I'm Seeing Stars

I've been meaning to make a card for this month's Creating Pretty Cards sketch challenge, but it just kept slipping to the bottom of my list for various reasons. Last night I finally had a chance to go into my craft room just to play for a few minutes and used some scraps on my table to whip up this easy and sweet birthday card. 

• Island Indigo cardstock 4-1/4" x 11", scored at 5-1/2"
• Perfectly Artistic DSP 4" x 5-1/4"
• Go Wild DSP 1-1/2" x 4"
• Basic Black cardstock 1/4" x 4"
• Whisper White cardstock 1/2" x 1-1/8"
• Stamps: Happy Birthday Everyone (Hostess)
• Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Lost Lagoon
• Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, 2-Way Glue Pen

I started off by folding the Island Indigo cardstock on the score line. Next I used some glue stick to adhere the striped Go Wild DSP onto the Perfectly Artistic DSP. Then I stamped the greeting onto the DSP in Jet Black Stazon ink.

Next I used glue stick to adhere this layer onto the card front. Then I stuck down the 1/4" wide Basic Black cardstock strip with 2-Way Glue Pen. I used the star punch from the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack to punch seven stars from Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper. Each star was glued in place with a small dot of Multipurpose Liquid Glue. 

Lastly I stamped the small greeting onto the piece of Whisper White cardstock and stuck it onto the card front with a couple Stampin' Dimensionals. 

This was a super fast and super fun birthday card to make. It's always nice to get a few minutes just to play around for fun.

Simple Spring Canvas

Whenever I'm in my craft room painting I always find myself working on at least three different projects at once. I will work on one and get to a point where I have to let the paint dry so I will start on another and get to a point where the paint has to dry, and it goes on. Sometimes I clean or sort or organize during this drying time, but other times I end up with my craft island covered in paint projects all in various stages of progress. I guess I'm just impatient and don't like having to wait...

This last weekend I was finishing up some projects to post to DecoArt's projects page and while those were drying I worked on this fun little spring canvas. Since it was Easter weekend I wanted to embrace the vibrant colors and some fun flowers for spring. 

This is not a sponsored post, however, I have received paint products from DecoArt for previous projects that I used to create this project. I also absolutely love working with DecoArt paints and choose to use them exclusively for my decorative painting projects regardless of whether or not I buy them or DecoArt sends them to me. 

I started off with a 5 x 7 canvas board that I painted with streaks of Citron Green, Snow White , and Purple Pizzaz Americana Acrylic paint with a 1/2" flat brush. To get these streaks of color to blend you want to work quickly while the paint is still wet. 

After the streak of vibrant color dried completely I used DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics in Titanium White and Medium Grey Value 6 with a round brush to paint the daisy petals. I painted the petals first in just Titamium White and then went back with a mix of Titanium White and Medium Grey Value 6 to add very light grey shadows onto the petals. Then this was allowed to dry while I worked on another project. 

For the flower centers I used a 3/4" circle paper punch on a scrap of cardstock to use as a stencil. Then I used a stipple brush with Hansa Yellow Light to fill in the center of the flower. For the shadows around the edges of the flower center I stippled Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide and Burnt Sienna just around the edges of the circle stencil. Then the flower stems were added with a combination of Green Gold and Viridian Green Hue for the shadows. 

Once the paint was dry I sealed the canvas with a coat of Satin Varnish. I used my Silhouette to cut a bunny from some Silver Glimmer Paper and glued it onto the canvas then gave the canvas another coat of Satin Varnish to seal in all the glitter. 

Finally I needed a way to hang the canvas so I used my Crop-A-Dile to punch two holes in the top corners which I threaded some white lace ribbon through and tied it into a bow. 

This simple and sweet little canvas ended up making a lovely Easter gift for my best friend.

What do you like to do while you're waiting for paint to dry?

Hip Hip Hooray

I had a request for a St. Patrick's Day card. But St. Patrick's Day isn't really something everyone sends a card out for. So I used the Balloon Celebration bundle to make a card that works for a birthday or for St. Patrick's Day. Whichever you choose to use it for...

