KittieKraft

CHA Fun Day 1

Our first day at CHA was fun filled with a couple of fun classes and meeting people.  I most enjoyed spending time with Joy Kennedy, owner of Eclectic Paperie and Cambria Turnbow , co-owner of Our Craft Lounge with Joy Kennedy.  We got a group photo taken while we were waiting to take our first class.

L to R: Broni Holcombe, Bev Gerard, Joy Kennedy, Sherry Cheever, Cambria Turnbow and me in on the back row Do we look happy or what?????

Sherry has been telling me for weeks that one thing she was looking forward to doing at CHA was to meet Cambria.  I got the cutest picture of them together.

Broni and I had the pleasure of taking the Tim Holtz class, Distressing the Holidays. What a thrill it was to have two full hours packed with fun and creative ideas for the use of all Tim’s products. Broni and I figured we needed to get a picture with Tim as well.  Not only is Tim a creative genius but he is also a sweet and charming guy. My favorite quote of Tim’s during the class, and repeated over and over was “Don’t over think it- just do it”.

I will have my camera with me today and will take as many pictures as I can of new and upcoming products to share with you.  I hope to get lots of photos with the old and new friends we met up with as well.

Dare to Get Dirty and CHA Company

Splitcoaststampers and the Dirty Dozen and Dirty Dozen Alumni have hosted a special weekend challenge event to show appreciation to the Fan Club members. The “dirty girls” put their creative thinking caps on and came up with some wonderful challenges to use various themes, techniques, color combinations, tools, etc. 

I had the privilege of hosting a scene challenge yesterday afternoon and I am looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with over the next few days. Two of my good friends and fellow Rubbernecker design team members, Sherry and Candy  helped me out by making samples to post along with my challenge. I am posting both projects below as they are so wonderful.  We decided it would be fun to show three totally different kinds of scenes for the samples.

Sherry’s country scene card

 

Candy’s beach scene card

My snow scene card

You can find my snow scene tutorial  on the Rubbernecker Blog.  You can find the supply list for this project at the bottom of my post.

CHA  and Company

I’ve got a house full of company coming in today.  Bev Gerard(TexasGrammy) , Broni Holcombe, (Waterchild12) , and Sherry Cheever (BadSherry) are coming in to attend CHA.  Candy Williams (cwilliams) lives just a few miles from me and will be joining us on our adventure. 

I promise to provide as many pictures of the new products as I can from the CHA trade show as well as pictures of all the fun people we get to see again or meet. I am very excited about seeing so many stamping friends at the convention. Another thing I am excited about it attending the Tim Holtz class. I am very challenged when it comes to his techniques and I am in hopes that a little education may help.

Stamps: Rubbernecker Kittie Kits Farm Life , The Moose is Loose,  Paper:  Real Red, white, Water  Ink:  Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, White Craft, Going Gray  Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Brushes, Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool, Color Box Stylus and Foam Tip, Taffeta, Deckle Scissors, Mounting Tape, Nestabilities 

Wacky Wednesday # 21

Good morning! It's my turn to host Wacky Wednesday. My challenge today is to use a circle or circles on your project. It can  be anything from a simple circle tag to multiple circle frames.  You can make your card as simple or as intricate as you wish.  I hope you will check out the Rubbernecker Blog for all the details and I can't wait to see what you come up with.

I used markers to put color on the silhouette image, lightly misted and stamped on white cardstock. Using a wet brush and reinkers I added darker shades of yellow around  the center of the flowers. Then I pulled the brown center of each flower out by lightly outlining the edges of the petals with a light wash of brown to add definition to each petal.  The frame was cut with Nestabilities and the lower white layer was done with my crimper. I love how this project turned out.  Very simple yet very sweet.

