Triple Tiara Tuesday: Embossing

Welcome to the first Triple Tiara Tuesday for February. We hope you are having fun along with us and that you're not giving up on your chance to win a $25 rubber stamp gift certificate from Queen Kat Designs!

First we will start of by announcing the winner of January's $25 rubber stamp gift certificate!! We had 16 entries into the months activities and the lucky winner is..

#14... ABUSYBEE

Congratulations ABUSYBEE!! (Please email me to claim your prize info @ katstamps.com) Thank you to all who played in our challenges last month. Now lets get on with this month...

This week's challenge is a technique challenge. We challenge you to use Embossing (can be dry or heat) on your project.

This week's challengers are: Shannon, Valerie, and Gretchen.

Check out what these lovely ladies have done for this week's challenge, make your own creation, and share a direct link to your project with us right here. Before I go, I want to invite you to our party tomorrow.. ******************************************************************************

Here are the rules of Triple Tiara Tuesday:

- Each week 3 Royal Court Members will host a challenge on their blog.

- You start right here at the QKD blog and visit the 3 challenge hosts on their personal blogs. (Leave us some love and a link to your project so we can return the favor. *wink*)

- QKD will offer up a $25 stamp gift certificate for the players to compete for each month. So if people enter each week, they have 4 chances to win the monthly prize of $25.

- The contestants will post their link to their card on the MrLinky widget here on the blog. (There will be 1 per month.)

Hi

well it is my day to post and i am new to Queen Kat Designs. My name is Jeanie Dickinson and i live in Cheyenne Wyoming. I love to stamp (16years) and create. I just put on a retreat in Montana for some great people and friends. I am so exhausted but Don't ya love getting to see friends? My favorite color is green and i have a big messy craft area. My Husband Dave and I have been married 31 years we have 4 children (1 boy and 3 girls) and 5 grandchildren we help take care of. (1 boy and 4 girls and one more coming) We have a 10 month old golden retriever named baby peggy sue. I will have some samples to share next Monday with you...so i hope you will come again....and remember keep creating it is good for the soul and sanity....
=0) jeanie
ps don't ya love queen kat stamps?

steam punk kitty

Badge Contest

Greetings Dark Ink Sorority.. This is the Princess of Darkness from the Creepie Cuties line... I'm taking over the blog for a moment! I'm running a lil contest for you all to win a new release stamp on release day this coming Wednesday! It's easy to win and totally free to enter!

All you have to do is take this badge and add it to your blog with a link back to www.katstamps.com behind it.

Then come and add your link here....

We will be having a live chat on our Facebook Page on Wednesday as we release the new stamps. The time is TBA.. But during that chat, we will announce the winner of the badge contest. The contest will run on all 3 of our company blogs and there will be 1 prize. Good luck and lets see those blogs!

-The Princess of Darkness.

Girl Friday: Reverse Colors

When I saw the Snow Day Stamp, I immediately knew I wanted to pair it with the snowflake from the Candy Cane Greetings Stamp Set.

And it seemed like fun to do a black and white card and do it in reverse.

Here's the black and white card. I couldn't resist coloring the cutie image though. (Sorry, the sentiment stamp is no longer available at the store. But you can totally substitute with another greeting from the sets HERE.)


And here's the reverse.


Quick tip: So when you're feeling stumped creativity-wise, go back to basic black and white colors. And do the reverse. Just an easy way to get the creativity going.

*hugs*
Nina

Thursday Thoughts

Well, really late Thursday thoughts, but it is still Thursday here!

It has been cold, rainy, nasty, and lots of craziness in our house this week, praying me make it through, so today, I was thinking warm happy thoughts as I walked from one building to the other at work.

We had some sun, it was warming up, it made me actually think a little bit of spring -- so today, I thought about showing off one of my favorite "fun, springy" stamp sets that QKD has in the store --- Forrest Pixies




There's just something about that set that makes me smile every time!

Check out this card by Steph



And here's two by me




Well, that's it for this week; don't forget to check out the store (there is a fabulous sale on the remaining acrylic stamps -- some are under $1.00!!!!)

Samantha Nowak Stamps

Happy Wednesday everyone! I'm back today with some new stamps from a brand new designer to Queen Kat Designs! Samantha Nowak is the best princess, comical fairy designer I know! I'm proud to call her my friend and have her here at the Castle as a stamp designer. I had so much fun with the Hawaiian Princess.. But you'll see her on my personal blog when you get there in the hop today. :)

Lets meet Samantha...