• Smoky Slate Cardstock 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4"
• Stamps: Balloon Celebration, Perfect Pairings
• Ink: Jet Black Stazon ink, Cucumber Crush, Whisper White Craft Ink
• Accessories: Balloon Bouquet Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Cucumber Crush cardstock scraps, Whisper White cardstock scraps. 

For starters I folded the Smoky Slate cardstock on the score line. Then I stamped the small cloud image all over the top of the card front in Whisper White Craft Ink. Next I stamped the greeting from Perfect Pairings in the lower right hand corner of the card front in Cucumber Crush ink. Finally I stamped the balloon strings in the lower left corner of the card front in Jet Black Stazon ink.

Now for lots and lots of balloon fun. I stamped the large and small solid balloon image onto a scrap of Whisper White cardstock in Cucumber Crush ink. I stamped the large and small balloon outlines onto scraps of Cucumber Crush cardstock in Jet Black Stazon ink. Next I stamped the shadow images for the balloons inside the outlines in Cucumber Crush ink.

All the balloons were punched out with the Balloon Bouquet punch and were glued onto the card front with a combination of glue stick and Stampin' Dimensionals.

For the inside I stamped one single balloon string and the large balloon out line in Jet Black Stazon ink. Then I stamped the solid balloon image in Cucumber Crush ink.

Lots and lots of stamping on this one, but overall not that difficult.

Simply For You

I have another super simple yet pretty Make and Take card to share with you. This one features the Birthday Blooms stamp set and coordinating Birthday Bouquet designer series paper. This card really packs in the sparkle too! 

This Make & Take card was inspired by this project made by Julie. 

• Mint Macaroon Cardstock 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4"
• Birthday Bouquet DSP 1" x 5-1/2"
• Stamps: Birthday Blooms
• Ink: Mint Macaroon, Pink Pirouette, Jet Black Stazon
• Accessories: 2-3/8" Scalloped Circle Punch, 2" Circle Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper, Glue Dots, 2-Way Glue Pen

I started off by folding the Mint Macaroon cardstock on the score line. Then I stamped the large flower image from Birthday Blooms in the lower right hand corner of the card front in Mint Macaroon ink.

The strip of DSP was adhered to the left edge of the card front with glue stick. The strip of Dazzling Diamonds glimmer paper was adhered right next to the DSP with 2-Way Glue Pen.

The greeting was stamped onto a scrap of Whisper White cardstock in Jet Black Stazon ink. The greeting was then punched out with the 2" Circle punch. The small flowers were stamped around the greeting in Pink Pirouette ink. The small dots were stamped around the greeting in Mint Macaroon ink.

The 2-3/8" Scalloped Circle punch was used on a scrap of Blushing Bride cardstock. The greeting circle was adhered onto the Blushing Bride scalloped circle with glue stick. The layered circle was stuck onto the card front with a few Stampin' Dimensionals.

To amp up the sparkle the Bitty Butterfly punch was used on a piece of Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper. The butterfly was adhered next to the greeting with a glue dot.

And that's another Make and Take project done!

Flying Birthday

This card uses one of my absolute favorite stamp sets from Sale-A-Bration. Unfortunately this set is no longer available, however, if you order quickly it may still let it add the set to your cart as your rewards! I just submitted an order this morning and it still let me add these limited time only SAB items. So if you hurry you may still be able to get this fantastic stamp set! 

To see the full Sale-A-Bration catalog click HERE. To see the brand new limited time only Sale-A-Bration items click HERE. I'm personally loving the glitter tap and the bicycle stamp set...

To start shopping and start earning these awesome FREE items just click HERE. 

The reason I love this set??? Well, first off it's just plain awesome (pun intended). Second, my husband is a private pilot and this is PERFECT for cards for him! 

