An Encouraging Message

Hey everyone! Today, I have a fun little card using an image from Unity's November Kit of the Month - Simply Magical! Tanis designed this adorable retro typewriter & I just think it's the cutest thing ever! (Thanks, Tanis!) :) Make sure to check out the Unity Blog to see all the sales & specials going on today!!!

The paper in the typewriter is actually blank when you stamp it... which makes it really easy to customize! I used a Melissa Frances rub-on for my sentiment... but you could even hand-write a little message if you wanted to. (my handwriting stinks!) There's also a super cute sentiment in the set that's made to coordinate with the typewriter. Lots of options. :)

The sketch is from this week's Mojo Monday Challenge.

I used black sticky-backed felt to layer behind my typewriter image. I bought a sheet of it to make Emery's Luigi mustache for his Halloween costume... which turned out so cute! (I'll have to post pics later!) It's great to use on craft projects - but... just so you know, the adhesive on this type of felt is made out of some NASA-like, super-glue derivative. I'm not kidding! I just about peeled my son's face off trying to take of his mustache. It was not a pretty sight. And... his face was pink and gooey for about 24 hours. What a wax job! LOL! Mustache #2 was covered in a layer of baby powder on the sticky side. Worked like a charm. ;)

Stamp: Simply Magical set - Unity
Paper: Sweet Marmalade 6x6 pad - Sassafras Lass
Cardstock: Curry, Red - The Paper Source; blue Core'dinations
Rub-on: Vintage Transfers - Melissa Frances
Markers: Copic
Tools: Apron Lace Punch - Fiskars; sewing machine & thread
Embellishment: flower - Sassafras Lass; button & string - craft supply

Believe in Yourself

I thought I would start the week off with an encouraging card. :) This past week was kind of a downer. Let's see.... our furnace stopped working on the coldest day of the year. Then, my washing machine froze. And then... our internet stopped working. So... several days and $$$ later, I have heat (thank goodness!) and I can wash clothes again... and as you can see... I have internet service. :)

I really love this funky paper by Sassafras Lass! I paired it with a tree from Unity's Tiny Trinity set, embossed in white. And... for a little texture, I cut and ripped up a piece of an old box and layered it on my card. If I have anything else break in my house, I'm sure I'll be using a lot of 'trash' for my embellishments... because I can't afford much else. ;)

I wanted to add a little embellishment to my tree, but couldn't find exactly what I was looking for. Then... I noticed how perfect the color of the heart from one of my pins matched my CS and had an idea! I used my wire cutters and snipped off the sharp 'pin' part... and voila! Instant embellishment!

Hope you have a good week! Thanks for visiting!!!

SUPPLIES:

Stamps:
(tree) Tiny Trinity set from Unity Stamp Co.

Ink:
Versamark by Tsukineko

Cardstock:
Island Mist Dark, Birchtone Dark by Prism
Coredinations CS

Printed Paper:
Jack's Beanstalk (Woodland Whimsy) by Sassafras Lass

Accessories:
White Embossing Powder by Stampendous
Oval Nestability die by Spellbinders
Neutral Spare Parts ribbon by the Paper Studio
Melissa Frances Vintage Transfer by Heart & Home Collectables
Harvest pin by Fancy Pants
hemp
cardboard

New KH Stamps are Coming!!!

Hey everyone! Life's been busy... but I wanted to share the link to my latest Craft Critique article! I wrote about one of my favorite new products - Core'dinations cardstock!!!! I'd love for you to check it out! Just click HERE.

Here are a couple of samples I used for my article. Kim Hughes is releasing two new sets this Thursday for CHF and I think you're going to LOVE them!!! These images are from the set I Thee Wed. I just LOVE this silhouette image! It's so classy and cute all in one! Just wait until you see the whole set. Ahhh!!! And... I just found out that Ranger's pigment ink stamps really nicely onto satin ribbon!

SUPPLIES
Stamps:
- I Thee Wed (the Kim Hughes line) by Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink:
- Pitch Black Pigment ink by Ranger

Cardstock:
- Core'dinations CS

Printed Paper:
- (green print) Daily Grind by Fancy Pants

Accessories:
- Cuttlebug embossing folder
- Aqua satin ribbon (Michaels)
- Kaiser pearls
- Oval Nestabilities dies

This next card just makes me smile because it reminds me of the 80's. Those were great years to grow up in! These images come from Kim's newest set called The Birds and The Bees.

