Christmas Tag

Second Post - scroll down for {ippity}

I really enjoy the Gina K customer blog hop. It's just plain fun to see how everyone is inspired differently to make projects from the same stamp sets. Here's another project I made, that really made me happy while creating.

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This tag was created using white and clear acrylic gesso, Ranger distress inks and stickles, copic markers, and inkssentials memory frames and capsules. Here's another view:

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Be sure to visit Gina's blog for two things: the list for this customer hop, and to see snippets for the next new stamp set release (Jan 7th).

I hope you have a great day!

Cool runnings - peace be the journey. ~ky

Recipe: #8 manilla tag, Ranger distress inks and stickles, liquid applique, inkssentials capsule and frame, vintage glass glitter, Gina K Designs stamp sets: Life is Good, Vintage Borders, Happy Camper; copic markers, Michael's ribbon, white and clear acrylic gesso (texture), bow easy.

H{ippity} Blog Hop!

Wow - last one of the year. I am happy to congratulate all the Unity team on bringing {ippity} into reality. It's quite an undertaking! I love that they include their customers in a weekly hop. Be sure to stop at the {ippity} blog to see the whole list! I'm so excited to see new names on our list of blogs! Welcome ladies! Here's my project:

Yes, I used Unity, {ippity}, and Gina K in the construction of this card, along with Basic Grey and Offray ribbon. I hope you enjoyed this card! Keep hopping - there's lots of inspiration!

Cool runnings - Peace be the journey. ~ky

Happy Boxing Day!

I'm boxing up cards to send off to Operation Write Home today. Remember that Boxing Day episode from M*A*S*H? I love that bit! Here is another set I put together:

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I used Monday Mojo's sketch #118 for the layout, and colors from Embellish Magazine's challenge. I entirely forgot to include snowflakes on my card. Yikes! Oh well, I still like how they turned out. Patterned paper is My Mind's Eye (yellow) and Basic Grey (brown). The rest of the components, including stamps, are all Gina K.

I'm off to make some more cards, and enjoy today's football bowl games. I hope you have a great day!

Cool runnings - peace be the journey. ~ky

Productive Christmas!

We've enjoyed a nice, quiet Christmas, surrounded by our fuzzy family. It's been very relaxing, and I spent a lot of time thinking about families who had an empty spot at the table this year. That inspired me to make several cards! Here's what I did:

Yep - feeling very productive! I hope you see something here you like. All the papers are Gina K, all the stamps are Gina K, patterned paper on the first two are Basic Grey, on the tea cards is Cosmo Cricket. I won't bore you with details, so if you want to know anything, feel free to leave me a comment and I'll get back to you.

Stamp sets include Warm and Wonderful, Lovely Shelf, and Life is Good all by Gina K Designs. Happy customer blog hopping!

I hope you had a terrific Christmas with your dear ones, and that you've been greatly blessed. See you soon!

Cool runnings - peace be the journey! ~ky

Refocus!

Welcome to the H{ippity} Hop! You should be coming here from Jodi's blog. If not, start at the {ippity} blog and hop along for some stellar projects!

So here's another little project I worked up using my {ippity} stamps. I put this together after I revamped my studio supplies, getting back to MY basics.

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Yes, I followed Tim Holtz's 12 days of Christmas tags, but this was a total jump off from his work. This was always the basis for designing my scrapblook pages - distressing, inks, texture, focus. I felt like in the past 8 months that I was experimenting with stamps.

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Now, I feel like I have incorporated stamps as a regular tool - just like you would pick up a brad, or distress and edge on paper. Stamps are now an integral part of my work rather than a 'stamp and color' sideshow.

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I use to reach for premade embellishments back 'in the day'. Now, I am confident in making my own pieces that are much closer to original art rather than an assemblage of other's productions. Happy, I am! I absolutely loved making this paper rose. Tim Holtz can show you how.

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I am once again whole and happy. Have you noticed a change or a settling into your basic comfort zone? I spent the last year totally out of mine, and coming back feels so good. Tell me your story!

Do you want to share a weekly exercise to focus on incorporating your life into your art? Does your muse need a little push? Stay tuned - I will be starting something exciting just after the new year!

Next on the hop is Carolina! She's such a great crafty talent!

Cool runnings, my friends! Peace be the journey!  ~ky

Simplifying

As this year draws to a close, I am taking some time to reflect. I am amazed at how quickly this year has passed. I'm thankful for friends I've met, and friends I've been able to draw closer to. I'm filled with excitement for the coming year, particularly with my art. I'm grateful for opportunities that have led me to where I am.

I'm stepping down from my design team duties so that I can refocus and prepare for new things with the new year. Sunshine and Ildi - I am honored to have served as your designer! I will still be following your work! Thank you for all the encouragement and love you've shared on my behalf. You are forever in my heart!

Today I have a project to share with you that I think you'll like.

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I had so much fun with this card! I pulled out all kinds of things and just dabbled and played like a little kid with their first fingerpaint set!

I started with a 4 x 5.25 inch piece of Creative Imaginations paper, and applied a layer of Gesso white acrylic primer. I ran the piece through my cuttlebug with the box embossing folder that I had inked with Versamark. I applied Ranger distressed embossing powder to the areas where Versamark had inked. These combined treatments gave the primary large area a very unique texture and opacity. Love this!!

Next, I used my {ippity} stamps to make individual flowers, the sentiment label, and the numbers border down the side. (secret note: where the numbers are started out as a photo print of Gina K's digital papers that I sanded and stamp over - try it!) I stitched it together, punched a coordinating CI paper scrap with my border punch and tucked it behind the numbers. Distressed the sentiment label, added 2 brads, buttons for flower centers with stickles for "eyes", and attached pieces of Cat's Pajamas' ribbon vines for the stems.

