SSS March Kit, Enjoy the Journey...




I used items from the SSS kit using the sketch above,   I loved the simplicity of the sketch and I'm always looking to use up the pretty papers from my kits~I will use this as a retirement card.  I've started gardening on a very small level since I retired.  I never had time before but it is very enjoyable for me.
Thanks for stopping by,   kathy


SSS May 2018 Kit #4 card



This is the 4th card that I have made using the items in my SSS May kit.  I thought of this green paper that is the base would be perfect for the SundayStamps sketch.  The card is up against an unused orange piece that is just like the green piece before I embossed it with the 3D Tim Holz embossing folder.  In additions to items from the kit I used SU tranquil Tide Ink...retired CTMH aqua enamels and Versa Fine Black Pigment Ink.
It came together fairly quickly and I am always tickled when I use retired items!
Thanks for stopping by,   Kathy

Bundle of Joy...







I was in the mood make a "sweet" baby card...I had downloaded the little wreath and cut them out before this week's CAS(E) this sketch! was posted, and when I saw it I knew it was perfect for my baby card.
The card is Sweet, simple and old-school,  I used the stamparatus to stamp the sentiment.   I really am loving it, it makes centering and obtaining a crisp image so easy!       Thanks for stopping by,   Kathy

Be Still...Psa.46.10




Before "brayering"

After "brayering"


For a few days, I kept looking at the paper that designer "Connie Collins" used for her card this week at Global Design Project Copy And Selectively Edit challenge.  I was drawn to the white space and lack of complete coloring in of the images in the paper.   It wasn't until after I decided to use my Petal Passion DSP from the Spring Occasions SU and make my own paper that I realized it was from the Share What You Love Collection in the current book which I do not own.    My attempt at coloring with a little bit more free spirit may have or may not have worked...but overall I like it.   I basically colored in loosely with water color crayons and pencils in the images and on the white space of the paper panels that I had cut to card size.  Then I laid the panels out on wax paper and put wet paper towels (rung out well and smoothed back out) on top and used a pastry roller to brayer it.  I then carefully removed the paper towels and let it dry (you could see pattern from reverse side until it dried).  Don't worry,  I don't use the pastry roller for baking (easier to buy flaky pie crust)...It would have been very time consuming to have used a waterbrush for that much coloring.  Anyway the pictures tell the story....I based the design of the card at the top loosely on Connie's card.   When I assembled I liked the slightly curled paper look, so I didn't glue really close to edges.
Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed week-end!   Kathy


Global Design Project

dog-gone good day...




I don't make many square cards...but this sketch works well for my doggies...Back in April 2018 I subscribed to "digital" Making Cards Magazine and then downloaded "Men are From Mars" images and papers.   The "dog" and polka dot paper is from that collection.  I printed up a few to make for some gals I swap with.  They have free downloadables with every issue and some great ideas in the magazine also.The gray planking behind the image is downloaded, I can print some whenever I need it.  The hardest thing about downloads is organizing them so you know where it all is.  The sentiment is CTMH way back.  I'm so happy to have an SU Stamparatus, I could have never hit that premade circle without it...and it is so crisp and clean!  I used SU Real Red CS and Ink...so simple and only took a few minutes. The card measures 4 1/4 and  it can sent be sent to gal or guy!   I mean look at that face wouldn't you like to get this card in the mail?   Thanks for stopping by,   Kathy

Tuesday Morning Sketches

Nature's Poem Sympathy...






I really enjoy layering on my cards so when I saw the card Heather Heroldt had made using the As You See It Sketch I decide to give it go myself.  Since I always enjoy playing along over at Fab Friday, for today's card I used their color challenge even though that is the hardest kind of challenge for me...I employed the "throw some paint on the wall and see what sticks" method for awhile trying to come up with something and finally I chose the Nature's Poem DSP paper cut an oval and built from there. For all my fussing around with it, I think I came up with a  clean and vintage effect (CAVE).  The color in photo is a little off.   Since I only have a mossy meadow ink pad (no paper) I stamped the sentiment in that and made leaves using the petite petal stamp and backed the pink flower to bring it out some!     As always thanks for stopping by,  Kathy

CS, Twine and Ink: Powder Pink, Mint Macaroon, Crumb Cake, Tranquil Tide
DSP: Nature's Poem
Dies:   Stitched Ovals SU,  ? decorative rectangle/oval look
Embossing Folder:   FSJ
SU retired pink enamel



blooms for you...



I started today's card with two challenges in mind, the Paper Players which is using the creation of negative space as their challenge and the Case This Sketch design for this week.   To create negative space I punched a flower out of patterned paper I then punched the same flower in the white panel  I put circles of the pattern paper behind the punched places in the panel and attached all this to the card base.  I then used that same paper and die cut a frame.   Anyway...it was a buggar boo to assemble --I have got to work on that.  I added the rhinestones to liven it up a bit.   When you look at it from the side,  you can see the negative punched space behind the fluffed up flowers.  So in addition to the flower negative space I also have used negative space technique with the frame.  It's all about learning lately!      I do enjoy trying new things!  Thanks for stopping in and any suggestions on assembly tricks would be most welcome!

