ATC Swap!

I don't know about you, but ATCs are absolutely adorable! They present different challenges from other size projects, forcing you to concentrate the creative impact in a mere 2.5 x 3.5 inch canvas. Squee!! Couple that with using The Cat's Pajamas supplies, and it's over the top!

I have a hard time choosing simple. I wanted something different - an interactive piece that would support plenty of bling and dimension. I basically wanted to do a flip card, so this was the template I used.

This image is copyrighted by Penny Wessenauer, 2009

I wish I could take credit for the design (seriously, why didn't I think of that item #4billion), but Penny Wessenauer is the genius behind this and several other designs. If you click the photo, it will take you to a photobucket account for this design and many more.

Here's the front side of mine. I loved picking out the little pins and beads, the flowers, well, everything about it!

I had to put my scissors in there to hold it closed. The stamps are from The Cat's Pajamas set called Bubbles Happen. Here's the inside:

I also used several Cat's Pajamas dies - the cloud border, the flower is from Under My Hat and Petal Posie Cut Ups, and plus the Butterflies Cut Up. I also used the SU! Chalk Talk die for the clipboard top. I cut that out of metallic foil tape, and the butterfly and small flower from vellum.

The paper is My Mind's Eye - Summer Splash. The cardstock and Mother of Pearl paper (clouds) is from Gina K Designs. Misc fun foam, beads, bead pin, spinner, and sequin from my stash.

I hope you enjoy the description, especially Penny's template (I do not know Penny, but I want her to be clearly credited for this design!). Get out there and play!

~ky

Here are the sweet ATCs I received in return. They are all simply ADORABLE!

Left to right, Linda Nicholson, Linsey Rickett, AshJoy, Jenni, Linda Nicholson.

Left to right, Christine Veneruso,Kelli Hull, Bonnie Ratzloff, Nancy Thomas.

Finding Beauty in Nature's Hello

Hi there! I have yet another sneak peek for you from the Cat's Pajamas summer release. Can I just tell you... Mwah! These sets have me absolutely purring!

This time we're introducing TWO sets! First, this stamp set featuring PJ the bear in 'Nature's Hello' and he's channeling Frank Sinatra! I love him! I used a border punch (EK Success) on two edges of cardstock, then lined them up over a rainbow of colored paper. Can you tell? He's walking on sunshine! Doing the tightrope with his flower umbrella helping him balance. I really would love to dance with PJ!

Next, we have a set that's a little different style called Simple Blooms. This is a solid graphic design and I love the many things you can do with it. Check it:

See? I love how it looks with some clear embossing, tone on tone. There are great sentiments with this set too. You can click the image to see it a little larger.

So - there you have it. Day 3 sneak peeks. Are you seeing anything you like? Wait, we have MORE! Be sure to leave a post on THIS THREAD over on Splitcoast to be eligible to be IN IT TO WIN IT! You could come away smelling like a rose. You have to be a member to post, but it's FREE and there are tons of people sharing what they love, and tutorials. Don't forget, too, that there's a color challenge and you have 2 weeks (closes June 23) to get your entry posted.

If you want even more inspiration, go over to the Cat's Pajamas Blog to see what the rest of the team made. And check out the wonderful charity of Alma at TCP creating products where the proceeds go to help Julie Masse and family with their adoption. Awesome! Thanks for stopping by!

Ta!
~ky

Play Ball!

Hi there! I'm here to share another project with you featuring a new Cat's Pajamas stamp set titled Play Ball. I love sports, and while I can't pick just one, baseball has been part of my heartbeat from a very young age. You see, I was the first girl in Texas to try out for the boys high school team. I was a pitcher, and I loved it! Alas, the UIL (entity that standardizes rules) ruled that I could not be awarded the position. My coach was very sympathetic and so I kept the books and stats for awhile. Aaaah summer.

I love that big-eared bunneh!! I couldn't wait to make him the star of my show. How cool is this for all those summer parties, birthday card needs, and even Project Life journal cards?

