I Heart Valentine's Day!

Here is an almost-one-layer card made with Kitchen Sink Stamps. Inspired by a t-shirt I just bought, this card has a Silver Embossed Layer over the top of a series of images stamped in dye inks.

Paper: whisper white, Real Red and Brushed Silver. Ink: Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Versamark. Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Red "Bling" card candy by A Muse.

52 Cards a Year: Challenge Number Five

One Layer... Any colors... any theme.

I am so into one layer cards lately. So there's no sketch... just a plan. One layer... stamps... multiple colors. Here are some samples to inspire you. Click on the images to enlarge them.

First a card featuring the new "Dreaming of Dots" by Lizzie Anne Designs. Buckaroo Blue, Sky Blue and then some little with dots made with my white Sakura Glaze Pen... a cool way to add some depth to an otherwise flat card.


New Kitchen Sink Stamps baby! This is "Love and Luck"... I also mixed in Playful Alphabet and Playful Alphabet Buddy.

This first card is stamped with Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose and Cool Caribbean. Clear stamps sure make this sort of design EASY-PEASY.


I love this card... Pretty in Pink, Real Red and Black... I did add a few little card candy "blings" by A Muse.

52 Cards a Year: Challenge Number Four... My Sample

Just popping in to let you know I did my homework... Here is MY version of the last sketch challenge...

All Stamps by Kitchen Sink Stamps and they are the new stamps ya'll! (trying to sound like Britney S.) Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Regal Rose and some polka dotted paper from the Target $1 spot (score!). Ink, Real Red, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Versamark. Accessories: Glittered embossing powder (unknown maker).

How cool is it that you can BEND clear stamps?!? I slightly curved the XOXO sentiment to make the border around the circle.

I loved this sketch... it was a quick no-brainer.

By the way... what's up with Unfitney/Britishny (depending on if you read TMZ or Perez)... I don't get the British accent and buying a new Mercedes on the day of your intervention.

I also don't get why I care... but hell, she's my guilty pleasure. Along with Celebrity Rehab, Project Runway, Rock of Love 2....

And hey... LOST starts today!!! Hooray! I am still sad that Charlie's dead... anyone else?

One last thought... I miss SNL, 30 Rock and the Office. I wish the writers strike would end. I am dying to see some pre-presidential impersonations!

Scrappy Goodness

Just some proof I have been scrapbooking! I am so in lust with this alphabet set from Kitchen Sink Stamps. It's it the coolest?

This is a 12X12 layout... I stamped my title in black... and used Copics to tint... American Crafts... made the stars... Stampin up! chipboard for the flower and circle... I used Love Elsie papers... and these cute little circle stickers from Borders of all places... they are super shiny and I love a good DOT.

See the corner of my doodled frame peeking into this picture? I doodled it on Velum with Sakura glaze pens... I am very happy with the result.

It's a little busy... but I suppose I'm an all or nothing sort of gal.

Happy Cupcake to You!

Happy Birthday to all you New Year babies out there... here's a little something I came up with for a special B-day card. I bought these candles probably 2 years ago just to make a card like this... and well... I never did! Then I received this wonderful Stamp Set from Kitchen Sink Stamps; Happy Birthday Cupcake and BAM! Inspiration hit me!

Can you mail it? Probably not... BUT it would be perfect to give by hand. The scalloped focal image is framed by a cupcake sleeve... and it was a bit too large, so I trimmed it up with my coluzzle circle cutter.

Paper: Surprise Sprinkles by KI Memories (double sided), Tempting Turquoise, whisper white and a cupcake sleeve. Ink: Brilliance Platinum Planet, Pink Passion. Accessories: Turquoise polka-dot ribbon by unknown maker, Birthday candle, Iridescent ice EP.

52 Cards a Year: Challenge Number One!

Simple Horizontal Stripes: Black or Gray and White: Birthday Card.

Recently at a family gathering I had occasion to visit with my uncle; J.D., a talented artist living in the Austin area. We were chatting about painting and where to start if you are thinking of diving in on your own... or getting back into painting. He suggested buying a blank canvas, a gallon of white latex paint and a gallon of black... and going to town... not worrying about color; only design, composition and texture. I think this will be well applied to card making too!

