I'm Back

Where have I been?

Let's see - a trip to see Tim Holtz in Boston.... Making Christmas gifts... holiday baking.... holiday decorating.... holiday shopping... holiday parties.... Oh let's squeeze Thanksgiving in there too.... Yeah that about sums it up!

Overall I am in great shape for Christmas - some shopping left and wrapping and a little more holiday baking... Oh and let's not forget addressing and mailing my cards... Not too bad considering there's 19 days until the big day!

Betsy over at Innovative Stamp Creations asks us to create a little desk calendar that could be a quick and easy gift for someone. So here is what I created:

The back piece is two unfinished pressed paper coasters linked together with little grunge paper hinges. The Holly and calendar pieces are clipped on and can be changed for each month/season. I used Tim's lost and found paper for the month because my printer is not working and I could not print out the "real" months.

Another view of the Holly - I used vintage text on grunge paper and then inked with distressed inks to create the Holly and berries and some distress stickles:

November:

Close up of tree panel:

Here's the backing without the clipped on pieces:

Happy Creating!

KAT

The Stuff:
Stamps - All Innovative Stamp Creations - Angelical Holidays, Marvels of Nature III, Odd Findings, Distressed Script, Textures and Sentiments
Other - Distress Inks, grunge paper, idea-ology hardware

Are you ready Christmas (the most wonderful time of the year)?

Each of the Creative Architects’ for Innovative Stamp Creations were given a different Christmas line to create a card! So I am wondering:

Have you started Christmas shopping yet (me - yes - I actually have a friend who is finished and thinking about starting her wrapping - we can all hate her later okay)?

How many handmade Christmas cards have you created (I am over half way there)?

Do you buy store bought Christmas cards instead (nope it's either handmade or none)?

So I hope my Christmas card will inspire you to either get started or complete your Christmas cards today!

I thought this Angel needed an elegant background so I used the cream, black and gold color palette. The angel was blended with antique linen distress ink and gold stickles applied to her wings. I used a gold dabber on the textured background panel (cuttlebugged) and the bracket panel. Some gold embossing, Krylon Gold paint pen finished the card.

Please be sure to visit our Talented group of Creative Architects’ and become inspired:

1. Kathy Tucker (UR Here)
3. Julie Warner
4. Karen Dunbrook
5. Judi Rose

6. ISC Blog

Happy Creating!
KAT

The Stuff:
All Stamps - Innovative Stamp Creations- Angelic Holidays, Christmas Trinkets, Eclectic Christmas

Celebrate Fall

You may not know this but Betsy, owner of ISC, resides in New England and the inspiration for this Line was from her back yard! She says; “Fall in New England is truly gorgeous, especially further north of Manchester, New Hampshire. “

Celebrate Fall:

I used a markers to color the main image - not something that I use very often but worked out beautifully with the leaves and the tree! The larger leaves were colored using distress inks and then a little cutting therapy! the "C" is a piece of chip board and then a went a little stapler happy with Tim's Tiny Attacher!!!

Please be sure to visit our Talented group of Creative Architects’ and become inspired:

1. Kathy Tucker (UR Here)
3. Julie Warner
4. Karen Dunbrook
5. Judi Rose

6. ISC Blog

Happy Creating!
KAT

The Stuff:
Stamps - All Innovative Stamp Creations - Fall in New England, Autumn Leaves, Scrapbook Words

Fall Foliage

Fall is such a beautiful time of year! Don't you agree? The leave colors are truly mesmerizing and breathtaking?! The fall colors work perfectly with the new fall stamp sheets being released from Innovative Stamp Creations this month - this card uses the new Foliage stamp sheet:



The card was created using the Joseph's Coat technique with a Kaleidacolor pad - I've had this pad for YEARS and just took the plastic off of it for this card! Typically the Joseph's Coat technique is done using black dye ink - I used chocolate chip ink on this one to go with my fall inspiration.


Please be sure to visit our Talented group of Creative Architects’ and become inspired!

1. Kathy Tucker (UR Here)
3. Julie Warner
4. Karen Dunbrook
5. Judi Rose

6. ISC Blog

Happy Creating!
KAT

The Stuff:
Stamps - All Innovative Stamp Creations - Foliage

Another Look

Today is another Sneak Peak of the images being released by Innovative Stamp Creations later this week...

Fall Dreams:

A close up:


I love fall images!

The focal panel was embossed on card stock vellum and then I colored on the back side with permanent makers (slick writer and sharpie) . The side leafs were stamped, hit with just a little color, cut and crumpled. I love the DREAM word!!!

Happy Creating!
KAT

The Stuff:
All Innovative Stamp Creations - Foliage, Fall in New England

Fall Friend

Hello - yes I am alive! I was on vacation in OBX and then had (have) a nasty cold - can we say cough, cough, cough - believe me you don't want to hear me at night!

Today I have a little sneaky peaky for you of an image from Innovative Stamp Creations - Fall in New England.

