The Card Concept: #25

Hey there! Today is the day for a new challenge over at The Card Concept. This one is a fun one, although it is a bit different of a color combo for me.

Here is my card:

I actually loved creating with this combo. It kind of got me back to my neutral roots. I used to burn through Kraft card stock before switching over to white this year, which I now burn through even faster. So it was good to get into my stash again. And of course you can never go wrong with white on Kraft. I started with my snowflakes for a base design and then moved on from there to add the other colours in the challenge.

I picked up these new Mama Elephant stamps sets. I am a SUCKER for their stuff! So cute! I used some Copics to color and added some flocking to her hat for some added texture. I added some wood dots and snowflakes from Lawn Fawn and MME (respectively) and of course some regular MME enamel dots. I also put some Glossy Accents on her buttons to help them pop a bit. My sentiment was stamped using some Clear and Simple Stamp ink first and then I did some Memento Ink Luxe Pigment ink over top.  When you stamp with pigment ink first (the snowflakes) and then a dye ink over top of it (the sentiment) the dye ink will soak into the paper and let the pigment ink show through. Which was fine but it was still a little light so I opted to put some pigment ink on top to help it stand out.

Ok. that's it for me today! I hope you are having a great start to your week and I hope you get a chance to play along with the challenge over on THE BLOG.  This is my last challenge for this design team. I have had a great time working with each challenge and the amazing designers over at The Card Concept! So head on over and share some love!

I have my in-laws visiting this month which is always great and we went out and watched the new Penguins of Madagascar movie with the whole family. My kids were so excited but SO tired when we got home. I'm usually pretty strict on bedtime because it makes us all happier in the long run, so they were pretty messed up when it finally came down to getting to bed. When my kids get too tired they are so difficult to deal with! But they finally conked out and so I can relax peacefully at my computer tonight :)

Thanks for stopping in today! Remember you have ONE MORE DAY to get in on my giveaway. You can check out all THE INFO HERE. I have some stamps, die cuts, sprays, papers and embellishments to give away! And they could be yours, so check it out!!

love to you...
k

The Card Concept: #24 Tag

Hey Howdy, Hey! It's time for The Card Concept's new challenge which is snowmen! And, this week we are joining with Tracey McNeely for her 25 days of Christmas Tags.  Which means, you have a snowman and a tag? What can be better than that?! Well, I'll tell you what's better, Tracy is having a giveaway! So be sure to check it out and leave some comment love on here and on her blog for your chance to win. There are some great companies giving things away! Let's get started.

Here is my tag:

I chose to use Carta Bella All Bundled Up paper pad and sticker sheet for my tag. Ok, in full disclosure, I wanted to work on my tag early in the month, but my snowman stamps hadn't come yet, so I traipsed across Singapore to my not-so-local scrapbook store and searched for anything I could find! And there was a lot of santa stuff, but not snowmen. Hmmmm, I wonder why!? I went to a second location and found this cute paper available and am SO glad I got it! It was just what I was looking for.

I also used a snowflake die cut from Simon Says Stamp and some snowflake wood veneers from Lawn Fawn. Ooh, I love them! I finished off my tag with my hoarded hand-dyed silk ribbon. (I'm almost out *sniff sniff*)

And there ya have it! This is going on Grandma's christmas package. Now I just need to know what is going IN that package. Sheesh! Christmas is coming waaaaay too fast!

Thanks for joining me today. Be sure to stop by The Card Concept to see what the design team has for you and for the next two weeks you can check in through FB page to continue the inspiration as you create your own tag-masterpiece!

xoxo
k

The Card Concept: # 23

Hey there, and welcome! The end of the year is fast approaching and today's challenge over at The Card Concept is here to celebrate just that. Here it is for ya: Krafty Christmas.

 And here is my card:

Now, I am going to be totally frank with you. I LOVE kraft card stock. I ADORE it. I want to marry it! However, since getting my groove on with things like ink blending, embossing paste and white on white designing, my kraft card stock has been sorely ignored. And believe you me, I have noticed, so I am sure it has too. Sorry Krafty! I was delighted for the challenge this week and got to crafting, pretty krafty quick.

I used the new Tinsel & Tags Make It Market Kit. at Papertrey Ink. And let me tell you, that set makes it pretty darn easy to create something stunning. I *love* product like that. It easy to use and gives you rock star results.  