I wanted to keep this old-school, back when the uniforms were made from flannel and embellishments were limited. Most teams couldn't afford to have names stitched on the jerseys way back in the day. One team, my fave, plays in pinstripes at home, and still ascribes to the belief that you don't need your name on the jersey because you play as a team. Values!

I loved this Authentique paper because it had pinstripes, baseball diamonds (stitching), and patchwork that always accompanied our game-worn clothes. That juicy ball is big and coming right down the middle and the big-eared bun has it all sized up, so...

PLAY BALL!

Thanks for stopping by today - feel free to leave comments or questions. Don't forget to pop over to Splitcoast Stampers and comment on THIS THREAD to be entered for a chance to win the whole release! That includes 8 new stamp sets, 3 new Cut Ups dies, and 2 new Cutables! Stay tuned for more sneaks tomorrow!

Ta!
~ky

The Cat's Pajamas Sneak Peek week!

IT'S HERE!!!

I have been busy making the cutest things all because the owner of Cat's Pajamas (Alma) favored my project and called me the Swanky Stamper! When I heard the news, I almost fell out of my chair. What an HONOR!

So this week, and today, kicks of the sneaky peeks, and coincides with a new challenge that you can play along with us! You really should play you know. You should. *wink wink nudge nudge* You might be a Swanky Stamper!

This week we're highlighting EIGHT stamp sets in the Summer Release, 3 NEW CutUps and 2 brand new cutables. They will all be available on June 16. I'm thrilled that I get to share the fabby new stuff with YOU!

I just adore these penguins - so whimsical and fun. I love this stamp set because it's not only adorable, but it's STRANGE and WONDERFUL! This week's challenge is a color one. That's it - use these colors!

This is how mine turned out. I love it. Because it's fun, and shabby, and easy. I stamped that penguin on cardstock and color it up with my Prismacolor colored pencils, then I dressed it up with flower soft, little rhinestones, a simple flower and some sequins with seed bead centers. That wood in the background is awesome woven basket-style from May Arts.

I'm so happy to be sharing my projects with you all week, so come back and see me tomorrow!

Ta!
~ky

Good Company

Hello friends! I've been busy, and that has led to blog neglect. Oh no! I will have to pay an 'extra-post' penalty I think. Heehee! This week I'm sharing my card project for the Splitcoast Stamper's Mix-Ability challenge, and the Cat's Pajamas challenge, as well.

This week, Dina has us doing the mortise or reverse masking technique. It's really easy, but my brain tried to make it really hard.

The technique is simply to use the outer part of a stencil or shape as a mask. Dina helps by making a short video for brain-dead crafters like me. Our team made several really nice samples to get you started, too.

I started with book text that I covered in gesso. I laid down the mask, and sponge-blended distress inks to cover the panel. By the way, I now have the circular blending foams and tools by Ranger, and they really do reduce the chance of getting odd lines and stray too-dark patches over the rectangular ones. Then I cut out the mask shape for the card.

I stamped the adorable penguins using Archival ink, coloring the bike with Gelly Roll pens (red and clear star for that childhood-bike shimmer). Unfortunately it doesn't photograph well.

I added some drywall tape that I covered with green Inka Gold for a little shimmer and to tie the colors together. I love those little clear sequins, too. They are just the right amount of shimmer without overwhelming. The little pearls are from Doodlebug and I love them.

I didn't want to overdo the embellishments, and this ribbon was the perfect combo of shine and flowers, and the fishtail banners add an element of fun and the feel of the wind blowing behind the bike. Now, who could resist a pair like that?

So hop on over and check out the challenges. The Cat's Pajamas is ANYTHING GOES (YEAH!), and you have until Memorial Day (May 26th) to play. Have a beautiful weekend!

