Christmas Cards - Day 4

As you know, I've been posting for the KLSNS design team. But you may not know that Kelly (the K) is one of my oldest and dearest stamping buds! Kelly's blog Wishin' I was Stampin' is one I read regularly.

Not only did Kelly use my favorite BASIC GREY - she also made some crystal snowflakes!

Spritz Cookie Recipe

Since next Friday is Christmas, this is my last post as a KLSNS design team member. The new design team takes over on Jan 1st!

I've slowly (very slowly) been "scrappin" old family favorite recipes. Since I made spritz cookies this week I had the recipe out and felt it needed the "treatment". It's always been one of our family's favorite Christmas cookies!

First I printed the recipe on Neenah Cream. I use MS Publisher to format all my recipes. I selected the Basic Grey ESKIMO KISSES paper because the little motif reminded me of a bunch of spritz cookies all on a cookie sheet. Chef Tilda was stamped in Archival Ink and heat set. I then used my aqua painter and Distress Ink to watercolor her. I sprayed a little Glimmer Mist: Candy Apple Red on the poinsettia flowers just to give them some "bling". And after I put the branches down and Tilda on top, I had to giggle at the expression on her face. Her little eyebrows are up in her bangs - like it's kinda pokey sitting on those branches! (grin)

Since the original recipe was hand-written by my mother, I didn't want to loose that. I'm fortunate to still have her around to help me make spritz, but I know that won't always be the case. So I preserved this little bit of history by putting an old-fashion library card pocket on the back of the recipe and slip the original inside!!

Stamps: Magnolia CHEF TILDA
Paper: Basic Grey ESKIMO KISSES; Neenah Cream
Ink: Archival, Distress Ink
Accessories: Aqua painter, Glimmer Mist: Candy Apple Red, paper flowers, Martha Stewart branch punch and glitter pen.

Merry Kiss-Moose!

Happy Friday! Hope you're staying warm! This is the second week of card/gift ideas for the KLSNS blog! This week I did a nugget box.

There is a super tutorial on SCS for nugget boxes. Chris sat down and figured all the dimensions for any size box from 1x2 nuggets to 3x10 nuggets. You simply cut a square/rectangle of paper from designer paper, score/cut, and fold! I always use a double sided paper because you will see inside the box.

I have a Scor-Pal which I use on every card I make. But if you have one, you know that you have to do "higher math" to figure where to mark on non-traditional folds. The easiest way I've found around that is to draw pencil lines on the "fold" marks and then crease.

Do it on the inside of the box and the folded edges will hide the marks. The directions also give "lid" informations. I use acetate to make the lid so you can see the decorated candies inside the box.

I cut 1" x 3 1/4" strips of computer paper out. But you can also use mailing labels, designer paper, etc. Here I used my beloved Martha Stewart holly punch and some rhinestones to decorate.

The matching card uses this weeks SCS Sketch (SC258). Since the paper was two sided it seemed perfect to use the leftovers for the card. The High Hopes HOPEFUL MOOSE is hoping you give him a "kiss" (or nugget in this case)! Colored with Copics. Highlighted with my souffle pen (white dots on his scarf). Hope you have a Merry Kiss-Moose!

Stamps: High Hopes HOPEFUL MOOSE, Memory Box sentiment
Paper: white card stock, American Crafts, acetate
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, Martha Stewart holly punch, ribbon, rhinestones, and glitter pen.

Sugarplum Card & Luminaria

Good morning! I'm sorry I'm a little late posting this morning. I went to a Madrigal last night at a local church. It was quite late when I got home, so I didn't have time to prep my post.

I've so enjoyed filling in these last few weeks on KLSNS design team. I want to thank Kelly for inviting me to join this talented group of ladies! My last three entries this month will be a card and "gift" idea.

Today I want to share this tealight luminaria. Living in the southwest luminarias are a traditional method of holiday lighting. A candle is placed inside a paper bag. Rows of luminaria will line adobe fences and walkways. This luminaria will hold a small tealight candle or votive size candle. I followed Beate's directions on Splitcoast (she has a great video for visual learners). Both the card and the luminaria were cut from one sheet of 12x12 paper. I used my oval Nestablities to cut the window on all four sides. I will share a tip for centering those windows. After you finish folding and cutting the paper, draw a pencil line along the middle center. Put repositionable tape on each side of your nestie oval (or other shape) also at the middle point. As you move to each section to cut the window the line and repositionable tape will help you keep the nestie lined up. I also cut a strip of paper and used a border punch to add a lacy top. This was added after the velum windows. Then complete the box following Beate's directions.