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Flower Silhouette   Paper:  White, Saffron, SU Designer Paper    Ink:  Saffron, Chocolate Chip   Accessories:  SU Markers- Saffron, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip Taffeta, Crimper, Nestabilities Dies

The winner of this Wacky Wednesday Challenge will receive a Certificate good for 40% off your entire order at Rubbernecker!  In order to qualify to win, you must post a link to your card/project here on this post by Monday, July 27.   The winner will be announced on Tuesday, July 28.     Don't forget to post a direct link to your card on the Rubbernecker Blog!

Wacky Wednesday #20 and Painter Boy

Today is the 20th Wacky Wednesday.  Time is flying by so quickly and summer will be gone before we know it.  Juliana is hosting an inspiration challenge for us today.  You can find all the challenge details on the Rubbernecker Blog and how you can win a 40% off coupon on your next Rubbernecker  order . 

Here is the piece I was inspired by from Janine King Designs. The pattern of the fabric and bright pink color is what caught my eye the most. 

I knew I had some BasicGrey designer paper very similar to this pattern.  The greens were a little more yellow in the paper but the pink was just as vibrant. I decided to try my hand at stamping on wet watercolor paper .  This technique is best done by my friend, Sherry and you can check out her blog to see lots of gorgeous examples.

I misted my watercolor paper and let it sit for a few minutes to let the water absorb and dry just a little.  I used Tombow markers directly on the stamp, misted the stamp lightly, stamped the image and repeated the steps two more  times. I inked up a background stamp lightly with Old Paper ink, misted and stamped over the flowers. I added a little texture with a small background stamp. I sponged Old Paper unevenly over the image layer to create an aged appearance.  I distressed the top and bottom and finished by piercing the side edges. I sponged Old Paper on the designer paper as well as the pink layering paper and distressed.  The ribbon was too bright so I sponged Old Paper ink on it as well to tone it down.  After I tied the ribbon on the image layer I heated with the heat gun to curl and age it a bit. I loved the antique lock and key and thought they were the perfect embellishment for this project.

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Flower Silhouettes, Stampin’ Up! Itty Bitty Background   Paper:  Watercolor, BasicGrey DP, Pink    Ink:  Old Paper     Accessories:  Color Box Stylus and Foam Tip, Distressing Tool, Grosgrain, Tombow Markers, Lock and Key Brads with backs cut off to hang

Painter Boy

The SCS Color Challenge yesterday was a tough one for me.  I struggled to come up with something that would work with Lavender Lace, Barely Banana, Basic Gray, Black and White. As I was surfing through images I ran across Bradley in the Rubbernecker Little Lovin’s Kids line. I knew this color combination wouldn’t much as a painter always has weird colors on his clothing.

I stamped and painted Bradley and cut him out. I layered him over a piece of white paper that I created a poorly painted lavender background to represent a half done job. I thought the “get the hint” sentiment would be cute to add and I will give this to my husband soon to break it to him that we are going to paint.

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Little Lovin’s Kids Bradley  Paper: White, Black, Banana   Ink:  Lavender LAce, Banana, Gray, Pitch Black   Accessories:  Circle Punch, Deckle Scissors, Grosgrain, Brushes

Faux Grid Lines

The Monday SCS Technique Lovers Challenge was to create a project with faux grid lines.  Huh?? I didn’t really think I would like the technique and was not going to do the challenge.  I then stopped and lectured myself (I talk to myself all the time) on what a challenge is all about.  I have learned so much over the years by stretching myself and trying something that did not seem like it would be attainable or enjoyable and so often I have been happily surprised by the results. Many times I have been happier with the creative experience than the finished project but I learn something from each attempt. The faux grid lines project was fun and I think it is funny that it looks more like a tile kitchen backsplash than a card front.

I turned to one of my all time favorite Stampin’ Up! sets- Long-Time Friends.  I wanted to use an image that could stand on it’s own as a focal point for the project. I didn't want to center the basket  as I thought that too predictable so I chose the lower right corner. I randomly stamped the small flower image around the paper as I didn’t want them to be centered in a tile square. I watercolored the images with a brush, water and reinkers. I measured and marked for my lines and then used a ruler and artist pen to draw them being careful not to draw over any of the images.  I didn’t like the stark hard lines and since this was starting to look like kitchen tile I decided to sketch lightly along the lines to soften and look a little more like tile grout. I used a Color Box foam stylus to lightly sponge on a yellow highlight. The rust colored grosgrain was the perfect simple embellishment  for the project.

