CHA-S favorites

Welcome to a quick peek at my favorite products from the CHA-S show last week. Forgive the lousy photos, but shaky RA hands and bad lighting equals blur. Click on the photos if you would like to see the images in more detail. And I apologize now for spending your money for you. :)

First up is My Mind’s Eye. They always hit a home run. Every release. This one is no exception. I will just share this 6x6 pad from The Sweetest Thing line, called, Honey. Something about these colors just gets me every time!

Be still my heart! Basic Grey’s Lucille. Just look at it. Need I say more?

      

Authentique, Carefree. Loved the red, of course. Great patterns. Subtle, shabby, but I could get away with a boy layout with these!

Loving Persnickety from Lily Bee. Fun patterns. Funky color palette. Looks like lots of creative possibilities!

Colored clothespins from Canvas Corp. Doesn’t that line up just make you smile?

Jillibean Soup, Grandma’s Lima Bean Soup. Fun collection. Its like being in your grandma’s attic. Best part, or worst part is, the backsides are just as great as the fronts! Better pick up two of each!

Banner Bites from Jillibean. Super cute. So trendy. I need to bake cupcakes to use these on!

And these wood buttons from Jillibean too. Great size, beautiful patterns.

    

Hero Arts knocked it out of the park with their holiday stamps. Bold, big sentiments. And I am saying it now, and have been wanting them for some time, BIG IS BACK for sentiments!

Hero Arts/Basic Grey stamp set from the Lucille line. This will be used often on layouts. Its so precious!!

For those of you on the hunt for florist frogs to photograph your cards, search no more! Melissa Frances has several sizes and two colors. Best part about these, more open space between twines, making it easier to display your project.

Ca-ute plastic flowers from Jenni Bowlin. Love the swirled petals in these Doily Flowers.

Oh swoon to Maya Road!! Why yes, those are spools of burlap trim in colors perfect for the vivid colors displayed in everyone’s lines this show!

All the new buttons from Cosmo Cricket are hands down my favorite product/s  from the show. Wood and canvas based, they are bright and vivid and will make a statement. More coming with these later.

GREAT sentiments, in an itty bitty size, for cards, layouts, etc. Love all these stickers from Cosmo Cricket.

Awesomeness from Tsukineko (Imagine Crafts)! These Ink Dauber Delights not only fit on your finger tip, but are full of juicy, inky goodness. This formula also works on fabric!

   

May Arts! Eeeeee! I am a sucker for burlap and canvas and check out these ribbons! The top ones are stitched with colors down each side and come in two thicknesses. The bottom one, need I say more?!?!

Gorgeous stamps from JustRite Stampers, designed by Samantha Walker. These coordinate with her new dies from Spellbinders Paper Arts.

There you have it, a peek at some of my favorite things from CHA-S. Stop back tomorrow for a look at my favorite Spellbinders Paper Arts products, because, well, there are so many new and wonderful products, they need their own post!

thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly

P.S. I did it. All by myself. I went to CHA. I took things slow. Took lots of breaks. Took a few naps. But, I did it. Yes, there was pain. But that is life now. The trip was so good, not only because of friends and some crazy adventures, but because it proved to me that even in pain, I can still do things. I can still go places. The medications are starting to help me feel better. Less tired. More willing to get out and do things. All positive and incredibly encouraging signs, that I needed. Let’s be honest, while I mostly try to keep my chin up, some days it just stinks. I cry. I pout. I stay in bed. But these glimmers bolster my determination to not let this defeat me. I might be slowed down right now, but not out. :)

pubs

The May/June issue of Paper Crafts Magazine is now available. Its a great issue, like always! What’s not to love? :) I am thrilled to see several projects using my Mint Motif stamps inside, and to have a couple projects of my own!! Wow, I am totally biased on this! :)

This card was made to be a music teacher thank you. Having amazing piano instructors throughout my life definitely inspired this project! All the details are available in the magazine. :)

thanks ever so much for stopping by!

friends

Yep, its going to be a week, or even two :), of rejects. Its another card that I really am happy with the results, so it not getting chosen is a-ok. The sentiment area was masked off and then the background was inked. Its a one-layer card. I love the angle of it. I am thinking about trying two smaller layers like this…

I know you are waiting for videos, and I have a list of them to make! :) Hopefully the house repairs will all be finished soon and we have some peace and quiet back. :) If you have any video requests, drop me an email, or leave your suggestion in the comments.