Then the fun begins! Decorating! I stamped all 3 of the angels from the Sugarplums Angel Emma set on Neenah White paper. Neenah White is thicker paper which great for working with Copics. It a lot like water color paper and helps the Copic ink move and blend. I also like it because when you cut out it keeps it's shape (doesn't flop). I attached an angel to two sides of the luminaria.

The third angel went on the card with one of the sentiments from the set. The angels were highlighted with glitter pens and on the wings, glitter.

Stamps: CC Designs SUGARPLUMS ANGEL EMMA
Paper: Reminisce BEAUTIFUL BLIZZARD, vellum, red/green card stock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Nestablities, Copics, Martha Stewart border punches, ribbon, glitter, glue pen, and glitter pen.

Finally I wanted to share something that surprised me. I always use Memento ink with my Copics. Normally, it will not run when the Copic alcohol hits the edge. But you can see in this case it did run. I had just reinked my pad before stamping the angels. Maybe there was too much ink still on top of the pad but I had to heat set the ink this time around.

And so it begins...

Yesterday I logged on to check my email very quickly and found BLACK FRIDAY coupons and sales from EVERYBODY under the sun! I'm all for a GREAT deal but I have never been a fan of getting up early. And to get up early to SHOP?!?!? Fuggeddaboudit! I'll shop by computer and avoid the crowds of cranky people in the mall! Getting up at 2am for a 3am sale on a waffle iron....you're nutz! (grin)

Fortunately, KL Stampin 'n Scrappin is an online store!! (BIGGER grin) I can shop in my jammies!

Today for KLSNS blog, I made this birthday card from this Rachelle Ann Miller stamp. I think it would be great as baby card, too. And an even better a baby card for triples! It looks like she has a lively trio on her hands.
As I was looking through my stack of paper last night, I came across this beautiful red, green, yellow flower paper from Basic Grey's Nook and Pantry. The vintage look of the paper and the delicate image work well together. I watercolored the image with SU! re-inkers and my aqua pen. I love my Copics but sometimes the lighter color of watercolor goes better with an image don't you think? JUMP INTO MY POUCH is currently available in the KLSNS store - but not for much longer! It's retiring!

Stamps: Rachelle Ann Miller: JUMP INTO MY POUCH
Paper: Basic Grey NOOK and PANTRY
Ink: Stazon Black
Accessories: Aqua painter, re-inkers, ribbon, stapler, Nesties, glue pen, and glitter.

Happy BLACK FRIDAY shopping!

GRATEFUL!

There's a current trend on different blogs and on Facebook to say what you're grateful for each day.

I'm grateful for many things:
* My family - we seem to actually like/love/respect each other and I know that's not true for every family out there. So, I'm grateful for our relationship. (I just wish most of you lived closer!!)
* My friends- old & new - I am grateful for our alikeness and differences. To my stamping buds, I wish I could meet you all in person but I love seeing your work electronically. You inspire me!
* My job - times are tough and I'm grateful everyday for the paycheck at the end of the week. And the ability to work from home.
* My created outlet - I've always been "crafty" as my family calls it. Be that needlework, scrapbooking/cardmaking, or baking bread. The process recharges my batteries!
* My home/health - as my friend Julie pointed out on her blog yesterday. There are a lot of people that don't have one/the other/both.

And on to my KLSNS blog entry for today! The card background was dry embossed with the Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: BIRDS AND SWIRLS. The large panel print is Basic Grey INDIAN SUMMER. And the main panel is Whisper White stamped with Basic Grey's FAUNA set. I stamped along the edges leaving a good deal of "white space", then stamped "GRATEFUL" from PaperTrey's GRATEFUL set in Brilliance black. When all the ink was dry, I went back over the round Pomegranate leaves and used Magenta Stickles to add some bling. I used this weeks' SCS sketch (SC255) for the layout.

