His Eye Is On The Sparrow

Today I have a treat for you - a new video! I'm working in my Bible, doing some art journaling. I'm using mostly stamping staples for this episode - gesso might be the only thing you don't have on hand.

I love this little birdie! He's really ruling the roost in my house lately. I've colored him with Copic markers. Yes, you can use Copics over gesso if you are quick and light-handed.

I decided he needed a crown. After all, he is one of God's creatures too! Do you love this guy? He's free if you buy $50 (US pre-tax/shipping) of product from Stampin' Up!

Thanks for stopping by today - I hope you've been encouraged and inspired. See you soon!

~ky

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Oh Deer - Thank You

Our weather is somewhere between summer and spring. We have freezing nights, warm days, no rain, a flood, and most of my outdoor plants are confused about whether they should flower or not.

I thought I would make a card that is summer (flowers) and fall (colorful trees). This set is just so flexible. So clean, so easy to mask and wonderful to just add accents. It doesn't require a lot of coloring, in fact, you can use this set without coloring at all.

Another favorite accent I love to do is side-punching. Did you notice it? It's really easy. I drew a very light pencil line across the card, lined it up with the middle of the Envelope Punch Board punch, and, well, punched it! Super simple. It's a great way to make sure your twine or ribbons don't slide around. This card is great for anytime of the year, but just think how perfect it will be for Thanksgiving and all your fall correspondence! And, hello, masculine cards!

I love it. Love love love this set. Ok, I wasn't gonna show this today, but I totally am. Just because I can feel you twisting my arm. I said you can use this without coloring at all - right? And you got a little squirmy at the thought? Check this out:

Sale-A-Bration Perfectly Artistic double-sided paper

This is an ATC (artist trading card). I love making them for 2 reasons: The ATC sleeves are perfect for tucking a little treat into and giving away on a whim. They act like a business card for you (just put your info on the back) and a sweet piece of art for them. And the second reason? THEY ARE PERFECT center pieces of a card. Boom! Make an ATC, stick it on a card, add a few embellishments - DONE.

I hope I've inspired you to play. The products I've used are listed below. They link right to my store. Remember: It's Sale-A-Bration time. If you spend $50 you get to pick a free item from the Sale-A-Bration catalog - those items cannot be bought! This beautiful marble-swirl paper? SAB! I also am giving away the Tin of Cards kit to the first $50 (pre-tax and shipping) customer!

Have a blessed day!
~ky

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Rock-N-Roll

Well hello, my friend! I'm glad you stopped by. This has been a phenomenal week in many respects. First, all my crafty friends (or most of them) descended on Anaheim, CA for the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) event. That's where companies roll out their new products and the demonstrators rock the samples!

The Globe Awards gala happened which is cool if you're into that, but it sucked because David Bowie, an icon, passed away.

I was thinking I would sum it up in one project. Our FAVORITE WINNER of the Hot Product award at CHA was Iliana Myska with her MISTI invention. That fantastic little powerhouse also introduced two new formats of the MISTI, a card-front sized and a 12x12 inch size! Wow!

I whipped mine out and positioned the paint swipe image from the SU! Love You Sew (host) stamp set to make a colorway from Tangerine Tango to Melon Mambo down my focal panel. I took the sentiment and used the Rock and Roll technique for the sentiment. Then I punched holes using my regular hole punch and the retired Spiral Notebook Edge whale-tale punch.

I custom colored my white stitched satin ribbon with Copic markers, and use the Bermuda Bay stitched ribbon for the middle along the right edge. The left was just a scramble of gold thread. I added a few glitter stars and clear sequins to dress it up. I also used the Modern Mosaic embossing folder to give it a little umph!

I couldn't resist. A card that glamorous, debuting during the Globes and CHA awards just had to come out stylin' on a Blushing Bride glitter carpet! Don't forget I am offering a Tin of Cards set to the first person to order $50 or more (before tax and shipping) through my store (top right)!

Sale-A-Bration is going strong - buy any $50 in product and select a free product from the Sale-A-Bration catalog! Instant Valentine's gift for your bestie!

See ya soon,
~ky

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Men and Machines

Hello my friend! Welcome!

