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/

Are You UP for Vintage Today?

Today's Royal Blog Hop challenge is something vintage. What better way to show off Queen Kat Designs' William stamp from the vintage line! I also used a balloon stamp from another QKD set, a Maya Road house, and lots of Ranger distress inks. If you've seen (or are familiar with) the Disney/Pixar movie, UP, then you understand the meaning of my little tag. Isn't William perfect as the balloon salesman? He's even holding a balloon! AND he's 35% off in the QKD store: http://katstamps.com/store/ If you started with me, I hope you'll go back to the start of the blog hop to catch all of the design team's creations: http://qkd.blogspot.com/ If you came from Juliet, it's time to hop on over to the Whimsical Ink Sorority: http://whimsicalinksorority.blogspot.com/

More details about my little tag. 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. After it dried, I spritzed it again with gold Perfect Pearls mixed with water to make it shimmer. I stamped the same QKD balloon stamp several times together in a pattern and a couple of times in a separate area. I painted the balloons with Perfect Pearls to make them look mylar. I cut out the two separate balloons and attached them with pop dots to the grouping to create depth. I used my Stampin' Up watercolor pencils to make William look vintage. I added a few vintage distress stickles to make his tweed coat. Tip: I used the broad end of a black calligraphy pen to outline the edges of the balloons, house, and William for a finished look so that I could use pop dots for a 3-D effect. I know, I know. In the movie it's a Grape Soda bottle cap! But I had the Orange Dream cap in my stash, and it fit my "theme". Thanks for looking!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Other Creative Art in the 'boro

To date, I've kept this blog strictly about my art pursuits. But I've got to share some other forms of art going on here. My DH works very hard every spring and summer to make our yard beautiful. Here is a pic of our pond taken by me standing on the edge of our deck. He also built our deck covered by a pergola. I love to sit on the deck with a cup of coffee and watch the hummingbirds. So today my DH told me he found something that reminded him of me. Isn't that just the cutest mobile???
He hung it on the corner of the deck. Keep that corner in mind because it comes into play in my next part of the story.

Happenings in the 'boro continued

Now, back to that corner of the pergola. My DH noticed a big, ratty old bird's nest up there so he told our son to climb up on the ladder and get it down. When he did, our son felt something move inside the nest. When on the ground, this is what popped out of the nest! Woe is me if that thing had shown itself while I was sitting on the deck looking for those hummingbirds! For those of you worried about our little friend, it is safe and sound in a more suitable home. And nothing bad happened to our son either.

IT'S QKD ROYAL COURT BLOG HOP WEDNESDAY

Here's my first official blog hop card as a RSM for Queen Kat Designs. Did you hop over from the Whimsical Ink Sorority? If you found me first, I'd encourage you to start the blog hop at the very beginning so that you don't miss anything: the official QKD blog: http://qkd.blogspot.com/ and then wind your way back to me. The two QKD stamps I used are the Hibiscus and the Hula Girl. Today's challenge was to include paint. If you'd like the details, keep reading. Otherwise, hop on over to Vicki: http://qksc.blogspot.com/ The background paper on this card was made by me during a special Prairie Stampers workshop (a great stampers club that I belong to). The technique is called Spanish Marbling. Essentially, you take what looks like a giant cookie sheet with sides, add water and paint, then swish your paper in the mixture and hang it up to dry. You may notice this type of design on old book covers. My other paint includes a black acrylic paint marker for the hair, and Forever Red Perfect Pearls on top of the hibiscus. Other products used you may also consider paint are watercolor pencils and Stickles including Scattered Straw Distress Stickles for the grass skirt. Some Sparkle gems complete the project. Note: I stamped the Hula girl twice. I used one image to cut out the flower on her hair and used a pop dot to layer it on top of the complete image. I used my fingernails to curl up the flower petals to give the hibiscus more dimension. Thanks for looking. If you like what you see, these two stamps are 35% off in the QKD store:http://katstamps.com/store/

Happy Birthday, Vicki!

As a newbie Royal Stamping Maid card designer for Queen Kat Designs owner, stamp creator and stamp maker, Vicki, I want to wish her a fantastic birthday today. Here is the card that I made for you, Vicki. (I used the Janice stamp, one of my fav QKD stamps from the vintage line.) And this is part of a surprise blog hop for your birthday. For my followers and blog readers: Did you come from Jacquie's spot? http://jacquiemakescards.blogspot.com If you started here with me, please go to http://qkd.blogspot.com/ where KellyJean started the blog hop and follow along to see all of the great cards we made for today. Next stop on the blog hop is Nina: "http://creatinginsolitude.blogspot.com/ For her birthday, Vicki wants to hit 300 sales at her Etsy store, Paradise Sunrise Essentials. For the deets, hop over to her blog and read her June 4th post: http://qksc.blogspot.com/ And of course, there's the fantastic 40% off sale on all QKD stamps in the store: http://katstamps.com/store/ Thanks for looking!

In Graphic 45 Gallery

I submitted my Communique layout (posted here on May 16) to the Graphic 45 Blog. Today I saw it in the gallery under Community Submissions. A big thank you to my friend in art, Linda Cain, who encouraged me to send it there.

ROYAL COURT BLOG HOP

Today is the June Royal Court Blog hop at Queen Kat Designs. All of the designers have made a card with one of this month's new stamp sets and revealed it on their blog. They've also posted a link to the designer blog next in line. In July, I'll be part of the blog hop. I can't wait to get my stamp kit and start creating cards and layouts. But for today, I enjoyed looking at everyone's posts. If you want to take a look, start at http://qkd.blogspot.com/. Tonight, there are more projects made from this month's kits revealed in the QKD group at Paper Craft Planet along with 2 challenges for you with prizes!! (The fun will start at 5pm PST!) And if you're wanting to make something with these new stamps, they're on sale over at the QKD store: http://katstamps.com/store/