Hear Ye, Hear Ye!!

Happy June, crafters!  I want to welcome our new Royal Stamping Maids, and encourage you to visit their blogs as they create with Queen Kat Stamps to inspire your own crafting.  Their blog links are listed to your right.
Want even more inspiration? Queen Kat Designs introduces you to the new Castle Playground, featuring such fabulous artists as Sandra Caldwell, Che Gilson, Melia Newman, Jaz Higgins, Charles Bristow and Coriander Shea Detwiler.  The Castle Playground has its own Royal Designers who will strive to inspire you with the absolutely gorgeous images from these artists. 
Please visit and Follow each blog so you don't miss out on the fun!!  Lots of announcements to make, an upcoming Blog Hop, contests, etc. 
Happy June, crafters!

  Is this image adorable or what? It reminds me of a high school girl prettying up for a date out with friends.  This stamp is one of Many you can find with Queen Kat.  Please click here for the link to buy this stamp.

  Christina Lynn Myers is the wonderful artist that designed this stamp.  Click here for more stamps and products from Ms. Myers.

Stay tuned for more fun things to come.  There are many happenings and wonderful fun things to get involved with.  Visit us on our face book page.  The artistic talent of both the stamp designers and design team  members is just astonishing.

If I receive at least 5 comments on this card, I'll put the names in a hat and draw for a winner of the card.

Stamp Happy be a blessing!  Click here for my personal blog

Nora Bassett -- must see and buy this stamp!

  I hope you have had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  We look in honor to our fallen men and women, we are thankful for those who have served our country honorably and for those who stand in harm's way to protect us in the current.

  I bet you didn't know that my great-great grand mother was a full blooded Cherokee Indian Princess.  That is where I get my dark olive skin (at least in summer) and my dark brown hair (OK it used to be brown).

  Did you know that Queen Kat has special offers and discounts for her customers?  Well, you have to go check out her store front for more ideas and great value on your stamps.  I love being part of this ever growing dynamic team of wonderful artists.

  Have a great day, Stamp Happy and be a blessing!

Light Fairy in Bloom

I filled this card with embellishments that fill my life--music, flowers and color.  I also used a fave image from QKD, Light Fairy by Ann Howard.  This is my third card using this image and I think she's had different colored hair each time!  She is so very open to many different colors and styles, I can't stop coloring her!

Today I opened a package of Kraft paper card bases and envelopes.  There was a lot of leftover items from my weekend projects, and I snagged a small piece of the music-themed patterned paper, and from there I built my card. 

I ink-distressed the Kraft paper to coordinate with my Copic-colored fairy, using as many colors as I could ID from the music-themed paper.  The tiny flowers came from a bag of flower peices from a garage sale, while the butterfly flew in my window--well, he was actually left over from another card. 

I found a coordinating piece of patterned paper, and framed each block with glitter paper I had received from a swap.  A few leftover jewels finish off my card, which is a 5x5 square.  Its matching envelope was ink-distressed in the same colors.

I hope you like my Light Fairy card as much as I do.  You can find her for purchase, along with other stamps from Ann Howard, over at the Queen Kat Designs Shoppe.  Don't forget to check out QKD at Facebook.  I hear she's going to offer a contest with prizes soon!

Now for a brief announcement from our sponsor..............

Hehehhe I always wanted to say that.. Hi it's Janie today coming over to introduce you to the Whimsical Ink Sorority 2.0 I am happy to announce that our Queen Vikki has brought it back and I for one am very happy.

So every Friday i will post a project on the QKD blog featuring one of the artists that we showcase there.

Today I am pleased to show you Snow by the incomparable Maigan Lynn.

Isn't she pretty? I think she is very lovely. You can find more of Maigan's images at the Whimsical Ink Sorority 2.0 here is the link to the blog  http://whimsicalinksorority.blogspot.com




Thanks for stopping by today hope to see you soon


Janie

#3 Artist Interview Series- Trish Shufelt

Today I'm thrilled to be here with Trish Shufelt! She's an inspiring artist. I love her fairytale inspired artwork... But my favorite stamp of all time that we have is the unicorn! She's so pretty and versatile! 