Fantasy artist Samantha Nowak was born in Nuremburg, Germany (considered a US citizen born abroad) and grew up a military brat, moving around most of her childhood and into her teenage years. She has always drawn; fantasy, fairy tale and mythology have been a major inspiration for her artwork. In 2005 she graduated with a BA in Art, area of emphasis in illustration. After a company downsize in 2008 Samantha was given a blessing in disguise – go find a new graphic design job, or tread into the world of freelancing art and illustration, the area of her true passion. She choose the latter and has never looked back.

Since then Samantha has done freelance work in graphic design, webpage design, character design, and illustration work for a children’s book, novellas, and comic book covers. Over the past year she has focused more on personal artwork and licensing, and taken fewer freelancing jobs.

The art collection of Samantha’s ranges from cute and enchanting, like the characters she creates for her Enchanted Names series and elegant watercolor faeries, to more dark and haunting, like the pieces Companion, Raven Witch, and soon to be released: Morrigan. While the range from dark to light may create an unusual spectrum of artwork, it allows Samantha to express herself in multiple areas. In many of her fantasy pieces you will find symbolism, for Samantha highly enjoys researching mythology and placing colors, symbols, or items of significance in her paintings.

When not working on a painting, Samantha also plots and schemes working on graphic novels. She loves drawing comics, and has many story ideas (several her own, several collaborated with an artist friend), which she hopes someday to be published.

Today we have 8 Princesses for you! They are themed "Princesses of the World" She has illustrated these beauties with different ethnicities in mind. Check some of them out...

To see the rest of the new release, click here. The next stop on our hop today is.... Jan!

Thanks for coming! Enjoy your day.

Here's the hop order for today:

QKD blog- You're here

Jan

Vicki

Valerie

Nina

Shannon

Wynneth

Jules

Triple Tiara Tuesday: Chalkboard Technique

Welcome to the last Triple Tiara Tuesday for January. We hope you had fun along with us and that you're not giving up on your chance to win that $25 rubber stamp gift certificate from Queen Kat Designs!

This week's challenge is a technique challenge. We challenge you to try out the Chalkboard Technique, as seen from this tutorial over at Splitcoastampers HERE.

This week's challengers are: Wynneth and Vicki.

Check out what these lovely ladies have done for this week's challenge, make your own, and share a direct link to your creation with us right here.

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Here are the rules of Triple Tiara Tuesday:

- Each week 3 Royal Court Members will host a challenge on their blog. (Except this week we are down a court member so we only have 2.)

- You start right here at the QKD blog and visit the 2 challenge hosts on their personal blogs. (Leave us some love and a link to your project so we can return the favor. *wink*)

- QKD will offer up a $25 stamp gift certificate for the players to compete for each month. So if people enter each week, they have 4 chances to win the monthly prize of $25.

- The contestants will post their link to their card on the Inlinkz widget here on the blog. (There will be 1 per month.)

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Looking forward to seeing your creations and good luck!

Don't forget to stop by the Castle for the sale happening right now! We have 30% off rubber stamps and 10% off everything else! This includes kits! If you subscribe to a monthly kit you'll get 10% off your first kit.

Here's a video that Queen Kat made using the Chalkboard technique. You can also see it on her blog today as well.

Here we have a curious little fairy cat checking out this strange alien being. Okay it is a dragonfly. As a stamp, this is my favorite for mail art. I put that cute little kitty in the corner and then cover the envelope in dragonflies. And of course the stamps are part of a set with cute phrases about friendship. So dragonfly lunch is completely out of the question.
Okay maybe I have been partying too hard over at the QKD fanpage where they were having some cool giveaways to celebrate these cute fairy cats and whimsical little dragons. Oh yeah and ME. I hear the queen has some been hosting some pretty rad parties.

Girl Friday: Embossed ATCs

This week, I'm working with the fab Skull Royalty Rubber Stamp.


Here are some super-easy heat embossed images on 3 ATCs:


And here are some close-ups:


Black on White ATC
Heat emboss stamp image with black glitter embossing powder on white cardstock cut to 2.5" x 3.5". (I'm always messy with embossing and don't clean around the image when embossing. I actually like that is adds a grungey effect to the final image.) Use Ranger Inkssentials to adhere metal embellishments.


Gold on Brown ATC
Heat emboss stamp image with gold embossing powder on white cardstock cut to 2.5" x 3.5". Spray on top of image with Tsukineko Walnut Ink Spray. Set four eyelets at each corner. Thread one corner with metal link.


