giveaway for Lily Pad's Birthday Blog Hop

Hello Friends, How are you?? Today is an exciting day because Lily Pad is turning ONE!! It's hard to image that Lily Pad has been providing us with a years worth of great ideas, entertainment, challenges and lots of inspiration. Today for the hop you may be arriving from Janet's blog? If you want to start at the beginning of the hop start here at Lily Pad's blog. Since I'm number 15 in the hop I don't think I need to be redundant about all of the awesome prices that can be won during the hop but, just in case  

There are three prize packages with a total retail value of over $300! These prizes will be awarded by random draw. To be eligible, you need to “like” Lily Pad on Facebook If you would like to better your chances,  you can leave comments on the blogs participating in this hop (including the Lily Pad). For each comment, you get your name entered again (but only one comment per blog, please).

I am having my own giveaway to celebrate Lily Pad's First B.D. 
All you need to do is leave a comment on my blog to enter your name for a random draw to win these two stamps and the card.
Do you want a better chance at winning??  Here are a few ways:
1. post my candy on your blog
2. tell your face book friends
3. follow my UTube
4. subscribe to my blog
5. follow me
Please leave a comment telling me that you posted my candy or, face booked it, subscribed to my UTube  ... etc etc. Good luck & send me an email if you have any questions. I will randomly select a winner at 12:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, April 8 & announce the winner on April 9th. 

Whew!! Now for the card. I love this cake called "Pinnacle" from Penny Black it's so versatile. Here's a wedding card I created with the stamp. Can you tell that the sweet girl called "kisses" is really trying to blow out the candle on the cake. (I drew the candle) The background was created with this stamp. 
If you are loving this sweet image here are two cards I created with her. 

The sentiment is from this SRM sticker page & the scallop card was cut out with this Spellbinder die. If you are wondering what I colored my images with the mystery is over. Copics :) 

I want to thank YOU for your visit!  YOUR NEXT STOP ON THE HOP IS Julie Ranae's blog .
 If you hit a bad link, you can always  go back to Lily Pad to view the master list of blog links. Please report any bad links to aris@inlinkz.com.
In case you have't heard... the blog hop will last for a week which gives you have more time to complete the hop for a chance to win prizes. You have until 12:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, April 8 :) Thanks again for your visit!! Hugs, Kathy

 CARD SUPPLIES: (just click on any thumbnail)

InLinkz.com

Creating a lacy underlay

Hello Friends, Anything new with you?? I'm just marveling at the speed the weeks are passing  by. 
Today I created some lacy cards for the Penny Black blog. We are sharing our favorite stamps and this one is top on my list. 
For the more detailed card on the right I created a lacy overlay. The other two cards were quick and simple.

Can you see the stamped image underneath the vellum?? I have fallen in love...with this kraft that just arrived in the Simon Says card kit. (see here for giveaway) This kraft paper is smoother than any kraft I have used before and it's slightly lighter which I like much better. The top panel of my card is the kraft paper I am referring to. I ran out of it so had to use some other stuff that I wasn't as thrilled with. More card details below. 


This is my simple and quick card. Honestly it's super fast and super fun to color with this white gel pen. The width of the pen fits perfectly in between the lines. To add some shading to the flowers petals I used this white pencil. Added a little of my favorite distress ink to the corners. After I die cut my circle I cut a few pieces from the circle to add to my white center circle. (I also stamped an extra flower to pop on the top)  This sentiment is perfect for any occasion. 


I literally threw this one together. I wanted to color with some pencils on the kraft paper to show another way to combine these inks and kraft. I used this Spellbinder die for the SRM sentiment.

I have yet...... until now....... found the prefect brown ink and this one is absolutely perfect. I am so excited. Usually the brown inks are to "brown" or have to much orange in them for my taste. For the underlay I used this lighter brown ink and only the white pencil (not the white gel pen) so the underlay would be soft and not steal the show. I cut out portions of the empty space on the cards front panel leaving the corners to anchor the card. (see left)

I  distressed the corners with Gathered Twigs distress ink. You can see the glossy accents in the corners that I used to adhere the vellum. It will be covered up when I pop my front cut out lacy panel.

If you look close you can see the stamped flowers under the vellum. Soft and elegant. For some reason I just couldn't add a sentiment. I just wanted to keep the card clean, simple and lacy.

I hope you give this a try and if you do send me a photo or a link so I can see what you created.
Off to pack for  a quick trip to New York tomorrow. Thanks for your visit. Hugs, Kathy

 CARD SUPPLIES:

InLinkz.com

Oprah said.... and how it influenced the cover

Hello Friends, How was your weekend?? Any thing exciting going on in your life??
I know that you all can really appreciate what it takes to make a card or a cover and you all understand the language. I feel blessed to share this with you. This fashionista is a cover girl.... actually.... she made the front cover of the Penny Black Catalog 2011.



I love working with this fashion gal and I LOVE her jacket and boots. I colored her with Copic markers & the XPress it paper. The texture on the pants was created by using the blending solution on a rag then dabbing it on the pants. The bow on her jacket was cut from the top of the present stack and added to the back of her jacket . ( I cut off the present stack and inserted the lantern) The lantern and the fashionista are original sizes.


And this is her cover debut and here's the PDF. The other two lanterns were enlarged and I snipped off the lantern's handle then added half of a paper clip for a more dimensional. The large harvest moon was a Spellbinder circle, distressed and stamped with this "Retro Pattern".
My arm was pretty tired after distressing an entire 81/2x11 sheet of card stock..lol
A few days ago I mentioned that I use this transparent set all the time...do you believe me now?? The snowflakes were stamped in white ink on the background.

Thought you may be interested in the colors on the lanterns. The theme of the cover is "Take Light Where Ever You Go" I was up late one night putting the finishing touches on this cover. An old episode from Oprah was on and she was talking to Ellen. Oprah was telling Ellen how she's such a happy person and that she takes light wherever she goes. BINGO!!!!!!!!!!! That was the perfect sentiment for the cover .... can you believe the timing?? What a compliment from Oprah. Really makes me think do I take light where I go?? What does this sentiment mean to you?? I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for letting me share this cover story with you. Hugs,  Kathy
P.S. Here is a card I made with her and the present stack. This stamp is great for Birthdays too.

Supplies: