers I've had in my stash for SO long (years...literally) that I really have no idea whose brand they are. I colored Star with many Copics (see photo for colors), along with my silver paint pen. Her mirror is bedazzled with vintage silver real glass glitter and her gorgeous tail is covered in Making Memories scrapbook shimmer in Lilac. I used my Lyra aquacolor crayons and water painted her rock perch. She is stamped in (what else? - I barely use any other brand of ink!) Brilliance Pigment Ink in Pearlescent Crimson.

I had a fabulous time stitching, tying ribbon and the final touch a little metallic mint green stick pin that I could imagine she'd use to twist and tie up that gorgeous long flowing multi colored hair!!

I hope you enjoy her as much as I do!!

Have a great rest of the day!! Thanks for visiting!!

XOXO-

Shout out to Auntie!!!

My darling Sister-In-Law, Audra, has always proclaimed that she doesn't have a creative bone in her body. I, however, disagree!! She regularly spends time with my 2 children on the weekends giving my husband and I time to do things that must be done on weekends. And the older my children get, the more creative she becomes!! So I just wanted to show you one of her any my daughter's most recent creations. This GORGEOUS crown!!! I have snagged it and put it in a safe place in my studio so that it doesn't get discarded, torn or forgotten about. The second my daughter walked into my house wearing this after being over at Auntie's I thought she looked JUST like Max from Where The Wild Things Are!!!

So thank you Auntie for being a GREAT and CREATIVE Auntie =) We Love you!!

QKD!!! "Be My Creation" kit!!

Hello!!!! If you've bounced here from the Amazing Alex then you are on the right hop!!!





I will admit...when we first received our color assignment this week I really had to THINK!! Cranberry, Bright Yellow, Brown, Green....or basic variations of those. Not so much my 'go to' palette! But...one of the MANY perks to being on a DT is being issued challenges that you would normally never challenge yourself with!!

So...I pulled out the colors....and I sat...and sat...and sat...and just looked at them. A card was not calling me...but an alterable DVD tin most CERTAINLY was!!! I've been wanting to use this for a while. It came in a pile of things that a friend gave me a long time ago and it's just been kickin' around in my "alterables" basket waiting to be chosen for just the right project.

Finally!!! Here was it's chance to shine!!!

I decided to create a portable sewing/crafter's kit out of it!! It can easily be used as simply a travel sewing kit. But....for those of us in the 'biz' ;) or in the "craft" as I should say...it would be a handy little number to bring to a couple hour crop or a small workshop. It's obviously not so convenient to bring a sewing machine to things like that and not necessary to bring spools and spools of ribbon when usually only a few yards will do! So...this is what I came up with!!!

Contents of kit: Left Side:

• Misc lengths of ribbon easily intertwined and bowed into the green mesh which is attached with a velcro dot for easy removal
  

• different types of stick pins in baby strawberry pin cushion(both for decoration and/or function)
• pack of bandaids (for the inevitably stuck finger!)

Right Side:

• Safety pins, buttons, sewing needles - in a small reusable plastic sleeve (adhered with a velcro dot for easy removal)
• Needle threader - (also adhered with a velcro dot for easy removal)
• Cranberry thread is glued down in a few spots to create "slots" for a measuring tape, travel scissors and sewing thread)
• Butterflies....purely there for inspiration ;)

Cardstock & Designer Paper (just about every piece of either cardstock or DP is corner rounded):

• SU! Cranberry Crisp - heavily distressed and stitched
• PTI - New Leaf Green - crumpled up, covered in Dazzle Versamark and heat embossed
• Basic Grey - "Boxer" in Vintage Tee, Fedora and Corduroy
  
• Fancy Papers - "Simplicity"
• SU! Summer Sun - covered in Dazzle Versamark and heat embossed - inside left cover
• SU! Creamy Caramel

Stamp: QKD Dress Form - stamped and heat set. Colored in with Copics and then again with Sakura stardust glitter pen
Ink: Colorbox Craft Ink - Brown
Embellishments:

