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Mama Dini's Stamperia

Skipping Stones blog hop, sketch challenge, and free stamps!

Posted: July 27th, 2010, 7:00am PDT by dini

In celebration of the release of two new stamp sets, Friendly Fruit and Timeless Textures, the Skipping Stones Design crew is having a blog hop - and I get to play along! I don't have the new sets yet, but I do get to give one away!! Leave me a comment for a chance to win Timeless Textures! I'll draw a name Saturday 7/31 at midnight EST. If you started at the Skipping Stones blog, you've seen some samples already, and there are more to come! Here's the full set up for grabs: If you just happened to be popping in on me today, and have a hankering to hop, you’ll want to go back and start at Skipping Stones Design so you don't miss a thing! If you arrived here from Kandi's blog, you're on the right track.As if a blog hop isn't enough, we're also showing off a new sketch by Kim Kesti for Skipping Stones Sketch Tuesday! If you'd like to play along, link up your card over at the SSD blog. Remember to add keyword SSD035 if you are uploading to any online galleries.
Here's my card, a bit out of my comfort zone... the bird image is from the Garden Stamp Kiss set, as are the circle and dot images I used to create the background panel. I watercolored in the square area (created with a Coluzzle template and scoring blade) with watercolor crayons, sketched in the branch, and stamped the bird using a faux watercolor technique (inked the stamp up with Gingerbread chalk ink, misted the stamp, and stamped the image). I shaded the bird in with watercolor pencils. The sentiment is from Healing Wings.

The next stop on the hop is the brilliant Michelle Giraud, over at Twisted Chick Creations! Here's the full hop line-up, just in case you get lost... thanks for visiting today!
Don't forget about the P.M.S. sale!
Cheers -----
got.....P.M.S.?

Posted: July 25th, 2010, 5:04pm PDT by dini

Skipping Stones Designs does - the Purchase More Stamps sale is back again! It's a progressive discount sale, where the more you buy the more you save - you can even pre-order the new sets and the discounts will apply! The sale ends Aug. 2nd.
Visit the SSD blog for all the details...........
Impression Obsession CHA preview!

Posted: July 24th, 2010, 9:01pm PDT by dini

It's time for previews of stamps to be released by Impression Obsession at CHA this week!! I couldn't decide on just one card to share, so I'll show you snippets of a few today and a few later in the week, and share details and the full cards later! There are so many beautiful stamps this time, from all our artists. We have a new text artist too, Kalani Allred.
Hope you've enjoyed this little sneak peek! I'll share more as the days go by, and other team members will be sharing previews on their blogs throughout the week. Be sure to visit the Impression Obsession blog each day for links if you want to see more!
Be sure to pop over to Julie Koerber's blog as well - she has some peeks to share today, too!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

A Krafty Day of Fun!!! Here are all the Details!!!

Posted: July 24th, 2010, 10:36am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

First Annual Krafty Day with Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps!!
Saturday, September 25th, 2010 9am-5pm
in London, Ontario
at the FCCChurch 3725 Bostwick Road
Cost: $55

- join us for a whole day of Krafty fun!!
-each participant will receive an exclusive Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps Tote Bag filled with stampin’ goodies!
- a special edition Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamp to commemorate the occasion!
- a lovely catered lunch, snacks and refreshments!
- make and takes, demonstrations, etc.
- meet some of the Krafty Girls Design Team!!
- enjoy lots of kroppin’ and kraftin’ space!
- Door Prizes!!
- Scrappin’ Great Deals on site for all your Copic needs!
- And of course, lots of Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps on hand for all your stampin’ needs!

This will be a Krafty event that you won’t want to miss! It is being held at a gorgeous location that is easily accessible and near to hotels

Space is limited, so please contact Kimmie directly to reserve your spot (kraftinkimmiestamps@gmail.com)
OR tickets will soon be available at Scrappin’ Great Deals (519) 473-5751
Challenge #39 - Mostly Monochromatic!!!

Posted: July 24th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

This week's challenge over at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps blog is from the lovely Michele! She'd like us to keep it Mostly Monochromatic! That's a tough one for me...so I was glad when she said mostly!

I chose to use the new Snow White image that was released last week. I wanted to colour her up like a regular princess....could any princess really be called regular?? I think not. Especially a KKStamps princess!!

The paper is some long retired SU designer paper and it's probably my most favouritest ever...so that's why I hoard it. Hehe. I love the colour combo of tan and blue, so that's what I coloured miss Snow White!

I stamped her on Neenah, coloured her with my Copics and added some Stardust Stickles on her hairband. I used a MS border punch, added some crocheted ribbon and used the sentiment from the Swan Princess. I layered up some perfectly coloured flowers and attached them with glittery brads and added a trio of pearls to the scalloped sentiment layer. Voila!!!

Hope you can join us for this week's fun challenge.....actually, it will be open for TWO whole weeks!! That's right and you can join in as many times as you like with new creations!! You see, we won't be uploading a new challenge next weekend because....Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is attending CHA in Chicago!! We're going to be checkin' out all the new products, doin' some make and takes, meetin' lots of krafty peeps!! It's going to be FUN! But don't worry, we'll be taking lots of pics and sharing them with you while we're away!!!

Now hop on over to the KKS Challenge blog and check out this week's gorgeous creations by the Krafty Girls!!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

more pencil info

Posted: July 22nd, 2010, 6:08pm PDT by dini

A few more observations and answers to your questions on pencils and such....
1). The links in my last post are all to dickblick.com - I have typically ordered from them because of their great prices and service and huge inventory. Also! If you link to them through Ebates you can get a 4% cash rebate on your order (used to be 7%... but still... every little bit counts!) Not to say there aren't other sources out there! I have been looking at ASW and their prices are the lowest around (same as Blick's bulk prices but without the minimums) with flat-rate shipping in the U.S. If you're ordering from outside the U.S. and are interested in Prismacolors, check out Marker Supply - their prices are a bit higher than Blick's but they will ship overseas at actual cost, and their customer service is excellent.
2). On the Graphitint pencils - I forgot about them being water-soluble, so thought I'd show that property - actually I've never tried blending them with water before! So those can be used with regular or watercolor pencils.
3). The smudges below each color block below are intentional - sometimes I like to blend color with my finger, so I wanted to see how these pencils did.
4). Several of you asked which pencils I felt to be most comparable to the Prismacolors - from what I have here, I would say the Blick pencils are comparable and the best value per pencil, at .79 per pencil or .71 if you buy 12 or more. They're not quite as waxy as the Prismacolors, but they blend about as well. I would, though, like to try out the Derwent Coloursoft pencils and the Faber-Castell Polychromos - maybe I'll poke around on ebay and see if I can find a good deal out there.
5). Found a great resource for colored pencil info, if you have a few hours to read and click links: Colored Pencil Resource for Artists - TONS of info there, comparisons, polls, links, etc.
All for today!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

Mark Your Calendars!!!

Posted: July 21st, 2010, 8:25am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

For all those krafty people in the Southwestern Ontario area.....the date is set!!! So mark your calendars for Saturday, September 25th!!! We're having the First Annual Krafty Day with Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!!! Woohoooo!!!

It's going to be a day jam-packed full of krafty goodness!! Every participant will receive LOTS of stampin' goodies....a super cute tote bag.....lots of krafty space to play.....a special edition Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp to commemorate the occasion....there will be make and takes and demonstrations....and some of the amazing Krafty Girls will be there too!!!

We'll have more details and signup information as we get things prepared, but jot the date down on your calendar and tell all your friends!!!

You won't want to miss this Krafty Day of INKY FUN!!!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

colored pencil comparison

Posted: July 21st, 2010, 6:01am PDT by dini

Just thought I'd share a visual comparison of the pencil brands I have in my collection... it's not exhaustive, but for those who are curious what's out there and how a few different brands compare in coverage, blendability, etc.... here ya go.

These are colors I purchased 1) to see what else is out there and 2) to fill in holes in my collection where I felt the Prismacolor line was lacking. Each swatch was colored right to left (I don't know why I did that other than that I'm left-handed...), then blended with a stump and odorless mineral spirits on the right. The brands I have right now are:

Derwent Studio - I have just a few of these, and learned after I purchased them that I should have purchased the Coloursoft ones - the Studio line has a harder lead and they do not blend well. So... I know for next time. They have another line called Luminance that looks interesting too!

Blick Studio Artists' Colored Pencils - I'm actually impressed with these as far as coverage and blending. Great price too - 79 cents apiece. 72 colors in the line.

Caran d'Ache Pablo - I love these ones... the ones I have fill in a lot of yellow and green spaces in my collection that I felt were missing. The pencils aren't as waxy/creamy as Prismacolor but they blend well.

Derwent Graphitint - these are a little bit thicker lead and all gorgeous deep earth tones. Great for shaded areas and blend beautifully. I'd love to have more of these!

Prismacolor Premier - My pencil of choice, obviously! I have the full set of Premier pencils and the full Lightfast line as well. Excellent coverage and blend well too.

Hope this info is helpful to someone! If you have questions, or if you have info to add, let me know!
Skipping Stones sketch challenge

Posted: July 20th, 2010, 7:00am PDT by dini

Here's this week's sketch at the Skipping Stones Design blog....pop on over there to see what the rest of the team has created! There are incentives for joining us, too... but you can't win if you don't play along! Here's my card. OK, I cheated just a little bit. Instead of putting the sentiment in the corner.....
I made an easel card and put it on the inside. But when you have the easel card open..... it's sort of like it's in the corner. Right? Pretend. I grabbed some coordinating scraps to fill out the layout - I love how the circles on the top panel and the eyelets reiterate the donut theme.
Close up on those cutie donuts..... A little trick on the donuts, or in general, something I learned while I was playing this week - you can use a Sakura clear glaze pen for masking in your watercoloring, and even with some inks when using a direct-to-paper technique. I colored the sprinkles first with fine tip markers, then covered them over with the glaze pen, let the ink dry, and watercolored. The glaze ink resisted the watercoloring, and my sprinkles stayed the colors I colored them. Cool, huh? Here's a closer look at the inside sentiment.

Have a 'sweet' day! *ahem*
day of rest.

Posted: July 17th, 2010, 10:24pm PDT by dini

Felt like playing some challenges today.... maybe that would be an understatement. My card fills the requirements for 8 challenges! I used Neopiko markers to fill in the base colors, and Prismacolor pencils to shade this Happy Hoppers image. The sentiment is from smARTworks. Scraps from my stash were used to fill in the layout - the floral piece is actually a bit of wrapping paper.

Speaking of Happy Hoppers - that reminds me...... there are new sets of unmounted House Mouse stamps coming soon now available through Joanna Sheen, who's based in the UK - I watched her 'reveal' videos yesterday and the stamps look great! There are a couple of the birthday sets that are definitely on my list on the way to my house!! Here are the links to the videos... check them out, if only to hear Joanna's lovely accent...!

House Mouse unmounted Christmas sets
House Mouse unmounted Birthday sets

OK, on to the challenges I'm playing today:

Cardvaarks - create a birthday card

Color Throwdown challenge #101 - Kiwi Kiss, Black, Kraft, Baja Breeze

Daring Cardmakers - make an ocean-related card

Everybody Art Challenge #99 - Holidays (as in vacation!)

House Mouse Monday Challenge #73 - create a birthday card

Our Creative Corner - make a beach card or layout

Peachy Keen Challenge #32 - create a card based on a favorite summer destination, + use either buttons, brads, or bling

Stamping Sisters in Christ Challenge #47 - make a card symbolizing what brings you rest or peace

Whew! Thanks, everyone, for the great challenges!

P.S. on Joanna Sheen - worldwide shipping - free!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

JULY RELEASE DAY!! and Krafty Hop!!!

Posted: July 17th, 2010, 10:00pm PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Welcome to the end of the rainbow....so to speak!!! I'm the very last blog on today's Kraftin' Kimmie Hop!! If you just happened to stop here today and would like to start the hop from the very beginning (and believe me, you do), just go to the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge Blog!! And while you're drooling at the eye candy, be sure to leave a comment at each and every stop along the way because some lucky stampers are going to win some of the new release rubbah!!!

So today, we're releasing the new July images at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps! As you’ve seen over the last few days in our Krafty Peeks, Annie Rodrigue has created the MOST FANTASTICAL FAIRYTALES! There are six images in the complete set and one very special one that we have created from Annie’s original painting, Little Red Riding Hood.

And Steven Leary is back with Miles the Mouse and his cute girlfriend, Maisie! They are having a lot of backyard fun by the pool this month and you’ll get to check them all out in today’s July release day KRAFTY HOP!!

Today I have another couple of designs to share with you! First is my favourite of the new Steven Leary Designs!! Meet Lounging Miles!! Isn't he a hoot?? He's maxing and relaxing with some tunes and a nice cool beverage!!

I used some sparkly patterned papers by Best Creation Inc. The card base is Brilliant Blue and I accented with some Tempting Turquoise and some Bazzill Bling in a peachy colour. I tied some twine around the middle and added a sentiment from the Beachy Sentiments set!

Next up is the lovely Snow White!! I decided this time that I wanted to colour her up in the traditional Snow White colours, but I can't wait to dress her up as a gorgeous princess with brown hair and a pink gown!! So fun!

I used some patterned papers from my stash that were perfect for this! I coloured her up with my Copic markers, then cut her out and embossed with my Nesties. While the Nestie frame was still on her, I sponged around the frame with some Fire Brick Red distress ink. Snow White also comes with the lovely apple accessory stamp, as well as the coordinating sentiment I've used here! I finished it off by adding a trio of brads, a big red bow and then finished it off with some Stickles on her bow and on the edge of the apple!

So that's the end of our July Krafty Hop!! Now jump on over to the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp Shop where all these lovely images are waiting for you to give them good homes in your craft rooms!! Heehee! OH and did I mention...each and every order placed this week, will be entered into a draw?? One lucky customer will win a 5x7 print of Annie’s Little Red Riding Hood!!

Happy kraftin'!!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

new addition......

Posted: July 17th, 2010, 4:23pm PDT by dini

Just wanted to share a few pictures of our new puppy! Don't ask what breed she is...I think every dog around here is pure mutt... but she's a cutie! We named her Mija (MEE-ha), which is a term of endearment used often in DH's extended family. This week looks like it will be a busy one... my kitchen is all torn up at the moment, so that makes routine things a bit more of a hassle (we are replacing our wood counter/cabinets with cement and tile)... our school books are held up somewhere in country, and I need to get the shelves organized and get my head back into homeschool-mom and staff-lady mode... I have literally checked out! Seriously disengaged this break. Can I get a "Snap out of it!" from someone?!
Seriously. Tomorrow though....

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

Challenge 38 - Beautiful Bows!!

Posted: July 17th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

t's Saturday again....really? When did that happen?? Anyway, Saturdays are my favourite days because it's always time for a Kraftin' Kimmie challenge! And this week it's a double whammy....because you also get to see the challenge samples from the Krafty Girls featuring the soon to be released *new* July stamps!!!!

So this week our hostess is the incredibly Krafty Krista! This week she's challenging us to use some Beautiful Bows!! It can be tying some bows with your ribbon, it can be bows in your patterned paper or simply a bow in your stamped image! Just be sure to include some in your creation!

