Torendi Setters!

Hey all my readers - just wanted to turn you on to a new and interesting company. It's run by Jenn Coker, and it's really generating a lot of interest. Jenn's new store is coming!

"Mark your Calendars for 9/9/09! We couldn't resist such a fun date and we are ready to roll! What is Torendi? It's a new paper crafting store with a twist! "

Stop by, become a follower and we'll learn about this together! I won just for following. Just click HERE!

Thanks for taking a moment to visit me!

Ta for now, ~ky

Hayseed Hank!

It's time for a new release from Sunshine Stamps!

Introducing....Hayseed Hank!

Aw shucks...it ain't nuthin'. I been out cow tippin' - ain't no big deal...

I'm sorry - I just had a little flashback of living in the deep south. I had a tractor much like this one, it was a McCormick Super C, and I was sad that I couldn't take it with me when I moved. I miss that grow'd up tricycle...

Hayseed Hank is available at the Sunshine Store. They've released three new images, so I'll be back soon to introduce another cutie real soon. Have a great day!!

Ta for now, ~ky

Ingredients: Gina K cardstock, K&Co patterned paper, sentiment Unity Stamp Co., Michael's rhinestones, copic markers, flower soft, memento inks; Tim Holtz's tag dye method.

Welcome to the Ildi Co. Blog Hop (I)

Top o' the morning to you!

Or afternoon!

Welcome to the first ever Ildi Company Blog Hop! You should have come here from Erin's blog. If you didn't, go back to Jenny's and start your hopping! I am Letter "I".

The first project (above) is Ildi's Clownkins Leap. I love this image because you could go in so many directions with it. I colored him with copics. Bright and cheery!

The next project is Clownkins Sprinter. Perfect for all the runners in your life, or can you imagine a belated birthday? I love how versatile and adorable Ildi Co's images are.

Ok - I'm keeping this short because you have another blog to hop to. Laurie's blog is next! I hope you're enjoying all the awesome projects!

Ta for now! ~ky

Blooming Hangover and a Sneek Peak!

Hey girls!! And any guys who stop by - I'm an equal opportunity blogger! Thanks for stopping by on the Unity customers' hip hop. I'm sure you're seeing some great projects today! Unity ROCKS! Today's hangover came with a theme - use a UNITY TREE. Unity has a lot of tree images, and I could not pick one over another as a favorite.

This tree, which I adore, is from the August kit of the month. I stamped it in Ranger Distress Ink then stamped the flowers from the tree in different colors to pop them up off the tree. They have crystal lacquer and diamond dust on them to make them shiney and bright!

If you're wanting more chances to hip hop around the internet, Ildi Co. will be hosting their first hop TOMORROW! Isn't that exciting? It will start at Jenny's blog, and hop along from there. We'll post our projects in the morning, and you should have all day to check out the beautiful work of the DT. So, here's my next sneak peek for you. Again - you can buy 10 images for $20, and get busy immediately!




Thanks for stopping by!
Ta for now, ~ky

Just chugging along!

You know those days. Don't you. Yep, those days you just trudge along through. A few of my friends have been having those a bit to regularly. So, this is for all my girls! Just keep swimming!

This is Steamy Stanley from Sunshine's Stamp Creations! Isn't he adorable? I can just see him chugging into that special boy's living room piled high with packages! Sunshine has many similar images, and they're all digital. That means INSTANT access, and NO MORE STORAGE needed.

So hop on over to the Sunshine Store for a sweet treat for yourself - no calories, no guilt and all the options!

Ta for now, ~ky

Cuddles Comfort with a Sneak Peek!

Welcome to all my wonderful readers. It means so much to me that you come to visit!


Today I have a Cuddles project to share with you. Cuddles images are a line of varied poses based on this adorable bear. You can purchase Cuddles (and more!) from Ildi Co. stamps.


Ildi is still running that great special of buy 10 for $20 - isn't that a great price?? Hurry - it's a limited offer!! Ildiko is also sponsoring this week's Etsy Inspired Challenge, so this project was created for that challenge! It's simple to participate. Just visit the inspiration store for the week (this week is Mrs. Kwitty's Cottage), pick out your inspiration piece (mine is this one), create your project, upload to a gallery or your blog, and link it here.

I picked the rabbit for my inspiration piece, because it is vintage inspired with button hinged arms. Those features really reminded me of vintage stuffed teddy bears, and the comfort they bring. Just made me all warm and fuzzy inside!

For this project, I used my nestabilities to create a frame on my Gina K cardstock base. I printed Cuddles on white, then colored him with my prismacolor pencils and OMS. On the top of this panel, I used my border punch as a mask, and colored it with Pebbles chalk. I created the background with Pebbles chalks, too. Then I applied SU! irridescent ice glitter over the entire panel (for a Gina K challenge).


Now for the commercial! Ildi Co. is hosting a blog hop on Saturday (Aug 29th), with all new images. Here's a sneaky peek for you! I think you will ADORE the new images - so be sure to stop by and check it out! It will be starting from Jenny's blog and you'll just hop from one blog to the next using the links provided in each post. FUN!!!

Ta for now, ~ky

Sunshiney Day!

Isn't this bus fun?? Barney Bus! I created this card for the Midnight Madness Challenge. Sunshine is providing a collection of goodies to the winner. BLOG CANDY!!! What are you waiting for?? You have until midnight (EST) August 25th to enter.

I thought about all the kids, and all the not so young kids, going back to school in the near future. I discovered I was jealous! I love *LOVE* learning. I think if you have a day where you don't learn something, you might as well mooooove on. That's one thing I really enjoy about the internet. You can find a way to learn almost anything!

Sunshine has some exciting details coming soon. Be sure you stay tuned, check the bloggys, find the news!

Ta for now, ~ky

Sneaky Peeky!

***Hip Hop Hangover Post Below***

Ildi Co. will be hosting their first ever blog hop on August 29th. We have some *adorable* images that will be released that day...


What? You want a sneak peek?? Hmmm...I hope I don't get in trouble, but yeah - I can give you a sneak peek...



So, what do you think? I'll give you a hint - this set of images can be used in every season of the year. Ok...gotta go work on something gorgeous for you all for tomorrow. Come back and see me, 'kay??

Ta for now, ~ky

Can I get a HIP HOP?

Sad times, these. When passing ruffians can say "Ni!" at will to old ladies... Hmmmm...I know there was a thought there before the movie interrupted...what was it... Oh I know!! This is the second to last HIP HOP EVER at Unity.

Well. You know... I'm sure Sept. 1st will bring something absolutely wonderful from the Unity crew, but this is a little like taking that security blanket away from a 2 year old! So, I will act like one! For a little while...until I see the new blankie Unity has for us...maybe...



On the Hip Hop today...the ladies were talking at one point about Ranger Distressing Inks. I was amazed, nay appalled!, that some of them didn't know how they differed from 'regular' ink, and what all they can do. I whipped up this little project to show just a smidgen of what I do with them.



This project (actually is part of a bigger project that you will see later because I know you are all such faithful readers and you would never ever want me to think you don't hang on my every word...) is a little collage that's going on a scrapbook page depicting some of the beautiful work that you all have shared with me! I'm almost as bad as that first-time mom who keeps every little scrap of paper her baby marked on forever and ever and ever. I do NOT want to part with your beautiful works of art, so they need a home!

They will live in a scrapbook album all about you peeps! Are you excited?? I am - I think this will be a fun project! Not only that, but it will document our relationships through time, what was going on in our world that caused you to send me something, something funny you said in a forum, how your kids are growing up, etc etc etc.

Here's the educational part of the program. I have a scor-mat, but if you have a piece of waxed paper, aluminum foil, basically anything non-porous you can do this neat trick. Take your Distressing ink pads, and wipe them on that non-porous surface. Use as many colors as you like. If you're a purist, you can blob down ink separately so you don't taint your yellow pad with blue, ok?