Supply List:
rectangle double stitched frame, Poppy.com)
SU Petite Petal  Punch (retired
sentiment:   Su Perennial Birthday (current)
pattern paper:   June SSS Month Kit
CS:   Wisteria Wonder SU (retired)
rhinestones SU

Click on the photos to go to the challenge website:









Daisies..just because





I enjoyed using this week's Freshly Made Sketch.    At first I thought what am I ever gonna do with that?  I decided to use the Love Life stamp set from the FSJ April Bloom Box.   I stamped the top flowers directly on the card, planning to pop just the flower part, but I didn't like the way it turned out.  So I stamped again and fussy cut.  The mint macaroon above the leaves in the back, is not smudge it's actually part of the stamp  I also used Berry Burst (a color I don't think I have ever stamped before).  Anyway,  what's so good about challenges is that they help me be a little more creative than I might otherwise be. Thanks for stopping in and if you have any questions about other products I used...just leave it as a comment!

Poinsettia Christmas...


My mother loved poinsettias. She never could afford to buy one for our home.  When I got old enough 2 of my friends went in with me and we bought her a large beautiful red poinsettia.  She was so proud of that poinsettia.   

I found my first card I ever made a few weeks ago in some boxes I was going through, how sweet that my mother had kept it for so many years! I was in first grade, it was my first experience fussy cutting.   I think I did really well considering I was using large clunky safety scissors!   At the time I made it, I remember being miffed at my teacher for giving me an old boring poinsettia card to cut up, when some of the other kids got Santa Claus...but fast forward 59 years and like my mother I think poinsettias are just so beautiful...I'm not sure what I think about my poinsettia on today's card, the way the color scheme worked with my stamping technique, but I'm posting it anyway because it was a learning exercise for me.  Here is the stamp I used.
I unmounted the stamp,  (it came off easy and smooth) because  I wanted to use it with the SU stamparatus I bought awhile back.   I have Multiple Myeloma and with the treatment I'm on (to stay in remission) and because old age is creeping in, I sometimes struggle with a steady hand.  So if you have similar problems getting clear images you might want to buy one.  They aren't cheap, but I think it will help me keep on cardmaking for a long time.   Thanks for stopping in, have a great weekend!      Kathy


The following are challenges I had in mind when making my card, To access each website, just click on the image:


Tuesday Morning Sketches is a weekly challenge and this week is a great sketch!


 First time participating at The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge, challenges are monthly and this is July 2018 "anything goes" challenge.


Challenges at the CAS Colours & Stamp; Sketches are as follows!
You can see in the pictures below that I used Coastal Cabana, Lemon Lime Twist and Powder Pink but the overlapping from the technique gave different colors!

Weeks 1 and 3 of the month - Colour challenge



Weeks 2 and 4 of the month - Sketch challenge







First time playing over at CAS Christmas where challenges are monthly and for Christmas cards only.

Pictures below show the steps I followed, in my attempt to master sponging the stamp and repeat stamping using the stamparatus! .  I had read about this technique using the stamparatus on another blog.   I also used a brush and the ink pads to clarify some of the edges.  The sentiment is CTMH (retired)  Everything else is SU, wink of stella and sequins! 

















To the moon...



Today I received 4 new packs of DSP from SU.   They are so beautiful, and for this card I used Twinkle Twinkle.  The stamp set is "To the Moon" from Verve.  I followed the sketch from Fab Friday Challenge.
I think I'm really going to enjoy using gray granite one of SU's new colors.   Thanks for stopping by,  Kathy

Unto us...



This is made using Tuesday Morning Sketch #461.   One of the things I enjoy most is layering.   The poinsettia is a clear sticker that I layered on white paper and fussy cut around it.   I used Cherry Cobbler twine and ink.   The background is from All is Calm (retired SU).   It's the first time I added shiny tape to any of my cards...It works well!      Thanks for stopping by, may you see the Lord's presence in your walk this week!             Kathy

Heartfelt Roses...






I recently downloaded some "papers" from Papercraft Essentials #162 by Joanna Sheen.  I'm playing around with what to do with them...in some ways, today's card is the equivalent of recycling old cards.   The card base (not layered on another white card) and single rose are from this collection,  I used colored pencils to enliven the printed based flowers and then painted the fussy cut rose with nuvo shimmer pen.   The sentiment is from Heartfelt Blooms (SU) and finished off with black string (FSJ) and pearls (SU).  I would send this as a Sympathy card.  Even though it's mostly digital, doesn't necessarily mean it's easy for me.  There is so much I'm learning, but having the ability to save the card base to my computer will help me with a class that I am getting together for some friends to make cards for ministry.    We can use digitally created bases and decorate the fronts.    This may just be a phase the jury is still out.   But I did love the way this card turned out using digital base and image.  Thanks for stopping by,   Kathy

Birthday blooms...







Today's card just kind of came together.   For some time I've been playing around with downloadable images.   While most are black outline images, today's choice was colored in a very light pink-violet color.  The second picture shows what it looked like before coloring with pencil and after.  I also added a little clear glimmer shimmer from Nuvo, to the bud centers.  I stamped sentiments from SU Perennial Birthday (current) and fussy cut the wavy one,  I then added natural thread (FSJ) and popped it.  I finished off with enamels from FSJ.  The weather is warm here (SC) 100 degrees yesterday, so I didn't feel like doing very much.   Thanks for stopping by, comments are welcome and greatly appreciated.   Stay cool!      Kathy.