Happy St. Patty's Day!

Hi friends!  Today, I am sharing a fun St. Patty's Day card that I created using the new Artful Angel Leapin' Leprechauns stamp set!   

When I saw this little bugger peeking to the side, I knew that I wanted to make a book fold card with him on the edge that doesn't open. 

I got to work coloring him along with a bunch of shamrocks with Copic markers and cut them out. 

I remembered that I had some St. Patty's themed paper from Sonoran Desert Crafts that would be a perfect match, so I pulled it out and added it to the opposite panel. 

I arranged the sentiment stamp in my Misti to make it arch and I heat embossed it.  I made a green and white bow that I applied sideways on the card front and then popped the sentiment up on foam dots. 

St. Patrick's Day is the day that my mom found out that she was pregnant with me, so it has always been a special day for us.  I was 100% thinking of her when I made this card! 

I hope that you love this little fella as much as I do! 

Please check out the entire line of Artful Angel stamps in the shop! 

Thanks so much for hanging out with me for a few minutes! 

Xoxo,  Kim

Arigato (Thanks)!

Hello friends!  Today, I am sharing a sweet card that I created for the February Artful Angel Instagram Hop! 

Did you know that Artful Angel carries The Greeting Farm stamps in the shop?  They are some of my absolute faves, so I was so excited to get to use the darling Anya in Japan stamp set. 

I colored Anya using Copic markers and added some white accents with a gel pen before cutting her out.

I also colored up a few of the cherry blossom branches, the origami bird and dragonfly before cutting them out. 

I used the Stitched Scalloped Borders Dies from Kat Scrappiness and die-cut several panels from solid card stock and digital papers.  I layered everything up, stamped the sentiment and created a banner and added a loopy bow behind the origami bird. 

This was a really fun card to create!  Truthfully, any time I get to use The Greeting Farm stamps is a happy day!  I hope you will join us over on Instagram for a fun hop with the rest of the Design Team! 

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Xoxo, Kim

**Affiliate links have been provided at no additional cost to you.  Thank you SO much for supporting my hobby!**

Will You Be My Valentine?

Hello friends!  Today, I am so excited to share a card that I created using some of the newer Artful Angel products - and can I just say that I LOVE this card so much?! 

I started by coloring several of the elements from the Coffee Break Stamp Set with Copic Markers and then fussy cut them out.  I added some additional elements to the coffee sleeve with a white gel pen. 

I used the Kat Scrappiness Bokeh Hearts Layering Stencil with Distress Oxide inks in colors that coordinated with my colored images to create my own patterned paper.  Once I was finished with that panel, I dug into my card stock stash and managed to find three colors that coordinated perfectly!  How lucky is that?!

I added a few die-cut elements to the card front, along with a few banners at the top, and I heat embossed the sentiment from the Big Love stamp set.  Lastly, I added a little bow under the cup lid.

I am beyond happy with how this card turned out and I hope you love it too!  

Please head over to the shop and check out this  set that is perfect for all of the coffee lovers in your life! 

Thanks so much for spending a few minutes of your day with me! 

Xoxo, Kim

**Affiliate links provided at no additional cost to you.  Thank you so much for supporting my hobby!**

 

You're My Lucky Charm!

 Hi friends!  It is release day over at Artful Angel and we are celebrating with a fun Instagram Hop! 

On Saturday, I was sneaky like a ninja, and I crashed the latest Crafty Fun with Friends episode.  I wasn't sure if I would make it or not, and I am so glad that I did!  We had a BLAST crafting together and with those of you that joined us in the chat! 

I created this fun card using the new Leapin' Leprechauns stamp set while we were live.  It is actually one of two cards that I made, but you will have to wait to see the second card! 

I colored up this goofy leprechaun with Copic markers and cut him out.  I also die-cut a rainbow using a die from my stash.  I wanted him to be sitting on his pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, because why not!?!? 

I also tried a technique I have never used.  I used a stencil in my stash to emboss the green background.  I didn't even know that was a thing, did you? 

Make sure that you check out the new release in the shop and don't forget to join us over on Instagram and hop along with us for the chance to win a prize! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Xoxo, Kim

**Affiliate links provided at no additional cost to you.  Thanks so much for supporting my habit!**

Warm Winter Wishes!

Hello, crafty friends!  Today, I am sharing a fun wintery Memory Dex Card!  The Artful Angel Design Team was asked to use a previously released stamp set to create a winter-themed projects, and I just had to color up the beautiful reindeer from the Santa's Crew stamp set again! 

