Spring Cleaning Giveaway Winners

Morning, gals!  I hope you have a beautiful week ahead of you.

I'm stopping in to announce the winners (yes, you read that right)

of my Spring Cleaning Giveaway.

 

So, first for the main giveaway:

That's

Lilian YF of The Leaf Studio

 

 

Next for a batch of craft books:

That's

Olenkaja!

What a lovely shabby chic blog you have Olenka.

It's been nice to look at your many projects :)

 

For a £5 pound voucher to spend at Dragons Lair Designs:

This is Lena.

Congratulations, Lena!

 

 

 

And, lastly, a little something for everyone:

A free digi sketch!

This is a hand-drawn sketch of meadowsweet.  Enjoy!

Congratulations Lena, Olenkaja and Lilian!

Please email or message me with your response before the end of the week

so that I can get your packages / voucher codes to you ASAP.

I'm going to be busy in the hospital having baby H next week!

Wish me luck :)

 

Take care,

be well,

and enjoy the sunshine,

 

--Kathryn

 

 



Undersea Spotlight, With Thanks

 

I've been saying for awhile that coloring has been difficult for me of late,

due to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Even typing this post is now difficult because my

hand control is fading and whenever I touch things with my fingertips it

feels as though my fingernail is being peeled backward.

Not particularly fun.

 

As I approach my due date, I may still

post a card here and there but for the most part, I will probably be a no-show

even on my favorite challenges for awhile.

I had forgotten how much I missed card-making and blogging, but

I think a break through July and a little of August is something you'll understand.

Baby H will make his appearance soon and I mostly need to rest

leading up to and after that.

My Robin and Jay still love making cards together and this has been a

fun thing we can do while I've tried to stay off my feet when possible.

However, with my finger dexterity now shot

(and try that on for size when you're a trained classical pianist)

even tying the bow for this card was a chore.

 

 

JUGS #347: Spotlight Technique

I decided to try to make my spotlight look like a bubble as well.

I took some inspiration from Chris's adorable "Just Keep Swimming" card ;)

 

Simon Says Wednesday: Animal Magic

 

Deep Ocean #131: Metal or Wood

(Thanks for the shoutout last week, girls!  You can tell I really liked the

feathered friends theme ;)

 

 

 

Materials Used on this Card:

Cardstock {Rustic white - Papertrey Ink}

Patterned papers {My Mind's Eye, K & Company}

Image {free coloring page online}

Sentiment Stamp {Papertrey Ink}

Ink {Archival Black - Ranger}

Glossy Accents {Ranger}

Dimensional stickers {K & Company}

Wooden banner {Studio Calico}

Rustic woven trim, floral foliage {stash}

Copic sketch markers

 

 

I'll be back at the end of the week with the winner(s) of my Spring Giveaway,

so stay tuned and don't be surprised if I post another one soon.

Craft room cleanout always happens in stages. ;)

 

As always, thank you for visiting,

take care,

be well!

 

--Kathryn

 

 

Vintage Nightingale CAE - GWS

This is one of my in-between cards.

It's vintage-inspired (like many of my creations)

but not shabby.  It's naturalist but lacks foliage and other

embellishments.  It's clean-edged but a little too layered for CAS.

I might call it freestyle but it doesn't really strike me as a collage

because it lacks the mixed media elements.

I call it Clean-and-Eclectic,

but whatever it is, it is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the challenges:

 

 

{PIN}spirational #167: - 2nd entry

 

 

This time I took some inspiration from Jeanette (DT):

 

I love her kraft tones and the green polkas together.  I don't have Robyn's Fetish

images as she does (and really my style is not often cute),

but thinking about robins (and their type) led me to this

vintage nightingale graphic from The Graphics Fairy:

 

 

 

Crafty Catz #328: Animal Magic

 

Deep Ocean #130: Furry / Feathered Friends - 4th entry

 

Word Art Wednesday #234: ATG / Family Friendly - 3rd entry

 

JUGS Word Week: BIRDS - 3rd entry

 

Global Design Project #39: Get Well Soon

 

 

 

Materials Used on this Card:

Cardstock {Rustic white, Dark chocolate - Papertrey Ink}

Patterned papers {Papertrey Ink, scrap pieces from American Crafts}

Vintage nightingale graphic {The Graphics Fairy}

Sentiment Stamp {Papertrey Ink}

Brown pigment Ink {Stampabilities}

Brads {The Paper Studio}

Wooden banner {Studio Calico}

Pompom trim, Wooden button, cotton twine {stash}

 

 

Thank you so much for visiting!

 I hope you have enjoyed yourself,

and I wish you a wonderful day.

 

If you get a chance before you go, there is still time to

enter for my Spring Giveaway before next week!

Actually it's more of a destash.  Everything is all packed up and ready to ship ASAP.

Inlinkz is now closed but you can still enter via comment/follow etc.

Picture and link are on my right-hand sidebar. :)

 

Take care,

Be well,

and enjoy the sunshine,

 

--Kathryn 

 

 

 

 

Black and White Wedding Tag - TRUST In Bloom

This wedding tag is to underscore to a future young couple

that the foundation of their relationship must be maintained with

complete and total trust.