White on Black ATC
Emboss stamp image with white embossing powder on white cardstock. Ink over image with black stamp pad. Adhere black crystal stickers. Adhere metal embellies with Ranger Inkssentials.

*hugs*
Nina

Penguins!!!!

My children begged and begged and begged for a pillow pet. Well, finally, I broke down and bought them one for their birthday! For my daughter, her request was a dolphin, but my son wanted a penguin!

He loves penguins!!! But, of course, everyone else in our family loves penguins as well. So, I was so excited for Kari Lind's stamps that focus on penguins!!

Check them out!!
Winter Greetings Set



Penguin Friends Set


Fresh Fish Set


Check out these cards using these stamp sets!!

Court Call Extended

Queen Kat Designs Stamp Co. (www.katstamps.com) announces its latest search for loyal, dedicated and excited Royal Court members! You must be a STAMPER and card maker to apply. We are a stamp manufacturer that makes laser etched rubber stamps. We are looking for people who LOVE to stamp and can do so on a deadline with a smile!

*Must love to color!*
*Must be able to do a minimum of 5 cards a month*
*Must be able to blog 1 time a week on your own blog*
*Must be able to blog 1 time a week on one of our company blogs*

Work Description:
*5-6 Hand stamped cards a month (photographs only, you keep your cards)
*1 Blog post a week on your personal blog (using 1 of the cards you made for your monthly quota)
*1 Blog post on one of the 3 Queen Kat Designs Blogs (Whimsical Ink Sorority, Dark Ink Sorority or the QKD Company blog, you will be assigned to 1 of the blogs upon hire)
*Participation on the QKD Facebook Fan page at least once a week
*Check in on the Court’s private message board at least 3 times a week to make sure you’re up to date
*1 of your cards made for your quota will be for the Royal Inklings Magazine so you will need to provide a write up on how to make the card with a supply list.

Perks of the team:
+Worldwide exposure to your work through our blogs and online idea gallery
+Free rubber stamps each month of your term
+30% off any rubber stamps in our online store for your term
+40% off any rubber stamps in our online store on the 15th of each month for your term
+You will be published each month in our online magazine
+And more…

Please see info below and take your time to prepare a well thought out application.
Make 3 cards showcasing your best work and blog about them on your blog with a link to the Queen Kat Designs Royal Court Call. (Cards must be new for this call and can use any stamps and products you want. Of course we are partial to QKD stamps but welcome submissions with any stamps.)

b. Email us the link to your blog post to: royalcall@katstamps.com with the following (all in 1 email please!)
c. Choose 1 of the cards you made for the call and write up a “how to” sheet on it. (Simple instructions and a supply list) To get an idea of what we are looking for, take a look at the latest issue of the Royal Inklings Magazine here: http://www.4shared.com/document/-LMRXnbw/RI_Nov10QKDpdf.html
d. Include the following information in the body of your email: Your full name, mailing address, phone number, blog or website address, email address. Current bloggers only! This call is open to anyone in the world.
e. Provide one paragraph about yourself telling us about you and make sure your personality shines through.

General Questions…
1. Would you say you are primarily a stamper or a scrap booker?
2. How long have you been stamping/ scrapbooking?
3. Have you participated in any other design teams? If so, please explain (guest designer, regular designer, for store, for manufacturer, for kit company), and if currently on other teams, please list those teams and your commitment. Please list the work load and the length of your commitments as well as names of companies.
4. What is your motivation for participating in our design team?
5. Do you currently own any Queen Kat Designs stamps? If not, why not? (Please be candid)
6. Are you able/ willing to make at least one post per week to promote our products? (At least one of these posts will be on a Tuesday per month)
7. Are you able/ willing to commit to a 6 month term with QKD at this time?

Applications are due by January 30th at 10am MST!
New Royal Court members will be contacted by January 31st via email.
Send everything in 1 email to: royalcall@katstamps.com

Triple Tiara Tuesday: Inspiration

We hope we have inspired you to pick up those stamps and make something fun with our Triple Tiara Tuesdays.

This week's challenge is an Inspiration challenge. Let this image from Red Envelope inspire you to make your creation:



This week's challengers are: Penny, Chris, and Jan.

Check out what these lovely ladies have done for this week's challenge, make your own, and share a direct link to your creation with us right here.

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Here are the rules of Triple Tiara Tuesday:

- Each week 3 Royal Court Members will host a challenge on their blog.

- You start right here at the QKD blog and visit the 3 challenge hosts on their personal blogs. (Leave us some love and a link to your project so we can return the favor. *wink*)

- QKD will offer up a $25 stamp gift certificate for the players to compete for each month. So if people enter each week, they have 4 chances to win the monthly prize of $25.

