It's Beginning...

To look a lot like Christmas - well at least in my studio!

I need to make 40 Christmas cards - usually I attend card making parties were we make 10 at each but with my weekend schedule this year that is not going to work… so I am on a quest. What is my Quest? Well…

2009 Christmas Card Quest:

1. Make 40 Christmas cards in 16 weeks and because I don’t like to mass produce (that’s not a lot of fun right) - make 20 different designs, 2 of each.
   
2. All cards must be finished and ready to mail by Dec 7th - 16 weeks from now. No excuses about life getting in the way!
3. Spend no $$$ making these cards. I’ve been hoarding Christmas stamps, trinkets and paper for years. Take off the hoarding panties and use what I have! (a funny side note - I have NO red cardstock)
4. Force myself to make half of them less complicated (most of the cards that I make take 2 or 3 hrs each, some take more time than that). Now I want to simplify half of them BUT I still need to enjoy the process AND be happy with the outcome - this is going to be hard for me!
5. The cards MUST be mail-able (what no Grunge Paper Roses on the cards???). I don’t mind paying extra postage for some of the cards but not all of them.

So - here’s the first two…

2 of 40:

I’ve had this Tim Holtz Santa since last Christmas and this was the first time the poor baby has seen ink! You might think the blue stickles is odd - but IRL there is blue in the designer cardstock.

This card was inspired by a Julia Stainton - check out her card here - she does beautiful work!

Wish me luck on my Quest!

KAT

The Stuff:
Stamps - Letter to Santa, Santa’s Wish (all Tim Holtz)
Paper - Frost (My Minds Eye)
Ink - Walnut, Vintage Photo, Broken China Distress Inks (Tim Holtz - Ranger)
Other - Corner (Tim Holtz - Idea-ology), button, stamped ribbon; Broken China & Walnut Stain Distress Stickles (Tim Holtz - Ranger)

Odd Findings

Man cards - always a struggle, always needed… Today’s sample is a simple two layer masculine card.

Odd Findings:

I think the techniques on this one are pretty straight forward - second generation stamping for a lot of the images, masking around the “stamp” and the carta postal. Love the postcard background paper!

Have a great day!

KAT

The Stuff:
Stamps (all Innovative Stamp Creations) - Odd Findings, Men of Wisdom, Scrapbook Layouts - words
Paper - Postcards from the Shore (scrapperdashery), cream cardstock
Ink - Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain Distressed Inks (Ranger)
Other - Must Token, Game Spinner, Long Fastener (Tim Holtz - idea-ology); hemp twine

Monday's Notes

A marvelous Monday to you! I don’t know about where you live but here it is HOT, HOT, HOT - a perfect day to stay inside and create some art! Hmmm - maybe today would be a great day to start on my Christmas cards…
But I digress - today I am going to show you another sample from the August stamp release from Innovative Stamp Creations.

Notes:


This is a very easy to make note card holder - something to slip into your purse and have on hand when you need to jot down a quick thought. The flower is made from grunge paper that I cut in my cuttlebug. The butterfly is a Heidi Swapp chipboard that was inked and misted with a brown felt butterfly behind it.

Here’s a picture of the inside:

Stay cool today!

KAT

The Stuff:
Stamps - (all Innovative Stamp Creations) Make a Note, Odd Findings
Paper - from the ISC August Kit, Close to Cocoa (SU)
Ink - Vintage Photo Distress (Ranger), Close to Cocoa (SU)
Other - Hemp Twine, Felt Chipboard Butterfly, Metal Rim Tag; Grunge paper, game spinner, sprocket and gear, long fastener (Tim Holtz - idea-ology), Magnetic Snap (Basic Grey)

Best Wishes

This card uses the paper from the ISC August Kit and the new stamp sheet Bush Flowers, Australian. One of the things the I love about the stamp sheet is it has three sizes of the Bush flower which makes it perfect to layer. So for this card I wanted to try something different...

You Did It:

Can you tell what is different? I actually stamped the flowers on old, used yellow tissue paper (by used a mean it was from gift... not used in other ways... snort...). Then I cut them out, wrinkled them just a little bit and layered them. I used distressed stickles as the flower center.

Tip - when stamping on tissue paper you will need to find an ink that will work for you and not run - I tried Distressed Inks and Ranger Archival ink - these both run on the tissue paper. I found that the Versafine worked great. So play with your inks - the tissue paper is FREE and your fingers are just screamin to get inky!

Have a great Saturday!

