Charlotte Ketto is a little Offbeat

I think I have to explain this post just a little. My friend, Dorothy, asked me recently if I made doubles of my cards so that I would have a copy of every one I made. My answer "well, no, not usually". I do sometimes make multiples (usually Christmas, Sympathy, Thank You's) but they all go away. Then she asked if I had a stash of cards ....."ummm, not really. I have some sympathy cards, that's about it". And, well, I HAVE been making Christmas cards but I am still behind on how many I will need - and YES, those are multiples of the same kind.

So, this gave me pause for thought. When I stamp an image for a card and set about colouring it, I USUALLY colour a few just in case I want to do some layering -- or to pick the one I like the best (It takes me a few tries sometimes to get things blended kind of okay). It doesn't take much time to do an extra image or two.....so.

And to assemble a second card (if using the same layout and papers) well....that's even quicker. So......I have two Charlotte Ketto's for you....one with a sentiment that is going to my eldest niece for back to school.


And one without a sentiment....


FOR MY STASH!!! I now have a STASH!!! How cool is that? Okay, it's only one card but it is a start.

Here's the details:

finished size: 5x5 inches
Sketch: Stamping Bella Bellarific Friday
Papers: Basic Grey - Offbeat: Alternative, Unexpected, CTMH Indian Corn Blue Cardstock
Stamps:Charlotte Ketto from Stamping Bella,Sentiment from CTMH D1349 Be Yourself
Inks:CTMH Black, Indian Corn Blue
Prismacolor Pencils: 914, 915, 916, 927, 925, 1022, 1023
Embellishments: ribbon from my stash
Tools:Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Labels 3

Carlos says Hi!

So here it is folks! My first project for PaperWorksCo featuring the August Papercard kit ....


and Carlos the Crab! It's a cute little 4x4 inch gatefold card that opens up to this....


Check out the blog post over on PaperWorksCo for all the details!

TGF Edward

Introducing .... Edward.


I made this card for my niece as I FINALLY tracked down a Twilight T-Shirt for her (Chapters at Pinecrest if anyone is looking). I just have to get it in the mail for her.

For this card I used the Sketch for Challenge 43 over at The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.

Edward (yes THAT Edward) is from The Greeting Farm's Wild Sprouts Collection. Now, I must confess, I have NOT read the Twilight Books and I have NOT seen the movie. I HAVE got three of the books, borrowed from the tween-age daughters of my dear friend, Dorothy. I'll start them as soon as I finish Brisingr. But I digress....

sooo...I have no real reference point for colouring Edward. I just pulled out some Prismacolors and went to work -- kinda from the photo on the shirt.

I also finally cracked open my Core'dinations Hocus Pocus Black Magic Paper I got at Heather's Stamping Haven some time ago (yes, I horde my paper). I used my new Spellbinder's Borderabilities "In Spades" to create a nice (I think) effect by cutting and embossing a strip and then lightly sanding it to reveal the red core. I then took the cut-outs and re-inserted them with the red side facing out -- the card just needed a little -- more. Well, that and I didn't like the way the background papers were peeking through the cut-outs.

So...how did I do with Edward? Does he pass muster with the Twilight fans out there?

Rest of the card details:

finished size: 5x5 inches

Paper:
Coredinations Black Magic Hocus Pocus (1.75 x 6 inch strip, 3 x 4 inch for oval)
Blingy Striped -- I forget the manufacturer (3.5 x 4.5 inch)
Black with metallic dots -- from my stash - from Costco I think ( 4.75 inch square)

Ink:
Memento Tuxedo Black
ColorBox Silver
PrismaColor Pencils: 938, 1068, 1069, 1083, 935, 997, 945, 1082, 1023, 1025

Tools:
Cuttlebug
Spellbinders Nestabilities Small and Large Ovals
Spellbinders Borderabilities In Spades

Sk8ter Ian

He was a sk8ter boy.....


My sister recently posted some photos of my nephew, Noah, on his skateboard. As it happens, I had JUST received the Skater Ian stamp from The Greeting Farm. So, I finally got around to inking it up and.....here you go!





Whenever I see The Greeting Farm 's cute little Ian with blond hair I think of my nephew, Noah. I made this card for him to go with his back to school present. In the package he is going to find some "skull" adorned clothing (he just loves skulls/skeletons) so I pulled out my Skull and Crossbones Cuttlebug embossing folder and ran the grey panel through a few times to just cover it. Ian was coloured with Distress Ink (face) and PrismaColor Pencils.

And by the way, notice the CTMH Autumn Terracotta circle behind Ian - that was my dearly beloved's idea. I did not want just a plain white or cream coloured circle so looked at the back of the MVP paper I used for the background for a co-ordinating colour -- dearly beloved said the orangy colour would be good. I think he hit it on the head. Must remember to pester him when I am having colour "matching" issues.

The sketch for this card is Friday Sketchers Sketch #63.

Rest of the details:

finished card size: 5x5 inches
paper:
We are Memory Keepers - MVP (Namath) 4.75 x 4.75 inches
Black Cardstock: rectangle 2.5 x 4 inches, circle die cut approx 3.5 inches
Grey Cardstock: rectangle 2.25 x 3.75 inches
CTMH Autumn Terracotta: circle die cut approx 3 inches

ink:
CTMH Black
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Tattered Rose

PrismaColor Pencils: 940, 914, 915, 916, 1050, 1051, 1052, 1054, 1056, 1058

embellishments: brads

tools:
Cuttlebug
Cuttlebug Skull and Crossbones Embossing Folder (from the BEWARE 3x3 combo)
Spellbinders Nestabilities Small and Large Circles

It's Monday! I think?!