• Tip Top Taupe Cardstock 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4"
• Very Vanilla Cardstock 4-1/8" x 5-3/8"
• Basic Black Cardstock 4-1/8" x 2-7/8"
• Very Vanilla Cardstock 4" x 2-3/4"
• Stamps: Sky is the Limit
• Ink: Early Espresso, Soft Suede
• Accessories: World Traveler Embossing Folder, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sponge Dauber, Crumb Cake Marker

As per usual I started off with folding the Tip Top Taupe cardstock on the score line. Next I ran the large piece of Very Vanilla cardstock through the Big Shot in the World Traveler Embossing Folder. To make the cardstock look old I used a Sponge Dauber with Soft Suede ink to highlight the raised embossing and sponged lighter in the recessed areas just to make it look aged. This panel was glued onto the card front with Glue Stick. 

On the small piece of Very Vanilla cardstock I stamped the plane and smoke trail image from Sky is the Limit onto the cardstock in Early Espresso ink. The greeting was stamped in Soft Suede ink. Then I used the Sponge Dauber just like I did before to sponge along the edges and all over the cardstock to make it look old. 

The fuselage of the plane was colored in with a Crumb Cake marker to make it stand out more. This piece was glued with Glue Stick and adhered onto the Basic Black cardstock. The layered panel was adhered to the card front with a few Stampin' Dimensionals. 

Black and White Birthday

Sometimes you've just gotta love the simplicity of black and white. 

I've really been working at incorporating the new Sale-A-Bration items into my Make & Take projects and this Flower Fields stamp set is so beautiful! It is probably my most favorite of the free Sale-A-Bration items. 

For this Make & Take card I was inspired by this card originally made by Melissa. Although I did make a few changes...

• Basic Black Cardstock 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4"
• Whisper White Cardstock (2) 4" x 5-1/4"
• Go Wild DSP 2" x 4-1/4"
• Whisper White Cardstock 1/2" x 3"
• Stamps: Flower Fields, And Many More
• Ink: Jet Black Stazon
• Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals, Paper Snips, Large Rhinestone Basic Jewels (retired), It's My Party Designer Washi Tape

First off I folded the Basic Black cardstock on the score line. Then I took one of the large pieces of Whisper White cardstock and stamped the various images from Flower Fields across the center of the cardstock in Jet Black Stazon ink. This was adhered onto the card front with glue stick.

Next up some It's My Party Washi Tape was added to the center of the Go Wild DSP and that was adhered onto the card front with more glue stick.

Then the greeting from And Many More was stamped onto the strip of Whisper White cardstock in Jet Black Stazon ink. The Paper Snips were used to trim one end into a banner shape. Then a Large Rhinestone Basic Jewel was added onto the left end of the banner. These large rhinestones are retired, but I have a bunch still so I went ahead and used them here.

Finally the banner was stuck onto the card front with Stampin' Dimensionals.

You can't see it here, but I stamped just a couple flowers onto the other large piece of Whisper White cardstock and used glue stick to adhere it inside the card. That way I have somewhere to write a message that my recipient will see since I used a dark card base.

This was a fun, beautiful, and oh so simple card to make! All my guests breezed through this project!

To see the full Sale-A-Bration catalog click HERE. To see the brand new limited time only Sale-A-Bration items click HERE. I'm personally loving the glitter tap and the bicycle stamp set...

To start shopping and start earning these awesome FREE items just click HERE. 

Hello My Friend

Here is the final February Make and Take card. This one was inspired by the card in the Sale-A-Bration catalog. But I stepped it up and added a few more details...

• Crumb Cake Cardstock 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4"
• Crushed Curry Cardstock 3-1/2" x 4" 
• Crumb Cake Cardstock 3" x 3-1/2"
• Ink: Crumb Cake, Versamark, Early Espresso, Crushed Curry
• Accessories: It's My Party Designer Washi Tape, Deco Labels Framelits, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool, White Embossing Powder, Stampin' Dimensionals

First off fold the Crumb Cake cardstock on the score line. Then stamp the Hardwood Background image onto the card front in Crumb Cake ink. Next add a strip of It's My Party Designer Washi tape onto the bottom of the card front. 