I've made a tag using Trish's Unicorn stamp, distress ink and distress re-inkers. Please check out the video after you read the interview I had with Trish. 


What is your favorite medium? What style do you consider your work to be?
My favorite medium is graphite pencil, ink and watercolor pencil.  I would say my style is fantasy, which incorporates elemental, fairy tale and classic illustration.

What made you start doing art and when did you begin your career in art?
I have been an artistic for as long as I can remember.  Perhaps, my first coloring book and pack of crayons, or sculpting my first animal image in kindergarten.  Art has always been a method of escape and a way to find myself.  I am self-taught.  I officially began my career as an artist in 2004.

What/ Who most inspires you?
There have been so many, but I would say my primary influences have been and still are, Trina Schart Hyman, Arthur Rackham, Brian Froud, and Waterhouse.

Are you a full time artist?
In spirit, yes.  An artist never truly stop creating.  It is a 24/7 job in my opinion, as I am always gathering ideas from nature, people, dreams, books, etc.   In reality, no.  I also work part-time.  My hope is to illustrate on a full-time basis at some point.  I see books covers, tarot cards and all kinds of things in my future.  Well...at least that is my hope.

What is your favorite subject matter and why?
Currently, I have two favorite subjects, Fairy tales, and elemental subject matter.  Fairy tales have long held fascination for me because of the parallels between the genre and real life.  Elemental imagery allows me to explore my relationship with nature, and allow her the voice she so deservedly needs. 

What are your favorite colors to use in your artwork?  Do you tend to stick to a certain palette?
I once had someone tell me that color was obviously very important to me.  I use a great deal of color and don't adhere to any particular palette.  In general, my favorite colors are green and brown, but that is reflected in my home.  I admire artists that stick to a few colors and make that their signature look. 

If you could meet any artist living or dead who would it be and why?
That is a difficult one.  I've had the pleasure and honor of meeting Brian Froud, who is very much alive.  He is a genuine and remarkable person.  Very down to earth and sweet.  However, he does have a twinkle of mischief in his eyes.  As for an artist that has passed on, that is more difficult.  I have always admired the work of Arthur Rackham, and often go to my library of his books for reference.  But, I would have to say Trina Schart Hyman.  I remember her books very fondly as a child, especially the fairy tale works.  I think she was such an amazing talent and remarkable human being.  I once had a very well known artist tell me my work reminded him of Trina's.  This was the greatest compliment I could have ever received, and I was deeply moved. 

How did you choose the name for your artwork?Inner Fae Creations...That came along time ago and basically, it means your inner faerie.


Check out the video made with the fabulous Unicorn stamp by Trish Shufelt! 

You can find Trisha on the internet at  www.innerfaecreations.com 

sweet candy girl

Sorry for today's late post.  I have had a long day and it's only 1:00 in the afternoon.

Here is this beautiful image I featured in a card I made for Melissa.  I just love the whimsey of the image.  I can just picture a lazy afternoon and some great candy.

Visit Queen Kat's store here!

Stamp happy be a blessing.

Pretty Birdie by Anam Stubbington

Today I made a card using "Pretty Birdie" by Anam Stubbington.  I distressed it with ink and built up many layers in shades of brown and yellow, yet the bird flames with color.  I colored her with Copics and shimmered her with Stickles, and she is surrounded by ink and torn paper and muted tones and sewn borders. 
I don't often use embossed backgrounds, and even attached a medallion and baker's twine, two firsts for me.
I like the worn yet vibrant look to this card, and have to thank QKD and Anam Stubbington for the inspiration!!
You can get your fill of Anam and all the talented artists at the QKD Shoppe.  Don't forget to check out the Gallery for all the designers' cards to inspire your Muse!!!

Nora Blansett'sMaria Divine

How beautiful is this stamp?  She is Maria Divine and she is a stamp from Queen Kat.  The image is drawn by the wonderful artist Nora Blansett.  I just love the lines and value of this stamp.  It was extremely easy to color, but believe it or not it took 14 copic markers to get teh job done.

