Waltzingmouse Stamps Teacher Appreciation Blog Party

**Second post today.  Please scroll down for the Kreate-a-lope Blog Hop**

Time for another Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Party and this month Teacher Appreciation is our theme!  I also loved this sketch by Amy O'Neill for Freshly Made Sketches and decided to use it for my party card, as well.

Here is my card using the sweet apple basket from Peace and Plenty.

I used patterned paper from American Crafts and a sentiment from Frame-It.

I stamped a separate basket with the Woodgrain background and then paper-pieced it over the original basket.  Love how it looks in that color!

You still have time to play along with the blog party!  Upload your creation to Claire's blog HERE.  One randomly-selected player will win a WMS stamp set of choice.  Claire will announce the winner, and also highlight some special projects that she saw during the hop, on her blog on May 20th.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Peace and Plenty, Woodgrain, Frame-It, all Waltzingmouse Stamps

Paper:  American Crafts patterned paper, PTI Rustic Cream

Ink:  A Muse Studio Mermaid ink, Memento Espresso Truffle, Copic markers

Other:  twine

Fun with Kreate-a-lope!

Today a few friends and I are having a little fun with a product called Kreate-a-lope!  It's an envelope template created by Nick Romer.  You can see an awesome video featuring Nick using the template at his website greensneakers.com!

Today we are featuring the A2 template but there are other sizes and box templates available at the website. The cool thing about the Kreate-a-Lope is that you can make an envelope quickly as no cutting or tracing is necessary and you can also use ANY kind of paper...cardstock, patterned paper, old gift wrap, newspaper...the sky is the limit!

I stamped some cards and created coordinating envelopes.  I always end up buying plain old white ones from the store and I must admit that these look so much better and it was easy and fun to make them.

Up first is an envelope made from some beautiful vintage wrapping paper.  A family friend used to direct the fragrance department at Macy's and he gave me some of the paper that was used to wrap the perfume bottles!

It's shiny gold and lovely!  I made a coordinating card using this peacock feather from a set by Market Street Stamps called "Wild."

Stamped the background feathers using Delicata gold ink.  I stamped a single feather separately and colored it with Copic markers and cut it out.  The sentiment is from Waltzingmouse Stamps Camellia set.

This second envelope was made with denim patterned paper. I think it really looks like it's made out of fabric!

The lovely border is stamped with Waltzingmouse Stamps French Country and heat embossed with white powder.

Stamped a cheery coordinating card using more images from WMS French Country and the sunshine from My Island.

Here is a look at some more envelopes cut with Kreate-a-lope...

Love this woodgrain envelope...another "authentic" look created with patterned paper from Recollections.  The envelope on the right is actually made from a cool paper bag that I got at a local craft store!   I haven't sealed these yet, but when I do I will be using the cool "Lick and Stick" envelope glue also available at greensneakers.com.  You apply it along the edge, let it dry, and then just remoisten it when you are ready to send it out!

Thanks so much to Nick for sending these fun products to all of us!  He is having a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds in order to make more sizes of templates.  You can make a pledge and get your own Kreate-a-lope HERE. Or you can purchase these items at his website HERE.

Now off you go to see some more awesome projects featuring the "Kreate-a-lope"!

Julia Aston

Renee Lynch

Cathy Weber

and Suzanne Dahlberg 

(who will be joining us later today due to traveling layovers :)!

Supplies:

Peacock card:

Stamps:  Market Street Stamps "Wild" and Waltzingmouse Stamps "Camellia"

Paper:  Papertrey Ink Rustic White, vintage wrapping paper

Ink:  Delicata Gold, Memento Paris Dusk, Copic markers

Other:  Kreate-a-Lope envelope template (A2 size), rhinestone

Rooster card:

Stamps:  French Country and My Island, both Waltzingmouse Stamps

Paper:  Simple Stories "Summer Fresh", Recollections Denim paper, Papertrey Ink Rustic White

Ink:  Stampin Up  Real Red & Not Quite Navy, Fresh Ink in Harvest, and VersaMark

Other:  Kreate-a-Lope envelope template (A2 size), twine, Spellbinders Square Nestabilities

Other envelopes:  Recollections "Wood Floor" paper, newsprint shopping bag

Fresh Star Sketch

Scroll down for the Challenge Chicks new challenge and Joyce's Birthday Blog Hop card!

How about another post today?  Had to get in some more crafty time to get Freshly Made Sketch # 84 done before tomorrow.  This one is by the talented and sweet Linda Suarez...

I love the little banner that Linda put in the sketch!  I would never have thought of that.  I made mine with 2 strips of linen washi tape.  The awesome papers are from Simple Stories "Summer Fresh" collection and the denim from Crate Paper's Random collection.  I am pretty sure that I will cry when I don't have any more of that denim!!

The star was made with Spellbinders Nestabilities Stars Five and a mini medallion cut with Memory Box's "Woodrow Rosette" die.  That little thing can be hard to put together, but when I can get it to work I am so happy with the results!  The sentiment is from Seasons of Love-Tags by Waltzingmouse Stamps.

Can't wait to see next week's sketch!  Thanks to the Design Team for all of the lovely inspiration which can be found HERE!

Happy Birthday, Joyce...and some Challenge Chicks Colors!

It's the first Sunday of the month which means a new Challenge Chicks Challenge is posted!  This month, Diane asked us to use this color combination on our cards...

These are the Stampin Up colors:  Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Crushed Curry, and Tangerine Tango....so pretty!

You can upload your Challenge Chicks project to Splitcoaststampers using the keyword CHXMAY13 or link your blog post or photo to our Facebook page HERE.

I thought it was a perfect opportunity to use some patterned papers and make a birthday card for the lovely JOYCE who is having a birthday TODAY!

I stamped the gorgeous rose from Roses in Bloom by Waltzingmouse Stamps a few times onto Basic Grey paper, then layered it with dimensionals.  Also added some highlights with a few Copic markers.

Added a doily from Dainty Doilies-Large set.  It's stamped in VersaMark ink, heat embossed with white powder.

At the very bottom of the blue circle you can see the Chicken Wire background stamped in VersaMark along with a sentiment from Fancy Phrases.  For my woodgrain piece, I coated the Woodgrain Impression plate from A Muse Studio with Vintage Cream ink before running it through my Cuttlebug.  Kinda of scary, but it sure looks cool!

If you would like to see more Challenge Chicks projects, visit these ladies today....

Anna Wight

Diane Zechman

Jeanne Streiff

Kelli Jo Hull

Lydia Fiedler

Vicki Garrett

How 'bout some more birthday cards?  Continue the party here...

Jeanne

Cathy

Kara

Kim

Marybeth

Renee

Tracey

Darnell

Sharron

Have a wonderful day, Joyce!!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Roses in Bloom, Dainty Doilies-Large set, Chicken Wire, and Fancy Phrases, all Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper:  Simple Stories "Summer Fresh," Basic Grey "Fiction," and Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate and Rustic White cardstock
Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa, VersaMark, PTI Vintage Cream, Copics
Other:  Spellbinders Grand Circles Nestabilities, A Muse Studio Woodgrain impression plate, Filagree white embossing powder, Stickles

12 Kits of Holidays-April!

It's the last day of the month (WOW!) and that means 12 Kits Day!  This month we were treated to a Christmas kit from Sharron Gregory!  SO many fabulous things packed into this kit!

First up is a sweet little folk bird from Plum Purdy Designs!

Colored it with Copic markers and glittered it up to match the lovely ribbon.  Cut out the branch and added some snowy glitter and berries, too.

Next was an adorable sentiment that  I thought went perfectly with my favorite gingerbread guy from Papertrey Ink's Holiday Button Bits.

Some little epoxy hearts, candy cane background paper, and the fun rick rack die cut all went well with my "sweets" theme...

Oh how I love this adorable Plum Purdy Designs "Charlie Brown" primitive tree!  I paired it with some of my own things including linen washi tape, a button, and a heat embossed sentiment from Skipping Stones Design's "Christmas Song" set.

I decorated the tree with some mini red gems, pearls, and a sparkling "tinsel" star.

For my final project, a little experiment.  LOVED Jessica Witty's card HERE and Suzanne Dahlberg's card HERE featuring "neat" paint dots. I am still afraid of splattering paint or mists, but liked the way their little dots looked like tiny brads!

Hmm...not quite so much on my project.  Need more practice and different tools, I think!  I used a very small brush, but think that I need something that can actually "drop" the paint, or a stylus like Jess suggested.  I have one but it's buried at the bottom of my closet. I was too lazy (and impatient!) to get it once I started the actual painting!  

