More Kitchen Sink Stamps Sneak Peeks and a Tip

Here's a few more peeks at some of the new sets being released by Kitchen Sink Stamps next week. I've actually used three of the new sets in today's peek. I think these three will be very popular sets!

I thought I'd pass along a little tip on using the Kitchen Sink Stamps. While talking to Maria today about a color combination she used, she gave me her details and it hit me like a ton of bricks....a DUH moment for me! The image I questioned her about, she hadn't stamped them in 1-2-3-4 order, like I've been stamping, she stamped them out of sequence. Now don't laugh, some of you may have already been doing that, but not me, I was stamping 1-2-3-4. By doing this, I had a much easier time lining up my images, and it helped me get the look I was after, not to mention it took me less time to stamp my image. For example on a 4 Step Kitchen Sink Stamp, you may want to try stamping in this order 3-2-1-4.

I love to use Stampin' Up! or Ranger Distress Inks with my Kitchen Sink Stamps, as both inks allow you to stamp off before stamping your image on your card stock, thus giving you a lighter base on which to either add over or under your stamped image. In tomorrow sneak peek post, I'll post some examples of what I'm talking about.

Just incase you're wondering...YES you'll be able to save 10% on the new Kitchen Sink Stamps releases by using code LISA10KSS.

Have you entered Maria's KSS Blog Giveaway yet? You gotta be in it to win it!

TJ Blogstravaganza - I Believe

I hope you've enjoyed my postings for the TJ Blogstravaganza over the last 2 months - I've enjoyed sharing my creations with you. Today, I leave you with my final card for the season - I've used the Santa image from the Artistic Outpost Snowy Woods plate, along with the Burnt Edges Technique. The sentiment is already printed on my Designer Paper by Cosmo Cricket.

From my house to yours....Have a Merry Christmas!

~Lisa



Details:
Stamps - Artistic Outpost Snowy Woods
Card Stock - Black, Cranberry, Riding Hood Red, Vanilla
Ink - Black, Distress Inks - Straw, Brushed Corduroy
Designer Paper - Cosmo Cricket

TJ Blogstravaganza - Snowman Soup

Another quick and easy project - using up those $1 boxes I "had to have" from Michael's....I filled my test tubes with a packet of hot cocoa and a few marshmallows, then tied on my Alpine Ribbon. If your looking for Test Tubes or similar packaging- you can find them here. I will be working on some new templates for these tubes - so be sure to check back! I made an insert for the inside out of Chocolate Chip card stock, punched two 1" circles to hold my test tubes, and two 1/4" circles to hold my candy canes. (I had to punch the 1/4" circle twice in one spot, slightly overlapping so that the hole would be wide enough.

I stamped my snowflakes from Snow Burst using the Triple Dimension Technique (I stamped off twice before actually stamping - trying to keep a lighter shade of ink). The sentiment is from Inky Antics and reads:

Snowman Soup

So, you've been real good this year

Always glad to hear it

With freezing weather drawing near

You'll need to warm the spirit...

So here's a little snowman soup

complete with stirring stick

Add hot water, sip it slow

It's sure to do the trick!

Wishing you all a Blessed Christmas!

~Lisa

TJ Blogstravganza - Peppermint Bark

Like most of you, I always have those last minute, what do you give gifts...I decided this year to make a bunch of Peppermint Bark. The hinged tins that I purchased here are great for this quick project!

I stamped snowflakes from my Snow Burst set in White Stazon on the lid. I stamped my snowflakes on my Red card stock using the Faux Dry Emboss Technique, layered this panel on a piece of Chocolate Chip card stock, then created my belly band (Chocolate card stock 2-1/4" x 11", Red card stock 2" x 11", score at 2-7/8", 3-3/4", 7-3/8" and 8-5/16"). I secured this in place with some Sticky Strip.

I used my JustRite Baking Ensemble and Harmony Classic Circle II along with my Circle Nesties to create my tag. For the inner circle, I used my Red and Chocolate markers to add color to the image, stamped on White card stock, then cut with my nesties. I layered this onto the cut circle that I had stamped in Chocolate, then onto my Red and Chocolate circles.

