Author Archives: kth

Birthday Butterfly

Posted on by

kth_bday_butterflyspots

I made this card for a challenge posted n Stacey’s blog. She had a color challenge that I just loved! The inspiration photo had a lot of white with the pops of color, so that got me to my card. Since she is an SU demo, I wanted my card to be an SU-only card (not a requirement, especially as I am doing this for my own fun, but hey, its a challenge 😉 ).

I don’t own a lot of current SU sets – so I opted for spots of color and I used my new Butterfly die. I cut scrap paper the right size and used it as a template to draw my box. I stamped the greeting. The final touch was black rhinestones.

Birthday Wishes
All supplies Stampin’Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Sincere Salutations;
Ink: Black;
Paper: White, Patterns: Turquoise, Saffron, Pumpkin, Lilac;
Other: black rhinestones (Kaiser);

Making Cards, part 3

Posted on by

kth_thanks_austinspired

The final PTI challenge was Inspired by Australia. When I think Australia, I think the Outback – not the restaurant . . . the dusty, desert Outback. The challenge was to use dot outlined images and masking.

The masking was in reference to Aboriginal art that was done by using a body part (like a hand) as a mask and blowing paint over it. Using that idea I grabbed a sponge and my color spritzer tool. I embossed the butterflies (I know, not technically a mask, but um, I was NOT going to cut out all those dots for the big butterfly! 😉 ). Then I sponged around the images, and finally used the spritz tool to add even more depth/color. I like the monochromatic look and the color scheme reminds me of the Outback.

Heartfelt Thanks
Stamps: Butterfly Kisses (PTI);
Ink: So Saffron, Summer Sun, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip (SU);
Paper: Vanilla (PTI);
Other: White EP;

Making Cards, part 2

Posted on by

kth_bestwishes_indiainspired

Next up on the PTI world tour of challenges is India. I based the card on the bold bright colors that you can find in Indian textiles.

I *love* how this card turned out! I wouldn’t normally think of this flourishy stamp set, but once I got the colors right, it was perfect! I have another version of the card that looks like it would work for the Japan challenge 😉 Not to mention a ton of hand-cut flowers (in colors that didn’t work for this card). My hubby actually had the idea of using the curry color as the base – and it was a great choice!

To color the flowers, I stamped with dye ink and then used a wet brush to move the ink around.

The challenge also required some bling. I added little pink rhinestones to the middle of the blue flowers. That touch of pink really helped to unify the card in my eyes.

Best Wishes
Stamps: With Sympathy, Faux Ribbon, Guidelines2 (PTI);
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Bermuda Bay, Melon Berry (SU);
Paper: Crushed Curry, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla (SU);
Other: rhinestones (Hero Arts); Raspberry twill (PTI); slider/tag die cut (CB);

Making Cards

Posted on by

This past Saturday was World Card Making Day. I didn’t get a chance to stamp on the weekend, but I was a card makin’ fool on Monday!

Papertrey Ink posted 4 world-travelin’ challenges. They were hard, but I had fun. I am squeakin’ in by the deadline getting these three posted. I actually have a fourth almost done, but it is midnight here and I need sleep, so it will have to wait.

kth_relaxwithtea_japaninspired

So up first was a challenge to be inspired by Japan. I really wanted to use PTI stamps for these challenges, but nothing really says “Japan” to me (except doing Cherry Blossoms with the “Out on a Limb” set, but I’ve done that already, lol. So I went with the tea theme.

The layout is a sketch challenge from the Clean & Simple blog (FTL62). I don’t own that really cool large scallop punch that many folks are using lately, but I was able to fake it. I used a CM circle cutting template to draw my half-circles, then I hand-cut the border. A bit of bling and ribbon, and the card is done!

Sip & Relax
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Tea for Two, Borders & Corners Circle;
Ink: Black, Spring Moss;
Paper: Black, Spring Moss, Poppy Tea Leaves DSP;
Other: black satin ribbon, black rhinestones, dimensionals;

Sunshine Wishes

Posted on by

kth_sunshinewishes

The Res-Q crew is back online after their summer break! Their challenge this week is a sketch challenge (resq15). I immediately saw a sun poking out behind clouds. I tried to shake it, but it wouldn’t leave, so I went with it. The spirit of the sketch is there, even if it isn’t perfect.

Stampin’Up! used to carry princess die cuts – my mom got the die cuts for my girls. After painstakingly punching all the pieces out, I kept a few of the “leftovers”. And I’m glad I did – I used a leftover to create my clouds! After cutting them out, I covered them with plain ole school glue and sprinkled with white flock! The sun also has a glitter pen on the rays, but you can’t see that detail in the picture.

