Kiersten's Blog Take Over # 2

Hi, it's Kiersten and I took over my mom's blog again. This card is for my pen pal. She was one of my favourite daycare teachers now retired. This card is for the Two Scrapbooking Friends challenge.

This is my card:

Thank you for looking at my card. I hope you come back to look at my next blog post.

Challenge:
Two Scrapbooking Friend: November Craft Challenge

Kiersten

Christmas Bauble

I am still busy making Christmas cards. At some point I really should sit down and start addressing my cards and sending them out. This card I made using a cute image from Sassy Cheryl (here) called Christmas Bauble Trouble.

My husband has been trying to teach me a bit about photography and the latest results are the pictures below. I must say, I can create a card no problem, but trying to understand all the functions on my camera is not easy. I just want to push a button and have a pretty picture. Unfortunately it doesn't seem that easy. I hope he is patient with me. I will eventually get it.

This card was inspired by a fabulous sketch from Cardabilities.

Inspiration also came from the latest challenge over at the Little Red Wagon blog. There Joanne's challenge is to create a card in which an element or embellishment extends off the edge of the card.

For my card I used Simple Stories December Documented.

The inside is decorated with a couple of tags from Simple Stories.

The image is coloured with Copic markers.

I am submitting my card for the following challenges:
Little Red Wagon: #213 Off the Edge
Cardabilities: Sketch # 87
Sassy Cheryl: # 193 Winter/Cold Weather

Supplies:
Image: Sassy Cheryl Christmas Bauble Trouble
Paper: Simple Stories December Documented, Snap Christmas
MME Twine "All is Bright"
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder

Have a wonderful night. Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at my newest creation.

Tracy

Here Comes Santa Claus

It seems like such a long time since my last post. I have been very busy over the last week. Work has been crazy. I was part of the United Way committee at work. Last week we had our annual campaign so I was super busy with the kick off and events throughout the week. This was my first time volunteering for the United Way committee and I must say it was very rewarding and a lot of fun. Of course going into work tomorrow, I will have to catch up on everything I didn't get done last week.

I am still working on a number of Christmas projects. In addition to the many Christmas cards I am creating, my daughters and I have begun plans for this year's Christmas creations for their teachers and classmates. Stay tuned for more details.

This weekend I had the chance to use another of my Kraftin Kimmie stamps that I bought recently. This one is called Santa & Pup and it is super cute. I decided to use the stamp with the newest Deconstructing Jen sketch DS128.

Although I like the look of the square cards, I don't often make them, so I modified the sketch for my longer card. I used the Simple Stories December Documented collection. I love the colours in this collection.

I trimmed 1/2 inch from the right side of the card so you can see the striped paper added to the inside. I also love finding places to use the 3x4 cards in these collections. I don't do project life style scrapbooking, so I have a rather large collection of these cards.

The image is coloured with Copic markers. Crystal gems were added for buttons.

After applying glue (using my Zig two-way glue pen) to the trim of "Santa's" outfit, I added sparkling fluff. I also created the snow effect with the glue and Crystal Glitter Ritz micro fine glitter.

Using the Kraftin' Kimmie "Sleigh mail" stamp and Versa Mark ink, I heat embossed with Zing Chestnut embossing powder. I stamped the image on an open space of the Simple Stories paper so I knew it would match the rest of the papers I had used.

The inside of the card is decorated with a 4x6 card from the Simple Stories December Documented collection. The sentiments are from Your Next Stamp "Holiday Sentiments".

Challenges:
Kraftin' Kimmie: # 206 "Let it Snow"
Deconstructing Jen: Sketch No. 128

Thanks for stopping by and happy creating.

Supplies:
Santa & Pup stamp, Sleigh Mail stamps from Kraftin' Kimmie
Holiday Sentiments stamp Your Next Stamp
Simple Stories December Documented
Our Craft Lounge Sparkling Fluff
Crystal Glitter Ritz white micro fine glitter
Recollection gem stones
Vintage photo brown distress ink
Versa Mark ink
Zing Chestnut embossing powder

Tracy

Decorate the Season

I decided to take a break from Copic colouring and make a Christmas card or two without an image on it. A bit more clean and simple.

The first card was inspired from a video I saw on YouTube from Annabelle stamps. The designer Kylie used a circle die as a template placing the rhinestones inside to create your Christmas bauble. I have so many gems in my stash this was a great card to try. Here is the card from Kylie's blog.

