I love my enablers...playing with the new Tim Holtz Distress Crayons...

Today a friend asked If I had the new Tim Holtz Distress Crayons (I don't - yet).  She had recently purchased them and wondered how to use them.  So I said I would gladly play with them in my art/sketch journal.  I had instant regret though, because I had a faint feeling I might fall in love with them and then would have to add them to the never ending list of art supplies that I MUST have...

Right now I'm working in a Strathmore Mixed Media Journal.  So I wondered how it would work on a non-watercolour paper.

I quickly sketched out a face...

I coloured in her face using my copics...

 I applied the distress crayons straight to the paper without laying any gesso underneath.  I wanted to see how it would react to the plain paper.  I laid down some colour then dipped my finger into some water and blended it out.  I quite like the watercolour look to the areas where there has been more water applied.  These crayons are super creamy and slide on the paper like butter!  I want to try them with the rest of the Tim Holtz Distress line as they all perfectly play together to create some pretty cool techniques!

Still needs a few finishing touches and highlights, (and I now know the black Sakura pen I used to outline her face is water reactive), but I think I'm in love with these new Tim Holtz Distress Crayons!  They're now on the top of my 'must have' list!  

A big shout out to my biggest enablers Carola and Dee, my art supply cabinet would not be the same with out you!  ;)

Some Odd Girl...

Hello bloggers!  Well its another doozy of a day here, tons of snow & yucky roads.  I hope all my local peeps have safe travels if you have to, and for the ones that got to stay home, well I hope you made time to get a bit crafty!  

Today I've got a card to share with you.  This cute little image is from Some Odd Girl Stamps.  Its an older image (Peace Kaylee) I got a few years ago and I couldn't find her in the shop so she must be retired.  But there a ton of other adorable digital images available along with clear stamps to choose from!

Check em out!

I need to give a little shout out to the 'Some Odd Girl's'!  I met them all at CHA last month.  They were one of the friendliest booths and such a great bunch!  AND I finally met an old friend 'LEAH'!  We used to be on a design team together a few years ago and she's also a fellow canuck{wootwoot} and a total sweetheart so it was awesome to connect with her!  Love ya girl ;)

Anyway, once I got home I looked in my little binder of images that have been patiently waiting to be put on a card and remembered I had coloured this one up last year.  I used some copics, a scrap of patterned paper, some random stitches and some of my ink sprays.  I'm entering this into the challenge over at SOGBlog, I hope this qualifies!  Spray-mist, tomAto-tomato...lol...

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  

Here is a list of some of the products I used:

Copic Markers	Dylusions White Linen	Dylusions Calypso Teal	Heidi Swapp Color Shine Seafoam	Tim Holtz - Fired Brick
Heat it - Craft Tool	Sew Easy Hem Stitch Piercer	Tuxedo Black Memento Dye Ink Pad	E-Z Runner Combo Pack

InLinkz.com

Learn to pause....

Now that 2013 is quickly coming to a close I've promised myself to post all of the things I've created but haven't put on my blog.  This one fell through the cracks of the many 'unorganized' photos I have on my computer....

 The girl stamp is from Stamping Bella and I coloured her in with copic markers, prismacolor pencils and golden acrylic paints.  Lots of green and brown paints, inks etc...were used (which are usually not my 1st choice, but I had to challenge myself to do something different).  

I love this sentiment, (from Tim Holtz Just Thoughts stamp set)...reminds me to slow down and enjoy life!

Thanks for stopping by!

Artists in Blogland

Paint Party Friday

Creative Everyday

A big old blog hop!!!!

Happy National Lollipop Day!!  How does a BLD blog hop sound to help celebrate such a FUN day?!?! Who doesn't LOVE lollipops?!?! To help get the party started, Lori has created not ONE but TWO new images featuring lollipops!!  YAY!! 

We would like to introduce you to Pedal Pusher Lollipop Girl and Puddle Jumper Lollipop Boy!!  They are both available for sale in the shop today and can be found here.  

Now what's a hop without PRIZES?? 

Grand Prize: Pedal Pusher Lollipop Girl, Puddle Jumper Lollipop Boy 

2nd Prize: Pedal Pusher Lollipop 

Girl 3rd Prize: Puddle Jumper Lollipop Boy 

 Three random winners will be chosen. All you need to do is leave some love at each stop along the hop. You have until 11:59 PM EST on Sunday (July 21st) to leave comments for a chance to win!! Winners will be announced on the BLD blog on Monday (July 22nd). Good luck to all and Happy Hopping!!

Loving Nature! A new KKS release peek...