Stamps: Basic Gray FAUNA stamp set, PTI GRATEFUL (sentiment)
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Basic Grey INDIAN SUMMER
Ink: SU! Purely Pomegranate, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard
Accessories: SU! Purely Pomegranate double stitch ribbon, Stickles, and Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Birds & Swirls

An Award, KLSNS Thanksgiving card, and VSN!!

I really resisted starting a blog. I didn't think I'd have enough share. I had NO IDEA of the friends I'd make in the blogging world! Yesterday one of my new friends, Julie gave me an award on her blog, A Vintage Chic.
So, in keeping with this award, here are 5 things you might not know about me:

1) I was a summer exchange student to northern Norway right after high school. Find North Cape on the map, and go down to the dip. I lived in Karasjok for 2 months. I'm still VERY close with my Norwegian family.

2) Before stamping I was a needleworker for 25 years. I opened/closed a needlework store here in Colorado Springs from Jan 2003 to Nov 2005. I'm not stitching now, but will get back to it sooner or later.

3) I love to travel. I've been to quite a few places in this world: China, Panama Canal, a great deal of western Europe including northern Norway (grin), and 42/50 states (missing ND, IN, OH, SC, VT, NH, WV, and ME).

4) I'm a Colorado Native.

5) I love to read romantic mysteries, particularly the JD Robb's (pen name for Nora Roberts) "in Death" series! Love Eve and Rourke!!!

And I pass the award on to five of my blogging friends:
1) Jessica of Jess' Obsession - Jessica and I have "known" each other for several years now. We met swapping and we keep on swapping!

2)Donelda of Wiggy's World - I also met Donelda swapping on SCS. She always posts the most beautiful cards!

3)Jacque of Jacque's Joie de Virve - who hasn't been stamping all that long but does an INCREDIBLE job with the Magnolia Tilda's and other stamps.

4) Joanna of Sitting on Copic Pens and Knitting Needles - Joanna lives here in the Springs area so we get to stamp now and then. She's just started her blog but she (and her sons) are so funny! I love to hear what's new with them! Joanna will also be joining the KLSNS design team in January!

5) Kelly and all the girls of KLSNS DT blog - KL Stampin and Scrapping - These very talented ladies post every day. Each has their own style and they give me inspiration at every turn. I joined this DT to fill in for a member that had to leave suddenly. I've been enjoining the challenge of posting for them each week!

And so, on to the KLSNS entry for today!

I have another sweet Tilda today. I can't believe Thanksgiving is now less than two weeks away! I was in the mall yesterday and everybody is ready for Christmas. I can deal with the decorations but the carols were a bit much. I guess retailers need every ounce of help this year!

This is Peachy Tilda. She's been harvesting her "peaches" for her Thanksgiving pie. Only, I colored them as apples because, I prefer apple pie over peach pie. (wink) She's a little bit of paper piecing, a little bit of layering, and a little Copic coloring. Her dress and boots are paper pieced (stamped on colored paper and cut out). The layered section is her arm and basket over the paper dress. I left a bit of a tab on the upper arm and cut a slit under the sleeve. There's a pop-dot under her basket. So she has a true 3D arm. Finally, I used an old SCS sketch (SC246) for the layout.

Hair: E07, E09, Y17
Skin: E000, E00, E02, R20
Apples: R24, R29, Y02. G09
Basket: Y23, Y26, Y28
Sky/Leaves: Blender, Y000, YR02, YR09, C1
Under Dress: R20, R29, RV32

Stamps: Magnolia PEACHY TILDA; Stampin Up! HOLIDAY BEST
Paper: Bazzill cardstock, Basic Grey INDIAN SUMMER
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, ribbon, glitter pen, rhinestones, copper EP, and oval punch.

Please join me tonight and tomorrow the VSN (Virtual Stamp Night)on SCS. The link for the main thread is here. I'll be posting tonight's entries as I finish the cards. And don't forget, I'm hosting the first challenge on Saturday morning!

KLSNS - Crystal Snowflake Tutorial #2

Good morning! TGIF! This week I'm introducing the KLSNS blog challenge for November. You have the entire month of November to make a card with a SNOWFLAKES!!! Post the card on the KLSNS blog and you could win a $10 gift certificate and a free stamp of Kelly's choosing!

Previously, I shared my version of the Anne Wight snowflakes. In that tutorial, I used sponge daubers and ink pads to create colorful snowflakes. This time I have two different options for you.