Ta!
~ky

Recipe:
Cosmo Cricket patterned paper, GKD cardstock
Distress inks, Archival black ink
The Cat's Pajamas stamps - Besties
Hobby Lobby flower ribbon
Darice sequins
Doodlebug pearls
ProArt gesso
Duck brand drywall tape
Inka Gold metallic rub paste in green/yellow
Ballpoint pen for faux stitching

Sparkle Kitteh

Yeah I've been a slacker. On the blog-front at least - I've been very busy on this side of the computer. Here's a little card I made recently for the Cat's Pajama's stamp company. I just love this particular release so much! 

Alma, the owner of this fantastic line of products, picked this card (and me) to be the Swanky Stamper of the month of March! THANKS ALMA! That means I'll get to share some pre-release product and sneaks with you. Squee!!

This card was so much fun. I loved stamping multiples, coloring them with Inktense pencils, then 'fussy' cutting them out. Here's your Sparkle posse! Don't know about you, but if they were gunning for me I'd run! Ok - gotta go start dinner. Hopefully things slow down just a bit so I can share more goodies. Thanks so much for stopping by!

~ky

Ingredients
My Mind's Eye Six by Six Summer Splash patterned paper
Gina K Designs Pure Luxury cardstock and ribbon
The Cat's Pajamas Flying By stamp set, cloud and grass border dies, and framed up 2 die
Spellbinder's Ribbon Tag Trio three die
Distress and Versafine Inks
Inktense ink pencils by Derwent
Foam dimensional pieces and Gelly Roll stardust pens

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

Spring Zephyr

One of my favorite parts of Winnie the Pooh was the windstorm he and Piglet were caught up in. Rather than it being Winds-day, Owl explained it was just a mere spring zephyr. Today was very much like that, except it was Thursday, and there was no Piglet, Pooh or Owl. Just this adorable bunneh who came to play with me today.

Isn't he stinking cute!?! I colored him a bit coarsely to give him a rustic and battered appearance - kind of like how I feel fighting the wind all day. Our theme this week for the Mix-abilities challenge is spring/Easter themed. Definitely reflective of our spring weather! You should come play - it's easy!

He's got a whole party of balloons whisking him off through the trees, well above the grass, and almost into the clouds. I think I could write a while story from this card! Let me tell you some of the details.

I split the patterned paper to give a hint of going out a window. I sponged distress ink through a stencil so the yellow panel has part of the branch showing. I tinted some modeling paste with the same ink, and pressed it through the stencil over the patterned paper, then outlined it so it would stand out a little.

I cut the grass from GKD cardstock, and the clouds from Mother of Pearl cardstock, also by Gina K. It's so shimmery and perfect in real life. I colored the images with my Copic markers, and added little highlights on the balloons with white acrylic paint. The sentiment is from the same Mama Elephant set (Up and Away), and I die cut the banner using my SU! flip card kit. The balloons and bunneh are popped up with foam.

By the way, there's a fun challenge over on the Mama Elephant blog that you should check out. Prize is a spot on the design team. Squeee!!

AAANNNDDD I forgot to mention I'm also playing the CCEE Stampers challenge to use a bunneh or an egg or both. Fun challenge!

So that's how this day went, and how this card came about. I'm so glad you stopped by today. I know you're busy, and I really appreciate your time. Have a great day!

Ta for now,
~ky

Me and my muse

Me and my muse have been in touch again. Here are some more cards I made for the latest Virtual Stamp Night on Splitcoast.

This was created for the blue Christmas challenge, and was sent to my Dad for him to enjoy.

I had a great deal of fun creating this card for the unseasonably warm challenge to make a Christmas card with non-Christmas images. Love the Cat's Pajama's stamps - so funny!

This card was perfect for my sis-in-law and her family. I hope they enjoy their gifts. We had a great visit over thanksgiving and her husband is a darned good chef! The challenge was to make a card with six or more layers.

This tag (I love tags!) was made for the music challenge. Our projects had to feature music, so I decided to showcase what music makes me want to do - dance!

I hope you find some inspiration here. I am always happy to have you visit me! Oh, and if you need more inspiration, check out my Art Journal blog, the Gesso Dragon!

