DTGD in Review

Hello! I'm sharing a card I made recently for the Dare To Get Dirty challenges on Splitcoast. The DTGD challenges have closed, but you can look forward to next year's. It's a GREAT time with awesome challenges. All you have to do is be a member of the site and you get access to play those challenges, plus lots of other goodies, like the monthly Fan Gallery. I'll be having a series of posts recapping cards I made for that set of challenges.

I used one of my favorite Tim Holtz sets (by Stamper's Anonymous), Sewing Blueprints, for this card. I covered the image with thick embossing powder, then stitched it to the card base with my Janome machine. I colored the image with Copic markers.

The paper is Lost & Found, Union Square, so awesome by My Mind's Eye and I added some faux stitching with Gina K Designs Nana's Needlework set illustrated by Nina Brackett. The sentiment is from that set, too.

Find a way to stitch something on your next project. It's sew much fun! (Sorry, you knew I had to say that!)

Ta for now,

~ky

Challenge Your Muse

Hi there - I'm hosting another challenge in the Mix-Abilities forum at Splitcoaststampers. This week I'm challenging you to Crack your project, then Stitch it. There are so many ways to go with this challenge!

Here are some things you can think about using when you do the crackle and stitching challenge.

Here's my process in creating the white glue crackle technique for a background piece on my card.

It's important to consider the direction you want your cracks to go in. Be sure you apply your glue in one direction, and the second coat of acrylic paint in the other direction for best results.

You can use any stamp image (or draw your own) that you want. Just stamp on the BACK of your project, and poke the holes to embroider.

This is a close up of the front of the card with my stitching. Below is the finished card. I love this look!

Below is another card I created for this challenge. The crack occurs when you apply a thick layer of Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (or multiple layers of clear embossing powder), place it in the freezer for 2-3 minutes, then bend it. I rubbed a little walnut stain in the crevices to help it show up, but you could also use metallic rubs and similar product.

The stitch part (which I'm not extremely happy with) are little French knots on all the snow dots falling around the snowman.

This piece, an Artist Trading Card, shows a strip of tulle fabric that I 'cracked' by tearing a strip off. I applied an inked stamp image from Tim Holtz's collection for the faux stitching down the left side and along the bottom. The step-by-step of this process is can be found on the Brutal Busy post.

I hope this post gives you some ideas, and I really would love to see your work. You can post it (for free) on the SplitcoastStampers' website. Be sure to use the MIX29 tag so I can see it!

Have a great day!
~ky

Newton's Nook Challenge

My dear friend, Mere, whom you probably know as Crafty Math Chick, introduced me to a relatively new stamp company called Newton's Nook Designs. They are having a challenge using a sketch, and they have a free digital image available, too! Here's my take on their challenge:

I used some My Mind's Eye paper, some cool flower and brad elements, and one of my new Tonic punches (which aren't really that new, just new to me!). I love these colors, and Newton's Nook images are really cute. You should check them out!

Ciao!
~ky

Dare You!

It's that fabulous time of year again. Preseason football stuff is starting, baseball is heating up, the final Major of the year is approaching for tennis... Can you tell I'm a bit into sports? Yep!

It's also a fantastic time to be a member of Splitcoast Stampers! Each year they throw a big party with oodles of cool challenges that lasts a week. All the member companies join in the fun providing prizes for those who play. It's AWESOME! It's also a little bit secretive. I can't give away the challenges, but I will be posting some of my work. You can learn about becoming a member - Click Here.

In the meantime - take a look at our unofficial mascot. Yep, that's Buddy and Tinker (left). Buddy was all over the Dare To Get Dirty. He started building an annex to the ArtLab Studio. Hee hee! I just love all that dirt, and Tinker seems to be saying she's not involved, hasn't provided any cheering, and could be whistling with a big though bubble: 'I don't see nuthin!'

Here's a little project I did last week as a warm up for DTGD. It's part of the Mix-Ability challenges hosted by Splitcoast Stampers and I'm on that team. I love working with those creative ladies, and enjoy seeing all the wonderful creations of the 'newbies' to mixed-media art.

This is a House Mouse image and I colored it up with Copic markers. The background print is an ombre application of Distress Inks through a Heidi Swapp stencil. I hope you'll come play at Splitcoast even if you aren't doing the challenges. It's a great place to meet people, learn some new stuff, get inspired, and make new friends.

See ya soon!!
~ky

Stencil This

It's almost that time of year again. Yay!! It's time to DARE to get DIRTY! It's a little 'gimme some luv' thing that Splitcoaststampers puts on for their fans. It's a great time to try new things, or fall in love all over with old things. It's a time to put all domestic duties on hold while you roll up your sleeves and get DIRTY!

(By the by, you can be a fan for 6 months for about $15 US or a full year for $25.)

The fun starts Saturday, July 27. But we're cheating. Shhh...don't tell Lydia! Hee hee! See, there's a shopping list already, and a get-out-of-anything pass to print off and post on your bat cave. And where there's a list, there are questions. Always questions. To me, the questions are where the real dirt begins to fly! We don't stop until August 2nd, and you have time after that to continue to play the challenges.

The goal - yes, there is one - is for you to PLAY with abandon. It's all about what you've got on hand. There's a shopping list, but most of the stuff you probably already have, but might not know it. Here's a little discussion for you. Ok, so it's a monologue, but you get the idea.

**AT ANY TIME, CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE**

The supply is stencils. The questions are many. Here are a few things that were laying within short reach of my workspace, the Bunny Nest in the ArtLab. See all those goodies? Now, think about your space. Got ideas? Good! Now, here's one way to use that really big circle die, and a miscellaneous snowflake-like star punch:

Distress ink, sponge applicator, mush it through the punch, and voila!

Get the idea? Good. See how easy? Don't have the sponge applicators or distress inks? No problem. The same thing works with makeup sponges (or even a kitchen sponge) and any water-based ink stamp pad that you probably already own.

Next up: Acrylic Paint - don't have any? No sweat. Buy the CHEAP stuff. Here's Bella from Home Depot, but I have a dozen similar bottles from other 2 for a buck paints. Have a reinker? No? Ok, have an ink pad you can smash onto a paper plate? Just add cheap white acrylic paint, thus:

Then apply, using a cheap foam brush or a makeup sponge, etc. Heck, go all wild and use those phingers!

Word of the day: Prestidigitation. Look it up! Hee hee - yeah, slight of hand or magician! Getting even more ideas? Ok, now about that huge die cut circle. What kind of fun can we have with that? Take a gander:

Big circle, white cardstock under. Distress inks, foam blender. You need another piece of scrap paper as wide as your circle.

Get ink on your foam/sponge. Scrub it around on your mat, a paper plate, piece of wax paper, etc. You just want to work it into your sponge a little so the sharp lines aren't too visible. Apply with a circular motion.

Repeat with your second color. Move the paper, and you can see the red sun flare over a horizon. Now, move your paper scrap up to cover what you just made. Repeat with a darker color below.

Remove the piece from under the stencil. Select your silhouette stamp, apply dark black ink to it, and stamp, lining up the horizon of the image to the horizon you created.

Now then. You should have more than a hat-full of ideas of things on hand. I cannot tell you that any of these samples will work with any specific challenges, because I do not know what magic the Splitcoast elves will be bringing. I just want to get you to dip your toes in the water, and ASK THOSE QUESTIONS!

One of the most marvelous things about Splitcoast is the variety of stamping skills and experience the member represent. The other marvelous thing is the willingness to share the knowledge with everyone. If you get stuck, or need a visual aid, stick your hand in the air and wave! Let's get ready to RRRRUUUMMMMMBBBBBLE!!!

See ya there!

~ky

Knee Deep in Summer

Our weather has been unseasonably cool lately. I have been able to work in the studio for short spells with no air conditioning. I'm proud to announce I'm a member of the Splitcoaststampers' Mix-Ability crew! Woohoo!! I love working with these ladies. They are incredibly talented, and oh so inspiring!

This weeks challenge by Lydia was to use the spotlight technique with a white background on a mixed media project. Here's what I came up with:

I love these Blueprints series from Tim Holtz through Stampers Anonymous. They are so cool and perfectly suited to the spotlight technique. I combined them with Authentique's Original papers. I used Gina K Designs black ink (it is the darkest and clearest of all the black pads I own, but it does not play nice with Copics or Odorless Mineral Spirits) and colored with Prismacolor pencils, blending with a paper stump.

