Oh the places you'll go...

Create Your Own Visited States Map

I have a few states left to visit!

Graducamations!

I have two beautiful nieces, both are newly graduated--one from high school and one from college. One is Keli and one is Kelly.  How's that for coincidences?  I made them both pop up box cards, in different color schemes.  ( Images are clickable for close up viewing, but only if you want an eyeful!)

This one is for Keli, with her sunny disposition.  This paper is Graphic45 Bohemian Bazaar.

This one is for Kelly, in one of her favorite color combos.  Kelly also just announced her engagement to be married so double congrats!

Catching up....

Lily, my granddaughter, is now 8 but I'm running behind on birthday album layouts.  Here's half of her 5th birthday layout (still working on the 2nd page).  It's such a good feeling to be cutting and gluing and picking out pretty papers (Basic Grey Phoebe on this one).  The top corner is a nod to Debby4000 for her creative use of Memory Box  fresh foliage die cuts on one of her recent brilliant scrapbook pages.  She's challenged herself to one page per week and is actually keeping up.  Go Debby!  

Miss you Washi Tape butterflies

 Just playing around with some washi tape layered on plain cardstock and then punched.  Cute butterfly punch by Martha Stewart, Honeycomb die is by Die-namics.  Sentiment by Paper Smooches and enamel dots are Doodle Bug.  It's Memorial Day weekend here in the U.S. and time to recognize the sacrifices and service of those in our armed forces and their families.  More than just a 3 day reason to have a barbecue  Have a lovely weekend, wherever you are and whatever your plans.

Hugs,

Kathy

 



Happy 17th!

Our anniversary passed without much excitement.  Hubby spent most of it on a plane returning from a biz-trip to St. Louis and then was too tired to go out to dinner that night, so we had our little anniversary dinner at a good steak house and treated ourselves to a "cactus blossom" appetizer which is their version of Outback's bloomin' onion.   My card just proves that Cuttlebugs can pretty much cut anything, including old kitchen terry cloth towels.

Hope your Monday has been a good one.  I'm stillworking on going through all my crafting supplies, donating some, tossing some and organizing what's left.  One day soon, photos.  I promise.

 

Hugs,

Kathy

Oh Baby!

 

Finally had a reason to use my new pretty Marianne "Baby" die.  I double cut it and skewed it slightly for a mat effect.  A little boy is expected, so I went traditional with blue but threw in some ribbon and lace because after all, it is a baby.  Time enough for snips and snails and puppy dog tails ahead. 

 

Hugs,

Kath

Mother's Day!

 

Graphic45 paper lines make cardmaking effortless.  These were finished in about 2 television shows (2 hours). 

 

I hope all of you mothers and motherlies are pampered and loved on this special day.

 

Hugs,

Kathy

Miss you...

Still organizing and getting lots of home and garden and pool projects done around here in anticipation of the long summer to come.  I've had some time to play, though and tried a fun technique with this simple card. I don't know what you call it but it's basically pressing a die cut shape into the hole left when you cut it....so, these little hearts are set evenly into the squares.  Lots of clear embossing and I'm liking the simplicity of it.

Hope you're all having a great week!

Hugs, Kathy

I love your mug...

Happy Birthday to my Steve!

My hubby turned 56 today and every year I struggle to make a card that will get a genuine smile out of him.  I stumbled across a brilliant card idea via Lynne Fahey who says she saw it on Pinterest so who knows from whence it comes, but it's perfect for a beer lover.  I added my own little touches, like adding 3 coats of clear embossing powder and a tiny jewelry tag, but so so cute, don't you think?   The sentiment is SRM.  I put little moustaches all around the inside sentiment. 

And here's the full card.

Thanks for dropping by and have a great weekend!
Hugs,
Kathy

Birthday Luck

My daughter's co-worker is having a birthday this week and the office has planned a surprise birthday party with a gambling theme (she loves to go to Las Vegas), so I was coaxed into making a large card with room for all the office mates to sign.  This is the largest card I've ever made (about 8"x6").  There's green felt and some card images from the web with a few embellies left over from a very old gambling sticker set.  Didn't have much time so it's pretty simple but it should do the trick.  Thanks for looking!  Hugs, Kathy

Couple more..