Ta!
~ky

H{ippity} Hop! Easter's on it's way...

Hello my friends out in blogland! If it's Monday and you're here, there's only one likely reason - it's H{ippity} Monday!! Yay!!

I created another page in my art journal to commemorate my trek down Project 365 (which may de-evolve into Project 52). I did a project like this back on 2004, except we focused on 7 days. It was intense, taking repeat pictures of the things that repeated in that week, and joyous for all the 'odd' things that also got captured by my camera.

So this time, I'm going to focus on capturing a picture each day for a full year. Ok, ya caught me...I also got a new digital 35mm SLR for Christmas! Thanks Dad! This project will also serve as a 'getting to know you' period for me and my new toy! Wanna play along? Go ahead!! SCS also has a forum if you want to get involved there.

{click to enlarge}

What do you think? I just love creating in my art journal. Yes...I'm reaching all sorts of ways 'out of my box.' Hmmm...that gives me a visual - maybe I need to draw that right now. Hmmm... No smart remarks from the peanut gallery!

Have a great time while you check out all the other great projects today! Play along with the weekly challenge HERE.  Now - off to Elisabeth's blog!

Cool runnings. Peace be the journey! ~ky

Is it too late?

Is it? Has Santa already made his list?? Uh oh.....just in case, I'd better start watchin' myself!

{click to enlarge}

I paired Cuddles Kuma, from Ildi Company, with Sprinkles from Cat's Pajamas. Sprinkles shares the same attitude as my kitty, Scrap. Isn't Cuddles CUTE?? He really looks like he's hoping to get in on the good graces, but trust me....Sprinkles is NOT the one you should worry about impressing!

{click to enlarge}

Just another view from a slight angle to better see the dimension. I used a cuttlebug folder on the red cardstock (Pebbles) and stitched around it in green on my Janome, layered over Gina K's London Fog luxury cardstock card base. Patterned paper is Basic Grey. I stamped Sprinkles in the tree from the Deck the Halls set in StazOn on a paint chip from WalMart. I colored all of the tree decorations with Smooch! (love this stuff), and glittered up the tree in frosty winter diamonds using Stickles. I added a few rhinestones and the sentiment from Cat's Pajamas, cut with my Nestabilities Fancy Tags.

Hope you enjoyed this project. Don't forget to see more from Ildi Company's design team by clicking my team members' links on the upper left of my blog. See you again soon!

Ta for now, ~ky

Queen of Everything

This was FUN. Some of you know I've been having a rough time lately, and I thought I'd forgotten how to STAMP! Oh my!! But... I got back in the studio for just a bit today, and indeed, it was like riding a bike. You never really forget how.

This card was inspired by my kitty, Scrap. She has been reminding me over the past few days about how she is the sun, and we are the planets. She is, as she so plainly stated, QUEEN OF EVERYTHING. C'mon Mom!! Get that machine thingy off MY lap! I wanna lay on you and be worshipped and drool and purr and important stuff like that. NOW. [Can you relate??]

I'm really enjoying my copic class. I'm looking forward to being able to color like an adult instead of like I'm in kindergarten. Heck - there are some kids that can color better than me! I like how this one turned out, however.

Have I mentioned how much I love this line of stamps? This is Maigan Lynn's line of mermaids by Queen Kat Designs. This is part of the fantasy collection, and is featured on the Whimsical Ink Sorority. You should be checking this stuff out, you know.

Alrighty - I should go. The QUEEN is calling me...

Ta for now, ~ky

Recipe: Gina K cardstock (green apple), SU cardstock (pink pirouette), Basic Grey patterned paper, QKD Mad Hatter stamp, Cat's Pajamas sentiment, Offray ribbon, Gina K flower, Robin's Nest dew drop, Cuttlebug flower embossing folder, Memento Dew Drop and tuxedo black inks, Copic markers, and dimensional adhesive.

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!!

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.