Take a water bottle, mister, anything that can put out a fine mist of water. Spritz it over your inked up non-porous surface. Working quickly use your finger to break up the solid blobs of colors - just squiggle your finger all the way acrossed, back and forth, here and there just so the inks don't have a clear "edge" to them. The finer your mist, the less you stir, and the faster you move will make a finer pattern. The longer you wait, the more you stir, the more likely you are to have blobs of color or inks that just look muddy.

Plop your paper (whatever kind you want to use, cardstock, patterned papers, glossy, etc.) face down into this watery world of color. Squish it. Peel it up and consider it. Like it? Great - let it dry or use your heat setting gun. Don't like it? Add more color, plop the paper down and repeat until you like it.

My sample here is mottled nicely, and the colors are faint hues rather than overpowering color. That, my friends, is distressing ink. A water reactive dye ink that you can do TONS of things with. Want more info? Check out Tim Holtz's website where he has a lot of tutorial videos using the distressing inks. Oh - I crumpled up the paper after it was dry and hit it with a little more distressing ink, and along the frayed edges.

Hey - I have a sneak peek coming later today. With news about a blog hop...stop back by and see what it's all about! Follow me on FaceBook too - you'll know almost instantly when I change my blog!

Happy hangover! Ta for now, ~ky

Pop Up Anytime!

Tee hee! Isn't this the cutest toaster? This is one of the latest images from Sunshine's Stamp Creations. I had a lot of fun coloring this image with my copic markers. I used the color challenge from the Color Throwdown, which was to use dusty durango, Bermuda bay, and soft suede.

Be sure to check out all the great images at Sunshine's Stamps. We've got great things planned, so pop around a couple times a week. You don't want to be left out!

Ta for now, ~ky

Recipe: SU! cardstock, Gina K patterned paper, Offray ribbon, Bazzill brads, copics.

One part Water, One part Color

Welcome to Week Two of the August Edition of Creative Belli Challenge!

Lately, everyone seems to be jumping onto the Copics boat. Alcoholism is on the rise!

Seriously, with so much focus on Copic and similar markers, it's refreshing to step back and play with water and color. I used Stampin' Up markers to create this cute project. How? Here's a walk-through.



Start with good quality watercolor paper (cheap, you can get it at most craft supply stores, or through your SU! pusher - I mean dealer!). Stamp it with a non-water reactive ink. I used StazOn black, and embossed it with clear embossing powder because I like the shine.



Spritz your paper with water until water puddles. Then quickly touch your markers to the pooled water in the area you want colored. The paper will do the rest, acting like a sponge to suck the color into its pores. Repeat until you are satisfied. You can let it dry and repeat if the color is too pastel for your liking.




So - now you know one more way to use those basic water-based markers. For a fun variation - try this same technique with your water-based reinkers. Ranger Ink distressing inks are water reactive, so play with those too! Have FUN!



Ta for now, ~ky

Cuddles Has Fun

Cuddles is such a versatile critter. Here, she's all dressed up for the parade! Or a girl's birthday party, or even just high tea! Ildiko, the owner/artist, is still having her 10 images for $20 special. Why don't you go grab Cuddles to keep you company?

What - you haven't made the switch to digital? Think it's too scary to live in a technical world? Let me tell you a few things I've learned. Because, yeah, I resisted in the beginning too.

1. Digital images are available to you immediately. No worries about your postman thinking you're creepy by stalking him.

2. Earth friendly - no rubber, no waste, no wood, just good old electrons.

3. Space savers - no need to get hubs to build you 'just one more' shelf. They live on your computer. They can be burned to CD/DVDs or stored on an external memory.

4. Perfect images and total control. You want to make a really cool one of a kind backpack clip for your kid? Just stretch that image to three times larger than you want. Print it on shrink plastic (yes, they make shrink plastic for your printer), color it up and melt it down. Perfect!

Digital images are so smart and affordable. Give them a try! There are several places you can visit on the internet to walk you through, if you're a little uncertain. So, what are you waiting for??

