3M: WOOD you be mine?

 

Hi friends!

This is my card for the 3 Musketeers card group  ~

 Barb, Jeanette and I.

This group was created by Jeanette and

I am delighted she invited me to join her and Barb on exchanging

stamped images with each other once a month to create a card.

We each have the same image ...

we each make a DIFFERENT card!

This month, Barb was the hostess and sent us this cute image

from Avery Elle called WOOD YOU.

Super cute play on words and oh. so. cheeky!

Here's the inside:

We'll be back next month on the 9th with 

another mystery image from our hostess Jeanette.

Be sure to check out Barb's card here

and Jeanette's card here!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kelly

Happy World Cardmaking Day!

 Hi friends! 

Happy October!

I've been trying to post this card since 11 am, LOL!

I knew today would be a fun day to create a card and even got an early start, in between cleaning and laundry and my second POT of coffee!

But, my life never goes according to the day's plans and there's ALWAYS something waiting 'round the bend to take me away from crafting :)

                                            Perserverence!

Today's card is using Avery Elle's Boo to You stamp set, perfect for creating this Halloween shaker card.

I stamped/colored and ran through my Brother Scan N Cut these images so they would be cut out. The pumpkin wouldn't cut the inner lines so I had to adlib those and use a circle die, then my scissors to fussy cut.

Whatever works, amiright?!

I filled the shaker with Paper Rose Studios shaker elements and I did a video haul on these awhile back on my YouTube channel - they are adorable and fit inside the shaker so beautifully.

This video making this card will up shortly - be sure to check back :)

I used Bearly Arts glue to hold most of this card together and fill in the area with the acetate, as well as glue the cardstocks together. Love it!

I wish you all things joyous today as you create!

I am honored to know you all from across the globe and share this passion of papercrafting with you ~ friends, cardmakers, papercrafters, youtubers and more!  You are all really like extensions of family <3

Thanks for stopping by!

Hot Mess = Success ~ Glue Alcohol Inks Scraper Thingie technique!

 

Hi friends!

Today's card is for the Hot Mess = Success card challenge

where we make a big mess card!

It's no secret - I don't like messes

and today's card was the. messiest. one. yet!

But it was WILDLY fun and would I do it again?

Absolutely!

I'll have a video up soon on my channel because you REALLY 

need to see this in action to get the full effect :)

*stay tuned!*

Here's how it all got started ....

and you can also see what Barb, Carol, Darlene, Jeanette & Terry made

as we are the 6 Hot Messes :)

K .. First, here's my card 

and then a VERY HEAVY PICTURE post if you want to see 

some of the hows and whats and whys!

I used the new Avery Elle Look For Rainbows stamp ~

I adore images with umbrellas!  

Just love love LOVE them!

      To create this card, I first stamped/die cut/ colored the images.

I set them aside to work on the messiest background.

And when I saw this gave me ANXIETY, it did.

Juuuuuuuust watch :)

I used a technique I may have invented during Winter Camp

where we were to use glue on our projects.

I saw the entire plate of glue and felt bad - I really did!

I didn't want to throw it out and I said to myself

"Self?  What would happen if .... I added alcohol inks to this glue!"

And I answered (myself) "Let's do it!"

Mmmmhmmm, yep.

But let's continue!

I decided "no time like the present!  Add the alcohol!" (as in inks ...)

It was amazing!

I loved it and recreated it again for this card.

I've never seen it, never heard of anyone doing it, therefore, 

I'm calling it my glue alcohol inks scraper thingie technique!

Step 1:  Have these handy - and a trash can.  They're your BFFs!

(this roll was brand new when I started)

Step 2:  Grab any type of base (I have a paper plate) and pour just

enough glue to cover the bottom and a smidege more.

Step 3:  Add some water to dilute it.  This is important!

The glue is WAY to thick to allow the alcohol inks to work w/o H20!

It should be the consistency of grandma's gravy.

And ... chose your alcohol ink colors.

I've used Pool, Amethyst, Turquoise and Sailboat Blue from Ranger.

Step 4: My bad - you'll need gloves!

Or your hands will look like Easter eggs :)

And start adding drops of ink, spacing them out to let them go to work.

Step 5:  Take an A2 size card panel and press it into the glue/inks.

Don't press it too hard and jiggle it ever-so-slighty in the mixture.

Step 6:  Ta-da!  This is ooey gooey but loads of fun!

It looks scary messy (it is, not gonna fib!) but WORTH IT.

The glue and inks give it an amazing design!

Except, I was trying to hold this mess, hold my phone, take pictures ..

it was a whole mess!

Step 7: Take a scraper thingie (I used a large bone folder which does 

not work as a bone folder for me so it became a squeegie!

An old plastic card does the same but if you can go across in 

one sweep rather than several, much betta!

  

Step 8:  Slide the bone folder/scraper thingie across the panel

from top to bottom removing all the glue/ink mixture QUICKLY

before it has the chance to set.  That's another reason why 

diluting it with water works wonders (nice alliteration!) ~

it usually comes off in one swipe!