I paired this beauty with some of the gorgeous, patterned papers from an Echo Park 6 x 6 Paper Pad in my stash. 

I added a strip of silver glitter washi tape across the center of the dex card and heat embossed my sentiment. 

Lastly, I added some clear glass bubbles and a silver bow. 

I love this Dex Card and will display it proudly! 

Thanks so much for spending a few minutes with me! 

Xoxo, Kim

**Affiliate Links provided at no additional cost to you.  Thank you so much for supporting my hobby!**

 

Happy Holidays from the Artful Angel Team!

Merry Christmas!  Today, the Artful Angel Design Team is doing an Instagram Hop.  I decided to make a Christmas card using a non-Christmas stamp set, and my mind instantly went to the Stand Tall stamp set!  I just love these giraffes and they were so fun to turn into Christmas critters! 

I colored them with Copic Markers, and I colored their hooves, spots and little nubs in Christmas colors.   I cut them out and I set them aside to construct my card.   I created a fun fold and I have no idea what it is called, or where I found it, but I did not invent this. 

Here is how I made the card: 

1.  Cut your card base to 4 1/4" x 11", scored at 5 1/2".  

2.  Layer the front panel with patterned paper.

3.  Before adding patterned paper to the inside of the card, add some ribbon to both sides to allow you to tie the card shut.  

4.  Add patterned paper to bot side s of the inside of the card.

5.  Cut your inner panels - my largest square is 2 1/2" x 2 1/2", and then I layered some smaller squares.

6.  Cut a strip of card stock 1" x 10" and score at 2 1/2", 5", and 7 1/2".   The folds from L - R will be valley, mountain, valley.

7.  Decorate the card front as desired

8.  Adhere the squares to the folded strip as shown in the above photo.  The strip should be adhered to the center of each square.

9.  Adhere the two outer squares to the inside flaps of the card. 

Voila!  You have created a super fun pop-up like card! 

Anyhow, make sure to head over to Instagram and hop along with us! There is a prize up for grabs! 

Thank you so much for spending part of your Christmas with me! 

I hope that your holidays are filled with love and laughter! 

Xoxo, Kim

**Affiliate links provided at no additional cost to you.  Thank you for supporting my hobby!**

Oh, Come Let Us Adore Him!

 Hello, crafty friends!  Can you believe that there are only 5 more days until Christmas?  I am in panic mode.... but I do this to myself every single year! 

The Artful Angel Design Team is bringing you the 12 Days of Christmas.  Hopefully, you have caught the other amazing projects created by the Design Team!  

We were asked to use any previously released stamp sets to create a Christmas card, and of course, I had to use the sweet camel from the 8 Crazy Nights Stamp Set!  I colored it with Copic markers, cut it out and set it aside. 

I paired him with some traditional Christmas colors, and of course I had to add sparkly paper, because who doesn't love a little sparkle, especially around the holidays!  I dry-embossed a white panel using an embossing folder from my stash, wrapped it with some metallic red embroidery thread and adhered my card panels to the card base. 

I heat embossed the beautiful sentiment from a retired Stampin' Up stamp set, that I felt was perfect to pair with the camel.  Lastly, I added a red loopy bow.  I didn't want to add any other embellishments, as I love the pristine look of the card! 

I hope that you are more prepared for the holidays than I am! 

Thank you so much for stopping by! 

Xoxo, Kim

I Only Have Eyes for You!

 Hi friends!  Today, I am sharing a fun project that I created for the latest Artful Angel release.

A good friend of mine has a corgi, Pebbles, who is a true diva!  They moved away not too long ago, and I miss Pebbles, as much as I miss Kim.  When I saw the Woof You stamp set, I knew I had to make a card for her.

Corgi butts are one of the cutest things ever, so I had to color up this cute little ball of fluff with my Copics.  I paired my little friend with one of the sketches from Kendra's Card Challenge (KCC#8) and one of my favorite paper pads from Doodlebug.

I used one of the sentiments from the Big Love stamp set, and added a loppy bow with a paper flower.  The best part of the card is that it is a wobbler, so the floofy Corgi butt wiggles, just like in real life! 

I can't wait to send this to her.  She will lose her mind!  Make sure to head over to the shop and check out all of the amazing stamps in the latest release! 

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Xoxo, im

Happy Birthday, Heifer!

