Gettin' "Krafty" with the Krafty Girls!!

Happy weekend!!! Today marks the start of another new challenge at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Blog, and this time it's my turn to play hostess. :) My challenge is called "Gettin' Krafty with the Krafty Girls"...I want to see you using Kraft cardstock on your projects this week! (clever, no??? lol)

This is "Christmas Clara"...I love this stamp, and wanted to have another chance to use her this holiday season. I used Kraft cardstock as my card base and pulled out some gorgeous vintage style papers from My Mind's Eye (Holly Jolly)...oh and a little strip of holly patterned paper from Basic Grey (Wassail). The "Merry Christmas" sentiment is actually from Whimsy Stamps, and the little tag is from the Holly Jolly paper pack...there were a bunch of patterned die cuts in the paper pack. (Picked that up at Scrappin' Great Deals back in September!) The glitter snowflake is from the ornament section at the Dollar Store, and I adhered a Christmas brad that I've had kicking around since last year. The little red pearls were not quite the right colour, so I coloured them with my R59 Copic marker. I also used a Martha Stewart border punch on the black cardstock.


"Christmas Clara" was stamped on Neenah Smooth cardstock and coloured with Copic markers. Last time I coloured her I made her a brunette, so I thought it would be a nice change to give her blonde hair this time. :) I gave the Nutcracker and her hair bows a nice coat of Stardust Stickles, and then popped her up on foam squares.


Copics: Skin: E000, E00, E11, R20 Hair: E50, Y21, Y23, Y26, E31, E33, E37, E59 Dress and bows: R22, R27, R46, R59 Nutcracker: E51, E53, E57, R22, R27, R46, R59, YG00, G20, G94, G99, C9, C5, C3

I hope you plan to play along with the challenge this week...if you use a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp on your project, then you could be the lucky winner of "Christmas Clara", the stamp I used on my card today!! Just link up your projects at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Blog...and while you're there, make sure to check out all the amazing Krafty Kreations by the incredibly talented Krafty Girls!

In need of some new Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps?? Check out the online store HERE...and remember, that the "Gimmie Kimmie Kits" from the November release are still available for a limited time!

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps "Christmas Clara", sentiment from "Jingle Bell Ride" from Whimsy Stamps

Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, MME, Basic Grey

Ink: Memento, Copics, Black Soot Distress Ink

Embellishments: Pearls, Stickles, die cut tag, material brad, dollar store snowflake ornament

Tools: Martha Stewart border punch

Lavender and Lace

Oh, I am soooo late with this post! I must thank Lacey (and Nikki too!) for her patience with me...I've had some unexpected things come up that required my attention, and so my post had to take a back seat today. Better late than never though...right??

Welcome to another challenge at Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps!! Our challenge this week is "Lavender and Lace".

I decided to pull out one of my favourite Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps, "Say a Prayer" for this challenge. I have to admit that "lavender" is not a colour I have an abundance of in my paper collection. I searched through my papers several times for anything lavender, or even purple, and found this pretty polka-dotted paper from My Mind's Eye (Wild Asparagus). I also found a little scrap of polka-dotted paper from KaiserCraft that I used to paper peice the dress on this beautiful stamp. I chose to use some crocheted "lace"...this is one of my personal favourite embellishments. For finishing touches I distress the edges of the paper with my scissors and Milled Lavender Distress Ink, pulled out a Martha Stewart paper punch, added a few pearls, Prima Hydrangeas, Stardust Stickles, ribbon and a metal sentiment tag from the dollar store. I really wanted to add some machine stitching...another favourite embellishment of mine, but I've run out of white thread! (It's on my shopping list for this weekend, lol)


"Say a Prayer" was stamped with Memento Ink on Neenah Smooth cardstock and coloured with Copic markers. The paper-pieced dress was shaded with Copic markers. When paper-piecing, always remember to add some shading to your patterned paper. Otherwise, those areas of your image will just look flat.

Copics: Skin E000, E00, E11, R20 Hair: E50, Y21, Y23, Y26, E31, E33, E37, E59 Ribbon: C00, C01, C03, C05 Wings: BG0000, V000, RV000, blender Shading on dress: V000, V01, V12, V15, V09

We'd love to have you join in the "Lavender and Lace" challenge this week! You can link up your submission on the Wags 'n Whiskers Challenge Blog...you can also check out all the beautiful cards that the WnW Divas created this week. They are just stunning!

Remember, that the Wags 'n Whiskers Challenges are now open to submission featuring any stamps line. However, if you do use a WnW stamp on your project, then your name will also be entered into a bonus draw for a WnW digital stamp!