The supplies you need to gather are:

• snowflake punches or dies
• glitter
• clear drying glue (I use Diamond Glaze or Glossy Accents)
• pop-dots
• brad/button/sticker for the center
• white or patterned paper

The first snowflake option simply uses patterned papers. You can use any size pattern, but I generally keep the size small for more even color changes. For small snowflakes punch 1-2 snowflakes. Here I used some Basic Grey ESKIMO KISSES scraps.

Put a dot of glue on the outer tips of each leg of the snowflake. Then dip directly into the glitter jar. Tap off the excess glitter. The great thing about Diamond Glaze or Glossy Accents is that it dries almost instantly. Don't worry about leaving glue in the pot. I haven't found that to be an issue.

Use a pop-dot between snowflake layers and off-set the legs. On these small snowflakes I used a very fine glitter (but I'll be honest and tell you that I like CHUNKY glitter better for the bigger snowflakes). In the very center add some eye-candy, in this case I added a pink rhinestone for that extra bit of bling.

Here's the finished card. I used different patterned papers for each layer of the snowflake. REMEMBER - NO TWO ARE A LIKE! The image background was watercolored first and then stamped. I re-inked the snowman after stamping and added highlights with my Souffle pen.

Stamps: Stampendous SILENT NIGHT SNOWMAN
Paper: Basic Grey ESKIMO KISSES
Ink: SU! Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzelberry, and Melon Mambo (re-inkers)
Accessories: Deb's Crystal snowflakes, EK Success border punch, glitter pen, aqua pen, glue pen, glitter, and Souffle pen.



The second snowflake is much like the original method. Starting with white paper, punch 2-3 snowflakes of differing sizes out.

In the original method, I used sponge daubers to apply color to the white paper before punching. But if you're coloring with COPIC markers, you might want to use the COPIC airbrush system to make sure the snowflakes match what you're coloring.

Spray two colors on each snowflake.

Once again put a dot of Glossy Accents on the leg of each snowflake. On the larger snowflakes, I will cover each "finger" too. The larger glitter (in this case SU! Chunky glitter) adds a bigger surface for the light to bounce off.

Add a pop-dot between each layer. Remember to off-set the legs. And in this case I put a Basic Grey brad in the center after I punched a hole. It's very easy to rip the snowflakes.

On the larger snowflakes to give even more texture, I also glue a leafy punch layer.

Stamps: High Hopes FOLLOW THE STARS, Denami swirl stamps.
Paper: Basic Grey ESKIMO KISSES
Ink: Memento Black Tuxedo
Accessories: Deb's Crystal snowflakes, SU! chunky glitter, glue pad, Copics (see below for color list), airbrush system, and glitter pens.

Remember, to post your SNOWFLAKE cards on the KLSNS blog for some blog candy!

Hope you have a great weekend! I'm going to the Air Force/Army game tomorrow. If I remember to take my camera, I'll post some pictures.

GO VEGAN!

HAPPY FRIDAY! Time for another post for KLSNS! This week I want to share some goodies I got from Kelly (the K in KLSNS).
Kelly is one of the few (maybe only) US sites carrying the HIGH HOPES stamps! This cute turkey is praying that you decide to go vegan for Thanksgiving! Also in my goody bag was the new Basic Grey NOOK AND PANTRY paper. The fruit paper was a perfect pairing with the veggie turkey!

I used this week's SCS sketch (SCS252). It was a great way to showcase that great Basic Grey paper!

I decided to do simple coloring on Mr Turkey, so I used the Stampin Up Color Coach. In the center of the wheel is a group of matched colors. I did the solid coloring with the light color and then outlined with the darker color. It's a very effective way to do quick "shading. I also decided to dress him up a bit with a glitter pen.
And finally to give him a little more depth, I colored him twice, cut out the main body, and then used pop dots to lift him up. The background was very lightly airbrushed with my COPIC system (I use the canned air right now) and then brushed with Ruby Red.

Stamps: High Hopes TOM'S PLEA
Paper: Basic Grey NOOK AND PANTRY
Ink: Stazon Black, SU! Markers
Accessories: Nestabilities, Copic airbrush system, gold rhinestones, glitter pen, ribbon, Basic Grey brads.

Kelly is still looking for new design team members for next year. You have until the end of October to apply! There's still a bit of time!