So that's your assignment in a nutshell. Using only black, white and gray tones, create a birthday card. I will simplify the assignment further by adding a super basic sketch; this horizontal line design. 6-8 lines of varying tones and shades of blacks, grays and whites... use patterned papers, solids, ribbons, stamped strips of paper... all in various thicknesses, to create your design. Incorporate a birthday related sentiment if you can.

Here is the sketch...

Here are my samples:

This first card uses all Kitchen Sink Stamps. It's pure black and white... and features lots of bold patterns and hard textures. My own personal criticism of this card is that it's a tad top heavy... that bold image in the top stripe sort of draws my eye away from the sentiment... which I think needed to be the focus of this card. This is actually why I decided to add the element of depth and texture close to the sentiment with the addition of the brads... which absolutely helped.

I really like the variety of patterns in this design, and how the black and white color ties everything together.


This design was created with justjohanna images. I used a lot more gray in this design... using black only for the scroll at the bottom and for the sentiment. Choosing the darker color for the base of the card helps keep in grounded and using black for the sentiment helps to make it pop. In turn, balancing the black with a light toned gray and a charcoal gray helps the lightest tone to also become a focal point... which is why the birds also stand out even though they are the lightest of the images. Of course placing the birds toward the center of the card also helps draw your eye to them.

I also used negative space to draw the eye around the card. Leaving white space around the sentiment and the birds brings the images forward, even though this is a one layer card.


Lastly... this card created with images by Lizzie Anne Designs. I used mainly grays and vanilla in this card. Only the stamping was done in black. You will also note I created the design in a horizontal layout rather than vertical.

It's easy to spot the focal point of this card; placing the party hat/gift patterned stripe in the center, making it significantly wider than the other stripes and matching the paper to the sentiment really helps to make them pop. Plus, I used only one patterned paper on this card, so there is not much to distract your eye from the focal images. Notice the gray dots I used in the focal image stripe? They were stamped with a pencil eraser, and added because I felt that there was too much negative space... especially because I was only shading the hats and gifts... not coloring them.



The Challenge Rules: This being the first assignment... let's chat about rules. There are no rules! Feel free to mix it up; make a card of a different theme... make a vertical sketch horizontal... whatever you please. The goal of these challenges is to help you expand your creative card making, to motivate you to try something new each week and to encourage you to share your work.

That's right... you must share! But don't worry if you don't complete the assignment this week... as soon as you create your card for this, or any assignment, share a link to it here in the comments. You can post it on your blog, or on your favorite message board.... just share a link with everyone here whenever you decide to jump in and play!

I hope you will join me... I am really excited about this series for 2008... if just to keep me thinking outside the box!

Have fun!

Welcome 2008... Yada, Yada, Yada...

I don't know why the phrases "blah, blah, blah" and "yada, yada, yada" seem to fit so well with the new year... maybe I am a tad twisted. Anywhoo... Happy New Year!

I love how the Kitchen Sink Stamps are so graphic and contemporary. I am constantly wanting to use them for one layer designs... in fact, I often have to push myself to add layers. In this case I added depth with color, image layering and unique embellishments... all wonderful substitutes for using papers to create depth and textures.

Ink: Brilliance Rocket Red (for extra "pop" and to make the red layer super SOLID), SU! inks; Brilliance Blue, Gable Green, Yo-Yo Yellow. Stamped on a White Card from Paper Source. Accessories: Jingle Bell, Silver Cord, Red Organza Sheer Ribbon.

BIG NEWS: I have a 2008 Challenge for you (and me!)... I will be offering one sketch, color combo and theme per week... each Wednesday. I will also be discussing some basic concepts of design, composition and color. If you complete each challenge you will have 52 cards made, and hopefully you will learn a bit more about your own style and improve your design skills! So please check back tomorrow for the first fun challenge for 2008! Beginners, non-stampers and non-card-makers welcome! I hope you will all play along!

I wish you all a healthy, peaceful and joyful 2008.

A Family New Year's Card

Here's a little Card with Kitchen Sink Stamps. Something simple and pretty...

To be quite honest, you would not be able to mail these in the lined envelope I created; with the ribbon and all... but just in case you are among the .25% of people that have their New Years Cards hand delivered by courier... here is the fancy envelope.

The Envelopes are from Paper Source... they are lovely... 4 1/8" x 9 1/2" and made of a shimmery paper. Referred to on the PS website as a #10 Open End Envelope in Stardream Quartz. They would make wonderful wedding card envelopes... or envelopes for hand delivered cards. Of course you could mail them... without the ribbon.

I wish I could tell you who made this paper... to be honest I have no idea. But it's a sky blue and charcoal tone. The card base is Sky Blue. The ink is Adirondack Black. The ribbon is by Basic Grey. The stamp sets are Playful Numbers and Never a Loss for Words. Don't you live the "blah, blah blah" sentiment on top? I think at a glance it just looks like a pretty scroll pattern.

I also want to add that the photograph is in black and white, not blue and white. In person it looks great... I guess it's just one of those things that doesn't photograph well.

May Old Acquaintance Be Forgot...

When it comes to themes for New Years cards the topics are relatively limited. So while this might be a tad obscure... and a phrase you'd never actually say... well... it's one of the few phrases availible to announce the new year.

And, for those of you that follow the saga of my life... I survived sledding... but only because I didn't go. I decided instead that 2 hours of alone time would be healthier for me.

Here's the scoop on the card; All stamps are by Kitchen Sink Stamps. I used the Score-Pal to create the grid pattern; 1 1/5" squares scored 4X4" creates a 6X6" card. I stamped the base font in White Craft ink (SU!), and then stamped over top with VersaMagic Chalk ink in Sea Breeze, Pink Grapefruit, Persimmon and Key Lime. The card base is Kraft (by SU!). I used Groovy Guava paper behind the punched out squares.

More Inspiration!

As you may know... I design for several Stamp companies. I thought I'd just remind everyone that each of these companies has a design team, and a wonderful gallery you can look at too! Pls you can search at Splitcoaststampers for the images of each individual company.

Enjoy!

Kitchen Sink Stamps Design Team:
Paula Bloom
Nicole Cooke
Tracy Durcan
Tammy Hershberger
Dee Jackson
Erika Martin
Julie Masse
Sarah Moore
Rebecca Oehlers
Lisa Silver
Lori Tecler
Jan Tinklenberg

Kitchen Sink Gallery

Kitchen Sink Stamps DT on Splitcoaststampers

Lizzie Anne Designs Design Team:
Cambria Turnbow
Jeanne Streiff
Jen Allen
Joslyn Nielson
Julia Stainton
Kendra Wietstock
Kirsten DuBosque
Lauren Meader
Lindsey Botkin
Lori Craig
Michele Boyer
Michelle Wooderson
Sarah Moore
Sherry Cheever
Tricia Ulberg
Trudee Sauer
Zena Hoegger

Lizzie Anne Sketchbook

Lizzie Anne Designs DT on Splitcoaststampers

justjohanna Design Team:

Andrea Peterson
Barb Pritschau
Cathrine St. Clair
Charity Hassel
Debbie Scheunemann
Deborah March
Dianne McInrue
Eleanor Abril
Emilia Hsu
Erin Kellogg
Godelieve Tijskens
Heather Grow
Julie Prichard
Kathi Rerek
Kerry Urbatch
Kim Frantz
Kim Hutchinson
Kim Schofield
Mandy Cheshire
Marieke Vermeulen
Marnie Bushmole
Rina
Sarah Moore
Teresa Abajo
Tracy Durcan

justjohanna Gallery One

justjohanna Gallery Two, just click on each artists icon under the name to view their art

justjohanna Stamps on Splitcoaststampers

Brrr!!!

Ok... actual CLUMPS of snow fell today! I think we got about 6 inches... and it's the good stuff; just right for sledding... so that's exactly what we are going to do today!

So if you never hear from me again; that's how I died.... sledding.

The snow is very inspirational... here are a couple winter cards for you... all stamps are from Kitchen Sink Stamps.

Full Card Recipe HERE.

Full Card Recipe HERE.

So has anyone recovered from the holidays yet? I think I will be fully recovered after January 2nd. Heck, I still have leftover prime rib to consume... and as far as I am concerned you aren't done with the holidays until all the food has been eaten or has spoiled.