I have two cards to show you for the challenge and the first one features another one of the BEAUTIFUL images created by Annie Rodrigue! This beauty is the Swan Princess!! I pictured using her with the new Kioshi papers by Basic Grey. So I coloured her up with my Copics using coordinating colours and I chose to do her hair black to make the colours pop!

I added some satin ribbon with a pretty bow and a glittery Prima flower. The Swan Princess also comes with a lovely swan accessory stamp and the sentiment you see on my card!

Next I have the sassy Bikini Maisie....she's Miles' girlfriend! Isn't she a hoot? I used some We R Memorykeepers summery papers with Krafty cardstock for the base. I coloured her up with my Copics, then cut her out with some oval Nesties and sponged around the frame with some chalk ink. I used a border punch, added a trio of rhinestones and I finished it off with some sheer polka dotted ribbon!

These and all of the July release images will be available at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp Shop on Sunday morning!! Now hop on over to the challenge blog and check out all the goodies the other Krafty Girls have to show ya!!

Happy kraftin'!
July Krafty Peeks....Take TWO!!

Posted: July 16th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Back for more, are ya??? Well, I just happen to have some more!! Today I have two more incredible designs that will be released at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps on Sunday!! Yeehaw!

First of all, let me introduce you to one of the new Miles the Mouse images by Steven Leary. This is BBQ Miles and he is having some backyard fun, barbecuing his yummy piece of cheese! Mmmmm! (Not sure what kind of beverage he's got in his other hand, but let's assume it's a thirst quenching one, on this hot summer day!) I chose to use some super fun new Imaginisce patterned papers and a Kraft card base. I used one of my Nesties to cut him out, emboss him and then while the Nestie frame was still on there, I used some chalk ink to sponge around him. Really makes it pop, doesn't it? I added one of the awesome Beachy Sentiments at the bottom, a scalloped border punch and finished it off by adding some matchy matchy buttons with linen thread!

Next up is the gorgeous Rapunzel by Annie Rodrigue!! I just couldn't wait to colour this girl's hair! I used some glittery Bo Bunny papers as my starting point and used Perfect Plum and Old Olive cardstocks to mat. I did the same framing work with the Nesties and ink for this gal and added some velvet crocheted ribbon, some Prima roses, some lovely little pearls and some Stardust Stickles on her crown. Isn't she lovely?? And this image comes with a hairbrush accessory stamp as well as the sentiment I used!!

Now head over to the KKStamps challenge blog to see who else has some fun stuff to share!!!

Happy kraftin'!
It's TIME!!! July KRAFTY PEEKS!!!

Posted: July 15th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Today begins the wonderful Krafty Peeks of the *new* Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!!! I've seen what the Krafty Girls have done and let me tell you....THEY ARE GORGEOUS!!! Wait 'til ya see!!

Okay! Okay! Enough teasing.....this month we have THREE new summer images from the fantastic Steven Leary featuring Miles the mouse and his new gal pal, Maisie!! They are having some backyard barbecue and poolside fun!! And there are SIX fantastical Fairytale stamps from Annie Rodrigue!! And they've all been SO much fun to colour!!

Each day of the Krafty Peeks, I'm going to have TWO creations to share!! Yep!! I just couldn't stop colouring!!

First of all, I will share a very special stamp...it's Little Red Riding Hood! This image was created from one of Annie's original paintings and she's shared it with us so we can all play with it!

I used my favourite Bittersweet papers from Basic Grey to start off my card and I stamped Little Red on Neenah paper using Memento ink. I coloured her up using my Copic markers, o' course! I used some new Nesties to cut her out and then I used some Spun Sugar distress ink to sponge around the image. This image also comes with a basket accessory stamp and the sentiments....Oops! Did I forget your birthday? So cute!

Secondly, I have the quirky Goldilocks and her three little bears! I had a HOOT colouring her hair!! Love it! I used some new We R Memorykeepers papers, some taffeta ribbon and a lovely heart charm. Goldilocks come with a baby bear accessory stamp and TWO sentiments.....Sending You Bear Hugs and You're Just Right! Adorable!!

All the new images will be available at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Shop on Sunday! Now if you hop on over to the challenge blog, there's a list of all the Krafty Girls who are revealing some new stuff for ya today!!!

Happy kraftin'!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

Impression Obsession DT Challenge: Animals

Posted: July 14th, 2010, 9:01pm PDT by dini

We're pulling out our animal stamps this week for the next Impression Obsession Design Team challenge.... I've colored this image (Sierra and Buttons with Flowers) with Prismacolor pencils and mounted it on a card base that is sponged and then stamped with the Medallion Cover-a-Card background stamp.

To accomodate the easel card format, I split the sentiment (A True Friend) in two parts. Here's a closeup on the kittehs - you can learn more about the artist, Gail Green, at her website Sweet Petatoes!
These are the Prismacolor pencils I used:

Did you know that you can enter these challenges too, using your Impression Obsession stamps? See the I.O. blog for all the details - you might even win a $25 gift certificate!! We'd love to have you join us. Be sure to check out the other designers' blogs for inspiration - their links are to the left!
life stuff...

Posted: July 13th, 2010, 4:03pm PDT by dini

I spent yesterday afternoon in town with a couple of girlfriends - it was nice to get out and just 'be'... truth be told, I haven't been out of the house much during this break!

This little guy was hanging out on my purse when we finished eating lunch - isn't he beautiful? We stopped at House of Hwang Hobby House to check it out - their stock consisted of lots of ribbon (some gorgeous dyed organza ribbon too - I forgot to pick that up again! Gotta go back...), a good variety of decorative trim, thread and yarn, jewelry making supplies, buttons, sheets and bedding, and Tupperware!

Here's what I came home with (plus some thread to fix my son's jeans).
Isn't that shabby rose trim gorgeous?
Yum.
The sweetest thing.....

Posted: July 13th, 2010, 7:00am PDT by dini

Are you ready for a new sketch challenge from Skipping Stones Design? Here is the sketch for this week............
I turned the sketch on its side just for fun... finally got to use this chocolate chip cookie paper I've been saving forever...! My cookie is watercolored using Derwent WC pencils, cut out and popped up with foam tape.... and my color combination was inspired by my messy desk. Ha! Here's a peek at the inside of the card - such a cute 2-part sentiment.
Sooooooooo, did you know that by participating in the SSD weekly challenge you can win:
*$5 off your next purchase
*a SSD winner badge for your blog
*maybe even an invite to become a guest designer or join the design team!

Such a deal! You can see the other design team members' cards and find out the whole scoop over at the SSD site, plus catch some previews of upcoming sets. Thanks for visiting!
Cupcake love....

Posted: July 10th, 2010, 11:40pm PDT by dini

So a friend and I are cutting out sweets in an attempt to regulate our blood sugar... I've had hypoglycemic tendencies for years, but have let my body work to regulate the day-to-day symptoms instead of being proactive or disciplined about it. Such a battle... anyway... starting this week (but not today...I already blew it......ha!) I'm going to make a conscious effort to avoid sugar. It's about that, isn't it, being conscious about what choices I'm making...?

So to celebrate no sugar, a cupcake card. Just enjoy the irony.

I promise the pinks on this card match in real life...I have a terrible time photographing pinks. The House Mouse image is watercolored using Derwent pencils and a waterbrush.

While I'm on the subject of cake, here's another recipe that I really like, which I made yesterday for dinner guests who got married the day before! Love this recipe - so moist. Let me know if you try it!

Peanut Butter Sheet Cake 2 c. flour2 c. sugar1 tsp. baking soda1/2 tsp. salt1 c. water3/4 c. butter or margarine - softened1/2 c chunky peanut butter1/4 c. vegetable oil2 eggs1/2 c. sour milk1 tsp. vanilla Blend all ingredients. Bake in a 10"x15" pan, 350F, 16-20 minutes.
Enjoy!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

Challenge 37 - Let's Get PINK!!!

Posted: July 10th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Are ya beatin' the heat?? I sure hope so! It's been a rather steamy week here in Ontario but it seems to be cooling down a bit thank goodness. I'm SO grateful for central air conditioning!! Especially at night!

Well, it's the end of my first week working from home full time and I can already see how much more work I'm able to get done without have to drop everything and go to that pesky library! Heehee! I've even worked ahead on most of my sample cards for next weekend's July release. What?? I didn't mention that next week we start the Krafty Peeks for our next release?? Well, goodness me!! How rude!! Start lookin' for samples from all the Krafty Girls on Thursday with the Blog Hop and Release on Sunday!! Yeehaw!! We've got some super new images in store for ya!

Okay, so back to my card for the challenge! This week our hostess is the ever-so-cheeky Andrea!! Hehe! She has chosen to ask us to Get PINK!! Well, that's an easy one for me because I LOVES me some PINK!! And there are so many shades to choose from! I decided to use my new fave pink from SU, Rich Razzleberry!!

I stamped little Miss Alicia the Strawberry Pirate on Neenah and coloured her with my Copics. Then I used my Nesties AND used some Spun Sugar distress ink using my Tim Holtz distress ink applicator thingie! I've had it and the fancy mat and a bunch of the inks for ages, but I've never used them! So I pulled them out this time and man, do I love it!! Gonna use them more often!

So I used black for the card base and the main patterned paper has shiny silver skulls and bones on it and I added a beautiful rhinestone bling and some velvet rick rack. I used one of the phrases from the Pirate Sentiments set AND this awesome iron on pink skull doodad that my pal, Krista gave me when she was here a few weeks back. Perfect!!!

So be sure to join us for this week's challenge and you could win some rubber goodness! Now go hop on over to the challenge blog and check out the perfectly pink samples from the Krafty Girls!!

Have a super week!!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

beach days and sunburn.

Posted: July 8th, 2010, 5:14pm PDT by dini

I've been going through my box of colored images little by little... I have a bad habit of starting a new project in the middle of a previous one, and the first project never gets done... Anyway, this House Mouse image finally has a home. I made an easel card, but haven't decided on a saying for the inside - probably better that way, so I can fit it to any occasion when the time comes. I used Derwent watercolor pencils to color this image. We didn't go to the beach for July 4th, just a hotel pool, but I've been nursing a bad sunburn all week... it's been a good while since I wore my bathing suit and the only sunscreen we could find was not meant for white people (*sigh*), so some of those areas that haven't seen the sun for a while are still tender, and just beginning to blister. The bridge of my nose swelled up Tuesday - that was interesting... ...then Wednesday I had swelling all around my eyes. So lovely... I think perhaps my face is back to normal now...

...anyway, that's my week! Thanks for visiting...

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

Fun in the Sun!!

Posted: July 8th, 2010, 5:11am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Good Thursday morning, stampers!! It's the middle of the week and I'm posting!!! Will wonders never cease?? I can't tell you how long it's been since I posted more than just once a week and I'm hoping to change that now that I am working full time from home! I plan to get to create with Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps more often and be able to share more often too!

So recently I got to play with the beautiful Calliope!! Right now, I feel just like her...so happy and carefree....I even dance around the house a bit too!! Heehee! I feel so FREE!! I stamped her and her little friend on Neenah using Memento ink and coloured her in with my Copic markers.

I picked up this fun summer foiled paper at Scrapfest in the spring. (Hey....guess what?? I'm planning to have a booth at the next Scrapfest which is in October in Oshawa!! It will be my very first show....hope you can come!) I used Brilliant blue for the 6x6 base and Real Red and Green Galore for matting. I attached a cluster of Prima flowers in the corner using a Basic Grey brad, then tied some twice around the middle and added a super fun octopus charm that I found at Walmart (thanks to my Mom). Lastly I added one of the awesome phrases from the Mermaid Sentiments set. Isn't she pretty???

Well, I'm off this morning to do a little investigatin'! I'm working on planning an event of sorts for the fall. If you're in the Southwestern Ontario area, you will totally wanna come!! I'll post more details as I get them pinned down. Have a wonderful summer day!!

Happy kraftin'!!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

Skipping Stones!

Posted: July 6th, 2010, 7:00am PDT by dini

A couple of months back, Heather from Skipping Stones Design asked if I'd be interested in playing with some of their stamps. I'd already been eyeing some of the "sweets" sets - something about the combination of sweets, sarcasm and puns really appeals to me! Have you seen some of these sets? Hysterical!

Anyway, I'm excited to be one of their guest designers this month! Each Tuesday there's a new sketch challenge, so I'll be playing along with those this month, and who knows what else along the way?! Below is the sketch for this week in case you'd like to join us.

I thought I'd show off some of the 'softer side of Skipping Stones' this time. This card features stamps from 2 of their inspirational sets. I started with the background panel - a quarter-sheet of glossy white cardstock. The stamps used here are from the Garden Stamp Kiss Set ("kiss" refers to a technique where you ink one stamp with another stamp for a textured look). When I was satisfied with my background, I spritzed it with water and let it dry completely - the water drops gave it some texture, which I sanded lightly for a distressed look. I cut my panel in 4, and sewed the pieces onto my card.
The larger butterfly is from the Healing Wings set. I watercolored it with reinkers. Then, using a flourish graphic on a clear sheet as a template, I pierced along the lines, and used the pierced holes as a guide for my handstitching.
Here's the sketch - if you do decide to play along, link up your card over at the Skipping Stones blog! You can find the other design team members' links there as well.
Thanks for stopping by!
P.S. If you're a Twilight fan, you'll be interested in one of SSD's new releases this month - sadly I'm hopelessly separated from my home culture and miserably out of the loop... but I can relate to their other new release - it's Chocolate Volume #2! I do speak that language.
Sale at Impression Obsession!

Posted: July 4th, 2010, 12:02am PDT by dini
Island sunset

Posted: July 3rd, 2010, 3:53am PDT by dini

I've had this image colored for a while - this is a stamp from Rubbernecker that I picked up at Stampfest 2 years ago (!?) when we were home on furlough...the image is called Palm Tree Morning. I painted it with Twinkling H2Os, and it ended up so bright that I wasn't sure what to do with it when I was done, so I tucked it away. Some layers of textured white cardstock ended up to be the perfect base. I scored the edges of the accent panel with my Scor-Pal. The sentiment is from The Angel Company. My finished card measures 4"x 8".
The angled shot in the sunlight shows off a little of the texture and sparkle.........
Love that little sentiment. Not even sure where I got it from.....ebay maybe? Ebay browsing is one of my greatest vices. Sigh.....
I'm savoring this scene, can you tell? I finally broke down and ordered 4th grade school books for the next year... I have been putting it off for months for fear of the import fees, but I can't wait any longer. 3 more weeks until we hit our stride again, with students arriving and life returning to crazy normalcy.
Sigh again... These lazy, reclusive days have been so nice.

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

Challenge 36 - It's Sketchy Time!! and a BIG Announcement!!

Posted: July 3rd, 2010, 2:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Happy Saturday, stampin' friends!!! First off, I bet you are wondering about my little...or rather, BIG announcement, aren't you?? Well, I just wanted to share the fact that...Monday will be my very last day at my job at the library!! Why, you ask? Well, it's thanks to all of you..my stampin' friends!! Hehe. No really, it is! It's all your fault! Truthfully, I just couldn't continue to work my job at the library and run Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps. I was just too busy working from morning until night each and every day. I've also been missing out on so much with my family and friends. It finally came to the point where I had to make a choice. Guess what I chose?? You got it!! So now it's Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps ALL the time!! Woohoo! Just wanted to share my joy and excitement!