The bling I used was a set from Michaels (Recollections). There were both shiny and frosted gems in varying sizes. I used the largest size to create the outside and then filled in the circle.

I layered my white card stock onto red. I punched 2 holes above the bauble to run my ribbon through. I am still working on how to tie a nice bow. This was attempt 9 or 10. I drew in the "string" with a black fine tip marker.

With the green ribbon, added the additional green layer of card stock before adding it to my card base.

The second card was a quick throw together. Using kraft card stock. The centre of the card was embossed with a Sizzix Snowflake embossing folder. I used vintage photo Distress ink to highlight the snowflakes. I added the red paper behind the centre layer and the red ribbon for a bit of colour.

Challenge:
Little Red Wagon: #211 Keep In Trim
Ribbon Carousel: RCC87 Holidays & Celebrations Challenge

Happy creating.

Tracy

Snow Much Fun

We have already had a bit of snow sprinkling the area this fall; reeking havoc for those that forget how to drive. My snow tires are on the car (thanks hubby) so I am prepared. That said, I don't really want to see any further snow until just before Christmas. I know my kids are already disagreeing and they would be happy to see lots of snow. Maybe even have a snow day.

For me, I will settle for a snow themed card. I used My Favorite Things Pure Innocence stamp called "Heart Warmer Boy".

For my card I used this weeks MFT weekly sketch.

For my card I rotated the sketch.

The paper is from a Recollections (Michaels) 6x6 paper pad called Blue Christmas. The Twine is from My Minds Eye "Follow Your Heart". The snowflake border punch is EK success. The mitt charm was in my stash, I think it also came from Michaels.

The image is coloured with Copic markers. I also added glitter to the snowballs using white Glitter Ritz.

I decorated the inside of the card with some of the mini snowflakes that came from the punch used on the front, added some paper and stamped the "Heart Warmer Boy" again. The inside sentiment is from Your Next Stamp "Holiday Sentiments".

Thanks for taking a peek at my card.

Tracy

Baking Time

I can slowly feel myself getting more excited about the holidays as I continue to make Christmas cards. With all the stamps that I want to use, I hope that I have enough time to create. Working full time, family time and kids activities keeps me busy, so my creative window is small. I am sure it doesn't seem that way to my husband. This week I actually took my Copic markers and a few images to my daughter's dance lesson. The time just flew past.

This card features a stamp that I picked up last weekend. A local scrapbooking store was hosting a garage sale and I picked up a  lot of stamps for only $40.00. I was so excited. There were a few Kraftin' Kimmie stamps that I was so happy to give a good home.

I love the cute Baking Elf by Kraftin' Kimmie stamps.

For this card I used a Deconstructing Jen sketch DS124.

The image is coloured with Copic markers. My daughter thinks she looks like Strawberry Shortcake.

This stamp is also from Kraftin' Kimmie. It is the Built Your Own Trinket stamp combined with the sleigh mail (gingerbread man).

Challenges:
Two Scrapbooking Friend: November Craft Challenge (use a doily)
Kraftin Kimmie: Anything goes
Deconstructing Jen: Sketch DS 124

Supplies:
Stamps: Kraftin Kimmie "Baking Elf", "Build Your Own Trinkets" and "Sleigh mail".
Paper: Recollections "Sugar Plum", Echo Park "This & That Christmas"
Die: Lawn Fawn Stitched Journaling card
Other: MME twine "Follow Your Heart", Ranger White enamel accents, Recollections doily.

Thanks for taking a peek at my newest holiday card. Now I feel like I should be getting my baking to do list started.

Happy creating.

Tracy

You With the Sad Eyes

I was very happy to finally get around to creating another layout. With Christmas just around the corner most of my focus has been on getting my cards made for the year.

This layout is for the monthly sketch challenge over at Two Scrapbooking friends.

This month Christa's challenge was not only for the sketch, she also suggested an additional challenge of scrapbooking the “harder stuff” in our lives. I knew immediately the photos that I wanted to use. They were ones my husband took of my youngest daughter when she was just over a year old. Although she is very sad in the pictures, I find them so beautiful. I loved both pictures and didn’t want to separate them, so my additional challenge was to modify the sketch to accommodate the second photo.

Here is my layout inspired by Christa’s amazing sketch. I flipped the sketch because I felt it suited the position of my photos. I also extended the vertical paper layers to the top of the page to balance out the additional photo on the horizontal. I have some hidden journalling under the one picture (it's peeking out in the photo).

