Brand new Susana Loves Stamps release at SCACD!!!

Hi crafty friends! There is a spectacular new Susana Loves Stamps release at SCACD today...just wait until you see The Eyes of Adventure and Fables . They are gorgeous! :)  There are four stamps in each collection and each stamp comes with a bonus accessory stamp.

To celebrate today's release, we are having a blog hop to showcase all the new images. You will find the entire blog hop list over at the Store Blog. If you've been following along, you should have arrived here after visiting with my very talented friend Amanda.

I have two cards to share with you today. The first features Oceanic Eyes, part of the Eyes of Fables collection. Isn't she stunning? I am such a sucker for mermaid images...absolutely LOVE them. :) For embellishments, I added a paper doily, some crocheted trim and some pearls made with a Viva Decor Pearl Pen. All paper edges and embellishments were sponged with brown ink. I also used one of the Classic Corner Dies by SCACD. You'll spy one up in the left hand corner used in the traditional way. I also cut out four Classic Corners and joined them together in pairs to create the embellishments on the end of the image panel. I love how versatile the corner dies by SCACD are...there are so many fabulous ways to use them!

Oceanic Eyes was stamped in Memento Ink and coloured with Copics. Her tail was given a coat of  Stardust Stickles. The little crab is an accessory stamp that comes with Oceanic Eyes. I pulled out one of the Graphic and Grunge Shells stamps to create a bit of subtle texture with brown ink on the teal paper panel...the seashells in this stamp collection are a perfect compliment to this pretty mermaid image. :)

Skin: E000, E00, E11, R20, RV94 Hair: E50, E31, E33, E37, E59  Tail: YG00, YG11, BG01, BG05, BG09, C5, C7, C9  Shells: BG000, B91, B93, B97, B97, C5, C7

My second card features Courageous Eyes, part of the Eyes of Adventure collection. That gorgeous birdcage was created with the Uncaged Bird Die By SCACD. The sentiment is an accessory stamp that comes with Courageous Eyes. I just cut it up into smaller sections, matted it with cardstock and tucked it into the die cut cage. I also pulled out my Classic Corner Dies by SCACD for this card too...absolutely LOVE this die. :)

Courageous Eyes was stamped in Memento Ink and coloured with Copics.

Skin: E000, E00, E11, R20, RV94 Hair: E50, E31, E33, E37, E59  Clothing: R46, R59, C7, C9, E21, E25, E29, E59, Y17

After you are done hopping, make sure to pop on over to SCACD where all the new Eyes of Adventure and Fables stamps are now available for purchase!

Our international crafty friends can find these new stamps at Quixotic Paperie. :)

It's now my pleasure to send you off to visit with the lovely Kathi who I know has something fabulous to share with you!

Happy hopping...and happy shopping!

Thanks for joining us today. :)

Blessings,

Melanie

Have a Monster of a Good Day!

Hi folks! I wanted to share a card featuring one of the Oddly Sweet Curiosities Collection, part of the exclusive Susana Loves Stamps from SCACD. This little guy is called Monster Bash and he comes with the fun sentiment used on my card. The flourish was cut with the Memory Box Elegant Scrollwork Die. The corner embellishment was cut with a Classic Corners Die by SCACD.

Monster Bash was stamped in Memento Ink and coloured with Copics. I gave him a bit of a speckled look by dotting on various greens after colouring him in teal.

Monster: BG000, BG70, BG72, C5, C7, G24, YG11, YG63, YG95, G99, YR31, YR23, E17, E18

Here are a few items of note to check out at SCACD:

• New Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps
• Bazzill 6x6 Design Papers
• Tim Holtz Stamps (including some fantastic Halloween stamps!)
• Viva Decor 3D Stamp Paint
• Melissa Francis decorative hangers for projects or photos...these are absolutely gorgeous!
• New Spellbinders

If you haven't already, make sure to become a follower at the SCACD Store Blog to keep up to date on all the newest products in the store. This is also where you'll see all the latest projects by the SCACD design team using products available at SCACD...there's always tons of inspiration to be found there!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Blessings,

Melanie

Holiday Release Blog Hop at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!

Good morning and welcome to the release day blog hop for Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!!

This month, Kimmie is letting us all get a jump start on our holiday projects by releasing a wonderful collection of Christmas images: the gorgeous Holiday Trinkets designed by Nicole Aspinall, the super sweet Holiday Lulu and Libby by Cheryl Alger, six wonderfully whimsical Santa and His Elves characters by Emilie Goulet and six incredible Holiday Girls by Annie Rodrigue. You'll see many of the new stamps on the blog hop today to help inspire you and get those festive creative juices flowing! As you hop along, make sure to leave comments for your chance to win packages of some of the new stamps. :)

This gorgeous baker is Grace...if only I looked this fabulous when baking! I paired her up with some Echo Park Christmas paper from last year. The "Joy" sentiment is one of the new Holiday Trinkets. It was stamped on Neenah and then coloured with Copics. The black accents were all cut with Spellbinders Parisian Accents elements. In real life, the reds actually do match quite well...sometimes reds give me a hard time in photographs.

Here's a closer look at Grace:

Skin: E000, E00, E11, RV95, R20  Hair: E50, E31, E33, E37, E59  Dress: R22, R27, R46, R59, C5, C7  sorry...I forgot to record the colours used on her apron...d'oh!

When you're finished the hop, make sure to go to the Kraftin' Kimmie Online Shop where all the new stamps are now available for purchase. As always, the Gimmie Kimmie Kits will be available, but only for a limited time!  These kits are divided up by artist and available at a great discount.

(Oh, and don't forget to register for Krafty Day 2012!!!)

Here's the complete hop list: Thanks so much for stopping by!

Blessings,

Melanie

Penelope (Kraftin' Kimmie Sneak Peek!)

Hi Krafty friends!! Today we've got  a new challenge and sneak peeks of the brand new ANNIE stamps for September! 

Now if you are an Annie fan, you know that she's been doing some illustration work for a children's book and she's tried out a new style lately! Well, we LOVED the new style so much, that she's done her new HOLIDAY GIRLS stamps in that sweet style!!! We know you'll love them as much as we do. :)  Just wait 'til you see all the incredible creations by the Krafty Girls and Guests featuring Gemma, Grace, Joy, Madeline, Nettie and Penelope!! 

My card today features the beautiful Penelope...love this sweet stamp! And I adore this style of Annie's. :)  Our weekly challenge is a Sketch designed by the lovely Sheri. (you will find a picture of the sketch over at the KKS blog) I used some paper from last year from Authentique. The sentiment embellishment was created with one of the newHoliday Trinkets. It was stamped in Memento Ink and then coloured with Copics. The decorative embellishments on the card were cut with elements from Spellbinders Parisian Accents. 

Penelope was also stamped in Memento Ink and coloured with Copics. 

Check out all the amazing creations on today's hop in combination with this week's challenge at the KKS Blog!! The lovely SHERI is our hostess this week and her challenge features a fantastic SKETCH!! Use the sketch she has provided as inspiration for your card or scrapbook page! And the random winner of this week's challenge will receive the new GRACE, as featured on her gorgeous creation!! We really hope you are inspired by this week's challenge and share your inky creations!!! We so enjoy seeing your beautiful designs inspired by our challenges!

BLOG CANDY: Below you will find all the Krafty Girls and Guests who have goodies to show you today and while you're visiting their blogs, be sure to leave some love at each stop because TWO lucky ladies are each going to WIN a package of today's stamps!! 

ALL of our September stamps will be available tomorrow at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Shop!!! So be sure to come on back to enjoy our Release Day Krafty Hop!!

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Blessings,

Melanie

Up on the Rooftop...the Kraftin' Kimmie Previews Continue!

Good morning!

Today at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps we are sharing SIX new individual stamps by the totally talented Emilie Goulet!!! Get ready to meet SANTA AND HIS ELVES!! We've got the most awesome elves in some sticky situations, the big man himself *may* have gotten himself in some trouble....there's a reindeer and a cuddly little kitten!! Just wait 'til you see them all!!

For my card today, I inked up "Up on the Rooftop". I'm loving this image! Just look at the contrast between their expressions...the elf is having the time of his life while Rudolf is looking more than a bit perturbed. lol...cracks me up. :)  The sentiment comes with the stamp. 

Here's a closer look at this fun image:

I also wanted to let you know that this card  is one of four make-and-takes at Krafty Day 2012!!! If you are local, or if you feel like sneaking away for a krafty getaway then this is definitely an event you want to attend! Grab a few friends and plan to spend the day with Kimmie, some of the Krafty Girls and artist Annie Rodrigue. We'll spend the day colouring, crafting, cropping, eating, laughing...seriously, this is a fantastic event that I look forward to every year. :)  There will be an huge display of cards made by the Krafty Girls...you'll get to see some of your favourite cards up close and in person! Kimmie will have her booth of stamps available for purchase and there will also be a great store on hand to supply any materials you may need to spark your creativity that day. For more information and registration, please click HERE. Let us know if you're coming! I look forward to having the opportunity to sit down to chat and colour with everybody! :) 

BLOG CANDY: Below you will find a list of all the Krafty Girls who are sharing PEEKS with you today so grab a cup of coffee and check them out! And as you're hoppin' around, be sure to leave a comment at each stop because two winners will each win a package of some of these fun stamps!! (the winners will be announced tomorrow morning on the KKS blog)

All our new SEPTEMBER 2012 stamps will be available on Sunday (late Saturday night) at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Shop!!! And come on back tomorrow because not only will we have a fantastic new challenge for you, but we'll be revealing the NEW stamps by Annie Rodrigue!!! 