I live in Texas. We have a blizzard, a heat wave, and flooding all in one day. Today, I got to enjoy crisp sunshine. I have this thing about raking leaves.

I don't. I mean, the tree put a lot of love into those beautiful leaves. Why would I take them away from their mother? Maybe it's because I love machines and labor. I will say I got some strange looks as I roared around my yard on my Dad's mower listening to my favorite music. Oh...you saw that? LOL

Since I mowed, I thought I would think about those leaves and whip up a quick couple of projects.

Botanical Builder dies, Botanical Gardens paper, Suite Sayings sentiment.

Leaves. See? They do such a beautiful work in their season - they collect sunshine to make energy, they spread shade over my law, they flutter goodbye when it's time for rest. I like to chop them to bits and scatter them around their trees. 

You axe murderer! Hahahaha! 

Did you notice anything new today? Did'ya? YES!! It's finally here!! 

OCCASIONS CATALOG IS LIVE!!!

Seriously. Who can resist all that beautiful gold!?? I want to run, shouting, through my neighborhood with this gorgeous piece of shiny! But I won't because they saw me on my mower... and they may have speed dial for those pretty white jackets. Sigh. 

This catalog is so full and so rich. I thought it deserved some shiny golden lusciousness to welcome it! Wheeeee!!!!! But it isn't the easiest thing to photograph! All the supplies are down below, with live links to the store.

Sale-A-Bration is also starting! That means for every $50 you spend (pre-tax and shipping), you get to pick from the SAB catalog and there are some beautiful things in there!

Do you wanna spread your dollars even farther and get discounts for yourself? You can join Stampin Up! for $99 and get $155 in product! Then you can order anything you wish and get the demonstrator discount - you don't have to sell a single thing! 

Do you need another incentive? The FIRST person who places a $50 (pre-tax and shipping) or larger order gets a Tin of Cards set from me! 

So go! Order! Play! Leave the leaves where they fall!

Ta,

~ky

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Happy New Year!

I wish you all a happy new year, and I hope yours is filled with love, light, and all the good things in life!

I'm not one for resolutions. However, I do want to be more intentional this year than years past. I want to be more accountable to the things that buzz around in my head. You know - you probably hope to do the same things. See more of God's hand in your opportunities and decisions. Stay on track with your fitness goals. Remember to actually send cards for birthdays and other things.

Can I get an "amen"? Right?! Duh! I have a plan! I am sitting down at my studio table, thinking about goals. I have fitness goals. I never stop to consider the long view - how far have I come? Is something not working? Do I change what I'm doing or alter the goal?

I have tons of art supplies. Some of them I saved for a long time to be able to purchase. Yet I find myself consistently in the rut of the same products and tools over and over. Some of that is a time issue - I have a pressing deadline and need to get 'er done the easiest way possible. I don't want that to be the pattern.

When and how do I address these issues? How do I evaluate these things? How do I stay the course?

I make a list! Yep! I'm a list-maker. Our lives revolve around different time spans. Short-term, mid-term, long-term, and post-term. Each day has these partitions, too. We're used to those because time is more focused and conforms to timelines and daily accomplishments.

I am making a daily list of things I want to ask myself at the end of the day. Did I achieve my fitness goal? Did I achieve my study goal? Did I improve the state of someone else's day? Each evening I will review my short-term goals. Note, your long-term goal should be broken into achievable parts that you can accomplish in the short and middle term time periods.

I'm also making a weekly list of things to evaluate. Did I send out the cards I promised myself I would do? I will acknowledge the success/failure and make plans for the next week. Did I meet my fitness goals? Next week, no junk food!

Then I make a monthly list, and a quarterly list for all the things I want to do. And I know I'll be laughing at these lists or they will be laughing at me along the way!

This is my new crush! I love this set! A Nice Cuppa and all the perfect bits!

I'll be doing some lists for my crafty time, too. I am going to list techniques, special products, and tools that I have been neglecting. That should make everyone happy! It means you should see more from me that hopefully means more inspiration for you! 

Is there something you'd like to see me demo? Is there a technique you need to see 'live' so you can understand and feel confident to try it? Is there a product or tool? Let me know how to help you meet your crafty goals!

I hope your new year is off to a beautiful start! 

Ta! ~ky

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog