Author Archives: kth

Inspired

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albis4_spillmannechsle

As I was pinning earlier this week, I ran across this photo that caught my eye (Photo Source). I love the basket weave pattern on the diagonal.

Since I had some free time today, I decided to catch up on some challenges.

I decided to use this staircase photo as my inspiration along with the current CAS Colours & Sketches challenge (#4) – a color challenge using Night of Navy, Pool Party, and So Saffron.

kth_thinkingofyou_paperstrips

I started by die cutting the Midnight Muse strip. I ran that through my Xyron and attached it to a Vanilla strip (so I could easily play around with its position and not have anything showing through). I picked out some patterns in the other colors and then played around with their order and how much of each would be visible.

I also played with whether the patterns would be diagonal or straight on but cut at an angle. Since I used the border die on a diagonal, I kept the patterns that way too.

Thanks for stopping by!

Thinking of You
Stamps: Beyond Basic Borders (PTI);
Colors: Midnight Muse card stock & ink, Vanilla card stock, So Saffron DSP, Pool Party DSP (SU);
Other: Piestra die (Memory Box);

Awesome News

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I have been having a ridiculously lucky December (remind me to play the lottery this week)!! Today I received some awesome news – I am the January Guest Designer for Paper Smooches!!

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Oh man – and I can’t wait to get my hands on the January sets. They are so adorable!!

Thanks again to Kim and the Paper Smooches team!

Let’s Be Merry

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I needed another Christmasy card and the current Paper Smooches Color challenge was perfect (mushroom). They list the colors as red, green, yellow, and white – but to my eyes the red is more pink.

kth_xmas_bemerrypup

I combined a bunch of sets to create this cute little doggie scene. Again most of this is paper pieced. After cutting out the dog from pattern paper, I stamped just the eyes onto white and cut that out and plopped them on the pattern dog.

Does anyone else have issues with the Potpourri set leaving ink behind in the “open” spaces? My harlequin image from the same set does it too. None of my other sets do this – they are more deeply etched (if that is the right terminology).

Thanks for taking a peek!

Let’s Be Merry
Stamps: Chubby Chums, All Yule Need, Christmas Sampler, Chubby Chum Pals (hat), Potpourri (Paper Smooches);
Colors: Primrose Petals, Lucky Limeade, So Saffron, White (SU);
Other: Rhinestones (Hero Arts); Canvas impression plate (PTI);

New Driver

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Over the summer one of our nephews passed his driver’s test (I just found out). I created this card to send to him.

kth_congrats_newdriver_metropolis

I have a tendency to collect pattern paper; I love looking at it, but I never think to use it (or it just never turns out right when I do). I’m trying hard to use the paper I’ve purchased this year – so this card has tons of paper piecing!

The layout is from the CAS Colours & Sketches challenge #3.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Congratulations
Stamps: Metropolis, Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches);
Colors: White (PTI); Black (Memento);
Other: Blink of an Eye pattern paper (My Minds Eye); Textile Rectangle die (MFT); Pinking die (Spellbinders); Star die, Banner tail die (PTI);

Special Birthday

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kth_bday_18pinkmusic

I have 11 nieces and nephews – it is hard to keep track of them all! One of my nieces turned 18 a few days ago (oops!). She is a beautiful young lady who is a wonderful musician. I created this card to send to her.

SeizeTheBirthday_linkpartybadge

I also found a new challenge – all about birthdays!! Seize the Birthday is a weekly sketch challenge (starting on January 10th) – the twist being you must make a birthday card (and one week is feminine and the next, masculine). I’m so looking forward to those challenges!

The nice thing about this new challenge – for me – is that it isn’t CAS restricted. Yes, CAS is my preferred style, but sometimes you just need more (like with the card above).

18
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Stitches & Swirls;
Colors: Hibiscus Burst, White;
Other: Sweet Blush (stripe) pattern paper, Raspberry Fizz (Sweet Symphony) pattern paper, Parisian Lace die, By the Numbers die, Chocolate Satin ribbon;

Smooch Draft

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I’ve been sick most of this week and haven’t stamped. I spent yesterday and today making tags for Christmas presents. Tonight I decided to get some fun stamping in.

I created the following two cards for the Paper Smooches Draft challenge this week.

The first thing I thought when I looked at the sketch was Christmas lights.

kth_xmas_bemerry

I hand-drew the lines and added the lights. To get the halo effect, I used the back side of the bulb image and used a lighter shade of ink. Then I used Copics to color in the bulbs.

I wanted to create a non-Christmas card too, so I came up with this one.

kth_encourage_hangintheresquirrel

I love this little squirrel! I’m really happy with the colors on this one too. I ended up with the dropsies on this card, but man am I lucky – the smudge happened under where the squirrel was going – I didn’t have to re-design or start over, whew!

Thanks for stopping by!

Let’s Be Merry
Stamps: All Yule Need, Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches);
Colors: Pure Poppy, White (PTI); Tuxedo Black (Memento);
Hang in There
Stamps: Hang Ups (Paper Smooches);
Colors: Berry Sorbet, Cream (PTI); Brown (Memento);

Picture Purrrfect

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This card is for the latest Trend Watch at the Paper Smooches Sparks challenge blog (cameras).

I started the card last night but had to ‘sleep on it’ before finishing it. I finally decided to keep the card very simple so the focus stayed on the kitty (love him!). To add some interest I embossed the background with circles – reminiscent of camera flashes.

Oh, while I do love the kitty image, I did pick him on purpose – he had paws just in the right position (i.e., would be covered by the camera). To add the paws back in, I just stamped them again and cut them out and glued them on top (in the right orientation).

Thanks for stopping by!

You’re Purrr-fect
Stamps: Chubby Chums, Teen Routine, He Said She Said (Paper Smooches);
Colors: Baja Breeze (SU); White (PTI); Black (Memento);
Other: markers (Copics); Stone DSP, Sunshine circles impression plate (PTI); Square die (Spellbinders);

Warm Heart Snow Globe

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Today I was able to just play with my stamps. I wanted to use my latest Paper Smooches sets and decided to make a snow globe card.

I used the circle of the Snow Globe die to cut a hole in my top layer. The trees, which are paper pieced, are stamped directly on the card base; the snowman is cut out and adhered without dimension to the card base.

I added glitter, but wish I had put more (not something I’d thought I’d ever say, lol).

Thanks for taking a peek!

Merry Christmas
Stamps: Warm Hearts, Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches);
Colors: White (PTI); Soft Suede, Candy Cane Christmas DSP, Blushing Bride DSP (SU);
Other: Snow Globe die (Memory Box); Acetate; Glitter;

Joyous Doilies

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I found a new challenge 🙂 It is CAS Colours & Sketches. I made this card for their latest color challenge (challenge #2). The colors to use are: Garden Green, Lucky Limeade, Real Red. I did substitute Riding Hood Red as I prefer that slightly muted shade.

I like making Christmas cards out of non-holiday sets – it makes me feel like I’m getting the most out of them.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Joy at Christmas
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Delicate Doilies, Perfect Punches;
Colors: Riding Hood Red, Garden Green, Lucky Limeade, White;
Other: Scallop Circle punch;

Making a Difference

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My husband requested I make some cards he could give out at the office. They are doing a charity drive and the cards are for the top givers.

This is a government office so I went with a patriotic color scheme. Since the cards could go to either gender, I stayed away from frou-frou.

I did try 3 predominately red stars and I really liked having one white star – now if I just understood why! I think it just feels more dynamic and less predictable.

In addition, he wanted one card that was “more”. I have a hard time with more – especially if I don’t know the gender! I ended up adding a few touches and created this one:

I’m not sure anyone but a crafter would notice the “more” but at least it is different.

This is the inside of all the cards:

For the inside I used the Super Star border die, Seeing Stars die, and an image from Military Stars.

If you are interested, here is the card I did last year.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Making a Difference – First Card
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Star Prints, Think Big Favorites #2, Teach & Inspire;
Colors: Enchanted Evening, Pure Poppy, Spring Rain, White;
Other: Seeing Stars die;
Making a Difference – Second Card
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Star Prints, Super Stars, Think Big Favorites #2, Teach & Inspire; Framed Greetings (MFT);
Colors: Enchanted Evening, Pure Poppy, Spring Rain, Blueberry Pie, White;
Other: Seeing Stars die, Simple Stripes impression plate; star rhinestone (?-stash); Framed Greetings die (MFT);