Simple Thanks...

It has been awhile since I made a simple card.  One with the main focus of a simple shape and a simple sentiment.  I went digging through my scraps and came up with this card.

My husband has been watching the kids today, so I can get some crafting time in.  I was about to crank out a few cards.  As I was wrapping up, I realized that I rounded the corners on most of the cards.  I use to not do this (mainly because I didn't have the corner punch), but now I am addicted!  I love the look! 

Supplies:
Bazzill Cardstock (Brown and blue)
Mohawk Cardstock (white)
Ditto Stamp (flower)
Studio G Stamp (Thanks)
Paper Studio Inks

Happy 75th Birthday!

Last week my grandmother turned 75!  I can place all the blame onto her for getting me into the papercrafting world!  She has been making cards for years! (In fact, I have a box..or two... of all the cards she has made for myself and kiddos.)  I used American Crafts papers for the card.

Also, from American Crafts, I used Thickers. The stamp is from Studio G. 

One of the trends that I have been using is fussy-cutting.  Using one of the flowers in the patterned, I fussy-cut the layered flower next to the bracket (Spellbinders die-cut).

Hope you had a great birthday Granny!

Baby you're the one...

So I have been cranking out projects this week!  I need to send a special Thank You to my wonderful husband, for giving the time I was craving locked up in my craft room!
I LOVE Lily Bee Designs!  The vintage feel of the papers, the colors, what more can you ask for?  I created this following layout using "This & That" papers.

All the papers are from Lily Bee.  Along with the red alpha stickers and the stamp.  I also used AC Thickers and Cosmo Cricket small alphas. To add a little 3D to the page, I made the flower at the top of the page using a Fiskar circle punch and Basic Grey button.

I also use decorative scissors to cut the edge of the photo mat. I simply folded the edge over and inked the scallops, so they would stand out more.

Have a great one!

Introducing Wedding Wednesdays!

Since 2008, I have been creating handmade wedding invitations.  I mean truly handmade.  I cut and glue the pieces.  If there is a graphic on the invite, it is hand-stamped by me.  I have been having a blast creating wedding invitations for a number of brides.  My goal is to be able to widen my selection and start to make digital graphic design invitations. Please feel free to visit my etsy shop: Kissin' Krafts .

One of my most popular invitations is the "Michelle".  It is a triple-layered invitation using textured cardstocks. 

Please come back every Wednesday to see more wedding invitations!  I am having a blast working with a variety of brides.  I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for Kissin' Krafts.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great one!
 

One of a Kind...

I am trying to upgrade my level of scrapbooking expertise to at least immediate.  I have not completed too many LOs, but I am getting braver on trying to techniques.  I might be a little behind the scrapbooking times, but I am having fun trying to catch up.  Here is a LO I made using My Little Shoebox papers.

I am addicted to finding new ways to make flowers.  You can never have enough flowers, right?? 

Supplies:

My Little Shoebox papers

AC and The Paper Studio letters

Misc. chipboard flowers, buttons, brad and ribbon

Trend of die-cut cards...I'm finally there!

I am in love with kraft cardstock.  I tend to use it for all my cards.  It is a habit that I should break...but why stop something that's so good! Although, I did do something that is out of my comfort zone.  I decided it was time to use a die-cut to make the card itself.  I broke out my Spellbinders to start this card.  I must say that I might get addicted to the shaped cards, a nice break from rectangle/square cards!!!! Here is my creation with Adornit Vintage Groove:

Supplies also used:

Buttons - Basic Grey

Alpha Letters - Cosmo Cricket

Challenges:

Frosted Designs - Buttons

Together...

So I have been avoiding doing some work with the wedding business.  The last few days, I have been cranking out scrapbook pages and cards like crazy!  Why go back to work, when I am having too much fun crafting? (Psss... not too much fun!)  Here is the LO that I used the Adornit Vintage Groove Collection.

I have been waiting to find the right papers for these pictures!

Supplies: Adornit- Vintage Groove

Letter Stickers - The Paper Studio

"Together" Sticker - Unknown

Look Who is two...

I am a fan of Jillibean Soup!  I love the colors they tend to use and I absolutely love that they go GREAT with kraft cardstock (my fav to use for cards)!  I used my fav technique (paper piecing) to complete the owl. Here is a pic of a card I made for my adorable niece, Moxie!

Along the variety of Jillibean papers, I used AC Thickers for the number and Cosmo Cricket small alphas for the lettering. I found a template for the owl online...once I find it again, I will link it up!

Challenges:
Pile It On : Fav Technique
Deep Ocean Challenge : Cards
Catch the Bug : Clean and Simple
Mark's Finest Papers : Die-cut as a Background
Cupcake Craft : Pick any past challenge (#29 - include a number)

Getting back into the groove...