Thank you so much for stopping by today friends. It means so much to me that you all continue to keep looking in on my little blog...and your sweet words are so encouraging. :)

Have a wonderful Friday evening, and I hope to see you back tomorrow!

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: Wags 'n Whiskers "Say a Prayer"

Ink: Memento, Milled Lavender Distress Ink, Copic markers

Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, MME, KaiserCraft

Embellishments: Prima flowers, pearls, Stickles, ribbon, metal sentiment tag

Tools: Martha Stewart border punch

Running a little late...

Good morning folks!

I'm running a bit behind schedule today due to some unexpected things that came up last night, and will be late getting my card posted for the Wags 'n Whiskers Challenge.

I will be back later this afternoon with my card, but in the meantime please hop on over the Wags 'n Whiskers Blog to check out the gorgeous projects by the rest of the DT for our "Lavender and Lace" challenge this week.

Hope to see you back later today!

Blessings,

Melanie

A SugarPlum Christmas

Welcome to another Showcase Monday at The Town Scrapper! I was going through my stamps, wondering what I should work with for today's Showcase when I came across this adorable CC Designs SugarPlum stamp called "Ornament Trevor " and he had yet to be inked up... gasp!!! I think I acquired him last year, just after Christmas, so little Trevor has been waiting patiently in his package for a chance to come out and play! It was a bit of a treat for me too, as I completely forgot that I had him...kind of like finding some money in a coat pocket that's been put away since last season. Gotta love finding "treasure"! :)

The pretty paper on my card today is from Imaginesce. The ribbon and jingle bells are dollar store finds. I decided to use some X-Press It Blending Cardstock in place of my beloved Neenah Smooth Cardstock. Everybody in "blogland" seems to LOVE this new paper...including my 10 year old daughter Ainsleigh! (she has actually requested that I keep buying this paper for her, even if I choose to stick with my Neenah, lol) I've had a few sample sheets kicking around for a while now, but personally I've not been thrilled with my previous attempts at colouring on it...I found that I just was not achieving the same depth that I did with the Neenah paper. However, I'm determined to give this paper a fair chance...I usually take a while to adjust to change. So, I think I'll keep playing around with the X-Press It on occasion before I make any final decisions...as of right now, I'm not ready to make the big switch. I'm still a "Neenah girl". :) Paper really is a personal preference...I have friends who love Beckett, Bristol, Canson, Wassau and X-Press It. You really have to try out different papers to find out which works the best for you. I did find that it was easier to create texture in the hair on this paper...since it is not as soft and absorbent as Neenah, the marker strokes tend to remain a bit crisper or more defined. Sometimes, it's easy to over-blend on the Neenah, which is something you want to avoid when you are looking to create texture with your marker strokes.

I used some Distress Ink in Bundled Sage to sponge around the edges of the paper. Phebe has a great selection of Distress Inks at The Town Scrapper...I love these inks, and I rarely make a card without reaching for them. Stardust Stickles were applied to Trevor's ornaments.

Copics: Skin: E0000, E000, E00, E11, R20 Hair: E50, E30, E31, E33, E37, E59 Clothes: G20, G82, G85, G99, B91, B95, B97, B99, E40, E41, E42, E43, E47 Shoes: E50, E5, E21, E25, E47 Ornaments: Y00, Y11, Y21, Y23, YG00, YG11, G14, G05, BG0000, BG10, BG11, BG72, BG75, R20, R22, R27, R46, R59

Make sure to check out what the other Scrapettes have created for today's Showcase on The Town Scrapper Blog...these ladies always make such gorgeous projects with the product lines available at The Town Scrapper.

To arrange a visit to The Town Scrapper or to place an order, you can contact Phebe via telephone at 519-882-0623 or by email at info@townscrapper.com.

Have a wonderful Monday...and thanks for stopping by!!

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamp: CC Designs "Ornament Trevor"

Ink: Memento, Copics, Bundled Sage Distress Ink

Paper: X-Press It, Bazzill, Imaginesce

Embellishments: Ribbon, bells, Stardust Stickles

November Release Blog Hop at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!!

I always get so excited for release day at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!! This month, Kimmie has another fantastic batch of stamps that I know you are going to love...there are six new "Krafty Girls" by artist Annie Rodrigue (each comes with a co-ordinating sentiment and accessory stamp) and five new Miles the Mouse stamps by artist Steven Leary (two of these stamps also come with sentiments). The stamps are now available for purchase, and Kimmie has put together a fantastic blog hop today to celebrate...complete with prizes!! The Krafty Girls, our FABULOUS Krafty Guests and our LOVELY Junior Krafty Girls have been busy creating some gorgeous projects for today's blog hop...just wait until you see them!

