Thursday Trigger at the Kraft Journal: Fish Outta Water Birthday Cards

This week is our "Tie It Up" challenge at The Kraft Journal and we're looking forward to seeing what you create!  The link to the current challenge is located in the upper right hand of The Kraft Journal sidebar and you can also find it by clicking here.  You'll find some totally fabulous inspiration for the current challenge from our Design Team at that link as well!

This past weekend we celebrated my middle daughter's 22nd birthday and so I finally forced myself into creating some cards... I call these my "fish outta water" birthday cards because that's what I have felt like since I combined my office and craft room into one area of our home. Since the move, I've been unable to locate essentials like my glue gun, die cuts, plates for my Big Shot and in addition to that, the lighting in this new area for photography is horrendous to say the least.  Never the less, I am also a cheapskate and refuse to pay $3.50 each for a birthday card when I have supplies to create them myself (even if I have yet to find them all since the move!) and my daughters balk at the idea of getting anything other than handmade card from mom too! :-)

With that said, I created two quick and easy birthday cards that feature a 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 base created from Kraft Outlet's Brown Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock and lined the inside of each card with a piece of 4 x 5 1/4 Light Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock which I stamped with a birthday sentiment (inside photograph of cards not shown due to lighting issues).  I tied up one of the cards (shown right) with Twill Tying Tape and used Kraft Outlet's Small Manila Shipping Tags tied up with string to create a focal point for each "Happy Birthday" sentiment. JBS Stick Pins in Pewter adorn the card on the left. Also featured on these cards are October Afternoon's "Sidewalk" patterned paper and Chipboard Stickers.  Pink ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbons, My Minds Eye Fine and Dandy "True Blue Bling", Ranger Archival Ink "Coffee", Papertrey Ink Stamps "Birthday Basics" and "Birthday Inside and Out".
Join us at The Kraft Journal for this week's "Tie it Up" challenge today!

The Kraft Journal: Favorite Project of 2011 Challenge

 

Beth Moore: Favorite Project of 2011


For today's Thursday Trigger post over at The Kraft Journal, I want to share with you my favorite Kraft Outlet project from 2011 and I hope this will inspire you to join our challenge this week.  It's simple to join, just follow the Current Challenge link located in the upper righthand of our sidebar and link up your past favorite project from 2011 that also featured Kraft cardstock or products you purchased from Kraft Outlet.

My favorite past project was this decorated  Lunch Bag Kraft CD Sleeve that created a fun and pretty way to store a CD filled with some of my favorite Summer 2011 photographs.  Other products from Kraft Outlet that I used include: a Round Metal Edge White Tag from the Designer's Special Natural Tag Collection that I first spritzed with coffee colored mist and then stamped with the word "Remember", Blue and White Baker's Twine, Tim Holtz Film Strip Ribbon that matches my photograph storage theme for this project, and a die cut tag that I stamped with the word "Summer" and attached at the top of the sleeve. I cut the index tab from Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock with the idea that I'll decorate more of these sleeves to store my photo CDs by season and once I put them all in a box, it will help me locate whatever CD I may wish to find later.

Remember, there is still plenty of time for you to join our Favorite Project of 2011 challenge.  You can find the link to our current challenge in the upper right corner of our sidebar at The Kraft Journal blog or click here.  We can't wait to see what your favorite project of 2011 was!

Happening at The Kraft Journal and Kraft Outlet Welcome Fall Challenge

Guest Designer Debbie Carriere

For this week’s  “Welcome Fall” challenge over at The Kraft Journal (the official blog for Kraft Outlet) our September Guest Designer Debbie Carriere created a fall themed card and bakery bag duo.  For the card, she used both Brown Kraft Cover Weight cardstock and Light Kraft Cover Weight cardstock for the background and as mats for the patterned paper panels and sentiment.  The pennants are Jenni Bowlin Chipboard Flag Pieces covered with patterned paper, and topped with some brown pearls.  Debbie distressed all the elements of the card with Tim Holtz Distress Ink – Walnut.  To decorate the bakery bag, Debbie random stamped leaves and acorns on a Small Kraft Coffee Bag with Window and added a tag.  For more details and pictures, vist her blog.

Learn more about our current challenge and link up your "Welcome Fall" themed project by clicking on our Current Challenge link located in the top right of our sidebar over at The Kraft Journal!

Thursday Trigger for Kraft Outlet's My Favorite Things Challenge

This week as part of our "My Favorite Things" challenge, our entire Kraft Outlet Design Team is highlighting Kraft Outlet's Lunch Bag Kraft CD Sleeves. If you use the CD Sleeve in ANY of your projects submitted in July and/or August, you'll receive an extra entry into our random $15.00 Kraft Outlet Store Voucher drawing for those months, so buy some Lunch Bag Kraft CD Sleeves today and enter your projects in July and August for extra chances to win... we can't wait to see what you create using this fantastic product!


For this week's challenge I decorated a Lunch Bag Kraft CD Sleeve to create a fun and pretty way to store a CD filled with some of my favorite Summer 2011 photographs.  Other products from Kraft Outlet that I used include: a Round Metal Edge White Tag from the Designer's Special Natural Tag Collection that I first spritzed with coffee colored mist and then stamped with the word "Remember", Blue and White Baker's Twine, Tim Holtz Film Strip Ribbon that matches my photograph storage theme for this project, and a die cut tag that I stamped with the word "Summer" and attached at the top of the sleeve. I cut the index tab from Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock with the idea that I'll decorate more of these sleeves to store my photo CDs by season and once I put them all in a box, it will help me locate whatever CD I may wish to find later.

There is still plenty of time for you to join our My Favorite Things challenge.  You can find the link to our current challenge in the upper right corner of our sidebar at The Kraft Journal blog.  We can't wait to see what you create!

Cardabilities Sketch Challenge and Reveal

I'm just delighted to share my first project as a member of the fun and amazing Cardabilities Design Team! Today is reveal day at the Cardabilities blog and we have a wonderful sketch to get you crafting for this week's challenge too, I hope you join us!

The Sketch

The Card

Aqua Mist and Pure Poppy (Papertrey Ink) are at the top of my favorite color combinations list so when I found these patterns papers in the Cosmo Cricut Odds and Ends patterned paper collection I knew I wanted to combine several pieces of the patterned paper that featured these colors with the cardstock to create this bright and cheerful card.   Other supplies I used to create this card include the Border Carnival Die from Cheery Lynn Designs, JBS Antique Stick pins ordered from Kraft Outlet, Red Seam Binding from Really Reasonable Ribbons, Red Riding Hood Red ink from Stampin' Up, and Stamps from Waltzing Mouse's Rescue Remdies cut using Spellbinders Labels 4.  

Recharging the Batteries at Lake Michigan...

Today I have a whole different kinda Saturday Special over at The Kraft Journal, than our followers are used to because I'm off with my honey doing a bit of this...

In fact, I pre-scheduled this post because we left on Thursday and headed up to the shores of Lake Michigan to spend four glorious days away from computers, phones, televisions and even grandchildren (GASP) to camp, fish, and boat with another couple... just to get back to nature a bit, recharge our batteries and spend some time with just grown-ups.

Never fear though, for those of you who follow us at The Kraft Journal, we will be right back on track as early as Sunday ('cause I pre-scheduled that post too...ah the wonders of modern technology) and we'll have a whole new challenge for you on Monday as well!  Hope to see you over at The Kraft Journal then!

Thursday Trigger for The Kraft Journal: Patriotic/Americana Challenge

Many of our followers over at The Kraft Journal must have enjoyed the long 4th of July weekend and are continuing to reap the benefits of the mostly mild summer months we are enjoying around the United States because it's been pretty quite around the blog lately (here to for that matter)!  I can only hope that the quiet means you've all been soaking up some much needed sunshine and relaxation away from the computer ... but now it's time to come back and play along with us this week for this fun challenge... am I right??!! :-)

Even though our "Patriotic/Americana" Challenge at The Kraft Journal is more than half over, that doesn't mean that there isn't still plenty of time to join us...'cause there is!! All the details regarding this challenge are available by clicking on our Current Challenge link that is located in the top right sidebar of our blog.  You have until this Sunday at 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time to enter for a chance to win prizes and adorable blog buttons too!

