Altered BINGO Card for SSHP16 and Brag Monday at the Graphics fairy

Faded photographs covered now with lines and creases; Tickets torn in half; Memories in bits and pieces; traces of love long ago..... I hope you enjoy the vintage music while you read my blog.

It all started with a simple game of BINGO on Angela H's blog.  But she threw in a twist--to cover my words, I had to alter a BINGO card and post it.  Then I read that the Saturday Spotlight challenge (Bigger is Better) is to use something oversized in a project.  Last week I had shopped at Red Lead in St. Louis and purchased a chipboard heart and matching diecut patterned paper. (I coated the paper heart with Rock Candy Stickles for a crackle effect--my first attempt at this technique.)  The heart definitely is oversized for this BINGO card!  I needed something to put on the heart and remembered this fabulous image downloaded from the Graphics Fairy.  The sentiment says, I am fully occupied! I distressed the edges of the image with scissors and then both black and brown inks.

The deets on the rest of the materials:  The BINGO card and B14 cover are the real thing--found at an auction. I stamped a cherub (Journaling set from Clear Art Stamps-Crafty Secrets) on the bottom right corner and colored him with various Copic markers.  I added ivory petite double Ruffled Crepe Trim (Birds of a Feather, Etsy), some gold scrap foil, Maya Road ribbon (striped to match his shirt), a copper Lacey Leaf, and a Making Memories Love Note ticket.  I used lots of Tim Holtz for Ranger distress inks: fired brick, tea dye, vintage photo, and black soot.  I'm not sure of the source of the red flower or of the tiny black bead on the umbrella.

If you care to leave a comment, please let me know if you think I should make this project into a wall hanging with a black wire hanger, or if I should make it into a card by putting it on black cardstock.  Thanks for looking.

My Article for Stampin' Saturday on the QKD blog

It's Stampin' Saturday at the official Queen Kat Designs blog.  Over there I posted an article on the polished stone and alcohol techniques. Click on the red words for a direct link there to read what I have to say.

Fasionable in the Garden

This is a layout I did for the Thursday sketch challenge at the Pages In Time blog. Here is the sketch designed by Alda Stevens. I used Graphic 45 papers and a Jenni Bowlin calendar card.  At Pages In Time, I moderate three groups:  Fashionistas, All Things Vintage, and Hybrid and Altered Artists.  I'm looking forward to the Pages In Time Valentine 0n-line Crop February 5, 2010 at 6pm to February 7, 2010 at 12pm.  See my link in the sidebar.

As promised, I'm back today to remind you of the second half of the QKD Blog Hop with the rest of the Design Team. This week the Royal Court was challenged to use a photo for inspiration. To start at the beginning of the QKD hop and to find the complete hop list, please click here on the words: Queen Kat Designs.

QKD Royal Monday Blog Hop

This week the Royal Court was challenged to use a photo for inspiration. To start at the beginning of the QKD hop and to find the complete hop list, please click here on the words: Queen Kat Designs.  If you've been hopping along, next up is Penny.  Tomorrow (that's right, Tuesday) the rest of the QKD Design Team show us their inspirational work. And I'll be back tomorrow to remind you!

This is the inspiration photo.  I realize this home could be in the 'burbs, but I thought of a lodge in the woods.  You know, the kind of place where you go to hunt, fish, ski, then come back inside to a cozy fire.

And when I think of the woods, I wonder if I'll see any pixies.  So here is my card with the QKD stamp set Forrest Pixies. Be sure to stop at the Queen Kat Designs Store at the end of the hop to check out the current sale.

Tuesday Twenty
It's gonna be Tuesday for the rest of the month!
Take 20% off everything!
That makes all clearance items 75% off

                                                   (Good today through 01/31/10)
                                                   use coupon code: TT20

Continuing the Celebration

Celebrating 40 Years Together

Winners all the Way Around

UP wins Golden Globe awards for best animated picture and best original score!  I love everything about this movie:  the inter-generational relationship between Carl and Russell; the true definition of adventure; the tender topics of growing old and losing a spouse, etc.  After I saw the animated feature film this summer, I made a tag with QKD's vintage balloon man stamp, William, a Maya Road chipboard house, and a vintage bottle cap (my version of the Ellie badge).  I used Ranger Distress inks and Perfect Pearls on the tag.  I'm showing the tag again, elated the movie snagged a couple of Golden Globes.

This also is a reminder that the rest of the QKD Royal Court is having a blog hop today.  To start at the beginning of the QKD hop and to find the complete hop list, please click here on the words: Queen Kat Designs

I'm a winner, too!  My cyberfriend from Pages In Time gave me this blog award.  She thinks my work is amazing and she appreciates the time I take to share my work, ideas and thoughts at PIT and on her blog.     Thanks Denise! Please visit her blog, Vintage Scrappin,  to see her beautiful work!

