KSS Gone to Texas

Registration opened today for the Kitchen Sink Multi Step Stamping Workshop scheduled for October 8 and 9 in Pearland, Texas! Maria has designed three new Texas themed sets for the event!! Space is limited so head on over to check it out. If you click on the Multi Step Stamping Button in the sidebar it will take you to all the exciting details!!

Texas is proud to be hosting this sensational event! I have included a Texas live oak and a yellow rose in my card for you today to celebrate Kitchen Sinks' visit to Texas. I hope you can join Maria and members of the Kitchen Sink Crew (of course, I'll be there) for a day and a half of multi step stamping Texas style!

Stamps: Multi Step Trees, Mix It Up, and 3 Step Hearts & Roses by Kitchen Sink Stamps

Papers: Bashful Blue, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, and Whisper White by Stampin' Up

Inks: Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Marigold Morning, and More Mustard by Stampin' Up

Tools: Texas Punch, Sizzix Woodgrain Embossing Folder, SU Edge Punch, Dimensionals

Embellishment: Jute Twine

Kitchen Sink Monday - Apple Picking

While cleaning up my work space this week, I came across a few apples left over from last Monday's pencil toppers and couldn't bare to throw them out! Instead I decided to pull out a pile of my Kitchen Sink Stamps to create this harvest scene for you today. I hope you like it!!

Stamps: 3 Step School Days, Multi Step Harvest,
Multi Step Trees, and 3 Step Honey Bunny,
 by Kitchen Sink Stamps

Papers: Soft Sky, Pear Pizzazz, and Whisper White by Stampin' Up

Inks: Certainly Celery, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Real Red,
Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Creamy Caramel,
Soft Suede, and Early Espresso by Stampin' Up

Tools: Grass Punch

Accessories: Dimensionals

Check in on the rest of the Kitchen Crew to see what they have cooked up for you today!

Angela * Maria * Connie * Lisa * Julie * Makiko

If you plan to shop today, enter the store to the right and enter my discount code to save 10% on your order.

Friends of Speedy the Cat's Friendship Card Challenge

Another Saturday means another chance to join in the Friends of Speedy the Cat's latest challenge and win some free stamps from Mark's Finest Papers.  Today we are challenging you to create a friendship card. I used stamps from Mark's Finest Papers' Owl Be Here from the August release to create mine.

Stamps: Owl Be Here by Mark's Finest Papers

Papers: Concord Crush, Almost Amethyst, and Whisper White

from Stampin' Up, wisteria by BasicGrey

Inks: Concord Crush, Almost Amethyst 

and Mint Melody by Stampin' Up

Tools: Oval Nestabilities

Embellishments: MFP Ribbon, Jewels

Each member of the Friends of Speedy the Cat's Blog Team has a fabulous friendship card to share with you today!!

Vicki 
Julia
Dawn 
Joanne T
Joanne G 
Geri
Lois

I hope you have found some inspiration to create a friendship card of your own to share in this week's challenge. You could be the winner of a set of Mark's Finest Papers' stamps! Be sure to upload your creation on Speedy the Cat's Blog using Inlinkz. If you upload to another online gallery, be sure to include the keywords Speedy's Friends!

Queen for the Day - Peggy-Sue

This card was inspired by the wickedly talented Peggy-Sue who was crowned this morning as the 24th Queen for the Day at Splitcoaststampers. Here is her delightful card: 4 Commandments.

Stamps: True Friend by Stampin' Up

Papers: Baja Breeze, Creamy Caramel, Tangerine Tango, 

and Whisper White by Stampin' Up, BasicGrey scraps

Inks: Creamy Caramel, Soft Suede, and Early Espresso by SU

Tools: Owl Punch, Scalloped Oval, and Tag Punch by Stampin' Up
Sizzix Woodgrain Embossing Folder

KSS Goes Back to School

Most Texas school children are heading back to the classroom this morning so I thought I would share with you a quick, easy, and inexpensive back-to-school desk topper for teachers.

This simple pencil holder is made with an empty toilet paper tube, a few scraps of paper and ribbon, and three #2 pencils. I lined the tube with designer paper inside and out affixed with Scor-Tape. I stamped the ruler from Kitchen Sink's 3 Step School Days to rim the top of the tube and apples to rim the base of the tube as well as attach to the pencil tops. The tube was glued with Mono Multi Glue to the three layer circular base.

Stamps: 3 Step School Days by Kitchen Sink Stamps

Papers: Real Red, Basic Black, and Whisper White by Stampin' Up

The Grade School Stack by DCWV

Inks: Ruler - Layer 3 Memento Tuxedo Black, Layer 2 SU

Creamy Caramel, Layer 1 SU So Saffron

Apples - Layer 4 SU Cherry Cobbler, Layer 3 SU Real Red

Layer 2, SU Real Red stamped off once, Layer 1 SU So Saffron

Tools: Nestabilities, Scor-Tape, Mono Multi Glue

Embellishment: Twill Ribbon

Check in on the crew!!

Angela * Maria * Connie * Lisa * Julie * Makiko

Make plans for some Multi Step Stamping in Pearland, Texas on October 8 & 9!!
Watch the Kitchen Sink Weblog for registration details!

TUIC - Something Blue

Danielle May has challenged Tangled Up in Creativity to create a masculine card using SU Pacific Point and ribbon/ faux ribbon. I added some embossed dimples and argyle to my faux ribbon to compliment my vintage golfer.

Stamps: Vintage Golfer by Stampabilities

Papers: SU Pacific Point, Gina K Designs Pure Luxury White

Inks: SU Pacific Point

Tools: Cuttlebug Embossing Folders and Crimper

Friends of Speedy the Cat's Harvest Challenge

Saturday means a new challenge from Speedy the Cat's Friends!! This week our hostess Geri is challenging you to create a harvest card!! I created my Squirrel Harvest using images from two sets to be released by Mark's Finest Papers in September. I started with the squirrel and then masked him to add the basket and tree.

A huge thank you to all who took part in Speedy's Flower Challenge!! Over 100 participants entered their beautiful projects which allowed there to be three ladies (Benzi, Karen Howard, and Giovana) who will be receiving free stamps from Mark's Finest Papers! Congratulations to our winners!

Stamps: Autumn Fun and Broom Rides by Mark's Finest Papers

Papers: Early Espresso and Baja Breeze by Stampin' Up, offbeat by BasicGrey

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black and Always Artichoke by Stampin' Up

Tools: Copic Markers, EK Success Punch

Embellishment: Ribbon

Don't miss the harvest creations of the rest of the Friends of Speedy the Cat's Blog Team!

Vicki  
Julia
Dawn 
Joanne T
Joanne G 
Geri
Lois 

Let's see what wonderful harvest designs you can create and share! Be sure to upload your project using Inlinkz on the Friends of Speedy the Cat's Blog.

Sneak Peek in the Color Challenge

I wanted to share a sneak peek today at a few images from two of  the September release sets from Mark's Finest Papers. When I saw the colors Betty posted on Splitcoaststampers for Color Challenge 284, I thought, "Cherry Cobbler - fabulous, Always Artichoke - perfect, Pretty in Pink - uh, oh!!" Well, I managed to work it in, and I think it looks pretty darn cute!!

The squirrel, leaves, and sentiment are from a fabulous fall set called Autumn Fun. The bare tree in the background is from a delightful Halloween set called Broom Rides. Both will be released by Mark's Finest Papers in September.

Stamps: Autumn Fun and Broom Rides by Mark's Finest Papers

Papers: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Pretty in Pink, 

and Whisper White by Stampin' Up

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzazz, 

Bashful Blue, and Always Artichoke by Stampin' Up, Copic Markers

Tools: Circle Nestabilities, Sponge

Embellishment: Ribbon

Vicki has also posted some exciting news on the Friends of Speedy the Cat's Blog entry today!! It involves an opportunity to spend three months on the Friends of Speedy the Cat's Blog Team. Be sure you check it out!! Two people will be selected and one of them could be you!!!

Harvest Time - Kitchen Sink Stamps

With autumn just around the corner, I am anxious to give it a little push and hurry it along!! I can't wait for the cool, brisk days and colorful leaves!

I pulled out a lot of stamps to create this card!! I'm not having fun unless my desk is piled mile-high with inks and blocks and stamps!!

