HIMCR #126 - Freestyle

Hi, all my crafty friends and family!!!

I hope and pray everyone is having a Happy Thanksgiving and having safe travels if you are out-of-town.

Well, it's Saturday once again and do you know what that means?  Since it's the weekend after Thanksgiving, it means that most of you are probably resting up from a day of Christmas shopping on Black Friday and fighting the crowds hoping to get some GREAT bargains while trying to steer clear of the "free-for-all" or "anything goes" mentality that some of the shoppers get when trying to get the last "hot" item.

But do you know what else it means?  That's right!!  It means it's time for another amazing challenge over at Hiding In My Craft Room. This week the theme is "Freestyle" (or meaning "anything goes") . . . and don't worry, there won't be any "fighting" mentality there.  Only some good old-fashioned competitiveness since it is a challenge after all. :) 

Since it was Thanksgiving week, I decided to do a simple project while adding more cards to my Christmas card "stash".  Here's how it turned out:

I call it my "Ribbon Tree" card because I used "ribbons" of paper . . . actually, it is 3/4-inch wide strips of paper.  I used "Yuletide" from the Festive paper collection by Authentique for the strips and "Merry" from the same collection for the background.  The "holiday CHEER" stamp is a miscellaneous one from my stamp collection and the star was punched with a star punch from glitter paper.  I alsu used Walnut Stain distress ink on the edges.  And "Voila!" I was done . . . pretty simple, don't you think?  It actually was once I got the widths of where I needed to fold or wrap my strips. :)

Hope everyone has or has had a Happy (and safe) Thanksgiving!

Till the next time I'm up in the night.  Kathy

Mid-challenge inspiration - Snowflakes

Hi, all my crafty friends and family!!!  

I am here today to to remind you that you still have one (1) weeka to complete a project for Clear It Out Challenge.  The theme is "Anything Goes" and the stash item is a snowflake.  Here's a little card I put together for you:

This darling image is from QKR Stampede.  And once again, I wanted to achieve an old fashioned look like I did with last week's card by printing on paper from the "Peaceful" paper collection by Authentique and using my watercolor pencils.   I also used dry glitter by Tim Holtz . . . I really need to figure out how to take better photos to show the glitter.  If anyone has some suggestions, I am all ears . . . well, eyes as it is in this case. lol

Remember, you still have a week to get your project(s) entered into Clear It Out Challenge.  (And hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving week and weekend!!!)

Till the next time I'm up in the night.  Kathy

HIMCR - Thanksgiving/Thankful

Hi, all my crafty friends and family!!!

It's Saturday once again and do you know what that means?  That's right!  It means it's time for another amazing challenge over at Hiding In My Craft Room. This week the theme is "Thanksgiving" or "Thankful" . . . it can be any project representing what you are thankful for either by the word(s) "Thanksgiving", "Thankful" or "Thanks" or even by a picture of what you are thankful for.l  So get out your paper and glue and let's see what you can come up with

When I think of what I am thankful, it is really hard to decide on just one because I have been blessed with so many things.  But after going through some pictures to scrap, I knew I had to do a layout representing what I am most thankful for . . . being ALIVE!  As many of you know, I had been diagnosed with cancer when my daughter was only 3 weeks old and was give a 0-5% chance of making it.  Let alone making it to the 5-year cure mark.  And here I am 17 years later . . . cancer-free!!!

So with my picture in hand, I headed to my crafty space and got to work.  Here's what I came up with:

This layout has several meanings to me.  The broken resin frame pieces and torn papers represent how I was broken from the chemo but then put back together into something even better though my faith.  The color green represents to me new beginnings because this picture is one of my dd and I about one (1) month after I got done with chemo . . . we were playing horsey to the music on her little cassette player, which is the meaning of using musical notes and paper in the layout. The cut out word "BEAUTIFUL" for how I felt life was at that moment and how my family members saw me even though I did not look like my former self. There are other subtle meanings, but I won't go into all of them right now. :)

The first thing I did for this LO was create the background using gesso and Faber Castell gelato (in green).  I put a small amount of the gelato in water to make a watercolor like paint . . . and then applied it over the gesso that I had already applied to my paper and allowed some drips here and there.  Then I took scraps of paper and glued them down in various spots . . . then applied a bit more gesso to the edges to blend them with the background and a little more of my watered gelato.

Once everything was completely dry, I put the LO together by adhering my broken pieces of resin frame, putting flowers here and there, cutting one flower in half and putting part next to the photo, and adding some string (colored by the green gelato) to the flowers.  

I also added a rub-on "Treasure every day" above my photo and rhinestones in various places

I also  added a few more flowers that I colored with the gelatos and gesso.

When I was all done, I used Thickers for my title "Thankful". and splattered a bit more of of the watered gelato around the LO and then some black drawing ink. Voila!  I was done!

In a way this was a hard layout for me to do, but it was also a great one . . . both reasons is because it made/helped me remember a difficult, but happy time in my life.  One that I do't take for granted. 

Till the next time I'm up in the night.  Kathy

PS  Funny side-note --- Doing this layout also made me realize how when I love something, I keep it forever . . . can you believe I still have (and wear) those green PJs?   lol  What can I say? . . . they are so comfy!!!  Talk to you all later!!!

Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes

Does anyone know what time it is?

That's right . . . 

It's CHALLENGE time!!! 

Once again, it's challenge time over at Clear It Out Challenge.  Time to roll up those sleeves, get out your markers and get your crafty on.  And usual, our fearless leader, Laura,  has come up with a GREAT challenge this time . . . so easy, peasy!!! 

 Are you ready???

I didn't hear you . . . 

Are you ready???

Okay, it's challenge time!!!

Theme:  Anything Goes

Stash:  Snowflake

You have 2 weeks to play (till Dec. 2nd)

Our sponsors this challenge are:

For this week's challenge, I picked out a sweet "Winter Scene" from Digi Darla.  Since it reminded me of old days past, I wanted to give it an "old" feel.  So I printed my image on some paper from "Peaceful" paper collection by Authentique and used my watercolor pencils on it.  Applied a little glitter here and there on the snow.  And here's what I got:

I love how the cream and black sets off the touch of color I added to the image.  Though I really do need to figure out a better way to take pictures with glitter . . . you can't see it very well, but it's there.

Till the next time I'm up in the night.  Kathy

HIMCR #124 - Die Cuts

Hi, all my crafty friends and family!!!  

It's Saturday again . . . and do you know what that means?  

It means it is time for another fabulous challenge at Hiding In My Craft Room.  This week the them is "Die-Cuts".  You may use any type of die cut . . . pre-cut or homemade with your own die-cutting machine (CriCut, Cameo, Slice, etc.).  And you may create any type of project (card, layout, mixed media, altered arts, etc.) as long as there is a die-cut on it.  Remember you have one (1) week to submit your projects on HIMCR to be eligible for one (1) of the two (2) CriCut cartridges being given away . . . meaning, there will be TWO (2) winners this week!!! Pretty AWESOME prize(s), isn't it?  So let's get busy and see how many AMAZING entries we can get this week.  :)

I went back and forth trying to decide what type of project I would do for this week's challenge.  I finally decided to do another CAS (clean and simple) layout because even though I really do love my mixed media layouts . . . well, let's just say that with the number of photos I have, I would be busy for a few decades if I did every layout that way (not to mention, they do take up a bit more space).  Plus, I decided I would get a head start on my 2013 Christmas pictures by having a few layouts ready for pictures . . . which is why you will see just photo mats on my layout this time. 

So using scraps my sister gave me from a kit she did along with some solid cardstock from my stash, here's what I came up with:

I used a die-cutting machine (my CriCut, this time) to cut out my title "Merry & Bright" and the "25 days of December" title was a die-cut leftover from what my sister did.

I fussy-cut out some penguins and little trees . . . and I place three (3) of the penguins at the bottom corner to represent my family and the two (2) trees to represent my dd's two (2) birds. :)

I used a corner punch for photo corners and used scrap dots to adhere them to the layout . . . I do this so they will be up, off my photos and it makes it easier to put photos on a layout that I make ahead of time.

I also placed another penguin that I fussy-cut, by the "25 days of December" die-cut. Voila! I was done. 

Remember, you have one (1) week to get your projects entered at Hiding In My Craft Room for our "Die-Cut" challenge in order to be eligible for one (1) of two (2) CriCut cartridges being given away.  Good Luck!!!

Till the next time I'm up in the night.  Kathy

Once again - - - Winner, Winner . . .

Who wants a chicken dinner????

I know I am late (again) announcing the winner of the 2nd $20 gift certificate to VLVS! that I was giving away while I was a Guest Designer for them in October . . . but instead of giving reasons, let's just get to the VERY important part - - - the WINNER!!!

{{drum roll . . . PLEASE}}

and the winner is . . . .

Chris

"Incredible project Kathy! i LOVE IT! you DID 

A GREAT JOB ,THERE IS SO MUCH TO LOOK 

AT ON THIS! Opps sorry I hit caps lock 

but I am really excited for you!!!"

Congrats, Chris!!!  Please contact me either here or on FB with your real name and email address so I can get this out to you once I get the "code" from VLVS! stamps.  Congrats again!!!

Till the next time I'm up in the night.  Kathy

PS  Check back on Monday to find out who won the gift certificate to Get Inky! stamps. :)

Mid-challenge Inspiration - S"more

Hi, all my crafty friends and family!

I am here today to to remind you that you still have one (1) week to complete a project for Clear It Out Challenge.  The theme is s'more and the stash item is something brown and cream.  Here's a little mid-challenge inspiration card I put together for you:

This little cutie is from Lacy Sunshine and

 is called "Coco - Cookies & Hot Chocolate for Santa" 

. . . isn't she just adorable? 

This beautiful image if from StampArt Design by Kathryne 

and is called "Autumn Wagon".  This digi image also came with a 

bonus image . . . 6 or so different sentiments that you can use with it 

or with another project.  This was such a fun 

set to color . . . so many different options. :)

Thanks for stopping by today to see what I've been up to . . . and remember you still have a week to get in your projects over at Clear It Out Challenge.  Hope to see you over there!!!  

Till the next time I'm up in the night.  Kathy

Snowmany Thanks! - Get Inky! challenge #17

Hi, all my crafty friends and family!!!

Is everyone ready for another exciting challenge?

Today I am Guest Designer over at Get Inky! Challenge blog and the challenge is "Thanks" . . . how easy is that?  It is so easy . . . especially when you have the Holiday 2013 stamp collection from Get Inky!. They are so cute and so versatile that you can make lots of cute cards.

tTis time I used a soon-to-be-released digi stamp from Get Inky! along with the sentiment "Snowmany Thanks" from the Holiday 2013 stamp collection.  Here's how it turned out:

For this card, I kept it pretty CAS . . . I didn't want to take away from the cute snowman image.  I wanted to showcase it.  So I used Echo Park's This & That Christmas paper collection along with my Copics, some silver bead wire, misc. beads and black Momento ink.  I also used some Stickles Dry Gittler on the snowman and the snow . . . but no matter how I did the lighting or changing the angle, I couldn't get it to show up very well.  But is is there, I promise!!!

Now that I have hopefully inspired you to get out you paper and scissors . . . make sure to head over to Get Inky! Challenge blog and join in on the fun.  You have two (2) weeks to get your project in to be eligible. 

Till the next time I'm up in the night.  Kathy    

HIMCR #123 - Super Scraps Saturday

Hi, all my crafty friends and family!!!  

It's the 2nd Saturday of the month . . . and do you know what that means?  

It means it is time the Super Scraps Saturday challenge at Hiding In My Craft Room.  I am here to encourage all of you to put away the sweeper and get out your scraps so you can join us for this GREAT challenge.  But if you are still tempted to do some cleaning today, you can always look at it another way . . . you WILL be cleaning out some of your scraps, right?  And we all have scraps we can use, right? :)  Remember you have one week to submit your projects on HIMCR to be eligible for 3 digital images from our amazing sponsor.  Our sponsor this week is the Scrapbook Stamp Society.  (I just realized something . . . it's SSS at HIMCR and our sponsor is SSS. Hmmm.....)

Anway, Scrapbook Stamp Society gave us some AWESOME digital images to play with this week. But instead of doing the usual card, I decided to try something different with my image . . . I wanted to put the image on a candy dish (or a candle dish).  So after some playing around, some experimenting and a few false starts, here's what I came up with:

 Supplies:

transparency (making sure to use a 'multi-purpose" one)

inkjet printer

Copic markers

white paint marker (with fine tip)

Stickles Dry Glitter (white/clear)

Modge Podge

ribbon

glass container

Before I get started, I did use scraps for this . . . the transparencies I used were leftovers from a class I did years ago, the red ribbon is the last piece of my red Hug Snug ribbon and my white paint pen was almost empty.  

With that being said, I did some playing around and experimenting before I did my project . . . I wanted to make sure the products I used would hold up and which products looked the best. At the end of this post, I will make a short list of what I found out. 

To do this project, I printed my image on a transparency with an inkjet printer making sure to have the printable side in the printer correctly.  NOTE: Please check your printer's instructions on using transparencies, and when printing, select the "transparency" option instead of paper.  I printed three (3) images because I wanted to "play" around with some different items to see what I liked the best.