I enjoyed myself so much that I actually made two cards. I couldn't help it. Krafty begged me. Here is a little tut for the second card:

I started with some snowflakes (SimonSaysStamp.com) and organised them on my block. I masked off my card base in segments and stamped different designs in each section. It kind of gave it a nice Scandinavian Christmas Pattern. Nice and subtle with the white ink.

I got a little splotchy in places. This white ink doesn't do you any favours. It just wants to go EVERYWHERE. And I am way to impatient to wait for it to dry. So it is smear-city.  To cover up the smudges I pulled out my Uniball Gel Pen (CutCardStock.com) and drew in some horizontal lines where I changed patterns and where I goobed up my paper.

I stamped and trimmed out the wreath from this Avery Elle stamp set that's been in my "to use" bin. It was happy to see ink for the first time. I think its such a lovely set! I added some hexagon enamel dots, the sentiment and this cute bow out of some Pow Glitter Paper from CutCardStock.com. I LOVE this paper. I have used it all up and have been hoarding the last scraps. The small bits are pretty pathetic until it comes in handy like on this card. I had *just* enough. SO glad I didn't throw it out! I used a die cut from Studio Calico. Love it.

And that's it! Second Krafty Christmas card done and it's not even Thanksgiving yet. That's a record for me, to be sure!

Thanks for stopping in today. And thanks for taking the time to comment! I know it takes time and I do appreciate it. :) Be sure to jump over to The Card Concept and join in the challenge. You have 2 weeks! Just enough time to get it done before the holiday crazy starts.

Have a great week everyone! Love to you and yours.
xoxo
k


Products used in this project:

  

The Card Concept #22

Hello there, and good morning to you! Today is the day... another challenge over at The Card Concept!

Here is our inspiration photo:

And here is my take on the challenge. 

This week we were told to create in whichever style we wanted. When I first read that, I just stared at the computer for awhile. I think I may have even rubbed my eyes a few times. I was totally stumped at what to do!

What I decided to do was to NOT pick a style first, but just create something and see what happened, and THEN I would put it in a category. I guess you could say I still don't know what kind of style I gravitate to... But anyway, this is what came out. A simple, Clean and Layered card. SO that must be it!

I stamped my sentiments and leaves first and then cut it up into three strips. I had some of these left-over red inked strips that I put in between the white strips which are popped up with dimensional foam. I embossed my card base with  a checkered pattern and added some gold sequins. Pretty simple!

 I hope you get a chance to sit down in the next two weeks and create something fun for this challenge. I love looking through all the links. You all have so many great ideas! It's a great way to get inspired and learn about new carmakers out there. I can't wait to see what you create! Be sure to stop by The Card Concept  BLOG and like us on FaceBook for some inspiration and challenge reminders through out the weeks of each challenge. 

Thanks for checking in with me today! Until next time... just keep on crafting

xoxo

k

The Card Concept #20

Hey there! Can you believe its October already? I know.... everyone always says "Can you believe it?" but really, I am freaking out a bit here. There is something about Singapore and the lack of seasons that has you completely surprised when you look at the calendar and realise there are only 86 days until Christmas! Because lets be honest, every day is summer here. So it can be quite shocking that time moves so fast!

Ok... Let me ask you this... Have you been participating over at The Card Concept? This is the 4th challenge I have had the privilege to be apart of and I hope you have had a chance to participate too! 

Here is the challenge for the next two weeks. I hope you get a chance to play along. I love this photo for some reason... Isn't it fabulous!?

 I'm designing in the Elegant and Classy category this time. And here is my card:

I wanted to capture the elegance of the photo but still keep it simple. I liked the checkered tablecloth but I wanted to capture the taste that came with the candelabra, hanging beads,  and stemmed glasses. I chose this little damask stamp to use. This little stamp actually came in a three pack of Gelatos from Faber-Castell. Usually, I don't use the stamps that come with things like that. Mostly because I don't like the polymer that they use. It's kind of tough and I have trouble with it stamping clearly. But, this one actually worked really well!

One tip, before using my new stamps (especially these tough ones) I rub an eraser over it which kind of takes off the top layer of... oh, I don't know, left over plastic? Or oil? from manufacturing. This helps give it a cleaner and crisper image. Works for me every time!