SUPPLIES
Stamps: (all from the Kim Hughes line by Cornish Heritage Farms)
- (bird, "love") The Birds & The Bees
-("birds") Pretty Birds

Ink:
- Pitch Black Adirondack inkpad by Ranger

Cardstock:
- Core'dinations CS

Printed Paper:
- Serendipity "Promises" by Sassafras Lass

Accessories:
- Copic markers
- Circle Nestabilities die by Spellbinders
- Embossing thread
- White gel pen by Ranger
- Button by Basic Grey
- Red Rick Rack by Paper Studio

My Dad, My Hero

Happy Thursday! I wanted to share a quick card I made last night. I'm really bad at making masculine cards, so I thought I would challenge myself and get a head start on Father's Day. I love this sentiment!


Supplies:
Paper:
- Core'dinations cardstock
- Black Prismatics cardstock by Prism
- Secret Gardens Pocket Full of Posies DP

Accessories:
- Twill tape by American Crafts
- Father's Eyelet Phrases by Making Memories
- Heart & Home Vintage Transfers by Melissa Frances
- MOD buttons by American Crafts
- Black Brads by Making Memories

Boys!

Tomorrow (or Tuesday... depending on what day you're reading this) is the release day for two new stamp sets in the Rummage Bin Collection at Cornish Heritage Farms! {The Shoe Boutique & Boys Will Be Boys}


If you know my oldest son, Eli... you will understand how excited I was to see this image for the first time! It looks so much like him... and the sentiment on the side describes him perfectly! I was a little nervous about doing this stamp justice because of all of the detail in the image. I'm so use to simple line images and wanted to make a card that was still "me". So... after a couple failed attempts, I decided to try embossing the image. I stamped the image onto shimmery card stock using Versamark and heat embossed with CHF's black detail embossing powder. OH MY GOSH! I wish you could see this card in person! It is so crisp and classy!

This sketch is from this week's CPS layout. The card is held closed by ribbon threaded through a black button.

Stamps:
- Boys will be Boys Collage (the Rummage Bin) by Cornish Heritage Farms

Paper:
- Black Prismatic CS & Cryogen White CS by Prism
- Core'dination CS
Patterned Paper
- Whale of a Tale Treasure Cove by Sassafras Lass

Ink:
- Versamark by Tsukineko

Accessories:
- 'Midnight Black' Detail Opaque Embossing Powder by Cornish Heritage Farms
- Mustard grosgrain ribbon
- black button

Designer Style Challenge

This week's CHF Challenge Chicks Challenge was to pick one member of the design team and case either 1) something from their gallery OR 2) their style. This has probably been the most intimidating challenge I've been a part of because I got to case THE Kim Hughes! :)

I really would like to BE Kim one day... but, if this is as close as I can get to that --- that's ok too! :) LOL! Kim's stamp line called my name from the very beggining... and was the spark that lead me to start designing with CHF. Her style is just so SWEET & FUN! And, after meeting her -- I discovered that her paper crafting style is a perfect replica of her personality. She is just so genuine and real. If you take a look at her online resume, you'll see that she has over 400 publications! She has her own stamp line... her own digital sentiments... embellishments (ooh! if I could just figure out where to buy that bling!) And... even with all of this success, she is so modest & down-to-earth. The first time she called me on the phone, I just about passed out. It was like I had picked up the phone and discovered the President was on the other line. :) I'm such a dork!

I was scrolling through Kim's gallery and was having a little trouble finding a card to case because so many of her cards have been picked up for publication! She just rocks!

The card on the left is by Kim Hughes. (Click here to see Kim's gallery) I love her clean, uncluttered style. She always knows how to pair colors and textures perfectly.

The blue card above is the card I created based off of Kim's 'thank you' card. I'm always looking for a good masculine card... and I think this card would be perfect for anyone.

I stamped & the tree image from the new Making the Grade set twice (once directly onto the card front & once onto lined paper) and then paper pieced the top portion. I love how the tree top coordinates with the Grid Paper Backgrounder. I used Waxy Flax to tie onto the ribbon & thread the buttons. I learned about Waxy Flax off of Kim's blog (she's made me buy a lot of things!) ;)

The card on the left is also one of Kim's. This card was recently published in CARDS magazine. I picked this one to case because I think it's a good example of Kim's style.