Peppermint Bark
1 package of melted Almond Bark
1 package smashed candy canes (about 12)

Mix together. Spread out on a piece of wax paper, let cool. Once cool, break into small pieces.

Details:
Stamps - JustRite Baking Ensemble, Harmony Classic Circle II, Stampin' Up! Snow Burst
Ink - Chocolate Chip, Markers, White, White Stazon
Card Stock - Red, Chocolate Chip, White
Other - Circle Nesties, Tins

TechnoStamper meets TJ Blogstravaganza

Another Monday...Another Sketch from MJ. This is my last combined posting of the TechnoStamper Sketches and TJ Blogstravaganza - I have my other TJ posts prepared for the week - and am so looking forward to moving beyond Christmas Cards/Ideas.

For this weeks card, I used MJ's sketch and combined it with the Triple Dimension Technique and my Snowburst images to create the snowflakes. The Elvis stamps is from Cornish Heritage Farms - Elvis Presley Series. Season's Greetings from Many Merry Messages is stamped in Night of Navy on Ballet Blue card stockl After assembling my pieces per MJ's Sketch, I added some stickles on the snowflakes and on the Elvis stamped image.

Details:

Stamps - Stampin' Up! Snowbust, Hugs & Kisses; Cornish Heritage Farms - Elvis Presley Series

Ink - Night of Navy, Silver, Brocade Blue, Ballet Blue

Card Stock - White, Night of Navy, Ballet Blue

Other - Sponge Dauber, Dimensionals, Stickles

Here's MJ's original sketch. If you'd like to play along, you can leave a comment on this post - or if uploading to SCS - use keyword TSSC49.

I'm sure most of you are also dealing with the cold bitter winter we've been having over the

weekend. We've had a free trees fall due to the amount of ice and winds...It was bitterly cold today with Wind Chills -34, and and we had a few bouts with the power going out. Here's a photo of my oldest DS and our yellow lab - enjoying the bitter cold! Stay warm!

TJ Blogstravaganza - Modern Grid

I did a Modern Grid card similar to this one last year using Stampin' Up!'s Jolliest Time of the Year. For this card I used the Santa from Starving Artistamps - Santa's Sweet Shoppe. Kinda looks like Santa is out dancing!

I created the sentiment using my JustRite Small Letter Set for Round Monogram Stamper, Harmony Rectangular Stamper Set, and Times New Roman Paper Crafting Font Ensemble. The "Merry", "Christmas" and "3" are all part of the Small Letter Set, the "HO" is using the Times New Roman Font. By placing them on the Harmony Rectangular I'm able to stamp them just like if I was using a stamp on a wood block - allowing proper placement to get my text straight on my card stock. After stamping, I cut it down to size, then layered it onto my red rectangle then on my card stock as shown.

Details:

Stamps - Starving Artistamps - DoodleFactory Santa's Sweet Shoppe, JustRite Stampers - Small Letter Set, Harmony Rectangular Stamper Set, Times New Roman Font

Ink - Black, Markers

Other - Ruler

TJ Blogstravaganza - Shaker Card

For today's Christmas Card, I've stamped my image - Worship the Lord from Our Daily Bread Designs, in Black Archival Ink on watercolor paper, and colored my image using the Marker Water Coloring Technique. I then used the Faux Rim Shaker tutorial found here on my blog - to complete my card.

Details:
Stamps - Our Daily Bread Designs - Worship the Lord
Ink - Black Archival, Markers
Card Stock - Flair, Prism - both available at ODBD
Other - Mat Pack, Coluzzle, Aquapainter, Beads, Big Shot, Nesties, Acetate, Foam Tape

Bloggers Challenge...TJ Blogstravaganza

Today's Bloggers Challenge is Christmas Themed, but use non-traditional colors.....I've never actually seen purple snowflakes - so I think my card meets this weeks challenge...In keeping with my TJ Blogstravganza postings, I've used the Grid Technique, kinda reminds me of looking out a window at the falling snow...After stamping and scoring my card stock, I added Tiera Stickles to the snowflakes for a little sparkle. The sentiment panel is popped up on dimensionals, and also blinged.