When you lose trust, you lose respect, security, and certainly fulfillment.

You lose so much.  Opening yourself to love also means

you open yourself to be hurt more deeply by that someone.

So let's all remember to handle relationships carefully,

to respect and maintain trust, and when there is a breach,

to strive even harder to restore that precious element.

It may take time.  It may take a lot of time.

But it is worth being careful and conscientious about.

Our relationships will be so much richer if we will not take one another for

granted, but will consistently choose to root our lives in respect and trust.

 

 

I've colored in the In Bloom blossoms with an opaque white Sakura pen.
The white mesh is recycled bits of drywall mesh leftover from our laundry room
remodel a number of months ago.

I made the butterflies not identical but each others' opposites.
This is also a subtle reference to the differences between our temperaments and
mental or emotional tendencies as men and women,.
While it's sometimes frustrating, this is not a bad thing but a way to achieve
balance and harmony together.
We have that potential, if we choose to listen to each other
and keep trying daily.

OK, sometimes by the minute.
But the point is we keep trying!

 

Here are the challenges:

 

Little Red Wagon #345: Tag, You're It!

 

Addicted to Stamps #197: Make Your Mark - 2nd entry

Coloring with opaque white pen and hand-drawn splatters

 

Fussy and Fancy Friday #165: Anniversary or Wedding

 

613 Avenue Create #179: ATG / Wedding Stationery - 3rd and final entry

Dragonfly Dreams June: Say it with Flowers - 2nd entry

 

Twofers #21: In Black and White  - 2nd entry

Crafty Cardmakers #165: Monochrome - 3rd and final entry

 

Create and Inspire #47: ATG - 2nd entry

 

Ruby's Rainbow #131: Anything but a Card

 

Challenge total: 9

  

Materials Used on this Tag:

Cardstock {Kraft, Rustic white - Papertrey Ink}

Vellum (for leaves) {The Paper Company}

Stamps {In bloom - Papertrey Ink; French script - Stampabilities; Leaves - Altenew}

Ink {Archival Black - Ranger}

Pewter metallic spray {Ranger}

White opaque pen {Sakura}
Chalkboard tag, small burlap bow {The Paper Studio}

Burlap ribbon, small pompom trim {stash}
Recycled drywall mesh

Heavyweight hand-quilting cotton thread

 

Thank you so much for visiting!

 I hope you have enjoyed yourself,

and I wish you a wonderful day.

 

If you get a chance before you go, there is still time to

enter for my Spring Giveaway before next week!

Actually it's more of a destash.  Everything is all packed up and ready to ship ASAP.

Inlinkz has expired now but you can still enter via comments etc.

Picture and link are on my right-hand sidebar. :)

 

Take care,

Be well,

and enjoy the sunshine,

 

--Kathryn 

Black and White Wedding - Gingham, Cutwork and Roses

For this monochrome black-and-white wedding card,
I've let the words do the talking without any images to speak of.



I think my favorite part though is the cut-away rose border on the right side.

 

 

I've had these Anna Griffin stamps for quite awhile, having found them on clearance.
But until now I'd never inked either the rose border or the lattice pattern.
It was nice to break into some new ideas this afternoon.



613 Avenue Create #179: ATG / Wedding Stationery - 2nd entry

Dragonfly Dreams June: Say it with Flowers

Twofers #21: In Black and White 

Crafty Cardmakers #165: Monochrome

 

Create and Inspire #47: ATG

 

Materials Used on this Card:

Cardstock {Rustic white - Papertrey Ink}
Deckle-edge rectangle die {Spellbinders}
Stamps {Roses, background - Anna Griffin; splatters - Altenew}
Ink {Archival Black - Ranger}
Black Superfine Embossing Powder {Recollections}
ZIG Glue pen
Sentiment sticker {Family set - The Paper Studio}
"Love" mini charm {Close to My Heart}
Gingham ribbon, white hydrangeas, cotton twine {stash}
Black brads {The Paper Studio}



Thank you so much for visiting!

 I hope you have enjoyed yourself,

and I wish you a wonderful day.

 

If you get a chance before you go, there is still time to

enter for my Spring Giveaway before next week!

Actually it's more of a destash.  Everything is all packed up and ready to ship ASAP.

Inlinkz is so quick and I've opened the giveaway to both US and

International crafters as well.

Picture and link are on my right-hand sidebar. :)

 

Take care,

Be well,

and enjoy the sunshine,

 

--Kathryn 

  

Watercolor Larkspurs - CAS Floral Wedding Stationery

Here is a classy soft lavender wedding thank you card in a CAS style.
These larkspurs are some of my favorites from the Papertrey Ink "Year of Flowers" collection.