Fall Friend:

A close up of the main panel:

The main panel was created by blending distress inks and then stamping fall leaves with three color on them. Then I stamped the new image on top. The new release of images will be available this Thursday!

If you'd like to see some more examples using this image click around below:

1. Kathy Tucker (UR Here)
2. Joanne Grzelak
3. Julie Warner
4. Karen Dunbrook
5. Judi Rose

6. ISC Blog

Happy Creating!
KAT

The Stuff: All stamps Innovative Stamp Creations - Fall in New England, Autumn Leaves
Inks- Distress and Archival (Ranger)

Artist Box

Today is the final day of the Innovative Stamp Creations September Stamp Release - today's release is the Vintage Artist Box. Think of the Vintage Artist Box line as your Art-Mural! Once your piece is finished you can showcase it somewhere in your Studio or Art area! Consider the following themes when working on your Art Mural: butterflies, eclectic, faces of women, travel, flowers, vintage and many more.

So this is the focal image:

And here is what I created:

Wonder how I got to the results above from the focal image? I thought I would share some of the steps with you!

Applied Distress Ink direct to paper:

Blend on some Antique Linen DI to "dull" the color:

Randomly added script image:

Stamped the focal image with Versamark and clear embossed, then direct to paper with Walnut Stain DI:

Next I determined what I wanted to go into the boxes and cut out the boxes that I wanted to fill:

I needed the background piece - just blended some green and stamped a larger script stamp (from Dimensional Elements: Edges):

Add the metal and stamped pieces:

Side View:

I really liked how this turned out so I used the artist box to create a birthday wall piece for my SIL:

Pretty much the same process, different colors and images. Side view:

Intrigued? Want to see more of the Artist box? Visit:

1. Kathy Tucker
2. Joanne Grzelak
3. Julie Warner
4. Karen Dunbrook
5. Judi Rose

6. ISC Blog

Happy Creating!
KAT

The Stuff:
All stamps Innovative Stamp Creations: Vintage Artist Box, Nature Silhouette III; Friendship I; Men of Wisdom; Make a Note; Odd Findings; Dimensional Elements:Edges

RU Nesting?

The 3rd day of stamp releases for Innovative Stamp Creations - Nesting. This line is simply exquisite, these images are ideal for those special occasions such as a new neighbor, a friend who is moving, to a new baby and how about a friend in need! Nowadays many of the stamps on this line are quite trendy and versatile, that you are able to create a very simple card to even an altered art item.

Me - I went for an altered item. I made a tag 2x4 with a House theme:

Side 1:

The house is from the stamp sheet and I embosses using Distress Embossing Powders (awesome texture). The roof is from the Dimensional Elements: Edges, the pot is a wooden half pot and the OPEN door knob was from my $1 Micheal's find earlier this month. The topper is a little wooden birdhouse that I colored with Distressed Inks and stamped the roof with another image from the Edges set.

Close Up of the Pot and Flower:

Side 2 (I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that nest):

The middle egg is a half of a wooden egg, the smaller eggs were stamped on grunge board. The butterfly is on grunge paper and the eggs were stamped on paper and popped up.

Close Up of the Eggs and Butterfly:

Here is a close up of the back of the topper house:

The small nest is an inchie Fragment.

1st Small side:

2nd Small Side:

Hoped you like my Nesting 2x4!

If you would like to see other Nesting Projects:

1. Kathy Tucker
2. Joanne Grzelak
3. Julie Warner
4. Karen Dunbrook
5. Judi Rose

6. ISC Blog

Happy Creating!
KAT

The Stuff:
All Stamps Innovative Stamp Creations: Nesting, Dimensional Elements: Edges; Marvels of Nature; ATC Elements

Elegant Flourish Anyone?

The second day of Innovative Stamp Creations September release - Today's stamp sheet is Background Series: Flourish. Do you enjoy background stamps? Don’t they add such depth to your card? What’s unique about the variety of background series by ISC is that many come with a few sayings! The background Flourish sheet has a lovely Tag/Label is ideal for that final touch on your project!

Congrats in Black & White:

Honestly I could not help myself and make a black and white card for this flourish - to me it's just so elegant! The black panel behind the Plumeria I stamp with one of the Dimensional Elements: Edges images using Pearl Paint Dabber - I liked the interest this added to an otherwise plain black piece of cardstock.

Want to see what else was created using this Flourish?

1. Kathy Tucker
2. Joanne Grzelak
3. Julie Warner
4. Karen Dunbrook
5. Judi Rose

6. ISC Blog

Happy Creating!
KAT

The Stuff:
All Stamps Innovative Stamp Creations - Background Series: Flourish; Plumeria

Happy Monday

Today is Innovative Stamp Creations first day of their September stamp release. Today's stamp sheet is Dimensional Elements - Edges. The images on this line are truly unique they will accent your card or altered notebook and so much more! Think of these stamps as a diecut or punch! You can create a quick card to more elaborate creations! GO with the flow and have fun! Some of the images on this line: scallop, distressed paper, vintage script, triangle, zig-zag edge and a small label.