Now for this week's challenge....we have an AMAZING sketch from the dazzling DONNA!! And you know how I love sketches!! It's a fabulous one too...and it inspired me! And it will inspire you too!!

I pulled out a stamp that I hadn't inked up yet...Cutthroat Lizzie! She's so sassy!! I pulled out some new papers from the Bo Bunny Sophie collection! I used Kraft cardstock for the base and Rich Razzleberry for matting. I added the matching polka dot ribbon and made a pretty little bow. Then added a wonderful skull and crossbones charm!! So cute, right?! I also just had to attach a lovely bling swirlie thing that I picked up at the dollar store. And to finish it off, I added one of the fantastic phrase from the Pirate Sentiments set!!

Now be sure to hop over to the challenge blog so you can check out the gorgeous creations by the Krafty Girls, using this week's sketch!! And if you join in the fun, you could be the random winner of Mae, which is featured on Donna's inspirational card!!

Best wishes for a wonderful weekend and happy kraftin'!!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

Impression Obsession DT Challenge: Lazy Days of Summer

Posted: June 30th, 2010, 9:01pm PDT by dini

It's challenge time again - this week at Impression Obsession we are celebrating the lazy days of summer. I am almost relaxed now... if it weren't for allergies... I'm finally to the point where I have no idea what day it is... it's July now (it is, right?), so that means just a few more weeks to decompress before students start arriving and I put my homeschool mom hat back on. Lazy days - I love 'em.

Pulled my watercolor pencils and reinkers out after lots of marker/pencil coloring last week, and it felt so good to paint! I do need a new waterbrush though...the end of my poor Niji brush is getting all frayed. This image is by Leigh Hannan - it's called Beach Chair. The sentiment is on sale (Enjoy your Day)! That's a nice multi-purpose sentiment, huh?
Did you know that you can enter these challenges too, using your Impression Obsession stamps? See the I.O. blog for all the details - you might even win a $25 gift certificate!! We'd love to have you join us. Be sure to check out the other designers' blogs for inspiration - their links are to the left!
unseasonable.

Posted: June 29th, 2010, 10:20pm PDT by dini

I've been working on fall and winter cards all week - wonderful fun stuff but nothing I can post... so I thought I'd take a break, find a few challenges to play with, and post something unseasonable just for fun. I can do that. My blog.

I honestly don't think this little mouse has seen ink yet. He is from a sweet little clear set called Peace on Earth that I picked up at Impression Obsession. The image is watercolored using a combination of watercolor pencils, crayons, and reinkers mixed with Shimmerz. I used a gold gel pen on the ornament hanger. The charm on the ribbon says "hope" - doesn't show up well in the photo. My card meets these challenges:
Our Creative Corner: Keep your cool color challenge (greens and blues)
Paper Garden Projects' Fourth Friday Fun Challenge: projects that make us feel cooler
Daring Cardmakers: Ice & Snow

Thanks for stopping by!

P.S. I learned something just now, so I'll share it, and your inner nerd can have warm fuzzies like mine. Be enlightened!
“Seasonable” means “appropriate to the season.” In North America hot summer days are seasonable. Untypical weather is unseasonable. “Seasonal” is used to label something that changes with the season. Holiday sales in December and visits to water parks are seasonal, not seasonable. However, “Unseasonal” is not a standard form. When it is used, the writer usually means “unseasonable.”
Vintage Bicycle

Posted: June 28th, 2010, 5:33am PDT by dini

Gotta squeak in one more entry for the Moxie Fab "I want to ride my bicycle" challenge before I head to bed... I got inspired by Skippy Designs' etsy store and her beautiful vintage bicycle prints, plus this cross stitch kit by Dimensions, and this was the result of my playtime.
All stamps are from Impression Obsession.
The focal image is done on photo paper. I used a 'direct to paper' technique to lay down a base of Sahara Sand chalk ink, then stamped the bicycle image in Memento London Fog ink and quickly wiped it away with a tissue. Where the 2 ink types overlap, the ink is removed (if you're fast enough!), leaving a negative image. "Home" is stamped with the same process.
I stamped the flower bouquet over the basket and colored it and other open areas of the bicycle using Neopiko markers. Staying with the same set, I used the small Christmas tree (hee hee!) to fill in a grassy area at the bottom of the scene. I added texture to the wall with a couple of other stamps: Stone Path & How Do I Love Thee. The bicycle, flowers, tree, and sentiment are all part of a clear set called Riding Pretty and the word "home" comes from a clear set called Typestacks Family. Here's the full bicycle set:

I got the little 5"x6" frame at a recent yard sale and it was perfect - I'm keeping this one!!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

*Newsflash*

Posted: June 27th, 2010, 6:21am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Just a quick note to let you all know (especially those who have been emailing me and chompin' at the bit....teehee!), that the *New* Mermaid stamps are NOW available as individuals, along with the *New* Mermaid sentiment set!!!

Happy kraftin'!!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

more tags

Posted: June 26th, 2010, 5:20pm PDT by dini

A few more tags I have in my etsy store.... These are watercolored using Derwent WC pencils, Lyra watercolor crayons and a waterbrush, and measure about 3" square. Strawberry stamps: Flourishes
Frog stamp: My Heart Stamps for You

Rose stamp: Heartfelt Creations (They are celebrating a new release - check it out!)
I have had my nose to my desk all weekend working on CHA samples...nothing I can share yet, but some very fun stuff coming! Look for sneak peeks next month! In the meantime, I will have some fun samples to share from another company.... can you guess which one?
Also.....I see my hit counter is approaching 188888 hits.... a totally meaningless number, but I just would like to see all those 8's lined up.... sooo... if you happen to be my 188888th visitor, show me some proof and I will send you something in the mail, just for fun!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

Krafty Challenge #35!!

Posted: June 26th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

This is going to be a super short post this morning and I apologize!! But I'm on my way out really early to be at work for 8am. The library has a booth at the local farmer's market....don't ask me why. Well, actually I think it's to have a presence in the community etc., but honestly, we're only located two blocks over!! Anyhoo, it's my turn to go! yippee.

So the challenge this week is a hard one for me, because I'm not that comfortable with cards that are anything other than the traditional square or rectangle. But Melanie wants us to use some shapes or just do something a little different. So I pulled out my old Creative Memories cutting system and all the shapely templates I have to go with it and decided that this wavy circle was perfect!!

I used the adorable Tubing Miles and one of the many perfect phrases from the new Mermaid Sentiments set and there ya have it!! A super summer card!! How fun!! I guess it really wasn't THAT hard! Oh and I used some crystal lacquer stuff on his mask to make it all shiny!

Oh and for those that have been wondering (read hounding me...hahahahaaa!), the new Mermaids and sentiments will be available as individual stamps....very soon! Like, in the next couple of days! So keep yer eyes peeled!!

Now hop on over to the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge blog and get an eyeful of shapely creations!!

Happy kraftin'!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

Jasper and life stuff.

Posted: June 24th, 2010, 2:48pm PDT by dini

Is it Friday already? Not sure where my week went... it wasn't incredibly busy...stamping-wise, though, I've been working for a few days on projects I can't share with you yet - an upcoming guest-designer gig, and a new stamp release from Impression Obsession that will be revealed at CHA! Fun stuff all around... but secrets.

I can share this card now - this was one I had made specifically for publication as part of a set of 3. None of them made that particular cut, but I have to wait to share the other 2. This little cutie is Jasper with Butterflies, and he's colored with Prismacolor pencils. The background panel uses 2 different Cover-a-Card stamps: Swirls and Woodgrain.

The lace border at the bottom is actually the edge of a round paper doily - I cut off about an inch around the edge, and then 'straightened' it along the edge of my panel, tucking and pleating as I went. I don't have any fancy border punches, and I still haven't gone lace hunting in town, so this was a fun little discovery. Oh! Speaking of discoveries - yesterday when we were in town we passed a new store (didn't stop, had all the kids with us...) called House of Hwang Hobby House... not sure what all they stock, but with my crafty radar vision I did see lots of rolls of ribbon on an actual display rack near the front (not in grimy bins in a glass case). So there's hope! Next time I'll check it out.

Alrighty, here are the Prismacolors I used above:
...and I am off to my other desk to color some more! Cheers ------

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

June Card Kit Time!!

Posted: June 21st, 2010, 8:48am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Well, it's time to reveal the monthly Andrea and Kimmie Card Kits over at Scrappin' Great Deals! And this month you have THREE images to choose from for YOUR kit!

I created cards using two of the three choices and Andrea has the other one over on her blog.

This first one features Ladybug Nora from CCDesigns! Don't you love the bright pretty colours, ribbon and pearls? I used my Nesties and have her perched inside the circle, then added the ribbon and bow and the sentiment is from my Fairy Sentiments set.

My second card features Willow Kneeling from Whiff of Joy and I went with the browns and oranges and pinks from the patterned paper and cardstocks that come in the kit. I used my Nesties, sponged around the main image, added some pearls and the sentiment I used is actually from Daphne the fairy!

Each kit comes with your choice of stamp, plus:

6 - 6x6 Bazzil card bases
6 - 6.25x6.25 envelopes
6 - sheets of gorgeous double sided paper pre-cut for you!
2 -1/2 yards of two styles of satin ribbon!
1 - various bling, flowers & brads
several die-cut shapes that coordinate perfectly with your kit!!

Now there are only a limited number of card kits available, so hop on over to SGD and pick out which one you'd like!!

Happy kraftin'!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

Teacup topiary

Posted: June 21st, 2010, 1:36am PDT by dini

I love tea images, and any image of 'something' in a teacup just makes me smile. This image is from Impression Obsession, one of Alesa Baker's designs. It's called Tea Leaf Topiary. I used Prismacolor pencils to color it in - the colors I used are below. I added some dots of white acrylic paint to the cup and tree with a small stylus.
I'm putting the close-up picture first so you can maybe see the background paper that I created - this is the background technique I referred to last week, where I used photo paper and a combination of inks with the Cover-a-Card stamps. I have every intention of posting a tutorial, but I need to retake my pictures - they're just not all that great. It'll happen. Someday!
Here's the full card - for this background I used the Tapestry Cover-a-Card on photo paper - I inked the paper first with chalk ink, then stamped the Tapestry with Memento ink and burnished the piece with a tissue. In the places where the inks overlap, the image rubs away. Cool, huh? I stamped the Small CAC over the whole piece in grey ink. I've been a bit reclusive the last week or so - needing some 'retreat' and 'me' time, I guess. Today I made more tags for my etsy store, as all the first batch sold! Woohoo! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

Sorry....

Posted: June 19th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

So with the other two challenges I did this week AND all the orders for the new Summer Mermaid Kit and the new Miles the Mouse stamps (not to mention working full time), I just did NOT have time to make a card for this week's challenge over at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps blog! But a bunch of the Krafty Girls did, so go check 'em out and then join in the fun and you could win yourself some rubber goodness!!!

Happy kraftin'!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

tags on etsy

Posted: June 18th, 2010, 9:01pm PDT by dini

Spent some time yesterday filling up my etsy shop - here are some sets of watercolored tags I posted - the stamps I used are from Heartfelt Creations. Speaking of my etsy shop - I made my first multi-item sale this weekend!
These border stamps from Heartfelt Creations are about 7 inches long, so I stamped them along the edge of a piece of watercolor paper, 8" x 4", watercolored the entire image, then cut the piece in 4.

These tags are intended for gift enclosures, scrapbook journaling, or a quick encouraging note!

Here's a close-up on some detail areas. I love the texture in this paper!
Hope you have a great weekend!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

Cute Card Thursday Fun!!

Posted: June 17th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Another post from me this week?? What's going on!!? Haha! I'm super excited to share that Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is sponsoring the sketch challenge over at Cute Card Thursday!!

Now you know sketches are my favourite type of challenge, right?? So I HAD to play along and it's a super fun sketch and perfect for our images too!

I used the lovely Aurora from our Summer Mermaid Kit, which is still available for a short while longer! I stamped her on Neenah with Memento ink and coloured her in with my Copic markers. Now, I'll share a little secret with you.....I was adding some scales to her lovely fin and I was using my BG75 for some darker flecks and just as I got to the curve at the bottom of her tail....my marker barfed all over my beautifully coloured image!! I may have shrieked out loud....I may have. Well, wouldn't you?? So, this type of colouring mishap calls for some strategically placed embellishments. Prima flowers to the rescue!! Haha! Anyway, you can't tell the blob is there, so all is well.

I finished her off by pop dotting the main layer and adding some sparkle to her little starfish hair ornaments with my Sakura Stardust gel pen. Lastly I added one of the fantastic phrases from the Mermaid Sentiments set, which also comes with the kit!

A couple of other Krafty Girls played along with this week's CCT challenge, so hop around and see if you can find them!! Then play with us and you could be the random winner of some new KKStamps!!!

Happy kraftin'!!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

Impression Obsession DT Challenge: Color challenge - Red

Posted: June 16th, 2010, 9:01pm PDT by dini

Time again for a challenge from the Impression Obsession team - today we're sharing our red cards! I had a few ideas but settled on this fun Candy Jars image from Leigh Hannan - it's so much fun to color. I used Prismacolor pencils, and the colors I used are below. I used diluted acrylic paint to add some highlights to the glass jars, too. My background panel is Basic Grey cardstock (Boxer collection) stamped with the Thick & Thin Cover-a-Card, and sponged around the edges. Did you know that you can enter these challenges too, using your Impression Obsession stamps? See the I.O. blog for all the details - you might even win a $25 gift certificate!! We'd love to have you join us. Be sure to check out the other designers' blogs for inspiration - their links are to the left!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

Card Positioning Systems....Challenge 171!!

Posted: June 15th, 2010, 7:28pm PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Hey guess what?? Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is sponsoring the Card Positioning Systems blog challenge this week! It's a fabulous sketch!!

I used the new Surfing Miles for my creation! I took a few liberties with the original sketch, but hey...that's what a sketch is for, right?? Inspiration!

This is a super quick post because it's waaaay past my bedtime! I've been up late the last few nights, working on cards for midweek posts and challenges, not to mention packaging and shipping all your orders for the *New Mermaid Kit*!!

Anyhoo, if you'd like to play along with the CPS challenge this week, you could win some awesome Kraftin' Kimmie rubbah!!!!

Happy kraftin'!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

Cafe Fleur

Posted: June 14th, 2010, 3:20pm PDT by dini

I'm home! Hubby and I spent the weekend away at a new hotel just outside town - it was nice to get away and just relax together after several very busy months of running in opposite directions... this was also a celebration of our 10th anniversary which passed us by 2 weeks ago! Nice to be back too - sort of... Our school is on break now so on one hand there's more time for hanging out, and for neglected projects... on the other hand I function much better with a routine, and that is lacking at the moment.

In celebration of our celebration, a quiet cafe scene.... This is one of those cards that was weeks in the making - not because of complexity but for lack of free time to finish it...! This is Cafe Fleur from Auntie Amy's - the scene is watercolored with a combination of pencils, markers, and reinkers. Love that bicycle too!

