4.27.2020

Painted Thank You

Welcome back!  I'm so glad you're here!

I know this was a quick turn-around for me but I really wanted to play over at Inspired By - Rainbow of Color;  I used the colors and the sketch.  It's one layer card, here's what I'll be entering ~


Clean, simple, simply said!  I actually received this stamp set as a freebie, I believe on my first order from Concord & 9th.  While I love it, the big bold sentiment has to have the perfect background so it's been unused for way too long (NBUS).  I think this sketch worked perfectly with it though, I'm so glad I found it while I was looking for a "stripe".

   


Thanks so much for stopping and spending a few minutes, I appreciate each and every one of you and it's truly a blessing to be welcomed into such a great community!  Stay safe, stay healthy.

Hugs,
TK

Thanks - for all your support!

Hello, I have another card but first...

I wanted to say that I've been having problems with blogger (again), with comments/replying.  While I believe I'm getting all the comments, I'm not getting the e-mails when they post, which means I can't respond!  Please don't think me rude, I've put in a "help ticket" and hopefully they'll get it fixed soon -- I like responding and having personal contact with each of you!  

OK.  Onto the card!  I used a couple of challenges again, combining the sketch at CTS #369 and colors and patterns from TO #160 to come up with this Thank you card ~


First, I have to say that there's a friend who tends to like these colors so I KNEW I had to try!  While I couldn't get a good fluorish or brocade pattern to work well for the stripes, I think you'll still see the
inspiration easily enough.  I die cut and stacked the sentiment a few times, using a pp for the top layer, matching the base cs.  Here's a close-up (tho' I'd guess you've seen stacked die cuts before - lol) ~


Overall this was pretty QACAS in Darnell-ese!  I could even mass produce this in a few colors!  Hmmm...  Well I hope you like it and it brings a little sunshine to your day!  See you soon!

   

Supplies:
   PTI - Sketched Shapes, Thanks in All Ways
   PC - With Gratitude (one of the original dies that has the hard plate on one side and sponge protecting the outlines of the shapes, probably one of the first ones I bought eons ago - this one's almost antique, Ladies!)

Thanks, Well wishes, Good Health & Hugs,
TK



4.26.2020

Get Well Soon

Hello again!  A quick post to send a card to a couple of challenges.  I started with the sketch over at FMS #432 and added in the pretty colors from CTD #590.  I needed a get well card, and so these fit the bill -- come see ~


I have to admit these were ABSOLUTELY the smallest things I've ever had to mask (birds & flowers) so I'm glad it all turned out.  I also added a bit of sparkle...  


Here's my inspiration -

   

Supplies:
   W+9 - Spring Tags
   PTI - Mini Blooms
   GKD - Scripty Sayings

Thanks for stopping by, stay safe & healthy!

Hugs,
TK

4.25.2020

Prayers 2.0

Good morning!

I wanted to use the same sentiment as a couple of posts ago but get a different look and then I saw my inspiration at Fusion for a field full of flowers.  While the poppy is a great flower for "remembrance", I wanted to use a background that was more muted and calming, since it will be another Sympathy card (yep, I need another one folks...).  As you can see, I used the photo only, not the sketch ~


I used an NBUS stamp set (NBUS #13), white embossed images onto water color paper then did some basic coloring.  To highlight the twig in the lower center and the dandelion seeding, I water colored around the basic image.  I cut an almost full vellum sheet, embossed the sentiment and hid my tape under the major portions of the sentiment to attach it to the card.

Here's a close-up of that shine !


Supplies:
   Alt - Freeform Greenery (NBUS)
   PTI - Big Hugs, Beautiful Blessings
   MFT - Sending Prayers

This card will be sent to two challenges:
   

Thanks for spending a moment of your day with me!

Hugs,
TK



4.23.2020

Birthday Wishes & Hugs

Howdy, hope everyone is well today & enjoying every moment possible - we shall NOT be beaten down by the current situation!

I have a card today that I made awhile ago but wanted to save it until post-Birthday, and I've made it (actually last week!).  This is for my 8 year old grandson, oh my!  Here is my card (made in advance of the "theme" decision) ~


I started by stamping the image, masking it, then layering the stencil over the top to blend the sun rays.  I then removed the stencil but left the mask intact and did some more ink blending to soften everything up and add the sun behind the pilot.  Then I commenced to Copic coloring and stamping.

We couldn't do much for grandson's Birthday, but my middle daughter came up with the idea of a scavenger hunt.  My youngest daughter, his mom, came up with the idea of making the fun "hobbit-themed" so she did a lot of the clues that led him around.  All this to say, my grandson went all over the Tri-Cities escorted by his mom, visited each family member's home, got to do activities, puzzle solving, challenges, hiking, eating meals based on the books and finding his presents!  We had a blast but kept our distance while he was at our locations, but Grandson and daughter had an entire day filled with activities - literally!  I'm pretty sure he won't forget this one, even though he couldn't share with everyone or his friends all at once.

Hope you enjoyed the card, and possibly the story.  Good wishes to each and every one of you!