Stamps: Multi Step Pumpkins, Owl & Autumn Moon,
Multi Step Harvest, 3 Step Honey Bunny,
and Simple Sentiments by Kitchen Sink Stamps

Papers: Early Espresso and Whisper White by Stampin' Up,
indian summer by BasicGrey
Inks: Pumpkin Layers - 3 SU Pumpkin Pie, 2 SU Pumpkin Pie stamped off once, 1 SU Peach Parfait, 4 SU Cajun Craze stamped off once, 5 SU Cajun Craze,
Tree Layers - 1 SU Soft Suede, 2 SU Chocolate Chip,
3 SU Early Espresso
Grass Layers - 2 SU Pear Pizzazz, 1 SU Old Olive
Leaves - SU Marigold Morning, SU Red Riding Hood,
SU Pumpkin Pie, SU Creamy Caramel
Sentiment: SU Cajun Craze
Tools: Martha Stewart Punch
Embellishment: Ribbon

It is so delightful to hear that several of you are making plans to attend Kitchen Sink's Multi Step Stamping Workshop in Pearland, Texas on October 8 and 9! I am so looking forward to reconnecting with old friends and making new ones at this fabulous event as we stamp together!! Maria has some wonderful new designs in the works for this special event!! Keep an eye on Maria's Kitchen Sink Weblog where the registration information will be posted!

Drop in on the Kitchen Crew and see what they have cooked up for you today!!

Angela * Maria * Connie * Lisa * Julie * Makiko

Clean and Simple - Peaceful Dawn

Created for today's Clean and Simple Challenge at Splitcoaststampers. I used my teardrop Memento ink pads to ink just the trees and deer from the image from Regal & Proud by Mark's Finest Papers.

Stamps: Regal & Proud by Mark's Finest Papers

Papers: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, and Soft Sky by Stampin' Up

Ink: Rich Cocoa and Cottage Ivy by Memento

Embellishment: Ribbon

SCF - Think Flowers!!

It's Saturday so that means it's time for another fun challenge from the Friends of Speedy the Cat. Joanne Grzelak is hosting today and has requested that we "Think Flowers!"

So pull out all your beautiful blossoms and stamp up a storm! Be sure to upload your entry to Mark's Finest Papers using Inlinkz. For every 50 entries, there will be one lucky winner of a stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers!! You have until Friday, August 20 at 3:00pm EST to get your project entered in the challenge!

A huge congratulations to Kimberly S. who was the winner of a free set of stamps from Mark's Finest Papers for Challenge 15 and a big thanks to all who entered!!!

Stamps: Apples & Camellia, Flourished Sea Creatures (sentiment) by Mark's Finest Papers

Papers: Blushing Bride, Rose Red, and Whisper White by Stampin' Up, kioshi by BasicGrey (MFP)

Inks: Rose Red and Blushing Bride by Stampin' Up, Copic markers(MFP)

Tools: Cuttlebug Victoria Embossing Folder, Oval Punchs, Martha Stewart Leaf Punch

Embellishments: Ribbon, Rhinestones

Drop in on the rest of the blog team to see their glorious flowers!!

Julia

Dawn

Joanne T

Joanne G

Geri

Vicki
Lois

Flourished Sea Creatures - Mark's Finest Papers

Mark's Finest Papers' Design Teams are celebrating our NEWEST STAMP RELEASE with a Blog Hop. Our very talented Design Teams have created exciting paper crafts for your inspiration. With the addition of New Design Team members to inspire you, this is going to be a really fun-packed Hop!

We have 4 New Stamp Sets Released this week: Tweet Blessings, Flourished Sea Creatures, Regal & Proud, and Owl Be Here. For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!

For your chance to win BLOG CANDY, (a set that will be released NEXT month), visit and comment on each of the following design team members' blogs on August 10, 11, 12, and 13, 2010. On Saturday, (August 14, 2010), a winner will be chosen FOR EACH DAY from those participants who visited all the blogs listed for that day. (There will be four different winners, one winner for each day.)

THAT MEANS IF YOU MISSED A DAY, YOU STILL HAVE OTHER CHANCES WIN! And, you can go back and comment on each day's blogs, as the winners will be chosen Saturday morning!

Here is the card I have created for you today using Mark's Finest Papers' new Flourished Sea Creatures!!

Stamps: Flourished Sea Creatures by Mark's Finest Papers

Papers: Tangerine Tango, Lovely Lilac, and 

Whisper White by Stampin' Up, 

Designer Paper by Christine Adolph for Creative Imaginations

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tangerine Tango, 

Orchid Opulence, Wild Wasabi, and Soft Sky by Stampin' Up,
Lovely Lilac Craft Ink by Stampin' Up

Tools: Oval Nestabilities (MFP), Cuttlebug Starfish Die and 

Embossing Folder, Sponge, Martha Stewart Fern Punch (MFP),

Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Clear Embossing Powder

Embellishments: Ribbon, Shell Charm (MFP), and Pearl(MFP)

Here is the line up for today's Blog Hop! Lots of inspiration for this fun set!!!