 

I have always wanted to grow larkspurs myself, but there just
isn't room in the garden at the moment.
Not least because chocolate mint, spearmint, lemon balm and Greek oregano
all escaped their designated areas via runners over the winter
(OK, OK... so the oregano escaped a long time ago
and I gave up.  The lemon balm spread primarily through seeds.
But anyone who grows mint will know EXACTLY what I'm talking about.
Those buried pot solutions last for 1 maybe 2 seasons, until the plastic dry-rots.).
I need to learn to make soap, really.  Because I have a perpetual plethora of mint.
I took my pregnant self out to do battle with the jungle of herbs out there this morning
and although I'm quite sore this afternoon, the mint might just remember
who's boss on this little acre.

Well...maybe.  For awhile.
Like a week...




The die-cut butterflies are from DCWV but I trimmed them even more closely
and added Glossy Accents on the body.

ZIG glue pen + Superfine gold embossing powder = nice deckled edge!

Very subtle coloring of larkspurs with lightest possible lavender Copic
and white Galaxy paint marker:

 

Here are the challenges:

AAA Cards #66: Watercolors

Less is More #279: Colour Purple

Addicted to CAS #89: PETALS
And let me tell you, larkspurs have a LOT OF THEM!

Addicted to Stamps #197: Make your Mark
(Copic coloring and watercolors)

 

Simon Says Monday Challenge: Summer Garden - 3rd and final entry

 

 Challenge Total: 5

 

Materials Used on this Card:
Cardstock {Rustic white - Papertrey Ink}
Deckle rectangle die {Spellbinders}
Larkspur Stamp and matching die {Papertrey Ink}
Ink {Archival Black - Ranger}
Gold Superfine Embossing Powder {Recollections}
Sentiment rub-on {Martha Stewart}
Lavender Butterflies {DCWV Die-cut stack...
probably 10 years old...hand-trimmed}
Copic markers
Watercolors {Grumbacher}
Large corner rounder {Martha Stewart}

Thank you so much for visiting!

 I hope you have enjoyed yourself,

and I wish you a wonderful day.

If you get a chance before you go, there is still time to

enter for my Spring Giveaway before next week!

Actually it's more of a destash.  Everything is all packed up and ready to ship ASAP.

Inlinkz is so quick and I've opened the giveaway to both US and

International crafters as well.

Picture and link are on my right-hand sidebar. :)

 

Take care,

Be well,

and enjoy the sunshine,

 

--Kathryn 

  

Wedding Chickadee - Shabby Naturalist - And a Lesson in Pinspirational Patience

Oh, the irony!

And a little lesson in patience, too.

 

A couple of days ago I posted my Goldfinch card in Shabby Naturalist style

last-minute to PINspirational #166, Anything Goes.

 

 

But just a couple of hours later, this shows up on my feed.

The NEW inspiration photo for {PIN}spirational #167:

 

 

Are you kidding me?!!

 

And get this, Shawna (DT)'s card.  A natural-looking bird.

And a SQUARE MESH BACKGROUND.

I could have cased her.  Seriously.  Even the sentiment.

 

 

I'm still head-smacking over this one.

But while the goldfinch would have been SO perfect,

I won't give in while I still have chipboard birds left in my stash ;)

 

 

 

So here's a shabby chickadee for the bird theme

at PINspirational this fortnight.

And he won't be alone...he has a couple of friends ;)

 

 

 

 

Since the birds in the inspiration photo

(technically I think they are a kind of warbler)

are obviously raising a family and working on their nest,

I thought a wedding card would do nicely.

The vintage sheet-music and marriage certificate are both from The Graphics Fairy.

 

 

 

 

 

 And a few more challenges:

 

613 Avenue Create #179: ATG / Wedding Stationery

 

Deep Ocean #130: Furry / Feathered Friends - 3rd entry

 

Word Art Wednesday #234: ATG / Family Friendly - 2nd entry

 

JUGS Word Week: BIRDS - 2nd entry

The Crazy Challenge #224: Tic tac Toe - 3rd entry

L-R diagonal up: die cut (butterfly), digi (2), twine

 

 

 

 

Materials Used on this Card:

Cardstock {Rustic white, Ripe Avocado, Dark Chocolate - Papertrey Ink}

Patterned papers {Tan polkas - Papertresy Ink; Barnwood - Hot off the Press;

Green mini-dots - Making Memories}

Vintage sheet-music and marriage certificate {The Graphics Fairy}

Sentiment Stamp {Papertrey Ink}

Ink {Archival black - Ranger}

Wooden banner {Studio Calico} 

Kraft butterfly die-cut {Maya Road}

Chipboard chickadee {Paper House}

Brads, mini-roses (used as pinecones) {The Paper Studio}

Greenery {Floral stem}

Heavyweight hand-quilting cotton thread

 

 

Thank you so much for visiting!

 I hope you have enjoyed yourself,

and I wish you a wonderful day.

If you get a chance before you go, there is still time to

enter for my Spring Giveaway before next week!

Actually it's more of a destash.  Everything is all packed up and ready to ship ASAP.

Inlinkz is so quick and I've opened the giveaway to both US and

International crafters as well.

Picture and link are on my right-hand sidebar. :)

 

Take care,

Be well,

and enjoy the sunshine,

 

--Kathryn