So I have been absent from blogging for a while now, but did not stop creating!  Life has been crazy the last few months.  However, I have been able to get things back in a working order and cannot wait to re-join the blogging world! I am currently working on re-vamping my ETSY shop and blog.  Really excited about how it is all coming together, but still a work in progress.

Here is one of my latest LO using Echo Park's Little Boy collection:
-

I also used border punches (by Fiskars and EK Success) and circle punch (Fiskars).

"LOVE" AC Valentine's Day card

So I have been going crazy with wedding orders!  I managed to sneak in some time to make a quick Vday card.  I have been dying to use the new AC LOVE collection.  I enjoy using kraft cardstock to make cards and this paper goes perfect!

Supplies used:
AC LOVE papers: Crazy Little Thing, Many Splendored, All You Need, and Can't Help Falling
Studio G stamp
Brown ink
Brown Twine
Kraft Cardstock
pop-dots

Challenges:
Papercrafting Journey
Allsorts
Cupcake Craft Challenges
The Pink Elephant

Starting 2011 Fresh!

So one of this year's resolutions is to blog more...off to a slow start.  I was hoping to post once a week, which I can still do...just started late. I was actually motivated by Cassandra Cooper's blog entry, so this is why I am here today!

I have been working on transforming my workspace.  I have to share my crafting space with the guest bedroom.  With all the crafting I did last year, the room got messier and messier!  I found the only time I "cleaned" the room was when guests were coming and needed to sleep on the bed/desk. 

I was tryign to figure out what I could do, that did not cost an arm and a leg.  My parents gave me the idea to use a door and file cabinets. Here is the result:

At first, I had my doubts.  But what can you do when you have a small room that also includes a queen bed. (I am sitting onthe bed to take these pictures.)  It is actually pretty nice.  I still need to add shelving, not a fan of the wire cubes. 

So along with organizing the workspace, I wanted to organize my supplies.  And it might not look like it to the average eye (my husband), but like most other crafters, I know where everything is!!!

Organizing craft room...Check...one thing off the New Year List.

Other things on the list for 2011:
-learn to swim
-learn Photoshop and Illustrator
-the original...get in shape

Happy New Year!!

Holiday Gift AC Challenge

Quick post...like everybody else, cramming for the holiday!

Made this Gift Holder?money Holder out of 3 different Dear Lizzy Christmas papers.  The ribbon is Premium Ribbon. And while I was "stitching" the stocking I noticed the Galaxy marker is from American Crafts, as well! I also used an EK border punch.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

You better NOT Pout...

When we saw this picture of my daughter and Santa, I could not resist making a layout!  It was too stink' cute!  I had what to see if I could paint over a cake doily to get the effect.  It worked after a few attempts. I will do it again.

Supplies:

AC Papers - Dear Lizzy Christmas X2

AC Puffy Letter Stickers

MakingMemories Letter stickers

Cuttlebug Swirls Embossing Folder

Ribbon

Paint

Doily

Ahhh the smell of Christmas!!!

I have been busy the last few day cranking out projects. (Hoping to share some pictures soon!) I would like to share a Quick & Easy Holiday card for this week's AC challenge:

Supplies:
-AC Dear Lizzy Patterned paper
-AC Red cardstock
-Making Memories Buttons
-Clear Stamp (need to search for name)
-The Paper Studio Joy stamp
- Recollection Brad
-Silver and Red Ink

Lastest Layout

I decided to take a breather and krank out a quick layout!  I used Echo Park's Little Boy collection!  Figured I would use the papers for actuall boy  pages, but could not resist!

I'm grateful... AC Challenge

So I some how found time to complete a layout this week!  The challenge at American Crafts is "I'm Grateful..."  Of course, my first answer was more wonderful kids!  At least they are wonderful most of the time :)  (It is only Tuesday and I am ready for school to be back!  Boy am I looking forward to Winter Break ...)

Here is my layout:

Supplies: AC Enchanted paper, AC Thickers, AC Foam letters, misc cardstock, EK Succes border punch, Spellbinders Circle Die-cut, Spellbinders Impressabilities,  Michael's ribbon.

Happy Thanksgiving!

AC Recipe Challenge

Was I happy to see this challenge- AC Recipe Challenge!  I have been meaning to make a scrapbook/recipe book using my husband's family recipes!  This was just the challenge to kick my bottom into gear and get started!
I made the first of many layouts to fit into a 8x8 album.

Supplies: AC City Park Papers, AC Washer Stamps, AC Thickers, EK border punch, chalk, ink, and brad.

I cannot wait to start the other layouts!  Just need to add it to my list of to-do's (and there are MANY!!!).

I have been working on some exciting things, hoping to share with you very soon!

Take care!

