Dutch Dare #40

Here is another great sketch from Wilma at Dutch Dare--I found it especially useful for the ever-multiplying bits of paper that pile up. My goal of late has been to use up entire sheets once I cut them down; otherwise they sit around forgotten. Progress is admittedly slow for me in this "Journey to the bottom of the scrap box"--still, might as well keep pressing on with it...

Papers are still from My Mind's Eye and Kraft.

Have a truly lovely afternoon all!

Thank you for visiting; your comments really do brighten my day :)

--Kathryn

Bonsai for Papertake

Some sketches simply grab your attention and demand to be used again and again... Dawny's Sketch 11 over at Papertake Weekly is certainly one of them! This card also plays in the Secret Crafter challenge to use your favorite color... which for me is GREEN!

I was able to use up some more scraps from previous cards made this week (i.e., the poppies). The bonsai image is from Auntie Amy's Embossing Arts company, and I colored it with watercolors. I was not particularly careful about staying within the lines, because I wanted the image to have a more free-form quality.

Here's the inside:

Now I am not a particularly great fan of eyelets, but Heidi VanLaar set a challenge over at Use It! to incorporate eyelets this week; and although I wasn't in time to play along in that challenge, I figured that while I had them out I might as well do something with 'em!

And then there's the win-all freebie on this card... can you guess what it is?! Yes, that's right--the raffia ribbon. And can you guess where it came from? Nah, you never will, so I'll tell you...It was blowing around in the parking lot at Hobby Lobby! (I think you know you've got it bad when you pick up stray flower heads and raffia ribbon from the craft store parking lot!!)

Have a great day all,

--Kathryn

Laura's Sketch22, "Warm Colors", "Favorite Things" and DCM "Cos I'm a Woman"

I have to admit that Laura's sketch had me stumped this week until I rotated it 90 degrees! When I did it finally started coming together... my mojo has been a little sluggish this past week. But, be that as it may...

I've combined Laura's Sketch with the Charisma My Favorite Things challenge (in this case, an Oriental-theme with my favorite stamp, lovely patterned paper and a great big bow!), DCM "Cos I'm a Woman!" and Creative Card Crew's Warm Colors challenge.

Here's are some inside views (left/right):

Supplies used:

Background paper is My Mind's Eye (from a clearance find at Hobby Lobby),

The darker accent paper is "Rustic Text" from The Paper Studio .

Geisha stamp is from Auntie Amy's Embossing Arts, which I bought awhile back from Addicted to Rubber Stamps.com

The Chop stamp is from Penny Black.

Chocolate Chip cardstock

99-cent Robert Stanley ribbon from Hobby Lobby

Hydrangea blossoms from floral stem

The rain has cleared up now so I'm about to go outside and work some more on the patio garden. The scarlet runner beans are starting to climb their twine lattice!

Hugs from Texas,

--Kathryn

Poppies No. 2

...and the inside...

Once again...

The sketch this time is from Our Creative Corner Sketch by Kim Teasdale
and it also lets me play in the Stamp Something Spring theme

Supplies are:
Inkadinkado 706 Poppy Collage
Have a Great Day sentiment from Stampendous
Harvest Green Plaid from the Paper Studio
Kraft White Mini Dot paper
Chocolate Chip cardstock
Ivory parchment cardstock (for card base and image)

Smiles!
--Kathryn

Poppies for Mojo Sketch 79

Once in awhile you find a paper and image combination that jumpstarts your crafting like nothing else... this has been one of those days when I've been very pleasantly surprised. The sun has peeked out from the clouds, I've got new music on my playlist and I got to see my hubby for lunch. The day has been wonderful!

The sketch is from Mojo Monday Week 79

Supplies are:

Inkadinkado 706 Poppy Collage

Have a Great Day sentiment from Stampendous

Harvest Green Plaid from the Paper Studio

Kraft White Mini Dot paper

Chocolate Chip cardstock

Ivory parchment cardstock (for card base and image)

Have a great day all!

--Kathryn

CREATE...it's part of your Nature

Hope you all enjoy this as much as I do! It is wonderful to be reminded of our divine nature and potential from time to time, as the humdrum of daily life tends to make us forget that we are creating things of lasting beauty--not least of which are the family relationships that endure. Building and nurturing home and family do bring life's greatest joys. Creating things is in our nature and as we do so we learn a little more about the loving care that our own Maker has for us...

Have a wonderful day,

--Kathryn

Patchwork Thanks

...and a little detail...

I have to say that I really enjoyed making this card today. I got to pull out my sewing machine, use some new ribbon, ink up a new sentiment stamp and play with one of my very favorite paper sets--well...scraps of it...to be found in abundance throughout my scrap box... Stangely enough, I do not remember the name of this collection, so if anyone does recognize it, please let me know! It was one of the first that I purchased, right at the onset of the scrapbooking journey, and it is still particularly appealing to me for the scrapbook.