Set the panel aside to dry - takes maybe 20 minutes.

Don't touch it when wet - it's very unforgiving 

and you'll leave your prints of the crime for all to see!

Once it's dry, it's ready to use!

I used a rounded corner stitched die from MFT Stamps

and let the 'busy-ness' of the background be the star.

I added the sweet mouse and rain puddle from the stamp set

and one of the sentiments and done!

*Tip 1:  Remember step 1!  When you 'squeegie' the panel, 

glue oozes e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e!

I went through nearly an entire paper towel roll and glue gets sticky fast.

Just spray and wipe and you're good!

*Tip 2:  The plate of glue is best when fresh.

It's hard to get a GOOD background when it's already been dunked.

Just add a few more droplets of alcohol and make a couple more!

I ended up with 6 before I called it quits and none are alike!

     

        Tip 3:  You may wonder isn't this the same as Yupo paper?

Nope.

Have you seen the cost of Yupo paper!

Have mercy!

It's wonderful ... I love it, I have it here, I bought it and I use it!

But it's 'spensive!

This is a WONDERFUL alternative and glue costs like 60 cents at WM

not to mention cardstock is pretty inexpensive there, too.

This can resemble the shaving cream technique which is equally fun

but since I've already done that a million and one times,

I wanted to just get messy, have fun, be distracted and PLAY!

So ... that's the glue alcohol inks scraper thingie technique!

This month's Hot Mess = A Success!

One last look at my card again:

Thanks so much for stopping by!

3 cards from VSN at Splitcoasttstampers :)

Hi friends!

Splitcoaststampers is having the Virtual Stamp Night (VSN) this weekend

and it's a fast paced, card making bonanza!

For a few hours on Friday and Saturday,

the hostesses have themes for a card and one hour to complete the card

before the next challenge begins.

I was Ms. Friday Night  at 7 pm!

And nope!

I didn't require wearing a bikini ~

that was optional!

hee hee!

Since the theme is centered around a summer playlist,

I chose an older song from 1960 by Brian Hyland:

Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini!

This song always brings back happy memories of summer time

when this song would play on the radio!

Here is my card using MFT Stamps Pure Innocence Beach Day.

Completion time:  36 minutes

Next,

Shelly's challenge ~ gradient color.

Completion time:  43 minutes

I used my Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors with watercolor sheet paper,

and then die cut it with a die-namic from MFT Stamps.

And last, 

Annette's challenge: Fishing in the dark!

Completion time:  23 minutes

I used Avery Elle Hello Chum - such a fun stamp set!

My son wants to go deep sea fishing and night boating - mama says no!

This is just a few cards that I've made ~

and hopefully will be able to make a few more!

Thanks for stopping by!
Big hugs, bigger blessings ~Kelly

Just a HOPPY note!

 Hi friends!

Riding by with a hoppy note!

 

I am so in love with this cute little bunny from Avery Elle Stamps ♥ 

This stamp and die set is called Wheelie Great

I decided to make a quick card with this bunny

that I colored from the 30 day marker challenge. 

 

All the parts of this card are little bits from my scrap pile ~

I combined them all onto one card 

so I could get this cutie in the mail ♥

 

I have something fun to share on my blog this weekend ~

I hope you can stop by!

Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly 

DDD: I ♥ coffee!

Hi friends!

It's the 15th of the month and that can only mean one thing ...

it's the 15th of the month!

Just kidding! :)

With the Coronavirus, the world has gone crazy pants 

 and this whole toilet paper shortage has me completely baffled.

We all need to be safe, take precautions and wash. those. hands!

and just try think as positively as we can.

 I'm sending hugs from me to you ♥

 Today is the day that the Dueling Darlings card group

posts our cards created with a kit sent to us.

This month, Tami and Terry L picked a theme:

 National Day of Happiness ~
Something you love ♥

This adorable coffee themed kit was sent to me by Tami!

It's an adorable mix of red and white polka dot and striped papers

with coffee cups and fun sentiments from Avery Elle's Cool Beans.

For my card, my Scan n Cut is in a wonky mood lately 

so I had to fussy cut these images from the stamped cardstock.

I'm thinking if I can't cut a simple coffee cup shape,

 I probably shouldn't be cardmaking - LOL! 

The paper is so bold and dramatic, I decided at the last minute

not to add little coffee filters with kraft paper

and I used the twine and rhinestones Tami sent instead.

It's all popped up on 3D foam and done!

 

 The extra credit this month to share something we love 
and that makes us happy.6

For me, it's so many things ~

 but in the spirit of this post, it's coffee!

And not just any coffee.

It's Starbucks!

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan and it's always fun 

when my friends - online and IRL - tag me with #starbucks

because they know me so well ♥

So even if you aren't a coffee fan, it's okay - we can still be friends!

My mum raised me on English tea, too :)

Cheers!

 You can see all of the Diva and Dazzler cards

over on Splitcoaststampers in the card group:  Dueling Darlings 2020.