August Guest Designer- Wendy

Nancyruth 

Lois
Vicky
Jeanne
Anne
Debbie
Peggysue
Faith
Susan
Judi
Connie
Emily
Karen
Patty
Roxie
Vicki
Liz
Claudine
Dawn
Lynn
Joanne G
Geri
Joanne T
Mark's Finest Papers

Bountiful Blessings - Kitchen Sink Monday

It is hard to believe that summer will soon be ending and fall following closely behind! I so look forward to the cool, brisk days of autumn. It is my favorite season.

And this year it will find me in Houston, Texas at the Kitchen Sink Multi Step Stamping Workshop!! I  hope you are putting October 8 and 9 on your calendar to attend. The Workshop will be led by Kitchen Sink owner and creator, Maria Colosimo, assisted by Connie, Makiko, and me!!! Registration will be opening soon!

For today's card, I mixed together a little bit of this and a little bit of that along with a lot of masking! I hope you like it!

Stamps: Multi Step Sunflowers, Multi Step Pumpkins, Multi Step Harvest, and Friends of the Moon by Kitchen Sink Stamps
Papers: Pure Luxury White by Gina K Designs, Tangerine Tango, and Soft Suede by Stampin' Up
Inks: Pumpkin - Layer 3 Memento Tangelo, Layer 2 Memento Tangelo stamped off once, Layer 1 Memento Cantaloupe, Pumpkin Stem and Leaf - Layer 1 SU Old Olive, Layer 2 SU Always Artichoke, Layer 3 SU True Thyme, Sunflowers - Layer 3 Memento Potter's Clay, Layer 2 Memento Cantaloupe, Layer 1 Memento Dandelion, Layer 5 Memento Rich Cocoa, Layer 4 Memento Rich Cocoa stamped off once, Leaves - Layer 1 SU Pear Pizzazz, Layer 3 - SU Old Olive, Sentiment - Memento Rich Cocoa and SU Tangerine Tango, Ground sponged with SU Creamy Caramel and dotted with Memento Rich Cocoa
Tools: Cuttlebug Grace's Frame Embossing Folder, Sponge, Post It Notes

Each Kitchen Sink Crew member has posted something special for their Kitchen Sink fans!! Check it out!!

Angela * Maria * Connie * Lisa * Julie * Makiko

Friends of Speedy the Cat's Handmade Embellishment Challenge

WELCOME TO SPEEDY THE CAT'S FRIENDS BLOG CHALLENGE # 15! Today team member Joanne Travis has asked crafters to create their own embellishments to add to their card or project.  One random participant will receive a FREE Mark's Finest Papers stamp set as a prize! For every 50 entries,  ANOTHER random winner will be drawn! Play as often as you like, and if you use Mark's Finest Papers' stamps, you are entered twice!

I created my card and  handmade embellishments for today's challenge using the butterfly from Spring and Easter by Mark's Finest Papers. I stamped the butterflies on white cardstock using Versafine Vintage Sepia and on clear shrink film using Brown StazOn.. I colored all 4 butterflies using my Copic Markers. I than cut out the paper butterflies and attached DMC floss antenna. I trimmed around the shrink film butterflies and used my heat embossing gun to shrink them down to charm size.They are attached with Scor-Tape to the card front.

Stamps: Spring and Easter by Mark's Finest Papers

Papers: Baja Breeze, Old Olive, and Certainly Celery by Stampin' Up, White Georgia Pacific, 

and kioshi by BasicGrey

Inks: Versafine Vintage Sepia, Brown StazOn, Copic Markers

Tools: Martha Stewart Leaf Punch, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Scor-Tape, Embossing Gun

Additional Materials: Shrink Film, DMC Floss, Ribbon

So grab your stuff and get to stamping. When you are finished, use Inlinkz to load your entry to Speedy the Cat's Blog. Someone's going to win!! It could be you!!

You have until August 13th by 3:00pm to upload your entry!

KSS Project of the Month - CD Spinner Card

If you are anything like me, you probably have accumulated an assortment of CDs over the years that you no longer want or use. Well today's project is a fun way to recycle them into spinning cards for the special people in your life. I created two samples for you today. One as a welcome card for a new baby, and one to welcome students back to school. CD spinner cards can, of course, be made for any and all occasions!