KAT

The Stuff:

Used paper and buttons from ISC Little Bits and Pieces August Kit

Stamps - Bush Flowers, Australian (all Innovative Stamp Creations)
Ink - Vintage Sepia (Versafine)
Other - Fragment Charm (Tim Holtz - idea-ology), waxed linen thread, Vintage Sepia Distressed Stickles (Tim Holtz - Ranger)

ISC August Release

The Innovative Stamp Creation August release has a little for everyone! Delicate flowers, eclectic images! Plus a kit packed with many artsy nick-knacks! Beautiful card stock, buttons, & more! This month’s kit has a few of my favorite things - Like stuff from Tim Holtz, ledger paper and how about some of those memory capsules! I thought I would share 2 samples with you today…

It’s All in the Bag:

Look at this little bag - it is such a cutie - it’s only about an inch deep - I thought this would be the perfect bag to alter to put a gift in for a crafty friend - like some ribbon, buttons or a stamp. From the August kit I used the ledger paper, Tim Holtz Trinket Pin, Spinner and long fasteners - oh and let’s not forget the buttons!

You Did It:

The African Daisy was stamped one of each size and marker water colored. The felt butterfly was yellow but I misted it to make it purple. The butterfly, paper, brads and button are all from this month’s kit!


The kit is stuffed with lots of goodies including Memory Maker’s ledger paper, beautiful paper from Scrapperdashery (now it’s that a great name) and trinkets galore!

The Little Bits and Pieces Kit is $12.50 and here is a picture of all the goodies!

Oh - one more piece of goodness - if you place your order by August 20th use code KT10 and you will receive 10% off your order!

For more info about the kit and August stamp release visit ISC.

Hope you are finding time to be creative!

KAT

The Stuff:
Both Samples used items from the Little Bits and Pieces Kit

It’s All In the Bag:
Stamps - Make a Note, Odd Findings
Ink - Sepia Archival, Vintage Photo Distressed Ink (Ranger)
Other - Classic Frame (Spellbinders), Hemp, Lace, Flower (Petaloo)

You Did It:
Stamps - Ganzia - African Daisy
Paper - Perfect Plum (SU)
Ink - Sepia Archival, Vintage Photo Distressed Ink (Ranger)
Other- Adirondack Markers, Floral Accents (Spellbinders)

You Could Still Win - Photo Tag Book

Reminder (until midnight Wednesday) - Chance to win 2 FREE stamps sheets of your choice from ISC - see this post. There is also a blog hop available and your 15% discount code…

I’ve been in a mood to use large office tags - I love to do different techniques on them. I wanted to use more of the Clear Cuts that come in the ISC July Monthly Kit (more info here) so I thought what would it look like to make a mini photo album…

Photo Tag Book - Cover:

Inside:


The background is emboss resist, the focal flower is 6 layers of the Australian Daisy stamped on Little Yellow Bicycle paper. There is a manila carstock pocket added and some of the adorable Clear Cut Shapes from Little Yellow Bicycle.

Thanks for the visit today!

KAT

The Stuff:
Stamps - (all Innovative Stamp Creation) Australian Daisy, Scrapbook Photo Slides
Paper - Little Yellow Bicycle
Ink - Jet Black Archival (Ranger); Broken China, Aged Mahogany, Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo Distressed Inks (Tim Holtz - Ranger)
Other - Manila Envelopes (Debbies Diecuts), Office Tags, Buttons, Ribbons, Clear Cut Shapes (Little Yellow Bicycle)

You can still enter, Scapping and Boxing

Reminder (I’ll keep this on top until Wednesday midnight) - Chance to win 2 FREE stamps sheets of your choice from ISC - see this post. There is also a blog hop available and your 15% discount code…

Today something a little different - Betsy from ISC asked her design time to create a 6x6 layout. I’m not much of a scrapper but I gave it a go (or course I had some adorable pictures of my Niece - how could I resist them?)

Summer Vacation:


1st Page:

Second Page:Close Up of Stamped Frame:

I used the new Serenity and Picturesque stamps from ISC and yummy new Little Yellow Bicycle paper and overlays (these are in ISC monthly kit - more info below). The picture frames were made using Scrapbook Photo Slides that I stamped with the ocean images.

Another project using this months kit is an A2 card box.

Handmade for You:


Side view of the handmade Tassel:

The flower was stamped on old book text - the Australian Daisy comes with 3 different size flowers that will allow you to create some awesome layers. I stamped two of each size for this flower.

ISC July Kit:

The kit includes:
1, Scrapbook PhotoSlides stamp sheet (7 images)
1 or 2 Bucklez, note: it might be colors: Mint or Banana Bucklez(limited supply)
24, (6 of each) 4mm/6mm Navy/Cream tiny buttons
12, (2 of each) Clear Heidi Swapp Mini Ghost shapes(plastic) butterfly, crown, hearts, labels, stars, flowers
1, Sakura Clear Glaze Pen
6, 12x12 Little Yellow Bicycle Solid double sided cardstock
8, 5.75 x 11.75 Paper Tablet by Little Yellow Bicycle (double sided cardstock) (note: fits perfectly on by Little Yellow Bicycle Chipboard Album, not sold by ISC)
6, Brads, Little Yellow Bicycle
10, assorted Clear Cut shapes by Little Yellow Bicycle (remove the protective film before use)
1, Clear Cuts frame by Little Yellow Bicycle
2, Photo Mats by by Little Yellow Bicycle
10, assortment of 8, (4 of each) 2x2 Mini/ATC size, manila Envelopes by Debbies Diecuts

This is a steal of a deal for only $20!

