It's almost that time...

Back to School? It's sneaking up on us! The office supply stores are starting Back-to-School sales already!

I always like to start a new school year off right with a small goodie and card for my son's teacher. For this project, I wanted to showcase a spotlight stamping technique which is pretty neat. This technique allows you to color a smaller portion of your image to highlight that part of the image.

Supplies:
8 ½ x 11 Pop Tones Cardstock in Sour Apple and Red Hot
8 ½ x 11 Curious Metallic in Cryogen White
Stamp Set (I used Taylored Expressions Teacher Desk Cuppie and Close to My Heart’s In the Month of August set)
Inks (I used CTMH Tulip, Versa Mark Watermark and Memento Black Tuxedo)
Markers ( I used Copic G02, G05, YG11, YG13, BG13, BG15, Y26, Y28, R24, R27, E37 and N3)
2” circle punch (I used Fiskars Round and Round Large punch)
1 ¼” circle punch (I used CTMH)
Ribbon, brads and button
3D Foam tape
Glue dots
Baker’s Twine


Step One: Cut 8 ½ x 11 POP TONES Sour Apple Cardstock to 8 ½ x 5 ½. Score to create a 4 ¼ x 5 ½” card. Using Versa Mark ink, randomly stamp card front with image. (Apple from CTMH’s In the Month of August stamp set).

Step Two:
Cut 3 x 3 square from 8 ½ x 11 Cryogen White Cardstock. Cut 3 ¼ x 3 ¼ square from Red Hot cardstock. Stamp image on White Cardstock. Stamp sentiment on White Cardstock using Tuxedo Black ink. Mat to Red Hot cardstock.

Step Three:
Using another piece of Cryogen White large enough for your stamped image, re-stamp the image using Tuxedo Black Ink. Color the portion of the image you’d like to highlight. Punch out using large circle punch. If necessary, color in missed portions of the image.

Step Four: Using 3D foam tape, adhere colored circle over stamped image.

Step Five: Cut ribbon to about 5 ¾” Adhere to center of card, trim excess.

Step Six: Using piercing tool or pushpin, pierce three holes in the lower left corner of the card. Place and set brads in the holes.


Step Seven: Using Cryogen White cardstock and Tulip Ink, stamp image and punch out using 1 ¼” punch. Adhere to lower right corner of the card. Adhere a red button with bakers twine if desired.

Happy Stamping!



Katherine













Celebrate with Green Grocer products!

I am so excited to be a featured artist for this blog!  CutCardstock.com is one of my favorite online resources for all things Krafty - get it ?  Krafty - as in Kraft paper...   I really like the Brown Bag line of products they carry.  Not only do they have the #65 Cover weight, which makes great card bases or scrapbook layout bases, but they also have 70# Text weight papers.  These text weight papers are handtinted and very cool.

When I opened the Brown Bag Assortment pack, I was thrilled with the variety of beautiful, rich colors available!  For my card, I used the Brown Bag #70 text in Blueberry, Mushroom, Olive and Pepper.  I also used the Kraft 65# cover for my card base. 

I couldn't resist making my own stripes using strips of varying widths (1/8", 1/4", 1/2" ).  The stamps are Close to My Heart, and the inks are Close to My Heart Olive and Indian Corn Blue.  I used a 1/4" circle punch on some scrap Kraft cover to make the dots on the upper left, and I used 1" and 1 1/4" circle punches to create the circles on the right. Perfect for a male graduate! 

Check out Cutcardstock.com - all brown bag products are 10% off this month!

Happy Stamping!
Katherine

A Valentine's Day giveaway and a new favorite store!

Hi friends!  I have recently discovered Cut Cardstock. com and I am so excited to tell you what wonderful service I got there .  I found them through ebay - believe it or not - but they had the cryogen cardstock I was looking for.  Luckily for me, they are nearly in my backyard!  So, I ordered via phone and was able to pick up my order the SAME DAY.  I made a pal, Tyler, who works there and likes paper ALMOST as much as I do!  :)  He helped me find some other great cardstock and next I'll be ordering some envelopes.  