Ta for now, ~ky

Recipe: SU! patterned paper, Bazzill cardstock, Ranger Ink distressing ink and stickles, prismacolor pencils with OMS, Making Memories metal letters, flower and brads, Limelight wide ric-rac. Layout from Card Positioning System challenge #129.

Sunshine Stamps is sponsoring Midnight Madness

Yep - Sunshine is generously providing blog candy this week on the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge website. Go play along! Click on the badge on my blog and you will be whisked away!

Check out the rest of the team - they will be posting their MMSC projects throughout the week. Come back on Thursday if you'd like to see mine!

Ta for now, ~ky

Wanna Trade?

This is a typical evening at our house. I have my black kitty monster that pesters me all day, then her Dad comes home for work, and I try to pawn her off on him. She's adorable, but a whole day of being followed around and her trying to lay on my projects just...well...Mom needs a break!

These guys are from Ildi Company. Ildi's having a special - you can buy all 10 images for $20!

Aren't they adorable? Sassy attitudes that can fit almost any occasion! And coloring them is such a breeze. I used my prismacolors with odorless mineral spirits here, and sponged up the background. I used the Digital Tuesday Challenge sketch but my image didn't quite fit the way the sketch lay.

I used Gina K Designs pure luxury base weight cardstock - I love how well this cardstock takes Nestabilities impressions. PP is K & Co., buttons are from Basic Grey, and ink is Colorbox copper, and Ranger fired brick distressing ink.

I hope you enjoyed checking this out - it was such fun to put together!

Ta for now, ~ky

It's a Hangover Kinda Day!

And it's so nice to be back among friends!! Thanks for stopping by today. Scroll on down if you've not visited in awhile. I've been busy!

I hear that Unity will be changing their tune come Sept. 1. Will it be the end of Hip Hop as we know it? Doubtless, it will be bigger and better cuz that's just how Angela rolls! Can't wait to see what she'll have for us - I can feel it in the air - that crisp apple-picking fall breeze with fresh mown hay and a touch of fall colors. Mmmmm.....a little woodsmoke, a football game...

Oh SNAP! Sorry - dreaming again! I completed this card because it fit the Hip Hop challenge to include winged things on a card. I also used the Cuttlebug inking technique to give a little more detail to the debossed background. I love this pear tree! It can be almost any season, just change up the colors and embellies. FUN! The paper is all Gina K Designs - the new Green Apple and not yet released pumpkin (did I mention how I love this paper?). A little Basic Grey bling, some Offray ribbon, and there ya go!

Unity chicks will be chatting in the hip hop forum today. Come say hello! And don't forget to showcase your favorite stamps Friday and Saturday in the Virtual Stamp Night Forum! See you there!

Ta for now, ~ky

Swimming in the Sunshine!

Yeah - this is a simple project. But it capture my DH's interest - must be the shiny bits! BOBL! This is Sunshine's Francine Flounder, done up in her own aquarium! She's got a few shells and beads and gravel to entice passing peeps to drop her a morsel. I envisioned this card as a date night invite for my sweetie or even for good friends to enjoy a dinner out!

Paper is Bazzill cardstock, SU! glossy cardstock using the polished stone technique and Adirondack metallic inks. I also used the gel technique to create Francine's aquarium. Hey - Francine's friend Bertha is waiting to come to your house for free! Check out how you can win her on Sunshine's Stamps blog!

Hey - come on over to Splitcoast this weekend!

We're having Virtual Stamp Night Friday night (6 p.m. Eastern) and Saturday (noon eastern). You can participate in any of the challenges until Sunday at 10 p.m. eastern. Automated uploads on Sunday, too. Come check it out!!

Ta for now, ~ky

Me Time!!

Everyone needs a little me time, you know? I picked out this image and colored it while watching our first preseason football game! We eat a lot of pizza during football season.

DH and I are very happy that we can almost see autumn just over the horizon. I know some of you haven't had enough summer, and dread the return of busy school months. Sorry - this too shall pass!

My friend, Lee, sent me some sweet images to color, and this was one of them. Truly - that's what I wish I could do every day! Lay out in the flowers, eat all the pizza I want and wash it down with a Coke. Hmmm...life is good.