The decorative paper features the technique I referred to in my last post, and my next post will be a bit of a tutorial on this 'reverse resist' technique, using a combination of inks on photo paper. The rose stamp I used on that panel is from Impression Obsession.

On to my busy day - I have some new stamp artwork to polish up , and I'm also in the middle of reorganizing and integrating past design team stamps into the rest of my collection. Isn't half the fun of crafting organizing and reorganizing?

Challenges:
Moxie Fab World: I want to ride my bicycle
Daring Cardmakers: The World is your Oyster

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

June Krafty Hop!! It's Finally HERE!!!

Posted: June 12th, 2010, 10:00pm PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

You've finally reached the end of the Kraftin' Kimmie June Release Krafty Hop!! (Say that 10 times fast!) Wasn't it absolutely incredible?? Let me tell you, I'm always in awe of the talent these people possess!!

Now if you just happened upon my blog today, you can start the hop at the beginning over at the Challenge Blog...and be sure to leave a comment at each and every stop so that you are in the running to win some new rubber goodness!

If you've been through the whole hop, then I'm your last stop!!

My card features the adorable Tubing Miles designed by our newest artist, Steven Leary! I'm so excited to introduce him to you! Miles is having a ball getting ready to get in the water! He's perfect for a quick summer greeting card or as an accent to your summer scrapbook pages.

I stamped him on Neenah using Memento ink and coloured him with my Copics. The patterned paper I used is some retired SU paper and I thought it looked like fun beach colours! I sponged the main image using some tangerine chalk ink while it was still in the Nestie to give it a fun glow.

I used a new EK Success border punch which kinda looks like bubbles, right?! Then I added some blue satin ribbon and attached a button with some linen thread. Lastly I used a fun sentiment from the Mermaids sentiment set!!

The new Miles the Mouse stamps and the Summer Mermaid Kit are all available NOW over at the Kraftin' Kimmie Shop!!

Happy kraftin'!!
Challenge #33 - Beachy Keen, Jelly Bean!!!

Posted: June 12th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Okay, so one of my favourite sayings when someone asks me how I'm doing, is 'Peachy keen!' and sometimes I even add on the 'Jelly Bean!' part....but usually it's someone at work that's asking and I'm usually being sarcastic, because I'm at work. And now I'm rambling. But I told you that to explain why I named the challenge this week what I did

Anyhoooo, since I'm the happenin' hostess this week, I decided to have a beachin' challenge!! So go ahead and think summer! Use summer colours, images, embellishments...think beach, think water, think fun!!! If you play along you could win one of the images I'm using on the cards I made!! heehee!

So first up is the fantastic Surfing Miles!! he's chillin' on the beach, gettin' ready to catch some waves and Hang 10!! I just love his little board shorts, don't you?? I made a regular A2 sized card, since these smaller Miles images are perfect for them, and used some sparkly surfboard patterned paper from a DCWV Stack. I coloured Miles with my Copics and used my Nesties to cut out the image and emboss the frame.

I added some wide grosgrain red ribbon, tied a bow and attached a green button with some linen thread. Then I stamped the PERfect sentiment and pop dotted it. This sentiment is one of 21 awesome phrases that come in the Mermaid Sentiments set!

Next up is probably my favourite Mermaid from the Summer Kit!! This is the gorgeous Cordelia!! Doesn't she just look like an underwater princess??? I used some coordinating patterned papers and one of them has gorgeous foil running through it. I stamped her on Neenah using Memento ink and coloured her in with some rich coloured Copics. I sponged around the edge of the main layer using some blue chalk ink

I attached some Prima flowers with yellow brads and added some grosgrain stitched ribbon and a bow. Of course I had to use one of my lovely seashell charms and tied it with some linen thread. Lastly I stamped another fantastic fishie phrase!!!

Check out the other awesome beachy designs from our Krafty Girls and be SURE to come back tomorrow!! All the new images will be released at the Krafty Shop and we'll also be having our usual release day Krafty Hop!!

Happy kraftin'!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

new

Posted: June 12th, 2010, 2:16am PDT by dini

Got some sneak peeks for you from a technique I've been playing with using Cover-a-Card stamps from Impression Obsession... I'll post a tutorial...... someday! Speaking of I.O., there are new stamps to be seen - take a look here! Botanical silhouettes, distressed backgrounds, corner flourishes, and some sweet cupcakes!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

Meet Marina and Aurora!!

Posted: June 10th, 2010, 7:23pm PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Today I have two gorgeous images from the Summer Mermaid Kit to share with you!! Can I just tell you how much fun I've had colouring these beauties up?? They are so magical!!

First, this is the marvelous Marina!! I decided to go a little unusual with the colours! I wanted Marina to be funky! I used these new Cosmo Cricket papers as my inspiration, so I coloured her tail in bright pinks and her hair in shades of green! A mermaid can be any colours in your imagination...yes?

I did the 'out of the frame' thing with the Nesties.....I do that a lot with these large images, I'm finding. And I coloured them up with my Copic markers. I added some gorgeous matching Prima flowers and some green rick rack. Lastly, I used the perfect phrase from the Mermaid Sentiments set!

Next I played with the amazing Aurora!! I just LOVE the starfish Annie used in her hair and for her earrings! I also used the starfish accessory stamp to make a couple of extra little decorations!

The patterned papers I used are some new We R Memorykeepers papers and I pulled the colours for the Copics from there. I cut Aurora out with my Nesties and sponged around the fram with some green chalk ink. I added some Prima flowers, some blue ribbon and a lovely starfish charm from Walmart!! I used another fabulous phrase from the Mermaid sentiments set and then put the finishing touches on by adding some little dots of sparkle on her tail and all the stars using my Sakura Stardust gel pen!

Don't you love them?? Don't forget that the new Summer Mermaid Kit and all the new Miles the Mouse stamps will be available on Sunday morning at the Kraftin' Kimmie Shop!!

Now go check out the other awesome creations the Krafty Girls have for you to see and come back tomorrow when we'll post another Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge!

Happy kraftin'!
MORE June Release Krafty Peek Goodness!!

Posted: June 10th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Welcome back for Day TWO of our Krafty Peeks!! So what do you think of the June KKStamps images so far?? Pretty darn incredible, wouldn't you say??? Heehee! I hope you love them HALF as much as I do!!

Today I have another Mermaid and another Miles the Mouse for you to see!!

Kay, so I decided that I wanted to step outside the box as far as colouring Miles goes! I figured, he's a cartoon mouse, so I can colour him pretty much whatever colour I want, right??? Right! So I pulled out these beachy papers and decided that Miles was going to be a mustardy, saffrony yellow to match! I was thinking, we could also colour him purple or blue or pink or LILAC!!! hehe!

I used Kraft cardstock for the A2 sized base and did a very simple layout. I coloured Miles using my Copics (of course) and coloured in some sand. Then I took my handmade little cloud template and used some chalk ink to sponge in some clouds. I added some pretty aqua ribbon and a trio of green rhinestones. Lastly I added one of the sentiments from Perfect Poison, because it was just too perfect for Beach Bum Miles!! heehee!!

This Mermaid is the beautiful Nerissa!! Isn't she just a gorgeous image??? I adore her long slender tail with the pretty fins and her luscious hair!! I look just like that when I get in the water..... What? Don't believe me?? Alright, FINE! Maybe I look more like Nerissa's chubby distant cousin. Whatever.

Anyhoo....I chose these sparkly My Mind's Eye papers because I love the colours and I thought they looked like rather fun underwater colours. I stamped Nerissa on Neenah and then cut her out with my Nesties, doing the 'outside the frame' technique again, which is so fun! I coloured her with my Copics....not exactly happy with the way her hair turned out, but....I do love the way her tail turned out. I coloured it with different shades of YG markers and then dotted in certain areas with G's and even an E marker to get more depth. I attached some Prima flowers with glittery brads and then added another one of my Walmart find seashell charms (thanks Mom). The final touch was the sentiment, which comes in the Mermaid sentiments that comes in the Summer Mermaid Kit!!

Now hop on over to the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge blog to see who else has some Krafty Peeks for ya!!

Happy kraftin'!
IT'S TIME!! IT'S TIME!!!

Posted: June 9th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Yaaaaaaaaaaay! The day is finally here!! I've been waiting SO long to show the incredible June images to you! Honestly, it feels like for-EVAH!!! Okay, I MAY be a tad dramatic, but I've been DYING to share them!!! Your jaw will drop when you see 'em....no joke!!

Kay, so first off we have a brand new artist at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!!! I discovered Steven Leary online on his website and was struck by the amount of humour in his paintings and how these simple images made me giggle! So I found a little character in one of his drawings and asked him to create some stamps featuring that dude! He's a super cute mouse and I've named him MILES!!! This month, he's doing some fun summer thangs......like surfing, playing in the sand, suntanning and going snorkeling!!! I can't wait for you to meet him!! heehee!

So I'm sharing Sandcastle Miles with you today!!! I stamped Miles on Neenah cardstock, cut the scene out with my Nesties and coloured him in using my Copic markers. The card base is Kraft and I used Tangerine Tango and Certainly Celery for matting. The cool patterned paper is from a bunch of coordinating summer papers that I got last year from Inque Boutique. I used a Martha Stewart border punch and added some wide twill and a bow. The finishing touch is the sentiment I used and it's from the new Mermaid sentiment set!! What??? I haven't mentioned Mermaids yet!!? OH! Well, let me tell you about them............*giggle*

Our second surprise is that we are releasing our second KIT!!! yeppers! So many of you loved the Spring Tea Party Kit that we've done it again!! Annie Rodrigue has created the most incredible.......MERMAIDS!!!! Just WAIT 'til you see 'em!!! You'll pee.....I'm not even joking!!!

The Summer Mermaid Kit comes with SIX gorgeous Mermaid stamps, SIX different accessory stamps (PLUS some bonus extra accessories.....if I could fit anything extra on the plates as the rubber was manufactured, I did and you'll be getting some doubles and extra accessories because of that!! Waste not, want not!!! Especially when it comes to stamps!!!)....AND you'll also receive a coordinating set of Mermaid sentiment stamps (there are 21 phrases in the set), made specifically for summer fun!

This set is ONLY available at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Shop and only for a limited time. Eventually they may be released as individual images, but for now they are only sold as a kit. AND when you order it, you get 20% OFF the kit!!! YES!! New rubber AND a discount!! What could be better??

Soooooo...here is my card featuring the beautiful Arianna!! Isn't she beautiful and those seahorses.......SO CUTE!!! The scrumptious patterned paper that I used, I found at Scrapfest a couple of months back. I saw the beautiful foil papers and knew they were perfect for my mermaids! So I used the paper as inspiration and coloured the image in with coordinating Copic markers. I used my Nesties to cut it out and emboss the frame, then while it was still in the frame, I sponged in the waves. I fashioned a little 'wave template' from a scrap piece of scalloped paper and sponged with some blue chalk ink to create the background for Arianna and her little friends. I used some frilly orange ribbon, some big yellow brads and added a lovely starfish charm! The sentiment is one from the fantastic set of Mermaid sentiment stamps and I finished it off by adding a little silver fish brad!

Now listen, I realize she ended up looking a lot like Ariel! It was totally unintentional, I swear! I was just colouring to match the papers....must have been subliminal. I love The Little Mermaid...it's one of my favourite Disney movies....but I haven't seen it in years. It was a happy little accident, honest!

Whew!! That was a lot for one day, don't you think?? So much excitement and fun! But wait!! You have to hop around to the Krafty Girls' blogs too!!! They've got even MORE krafty goodness to show ya!!! Go on!!! Their links are in my sidebar....or go to the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge blog to see who's got stuff to show ya!

See you tomorrow!!!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

sand between her toes

Posted: June 8th, 2010, 9:01pm PDT by dini

I fell in love with this stamp when I saw it at Auntie Amy's... it's part of a 'cube' set - a set of 4 stamps this size, with a beach theme. I just love this pensive position, and can you see her toes in the sand? Too much.

The scene is colored with Prismacolor pencils... and I promise I wrote down which colors I used... but it's been several weeks since I colored this image, and that little note is buried somewhere on my desk. Sorry about that! If I ever find it I'll put that info in. I compiled a few matching scraps from different projects, and layered them across my card base... this is Japanese textured cardstock I found locally - they're starting to get some more fancy stuff lately, which makes shopping trips fun. The coconut shell button is also a local find.

My scalloped border is literally that - a row of scallop shells that slightly overlap. That stamp and the sentiment are from Flourishes.

All for now - need a shower and plan for the day!
House Mouse Challenge: Goodbye/Farewell

Posted: June 6th, 2010, 11:57pm PDT by dini

Here's my entry for the House Mouse Challenge this time around - the challenge was to use a House Mouse, Happy Hoppers, or Gruffies stamp to create a Goodbye or Farewell card. We just said 'farewell' to some of our co-workers, so this is a theme that's been on my mind. I paired the House Mouse image with a smARTworks sentiment. The scene is a combination of markers, watercoloring, and 'faux watercoloring' with chalk inks. I used a Sakura glitter pen on the dragonfly's wings, and blended with a waterbrush. Love that little bit of sparkle!
Thanks for visiting!
relaxing day

Posted: June 5th, 2010, 4:49pm PDT by dini

I love this Riding Pretty set from Impression Obsession - such a fun one to play with. Not sure what got into me with the pink, but there it is. My first bicycle was this color actually... in fact all this bicycle needs is a banana seat and a sissy bar to make it perfect. Hee hee!! Anyone else have that bike? When I hit junior high I had to have a bicycle that was different from everyone else so my second bicycle was a purple beach cruiser. Loved that thing. When everyone else had white keds, mine were red plaid... that's just how I was then. Maybe still, huh...!

Alrighty, card details for you. I combined several sets here...couldn't stand to have that bicycle standing alone (where is the kickstand?!), so I leaned it up against Garden Fence. I stamped the fence first with Sand ink, then stamped the bicycle over the top - I didn't bother to mask, since the background ink was so much lighter, and I knew I was going to use bold colors to color the bicycle. I watercolored with Derwent watercolor pencils, and also used markers for the more narrow areas on the bicycle. The grass is a leaf stamp from the Wreaths and Garlands clear set. I filled the basket up with Baby Pink Flower Soft. The sentiment can be found here.

For the sky, I used a scalloped circle as a mask, swiped Sea Breeze chalk ink onto the card using a direct-to-paper technique, then misted and lightly 'finger painted' the area until I had a mottled cloudy look instead of sharp outlines. The ribbon is grosgrain - I heated it lightly with my heat gun, alternating sides, until it rippled slightly. Kind of makes it look like it could be waving in the wind.

Thought this would be appropriate for the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - Fun Fun Fun
smARTword Challenge - Ribbon
Our Creative Corner - Summer Inspiration
Everybody Art Challenge - Summer
Pink Elephant - Bright Fun Colors
Creative Belli Blog - sketch challenge (sort of a loose interpretation....but...)
Moxie Fab World - I want to ride my bicycle

Thanks for stopping by - have a great weekend!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

Challenge 32 - Tricky Triangles!!