QKD Royal Monday Blog Hop

This week the Royal Court was challenged to use the colors Red, White and Black. To start at the beginning of the QKD hop and to find the complete hop list, please click here on the words: Queen Kat Designs.  If you've been hopping along, next up is Penny.  Tomorrow (that's right, Tuesday) the rest of the QKD Design Team is using the colors purple, blue, lime and pink. And I'll be back tomorrow to remind you!

Meet my bff, Janice.  She resides in vintage row at the QKD castle.  She's the very first stamp I bought from QKD.  I was drawn to her emotional plight. She's a drama queen.  She's hangin' on to being 29.  And today she's being swept away by love. I also used the Funky Swirl stamp to create some border elements.

Tuesday Twenty
It's gonna be Tuesday for the rest of the month!
Take 20% off everything!
That makes all clearance items 75% off

(Good today through 01/31/10)
use coupon code: TT20

Queen Kat Designs Store

I'm coordinating my Playlist with my Crafting.  Hope you enjoy Janice's songs today.



See you Saturday on the official QKD blog for my technique article.
See you back here on my blog next Monday for an inspiration challenge.

Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge Week #36 (MMSC36)

I made a Valentine card for this week's sketch challenge.  Supplies used:  McMahon 5 Designs: Flowers for my Love digi image; EK Success: heart punch; Martha Stewart: lace border punch; Copic markers; Making Memories: Sweets heart cheeky; Hero Arts: pale pink accent pearls and sparkle gem; patterned papers:  Making Memories: Love Notes (pink and words in envelope); Imaginisce: Loves Me/So Happy Together; DCVW blue cardstock; Spellbinders Nestabilities: Labels One die cuts; misc. ribbons from my stash; Signo pen-white ink; ColorBox fluid chalk: pink; and Making Memories vintage findings glassine envelope.

Technique Day

It's Saturday which means my technique article is posted on the official Queen Kat Designs blog.  Click on QKD to see the article.  I write about how I make smooth distressed backgrounds using dye ink on tags.  Here are my examples:

Happy Anniversary My Grafico

As a design team member for Scrapbooking and Crafting Friends, I am given digi images from the site's sponsor, My Grafico. Here is the ice skate I made with one of their images. I will use it as an embellishment on a scrapbook layout which is still a work in progress.

I printed the digi image of the ice skate, then cut the boot from a embossed white paper and cut the blade from shimmery silver cardstock.  I used Frosted Lace Stickles to highlight the embossed design and added silver eyelets, then laced silver ribbon through the eyelets.  I added Rock Candy crackle paint to the blade to resemble ice.  Finally, I pleated wired ribbon for the boot sock.  When I add this skate to my layout, I plan to add some flowers and vintage images to complete the look.

I'm posting the ice skate to help celebrate My Grafico's birthday and 25% off sale which ends at midnight tonight GMT, January 15. The skate comes from the set Christmas Stamps and Brushes. (Click on the name of the set to see it.)

Click on the anniversary banner to go to the My Grafico website.

BLOG CANDY ALERT

Check out this blog candy from my PIT cyberfriend: http://www.scrapjournalofangelah.blogspot.com/

TIME TO FIND A NEW AMERICAN IDOL

Yep, I'm a fan of the show.  Got my playlist going of the songs that are most memorable to me from seasons past. What do I like best about the show?  Choosing the winning idol LONG before the rest of American does!  Time to scope out this season's contenders.

EWV Grunge Paper Roses Swap

The Everything Wendy Vecchi Yahoo! Group is having a grunge paper rose swap.  So I spent this evening making my three roses to go postal tomorrow.  I used Wendy's Studio 490 stamp from the Dimensional Rose Art set.  Each rose requires three stamped flowers.  The brighter red rose actually is made from red felt.  The other two are cut from grunge paper and inked with Distress Inks and then stamped in a darker color with the dots from the flower in her Dreams of Art set.  One is distressed in Fired Brick and stamped with Aged Mahogany dots.  The other is distressed with Broken China and stamped with Weathered Wood dots.  I used Crafter's Pick the Ultimate Glue to hold the dimensional roses together.  I used gold glitter on the red felt rose, Rock Candy Stickles on the blue rose, and Marvy Twinklette red pigmented glitter marker on the red rose.  These are the first roses I've made since buying the stamp set when taking the Lovin' the Grunge hanging workshop from Wendy in which she taught me how to make the rose.  Being a member of this EWV Yahoo! group is a good push for me to get crafting with Wendy's stamps.  Today I received the roses made by my swap sister.  The next part of this swap is to make something with one of the roses I received from Dawn.  I'll post my creation when it's done. 

QKD Royal Blog Hop and January Stamp Reveal Part 2

Today I'm showcasing one of QKD's January releases: the Forrest Pixies stamp set.  It is available in the QKD store.  To start at the beginning of the QKD hop and to find the complete hop list, please click here on the words: Queen Kat Designs.  If you've been hopping along, next up is Penny.  Tomorrow (that's right, Tuesday) the rest of the QKD Design Team is showcasing more January releases.