- The contestants will post their link to their card on the Inlinkz widget here on the blog. (There will be 1 per month.)

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Looking forward to seeing your creations and good luck!

January Royal Inklings Magazine

Did you know that Queen Kat Designs has a free online magazine? Well we do! :) the January issue was just released tonight. Come and get your copy now.
There are several never before seen projects from the Royal Court that include full supply lists and step by step instructions! It's a monthly publication presented by the Royal Court.

Eat Cake! Triple Tiara Tueday's White Challenge: Frosting and Cherry on Top!

Have Your Cake (and eat it too)

This past Tuesday's Triple Tiara Challenge was to use WHITE for your card, and only add a hint of color on your stamped image. This was totally a challenge for me! I've never made an all white card. I stuck with all white including my base, my paper lace mat, a glittered white top mat, lace circle for my cute cake image to sit up, and then topped it off with a sheer white bow!

This adorable swirly cake image is from "Have Your Cake" stamp set from Queen Kat Designs. I used my printer to print the Eat Cake sentiment, since I do not have many sentiment stamps (yet). I then added some yummy glitter to top off that frosting! YUM!

I hope that each of you will take the "all white" challenge--click HERE for the white challenge information! Remember you can do ALL the challenges as long as they are all finished and linked up by the last day of the month. So if you missed the first and second challenge of this month, there is still time to win the fabulous gift of $25.00 to Queen Kat Designs store! Just look on the RIGHT hand side of the blog to link up your white creations. If you missed the first challenge, it was a sketch, so click HERE to see that challenge.

Now this is my idea of a guilt free dessert! Make sure to leave me a comment here and at my blog to enter the Stickles giveaway!

1'st Challenge: Sketch CLICK HERE

2'nd Challenge: All White CLICK HERE

Star Gazer

Star Gazer the painting is actually rather large for me at 11x14". I love the soothing cool colors of this one. I imagine him to be this little house dragon dreaming of what it would be like to be wild and free. But with those delicate butterfly like wings, he really is only suited to be a well loved house pet. Sort of like a well pampered house cat.
Would different colors change the feel of this design? Why don't you fine out and post your different color choices for this stamp here.

It's Maigan's Day!

Hi Blog friends!

We are doing something different here at Queen Kat Designs this year. Each Wednesday we will be releasing new stamps! That's right!! Every Wednesday!! I have new artists booked to debut through the end of March so far and on the first Wed. of the month we will have our regular releases.

Some Saturday's we will choose a stamp artist and feature them on our Facebook Fan page. There will be challenges and giveaways. This week we are featuring the Whimsical Inkings of Maigan Lynn. Maigan is the Chapter President over at the Whimsical Ink Sorority. Here are some of her paintings..

We offer many different stamps illustrated by Maigan Lynn. (86 to be exact) The very first Mermaid introduced by QKD that Maigan drew was Lani. She's the beautiful mermaid above with the white tail and orange hibiscus flowers. She's my favorite. I asked Maigan to draw something with Hibiscus flowers and boy did she ever! Here's some of my favorite cards done by the Royal Court that feature Lani.

Today we are celebrating Maigan Lynn and her artwork. We will have challenges and some giveaways over on our Facebook Fan page throughout the day. Please come on over "Like" us and take part in the fun! See you soon

Queen Kat and the Royal Court

Girl Friday: 3 Easy Cards

Snow Day Stamp

With a cheerful and bright smile like that, what heart wouldn't melt on a snow day?

Just want to share with you three easy cards I made with this little cutie.

This is an easy way to use up some of the extra stash you have -- the small piece of cardstock or patterned paper, the rub-ons you haven't used, etc. that you just can't bear to throw away.


Thinking of you card - Simply color in your stamped image with decorating chalks. Add a piece of cardstock, trim the edges with decorative scissors, add a funky ribbon and a rub-0n, and you're done!


Remember when card - Stamp your image on white cardstock, color in with markers, trim closely and adhere to a doily. Simply add a gray shadow around the image with a marker to hide the edges. Add a ribbon and cut out a sentiment from a piece of patterned paper.


You're on my mind card - Cut out frames (or any similar designs) from patterned paper to decorate your kraft cardstock. Stamp image on white cardstock, color in with markers and decorating chalks, trim and place in a frame. Add rub-on and bling.

Hope you had fun and got inspired to dig in and use those little scraps you have lying around!

*hugs*
Nina