Posted: June 5th, 2010, 6:46am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

WOW! Sorry I'm late with today's post, but I slept in!!! Woohoo! I NEVER get to sleep in on the weekend because I'm either getting up to go to work or driving someone else to work early. Plus my body usually just wakes up even if I don't have to go anywhere but not today! I must have been tired!

Anyhoo, this week's Kraftin' Kimmie challenge is hosted by my wonderful Momma!! Diana would like you to use triangles on your card! So it can be in your image, in your paper, it can be the shape of your card if you're really adventurous! Just make sure there's a triangle somewhere....and if you join us, be sure to link it up on the blog so that you are in with a chance to win some rubbah!

For my design I pulled out my new Kioshi papers by Basic Grey and one of my original favourite images, Lillith! She just has such an attitude! I stamped her on Neenah and coloured her with my Copic markers in some lovely violet shades. The card base is Chocolate Chip and I used a soft green and light pink for matting and accents.

One of my favourite techniques is to sponge around an image while it is in a Nestie, which just really makes it pop, don't you think?? I used a purple chalk ink for Lillith. I also used my new Martha Stewart border punch, added some swirly bling and some two sided satin ribbon. Also Mom and I found some awesome charms in the jewellery department at Wal-Mart and I used this cute little froggy for Lillith. Lastly I used this fun sentiment from Kimmie's Fun Sentiments!

This week, there's lots going on at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!! We are releasing the new June stamps next Sunday, the 13th and there are SO MANY new images, that we're starting our Krafty Peeks a day earlier!! You will start seeing them on Wednesday, so mark it on your calendars! Also we are thrilled to introduce you to a brand new artist!!! Heehee! I can't wait!

Anyway, be sure to HOP on over to the challenge blog to check out the inspirational designs created for your viewing pleasure by our lovely and talented Krafty Girls!!!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

etsy

Posted: June 4th, 2010, 8:51pm PDT by dini

Thought I'd brave the etsy world.....see my little preview widget to the left? For now I just have some unmounted stamps for sale, but I'll get cards in there eventually. Someday! Here's a direct link to my humble store: [www.etsy.com]
Impression Obsession DT Challenge: Let's go to the beach!

Posted: June 2nd, 2010, 9:01pm PDT by dini

Our challenge this week is to create a card with a beach or nautical theme... I love a quiet beach scene, so I decided to feature this Leigh Hannan palm tree on a lonely island, sort of a "wish I were here" moment for me after this last crazy week!

Card details: I stamped the palm tree on watercolor paper, then masked off the sand and sky areas. I rubbed Sea Breeze chalk ink (Versamagic) across the water and then stamped the Woodgrain Cover-a-Card to add some wave texture, using Ocean Depth ink. Heh...even my ink names fit the challenge!

I masked the water off, and colored the sky using Lemon Yellow Impress dye ink (direct-to-paper). I punched out a circle to use as a mask for the sun, and then used Vermillion ink (also from Impress) to fill in the sky (direct-to-paper for the clouds, with stippling for texture).

I stamped the tree on a piece of textured cardstock, and trimmed out each leaf, then highlighted with a Prismacolor pencil - there is foam tape behind each leaf, and they're anchored by Dew Drop coconuts. The water's edge was done with white acrylic paint, which I spread and textured with my finger.

For the background panel I used 2 different Cover-a-Card stamps - Doodle Flower and Medallion. The panel started as pastel green cardstock, which I sponged and then stamped with Ocean Depth ink.

Did you know that you can enter these challenges too, using your Impression Obsession stamps? See the I.O. blog for all the details - you might even win a $25 gift certificate!! We'd love to have you join us. Be sure to check out the other designers' blogs for inspiration - their links are to the left!

P.S. Additional challenges were met here:

Our Creative Corner, Everybody Art Challenge, Papertake Weekly Challenge - summer card
And now, back to our show.....

Posted: June 1st, 2010, 9:01pm PDT by dini

Just for fun, here's a strawberry template to share, that I worked out when I finally had time to stamp last week.... feel free to use it for your personal projects, but please refer people to this post to download it instead of posting it to your own blog. Thanks! I used it for a card template, but it would make a cute applique or smaller cardstock or felt embellishment as well. Here are 2 cards I made with the template - both use scraps from my stash and a few simple embellishments. The sentiment is from Impression Obsession. If you do use the template, leave a comment so I can see your project too! Have fun!
Just Because

Posted: June 1st, 2010, 1:21am PDT by dini

Because I adore this couple, and because I'm just so tickled to see my flowers in their pictures....

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

Quixotic Paperie Anniversary Blog Hop!!

Posted: May 31st, 2010, 11:00pm PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

I am super excited today because I was asked to be a part of an anniversary blog hop to help celebrate Quixotic Paperie's first year in business!! As you know, I am thrilled to call Elaine Hughes, the owner of Quixotic Paperie, my friend AND one of my Krafty Girls!! I am thrilled to be able to celebrate with her today!!

If you arrived here from Kathy's blog, then you are right where you should be! If you just happened to stop by here today and would like to start the hop from the beginning, just head over to the store blog.....don't worry.....I'm not going anywhere....I'll wait here for ya! heehee! You won't want to miss a stop, as in addition to lots of fantastic inspiration, there are some prizes up for grabs (full details on the Quixotic Paperie Blog).

Quixotic Paperie was started on June 1st 2009 by Elaine Hughes. Having been an avid crafter (and craft shopper!) for a number of years, Elaine wanted to share her passion and see where it might take her - so, Quixotic Paperie was born! Since then, the store has grown, and now stocks a fabulous range of rubber stamps from around the world: The Greeting Farm, Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, SCACD Stamps, Paper Makeup Stamps, Belles 'n Whistles, the Mo Manning for Stamping Bella range, Stempelglede and more! In addition, the store carries a large range of charms and embellishments, and a host of gorgeous papers for all your crafty projects! If Elaine loves it, you will probably find it at Quixotic Paperie!

In November 2009 the Quixotic Challenges blog was started, where you can find weekly inspiration from the wonderful Quixotic Paperie Design Team, and join in for the chance to win a monthly prize. It has been a fabulous and wonderfully crafty year and here's to another one and hopefully many more to follow!

For my card, I used the gorgeous Gabrielle from the Kraftin' Kimmie tea party release! This is actually a birthday card for my Momma (her birthday was actually May 30th but I wasn't able to be there with her but this card is on it's way to her....she knows it's coming, so no surprise there!). I pulled out some lovely and sparkly princess papers from Best Creation and some coordinating Bazzill cardstocks. I stamped Gabrielle on Neenah cardstock using Memento ink and coloured her up with my Copics. I used my new Nesties and sponged around the frame while she was still in there with some purple chalk ink to give the image a nice glow. I added the sentiment which is from our Tea Sentiments set. I found these lovely big flowers and ric rack that matches, added some lovely filigree bead caps and attached them with silver brads. Now I think she's ready for a party, don't you??

Congratulations to you ELAINE!!! I'm so thrilled that you asked me to join you in this celebration!!

Thank YOU for hopping by and now you need to hop over to Tasha's blog!!

Happy kraftin'!!
Let's Rough It Up!!

Posted: May 29th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

OH how I love weekends.....I'd like it better if I wasn't working....but alas, I'm spending my Saturday at the library. *poo* But I do have a card to share with you for this week's Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge!!!

Our wonderful guest Krafty Girl, Krista is our hostess this week and she has asked us to 'Rough It Up'!! I love distressing, so I was more than happy to oblige! Feel free to distress your card using sponging, a distressing tool, ripping, tearing...whatever you like, just make it rough looking!!

For my card I used the lovely Lisette! I stamped her on Neenah with Memento ink and coloured her in with my Copics....surprise, surprise! I pulled out some of my favourite My Mind's Eye papers from the Pretty Please collection....aren't they sweet?? I coloured Lisette up and then, while she was still in the Nestie frame, I sponged her with some chalk ink.

I roughed up all the patterned paper edges....love that look....and put it on a Sparkle Bazzill Bling card base. I made this card while playing at my Mom's house, so I pulled out this gorgeous ribbon which matches perfectly!! I also used some of her pink flowers and put some Prima fairytale roses in the centers. I used this sentiment from our Tea Sentiments set and added some orange rhinestones!!

I hope you find some time this week to play along with our super fun challenge! If you can, be sure to link us up over at the KK Challenge blog and you could be the random winner of some new rubbah!!!

Happy kraftin'!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

paper bouquets

Posted: May 28th, 2010, 10:59pm PDT by dini

Here's what kept me busy all morning, but I think.......I *think*.........this is my last project for this wedding. I think.

Here's the bride's bouquet, bouquets for the bridesmaids (4 of those) and a few boutonnieres just in case, with the extra 'buds'. Now for my allergies to calm down.....! Not sure what hit me this morning....good thing I wasn't working with real flowers - I would have really been a mess!
the sweet life....

Posted: May 27th, 2010, 7:23pm PDT by dini

I'm hiding in the office today... not coming out! My house is full of men intent on having discussions all day long. Our house is designed basically around a main 'great room' and every room in the house opens into the great room... so any move I or the kids or my helper make is going to be a distraction. Sort of uncomfortable! Sigh... but I'm happy to be hiding, actually, after such a busy week. I have photos from graduation to edit, and a few projects on my desk to finish up, a template to upload... I've been uploading cards to my Splitcoast gallery as well. Just that kind of day here...catching up on life a bit!

This is one of the cards I uploaded over at SCS - it features an Auntie Amy stamp called Kerr Jar and Berries - I watercolored it using Derwent watercolor pencils. Other stamps I used are from Impression Obsession... You Make Life Sweet, Cover-a-Card Medallion and Cover-a-Card Paisley Large.

Thanks for stopping by today!
almost......

Posted: May 27th, 2010, 5:57am PDT by dini

I almost tried to blog tonight, but ......sigh......

Yesterday a power pole on our campus was struck by lightning (the opposite end of the soccer field from our house), and our power was out for 23 hours... I did not sleep well last night (no fans... and a plastic-hungry mouse in our bedroom...), and today was a long day full of rehearsals, graduation, and socializing.
Tomorrow our house will be the location for all-day meetings. I'll be hiding in the office! I do have a couple of projects to share, and still more cards in my "not posted" file - several cards from Impression Obsession's last release that I need to show you before they come out with more great stuff!
But... for now... good night!
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..................
my week.

Posted: May 24th, 2010, 9:20pm PDT by dini

Here's a little view into my week...

Six of the twelve cakes being baked for graduation....half way there...! ...certificates rolled and ready to pass out at graduation...
...and wedding favors waiting to be filled with chocolate.

Alrighty, back at it......
upcoming challenge schedule.....

Posted: May 23rd, 2010, 3:30pm PDT by dini

Here's a quick card I haven't shared yet - this uses a bird from the Sing Loudly clear set, and a sentiment from Life and Flowers. I stamped the bird on a printed dictionary page, and colored it in with Prismacolor pencils, blending with OMS. I filled in with Solid Tree Leaves Trio around the edge as well.
Just in case you have some Impression Obsession stamps laying around and are interested in playing along with our challenges, here is the schedule for the next few months! We'd love to have you join us! All the details are on the IO Blog. Here's the sked:
June 3 -- Let's go to the beach! -- nautical, beach theme
June 17 -- Color challenge -- Red
July 1 -- Lazy days of summer
July 15 -- animals
Aug 5 -- Home Sweet Home -- related to your home, wherever that might be
Aug 19 -- Simple stamping... less embellishments, more stamping

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

How Charming!!

Posted: May 22nd, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

How are you all doing this weekend?? I'm a little tuckered out! I'm still not totally back to myself yet and I seem to get tuckered out pretty easily still. So today was my first day off....I get a loooong weekend....and I took two naps! Can you believe it? And I'm still a little tired! Sheesh!

This week our hostess for the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge is the totally terrific TARA!!! Her challenge is called 'How Charming!' and if you've ever met Tara, you'll agree with me that she is quite charming herself!! She would like us to use a charm of some kind on our creations this week. Well, I LOVE charms, so that was no problem......well, you would THINK it wouldn't be a problem, but like I said...I'm not quite 100% yet and I had a small snafu.

So I decided to play with Marie Antoinette for the challenge since I hadn't inked her up yet. *gasp* I know!! She definitely needed some lovin', but to be honest, I was a little intimidated. I'm not exactly the best colourer (is that a word?) and images that require a lot of detail and shading really kind of freak me out. It also doesn't help that most of the other Krafty Girls have coloured her up and they look like pieces of art, for Pete's sake!! So how am I supposed to follow that?? But I thought I'd give her a go.

So I pulled out the new Capella 6x6 pad by Basic Grey, as I thought these colours would be nice for Marie. I stamped her on Neenah using Memento ink and coloured her in with my Copics. I think she turned out pretty nicely and I was quite happy with her. I used this week's lovely sketch from over at Cute Card Thursday! I added some amazing Prima ribbon from SGD, added a sparkly Prima flower and finished it off by adding one of the sentiments that comes with Marie. I took a bunch of photos in my photo box, edited the photos and got ready to post it. It was THEN that I realized I hadn't done the challenge at all!! I totally forgot to put a charm on her!!! How silly! So I added a heart charm and attached it with brown linen thread and then redid the photos!! *sigh*

I hope you can join us for our 'charming challenge' and be sure to pop over to the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge blog to check out the lovely creations from our Krafty Girls!! If you play along, be sure to link us up and show us your design because you could be the random winner of some Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps yummy rubber!!

Happy kraftin'!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

Paper roses...paper roses....

Posted: May 21st, 2010, 4:38pm PDT by dini

Not much stamping time this week... if you could see my day planner you would understand why! In the next two weeks, we have a birthday party to throw (oldest son turns 9 tomorrow), graduation, a wedding, a send-off party for co-workers, and 4 days of all-day meetings (those meetings are at our house, and I'm not sure yet what that means for me...), homeschool to finish, and life in between! Our 10th anniversary is somewhere in the middle of all that mess... but I'm thankful to say that we were able to make reservations to get away for a few days - just DH and I - after the insanity dies down. It's nice to have that to look forward to!

These little pretties have been taking up much of my free time - yesterday I made 7 of the full size roses and 12 'buds'. These are for the upcoming campus wedding (5/31). Still waiting on wire for the stems and then we'll decide how to arrange them. The poor bride has been so busy finishing up classes and making other arrangements... so I'm just making roses while I have time and however many get done is what we have to work with. At this point I think I have 8 of each color and size - 24 full size and 24 buds. I'm basically following Tim Holtz's tutorial, except my flower base (Nestabilities Blossoms 1?) has 7 petals, and each rose is built from 4 flowers - his use only 3 - and I'm using cardstock instead of grunge paper.

Our campus graduation is 5/27, and my job is to make cakes (about 300 servings). That's 12 pans! I made 2 yesterday - it really is a shame to make the house smell so good and then not get to eat any! I'll leave you with my recipe, just for fun. This is a great one!

Carolyn's Chocolate Cake

2 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1 c. cocoa
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 c. oil
1 tsp. instant coffee ( or whatever is recommended to make one cup of coffee, dissolved in 1-1/2 c. water)
1/2 c. milk

Mix all ingredients together. Beat until smooth. Bake in a 9"x13" pan at 350F for 35-40 minutes.