If you would like more info visit ISC blog here.

Hope you are finding time to be creative today!

KAT

The Stuff (6x6 layout):
Stamps - (all Innovative Stamp Creations) Serenity, Picturesque, Alterable Words, Marvels of Nature
Paper - Little Yellow Bicycle, White
Ink - misc colors VersaMagic Chalk Ink (Tsukineko), Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Weathered Wood Distressed Inks (Tim Holtz- Ranger)
Other - Little Yellow Bicycle Overlays, Fragment (Tim Holtz - idea-ology)

The Stuff (Handmade for you Cardbox):
Stamps (all Innovative Stamp Creations) Australian Daisy, Flourishing Ivy
Ink - Jet Black, Sepia Archival (Ranger); More Mustard (SU)
Paper Very Vanilla, Little Yellow Bicycle
Other - Old book Text, Bucklez, Mini Ghost Shapes (Heidi Swapp), Clear buttons, black twine

A Hop, A Wish and A Discount

This is the time of year we all think about being at the beach…

Framed Seascape:

This is Serenity one of the new stamp releases from Innovative Stamp creation month. All the stamps were inked with VersaMagic Chalk Ink. The frame was created using a Wood Grain background stamp. The net, shells and sea glass are compliments of the beach!

So on to other info…

HOP:
How about a blog hop to see other creation by ISC Architects?




WISH:

Win FREE Rubber? Would you like a chance to WIN 2 FREE stamp sheets of you choice from ISC? Just leave me comment below wishing ISC a happy 7th birthday. Hurry you have until Midnight Wednesday July 15th to leave me a comment!


DISCOUNT:

And finally how about a discount code?


Travel is the top secret code this month! This code is valid until July 31st!

Enjoy your hop, wish and discounts!
KAT

The Stuff:
Stamps - (all Innovative Stamp Creations) Serenity, Wood Grain
Ink - various colors VeraMagic Chalk Ink; Antique Linen, Weathered Wood Distress Ink (Tim Holtz- Ranger)
Paper - White, Baja Breeze (SU)
Other - Sea Glass, Shells, Netting, Glossy Accents

Rose Tree

This is a release week for Innovative Stamp Creations and there are some fun things planned - you know like a blog hop, discount codes, new rubber and a chance to win TWO FREE stamps sets (who doesn‘t want new rubber)…

But I get a little ahead of myself - today I am showing just one card made from the new stamps and you’ll have to wait for the rest…

Rose Tree:

The background is Alcohol Inks and Metallic Mixatives, the “tree” is embossed with brown embossing powders and the mini roses are Grunge Paper. What you can’t tell in the picture is that each rose is stamped with a different image - script, bingo card and cracks.

Tip - It is important to emboss the image over the background or the Metallic Mixative will bleed through your image.

Have a great Sunday!
KAT

The Stuff:
Stamps - (all Innovative Stamp Creations) Flourishing Ivy, Memories of Patriotism, Arty Backgrounds, About Me
Ink - Spice Marmalade Distress Inks (Tim Holtz, Ranger); Sepia Archival (Ranger), VersaMark
Paper - Glossy, White, Choc Chip (SU)
Other - Grunger Paper (Tim Holtz - idea-ology), Chestnut EP (American Crafts), Copper Mist (Tattered Angels); Stream, Sky Blue Silver Metallic Mixatives Alcohol Inks (Tim Holtz - Ranger)

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July to all my USA blog pals! I hope you can (or did) spend today with family and friends being thankful for what we have the USA! Eat too much BBQ, laugh too hard and squeeze someone you love!

This is my final sample using the ISC Memories of Patriotism stamp set.

Patriotic Thanks:
A close up of the smaller tag:Close up of Dog Tag:


The nation silhouette is covered with distressed stickles, the dog tag is faux metal using copper EP. There are other copper touches throughout the tag - stitching, stars, smaller tag back panel, brad and of course the dog tag and chain.

Happy 4th!

KAT

The Stuff:
Stamps - Memories of Patriotism (Innovative Stamp Creations)
Paper - Office Tags, brushed copper, Lady Liberty (Karen Foster)
Ink - Watermark Resist (Ranger), Fired Brick, Vintage Photo Distressed Inks (Ranger); Not Quite Navy (SU), Black Stazon
Other - Copper EP (Ranger), Fired Brick Distressed Stickles (Ranger), Glossy Accents (Ranger), Glass Glitter Beads (Darice)