KittieKraft

Over The Edge

Good Tuesday morning!  My blog title represents my card technique today as well as how crazy my past week has been.  My husband was admitted into the hospital last week and was discharged on Saturday. Luckily he was in the hospital where I work so that helped a little. Over the weekend I had the great pleasure of demonstrating in the Rubbernecker booth at the Orlando Stampfest. What fun I had meeting so many wonderful people. With that said I never knew my feet and back could hurt so bad. LOL!!

I was off from work on Monday and was able to play in the Technique Lovers Challenge.  The challenge was to create a card with a frame that showed an image from the base layer overlapping on to the edge of the frame.  I have done this many times with beach scenes and decided it would be fun to show a simple pot of greenery sitting out in a grassy garden area.  I tried my hand again at the watercolor technique shown in the wonderful tutorials at Art Impressions.

 
I stamped the image on watercolor paper with Pumice Stone Distress Ink. Since Distress Ink is water based I can pull the color off the lines to fill in the image slightly and create the watercolor look.  I added touches of Antique Linen and Vintage Photo to add shading and texture and then went back with a fine brush and dark ink to add defining lines back to the pot. I masked the pot and added foliage from my Kittie Kits Outdoor Master.  I used a grass stamp to create the grassy ground base for the pot and once again pulled the color out a bit with a damp brush.  I added the brown in between the grass springs for a more natural ground appearance.  I used a hand cut scalloped cloud template to sponge on the light clouds in the background. I cut a watercolor paper frame using a Nestabilities die. Using the same techniques I created the ground and clouds to allow the scene to carry over on to the frame. I mounted the frame over the scene using mounting tape.

Here is a closer look at the pot of foliage.

 
I hope you are having a good week.  I know we are all looking forward to the upcoming holiday weekend.

Stamps: Rubbernecker Create a Garden Set II 513, Kittie Kits Outdoor Master , Grass Set   Paper: Watercolor, Cool Caribbean  Ink: Pumice Stone, Vintage Photo, Forest Moss, Tumbled Glass
Accessories: Brush, Sponge, Nestabilities, Mounting Tape

Beach Card

I have a quick post to share a beach card that I made last evening for the Splitcoaststampers Color Challenge.  The colors to be used were Cherry Cobbler (dark red), Night of Navy and Crumb Cake (kraft). These colors were perfect for a nice patriotic or nautical themed card.  I went with a fast and fun beach and lighthouse scene.

 

I stamped the lighthouse on watercolor paper with the red ink, painted in some of the details and then embossed with clear embossing powder. I applied versa over the whole lighthouse and embossed again with clear embossing powder to give it a bit of shine and then cut out to pop up over the water scene.  I sponged in the dark blue ink for the water and lightly sponged in the sky using a cloud template (retired SU). I cut the sand dunes out of kraft cardstock using deckle scissors and stamped in the sand texture using an image from my Kittie Kits Beach Master. I created the white foamy waves on the water by applying Liquid Applique and light tapping with my finger to spread well before heating.  This step helps eliminate the dreaded bubbles that can appear when heating LA. I attached the sand pieces over the water and then tucked the lighthouse in behind them.  I created a triple matted frame to layer over the scene and attached with mounting tape. 

 

 

Several people have written asking how I make my matted frames so I will be placing a step by step tutorial on my blog in the next week or so..

I hope you have a great day.

Stamps: Rubbernecker Kittie Kits A Day At The Beach
Paper: Prism Dark Red, Night of Navy, Kraft, Watercolor
Ink: Aged Mahogany, Chipped Sapphire, Antique Linen, Walnut Stain
Accessories: Mounting Tape, Nestabilities, Brush, Sponge, Marker, Liquid Applique, Versa, Clear EP

Buddy, Vintage Woody, Friends and Tall and Thin

Happy Monday Morning everyone. I hope you had a fun and restful weekend. I have a story to share before I move on to stamping. I had an interesting weekend introducing a new cat into our already packed house of kitties. Let me insert here that there must be a blinking neon sign on my house announcing that I am a huge sucker for stray animals. A big cat appeared on our back patio inside our 6” fence in January and he never left.  He had been either dropped or had gotten lost from home.   It was obvious he had been out on his own for a very long time as he was so thin and starving.  Much to my husbands displeasure I couldn’t resist feeding him.  Someone had to take care of him.  After a couple of weeks to see if he was going to stay I took him to the vet for tests and a check up and he was found to be fairly healthy and thought to be about six years old. Since we already have four cats in the house we decided Buddy was going to be our outdoor cat.  Last Wednesday I came home and found Buddy on the front porch having an attack of some kind with labored breathing.  I raced him to the vet and it was determined that he was having an asthma attack and that he could not live outside in our terrible heat.  So there has been much hissing, growling, stare downs and out and out attacks on poor Buddy and I know he feels under siege. It is getting better but I know it will take a long time for everyone to be a happy family. 

