Adornit Blog Hop

I'm very excited to be a part of this blog hop. I come from the Queen Kat Designs team. If you started here with me, please take take time to go back to the very beginning at Adornit . I wouldn't want you to miss any of the over 70 SUMMER FAVORITES posted today. Next up is Rebecca Saylor . For the hop, I made what I call a modern vintage layout to remind me of summers past. One of my favorite memories is of my girls and their dolls in their cute little matching nightgowns.
Summer also means being invited to lots of weddings. So I made this matchbox to hold a gift card. I topped the box with the QKD Magic Flamingos stamp. (Details are in the post below.)
And our summer family favorite is a sun and sand vacation. I utilized the QKD Paradise Found stamp set to recreate the moments. Enjoy the rest of your summer and scrap a lot!

QKD Royal Blog Hop Challenge: Create a Box

This week the Design Team was challenged to create or decorate a box so I made a matchbox to hold a gift card for an upcoming wedding. I used the QKD stamp, Magic Flamingos (another Maigan Lynn design).


Did you hop over here from AlienAnessa? I'm near the end of a very creative blog hop. If you started with me, I hope you take time to hop on all of the Design Team blogs by clicking on Queen Kat Designs and working your way back to me. I wouldn't want you to miss a thing! If you'd like to make a box for a chance to win a QKD stamp set, you can learn all about it at the QKD site where you begin the royal blog hop. Next up is Nina.

Deets on the matchbox: I exactly doubled the size of pattern that I found here. I used heavy doubled sided patterned cardstock from My Mind's Eye, the Just Dreamy 2 collection. The Memento Tuxedo Black ink works so well on the QKD acrylic stamps. I used my Spellbinders Nestabilities, some Prismacolor and Copic markers, Color Box Seaglass chalk ink, Offray ribbon, foam adhesive (pop dots) and my ribbon punch to create a festive look with the QKD Magic Flamingos stamped image. The famous doubled sided red tape works well to hold the box together.

The QKD store sale blinkie will be on my sidebar until the end of the sale. Clicking on the blinkie will take you directly to the store. You'll find the Magic Flamingos there as well as lots of other fantastic items. EVERY order over $25 gets a Grab bag worth at least $13.50 while supplies last. Sale runs from 7/22/09 through 7/31/09 or until everything is gone!

Vintage Creations Layout

Remember the fan from a couple of posts ago? Well, here it is on a layout, as promised. I'm a newbie Design Team member (DT'er) in the Vintage Creations group at Scrapbooking and Crafting Friends (SCF). My assignment was to create an example of things to do with B&W Photos. I'm here to tell ya procrastination pays off for me. I was kicking around some ideas when the fan challenge came up during the SCF 24 Hour Crop. I immediately knew I had to use the fan in a vintage layout. Then I discovered the layout also fit the criteria for the Simply Sassy vintage challenge during their 24 Hour Crop at SNR as well as the Camp Songs Summer Camp challenge at Coordinates Collections. Each challenge has it's own criteria and deadline, so I rarely get a perfect fit like this. I'm lovin' it!
Project Materials: B&W photo of my mom's best friend; Basic Grey Porcelain paper collection; green distress ink, vintage cardboard photo frame altered with distress ink.

This and That

Penny (another Royal Stamping Maid) and I are responsible for Saturday's post on the Queen Kat Designs blog , so please check it out. For one thing, you'll learn in more detail, how I came to make this card, using the QKD Princess Carriage Stamp and Sayings Mini Stamp Set.Keepsakes by Melissa is celebrating a blogaversary with a great give-away. I have the site posted under blog candy on my bar to the right. Keep going til you get almost to the bottom of the list--that's where the direct link is to her site.
And here is another blog candy give-away of some beautiful art pieces: http://shellyraewood.blogspot.com/

VICTORIAN FAN

The Scrapbooking and Crafting Friends 24 hour cop hop is over. I monitored my challenge which ended up having 9 entries. I didn't have time to participate in anything other than this fan challenge. We were given the pattern. I used Basic Grey patterned paper from the Porcelain collection. The paper has a lace pattern on it. I embellished the whole thing to make it look Victorian. Since I have an entire pack of the Porcelain collection, I plan to use the fan on a vintage layout for my SCF Vintage Design Team assignment. Check back here for the finished project when I get it completed and take a pic of it in better lighting. UPDATE: My fan was the first place winner of the 24 Hour Crop Hop Fan Challenge! WhooHoo!

QKD WEDNESDAY ROYAL COURT BLOG HOP

Today is a very big day at Queen Kat Designs: 1) our Design Team's Wednesday Royal Blog Hop starting at Queen Kat Designs; 2) the second hazing event at our Whimsical Ink Sorority (WIS); and 3) the first day of a huge sale in the QKD store.
This Wednesday we had an inspiration challenge. The photo of colorful beach items reminded me of our trips to Florida. In honor of my new cyberfriend, Maigan Lynn, who is a fantastic artist and the chapter president of our Whimsical Ink Sorority, I created this beach scene using her lovely design, Star the Mermaid. What better way to celebrate the second WIS hazing event and the release of two new stamp sets today!