 Hi friends!  It is release day at Artful Angel and we are celebrating with an Instagram Hop.  I am beyond excited to share the card I made with you, because if you know me at all, you will know that the Cownt Your Blessings stamp set makes my heart sing! 

I am obsessed with Highland Cattle, and my dream is to own one, as a pet, of course!  So, when I saw this stamp set, I was instantly in love!   

I colored this beauty with Copics, cut it out and set it aside.  I paired it with some papers that I had in my stash, and I embossed the panel behind the cow using the retired Pinewood Planks embossing folder from Stampin' Up.  I love this folder so much that I bought a second one when I heard it was retiring.  Just in case, you know....  I ink blended the embossed panel with Distress Oxide Ink and set it aside to dry.

I backed all of the panels with Merry Merlot cardstock and I punched two banners before adhering them to the center panel.  I stamped the sentiment in Merry Merlot ink.  I added some Distress Oxide ink to the edges of the sentiment panel and popped it up on foam dots.   I created a loopy bow from champagne metallic embroidery floss and adhered it to the back of the horn and then popped the cow up on foam dots.

Make sure to join us over on Instagram for the hop and be entered to win the entire release!   The Design Team has some INCREDIBLE projects to share!  

Thanks so much for stopping by!  

Xoxo, Kim

*Sketch inspired by Sheri Gilson*

**Affiliate links have been provided at no extra cost to you.  Thank you for supporting my habit, I mean hobby! **

I Can't Imagine Life Without You!

Hi friends!  Today, I am sharing the first of me projects for the upcoming Artful Angel release. 

I used a sketch from Kendra's Card Challenge to create my card.  If you haven't checked out this challenge, you should!  The sketches are fabulous, and at the end, you will have 17 cards ready to go.   I paired the sketch with the soon-to-be released Big Love stamp set.  This set is perfect for Valentine's Day or general romantic or friendship cards. 

I chose this sketch because it allowed me to combine several fun patterned papers from the Doodlebug Lots of Love 6 x 6 Paper Pad, also available in the shop.

This release is so much fun and I can't wait to share the rest of the cards that I created for it. Make sure to head over to the Artful Angel Takes Flight Facebook Group to check out all of the amazing projects from the rest of the Design Team!  They will knock your socks off! 

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Xoxo, Kim

Have YoursELF a Merry Christmas!

Happy, happy Friday, friends!  I don't know about you, but I feel like the holidays are coming way too quickly.  I am not ready... not even a little bit!  So, I decided to make this fun card for a special co-worker!   

My crafty friend, @StamprGrl did a video a while back showing how to make the Center-Step fold.  I always thought it would be so much more difficult than it is!  I am so excited to finally know how to make this fold.  It was perfect to make this adorable elf card for a special co-worker. 

I colored up the elves from the new Artful Angel Santa's Crew stamp set, cut them out and set them aside to create the card. 

I decorated the card using some retired patterned paper from Stampin' Up.  I have been hoarding this pack of paper because I just love it... but I am trying to be better about using it.   I wanted some sparkle on the main panel, so I used the Snowflake Bling from Eyelet Outlet and paired it with Snowflake Brads on the side panel.  What elf card could be complete without Elf Brads?  I thought that they were perfect on either side of my sentiment.

If you aren't familiar with this fun-fold, it is free-standing, and I just love it!  It was so easy to decorate the inside of the card too!  

Shopping List:

Santa's Crew

Snowflake Brads

Snowflake Bling - 1/2 Inch

Elf Brads

Do you make your own holiday cards?  I would love to hear from you!  

Thanks so much for stopping by!  

Xoxo, Kim

Who's Ready For the Holidays? Not This Girl!

Hi friends!  It is Release Day over at Artful Angel and we are celebrating with an Instagram Hop! 

 I created a really fun card to share with you, starring the Santa's Crew Stamp Set. This set is really fun and really versatile, as it can be used not only for holiday cards, but for winter cards, which is something that I look for in my stamp sets!  

I colored up the beautiful reindeer with Copic Markers (listed below) and cut him out to set about making a Circle Gate Fold Card. 

I started with a base of 100# red cardstock, paired with Stampin' Up Garden Green cardstock along with some retired DSP from Stampin' Up.  I have been hoarding this paper because I love it so much, but it was perfect to be paired with this gorgeous image.

I embossed one of the sentiments from the brand-new Big Christmas Stamp Set in white and created a banner out of it.  I adhered the banner behind the deer and popped the deer up on foam squares.  I added a loopy bow of red and white metallic embroidery thread and finished up with some White AB Glass Bubbles from Kat Scrappiness.