The challenges for this card are:

1. Daring Cardmakers It's a Patchy One!

2. Truly Scrumptious Sketch 2 by Christine

(forgot about the handmade button...Oops!)

3. Use It! Monday (Rae's new challenge) Recipe challenge

Thanks for looking and have a lovely day all...

Here in Texas we're receiving some much-needed RAIN! What a blessing!

--Kathryn

Party Time!...

Incidentally, just as my family's birthdays seem to all fall during the same months, so do my husband's family birthdays...what a strange coincidence, eh?... So here's the first of the cards coming down the assembly line for the next birthday barrage...

I used Laura's Sketch 21 for the layout. The card is made entirely from scraps, but unfortunately that never seems to make a dent in the remaining mountain. I have been congratulating myself, however, on maintaining the self-discipline to NOT cut down any new papers! ;) Ah, paper is my weakness...

You see I've used White Paisley Kraft paper for the background, with the scalloped flowers cut from a 2-sided cardstock by American Crafts. Really couldn't tell ya on the sentiment, though... We'll just say it's from the heart! ;)

New Rubber is the Heart Tree from Stampabilities.

Hugs and smiles all,
--Kathryn

Casements...

Another wonderfully versatile sketch from the ladies at Mojo Monday this week and a "Women's theme" at My Time to Craft. Also a rather Distressing piece of work for the ABC Challenges!

I decided to finally ink up this interesting stamp from The Stamping Ground (again, from that amazing Goodwill find!) for this card and to use it with a vintage theme, so I also used the Stampabilities "Le London" background script and made the distressed paper flower. The background paper is White Paisly Kraft.

I wasn't entirely sure about this card when I first started, but it's growing on me. It's different from my usual and doesn't really need a sentiment, as far as I'm concerned. That also makes it versatile...and those who know me understand how much I value versatility, flexibility and practicality...hence the Elinor Dashwood pic on my sidebar! ;)

Have a great day all,

--Kathryn

Sakura Gate-fold

...and the inside...

The challenge at Charisma Cardz this week is to make a pretty card for mother. Well Mother's Day in the U.S. isn't quite here yet but before you know it it'll be here. Not entirely decided whether this one will go to my own mother, my dear gran or my mother-in-law...

This card also fits with the Cupcake Crafts Spring theme for the week.

In fact I am in a fantastic spring-time mood today, as it's a gorgeous 80-something degrees outside, the windows are open, the finches have found the seed I put out for them yesterday and are chirping their happy little hearts out... What a joy is life!!

I used a cut-apart doily that otherwise would have gone in the trash for this card and think it works rather nicely to imitate a lacy fan over the cherry blossoms. I colored the inside image (that favorite stamp of mine!) with my trusty Sharpies. I think the paper is from My Mind's Eye, but don't quote me on that. It was the last sheet and I'd already cut off the printed label in a previous project. Oops...

Hoping everyone's day can be as wonderful as it is right now in Texas!

Hugs,

--Kathryn

Favorite Somethings...

The challenge at Stamp Something is to create from a favorite something! I chose to use my favorite embellishments...brads and flowers...favorite base color (brown)...favorite new craft tool (that lovely little Cuttlebug with the especially lovely sale price tag!!) and especially...a TREE!

I hand-carved this image after I saw a wonderful linocut by the British artist Hugh Bryden. I always make sure to mention this in order to recognize his wonderful work.

When I was young I used to love to sit or stand among the trees in our backyard and wonder what it must be like to be a tree...and whether, if you stood long enough, you might grow roots yourself.... I had a very active imagination as you can tell, and still very much do.

Trees are a symbol of so many things in all cultures. I love tree-lore and the Tree of Life and all tall, noble trees and all small, flowering ones. I also think of myself rather like a tree...I grow very deep roots in a place...I live deeply and try to draw all the joy and growth out of life as I can...and I try to be there for people who need me, like a shade tree in the heat of summer. One of my favorite songs is Enya's "The Memory of Trees," which of course is the first song on my playlist on KTC.

Thanks for looking and enjoy a wonderful and beautiful day all!

--Kathryn

PS--Don't forget to check out my blog candy on the main page! ;)

Quick and Springy Thank-You

The challenge at 365 Cards for today is to design a quick thank you card.

Awhile back I started pre-cutting paper to the right size for standard cards, so that I could get cards assembled more quickly. I have a divided clear folder that I keep these pre-cut sheets in. It also keeps me from laboring over which paper to use. I could look at paper all day and get nowhere fast! So, having some already cut helps me get started with something in that color scheme, etc.

The flowers are from a hydrangea stem I got 50% off at Hobby lobby...gorgeous, aren't they? I love the realistic veins and color variations. Plus, I can just go tear off a couple of flower heads whenever I need them...but in the meantime the stems are also decorating my living room!

(How's that for double duty?!)

The paper is from The Paper Studio and the sentiment is Stampabilities.

Have a wonderful day!

--Kathryn