Craft Critique: K&Company's Que Sera Sera Papers

My apology for the late post, but my Craft Critique article was originally scheduled for Friday and not Thursday.

I bought the K&Company Que Sera Sera Specialty Paper Pad and Designer Paper Pad at Michaels a few months ago. Love them. I have a complete review of them on Craft Critique. Make sure you check out the review there because I am also giving away a 4.75x6.75 paper pack Only comments submitted on Craft Critique will be eligible for the giveaway (no international shipping on the giveaway).

I made several cards to compliment the review. Check out my slide show of the cards.

"You're The Best" Card
cardsctock: craft supply and Die Cuts With A View (DCWV)
patterned paper: K&Company Que Sera Sera designer paper
heart die cut: CuttleKids
cork: Quartet Cork Craft Sheets (at Michaels)
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
ribbon: Hobby Lobby

"Take Good Care" Card
cardstock: craft supply and Die Cuts With A View (DCWV)
patterned paper: K&Company Que Sera Sera designer paper
dry embossing: Quickutz labels embossing folders
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger

"Many, Many Thanks" Card
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Company Que Sera Sera specialty paper
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
ribbon: May Arts
scalloped circle die cut: Quickutz
circle punches: EK Success

"Happy Everything" Card
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Company Que Sera Sera designer paper
circle punches: EK Success
butterfly punch: Martha Stewart/EK Success
twine: Darice
buttons: unknown

"Hello" Card
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Company Que Sera Sera specialty paper
letter stickers: American Crafts Thickers

Tag Book
See the Que Sera Sera Tag Book short video including all the pages from the tag book

Thanks for looking.

2 Sketches 4 You :: So Thoughtful

I'm trying to get in early on this week's 2 Sketches 4 You. This sketch is from Kazan. I love the simplicity. It allowed me to do something quick and simple.

I decided to make a mini-card. This card is 4x4. I like that, though I don't currently have any 4x4 envelopes. Guess I could make one to match, right?

There's not much more to say. That's what happens when 'simple' speaks for itself.

Oh, and my mom has her card done already this week too.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
patterned paper: K&Co. and DCWV
rick rack: Creative Impression
stamp: Hero Arts (acrylic)
ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink/Ranger
flower: Bazzill or
twine and button: unknown

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 25

This week's Cuttlebug Challenge is to use acetate along w/a sketch from SheetLoad.

I did not use acetate. But I did base my card on the sketch.

What I like most about this card is that I used somle new paper that I just got this weekend @ Michaels. I love K&Company and they have done a bang up job on this set of papers. The line is called Que Sera Sera. I have the specialty papers and the designer paper. And the image does not do it justice. I usually go for more muted papers and earth tones, but there's so much color here, but not too bold. I am not too crazy about the embellishments. But that's okay. Also, it was nice to get the paper packs using a 50% off coupon from Michaels (even though now they only allow you to use one coupon per day; they need some store signage on that one).

But as per my usual, this card is simple. I just don't feel as creative w/out a dedicated craft area. So the sketch was really helpful for me or you would have gotten another version of what I did last week or the week before only w/different paper and ribbon. Not really, but you get the picture. And one more thing, I did notice that my bow is upside down, I started to change it, but then I thought, nah ...

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: unknown (looks like Bazzill, but I know that it is not)
patterned paper: K&Company
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Texture Textile folder and Thanks
ribbon: Hobby Lobby
circle punch: EK Success

Happy Everything :: Color Inspiration and 2 Sketches 4 You

Wow, the week almost went by w/o me doing much card making. Just taking it slow is all. I did get the Cuttlebug Challenge done (see yesterday's post).

I do like the inspiration for the Color Inspiration - skeins of yarn. I love when I see the DMC floss all lined up and color coordinated. The 2 Sketches 4 You sketch is a no-frills sketch. Love that.

I don't have much more to say about this card. It's just simple and fresh. I started to distress the edges and do some sewing, but sometimes less is more.

Thanks for looking .... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: ??
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
ribbon: Michaels
flower die: Sizzix
felt: craft supply

Hi :: 2 Sketches 4 You and 2Peas Stamp Camp

Wow, another week and back to the wonderful world of cardmaking.

Starting off the week w/this week's 2 Sketches 4 You card sketch. This one courtesy of Laura. I love these sketches. It did not take me to coordinate this one. Just used some of the basics. I did grab some stamps that I rarely use from See-D's. And I used a border punch from Martha Stewart. I do like that punch. It is so easy to line up and use as opposed to the Fiskars punches which take a bit more of an effort to punch through.