To create this Patriotic card, I started with a 6 x 6 inch square top-fold card made from Light Kraft Coverweight Cardstock and rounded the corners. I then layered that with a 5 3/4 x 5 3/4 inch piece of
Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock, rounded the corners of that and then added a layer of patterned paper to create the card base. I used the same layering of Light Kraft Coverweight Cardstock, Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock and coordinating patterned paper to create a base for white ribbon and tied it into a bow. I topped the bow with JBS Antique Stick Pins and a red button tied up with Blue Baker's Twine.  Yet another layer of die cut Light Kraft Coverweight Cardstock and Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock is the base for my stamped and Copic Maker colored image of a vintage picnic basket complete with stars and a flag, perfect for the 4th of July. A stamped sentiment on white cardstock cut with a banner die completed the project. These details are also available at The Kraft Journal blog. Now it's your turn...and we can't wait to see what you create!

Thursday Trigger: The Kraft Journal: "Something Old/Something New" Challenge

Our "Something Old/Something New" Challenge at The Kraft Journal is in full swing and there is still plenty of time to join us. All the details regarding this challenge are available by clicking on our Current Challenge link that is located in the top right sidebar of our blog.  You have until this Sunday at 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time to enter for a chance to win prizes and adorable blog buttons too!

To create this Sympathy card for our Something Old/Something New challenge, I combined a sentiment stamp (Through the Trees by PTI) that I have had for well over a year (and had yet to use) with one of my new Parisian Accents Spellbinders dies.

I started by creating a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch base card from Buff Ivory Cardstock. I then border punched white cardstock and adhered it to the front of the card. On top of that I layered Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock and patterned paper. I also die cut Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock and white cardstock and layered it to create the focal point for the card, as well as a pretty place to stamp my sentiment for this clean and simple card.

Thursday Trigger: The Kraft Journal "Welcome Summer" Challenge

Our "Welcome Summer" Challenge at The Kraft Journal is in full swing and there is still plenty of time to join us. All the details regarding this challenge are available by clicking on our Current Challenge link that is located in the top right sidebar of our blog.  You have until this Sunday at 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time to enter for a chance to win prizes and adorable blog buttons too!

For this "Welcome Summer" challenge I created a card featuring a fun summer sentiment that I found online. I printed the sentiment using two different fonts onto Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock that I layered with "Salt Air" patterned paper by Cosmo Cricket. I also created a flower from Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock by punching out three scalloped circles, spritzing them with glitter mist and layering them with a Salt Air doily as a finishing touch. Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock from Kraft Outlet is the perfect weight and texture to make handmade embellishments...this paper is a Papercrafter's must-have staple!

I've entered this card into these fun challenges:
Anything Goes Challenge Blog: Here Comes Summer
The Paper Variety: It's Summer
The Paper Shelter: Fun in the Sun
Fab 'n Funky: Summer Loving

Thursday Trigger: The Kraft Journal Father's Day Challenge

Our "Father's Day" Challenge at The Kraft Journal is in full swing and there is still plenty of time to join us. All the details regarding this challenge are available by clicking on our Current Challenge link that is located in the top right sidebar of our blog.  You have until this Sunday at 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time to enter for a chance to win prizes and adorable blog buttons too!

This card features another image from The Vintage Workshop's Father's Day Collection and it pairs perfectly with Brown Kraft Coverweight Cardstock and Buff Ivory Cardstock from the Kraft Outlet that I layered with patterned paper.  The sentiment is a stamp from Papertrey Ink. Twine, a button and Tim Holtz Note Pins completed the front of the card.

I finished the inside of the card with Buff Ivory Cardstock, more patterned paper and added a decorated Buff Ivory envelope to complete the project.

Thursday Trigger at The Kraft Journal: It's a Guy Thing Challenge

Our "It's a Guy Thing" Challenge at The Kraft Journal is in full swing and there is still plenty of time to join us. All the details regarding this challenge are available by clicking on our Current Challenge link that is located in the top right sidebar of our blog.  You have until this Sunday at 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time to enter for a chance to win prizes and adorable blog buttons too!

For this "Father" card I started with a digital image that I purchased from The Vintage Workshop, this is actually one image from their Father's Day collection (you'll see another image next week for our Father's Day challenge).

To create this card I layered patterned paper and Buff Ivory Cardstock on a black 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 top-fold card base. I matted the digital image to match that I also printed on Buff Ivory Cardstock. I "aged" three tags from the Designers Special Natural Tag Assortment with mist and Tim Holtz Antique Linen Re-Inker ink.  A gray brad from my stash and Black Twill Tying Tape finished the project.

The Kraft Journal Memorial Day Challenge

Our Memorial Day Challenge at The Kraft Journal is in full swing and there plenty of time to join us. All the details regarding this challenge are available by clicking on our Current Challenge link that is located in the top right sidebar of our blog.  You have until this Sunday at 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time to enter for a chance to win prizes and adorable blog buttons too!

Before I share my project with you today, I wanted to share this you, first.  USMemorialDay.Org says that since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery and guard the graves for 24 hours to ensure the flags remain standing. They go on to say that with few exceptions (like the one above) traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.across the United States. However, to help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps."

As a Veteran of the United States Army, I wanted to take the time to share that information with you today, as well as create a card that I felt best shows the traditional observance of Memorial Day by including an image I found at The Vintage Workshop.

I created this card from Brown Kraft Coverweight Cardstock cut into a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 side-fold card and layered it with Buff Ivory Cardstock cut to 5 1/4 x 4 inches and adhere pattened paper on top of that cut to 5 x 3 3/4 inches. I wrapped the card with 7 Gypsies Victoria Seam Binding in cream and royal blue. A button tied with red and white Baker's Twine and Antique Jenni Bowlin Stick Pins top the bow. I printed the digital image/sentiment that I felt conveys the true meaning of this holiday onto Buff Ivory Cardstock to finish the card. A Buff Ivory envelope adorned with patterned paper completes the project.

I hope you find time to create a Memorial Day inspired project this week and share it with us at The Kraft Journal!

This week's challenge theme at The Kraft Journal is Clean and Simple and you still have time to join us too! Simply create a project using either Kraft cardstock or products from Kraft Outlet and link it up before this Sunday at 6:00 p.m., Eastern time. You can find the link to our current challenge in the upper right hand of our sidebar.

I've really been into using purple on my paper craft projects lately, so when I sat down to create this Clean and Simple card, I decided to pair the yummy Brown Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock from Kraft Outlet with some pretty purple stamped flowers...

You've still got until this Sunday at 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time to enter our Clean and Simple challenge at The Kraft Journal for a chance to win a Kraft Outlet store voucher, our Top Three Button Award or even a Featured Artist spot right here at The Kraft Journal! Simply create a CAS project that features Kraft cardstock or products purchased from Kraft Outlet and link them up to our challenge.  You'll find the link to our current challenge in the upper right side of our sidebar!

We can't wait to see what you create!

Thursday Trigger for Kraft Outlet: Stand and Salute Challenge

This week's challenge theme at The Kraft Journal is Stand and Salute in honor of Armed Forces Day on Saturday May 21, and you still have time to join us too! Simply create a project using either Kraft cardstock or products from Kraft Outlet and link it up before Sunday at 6:00 p.m., Eastern time. You can find the link to our current challenge in the upper right hand of our sidebar.

The card I created for this challenge is in honor of all the Service Men and Women who help to ensure our freedom each and every day...they are indeed "My Hero".

Kraft Outlet products featured in this card include: Brown Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock, Blue Baker's Twine, Red Baker's Twine and 7 Gypsies Victoria Seam Binding in white.

To recreate this card:

1. Create a 4 ¼ x 5 ½ top fold card with Kraft cardstock; ink edges.
2. Die cut piece of patterned paper with scallop die and adhere to piece of coordinating patterned paper that is cut at 4 x 5 ¼ inch; wrap with blue ribbon and adhere to card front.
3. Die cut tag from Kraft cardstock, ink edges and adhere scrap piece of red cardstock on back of tag; thread with ribbon, tie twine into bow and adhere to card front.
4. Die cut banner from white cardstock and stamp sentiments; adhere to card front.
5. Adhere gems on bow and large star.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink: “Stampers Select White”,“Pure Poppy”, Kraft Outlet: “Brown Kraft Cover Weight” Patterned Paper: Lily Bee Design: “Picket Fence” 6 x 6 Tiny Tablet.

Fiber: Papertrey Ink: Twill Tap 3/8 inch “Blueberry Sky”, Kraft Outlet: Baker’s Twine: “Blue”, “Red”, 7 Gypsies: Victoria Seam Binding: "White"

Dies: Papertrey Ink: “Double-Ended Banners”, “Large Scallop”, Provocraft: Cricut Stand and Salute Cartridge. Embellishments: Imaginisce: Glam Rocks “Metallic Pearl”.