Coming up in the fall, we will be celebrating 10 years together!

That's a latte to love!

Thanks for stopping by!

Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly

RSG: Stop, Drop and Roll!

Hi friends!

It's the middle of the week ~
hang on ... the weekend is almost here!

It's time for another Ready, Set, Go card challenge.

That's the card group where we have extreme challenges ~

ones that are a bit out of the box!

I'm the hostess this month and thought up this lovely challenge at 2 am.

Or maybe it was 3 am?

Either way, it sounded amazing!

at 3 am.

My challenge was to use the old childhood adage: Stop, Drop, and Roll

when we were in trouble.

I've never forgotten those words ~ so those field trips to the fire stations

and visiting firemen must have made an impact!

This month, we're taking that same slogan in a crafty direction ...

Stop:

 Chose a color using a letter in S-T-O-P as your primary card color

(I used Orange and Pink) 

Drop:

 Use something on the card that had to be dropped 

(I used water droplets to splatter on the Distress Oxides

and Nuvo Mousse mixed with water for white splatters)

Roll:

 Use anything that rolls/comes on a roll (I used a roll of washi tape

and his skooter has wheels that roll AND I used a rolling hill die)

My card is using the adorable new Avery Elle 'Sweet Swines!' 

and added it to a festive background made from just distress oxide inks.

I wanted to experiment with a few colors and used

 Worn Lipstick, Dried Marigold and Abandoned Coral, 

blended with my TE Blending Brushes. 

The rolling hill is a die from My Favorite Things

and unfortunately, I didn't buy the matching dies to this set 

so it's cut out with my Brother Scan N Cut :)

 And lastly, the washi tape is a bold color of teal 

as I wanted to break up all the pink/orange tones that were marrying together.

And that's my Stop, Drop and Roll!

You can see Barb's card here and Jeanette's card here.
 .

It's always fun to pick a challenge and just give it a try ~

just to make a different kind of card 

or find something that inspires you ....

like this older children's rhyme :) 

Thanks for stopping by!
Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly

I'll link my card to: Pammie's Inky Pinkies AG
Simon Says Stamp - Add a sentiment 
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Add a Critter! 
Creations in Pink - Add mostly Pink!

3M: The birthday bus!

 Hi friends!

In the words of the late Joan Rivers, "can we talk?"

Today's card is for the 3M (3 Musketeers) card group,

 I'm so lucky to also have this stamp set

 because I had to stop and start ...

and stop and start!

This card, unlike this sweet bear driving, was just all over the place :/

It about drove me crazy ...

 no pun intended!

 

This is Avery Elle's Birthday Bus!

They look like they are heading to a fun party ~ I sure wish I was going along!

 (Barb, Jeanette and myself) are the 3M

 where we have a mystery image and then create a card.

This stamp was Barb's choice for February.

 Most of our families greatest adventures,

and the most fun we've ever had,

were always when we did things things 'on the fly!'

I'm a planner.

I'm an itinerary girl.

But we love love LOVE spontaneity, too!

And ... 

that's just how my card was created, too :)

I had ideas.

 I made backgrounds with green grass and blue skies.

And some fancy clouds.

I had a sunset with rays and used about 4 different stencils.

Nothing. looked. right.

 

Finally, almost at my wits end,

 I spied a few tiny pieces of stamped images

 from another card I'd worked and something just clicked!

 Not part of my original design

but I added on some tiny pieces from the stash.

The sky and grass are designer paper from Echo Park

and I've added a fun die cut road for them to drive on.

I added it in reverse to the inside of the card

because hopefully the party will keep going!

 And here's the inside:  

I'm super happy with how this one came out ~

after it all clicked into place!

I think this party bus filled with cute critters will have many adventures.

You can see Barb's card here and Jeanette's card here. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly

3M: Hip Hip Horray!

Hi friends! 

What do you call an elephant at the North Pole?

Lost!

:)

 

It's Wednesday and we're half way to the weekend ~ woohoo!

Today's card is a celebration card for the 3M card group 

and I'm the hostess for January.

I posted this to the gallery at Splitcoaststampers

and I'm adding it my blog, too!

  

I am absolutely smitten with anything 'adorable critter' 

and cutsie animals!

I. just. cant. resist!

There's something so enlightening about making cute critter (anything!)

cards and they just make my heart smile ♥

 This is Ellie from Avery Elle Stamps.

I've also added the matching sentiment to the inside, too ↓

 

I was recently listening to a class video with Jennifer McGuire 

where she mentioned finding your card style.

Maybe you are a CAS card artist or maybe you are mixed media style artist

or maybe you don't have one style in particular and that IS your style,

just being comfortable making whatever you like when you feel like making it!

I LOVE THAT! 

I love to experiment with my cardmaking and there are some nights

where I'll just pull together a card and love it (like this one!) 

I'm learning, in the online class, to embrace who I am as a cardmaker

and not boxing myself in with a set 'style.'

Kinda like being fearless :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly