Feel Better

Welcome friends! If you just popped in here, be sure to see my companion project over on Melanie Muenchinger's blog! I've been fighting a bit of a summer cold, so my craftiness took a bit of a hit this week. Even that inspires me!

When I am under the weather, there are a few things I can count on to help me feel better: Kitties snuggled up with me and a good book. I thought a gift card holder using those two things would be perfect to have on-hand as needed. Yep, I would totally give this gift to myself! LOL

I used Gina's gift card tutorial here: Part 1 and Part 2 from Stamp TV. She makes the best tutorials! I used pure luxury Kraft cardstock for the base, and Basic Grey's Max and Whiskers patterned paper. Before I adhered the patterned paper, I inked up all the edges with Ranger's Vintage Photo distress ink.

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I stamped the kitties from Melanie's Basket Buddies set on white pure luxury heavy base weight paper, and colored them with my Prismacolor pencils, blending with odorless mineral spirits. I gave them just a hint of a background using my Copic markers. I cut the oval and scalloped oval using Spellbinder's Nestabilities. I stamped the "feel better" sentiment (from Springtime Silhouettes) on coordinating cardstock, and used my Spellbinder's Fancy Tags #2 die to cut it.

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From there, it was easy to adhere all the pieces, cut and make a two-layer loop with Gina K's wonderful twill and grosgrain ribbon, and attach the oval image. I put a Borders card in, just so you can see how cute it will be - obviously I'll be getting a real gift card from an open business when the time comes (hahahaha, boo). 

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I want to thank Melanie for giving me this wonderful opportunity to showcase her darling stamp sets! It has been a wonderful experience for me. And of course, I want to give a big shout out to Gina K for creating such wonderful, high quality stamps and the BEST stamping forum. If you aren't a member of Stamp TV, please take this as your personal invitation to join (it's FREE)! 

Don't forget to go give Melanie a little blog love, too, for sharing generously with her guest designers!

Hey - thanks so much for stopping by and checking out what I make. It really brightens my day. I hope you get a little inspiration and make something. Please feel free to leave me a message if you do, so I can go check out what you made! 

Ta! 
♥~ky

Homecoming

Welcome to my little corner of blogosphere. If you've come here just on a random whim, welcome! I'd love to encourage you to visit Melanie Muenchinger's website, because I'm featuring stamps she designed. Besides, you will learn so much from her!

I have really been enjoying bringing you projects using Melanie's Basket Buddies this month. Wow! There are so many ways to work these stamps. They play nicely with all sorts of other sets! I've used Melanie's Hip to Be Square today to make 2 cards to welcome some of our heroes home!

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I simply created a 'sofa' of Basic Grey paper, overlaid clear plastic, and superimposed the cross lines for the window. The plush bed works great with the sentiment from Nina's Lovely Labels 3 and a Spellbinder's Fancy Tag #2 die. Just add some ribbon (wide ribbon on the left is May Arts, across tag die is organdy) and some bling, and there you have it!

I followed the same design with the kitties, and their sofa. I stamped the critters separately, and colored them using Prismacolor pencils and odorless mineral spirits.

I created the background using distress inks and blending foam to mimic the light inside a house as they await their master's arrival. This card uses Spellbinder's Fancy Tags #3 die and gingham ribbon with a Prima flower and a gorgeous little button from Gina K.

A finishing touch I love to use brings light to their eyes with glossy accents. I also use it on the puppies' noses - you know they are always wet! I hope you enjoy both of these cards. I love this set so much, and am honored to showcase their uses!

This set can be put to so many uses. Is your child going off to college and leaving a loved pet behind? Do you know someone whose heart is breaking at the loss of their family member? Do you just want to send a silly note with an adorable image? This is the puuuuurrrrfect set!

Thanks for stopping by!
♥~ky

Basket Case

Wow - this has been one of "those" weeks. Cabana Boy is back and we're trying to get back into the routine. The weather has broken, finally, and we are having *GOR-JUS* weather. All the critters want to be outside, including one pain in the rumpus Tater who's been escorted home 3 times this week. Anyone have any tips on keeping a strong-willed man kitty in the yard? Bueller?

If you hopped over here from Melanie's blog - welcome! If you didn't - welcome!! LOL It's a joy for me to have you visit. Here's my card using Melanie's new set, Basket Buddies. I wanted to spend a little time anticipating fall and winter, so I made a winter card!

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How cute are these pups?? I love all the ways you can put them together with other sets. This one uses Rupa's Warm and Wonderful set for the hat on the grey pup. It reminds me of how people love dressing up their pets, and how some pets let you, but clearly show their reluctance. LOL

I used my secret (top secret) faux stitching technique. I have GOT to get a video done for that so you can do it too! The 'life is good' sentiment is from Theresa Momber's Life is Good set from Gina K.

If you want to know 2 tips for Copic coloring and cut-out images, hop on over to Melanie's blog where she'll be spilling the beans. Come back in a few days for a little more inspiration. I'm going to be filming this weekend, so there will be some new stuff to fill your dreams.

Ta!
♥~ky

Recipe: Gina K pure luxury cardstock and Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses. Basket Buddies and Life Is Good. Inks - Distress and Memento. Ribbon - May Arts and the Twinery. Embossing folder - Cuttlebug, holly ribbon. Die cut - Sizzix Tim Holtz elegant flourishes. Other - filigree disk and brad, Michaels; rhinestones.

Cooler Weather, Simple card

Happy Saturday! I hope you have a wonderful weekend planned. It's finally cooler here in Chicago, and that's a big relief!

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This is a simple card that packs a big punch. It's one layer of Gina K's Pure Luxury cardstock, stamped with Melanie Muenchinger's Basket Buddies (brand new!) in Memento tuxedo black and colored with prismacolor pencils. I put two border treatments together, and added a few bits of bling to make the embossed border pop. A simple, thin dot ribbon frames the image.

If you want to get out there today, this is the kind of quick card that will let you get to it while still having time to get crafty. Happy stamping!

♥ ~ky

Exciting News!

Yesterday I got to do something I've always wanted. I got to be part of the talented group that creates samples with brand new stamps, and then post them live at the show. My penultimate stamping genius and pusher, er, supplier, Gina K had a release last night over at Stamp TV! I got to show off and it was exhilarating! I need to give a

HUGE

shout out to Melanie Muenchinger for asking me to be a guest designer for her BRAND NEW stamp set, Basket Buddies. Melanie is ubber talented and has been my stamping IDOL for some time! I have to admit I felt like getting called on in 3rd grade to complete a math problem at the chalkboard, all nervous, wondering if your pigtails were straight... I think I like the feeling of those butterflies, tho *giggles*.

Isn't this set Ah Dooor Able?? LOVE it - perfect for all my critter card needs. This set works with other sets from her line, Spring Basket and Basket Blessings, but it's great all on it's own. For example, here I've used only stamps from this set:

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I used the beautiful black and white papers provided in the Vintage Chic Stamp TV kit. I went polka dot crazy on this one because the Splitcoast Stampers are still having the Dare to Get Dirty Challenge for fan club members. Those challenges close on Monday, August 8th.

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For this card, I paired Basket Buddies with Spring Basket with a ton of layers and distressing. I colored my Tim Holtz tattered flowers die with distress inks to match the Basic Grey Max & Whiskers papers. The flowers were cut out of Basic Grey Basics Manilla paper (LOVE). I love how this turned out, and I know some hero serving overseas is going to use this for that perfect letter back home.

Now... there's another secret coming soon. As soon as I can get all my projects caught up and have some camera time, you'll get to see what all I have in store for you! Thanks so much for stopping by - if you have any questions, please leave me a note.

Don't forget to play along with the Stamp TV release challenges and check out the AMAZING samples all the gals put together. Happy stamping!
♥ky

Piece of Cake

Hello friends! One of this week's challenges at Stamp TV is to use the paper piecing technique on your project. So, I pulled out a great stamp set, Melanie's Inspiration Mosaic, and some wonderful Basic Grey and Bo Bunny papers to make this card.

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I stamped the mosaic on 5 different papers, then arranged a selection onto a base grid for this patchworked look. The upper sentiment is from Signs of Autumn, the lower is from Framed Greetings with the line-art flower from Nina's Hugs and Prayers in the background. It's hard to see, but the two sentiment panels are popped up, one higher than the other. I love the wild fibre flower/bow, and the playful brads on the corners.

I hope you enjoy this sample, and that you'll head on over to Stamp TV and play along with the fun challenges. As always, this one's headed to OWH! Thanks for stopping by!

♥ky