They are offering a giveaway for Valentine's day on their Cut Cardstock.com blog, so check it out!

Happy Stamping!  Will have art to post in a few days!

K

February Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!   This month, we are showcasing February's "Friendship" stamp set (set of 8). 

If you came here from Shannon's Blog, you're in the right spot!   This month, I wanted to create my own patterned paper, which I did using a tone on tone stamping with Taffy ink on Taffy cardstock.

All products Close To My Heart.  Taffy, Sorbet and Juniper ink and cardstocks, Colonial White cardstock and Pearl Opaques.

Now, keep on hoppin' over to Shannon B.'s Blog to see what wonderful art she has to share!

Fiskateer Blog Hop RAK Winner!

Hi there!  Just a quick note:  I went to Random. org and generated a winning number:  Groovy Deb, you're the winner of my RAK- which is a fun stamp set by Close to My Heart!  Congrats!

Katherine:)

Orange Blog Hop

Hi there!  I'm participating in the Fiskateers Orange Blog Hop this weekend!  I'm so excited to be a part of it - I love Fiskars products (who doesn't?) and they are so awesome to sponsor a great community of fellow crafters called Fiskateers!  

If you've come here from Regena's Blog  you're in the right place.  If you've just happened across my blog, you may want to start at the beginning at the Fiskateer's Blog and moving on from there!  We have over 40 fun Fiskateers participating in this hop!  Ok, on to the art:

Orange always reminds me of Halloween - so I could not resist making a few fall cards. 

Supplies all Close to My Heart:  Sunset Cardstock, Sunset Ink, Gypsy Cardstock, Gypsy Ink, Black embossing Powder, Sunset Mini Medley Accents, Pear Cardstock, Hooligans Paper Pack and Thriller Stamp Set.  Also used Versa Mark ink for embossing.

This funny Turkey is made using a Big Pinks Just Blooms flower by Close to My Heart.  Supplies include Pewter Brads, Say it in Style Stamp set, Cocoa Ink, Orange Re-inker, Bamboo, Barn Red, Cocoa and Vanilla Cream Cardstocks, Cherry O Creative Basics paper, pop dots all  by Close to My Heart.  Turkey die by Quikutz and Tuscan Sun Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels.

The turkey's feathers really look more orange in person.  I used a waterbrush to add re-inker to the flower until it was the color I liked, then I added the glimmer mist on top.

This card is the "matchbox" card from Close to My Heart's how-to guide, Originals.  Supplies:  Sparkles - unknown, Versa Mark Ink, Sunset cardstock, Sunset Ink, Smokey Plum Cardstock, Black Embossing Powder, Black cardstock, Shimmer brads all by Close to My Heart and Silver glimmer mist by Tattered Angels.

I used the silver glimmer mist to add some shimmer to the paper before I embossed the card.  I am not thrilled with the way the photo turned out, I may have my dear husband try again and I'll repost the photo later.

Hope you enjoyed the projects - and please be sure to keep hopping over to Amy's Blog and see the wonderful art she's creating over there! 

Thanks for hopping along - have a great weekend! 

Katherine

PS  I do have a RAK that I'll draw a winner for on Sunday night and post back here.  All you need to do is leave a comment! (feel free to follow me, too!)

Sweet Sunday Sketch

Wow!  Where have I found the time to be so crafty?  Today's artwork is inspired by my favorite holiday, Halloween and the Sweet Sunday Sketch #84.  I just love following sketches to put my own spin on things! 

I really love the new Close to My Heart Colors of Lagoon, Pear and Sunset, which happen to be the colors I've chosen for my Halloween card.  This fun witch stamp and greeting are from Close to My Heart's Fright Night Set.

Supplies:  Fiskars border punch (wave), EK Success punch (spiderweb), B1359 Fright Night stamp set, pear ink, pear cardstock, lagoon cardstock, white daisy cardstock, sunset cardstock and Hooligans paper pack all Close to My Heart.

More Halloween fun to come!  Enjoy!