Happy Owl-oween...a Kraftin' Kimmie Sneak Peek and Challenge!

Welcome back to our FOURTH and final day of August Kraftin' Kimmie Peeks! We have TWO adorable new sets to share with you today from artist, Becky Pearce: 

HAPPY OWL-OWEEN: This set features three main images, several smaller accessory stamps and five sentiments for a total of 13 stamps.

HARVEST BLESSINGS: This set features three main pumpkin images, faces that you can stamp on the pumpkins if you choose, several smaller accessory stamps and four sentiments for a total of 13 stamps.

It's also challenge day and our hostess is Krafty Girl, Tangii! As always during release week, the challenge is ANYTHING GOES! So create a card, scrapbook page or altered item with any stamp but if you use a Kraftin' Kimmie stamp you'll double your chances to WIN!! You have a week to play with this challenge and at the end of the month, we'll announce a WINNER from all of the weekly challenges for August! We hope you can play along for your chance to WIN a $20 Gift Certificate to use on ANYTHING you want in the shop...link up your submissions at the KKS Blog. 

The AUGUST LIVE RELEASE PARTY  starts tonight at 6pm EST!! Hope you plan to come...just click on the link to take you to the FB page!

My card today features a combination of the two sets. The owl, sentiment and stars are from Happy Owl-oween, and the bats are from Harvest Blessings. The fun coordinating paper is from Doodlebug. The image was coloured initially with Copics and then touched up with Polychromos. 

The inside of my card includes a sentiment and the ghosts from Happy Owl-oween. 

Listed below are all the Krafty Girls and Guests who have projects to share today. While you're hopping around be sure to leave a comment because we are giving away a gift voucher!!! You could WIN some Krafty $$$ to spend at the shop!!!! There will be one winner from all the comments this week and it will be announced at the party tonight!

Thanks for visiting!

Blessings, 

Melanie

Vanessa Vampire...a Kraftin' Kimmie Sneak Peek!

If you are a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps fan, you'll know that AUGUST is always our HALLOWEEN release and it's probably our most popular release of the YEAR! If you're new to KKS, you're in for a fabulous treat! We are so excited to share this week's sneak peeks featuring the 2016 August Release stamp sets!!!

Today, the Krafty Girls are kicking things off with a couple of FANG-TASTIC sets from artist Annie Rodrigue called VALENTINA and VANESSA VAMPIRE! Each set comes with a stunning new vampire image plus 5 or 6 coordinating sentiments!!

At the end of my post, you will find links to all the Krafty Girls and Guest who have goodies to share with you today. While you're there, be sure to leave some love at each stop because one lucky commenter is going to WIN a gift voucher to the krafty shop! 

ALL of our brand new clear August release stamp sets will be available on Saturday night after the LIVE Online Release Party which begins at 6pm EST! I hope you can come hang out with us and have lots of krafty fun!!

Here's my sneak peek featuring Vanessa Vampire...isn't she awesome?! She was stamped in Memento Desert Sand Ink and coloured with Copics. I added the shading to her eyes with Polychromos coloured pencils. 

Here's a look at the full stamp set: 

As promised, here's the list of today's sneak peeks: 

Thanks for visiting!

Blessings, 

Melanie

Butterfly Dreams Tag

Welcome to another Wonderful Wednesday at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps...the theme is ANYTHING GOES!! So pull out your Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps and join in the fun!!

For your Wonderful Wednesday submission, you can use any stamp, any theme, any style, any design any project....it's totally up to you!! It must be a NEW creation and you can enter on the KKS Blog.  At the end of the month, one random winner will be chosen from all the submissions for the whole month and will receive a $20 Gift Card to the shop!!! 

Oh...in case you hadn't heard, the August sneak peeks start next week, so make sure to stay tuned!! Best way to stay up to date on the latest KKS news?? Join us at our Facebook Page by clicking "like"! 

I decided to pull out the beautiful Butterfly Dreams set by Becky Pearce to make a tag.  I started by sponging the Ranger tag with various distress inks and then spritzed with water. I then tore some Graphic 45 design paper and distressed it further by folding, inking and spritzing. I stamped two of the butterflies from the set in a light ink and coloured them with Polychromos coloured pencils. It's hard to tell from the picture, but the wings were given dimension by adding foam dots. 

If you need a bit of extra mojo, we post a SKETCH each month. You do not need to use the sketch, but if you choose to use it on any submission during the month, you'll get an additional chance to win the gift card. ;) Here's a look at this month's sketch. 

Hope you plan to play along...check out the KKS blog for more WW inspiration!

Blessings, 

Melanie

Seeing Green at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps

Hi everyone! Welcome to another challenge at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps...this week's theme is "GREEN"!  We invite you to join in the challenge for a chance to WIN the monthly prize of a $20 gift card to the KKS Shop...feel free to enter as many times as you wish. You will have until August 5th at 11:55 pm EST to get your entries in!

A few items of note: 

Have you joined the Krafty Friends Facebrook group? It's the best place to keep up with all the latest news as well as sharing YOUR creations and getting inspired by other Krafty Friends!

This week's Frugal Friday specials are UP! Every Friday Kimmie puts a selection of stamps on sale at up to 50% off!! This is a great way to make a dent in your wish list. ;)

For this week's "Green" challenge, I pulled out two older stamps that I absolutely love. This ghoulish portrait was created by combining Hattie and Fabulous Frames 1.  In order to fit Hattie into the frame, I manipulated the width of the stamp by slightly pulling on either side before sticking it to my acrylic block. The frame was stamped in Memento Dessert Sand. I then created a mask by immediately stamping the frame on another piece of cardstock.  I cut out the inner portion of the frame from the mask and stuck it over my good image.  I then inked up Hattie and stamped her right over the mask to create the portrait. The image was coloured in Copics. I also added some additional shading with coloured pencils and Conte crayons. The background was created with Copics. I selected several colours and applied dots of ink with a "pouncing" motion. After multiple layers, I pounced the colourless blender over the entire background to create a watercolour effect. 

