Floral Sympathy Cards - KSS

In recent weeks my sympathy card stash has sadly been depleted so I am using today's blog post sponsored by Kitchen Sink Stamps to share with you the sympathy cards I have been working on this week. One is going to a sweet friend who just lost her younger sister. Her sister loved the color purple and loved hydrangeas so I incorporated both into my first design. 

I generally make my sympathy cards larger than the standard A2 card. Both of today's cards measure 5" x 7" and have a black grosgrain ribbon tied across the bottom.

Kitchen Sink Stamps used to create this card:

Hydrangea Multi Step Clear Stamps

Lilacs Multi Step Clear Stamps (stems)

Spring Daffodils Multi Step Clear Stamps (dragonfly)

Simple Sentiments Clear Stamps (with)

Other Important People Clear Stamps (Heartfelt)

Heart & Roses Multi Step Clear Stamps (Sympathy)

Color Recipe for the Hydrangeas

Layer 4 Memento Elderberry

Layer 3 Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grape

Layer 2 Stampin' Up Highland Heather

Layer 1 Memento Lulu Lavender

Color Recipe for the Stems and Leaves

Layer 3 Stampin' Up Old Olive

Layer 2 Stampin' Up Old Olive

Layer 1 Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow

Color Recipe for the Dragonfly

Layer 1 Stampin' Up Gray Granite

Layer 2 Versafine Onyx Black

Sentiment: Versafine Onyx Black

I have entered the hydrangea card in C4C445 - Sympathy or Hope Cards over at Crazy 4 Challenges.

This second card is going into my sympathy stash. For it I used the same layout and sentiment but added sprigs of dogwood blossoms. The two smaller blossoms are cut out and popped up over the background flowers.

Kitchen Sink Stamps used to create this card:

Enchanted Dogwood Multi Step Clear Stamps

Simple Sentiments Clear Stamps (with)

Other Important People Clear Stamps (Heartfelt)

Heart & Roses Multi Step Clear Stamps (Sympathy)

Color Recipe for the Dogwoods

Layer 4 PTI Hibiscus Burst (wiped off the center)

Layer 3 Stampin' Up Flirty Flamingo (wiped off the center)

Layer 2 PTI Sweet Blush

Layer 1 Memento Angel Pink

Layer 5 Distress Ink Peeled Paint

Centers on Layer 3 & 4 - Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade

Color Recipe for the Leaves

Layer 3 Stampin' Up Old Olive

Layer 2 Stampin' Up Old Olive

Layer 1 Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow

Color Recipe for the Branches 

Layer 1 Stampin' Up Creamy Caramel (wiped off of the leaves)
Layer 2 Stampin' Up Baked Brown Sugar
Layer 3 Stampin' Up Soft Suede

A HUGE thank you for visiting my blog today.

Find more Kitchen Sink Stamps inspiration on the blogs below:


Kitchensinkstamps' Weblog by Maria Colosimo,
the owner and creator of KSS


Nana loves stamping by Jeanne Frontz

CCEE1830 - National Refreshment Day

Here it is the last Thursday of July, and the calendar says it is National Refreshment Day!

One way to beat the heat of summer is with a cold refreshment. Do you cool down with a glass of lemonade, a rainbow snowcone, an ice cream cone, a cold bottle of beer, or something else? Whatever it may be, share with the CCEE Stampers your favorite cool-down treat in your design this week.

Make mine lemonade!! AHHHHH!!

Let's see how the rest of the CCEE Stampers like to cool down:

Joanne Grzelak

Anne Harmon

Vicky Gould

Lois Bak

Liz Williams
Frances Byrne
Maryann Einam

Kelly McKown-Santi

Backyard Scene - KSS

For today's Let's Make a Scene design sponsored by Kitchen Sink Stamps I have potted the new Spring Daffodils Multi Step Clear Stamps in the urn from Hydrangea Multi Step Clear Stamps. In recent weeks I have put the daffodils in a basket and in a watering can. As promised last week, today they are in the urn.

This card is going to a friend and her sweet pup who are spending the summer in Denver.
She has sent me lovely pictures of herself and Scooter on their hotel balcony enjoying the gorgeous mountain scenery and crisp, clean air! I'm not sure how we can lure her back to Texas with our broiling heat and relentless sun!

I used two masks to create this design. After stamping the urn first, I placed a mask over it and stamped the daffodils. Next I stamped the dog toward the background of the scene and then added a mask on him. I then brushed Peeled Paint Distress Ink on the grassy area and Peacock Feathers Distress ink on the sky. After removing both masks, I added the frog, the dragonfly, the grasses, and the bold sentiment.

I am entering this card in the following challenge:

Stamping Sensations - July - In my Garden

Kitchen Sink Stamps used in this design:

Spring Daffodils Multi Step Clear Stamps

Kittens & Pup Multi Step Clear Stamps

Honey Bunny Multi Step Clear Stamps

Tree Friends Multi Step Clear Stamps

Make a Big Statement Clear Stamps

Color Recipes

I have listed the layers in the order in which I stamped them.

Urn

Layer 4 - Versafine Onyx Black

Layer 3 - Memento London Fog

Layer 2 - Stampin' Up Going Gray

Layer 1 - PTI Soft Stone

Daffodils

Layer 3 - PTI Lemon Tart

Layer 2 - Memento Dandelion

Layer 1 - Memento Cantaloupe

Layer 4 - Memento Peanut Brittle

Leaves and Stems

Layer 1 - Stampin' Up Pear Pizzazz

Layer 2 - Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green

Layer 3 - Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow

Dog

Layer 4 - Memento Espresso Truffle

Layer 3 - PTI Dark Chocolate

Layer 2 - Stampin' Soft Suede

Layer 1 was omitted to leave the rest of the dog white

Frog

Layer 3 - Versafine Onyx Black

Layer 2 - Distress Ink Peeled Paint

Layer 1 - Stampin' Up Lemon Lime Twist

Dragonfly

Layer 1 - Stampin' Up Granite Gray

Layer 2 - Versafine Onyx Black

I am going to take this card to exercise class on Wednesday morning and have all the ladies in our class sign it for my friend! I think she and Scooter will get a big kick out of hearing from us this week!

I am truly honored that you have chosen to visit me this week!

Please leave a comment so that I return the favor!

For Addition KSS Samples please visit the Kitchen Crew:

Kitchensinkstamps' Weblog by Maria Colosimo,
the owner and creator of KSS


Nana loves stamping by Jeanne Frontz

CCEE1829 - National Zookeepers' Week

Hello to all our CCEE followers! Lynn here to share with you this week's challenge.

Back in the day when I was a young mother, one of the first trips I planned during the summer break from school was a day at the zoo for my son and his cousins. We all loved watching the crazy antics of the animals. This week in honor of zookeepers' week, I am challenging you all to include at least one (more if you want) zoo animal on your card.

Those of you who choose to share your card in an online gallery, please include the keyword CCEE1829.

I have used Lil' Elephant Multi Step Clear Stamps and for the grass Honey Bunny Multi Step Clear Stamps both by Kitchen Sink Stamps to complete this challenge.   The designer paper is graphic 45 safari adventure.

Color Recipe for the elephant:
     Layer 4 - Memento Tuxedo Black
     Layer 3 - Memento London Fog
     Layer 2 - SU Gray Granite
     Layer 1 - SU Going Gray

Take a trip through the CCEE Zoo by checking out the links below:

Joanne Grzelak

Anne Harmon

Vicky Gould

Lois Bak

Liz Williams
Frances Byrne

Maryann Einam

Kelly McKown-Santi

Daffodils for your Birthday - KSS

While working with the new Spring Daffodils Multi Step Clear Stamps from Kitchen Sink Stamps, I was struck by the fact that the size of the flowers is perfect for placing in several of the other "will hold a bouquet of flowers" types of items in my Kitchen Sink Collection. Things like the urn from Hydrangea Multi Step Clear Stamps, or the glass bowl from Bitty Tulip Bouquet Multi Step Clear Stamps. In past week I have already placed them in a basket from Basket Multi Step Clear Stamps on this card, so today I have placed them in the watering can from Sunflowers Multi Step Clear Stamps.

I need to send out a birthday card to a friend this week so I added a sentiment from Make a Big Statement Clear Stamps and I now have a card ready to go.

You may notice that the top handle of the watering can is missing. This is the process I used to place the daffodils in the can. I first created a mask for the watering can from a PostIt Label and cut it out. I then cut off the top handle and back rim of the mask so that the flowers would appear to be inside the can.