These Forrest Pixies look like they're getting ready for Valentine's Day. I used all of the stamps in the set:  the two Pixies and both word stamps:  Smile and Happy.  Patterned Papers: Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses; Making Memories sweets heart cheeky two sided embellishments; Copic markers.
Not only are we showcasing a new stamp set, the Design Team also was challenged to use Queen Kat's sketch.  Here is the sketch.

Don't forget to use my coupon code HH10 for 10% off:
Queen Kat Designs Store

See you Saturday on the official QKD blog for my technique article.
See you back here on my blog next Monday for a color challenge.

Customer Cards Spotlight

Much to my delight, my card is the Customer Cards Spotlight in the January 7, 2010 McMahon Five Designs e-newsletter.  Sue offers the There Are Hero's quotation as a free digi download, and I snapped it up. In August I made this card for my dh who's always willing to lend a helping hand--a true hero to many of us in the 'boro. Sue tells me the card also will be in her website gallery.  Thanks, Sue, for appreciating my work! 
The stamps are Tim Holtz (Stampers Anonymous) and Queen Kat Designs.  

I discovered Sue through Midnight Madness.  Sue is one of the card designers for that site.  She also has her own site and store and sells incredible wood paper.   http://www.mcmahonfivedesign.com/   Or click on her badge to go to her site.

Saturday Stampin' with Sponge Applicators

Today my second technique article is posted on the official Queen Kat Designs blog. I show some samples from the gallery of card backgrounds using sponge applicators to apply the dye ink or chalk for a soft, fluid background.
It's freezing cold where I'm sitting so I chose some cards that reminded me of sunshine and warmth  For one of the examples, I reached into the gallery for my chalked background of Paradise Found.

Another example is my tag using fluid chalk ink. If you scroll down to my December 28 post, you can get the deets there.

First Valentine in 2010

Yesterday I revealed the new Kitchen Goddess stamp set from Queen Kat Designs.  Here's another card with the set--this one for Valentine's Day.  Everyone loves a good cook, right?  I'm also posting this card for the Valentine's Cardmaking Challenge at Pages In Time.  I finally used my India Pink Scallop Circles and black circle cards that I purchased from the Paper cut last March at the Heirloom Show in Indianapolis.  I stamped the image twice so that I could have a white apron which I ran through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots embossing folder.  After adding the white doily and white Signo pen dots and dashes, I think the entire card looks like one of those vintage crocheted potholders.

Today the rest of the QKD Design Team is revealing more of our creations using the January release stamps.  Click on these words to follow the QKD hop. Queen Kat Designs

QKD Royal Monday Blog Hop and January Stamp Reveal Week One

Today I'm showcasing one of QKD's January releases: the Kitchen Goddess stamp set.  It will be available in the QKD store this Wednesday.  To start at the beginning of the QKD hop and to find the complete hop list, please click here on the words: Queen Kat Designs.  If you've been hopping along, next up is Penny.  Tomorrow (that's right, Tuesday) the rest of the QKD Design Team is showcasing more January releases. 

Some of you may know that I'm working on a recipe book for my daughter who makes the best chocolate chip cookies in the world.  I'm sure that's why I was given this stamp set to work with.  I was able to use all of the stamps in the set.  The kitchen kitty stamp (that's what I'm calling her) is colored with Copics.  The (words) Kitchen Goddess are stamped directly onto the paper. I stamped the two utensils onto grungeboard, colored and cut them out, and then inserted them into the ribbon.  I covered with matching patterned paper two of the brand new Maya Road chipboards from the What's Cookin' Mini Set and then stamped them with the other sentiment in this set, The purrrfect Recipe. The complete set includes the kitchen kitty, two utensils, and two sentiments. 
 
Not only are we showcasing a new stamp set, the Design Team also was challenged to use Queen Kat's sketch.  Here is the sketch.  Note I couldn't help using a Wilton doily for my background circle.  It fit perfectly with this kitchen theme.  Patterned Papers:  Cosmo Cricket Early Bird and S.E.I. Winter Song (red check mat that I cut with pinking sheers); Album: Maya Road Calendar chipboard set with acrylic stand; Maya Road ribbon.

Make Your Own Sale in the Queen Kat Designs store!!!!!

Take 10% off everything!
That makes all clearance items 65% off
(Good today through 01/10/10)
use coupon code: BL10
Queen Kat Designs Store

See you Saturday on the official QKD blog for my technique article.
See you back here on my blog next Monday for another stamp set release.

New Role for Me at QKD

For the months of January and February, Queen Kat has asked me to use my Saturday posting assignment on her official QKD blog to showcase various techniques using samples from her QKD gallery. Today was the launch of this new endeavor. I chose the topic of using background stamps for purposes other than backgrounds. I'm definitely up to the task of my new responsibility and already have more ideas than Saturdays. If you'd like to see my post, here's the link: Queen Kat Designs