Time to go get inky and enter our Green challenge....hop on over the the KKS Blog for more inspiration from the Krafty Girls!!

Thanks for visiting,

Blessings, 

Melanie

You Make Life Sweet...a Kraftin' Kimmie Wonderful Wednesday Post!

Welcome to another Wonderful Wednesday at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps. The theme, as always, is ANYTHING GOES. 

Your submission can use any stamp, be any theme, any style, any design, be a card, a scrapbook page, an altered item....you name it!! It must be a NEW creation and you can enter on the KKS blog until August 2nd at midnight. At the end of the time period, one random winner will be chosen from all the submissions for the whole month and will receive a $20 Gift Card to the shop!!! I hope you plan to play along!

Don't forget...in addition to the weekly Krafty Challenges & Wonderful Wednesdays,there will be a monthly SKETCH. The sketch will last all month long and if you use it in ANY of our Challenges or WW's during that month you will get an additional chance to win a store gift card! Please note, you do NOT have to use the sketch, it's just a little extra boost for your mojo if you need it!

For my card this week, I combined three different sets. The adorable little ladybug is from Bug Buddies 2 a rubber stamp set by Emilie Goulet. The gorgeous rustic frame is from Fabulous Frames 1  a rubber set by Annie Rodrigue. The sentiment is from one of our new clear stamp sets by Becky Pearce called Love Story Sentiments.  The images were stamped on Neenah cardstock in Memento Desert Sand ink and coloured with Copics. Then sentiment was stamped in Versafine ink. 

Thanks for visiting! For more Wonderful Wednesday inspiration, pop on over to the KKS blog to see what my teammates created!

Blessings, 

Melanie 

Book Dragon...July Release Hop at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!

Welcome to the release day blog hop at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!! The brand new clear stamp sets for July are now available for purchase at the online shop!

You'll see all the following sets featured on today's hop (the complete hop list can be found at the bottom of my post):  

• Witch Willa and Witch Wanda by Annie Rodrigue 
• Book Dragon by Emilie Goulet 
• Make Your Own Magic by Cheryl Grant
• Unicorns and Rainbows by Becky Pearce

For those stampers who "need it all", make sure to check out the July Gimme Kimmies Kit which includes the entire release at a discount...this special bundle is only available for a limited time and while supplies last!

I used the adorable new Book Dragon by Emilie Goulet on today's card. I stamped the image in Memento Desert Sand on Neenah cardstock and coloured him with copics. I used my favourite sentiment from the set...I'm a big Tolkien fan!! 

Here's a look at the stamp set: 

When you're done hopping today, make sure to pop over to the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Online store to place your order! As promised, here's the complete hop list: 

Oh...one more thing you'll want to know about!! Kimmie is taking preorders for the SURPRISE KRAFTY GUEST KIT!! This kit includes a bunch of holiday krafty goodies in addition to a brand new 4x4 clear stamp set for the KKS Christmas release!! Those who order this kit will be invited to join the Krafty Girls as a GUEST DESIGNER for the month of September...that means YOU will be participating in release week previews and blog hop!! Additionally, you will be invited to a private Facebook group where we will be preparing for the release! You can find FULL DETAILS at the KKS shop HERE. Remember, this is a PREORDER, and the deadline is July 17th. Kits will ship mid August. The last group of stampers who ordered the previous Krafty Guest Kit had a blast...we LOVED hanging out with them. Don't miss out on all the fun! 

Thanks for visiting!

Blessings, 

Melanie

Make Your Own Magic...a Kraftin' Kimmie Preview!

Welcome to Day THREE of the July Kraftin' Kimmie Previews...today we are sharing a set by artist Cheryl Grant called MAKE YOUR OWN MAGIC featuring Lucas, Lexi and their little puppy! There are three main images plus FIVE coordinating sentiments!

You'll see today's set featured by the Krafty Girl Design Team and guests in today's blog hop...the full set of links is listed at the end of this post. While you're visiting the blogs, be sure to comment because one lucky krafty person is going to WIN a gift card to the shop!

I chose to feature Lucas and the puppy on my card today. This piece was an exercise in experimentation with new mediums! A few months ago, I purchased a full set of 120 Faber Castell Polychromos coloured pencils but had not actually played with them yet. I stamped the images on hot-pressed water colour paper in Memento Desert Sand and coloured the entire image in pencils...not a single Copic marker was used anywhere on this project! (*gasp!!!)  I used a little odourless mineral spirits and a paint brush to blend...this technique allows you to add multiple layers as long as you don't burnish by pressing too hard with your pencils.  I then added a background with yet another new medium just purchased this past weekend...Derwent Inktense blocks. I only purchased a set of 12, but the nature of these blocks allows you to mix any combination similar to watercolours. The package actually includes little wells to use as a mixing palette. Even though you can mix and apply the medium similar to watercolour paint, this medium is completely unique...it is ink. That means that once a layer is dry, it will not budge. You can keep applying additional layers without disturbing underlying washes. I used a combination of greens, blues and yellows to create the washes for the background. I have a lot to learn with these mediums, so figured I might as well dive in and start learning!! 

Here's the full set: 

All of our new July clear stamp sets will be released on Saturday night at the KKS Online Shop! Be sure to join us at the LIVE Online Release Party beginning at 6:00 pm EST to help celebrate the new release, check out lots of krafty kreations, have a chance to win some prizes and just have fun with the Krafty team! We hope to see you there!

Thanks for visiting...here's the list for today's hop: 

Blessings, 

Melanie