Card for a Crafty Friend

When Stampin’ Up! came out with this set, it was on the top of my list.

I loved that it would be perfect to use in cards for my crafty friends, journaling and so many other things!

It’s called “It Starts With Art” and is available as a bundle that includes the stamps and die set.

I had some cute polka dot paper that is green on one side. I used my Stitched Rectangle Dies to cut the center out.

I flipped the paper to the green and put it back in the center. I then stamped, colored and die cut elements to use on my card. 

Stampin’ Up! has alcohol markers that coordinate perfectly with their inks and embellishments, BUT I had already begun working on my stash of Copic markers long before they first introduced them. I had to forego buying the collection and I use what I have.

First, I just placed the elements to see where i wanted them to go, no glue yet. I used a Jewel Picker to handle the narrow pieces. I realized later I could totally have used my Take Your Pick Tool!

It’s a great tool for jobs such as this.

I wanted to place things equally, so using a ruler, I centered the sentiment first. I then placed the little bottles and the red marker. This helped me to evenly place the rest.

Finally, I created the perfect card for my sweet friend. She and I used to always craft together, and then I moved away. I would be so heartbroken if not for FaceTime! We get to spend a few hours together almost every week. It’s not the same, but it is so good to have this wonderful way to enjoy some time together. And by the way, those CUTE paper clips are REAL paper! They cut out with the dies and y’all, I’m just crazy about them!

By the way, the BEST way to get all the things is to join Stampin’ Up! I welcome hobbyists as well as those of you who want to make this a business. JOIN FOR $99 and GET $155 WORTH OF YOUR CHOICE! This offer expires Aug 31 2019, so it’s now or you’ll miss out! Questions? Comment below or contact me through my store info! 

Just click on the Product and it will take you right to my store!

It Starts With Art Bundle [151090] $46.75

Take Your Pick [144107] $10.00

Snail Adhesive [104332] $7.00

Snail Adhesive Refill [104331] $4.50

Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755] $4.00

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [100730] $9.75

Thinking of You

This sweet card is for a dear friend who lost her husband at this time last year.

What I love about it: It was simple to make, it features dyed lace trim using a SUPER simple technique and the pearls and stitched rectangle just make this card beautiful.

What’s this about dyed lace? Well, all you need to do is cut the desired length of lace trim, and press while dragging it across your ink pad! Like this:

So simple! Just cut a bit more length (to hold on to) than you need, press with bone folder or another tool and drag lace through. LET IT DRY! You can use your heat tool to dry it faster. Drying it keeps you from getting ink all over your fingers… ask me how I know! LOL!

I cut the card base at 5 1/2 by 8 1/2, then scored the 8 1/2 to 4 1/4. Folded, it measures standard A2 as 5 1/2 by 4 1/4.

The next layer is the Nobel Peacock Designer Series Paper. I cut that layer at 3 3/4 by 5.

Next, I folded a doily (from my stash) over the left edge and used snail adhesive to adhere it. I cut the three lengths of lace trim, dyed one (see above) and then wrapped one length around the peacock paper, taping the ends on the back of the layer. I repeated this for the dyed piece as well as the third length of trim. I made a small bow and set that aside.

Next, I stamped the sentiment “Thinking of You”. This is not a Stampin’ Up! stamp, but there are many choices in the catalog with this sentiment. I then die cut the sentiment with one of the rectangle stitched dies, and using snail adhesive, I placed it on the card at an angle.

Adding the Pearl Basic Jewels took a bit of extra glue. Maybe because of the textured trim, but probably because of the ink dye, the adhesive backing on the little pearls isn’t enough to hold on. I used Tombow Liquid Glue for this.

Add the bow and boom! You’ve got a super simple, yet elegant card!

Below is a product list that links directly to my store. Please do visit, and remember, joining between now and August 31, 2019 means you pay $99 and get $155 worth of your choice of product. That’s $30 MORE than the regular $125. In addition, you’ll receive a $10 coupon by email! It’s a great time to join, whether you are just a hobbyist or want to do this as a biz. Either way, if you’re in the U.S., I can help! Just contact me.

Thanks for stopping by, and God Bless!

Product List

Stitched Rectangle Dies [148551] $35.00

Seaside Spray Classic Stampin’ Pad [150085] $7.50

Seaside Spray 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [150883] $8.75

Noble Peacock Specialty Designer Series Paper [149493] $14.50

Very Vanilla 3/8″ (1 Cm) Scalloped Lace Trim [149593] $7.00

Snail Adhesive [104332] $7.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755] $4.00

Pearl Basic Jewels [144219] $5.00

Lots to announce!

Stampin’ Up! has a LOT to offer in July and also August this year! Check out the latest on my YouTube channel! Please subscribe! Thank you and God bless, Kathy Bo

Sailing Home

Is it possible to fall in love at first sight?

Well I think so, because I totally fell in love with this stamp set AT FIRST SIGHT!

I know, that may be overboard for most folks but y’all- this set has it all.

I guess I should say I love most nautical themed stamp sets and dies, as long as they are somewhat realistic and not cartoony. Sailing Home by Stampin Up! is one of those. It reminds me of the amazingly beautiful lighthouses and quaint nautical towns we visited while in Maine one year. Bar Harbor, Acadia National Forest, Ogunquit, Portland and Kennebunkport. It was the trip of a lifetime! And one day I will finish the scrapbook and post it here.