If you'd like to play along with this weeks challenge, just leave a link to your creation here, or if uploading to SCS, use keyword BC78.

Happy Friday!

Details:
Stamps - Snowburst, Many Merry Messages
Ink - Lovely Lilac, Orchid Opulence
Card Stock - White, Lilac, Orchid Opulence
Other - Scor-It, Stickles, Dimensionals

TJ Blogstravaganza Winter Wonderland

The Winter Wonderland image from I Brake for Stamps is a favorite winter image of mine. At this time of the year - it's almost like looking out my back door at the old barn and trees behind us covered in snow.


To create the card shown here, I used the Spritz and Flick Technique - with a little morphing. I did stamp my image in Black Archival first and heat set, before adding my Faded Jeans Distress ink. I also used a Ranger Mini Mist Bottle, instead of flicking on the water - I wanted it to look more like a snowy background, and by doing this I was better able to achieve that look.

Save 15% at IBFS when you used code SCS15 now through December 30, 2008!

Details:
Stamps - I Brake for Stamps - Winter Wonderland
Ink - Black Archival, Faded Jeans
Card Stock, Vanilla, Black, Not Quite Navy
Other - Ink Blending Tool, Craft Sheet, Spritz Bottle, Heat Gun

TJ Blogstravganza

Can you believe I'm still working on Christmas Cards? I sat down and created a batch, then gave them to DH and DS's to sign - now I just need to sign them and address the envies and plop them in the mailbox...Talk about procrastination!

Today's card uses the Stonehearth Hutch - Thomas Kinkade stamp, you can view the wonderful Thomas Kindade images at Cornish Heritage Farms, and the Embossed Watercolor Crayon Technique. IRL, the image of the house really pops off the page using this technique.

Details:

Stamps - Cornish Heritage Farms - Stonehearth Hutch

Ink - Black Archival, Versamarker

Card Stock - Vanilla, Red, Garden Green, Gold

Other - Heat Gun, Clear EP, Watercolor Crayons, Aquapainter

TJ Blogstravaganza - Clear Cards

Pretty to look at but hard to photograph...That's my project for today - Clear Cards. I started out with a 10-1/2" x 5-1/4" piece of Clear Card Stock (Acetate works well too) - scored with my Scor-Pal (folded size 5-1/4" x 5-1/4").

I adhered my Silver card stock (dimensions will be below) to the center backside of my back of my clear card. Adhered my Blue card stock panel in the center of the inside of the back of my card (it's now in the center of my Silver panel) set aside. I stamped my Santa's Sweet Shoppe Image from Starving Artistamps in Black Archival and clear embossed on my white card stock - then stamped again on my Snowflake Paper, cut out the mug and scarf and adhered to my embossed image. I adhered this image to the front outside of my card (centered over the panels already in place), adhered my Silver Panel to the backside of the inside front panel. When the front of the card is closed you'll see all layers lay on top of each other.

Panel Sizes:

White Panel 2-1/8" x 2-3/4"

Silver Panel 2-3/8" x 3"

Blue Panel 2-5/8" x 3-1/4"

Silver Panel 2-7/8" x 3-1/2"

To finish my card, I stamped my snowflakes in White Stazon, added some Stickles to my stamped image and snowflakes, stamped my matching sentiment on the inside Blue Panel, and added the Felt Flurries and Rhinestone brad with a glue dot.

If you haven't joined the Starving Artistamps Group on PaperCraft Planet - be sure to check it out - it's FREE. Starving Artistamps is hosting a Clear Card Challenge - see details here!

Details:

Stamps - Starving Artistamps - Santa's Sweet Shopppe

Ink - White Stazon, Black Archival

Card Stock - Silver, White, Acetate, Bashful Blue, Snowflake DSP

Other Scor-Pal, Stickles, Felt Flurries, Rhinestone Brads

• Don't forget you can save 10% on all DoodleFactory and Starving Artistamps images by using code savetenls
• FREE shipping is available at The Rubber Cafe when you use code TJSHIP

TJ Blogstravaganza - 3D Ornament with Mini Tutorial

Have you wanted to create a 3D ornament with your Snowflake Die? In this post I'll show you how I created mine. I'll apologize now for the bad photos - it's cloudly/cold here today and I couldn't get a good photo to save my life!

