I'm Not Lion

I'm not! It's very true that I'm in love with this particular lion line art. I've searched high and low but I cannot find anyone to credit with this beautiful lion artwork. It's been on several tattoo websites and elsewhere, but no names given.

HCSB Journaling Bible. Supplies at the bottom of this post.
Label stickers are retired Creative Memories highlighted with white gel pen.

This video shows you a technique called watercolor lifting where you lift off some of the water based ink. I hope it will inspire you!



I've used this piece to help tell the story of 2 Samuel 23:20-21 when Benaiah killed a lion. In a pit. On a snowy day. Wow. I wouldn't go into a snowy, dank pit with a mad llama! I'm not lion! (Really bad, sorry folks!) Here's some random thoughts on long-necked no-hump camels.

We are one day away from a mega-storm here in East Texas. I'm prepared. I have enough toilet paper and animal food to make it through. My needs are secondary to the real owners of this house. I'm glad they let me live here.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I received a delivery today that will keep me busy and distracted from the storm. Except when the natives demand attention and treats. It's an Arkon video stand and I'm seriously in love.

If you'd like to save 20% on the price, use code UNDERSTANDBLUE at checkout.

That's all I have today, kids. I hope it brought you joy and inspiration. Stay safe!

~ky

Supplies:

Geometric Lion art 

Uninked felt stamp pads

Tag, You're It

Howdy! I'm sharing a quick little project with you today. I made a tag for this week's Mix-ability challenge on SCS. Most papercrafters are 2/3rds mixed media anyway, so why haven't you played with us yet? Heehee! This week, Anna challenged us to use sprays, mists, splashes or splatters on our work.

I have fallen head over heels in love with this stamp set (Up and Away) by Mama Elephant. They have matching dies that cut beautifully, and I love those, too. However, I didn't want a white border, so I fussy-cut these. I colored them with my Stampin' Up! waterbased markers.

I sponged Distress Ink in layers using scraps from a previously cut grass border (The Cat's Pajamas), torn paper, and the cloud border (The Cat's Pajamas) to get a sunset effect. I splattered water over the distress ink because I just love the texture it adds.

I used Mama Elephant's confetti die cutting stars and hearts out of gold metallic paper. I popped the balloons up on foam for added dimension, and applied gold embossing paste along the edges to frame everything. I used 2 strands of organdy ribbon for the tag topper, and hit it with the heat gun to melt and curl the ribbon in random areas.

This is my guard bunneh, Tinker, who protects my creative time at the studio. I just love those velvety soft ears. Thanks so much for stopping by - I know you're busy and appreciate you taking time out to visit. That makes me happy!

Ta for now,

~ky

Practice makes perfect

Mom always told me to keep trying until it worked. Then she told me to keep practicing, not until I got it right, but until I COULDN'T GET IT WRONG. My Mom was amazing, and I miss her daily. Her advice comes back to me every day. So, listening to her voice, I took another stab at my hardest card making technique - one-layer cards.

YIKES! Almost as hard for me is the CAS (clean and simple) style. Here are 2 samples of my recent efforts.

Both cards used Theresa Momber's Whimsical Wishes stamp set, by Gina K Designs. I embossed the pink card with my Spellbinder's nestabilities die, and cut a matching piece of scrap cardstock to use as a mask. I buffed on the Spun Sugar distress ink, leaving it lighter in the center.

I stamped the image in Picked Raspberry, and used my distress markers using the thumping technique on the leaves. I added just a little bling to the centers of the flowers. I am pleased with how it turned out. But I was compelled by Mom's voice reminding me to practice until I couldn't get it wrong.

This is the second card, using the one-layer and CAS styles. Being a graphic designer, I often struggle with balance in my designs, especially when I'm working off the cuff. I didn't have a plan for this, but I just kept going. I was trusting my practice to lead a so-so project into a wow project.

What works: Having three strong elements on the lower left needed balance on the right. If you look at it, the 'weight' of the midge with one rhinestone, and the four graduated rhinestones on the right, it adds up to the 'weight' of the three circles because the space between the right-hand elements adds to their value.

Weight - if you look at a card and your eye is following a triangular pattern, that is one of the most pleasing alignments, you should feel like the card is centered. If you look, follow the triangle, but your eye comes to rest on one side or the other, that is unbalanced, or side-weighted.

I could have chosen to stamp the sentiment in teal. That certainly would keep it even more clean and simple, but it wouldn't balance the weight. The lighter color of the sentiment reduces it's focal importance to keep the card balanced.

Ok - enough of the technical stuff. I enjoyed making this card, and I think I'm a little more practiced at CAS and one-layer design. Thanks, Mom!

And thank you, too, for stopping by.

~ky

Recipe:
Pink card: Cardstock - Gina K Designs Pure Luxury
Ink - Distress Ink and Distress Markers
Rhinestones - Basic Grey

Blue card: Cardstock - Gina K Designs Pure Luxury
Ink - Memento Teal Zeal, Peanut Brittle
Rhinestones - Basic Grey

Getting Her Groove Back

It's been awhile since I spent time in my studio that was longer than just setting down this or that on my desk. I 'blame' my husband. LOL He said he would like to see me doing more in there, so I have been trying to be an obedient wife. Yeah, I know, I don't believe it either. So, here's a little card I made that I hope you will like.

I'm using Gina K Design's True Love Stamp TV kit again (love it!). This time, I pulled out some fantastic papers from Jillibean Soup Dutch Mustard pack. Love this pack!

One thing that really helps me is using sketches. This one is from Verve's Mojo Monday #230. They have fantastic challenges. I turned the sketch to fit my longer image, and the direction I wanted my card to go.

I added a stacked McGill punch, put a flower brad (Making Memories) in the center, and added a rhinestone (Heidi Grace). I added a little extra bling with my Sakura Stardust Clear Star pen to the punch nodes. This card just makes me happy, and I think it's really encouraging me to enjoy my time in the studio again. That is priceless.

I hope to see what you get inspired to make. Feel free to leave me a link to your work!

Ta for now,
♥ ~ky

There's Still Time!

Did you know this was VSN weekend? Did you know you still have time to play along? I didn't get all of the challenges completed because Santa came early. I plan to finish my cards and projects today or tomorrow. Yep, VSN is open until 10 p.m. EST on Monday night! Here's a sample of what I made:

{Click on any image to enlarge}

You don't have to make just cards! I channeled my inner Tim for this tag. This challenge involved making a project from packaging or wrapping paper - celebrating all those wonderful gifts we get!

I made this card for my sister because her birthday is so close to Christmas. This challenge was to find inspiration in your wardrobe. I love the Narnia reference for this challenge!

And you know I couldn't go through the night without a bunneh!! Lydia challenged us to make a project using the CUTEST bunneh photo as inspiration. We were to represent what gave us the warm fuzzies! SQUEEE!!

Ok - so there's a little sampling of all the fun you can have at Virtual Stamp Night. It is a wonderful time to share inspiration and laughter with other stampers.

Alrighty - I'm gonna be busy today. Hope to see you over there!

♥ ~ky