Case Study 4th Anniversary Challenge + SSS Kids Challenge

Hey everybody. Today is a double bang post. I feel like there are so many things to participate in, i can't decide which one to do first. Then as I'm checking things out online, my list gets even longer and then I usually got to bed and forget altogether what I wanted to do until the last minute and then its a mad dash and double posts!

Today I wanted to share with you my challenge card for the first week of the Case Study Anniversary. I was inspired by Laura Bassen and HER CARD from the blog hop (seriously, who's not?) I love when she does her sponging with inks. It seems too fun not to join in. I actually made two cards. the first one was SO messy, I cannot in good conscience show it to you. I used some Tim Holtz Specialty paper and that stuff is so slick, it does not take much ink to make your mark. And in fact, I made my mark ALL OVER the card, so while it still got made, its the kind you send to your mother because you know she will love it regardless ; )

Ok, but the other card I made is here:

I found some new stencils at the art store! Can I get an AW-YeaH! This one is by Plaid. I LOVE it! I used three shades of Distress Inks and blended them all up nice and smooth. This Tim Holtz Specialty paper is really cool and takes that ink like buddah. So smooth like.  I die cut my hello using a technique I saw over at Damask Love (I think.. sorry Amber!) A quick little thing to help spread your die cut from end to end. Inside I added some Wink Of Stella to help the hello shimmer.

And just because I'm in the mood, here is my first card I made. Very similar to Laura's card, except for super messy! I only show it to you so you can be sure that I am NOT a perfect crafter and not afraid to show it. I can be sloppy and distracted, and it's just not pretty.

Ok, next challenge is the Kids Challenge over at Simon Says Stamp. I asked my older boys if they wanted to participate and they both quickly said 'No'! So I roped my little 4 year old into it. He LOVES art. He loves to paint and colour and especially cut. He will cut up the whole house if I don't watch him. So today I tried to suppress my inner 'control freak' and let him hang around the office. Which he does anyway, but this time I didn't try to stop him from tearing through things. I will be honest, it was difficult for me to create while he was in there. I just couldn't concentrate! But it was fun to share space with this little guy. He's just so pleasant all the time. 

I had to help him stamp, because it was his first time! He showed me where to put all the 'guys'. He said the "super hero (i.e. vampire) goes at the top." He really liked it. My favourite was when he said "Lets do a bats, cause bats is awesome." Then while he was colouring he said, "Do I have to colour all this?" "Why?" to which I told him, "Because we get prizes if we win"!! Ok.. that's not the only reason I roped him into this, is it? 

Actually this picture is why I did it.... Cause look at that mug! He was so excited to take pictures and wanted to show his team spirit. Can you see his hand? That was from him painting his entire arm today at a friends house. I told you he LOVEs art....all over his body!  So this is his card! My cute little guy with the crazy red curls and sweet smile. I love him so...

Ok, that's all for me today. I must go to bed. I have an early morning bus ride to take big boys to school. Can't wait until my husband gets back into town so he can start doing it again! I'm definitely ready for a break (I'm such a whiner.. I have only done it a handful of times, but riding a bus for an hour at 6:30 in the am, just plain stinks!)

Thanks for stopping in today.

xoxo

k

Gold Hello

Hey there!! After coming down from this last crafting weekend, I finally found myself today and promptly realised that I missed you! So here I am, back to post.

I'm sharing this card, which is already on my Pinterest and FB pages, but I don't think I have archived it here, so I thought I would real fast.  But honestly, I'm just here to say "hi"! ; ) How are you?

This is one of my first watercoloring attempts and for some reason I like it better than all the others I have done since then. Why does it work that way? Beginners luck and then what follows is the obvious fact that I can't water-colour. But I am trying to remedy that now! Lots of practice, that's what it takes. Boo-Hoo, poor me ; )

Ok, first I started with some water colour paper and used my water-colour pencils to wash the background. Not too much blending because I love the stripes of colour. I waited for it to dry and the splattered it with black, which is always a dangerous mission! So many black splatters flying at once! I was lucky enough for it to not make too much of a mess but I did loose a few envelopes that I had sitting on my desk. I always learn the hard way! And they seem to have landed pretty kindly on my paper too. Whew!

And for the sentiment I used the Big Hello die cut by Simon Says Stamp that is all over the blog-o-sphere. But its gorgeous, so how can it not be!? I also used a technique you see a lot... stacked die cuts. Four cuts in white and one in gold. I searched all over Singapore for this gold foil card stock. Finally found it and now I am out again.... why didn't I buy more when I had it in my hands? Probably because its just too darn expensive here. I need a direct shipping tunnel from SSS to me minus the shipping costs. That would solve a lot of issues for me, I think.

Ok. That's all for today. Just wanted to come say 'Hi' and I was taught never to come to a party empty handed! But really, is this a party? Maybe, maybe not, but I love it all just the same!

Less than 12 hours left to vote for Gallery Idol! So head on over and get'er done! Hope I get to have another crazy crafting weekend!

Thanks for stopping by. 

loves,

k