Meanwhile, here is the card I made for a friend of my husband and also links to the stamp set, dies and supplies that I used. I CASE’d the design from Brian King via Pinterest, and added some of my own flair.

Want to see lots more? Just click here to visit my YouTube channel, click here to join my Stampin’ Up! team!

Thanks for stopping by! Please subscribe so you won’t miss anything!

Stampin’ Dimensionals make the lighthouse and sentiment pop up! I tore some crumb cake cardstock and scrubbed crumb cake ink on the torn edge to give the look of a sand dune.

Product List

Sailing Home Cling Stamp Set [149457] $24.00

Smooth Sailing Dies [149576] $32.00

Come Sail Away Designer Series Paper [149481] $11.50

Sail Away Trinkets [149482] $8.00

Balmy Blue 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [146982] $8.75

Crumb Cake 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock [120953] $8.75

Sahara Sand 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock [121043] $8.75

Night Of Navy 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock [100867] $8.75

Night Of Navy Classic Stampin’ Pad [147110] $7.50

Crumb Cake Classic Stampin’ Pad [147116] $7.50

I used the Get Well Soon sentiment from this sweet set.

Apron Of Love Photopolymer Stamp Set [145835] $21.00

SNAIL Permanent Adhesive [104332] $7.00

SNAIL Permanent Adhesive Refill [104331] $4.50

Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430] $4.00

Night Of Navy/Sahara Sand Baker’s Twine [149483] $4.00

Bone Folder [102300] $7.00

Stamping fun

When my pastor approved a card ministry for our church, I couldn’t wait to get started on planning our first meeting.

Since that time, we have had several card making sessions, producing a variety of much-needed notes of encouragement, get well and prayers.

Here’s one of our first meetings at our church. I’m ‘splainin’ something somewhat important hahah!

Due to Vacation Bible School at church, the ladies of our Dove Notes group met at my house today. It was a nice change because the lighting is better AND my studio is in the very next room- I found that to be super helpful as I didn’t have to carry everything from place to place. The room we are in is a multi-functional room where everything can be moved around and space repurposed. See below for more on this room.

Silly me. I didn’t take pix of the card even though I worked far too long designing it and trying to coordinate colors- that’s easy IF you use current product. I used some stash so I had to work to get it all coordinated.

Anyway, all this took place in the EBR- the Emotional Baggage Room at my house. We call it that because after the move into a house we refurbished, we had a LOT of emotional baggage and no where else to unpack it. 🤣

The 42 X 18 room transitions into many things and currently houses my sewing area, a place for grandLittles to watch movies, three guest beds, fabric and quilts, tables for game night (or card making) and a runway for our three pups to haul tail to the doggie door. They pop in and out of that door like it’s a vending machine. We can change the room’s purpose in so many ways, and we are still working on finishing up some paint and trim.

Who can have emotional baggage when ALL THAT is going on? Right?

Anyway, we had fun making cards today and my crew learned something new: how to heat emboss. It is fascinating and magical and one of my favorite techniques.

I hope you’re enjoying my blog and I do hope you’ll subscribe to my YouTube channel– I have a lot of fun there and there’s a chance someone might break into song- just sayin.

God bless,

Kathy Bo

Winds of Change

Y’all.

This was such a fun set to color! I could have made all the flowers purple, pink or yellow, or any color I wanted. Though i love the photos of tulips in Holland, all lined up by color, I decided to mix them up for a splash of excitement.

The bicycle is just adorable. I enjoyed coloring the tulips in the basket and going a bit rogue with my bad self while coloring the ground. There’s a place denoting grass, but I think the grey adds the idea of a roadside.

The pair of tulips has so many options; I can imagine creating my own background paper with them. (Watch for an upcoming post on the card!)

Here are some pix of the stamped examples as well as the product list.

Enjoy! And please visit my store and YouTube channel!

Product List

Winds Of Change Cling Stamp Set [149357] $24.00

Clear Block D [118485] $8.50

Clear Block F [118483] $17.00

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Refill [133456] $5.00

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock [100730] $9.75

Watercolor Pencils [141709] $16.00

Watercolor Pencils Assortment 2 [149014] $12.50

Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897] $8.00

A Video Walk Through the New Catalog!

The June 4, 2019 release of the annual Stampin’ Up! catalog was SO exciting! When I was finally able to participate in the preorder, I found it difficult to choose between “all the things”. Somehow, I narrowed it down to my budget and lo and behold, my orders have arrived!

I don’t want to waste a minute sharing this catalog with you! If you’re familiar with my YouTube channel, you know I’m all about sharing. I’ve made five videos for the new catalog, each one providing a walk through its five main sections.

Here is the first of five videos, complete with my opinion on some of the products I LOVE and because I like to keep it real, a very small number of others I do not love.

Fun Fact: Everyone who places a $50 order with me (US only, $50 before shipping and tax) will receive a free catalog in the mail. This is only possible if you leave your contact info for me on the order! Please note I cannot mail out to those who do not.

So I hope you go to my YouTube channel, check it out and subscribe! And hey, while you’re in cyberspace, please also check out my store. It’s nice and quiet there, everything arranged just so, and there’s never a line to check out! LOL!

Thanks for visiting, and God bless!

Kathy Bo