I think I share Kim's love of anything lined... and I love how she backed this card with notebook scrapbooking paper! It's gives great, subtle visual interest.

And... I would have to say Kim's signature color is red... or at least I know she likes it a lot. :) It's so bright and cheery! And... after taking one look at my blog, you'll see that I'm really drawn to red and white polka dots too! :)

One of the things I really love about Kim's style is how she creats those perfectly unexpected details on her projects. I love how she created the tab on the top of her card! And... wasn't that so clever how she placed a flower behind her circle panel? So smart!

This is the card I made based off of Kim's original design. Instead of using scrapbooking paper, I made my own 'patterned paper' by using some of CHF's Backgrounder stamps. I made a little file folder out of Kraft paper and decorated the card using more images from the Making the Grade set.

This is just a close up of the brad I found. PERFECTION!

And here is a close up of the file folder. Don't you just love that texture on the Core'dinations paper. (yeah. Another product that Kim has made me buy.)

Make sure you check out the other Designer Style Players! I can't wait to see what they've come up with!

-Julia

-Lesley

-Kim

-Sherrie

-Lisa

-Mona

-Alli

-Kristine

-Val

-Sherrie

-Dawn
-Lori
-Michele

Supply List:

(blue tree card)

Stamps:

- Making the Grade (the Kim Hughes Collection) by Cornish Heritage Farms (CHF)

- Grid Paper Backgrounder by CHF

Paper:

- Zoom Collection (traffic) by Crate Paper

- Core'dinations Cardstock

- Ledger Me by Making Memories

Ink:

- Charcoal fluid chalk by Color Box

- Stream Adirondack ink by Ranger

Accessories:

- Cogsmo ribbon by Cosmo Cricket

- Waxy Flax by ScrapWorks

- Mod Buttons by Autumn Leaves

(School Card)

Stamps:

- Making the Grade (the Kim Hughes Collection) by CHF

- Lined Paper & Polka Dot Backgrounders by CHF

Paper:

- Kraft Cardstock by Prism

- Core'dinations Cardstock

Ink:

- Chestnut Roan fluid chalk by Color Box

- Red Pepper & Pitch Black Adirondack ink by Ranger

- Versamark by Tsukineko

Accessories:

- Foo fa la Hall Pass kit (ribbon)

- Flower Ghost Shapes by Heidi Swapp

- School Days brad by Around the Block

- White Detail Embossing Powder by CHF

- Cornice Edge Punch by Martha Stewart

- Copic marker

- Small Corner Rounder by EK Success

- staples

SMILE!

I wanted to share another card I made using one of my new favorite products - Core'dinations Card Stock. When you sand the edges, the "core" color shows through. It's so fun. :)

I drew this little whale and gave her rosy cheeks by sanding. The waves were created by randomly punching the edge of my card stock with Stampin' Up!'s large oval punch.


Stamps:
- Photo Op! - The Rummage Bin by Cornish Heritage Farms


Ink:
- White StazOn


Card Stock:
- Black Prismatic CS by Prism
- Core'dinations card stock


Accessories:
- white embroidery thread
- Oval punch by Stampin' Up!
- Black brads
- White satin ribbon by May Arts

Mellow Yellow

Oooh! I just got my hands on some FABULOUS new card stock called Core'dinations! (thanks Kim!!!) Basically, their CS is one shade on the outside with a 'core' of a different color inside. So... you can tear, sand, emboss, etc. your CS and the secondary color will come through. It's SO cool! :)

Also, this sentiment is part of the new set 'Nature Silhouettes' by Kim Hughes for Cornish Heritage Farms -- that will be released TOMORROW! Sorry for such a small sneak peek! I'll work on some more samples soon!!! :)

Stamps:
- (sentiment) Nature Silhouettes: the Kim Hughes Collection for Cornish Heritage Farms


Ink:
- Frayed Burlap Distress Ink by Ranger


Card Stock:
- Spring Willow Medium Prismatic CS by Prism
- Core'dinations card stock


Patterned Paper:
- Mellow line by Basic Grey


Accessories:
- Martha Stewart Edge punch/embosser
- Prima flower
- Vintage Brads by Rusty Pickle
- Heidi Swapp edge distressing tool
- Sand paper
- Orange Dew Drops
- sewing machine