Next take the small piece of Crumb Cake cardstock and rub the embossing buddy over the entire piece. Stamp the "hello" image from Hello onto the cardstock in Versamark ink. Cover the stamped image with White embossing powder and tap off the excess. Heat the embossing powder with the Heat Tool until it's shiny and smooth. 

Stamp the "my friend" greeting just under "hello" in Early Espresso ink. Then use the second from smallest Deco Labels Framelit with the Big Shot to cut out the label. Stamp the sun image just above "hello" in Crushed Curry ink. 

Use the third from smallest Deco Labels Framelit with the Big Shot to cut a label from the Crushed Curry cardstock. Use glue stick to adhere the two labels together then use Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere the layered labels onto the card front.

That's it! Now I'm off to craft something else, or work on homework... or more likely doing chores. But hopefully I can squeeze in some craft room time this weekend!

Enjoy the Little Things

I had a little extra time to play in the craft room after making the Make & Take samples a couple weeks ago. So I decided to play along with the latest Creating Pretty Cards Sketch Challenge at Craft Project Central. Except I challenged myself even more by using only scraps that I had already lying on my table from the Make & Take prep. A little fun and creativity while cleaning up! 

Here is the sketch that I started off with and the list of supplies used.

• Pool Party Cardstock 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4"
• Go Wild DSP 1-1/2" x 5" 
• Silver Glimmer Paper 1/4" x 5-1/2"
• Basic Black Cardstock 2" x 3-3/4"
• Stamps: Enjoy the Little Things, Papillion Potpourri, Hardwood 
• Ink: Whisper White Craft, Jet Black Stazon, Lost Lagoon
• Accessories: Elegant Butterfly Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Ornate Tag Topper Punch, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Vellum Cardstock, Stampin' Dimensionals, Glue Dots, 2-Way Glue Pen, Silver Baker's Twine

First off I folded the Pool Party cardstock on the score line and stamped the "Enjoy the Little Things" image into the lower right hand corner of the card front in Lost Lagoon ink.

This saying is really resonating with me lately and I just want to use it everywhere. I've been making a point to truly stop and take a moment to appreciate the little things in life. Sometime seemingly insignificant things. Like when my husband kisses me goodnight before laying down to sleep, like my dogs greeting me when I come home and wanting to snuggle on the couch. The peace that a clean kitchen and uncluttered dining room evokes, the fact that I have a craft room with loads of toys to play with.... The list could go on and on. Okay back to this pretty little card....

I used Glue Stick to adhere the Go Wild DSP onto the left edge of the card front and used 2-Way Glue Pen to adhere the strip of Silver Glimmer Paper next to the DSP. 

Next up was the tag. I took the Basic Black cardstock and used the Ornate Tag Topper Punch on one end. Then I stamped the Hardwood background image onto the tag in Whisper White Craft Ink. 

The butterfly from Papillion Potpourri was stamped onto a scrap of Whisper White cardstock in Jet Black Stazon ink and then punched out with the Elegant Butterfly Punch. I used both the Elegant Butterfly Punch and Bitty Butterfly Punch on a scrap of Vellum Cardstock and used 2-Way Glue Pen to layer the butterflies together. Some Rhinestone Basic Jewels were added into the center of the butterfly to add some more sparkle. Then the butterfly was adhered onto the tag with a Glue Dot. 

I cut about a 12" long piece of Silver Baker's Twine and tied it into a bow at the top of the tag then stuck the tag onto the card front with some Stampin' Dimensionals. Some additional Rhinestone Basic Jewels were scattered onto the card to match the sketch and add even more sparkle. 

This card really was a lot of fun to put together all while limiting myself to use what I already had on the table. Take about working that creativity muscle! I also had a chance to reflect on the many little things that bring joy into my life and prove that I am truly blessed. 

So I hope you take a moment today to enjoy the little things in life! 

Birthday Balloons

This adorable card was the third and final card for Mary's Stampin' Up! workshop. Now I will admit, I got carried away with the balloons. This card is very cute, but also a little too involved for first time stampers. Some of my potential customers were getting overwhelmed and I do apologize to you ladies for that. Note to self... keep workshop cards very, very simple!

• Smoky Slate cardstock 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4"
• Crushed Curry cardstock 3-3/4" x 5"
• Whisper White cardstock 3-5/8" x 4-7/8"
• Lost Lagoon cardstock 3/4" x 2-3/4"
• Stamps: Balloon Celebration
• Ink: Soft Sky, Smoky Slate, Crushed Curry, Stazon, Pool Party
• Accessories: Balloon Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Paper Snips

Start off on this card by stamping the small cloud image from Balloon Celebration onto the Whisper White cardstock several times in Soft Sky ink. To get the very light, barely there clouds ink up the stamp and stamp it first onto scrap paper. Then, without re-inking the stamp, stamp the image onto the cardstock. This is called stamping off. Repeat to add as many clouds as desired. 

Next stamp the balloon strings onto the card front in Jet Black Stazon ink. Use glue stick to adhere the stamped Whisper White cardstock onto the Crushed Curry cardstock. Then use more glue stick to adhere this panel onto the Smoky Slate card front. 

Then stamp the balloon outlines onto scraps of Basic Gray, Crushed Curry, and Pool Party cardstock in Jet Black Stazon ink. Stamp the shadow image inside the balloons in the coordinating ink for the cardstock (Ex: Smoky Slate ink for the Smoky Slate balloon).

Punch out the balloons with the Balloon punch and adhere the two gray balloons onto the Whisper White cardstock with glue stick. Adhere the Pool Party and Crushed Curry balloons onto the card front with Stampin' Dimensionals. 

The greeting was stamped onto the small strip of Lost Lagoon cardstock in Jet Black Stazon ink. Paper Snips were used to trim one end of the cardstock into a banner then the greeting banner was adhered onto the card front with glue stick. 

All in all it's not really a difficult card, but there is a lot of stamping going on...

Thanks for Being You

This is the second card from Mary's workshop and it was a favorite. Simple yet pretty!

• Pool Party cardstock 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4"
• Blackberry Bliss cardstock 3-1/4" x 5-1/4"
• Color Me Irresistible Specialty DSP 3" x 5" 
• Stamps: Suite Sayings, Flower Shoppe
• Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Pool Party, Calypso Coral
• Accessories: Pansy Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sponge Dauber, Calypso Coral cardstock scrap, Smoky Slate cardstock scrap

For this one we start off with using a Sponge Dauber to add some color onto the Color Me Irresistible Specialty DSP. This piece was adhered onto the Blackberry Bliss cardstock with glue stick. Then this panel was adhered onto the card front with more glue stick.

The greeting from Suite Sayings was stamped onto a scrap of Smoky Slate cardstock in Blackberry Bliss ink then was punched out with the Decorative Label punch.

The flower from Flower Shoppe was stamped onto a scrap of Calypso Coral cardstock in Calypso Coral ink and punched out with the Pansy Punch. Both the greeting label and the flower were adhered onto the card front with a Stampin' Dimensional.

Finally, just to add a little bit of bling, a Rhinestone Basic Jewel was added into the center of the flower. 

See! Super duper simple!

Blushing Heart Treat Pouch

Last week I had the opportunity to present a Stampin' Up! workshop for my lovely host Mary. So I put together three different projects to show at her workshop. This first project I thought was a very simple and super sweet Valentine's treat using the Envelope Punch board.

• Go Wild DSP Stack 6" x 6" 
• Whisper White cardstock 3-1/4" x 3-1/4"
• Basic Black cardstock 1" x 8-1/2"
• Stamps: Enjoy the Little Things
• Ink: Smoky Slate, Rose Red
• Accessories: 2-3/8" Scalloped Circle Punch, 2" Circle Punch, Sweetheart Punch, Tear & Tape Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper, Envelope Punch Board

I wanted to keep this project super simple while allowing my guests to chose which pattern of paper they wanted from the Go Wild DSP stack. So I went with the 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" envelope size on the Envelope Punch board since the DSP stack papers were already 6" x 6".

Next the ladies stamped the "enjoy the little things" greeting onto the Whisper White cardstock in Rose Red ink. The greeting was flanked on both the top and bottom with the delicate border image stamped in Smoky Slate ink. This piece was glued inside the envelope with glue stick. Now four Dove chocolate hearts were added into the center of the envelope.

A single piece of Tear & Tape Adhesive was applied onto one of the narrow ends of the Basic Black cardstock strip. The flaps of the envelope were folded closed over the chocolates then the strip of Basic Black cardstock was wrapped around the envelope and the end of the Basic Black cardstock with adhesive was adhered to the other end of the cardstock strip forming a belly band.

Finally it was on to the punching. The 2-3/8" Scalloped Circle punch was used on a scrap of Whisper White cardstock. The 2" Circle punch was used on a scrap of Smoky Slate cardstock. These two were adhered together with glue stick and then adhered onto the Basic Black belly band with a small strip of Tear & Tape Adhesive.

Next the Sweetheart punch was used to punch a glimmery heart from Blushing Bride Glimmer paper. The sparkly heart was adhered onto the Smoky Slate circle with a Stampin' Dimensional.

Bunny in the Carrot Patch

You’re invited…to join bunny…in the carrot patch!  These projects feature the Friends & Flowers Stamp Set and the coordinating Festive Flower Builder Punch to create the star of the show…the adorable bunny.  And what does the bunny love the most?  Carrots, of course!  

Bright and fun Pumpkin Pie and Cucumber Crush Cardstock are scored and folded to create 3-D carrots…in two sizes!  Larger carrots are strung on Linen Thread to create a garland of carrots…and the smaller carrot perfectly adorns a Tiny Treat Box.  The bunny faced card is designed to serve for Easter greetings…or an invitation…and a colorful place card rounds out the project line up!

This lovely project was designed by Sue! If you have a chance, please head on over to Craft Project Central and leave Sue a comment on her project. 

If you would like to subscribe to the February edition of Craft Project Central and get 10 wonderful tutorials for only $10 then click Here!

More February projects that you may have missed:

Leap Day Frogs 

Shop Update!

I've been busy busy getting lots of new items listed in my Etsy Shop! I've got lots and lots of jewelry items listed now! Hop on over and take a gander.



I also just finished this custom size of my popular Firepit sign and it's shipping out to it's new home today!

If you are looking for a custom sign or mixed media artwork just email me at amandac@kraftingkreations.com or contact me through my Etsy Shop and I will help make your idea become a reality!

DIY Home Decor Projects

Looking for some fun and easy home decor projects to brighten up that winter gloominess?

Some of my projects were recently posted on DecoArt's projects page so I wanted to share them here with you. Just click through the links for a complete tutorial on how to make the project.

Mixed Media Treasure Box

This one will be listed in my Etsy shop soon! 

Country Cottage Earring Organizer

This one will be listed in my Etsy shop soon! 

Reclaimed Wood Wall Art

Want to order one just like it? Just contact me and I will be happy to make a custom order for you!

Just for You

Here is another fun and super easy card from the January Make & Take that uses Sale-A-Bration goodies! This one was a case of the catalog sample. 

• Basic Black Cardstock 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4"
• Whisper White Cardstock (2) 4" x 5-1/4"
• Stamps: Botanicals for You
• Ink: Night of Navy, Mint Macaroon, Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Wild Wasabi
• Accessories: Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Stamp the "just for you" greeting onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock in Night of Navy ink. Stamp the flowers around the greeting in Mint Macaroon, Daffodil Delight, and Calypso Coral. Add a few leaves with Wild Wasabi ink. Adhere this panel onto the card front with glue stick and add a small Rhinestone Basic Jewel into the center of the Calypso Coral flowers.

Take another piece of Whisper White cardstock and stamp the greeting from Botanicals for You onto the top of the cardstock in Night of Navy ink. Stamp a cluster of flowers in the lower right hand corner of the cardstock. Then just glue this piece inside the card with glue stick.

That's it! Super duper simple.