CUTE as a BUG! I tell ya, it's even cuter in real life! Ok, now I've got the giggles. Yes, this is one of the projects where I revert to my "old" style just a little. Monday's post will be the full reveal...hope you're intrigued!

Cool Runnings my friends - peace be the journey!
~ky

Freakin' Friday!

Yep - you guessed it! It's another fantastic full-featured friends with flair Friday! Freakin' get outta here! Where has this year gone?? This is the last customer hop for Unity for this year. So, fill up on the fabulousity as you hop around the flair tree! {ok...maybe I've had too much eggnog!}

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I did this card for the Card Positioning System sketch challenge #145. I played with my distress inks to make the middle band. The star was cut freehand out of Gina K's metallic cardstock, Silver Lining. It's so shimmery!

You really need to check out Angela's blog (over at Unity) for the specials this weekend. She's still doing the garage sale thing! Yay for us!!! And keep your eyes peeled for that special blinkie that lets you know you can put your name in for the free stamps!

Today, sister company {ippity} will be announcing their final design team members. I'm very excited to see who gets these last two spots! ETA: Congrats to Lisa Henke and Michelle Woerner!

Saturday, I will have a new post with a special Sunshine Stamp Creation. Monday, I will unveil my "new" OLD style project! I'm giddy about sharing this - I know, to most folks, it's no big deal, but to me, I finally feel my stamping self has met my older creative self, leaving me in creative harmony! YAY!! Ok... leave me a comment then off you go: RONA is your next freakin' crafty friend!

Ta for now! ~ky

Snow in Ippity!

Welcome to the second H{ippity} Hop! If you've just happened upon my blog, start here so you don't miss a thing. Yum! I've seen a lot of very nice projects using Ippity stamps this week! Here's mine:

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I loved this challenge to use snow on your card. However, I didn't have any winter Ippity stamps to use! So, I let the images 'speak' to me. What could be better than having snow on mushrooms? Having one of the mushrooms stand out from the others as making good times GREAT! LOL! And yep, that background piece is from Unity.

Here's a closer view of the texture and dimension included on this card:

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I really enjoy the look of liquid applique on cards. I've tried several products, but this comes closest to actually resembling snow. Here's what my backyard looked like lately:

I love snow. LOVE it!! Our home has a long history - this was the first house on the property, but now it's just a storage building. It has a lot of character!

You should invest in a little ippity. It's very affordable. JenMarie is my pusher...eh...supplier! Then you can play along! Next week's ippity challenge is to use your stamps to create your own patterned paper. That's gonna be a lot of fun! Check out the details here, and play along!

Ok - you're off to the next blog on the hop. Michelle!!! I love her stuff.

Ta for now! ~ky

Friends with Flair

Welcome to another Flair week! Here's my project:

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This is an older set. Yet, I still love it! It signifies new beginnings, to me. Here's a closer look:

I hope you're enjoying your hop! There are many worthy crafters in this group. Be sure to check out the weekend sales from Unity, and all the talent from the full list here.

Hope everyone has a great weekend planned! Hugs!

Ta for now, ~ky

Hippity Hop!

So sorry - but my camera died! Boohoo!!!

Here's a recent project I completed with Ippity stamps:

Your next stop is: CHERI!!!

I'll be back when I get my camera repaired!

Ta for now, ~ky

Bloggabella Blog Hop!!

Wow! This is Bella-rific! I love all the Bellas! Welcome to stop #23 along the Bella Blog Hop.

Happy birthday!!

I know you have many stops to make today. So without further delay here's my project:

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I love her! Hockey Mom aBella! Perfect for a Christmas card for my brother! Yes, I'm a Stars fan so, that explains her coloring. Isn't she sweet?!?

Remember. If you get lost along the way, click here for the full list. Your next stop is JOY at Crazy for Daisies!

Some last minute info: Three gift certificates for $100 in Bella Bucks will be hidden along the hop, but we’re not telling you where so be sure to leave some love as you hop!!! Make sure you leave comments on every post so you have a chance to win!! The winners will be announced on Monday, December 7 at the Stamping Bella Blog. MWAH!

Happy Hopping!

Ta for now, ~ky

Friday...Again???

Seriously? Where has this year gone?? Here's a card I whipped up for FWF using my latest Ippity set.

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Seriously. I'm not ready for winter to be half over. I'm not ready to welcome 2010. No no no no no no!!!

I made a card for Valentine's using the Because of You set from Ippity. Really makes things easy. It's a bit hard to see, but there are three levels of elevation on this card (the heart, the circle and the base). I used my Basic Grey paper (love this stuff!) and Stampin' Up base paper for the project. So simple, yet so involved! I hope you like it too. Don't forget to look for the hidden emblem for your chance to win free stamps, and check Unity's blog for this weekend's SMOKIN' deals.

Ta for now! ~ky

Generous Prize Sponsor!

Sunshine does it again!!

MMSC30

Sunshine's Stamp Creations is the bonus prize sponsor for this week's Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge!

Here is THIS WEEK'S BONUS PRIZE!!!

This bonus prize includes the following: 4 Mini Slate Labels, 1 card adhesive rhinestones, Prima flowers, Alterable Notebook, Chipboard label holders, chipboard shapes - stars, wine lovers tags, Ayleen's Super Tacky Glue, Glue Dots, 3 "Footprints" silver charms, Buttons, Fabric stickers, and Sunshine's Stamps Christmas Card----------Valued at $45.00


All you need to do is follow the participation instructions on Priscilla's blog to enter your project for the prize drawing by December 8th. I hope you're inspired to have fun and play along!

Ta for now, ~ky