• Measuring tape ribbon - Misc brand from Michael's
  
• Skirt - fabric I had in my stash - top was stitched to bring in the waist to match the dress form stamp - added with 3-D glue dots

• Yellow ribbon with white ticking - ACM house brand - added to skirt with a dab of hot glue and added to lower outer edge with 'red liner' tape.
• Buttons from Colorful Creations store in Hyannis MA
• Hemp Twine - Michael's
• Brown ribbon with white polka dots - Michael's
• Cranberry grosgrain ribbon - JoAnn Fabrics
• Green Circular Netting - came in this month's "Findings Kit"!!! It's SOOOOOOO cool!! You MUST pick one up!!!
• Velcro dots - JoAnn Fabrics
• Tiny Strawberry - Snipped off of a larger pin cushion so you can carry a few pins with you
  

I truly hope you enjoyed my creation today!!! Keep hopping along to the next blog!!!

QKD: http://qkd.blogspot.com
Shannon: http://shannonssentiments.blogspot.com
Jules: http://julietds.blogspot.com
Penny: http://penny-randomthoughts.blogspot.com/
Tina: http://woodedviews.blogspot.com
Maria: http://www.riacreations.blogspot.com/
Kelly: www.kellystamps.blogspot.com
KellyJean: http://dancingwithstamps.blogspot.com
WIS: http://whimsicalinksorority.blogspot.com
Andrea: www.mystampingheaven.typepad.com
Victoria: http://eatstampsleeprepeat.blogspot.com/
Lara: www.youwantthecookie.blogspot.com
Anessa: http://alienanessa.wordpress.com
Helene: http://2amscrapper.blogspot.com/
Nina: http://creatinginsolitude.blogspot.com
Alex: http://www.paperandstring.blogspot.com/
Meredith: www.papercanteen.com
Linda: http://linda-scrap-atc.blogspot.com
Nancy: http://craftynancy.blogspot.com
Anita: http://happypapercrafthappenings.blogspot.com/
QKD: http://www.katstamps.com/store---------


Happy Crafting!! Onto the Lovely Linda!!! I hope everyone has a great Wednesday!!!

xoxo

Submission #3..."Landcruiser Love"

"Landcruiser Love!!!!"

Just wanted to share my third submission with you when I applied to QKD! My inspiration was our 1979 Toyota Landcruiser that my husband and I purchased for each other as our wedding gift to each other almost 13 years ago!! =) I've used the QKD speedometer in SO many ways and I have another card to show you another time that I used it for in a TOTALLY different manner but I've found it SO versatile for both feminine and masculine cards!! It's a MUST have!!! And it's on sale!! NOW!! RUN!!! DON'T WALK!! ;)

Thought you'd enjoy!

=) xoxo-

Instructions for “Landcruiser Love” Tag Style Card:

Large Manila Tag 8 ½” x 4” – (purchased at one of my LSS and I think they were just the house brand or ordered specifically from an office supply company – no tags on them)

• “squished” around the edges with Archival Brilliance Pearlescent Yellow Pigment Ink
• Heat embossed with Melt Art brand Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (I wanted that rough paint job look)
• Edge distressed
• Outside edges antiqued with SU! Chocolate Chip ink pad

Layer 2 – Top – base matte - SU! Buckaroo Blue (retired)

• DP – Basic Grey Designer Paper – Recess in Equation
• SU! Jumbo rivets
• Sentiment “gratitude” – My Favorite Things (I forget the name of the set)

Layer 2 – Bottom – base matte – SU! Bravo Burgundy

• DP – Basic Grey Designer Paper – Recess in Arithmetic
• Sentiment “you are my forever love” – MFT

Layer 3 – QKD Distressed Speedometer!! ;)

• Stamp inked in Colorbox Pigment Ink “Brown” (btw…inks BEAUTIFULLY!!! even on straight acrylic block!! Nice job ;)
• Stamped on SU! Brushed Silver
• Heat embossed with Judi Kins embossing powder
• Matte for speedometer – Basic Grey Designer Paper in Answers – heavily distressed

Embellishments

• SU! Bravo Burgundy 5/8” grosgrain ribbon
• “D” style ring buckle (from an old pair of jeans that I cut up for another project!!!...yes….I do save EVERYTHING!)
• SU! Twill Tape – stamped with SU!’s set “By Land” (I believe it’s retired) in Black Staz-On ink
• Twill was threaded through “D” ring and zig zag stitched with my Great Grandmother’s vintage green thread.
• “Hanger” threaded through hole in the top is pipe solder that I “borrowed” ;) from my husband’s workbench!