Then I colored my image with my Copics.  To help see the image as I was coloring, I placed it over some white paper.  Otherwise, it was challenging to see over my black mat as you can see in the following picture:

To deepen (or help "shade") the colors from my Copics, I "layered" the colors . . . meaning, I went over an area 2 or 3 times, letting it slightly dry between each time and applying the next "layer" with a very light hand.  If you press too hard with the 2nd or 3rd layer, some of the color will wipe away and look streaky.  One thing I loved about coloring on transparencies with Copics was when I went outside of the lines, it was very easy to correct my mistake with the Blender marker . . . making sure to wipe the Blender on a piece of paper after each time to keep it from smudging. (You can use Sharpie pens, but I found I couldn't get decent shading with them.)

I did her hat and tights last.  Since I wanted them to be white, I played around with Pearlized Inks, Ranger Alcohol Inks, Acrylic glazes, Copics, paint pens and plain glitter & glue. All-in-all everything worked except for the Alcohol Inks . . . the "Snow Cap" (a white) did not show up, plus it was very hard to control where it went.  The white Acrylic Glaze worked fine but like the alcohol ink, it was hard to control where it went . . . but as long as you have a fine tip paint brush and a steady hand, it turned out okay, too.  In the end, I used my white paint pen with a fine point and sprinkled Stickles Dry Glitter over the hat while it was still wet. Voila! I had my image done . . .

After letting my image dry for 24-48 hours, I fussy cut it and adhered it to a cylinder glass container with some Modge Podge.  (Reason for the "cylinder" container is because with a "globe" type container, the image would NOT lay flat . . . so make sure the sides of you glass are straight up and down or vertical).  After that was dry, I applied two (2) more coats of Modge Podge over the top of my image and around my container . . . this was to seal my image.  Added some ribbon and VOILA! my candy/candle dish was done.

NOTE:  I put some tissue paper inside my dish so the image would show up better in a picture.  In person, it shows up just fine . . . but in a picture is wasn't was bright.

Till the next time I'm up in the night.  Kathy

Challenge(s) entered:

(I will add to this when I have a bit more time.)

Here's a quick rundown of some "tips" ---

• Use Multi-purpose transparencies . . . if you have questions, ask a clerk at your local office supply store.  When I was looking, I found transparencies for copiers, dry erase markers, laserjet printers and multi-purpose (for inkjet & laserjet).
• Copic markers worked better than Sharpie pens because I was able to "layer" my colors, thus getting some shading.
• White Alcohol ink does NOT show up on a transparency, plus was very hard to control where it went.
• Glossy Accents and Hot Glue made the image cloudy . . . whereas, the Modge Podge gave it a more clear look.  In fact, I did another one using a different image and used Modge Podge with sparkle and it looks so . . . well, SPARKLY!!!
• When handling your transparency(ies), make sure your hands are clean and hold the outside edges to prevent finger prints.
• When coloring with Copics, allow each color to completely dry before going on to the next color . . . otherwise you will end up with the ink on your hand and, possibly, smudges where it would be hard to get rid of. 
• And, as with any project using transparencies, make sure each "step" is dry before going to the next one.
• Most importantly . . . at least a suggestion --- Print two or three different transparencies so you have one or two to "practice" with (or play around with) your coloring.  Once you are comfortable with YOUR technique, then do the final image.
• If any questions, PLEASE leave them in the comments and I'll do another post later this week answering them. :)

Clear It Out Challenge - S'more

Does anyone know what time it is?

That's right . . . 

It's CHALLENGE time!!! 

Once again, it's challenge time over at Clear It Out Challenge.  Time to roll up those sleeves, get out paper, scissors, glue & ink . . . and get your crafty on.  And usual, our A-M-A-Z-I-N-G leader, Laura,  has come up with an awesome challenge this time . . . so easy, peasy!!! 

 Are you ready???

I didn't hear you . . . 

Are you ready???

Okay, it's challenge time!!!

Theme:  S'morre

Stash:  Something brown and cream

You have 2 weeks to play (till Nov. 11th)

Our sponsors this challenge are:

For this week's challenge, I used an adorable digi stamp "Kidz-Cookie" along with two coordinating sentiments --- "cookie-friends" and "love you-cookie" from Bugaboo Stamps.  When I first saw "Kidz-Cookie" a couple of months ago, I was so excited and started thinking of all the different ways I could use it . . . then I saw the coordinating sentiments and digi papers and I was like "WOW" this is going to be so much FUN!!!