Stamps:  Long-Time Friend   Paper:  Cold Pressed Watercolor, Bordering Blue, Really Rust   Ink:  Black Craft, Really Rust, Bordering Blue, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Mellow Moss,Vintage Photo   Accessories:  Grosgrain, Color Box Stylus, Ruler, Artist Pen, Brushes, Brads

Country Apple Bucket

Good morning.  I hope you have all had a good weekend.  I got some work done around the house as well as got in a some stamping time.  The SCS Sunday Featured Stamper Challenge featured Kelly (schirmcat), one of my favorite stamping friends. She is one of the most supportive and friendly stampers in the community and has also been known to start some fun trouble there as well. Check out Kelly’s sweet Apple Basket card that inspired my bright country bucket of apples.

I stamped the apple bucket image on a piece of hot pressed watercolor paper with Brilliance Black Graphite and heat set. I painted all the apples yellow dried them with the heat gun. I painted over the yellow apples with red leaving just a touch of yellow showing on each one. I painted the outer areas of each apple with a deeper shade of red and kept it lighter around the yellow for a natural look. I painted the bucket with gray and painted a faint shade of the yellow over it to appear shiny in the sun. I lightly painted a small touch of green ground around the bucket for a base and sponged a light shade of yellow around the apple to highlight. I painted and cut out the front ground apple and popped it up over the original for dimension but it really doesn’t show in the photo. I felt this distressed apple image could stand on it’s own without lots of layering behind it and that the bright red and green striped paper was a perfect background.  The bright green ribbon was a nice divider for the two bright papers and the white buttons drew out the white of the image layer while the gingham was the perfect country touch. This project is proof to me that simple embellishments and paper combinations are all that is needed when you have a lovely image that can stand alone.

Stamps:  Give Thanks    Paper:  Old Olive, Watercolor, Prism Classic Red, SU DP     Ink:  Lemonade, Fired Brick, Peeled Paint, Barely Banana, Going Gray    Accessories:  Buttons, Gingham, Grosgrain, Mounting Tape, Brushes, Color Box Stylus, Distressing Tool

Country Girl and a Penguin Christmas

Last weekend I threw my hat into the ring to be considered for the Stampavie Design Team and mentioned that I didn’t have any of their darling images yet.  One of my sweet friends read my blog post and sent me a gift of a few images and I couldn’t wait to work with them. 

I love this precious Country Girl image by Sarah Kay and thought my old barn from the Kittie Kits Farm Life set would work beautifully with her. I watercolored  the girl image with a brush and reinkers and cut her out to pop up over the scene.  I stamped the barn on watercolor paper and watercolored. I painted a brown dirt path green ground area and then stamped grass sprigs from my Outdoor Master.  I hand painted the tree in the background to add scenery and to weight the opposite side of the scene from where I was going to place the girl. I created the sky area using an Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool and my retired SU cloud template.  I thought the blue designer paper would be perfect for this project along with the wonderful red and white gingham that I received as a gift from my good friend, Sharon Johnson. I mounted the girl over the scene’s edge with mounting tape.

I loved this Rachelle Anne Miller Decorating Tree image and knew it would be cute created into a snowy night scene with the tree top shining. I colored the image with Tombow Markers cut out.  I cut a star mask and placed on the watercolor paper where I wanted the tree top to be.  I sponged the blue sky all around the star mask and then removed it and sponged in the yellow on and around the star space to create a bright glow. I painted white craft ink on the bottom half of the paper as well as on another scrap piece and embossed with white embossing powder.  I painted the snowflakes with craft ink and a brush and embossed.  I ran both snow pieces through a crimper to add some texture as well as cut the top of the front piece with deckle scissors. I added lots of sparkle to this with glitter glue but it doesn’t show in the photo.  I thought the busy striped designer paper was a fun compliment to the simple snow scene and finished it with red grosgrain.

Country Girl:   Stamps:  Sarah Kay Country Girl, Kittie Kits Outdoor Master, Farm Life  Paper:  Watercolor, White, Red, SU DP    Ink:  Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo, Scattered Straw, Faded Jeans, Fired Brick, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Going Gray, More Mustard   Accessories:  Gingham, Mounting Tape, Brushes, Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool

Decorating Tree: Stamps:  Rachelle Anne Miller Decorating Tree   Paper:  Holiday Slab Provocraft, Red, White   Ink:  Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, White Craft   Accessories:  Tombow Markers, White Embossing, Crimpers, Grosgrain, Glitter Glue

Wacky Wednesday #19

Sherry is hosting Wacky Wednesday this week and she has challenged us to use any shade of the colors green, pink and purple. My fist thought was to do a gorgeous flower bouquet or an outdoor scene with a fields of flowers.  As I started looking for just the right images I ran across the new Soccer set and my whole theme changed.  I knew it would be fun to show the athletic girls staying true to their feminine side by wearing pink and purple uniforms.

I stamped one girl directly on the main piece of watercolor paper and stamped the other on scrap paper to be painted and cut out. I used reinkers and a brush to paint the images and cut out the one girl and set aside.  I masked the other girl image to protect while I layered in the grass and sky area.  I used an artist pen to sketch in the little team bench in the background and then watercolored. I added texture to the ground area using the small grass sprig image from the Kittie Kits Outdoor Master. I added lines to the ground using a white paint Sharpie although I have no real idea of how soccer field lines should be laid out. I popped up the second little girl to look like she was running down the field and popped up the ball to look like it was in play. I loved the sparkly and colorful designer paper by Debbie Mumm and thought it would be a great background for this little scene.

Be sure and check out all the challenge details on the Rubbernecker Blog to give you a chance to win a great shopping certificate. You won’t want to miss going to all the other Red-Hot Mommas blogs to see their wonderful creations. Oh....and while you are over there maybe you could wish our two sweet girls....Candy and Juliana a Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday Candy and Juliana. 

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Soccer , Kittie Kits Outdoor Master   Paper:  Pretty in Pink, Debbie Mumm DP, Watercolor   Ink:  Pretty in Pink, Elegant Eggplant, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Going Gray, Peeled Paint    Accessories:  Artist Pen, White Sharpie, Brushes, Color Box Stylus, Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool, Word Punch, Grosgrain

Sitting On The Beach

There is nothing more relaxing to me than sitting on the beach and watching the waves roll in. The biggest negative is having to slather up with sun screen but it is certainly a small price to pay for such peaceful enjoyment.  An umbrellas is a must for me as I can’t take the direct sun like I used to.

 

The SCS Technique Lovers Challenge Monday was to make a stand up card.  I really like the colorful designer paper and thought it would be fun used behind a colorful beach scene. I used solid colors on the bathing suit or umbrella as I knew too many colors would compete with the background paper.  I thought this style of card provided a perfect opportunity to extended the theme of the beach scene out to the folded back wings. I stamped the bathing beauty, umbrella and sailboat on scrap watercolor paper, painted and cut out.  I sponged the sand area on watercolor paper and then masked off the water line with scrap paper and sponged in the water. I sponged in the sky using my retired Stampin’ Up cloud template. The final step was to use a green marker to sketch in a few sprigs of sea grass along the sand. I attached the scenes to the card front and wings and then popped up the images. I always laugh when I use this girl image and wonder what in the world she was thinking when she decided to wear those stripes on her broad fanny.

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Kittie Kits Beach Party, Beach Master   Paper:  Brocade Blue, Designer Paper, Watercolor   Ink:  Caramel, Brocade Blue,   Accessories:  Tombow Markers, Craft Knife, Grosgrain, Brushes, Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool, Color Box Stylus and Foam Tip

Stampavie Design Team Member Call

I was surfing through the SCS forums yesterday and noticed there was a call for a Stampavie design team call. I have admired the Sarah Kay stamp line although I haven’t had the opportunity to purchase any of the stamps. The images are gorgeous and I would love to have the opportunity to create scenes around them.  You can find more information about this design team call on the Stampavie Design Team Blog.

