Thinking Outside The "Square"

Time for another challenge at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps...and today it's my turn to play hostess! My challenge, should you choose to accept it (lol...sorry), is "Creative Cuts"...I would like to see you thinking outside of the typical "square" card format. If you're like me, it's so easy to fall back on the square-based card, but let's try something outside of our comfort zones this week! You could make any card with "fancy" folds or even a shaped card. (Lot's of your larger Nesties will lend themselves towards making some really fun shaped card bases!)

My card this week is a "side step card". I have done a couple of these cards before and I quite liked the result. You may have to do a little calculating to figure out which dimensions will best suit your images. The first time I saw one, I was a bit intimidated to try, but they really are not all that complicated...once you get past the little bit of initial measuring/math, lol! This card measures approximately 6x5.5. I'll show you a picture of the folds/cuts at the end of this post.

I have had this idea floating around in my head since Kimmie first showed us the mermaids from her summer stamp kit, and I thought this card would be perfect for it! This little scene features "Billy Blyth" and "Cordelia" (who is part of the Summer Stamp Kit)...what a pair!! There's Billy going about his pirate-y business...maybe looking for a safe place to bury his treasure chest...when he spies a gorgeous gal perched on a rock out in the water. Well "Blimey" (a sentiment you will find in Kimmie's Pirate Sentiments)...he's absolutely smitten! I stamped all my images on Neenah cardstock and coloured them with Copic markers.

Here's a side shot to show the folds on this side-step card. (and the foam squares under Cordelia's tail...that DON'T show from the front, lol)

Now, I borrowed a trick from Krafty Girl Michele and did not stamp the pupil of Billy's eye...I added it in after with a Copic multiliner so that he is looking right at Cordelia. The "sandy beach" he is standing on is just kraft cardstock...I crumpled it up to loosen the fibres and then separated the layers to expose the interior which was then touched up with some Distress Inks to accent the texture. Now, I wish I could take credit for this stroke of creative genius, but I'm a firm believer in giving credit where credit is due! I saw this technique while visiting the very talented Lorie at her blog "The Thinkin' Spot" (here's the LINK to her gorgeous project using this technique). LOL...guess I "borrowed" a lot of ideas for this card, but that's the beauty of the blogging world...you can be inspired by so many wonderfully talented artists who are willing to share their secrets and tips. Thanks so much ladies!

Cordelia's tail received a generous coat of Smooch Illuminate and some StarDust Stickles as did her hair adornments. I drew a rock for her to sit on, and then added some fun wave stickers.

The Krafty Girls have really rocked this challenge...every week I'm just amazed by the talent on this team! You will find pictures of all their "Creative Cuts" on the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Blog...you can click on the links to go to their individual blogs for details on their projects. You are sure to be inspired to participate in our challenge after seeing their creative genius!

You can link your project up at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps blog...just make sure to use a KK stamp if you want to be in the running for this week's prize. What could you win?? Well, since I'm the hostess this week you will get to choose between "Billy Blythe" or "Cordelia" as your prize! We can't wait to see what you come up with!

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps: "Billy Blythe", "Pirate Sentiments", "Cordelia" and mermaid accessory stamps
Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, Kraft cardstock
Ink: Memento, Copic markers, Distress Inks (Tea Dye, Brushed Corduroy, Stormy Sky)
Embellishments: Jolee's wave sticker, Stardust Stickles, Smooch Illuminate

June Release Blog Hop at Wags 'n Whiskers!!

Today is the day!! The new June release is available for purchase at Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps! This month, Lacey and Nikki are bringing you a batch of images by their newest artist Emma Metcalfe! We're celebrating all this excitement today with a fantastic BLOG HOP!

Now, you should have arrived here after visiting the lovely Karen. If not, then just hop over to the beginning at the Wags 'n Whiskers Blog. While you are hopping, make sure to leave comments at every blog on the way as there will be four lucky winners chosen from four different blogs...and each of those four winners will be allowed to choose two new images!

