Joy!

Posted on November 14, 2011 by

I love this post today!  I have been waiting to rip into this kit for a while now!!  I am so excited to give you a sneak peek at next month’s Avocado Arts set, “Brrr…and the Nerdy Snow Peeps” (best stamp set name EVER).  So like the 15th of every month, we sneak in some images from the new set, and the set from last month.  I sneaked in a LOT of images for you in this card.  I couldn’t help it!  I also am showing you a technique I created two years ago.

I have the full tutorial on how to make this felted snow drift HERE.  It is simple, but you need to use a separate piece of cardstock for your backing and then glue the entire piece onto the card.

The only thing on here from last month’s set, Bring on the Holiday Cheer,  is the sentiment and the circle which goes around the sentiment. I love how the circle worked!  That is the circle meant for the peppermint in that set, and it perfectly fit around the “Joy” sentiment.  Then I used a 3/4 punch to punch it out. Perfect all around!

Don’t forget to check out the Avocado Arts Blog (did you see the big announcement that our team is growing?), and all of the other Pit Crew Girls and their projects today!  They are so very cool ;)

Kimberly Crawford, Julia Stainton, Latisha Yoast and AJ Otto

Posted in Avocado Arts, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

A Holiday Hello!

Posted on October 31, 2011 by

Bringing another share of Avocado Arts’ new kit “Bring on the Holiday Cheer” pairing these sweet birdhouse and cardinal images together with paper that is more elegant leaves a fun feel to this 4×4 card.  I kind of like the fanciful rustic quality it has in its look.

I took the cue from background blue of the patterned paper (which is really hard to see in this picture- it really is light blue) and drew some light blue stitching in with my Copic marker.  I like how simple this card is.  Simple but with lots of movement.  This is also a really easy card to mass produce for Christmas, and you could use all different types of papers.  Fun stuff!  Make sure you check out the Avocado Arts Blog, their new Pinterest page, and all of the other Pit Crew members projects today!

AJ Otto, Julia Stainton, Latisha Yoast, Kimberly Crawford

Posted in Avocado Arts | 3 Comments

Bring on the Holiday Cheer!

Posted on October 29, 2011 by

I am excited to share with you my new project from Avocado Arts’ newest kit “Bring on the Holiday Cheer!” I had fun with this card because it reminded me of a float I once helped design for my kid’s elementary school Holiday Parade.  It was a gingerbread house theme, and we filled the float with tons of glittered up peppermints and candy canes.  So I took that as my inspiration and went to town.

I particularly liked how the side of the card turned out.  I stamped the peppermints in a row along the edge and then fussy cut around the edges of each one. It makes a really fun border, and gives a little special dimension to the card.

Switching between red and pink also was fun for me.  Well, that AND the glitter!  Adding glitter to my peppermint tree and the peppermints themselves add a little bling to a simple design.  Fun times!

Check out ALL of the inspiration from the other Avocado Arts Pit Crew members as well as the Avocado Arts blog and our NEW Pinterest Page with TONS of inspiration from not only our design team, but all of YOU!

Latisha Yoast, AJ Otto, Julia Stainton, Kimberly Crawford

Posted in Avocado Arts | 7 Comments

Avocado Arts Sneak Peek!

Posted on October 14, 2011 by

It is the 15th again, and time to share with you a little sneak peek into this month’s new Avocado Arts stamp set!  Our posts on the 15th of each month highlight something from the last stamp set along with something from the new stamp set. So the little snowflake I use to make my pattern if from last month’s Ho Ho’s and Holiday Blessing set, and the beautiful tree stamp is from the new November kit, Bring on the Holiday Cheer!

I hope you like it!

Makes sure you visit the Avocado Arts Blog for more inspiration

And of course, the fabulous Pit Crew! Kimberly, AJ, Julia, and Latisha

Thanks for visiting today!  I have SO much to share with you and seriously, recently NEVER the time.  Just a couple of things to list, before I get into details a little later.  I was just in Carmen with The Opera Company of Philadelphia.  We finished our run this evening, actually.  I am also about to start into three days of recording with The Crossing.  Also, I have embarked on a 365 photo journey starting last month, so there is SO much I need to update you on, and now that Carmen is over, I will have a little more time.  Hope you enjoyed the card today! Love you guys!

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Swimming for Katie – Blog Hop and Fundraiser

Posted on October 10, 2011 by

 

I am honored to be writing this post right now (along with close to 125 other fellow stampers)  for our dear friend, Katie Renz.   If you don’t know Katie, here is a bit about her and her story.

Katie’s cancer story started just before Christmas last year.  This young, beautiful, healthy, vibrant mother of 3 with her infectious smile was suddenly diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, virtually overnight.  A few tummy aches and then stage 4 gastric cancer.  Her first post about it is here: http://katiespaperhaven.blogspot.com/2010/12/sad-story-with-unkown-ending-that.html

She’s kept such a positive attitude and has been fighting and taking chemo but it’s really taking its toll on her.  The idea of “Swimming for Katie” came from her recent post:  http://katiespaperhaven.blogspot.com/2011/09/ive-been-swimming-but-it-hasnt-been.html

After reading this post, Kate Baldwin from iheartpapers and I felt like we had to do something.  Even if it was small, to encourage Katie to KEEP SWIMMING!  So we set to work.  Kate arranged EVERYTHING (she is seriously so amazing), and I designed this octopus image for the fundraiser.  Once word got out, we had other offers for images, and now we have a nice batch of things for you to choose from if you would like to.  100%, yes 100% of ALL PROCEEDS go directly to Katie and her family.

HERE ARE ALL OF THE ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO BENEFIT KATIE

Three exclusive stamp sets have been designed to benefit Katie.  My Octopus, Marianne Walker’s Mermaid image, and True =D Doodle Designs (the bird ribbon and digi-papers).The octopus stamp is available as a clear stamp, as well as a digis or a dig and SVG cut file.  100% of the profits go to Katie’s fund to help her and her young family. Her husband Kevin and her three young children need our help and support. In addition to the Keep Swimming Octopus, Marianne Walker and True =D Doodle Designs have both donated digis that are for sale.  Direct donations are also being accepted.  Information central is HERE.  This is a permanent page that will stay active at i {heart} papers with current information and the full three-day blog hop listing, as well as the donation button.

Here is today’s list of Blog Hop Participants!

Ashley Harris

Clare Buswell

Jessica Diedrich

Lisa Somerville

Charlene Merrick

Eva Dobilas

Judy Rozema

Sharon Doolittle

Tifany DeGough

Windy Robinson

Ashley Cannon Newell

Connie McCotter

Heidi Van Laar

Karen Maldonado

Lori Craig

Melissa Phillips

Tosha Leyendekker

Amy Kolling

Angela Thomas

Angelica Suarez

Angie Blom

Becky Oehlers YOU ARE HERE

Betty Wright

Bev Gerard

To click through and purchase an item today will probably be the most important thing you can do today.  Please help Katie and her family keep swimming through one of the hardest things they will ever have to overcome. LOVE YOU, KATIE!!!

Posted in Uncategorized, stamping, {Studio 64} | 10 Comments

One Layer Christmas Spectacular

Posted on September 30, 2011 by

Having a simple card design that is a one layer option is essential in mass producing Christmas cards, so I thought I would make one today.

taking the sweet clothesline from the Ho Ho’s and Holiday Blessings set, I was drawn to the cute Santa boxers and hat for this card.  I simply stamped the images in black added little ties with my black pen, colored them with copics and made sure to leave a little space for some green glitter on the shorts and some clear glitter on the hat.  It is that little extra something on a one layer card that just adds a special touch.

I wanted to bring the design element of the fun wire clothesline into the card again, so I added a bit of it under the sentiment.  It really helps to tie the card together design wise, and it just takes a second to re-stamp that image.

go and be inspired by the other girls today, too!

Julia Stainton, AJ Otto, Kimberly Crawford,Latisha Yoast, Avocado Arts Blog

Posted in Avocado Arts, Uncategorized, stamping | 8 Comments

Two Ways To Tag

Posted on September 29, 2011 by

Tagging is kind of my favorite thing, and I am not talking about Facebook, although that is arguable.  In the craft world, however, it is sort of fun when you make tags to see how many things they can be used for.  I mean, if the tags are small enough, you can make a whole card from them.  Repeated, maybe with different colors or sentiments on them.  It is always kind of fun to see what people come up with using the simple concept of tags.  Using the new set Avocado Arts set, Ho Ho’s and Holiday Blessings, I thought I would show you two fun ways to use the exact same tag.

Now these are really traditional red and white tags, with a touch of glitter and can be used for any little package you give to a loved one, or baked goods that you send to people who are the closest to you.  I just love how they all look hanging up and ready to be plucked down and used!  Now with the exact same tag, twine and clothespins, I simply decorated a frame with an older Christmas picture of my girls.  Every year I have out ALL of their old Christmas pictures during the season and hang them from my mantle, but how about this idea?  This is a bit more modern and bright, and by adding the year on the tag, you can see how much they have grown since that picture!  Love this!  Can you see yourself trying it?

I hope so!  Now go and be inspired by what the rest of the Avocado Arts Pit Crew has in store for you!

Kimberly Crawford, AJ Otto, Latisha Yoast, Julia Stainton

Posted in Altered Items, Avocado Arts, Uncategorized, stamping | 5 Comments

New Avocado Arts Sneak Peek!

Posted on September 16, 2011 by

It is time for another Avocado Arts Sneak Peek!  Since last month’s set “Thankful for You” has been debuted, we are now moving onto a new month with new images and sentiments.  Are you confused?  Does this still look too fall like for you?  Look carefully in the details and you may be able to spot a few “Wintery” touches. Even a new sentiment!  YES!  That sentiment is not from the “Thankful for You” fall set.  THAT is just how versatile AA stamps are! I had so much fun using the “Chalkboard” technique on this card today.  Stamp images in a high quality white ink, then take a white prismacolor pencil and shade in the areas to make it look like a chalkboard.  Love how this came out.

Inside the dots of the pattern on the bottom, I took a white Signo gel pen to make the centers of the snowflakes pop.  I love it!

Make sure to head over to the other girl’s blogs today and check out what they have for their peeks!

Kimberly Crawford, AJ Otto, Julia Stainton, and of course, Avocado Arts!

Posted in Avocado Arts | 7 Comments

Teacher Gift – Avocado Arts Share!

Posted on August 31, 2011 by

It is time for another project share of Avocado Arts! Today I decided to make a sweet gift perfect for back to school!  I got out my trusty muslin, and got to stamping!  I adore sewing quick little projects and giving them as gifts.  My children see most of these little types of presents head their way, but this time, I thought it would be a perfect time for a teacher’s gift.

I cut a swath of fabric with my pinking shears and made a cute little pocket on the front of the bag.  I always stamp things like this before I adhere them, in case of a mistake.  Notice the tag?  I did something kind of fun there.  I took a piece of muslin I didn’t need and I stamped off once onto it.  This left the impression of the texture of the muslin on the apple before I stamped onto my cardstock for the tag.  I just love how it gives it a rustic look.

This sweet bag took me no more than 20 minutes from concept to finish.  So easy that you can do multiple at a time.  I just put a little fiberfill in the bottom to help the apple take center stage.  Now you try!  Also, take a look at what the other girls did for today’s inspiration, and don’t forget to head over to the Avocado Arts Blog!

More to come from me tomorrow!

Kimberly Crawford, AJ Otto, Julia Stainton, Latisha Yoast

Posted in Avocado Arts | 9 Comments

Thankful For You!

Posted on August 29, 2011 by

Helloooooo dear friends!  Sorry I have been so quiet around here!  I am sure you hear that from me a lot, but I am so excited to be doing so many new and fun things in my life!  I am also excited to share this pumpkiny goodness with you today!  There is so much to love about the new Thankful For You set by Avocado Arts!  The chevron background, the sweet pumpkins that can take on so many different styles, and the cute spider!  How can you choose from the sweetness?

I chose to work with the pumpkins this time.  I really wanted to get my copic markers out, since they haven’t seen much love recently.  I wanted my pumpkins to have a real classic feel about them, so I cut up the stems a bit and added a single leaf.  This gives them a real timeless look!  So much fun.  Especially with the chevron pattern and the simple stitching I did down the side.

Keeping with the zig-zag feeling of the chevron background stamp, I used pinking shears to mimic that look on the other side.  I hope you like it!  I plan to blog tomorrow about a new little adventure I am starting to learn, so come on by and see what I have been up to!

But for now, go and check out what the other girls in the Pit Crew are up to!  OH!  And I almost forgot!  On September 5th, the Avocado Arts Blog will be hosting creations from a guest designer!  You won’t want to miss who is joining us!  Stay tuned!!

Kimberly Crawford, AJ Otto, Latisha Yoast, Julia Stainton

Posted in Avocado Arts | 6 Comments