The Inking spot of Crain Creations

Kraftin' with a Mercy sketch

 

 I have been going through withdrawls cause I haven't done one of Mercy's Tuesday sketches in far too long!  Today I wanted to play with one of my new Kraftin' Kimmie stamps that I got from Paper Garden Projects.  When I looked at this past week's sketch from Mercy, it was perfect for this image...well kinda, I mean I DID have to turn the sketch, oh yeah and blow it up some... close enough, right?  I really like the colors of the patterned paper, but when I colored her dress everything seemed WAY too pastel-y for me (I really struggle with all like cards) so I added some black to her boots and cs for matting... much better!  Hope you all had a wonderful loooong weekend, it still seemed way too short to me :).  Thanks for popping in, hope to see you again soon.  Sneak peeks for PMS' June release start on Friday.

Stamps: Yvette (Kraftin Kimmie)  Paper: So Sophie Clever (My Minds Eye), Black, Hawaiian Shores & white cs (PTI)  Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Onyx Black (Versafine)  Accessories:  Rose Pearls (Kaisercraft), scalloped oval punch (SU), oval punch (SU)  Copics: BG000, 02, 05, 07, BV13, C7, 9, E000, 00, 04, 13, 15, 17, R11, 20, 21, 22, Y00, 15, 19, 0 Colorless Blender  Challenge: MTSC75

Things are not just Black & White...

 

  
Paper Makeup Stamps is sponsoring the current challenge at Copic Creations, which is Monochrome.  One lucky winner will get $35 to spend at Paper Makeup Stamps, but tomorrow at midnight is the deadline.  You can go to this post for all of the deets and some tutorials on Monochromatic coloring.  I LOVE black & white photo's, they just seem so elegant and classic to me.  So when I was trying to decide on which image to use and what color to go with, I thought of Lucy and immediately thought of black & white and LOTS of pearls (again with the pearls, lol).  This is not my first Monochrome card, but it IS my first time coloring Monochrome.  Very fun and VERY easy!  I think a set of cards using different colors would be fun!  I wanted to stay true to the challenge, but if I were making a set or something I would likely add a hint of pale color somewhere on here.  I used the sketch from Taylored Expressions. If you have not tried this coloring technique I highly recommend it!  Hope you are having a wonderful weekend, thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Lucy (Paper Makeup Stamps)  Paper: Black & White pp (Doodlebug), Smokey Slate cs (Gina K), White cs (PTI), Black (Prism)  Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Onyx Black (Versafine)  Accessories: Pearl color Pearls (Kaisercraft), White button (PTI), True Black Swiss Dot ribbon (PTI)  Copics: C0, 1, 3, 5, 7 & Colorless blender  Challenges: TESC115, CC28

It's the 4th Friday Challenge from Paper Garden...

 

Where did the month go??  I seem to be saying that ALOT these days, lol!  Well, never the less, it's the 4th Friday and that means time for another Paper Garden Challenge!  I just LOVE Cathy's challenges, and this month's is right up my alley!!  Today's challenge is "Feminine and Frilly", and in my book it just doesn't get any more feminine than pearls!  Lots and LOTS of pearls hahaha.  While it is just killing me to not add some ribbon to this, I couldn't bear to cover any of those pearls, lol!  I had a great time coloring Gabrielle (Kraftin Kimmie), I wish you could see the detail!  The heart & diamond on her dress are colored with Red Spica glitter pens, and the spade and club are colored with the Black Spica Glitter pen.  Well that's enough blabbering from me,  make sure you head over to the Paper Garden Blog to get the deets for the challenge (and see the super cute stamp Cathy's giving away).

Stamps: Gabrielle  (Kraftin' Kimmie)  Paper: Wisteria (Basic Gray), Black & Sugar Cream cs (Prism)  Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)  Accessories: Pearl White Pearls (Kaisercraft), Rectangle and Deckled Rectangle Nesties, Red & Black glitter pens (Spica)  Copics: B0000, 000, 01, 21, 24, 26, C1, E00, 000, 42, R11, 20, 27, Y21, YR23, 31, 100  Challenges: Paper Garden Projects 4th Friday

It doesn't get any easier than this!

