Heard it through the grapevine

 Hello crafty friends,

If you like to color, this is the card for you. I find coloring to be therapeutic and really enjoy my creations coming to life through. My favorite medium to color is Copic markers using the Big & Bold stamps from The Colorado Craft Company.

This card has that Wow factor using very little supplies. Here's what you need:

1. 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 white base
2. 5 3/8 x 4 1/8 white top panel
3. white pieces for the die cut
4. Copic friendly black ink pad - I use Momento Tuxedo black
5. Copic markers - the colors I used are E53, E55, E57, YG03, YG17, YG67, BV00, BV01, BV02, BV11, V17, BV08, V09, and V15
6. Grapes Big & Bold stamps and dies set

To make the card, I stamped the grapes on a piece of Basic White cardstock and colored before die cutting. Since this is the center focal point of the card, I wanted it to have a little dimension. I die cut the image and then using the same grape die, but a white piece (no stamped image) and glued the two pieces together.

The image will be larger than the card base so some of the edges will need to be trimmed. I stamped the sentiments, die cut and popped them up on the card. To had a little sparkle, I added a few sequins in coordinating colors. 

And that is it - super easy and super fun to color.

I hope you enjoy make this card as much as I did. 

Make today a crafty day!

Kathie K.

Coffee and faith - my two favorite things

Hello stampers and crafters,

Thank so much for visiting my blog today. I had some fun this week making these cards.  I love all the coffee stamp sets and sentiments that are available.  They are so much fun to make and give to my friends and family. Dare 2B Artzy offers coffee and faith inspired stamp sets.  I love combining the whimsy of coffee themed stamps with the seriousness of faith sentiments - such a great balance.

I used a classic color combination of browns and blues, embellishments and embossing. I really like using clear embossing powder to imitate steam and it gives a nice glossy texture to the stamped coffee cups.

These cards can be used for any occasion or sentiment - even to just put a smile on someone's face.  I love sending these cards to my coffee loving friends.

I hope these cards give you some inspiration to make coffee themed cards. And you enjoy making them as much as I do.

These cards and more are available on my Etsy shop.  They are available individually or as a set (best price).

Happy Stamping!

Welcome Baby Cards

Hello stampers,

Several of my acquaintances have had babies in the last month. There are so many cute handmade baby cards out there but I don't have hardly any baby themed stamp sets. I made these card with stamps from "all occasion" stamp set.

The die cuts are what makes these cards extra special and precious.  I'm only showing the pink version but the boy versions are just as beautiful. It's amazing what a little pink or blue cardstock die cut with a sweet sentiment will make.

On the first card, the foot print is embossed using light pink embossing powder and Versamark ink.

Both cards are available on my Etsy Shop, Handmade by Kathie K.

Happy stamping!

Wedding Keepsake Card

Hello fellow stampers,

This next project, I have to admit, took a lot longer than I expected.  However, once I figured out the design, the card came together very quickly and the time it took to plan was well worth it.  I love how this wedding card turned out!

It's actually more than a card but a keepsake that could adorn the new couples home as a sweet memory of their very special day. Even though this card was completed as a wedding card, the same card could be used as an anniversary card, birthday card, or welcoming the new addition to the family.

Hopefully these step-by-step instructions will help you make this card very quickly.  All of the supplies are listed below.

Starting from the base and working up.

1. Cut piece of white cardstock that measures 8 x 12, score on the 12" side at 6" and fold in half; set aside
2. Cut a piece of white shimmer paper 8 x 6; using a score board make two score lines on each side to make a score line frame.  Score at 1/8" and 2/8". Adhere to the white card base.
3. Cut a piece of designer paper 5 1/4 x 7 1/4- in this card I used a piece from my stash just to add a soft touch of color but anything would work.
4. Cut a piece of white shimmer paper 5 x 7 - this is the piece to die cut to make the lacy background. I used two separate dies to achieve this look - I die cut one half of the paper and then the other.  Tip: mix and match your dies - I experimented a lot which was super fun and discovered a couple of lacy backgrounds that I really like. Using foam strips or other dimensional adhesive, attached the lacy background to the designer paper.
5. For me doing all of the die cutting at once worked best. You will need an ornate frame die, ovals, and an embellishment piece.  Again, any die will work - you are building a focal point. I added just a hint of silver using a scalloped oval cut in silver shimmer paper, standard oval die one size smaller cut in designer paper, scalloped oval die two sizes smaller in shimmer paper.  I also cut a scalloped oval piece for the message inside the card. I prefer to stamp and emboss the sentiment or message first then line up the oval die.  This worked best for me. Die cut the embellishment out of white shimmer paper.
6. Now you can assemble.  Using adhesive, attach the sentiment oval to the designer paper oval.  Using dimensionals or foam tape, adhere those ovals to the larger silver scalloped oval piece. Then using dimensionals again, adhere the oval stack to the ornate frame.  This is the focal point for the card. Using foam tape, adhere the focal point to the center of the lace piece.
7. Now you can embellish.  I attached the embellishment piece that I die cut to the top of the ovals, added sheer ribbon tied in a double bow, paper flowers with leaves, and rhinestone flat-back jewels. I added some white Wink of Stella to the petal edges to give the card some subtle sparkle.
8. Using foam tape on the back of the designer paper, center on top of the card base. Attach the die cut message to the inside of your card. Your card is done. Isn't it stunning!

Because the card is has a lot of depth, an envelope would not be recommended and should be delivered in an envelope box pictured. 

Supplies:

• 8 x 12 white cardstock
• 1 sheet designer paper
• 2 sheets white shimmer paper
• 3 x 4 piece silver shimmer paper
• Silver ink and embossing powder
• paper flowers
• sheer ribbon
• rhinestone jewels
• adhesive and foam tape or other dimensionals
• wedding stamp set
• score board and bone folder
• paper cutter
• Dies used in my card: Spellbinder's Cascading Grace Pocket, Spellbinder's Oval Ironwork, Spellbinder's Isadora Trinkets, Stampin' Up Oval set. Spellbinder's Venise Lace Cinch and Go Flowers Two was used to make the flowers.

I hope you enjoy making this card as much as I did.  If you would like to purchase this card, please visit my Etsy shop here.

Thanks for stopping by and happy stamping!

Kathie K

Oriental themed note cards

Hello stampers,

I really like making oriental themed noted cards.  They can be used for almost any sentiment - thank you, sympathy, thinking of you, or just a note card. Below is a set of 5 note cards that I made for a gift.

All the cards are 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 and each one has a matching envelope.

Three of these card use polished stone paper that I made - I have an earlier post that gives you the instructions.  I think the oriental stamped images look great with the paper colors. The embellishments are little different on each card - each one has a ribbon or cording in different colors and textures. I really had a lot fun making these cards.  I hope you give this a try.

You can see this set and many more on my Etsy shop.  

Thanks for stopping by. Happy stamping.

Father's Day Cards

Hello fellow stampers and crafters,

I really like making masculine cards.  I think the fellas in our lives are sometimes forgotten but they really like getting cards too.  These particular cards I made for Father's Day but the tags could say happy  birthday, congrats, happy retirement, thank you or just about anything.

I did not include a lot of embellishments.  The embossing gives the cards a nice clean touch,

 Think about making more masculine cards and give these a try.  You can find more cards on my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/handmadebykathiek?ref=seller-platform-mcnav.

Thanks for stopping by.  Happy stamping!