Wow, only day 4 of the vacation and I'm already forgetting what day it is! Yay!

I've decided one of the great things about vacation is catching up on my blog reading first thing in the morning. Very relaxing.

I came across a post this morning on the uber talented Jen Tapler's blog that sent me off to a site new to me.

ABC Toys and Crafts has announced a big giveaway for each day this week on their blog . Here is the clip directly from the post:

ATTENTION:"A Set a Day Giveaway"

Featuring the NEW sets from "MY CUTE STAMPS"

Starts August 3rd and ends August 7th.

Go and comment daily on the ABC Design Blog post and you could win the stamp set featured that day. Just go to ABC Design Blog for all the details.

There's actually two opportunities to win:

1. on the store blog and
   
2. on the design blog

I have already checked out today's cute set - an adorable set all about being green! Very trendy in all the crafting magazines lately.

Early Sunday Morning

So it is early Sunday morning - very early. Newton (our youngest cat) has actually had me up since before 5am. He doesn't understand that we are on vacation. He's awake, he wants company - specifically MY company. Oh well, that's okay, I'll nap later...well, maybe sooner. HE'S napping NOW....in my lap...ooh he's lucky he's cute!

So the great thing about today is that I can FINALLY say that I took the big step and applied to be on the blogging team for PaperWorksCo and Peggy and Amanda said "Come aboard"! I got the word a few weeks ago but had to keep it under my hat until I officially started. Sorry my dear friends .... but boy it is good to get that hat off my head!

I've signed up from August until December and expect to have lots of fun. You've seen me playing around with July's kit and I have been quite pleased with all the goodies. I've already made eight cards with it and still have a few more to go. Did you check out the blog and see what the rest of the team created? Peggy, Amanda, Judy and Tinla are quite talented and definitely challenge me to up the skill level. I hope you were able to score yourself one of the July Kits and play.

Well, the August kit is out now. Here's a shot from the site:



Yummy Cosmo Cricket Snorkel papers that just scream summer fun ... and dew drops and these GI-normous brads and bitty brads...oh, almost forgot the lovely ribbon! I've already been sketching and playing (and borrowing some Cuttlebug Dies from Steph) but can't show you anything yet.....tune in to the PaperWorksCo Blog all month to see what everyone has been creating. I'm sure by now if you are already a customer or follower that you have seen the big announcement about the goodies that Peggy is offering - for uploading your own projects or, if you are shy about putting your creations out there, commenting.

So that's my crafty news for the day. Don't worry - I won't be all about the PaperWorksCo projects --- my Magnolia's, Doodlefactory, Greeting Farm (just ordered a bunch of new ones last night), Verve, Pink Cat Studio and CTMH will all still be getting LOTS of love. Oh oh...and the nestabilities! I'm dying to use my new pendants and have just the occasions coming up for them! I MAY get back later today with those projects.....

Hope you all have a great long weekend - if you are in a province that has one that is!

By the way -- older cat is now in the lap. Packet successfully lured Newton out of my lap and has now taken up the cuddle position. I think I have to stay here a while before going up to the craft room.

Happy AnyaVersary Blog Hop

Hi!

Thanks for dropping by my little spot on the web during The Greeting Farm's AnyaVersary Blog Hop. Are you enjoying it so far? I'm sure we are all getting inspired by all of the lovely creations we are seeing today.



For my contribution, I thought that the Susie Surprise set fit the bill perfectly. I coloured her with Prismacolor pencils (list at the end of the post) and blended them with odourless mineral spirits. Two images were coloured with the second layered on top of the first with dimensional foam tape. I stamped two cupcakes as well. From the second I cut out just the top and coated it with liquid applique which was allowed to dry and then puffed with my heat gun.

I decided to use the Farm Fresh Friday Sketch #3 for this card layout. Great timing or what?

The papers and embellishments for this card all came from my July PaperCard Kit from PaperWorksCo . Can you believe this is card number EIGHT using this kit and I STILL have lots of paper left? I think I will run out of card ideas before I run out of paper from this kit! I've just totally fallen in love with the Basic Grey Lime Rickey papers that were featured in this kit. You should check out their site - the August kit has been released today and features the Cosmo Cricket Snorkel line.

Enjoy the rest of the blog hop! Happy Birthday to the Greeting Farm! My wish for you is for continued success with such an awesome lineup of adorable stamps! Can't wait to see what the next year holds!

Rest of the details about the card:
Finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches
Papers: Basic Grey Lime Rickey, Bazzill Dotted Swiss and White Smoothies from PaperWorksCo July PaperCard Kit
Stamps: Susie Surprise from The Greeting Farm
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, CTMH Sunkiss Yellow
Prismacolor Pencils: 915, 916, 917, 927, 928, 913, 994, 993, 949, 935, 903
Embellishments: Buttons and Brads from PaperWorksCo July PaperCard Kit, Liquid Applique, Gel Writer Pink Glitter Pen