I wanted to respect the native american feel of this stamp and put the card together with rich earth tones.  It is a very simple layout.  The sentiment is one from hero arts that is stamped with versa mark ink and embossed using sterling silver embossing powder. 

I hope you will check out the wonderful Queen Kat site and have fun shopping!  Stamp Happy be a blessing!

There Be Dragons Here

Here's another card using Queen Kat Designs' "This Flower Feels Squishy" by artist Carla Morrow. 
Today I made a 6x6 card using ivory cardstock. 

I tried my hand at a few techniques and supplies I don't normally use, like punched corners and embossed paper.
I also framed my image with a torn piece of sheet music snagged at an estate sale by my cropping girlfriend, Carol.
Normally, that clump of flowers in the corner would be too thick for my cards, as I mail a lot of them out.
It just goes to show you that going out of your comfort zone is a great thing.  I really like the way my card turned out!
This image is one of the May new releases from Queen Kat Designs and available for sale in the shoppe.
Happy Crafting!

queen kat -- Alisha close up -- chance to WIN!!

  http://youtu.be/dgaIVVsaBc0

This is a simple slider card.  Beate from Splitcoast stampers has a wonderful instruction to how to make this type of a card in the video above.  I hope you'll enjoy this technique and give it a try.

  I loved coloring this image.  I love the clean details and how easily the final project came together.  The slider did not want to work properly.  After a  bit of fussing and coaxing it finally came together.

  To keep this interesting, I have decided to give this card away.  Please leave comments on this post for a chance to win it.  Please keep in mind I can not track packages out side of the USA so, please be patient.  I have known packages that are going to our sister country Canada to take several weeks. 

  Please visit the Queen Kat store and blog! The information is on the sidebar of my blog.   Please let your friends know of this give away so we can get great participation!

  Stamp Happy and above all be a BLESSING!

 

"This Flower Feels Squishy" by Carla Morrow

I love the humor in the title of Carla Morrow's stamp for Queen Kat Designs this month. 
It's called "This Flower Feels Squishy". 
I suppose it does, but how do you think  the flower feels???
LOL

I am into my second year (yes, slow-going, but hope on, hope ever) of trying to use up my stash of patterned papers.  By now I'm sure you have figured out that I am an overzealous paperholic.  If I were to stack my paper, cardstock, patterned, sets, and leftover pieces, I believe I could just get it to fit under my 7 foot ceiling! sigh!

But I am trying, really I am!  And today I offer you a card made with leftover papers from the DCWV Green Stack.  My dragon friend seems to be sitting outside, admiring the birds in the trees.  I was going to add the sentiment, "Friends Are Too Good to Eat", but then I wondered at the smile on his face, if I should rather put something like, "Friend or Fricasse? Decisions, decisions..." 
Which do you think goes with him?

"This Flower Feels Squishy" is one of many new stamps released this month by QKD.  Go check them out!!

Just Be You

The only person you need to satisfy, to meet expectations, to challenge, is yourself.  Don't dress the way others tell you to dress, don't keep quiet when you have ab need to spak, don't CONFORM.  Don't lose yourself in others.
Okay, rant over, time to show my card.  I really love this Queen Kat Designs image by artist Ady Almanza.  I keep coloring her and have started a little pile of BLUE HAIR DOLLIE images in all different colors.

Here is an easel card I made a week or two ago.  It was scheduled to publish on April 27, because I post my projects every Friday, but I found it lurking in the blog posts, still scheduled for April 27, 20121.  Isn't that a little weird, considering it's May 1 now??
Anyway, I threw some rescued jewelry onto CTMH patterned paper I found.  I added a butterfly to finish off the front.

A little bit of bling on her wings and in her hair lends some shimmer.

When the card is opened, the sentiment "Just Be You" explains my post title.  I added the flower to keep the card propped up.  Two beads from that rescued jewelry are hanging from the flower.

Hope you like my Blue Hair Dollie card as much as I like coloring the image!  You can find her and the rest of the April releases at the QKD  shoppe.

Happy crafting!!