Supplies:
   Cat's Pajamas - Flying By
   MFT - Sun Rays
   ?? - sorry can't seem to find the "hugs" set...

Hugs,
TK

4.21.2020

Thinking of You

It's a record - Another card - ta da!!  I started making another Sympathy card because I need to make more before they're needed.  While we hope we never have to give one or send one, that just isn't reality.  However, I decided to leave the inside blank so I could leave my options open, I'm not sure if the cs color is just too much for Sympathy.  My card started with wanting to make a cluster of blooms, then I went looking for colors that made me happy and found them at IB - Cute Critters.  While I would've LOVED to have been able to incorporate that teal, I wasn't sure it was right for this card.  Here's the result ~


I seemed to struggle with these "artsy" flowers on my last card, and while I stamped this on watercolor paper, I spritzied the stamp, stamped and then re-stamped which worked better for me.  Hindsight, I also wish that I would've stopped the banner at the left side of the white card -- it just seems to blend too much into the base cardstock (alas my glue was too good and I couldn't get it back up).  I did do some masking so I could add in random greenery here and there -- a close up ~


Supplies:
   Altenew - Brushed Art Florals
   HA - Everyday Sayings

   

Hope everyone is still doing well, staying happily busy in their favorite crafting spot.

Hugs,
TK


4.20.2020

Prayers

Hello, and welcome!  Glad you had time to stop by and chat.  I hope all is well with you and yours.

Today I have another Sympathy card, which was made from a smooshed panel that sat around far too long (I have soooo many more).  Since it has a pretty background, I decided to use a solid/outline image that can easily stand alone.  So I cut down the panel, inked up the stamp, layered it with a die cut sentiment which I chose to put underneath the colored vellum.  I know, a little different but I actually like it.  Here it is !


The vellum is a very pale blue and I think it mellows out the sentiment, and then doesn't appear too stark against the simple background.  Then I added a sentiment inside, and lightly inked the image inside ~

 

There were a couple of sketch challenges that I thought about entering this into, but I was afraid it wasn't close enough so it'll have to stand all by itself.  Thanks for coming to visit!  Til we meet again...

Supplies:
   Stampendous - Agapanthus Cluster
   LI - Stitched Rectangle
   MFT - Prayers stamp/die; Deepest Sympathy

Hugs,
TK

4.19.2020

Teacher

Hello!  Hope all is well with you!  It was a sunny day here, and great for lifting spirits -- hope you saw the sun too.

Today I have a card for a Teacher.  Schools here have been dismissed for the remainder of the year, but I know it hasn't been easy on the teachers who truly love their job.   This card is for those who think of the whole class as their "little ducklings"; those who gather them under their wings and protect our children like they're their own...

Inside sentiment:
The best Teachers teach from the heart, not from just the book.
We appreciate you!

This card will play along at Time Out #159 since Mr Bookworm has a very good start on a library ~


Supplies:
   CB - Bookworm Additions
   PTI - Super Stripes, Teacher's Apple, Back to School
   MFT - Blueprints 27
   LI - Stitched Rectangle


Thank to everyone who shared a moment of your day with me, it's clearly a plus to belong to a wonderful community like this one!

P.S.  I hope you're not having trouble seeing the photos, it appears to be a blogger problem but is only affecting some of us, unknown why, but they have said they're working on it.

Hugs,
TK

4.15.2020

Mom

Howdy, Wonderful World of Bloggie-Land!  I hope everyone is doing well, managing through the "stay home, stay safe" and keeping your hearts uplifted.  It appears that as far as our state, we are at a "leveling" point, or so they are starting to say.  Our area was later to get it and so we are still on the incline but amazinginly a lot fewer cases that I would've expected.  We are an area of 3 cities, and 2 adjacent towns, at the confluence of 3 rivers (in the desert) but over 200,000 people -- so we're doing well with under 500 cases!  My prayer is that all of you are doing the same!

Ok onto the card that you came to visit  (P.S. I hope I'm not too early for posting a Mother's Day card)...


This all came about because I wanted to use the die that Verna gave me in a different way, so I did a partial die cut to make a window, and cut the bottom straight edge with a ruler and exacto knife into gray cs.  I popped up this section over a small section of leftover shaving cream smooshed panel to create a colorful backdrop, but unfortunately you can't see a lot of it!  Iwanted a window box, but I didn't have one so I used a window die, and only cut the top "frame" portion to make my box.  Then I stamped, Copic colored, added WoS and fussy cut out a couple flowers and a frond.  Lastly, I die cut 3 flower outlines from different colors of vellum.  All these were stuffed carefully tucked into the window box.  I stamped and cut a matching label.  Here's a close-up ~

 You can barely see the pinks and lavenders from the shaving cream smoosh in this view.  I stamped the inside sentiment and added a matching border!


I can't tell you how much this card makes me happy!  I'm not usually an overly layer-y type person, but I do like this with all the sparkly flowers.  I like it well enough that I'm entering it at The Flower Challenge #43 Spring/Autumn, my second card.   Hope you've enjoyed it too!  