I created a scene around the sweet little girl and kittens from the SU set A Kind Word.  I stamped the hat full of kittens, masked, and stamped the girl image over them. I painted the images and cut out to pop up in front of a country scene.  I created the path in the scene by using a small sponge dauber and and added green on both sides with a Color Box stylus and foam tip. I sketched in the small trees and fence with an artist pen and used Tombow Markers to color and to create the tree tops. I used the mini fern image from my Outdoor Master to add texture to the tree and ground area . I added a touch of pink flowers along the fence to match the pink flower in the girl’s basket. I created the sky using a hand cut cloud template and sponge.  I love the hat full of kittens at the little girls feet and thought it looked popped out of the bottom of the scene.

Stamps:  SU A Kind Word, Kittie Kits Outdoor Master    Paper:  Almost Amethyst, White, SU Designer Paper    Ink:  Black Craft, Celery, Olive, Bashful Blue, Blush Blossom, Pretty Ink Pink, Latte, Saffron     Accessories:  Tombow Markers, Artist Pen, Color Box Stylus and Foam Tip, Small Sponge Dauber, Brushes, Cloud Template (hand made) Brads, Grosgrain, Scalloped Border Punch

 

Wacky Wednesday #18 Metal and Ribbon

Good Morning.  I hope you are having a good week. It’s a short work week for me as our practices are closed on Friday for the holiday.  Woo Hoo!!  I love three day weekends.

Today is Rubbernecker Stamps WACKY WEDNESDAY #18 and Bev is our hostess. She’s has challenged us to incorporate both ribbon and metal on our card.  You can check out more about the challenge and how you can win a 40% off coupon from Rubbernecker Stamps on the Rubbernecker Blog.

I love the new Soccer sets and this is the first time I have had the opportunity to play with them.  I wanted to create a fun scene and still allow the eyelets and ribbon to be a main focus for the card.  I think it worked well.

I stamped the kids and goal on scrap watercolor paper, painted and cut them out.  I sponged in the ground and sky area and added texture with a grass sprig stamp from my Outdoor Master. I attached the goal and popped it up across the top but it doesn’t show in the photo.  I attached the kids with glue dots to finish the scene.  The light blue design paper was the perfect fit to allow the scene to pop with all the red and green.  I thought the red cardstock was the perfect accompaniment along with the red grosgrain and eyelets. The pennant was hand cut and is a little wonky in shape but it is such a cute finishing touch to this project.

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Soccer, Kittie Kits Outdoor Master    Paper:  Real Red, SU DP, Watercolor   Ink:  Artichoke, Real Red, Brocade Blue, Blush Blossom, Pink   Accessories:  Eyelets, Grosgrain, Mounting Tape, Glue Dots, Brushes, Red Marker, Sponges

My second project was actually done for the SCS Technique Lovers Challenge on Monday but it works for today’s WW challenge as well.  The original challenge was to create a faux burnt edge. You can find the instructions for this technique here.

I created my little farm scene and used my new Tombow Markers to sketch the tree and colors the images. I then set out to add the faux burnt edge.  I applied several varying colors of distress ink to finally accomplish the burnt surrounding border.  I must say I wish I had not sponged so far into the scene but I really like how it turned out.  The brads and ribbon are a little hard to see since they are both black but I promise they are really there.

Stamps:  Kittie Kits Farm Scene   Paper:  Black, 7 Gypsies, Watercolor   Ink:  Black Craft, Old Paper, Vintage Photo, Brushed Corduroy, Black Soot   Accessories:  Brads, Grosgrain (curled with heat gun) Tombow Markers, Artist , Watercolor Brushes, Deckle Scissors, Paper Distressing Tool