Daisy D paper (don't you love that stuff??), Gina K ribbon, Basic Grey brads, Bazzill, Gina K and SU cardstock, flower soft, some soft sponging with Memento dew drops and coloring with prismacolor pencils. The sentiment is from The Cat's Pajamas. Voila!

I made this card for the Etsy Inspired Challenge. If you play along too, mention my name. That way we can both be in a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to Paper Makeup Stamps!!

Have a stellar day!

Ta for now, ~ky

P.S. Don't forget this Friday evening and all day Saturday are the next VSN DATES. I've seen some of the challenges, and we're going to have so much fun!!

Delightful Sunshine!

It's another fabulous release day at Sunshine's Stamps! I am loving this image. It has so many potential uses, and it can be dressed up or down. It's called Hot To Trot, and was designed by Sunshine herself!! Hitting it outta the ballpark!

I used Melanie Muenchinger's Inspiration Mosaic {Gina K Designs} to create this piece, along with the sentiment from that set. Don't you feel like those feet must belong to your favorite movie diva??

I did a ton of sewing on this, but it wasn't hard. It hides a multitude of my little piecing mistakes. A little ink here, a dab of stickles there, a prima flower and one from Making Memories, some Offray ribbon and there you have it. Oh - I punched the fold with SU!s spiral punch.

Check out the rest of Sunshine's girls projects! Inspire yourself then come back and link me up to what you make! Have a GREAT weekend!

Ta for now, ~ky

P.S. I used the Stamp TV color combination challenge for this project, and the Digital Tuesday Challenge to use bling and a digital image.

Ice Cream and Magic Matter!

I've had this product forever. I was just using it the other day and I thought, I wonder if they still make this. Then I thought... I wonder if anyone else knows about this. So I took a poll of a few of my friends, and just what I thought - this product needs to be reintroduced.

(RE) Introducing

MAGIC MATTER

A Perfect Mat Every Time

Mine has 4 discs because it's old. You can still buy this product, but it only comes in a 3 disc set now. Search your favorite on-line store, or visit Puzzlemates, the creator.

It's really simple to use. Just pick the size disc you need for how wide you want your mat. Now, I'm demonstrating this on a simple oval, but it works on ANY shape. No need to own every size punch on the market. Just buy the average size you would use most and your magic matter gives you three matting options.

Adhere your item to your choice of mat paper. Pick your disk, put your pen or pencil in the hole, butt the metal disc against the item you're matting, and guide your pencil around the border. The matting disc will hug your item giving you a perfect margin.

Carefully cut along the line you've drawn. Remember, when cutting out any image, move the paper, not the scissors.

Now you have perfect, custom matting for your project. All that's left is to assemble your project as desired.

This is a card I made using Sunshine's Stamps' latest release, Mr. Smoothie. I colored him up with my copics, added some ric-rac, Prima flowers, Basic Grey button, MM acrylic flower, Michael's rhinestones, SU! PP, Bazzill CS, and my Magic Matter with the Unity sentiment.

I hope you'll explore opportunities with the magic matter, and figure out more ways to use them. You can use pens, and just draw a border, too. They are quite versatile.

Have a great day!!

Ta for now, ~ky

Wooden You Know It??

Sorry - corny for a Wednesday! I have waited so long to share this project with you. Today is the next installment of the Creative Belli Challenge, and I'm the Guest Designer for August! Woohoo!!

[click the pic for an enlarged view]

This challenge is to USE WOOD. It can be wood-looking paper (like I used here), actual wooden components, or even a 3D project made of wood. You can make a card, or a scrapbook page - the sky's the limit! Put on your creativity hat and see what you can come up with. Link it up to the Creative Belli Challenge blog, and I'll come see what you've created!

For my project, I used the SCS tutorial for a pizza box (think personal pan sized ), Daisy D's Patterned Paper, Bazzill Cardstock, Stampin' Up images, Prismacolor pencils, and some Stampin' Up designer ribbon. The sweet box will be filled with small notecards (seen in the background) and sent to a friend of mine who's going to need to send out a bunch of thank-yous.