I love vintage items and going to antique stores and auctions. The frame shows off my aunt's vintage jewelry (on the top and bottom left corner) as well as the macrame cord she made. The scene is a 1940 postcard of Daytona Beach that I picked up recently at a local antique store. Star is stamped with tuxedo black Memento ink and colored mostly with Copic sketchers. (This is my very first attempt at using Copics.) I added some Stickles and an actual shell I picked up on the beach at Panama City, FLA about 15 months ago. The frame is from IKEA, an unfinished wood that I painted with several acrylic paints to get a weathered look. I removed the plexiglass for a shadowbox effect. The glass actually is on the back so that you can read the message on the postcard.
Did you hop over here from AlienAnessa? I'm near the end of a very creative blog hop. If you started with me, I hope you take time to hop on all of the Design Team blogs by clicking on Queen Kat Designs and working your way back to me. I wouldn't want you to miss a thing! Next up is Nina.
The QKD store sale blinkie will be on my sidebar until the end of the sale. Clicking on the blinkie will take you directly to the store. You'll find Star there as well as lots of other fantastic items.
20% off of Past kits
20% off QKD stamps*
25% off Special Deals Section
35% off Grab Bags
35% of Acrylic Blocks
35% off Paper Packs
55% off Clearance Section
55% off Scrapbooking kits**

*Stamp Exclusions: Separates line, Mini Sets and ATC Backers
**Scrapbooking kit Exclusions: Royal kits

EVERY order over $25 gets a Grab bag worth at least $13.50 while supplies last

Sale runs from 7/22/09 through 7/31/09 or until everything is gone!

Also, QKD is providing the prize for my 2amscrapper challenge over at Scrapbooking and Crafting Friends for their 1st 24-hour Crop Hop. It started at midnight so there's plenty of time left to try to win a QKD kit after you finish the royal blog hop here and check out the QKD store.

24 HOUR CROP HOP

Wednesday, July 22 is the 1st 24-Hour Crop Hop at Scrapbooking and Crafting Friends (click on their name for a direct link to their site). I'm hosting one of the challenges and the winner will get this prize from Queen Kat Designs:
Later today I will post my first project for SCF as a Design Team member. And I'll have some other news. So please check back this evening. My challenge is officially up and running now. I'm set for my QKD post tomorrow morning. Back later with some new creations, I hope.

Take a Journey This Stampin' Saturday: My post on today's QKD blog

For this Stampin' Saturday, I'm swiping ink pads and spritzing water. Here's a pic of the supplies so that you can see how the tag went from plain to painted. I started with a craft stock tag. I swiped across it (as if you're making a rainbow) Tim Holtz Distress Ink by Ranger in faded jeans, spiced marmalade, and brushed corduroy. Then I spritzed the entire tag with water until I liked how the ink blended. I used a paper towel to dab off the excess water. After the tag dried, I spritzed it again with gold Perfect Pearls mixed with water to make it shimmer. By making several at the same time, I have ready made backgrounds for future projects.

I'm using the QKD Paradise Found stamp set that was released this month. I stamped the palm trees across the bottom of the tag. I ripped out a calendar from an old appointment book, distressed it, stamped on it the take a journey sentiment, and stapled it to the tag. For a well-traveled look, distress the edges of the tag with scissors or a distress tool, then use some distress ink on a foam pad to soften the edges. A black foam airplane from American Crafts, a flower from a lei purchased at a dollar-type store layered with smaller flowers and a brad, and some ribbon complete the tag. I picture this tag on top of a bon voyage gift, as an element in a mini album, or as an embellishment on a scrapbook page layout. Have a great weekend. See you back here next Saturday. Helene

Your viewing the text and photos that I posted today on the Queen Kat Designs blog. As a Design Team member, I post there every Saturday. You can click on the QKD robot in the bar to the right for a direct link to the site. Check out the postings from the other QKD Design Team members!

QKD Challenge With a Twist - LIME

For today's QUEEN KAT DESIGNS Royal Blog Hop, the Design Team was challenged to use red, orange, yellow and LIME. So here is Rocker Bird under the hot summer sun thinking about a cool, refreshing lemon-lime drink. (In these parts we have what's called a Lemon Shake-Up --tons of lemon slices, a little water and lots of sugar).

If you started here first, then please go back two spaces to Queen Kat Designs for the start of today's hop. You're on the right track if you came from Kelly B's blog. Next up is KellyJean.

