Free Digi Sketch: Origami Peace Crane

Good morning friends! It's Monday and I have another Digi Sketch to share with you today!

This sketch is of an origami peace crane.  Since this Wednesday, September 21st is the International Day of Peace, I wanted to share with you a symbol and story of peace.

If you are not familiar with the story of Sadako Sasaki and the paper peace cranes yet, I highly recommend it.  You can find it in most public libraries and the illustrations are as beautiful as the story itself.  You can find a website about the story geared towards children at the Hiroshima Peace Museum's website, and also as a free pdf:  "The Story of the Peace Crane".
There is a Japanese legend that goes that if a person folded a thousand paper cranes, he or she would receive their wish.
Sadako Sasaki was a young girl in Japan who loved to run.  However she became sick with leukemia from the Hiroshima atomic bomb radiation.  After she got sick, she started to fold cranes with the wish that she would get better and run again, but she never made it to one thousand.  She passed away at age 12, to the shock of her class.  They finished her thousand paper cranes.
Today, schoolchildren all over the world send thousands of paper cranes to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial in Japan, where the cranes adorn a statue of Sadako Sasaki, a heroine of peace for the whole world, reminding us of the cost of peace--both in conflict and in the aftermath.
If you are interested in folding cranes with your own children, you can find directions on how to fold them and and details of where to send them HERE.

File is in .jpg format

You are welcome to use these sketches for your projects, but all I ask is that

1) You do not try to pass off my artwork as your own and

2) Please link back to me on your posts or projects. Images are still copyright to me, Kathryn Ritter. 3) I would love to see your projects as well; please come back and link them up so that we can all see YOUR work! :)

Also, when you are telling others about my free sketches, please use the watermarked image below for display and provide a link back to the main Digi Sketch page--THANK YOU!

As I add more sketches to the collection, you'll be able to find them using the tab at the top of the page. I hope you will keep checking back or follow so you won't miss any new sketches as I make them available. My goal is to share with my fellow crafters so the more the merrier! :)

Have a great day!

Free Digi Sketch: Single Cherry with Leaf

Good morning!  It's Monday and I have a new free digital sketch to share with you!

This sketch is of a single cherry with a leaf.  I hope to start posting my samples using these sketches soon but things have been rather hectic of late.

If you're a fan of cherries and sentiments to go with these images, I would really suggest you look at the wonderful Flourishes set by Marcella Hawley.  It is just beautiful.  However, if you just want a single cherry image, I do hope you enjoy this one too.

Click on image to view and save full-size.

File is in .jpg format

You are welcome to use these sketches for your projects, but all I ask is that

1) You do not try to pass off my artwork as your own and

2) Please link back to me on your posts or projects. Images are still copyright to me, Kathryn Ritter. 3) I would love to see your projects as well; please come back and link them up so that we can all see YOUR work! :)

Also, when you are telling others about my free sketches, please use the watermarked image below for display and provide a link back to the main Digi Sketch page--THANK YOU!

As I add more sketches to the collection, you'll be able to find them using the tab at the top of the page. I hope you will keep checking back or follow so you won't miss any new sketches as I make them available. My goal is to share with my fellow crafters so the more the merrier! :)

Have a great day!

Aqua Blossoms Wedding or Anniversary Card

Here is another card along the same theme as the Softly Blooming Pinks card I posted this morning.

On this one I have colored all the flowers rather than just the bud.

This card is listed in my Etsy shop HERE.

Flourishes' Bring Back Beautiful "The Beauty of Color" Monochromatic Theme

CR84FN #37

Papertrey Paper Dolls #44 Inspiration Photo

Ooh LaLa #88 "Anniversary"

Papertake Weekly Anything Goes

Here are a few detail photos:

 I stamped the bottom background with the Papertrey Ink Guidelines 2 set.  The guidelines are in PTI Fresh snow white; then I used two different medallion stamps for the background pattern.

The gorgeous flower images and sentiments inside and out are from the Flourishes cherry blossoms set.  Sheer elegance in every set.  I love these images top to bottom.  Each set is a real work of art.

Materials Used on this Card:

Cardstock {Papertrey Ink}  

Stamps {Flourishes, Papertrey Ink}

Inks {Ranger - Archival Black, Memento - London Fog, Papertrey Ink - Fresh Snow}

BIC Markit Markers

White Galaxy Marker {American Crafts}

Stemmed Floral Wedding Pearls

Black Satin Ribbon {Robert Stanley}

Paper Lace Doily

Spellbinders Nestabilities dies

Adhesive gems {Offray}

Thank you all so much for visiting, and I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week.

Softly Blooming Pinks - Love One Another Wedding Card

Good morning!  I have not been playing challenges for awhile because I've been up to my elbows in Craft Fair preparation and Custom Orders from my Etsy Shop.

But let me tell you folks when I saw these fantastic inspiration photos I just had to join in. 

JUST.  BEAUTIFUL. 

I'll be coming back to these for awhile I think.

The Shabby Tea Room #78 Pink Wedded Bliss

 AND

Papertrey Paper Dolls #44 Inspiration Photo:

So here is my card, made especially for the daughter of a close family friend.

I have only colored the small flower bud of the main image, as a subtle suggestion

about the beautiful love the couple shares that is just beginning to blossom as they begin their life together as husband and wife.

The outside sentiment is simply "Happiness," while inside

is a quote from the scripture John 15:14-15

"Love One Another"

This card is also made with the September "Bring Back Beautiful" monochromatic challenge from Flourishes.

Here are a few other challenges:

 Our Creative Corner Background Stamping

 4 Crafty Chicks "Celebrate" theme - GDT

Whimsy Inspirations #4 Sparkle and Shine

Speedy the Cat #71 Bring on the Bling

Materials Used on this Card:

Cardstock {Papertrey Ink}

Stamps {Flourishes, Papertrey Ink}

Ink{Ranger - Archival Black, Memento - London Fog}

Copic Marker {R20 Blush}

BIC Markit Markers

White Galaxy Marker {American Crafts}

Stemmed Floral Wedding Pearls

Paper Lace Doily

Black Satin Ribbon {Robert Stanley}

Spellbinders Nestabilities dies

Adhesive gems {Offray}

During my brief break from challenging and blogging recently I've made some decisions about the direction and future of Kitchen Table Crafter with regards to my other business and crafting goals.  I will keep you all 'posted' in the days ahead, but be assured that Kitchen Table Crafter will still be here along with the weekly digi sketches and all the rest.

Until next time, thank you of course for visiting and I hope you all have a really wonderful day!

Free Digi Sketch: Phalaenopsis Orchid

Good evening, friends! I'm posting your weekly digi sketch a little early since we have plans for Labor Day!

Also my apologies for being MIA the past few weeks.  I have been quite busy with my Etsy shop and fall craft fair preparation... not to mention two energetic little guys!

This sketch is of a Phalaenopsis Orchid.  If you need photo guides for realistic orchid coloring, you can visit these links:
http://www.athidhyam.com/orchid/
The Orchid Photo Page

Click on image to view and save full-size.

File is in .jpg format

You are welcome to use these sketches for your projects, but all I ask is that

1) You do not try to pass off my artwork as your own and

2) Please link back to me on your posts or projects. Images are still copyright to me, Kathryn Ritter. 3) I would love to see your projects as well; please come back and link them up so that we can all see YOUR work! :)

Also, when you are telling others about my free sketches, please use the watermarked image below for display and provide a link back to the main Digi Sketch page--THANK YOU!

As I add more sketches to the collection, you'll be able to find them using the tab at the top of the page. I hope you will keep checking back or follow so you won't miss any new sketches as I make them available. My goal is to share with my fellow crafters so the more the merrier! :)

Have a great day!

Free Digi Sketch: Dandelion in the Wind

Good morning friends! It's Monday and I have another Digi Sketch to share with you today!

This sketch is a dandelion with its seeds blowing in the wind (gardeners rejoice...haha).

File is in .jpg format

You are welcome to use these sketches for your projects, but all I ask is that

1) You do not try to pass off my artwork as your own and

2) Please link back to me on your posts or projects. Images are still copyright to me, Kathryn Ritter. 3) I would love to see your projects as well; please come back and link them up so that we can all see YOUR work! :)

Also, when you are telling others about my free sketches, please use the watermarked image below for display and provide a link back to the main Digi Sketch page--THANK YOU!

As I add more sketches to the collection, you'll be able to find them using the tab at the top of the page. I hope you will keep checking back or follow so you won't miss any new sketches as I make them available. My goal is to share with my fellow crafters so the more the merrier! :)

Have a great day!

Free Digi Sketch: Lacewing Butterfly

Good morning friends!  I apologize for the lateness of your free Monday digi sketch / stamp!

Here it is... a day late, but at least not a dollar short :)
This sketch is a lacewing butterfly.  I've done him in profile so that you can easily add a flower or leaf underneath if you choose.

File is in .jpg format

You are welcome to use these sketches for your projects, but all I ask is that

1) You do not try to pass off my artwork as your own and

2) Please link back to me on your posts or projects. Images are still copyright to me, Kathryn Ritter. 3) I would love to see your projects as well; please come back and link them up so that we can all see YOUR work! :)

Also, when you are telling others about my free sketches, please use the watermarked image below for display and provide a link back to the main Digi Sketch page--THANK YOU!

As I add more sketches to the collection, you'll be able to find them using the tab at the top of the page. I hope you will keep checking back or follow so you won't miss any new sketches as I make them available. My goal is to share with my fellow crafters so the more the merrier! :)

Have a great day!

Woodland Anemones and A Quiet Life

Here is my third entry for the Moxie Fab World "Fanatical about Botanical" challenge.  I don't usually wait until the last minute on things like this, but both our boys are going through brain growth spurts and are figuring out how to positively run me ragged in new and creative ways every day.  I finally photographed all my entries for the MFW and other challenges and Etsy orders today during naptime.

I love the botanical images from 100 proof press.  I was in a huge toss up over whether to use their
Carnations image for this challenge or the
Anemones.  As you can see, the Anemones finally won out:

 

 The quote is from William Drummond: "What sweet delights a quiet life affords."

While I made this card I thought about the tranquility of a woodland anemone growing in the forest, perhaps passed every so often by a chipmunk or a little red fox.  I wondered if her neighbor might be a birch tree, or a blackberry vine. 

And then I thought of what I would do with a "quiet life" (sigh!) for just a day or so.... and I daydreamed of how lovely it would be to sit and READ again--to get so very deeply buried in a book that nothing could stir you until you were through.  As a young Mom I have to drop any and every activity at least once before it's finished.... so reading is one of those pleasures that has to wait for now.  As I was thinking about it though, it just seemed so natural to use some vintage book paper and a dictionary backgrounder stamp... 

Words.... such a sweet delight.

 

Also one other challenge in mind:

Sentimental Sundays #67 "Flowers"

Materials Used on this Card:

Cardstock {Papertrey Ink}

Stamps {100 Proof Press, Flourishes, Hampton Art}

Ink {Ranger, Tsukineko}

Vintage book paper

Circle punches {EK Success}

Scalloped circle Nestabilities die {Spellbinders}

Gold metallic pen {Hybrid Gel Grip DX}

Butcher's twine

Sewing machine

 

Thank you for your visit and I hope you have a wonderful day.

Botanical Dictionary Poppy

This is my second entry for the Moxie Fab World "Fanatical about Botanical" challenge.

I have always loved images that look like they came from a botanical illustration text or an old book of Redoute paintings.  Maybe it's because as I grew up my mom and I would take our flower identification books with us on hikes through the woods.

Also a few other challenges in mind:

Daring Cardmakers "Poppies and Gladioli"
Cute Card Thursday #176 "No Designer Papers"
Mark's Finest Papers #67 "No Plain Old Rectangle Cards"

Materials Used on this Card:

Cardstock {Papertrey Ink}

Stamps {Anna Griffin, Hampton Art}

Ink {Ranger}

Apron lace edge punch {Fiskars}

Butcher's twine

Thank you for your visit and I hope you have a wonderful start to your week.

Scherenschnitte Stamping: Botanical Papercut

Hello all!  They say that true confession is good for the soul, so... I confess.....

I have been up to my old papercutting tricks again,

 all in preparation for the opening of Crafty Crafty, a craft boutique and atelier opening soon in our area and where I hope to sell some of my work and where I will be teaching cardmaking workshops.

I'd like to share one of my most recent projects today that might even tempt you to try the hi-contrast art form or papercutting.  It is also one of my entries in the current Moxie Fab World challenge, Fanatical about Botanicals.

With a botanist mother who also loved scherenschnitte, you just knew I couldn't pass up at least one entry with her in mind, right?

Are you interested in learning yourself?  Well that's wonderful, because I aim to do just that! Combining one's love of papercraft and stamping with scherenschnitte and papercutting is remarkably easy.  It mostly has to do with choosing the right stamps, being able to plan for all the lines to connect properly, knowing just how much detail you are able to deal with (don't worry, this will probably increase with practice at handling the knife blade) and a little bit of patience!  (OK, honestly in some cases, a LOT... :)

The Queen Anne's lace stamp I used for this design came from the Sugar Shoppe SeeD's botanical set 50215 silhouettes.

As you can see, the flowers were stamped and I drew in the long leaves, ground, roots and ant myself:

You don't have to cut out exactly around the stamped image, especially when it's a blossom like this one.  Remember that every flower is different in real life; so it's OK for them to be different in your papercut too!  The stamped image is more for reference than anything else.

I have cut this design from black origami paper.  It is remarkably strong and has a white back to draw on so that you can see your cutting lines easily.  You can see how strong it is:

This papercut has some very fine, long stems that hold up the flower heads.  But even when I wave it in the air... not even close to tearing.  Only a few things will tear your origami paper... 1) You have a dull cutting blade  2) You are going too fast  3) You accidentally rest one finger on the papercut while trying to turn it with the other... 4) Your toddler gets a hold of it.

But for the record... at least one of my papercuts HAS survived for about 3 seconds in my toddler's hands.  Impressive, yes?

Yes, indeed.

Next, the mounting.  I usually use a ZIG glue pen because it is easy to make thick or thin lines, it dries quickly but only once you turn it over onto the mounting paper.  For my mounting stock, I prefer Papertrey Ink's Rustic White 110 lb cardstock.  It is so sturdyand has a very professional look.  As you glue the papercut you can go gradually, glueing down portions at a time.  This also helps to prevent the design from bunching up on itself or portions glueing down accidentally in the wrong place.  If anything, you should go more slowly at this stage than you did while cutting.

And then................

You have a beautiful mounted papercut!

Now a nice frame (even places like Walmart carry some nice frames that you can take the cheesy art out of and Voila!

Welcome to scherenschnitte stamping, my friend! :)

If you decide to give this technique a try, I'd love to see your project and show others as well, so please leave your link!

Have a wonderful day,

Free Digi Sketch: Connie's Seagull

Good morning friends! It's Monday and I have another Digi Sketch to share with you today!

This sketch is rather a special one, because it was done for a blog friend, Nana Connie, for a guest designer project she was doing for the Operation Write Home project.  If you click on either of the links you can see her lovely project! The theme was water, and Connie loves gulls. So here is what I came up with for her.  The first version has a frame, the second does not.

 

(Click on images to enlarge)

 

 

 

And without the frame:

 

Files are in .jpg format

You are welcome to use these sketches for your projects, but all I ask is that

1) You do not try to pass off my artwork as your own and

2) Please link back to me on your posts or projects. Images are still copyright to me, Kathryn Ritter.
3) I would love to see your projects as well; please come back and link them up so that we can all see YOUR work! :)

Also, when you are telling others about my free sketches, please use the watermarked image below for display and provide a link back to the main Digi Sketch page--THANK YOU!

 

As I add more sketches to the collection, you'll be able to find them using the tab at the top of the page. I hope you will keep checking back or follow so you won't miss any new sketches as I make them available. My goal is to share with my fellow crafters so the more the merrier! :)

Have a great day!