World Cardmaking Day

Just got home from watching OU/Texas game...Way to go Sooners!  However, it was an all day event and really wanted to participate in the World Card-making Day!  Threw together a QUICK birthday card using a couple papers from American Crafts Everyday Collection and American Crafts stickers.

Wish I could have made more cards...hoping for some time tomorrow!  But church and yardwork comes first!

AC Weekly Challenge-Favorite Technique

This challenge was just calling my name!  I love cutting out embellishments from patterned papers!  I just bought some paper from the City Park Collection from AC and knew that I would end up cutting some balloons out. Perfect for this week's challenge: Favorite Technique!  So my favorite technique changes oftens, but the technique of the moment is cutting out paper designs.  Here is the card that I came up with:

I used the following AC papers: Grass Cardstock, Everyday-Gidday (sky), Craft Fair- Midge Gathermore (houses), and City Park- High Line Park (balloons).  I embossed the sky with Cuttlebug's Divine Swirl embossing folder. The stamp is from Studio G.

I'm sooooo ready for FALL!!!!

It feels like it has been so long since I have made a card! I found some cute fall paper from Imaginisce at my LSS this weekend and could not wait to try it out!  I am sooooo ready for fall weather!  I hear all everyone talking about how their weather is changing and it's so nice, but here in Houston it's still hot and muggy and icky!!!  Anyway, here is the card I came up with :

I started thought process of this card with the sketch challenge from The Paper Variety weekly challenge.  It is a new challenge site that just lauched this past week!  I am so excited to see what comes from this challenge site and hope is gets my creative mojo started up again!

I used a Studio G stamp I found in the Michael's $1 bin and stamped it on some orange marblized paper from The Paper Studio.  The cut-out leaves are attached to the Imaginisce paper (back pattern).  Strip patterns were cut out and added to the card.  Cream cardstock (The Paper Studio) was inked with brown ink and tied with brown hemp string.  "Thanks" is a diecut from the Cuttlebug.

Button Challenge for Practical Scrappers

This week's challenge is BUTTONS.  My favorite embellishments!!!!  I found some button paper and textured cardstock at Hobby Lobby and decided to use it for a layout of the birth of my first son. 

I inked the edges of the paper with Memento Ink-Bamboo Leaves.  I used a chipboard shape to trace and cut-out the patterned paper.  The chipboard letters are from The Paper Studio.  The real buttons are from Making Memories.

New weekly challenge for Practical Scrappers

This week's challenge at Practical Scrappers is to make a project using white core cardstock. 

I have limited experience using white core and decided to emboss and sand.

The texture white core carstock is from DCWV.  A birthday Cuttlebug embossing folder was used to create the images.  I sanded the images to reveal the white core of the cardstock.  A tag was punched and stamped with a Studio G stamp.  Stickers were used for the numbers (stash).

White Pen Challenge for Practical Scrappers

This week’s challenge over at Practical Scrappers is to use a White Pen. I did not have a white pen to work with, so it gave me the perfect reason to go shopping! Well, they did not have a white pen, but they had a white marker! I made a LO about the birth of my daughter. I made a paper flower (from a lunch bag) and outlined it with the marker. The swirls were hand-drawn and cut-out. I use chipboard letters for the title and also outlined some of the letters using the white pen.  The envelope was made with my new Martha Stewart scoreboard.

The patterned paper and buttons are from Making Memories. The green and pink cardstocks and chipboard letters are from The Paper Studio. The flower was made using a heart punch and a paper lunch bag.

New Challenge Blog

I am getting excited about the new challenge blog The Paper Variety.  They announced the pretty cute giveaway today!  I love it...crossing fingers!

I was hoping I could get some crafting done today...but I spent the day looking for a certain ribbon for a project.  I had just used it 2 days ago and COULD NOT for the life of me find it!  (My craftroom is organized and clean.)  I was getting ready to give up, assuming that I threw it away by accident...I found it in one of my scrap boxes!  But now the day is gone...off to do supper, baths, and bedtime!

What a bright smile!!!

So I cranked out another scrapbook LO!  I am having fun...I am so addicted! 

So I was going through my paper piles and I came across my "Songbirds" paper pack. (I forgot I had it and it was like Christmas morning!!!) I just had to use it!  (OK, I know I am using !!!! too much, I will try to stop! oop, sorry....)

Here is the LO:

All the paper came from the DCWV Songbirds pack.  I hand-cut the sun, birds and house to embellish the page

The SMILE is Provo Craft chipboard letters that I painted a Golden orange.  The letter stickers are from Making Memories- they started off white, but colored them with a tan marker.

I used pop-dots to the birdhouse embellishment.

Off to the craftroom to see what I come up with next!

Lace Cardstock challenge from Practical Scrappers

This was a tough challenge!  My first thought...how do I make lace cardstock, never heard of it???? So I looked through my suppplies and came across my Martha Stewart border punch and went from there!  I also included a digi stamp from this month's sponsor Sassy Studios.  I did a chalkboard instead of a scrapping project today!

Practical Scrappers Stitching Challenge

So this week's challenge at Practical Scrappers is to use stitching.  This was that first time I actually used my sewing machine for paper.  I had a blast and have stitched on several projects since.

I used a Sailor Honey stamp for Sassy Studios (colored is with pencils) and the patterned paper is from The Paper Studio.  I used a simple zig-zag stitch to sew the patterned papers together.  The stamp is from Stampablilites.  Buttons are from my stash.

I love my husband...

I got so much crafting done this weekend!  My husband knew I have been under a lot of stress lately, he did all the housework and let me spend tons of time in my room.  Greatest husband ever!!!!!

I came across a sketch challenge at Skipping Stones and gave it a try.  It is not what I had invisioned, but it did turn out pretty good, I think!

I used brown textured cardstock for the card.  The pattern paper is from Heidi Grace.  I cut the large flower out of the paper and used the revesre side for the bottom of the card.  The yello cardstock is embossed with Cuttlebug swirls.  I stamped the sentiment on a tag and attached it with a Recollections brad.  The button and ribbon came from my stash.

Ahh, the summer is almost over...

This summer has gone by so fast!  I am both happy and sad about it coming to an end.  My oldest starts school back up in two weeks.  He will be going in the morning program, so that means that once again I have to rearrange my schedule for getting things done wach day.  My husband says I'm a little OCD and tends to make fun of the lists and schedules I make for EVERYTHING.  But hey, I know that works for me and I will continue :)

So this week's challenge at Practical Scrappers is to use summer themed items.  Believe it or not, I found this somewhat difficult.  I don't have too many summer-themed items to work with!  But I made a cute LO...

The summer-themed item I used was a Studio G flip flops rubber stamp. 

I used ribbon to make the sun.

I used a couple different scissors and torn paper to make the waves.

I am off to complete my next project...what will it be?  I will find out once I start going thru my scrap room.  I think I need to make some more birthday cards for September.  But we will see what I end up doing!

Have a great day!

My first Design Team project for Practical Scrappers

I am so excited about joining the Practical Scrappers team!  I look forward to the upcoming challenges and I hope I inspire others as I have been inspired by the wonderful artists out there!

Here is a quick and short bio- I am a stay-at home mom of 3 wonderful (and energy-draining) kids. Two boys (4 and 2) and a 8 mo. daughter.  Nap-time is my crafting time.  I use it as a relaxation method!  I normally make cards, but just recently started to make scrapbook pages!  I am addicted to looking at the fellow bloggers' pages (that is my after bedtime addiction)!

Practical Scrappers is celebrating their 1 year anniversary this week.  So they are bringing a different challenge for each day.  Today's challenge is to make a card or LO celebrating a "first" (birthday, anniversary, tooth, etc). 

I have made a first birthday card for a little girl.  I used kraft cardstock (MY FAVORITE) for the base of my card. I took patterned paper and matted it onto green cardstock.  I hand cut the layered cake and rolled a piece of paper to make the candlestick.  Pop dots were used to adhere the cake to the card.  The flame was also hand-cut and orange ink was used to accent the flame.  I punched out 6 flowers to make the 3D flower and added a lime green button for the center of the flower.  The number 1 was a die-cut from Cuttlebug. And finally "Happy Birthday" (Studio G, another addiction) was stamped in brown ink.

Thank you for viewing my first design team project!  I look forward to many more!

More paper flowers...

I just had to try these flowers that I have been seeing. I think they turned out pretty well for my first try!  They can only get better (I hope)!  I am also lovin' stitching!  I am finally putting my sewing machine to some good use!

All the papers are from My Mind's Eye.  Brads-Recollections. Stamp-Studio G.

Challenges:

Stamp and Create - Flowers

Ooh La La - Birthdays

 

Tons of projects in the works!

So I have actually had time making a variety of cards, scrapbook pages and wedding invitations this week!  I am loving it!  Now that I have cleaned and organized my room, I have been letting the kiddos in the room while I work (probably not the best idea, but it works)! So they are having a blast bouncing on the bed, so I am getting some work done!  (In between my daughter's fits...gotta love teething)!  Here is one card that I made:

Once again I used kraft cardstock...I cannot stop...please help me (just kidding...don't send help...I'm not in need of a kraft intervention quite yet)!

I used  my Slice machine to cut out the scallop circles and hand cut them to turn them into flowers.  I embossed the circle with Cuttlebugs Swiss Dots and brushed it with black ink.  I used white ink to stamp the Studio G stamp.  The patterned paper is from Adorn It.