The hop begins over at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Blog, where you will find a complete list of all the blogs on today's hop. As you travel around, make sure to leave comments on each and every blog for your chance to win a package of the new stamps!

If you arrived here after visiting the super sweet and very talented Angie, then you are on the right track! If not, just start over at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Blog so that you don't miss out on any of the blogs...everybody's projects are fantastic and I know you will want to see each and every one!

My card today features "Lavender the Quilter" by Annie Rodrigue. This stamp brings back so many great memories from when I was little. I have never been much of a quilter, but my mom and both my grandmothers made beautiful quilts. I used to love visiting my grandmother as a little girl...and I was always excited to see her big quilting hoop set up in her living room. She used to let me "hide" under the folds of all the material while she stitched away...it was my little "fort". I very much appreciate all the hours of work that go into handmade quilts...they are such a work of art. Lavender has obviously been a very busy quilter...just look at that beautiful patchwork design! Those pretty papers are from My Mind's Eye (So Sophie). The weight and texture of these papers is wonderful.


"Lavender" was stamped with Memento Ink on Neenah smooth cardstock and coloured with Copics. Walnut Stain Distress Ink was applied to all paper edges with my Inkssentials Blending Tool. Lavender also comes with the sentiment "You're Sew Sweet", and two accessory stamps...a thimble and a pincushion.


Copics...quite a long list today! Skin: E000, E00, E11, R20 Hair: E50, E30, E31, E33, E37, E59 Dress: RV000, V00, V01, V91, V93, BV29 Chair: E50, E40, E41, E42, E43, E47, Quilt: Yellow Blocks: E50, Y21, Y23, Y26, YR31, E33 Teal Blocks: BG000, BG10, BG11, BG72, BG75 Green Blocks: G20, BG93, BG96, B99 Mauve Blocks: RV000, V01, V91, V95, R83

I also have a special guest on my blog today....my daughter and Junior Krafty Girl Ainsleigh!! I always love spending crafty time with my daughter for these blog hops...we have a great time colouring up the images together. :) Ainsleigh's favourite image from this release is "Annie the Artist". Ainsleigh is quite the little artist herself...she spends hours a week creating beautiful illustrations. Ainsleigh stamped "Annie" on Neenah paper and coloured her with my Copic markers. "Annie's" easel actually comes blank, so you can add whatever you like to her canvas. Ainsleigh loves drawing Manga characters, so she decided to add a pretty Manga eye to her canvas...I think it's FANTASTIC! Ainsleigh picked out some fun papers from Echo Park for her card, and added a hand-written sentiment. She also decided to try her hand at colouring on some X-Press It Blending Cardstock. Ainsleigh LOVES this paper for colouring...I'm still undecided on it, lol. She has requested that I keep buying it for her. :)

Beautiful job my dear!! Ainsleigh prepared her own sketch ahead of time...she even had it labelled with colours for her carstock choices. :) I'm thinking I may have her design some sketches for me sometime. I really love her choice of black cardstock for matting...it really makes those bright colours in the paper pop!

After you are done hopping around, make sure to stop by the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Online Store to do some Krafty Shopping!! For those of you who just "gotta have it all", you will once again have the option to buy the new Moonlight Whispers stamps or the new Miles the Mouse stamps as complete sets, and at a discounted price to boot!! Just click on the "Gimmie Kimmies Kit" option...easy one-click shopping!!

Ok, time for me to send you off to visit my dear friend Krista's blog...just wait until you see what gorgeous project she has created with one of the new November images!! Oh, and don't forget to leave those comments!

Thanks for joining in the fun today...enjoy the rest of the hop!

Blessings,

Melanie

Melanie's Card:

Stamps: Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps "Lavender"

Ink: Memento, Copics, Distress Ink in Walnut Stain

Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, My Mind's Eye (So Sophie)

Embellishments: Prima flowers, machine stitching, pearls

Tools: Corner rounder punch

Ainsleigh's Card:

Stamps: Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps "Annie"

Ink: Memento, Copics

Paper: X-Press It, Bazzill, Echo Park

"Funky Fibres"...and another sneak peek!!

Happy weekend!! It's an even happier weekend because tomorrow is the official release of the brand new November Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!!!