I cut a cardstock circle just slightly smaller than the CD so that the mirrored surface would sparkle and shine around the edge as the CD turns. I then cut the designer paper circle a quarter of an inch smaller. I used Kitchen Sink's Multi Step Baby to create the images and sentiment on this spinner card.

For the front of the spinner card, I stamped the baby shoes and sentiment on white cardstock and then cut them out with oval Nestabilities. I added Primas with jeweled brad centers and a sweet satin bow.

On the back I placed the baby's name, birthday, and weight which I printed on my computer. I stamped and cut out the blocks and silver mug from Multi Step Baby.

After all the parts were cut out and glued to the CD, I used my Crop-a-dile to punch a hole in the CD. I then attached a clear, stretchy cord from which to hang the spinner card!! I absolutely love the way that it is constantly turning and catching the light! It never stops moving and sending a rainbow of color dancing around the rim!

Stamps: Multi Step Baby by Kitchen Sink Stamps
Papers: Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White by Stampin' Up, Sweet & Sassy Polka Dots by the Paper Studio
Inks: Shoes - Layer 4 SU Rich Razzleberry, Layer 3 SU Pixie Pink, Layer 2 SU Pixie Pink stamped off once, Layer 1 SU Pink Pirouette; Blocks - Layer 3 SU Rich Razzleberry, Layer 2 SU Pixie Pink, Layer 1 SU Pink Pirouette, Mug - Layer 4 SU Basic Gray, Layer 3 SU Basic Gray stamped off once, Layer 2 SU Going Grey, Layer 1 SU Going Grey
Tools: Edge Punch, Nestabilities, Circle Cutter, Crop-a-dile, Sponge
Embellishments: Satin Ribbon, Primas, Jeweled Brads
Additional Materials: CD, Mono Multi Glue, Dimensionals, Scor-Tape, Clear Stretchy Beading Cord

Front of my Back to School CD Spinner:

Stamps: 3 Step School Days, Other Important People, and Friends of the Moon by Kitchen Sink Stamps
Papers: Georgia Pacific White, Designer Paper from The Grade School Stack by DCWV
Inks: Versafine Onyx Black, Apple - Layer 4 SU Cherry Cobbler, Layer 3 SU Real Red, Layer 2 SU Real Red stamped off once, Layer 1 SU Daffodil Delight stamped off once; Ruler - Layer 1 SU Daffodil Delight, Layer 2 SU Creamy Caramel, Layer 3 SU Soft Suede
Tools: Crop-a-dile, CM Circle Cutter
Embellishsment: Ribbon
Additional Materials: CD, clear stretchy beading cord, glue, Scor-Tape

Back of Back to School CD Spinner:

Stamps: 3 Step School Days by Kitchen Sink Stamps
Papers: Daffodil Delight by Stampin' Up, Designer Paper from The Grade School Stack by DCWV
Inks: Versafine Onyx Black, Books - Layer 3 SU Brilliant Blue, Layer 2 - SU Soft Suede stamped off once, Layer 1 SU Creamy Caramel stamped off once


Give it a try!! I think you will be delighted with the results!!

Shopping instructions are above!

Drop in on the rest of the Kitchen Sink Crew. Each one has created something special for you today.

Angela * Maria * Connie * Lisa * Julie * Makiko

Don't forget to mark your calendar for Multi Step Stamping in Houston, Texas on October 8 and 9. It will be a wonderful opportunity for you to get some hands on Kitchen Sink experience under the guidance of Maria Colosimo, owner and creator of Kitchen Sink Stamps!

Anni-VERVE-sary Blog Hop

Verve is celebrating their 3rd Anniversary today by inviting their fans to take part in a birthday blog hop.

If you started at the top of the blog hop, you arrived here from Jennifer Cuthbertson's I'm Crafty!
If not, head over to Julee's Blog (owner of Verve) for all the information on how to win prizes and to start the hop from the beginning.

Because I love my Verve stamps for creating clean and simple sympathy cards, I wanted to share with you this quick 5 minute card today.

Stamps: Forever in Our Hearts and Notes of Prayer by Verve

Papers: Pink Pirouette and Rich Razzleberry by Stampin' Up

Ink: Rich Razzleberry by Stampin' Up

Tools: Martha Stewart Loop Corner Punch, Oval Nestabilities

Embellishment: Flat Back Pearl

From here, head on over to Andrea Vernagus' Crafty Engineering which is the next stop on the Verve hop!