Speaking of "re-dos" I also wish that I had stamped the second half of the sentiment in black :)!  The "Twinkle Twinkle" is from a Technique Tuesday set from Sharron, and the "You're my Star" is from Waltzingmouse Stamps "Seasons of Love-Tags" set.

Wasn't this kit AMAZING?  I can't wait to see what the other ladies have made with it!  Just wanted to say thanks SO much to Sharron for the kit.  I hear that next month's kit is already in the mail, so excited when those arrive!

Amy 

Christina

Kara

Jeanne

Jessica

Joyce

Kim

Marybeth

Renee

Sharron

Tracey

Supplies:
Folk Bird card:
Stamps:  bird from "Mr. Willy and Friends" set, Plum Purdy Designs and Jingle All the Way set, Technique Tuesday
Paper:  PTI white, Pure Poppy, Aqua Mist
Other:  Sizzix "Snowballs" embossing folder, ribbon, Stampendous Crystal Snow, Copic markers, rhinestones

Gingerbread card:
Stamps:  Christmas Cookies & Happy Hearts, Plum Purdy Designs, Holiday Button Bits, Papertrey Ink
Paper:  PTI White, My Mind's Eye Winter Wonderland
Other:  Instant Camera die, L'il Inker Designs, Zig Zag Ric Rac die, Cherry Lynn,  button dies, Impression Obsession, heart epoxy stickers

Primitive Tree tag:
Stamps:  Dear Santa set, Plum Purdy Designs and sentiment from Christmas Song, Skipping Stones Design
Paper:  Authentique "Festive" Collection, PTI white, tag
Other:  Stitched Rectangles die, L'il Inker Designs; linen washi tape, Wishy Washi Tape; button, twine, rhinestones, pearls


Star card:
Stamps:  Jingle All the Way, Technique Tuesday; Seasons of Love-Tags, Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper:  PTI white, Ocean Tides, Pure Poppy, My Mind's Eye Winter Wonderland
Other:  star dies from Memory Box and My Favorite Things, Plaid Folk Art acrylic paint

Fresh Pinwheel Sketch

I discovered the Freshly Made Sketches blog in April and finally got to play along with one of their challenges!  I love that they offer clean and simple designs that are wide open for interpretation.  Not to mention that the design team's samples provide fabulous inspiration!

So here is FMS83 designed by Allisa:

...and my card:

I used Playful Pinwheels from Waltzingmouse Stamps for my card.  I have been sifting through paint swatches this weekend to find the right color for two rooms in our house.  "Coastal" colors and stripes seem to be big themes this year so I had light blues, greys, whites, and a bit of sunshine yellow in mind when I looked through my patterned papers.

Stamped and paper-pieced the pinwheel, then added some dimensionals and a button.  You can see a bit of the side panel in this picture.  It's a piece of vellum embossed with the A Muse Studio woodgrain impression plate

I am hoping to be back again to play next week since I had such a fun time with this sketch.  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Playful Pinwheels, Walzingmouse Stamps
Paper:  DCWV "Striped" Stack, Basic Grey "Fiction", Simple Stories "Sn@p" Collection, PTI white and kraft cardstock
Ink:  Memento Gray Flannel & Espresso Truffle
Other:  A Muse Studio Woodgrain impression plate, Basic Grey button, white ribbon

Papertrey Ink April Blog Hop

This month for the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop the theme is to include "diagonals" into your project design.  Such a fun idea!

I had to make a card with the Birthday Style balloons since I didn't get to use them for a hop yet!

I incorporated a diagonal into my sketch and made a simple little card with lots of fun patterns and colors...even with some diagonal chevrons in the clouds and balloons!  I used papers from DCWV "Sunday Afternoon" Collection, and Simple Stories "Vintage Flair" Collection.

The balloons were cut with the Birthday Style dies and the sentiment is from Think Big Favorites #1.  I Thinking like Maile...I added little epoxy dots that were from a different collection but just happened to be the right colors and have chevron and dotted patterns on them!

A simple, cheerful card today...thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Birthday Style, Think Big Favorites #1, Papertrey Ink
Paper:  DCWV "Sunday Afternoon," Simple Stories "Vintage Flair", PTI White and Berry Sorbet cardstock
Ink:  Fresh Ink in Pink Grapefruit, Memento Gray Flannel
Other:  Birthday Style balloon die, white ribbon, Heidi Grace epoxy dots