 

I don't know about you, but I am elated that the school year is almost over!  The number of reports alone we've had in the past 2 weeks... holy snickerdoodles!!!  Between those stinkin' reports and hubby's birthday I haven't had much stamping time (boo hoo!), but tonight I was determined to get some time to ME!  This weeks JUGs challenge was a template challenge, so I grabbed a template from My Time Made Easy, word art from Paper Makeup Stamps, and the recent kit from Paper Makeup Stamps and Voila!!  Talk about quick & easy!!  This Slip Cover template was very easy to put together and I even adjusted the size to make it a teeny bit smaller.  Not only did I need to whip this up quick, but I also needed  it to be easy cause I am just a "little" behind in my projects so I have a few things to do tonight :)  I believe there are still a few of the Celestial Possibilities kits left, but you'd better go get yours now because once they are gone... they are gone!  Thanks for stopping by, hope to see you again soon.  

Stamps: Sing, Love, Dance (Paper Makeup Stamps)  Paper: PP and CS from the Celestial Possibilities kit (Paper Makeup Stamps)  Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine)  Accessories: Bliss pearls (Kaisercraft), Ocean Tides button (PTI), flowers & ribbon from the  Celestial Possibilities kit, rectangle deckled nesties  Templates: Slip Cover (My Time Made Easy)  Challenges: JUGS34

Paper Makeup Stamps Design Team Call

Paper Makeup Stamps is having a Design Team Call.  Submissions are due May 31st, please see this post for more deets! Can't wait to see what you've got!!

Ohhhh the Celestial Possibilities...

 

The Celestial Possibilities kit from Paper Makeup Stamps is here!!  And OMG! is it amazing!!!  When Katie first told us that she wanted to try a kit I was a little skeptical.  I mean most kits out there are just so "matchy-matchy" and seem to really box in my creativity... but NOT this one!! As soon as I opened my kit the creative juices just started overflowing!  Everything in the kit coordinates VERY well, but there is still so much flexibility and so much you can do with it.  And the best part of it... there is enough of everything to let you go where your Muse takes you, but not so much of it that there are left-overs forever! lol  You can order this kit here, but you'd better hurry because quantities are limited and once they're gone, they are gone.  Here is everything you get in this kit, and all for just $20!!!!!!!!

Celest the Fairy stamp (Paper Makeup Stamps)

Dwell in Possibilty stamp (PMS)

8 Sheets of 6x6 double sided patterned paper (Kaisercraft)

8 full sheets of 8.5x11 Cardstock (by Bazzill)

1 pack epoxy brads (matches paper, by Kaisercraft)

1 pack Paper Flowers (dont be fooled, flowers are stack on top of themselves, theres a lot)

4 yards of delicious ribbon (may arts)

20 star shaped brads (by Creative Impressions)

4 Star Spiral Clips (by Creative Impressions)

A Patriotic JUGS card...

 

Happy Wednesday!  Saturday's JUGS challenge was to use Red, White & Blue in honor of Memorial Day & Armed Forces Day :)  As soon as I saw the challenge the ideas just started flying through my head!  Then I went through my patterned paper... I didn't really have any patriotic papers, except for these from the Slumber pack from SU.  The image I used is the Shaela Fairy from Paper Makeup Stamps, I love the sparkler in her hand!  Sorry for the quick post, but it has been a long day.  Thanks so much for stopping by, hope to see you again soon.

Stamps: Shaela fairy & sentiment (Paper Makeup Stamps)  Paper: Slumber pp (SU), White (Prism), Riding Hood Red (SU)  Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Onyx Black (Versafine)  Accessories: Taylors Tiny Twinkles, misc red rhinestones, white ribbon (SU), Star, Oval & Scalloped Oval nesties, Red Shimmerz  Copics: B0000, 93, 95, 97, C1, E000, 00, R20, Y21, YR23, 31  Challenges: JUGS33

It's a Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past blog hop!

 

Taylored Expressions is having it's first ever Customer Blog Hop! This month is a Blast from the Past, so we are all using Taylored Expressions sets from 2008 & 2009.  

 

I am using the Discover your Wings set, I just love all of the images in it!!  I also chose to use the sketch pictured below by Sankari Wegman (if you've not checked out her blog, you simply must...it is wonderful!!).  I stamped the flowers image using Antique Linen Distress ink, then stamped the sentiment over it with some black.    I took the larger butterfly and colored it in with my copics before cutting it out.  The body is flat on the focal circle, but I folded the wings up to give it some dimension.  All of the wonderful embellishments on this card can be purchased at Taylored Expressions.  Grab yourself a Latte and get cozy, you are in for a treat with this hop!  Hope this inspires you to get inky today! Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the rest of the hop.  Hope to see you again soon.  
 

Stamps:  Discover your Wings (Taylored Expressions)  Paper: Linnie Bell (Pebbles), Dark Chocolate & white cs (PTI)  Ink: Antique Linen Distress ink (Ranger), Onyx Black (Versafine), Tuxedo Black Memento  Accessories: Chocolate pearls (Kaisercraft), Taylors Tiny Twinkles, Brown stitched ribbon, Circle nesties, Big Scalloped Circle nesties

It's a Paper Garden Blog Hop... boy style!

 

 Welcome to the Paper Garden Projects Lads, Dads and Grads Garden Walk

Ok, so I know this isn't the most masculine of cards but honestly all of the men in my life are aware of my love of bling and ribbons and they still love me :).  I think that any of them would take one look at this card and think "yup, that's Tang" lol.  This adorable dude is Sir Galahad by Kraftin Kimmie... he is just too noble and dashing!  Love this line from Kim!  Make sure you pop on over to Paper Garden to check the other new Kraftin Kimmie images, they are all just too cah-ute!

Take a stroll through the blogs of all the Paper Gardeners and enjoy some friendly inspiration. This month we are focusing on the all the men, boys and graduates out there.

While you visit, subscribe to each Gardener's blog and take note of each designer's name and their special garden walk word in their blog post. Once you finish your garden tour, send an E-mail to custserv@papergardenprojects.com with the list of designers and their garden walk word.

Everyone who sends the correct list of designers and words will be entered in a random drawing to win a prize. You need to send an e-mail to the address above; please don't leave your list as a comment. You have until midnight (EST) on Tuesday, May18 to send your list.

And the prize? How about these cute little lads form Eat Cake Graphics:

So enjoy the garden tour (feel free to bring along a lad, Dad or Grad!). Here is the garden tour guide list:

• Cathy 
• Amber
• Tangii (You are here)
• Tricia
• Linda
• Erin
• Andrea
• Alyssa

And my word for you is ...  ALL.  Have fun :)

Stamps: Sir Galahad (Kraftin Kimmie)  Paper: Wisteria (Basic Gray), cardstock (Prism)  Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)  Accessories: Black Rhinestones (Kaisercraft), ribbon, deckled rectangle nesties  Copics:  BV13, 17, C1, 3, 5, E000, 00, 29, 49, R11, YR23

Makeup 4 the Weekend #27

 

Happy Friday!  Today's Makeup 4 the Weekend challenge is brought to you by Miss Danni, and she challenges us to use "at least 3 flowers".  I am totally in love with the Wisteria line of paper from Basic Gray!  That purple is just FABULOUS!  So how is it that I have absolutely NO ribbon in that color?  Holy snickerdoodles!  If you know of some yummy ribbon in those purples, let the enabler in you shine and leave me a linkie/comment, pretty please :)  The sketch is, of course one of Mercy's.    Well I hope that this inspires you at least a teensy bit to get inky!  
 

Stamps: We can complain... (Paper Makeup Stamps)  Paper: Wisteria (Basic Gray), Horizon & Black Orchid cs (Bazzill), White (PTI)  Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine), Antique Linen Distress (Ranger)  Accessories: Roses (Prima), Plum button (PTI), Grape brads (Queen & Co), Deckled Oval nesties, twine, Vanilla Ribbon (SU)  Challenges: MTSC73, M4TW27

Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you back here tomorrow for the Paper Garden Grads, Dads & Lads Blog hop!  

Moody review...

 

Well we are winding down review week here at PMS.  So what'd ya think of the release?  I know, it was your FAVORITE!  Mine too, lol!  Well this is Moody for Hiking and wowzers, is she fun to color!  I took the JUGS sketch challenge from last week and tweaked it a teeny bit :)  Make sure you visit the PMS Blog to see some more Moody & Monster reviews for today :)  Thanks for popping by, hope to see you again soon.

Stamps: Moody for Hiking (Paper Makeup Stamps)  Paper: Claire (SEI), Dark Chocolate (PTI), White base (Gina K), White image piece (PTI)  Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)  Accessories: Brads & Hardware (SEI), White Satin Ribbon (PTI), Curved Rectangle Nesties, Corner rounder  Copics: B32, 34, 95, 97, C1,3, 7, 9, E000, 00, 25, 27, 30, 31, 33, 37, 40, 43, 44, 99, G85, R11, 20, 24, 32, Y21, YR23, 31  Challenges: JUGS31

A little goodie and a submission...

I am just giddy, I am so excited at how this turned out!!  For many reasons... first of all it is a gift for someone, but I am also submitting this project for the DT call over at the JUGS challenge blog.  You can view the DT Call here.  Even if you choose not to submit for the call, I highly recommend their weekly challenges (posted every Saturday)... they truely rock!!! ok, back to business, lol.  So I needed to come up with a little "Thank You" giftie something for a gal at work, and one idea lead to another and Voila!  I ended up with this...

As soon as I saw this tote from Lauren at My Time, I knew it would be great fun to make.. and the ideas of what to put in it are endless!  I loved the gardening ideas I'd seen, but I wanted to do something a little different so I made some Blackberry and Strawberry syrups (for waffles, French Toast, Ice Cream, etc.).    I will also be including some recipe cards for a few French Toast and Home made ice cream recipes I have (the cards will go in the gap area in the tote).  The cards will match the Recipe Box I made for her for Christmas.   To decorate the jars I printed out the syrup names, then punched them out and sponged them before adhering them to my "labels" (stamped from the Lovely Labels stamp set).  Then I tied a little ribbon around the lid, covering the knot with a button.  The little flower on the label is from the Rambling Rose Pretty Pieces from Lauren, My Time Made Easy.  The labels are just adhered with some glue dots so that she can easily remove them before she puts the jars in the fridge.

 I took the Rambling Rose  set and just cut the whole set out about 4 times (twice each on 2 different papers), then I just picked pieces to put together on the various places on this project (see there is another just a little larger on the corner of the tote...with a button center).  The large flower on the Tote handle uses all of the pieces, and I used a Corduroy brad for the center.

And last, but certainly not least, here is the card.  The sketch for the card was part of the DT Submisson requirements (you can see that post here).  I wanted my card to coordinate with the gift, but not to look exactly the same, so I pulled some different paper from the same line that I used for the Tote.  I also pulled in the gold brads, and added a little gold cording to the button just so the brads didn't look totally out of place.  This was so much fun to make, I can see me making MANY of these totes in the future!

Tote Supplies

Stamps: sentiment from Fairy Tales (PTI), "Fun" Borders (JustRite Stamps)  Paper: Lemonade (Basic Gray), Wine with Everything cs (Gina K), So Saffron (SU), White (PTI)  Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine), Victorian Velvet Distress (Ranger)  Accessories: Trendy Tool Tote template (My Time Made Easy), Rambling Rose cut file (My Time Made Easy), So Saffron ribbon (SU), Yellow Corduroy Brad (SU), Sweet Blush Button (PTI), Brads (Basic Gray), Circle Nesties, Scalloped Circle nesties

Jars Supplies:

Stamps: Lovely Labels (by Nina Brackett for Gina K)  Paper: Lemonade (Basic Gray), White cs (PTI)  Ink: Victorian Velvet Distress (Ranger)  Accessories: Rambling Rose Cut File (My Time Made Easy), Oval punch, Razzleberry Ribbon (SU), Labels 8 Nesties, Gold brads, Lemon Tart Button (PTI), Twine

Card Supplies

Stamps: Everyday Thanks (Paper Makeup Stamps)  Paper: Lemonade (Basic Gray), Wine with Everything (Gina K), White cs (PTI), So Saffron (SU)  Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine), Antique Linen Distress (Ranger)  Accessories: Labels 3 and Oval nesties, White Satin ribbon (PTI), Sweet Blush Button (PTI), Gold Cording, Gold Brads, Dew Drops

Happy Hop Day...