Back of Card

· Basic Grey in Arithmetic measured at 7 ¼” x 3 ½

Submission #2

I just wanted to post my second submission that I had sent to QKD when I was applying for the Design Team position. It was based on the above sketch. Similar to my first submission, I had not yet had any QKD stamps in my stash so I used what I had.

I hope you enjoy!!!

Happy MONDAY!!

XOXO

Please visit the WIS website to see all of the WIS postings!!

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Welcome Y'all to Tempting Lorelai Thursdays!!!!(the Y'all sticks with me from my brief stint in Houston ;) I am SO excited as this is my first post on the WIS blog as a WIS!!! I'm thrilled beyond words to be able to create with these AMAZINGLY talented women and these GORGEOUS images!!! I'm too lucky!!!

My first creation is with Lorelai. She is in no other word...STUNNING. I loved her the minute I laid eyes on her!!!

I set to work today and I must confess...I do not YET have this stamp in my possession. I cheated...JUST a little bit and printed her off of the QKD store site!!! (where btw...there is a 55% off of all clearance items sale going on now!!!...run! don't walk!!) And while you're there...you MUST pick up at least 2 or 3 Mermaids!!! They are BEYOND fun and fabulous to color, glitter, stitch onto...whatever your passion is!!!

But I digress...so I wanted to participate in this weeks post so I printed her off and onto some good quality ivory cardstock. Considering she's not REALLY stamped I think she came out quite nicely!! The colors of red, turquoise, olive and hot pink called to me...LOUDLY!! As did my large collection of glitter!!!

I truly hope that you enjoy my post!!! Thanks for visiting!!! =)

Hugs!!

"Varrrooooooom!!!!"

Happy Sketch Wednesday everyone!!! I'm still working with the few QKD stamps that I have as I anxiously await the big order that I placed!!! I'm amazed at how much I've been able to do with just 3 stamps!!! I have another card that I just did to play around with this Distressed Speedometer but this is the sketch card that I have to show you today so that'll have to wait for another day!!

If you've found your way here from Alex's blog you're on the right HOP! If not you can start at the beginning and hope your entire way through everyone's fabulous work!!!


QKD: http://qkd.blogspot.com
Shannon: http://shannonssentiments.blogspot.com
jules: http://julietds.blogspot.com
Penny: http://penny-randomthoughts.blogspot.com/
Tina: http://woodedviews.blogspot.com
Vicki: http://qksc.blogspot.com
Maria: http://www.riacreations.blogspot.com/
Kelly: www.kellystamps.blogspot.com
KellyJean: http://dancingwithstamps.blogspot.com
WIS: http://whimsicalinksorority.blogspot.com
Bev (SG) http://getcreativesg.blogspot.com
Andrea: www.mystampingheaven.typepad.com
Victoria: http://eatstampsleeprepeat.blogspot.com/
Lara: www.youwantthecookie.blogspot.com
Anessa: http://alienanessa.wordpress.com
Helene: http://2amscrapper.blogspot.com/
nina: http://creatinginsolitude.blogspot.com
Alex: http://www.paperandstring.blogspot.com/
Meredith: www.papercanteen.com
Linda: http://linda-scrap-atc.blogspot.com
Nancy: http://craftynancy.blogspot.com
Anita: http://happypapercrafthappenings.blogspot.com/
QKD: http://www.katstamps.com/store---------

I am finding it so inspiring working for QKD as it's always so nice to have a a reason for purposeful creation. Not that creating for creatings sake isn't just fabulous in and of itself but to be given a challenge or an assignment is somehow different for me. It pushes me to do just THAT much better or try that much harder to go out of my comfort zone. I'm not sure that makes much sense but it does to me! =)

Anyhoo!! Onto this week's creation!!!

"Varrrroooommmm!!!!" Card:

Envelope: 7 x 5 1/4
Card Base: 6 3/4 x 5 - 12x 12 SU! Basic Black cardstock
L1: 2 1/4 X 5 - SU! Summer Sun with edges distressed
L2: 2 X 5 - Reminisce - Road Signs
L3: 6 3/4 X 2 - SU! Summer Sun
L4: 6 3/4 x 1 3/4 - Reminisce - Road Signs "Caution" - As stated above, I'm waiting on a large package from QKD so I do not have a QKD sentiment to use so I used the words in the paper for the sentiment.
L5: 4 1/4 x 3 1/2 - Paper Source - Red
L6: 4 3 1/4 - Reminisce - Road Signs
L7: 2 1/2 circle cut with my Cricut - Paper Source - Red
L8: QKD - Distressed Speedometer stamped on PTI White Cardstock inked with Brilliance Craft Ink in Graphite Black and heat embossed.

Embellishments:

• Hambly brand rub ons - arrows - after placing these on the card I used my sanding block to lightly distress these so that they looked more like worn paint on a road.
  
• Silver "piping" is actually soldering pipe that I swiped from my hubby's workbench ;) (you never know what you'll find down there!!!)
• Every level (except 5 & 6) is lifted up and adhered on double stacked 3D glue dots - I use Zots brand. I had to double stack them in order to accommodate for the soldering piece as I didn't want to the layers to be too bumpy.
  

Thanks for reading!!!

I hope everyone's having a very creative week!!!

Hoo Hoo!!! House Decor!

My husband and I have REALLY been working hard this summer on house projects. We re-did our kitchen and upstairs bathroom and the upstairs hallway. We're working now on the stairwell in our house where we attempted to paint over YEARS of wallpaper with zero success so now we must strip it down and start from the beginning.

Anyway - I won't bore you with our choring but rather show you a cutsie little design element that I've added to our living room!!

A friend graciously gave us a fantastic kitchen table so our old tiny one has become a "show off" table - as I refer to it in our living room. You know, a place to show off photos, memorabilia, knick-knacks, etc. My hubby and I have been going through really OLD photos and scanning them in. So we now have this fantastic stack of old photos that I didn't just want to put away back in their bins...I wanted to show them off!! So I foraged around for a cool, vintage looking flower pot that had a nice patina to it to place them in. I put them in an arrangement with 2 other bowls. One holding yarn the other holding some sparkly nonsense that just looks cute. But it was lacking something. Something that said... COME AND LOOK AT ME!!!

So I set to work creating a little decoration that would catch people's eye enough to draw them over.

The new chipboard Owl set that I bought from SU! was just the buddy that I needed!!!

I popped her out of his cardboard slumber and coated him in Olive Green craft ink and heat embossed her. I then covered him AGAIN in Brown craft ink (both Colorbox brand) and heat embossed her again. Before it dried I took my piercing tool and haphazardly drew lines all over her to make her look like she has feathers. I think it *sort of* worked ;)

I sparkled up her eyes and twinkled up her little cute mouth with both silver and pink arts and crafts glitter. She deserved fabulous wings that I stamped using the SU! Wing It set - they were also heat embossed. And of COURSE she needed a fancy crown so I made her one!! Also from the SU! Wing It set. Lastly, she needed her toes painted...of COURSE!! So I dipped her little feet in Raspberry colored craft ink and heat set those as well. They came out extra cute!!!

And then she needed a perch!! Which also, conveniently, came with the chipboard set. I grabbed the vine out of the cardboard set and heavily coated it in a Moss Green craft in and covered it in my extra thick embossing powder and heat set it. It came out exactly as I envisioned it!!

I used my hot glue gun to adhere the two together so that they could perch perfectly on the edge of the vintage pot.

I love how she turned out!!! Thanks as always for reading!!!

Have a GREAT and creative week!!!
xoxoxo