Just playing around with some new product and techniques.  This first one uses strips of dp glued down to make a card front.  Then I free handed a heart mask and sponged distress ink all around the mask.  It's more subtle in the photo.  I thought this could go into my birthday card pile so I glued on my new die cut Simon Says Happy Birthday die and a flower. oh, and a paper smooches Scripty Sayings stamp (just got them and LOVE them).

This next was just a fun card I made for my grandkids to give their mother on her birthday.  They love to play Minecraft together, so I had to do a little research on the characters and such and then cut out a bunch of 1/4" squares.  Looks tedious but it went fast while I was watching tv.  And the middle is an "enchantment table" which I magic misted (well, Glimmer misted) and then attached with one of those paper spring thingies....I can't remember what they're called. Anyway, it wiggles. :)  Not one of my better cards but the kids and their mama LOVED it.  So there ya go.  That's what it's all about.

Thanks for dropping by.  I'm still in organization and unpack mode.  The Scrapbox that my hubby gave me for Christmas in 2012 has been sitting in its cartons in the garage for a long time but I'm happy to say it is now assembled and I'm working on getting all the shelves in and then filling it up.  See my pretty new floors.   Progress!!  Hugs, Kathy

Inking up....

new stamps.  Just got in several new sets of stamps so I've been getting inky even though half my scrapbook area is still unpacked after installation of  new floor.  I've been loving the chalkboard trend, so I sent for this Simon Says stamp set "Chalkboard Love." I immediately dug out my Stampin Up Whisper White inkpad to see if I could get the same chalkboard look.   This little piece of black cs was my very first test (amazing) and I liked it so much I built a card around it.  I'm easily impressed.  hahah.   The white field is embossed but it's very subtle--kind of a basket weave design and doesn't show up at all in this photo.  Anyway, I see lots of action in the future for it.  I'll work on a better trick to photo it.  A little of my precious silk ribbon and a few enamel dots = fast cute little card.  I should say the chevron stripes are from another stamp set from MME called "Ginger Pictures stamps."  Hugs, Kathy

Changes for the better....

My crafting room is actually the family room off the kitchen, separated by a half wall and some southwest style vega poles.  I just love being able to craft in the heart of our home.  My hubby is an IBM employee who works 100% from home, and he's right around the corner from the kitchen, so we can talk to each other pretty much all day long.  So, the only thing I haven't been happy about was the carpet floor.  Messy, hard to roll around in and just ugly.  Today all that changes.  We're installing pergo floors so this weekend's project was massive empty Kathy's stuff out (thanks to dear friends Traci and Barb's help).

So. Much. Stuff.

Stacked just the other side of half wall

almost empty

waiting for new floors

 

Graduation Card

Just finished this card for a special young lady in Texas who is graduating High School early this month.  I wanted it to be vibrant and happy, like she is.  It's a bit over-the-top dotty, but the paper just wriggled onto my work table on its own, so I let it have its way.  I *love* creating pleated medallions and I dug out my last piece of this seriously beautiful multihued paper from an ancient (I mean really really old)  pad of Provocraft paper (Michelle Anderson's Pathways Creative Papers called Illuminations) which  made my medallion quite special.  I like to punch one edge prior to pleating for the lacy look.  What d'you think?  I like how this one turned out.  Thanks for looking.

Hugs,

Kathy

Challenges
Sunday Sketch & Stamp - sketch
Card Makin' Mamas - Stack it Up (layers)
Ladybug Crafts - Anything Goes
Crafts Galore Encore Challenge - Use a stamp or digi
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes Challenge 39
Doodle Garden Challenge 1 - Anything Goes
Make it Monday
Crafty Sentiments Spots or Dots Challenge

Welcome Little One

A dear friend was just blessed with a new little granddaughter named Halle Mae, so I thought I'd whip her up a card.  She lives in California, so this will be a hand cancelled post.  The paper is October Afternoon, the carriage is a Cricut cut.  That bow is out of  some of my hoarded silk ribbon.  There's some Martha Stewart lace in there and some Kaisercraft pearls.  I used dimensionals on the scalloped circle and again on the buggy.  I cheated with an SRM sticker.  Anyway, fun card to make.  I surely hope a black baby carriage doesn't call to mind Rosemary's Baby.  Eeeeeeek!  I can't stop loving the contrast of black and just about any other color.  Happy Friday everyone!

Hugs,

Kathy

XO

My Favorite Things has a sketch challenge that caught my eye.  I needed a "feel better" card so here's my take.  I didn't deviate much at all from the sketch.  Look at that beautiful new embossing powder I just bought (Ranger's Liquid Platinum).