ETA: I'm not using frosting this time but you can. I'm just dumping on sprinkles while the cakes are still hot...I'm not a big fan of the frosting they like here (it tastes like fake margarine...), and sprinkles...well...what's not to love?

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

Kard Kit Time!!

Posted: May 21st, 2010, 4:14pm PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

I hope you've all been enjoying the lovely spring weather we've been having! I think it may sprinkle a little bit this weekend....figures as it always rains over the May long weekend! *sigh* Well, it's the perfect time to share this Rainy Day Emma card!!

Once again, we have a great Card Kit to share with you that is available over at Scrappin' Great Deals! This month you have a choice between this image from CCDesigns or Zoe by Sarah Kay. I have used Emma on my design!

All the supplies I used will be in the card kit! Here is what the kit includes:

6-6x6 Bazzil card bases
6-6.25x6.25 envelopes
6-sheets of double sided paper from the following October Afternoon collections (Fly a Kite, Thrift Shop, Farm Fresh)
1-1/2 yard of stretchy creamy lace ribbon
1- pearl straight pin
1- strip of pearls
1-strip of pearls and crystals
2- white flowers
1- rosebud flower
3- mini brads

Andrea will be showing her sample using the other stamp that is available in this kit, so you can see what each of them look like! And if you'd like to scoop up a kit before they are all gone, just hop over to Scrappin' Great Deals!!!

Happy kraftin'!!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

Impression Obsession DT Challenge: Best Friend

Posted: May 19th, 2010, 9:01pm PDT by dini

It's time again for a challenge thrown down by the Impression Obsession design team! Did you know that you can enter these challenges too, using your Impression Obsession stamps? See the I.O. blog for all the details - you might even win a $25 gift certificate!! A new schedule of the challenges has been posted for the next few months - plan ahead (or shop ahead!) so you can play along!
This week we're showcasing friendship cards, and challenged each other to make a card for our best friend - and send it! I have used a couple of Alesa Baker stamps on this card - her style is so elegant and enjoyable to color, especially her floral stamps. I'm so glad her line is still available - does anyone remember back when Stampa Rosa went out of business? Well, I've had this sentiment stamp since then. :) It's called "Thinking Of You Days".

The vase image is part of a clear set called "Daisy Love". I colored it in with Prismacolor pencils (the colors I used are listed below). For the big polka dot background, I created a mask using the 'blank' from a sheet of round cardstock ABC stickers (the part that's left after all the ABC stickers are all gone)... the kids love those stickers and I've been saving this blank for the right occasion. :) I colored in each circle with pencil, and blended with odorless mineral spirits. The lace border is the edge of a paper doily that I cut and tucked and straightened along the edge.
Be sure to check out the rest of the team's cards for inspiration....links are over to the left!
Fun with Fabric

Posted: May 16th, 2010, 9:38pm PDT by dini

Playing along with the Moxie Fab challenge again - this time the challenge is to use fabric on our cards. I had this scrap of canvas floating around on my desk, which I purchased locally, so there's my fabric, along with the cotton gingham ribbon (another local find).

I decided to pull out my coffee-themed sets from Impression Obsession - the focal image is called "Coffee Aroma". It's available in rubber (mounted or unmounted), and was recently made available in a clear set called "Coffee with a Friend". I stamped it in Memento Rich Cocoa ink.

I watercolored around the image first... I dabbed some ink from a Versamagic Turquoise Green pad on an acrylic block and used that as my paint, picking it up with a waterbrush. The image was colored with Neopiko markers.
For the background, I grabbed a scrap of glossy cardstock and laid it over the Cover-a-Card Thick & Thin stamp. The ink sort of beaded, which wasn't what I expected, but it worked for me... I like the distressed, imperfect look of it. I filled in some stripes randomly with marker. The sentiment is from another coffee set called "Smell the Coffee."It's stamped on a punched tag. Teal is probably one of my least-used, least-favorite colors, so I had to scruff the card base up a bit with some sponged ink.

For some reason (avoiding my to-do list?!) I took the time this weekend to catalog all my ink pad colors on shipping tags. Turns out I have 103 different colors of ink, and a few more on the way... not sure what to say about that! But it makes me happy to see all those colors in rainbow order, and it will help in some upcoming projects to be able to compare shades and such.
And that is all I know today. Take care!!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

May Release Day and a Krafty Hop!!

Posted: May 15th, 2010, 10:00pm PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Yaaaaaaay! You've made it to the final stop on our Krafty Hop!! haha! Now if you've just landed here by accident, you may want to start from the beginning over at Kraftin' Kimmie's Challenge Blog!! Then hop around to the Krafty Girls' blogs in order and be sure to leave a comment on each and every stop, because you could be the random winner of some of our yummy Krafty Kandy!!!

Today I have two creations to share....I got to play with ALL of the new release images this month...yay me! And the last two are Mae and Jack!!

For sunshiney Mae, I chose some yellow, red and orange papers from the Citrus DCWV stack and coloured her up with my Copic markers! I used my new fancy Martha Stewart border punch and added some wide red grosgrain ribbon across the middle and attached a big fat bow! I used my nesties to cut and emboss Mae and sponged around the frame. Then I whipped up a layered flower and added a sentiment from the new Beachy Sentiments set!

Fancy fellow Mr. Jack is, I think, my favourite card from this release! I only needed this single sheet of patterned paper because it is so sparkly and beautiful, don't you think? It's from the Mango Twist DCWV stack and I coloured up Jack according to the colours in the paper. I created a cloud template from a piece of scrap cardstock and sponged in the cloudy sky with some chalk ink. I added the little accessory sandcastle stamp which comes with Jack too! I finished off the design with some orange rick rack, a trio of brads and another Beachy Sentiment!

Well, I hope you enjoyed our Krafty Hop and now all these amazing images and sentiments are available at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Shop!! And all orders placed today and tomorrow by midnight EST, are eligible to win a 5x7 print of Annie Rodrigue's original painting, Perfect Poison!! Cool!!

Happy kraftin'!!
May Release Krafty Peeks....Day Three and a CHALLENGE!!!

Posted: May 15th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Kay, so have you seen all the gorgeous creations out in blogland where gals are using this fabulous dotty background technique?? So I've been dying to give it a try but terrified that I'd make a big mess and wreck my image. Well, when I was trying to figure out what to do for this week's Kraftin' Kimmie challenge, which is to make Anything BUT a Card, and how exactly I was going to colour this amazing Perfect Poison image by Annie Rodrigue, I decided to take the plunge and give the fancy background a whirl!!!

So I stamped up the image on Neenah cardstock with Memento ink. Then I pulled out the markers that I wanted to use in my background and worked on that first....'cause I figured that if I coloured the main part of the image and then totally screwed up the background and it was ugly, I'd be more likely to hurl it across the room in anger. This way I could just start again if I messed up and I wouldn't be spittin' nails and spewing profanities.....as much.

I started with the darkest colour first and dotted close to the image and all around it, as that's where I wanted it to be the darkest. Then I did the same with all the other colours, adding more shading as I went....with the lightest colours filling in the white spaces and all the way out to the edge of the paper. I went back and did this a couple of times with each marker to get the dotty background to look just the way I wanted it to. It took me probably an hour or more just to do the background....but I just LOVE the way it looks!!! I won't be doing it on all my cards from now on, or anything crazy like that...but I do love the way it turned out! Doesn't happen very often, but my colouring mojo seems to be workin' right now. Yay!

Anyway, I matted the main layer on a couple of coordinating colours and then pop dotted it on this wine bottle tag that I made. The Perfect Poison image, which will be available at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Shop tomorrow, comes with two fantastic sentiments and two bonus accessory stamps!! I used one of them on my tag and added some super sparkly ribbon at the top! What a perfect hostess gift, yes??

Be sure to join us tomorrow for our Krafty Hop where you'll see lots more kreations featuring the new stamps....including a fabulous design by our very own Annie Rodrigue!!!!

Now hop on over to the Challenge Blog and check out the incredible samples made for you by the Krafty Girls to inspire you to make Anything But a Card!! And if you join our little challenge, you could win some fun new KK rubbah!!!!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

Lil' Lambs

Posted: May 14th, 2010, 10:31pm PDT by dini

These two cards have been in my 'not posted' file for a while... these stamps are from Heartfelt Creations, and there's more where they came from - if you like 'cute kid' stamps (especially ones with facial features!) click here to see the rest of the "Lil' Lambs" line. These designs are called Gardening Boy and Bouquet of Cheer.

Both scenes were watercolored using Derwent watercolor pencils and reinkers. I used a scalloped circle as a mask to create the clouds in the first background. This first card sketch was a challenge but I forget where - it's been so long! Seems it was from SCS. Nice one for using up scraps.

On the second card I used a set called Leafy Swirls, paper-piecing the leaves. The flowers are cut with Nestabilities - several layers of mulberry paper, attached with a brad, then squished into shape.
Hanging out waiting for my friend to arrive! She's not necessarily coming to visit us, but it's a nice bonus. I'm sure there are more important things I should be doing at the moment than blogging and cataloging my ink collection... but this is what I do when I don't know where to start!!
Enjoy your weekend........!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

May Release Krafty Peeks....Day Two!!

Posted: May 14th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

So you're likin' the 'beachy' new images, huh?? Makes you want to head to the seashore, right?? Haha! Well, we've got more fun creations to share with you today!!

My sample today features this lovely lady....Florence!! Doesn't she remind you of Sophia Loren with her stylish sunglasses? I just adore her vintage bathing outfit and headband! I was inspired by the colours in the patterned papers that I got from last years Summer Stack by DCWV. I created some sand by ripping some sandy coloured paper and distressing the ripped edges. Then I used my wave punch to create the surf at the bottom of the card!

The card base is Brilliant Blue and I used Green Galore for matting. I cut Florence out and pop dotted her on the beach! I also stamped, coloured and cut out the shell accessory stamp that comes with Florence! I also made a sun using my I-Topper punch and then used the tool to make the brad that I put in the centre. Lastly, I stamped the 'Pass the Sunscreen' sentiment which is from the new Beachy Sentiments set that will be available on Sunday at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, along with all of the wonderful new images!

All the Krafty Girls have Krafty Peeks for you today, so you can get to each of their blogs from the list in my sidebar or you can head over to the Challenge Blog for the complete list!

Be sure to come back tomorrow as we'll have a new and awesome Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge for ya featuring more May release images!!! See you then!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

Pansies

Posted: May 13th, 2010, 9:01pm PDT by dini

This is another beautiful floral stamp from Auntie Amy - Pansies - it's a big one and so fun to watercolor. I didn't even notice when I purchased it that there was a ladybug on the leaf there! I used Derwent watercolor pencils on this piece, and couldn't go with traditional purple - had to try red pansies just for something different. Next time I'll have to do some paper tole with this image... love it.

I felt that any color or pattern on the card base would tend to distract from the watercolor work... so I filled the background with textures instead, using my Scor-Pal to create a diamond grid pattern. The sentiment is from the Flourishes Strawberries set. This card is on its way to a dear friend on the other side of the pond!

Strange week - one of those weeks where days 'feel' like different days... then we had a holiday Thursday which threw me off even more. I'm having to write every little thing down so I don't forget... there are way too many things going on right now, and way too many people have said, "Hey can you..."

Several culture jolts this week too... though we've been here 5 years, there are still things that shock us, and the longer we are here the deeper those things hit. Part of life, I guess!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

May Release Krafty Peeks - Day One!!

Posted: May 13th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Well, it's that time again, isn't it??? It's SO hard to play with the amazing new images each month before they are available and then SUCH torture not to be able to show them to anyone!! Well, it's been the same with the new May Kraftin' Kimmie images!!! Just WAIT 'til you see!!

This month Annie Rodrigue has given us an awesome bunch of vintage Bathing Beauties to play with!!! It's time for warm, sunny weather and days spent at the beach...wouldn't you agree?? These characters are perfect for summer cards, creations and to help display all those awesome photos on your scrapbook pages!!!

For my first Krafty Peek I chose to use Eleanor!! She is so lovely in her bathing suit and flowered bathing cap! Guess she doesn't want to mess up that gorgeous hair! I stamped her on Neenah using Memento ink and coloured her in with my Copics. I chose the colours to coordinate with the DCWV glittery papers from last year's Summer Stack. The layout is just one I whipped up....feel free to borrow it....I'll use it again for sure!!

The super sentiment is from the new Beachy Sentiments set that goes with the new images perfectly!! I created the sand under Eleanor by dotting all different browns and creams and then adding a little sparkly by dotting with my Stardust gel pen! I also added lots of layered flowers, attaching them with sparkly brads and adding more bling by using some Stardust Stickles on the petals. Hope you like her as much as I do!!

Now be sure to check out the other incredible samples by the rest of the Krafty Girls today! Then come on back tomorrow for some more summer fun!! And then these super cute images will be available on Sunday!!!

Happy kraftin'!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

Sweet peas

Posted: May 11th, 2010, 9:01pm PDT by dini

We had some dinner guests the other night who have been in-country for about a month, traveling to different tribal ministry locations to evaluate and encourage the teams in their literacy programs - their stories were so exciting, and we were so encouraged to see their enthusiasm for this new ministry. Anyway, they leave to go back to the States today, and I made this card for them.

Last month I caught wind of a BOGO sale at Auntie Amy's, and jumped at the opportunity to purchase some of her gorgemous stamps... Aunty Amy purchased the Embossing Arts line of stamps when they went out of business, and they have some beautiful images that just beg to be watercolored. I'll have more to share soon! This is the Sweetpea stamp, which is one of their Flowers of the Month set (you can purchase them individually, or purchase the full set at a great savings!). I watercolored the image using Derwent watercolor pencils and a waterbrush. The sentiment I used is from Heart & Soul Rubber Stamp Co. - the elegant font went perfectly with this image, I think!

OK - back to my to-do list!
Monday

Posted: May 10th, 2010, 1:57pm PDT by dini

Another week to fly through... these are busy days leading up to busier days! So thankful to have my man home, though. Somebody's got take care of me! I'm feeling much better, which is a good thing for this week of lesson prep and teaching ladies' chapel, homeschooling, designing invitations for graduation, preparing for a house guest next week, sitting in on student interviews, little-by-little making and stashing paper roses (2 a day) for the upcoming wedding, making a few cards for friends headed Stateside... this with all the life stuff sprinkled in-between. Woohoo!

Impression Obsession makes all the stamps on my card here...

Garden Planter
TypeStacks Family clear set
Cover-a-Card Medallion
Single Daily Bloom

The image is colored with Neopiko markers and Prismacolor pencils... grass is sketched in and the butterflies are 'popped' - that shows up better below. I stamped the Medallion CAC over a sponged background, then stamped the daisy randomly over the area and sponged the edges. Rather than cutting around all the little tendrils on the image, I cut them off (gasp!)...and stamped the image on the olive layer instead. I do the same thing with butterfly antennae - can't be bothered with those!

OK - I'm off - need to get rolling today! Take care and have a great week!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

A Paper Sundaes Challenge!

Posted: May 10th, 2010, 7:28am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

This week Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is sponsoring the sketch challenge over at the Paper Sundaes blog! And they made the sketch especially for our images ('cause ya know, they are nice sized images) and it's super cute!!

For my design, I used the new You Make Me Happy image from our Cindy and Mindy collection of images. This was the first chance I'd had to get it inky....and it turned out to be the perfect one for this layout!

I used this pretty patterned paper from the Green at Heart pad from Basic Grey....love the colours. I stamped the image on Neenah using Memento ink and coloured it in with my Copic markers. Then I used an oval Nestie to cut it out and emboss it, then used a sponge dauber and some Wheat craft ink to sponge around the frame while I still had the nestie on there. I pop dotted it and the sentiment and then finished it off by adding some yellow rhinestones in the corners.

If you play along with this simple sketch this week, you could be the winner of your choice of Kraftin' Kimmie rubbah!! Be sure to hop on over to the Paper Sundaes challenge blog and check out the gorgeousness that the design team created.....and ALL of them used Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!! They're awesome!!!

OH and be sure to keep your eyes peeled because starting on Thursday, the Krafty Girls and I will begin showing some Krafty peeks of the new May release stamps!!! Heeheeeeeeeeeee!!!

Have a krafty week everyone!!
Who Loves Ice Cream???????

Posted: May 8th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Okay, this is going to be a super quickie post this morning as it's not yet 5am and Andrea and I are getting ready for a bus trip to see Tim Holtz. Okay, not just Tim but a whole bunch of krafty people!! There's going to be lots of vendors to buy from and lots of people to see!

Anyhoo, on to the card....this week's challenge is from the lovely Vicki and she has chosen Neopolitan ice cream as our colour inspiration!! So use Pink, Chocolate and Vanilla for your colours!!

I used the sweet Princess Petunia for my card and some older DCWV sparkly paper, which is so delicious! I used a new Martha Stewart punch for the border and added some lovely thick twill with a button and some linen thread. Isn't she yummy??? Hmmm.....I wonder if ice cream is good for breakfast......I haven't had my coffee yet and I'm starving!!! Haha!!

Be sure to hop over to the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge Blog and check out the wonderful designs by the Krafty Girls! Then join in our challenge for your chance to win!!! We'd love to see what krafty-ness you have up your inky sleeves!!!

Have a wonderful week!!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

3 Cheers for Chairs!

Posted: May 6th, 2010, 9:01pm PDT by dini

Saw this challenge over at Moxie Fab World, and thought I'd play along - because I love chairs!

This was a quick, clean and simple card.... I stamped the label from Journaling 1 in Bamboo ink, shaded around the edge with a Prismacolor pencil (Bronze) and blended with OMS. Next I stamped Cozy Chairs in my favorite new ink, Colorbox Dark Brown (finally, a really really dark brown!), and colored the image with a Prismacolor pencil (Chocolate), blending with OMS. The sentiment was stamped in Dark Brown as well. Done!
Have a great weekend!
Impression Obsession DT Challenge - Out of the Box

Posted: May 5th, 2010, 9:01pm PDT by dini

The rest of the Impression Obsession team has been dreading this challenge, but this is one of my favorites - it's the "Out of the Box" challenge, where we're supposed to use a stamp image for something other than its intended use.

So......these are the stamps I used - this is Goldfish, 2 birds from the Believe Birds clear set, and a coffee cup from the Coffee with a Friend clear set.

And....... those things somehow in my mind turned into this!I had so much fun making this card! All the elements are watercolored with reinkers. Another day that fish tail will have to be a campfire - can you see it? It's perfect for that too. The background (Cover-a-Card Tapestry 2), stamped in Adirondack Stream ink on sponged glossy cardstock, then sanded a bit to remove the gloss. Here's a close-up on the butterfly:
Ha! I love it.Did you know that you can enter these challenges too, using your Impression Obsession stamps? See the I.O. blog for all the details - you might even win a $25 gift certificate!! Be sure to check out the rest of the team's cards for inspiration....links are over to the left!
Batter up......

Posted: May 4th, 2010, 7:23pm PDT by dini

...that's a pun.
Get it?
Well you might... if you remember my series of cards last year using the Impression Obsession's Create-a-Cupcake set as anything other than a cupcake. (Click here to see all the cards I've made with this set!) Just warming up for this week's challenge to think 'outside the box'.........
I've had this little guy stashed for a while - he was colored with Neopiko markers and Prismacolor pencils, and you can see that I used the cupcake outline, face, and sprinkles from the set to make him - the bill of his cap and his smile were sketched in by hand. Love those freckles!
I created my own background paper by layering a couple of public domain images I found online. The ticket was also printed and lightly distressed. The baseball is handstitched. Not sure why I used so many staples, but... the stapler was handy, the staples matched, and I was in git-'er-done-quick-and-simple mode this morning. The sentiment stamp comes from the clear set "Flowers for You".
Day 2 with DH gone... I came down with some stomach flu bug the night before he left, but I'm feeling a bit better today. At least I have an appetite and everything has stayed down so far! Just taking it easy and taking things one step at a time. See you tomorrow with my challenge card... here's a teaser - what do you get when you cross a goldfish, 2 birds, and a coffee cup?
soooo.........

Posted: May 1st, 2010, 5:47pm PDT by dini

The wedding invitations are done! So here they are, all 52 of them... Huge thanks to Sue at Heart and Soul for allowing me tweak the Heart/Hands image to fit my needs. I stamped the image, watercolored it, overstamped the Flourishes Cover-a-Card stamp from Impression Obsession, on the pink background with Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid ink, then trimmed out an oval with my Coluzzle template...scanned the thing, resized and tweaked it, added the couples' names, then printed sheets of them to cut out with Coluzzle again.
The cardstock they chose is pearlescent on one side - it's beautiful but looked sort of plain just as-is, so we stamped the face of each gate-folded card with the same background stamp and Orchid ink.
End of our 'break'... sigh... really, the kids were the only ones that got a break! I was busy with different projects every day, catching up and finishing a few things that had gotten pushed aside while I was teaching. Next week will be busy as well, as DH will be away teaching at a conference for 5 days. Hopefully we can get ahead on school - we have 4 weeks of curriculum left that we need to finish in 3 weeks, so we're done before the craziness of graduation, the wedding, and a week of meetings at our house. Ack!
I have one big thing left on my to-do list, and I am dragging my feet about it... I need to order 4th grade books for my son, and it seems the easiest thing to do is to have them shipped direct from the company... they ship FedEx and we have heard stories about the huge fees that are charged on this end for customs and handling... but the other alternative is to have someone else ship them via USPS, which is slow and unreliable, and the new customs guy at the post office is very strict (they have a new restriction on school materials)... either way there will be fees... so... any advice or encouragement? I need to do this soon.
Happy weekend...............!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

Challenge #27 - Let's Get Sketchy!!

Posted: May 1st, 2010, 6:26am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Sorry I'm a little late this morning. Al and I stayed up late to watch a movie and by the time I finished up the post over at the KKS Challenge Blog, it was after 1am....and that's waaaay past my bedtime!! hehe!

This week the wonderful Jeanne has put together a great sketch for us to use!! I LOVE using sketches because it always gives me that inspiration to start off my design! It's like a no-brainer! Sketches are my very favourite challenges!

For my card I used the lovely Miss Charlotte!! I had a baby card that I needed to make, so this was perfect! I hope my friend's poor kids turn out better than Charlotte's!! Haha! I stamped the image on Neenah cardstock using Memento ink and coloured her in with my Copic markers. The cardstocks are by Bazzill and the patterned papers are from the Pitter Patter line. I used some Doodlebug star buttons that I've had for ages and tied some scrapper's floss through them. I stamped the sentiment from our Everyday Sentiments set and punched it out. I added some Martha Stewart ribbon and lastly I sponged around the image using some chalk ink, then pop dotted everything!!

If you'd like to play along with our sketch, be sure to link us up over at the challenge blog so we can check it out and if you use a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp, you could be the random winner of the Queen Guinevere stamp as featured on Jeanne's amazing card!

OH and don't forget that to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day, KKS is having a fantastic sale!! Some of your favourite images and sentiment sets are 25-50% off but only until Sunday night, so be sure to head over there and scoop some up!!

Now hop on over to the Challenge Blog and check out the Krafty Girls' amazing designs using the sketch!!!

Happy kraftin'!
Super Krafty Sale!!

Posted: April 30th, 2010, 1:02pm PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Just thought I'd let you know that Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is celebrating National Scrapbooking Day, along with the rest of the papercrafting world!!

From now until Sunday at midnight EST, save 25-50% off some of your favourite Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!!

This sale includes images from each of our lines of stamps....Moonlight Whispers, Crissy's Cuties, Cindy and Mindy and even some of our fabulous Sentiment Sets!!

Be sure to scoop some up before the sale is over!!

And pop back tomorrow to check out this week's Krafty Challenge!!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

Sneak Peek!

Posted: April 29th, 2010, 10:33pm PDT by dini

Just wanted to share that I have a new set being released in May by Our Daily Bread designs - the set is called "As You Graduate," and features a collaged image which is a combination of several photos I love. The image conveys a sense of hope, new beginnings and new possibilities, which is what I wanted to capture in a set that could be used for a graduation card, or for someone going into a new ministry, new home, college, etc. Here is the set, which will be available for purchase May 1st: Something else I wanted to share about this image is that it was designed in such a way that it can be used in its full size, or can be cut to fit into several different orientations. Cut vertically, there are 2 different options for bookmarks. Cut horizontally, there are 2 panels that can be used. The butterflies can be cut out and 'popped' separately, or just trim around the edges of the wings, and raise them up a little. The bird could be the focus of an inchie. The trees could be left bare, or filled in with a texture stamp. Lots of possibilities! I'm sure you can think of more, and I'm sure more ideas will come when I have my own set in hand. For now - enjoy the preview, and check out the sneak peeks from design team members! Their links are all on the ODBD blog.

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

Lots 'o Flowers!!

Posted: April 29th, 2010, 9:34am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Hidee ho, good stampers!! First of all, let me apologize profusely for my absence. I've been rather under the weather, spending six and a half hours at the emergency room last Friday night/Saturday morning. It's taken me several days to even get back to feeling remotely human again. I can't thank everyone enough for their messages and concern and good wishes! Also my wonderful Mom stayed with us for several days and it was so comforting. She cooked meals and cleaned and helped with cutting and packaging stamps!! She is the BEST!!! Thanks Mom!

My card for this week's Kraftin' Kimmie challenge features the beautiful fairy, Daphne! Andrea is our hostess this week and she wants us to use Lots 'o Flowers! Totally easy for me!!

I used some gorgeous new, sparkly Bo Bunny papers along with Pale Plum and Perfect Plum cardstocks. I coloured her up with my Copic markers, of course and drew in some grass. I added some lilac and green pearls, some satin ribbon and the gorgeous new Prima flowers! The sentiment I used actually comes with Daphne, along with a second sentiment!

So I'm sure you can play along with this week's challenge....I mean, who doesn't love using flowers?? Be sure to hop over to the challenge blog and check out the amazing creations from the Krafty Girls and play along so you could win!!

Happy kraftin'!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

Be Still

Posted: April 27th, 2010, 10:12pm PDT by dini

Here is another card using a set from my most recent DKdesigns release at smARTworks. This set has become a part of the Wistful Thinking full sheet - lots of good stuff on there!
The focal panel is a piece of watercolor paper I had played with for another project which involved misting the paper and mixing Twinkling H20s - it's pretty girly and shiny, which doesn't show well in the pictures... but anyway, it made a great background for this photo stamp. I trimmed the background into a square and rounded the corners. Using a Coluzzle nested square template, I cut out the inner rounded square as well. My card is a gatefold card, 4-1/4" square. If you can picture the focal panel flipped over, there is double stick tape on the left half of the inside square (the ribbon is also attached with that tape), and double stick tape on the right half of the outer square.
The view below might make a little more sense than me trying to explain things...the ribbon comes up over the outer frame on the left, and that sort of 'locks' the card shut, in addition to the tie on the right.
This is a view of the inside of the card. The verse fits nicely in the corner of the inner panel, and is also designed to snug up next to the main image. I used the extension of the flourishes on the main image to embellish the corner, as well as the edges of the card front.This fits with the Papertake Weekly Challenge to "do something different" - don't think I've ever made one of these cards before! Also, at Clearly Inspired Challenges sponsored by Clear Dollar Stamps the challenge is to "tie it up" with ribbon.
Be still - good message for me this week!
the journey

Posted: April 26th, 2010, 3:38pm PDT by dini

Here are a couple quick cards made with some DKdesigns stamps available from smARTworks... BTW, yesterday I spent some time updating my Design Resume page... not sure why I have done that, but for what it's worth - it's there! Must be my personal need to organize trivial things. Quirky I am. :)

I actually used 2 different sets on these cards. One set is called Journey, and the other Path set has been combined with a few of my other sets as part of the Wistful Thinking full sheet. I designed them as one set originally, and I love how they work together. This was a simple card to make - the path was colored in with a Neopiko marker, and shaded here and there with a single Prismacolor pencil. I stamped in the grass with a small grass stamp from another set. The grey panel is embossed with a Fiskars texture plate, and I used my Scor-Pal to score the diagonal lines on the card base. As I'm looking at it now, I think the little buckle on the ribbon must have come from an old bra. Do you think? hee hee..... Another quick card here - the path was stamped in Wheat chalk ink (Versamagic), and the girl from the Journey set was stamped over the top in Memento Tuxedo Black. I used a Neopiko marker to just lightly color in her top. I used some aged writing paper as my card base, and the bottom scalloped piece is a map-print vellum. I have my work cut out for me today... the bride-to-be is coming over to help with the invitations tonight so I have 104 eyelets to set before then. Invitations are printed and scored to fold, and the vellum layer is trimmed and punched. Sorta thankful to be able to use up so many eyelets in one pop... eyelets were one of those things I bought hundreds of in every color so I would never run out... sigh...
Clean corners

Posted: April 24th, 2010, 6:40pm PDT by dini

Yesterday was a work day at our house - one of our classes is doing a fundraiser, so we thought we'd help them out and at the same time, attack some projects that have been on our to-do list for at least a year, and do some deep cleaning to our floors and into grimy corners. It was a fun day...but a long day! We worked along with the students, and really accomplished quite a lot - floors are cleaned and waxed, kitchen shelves all wiped down, my freezer is finally defrosted and cleaned (it was really gross...), and a few other carpentry projects are underway - a repurposed novelty table, workbench in the shed, screen door for the back, shelves for the boys' room.
So my clean corners made me think of this card - this was one of my CHA cards using a Gary Robertson stamp from Impression Obsession's Spring release. (The image is called Sunflower with Butterflies.) I thought I'd experiment with coloring just the foreground image. Gary's artwork is so detailed - I liked being able to highlight just one area with color, and and leave the background in the background. I let my coloring 'do the talking' on this card, and combined textures to break up the white-on-white panels a little. My coloring was done with Neopiko markers, highlighted with a white Prismacolor pencil (Neopiko markers are an inexpensive non-refillable alcohol marker - I got mine at [www.oozak.com] during a closeout sale).
All for now - I am taking a 'me' week this week, and the kids are finally having their Spring break. I'll be ordering homeschool stuff for next year, working on some publication calls, finishing up those wedding invitations, and starting on some details for our upcoming graduation... and one day I will learn how to actually rest during a break...................!
Just Be..........

