Some days ago was Day 9

I'm a bit behind. Some good friends, well our closest friends here in town will be moving to Austin, TX. I had to take a knee for a couple of days. Thankfully through technology it's not hard to reach out to them. Anywho here's the cards I made. I have to agree the rainbows look way better with the sparkle. 
The 2 cards on the right both have a screen texture to them however they didn't come through with the pictures. I need to add some birds or something just not sure what yet. I wanted to get these up before to much time passes. 

Inking Stencils - Day 9

I missed the last couple of days. I got a new desk and setting it up was a bit of an undertaking. I do love it though it's 6 inches deeper. So much extra space and the best part it's a sit to stand desk. With the push of a button I can work standing up! Love it!

Anyways,I digress I made 4 cards with today's theme/idea/inspiration.

I had fun. I used Hero Arts stencils with Distress Oxide inks. The heart die cut is Spellbinders. The sentiments are Altenew.

School starts again tomorrow. It's my last semester and I only have 1 class. So exciting!

Paper Piecing Day 6

Today's card had a layout and suggestions by Kristina Warner. I should have listened to the layout out and keeping things simple but I like to wing it and put my own spin on it. I had fun, wasted some paper but had fun Plus was able to make 3 cards.

I enjoyed doing different backgrounds for each card. I like how they are similar yet still unique. Kinda like us. We all have things in common but are different too. 

The paper is Carta Bella I found on sale while back. Neenah craft card stock is the base and I used a few different sentiments 

Oh Wow - Day 5

I loved these cards so much I'm having a hard time letting them go. Thank you Debby Hughes for showing me this. It was fun to do something completely different. Her water color was stunning, no surprise. I chose to go with some black water color paper and loved the results.

Using the flower from the right card as a mask on the left didn't quite give the best results but once I put in the reverse of the flower and then painted over it (the black was to much) it came out amazing, if I do say so myself.

The flower is Altenew. Paint is Gansai Tambi starry colors and the paper is Stonehenge.

Peek a Boo - Day 4

I spent forever trying to figure out what set I wanted to use. Sadly, everyone is close so there's no popping over to grab something new. It's for the best though. It saves me money pushes me to grow and I use something I already owned.

Here's the front. The photo doesn't show the embossed frame all that well but it's there.

And for the inside:

I love the ocean. Sharks are my spirit animals as you can see in the background. It's been fun to wake up to a new technique/style every day. 

Die Cutting Backgrounds.

I rather enjoyed today's idea by a new to person Yana Smakula. Very different style which I loved. Here's my card:

 

I don't have any stamps that would work just as she suggested and sadly everything's closed right now. I made do with what I have and pieced this together with some Hero Arts stamps. The smile is Simon Says stamp and the heart die are Lawn Fawn. 

I defiantly need to get some new stamps. 

It's good to be crafting and reaching out again. I'm not sure if blogging is the best way to go it seems most people have moved to Instagram. I may go that route. 

So it's been a few years...

It's been ages. 6 years ago I decided to go back to school thinking it wouldn't disrupt my life to much. I was wrong. It left zero time for crafting but the good news is I've only got 1 semester left of school and only 1 class! (They start later this month.) I finally have time to craft again. I'm super rusty but thankfully the great people over at online card classes started a

That should help sand the rust off. I'll give an full update on my whereabouts later I wanted to get this card up before I poop out, like I did yesterday. Day 1 just didn't motivate me much. Today was different I had fun kicking idea's around.

Here's what I came up with.




Clearly I need work on the lighting in my space. :D Stamps are a combo of Hero Arts (the big flowers) and Mama Elephant. The die is from Simon Says Stamp and the ink is Hero Arts shadow Ink.

I plan on being back soon, tomorrow even. See you then

I'm back with Background day 2

Wow, a few months has passed again. It's been a busy few months 2 funerals and a wedding and girls camp. I really want to get back into card making so I signed up for the background check online card class. It's been a good class I wasn't to sure if it would be worth the money. (Being unemployed I don't have lots of money to squander.) I have to say I am quite happy I joined the class.

Since I've been busy with so many things (we catered one of those funerals and the next night I served at the wedding) I haven't been able to participate as much as I would have liked. I am going to post my cards out of order. 

Day 2 had some good ideas Jennifer McGuire was inking up patterned paper after she clear embossed it. This sounded like a fun idea so I gave it a whirl. Here are some of the backgrounds I created:

I used a Hero Arts background stamp. I learned use a heavier paper. As you can see the paper was a bit warped from the ink. 

Once I learned I needed heaver paper I pulled out some 6x6 paper packs. This is a rainbow paper from Studio Calico. I clear embossed a (I think) Hero Arts stamp then inked the paper with navy shadow ink. I am very happy with the results. My favorite though has to be this bad boy:

Wood paper (no idea from where) with a Hero Arts negative stamp (I can look up the name if you need me to) I used Hero Arts Cup of Joe shadow ink to fill in the stamp area. I absolutely love it! The thank you is a Heidi Swapp die the hearts are colored with royal red shadow ink and cut out from a Lawn fawn die. I made it a square card I just couldn't find the right card to make it look nice. 

Be back soon with more samples. 

Happy Tuesday.

Day 4 Mask-erade... Freezer Paper

I have to admit I was dragging my feet with this technique (masking with freezer paper). Having had success with other masking techniques why would I even want to give this one a try? Since this was a class I paid for and the instructors were kind enough to take the time to show me how to do it, I needed to suck it up give it a try. My in laws had the freezer paper, I wasn't about to go buy some and I managed to find my iron. (It's been a few years since I turned it on.) Last night I created this:

The stars are dies from Lawn Fawn and the ink is the new mermaid lagoon distress ink. I don't remember where I got the birthday script die from. The yellow ink is also distress ink. I'l have to hunt that down if you are interested. The black dots are from a Simon Says Stamp set, Congratulations.

I must say I had a great time with it. The card is based off of Laura Bassen card. She took a piece of acetate and " ink smooched" it. I tried it and this is what happened:

I made a huge mess. Ink went every where and it never quite smooched right on the paper. I have re-watched her video and realized I was smooching wrong. I put the ink on my craft sheet and used the acetate to pull it off, ware as she put the ink directly on the acetate.  Now that I know the correct way to smooch I'll be doing it again. 

This week has been a fun week of trying things new and sanding the rust off my creative gears. I hope all goes well with you all this weekend. Be Back Soon.

Happy Days, 

Katie

Day 5 Mask-erade 2nd Card

Sadly if I want to link up the card to the group I have to make a 2nd post for it.

My second card was a blast to do. I used Technique Tuesday stamps and embossed with black embossing powder on hot pressed Archival water color paper and when to town with the Zig brush pens. I taped the paper down and put a heavy coat of water on the paper before I started coloring. I couldn't bring myself to put anything else on the scene so I put the sentiment on the inside of the card. I taped the scene onto Hero Arts black card stock.

I loved this card, it's one of the those I'll end up keeping. My mom said if should have made it bigger so we could hang it on the wall. She is a little bias but I like what she had to say. :D

Katie

Day 5 Mask-erade

I know I skipped day four. Day four is using freezer paper and after the success of rubber cement why would I want to use anything else? I managed to find and borrow some freezer paper and actually found my iron, I'll give it a try tomorrow.  For now here's the last day, masking with embossing. I had so much fun with this technique I made 2 cards.

My first card: 

Using Lawn Fawn stamps I colored them with Copics (still my favorite reg marker) then clear heat embossed it and went to down with the clouds. I'm very happy with the results. I will definitely be doing this again. 

In other news I spent hours today fishing out my light tent and lights, cleaned out the rest of the craft room and finished unpacking. Yes, we moved in over a year ago but it's been a busy year. One of the lights wasn't working quite right so the photo isn't the best. Hopefully the hubby can work his magic on it tomorrow. 

Happy Days,

Katie

Day 3 Mask-erade

Day Three, Liquid Masking.

As we learned in class, there's what feels like a million liquid mask options. I went with good old fashioned rubber cement. This was the second time I used it, the first time.. not a pleasant experience but this time it turned out really nice:

The stamps are from Hero Arts, and the banner is a die from Lawn Fawn.

I've drawn inspiration on all of the teachers so no real original ideas here. My brain hasn't gotten back in to crafting mode. The old line is true, you don't use it you lose it. I am loving water coloring and adore the Zig Clean Color Brushes. There's been a mad dash for them. I am so grateful to have gotten them before the rush, they are awesome but sadly are sold out just about everywhere.

I will say I am so grateful to Kristina Warner and her tip about hot pressed water color paper. I've been buying water color paper for years but it always had to heavy a texture for my liking which caused me to shy away from using it. Hot pressed paper doesn't have the valleys and peaks, I rather enjoy using it. We learn some thing new every day.

Happy Monday!

Katie

Day 2 Mask-erade

I know 2 days in a row with this blogging thing, crazy huh. For day two I copied my idea from Jennifer McGuire. I'm not one for copying exactly like someone else but she is amazing at making two cards at the same time and I wanted to give that a try. Here are my two cards:

The flower stamp was a combo of Mama Elephant and Lawn Fawn. The sentiments are from Close to My Heart. The inks are various Hero Arts shadow inks. The heart die is from Hero Arts. 

I am quite happy how they turned out. Not to happy with the photos but it will have to do until my photo station gets set up. again. Funny how we moved into this house over a year ago and we still have some things in boxes. By the time we get unpacked AND organized we'll end up moving to a new house. 

Happy days, now to make a card for day 3 and 4. 

Katie

Day 1 Mask-erade

I know your must be thinking...What? Blogging twice in one day?? 

A simple masking of flowers, it came out pretty decent. It was super late, when I colored them. Note to self-sleep then color. I used my new Zig clean color real brush pens to color them. They are a joy to use, I adore them. I baught a 24 pack from Amazon then bought a bunch of individuals pens online from Blick. (FYI Blicks shipping prices are pretty high so make it count.) I adore these pens. I'll have to do a post on them sometime. Keep this writing train going. Anywho day one's card based off of Kristina Werners video:

The stamp set is from Simon Says Stamp.  I need to get the photo tent up but until then these photos will have to do. I used post it notes to mask. I've kept them so I now have mask for the flowers anytime I need one.

Another Year, Well Almost

Wow, funny how times flies. It's been almost a year since my last post and since I was last able to do any crafting. I am happy to report I am back into crafting and plan on doing more of the blogging stuff, as life will permit me that is.

A quick over view of this past year. I've been the sole caretaker for my mom and man it's work, it's like having a toddler without all the fun of a toddler. Mom is fun some days don't get me wrong but it's still difficult. Last Christmas we lost our adorable puppy Wash, he was hit by a car. Don't cry to hard, the Lord has him now and I couldn't think of a better place to be. Plus with his passing we have been able to help other dogs by becoming foster "parents". It's been a fun experience. We are on foster number 5 a year old boxer mix, she's been fun to have around. We remodeled the Living room, it was a hideous peach orange color, it looks so much nicer now that we re did it. I've got some vegetables growing in the garden hopefully they will do well, I'll post pictures if they do. Last fall we celebrated our wedding anniversary in Seattle and Portland areas. It was awesome. We would move to Portland in heart beat if we could, just loved it up there.

I've been crafting again Yay! I really missed it and am a bit rusty. I decided to join the Mask-erade online class to get my creative mojo flowing again. It has been fun, I'll be posting my cards here shortly.

That's my update what have you all been up to?

Dust Removal

*caugh..*cough..  wow.. It's been ages and the layer of dust on this blog is thick. It's been a busy year. I'll have to do a post just on that. I have thought of posting...not that it helps you any. I figured it's time I get back to card challenges which is what this blog was designed for. :D

I promise to give you an update for now I have a simple card for the current A blog Named Hero challenge. Challenge #46 Bokeh. I adore bokeh in photography. Click here to see some good examples.

Here's my take:

I wanted to keep it simple. I used various items for the dots.the blue and white dots are acrylic paint markers from Elmer's. They. Are. Awesome, I'm not to sure why more people aren't using them. I also used Stickles and perfect pearls.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts, I don't remember the name. I can hunt it down if you're interested. The gems are also from Hero Arts. Appropriate since it's a blog about Hero. :D 

Be back soon.... promise! 

Katie

It's so pretty!