TGIF!!!  Today is another 'Peek Day' for Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps April Release!  There's two new sets from Cheryl Alger this time around!  I've used an adorable image from the new Sunshiney Days  stamp set. 

 

Since I had a bunch of tags laying on my desk I thought, what's one more?  I applied a thin layer of gesso since the tags are manila and I knew I wanted to add a sky for the background.  I stamped Lulu Hugging the tree directly onto the tag and coloured her in with copic markers.  I found some green patterned dp in my stash and went to work cutting out some leaves to finish off the tree.  I sponged the background with my cloud template and some blue chalk ink, added some grass to the bottom using an MFT grass die,  then finished it off with the sentiment!  She's pretty cute!  Perfect for the nature lover in your life.

 

 

I'll be back tomorrow with another 'peek'!  Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great weekend!

You put the happy in my day....

I know I've been missing in action lately, I have a lot going on and really have had no extra time to take a deep breath let alone get busy in the craft room.  I was however, able to whip up this quick tag card using a By LORi Designs (Bug & Roo) image I already had coloured up months ago.  I love it when that happens!  It's not from the new release but from the adorable Bug & Roo stamp line.  Her name is Vivi2 and can be found {HERE}

 

The really cool thing about digital images is that you can cut them out using your Silhouette machine!!!  I found a great tutorial on the internet and got busy a while ago playing around.  She turned out quite big (approx. 4" high), but how cool is it to have a perfectly cut out image!!!  I  love how she turned out, even if after I coloured her up, her hair (to me) looked like popcorn... 

 

I've recently come into possession of a massive amount of paint chips.  I couldn't see them go to waste and I've seen some really cool and fun creations using them.  I used a Stampin' Up Butterfly  punch (thanks Ria ;) and a variety of  colourful paint chips to create this multi layered butterfly to accent my card.

 

Don't forget to check out the By LORi Designs Blog to see what the rest of the design team have to show you today!  You'll think spring is in the air! 

 

Thanks for stopping by, have a great week!

Let the fairy in you fly....another KKS challenge...

 Welcome back to another fun challenge at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!!!  Today I'm playing hostess and I challenge you to use flowers on your project.  I rarely use actual 'flower embellishments' on my cards or projects so this really was a challenge for me.  You can use any kind of flower, it can be on your designer paper, embellishments, incorporated in the stamp/sentiment etc...we just want to see those flowers!  Maybe it will nudge spring along because it sure is taking it's sweet little time around here!!!  Play along with us using a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp and you could win some Krafty Rubber!!!

I created another mixed media tag for my project today...yep, I'm on the 'tag train' and not sure when I'm getting off!  lol...anyway, for my project I've used the newly released Tatiana and an older sentiment 'let the fairy in you fly'.  On the original stamp for Tatiana, she is holding a mirror but I wanted her to be holding some flowers so I just simply cut the mirror part off during the 'fussy cutting' stage. 

Here is a close up of how I cut out the 'mirror' and added my own glittery flowers.  Her wings were paper pieced using some old book paper.  I added a bit of colour with my peerless watercolors. 

And another close-up of the sentiment and the cabochon flower. 



I also used lots and lots of  Glimmer Mist and Stardust Stickles which is hard to see in the first picture of the whole tag.  I added glitter to the edges of the 'torn' parts, the flowers, and some random dots scattered around. 

Here is a list of some of the supplies I've used on my tag.  Tags (x2 Canvas Corp), old book paper, flower stencils, text stencils (The Crafters Workshop), peerless watercolors, glimmer mist, copic markers, stickles, gesso, faber castell pitt pens, flower embellishments, archival ink, mod podge.

Also there's a big Springtime Krafty Krop goin' on today at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps for even more fun and chances to win some prizes.  You can check out all the information HERE!  Thanks for stopping by today!

More mixed media goodness!!! Art Journal cover part 1...

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Well I know its been a while since I've posted some mixed media art but its never too late right?  Now that I've unpacked ALL of my art supplies etc...I've been able to begin where I left off, playing with the endless amount art supplies that fill my craft room/office.  I've also frequented a few 'new to me' local crafty/art stores and have had a good dose of retail therapy.  Picked up a 'few' (ahem) supplies and I've been on my way!  I scooped up a new Art Journal at The Scrapping Bug and have been busy over the last few months 'playing'.

Anyway, today I'm showing you the work-in-progress cover of my art journal.  Since I don't really know exactly what I want to do with it I just dabble here and there.  I did know I wanted to use that totally awesome Suzi Blu stamp I got at The Art House Studio.  See the little painter/artist girl?  I loooove Suzi Blu and her funky fun style.  She's such an inspiration!