Posted: April 21st, 2010, 3:12pm PDT by dini

Solid stamps are fun to work with and very versatile. One of my favorite techniques with solid stamps is a 'faux watercolor' technique, where the stamp is colored directly using chalk inks, water-soluble markers or dye inks, watercolor crayons, etc., then misted before stamping. An alternative to misting the stamp is misting the paper, if the paper being used is heavy enough to withstand the extra moisture (for example, heavy cardstocks (110# and up) or watercolor paper).

For this card I used watercolor paper, and Versamagic Chalk Inks... I inked the solid images first, then misted the stamps with a small spray bottle before stamping to the paper. Stamps I used:

Solid Tree
Solid Tree Leaves Trio
Cottage Fence (upside down)
Riding Pretty clear set (Christmas tree image - as grass)
Life and Flowers clear set (sentiment)

The background and edges were sponged with ink, and the sentiment panel is 'popped' with dimensional foam tape. I scored the edges with my Scor-Pal and sanded the raised lines lightly. I love the little pop of blue in the background...it wasn't intentional, actually - my stamp just wasn't very clean! But it works...and makes me want to take a morning walk in a foggy park.

I am feeling the "Just BE" of this card... one more class day to go, but it will just be talking about resources that are available, collecting evaluation forms, and handing out a test, so in a way I feel "done". Next week we'll finally get to take our Spring Break, and I have a list of projects to finish, many of which involve STAMPING. Looking forward to that!
Spring Things

Posted: April 20th, 2010, 9:20pm PDT by dini

Busy days and weeks make me long for a quiet hour or two, and a chance to unwind by coloring at my stamping desk. I've been waiting to work with this beautiful line-art stamp from CowTown Stamps... Laurel frequently updates her Dollar Sale page (overstocked stamps - there are over 500 designs in there right now~!) , and since I found a few 'needs' in there, I thought I'd look around for a few other images as well, you know... to justify the postage. Heh heh...

This stamp image is called "Spring Stuff" - I chose a buttercream cardstock to stamp it on, then colored it in with Prismacolor pencils, blending with odorless mineral spirits. The colors I used are charted below. I like the idea of coloring on a colored or patterned cardstock - I'll have to play with that some more. Hopefully next week I'll have some time to 'find myself' again...! Here's some more of my Mom's stash of trim, and a tiny scrap of grosgrain ribbon from my ribbon jar. I cut the scalloped edge with decorative scissors (gasp!).

I'm halfway through my week - DH has been helping with the health class these last few days, since he has lots of first aid and first response training. That's been good. Glad to have him help me, as my first response is normally to freeze and cry...!

Speaking of DH, we got encouraging news yesterday, and a plan to move forward with his language study in preparation for team-teaching in the Fall. Teaching is his love and his heart, and he had been asked to step out of the classroom for some time to improve his language, so it's exciting to see that the plan is in place for him to begin teaching again next semester. I'm so proud of him!!!!

P.S. On the pencil codes below - PC are Prismacolor, LF are also Prismacolor but their Lightfast line. Pablo is a line put out by Caran d'Ache.
Refreshing

Posted: April 18th, 2010, 9:01pm PDT by dini

This is my entry for this month's smART-word Challenge - this month's word is FRESH. Soooooo many ways that word could go... my first thoughts revolved around fresh fruits and vegetables (for that one I was thinking of using inks that were named after foods), but then I started thinking - what about a fresh perspective? The last few months have been busy ones, and on top of that, there have been disappointments and opportunities for hurt feelings. I looked through my catalog of sentiments and this one from smARTworks' Cookie Plate jumped out at me. I know that in my life the only way a fresh perspective comes is through setting aside all that is cluttering my mind, and turning my attention to the Lord. So that's what this card is about!
The other stamp I used is from a smARTbucks-only set called Vintage Variety - it's a large branch image with a bird on it. Love that one! My background was created by swiping some chalk inks directly onto watercolor paper, then spritzing to make the inks run. After that was dry, I sanded the piece a little, then stamped the branch image and sentiment. I filled in the florals with white gel pen, and kept the rest of the card clean and simple with textures on white. That bit of trim is from my Mom's stash, which I remember admiring as a child - guess I've always had a fascination with buttons and trim. Thanks Mom!
There's still time to enter this month's 'Fresh' challenge, and you can view all the details and rules at the smARTword site. You'll see my card posted over there soon, along with a few others by present and former team members.

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

A Challenge for the Boys!!

Posted: April 16th, 2010, 7:19pm PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Kay!! Can I tell you how excited I am?? I'm in a hotel room in Kitchener, on my laptop with Andrea! We are getting ready to go to Scrapfest tomorrow morning!! We're going to see a bunch of people that we have met online and others we have met before but haven't seen in ages!! I can't wait!

Anyway, I'm in a hotel room and my mouse isn't working, so this post is going to be short and sweet!

So this week's Kraftin' Kimmie challenge is from the amazing Melanie and she wants us to make 'One for the Boys'! So for my card I used the *new* Bartholomew the Bard! He's so cute!

I'll come back and post more info later....but we're runnin' down to grab some breakfast before we try to navigate our way to the Kitchener Auditorium for SCRAPFEST!!!

Have a krafty day!!

Kimmie

Mama Dini's Stamperia

It's time.............

Posted: April 16th, 2010, 5:38pm PDT by dini

Time to share the final smARTworks design team challenge, using these watch part stamps from the Time at Hand stamp collection. I made a black/ white ATC with my stamps - the watch is stamped on platinum vellum, and colored from the back with Neopiko marker. The watch face is underneath the vellum; also backing the vellum is DP full of numbers. I used the clock face, stamped 3 times overlapping, to create a large scalloped border for the edge of the card. The hands of the watch do actually turn, for what it's worth! Sort of an expression of how time has just been flying lately....!

For those not familiar with an ATC, it is an Artist Trading Card, the size of a baseball card (2-1/2" x 3-1/2"), made for the purpose of trading with other ATC artists.

As usual, take a hop over to Susan's blog for a chance to win your own set!

It's also time to officially part ways as a design team, as was announced last month... So long, farewell, friends... it has been an enjoyable ride together! I wonder what's next?

P.S. I found another challenge to add! Stamp Something's challenge is to incorporate layers.
Impression Obsession DT Challenge: High school colors

Posted: April 14th, 2010, 9:01pm PDT by dini

Yaaaaaaay BLUE! Yaaaaaaaaaay WHITE! Yaaaaaaaaaay DRILLERS! FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!
The Impression Obsession design team has challenged each other - and you - to make a card using your high school colors. Yep, I'm a Driller...."once a Driller, always a Driller," they say......
To be quite honest, Driller Blue is probably the color I use the least, so as a challenge, this one didn't come easy. I had decided on a nautical scene, and this was one in my collection - this is a section of Seaside Scene, which I stamped with Brilliance Mediterannean Blue Ink.... Not even sure how that inkpad got into my stash, or if I have ever actually used it before! I used watercolor paper and a single color of Twinkling H2Os to fill in the scene. The sentiment is called.... Thinking of You.

I wanted to combine this with another challenge, and completely coincidentally.... Ready-Steady-Stamp had this recipe challenge:1. Sea2. Blue, White/Cream, Brown & Black3. Seashells4. Oval5. Sand
Heh heh....got all 5! I'd found these teeny shells for sale in town and the sand - local embellishment type stuff - and they fit in the depth of the oval Shake-It pouch. I grabbed a smattering of designer paper... LOL - yes, I still have 'that paper'!! If I'd had more stamping time this week I would have made matching DP with my Cover-a-Card stamps, but alas.....it was not to be.

Did you know that you can enter these challenges too, using your Impression Obsession stamps? See the I.O. blog for all the details - you might even win a $25 gift certificate!! Be sure to check out the rest of the team's cards for inspiration....links are over to the left!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

A CPS Sketch Challenge!!

Posted: April 14th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Hey, guess what?? Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is the sponsor this week over at the Card Positioning Systems blog!! And they have a really cool sketch this week and it certainly inspired me!

If you play along you could win some awesome new KKStamps rubbah! And if you check out the KKS Blog, you'll get details on how you could have TWO chances to win!! haha!

For my card I decided to play with the lovely Monique!! I hadn't inked her up yet and she was just beggin' to play!! I pulled out some new glittery papers from the new Mango Frost Stack from DCWV! Perfect colours for this sassy gal!

I stamped the image on Neenah cardstock and coloured her in with my Copics, 'o course! The coordinating cardstocks are Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango and Orchid Opulence! I even dusted off my sewing machine (and I do mean that literally) and sewed around the frame. I found some matching buttons for the side and used the sentiment that comes with Monique....When in doubt, DANCE!

Hop over the the KKStamps Challenge Blog to see more samples from the Krafty Girls using the CPS sketch and get details on how YOU could win!!

Happy kraftin'!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

blaaaaahhh......

Posted: April 13th, 2010, 7:05pm PDT by dini

Wish I had something more to share... sigh... this has been pretty much a no-stamping week, though I did get a challenge card done and got in a little coloring yesterday just for fun. I was up all night with a stomach 'thang'... not sure what to make of that, but I'm taking it easy today. I was thankful to find out that 'whatever it was' didn't affect any of the dinner guests we had last night - that would be embarrassing! - but...I was sad to miss my class today.
Here's a sneak peek at my card for tomorrow's Impression Obsession challenge, just for fun... then I'm gonna get this warm laptop off my lap - that's sure not helping anything!
Bubbles and baubles

Posted: April 10th, 2010, 11:10pm PDT by dini

Here's another card with my Bubbles set from smARTworks...... this is a super simple layout, and a fun way to use up coordinating scraps. The only coloring on the focal image is a little Ivory Oxide colored pencil over the buttons. The image is stamped in Vintage Sepia ink. I stamped some bubbles on the dark brown background strip to pull the theme of the card together.

BTW, the set comes with a coordinating sentiment, "Thank you so much!" which could easily be used as an inside-the-card sentiment or stand alone.

My card is 4-1/4" x 6" (standard-sized paper here is A4). I folded it first, then scored an inch from the fold, added 2 eyelets and tied the closure with some hemp. Just for fun, I made some paper beads from the same blue paper you see at the top of my card.

Here's a picture I found that shows the basic concept of making paper beads - they are quick and easy to make yourself, and perfect as a matching accent. I wrap mine around a bamboo skewer, starting at the wide end, and making sure to keep the point of my triangle always somewhat centered. When I get to the last little bit, I put a dot of Crystal Lacquer on the bead and move it around the with the tail end so it sticks down the point and gives the bead a clear coat to seal it.

That's my quick eco-friendly card for the day!

Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner

April Krafty Hop.....Meet Dexter!!!

Posted: April 10th, 2010, 10:00pm PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Well, I'm so happy that you've made it to my blog today....but sad to tell you that this is the end of the Kraftin' Kimmie April Release Krafty Hop!!! Awwww...I know! Now if you've just happened to stop by here, you might want to go back to the beginning of the hop, which starts over at the KK Challenge Blog, so you can see all the amazing creations from the Krafty Girls! They are simply incredible!!!

Also, be sure to leave a comment on each blog when you are hopping around because some lucky random comments will win some new rubbah!!!

Now, look who I have for you to meet today!!! It's Dexter the Dragon!! The minute I 'met' him, I knew exactly how I wanted to colour him and how I'd be colouring up his scales!! Coooooool!!!

First though, I picked out these great papers from a new DCWV stack (can't remember which one, so don't ask) and made this simple layout. The cardstocks are from Andrea's stash, as I was crafting over at her house at the time. I believe I used Bazzill for the 6x6 base, Prism for the matting and some Kraft cardstock for the middle piece. I used a border punch, her circle maker and added some So Saffron ribbon.

Now I stamped Dexter using Memento black ink BUT this time I used some Canson drawing paper. It just gives a different look than the Neenah when the ink is laid on it. I coloured Dexter with my Copic markers and when he was finished, I started on his scales. First I used my colorless blender pen in dots to take away some of the ink and make it lighter in spots. Then I took a darker marker and made really tiny dots over top. Finally I made him sparkle a little by adding some dots with my Stardust Sakura gel pen!! AND I cut him all out and pop dotted him on the card!

The Time's a Dragon Without You sentiment is one of the bonus sentiments that comes with Dexter!! The other one is You Slay Me!! So funny! I stamped it on So Saffron cardstock and punched it out with a new EK Success punch and added some little pearls!

All the new April images are NOW available over at the Kraftin' Kimmie Shop! This includes a new image featuring Cindy and Mindy, plus Dexter, Sir Galahad, Bartholomew the Bard, Princess Petunia, Queen Guinevere AND another stamp that is inspired by one of Annie Rodrigue's amazing illustrations!! We created Marie Antoinette from her painting called Le Messager!! And every order placed at the KK Shop on Sunday, April 11th and Monday, April 12th are eligible to win one of three postcards featuring Annie's artwork!

Happy kraftin'....and happy shoppin'!!
Challenge #24!! A Colour Challenge!!

Posted: April 10th, 2010, 4:00am PDT by Kraftin' Kimmie

Hidee ho good stampers!! It's time for another fantastical Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge!!! This week our hostess is the dazzling Donna and she's given us a colour challenge! She would like us to use Black, White and Red on our designs this week! I hope you can join us for the challenge and if you use a Kraftin' Kimmie stamp, you'll be eligible to win the blog candy of the new Cindy and Mindy image that's featured on Donna's card! It's called You Make Me Happy and it will be available at the Shop on Sunday!!

For my card, I used the handsome new Sir Galahad!! Isn't he studly?? Hehe. I stamped him on Neenah cardstock with Memento ink and coloured him in with my Copic markers (you guessed that, didn't you?). I used some older DCWV Glitter Stack paper that has fantastic greys, white and black on it AND it's sparkly!!! I added the sentiment that comes with Sir Galahad....You're My Knight in Shining Armor!!

Be sure to head over the the challenge blog and you can check out all the inspirational cards made for you by the Krafty Girls AND our new Junior Krafty Girls!!! Then join in the challenge and show us your creations!!!

ALSO come back tomorrow for an amazing Krafty Hop, featuring all the new images for April and they will ALL be available too!!! See you then!

Mama Dini's Stamperia

Bubble Bath

Posted: April 10th, 2010, 12:45am PDT by dini

More bubbles....!

I took some inspiration from Mel's bathtub card post for this card - love all the detail she puts into her art! I sewed some clear seed beads on first, here and there, then added more bubbles using Crystal Lacquer and microbeads (teeny, tiny hole-less beads) - they sort of 'clumped' (aaahhh!!) so I moved them around with a toothpick until I got them where I wanted them, then let them dry over night.

I used Crystal Lacquer to make some water spill over the side of the tub and onto the floor. The image was painted first using reinkers mixed with Shimmerz.

What else did I do here... the bow was made with a Bow-Easy - I threaded the ribbon through the button holes. All the stamps I used are from Heartfelt Creations. If you like bears, they have a bunch of cute scenes to choose from... you can see them all here! The one I used is called "Bubble Bath".

Here's a closer look at the bubbles - sort of hard to see still, but hopefully you get the idea.

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