I really love the circles Christa shows in her sketch and what they represented for her. When I started scrapbooking I never really gave much thought to the story that could be told from your layout, the papers, embellishment, even the placement of your photos. My daughter and I worked together to hand stitched the circles on the layout. The changing colours and shifting circles not only represents how much my daughter has changed in the last few years, but my growing understanding of the person she is becoming.

I struggled to find a title I thought represented my layout. I wanted the focus to be on these amazing photos, so I tried to keep the title subtle. When I first started the layout, I kept thinking “sad eyes”, then I started singing (to myself of course), “you with the sad eye”, which is the start of the song “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper. When I thought more about the song lyrics, I realized how appropriate they really were.  So I decided to add add the song lyrics around my layout.

More of the song lyrics.

Supplies:
Paper: My Minds Eye "Cut & Paste - Adorbs"
Stickers: Authentique "Delightful" and "Fresh"
Letters: American Crafts
Other: Recollections - Wood butterfly, MME tape

Thanks for taking a look at my latest layout.

Happy creating.

Tracy

Christmas Tags

I have continued to dip into my stash from last years Simon Says Holiday Card kit to make a few Christmas tags. Little Red Wagon has a challenge this week to create a Christmas tag. I created 3 different tags using new and older holiday supplies.

Challenge:
Little Red Wagon - # 210 A Christmas Tag

The first two tags I used supplies from the Simon Says 2012 Holiday Card kit. The red tag, I created myself and the kraft one is from my stash (Jillibean Soup).

For the Santa tag I used a Simon Says Stamp called "Gnome for the Holidays". I added the naughty and nice from a Your Next Stamp set called "Holiday Sentiments". I drew in the circle and added the present, which was made with the Simon Says Stamp Gift Box die.

The paper and the Gift Box die were from the SS Holiday card kit.

For the last tag I wanted to use some new supplies from Your Next Stamp. I used the "Ugly Sweater" Stamp and die sets. I stamped the sweater onto green paper, then cut out the image. I also stamped the reindeer on white paper, coloured it and die cut it. I then took the reindeer die and also cut the shape from the centre of the sweater, making it all one layer. The wreath is another image from the "Ugly Sweater" set, however I decided to add some Xmas Red Stickles and use it as an embellishment on the tag.

Instead of a usually tag, I decided to use a Recollections polaroid frame. I back it with red card stock and stamped my sentiment (from the Ugly Sweater stamp set) with Versa Mark ink and heat embossed with gold powder.

The other sentiment is from the Your Next Stamp "Holiday Sentiments". I haven't yet decided how I will use this particular tag. We were talking about having an ugly sweater contest at work, so this could be attached to the prize.

Do you own an "ugly" Christmas sweater? I know that I don't own any Christmas themed clothes other than an apron.

Thanks for checking out my Christmas tags. Happy crafting.

Tracy

Letter To Santa

Okay so here is the first card I have made for the Christmas season. I think that I am the last person in the house to give into the fact that Christmas will be upon us in no time. My daughters wrote out their Christmas wish list at the start of October and my husband did his part by hanging up the light. We are not yet turning them on, it is far too early for that.

So for me the start of my holiday season begin with my cards. For my first Christmas card, I am using an adorable stamp called "Letter to Santa" from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps.

Using this sketch from Your Next Stamp's November Challenge.

I finally dug into my supplies from the 2012 Simon Says Stamp holiday card kit. I used a square punch on 3 different pattern papers which I inked with vintage photo Distress ink. I cut a piece scrap paper, covered it with adhesive and began laying my squares starting in the centre and working out.

It is really hard to see in these photos, but on the corner of each of the squares there is a little bling.

This adorable image is coloured with Copic markers. I am still trying to get the hang of colouring/shading an image I want white. My bunny is a bit more grey than I would like. I would love any tips to achieve this.

To give a bit of shimmer and create my snow, I coloured the snow area using my Zig two-way fine tip glue pen. I then added Crystal Glitter Ritz micro fine white glitter. I love how it turned out.

Of course my card would not be complete without decorating the inside. The inside sentiment is from Your Next Stamp "Holiday Sentiments".

This card is 5 x 7 inches.

Supplies:
Stamps: Kraftin' Kimmie "Letter to Santa" and "Sleigh Mail", Your Next Stamp "Holiday Sentiments"
Paper: Not sure on the companies, it was from my 2012 Simon Says Holiday Card Kit
Other: Glitter Ritz white micro fine glitter, Queen & Co. Twinkle Goosebumps, green ribbon (Michaels)

Challenges:
Kraftin' Kimmie - Challenge 203 Pick a Holiday (I pick Christmas if you couldn't already guess that.)
Your Next Stamp - November Sketch YNSFFC006
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Patchwork

Thanks for taking a peek at my first Christmas card of 2013.

Happy crafting
Tracy

Love Grows Here

This is a card that I made for my mom's birthday. Unlike her anniversary card (original post: here) this card made it to my mom for her to enjoy on her birthday.

I used a Kraftin' Kimmie stamp designed by the talented Cheryl Alger called "Let's Dish the Dirt". I really love the rich fall colours that I have found in my 6x6 paper pads. I added the brown card stock in my layers to really help the colours stand out.

The image is coloured with Copic markers. I added some Tim Holtz distress ink (salty ocean and mowed lawn) to the edges. The flower was die cut from My Favorite Things layered rose and for the sentiment I used the Spellbinders standard small circles and classic scalloped circles small.

Inside the card I added two sentiments. The first is from the Let's Dish the Dirt stamp set and the birthday greeting is from Your Next Stamps "Whatnot Sentiments set one".

Challenges:
Sassy Cheryl's Digital Stamps Challenge: #191 Anything Goes
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps: November Wonderful Wednesday

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a crafty day.

Tracy

Kiersten's Crafty Creations Blog Take Over #1

Hello, my name is Kiersten and I am 9 years old. I took over my mom's blog! This is my first card that I made using a stamp from Sassy Cheryl. My mom showed me a card on the Sassy Cheryl blog made by a young girl. I really wanted to try that too. I thought it would be really fun and this is my first time entering a card challenge.

I made this card to say thank you to my teacher. I coloured the picture with pencil crayons. I used paper from my mom's scrap pile and used a sketch that my mom had in a book.

Here is my card.

Thank you for looking at my first card.


Kiersten the card creator

Challenge:
Sassy Cheryl: Challenge # 190 Let's Give Thanks

Image: Sassy Cheryl's No. 2 Pencil

You're Too Sweet

This is a card that I created for the November challenge over at Your Next Stamp. Each month they have both a sketch and inspirational photo challenges. This card is for the inspirational photo.

When I saw this photo I was drawn to the colours and apples, so I incorporated both into my card.

For my card I used Your Next Stamps Ellie Loves School. The paper is from My Minds Eye Miss Caroline 6x6 paper pad.

The image is coloured with Copic markers. The sentiment is from a My Favorite Things Stamp "Lollipop Girl". It wasn't until after I added my sentiment that I found a stamp in my stash that said "Cutie Pie". That would have tied in nicely.

The inside sentiment is also from Your Next Stamp "Heartfelt Sentiments".

This is my submission for the Your Next Stamp November 2013 YNSFFC06.

Now I feel like doing some baking. Have a sweet day!

Tracy

Thanks for Listening

Today I was able to enjoy a bit of me time! Both of my daughter's and my husband were away on play dates. With my new seasonal Starbucks drink in hand (Gingerbread latte) I had a nice afternoon shopping (for new paper) and purchasing my first Christmas gifts. I don't expect any further purchases until the end of the month. 

Now for my creation of the day. 

A thank you card created with the super cute image from Sassy Cheryl's Stamps called Have you Heard. I absolutely love these images by the talented Cheryl Alger. I own a number of her Sassy Cheryl images and stamps she has created for Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps.

For this card I used the new sketch at Deconstructing Jen. I really love to work with Jen's sketches. I made a few minor adjustments to my card to accommodate the longer card. I love making square cards, however my image was printed a bit large so I thought it looked better on a large card base. I am still learning to work in Photoshop.

The paper for this card is from Lilybee Designs "Destination atlas" and Studio Calico. I really love the navy blue with the aqua.

The image was coloured with Copic markers.

I decorated the inside with some remaining scraps. The sentiment is from Your Next Stamp called "Heartfelt sentiments" 

Challenges:

Sassy Cheryl: # 190 Let's Give Thanks

Deconstructing Jen: Sketch No. 125

Simon Says Monday Challenge: Anything goes

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Anything goes

Happy creating everyone!

Tracy