proof that anything can be saved....

every have one of those days when your mood is just scribbles?...... this was how i felt on monday. just woke up on the wrong side of the bed and couldn't get out of my own way......

but, that night i went to the studio again and looked at that card and thought, you know- what this needs is a good stencil. 

and poof.

proof that anything can be saved with a good stencil and some paint. even the very, very overworked.

need a good stencil? be sure to check out stencilgirl. 

love the peeks of color and the scribbles showing through. 

(rolled payne's grey over my stencil)

happy valentine's day!

xxxxxoooo. kristin

Stitched up..... {colorlust}

when all else fails, i go to my favorite go-to colors- quin nickel azo gold and payne's grey.

i am going to be honest.... the first card i made, i worked almost to death (the poor thing). every time i thought, "oh this looks kinda cute"- i put more paint on it, or did something else which lead to "oh- here is the ugly stage."

but, it went to the ugly stage 2 or 3 times, and then, just never came out of it- leading me to make this card.

simple. favorites. with a little stitching.

xo. kristin

to keep or not to keep

had to make another card for a friend, and i loved how this one turned out- to the point that i considered keeping it....

but, in the cosmic scheme of karma, if you love something set it free (right?....)

and so, all packaged up and ready to mail out today.....

happy hump day. 

xo. kristin

alcohol reduction {card}

apparently i was a little heavy-handed with the paint yesterday. the top pic was my first version until i realized it was waaaay too much.

poured a small pool of alcohol onto the card; sit for a moment- wipe.

poof. 

magic.

a little purple love to start you tuesday.

xo. kristin

more simplicity {cards; 2017 word}

two more simplicity cards.

i have been contemplating a word for 2017 as i have watched others choosing theirs. i was thinking maybe i wouldn't choose one this year, but a repeated word keep surfacing.

simplicity.

we recently had a water issue, and as we were cleaning and washing- i kept thinking to myself....why do i have this? i have not used this in how long.....(and this isn't even in the regular storage area). dang it.

every time i start thinking i am going to just get rid of stuff, i look through to repackage and then think, oh- i really like this. but, i don't have a spot for it or i'm not using it any more.

time to share with others and just get rid of it. no opening boxes; or open boxes, just to add to and unless it is some sort of a family item and i haven't used it.....gone.

this would be my word. and more importantly, my goal for 2017.

have a word for 2017? let me know.

xo. kristin

filtered {black n white}

a thank you card.

happy monday.

"strength"- sending some of that to a sick friend who needed some prayers. a bunch of us made her cards and sent her happy mail- this was mine....

happy friday!

#raesstamps from PaperBag Studios

stacking up some great stamps..... these new stamps are from PaperBag Studios and were created by the lovely Rae Missigman. recognize the name?....she is one of the creative artists behind the Art to the 5th and the Documented Life Project.

each stamp has wonderful details and is super easy to use. i have made a few things using these stamps-let me show you some samples i created.

i love this card i made using the new stamps. for the feather encircled with paper and stitching. i actually stamped on tissue paper first and wanted to sew around the feather, so i backed it with notebook paper for support first. i tore out the middle of the notebook paper and attached to the card.

i made these mini's creating the backgrounds with acrylic paint and stencils before stamping on each with Rae's stamps. the bottom mini i used a stabillo pencil over the stamped image and spritzed with water to get the look that i achieved.

the possibilities with these stamps are endless..... interested in getting some of your own stamps? wondering where do i get these?! the stamps can be purchased starting today at noon by clicking here.

be sure to stop back to see what else i am creating.... and happy stamping to you!

birthday wishes

yesterday was my husband's birthday and no one (in this household anyway....) can have a birthday without a homemade card. or more a postcard- i used circle scraps, and i had used the diamond stencil and laid it onto another paper, and allowed to dry. using the book paper is somewhat flimsy- so, i glued it onto a piece of black cardstock for support and then, sewed the whole thing...love sewing circles and the little zig-zag off the page. top off with a stamp (mixed media essentials found at Paperbag Studio), and some washi tape.

 and what present doesn't want homemade wrapping paper?!....well, this one did! so, i painted up some newspaper with acrylic paint, stencils and again- some stamping. birthday done!

valentine's day card

valentine's day card, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

i made an extra valentine's day card....scraps of book paper, acrylic paint, inks, and sewing...i was really liking the pink and yellow on the heart. happy friday to you!