Have a superb day! thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Hero Arts (Friend Definition, Designer Woodgrain, Friends and Treasures), Inks-Ranger Distressing (Peeled Paint, Broken China, Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo), Patterned paper-Jenni Bowlin, Embossing Powder-Stampendous (Clear Detail), Flowers-Prima, Brad-Crate Paper (School Spirit), Gems-Hero Arts (Neutral Mixed Accents), Spellbinders-Nested Pennants

rejected but happy

Last Friday the acceptance emails went out for the Paper Crafts magazine special sketch issue. When your project/s are chosen for publication, you receive an email with your next step of instructions. Its a very happy email day when those arrive! While I had several cards chosen for the issue, and that is always a huge honor, I also had several rejects. This being one of them. Does it make me sad? Possibly, but you know what? Not really. This is a card that I would never had made on my own. But I love it. LOVE the way it turned out. LOVE the way the sketch pushed me out of my usual comfort zone. I made something that makes me happy and when I send it, someone else will be happy. I guess my point is, submit, submit, submit. You never know what they are looking for. Maybe this card didn’t work in the color scheme. Maybe this was not creative enough. You just never know, and because of that, just submit. :)

I hope that you had a wonderful weekend! We did some Iowa exploring. Its nice to keep learning about our new home. And yes there is more than corn, pigs, and cows here! :) thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Sketch #31, Spellbinders-Nested Pennants, Chipboard-Jenni Bowlin, Twine-May Arts, Gems-Hero Arts, Buttons-Papertrey Ink, Stamps-Papertrey Ink

frames

Just a little peek into some of the decorating I have been up to in our new house. I am sure you are asking yourself what this has to do with paper crafting, but hang on, it does! :)

I am loving this collection of frames on the top of our dresser. I have a thing for oval frames lately…And who is that couple? When were we that young? :)

Ok, getting to the crafty part…The frame in front was inspired by something I saw in a Pottery Barn catalog. As soon as I saw a frame made to look like old wood, I knew I could make my own.

The base is a plain wood frame from Michael’s. I painted it dark brown, to work with the edges I would create on the wood pieces.

I cut apart Real Wood paper from Creative Imaginations. (The paper is thin wood, backed with paper. It cuts easily in a paper trimmer.) It was painted with white paint and once that dried, the edges were painted with brown. It took the paint beautifully.

To create the nails, I used some flat, shiny red, self-adhesive gems from Hero Arts. Painting over them with black paint made the perfect nail head.

The leaves were die cut from new CHA Spellbinders release dies, Foliage. (not available yet, but check your local store)

And one last little peek. What do you think? Are you inspired to create from catalogs? Its a bit obsessive for me. Got any good catalog recommendations?

Its busy here-yy MIL arrives Wednesday and I leave for Los Angeles on Thursday, for a week. The Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) winter show starts this weekend. I will be there with Spellbinders, working in the booth. Hopefully I will be able to sneak away to take a few photos and share them when I get back. :)

thanks for always stopping by!

Supplies: Paper-Creative Imaginations (Real Wood-Thick Cherry), Patterned paper-Jenni Bowlin, Flowers-Prima, Brads-Nikki Sivils, Butterflies-Jenni Bowlin, Gems-Hero Arts, Paint-Ranger, Frame-Michael’s, Spellbinders-Foliage

thank you

Gratitude Day 15: Today I am grateful for Mondays. Kind of weird, huh? But Monday around here is quiet. Nothing going on. No place to be, seems like an extension of our Sunday afternoon. The little man and I just hang out and have our lunch someplace besides the kitchen table. He chooses the floor of my office or in front of the TV. Lots of fun and definitely memories that I will always cherish. :) Especially when he is taller than me in a year or two. :)

Playing with the Studio Calico back40 kit leftovers. Pretty great leftovers, huh? The oval border is a sticker from Sassafras Lass.

A close up look of a vellum butterfly from Jenni Bowlin, it comes with those pearls and a foam adhesive square. Honestly, I have been hoarding the rest in the package. :)

What are you grateful for today? thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:All from Studio Calico’s back40 kit

Mint Motif Sneak Peek: What a Card! with a video

Gratitude Day 12: Today I am thankful for coupons. Another silly thing, but they sure help us save money! :)

The inspiration for What a Card! came from my hubby. I was asking him what images could be considered masculine, and playing cards and poker chips were mentioned. It got me thinking and at 3 o’clock in the morning, I awoke and started sketching and researching. I think this set is a great mix of masculine images and punny sentiments.

There is a some great game playing supplies making an appearance in the paper crafting world. Look at the patterned papers here from Crate and Jenni Bowlin. Add in the Mint Motif stamps and you have a fun card!

Here is a quick video tutorial on how to make your own playing cards. For those that need the direct link, click HERE.

For this project, I made a cute poker table with Spellbinders Octagons. The poker chip image from What a Card! was stamped with red ink and heat embossed. Then I applied fired brick distressing ink over the top.

The little man is feeling better, thanks to antibiotics. And that is letting us have a good time with my sister and her hubby. Its been so much fun to talk make-up and do our hair together yesterday morning. Like old times! :) We are also getting tons of shopping in together. How I have missed that! Tomorrow is the day, release day! Yay! I can’t wait to share the full sets with you and hopefully a project or two. Don’t forget to share what you are grateful for today! thanks for stopping by!

Supplies If You Play: Stamps-Mint Motif (What a Card!, I've Got Your Number-available Nov. 14), Patterned paper-Crate (School Spirit), Jenni Bowlin (Play Date), Ink-Palette (L'Amour), Twine-Jillibean Soup

Supplies One of A Kind: Stamps-Mint Motif (What a Card!), Patterned paper-Crate (School Spirit), Wood paper-Real Wood (Creative Imaginations Thin Maple), Felt-Michael's, Ink-Ranger (Distressing Ink-Fired Brick), Palette (Noir), Embossing Powder-Stampendous (Clear Detail), Spellbinders-Octagons, Label Trio

Mint Motif Sneak Peek for November

Gratitude Day 10: Today’s gratitude: For an understanding hubby, who was helping me clean the house and get ready for my sister and her hubby arriving for a visit today, while in the middle of a release. He is the best!

Sneak peeks for Mint Motif’s November release start today! I am very excited to share both sets with you over the next couple of days, including the backstory of where these sets originated from. Let’s just say my best creativity arrives around 3 am. :)

Mint Motif stamps are made in the USA from the highest quality photopolymer. They are available exclusively at i {heart} papers online store. Sneak peeks will happen here from the 11th of each month, concluding with the release day on the 14th. Mint Motif Stamps will be available for purchase on the 14th.

And here is my sneak peek for today. This card uses each of the two stamp sets we are releasing this month. Over the next couple of days I will get into specifics of each set.

Check out what the new design team has created for you today! I know I cannot wait to see! :) Ok, so I peeked, ahead of time, and saw what they created. You really must click, as quickly as possible, to see what they have designed! Wow. Knock your socks off wow!

• Geny Cassady
• Bonnie Kempenich
• Julie Masse
• Melissa Bickford
• Ryann Salamon
• Tobi Crawford
• Kate Baldwin- i {heart} papers owner

What are you grateful for today? And if you are wondering what that is all about, click HERE. thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (I’ve Got Your Number, What a Card!-available Nov. 14), Patterned paper-Jenni Bowlin (Play Date), Ink-Palette (L’Amour, Noir), Twine-May Arts, Lace-Hero Arts (Cream Self-Adhesive)

And Jan, thanks again for stopping at the store!! It was wonderful to meet you in real life!! :)

happily ever after

Usually I have a starting place for a card. Like a color palette, or an idea, but this just came about with a pile of pieces laying on my desk. Do you do that? I create things left and right, and then just leave them until I find the right “home” for the bits.

The red pop tops have been laying around begging to be used, so when my Jenni Bowlin butterfly and alpha stickers arrived, they seemed like the perfect spot.

The doily is an awesome wood mount stamp from Hero Arts called Circle Lace. I am pretty sure that I have stamped and heat embossed about 50 of these. You just never know when you are going to need one! :)

And needing a sentiment (sometimes I make a card and then realize I forgot to reserve some space for one…) a long sentiment about love seemed to be needed. I have been playing around with stamping sentiments vertically. I like it. Its different. And still readable.

What are you playing around with lately? Got any new product you can’t get enough of? Have a wonderful and creative day! thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:Stamps-Hero Arts (Circle Lace), Papertrey Ink (Big and Bold Wishes), Patterned paper-Jenni Bowlin (Play Date Mini Papers), Crate (Restoration), Stickers-Butterflies and Letters-Jenni Bowlin (Yellow Butterfly Banner and Alpha Stickers, Banner Alpha Stickers Ledger), Ink-Versamark (Watermark), Memento (Tuxedo Black), Pop caps-stash, Embossing powder-Stampendous (Detail White)

World Card Making Day

Happy World Card Making Day!! Welcome! If you are here from the Blog Hop welcome and enjoy!! If you aren’t, be sure and click HERE to join in all the fun and creativity!!

Take a closer look at the background, the turquoise background. Its made with yellow embossing powder and distressing ink. Pretty cool, huh? So, what I have for you today, is a video tutorial on how to create your own twist on the resist embossing technique. Its so much fun!!

Here is a direct link to the video for those that need it: RESIST EMBOSSING WITH A TWIST

Here is a close up of the top of the card. Love those mini alpha stickers and butterfly stickers from Jenni Bowlin!

While I had all my distressing inks and embossing powders out, I created a ton of backgrounds. It was fun, quick, and now look at the great pile I have to play with today!! :)

Try this out and let me know what you create-I would love to see!! I hope you have wonderful card making plans for today and relaxation for the rest of the weekend! thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Papertrey Ink (Polka Dot Basics), Ink-Ranger (Distressing Inks-Broken China), Embossing Powder-Stampendous (Clear Lemon), Cardstock-Papertrey Ink (Kraft, Stamper’s Select White), Stickers-Jenni Bowlin, Twine-Divine Twine, Pearls-Hero Arts