Here's the order of today's HOP:

Wags 'n Whiskers blog
Debbie
Mag
Lacey
Sharon
Jeanette
Michele
Chris
Mina
Nikki
Joy
Karen
Melanie
Crystal
Back to the Wags blog and comment on your favourite design!

For today's card, I chose to work with "Toby's Big Day"...what an adorable birthday image!! The papers are October Afternoon, and the sentiment is from another clear set I had in my stash of stamps.


I coloured Toby with Copic markers and created a "dotty" background after cutting him out with Spellbinders. The present was paper pieced with more October Afternoon paper, and shaded with a Copic marker.


Are you loving these images?? I know we are...they've been so much fun to play with! Your next stop is the talented Crystal who has a gorgeous project to show you today! Remember to leave comments along the way for your chance to win!

When you are finished hopping, you can buy these sweet new June images HERE!

Blessings stampers...and have fun!

Melanie

Stamps: Wags 'n Whiskers "Toby's Big Day"
Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, SU, October Afternoon
Ink: Memento, Copic markers
Tools: Spellbinders

Wags 'n Whiskers June Sneak Peeks: Day Two!

Welcome back! We've got another round of sneak peeks for the "Let's Party" June release at Wags 'n Whiskers. The official release day is tomorrow, and we have a great BLOG HOP planned for you, so make sure to schedule us into your day. Nikki and Lacey are introducing their brand new artist Emma Metcalfe and her line of W&W stamps called "Millie and Friends". This release will be available in both rubber and digital stamp format...but there is only a limited number of the rubber version, so you'd better get your's ordered quickly

This image is called "Ellie and Squeak", and it is one of my favourites from the new release! When my son was little (he's now 17!), he was obsessed with elephants, so I have a bit of a soft spot for them. Once again, I went with a 5x5 base (if you stopped by yesterday, you will know that I'm using this release to create a gift set of cards) and this gorgeous October Afternoon paper. I used just a little bit of ribbon, but no bow as I want to keep these cards "low profile". My plan is to make a gift package to hold this set, which is why I would like to keep them clean and simple. I added a sentiment from a clear set I've had for quite some time (got it from a clearance bin at Michaels).

After colouring the elephant and mouse, I cut them out with my Nesties using the "out of the box" technique again. I then added in the grass and sky.

Are you excited about this release? The Divas have had a lot of fun playing with Emma's new images...you will find links to their sneak peeks over at the Wags 'n Whiskers blog.

See you back tomorrow for the release day BLOG HOP! Oh, and check out this post HERE for your chance to win some of these fantastic digital stamps!

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: Wags 'n Whiskers "Ellie and Squeak"

Ink: Memento, Copic markers

Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, October Afternoon

Embellishments: Ribbon (Daisy Buckets and Walmart), paper tag

Tools: Spellbinders

Wags 'n Whiskers June Previews: Day 1!!

It's time for the "Let's Party" June release sneak peeks at Wags 'n Whisker Stamps. Nikki and Lacey are introducing a brand new artist to the Wags 'n Whiskers family...Emma Metcalfe!! Emma is an illustrator for children's' books over in Europe, and you are going to fall in love with her sweet designs! This new W&W stamp line is called "Millie and Friends" and will be available for purchase on Friday June 25, 2010, and it will be available in both rubber and digital versions!

I just adore these cute images. I am planning to use this whole release to create a set of 5x5 cards for a gift set. I am also attempting to go with a "clean and simple" layout for these cards, because I'd like to make a gift package for them when they are all complete. They will fit into a box much easier without a lot of bulky embellishments!

Today, I am showing you "Purrfect Day". I cut out the image with my Nesties using the "out of the box" technique. (here's a tutorial you can follow) Now, I had tried this once before but had some disastrous results, so I was a little intimidated to try it again. However, I really love the effect so I thought it was time to try it again! The pretty paper is from October Afternoon...I am really loving this paper! The sentiment comes with this cute image.

I sponged in a background with my Distress Inks, but it didn't turn out as smoothly as I had hoped...and it doesn't quite show up the same in the photo as in real life. I used a bit of both Spun Sugar and Bundled Sage. I then went over it all with Antique Linen, including the coloured areas, just to take away a bit of the intensity of the Copics.