Here's a close up of the artist stamp.  I've added a smile to her face and some long flowing locks as well.  You can see what the original stamp looks like in the watermarked image below.  I've altered it a bit to suit my style.  She was coloured with a few copics and mostly my prismacolor pencils and gamsol. 

 

For the wall, I used the mini brick stencil from The Crafters Workshop and went over it with some molding paste adding a few wood stars into it.  I went over the bricks with some pan pastels but not overly happy with that so still working on that area.

I'm planning on adding a quote or verse to the front, just haven't found 'the one' yet.  Here's a list of some other supplies I've used on the cover:  Faber Castell Pitt Pens, Golden Acrylic Paint, Washi Tape, Dylusions Ink Sprays, Stencils, bubble wrap and Pan Pastels. 

Art journaling is a fabulous way to get lost from everyday stressors, be free and creative and to just play and have fun.  Try it, you'll like love it!  Oh and also a little 'shout out' to my new awesome crafty friends who may help me along with the inspiration ;) !!!

Thanks for stopping by!

You are beautiful....

Welcome back to another day of peeks at Kraftin Kimmie Stamps!  Today we are featuring a brand new set by Annie Rodrigue called Sassy Sprites!  I love these new stamps, so girly AND f-u-n to colour!!!

Today is also the start of another great Challenge and this week's theme is ANYTHING GOES!  Krafty Girl Alice is our hostess this week, so make sure you check out her amazing project, you could win the stamp she used on her card if you play along!

Also, don't forget the big online release party going on over at the Kraftin' Kimmie Facebook page tonight!  You can check out all the details HERE.  Be sure to join in on the fun, chats, trivia & prizes to be won!

I went WAAAAAAY out of my comfort zone for this card today!  This isn't my usual style but I like to push myself to try something new sometimes....keeps the brain ticking.....I used the new Sassy Sprite 'Tatiana' and coloured her with my copics.  I added lots of Stardust stickles to her wings and dress and cut her out....talk about fussy cutting!!!!  I used dp by Prima (Sweet Fairy) and then added a bunch of frilly embellishments.  The lace trim, clear vintage button, twine, ribbon and heart background tag are all from Stampin Up, and the rest from my stash!  Oh and don't you love the sentiment that comes with it?  I stamped it with stazon onto a canvas tag. 


Here's a close up so you can see all of all the detail on this wonderful new stamp!

KKS Sneek peeks continue....

Welcome back to day four of our MARCH Kraftin' Kimmie Peeks!  Today we are excited to share TWO supah cute new sets by artist Cheryl Alger!  You'll recognize these characters from previous sets.....Lulu, Lexi and Lucas! And they are just as cute as can be, perfect for springtime!!! These new sets are.......DOWN ON THE FARM and FAIRY FRIENDS! 

 

Would you like to know who won the new stamp sets that we previewed yesterday?  Well, you'll just have to wait until Saturday night at this month's ONLINE RELEASE PARTY!!! Hope you can join us for all the fun and excitement and prizes!!! You can read all the details about how you can join us RIGHT HERE!

 

All the Krafty Girls and Krafty Guests listed below have lots of super sweet designs to show you, so be sure to hop over to each of them! And while you're there, be sure to leave a comment because we are giving away one of EACH of the new sets!  You could WIN one of the new DOWN ON THE FARM and FAIRY FRIENDS stamp sets!  {All of this week's winners will be announced at the online party on Saturday night!} Then come on back tomorrow to check out MORE new stamps we have to show you , this time by artist Annie Rodrigue, along with a new CHALLENGE!!! And ALL the new stamps will be available on Saturday night at the KKStamps Shop!!

 

Meet Fairy Lulu from the Fairy Friends set!  Isn't she cute?

 

We all deserve a little bit of Rainbows & Sunshine, KKS March Release Peeks...

Today at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps we are sharing a new set by the totally talented Emilie Goulet! We've got a perfect set for spring!  Let us introduce..... PRETTY LITTLE PIXIES!!  Emilie has created a fun set of outdoor adventure images for your cards and scrapbook pages!  You're going to get a real kick out of these girls!!  PLUS we are sharing a SECOND set of TRINKETS to go with the Pixie (and maybe some other stamps you have yet to see).....it's FAIRY TRINKETS!

Below you will find a list of all the Krafty Girls who are sharing PEEKS with you today!  And as you're hoppin' around, be sure to leave a comment at each stop because TWO stampers will win some of these stamps!  {All of this week's winners will be announced at the online party on Saturday night!}   All our new MARCH 2013 stamps will be available on Saturday at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Shop!  And don't miss the online PAR-TAY to celebrate!  Come on back tomorrow because we'll be revealing two new stamp sets by Cheryl Alger!

For my card today I decided to use the adorable new Pixie with teddy and paired it with a brand new Fairy Trinket! 

 

I chose to go CAS with this one, well, for the simple fact that I coloured her up without choosing my dp first.  I usually don't pick an 'exact' paper before I start with the copics, but I know my stash pretty well and can usually match things up pretty easily once its done.  As you can see I was feeling a bit colourful with her.  I did look for some dp but in the end I really wanted her fun colours to stand out.  That's when my Washi tape stepped in to save the day!!!!  And the rest is history...

 

Cutie Pie...

Hello Everybody!  I hope you had a great weekend.  I sure did!  I joined an amazing group of gals for a scrapbooking day (also raising money for a great (and important to me) cause - IBD-Crohns/Colitis).  I had a great time and made my daughter very happy by adding a few more pages to her (lacking compared to her brother's) scrapbook. 

 

Well, its Tuesday so you know there's some BLD inspiration to be had.  Today is a special day at BY LORI DESIGNS, as we have a great big huge BRAND NEW RELEASE to show you!  There are a ton of new adorable images in the shop today and so be sure to visit the DT members to see what they have created for you!

 

I decided to use the adorable new Puddle Jumper - Sweet Girl {available HERE}.  I love her little outfit and braids.  I used Sketch91 over at The Deconstructed Sketch and used some papers from Jillibean Soup!  Perfect just in time for Easter! 

 

 

I coloured her in with my copics and added some grass and flowers with prismacolor pencils and gamsol.  And I think I'm getting the knack for clouds again, these ones turned out much better than my first attempt!!!

 

Be sure to check out the BLD SHOP and grab some of these adorable new cuties!  Thanks for stopping by, have a great week!

Easter is coming...

 

Happy Saturday everyone!  Today marks another new challenge over at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps.  Our hostess for this week's challenge is Krafty Girl Pam!  She wants you to use Pastel/Spring colours! 

 

Now this challenge would have been a piece of cake for me, but I decided to make things hard for myself and went with a boy image.  My favourite colour is pink pink and more pink, so I tried my best to keep to the challenge.  I'd say these are more spring colours than pastel but 'hey' it works. 

 

I used Lucas in Bunny suit from the Somebunny Loves you stamp set.  I coloured him with copics to match the papers I chose from a new 6x6 pad by Pebbles (Family Ties).  LOVE this new paper pad!!!  You can now also find paper pads in the Kraftin Kimmie Shop!  Check it out!

 

Anyway, we hope to see you play along with us this week, you could win the adorable stamp Pam used on her card!

 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!!  Thanks for stopping by!

Pinwheel Poppy, and clouds galore...

Hello Bloggers!!!  Back again with another Tuesday Inspiration post By Lori Designs!

Today I'm bringing you a card featuring a brand new digital image called Pinwheel Poppy from Lori's new Pedal Pushers line.  I absolutely love her big pigtails!

Its been quite a while since I've done background clouds on my cards, so I thought I'd give it a try again.  I found my hand drawn stencil and started sponging them on...I should have done a test run because it looks like she came from the Land of Clouds....I mean has anyone ever really seen THAT many clouds in the sky???  They really didn't turn out the way I intended but, I'll just have to keep practicing.  I was tempted to scrap it but time is of the essence around here so I had to make do! 

I used papers from Jillibean Soup (Southern Chicken Dumpling Soup 6x6 paper pad), some crocheted ribbon and my new Stampin' Up Sizzlits Pinwheel Die.  And just because there weren't enough clouds, I added an embossed background using my Stampin  Up' Clouds embossing folder and added some 3d clouds from MFT  die.

 

 

Make sure you check out the By Lori Designs Blog {here} to see what the rest of the design team has created for you to see today!  I bet it gets you in the mood for spring!!!

Thanks for stopping by today, have a great week!

The sun'll come out tomorrow.....

Happy Weekend everyone!  I hope you've been enjoying the new Kraftin' Kimmie February release peeks so far.  Today we are featuring another fabulous set from Krafty Artist Annie Rodrigue!  She has created a fantastic line of stamps featuring some of the most beloved characters from famous works of Literature!  This new set is called 'Lovely Literature'.

Don't forget about the big on-line Facebook party TONIGHT!  Join Kraftin' Kimmie and the Krafty Girls at 6pm EST at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Facebook page for all the fun!! We'll be hangin' out with the Krafty Girls, sharing lots of the new stamps, playing games, giving away prizes and releasing the NEW STAMPS at 7:30pm EST!!!