Anyway, here is my card for the Get Sketchy challenge.  Click on image for full photo.

MME Indie Chic Citron dp, Ranger Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder, Waltzing Mouse stamp (frame), House Mouse "Sweet Kiss" Nestie frame die, Prismacolor pencils, Liquid Pearls, EK Success flower punch, CB Swiss Dots EF, SRM Sticker, foam dots

Challenges entered

• My Favorite Things - Feeling Sketchy Challenge
• Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge 
• Dies and/or Punches Challenge 25 - Feeling Crafty

new die....old paper

thanks for inspiration from jasonw1 card 

I've been wanting this Memory Box Chloe Stem die for quite awhile so when it arrived I was anxious to do something with it.  Some old Core'dinations paper caught my eye and it all just went together like buttah... I know a prime rule of floral arrangement is to always use an odd number, but 3 of these beautiful diecuts was overkill, so I went with 2.  The embossing folders are old Cuttlebug and Tim Holtz,  a little sanding, some very old stitched ribbon and of course Kaisercraft pearls.  I did mount the main panel on some foam pads for dimension.  It's all mounted on kraft cardstock and done.  This would be a great entry for a "Shopping our Stash" challenge. So quick and okay for a masculine birthday card.  I'm not sure I'll even add a sentiment.  Thanks for dropping in and Happy Friday to you all!   Hugs, Kathy

Birthday's are Magic!

My sweet granddaughter Lily turned 8 on Saturday.  She's mad about horses, so she had a nice ride on one of our neighbor's horses, Dixie.  Then we had birthday cake and opened gifts.  The only thing Lily loves more than horses are *magical* horses, of the winged and horned kind.  This image from A Day for Daisies was perfect for her birthday card.  It's a center step card and the inside reads "One day you're 7, the next day you're 8...Magic!"   I simply cannot stop using this Bailiwick background die...it's really to "die for."  Groans all 'round, I know I know.  Hope you all have a magical day!"

happy valentine's day

I love Valentine's Day...more love in the world is a good thing!  I'm having so much fun with this new Bailiwick die...trying it with different colors.  This was so easy I'm embarrassed.  One SRM sticker, some cardstock and done.  I rehearsed it with a bow, but decided I liked it better without. Very very simple but classy, I think.  Sorry for the wanky photo.  No excuse, I'll do better next post.  Thanks for dropping by for a little love.  Hugs, Kathy

City Crafter Challenge Blog Week 197 ~ Color Splash

Be Mine

Day for Daisies new "Mailing Love" digistamp caught my eye and how perfect for a Valentine's Day card!  Isn't she adorable?  A bit of paper piecing, some dies and pearls and Prisma Coloring.  I've got to get my photo area set up again so I can take better pictures, but for now this will have to do.  

 Entering her in the A Day for Daisies Challenge 88 Pink and Red Project.
Love to all you lovers out there!
Hugs,
Kathy

Hearts Galore

I've been playing with my some new dies-- Poppystamps Bailiwick Background die....such lovely swirls and Impressive Obsession's Love You heart die.  Also, a brand new product for me--Kooltak foam clear pads -- they work just like any dimensional adhesive squares but they're clear.  Why ever has it taken so long to come up with this brilliant idea?  I popped all my little hearts and the sentiment with them.  Black pearls and spica glitter pens to finish it up.  Valentine's Day will be extra fun this year with these great new products.

Christmas 2012 Layout

Catching up on layouts, I barely finished this double spread in time to add it to my Christmas album before this past Christmas morning.  I like to have it on the coffee table in the living room so it's available for the kids and grandkids to look at past Christmases.  The top left photo lifts to reveal journalling and a photo of the grandkids' daddy who was tragically killed in October 2011.  I think the comfort of family traditions and sitting down to a meal together brought a bit of comfort to us all.  

Birthday Butterfly

Getting back in the groove, I needed a quick birthday card and this design fit the bill.  Simple and cute.  Martha Stewart butterfly punch, a few pearls and gems and one of Paper Smooches adorable stamps (from their Sentiment Sampler collection).   I saw this design somewhere quite awhile ago, but apologize for not giving credit.  I just don't remember.  Hope all of you in colder climes are staying warm.  The forecast tomorrow for here in Phoenix is 75 with clear blue skies.   Come visit!