I then stamped the daffodils over the can as shown starting with the leaves and stems first. Once the bouquet was done, I removed the mask and proceeded to stamp the watering can being careful to wipe the ink off of the top handle and rim of each layer before I stamped it. The end result was a beautiful watering can of spring daffodils!

All in all it was a pretty simple process needing only the one mask for the entire card.

I then returned the mask to the watering can to stamp the brick walkway and the fringe of grass.

Here are the Kitchen Sink Stamps I used to create this design:

Spring Daffodils Multi Step Clear Stamps

Sunflowers Multi Step Clear Stamps

Make a Big Statement Clear Stamps

Color Recipes for today's card:

Daffodil Leaves and Stems

Layer 1 - Stampin' Up Lemon Lime Twist

Layer 2 - Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green

Layer 3 - Stampin' Up Old Olive

Flowers

Layer 1 - Stampin' Up Barely Banana

Layer 2 - Stampin' Up Pineapple Punch

Layer 3 - Stampin' Up Marigold Morning

Layer 4 - Stampin' Up Mango Melody

Watering Can

Layer 4 - Memento Tuxedo Black

Layer 3 - Memento London Fog

Layer 2 - Stampin' Up Going Gray

Layer 1 - PTI Soft Stone

Brick Walkway

Layer 2 - Stampin' Up Creamy Caramel

Layer 1 - Memento Desert Sand

Dragonfly

Layer 2 - Memento Tuxedo Black

Layer 1 - Stampin' Up Going Gray

Papers for this card:

Recollections White and Black

Designer Paper - Everyday Flair by My Mind's Eye

I am entering this card in the following challenges this week:

Dare2bArtzy - July Challenge: Birthday

Sweet Stampin' Challenge Blog: Occupations or Hobbies (I chose gardening)

Southern Girls Challenge - Tac Tac Toe with Team Lou (white, blue, yellow)

Looking for more Kitchen Sink Stamps inspiration?

You can find plenty here:

Kitchensinkstamps' Weblog by Maria Colosimo,

the owner and creator of KSS

Nana loves stamping by Jeanne Frontz

Thank you for your visit today!!

CCEE1828 - National Simplicity Day

It's Lynn back again to share with you the second July challenge for the CCEE Stampers. 

July 12 has been declared National Simplicity Day in honor of Henry David Thoreau who was a devoted advocate of living a life of simplicity. So on this lazy day of summer it's time to simplify. My challenge to you is to create a clean and simple one layer card!

Please include keyword CCEE1828 if you choose to play along and post your card to an online gallery.

I have used a silhouette stamped in Versafine Onyx Black from Essential Silhouettes by Ranger and a die cut sentiment from Shine Thinlits by Sizzix.

Check the links below to see the one layer cards of the CCEE Design Team.

Joanne Grzelak

Anne Harmon

Vicky Gould

Lois Bak

Liz Williams
Frances Byrne
Maryann Einam

Kelly McKown-Santi

Tulips and Daffodils - Kitchen Sink Stamps

I love when the second Monday of each month rolls around again so I can share another one of my Let's Make a Scene designs sponsored by Kitchen Sink Stamps. Scenes are so much fun to do and usually require very little masking.

Today I have create a little garden scene with daffodils and tulips under the birch trees.
The colorful and beautiful flowers of spring and summer always bring me such joy!

The secret to successful masking is to start with the front image first. I stamped two bunches of daffodils first of all. Then work back image by image. To stamp the purple tulips, I placed masks over the daffodils and then stamped the tulips. I then masked the tulips so I could stamp the birch trunks behind them. With the masks still on the daffodils, I added the fringe of grass. To finish the composition I brushed on distress ink for the soil and the sky. The sentiment was added last of all.

Another card in which I used this same method can been seen here.

I am entering today's daffodils and tulips card in the following challenges this week:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge #85, Anything Goes

Stamping Sensations - July - In my Garden

Allsorts Challenge Blog - Week 475 - In my Garden

Kitchen Sink Stamp Sets used to complete this card include:

Spring Daffodils Multi Step Clear Stamps

Bitty Tulip Bouquet Multi Step Clear Stamps

Birch Trees Multi Step Clear Stamps

Words 4 Celebrating Clear Stamps

Color Recipes used on today's card:

Daffodil Blooms

Layer 3 - Stampin' Up Pineapple Punch

Layer 4 - Stampin' Up Peekaboo Peach

Layer 2 - Memento Dandelion

Layer 1 - Stampin' Up Barely Banana

Daffodil Leaves and Stems

Layer 1 - Memento Pear Tart

Layer 2 - Memento Bamboo Leaves

Layer 3 - Memento Olive Grove

Tulip Blossoms

Layer 1 - Memento Lulu Lavender

Layer 2 - Stampin' Up Lavender Lace

Layer 3 - Stampin' Up Highland Heather

Layer 4 - Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grape

Since so much of the tulip stems and leaves were covered by the daffodils, I only stamped layer 1 and I used Stampin' Up Old Olive to do so.

Birch Trunks

Layer 1 - Stampin' Up Creamy Caramel

Layer 2 - Stampin' Up Soft Suede

Leaves of the Birch Trees

Layer 1 - Stampin' Up Lemon Lime Twist

Layer 2 - Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade

Layer 3 - Stampin' Up Old Olive

The ground was created by brushing on Vintage Photo Distress Ink and then flicking it with speckles of the same.

For the sky, I used Peacock Feathers Distress Ink added with a soft brush.

The sentiment was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black.

The papers used include:

Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight

Stampin' Up Lavender Lace

Recollections 110 White

The embellishments are purple grosgrain ribbon and gold cord.

Before I leave you today, I wanted to let you know that Firecracker Savings

have been extended until midnight Pacific Time on Wednesday, July 11.

You can received 15% off of all in stock Kitchen Sink Stamps merchandise when you use promo code freedom.

To view more wonderful examples of projects using Kitchen Sink Stamps
visit the blogs below:

Kitchensinkstamps' Weblog by Maria Colosimo,
the owner and creator of KSS


Nana loves stamping by Jeanne Frontz

Thank you for dropping by for a visit today! It's always nice to see you and to respond to your sweet comments!

CCEE1827 - The Impossible Card

Hi, friends. Lynn McAuley here! I will be hosting the CCEE Challenges for the month of July and hope that you will want to join in on the fun.

Suddenly I am seeing the Impossible Card popping up everywhere I turn. This new fun fold is based on a famous card trick so it isn't really all that new! I thought it would be great if the CCEE Stampers put their own "twist" on this design with their creations this week.

Here is a link to a tutorial by Maymay Made It Crafts that will show you what it is all about! It demonstrates the Impossible Card in several varied sizes.

Won't you join us in creating an Impossible Card. It really is simple and not at all impossible!!

If you post to an online gallery, please include keyword CCEE1827.

Images from Crazy Dogs by Tim Holtz

and Doggy Kisses Set by Art Impressions

And here are more impossible cards created by the CCEE Stampers DT.

Joanne Grzelak

Anne Harmon

Vicky Gould

Lois Bak

Liz Williams
Frances Byrne
Maryann Einam

Kelly McKown-Santi

Happy 4th - May Freedom Ring! - Kitchen Sink Stamps

Today's card sponsored by Kitchen Sink Stamps  was designed as a celebration of the 4th of July. My hope is that enemies can be friends and celebrate together the amazing freedoms we have in this great country of ours!! May we somehow find a way to work together for the good of our nation as well as all humankind!

The images are from Spring Daffodils Multi Step Clear Stamps and the sentiments from Ready 4 Any Holiday Clear Stamps.

I am entering this card in two challenges this week:

Fly Your Flag - CAS488 at Splitcoaststampers and 2 Crafty Critters Crazies 16th Challenge - July.

Color Recipe for the Frog:

Layer 3 Versafine Onyx Black

Layer 2 Memento Bamboo Leaves stamped 4 times

Layer 1 Memento Pear Tart stamped twice

Color Recipe for the Dragonfly

Layer 2 Versafine Onyx Black

Layer 1 Stampin' Up Gray Granite

The grass was stamped in Memento Pear Tart with Layer 2 of the grass image from 3 Step Honey Bunny.The sky was brushed on with Distress Ink Peacock Feathers.

The die cut numbers and letters are from My Favorite Things.

Happy and May Freedom Ring were stamped with Memento Nautical Blue.

For additional KSS inspiration visit:

Maria Colosimo - owner and creator

Jeanne Frontz


Tammy Hershberger