Stamps: Papertrey Ink: “Ad Sense”

Ink: Ranger: Stampin’ Up: Classic Stampin’ Pad “Real Red”.

Other Tools: Provocraft: Cricut Expression Tabletop Die Cut Machine, Imaginisce: I-Rock Tool

I am entering this card into these awesome challenges... hope you join me!

Crafts and Me: Anything Goes with Option of Using Kraft
The Paper Variety: Star Studded Challenge
Truly Scrumptious: Anything Goes
Die Cutting Divas: Masculine Cuts
That's Kraft Thursday: Use Kraft Cardstock

Buttons and Bows Challenge at The Kraft Journal

Our challenge this week at The Kraft Journal is "Buttons and Bows" and you've got until this Sunday May 15 at 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time to join us! We've got some great project ideas featuring Kraft cardstock, as well as products from Kraft Outlet by our talented design team.  You can find them and our challenge at the link located in out top righthand sidebar over at The Kraft Journal blog.

I have to admit that while I adore buttons on papercraft projects, I never really end up using them very often on my cards, so for this challenge I went seeking some inspiration. This card was inspired by a card I saw a few weeks ago in the recent issue of CardMaker magazine (and I'm sorry, but I loaned that issue out to a friend of mine who is trying her hand at making cards so I don't have the Designer's name or page number handy...but you'll know it if you see it for sure as she used the die cuts in this same way!).

I started this card by creating a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch cardbase using Buff Ivory Cover Weight cardstock, I just adore the texture and visual grain of this rich paper! I die cut the flower shapes from a piece of patterned paper and then tied up red buttons with Kraft Outlet's Brown Kraft Baker's Twine and added it to the center of each card.  For extra pizzaz, I added a Glitter Rock on top of each bow with my Imaginisce I-Rock tool.  I finished the project by embellishing a Buff Ivory A2 envelope  with a matching flower.

We'd love to see how our "Buttons and Bows" challenge inspires you and hope you join us by linking your project up to play along.  You can find the link to our current challenge at the top right hand sidebar of The Kraft Journal blog.

Mother's Day Card for Kraft Outlet's Thursday Trigger

Our challenge this week at The Kraft Journal is "Mother's Day" and you've still got some time to finish up those last minute projects for Mom and join us in the fun this week! We've got some lovely project ideas featuring Kraft cardstock, as well as products from Kraft Outlet by our talented design team.  You can find them and our challenge at the link located in out top righthand sidebar at The Kraft Journal blog.

To create this card for my mom, I started with a Kraft Outlet, Kraft Blank Notecard (they come with matching envelopes) and patterned paper from Webster's Pages. I then stamped a Card Sleeve Envelope with several stamps from the TweetyJill Journey to France stamp collection. I love these deeply etched stamps and inked them up with Very Vanilla Ink (Stampin' Up) so the stamped images would show well on the Kraft.

I created the embellished tag for the inside of the Card Sleeve from a #2 Manila Tag from the Designs Special Natural Tag Collection, and removed the string which I replaced with ribbon to match the card.

The floral trim is from Webster's Pages, the pearls by Hero Arts and the Lemon Tart ribbon is from Papertrey Ink. The "Mother" sentiment stamp and stamped fern is also Papertrey Ink and the florish is cut from Fancy Flourishes Spellbinders dies.

Remember, there's still time to join us for our Mother's Day Challenge so head over to The Kraft Journal to enter your project today... can't wait to see what you create!

Note: I've entered this card into these fantastic challenges...hope you join me!

Creative Card Crew: For Mom
The Sisterhood of Crafters: Mother's Day Theme
Clear it Out Tuesday: Ribbon/Trim
Party Time Tuesday: Mother's Day Cards
Tuesday Throwdown: Morther Day Cards
Happyleigh Scrappin' Challenge: Mother's, etc.

May Day's Thursday Trigger

Our May Day Challenge at The Kraft Journal is in full swing and I've got a May Day theme-inspired card to show you today... but before I do and just in case you missed our posts earlier this week, I want to tell you that our Design Team created a number of projects that I hope will give you just the incentive you need to get out your paper and glue so you can play along with us for this challenge! You can see our Design Team Reveal and link your project up at this post right here, and you can stop in and watch this week's whimsical pinwheel tutorial presented by Audrey Pettit right here.

Why not pick up our new blog button while you are here too for a chance to win a  $10.00 Kraft Outlet gift certificate... you can read more about how to enter to win right here.

For this Thursday Trigger post I created a card that, while it isn't actually in celebration of the holiday... it is inspired by the month of May... or my take on it at any rate.


May Day Challenge

This card actually didn't end up at all like I first envisioned or planned for that matter.  When I started this project, I printed a pretty little digital image of a May Day bouquet that I planned to use as the centerpiece to the design... but after a whole lotta fiddlin' around I finally realized that the image just wasn't working for me at all... BUT it did inspire me to use some pretty patterned papers (Webster's Pages) that I paired with  Buff Ivory Coverweight cardstock used as accent paper for the trim, the stamped backdrop and the stamped leaves too. I layered everything onto a Kraft Blank Notecard and even stamped the envelope to match. As for the finished card, while not what I first envisioned, once finished I felt it reflected what the month of May means to me....although I have to admit that while I can't recall ever seeing a butterfly flit about my yard this time of year (this IS Michigan)... they somehow landed on this May Day card... perhaps just a happy accident. :-)

Other supplies I used to create this card include: Ink: Stampin' Up, Pearls and Crystals: Bo Bunny, Dies: Spellbinders and Papertrey Ink (leaves), Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Sentiment and Leaves) and Waltzing Mouse. Stampin Up Word Window Punch, Martha Stewart Royal Butterfly Punch, Seam Binding: May Arts

Remember, you have until Sunday, 6:00 p.m., Eastern time to enter your project in The Kraft Journal May Day Challenge.... and we can't wait to see what you create!

Note:  I've entered this card into these fun and fabulous challenges... hope you join me!
Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes
Stampavie and more... Pearls
Party Time Tuesday: Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion: Layers
Make it Monday: Anything Goes

Imaginisce I-Rock Accessories Add Glamour

The Imaginisce I-Rock Accessories Release Party is still in full swing over at the Imaginisce blog... our party continues through tomorrow and winners of the amazing I-Rock accessories prizes will be announced later in the week too.

One of the things I loved in this release was how easy the new accessories make it to add glamour to your projects... like using these fabulous stencils for instance...



For my second project I used the Bracket & Border Stencil to create my card and the Large Flourish Stencil to create the matching canvas mini gift bag.



I love the look of the new Black Glam Rocks on this white cardstock and with the aid of the stencils adding flourish with the Glam Rocks in these pretty patterns is a snap! I simply laid the stencil on my project, made tiny pencil marks inside each hole, removed the stencil and applied the Glam Rocks with my I-Rock tool. My only regret is that I didn't use all black on the canvas bag (canvas bag available for purchase at Kraft Outlet). 

Okay now you gotta get a move on over to the Imaginisce blog and check out all the other beautiful projects the Design Team came up with for today's post...and don't forget to get in on the giveaways too! 

Kraft Outlet Thursday Trigger: Easter Blessings Card

Our challenge this week at The Kraft Journal is "Easter" and you've still got some time to finish up those last minute Easter projects and join us in the fun this week! We've got some lovely project ideas featuring Kraft cardstock, as well as products from Kraft Outlet by our talented design team.  You can find them and our challenge at this link right here in fact!

Today I have a quick Easter card to show you that was made super easy with my Cricut and the Winter Woodland cartridge.  I've had my eye on this little bunny for some time now, envisioning the cute Easter cards that the "furry" little creature could adorn...

however, because time was at a premium for me these last few days, when I finally sat down to create the card, I was aiming for something a bit more quick and easy than what I initially envisioned... I think you can imagine along with me, that this bunny would really be extra adorable if the pieced paper were embossed perhaps...and/or he were embellished further...like perhaps a little cotton ball for a tail. But alas... I said I was aiming for QUICK...right?  So here is my little "Plain Jane" bunny...though I like him all the same for it! 

I created the base of this card using Brown Kraft Cover Weight cardstock, a Kraft Outlet "yummy" for sure. I also cut another piece of the same Brown Kraft Cover Weight cardstock and used a border punch to add a little something special to the overall composition of the card. The sentiment is stamped on a circle cut using a Spellbinders die from Buff Ivory Cover Weight cardstock and then trimmed to create the shape shown. The base of the bunny is also cut from Buff Ivory to complement the Kraft cardstock and October Afternoon patterned papers.