Hope you all have a safe Halloween! And don't for get to "FALL BACK" with the time change on Saturday night!

Happy 2nd Birthday to Artistic Outpost!

Artistic Outpost is one of my long-time favorite stamp companies. And this month they are celebrating their 2nd birthday with a challenge sketch!! The rules were to make a fall or birthday card using an AO set. I used HOME.


The sketch below was flipped 90-degrees. The row of trees I stamped directly on the Basic Grey INDIAN SUMMER paper is the long "paper" piece under the main image. The main images was "rock 'n rolled" using the edged of the ink pads to ink specific areas. After the ink dried, I distressed with Distress Ink and a sponge dauber. I used another Technique Junkies method to distress the image panels - FRAME FRENZY: TORN FRAMES. It adds that great "grunge" feel to the card.



Stamps: Artistic Outpost HOME; A Muse HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Paper: Basic Grey INDIAN SUMMER, SU! Rich Razzelberry
Ink: SU! Dusty Durango, Rich Razzelberry; Distress Ink: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy
Accessories: brads, pop dots, and sponge dauber.
Technique: Technique Junkies FRAME FRENZY: TORN FRAMES

Please visit KLSNS design team blog for more info on Basic Grey goodies!!

What's Moo?

It's Friday! That means another post for KLSNS blog!!

I love clean and simple cards (CAS). But I'm AWFUL at them! I do try but they always look so "naked" when I do them. Sue me...I love BLING! When I saw this sketch, I thought I could manage that. Simple strip down the side and an image. But you'll notice that I just had to keep adding. LOL!

Don't you love this High Hope's AMERICAN COWTHIC image! So iconic. So retro. So funny! Colored simply with Copics. Torn edges that were distressed (I couldn't help myself). Some scraps of paper laying on my table. A button with Scrapper's Floss. Clean and simple right?

Stamps: High Hopes AMERICAN COWTHIC
Paper: scraps and kraft
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Close to Cocoa, Distressed Ink Antique Linen
Accessories: Copics; button, Scrapper Floss, and Nestabilities TAG TRIO.

Hope you visit the KLSNS blog - there's always something exciting going on over there!

Yummy for your Tummy: Oops Tilda

As I said in my previous post, my friend, Kelly, asked me to fill in on her blog's design team when a DT member couldn't fulfill her term. So, Friday's will be KLSNS cards! Check the DT blog out everyday. There's a new card each day of the week from a different designer!

This little Tilda is from the new Magnolia collection - YUMMY FOR YOUR TUMMY. She's colored with Copics to match Basic Grey's INDIAN SUMMER paper and isn't that yummy all by itself! I thought she needed some extra color in her cheeks after dropping the egg (how embarrassing!). Tilda was cut out and layered on a Swiss Dot oval. In fact, I used my Cuttlebug a lot on this card. The corner swirls, the Nestabilities ovals, and the Cuttlebug Swiss dot embossing folder. I some times think that my "Bug" is my best tool. I embossed first and then rubbed SU! Summer Sun lightly over the raised bumps to color. Then I cut the oval. Final touches include Glossy Accents on her shoes to make them look like patent leather Mary Janes.

I used 2 challenges for the card design. First the SCS Sketch Challenge (SC249) for the front of the card. And the Magnolia-licious sketch of the month - an EASEL CARD.


To keep the easel standing, I created a lacy edge border and folded it up. The edge of the card catches it. But it also folds flat for "easier" mailing. I always have a hard time mailing these card in anything short of a box. For one thing it's too lumpy, requiring extra postage. We won't discuss what the postage canceler does to the envelope.

Stamps: Magnolia OOPS TILDA, Cookie Crumbs by CC Designs sentiments
Paper: Basic Grey INDIAN SUMMER, Neenah Solar White, SU! Elegent Eggplant
Ink: SU! Summer Sun, Brilliance Graphite Black, and Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics (110, BG10, C1, C3, E000, E00, E02, E31, E35, E39, R20, R81, R85, R89, Y13, Y17, YR02, and YR04); SU! Chocolate Chip satin ribbon, rhinestones, Nestabilities, Sizzix corner swirl, Martha Stewart scallop lace border punch, Glossy Accents, and Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder.

Hope you visit the KLSNS blog - there's always something exciting going on over there!