I have some weekend cards to share with you. First is a beach scene with a vintage Woody and a surfboard.

 
This was a fast scene to create using my sponges and Kittie Kits Beach Master. The Woody was stamped on watercolor paper and cut out to pop up on the frame.  I hand painted the little scene on the hand cut surfboard.

The second is a couple of friendly lambs made using a new image and sentiment from the Rubbernecker Friends Collection.  The image was stamped twice on watercolor paper, cut out and popped up in the little scene.  Aren’t they cute.

 
I am the guest designer this week for the SCS Clean and Simple challenge.  The challenge was to make a tall and think card.  I couldn’t resist using my cornflower and hydrangea punches to create a floral spray.  You can check out my punched paper flower and floral spray tutorials on the top right side of my home page.

 
 
 
Have a great week.

Stamps: Rubbernecker Woody 567-01, Kittie Kits Beach Master M002
Paper: Soft Sky, Watercolor
Ink: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Aged Mahogany, Peeled Paint, Broken China, Black Versafine
Accessories: Sponges, Brush, Nestabilities

Stamps: Rubbernecker Friends Collection
Paper: Pink, White, Black, Watercolor
Ink: Black Versafine, Pumice Stone, Shabby Shutters, Bashful Blue, Shell Pink
Accessories: Organdy, Nestabilities, Brush, Sponge, White Watercolor Paint, Corner Cutting Scissors

Stamps: Rubbernecker Friends Collection Thinking of You 565-10
Paper: Cool Caribbean, White
Ink: Broken China
Accessories: Mouse Pad, Stylus, Crimper, Martha Stewart Lattice, Cornflower, Hydrangea, Pine Punch, SU Bird Punch, Fiskars 1/4" Flower Punch, Glossy Accents, Postal Decorative Scissors

 

Inspired by Bev "TexasGrammy"

The Splitcoaststampers Free For All challenge this week was to pick a card from the gallery of one of our SCS friend’s that inspires us and use elements of it to create a project of our own. I went straight to the gallery of my friend, Bev Gerard, better known on SCS as TexasGrammy and Tex. I had a great time browsing through Bev’s wonderful gallery and finally settled on this adorable cowgirl card, Texas Sawdust and Casey’s Howdy. 

I loved Bev’s card layout and all the texture she created with the crimping and the embossed corner element.  I especially loved Bev’s little hay bale and the paper piecing on the little girl’s clothing and boots  and all the tiny details like the twine looped on her skirt and the little lasso.

Here is what I came up with.

 
I kept the same basic card layout, used crimping on my background and kept the little girl theme.  I changed the color combination and made my little girl a gardener instead of a cowgirl. I punched the edge of my corner element instead of embossing and created a little flower garden for my special detail.  The Sarah Kay Bernadette image was stamped on watercolor paper, painted and cut out and popped up over the flower garden.

 
 

I added touches of diamond Stickles to all the little flower centers and on the watering can.  The sparkle doesn’t show very well in the photo but there is even a little right under the spout of the can to look like water pouring out. Check my punched flower tutorial if you would like to know how I made my little flowers.

I hope you enjoy your Saturday.  I hope to get some fun stamping time in between weekend chores.

Stamps: Stampavie Sarah Kay Bernadette Admiring The Spring Flowers
Paper: White, Red, Watercolor
Ink: Black Versafine, Fired Brick, Faded Jeans, Tea Dye, Blush Blossom, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo
Accessories: Stylus, Paper Piercer, Martha Stewart Pine Punch, 1/4 Fiskars Flower Punch, Glossy Accents, Mouse Pad, Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page Eyelet, Stickles

Vellum Cornflowers

Splitcoaststampers Ways To Use It challenge this week was to use vellum on our project.  I decided to try my hand at making a floral spray with vellum flowers.  I made the flowers using the Martha Stewart Cornflower and Hydrangea punches. I thought I would show a couple pictures to show how I put these together. I used pink paper for the photos so the flower would show up better than the vellum on my project.

Punch out several embossed cornflowers. Using deckle or postage scissors cut the petals of one flower to shorten for an inner layer of the flower. Cut the petals of another flower almost totally off so there is just a hint of petals around the circle. Punch out three or four little hydrangea petals and one tiny flower. Round and form the flower sections using a stylus (see punched flower tutorial) and mouse pad or piercing mat.

 
Attach the first three large cornflowers offsetting each layer a little so the petals are not perfectly lined up.  Add the first cut down flower and then the small circular flower and finish layering with the tiny flowers.

 

 
Here is the project I made for the vellum challenge. I love how it turned out.  The white embossed vellum really looks puffy with all the layers. Check out my multi loop bow  tutorial if you would like to know how I made my bow.

 
 
 
 

I hope you have a great weekend.  I know I am sure looking forward to good restful days off.

 

Paper: Pink, Vellum, Spring Moss
Accessories: Martha Stewart Pine, Foliage and Cornflower Punches, Stylus, Mouse Pad, Paper Piercer, Crimper, Retired Sizzix Leaf Die, Glossy Accents, SU Embossing Folder

 

 

Challenging Colors

The Splitcoaststampers Color Challenge this week was to use chocolate chip, olive and vanilla.  I created my card using the brown as the most dominate color and created my flowers and foliage in the vanilla and green.  In truth, I created my whole project and had forgotten to include olive at all.  Ugh.  I was just getting ready to take my first picture when I realized it.  I added a few additional sprigs in olive although I really liked it better without.

 

 
 
Check out my tutorials on how to create punch paper flowers and floral sprays and wreaths on the top right of blog page. If you want to give them a try I just warn that making these flowers can become a little addicting.

Stamps: Butterflies are Free 538
Paper: Chocolate, Vanilla, Olive
Ink: Espresso
Accessories: Martha Stewart Hydrangea, Pine, Butterflies and Foliage Punches, Nestabilities, Glossy Accents, Paper Piercer, Mouse Pad, Stylus

Another Watercolor Garden Pot

I tried my hand at another watercolor garden pot using the Art Impressions technique that I learned over the weekend by watching their tutorials.  I created this project for the Splitcoaststampers Clean and Simple sketch challenge and blocks were part of the layout.

 
I stamped the pot  and used a damp brush to pull the color out over the pot. I added a little bit of rust to the edges of the pot to give the dirty older pot appearance. I masked off the pot and added lots of greenery using my Kittie Kits mini fern image and then removed the mask and allowed some of the image to be stamped over the edges of the pot. I used a damp brush again to pull out the color for a softer watercolor look. I stamped lots of little flowers using a tiny texture image from my Kittie Kits. I heat dried the ink and then sponged on yellow ink for highlighting. I finished by stamping sprigs of grass and then washing it lightly for the grass. When complete I cut it into 9 equal squares to mount on the colorful background paper.

I love the bright raspberry flowers and the matching ribbon.  Here’s a little closer look.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Stamps: Rubbernecker Create a Garden !!, Kittie Kits Outdoor Master
Paper: Vanilla, Dark Pink, Watercolor
Ink: Pumice Stone, Peeled Paint, Raspberry, Lemonade, Really Rust
Accessories: Brushes, Sponge, Satin, Border Punch, Glossy Accents

Watercolor Garden Pot

Happy Monday!  I had a great time over the weekend watching some of the Art Impressions watercolor tutorials.  They are so gorgeous and easy to follow. As I watched the videos I kept wishing I had all the images that were being used. Then I slapped myself on the forehead.  Duh!  You have everything you need to create a project like that right in your own collection of Kittie Kits Outdoor Master and the Rubbernecker Create a Garden Set 1 and 2.   I pulled those sets and gave the technique a try.  Here’s what I came up with.

 
I stamped the flower pot in blue and used a wet brush to pull the color out over the image.  I masked the pot off and stamped in foliage and flowers and brushed out the colors with the wet brush.  I finished off by stamping in grass around the base of the pot.

 
 
 

Have a great week!

 

Stamps: Rubbernecker Create a Garden Set 1 and 2, Kittie Kits Outdoor Master
Paper: Vanilla, Watercolor, Baja Breeze, Old Olive
Ink: Stormy Sky, Wild Honey, Peeled Paint, Raspberry, Chipped Sapphire
Accessories: Post-it mask, Brushes, Grosgrain

Girlfriends

Happy Sunday! I hope you are enjoying your weekend. I have a quick post today.  I have fallen in love with the Art Impressions Girlfriend images.  I have three sisters and I think the image with the four old broads are darling and would make great sister cards.

 
 
I painted the images with bright almost full strength reinkers to create a cartoony look.  I cut the image out so I could pop it up in the oval frame.  The umbrella has an extra layer for dimension.

 
 
I have another image of the four girls sitting on a couch in their pajamas and I will post it soon.

Have a great week.

Stamps: Art Impressions Girlfriends
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Barely Banana, White, Watercolor
Ink: Black Versafine, Fired Brick, Lemonade, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Broken China, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Pumice Stone, Blush Blossom, Rusty Hinge
Accessories: Crimper, Nestabilities, Brush, Snips, Craft Knife

Wagon Full Of Flowers

I had lots of fun Friday afternoon playing in the Splitcoaststampers Free For All Challenge.  The challenge was to use a set that hadn’t been used in a long while.  I was inspired to create a fun garden card using the retired Stampin’ Up! set called Favorite Teddy Bear.