Colors Used: 

E29, E25, E23 E21

E55, E53, E51, E50

W6, W4, W2, W0

White Gelly Roll Pen

Make sure to head over to the Artful Angel shop to check out the new release!  You will not be disappointed.  Then, you will want to head over to the Instagram Hop and join in! Look for this graphic: 

Follow the instructions and be entered into the giveaway!   You will love all of the inspiration that this amazing Design Team has created for you!  

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Xoxo, Kim

**Affiliate links provided at no additional cost to you.  Thank you for supporting my habit, I mean my hobby!**

Merry & Bright!

Happy Sunday, friends!  Yesterday, my friends LV Handcrafted, StamprGrl and I did another Live Crafty Fun w/Friends Session on YouTube and oh, the fun we had!  We were joined by many of our crafty friends, and we made some new friends too!  I just love this crafting community!  Charis, the owner of Artful Angel gave us permission to share the entire upcoming October Release with our participants, so they were able to see it up close before anyone else AND one lucky live participant won the ENTIRE release before it can be purchased.

The three of us, along with anyone that crafted along with us, created a Split Window Card.  This is a fun-fold technique that was made popular by Jennifer McGuire.  LV Handcrafted walked us through two different techniques for creating this fold!  

While we were live, I spent a short time finishing coloring Mrs. Clause (I had colored Santa, and most of Mrs. Clause ahead of time) with Copics (listed below) and set the images aside.   These beautiful images are part of the Santa & The Mrs. Stamp Set that will be released on October 25th.  (The hyperlink for the stamp set won't be live until release).

If you happen to watch the replay, you will see what my crafty process is often like - complete chaos!  I was a hot mess and couldn't figure out what I was doing.  One thing that I love best about our live session is the participation in the chat!  Our friends that are chatting live can give us suggestions and help us actually create.  This was my saving grace in this crafting session!  

I initially had intended to have Santa and Mrs. Clause snuggled up together, but I completely missed the mark when I did my die-cutting and scoring.  (Did I mention I was a HOT MESS? LOL)  So, with the help from my crafty friends, we came up with a new plan, and instead, Santa is presenting Mrs. Clause with her gift - jewels!   Who girl doesn't love a little bling from their main squeeze? 

I also heat embossed one of the sentiments that are included in the upcoming Big Christmas Stamp Set.    If you have not checked out the Artful Angel Big Sentiment stamp sets, you should!  They are full of a main sentiment in multiple fonts and numerous coordinating sentiments, so they are HUGELY versatile!  

This is how the card opens up!  I absolutely love the end result!  

Colors Used:

Skin - E04, E11, E21, E00, E000, R20

Hair - C8, C6, C4, C2, C1, C0

Clothes - R59, R29, R27, R25, 100, W9, W7, C1, C00

Gold Gelly Roll Pen

If you weren't able to join us for the live, don't sweat it!  You can catch the replay and if you create a card, share it with us in the Crafty Fun with Friends of LV Handcrafted Facebook Group!

I hope that you have been inspired to get crafty!  I can't tell you how much fun I had yesterday!   We will be celebrating the Artful Angel October Released with an Instagram Hop on October 25th, and one lucky hopper will win the entire release and the Design Team has created some incredible inspiration for you! 

Thanks so much for spending a few minutes with me!

Xoxo, Kim

Happy Hanukkah!

Hello friends!  Have you checked out the latest Artful Angel release yet?   It is full of some really fun stamp sets celebrating Thanksgiving and Halloween.  My favorite is 8 Crazy Nights!  I am in love with this adorable camel. 

I had a ton of fun creating this soft pastel Happy Hanukkah card!  I colored the camel and dreidels, cut them out and set them aside.  

I layered up some beautiful digital papers from Dandelionery (Etsy) with some bright sparkly gold cardstock.  I added a loopy gold bow and some gold sequins to finish off the card. 

Colors Used: 

Camel - E33, E31, E30, R20, B00, C0, 0

Hooves - N5, N3, N1, E31

Blanket/Dreidel - B18, B16, B14, B12, Y28, Y26, Y23

I hope that you love this card as much as I do!  Make sure that you head over to the Artful Angel shop and check out the latest release!   Don't forget to pop into the Artful Angel Takes Flight Facebook Group to see all of the amazing inspiration from the Design Team and while you are there, join us for the October Anything Goes Challenge! 

Thanks so much for spending part of your day with me! 

Xoxo, Kim