Blessings!

Melanie

Holiday Trinkets...A Kraftin' Kimmie Preview!

Hi crafty friends and welcome to the kick off for the September sneak peeks at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps! Release day is this Sunday, but in the meantime the Krafty Girls and our Krafty Guests will be sharing some gorgeous projects featuring these soon-to-be-released stamps.

Today we are sharing projects with the new Holiday Trinkets set designed by Krafty Girl Nicole Aspinall. Nicole has outdone herself this month with eight beautiful festive designs perfect for cards, tags, journals, scrapbook layouts, custom made gift packaging, place cards...the possibilities are endless!

I used one of the pretty snowflake Holiday Trinkets for my card today. The paper is from Bo Bunny (Blitzen). I added some white acrylic paint around the edges of the paper and then sprinkled it generously with Glamour Dust, my absolute favourite fine glitter. I cut two snowflakes with my Snowflake Memory Box Die. They were coated with some adhesive, sprinkled with more Glamour Dust and layered with a Spellbinders Lacey Circle between the two snowflakes. The Trinket was stamped in Stormy Sky Distress Ink and cut out with my circle Spellbinders.

BLOG CANDY: How would you like to win the complete set of Holiday Trinkets??? All you need to do is visit each of the Krafty Girls sharing a sneak peek today and leave a comment on their personal blogs. Kimmie will draw one lucky winner who will receive the Holiday Trinkets Set and their name will be announced on the KKS blog tomorrow morning. Here's the complete list of today's previews:

Thanks so much for stopping by. Don't forget that we'll be sharing previous over the next few days followed by our release day blog hop on Sunday! Please join us for lots of inspiration and of course your chance to win some of the new stamps. :)

Enjoy your day!

Blessings,

Melanie 

Lana

Good morning and happy Saturday! :)

Our challenge over at the KKS blog this week courtesy of talented Krafty Girl Jessie is Paper-Piecing! I decided to use the ever glamorous Lana...I adore this stamp. :)  I used some "Tea for Two" paper from Cosmo Cricket for paper-piecing her dress and for all the paper layers. I really wanted to add stitching to my card, but I keep forgetting to pick up more thread! I always feel my cards look so bare without it, lol. The paper edges were distressed with my scissors and sponged with brown ink. For embellishments, I used an MFT Die for the flourish, a few pearl sprays and some flowers by Kaisercraft and Prima. I also added some brown Viva Decor Pearls.

Lana was stamped in Memento Ink on Neenah cardstock. Her hair and skin were coloured with Copics. I  sponged around it with Oasis Green Versamagic Ink followed by some Antique Linen and Walnut Stain Distress Inks. Her boa was given some fun texture with Polar White Flower Soft.  I stamped her dress on some of the Cosmo Cricket paper and added some shading with my Copics before cutting it out and adhering it to my image. I always go around the edges of my paper-pieced portions with a dark marker before adding them to the image in order to conceal the white paper core. This helps those paper-pieced areas blend into your image seamlessly. I enlarged her pupils just a wee bit with my Copic multiliner.

Skin: E000, E00, E11, RV95  Hair: E50, E31, E33, E37, E59  Shading on dress: BG70, BG72, BG75, C5, C7

We'd love to have you play along with our Paper-Piecing challenge this week! Make sure to use a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp for your chance to win the stamp featured on Jessie's beautiful card this week. :)  Pop on by the KKS blog to see what the rest of the Krafty Girls have created for the challenge.

FRUGAL FRIDAY SPECIALS: Don't forget to check out the stamps on sale this week at the KKS Online Store! You'll have until Sunday evening to scoop up this week's deals. :)

KRAFTY DAY 2012: Are you coming?? This is the third annual Krafty Day, and it is always a fantastic event. Come on out and spend the day with Kimmie, some of the Krafty Girls and Annie Rodrigue!! There will be plenty of room for you to colour and/or crop all day, food, fun, make and takes...you won't want to miss it! You can register HERE. Hope to see you there!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. And I also wanted to say a huge heart-felt thanks for all the lovely comments that are left. I really appreciate all the kind and encouraging comments. :)

Enjoy your weekend!

Blessings,

Melanie

"Little Susan" (Elisabeth Bell for SCACD)

Hi folks!

I've got a card to share with you today featuring one of the recently released stamps by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD. This is Little Susan. The background Tag was created by first stamping some flourishes with Archival Ink. (you can find some beautiful flourish stamps at SCACD HERE) I also stamped the word LOVE from the Self Words Set, an exclusive SCACD Mixed Media stamp set. I added some water to my Luminarte Primary Element Mica Powders in Mallard Green, Blue Flame and Pink Azalea and applied them as a wash. After the base layer was dry, I went in with another coat of the mica powders to paint in a bit of detail around the flourishes and to fill in the letters in "LOVE". I did add just a touch of Gum Arabic to the powders before adding the water as a binding agent. If you don't add the binder, you will still get a lovely wash of colour...just not with the same shimmer effect as when a binder is included. The tag was then sponged around the edges with a dark brown ink.The corner embellishments were cut with Classic Corner Dies by SCACD and the vine is a Memory Box Die. I also added a little key charm. SCACD always has such a great selection of embellishments for your projects. For example, you can find some pretty chipboard keys HERE  and HERE. The advantage to chipboard of course is that you can add any finish to them to match your project perfectly. If you prefer metal charms, check out these  Blue Moon charms.There are also some great metal keys by Vintaj. If dies are your preference, check out these Jewel Keys. There are also two different key dies from Poppy Stamp Dies HERE and HERE. Speaking of keys, did you see THIS new corner die set by SCACD??

Little Susan was stamped in Memento Ink and predominantly coloured with Copics. Her shirt was coloured with a combination of ShinHan markers and Copics.

You can find the entire recent release of stamps by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD HERE.

Make sure to grab a cup of coffee or tea and take some time to browse around SCACD for all your crafty needs. :)

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Blessings,

Melanie

Do You Believe in Unicorns??

Hi and happy Saturday to everybody! :)

If you're a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps fan, you'll likely know that Kimmie just release a brand new Klubhouse Kit yesterday called "Three Wishes"!! If you're not familiar with the Klubhouse Kits, here's a word from Kimmie about them:

Be part of the Krafty Klub and order your exclusive THREE WISHES set (it's available NOW!)which features THREE special edition stamps designed by Annie Rodrigue PLUS SIX coordinating sentiment stamps!   This set will be sold ONLY as a set and ONLY at the Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps Shop!!  Not only will you get this MAGICAL new set, but you will also receive a sweet treat if you order this set before September 9th!!  When placing your order for this Krafty Klubhouse Kit, you will get to pick out your choice of an $8 stamp from any of our lines....for FREE to be included with your order!!!!  Say what???!  That's just cuz we love our customers SO much!!

Now let me be clear…..there is NO club to join or sign up for!  ANYONE from ANYWHERE in the world can order this special set but ONLY at the Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps Shop!!  These images will not be sold individually, but only as the complete set called…..THREE WISHES!!

Being Saturday, we've also got a brand new challenge for you at the KKS Blog. This week out lovely hostess is the talented Amanda, and her challenge is to use Kraft Cardstock on your project!

I've inked up my favourite image from the "Three Wishes" set, this adorable unicorn! Confession time: I loved unicorns as a child and teen..actually, I still love them. :) I collected unicorn figurines when I was younger and you could find them plastered all around my room from pictures, to calenders, to sketchbooks...one might say I had an addiction, lol. While I no longer choose to decorate my house with unicorns, I do still love them. :)  So I was thrilled when I saw that Kimmie would be releasing this unicorn by Annie Rodrigue as a stamp! I decided to keep with a very simple layout by using this pretty scenic paper from DCWV's Once Upon a Time collection. I used my Classic Corner Dies by SCACD and a Memory Box die as embellishments along with some rhinestones.

The "Three Wishes" unicorn was stamped in Memento Ink and coloured with Copic markers. I also added some additional shading with a black Conte crayon and paper blending stump. I was going for a "dappled" look, but I think it fell a bit short on the dapple...it's kind of subtle. For fun, I gave him a purple mane and tail. :)

Body: W00, W1, W3, W5, W7, W9, BV29, black Conte Crayon   Mane and Tail: RV00, V12, V5, V09, BV29

Here's shot of the inside where I stamped the unicorn again in purple ink and included one of the sentiments from the Three Wishes kit:

I hope you play along with the Kraft Cardstock challenge this week for your chance to win the stamp featured on Amanda's gorgeous card...just make sure to use a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp to be eligible. You can check out the beautiful cards made by the rest of the Krafty Girls over at the KKS Blog. :)

SALE ALERT!!!!

To celebrate the end of a fabulous summer AND the fact that those kiddos are starting a new school year (let's face it, you need to reward yourself for the fact that you made it through all those weeks with them home...heehee!), we are having a BACK TO SCHOOL SALE!!!  The Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps online store has 40 fabulous stamps on special 20-50% OFF this weekend only!! 

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks so much for stopping by!

Blessings,

Melanie