 
I stamped the images on watercolor paper, painted and cut out.  I created a little sponged in ground and sky on a piece of white cardstock and then added the punched foliage on both sides of the garden path using Glossy Accents.  Using a 3/8” hand held flower punch I punched out a ton of little red and white flowers and then formed them using a stylus and a mouse pad.  I attached the bear and wagon over the foliage, added extra foliage to the wagon and then arranged the flowers all around on both sides of the path and the foliage in the wagon.

Here’s a little closer view.  You can click on the photos to see them a little larger.

 
Check out my punched flower tutorials if you would like to know how I made these little flowers.

I hope you have a wonderful and restful weekend.

Stamps: Stampin' Up! Favorite Teddy Bear (set made 2003-retired)
Paper: White, Red, Papertrey DP, Watercolor
Ink: Black Versafine, Fired Brick, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint
Accessories: Martha Stewart Pine Punch, Hand Held Flower Punch, Stylus, Mouse Pad, Paper Piercer, Glossy Accents, Satin, Mounting Tape, Crimper

Bright Daisy and Elegant Birdcage

I hope you having a fun and relaxing weekend. I got in some fun stamping time and I have two projects to share that couldn’t be more different.

First I have a big white cheerful daisy with lots of bright yellow and fun texture.

 
I punched the white embossed petals with my Stampin’ Up! small oval punch and attached them to a 1” punched circle.  I added a 3/4” punched yellow embossed circle to complete the daisy center. I cut the stem with deckle scissors and created the leaves with a Sizzix die.  I ran both the stem and leaves through my crimper to add more texture.  I created the oval double matted frame using Nestabilities oval dies and mounted with mounting tape. The sentiment was cut out with deckle scissors and attached to the stem and embellished with a bright yellow bow.

The second was made using an elegant gold embossed birdcage image from the Stampavie Penny Johnson Vintage Collection.

 
I stamped the image twice with versa on cream cardstock and embossed with gold embossing powder. I cut the image out with snips and cut center of the birdcage out with a crafty knife and popped it up over the second image. I  cut a cream tag with Nestabilities tag die and drew a border around the tag edge using a versa marker and embossed it with gold embossing powder. I used an embossed paper for the eyelet punched  layer and layered it over a piece of cream cardstock that was bordered with gold embossing powder. I punched out several foliage leaves and punched pine pieces and light touched them to the versa and embossed with gold embossing powder.  I attached the tag to the front of the card and then created a foliage spray on the bottom.  I popped up the birdcage over the spray of foliage and attached a gold organdy multi loop bow  to the tag top and heated it to appear more aged and vintage.

 

Stamps: Rubbernecker Wildflower Set 465
Paper: Prism Yellow, White, Olive
Ink: Black Versafine
Accessories: Embossing Folders, Crimper, Glossy Accents, Oval Punch, Circle Punch, Deckle Scissors, Nestabilities, Satin

Stamps: Stampavie Penny Johnson Vintage Collection -Bird Cage
Paper: Cream, Embossed Paper
Accessories: Organdy, Versa, Versa Pen, Martha Stewart Pine Punch, SU Bird Punch, Gold Embossing Powder, Glossy Accents

Fun Week of Challenges

Good Friday morning. I sure enjoyed having a long three day holiday weekend but for some reason my four day week has felt more like a six day week.  I am looking forward to the weekend. I haven’t been able to post in a few days so I thought I would do one big post including all my Splitcoaststampers challenge cards for the week.

Monday’s Clean and Simple challenge was to use scrunched up or pleated ribbon in some way on our card. I pleated up ribbon to be the grassy ground for a dandelion garden.

 

Wednesday’s Sketch Challenge had lots of challenging layers but I kept with the specified layout and put a tall basket of flowers for fill the tall skinny main featured layer. Check out the punched flower tutorial if you would like to know how to make my tiny flowers.

 

Enjoy your weekend!  I hope you get some time to get your fingers inky.

Stamps: Rubbernecker Dandelion Garden Border 540-02
Paper: White, Spring Moss
Ink: Shabby Shutters
Accessories: Spring Moss Grosgrain, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, Glue Dots, Glossy Accents, Stickles

Stamps: Rubbernecker Create a Garden Set 1 502
Paper: Garden Party DP, Rose Red, White
Ink: Black Versafine, Antique Linen
Accessories: Hand Held 3/8" flower punch, Martha Stewart Pine Branch, Glossy Accents, Mouse Pad, Stylus, Paper Piercer, Satin