clothespins

So this is a project I just had to share again. I made this about this time last year. Being in love with all things clothespins (still am), I stamped on the basic wooden pins with Palette Ink. The reason I bring this up again, is because I saw lots of clothespins at CHA-W. So many cutely decorated ones!! Clothespins can be easily covered with patterned papers, or stamped. Lots of possibilities!! :)

From Crate Paper, Story Teller, clothespins

From American Crafts, Gardenia, clothespins

thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly

A homemade Christmas gift with Avocado Arts

Having cute dish towels is something I love to have in the kitchen. Nothing like adding a bit of holiday décor or just some fun personality to the room! These plain dish towels were a great find at my local fabric store. They are made for decorating, typically with stitching, but Brrr! and the Nerdy Snow Peeps stamp set from Avocado Arts (and those stinking cute snowmen) were perfect to use! This is a quick project, which makes it a perfect gift to make for someone this holiday season!

Here is a look at the stamping on the towel. If you are going to do this, here are some tips, well, instructions for what you need to do, if you want the stamping to stick around. :)

• Wash the towel/s first. No dryer sheets or fabric softener, though.
• Stamp on a single layer of towel and consider putting a piece of scrap paper underneath to save on your stamping surface. If you stamp on all the layers, your image will go through to the underside.
• Use PALETTE inks from Stewart Superior. These are hybrid inks made for this type of application.
• Heat set the image using an iron. Place another dish towel over your stamped image before you iron, to help avoid burning.

The towels were simply wrapped with ribbon and a tag. The ribbon was cut to wrap around the towels and was fastened together with a large glue dot.
The tag was die cut and stamped. Chalkstock was used and it takes ink beautifully! Versamagic Cloud White was used. Keep in mind this is a juicy pigment ink, so it needs dry time or a little help from a heat gun. The tag was tied to the ribbon with a piece of twine and a cute wood button.

And here is a sneak peek of the next kit being released, Sweet Treat Sweetie. Stop back on December 30 for the full reveal!
Be sure and stop by and visit the rest of the team to be inspired!
Avocado Arts Blog
Latisha Yoast
Julia Stainton
Becky Oehlers
thanks for stopping by!
~kimberly
Supplies: Stamps-Avocado Arts (Brrr! and the Nerdy Snow Peeps), Ink-Palette (Noir, L’Amour), Versamagic (Cloud White), Chalkstock-Canvas Corp, Twine-Martha Stewart, Ribbon-Making Memories, Button-Maya Road, Towels-Hancock Fabrics, Spellbinders (tag no longer available)

a little off season

Yes, a little odd to post cards for New Year’s and Christmas, but the publishing world is always many seasons ahead. I thought I would share a couple of cards with you that didn’t get picked up. And I am ok with that. I learn a lot from my cards that don’t get chosen. Like this one. Yep, its a little odd for New Year’s, with the whole kraft-y look. But, I love this patterned paper with the star bursts. And I loved playing with some tape from 7gypsies. Tape is hot and fun and comes in so many fun patterns.

Supplies:Patterned paper-Jillibean Soup (Black Bean Kraft Chopped Celery), Cardstock-Papertrey Ink, Core’dinations, Stamps-Hero Arts (Holiday Sayings,) Ink-Versamark Watermark, Embossing Powder-Stampendous (Detail Black), Ribbon-Michael’s, Tape-7gypsies, Button Sticker-Creative Cafe

And this one too. Its ok. I am happy with the card. Its cute, simple, and I am proud to say that I cut those holly leaves out all by myself. :) And once I see the issue, I will know exactly why my cards weren’t chosen. The color could be off from the article, someone else used the same products but with a more interesting twist, or, it just wasn’t what they wanted. It doesn’t make me give up. It makes me want to keep submitting more and more. If you are interesting in being published, try it! Go for it! Submit! You never know what the editors are looking for. Oh, and be sure and have Christmas music ready to play in April! LOL!

Supplies: Stamps-Hero Arts (Holiday Sayings, Write Your Own-Cling), Patterned paper-Cosmo Cricket (Material Girl), Felt-Creative Cafe, Chipboard button-Jenni Bowlin, Ink-Palette (L’Amour, Landscape), Cardstock-Papertrey Ink (Spring Moss) World Win (Canvas), Twine-May Arts, Spellbinders-Classic Scalloped Rectangles Large, Classic Rectangles Large

thanks for stopping by!

ice cream!

We need ice cream here in Iowa. Wow, its been SO hot here. Shocking for a Minnesota girl, a northern Minnesota girl. I don’t even have clothes appropriate. In MN, we wear sweatshirts and shorts all summer! :)

I adore these Limited Edition dies from Spellbinders™! These are the smallest dies in the Nested Ice Cream Cones set. And they easily cut the stamped backgrounds from Very Square. You can see a closer look below. And yes, there are two “scoops” of ice cream. :)

One more thing to point out-the scalloped border on the bottom was made from die cutting circles from the polka dotted background. Fun!

Ok, this is the last card from all my playing when the stamps first arrived. Are you liking your stamps? Make sure you share your projects with me because I cannot wait to see!! :) I am busy getting ready to teach a class at All About Pictures in Cedar Rapids, IA tonight. Its a monthly Spellbinders class. Each month we will make a different project featuring a new technique with the Spellbinders products. If you are in the area, I would love to see you in the next class! (the 4th Tuesday of every month)

Oooh-cute card alert!! Check out what Mint Motif design team member Charlene Austin made!

thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Very Square, Very Square Sentiments), Patterned paper-October Afternoon (Fly a Kit, Thrift Shop), Ink-Palette (Sunflower, Burnt Umber, Beaux Arts Blue, Landscape), Twine-May Arts, Spellbinders-Big Scalloped Squares Large, Nested Ice Cream Cones, Classic Circles Small

banners

When I saw the cloud background from Very Square, I knew I wanted to make little banners. (This is the first card I made with my stamps when they arrived. :)) I was happy with how the sentiment fit so perfectly! Just so you know, this card is not standard size. The length is 6 inches.

To create the banners, I stamped the polka dot image from Very Square onto white cardstock. Then I die cut the banner shapes, using the Classic Long Rectangles small. The top edges were folded over the string. The string truly is attached to the card with the little clothespins.

**There is now a fan photo album for Mint Motif at Facebook!! Simply become a fan and you can share all your fabulous Mint Motif creations with other fans! Click HERE.**

**And starting Monday, on my blog it will be Mint Mondays! I will be featuring projects from other paper crafters, the design team, techniques with the stamps from the Mint Motif line, and lots more!**

Thanks again for all your support and all your purchases!! You have all made this new adventure such a wonderful time!! Many hugs, have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Very Square, Very Square Sentiments), Ink-Palette (Giverny, Belle Rose, Orangerie, Paris Lights, Water Lily), Twine-May Arts, Clothespins-Creative Impression, Spellbinders-Classic Long Rectangles Small, Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles Large