Wishing you Sunshine!
Stamps: sun (Stampendous), sentiment from Scattered Showers (PTI);
Ink: Summer Sunrise, Enchanted Evening (PTI);
Paper: Enchanted Evening, Lemon Tart, white – (PTI); Bashful Patterns (SU);
Other: white flock

Haunting Fun

Posted on by

kth_haunting_skeleton

This card was created for the Clean & Simple Blog Challenge (FTL#59). Their sketch was square, but I don’t I have square envelopes. Normally I just use a regular envelope and make my card 4 1/4 sq, but I thought that might be too small for this one.

I love this skeleton image – he is so fun. As I was playing with my unmounted images I saw that the words fit right up under his raised foot. I’m sure someone else has figured that out, but I’m not sure I would have noticed if I wood-mounted.

After embossing the background I lightly dragged a grey-inked sponge across the embossing to help bring it out. The final touch were the orange bling eyes 😀

happy haunting!
Stamps: Scary Skeleton (SU);
Ink: Noir (Palette), Basic Grey (SU);
Paper: Black, White, Eggplant Envy (retired SU), textured Pumpkin Pie (SU);
Other: ribbon (old & unknown), web CB embossing folder, rhinestones (Hero Arts);

Monogrammed Anniversary

Posted on by

kth_anniversary_monogramThis week’s Clean & Simple challenge on SCS (CAS32) is to create a wedding card. I don’t normally need wedding cards, but my brother’s anniversary is coming in October, so I decided to make a card for them.

I bought the SU set Together Forever as soon as it came out a year ago but it doesn’t get a lot of ink time. I just bought Lovely Letters alpha – that has been on my wish list forever! I thought the alphabet would go nicely with the stamp set. My opinion of the finished product is still undecided.

mr. & mrs.
All supplies Stampin’Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Together Forever, Lovely Letters
Ink: Basic Grey, Dusty Durango, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive;
Paper: white
Other: grey taffeta, rhinestones (Hero Arts);

Goodbye Summer

Posted on by

kth_justbecause_summerflowers

A couple weeks ago I hosted a challenge over on the Papertrey Ink forum (CMWC55). Of course I was running late with the ideas, so I didn’t get my card made. I started one that day, but I only managed to finish it tonight.

The challenge was to honor the last days of summer by being inspired by summer – either in theme or color. And you know me – I love bright colors! When Nicole first announced the Hibiscus color I whined (the PTI color line is heavy on the red/pink end of the spectrum). But after using Hibiscus…I am starting to love this color! The only problem is that we need more pattern paper using Hibiscus (and New Leaf for that matter).

Now if I could just get summer to scoot out of Hawaii 🙂

Just Because
All supplies PTI unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Floral Frenzy, Mixed Messages;
Ink: Hibiscus Burst, Spring Rain, New Leaf, Fresh Snow;
Paper: Hibiscus Burst, Spring Rain, New Leaf, White;
Other: Leaf ribbon, CB tag die, paper piercing;

Enchanted Beams

Posted on by

Hmmm…so much for mid-August, eh? Of course I am not done with all my web work, but I’ve decided I need to USE the stamps I keep buying! So hopefully I am back and will be posting at least a few times a week now. Now, on to card!

kth_newhome_enchantedbeamsI made this card to send to my step-mother who recently moved. I love this PTI set, but have only used it once or twice, so I knew I wanted to make a “new home” card with this set. Her favorite color is blue, and PTI just came out with a wonderful new blue – Enchanted Evening.

I forget now where I saw the ribbon idea (although I haven’t been posting, I have been reading blogs). Basically you take saddle-stitch ribbon and use the stitching to pull ruffles into the ribbon. It is a great effect!

Congratulations
All supplies PTI unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Boards & Beams;
Ink: Fresh Snow, Enchanted Evening;
Paper: Enchanted Evening, Spring Rain, White
Other: Evening ribbon, Rain button, white EP

What I’ve Been Up To

Posted on by

One month, really? It has been one month since my last post! I don’t think I have blog followers, but in case I have lurkers – I’m sorry! I do have an excuse though! 🙂

My summer here in Hawaii is short. School ended June 5 and starts up again August 3. Well, after a week of feeling fancy-free, I realized that I needed to get some work done! I had promised my mother to create a website for her. I spent the past 3 weeks working my butt off – and it is done! {Well, not done done – is anything ever done done??} I am quite proud of the site – check it out here.

Anyway, I now have 3 weeks worth of cleaning to do – and only 5 days to do it as my MIL and niece are coming for a visit! *eek* You won’t see me again until mid-August.

Enjoy your summer!