 

Happy Friday and Happy hop day!  Welcome to the PMS May Release DT Blog Hop!  Grab yourself a Latte, get cozy in your chair and let's get hoppin'!  First off, you should have come here from the PMS Blog, if you didn't you'll want to start there.  Katie has all the deets there on how you can get some free stuff :)  This is an amazing release... 2 new lines of stamps, a new illustrator and TONS of rubber!  Holy Snickerdoodles!!  I truly do love this release, I think it is one of the all time favs of the Design Team!  Tonight is the release party... 8pm cst in the PMS Forum, hope to see you there!!  This image is called "Me and Pops" isn't it just too cute for a Daddy's day card??  I paper pieced Pops' "suit".  This is your first official stop (after getting all the juicy details from the PMS Blog), your letter from me...

Now hop on over to the Rockin' Gabby and check out the eye candy she has for ya (tell her I said "hey").

Stamps: Me and Pops & sentiment (Paper Makeup Stamps)  Paper: misc pp, Chocolate Mulberry paper, Desert Coral Dark (Prism), Close to Cocoa cs (SU), Dark Chocolate & white cs (PTI)  Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine)  Accessories: Dark Chocolate buttons (PTI)  Copics: E09, 13, 15, 30, 31, 59, YG95, B32, 34  Challenges: SC279

Paper Makeup Stamps May Sneak Peek Day #3

 

Oh my WOWZERS!!!!  Can I just say how incredibly excited I am about Lindsay Spencer coming back to design for PMS?  I LOVE Diem's new line too (peeked yesterday on the PMS Blog)!!  Lucy is just WAY too cute!  I still love the Fairies, Monsters and Moody's, but how exciting to have two new and AMAZING lines!!  Ok, I think I have calmed down now, lol!  So, this set is called Faith Hope & Love, it comes with 5 different flowers, some grass and 3 sentiments!  I am telling you, this set is a must!!!  Thank you Lindsay... I am loving this set!!!  Sorry for the short post, but I am nearly falling asleep sitting here.  Make sure you pop over to the PMS Blog to see the rest of this wonderful set.  See you tomorrow for the final day of Sneak Peeks.  Don't forget the Release Party is Friday night at 8 pm central in the PMS Forum...make yourself a drink, pull up a comfy chair and join us for some fun, chit-chat, challenges and some giveaways!  Thanks for stopping by, hope to see you again soon.

Stamps: Faith Hope & Love (Paper Makeup Stamps)  Paper: Lovely Shelf digi paper (Gina K), Always Artichoke (SU), Yellow cs (Couture Cardstock), Kraft (Gina K)  Ink: Spanish Moss (Versafine), Straw (Vivid), Onyx Black (Versafine)  Accessories: True Black Buttons (PTI), White ribbon (SU), Deckled Rectangle nesties, corner rounder

Paper Makeup Stamps May Sneak Peek Day #1

 

Welcome to the first day of the PMS May Sneak Peeks... this is my most favoritest release ever!!  I mean you are seriously gonna want to tune in daily 'cause we have some super fun stuff coming up!!  Today we are peeking some awesome wordart... I just love Maya Angelou quotes!  Pop on over to the PMS Blog to see some peeks of more Word Art being released.  I will not have a Release peek for you tomorrow (though I will have some else to post, so I hope to see you), so make sure you head over to the PMS Blog to see tomorrow's peeks.

Stamps: I Sustain Myself quote (Paper Makeup Stamps)  Paper: Devonshire (Kaisercraft), Ivory cs (Gina K), Tawny Medium (Prism)  Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine)  Accessories: Flowers (Prisma), Punch (Martha Stewart), Oval & Scalloped Oval Nesties, Black Brads (MM), Black ribbon  Challenges: C4C35