If you need a little creativity boost, check out what the other talented Designers came up with on the Creative Belli Challenge blog. Don't forget - if you upload your project to an online gallery, like SCS, you need to use the keyword CBC71.

For the uninitiated, the Belli Challenge changes once every two weeks. This gives you plenty of time to play! So, I'll be back with another project in two weeks (same time, same channel )! I am so honored to get to be a part of this creative group. Thanks for taking the time to pop in!

Ta for now, ~ky

Ildi Co. - Ca-UTE!

Jenny's sister-in-law is starting up her own digital image company. I'm so THRILLED to be part of it! She doesn't have a blog yet, but will soon. So for now, Jenny and I are hosting her images. This is Cuddles-Kuma and he's available for free. Just send a quick email to Jenny (jlaszlo4 at gmail.com) and she'll get him right out to you! I used the sketch on Card Positioning System for the layout.

Enjoy your day!!

Ta for now, ~ky

Supplies: Basic Grey PP, Bazzill CS, Basic Grey and Cat's Pajamas buttons, distressed cardstock dry brushed with MM paint, Janome sewing with Coats and Clark embroidery thread, Prismacolor pencils, Nestabilities, Unity sentiment, Ildi Co image, Ranger distressing ink in walnut stain.

Sunshine Releases... CHRISSY!!

I'm glad Sunshine released her too. How's she supposed to help people if she's stuck at Sunshine's??

Sorry for the snarky humor - it's late! Or very early depending which half of the glass you prefer. Isn't she a cutie tho?? Who wouldn't want to be helped by this lovely lass? I used the current Limelight sketch for the layout. Chrissy is so much fun to color. You get to make so many decisions about what she'll pull out of her scrubs closet today!

I colored Chrissy up with prismacolor pencils using the Gamsol method, added a lot of sparkle with smooch and stickles, then trimed her out. She's hanging out on SU! cardstock and patterned paper. I used two different border punches, some Robin's Nest dew drops and a sentiment from Gina K Design's Arranged with Love set created by Melanie Muenchinger.

Hope you love Chrissy - I do. By the way, Sunshine released 3 images this weekend. THREE. Click on her banner on my right border and see them all.

Alrighty then! I'm off for a couple hours, but when I get back, I'll have another post for you. By the way - feel free to scroll down to see what else I've been up to!

Ta for now, ~ky

Virtual Stamp Night!!

The girls over on Splitcoast Stampers have an event called Virtual Stamp Night (VSN). There's usually a theme, and the challenges go with the theme. This quarter, the theme is Paper Chefs, and all the challenges revolve around food! YUM! This weekend's challenges were for snacks.



This challenge nearly did me in! It was all about food allergies. You had to pretend you were allergic to all kinds of ink - you couldn't use anything ink related. Boggles the mind, don't it!



This card uses Basic Grey PP and rub-ons, Bazzill cardstock and a little piece of Offray ribbon. The layout comes from Mojo Monday!

The next challenge was chip and dip (I'm getting so hungry!). We were asked to use a paint chip as part of our project. These images are from Unity, gold embossed (card), terracotta embossed (chip), with Basic Grey PP, Pebbles kraft CS, Bazzill dark brown CS, some quick sewing a splash of ribbon, and there ya have it! The paint chip is a removable bookmark!

The last one was an inspiration challenge. It's all about the popcorn! I loved this challenge because I got to make a card based on an old-time theatre. I mean, who doesn't luv a tub of theatre popcorn with a ton of butter! Mmmmm....drool....

Unity images, Creative Imaginations PP, Bazzill CS, and gold embossing powder. Oh - the stamps on the circles are from Cat's Pajamas, and I intentionally "messed up" the embossing to give it an old, worn feel. Same with the Robin's Nest dew drop stage lights.

So - that's what I got done this weekend. I have another project or two for you tomorrow, so make sure you come back and see!

Ta for now, ~ky