You'll need:

• 6 dies cut with Snowflake Die
• Adhesive (e.g. glue stick, Xyron, Stampers Magic Tape, Snail)
• Cording or Elastic
• Beads
• Stamped Image (optional)
• Glitter (optional)

After die cutting your snowflakes fold them in half

Adhere one snowflake to a second snowflake as shown (you'll now have 3 pieces that look like the ones in the photo)

Adhere the 3 sets to each other - but before you adhere the last one, you'll want to insert your cording so that you have a way to hang your ornament.

Be sure to thread your beads onto your cording/ribbon before you add the ribbon. On my finished piece, I added some Stickles, and my stamped image from Holiday Lineup that I colored with the Marker Water Coloring Technique, I punched it with my circle punch, layered onto my 1-1/4" punched Circle, then added Stickles around the outer edge, tied on my bottom beads.

Here's a brigher photo (sorry about the shadows of the snowflake in the back)

Details:

Stamps - Holiday Lineup

Ink - Black, Markers

Card Stock - White, Watercolor, Ballet Blue

Other - Cording, Circle Punches 1", 1-1/4", Stickles, Aquapainter, Snowflake Die, BigShot, Adhesive, Pretties Kit

TJ Blogstravaganza - ODBD Ornament

Trying to photograph these glass ornaments can be a bit challenging, but they are really quite pretty IRL! I used the Alcohol Ink Painting Technique to add color the Our Daily Bread Designs - Joy to the World image stamped that I had stamped on acetate. Remember you want to color from the backside using your Blender Pen filled with Blending Solution, or it will take your Black ink right off! Also, if you put drops of Alcohol Ink into a paint pallet and let them dry, it makes this technique a lot easier! Then you just pack your pallet away and take it out the next time you wish to paint.

Details:
Stamps - ODBD Joy to the World
Ink - Black Archival, Alcohol Ink
Other - Glass Ball, Acetate, Blending Solution, Coluzzle, Aquapainter, Paint Pallet, Ribbon, Silver Cording

TJ Blogstravaganza - Graffiti

Whew....Good thing we're getting close to Christmas - as I'm reaching way back to the TJNL 12/04 for the Graffiti Technique used on today's card. I decided to update the technique a bit and replaced my card stock with designer series paper. Great way to use up all that extra holiday DSP to make some quick cards!

Details:

Card Stock - White, Baja Breeze, Ski Slope DSP

Stamps - Many Merry Messages

Ink -Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Pacific Point

Other - White Taffeta Ribbon, Felt Flurries, Rhinestone Brad, Sponge Dauber

Bloggers Challenge - Ornament with Mini Tutorial

This wasn't the original project I had intended on posting today - my desk is still not fully cleaned off from yesterdays projects - thus more bling on my project for today! This weeks Bloggers Challenge is Ornaments or Decorations for Christmas - good timing with Christmas right around the corner and it fits in with my TJ Blogstravaganza postings! If you'd like to play along - just leave a link her to your creation - or if uploading to SCS use keyword BC77.

My ornament started out with some white card stock I cut using my Snowflake Die, Crafty Board and my Big Shot. I love the Crafty Board from WorldWin because it's pretty flexible yet think like chipboard. Because I was using 2 snowflake dies and a piece of Crafty Board, I couldn't adhere my paper to my Crafty Board before I cut - thus the need for my Scrappy Glue!

Cut 4 snowflakes from your white card stock, and 2 from the Crafty Board. Mix some Clear EP with some Dazzling Diamonds glitter in a disposable container. Smoosh your versamark pad onto 2 of the die cut snowflakes, pour on your Embossing/Diamond mixture, tap off and heat. By premixing the Diamonds into your Clear EP, you eliminate the step of adding the Heat & Stick Powder for adhering the glitter.

Adhere to 2 bling snowflakes to your Crafty Board using the Scrappy Glue, let dry.

Flip snowflakes over, adhere the remaining snowflakes to the back of the Crafty Board snowflakes.

Remember I mentioned the Crafty Board is flexible, slightly bend the points of your snowflake, this will help give it a 3D look when they are adhered together.

Place a stack of dimensionals in the center of one of the white snowflakes (I used 4)

Then using your Scrappy Glue - place the glue on the points of one of the white snowflakes, match the other snowflake to the one with the glue and hold the points securely. Note this glue dries super fast!

Tie on cording - use as is, or add a stamped image if desired. Here I stamped my snowmen from Holiday Lineup on watercolor paper, then colored them using the Marker Water Coloring Technique. I added some Shimmerz Angel Wings to the snowmen to bling them up a bit, sponged the edges, adhered to my Chocolate Chip circle, then to my finished snowflake.

Details:

Stamps - Holiday Lineup

Card Stock - White, Chocolate Chip, Watercolor, Crafty Board

Ink - Markers, Black, Chocolate Chip, Versamark

Other - Heat Gun, Snowflake Die Cut, Big Shot, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Clear Embossing Powder, Aquapainter, Circle Punches, Scrappy Glue, Dimensionals, Silver Cording, Shimmerz

TJ Blogstravaganza - Got Bling?

I've got a whole lot going on not only with my post for the TJ Blogstravaganza card I'm sharing - but I have a few other posts to share today. I don't normally like to post a bunch of things on any given day, but it just so happens I couldn't combine them all into one post - hope you'll bear with me and continue to read the other post....I'll be sharing another release for Artistic Outpost, and the ISC Challenge for this week - I've also got some ISC Blog Candy to give away!

Now on to my post for today, even this cards got a lot going on. Normally I'm not a glittery gal - quite the opposite I must say! But I started blinging up the Cuttlebug piece, so I thought I might as well carry that through with my whole card. To bling the embossed snowflakes, I smooshed my Adirondack Snowcap White Ink onto my embossing, sprinkled on Heat & Stick Powder (or you can use JudiKins Sticky Stuff), heated 'til it melts (be careful not to overheat or you'll burn your card stock), dump on SU's Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, tap off, then heat again to set the glitter. Use distresser tool to rough the edges, layer on White than Ballet Blue base card. I stamped my image from Starving Artistamps DoodleFactory Santa's Sweet Shoppe in Black on white card stock, then colored using my Spica Glitter Pens....See a pattern here....Layered this onto my Ballet Blue panel that I had done the Torn Frames Technique too, then adhered in place on my card.

Ah....what's a little more bling! I took my Felt Flurries, smooshed then into my Versamark Pad, added some Heat & Stick, tap off extra, heat - BE SUPER CAREFUL when heating the felt - it will melt! Pour on the Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, tap off, heat set....Add your Rhinestone Brad and your good to go!

Details:

Stamps - Starving Artistamps - DoodleFactory Santa's Sweet Shoppe

Ink - Black, Adirondack Snow Cap White, Spica Glitter Pens

Card Stock - White, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue

Other - Heat Gun, Felt Flurries, DD Glitter, Heat & Stick, Rhinestone Brads, Cutter Kit, Cuttlebug Snowflake Folder, Big Shot

TJ Blogstravaganza - Season's Greetings

With just about 2 weeks to go before Christmas, I'm still working on Holiday Cards, maybe I should send Happy New Year cards instead! I've only received 1 Christmas card so far this year, so it looks like I'm not the only behind in mailing this year. I think the postal increases and the economy may have many people not sending them this year. I know last year I mailed out over 100 to family/friends and customers.

Today, I have another quick and easy 5 minute or less card so share with you. I used the TJNL Spectrum Roll Technique and my Blue Frost Ink to create the background. Not having any Clay Coated card stock on hand, I substituted my Whisper White - not as nice, but does work in a pinch. Stamp your Trees (from Lovely as a Tree) and sentiment (Many Merry Messages) in Night of Navy Ink. Layer on Night of Navy card stock then your white base card. See, easy peasy!

Do you have a stamper on your list that you need to buy for? Why not get a subscription to the TJNL - they make great gifts! For only $19.95, you can purchase the December 2008 to the December 2009 issues! (Normally $21.00) Ordering information can be found here.