You will find a list of the Divas participating in today's sneak peeks over at the Wags 'n Whiskers blog. Join us tomorrow for another day of previews and then on Friday for our Release Day Blog Hop!

You still have time to enter for a chance to win images from the June Release...check out this post HERE for details!

See you back tomorrow!

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: Wags 'n Whiskers Digital Stamp "Purrfect Day"

Ink: Copic markers, Distress Inks

Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, October Afternoon

NewsFlashes

Hi friends! I don't have a card to share with you today, but thought I'd pop on for a second to bring you a few news tidbits!

• The Town Scrapper: Yesterday was Showcase Monday at the Town Scrapper, so make sure to go and see all the fantastic projects by the Scrapettes! Also, don't forget our challenge this week....it's a fantastic Sketch challenge! The prize up for grabs this week is a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp...Lilith!! (you can check out this post here to see a card I made with Lilith a while back...but don't use that sketch!! LOL...That was a previous post for KKS!)


• Wags 'n Whiskers is gearing up for the June release this week!! This release features a brand new artist...and it's going to be a DIGITAL RELEASE! Sneak peeks start this Wednesday, followed by a blog hop on Friday...the official release day! Visit this post here to find out how you could win some new images! Oh, and don't forget about our current colour challenge...check that out here! You still have time to enter!


• Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps: Still lots of time to enter our weekly challenge...a great colour combination this week! Check it out here. Don't forget Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is also the sponsor for Cute Card Thursday this week (a sketch challenge)...so you can double your chances of winning this week!


• Sundays With Crissy: We just started a brand new challenge this week...we'd like to see you create a monochromatic project! (you can scroll back or click here to see my post from Sunday!) Make sure to read the fine print, because Crissy has changed up the dates a little...this is an extended challenge, so it gives you more time to participate. Oh, and she's adding new prizes too! For the details, read my Sunday post and/or hop on over to Sundays With Crissy!

Ok...that's about it for today! I'll be back tomorrow with a sneak peek for Wags 'n Whiskers' June release!

Blessings!

Melanie

Monochromatic Musings

Welcome stampers...hope you are all enjoying your Sunday. Happy Father's Day to the men in your life...or to any male readers?? (not sure if any guys stop by, but I sure didn't want to leave you out!) We are back with yet another new challenge at Sundays With Crissy. This week the amazingly talented Mary Giemza has challenged us to create a monochromatic project! I was really excited to try out this technique, as I've seen some gorgeous monochromatic creations around blogland.

This week, I've worked with one of Crissy's digital stamps available from Wags 'n Whiskers. This is "Ride 'Em Ryan". I thought this image would lend itself beautifully to the monochromatic challenge. I was thinking of those Old West "wanted" posters....something weathered, masculine and coloured in shades of brown.

In keeping with the overall "brown" colour scheme, I went with a Kraft cardstock base, dark brown Bazzill cardstock for matting a scrap of DP from Bo Bunny. I had a lot of fun distressing that piece of Kraft cardstock behind Ryan. I crumpled it up into a ball and rolled it around in my palms to loosen the fibres of the paper. I then misted it with water and ran it through two shades of Distress Ink (Antique Linen and Tea Dye). After drying it with a hair dryer (umm, I should probably get a heat tool, huh?? lol), I applied more Tea Dye ink followed by some Brushed Corduroy with my Tim Holtz blending tool. I also inked all paper edges with Brushed Corduroy.


I started off colouring with my Copic markers, but decided to add in additional shading with my Conte Crayons. I also ran a little more Brushed Corduroy over the entire image in an attempt to antique it a bit more.


You should see what the rest of Crissy's Crew has created for Mary's Monochromatic challenge...be prepared to sit and soak it all in. These ladies are so very talented, and I know you will find some inspiration when you check out their work over at Sundays With Crissy!