I drew a circle around the colored spots to help them stand out. The edges are distressed slightly, and the panel and grungeboard flower die cut were colored with distress inks.

Hopefully I will be able to post more regularly. Lots of things going on, but at least it's a little more predictable around here! Come visit our forum, and don't forget the Dare to Get Dirty challenges are just around the corner!

Thank you so much for stopping by. Hope to see you here again soon!

~ky

A Little Something Hoppy

I've been crafting my fingers off, lately. We had a lot of great challenges this round of Virtual Stamp Night. Flopsey got to come out and play in my studio.

Of course I had to use Flopsey! With three buns, I should have made a third card, but two worked just fine - one for the girl, one for the boys! I colored them with Copic markers and did a little paper piecing.

Remember, you can click on the image and see it in more detail. I used some distress ink to color up the sentiments, and some washi tape to tone down the bright patterned paper. The deets are below. I hope you're having a beautiful day, and really appreciate you stopping by to see my little creations.

Ta for now,
~ky

Recipe, Both Cards:
Stamps: Flopsey Rainfall, My Favorite Things
Patterned Paper: Daisy D's
Cardstock: GKD, Bazzill
Dies: Spellbinders Labels; Sizzix Alterations, Tim Holtz; Lil Inkers bow die; McGill punch
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Distress Inks
Michael's Rhinestones
Woven wooden ribbon, Kel-Toy
Robin's Nest dew drops

March is Marching in

Howdy friends! It's been awhile since I posted. It's one of the things I want to 'fix' this year - sharing my art more often with you all.

We had a small crisis with Buddy bunneh - he was bitten by Ms. Tinker and we had to go to the emergency vet to get him stitched back together. It was pricey but worth it, and he's on the mend. I've had to take a break from running because of a hip issue that we've yet to figure out.

Last weekend, we celebrated another Virtual Stamp Night on Splitcoast. Those projects are due today. I'm sharing one of the fun projects I created for one of the challenges. The theme of the event was Birds, Bees and Creepy Crawlies! Lee (LuvLee of Gina K Design's fame) challenged us to make a card to show Girls are Buggies, Too!

I don't do girly or blingy very well, but I was pleased with this one. Hee hee! Did you notice? Did you catch on to "Wait... that's not a bug!" Look closely at the image. Go ahead - you can click on it to make it larger. Yep - that hummingbird is made up of a bunch of little butterflies! Squeee!!!

I have so many more things to show you, but I'll save them for now. I'll try to post a few more this week. If you would, please pray for us as our church choir is traveling to Irving, Tx (Dallas 'burb) to sing at the State Convention. What an honor! Many thanks, friends - I love that you stopped by here on your busy day.

Loves!!
~ky

Recipe
Cardstock - GKD, Bazzill
Patterned Paper - Stampin' Up!
Stamps - GKD True Love (sentiment) Inkadinkado Mindscapes (hummingbird)
Nestability Die (Spellbinders)
Flower punch (Stampin' Up!)
Prismacolor pencils and odorless mineral spirits
Offray ribbon (my fancy bow)
Robin's Nest dew drop

It's a Hopping!

Howdy peeps! It's been some time since I visited you. I've been busy getting the studio together, and I'm happy to say I'm back to regularly creating again! Woohoo! It feels OH. SO. GOOD!

I feel like crowing! We are just wrapping up the mini Virtual Stamp Night over on Splitcoast. This theme is Birds and Bees and Creepy Crawlies. We'll have the main event March 1 and 2, so put it on your calendar!

I made this card for Kathy's challenge to make something punny. Hee hee! I love this card. I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut the chicken wire hexagons, layered over some Daisy D's paper. I didn't want to complicate the vintage style color scheme, so I left the chicken plain. I like the rustic feel.

You should expect to see more posts and maybe even a little blog candy in the near future. I am loving getting inky again!

Ta for now,

~ky

Recipe:
Cardstock, burlap ribbon, and stamps are all Gina K Designs (Falling For You Stamp TV kit)
Patterned paper by Daisy D.
Inks, Memento and Distress (Ranger)
Silhouette Cut File 12x12 Honeycomb Background by Lori Whitlock
Rhinestone by Creative Cafe
Gingham ribbon by Offray
Button by Basic Grey