Also, over @ Two Peas in a Bucket, Stamp Camp continues. Last week it was a "Kissing" technique. I've been following the camp, but I've yet to post a project. So here it is. The kissing is faint on the letters, but you can see the little swirls. Well that is from another stamp. I am not one to go into detail about this technique - that is why there is Stamp Camp. Go and check out the kissing technique video tutorial by Kristina Werner.

That's enough info for now, right?

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Co.
alphabet stamps: See-D's
swirl stamp: $1 Michaels
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Textile Texture
flower: Prima
twine: Darice
button: Foof a al
other: sewing

Thank You :: Color Inspiration 31 and Hero Arts

I've gone and created a 'wowser'. Well, actually I was uncertain as to how this one would turn out and - to me - it has a wow factor. I've been seeing some cards that have more of a white card base. I usually use olive or other colored cardstock as a base. I also like the white card base w/a panel of white on top and in this case using the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing adds such a nice touch.

I used Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge. As you can see, the image that she uses is rustic and seasonal, but I did not tap into that feeling. I do like the mix of pumpkin and cocoa, but even the eggplant and the saffron bring a nice warm touch. And those are colors, but could easily be a meal. :-)

Now, for the Hero Arts Challenge:

"This week I challenge you to create a thank you card that uses at least one stamped scrap and one Hero Arts stamp."

I think I followed the instructions. I just purchased the Thank You stamp in the upper left corner. It's in a set of acrylic stamps - Heartfelt Messages. I am learning that I like rubber stamps better in many cases. I like the Tim Holtz inks and they do not work well w/the acrylic stamps. IMO. I've tried to use an eraser to take off the residue and create better absorbency, but no luck.

Lots of fun to be had w/these weekly challenges.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock and patterned paper: Die Cuts With a View (DCWV)
stamps: Hero Arts (Thank you's); Inkadinkdo: (script)
ink: VersaMagic and VersaMark
embossing powder: Ranger
fabric brad: The Paper Studio
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and Textile Texture
ribbon: Joann
circle and flower punch: EK Success

More Thick Stickers

Just continuing to provide the supply list for the cards that I made for my Craft Critique review of American Crafts Thickers.

THX
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Basic Grey
chipboard letters: American Crafts Thickers
other: sewing

hey!
cardstock: Bazzill and Bazzill Bling
patterned paper: KI Memories
foam letters: American Crafts Thickers
buttons: Bazzill and Miss Elizabeth's

And there is one more in the very first picture; the card in the upper right-hand corner.

Thank You
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper and letter stickers: Basic Grey
chipboard letters: American Crafts Thickers

Thanks for looking.

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 7

Yea, time for another Cuttlebug Challenge. It's week 7, in case you are counting and this is the first challenge for the month of November. You can participate in this challenge until Saturday.

I'm liking this card. I originally created it as a submission for the 2 Sketches 4 You design team. Just a cutie. And quite simple too. I used K&Company patterned papers which coordinate so well together. I've had that Quickutz dress die from some time. I've used it on occasion and I do like it. It surely does add that 'girlie' touch. Oh, and the 'tres chic' stamp is from See-D's; it's a set I have called "Ooh la la". There is dry embossing on the top half too; a bit had to see though.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Company
dress die cut: Quickutz
stamp: See-D's
ink: VersaMagic
embossing powder: Ranger
flower die cut: EK Success
bling: unknown
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and Textile Texture
ribbon: Michaels
other: sewing

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 6

I'm hoping to get some of my other projects posted, but without my laptop, I'm relegated to the library with limited time. Love the library, just working this thing out.

So this week's Cuttlebug Challenge is to use a sketch from ScrapFreak.com. I did like the sketch and the resulting card too.

I decided to try out Tim Holtz's alcohol inks. I thought that the color would match up better and not be so yellow-y. But I will work that out next time. I used a plastic milk jug for the flower. I used the alcohol ink on the plastic first, then I cut it out using the Sizzix die cut, then I ran it though the Swiss Dots embossing folder. Warning though: let ink on that baby dry for a bit. It left a faint trace of ink on the embossing folder. Not a big deal, but if it dries, it more than likely will not come off. I am so anal about my embossing folders, but I've seen some folks do crazy things w/them.

Oh and for the top portion of the card, I almost left it uncolored, but decided to run my brayer over the ink pad and ran the brayer over the card a few time. Cool.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Papertrey Ink
flower die cut: Sizzix
ink and alcohol ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
button: American Crafts
floss: DMC
stamp: Hero Arts
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Textile Texture and Swiss Dots
other: plastic milk jug and sewing

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 5

This week's Cuttlebug Challenge is active and has been since Wednesday. Get on over and play. The challenge this week is to emboss on a metallic finish.

Oh, challenge me. I am not crazy about metallic finish. Just not my style. I've seen people work wonders with it though. The best I could do was pull out my Bazzill Bling. I do like the bling especially for wedding cards, but generally speaking, I just don't use it a lot. If you gave me a stack of it, I'd keep a couple of sheets and give it away to others.

So I did a little holiday card w/o the holiday colors. That I do like. Breaking away from the traditional. I do really like the traditional. But this card is just as fun in a different color scheme.

Oh, and I'm getting better at listing which Cuttlebug embossing folders I've used.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill and Bazzill Bling
patterned paper: American Crafts
circle punches: EK Success
circle die cuts: Quickutz
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: VersaMark
embossing powder: Ranger
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Winter Jelly

October Blog Hop

It's the 25th of the month and time for another Blog Hop hosted by Papertrey Ink.

I've had this card done for a few days now. I did a scrap lift from the September issue of CARDS Magazine, which I am in.

It's a card from Melissa Phillips also known as MeliBean (p. 42). Her card is pretty and uses some pastels and florals. Very nice. I've been following her gallery on 2Peas for sometime now.

So when I decided to scraplift, I knew that I wanted to use the polka dot paper, though I can't recall who makes it.

Oh, well have fun w/this month's Blog Hop. Thanks for stopping by and thanks to Papertrey Ink for hosting.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Co. and (can't remember the polka dot company)
stamp: Stampin Up!
paper flower: Bazzill
flower die cut: Cuttlebug
buttons: Foof a la
flourish rubon: K&Co.
ribbon: Michaels
rick rack: Creative Impression
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
floss: DMC
other: sewing

Cuttlebug Challenge :: week 4

Check out this week's Cuttlebug Challenge. You can still get in on the fun. Oh and there's Cuttlebug Camp too. A weekend of fun and crafting and using the Cuttlebug.

Here's my card for this week's challenge to use patterned paper and the Cuttlebug.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock and buttons: Bazzill
patterned paper: K & Co.
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: VersaMagic
floss: DMC
scalloped edges: EK Success corner rounder
circle punch: EK Success
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Collage folders

Cuttlebug Challenge :: week 3

Another week and another challenge over at the Cuttlebug Challenge blog. This week's challenge almost crippled me. Sometimes I just don't want to think outside of the box.

The challenge was to make something other than a card or layout. I had to make a list of things I might be interest in making: magnets, book marks, ATCs ... yeah, it was a short list for me. But then I sort of got an idea that I had wanted to try out last year, but never got around to it. I had to high tail it to Michaels and find the star that I ended up altering. I know that Pat Catans has paper ones, but Pat Catans ain't so close to where I live. The one here is metal.

This project was not simple in the least. I ended up creating a parallelogram template to use for each point on the star. Who wants to do alegbra at my age? Took me a couple of tries to get it near right. But wah-lah! I like the way it looks, though I am going to go back and use some Modge Podge on it because the paper is not staying on.

Oh, and love that paper, right? Basic Grey does not disappoint. I used paper from a couple of different lines. I think it's Figgy Pudding and Dasher or Blitzen.

Well, thanks for reading my post ... here's what I used:
patterened paper: Basic Grey
dry embossing: Cuttlebug (one of the small snowflake folders)
ink: VersaMagic
star: Michaels
ribbon: American Crafts

Thanks :: 2 Sketches 4 You

It's funny, most of my cards from the 2 Sketches 4 You sketches are Thanks and Thank You cards. That is so unintentional, yet interesting and funny to me.

What is also funny, how my card turned out based on the sketch. It does not totally match up, but these things are up for interpretation, right? I thought that the vertical pattern on the paper was complimentary to the vertical sections in the sketch. As for the two circles @ the bottom of the sketch, I wanted to add another flower, but the one is plenty.


Speaking of the flower, I used a Sizzix die and cut it from Fun Foam. Love that bling too. It's from Joann/CK. The sentiment is a $1 stamp from Micheals. I was going to stamp in like a pink, but that Tim Holtz Weathered Wood nearly matches the flourish underneath it; I love it when these things work out.

What almost did not work out was the sewing. I used some craft thread in the sewing machine, but I did not adjust the tension, so the first panel that I made got all ripped up. Note to self: do the sewing first and the stamping last when possible.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: Making Memories
fun foam: unknown
flower die: Sizzix
bling: Joann/CK
stamp: Michaels $1
other: sewing