Here's the materials list for the card I created: QKD stamp Rocker Bird (of course); Red card stock from the Paper Source; both sides of Lemon Lime No. 305 from Scribble Scrabble; Summer Soiree cards by Fancy Pants Designs for the So Hot card and the hand-cut sun (I also layered an orange circle punched from Rusty Pickle paper); Spiced Marmalade Ranger Distress Ink; and lots of foam adhesive.

Family Heritage Album

I have a rich Polish heritage. My hubby has a German and Irish heritage. Between the two of us we have a plethora of old photographs with stories to be told. Here is the start of my vintage family album. I'm keeping this post near the top. I have given credit for the inspiration on two car layouts, but I don't know if you can click on the titles and see the details.
REMOVED AND UPDATED FOR AUGUST 2009 POST

Update on Heritage Album

I've been working on my Family Heritage Album slide show. I've rephotographed and added more layouts since the original post yesterday. Now I need to start making new layouts. So many photos...so little time! When I started the hobby, my dear sister gave me a subscription to Somerset Memories. Tonight I went through ALL of the issues again, so that I could find a layout I used for inspiration when I first started scrapping. I was amazed that the same photos still made me pause for a closer look. I realized I no longer was intimidated by some of the work. For this I give credit to my Prairie Stampers Club members and to some very talented folks I've met in cyberspace and through local workshops. Regarding art techniques, I feel I still have so much to learn and so much I want to try. PLEASE NOTE ON MY SIDEBAR THAT THIS IS THE BIG HERO ARTS WEEK. Today I got my Coordinates Collections monthly scrapping kit plus a random drawing prize for participating on their website. So many pretty new papers to play with in my craft room! And Wednesday is another Queen Kat Designs blog hop for those of us on the Design Team. So keep checking back here! Before you leave, don't forget to scroll down and revisit the slide show!

July Happenings In the 'Boro

This is a pic of a mutant flower in my DH's garden. The center looks like a caterpillar to me.
And here is a pic of the totally fantastic case my extremely talented DH built for my craft room to hold all of those tiny bottles and jars. How did I end up with so many? And we all know there's lots more where these came from! This morning we did some antique hunting. I got a few postcards, a calling card, and two children's books to use in my art projects. Fortunately, I got nothing to add to the shelf because it's already full!
Today I'm the featured DT on the official Queen Kat Designs blog. This is the card I posted there. To see the blog and learn my card recipe, click on the QKD robot in the column to the right.
My goal is to get a project posted here on my LOTSA SCRAP blog every day this week. So please check back. Have a great weekend!

ROYAL WEDNESDAY

Today the Royal Stamping Maids at Queen Kat Designs worked with this sketch and have a blog hop for you to see what we created.
Here is my take on the sketch. I used the QKD Fantasy Mushrooms stamp:



If you hopped over from Tina's blog http://woodedviews.blogspot.com/ then you're on the right track. If I'm the first on your list, then please go back to our official company blog so that you don't miss a thing: http://qkd.blogspot.com/ At the QKD site, you may view our gallery and shop in the store by clicking on the links in the left sidebar.
Next stop is Jen: http://expressivelyme.blogspot.com/

PARADISE FOUND

Welcome to the Royal Blog Hop where we're revealing some new stamps available for the first time TODAY!!!! If you started with me that means you're almost to the end of the blog hop. I don't want you to miss a thing--we have great new stamps and fantastic cards to show them off--so please click on this link so that you can start at the beginning: http://qkd.blogspot.com/ My first official project as a Royal Stamping Maid for Queen Kat Designs was to create some cards using the July release stamp set Paradise Found. For starters, I made this luggage tag to get us in the mood to take a journey. (This one's for you, Michael, for your next trip back home to Hawaii!)

Being earth friendly and being economical are a couple thoughts on a lot of our minds right now so here are two cards I made that don't cost require fancy supplies.
This first one uses trendy craft paper along with some hot pink paper I had in my stash. You could even use a recycled grocery sack or lunch bag for the base! I created my own patterned paper by randomly stamping onto the craft paper the two hibiscus stamps in the set . I used the smaller hibiscus flower to show you that it's just the right size to make inchies which are really big right now. To be even more economical, I used two ink pads I already had to create hot pink--first I pressed the stamp in Close to my Heart Watermelon, then pressed it in Archival Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid, then I stamped on paper. The pearlescent ink gave the flowers a nice shimmer. I finished with some scraps of ribbon.

On the second card, I bought Studio Basics 101 patterned paper from Creative Imaginations that is printed with soy ink (earth friendly). I used a scrap of shelf liner for the mat, some ribbon in my stash (rescued from a long-gone floral arrangement), and a flower from a novelty lei. If you like these cards, head on over to the QKD store http://katstamps.com/store/ where you can buy this Paradise Found stamp set for 25% off starting today through July 7. But don't forget to finish the blog hop by checking out what Victoria created for you today: http://eatstampsleeprepeat.blogspot.com/