I chose this GORGEOUS Metallic Cardstock from CutCardStock.com. It's in the Curious Metallic pack. I used Hero Arts Black ink and stamped my damask image. I couldn't decide if I wanted the whole thing covered or not, so I just started stamping. I like to just get into it and see what comes of it! I ended up stamping it not as straight as I would have liked, so I trimmed it down some. No harm in that!

I have this die cut set that I have been eager to use. I noticed the reverse scalloped circle that I thought seemed elegant and kind of like a spider web!

Once it was die cut in white, I used the holes and embroidery floss to stitch a bit of "spider web" to add interest to the sentiment.

I die cut my "happy", adhered it at an angel and thenstamped "halloween" under it. I thought it was nicer to have only half of the medallion covered with floss and not the entire thing. 

I matted the Curious Metallic Orange card stock and adhered it all to the card stock base.

And that's it! Halloween card done!

Do you usually send out Halloween cards? I know this holiday isn't something that happens everywhere on earth, but they are kind of fun. I think I have made many a Halloween card, but I don't think I have ever sent one!  Here in Singapore there is starting to be a following of Halloween goers. They have a haunted house and for trick or treating the place to be is "Little America" where all of the Americans introduce this crazy holiday to throngs of Singaporeans eager to dress up and walk the streets. 

But even at our condo we have some trick or treaters. Usually the kids just know candy is being passed out so they run around looking for it. If you happen to be walking around the condo on Halloween, they just walk up to you and open their bags! It's really fun. Although, imagine 100 kids running around in elevator lobbies and hallways screaming their lungs out... I need to get me some ear plugs before the big day!

Thanks for joining me today. This weekend I am looking forward to some more crafting time. Stay tuned for my personal Sweet Stamp Shop post, both my Paper Wings Productions blog hop and monthly challenge cards and of course, who can forget... World Card Making Day! Lots to keep you inspired!

Until next time....

xoxo

k

The Card Concept #19

Hey there...Welcome !! So glad you stopped in. We have another challenge today over at The Card Concept. It's a colour challenge.

Check it out:

I'm up for clean and graphic for this challenge. My definition of clean and graphic means bold but simple. So I pulled out my favourite pigment inks... the Memento Luxe. Their colour is always so vibrant, and intense. I also dug through my stash for a graphic stamp  (MFT.)

I started on the right hand side to stamp leaving a little white border to help pull the eye down ward. I added some enamel dots. I originally had the red dots on the yellow stamping and the yellow dots on the red stamping but with the boldness of the stamps it was just too much for the eye to take in. So I switched them.

Now this was actually my second card. Here is my first... It just wasn't as bold as I wanted it to be ; )

On this I used the same idea but the stamps are from Jane's Doodles. I like how this one turned out too. In fact, if you want a simple card to whip up, this is the best way to do it. Pick 3-4 colours and one stamp and go to town!

Be sure to stop by The Card Concept to check out all the inspiration and to play along! We love to see what you create!
Thanks for stopping by
xoxo
k

The Card Concept: #18 Back To School

Good morning to you... It's that time again! Another challenge over at The Card Concept. Can I get a Yee-haw!?

Here is the inspiration photo and the challenge: Back To School Theme!

I had the opportunity to design a clean and layered card for this challenge. I like clean and layered... It started out a bit hairy (I do really gravitate toward the graphic side of designing) but I soon fixed it up right and created this little number:

Layers, check. White space, check. Apples and school stuff, check!  I was inspired by the striking colours of the black board and the red apples in the photo. But my first card became a bit too graphic with some white on black action, so I aborted mission and went in a different direction.

I stamped my own pattern paper using the apple and star stamps by Paper Smooches. I then die cut circles out of it and some Lawn Fawn pattern paper. I stamped my sentiment and popped it up and added my beloved hexagon enamel dots. There was something about the hexagon that just took my fancy. It's kind of a school-like/book-smart kind of a shape, right?

I finished off my card by adhering my panel to my card base 1/4 inch off centre. Which gives it a little bit of spunk up in the left corner.

Ok, so that's it! Head on over to The Card Concept to participate! I think you will find today's photo very inspiring and getting you into that "back to school" mood! Maybe you feel like you are running ragged trying to get ready for back to school? Well, take some needed quiet time and get your creative juices flowing. It might give you the boost you need to get those kiddos back into the school groove!

Thanks for stopping in today and for all your kind comments! I know how much time it takes leaving a comment and I appreciate every one! Thank you for sending me love each day. You are the best!

xoxo
k