Details:

Stamps - Lovely as a Tree, Many Merry Messages

Ink - Night of Navy, Blue Frost

Card Stock - Night of Navy, Whisper White

Other - Brayer, Spritz Bottle

TJ Blogstravaganza - Another Gift Card Template

I don't know about you - but it seems like we give more gift cards than actual gifts at the holidays. Here's another easy gift card holder you can create - perfect for those last minute gifts!

For my first Gift Card Holder, I used a piece of DSP and created a belly-band that slips over my holder. The band measures 11" x 2" and is scored at 3-1/8" on one end and 2-3/4" on the other. I stamped my sentiment from the JustRite Christmas Stamp Ensemble in red ink, then used my Spellbinders Label Die to cut it out. I sponged red ink on the edges, then layered it onto a red piece of card stock that was cut with my die, then on to my belly-band. The card stock that pulls out of the sleeve is 4-3/4" x 5" and I used my Slit Punch to create a holding place for my gift card. Punch a smaller piece of DSP using my circle punch, then folded it over the top, adhered in place, then punched a hole so I could thread through my grosgrain ribbon - making it easier for the recipient to get to the gift card.

For my second Gift Card Holder - the sleeve of my holder is created using WorldWin Paper Petallics in Juniper Berry. I used the CuttleBug Highlights on my main panel - then applied Shimmerz Angel Wings to add some extra bling. I layered the CuttleBug piece onto a piece of World Win Treasures Night Indigo, then onto my Juniper Berry Sleeve. The insert that holds my gift card is also Night Indigo.

Details:

Stamps - JustRite Christmas Ensemble

Ink - Real Red, Bashful Blue, Shimmerz

Card Stock - WorldWin Papers - Petallics Juniper Berry, WorldWin Treasures Night Indigo, White, Real Red, DSP

Other - 1/8" Hole Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Red Grosgrain, Navy Grosgrain, Sticky Strip, Slit Punch, Big Shot, Spellbinders Label Die, Sponge Dauber, Aquapainter

TJ Blogstravaganza/Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge

Another Monday...Another Sketch from MJ to combine with my TJ Blogstravaganza posting! With a little over 2 weeks left in the TJ Blogstravaganza - I hope you've been inspired by my projects, I know I've gotten a considerable amount of Holiday Cards made!

For today's post, I've managed to use some of my "neglected" stamps. I've always love using Lovely as a Tree for my Holiday cards - and I surely hope I don't see it on the retired list this week!

Here I've used MJ's sketch - but created a 5" x 5" card, instead of my normal A2 sized cards. The sentiment from Many Merry Messages is stamped in black, then my Trees are stamped in Bashful Blue (that had been stamped off before stamping on my white card stock), edge panel with Bashful Blue Ink, then use the Distress Tool from the Cutter Kit to fray your edges. I used the Faux Stitching Technique on my Night of Navy strips, and wheeled the Snowflakes in Bashful Blue on Bashful Blue card stock. Where MJ had the snowflakes in her layout - I added my sentiment from Many Merry Messages.

Details:
Stamps - Many Merry Messages, Bold Snowflakes, Lovely as a Tree
Ink - Black, Night of Navy, Bashful Blue
Card Stock - White, Night of Navy, Bashful Blue
Other - Cutter Kit, Tool Kit, White Gel Pen

Here's MJ's original sketch if you'd like to play along. If uploading to any online galleries, please use keyword TSSC47.


Happy Monday!

TJ Blogstravaganza - another Winter Wonderland

Here's another quick and easy card using the Alcohol Smoosh Technique (TJNL CD#4) and the Winter Wonderland image from I Brake for Stamps. My image is stamped and embossed in Black on Glossy card stock. The inks used for the technique are Metallic, Denim and Stonewashed. I layered this panel on black then some DSP I bought here, then onto a piece of Hawaiian Blue from WorldWin Papers.

Details:

Stamps - Winter Wonderland - IBFS

Ink - Versamark, Alcohol Ink - Metallic, Denim, Stonewashed

Card Stock - Glossy, Black, DSP, Light Hawaiian Blue

Other - Craft Sheet, Cutter Kit, Blending Solution, Black EP, Heat Gun