So with my first card, I used the "love you" sentiment along with two of the digi papers.  Here's how it turned out:

With the second card, I decided to keep it CAS (clean and simple) . . . I also used a card I saw online as inspiration.  Here's how it turned out:

I ended up liking the 2nd card so much that I made 6 of them . . . you know you can alway use s'more "friend" cards to send to our besties. :)

Till the next time I'm up in the night.  Kathy

Challenge(s) entered:

Artistic Inspiration - Anything/Spots and Stripes (my digi papers on 1st card)

BOO! Get Inky! Challenge #16

Happy Monday, to all crafty friends and family !!! 

Kathy, here and I am here today with some inspiration for you for the current challenge on  Get Inky! Challenge blog  . . 3D Holiday.  

As I mentioned on my last Guest Designer post for Get Inky! stamps, I just LOVE their stamps . . . so much that alI I needed was the "Halloween Spooktacular 2013" stamp set which was on its way to me. Well, it made it and I couldn't be more happy with it.  As soon as I got it, I went to work on some really cute "You've been BOOed" treat baskets . . . kinda like May Day baskets, but more for Halloween (or anytime of the year you want to "BOO" someone).

Yes, I know that Halloween is over . . . BUT I had to share what I did ---

(This is my "You've been BOOed" all together)

 (This is "You've been BOOed" the "instruction" sheet on the outside)

(and this is a close-up of just the instructions)

NOTE: It does say make a copy of the BOO sign . . . well, instead of doing a big BOO sign, I did a tag and added little BOOs to my treat holder. :)

So what do you think?  I know that next Halloween, I'm going to be doing a bunch more of these . . . they are so much FUN!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by . . . and remember to get your 3D projects in for Challenge 16.  (and GOOD LUCK!!!)

Till the next time I'm up in the night.  Kathy

Challenge(s) entered:

(will put challenges here later today or tomorrow)

HIMCR #122 - Fall Colors

Hi, all my crafty friends and family!!!!

Can you believe it's already November?  Where did all the time go?  Probably spent making lots of projects, right?  :)  

Well, here it is the 1st Saturday of the month and do you know what that means?  It means it's time for another Hiding In My Craft Room challenge and since it's the 1st Saturday of the month, it means the challenge it a "Color" challenge . . . so this time we challenge you to use Fall Colors!    

And this month, we have an awesome sponsor -- Template Dreams at Scrap Takeout -- who will be giving away a $5 gift certificate to their store . . . which by the way has so many A-W-E-S-O-M-E digi kits.

For this challenge, I decided to use "Little Pumpkin" digi kit by Template Dreams . . . it was just so vibrant with the greens, oranges and blues in it that I had to have it to use with some pictures I took a pumpkin farm last year. And I used "October Breeze" digi elements by Template Dreams for my flower embellies.

Originally, I was going to do an all digital layout . . . but after a few dozen tries and more hours than I want to admit, I finally decided that the software I had wasn't working the way I wanted it to.  My layers kept disappearing . . . I'm thinking it probably had something to do with the fact it was a free trial version, so it didn't have all the options with it?

So I finally decided to do my layout by combining the "old school" way of paper, scissors and glue with a bit of the "new school" way by printing my paper and embellies from my digi kit.  Here's how it turned out:

I know when many crafters use digi paper, they print a whole sheet . . . usually on 8-1/2x11 (or 12x12 if their printer can print that size).  I use to do mine that way, too, until one day I only had 2 sheets left of my X-Press It cardstock (yes, I know it is usually used for Copics . . . but it is GREAT for printing, too).  Then I realized I could crop the paper in a photo software, then insert it into a Word document . . . thus getting sometimes up to 5 different papers on one sheet.  

That is what I did here . . . since I had a "sketch" I drew, I made "guesstimates" about what size I wanted each paper and cropped them in my photo editing software and inserting into my word document. Then once I had the document "full", I printed and cut the papers to the sizes I wanted . . . adhered to some SuperStock by Canadian Scrapbooker (since I don't have a printer that prints 12x12 paper).   

With the embellies, I just inserted into a Word document, printed and fussy cut.  The digi kit I was using does have blue twine with it, but it was too hard for me to fussy cut, so I used some Denim twine from The Twinery.  I also added some cheesecloth and blue bling from MME. 

After a quick spray or two of "Candy Corn" Glimmer Mist and some quick journaling, VOILA! I was done. 

Till the next time I'm up in the night.  Kathy

Challenge(s) entered:

Crafty Boots Challenges - Autumn
Creative Inspirations - Thanksgiving