Supplies:
   SB - Labels 4 (window)
   PS - Grand Madison Window (dissected to make my window box)
   C&9 - Floral & Flutter dies, Wild Flower stamp
   PTI - My Mother, My Friend

Thank you for the visit, and sharing a bit of your day with me, I truly appreciate all of you more than you'll ever know!  You are my inspiration and cheerleaders, and for that I'm thankful.

Hugs,
TK

4.12.2020

Let's Celebrate You

Hello, Everyone!  Hope you all had an amazing Easter, whether sheltering in with a few or with a bunch.  Mine was quiet but  blessed, spent some time with a daughter and Hubbs, eating good food, munching on a bit of chocolate, and time in the craft room - what's not to love there!

Today's card will be sent out to a few challenges -- Color Throwdown #588, The Flower Challenge #43 Spring/Autumn and NBUS #13.  I hope you like it...


And to bring the outside to the inside...


If you didn't follow that, I'm not surprised!  You see, the sentiment is from the same set as the dancing girl on the inside -- and isn't it great that she's carrying a basket of Spring flowers?  The colors are easy to find, the flowers -- well yah -- the NBUS?  First are the dies I used for the matting, a gift from a sweet friend (VA's Creative Clutter), thanks Verna!  Secondly, the sentiment, which is from the dancing girl set used on the inside, is also NBUS.

    
Supplies:
   SSS Spring Flowers
   MFT - Sweet Besties (NBUS)
   SB Labels 4 (NBUS)

Thank you for all your kindness, you are all so amazingly!

Hugs,
TK

4.10.2020

Twofer Challenge #26 - Rain/Umbrella

Today I have the glorious honor of being Guest Designer at Twofer Challenge!  I want to welcome you all, and hope your enjoy your visit!  Here's the prompt for this month ~


While the thought of what I was going to use as my "focal tool/image" was easy, my ideas flowed all over the place but I finally landed on these.  My first card took on the traditional use of the umbrella...


I used a recent sketch I'd seen which gave me a starting point for my design.  From there I did some water color smooshing using oxides thinned with shimmer mist, cut out the partial circle to give Mr Penguin a stage and added the puddle.  I stamped, colored and fussy cut the penguin then die cut the umbrella in layers, adding a pop of color.  I printed my own sentiment, half on the label and half inside since I didn't have what I wanted -- an encouragement.  Here's the inside ~


For my second card, I went a little untraditional with my umbrella!


I turned that umbrella upside down and made it into a flower basket.  With quite a few April/May Birthdays, I needed to make more and this one fits the bill.  I ink-blended the background, flicked water then finished with the stamped, die cut flowers which are slightly winked.  I then tucked the flowers into the umbrella bowl by cutting the handle off and placing it behind them.

Weird story -- we were given a water fountain that turned out to be HUGE and leaking...  so we decided to dismember the base, place the bowl down on the ground, and remove everything that went up from there (a little girl and boy playing).  Soon it will be a flower basket just like this one with flowers spilling out!  And thus my inspiration...

Now a little hindsight...  I went with blue backgrounds on both and wish I'd have done that a little differently, but since I had rain on the brain, I guess you'll have to give me a pass on that one - lol.



Supplies:
   Both - MFT Layered Umbrella
   Card #1 - MFT Penguins in Paradise, Sizzix Circle die
   Cars #2 - PTI Floral Wrap-Ups stamps/dies, CB - Beautiful Friend


I hope you enjoyed yourself, I've had fun on this challenge and receiving your generous visit!  Bless you all, come again and take care of yourselves - right?!

Hugs,
TK



4.06.2020

Easter Blessings

A quick post for a whole lotta Easter cards!  Howdy, glad you could stop by and I apologize for my rush but days aren't hashing out as I had hoped and time is slipping by.  SO!  I'm going to post several cards for you to peruse so I get them in the mail before it's too late.

The first two speak for themselves -- heat embossing, Zigg water coloring -- each matted a bit different ~


While similar, the matte layout for this one came from CTS #366, with a little artistic license to change it up just a tad by staggering the layers in a southeasterly direction ~


This next one also uses the same sketch.  I heat embossed the sentiment on vellum, then laid it over a heat embossed Easter lily blossom.  Hindsight (don't we all have it), I wish that I had put both on the vellum layer to show a bit more of the Brusho splatters but allow the lily to shine too ~


And speaking of those splatters, don't they remind you of the polka dots on the gnomes over at Fusion - Gnomes?  Gotta love the polka dots, but I love my Brusho splatters too  :o)

Last, but not least, here's a shimmery one ~


Usually our problem is that you can't capture the shimmer.  Here... well the shimmer almost reduces my sentiment and image which are in a stark perfect black.  IRL it doesn't not take away from the sentiment so much, but I do love that shimmer!

    

Supplies:
   PPP, PS and RC - Easter Blessings (yes, all 3)!
   W+9 - He Is Risen

Thank you all SO MUCH for stopping by!  I hope to catch up soon and get a little rhythm back.

Hugs,
TK