Today also marks another fun Krafty Challenge!  The hostess this week is JENNY and its 'ANYTHING GOES'!  As long as you use a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp you can play!!!  You could win the 'Anne of Green Gables' stamp featured on her gorgeous card!!!

I HAD to get inky with the new Little Orphan Annie stamp.  I absolutely LOVE this movie!!!  I've seen it countless times as a child and every now and then try to bribe my kids into watching it on our movie nights...my daughter is always a keener but my son, well, not so much anymore!  Anyway, I've had some extra time to play with my Silhouette Cameo and (already having in mind I wanted her singing infront of a big sun) found the perfect cut from the Silhouette on-line store.  I made an easel card and kept it CAS. 

 

She comes with the sentiment "The sun'll come out, tomorrow!"

I love how happy and cheery she looks!  It's a perfect stamp to make a card for someone who's 'down in the dumps' or under the weather!

 

To my sweet friend...

Hello everyone!  I can't believe its already Tuesday again!  That means another wonderful day full of By LORi Designs Inspiration!!!! 

 

For my card today I've coloured up the adorable Peyton Valentine digi from the adorable Bug N Roo stamp line at BLD!  I think she is one of my favourites!  I just love her cute quirkiness!  I used my copics and added some stardust stickles to the big heart and some Crystal Effects to her glasses.  The sentiment is just printed off from my computer and I added some Stampin Up ribbon (pool party) and a button and it was done in a snap! 

 

Don't forget to check out the BLD Design Team to see what inspiration they have to show you.  And also swing by the By LORi Designs shop and grab yourself some adorable Valentine digis, it will be here before you know it!

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great week!   

 

Challenge card for CAS-ual Friday's - Make your mark

Another fun challenge with KKS...

HAPPY SATURDAY!!! 

 

Yay, its the very first Challenge of 2013 with Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!!!  I hope you can join us!!!

 

Today our challenge is being hosted by Krafty Girl Kim O!  She's called this one Animal Farm!  Thats right, she wants to see you use an image with an animal on it!  For my card I used the adorable newer image, Lexi with cat from the Best Fur-iends stamp set found HERE!

 

I decided to do what I do best and go CAS (clean and simple). One-panel cards are my favourite to do. I also always think they are going to take less time, but with the way I colour (I take for-ever!!!) and how I hum and haw over every little detail, it ends up taking the same amount of time if I were using patterned papers, sketches etc...

I stamped Lexi onto some Beckett Expression paper and went to work with my copics and prismacolor pencils.  Did you notice her socks?  I did that because my daughter almost ALWAYS has mismatched socks on!  You can imagine how excited I was so stumble upon that store called Little Miss Matched in downtown Disney a few years ago.  They're all mis-matched but they all match when worn together!  Brilliant I say! 

Anyway, I used my Stampin Up scallop border punch for the bottom, made some score lines around the edges and added some big purple buttons and some ribbon and twine to finish it off. 

I hope you play along with us this week, one lucky winner will win some very Krafty Rubber!!!  You can check out the rest of the wonderful samples from the Krafty Girls HERE!

Have a great weekend!!!  Thanks for stopping by!

Happy New Year with BLD...

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! 

 

I hope you all had a wonderful, safe and happy Christmas and are enjoying the holidays so far!  I can't believe its the start of another year!  I don't make resolutions anymore, I already make and break promises to myself all the time....this time of year is no different, and who needs that kind of pressure anyway?  lol...no, I just try to be the best I can all the time, and know that its OK when it sometimes doesn't happen.  As Bobby McFerrin once put it, "Don't Worry, Be Happy", thats my motto!!!

 

Today at By LORi Designs, the design team is showcasing cards with a Love or Valentines theme!  For my card I used the totally sweet Puddle Jumper 'Sunday Best Landon' DIGI found HERE. 

 

 

He was coloured with copic markers and then I used some Prismacolor pencils for the shading and the grass.  I guess its now time to start thinking about Valentines day!  This makes a pretty cute non-traditional type card that is perfect for a dad or grand-dad, uncle etc...

 

Make sure you pop over to the By LORi Designs Blog to see what the talented dt has to show you today! 

 

Thanks for stopping by! 

 

Wishing you the very best of love, health, and happiness for 2013!!!

Party Time Piper....winter fun with BLD!!!

Welcome back to another fantastic Inspiration Tuesday at By LORi Designs! 

 

Today Im sharing with you a Puddle Jumper who I think is perfect for your holiday cards!!!  This is Party Time Piper found HERE.  She's all dressed up and ready to have some fun at the Christmas party! 

 

 

These digital images are a snap to print off and colour up and make for quick and easy card making!  Don't forget to check out what the BLD Designers have to share with you today.  Have a great week!  Thanks for stopping by!