Baby it's Cold Outside!

I just can't seem to stop thinking about snowflakes! And this set from Kitchen Sink Stamps isn't helping any! Snow Flurry is such a cute and versatile set...

And here is another confession... this is the first time I have used the Stickles I have owned for over a year!

Paper: Shimmery White, Bashful Blue, Brushed Silver. Ink: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue. Accessories: Stickles, White organdy ribbon, 3D "dew drop" like embellishment by unknown maker.

Skating Anyone?

I wish I could recall where I first saw this idea... using paper clips as the blade of a skate... I just love it! The skate is easy enough to make. I just folded a rectangle of Confetti White paper in half and traced my design on, lining up the bottom of the skate with the fold of the paper. Then you just slip the paper clip in place and glue the fold shut.

I sponged SU! Close to Cocoa ink on the edge of the skates to antique them and "laced" them shut with Linen Thread. The scalloped circle is antiqued with White Craft Ink and then I dotted the scallops with a clear Sakura Glaze pen. All stamps are Kitchen Sink Stamps; "Never a Loss for Words", and "Snow Flurry" were the sets I used.

Paper: SU! Kraft, Confetti White, Bashful Blue and Chocolate Chip. Ink: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip and White Craft. Accessories: Clear Sakura Glaze Pen, Paper clips, Linen Thread, flat back pearls by unknown maker.

I Be Scrappin'

So these new Kitchen Sink Stamps are making me feel all Scrappy! Scrapbooking is how I initially got into papercrafts... and while I feel that card making is my new and permanent love... I have a soft spot in my heart for the scrapped page. I also have BOXED of pictures that constantly call out to me; "put me on paper!"

I love this KSS alphabet... it's actually two stamp sets layered; Playful Alphabet and Playful Alphabet Basics... and because they are clear stamps they layering process is super easy! And the font is so cool and universal... I know I will love it for a LONG time.

I love this picture of my Son Anderson... this was taken at a wonderful Art School/Gallery In North Carolina (I forget the name!) The leaves were perfect, the light was ideal and Andy was running around the yard loving the weather and I thought this bright Orange Chair just yelled "AUTUMN!"

All stamps by Kitchen Sink Stamps except dots which are created with a pencil eraser.Paper; Sahara Sand Base Paper, Patterned Papers by American Crafts. Ink; Really Rust (SU!), Sky Blue, Sunflower, Chocolate, Graphite Black (Brilliance Dew Drops). Accessories: Wide Black Grosgrain by unknown maker.

One last thing... as a little gift to all my regular readers... especially those who leave comments... I have three little holiday stamping kits put together... Some Christmas $1 stamps, KI 8X8 papers and some Christmas ribbons. I thought it'd be fun to pick three comments randomly from all the posts in November and December... and on the 12th I will pick three of them randomly to send a little gifty! You will receive them in plenty of time for Christmas... they would be perfect to make gift tags with! So feel free to leave on a comment on any post on December or November to participate. It's not too late! Again... I will select the winners on 12/12. Be sure to check back to see if you won!

Thanks for reading!

Hooray!

So I have a new love, and some big news! Kitchen Sink Stamps popped onto the scene not too long ago... and I immediately thought... "Yup, these are the images that will force me into the world of clear stamps". And I will be honest... I wasn't eager to go there. Like many devoted to rubber, I never felt that acrylic made a crisp enough image. In fact, as a Stampin' Up! demo, we are practically trained to dislike the clear stamp.

And then there was the Kitchen Sink... These images are so different from anything I've seen before... ok, I have have to stop myself here, before I go on and on gushing about them. I am actually writing about Kitchen Sink Stamps for Craft Critique tomorrow. I would hate to run out of material! But let me say this; I love these stamps! The quality is awesome, and they produce a wonderful image! Be sure to check out Craft Critique tomorrow morning (or really late tonight) to read more.

Anywhoo... I will cut to the chase; I was sellected to be on the new design team "the Kitchen Sink Crew"! Take a look HERE to see who else is on the team. It's a great mix of artists. A very eclectic and talented mix. Stay tuned for some new stampy art!