Here is the card that I created using the zig-zag edge (had to go with fall colors since it's starting to look like fall here):

Fall Birthday:

I stamped each of the zig-zag edges using distress inks and I stamped over top using the new ISC Flourish that will also be released this week. Then some blending of ink, gluing, sewing and the card is completed!

Take a moment to click around and see what the other ISC creative architects made:

1. Kathy Tucker
2. Joanne Grzelak
3. Julie Warner
4. Karen Dunbrook
5. Judi Rose

6. ISC Blog

Happy Creating!

KAT

The Stuff:
All stamps - Innovative Stamp Creations - Dimensional Elements - Edges; Background Series - Flourish; Autumn Leaves

A Little Sneakie Peakie...

I am actually on vacation this week in the Outer Banks and celebrating my SIL's birthday (she's lucky she gets to celebrate at the beach every year!). While I am gone I have lots of ISC projects to share with you - so even though I am gone I am still updating my blog via the magic of auto posts!

So - don't tell anyone but here is a little sneak peak of Nesting and Dimensional Elements: Edges:

The faux crepe paper is a stamp from the edges collections - I just stamped the image on some old tissue paper and gathered it up. The eggs were stamped on the same tissue paper so that they would match!

Happy Creating (me I'm tanning on the beach!)

KAT

The Stuff:
All previews of Innovative Stamp Creations September release - to be released on Sept 24th...

What...

another Christmas Card? Yeap - I was checking out my stash and I'm "a ways" from having my 44 needed Christmas Cards completed by the end of October - I better get crack-a-lackin (this is a word coined from my friend Diana).

So I created two of this design - Mix and Mingle:

That cute snowman image is from Whipper Snapper.

Here's a close up:

I love the snowflake die from Spellbinders - you can add any color that you'd like to your snowflakes to make them match your card!

How are you doing on your Christmas card stash?

Happy Creating!

KAT

Deer in Flight

Still playing with some cyber challenges... Today's card is for the Simon Says Stamp and Stuff challenge blog. We were to make something holiday related either Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas. So I thought this challenge was a great push to complete another two of my Christmas cards (I make two of each design):


The deer is embossed with Brown EP (Zing - this is wonderful dark brown color) then the deer was masked to stamp on the snowflakes using Pearl paint dabber:

Here you can see the paint resist after the blue and brown were blended on the background.

A close up of the multilevel snowflake:

Hmmm I need to check to see how many of my Christmas cards are completed...

Happy Creating!

KAT

The Stuff - Stamps, Distress Inks, Pearl Paint dabber (Tim Holtz); Snowflake (Spellbinders); Brown Embossing Powder (Zing)

Dance In the Rain...

I've been having fun not only shopping for my $1 finds this week but participating in some of the cyber challenges. Today is the entry for Compendium of Curiosities Challenge (C3) - Grunge Flowers:

This was made using a cheap old frame I found when cleaning at my Moms. I covered the frame with Tim's Tissue Tape - if you haven't tried this stuff it's MARVELOUS!

The sign is one of my favorite sayings of all times:

I replaced Life and Dance with metal letters.

The focus of the Challenge - Grunge Flowers:

These were covered with vintage ledger, sheet music and dictionary paper and blended with Distressed inks. Here's another pic for dimension:

Of course we can't Dance in the Rain without Tim's Rain Man on Grunge Board:

Hey what is the umbrella?

Well another grunge flower of course!

I hope if it's raining where you are that you are dancing!

Happy Creating!

KAT

The Stuff:
cheapo frame and then lots and lots of Tim - idea-ology (Lost and found, Tissue Tape, grunge paper/board, metal), distress inks, sizzix dies

Just a $1

A creative girl just can't pass up a steal of a deal.... today at Micheal's I bought these:


For a $1 each.... The bottom ones are porcelain draw pulls - see the clock, key, words. And the top is



porcelain letter balls - I bought my initials, time, santa and extra K's. I can see these in shadow boxes, on chunkies and in Tim's new Configuration boxes.

My creative juices are just flowing...

Happy Creating!

KAT

Diet Coke Meets Chipped Enamel

Interesting title huh....

Well I made this for the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge Series - Chipped Enamel on page 44 of Tim's fabulous book!



I made the sign and the flourish in the upper right hand corner using the technique AND a diet coke can (don't worry the Diet Coke can did not suffer during the making of this art - it was already empty and clean)! Tim's Sizzix dies cut through Diet Coke Cans like they are butter!!!

Close up of the metal sign:

I used alcohol ink (Ginger) to color Tim's Tissue Tape.

Hope you like the card - Life... It's all perspective (isn't that true)!

Happy Creating!

KAT

The Stuff - it's all Tim's (distress inks, Sizzix, tissue tape, stamps)- Oh and the Diet Coke can!