Hello,

I know it's been ages. I swear time goes by so much faster then it used to. If only we could slow it down some. At my husbands promptings I took some pics of my playroom for you. Last September our roommate  Karen moved out, it was a bitter sweet thing. One of the sweet items is we had a decent sized extra bedroom at our disposal. I had been crafting in my husbands fortress but it was dark and cramped. :(  So over a period of time I slowly moved everything up stairs and set up what I had. With Karen's income gone we don't have much money for all the fun extra's in life that's one of the bitter moments. We have my grandparents kitchen table that opens up to this huge 8x6 rectangle and I used that as a crafting table but it was really awkward. Then earlier this year my brother was gonna throw this awesome u shaped desk away... jackpot!!!

I talked him into bringing it over and installing it. Then I had the fun of organizing and making a home for everything. I spent hours working in the playroom... labeling separating it was Christmas for my OCD side. :D

Here are some pics for ya, the first side of the room:

The white drawer cards under the desk are from target. Of course the one I was in love with, the 7 drawer, they stopped making for ages then when they started making it again it is only in a 6 drawer option hence the two different types. I have each drawer organized by color. My copics are in these home made shelving units. Dk and I made them out of foam core. I'd love to get these bad boys from Studio solutions  but I'm not that excited to spend the 60+ dollars for them. (Target taught me buy all the ones you need up front, they may not have them again) One day I'll get them just not this day. 

The other side:

The shelving unit is called Gorm from Ikea. I got 2 units and then attached them together with extra shelves.  (The staff made it very clear it wasn't designed for that blah blah blah.. but it's attached to studs in the wall in three different locations. It's not going anywhere) The magazine holders are also from Ikea they house my clear stamps. I've been holding out for Ikea to come out with a pretty blue color but no luck yet so I'm stuck with black and white. 

All I need now is artwork on the walls and a blue ray player for the TV! 

It's all Money

It's funny how time flies. Every day I say I'm gonna blog and yet I don't sorry about that. In February a friend of mine had a birthday. Go friends :D  Dk is awesome about wanting to be apart of the gift giving process and likes to help pick out what ever gift is in store. Which is usually very helpful...we went online and checked out her amazon wish list. Long story short we debated every item. Here's an example.. she wanted a Killers t-shirt for the concert she is going to next week however DK pointed out that at the show they will have unique shirts available so we couldn't agree on that item. What we  finally decided to give her was cash that way she could get what ever she wanted.

Because everyone knows I make cards I have no choice but to make something for her. No pressure there. I wanted to do something fancy with her twenty. YouTube had a great flower origami video which helped me make this:

Because it turned out to be pretty cool I didn't want the outside to be super awesome and the inside to be super boring and drab. Plus after all that work I didn't want to cut it apart so I created a new score mark about a half an inch above the main fold then folded the back to the front... added some decor and ta da:

The paper is from my minds eye. The green strip is American Crafts glitter tape. Let me just say it is awesome stuff! I highly recommend getting some. 

In personal news I'm still working out which I now love doing.  In February my doctor took me off both the blood pressure meds I was on. Woo hoo! Since then I had been on a weight loss plateau which is not very woo hoo and quite discouraging. The good news is I've broken through the wall and have lost another 2.8 lbs. Very Woo Hoo! 17 lbs to a major goal. :D  

Be back soon! 

Katie

Sunshine Days!

Hello,

I made this card awhile back for a friend who left sunny Southern California and moved to Wisconsin. The weather there has had a ton of that snow stuff lately and some of the ladies here wanted to send her a sunny care package. 

It was a pretty easy card using echo park paper. The sentiment is paper smooches and the butterfly is Maya Road.

I hope your having sunny days where ever you are. 

Katie 

Winner Time!

It was a great party! I had so much fun taking pics for the store I forgot to take some for myself. You can find pictures of the day at Stamps Fever's blog. I had a great time getting to know some of the new design team members and hanging out with Mrs. Kelly Marie.

As promised I said I would draw a winner today. I had 56 comments! Wow! Random.org choose #29

And the winner is....

IndyMarch 12, 2013 at 7:52 PM

Oh, look at all those great images you stamped! Love the banner!

{hugs}

Indy

Indy if you would please email me within the next week letting me know which stamp set you would like and where I'm to send it.  My email is quarkykatie (at) gmail (dot) com.  

I wish everyone could win.  

Be back soon!

Katie