We have a double-your-fun challenge this Saturday at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Blog, because all the Krafty Grils and Krafty Guests are also giving you one last sneak peek at the new stamps on their cards today! Our wonderful hostess today is none other my lovely friend and fellow Krafty Girl Krista VanTol . Krista is quite the clever gal...her challenge is called "Funky Fibres" and it fits in beautifully with several of the brand new "Krafty Girl" stamps by artist Annie Rodrigue!

Today, I have used the lovely "Sabrina the Spinner" on my card...I LOVE this stamp! I have never personally attempted to "spin" wool, but I think it would be a lot of fun! I can picture Sabrina sitting in her log cabin...or maybe even her "soddie" (did you read the "Little House" series when you were younger??)...quietly spinning the fleece into yarn while a lovely fire is crackling away in the fireplace. Sometimes I think it would be wonderful to live in a simpler time without all the hectic schedules, cell phones and noise...but electricity, plumbing and medical advances are enough to put a halt to those thoughts! lol The design paper is from My Mind's Eye (So Sophie). I wove some "funky" yarns through the crocheted trim, and also used the yarn to fill the little wooden spools that came in a package of fun buttons.

"Sabrina" was stamped on Neenah paper with Memento ink and coloured with Copic markers. Her dress was paper-pieced (paper is from Pink Paislee) and then shaded with Copic markers. I'm not thrilled with the background...I was a bit heavy-handed with the Distress Inks. I was also trying out a different light source in these photos...not sure I love it. I think I'll pull out my original light for tomorrow's pictures.

Copics: Skin: E0000, E000, E00, E11, R20 Hair: E50, E30, E31, E33, E37, E59 Shading on dress: E40, E41, E43, E47 Spinning wheel: E50, E41, E43, E47, E25, E99, E59

We'd love to see your "Funky Fibres" submissions this week...if you make sure to use a Kraftin' Kimmie stamp (you can purchase them HERE) on your project, then you could be the lucky winner of "Mona the Seamstress", the stamp Krista used on her stunning card this week! Make sure to visit the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Blog to see the fabulous creations by the rest of the Krafty Girls and Krafty Guests!

Make sure to join us tomorrow for the release day blog hop!

Thanks so much for stopping by today friends.

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps "Sabrina the Spinner"

Ink: Memento, Copics, Distress Ink (Antique Linen, Walnut Stain)

Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, Pink Paislee, My Mind's Eye

Embellishments: Crocheted trim, yarn, mini wooden spools, ribbon, machine stitching

November Previews...Round Two!!

(This is post #2 for me today! Please feel free to scroll back to see the Wags 'n Whiskers challenge for this week!)

Welcome back for another round of previews for Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps! (Links for all of today's sneak peeks can be found at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Blog.) The official release day is this Sunday, and we will be having our usual release day blog hop...hope you plan to join us! We'll also have one more round of previews tomorrow during our weekly challenge.

My card today features "Mona the Seamstress", one of six new stamps by artist Annie Rodrigue. I adore the old sewing table Mona has...actually, my friend has an antique sewing table that she is giving to me! (I just need to get my van over to her house to pick it up.) It looks very similar to the one sweet Mona has. The papers on my card are from The Paper Loft. I couldn't resist adding some machine stitching to this card, as it is just so fitting...it also happens to be one of my favourite embellishments. :) I had a perfect little antique sewing machine button that has been kicking around in my button stash for a little while now. The little chipboard spool and needle were lightly shaded with my Copic markers, wound with embroidery floss and adhered with Scor Tape.



Mona was stamped on Neenah smooth paper and coloured with Copic makers. Her little spectacles were given a coat of Glossy Accents. Believe it or not, I actually made it through a card without adding Stickles!! lol

Copics: Skin: E0000, E000, E00, E11, R20 Hair: E50, E30, E31, E33, E37, E59 Clothes: B000, B91, B97, BG000, BG10, Bg72, BG75 Sewing machine and "metal" parts of table: C00, C1, C3, C5, C9 Table: E40, E41, E42, E43, E47, E59 Cloth: G20, BG93, G94

Are you loving these new stamps??? I adore this release...but then again, I adore every release, lol. You won't have to wait much longer...the new November stamps will be available for purchase on Sunday.

In the meantime, hop on over to the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Blog to visit the other Krafty Girls and Krafty Guests who have sneak peeks to share with you today!

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and enjoy the rest of your Friday!!

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps "Mona the Seamstress"

Ink: Memento, Copics, Walnut Stain Distress Ink

Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, The Paper Loft

Embellishments: Machine Stitching, "Dress It Up" button, embroidery floss, Maya Road chipboard spool and needle, crocheted trim

Tools: Spellbinders