We're changing things up a little for this challenge...you will have until midnight (EST) on July 17, 2010 to create a project for this challenge. Crissy has also added to her fantastis prize package from LSL Diversified this month...the winner will also get a free Crissy Armstrong Digital Image!! Not only that, but Crissy will have a second prize for this extended challenge...a beautiful pack of paper plus a free Digital Image! The rules?? You MUST use one of Crissy's Digital Images on your project if you would like your name to be put in the running for this wonderful prize! (although, we do still love to see your creations even if they are featuring other images...there is so much talent out there in blogland!!) So, grab one of Crissy's digis and choose your monochromatic colour scheme...then all you need to do is link up your project over at Sundays With Crissy. We can't wait to see what you make!

(you can purchase Crissy digital images from: Wags 'n Whiskers, Whimsy Stamps or Squigglefly)

Blessings,

Melanie

Digital Stamps: Wags 'n Whiskers "Ride 'Em Ryan" by artist Crissy Armstrong

Ink: Copic markers, Distress Inks (Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Brushed Corduroy)

Paper: Neenah, Kraft cardstock, Bazzill, Bo Bunny

Embellishments: KaiserCraft brads, twine, metal corner embellishments (from the Dollar Store!)

Shades of Summer

Happy Saturday!! Last week, I enjoyed a little "escape" with my friend and current guest Krafty Girl Krista! Our day kicked off with a cup of tea at Starbucks before hitting a couple of great crafty stores. I behaved myself, and just bought some paper, some foam pads for my Tim Holtz blending tool and some more StarDust Stickles!! Lol, this was honestly the highlight of my shopping time, as I was unable to find it in any of my local stores. After lunch, we headed over to Kimmie's place where Andrea also joined us. You should have seen the set up of Copic markers...it was amazing!! (my little collection paled in comparison to both Kimmie and Andrea's) Now, my plan was to be super productive and get a whole bunch of colouring done...yeah, not so much. We just had too much to talk about! Kimmie did show us how to cut easy-mounted stamps out with a hot knife...seriously, I now need a hot knife. It's SOOO much easier than struggling with gooey scissors. Thanks ladies for such a fun day!

Soooo, are you ready for another challenge at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps? Our hostess today is the amazing Jeanne Streiff! She has put together a great challenge for us inspired by the colours of summer...BLUE, TAN and YELLOW.

For my card today, I inked up another mermaid from Kimmie's Summer Mermaid Stamp Kit...hope you already ordered yours, because there are not very many left! This kit has been a huge success...apparently you all LOVE your mermaids!

This lovely gal is "Cordelia". I paired her up with some gorgeous papers from October Afternoon (I grabbed several papers from both Fly A Kite and Thrift Shop and played around until I had a combo I liked.) Now, I stretched the challenge a little...my blues are leaning more towards teal, but that's still in the blue family, right?? (Hope Jeanne agrees! lol) I decided to go with a Kraft cardstock base to make sure to get some "tan" in there! I stitched around all the layers of paper, and covered a little tag in the OA paper for the sentiment, which is also part of the Summer Stamp Kit.

Cordelia seems like quite the little diva! She certainly knows how to accessorize...look at all the hair adornments. This image is great for breaking out the Stickles, rhinestones and pearls...the girl loves her bling! I loaded her up with lots of Smooch Illuminate, StarDust Stickles and Rainfall Stickles (just on the green shells in her hair).

Hope you join us this week in the challenge...you could win Tubing Miles, the stamp Jeanne used on her gorgeous card! Just make sure to use a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp so that you are eligible for the prize (go shopping HERE!!).

You can link up your creation at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Blog where you will also be able to see what the rest of the Krafty Girls have made this week...they are stunning!!

How would you like to DOUBLE your chances of winning?? Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is the sponsor at Cute Card Thursday this week, and it's a sketch challenge! I used their sketch on my Cordelia card today...it's a great layout! So, make sure to enter BOTH challenges this week, and increase your odds of winning!


Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: Kraftin' Kimmie Summer Mermaid Stamp Kit (Cordelia and sentiment)
Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, October Afternoon (Go Fly a Kite and Thrift Shop)
Ink: Memento, Copic markers
Emebellishments: StarDust and Rainfall Stickles, Smooch Illuminate, dollar store metal brad, machine stitching