Okay now, that's it for this Thursday Trigger... can't wait to see what you create...and by the way, I hope you've had a chance to see the great decorative tape flower tutorial that Kristina created just for you! If you missed it yesterday, you can find that post right here!

One more thing before I go though... Kraft Outlet will be closed tomorrow, Friday April 22 through Sunday April 24 in observance of the Easter Holiday. Blog posts at The Kraft Journal will continue as usual (thanks to modern technology and the ability to schedule posts in advance!)

Happy Easter from the Kraft Outlet and The Kraft Journal Creative Team!

I've entered this card into this fabulous challenges!
That's Krafty Thursday - Use Kraft
For Fun Challenges - Easter
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Easter
My Time to Craft - Easter Wishes
Ladybug Crafts - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Open Challenge
Kaboodle Doodles - Thoughts of Spring/Easter
Lawnscaping Challenge - Calling All Critters

Kraft Outlet, Cheery Lynn Designs and Julia Stainton have this in common today...

You know that saying, "Imitation is the best form of flattery" well if that is true, then today I'm sending that flattery to the very gifted Julia Stainton. I don't know her personally (and I hope I have the right one...as I looked her up on Google!).  At any rate, there is a card in the May/June 2010 issue of Papercraft Magazine entitled "The Carriage Awaits" that she created that REALLY spoke to me... I mean, really, really.  I loved her card so much that I decided to CASE it (if you look that acronym up it means to either Copy and Steal Everything or Copy and Share with Everyone)... either way... I did it.

Thank you so much for the inspiration Julia as I had such a GREAT time creating my version of that card and I FINALLY used a stamp set I bought almost a year ago... a BIG plus. Add the use of that stamp with my MOST FAVORITE papercraft products from Kraft Outlet AND Cheery Lynn Designs and I've got a card that I am totally lovin' on today thanks to Julia's creative brilliance! (For the record, I think her card was more of a wedding theme... not so much baby). At any rate, it is just too bad I don't know a SINGLE PERSON to give it to right now...so I'll have to stow this one away (with the other million or so cards I've made) until someone has a baby on the way!

In the meantime however, I wanna share it with you for our Challenge 14 theme, "Bunnies, Baskets or Babies" at The Kraft Journal blog (notice the bunnies on the patterned paper and the card is for a baby too!) :-) There is still time to join our challenge over at The Kraft Journal this week and I do so hope you'll be inspired to create something using this theme. By the way, I'm also sharing this card on my Saturday (4-16-11) post at Cheery Lynn Designs blog (go here on Saturday) with information on how I created the mixed paper die cut using Cheery Lynn Designs French Flare Large Stackers Nesting Die!




The photo below gives you a closer look at the flower I layered as well as the mixed patterned paper die cut. I used my Copic markers to gently color in the pink on the baby buggy (and they worked surprisingly well on the Kraft Outlet cardstock too I might add!) You gotta love that embossed edge from the Cheery Lynn Designs French Flair die too!

Supplies Used:
Kraft Outlet: 
Light Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock
Cheery Lynn Designs:
French Flair Classic LG Stackers Nesting Dies, French Flair Little Stackers Nesting Dies
Stamps: W Plus 9 Designs "Kisses and Cuddles"
Ink: Stampin' Up and Ranger
Patterned Paper: Jillibean Soup (Egg Drop Soup Collection)
Color Cardstock: Papertrey Ink
Ribbon and Twine: Purchased from Really Reasonable Ribbons
Flowers: Prima Marketing
Copic: R11 and R12 Sketch Markers (to color the baby buggy)
Top Crest Border Punch: EK Success
From my stash: Mini clothespin, flower, rick rack

I also entered this card into these fabulous challenges:

Simon Says Stamp - Card for a Child
Amber's Crafts and Stuff - My Favorite Things
Cooking it Up with Katie: Easy as 123 (1 image, 2 patterned papers, 3 embellishments)
Crafts and Me - Ribbon
Crafty Creations - Paper Piecing
Creative Belli Challenge - Eggs and Bunnies
Creative Card Crew - Spring
Freshly Brewed - Cute and Sweet
The Paper Variety - Flowers
Incy Wincy Designs - Flower Frenzy
Pink Elephant - Easter
Woodware USA - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Dimensional
Top Tip Tuesday - Spring has Sprung