Blue Knight Rubber Stamps New Release Week Giveaway Winners!

Today's the day!

I've got 2 amazing bundles of crafty-stamping-creative and inspiring goodies to giveaway!

Here we go....

Congratulations
kruzr87
You are the winner of the Cowboy Up stamp set,
the Cloud Stencil and a Stipple Brush 

Congratulations
Donna P. (Stampologist)
You are the winner of the Cowboy Minis stamp set,
the Cloud Stencil and a Stipple Brush

Congratulations kruzr87 and Donna P.
Please send your mailing info to me at: bkrsdt@gmail.com

no later than Monday (May 27th)
(*Note: if the winner/winners do not respond by Monday evening, 

new winners will be chosen)

Thanks so much to all that have followed along this week and for all of your enthusiasm and kind comments about the cards I've shared with you this week, while I hosted Blue Knight New Release Week, here at my blog.

Please take a moment to go to the right side of this blog page to sign up for Bellissima Cards email notifications.
By subscribing, you'll never miss out on what I'll be sharing here at my blog.
You can also choose FOLLOW, also on the right side of this page.

If you would like to visit the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps web site to browse and shop, go HERE
If you would like to visit and follow the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps blog, go HERE

Have a spectacular Saturday, my crafty and creative friends!
Michelle.

Blue Knight Rubber Stamps New Release Week and Giveaway: Re-Cap Day

Hello again my crafty and creative friends!

Welcome back!
Are you ready for re-cap day?

If you've followed along this week while I hosted this week of cards created with the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps May New Release....Thank YOU!
I hope that you found a little bit of inspiration here at my blog as well as enjoying the opportunity to see the May New Release up close and personal!

When you order and receive your May New Release sets, and begin creating with them, please be sure to share photos of your projects at the Fans of Blue Knight Rubber Stamps Facebook group HERE
We'd love to see what you whip up!

Today, we're going to re-visit each of the week's cards...and, you'll have the opportunity to post one more comment for one more Giveaway entry!
(*Giveaway winners will be announced here at my blog tomorrow...Saturday, May 25th)

Have you seen the 2 Giveaways yet?
(Please ignore my typo in the photo collage...I typed COUD instead of CLOUD...not to worry thought..because the typo doesn't take away from the fabulous-ness of the Heidi Pettie Cloud Stencil..)

Here's the Giveaways...and the typo (haha)

Cowboy Hero

COWBOY HERO

COWGIRL and COWBOY

 

Cowgirl and Cowboy

 Cowboy, Don't Look Back

Cowboy Up

I smile when I look back on this week's cards and the May New Release stamp sets, and I enjoyed creating each and every silhouette card..using different techniques...supplies and tools....whether it be die cutting...inking...spritzing...or stenciling....This week, and this collection of silhouette stamps inspired me to mix it up...used my supplies and tools.and do something that I might not have done if I were focusing on coloring an image.

I hope what all of your Blue Knight Rubber Stamps wish list wishes come true and that you enjoy creating cards with these awesome silhouette stamps as much as I have.

Thank you again, for following along this week!
Be sure to make the Blue Knight Stamps Blog one of our daily stops when browsing your favorite blogs because next week, there will be lots more New Release inspiration waiting for you at the BK blog!
You can visit and follow the BK blog HERE
Thanks for visiting today!
Wishing you a fabulous Friday!
Michelle
(Don't forget to comment below for your last Giveaway entry today)

Blue Knight Rubber Stamps New Release and Giveaway Week: Day 4

Hello again, and welcome to Day #4 of Blue Knight Rubber Stamps and Giveaway Week here at my blog!

Today I'm sharing a card that features the Cowboy Up stamp set.
This card is fun to create and opens the door of lots of free, non restrictive creating!

Let's take a peek at the card.

I started by stamping the Cowboy Up image in the center of the card stock piece.
I re-inked and re-stamped the image multiple times until the silhouette was dark, dense with color and spot free.
I chose the Distress Oxide Ink colors that I wanted to use to create the star shape and the background colors.
First, I used a large star shaped metal die as a stencil and inked the inside of the star die space with the honey colored ink.
I applied the ink all around the stamped silhouette and then went over the silhouette lightly with the honey colored ink. (Very lightly)
I did this because I wanted a mist-like veil over he image.
Next, I inked the cards stock area all around the die and inked star shape.
I blended the background colors a bit, but not enough to blur the boundaries of each color completely.
I wanted each color to be identifiable on it's own...yet blend a bit with the neighboring color.
After the inking was as I wanted it to be, I removed he star die to reveal the ink-free border all around the star shape.
Then, I spritzed the entire piece lightly with water using a mister bottle.
Misting the piece with water allowed the inked colors to blend a bit more and become a bit muted.
(Achieving the look that I wanted for this card)
It also created the misty look that I wanted over the silhouette image.

While the image piece was drying, I chose the mat colors: Metallic gold and a turquoise tone matte card stock.
(I love the turquoise against the metallic gold)
When the inked image piece was dry, I added he sentiment from the Cowboy Up stamp set. and assembled the  card.
I positioned the matted image piece with fun foam for added dimension.
The card turned out exactly as I envisioned it to be before I had started to create it.!

The May New Release features 5 silhouette stamp sets: 4 sets each with a large image, a mini version of the large image and a sentiment stamp.
The 5th set, Cowboy Minis, is a set that offers the 4 mini stamps as their own set.
(You can see the entire New Release HERE, at the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps web site
The silhouette images are detailed and stamp those details beautifully.
I found that Gina K Amalgam ink worked great for my silhouette stamping.
Using a stamp positioning tool...(MISTI...Tim Holtz etc..) is a necessity because you'll be doing repetitive inking to get a solid spot-free silhouette image.

And guess what!!?
I've got a Giveaway to show you!...2 Giveaways, actually!
To be in on the Giveaway, you'll need to post a comment below and have a USA mailing address.. Winners will be announced here at my log on Saturday.
Here's a peek at the 2 Giveaways!
(*Notice the typo in the photo above...Oh brother!...I typed COUD into the photo edit instead of CLOUD!)

Before you head off to post a comment below, I want to thank you for joining me here at my blog this week for Blue Knight Rubber Stamps New Release and Giveaway Week.

Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for a re-cap of the week's cards and to post a comment for one final Giveaway entry!

Have a fabulous Friday!
Michelle.

Blue Knight Rubber Stamps New Release & Giveaway Week: Day 3

It's Day #3 of Blue Knight Rubber Stamps New Release Week and Giveaway here at my blog and I'm excited to share another new stamp set with you!

I've created 2 cards with the Cowgirl and Cowboy stamp set.
I love that 4 of the New Release stamp sets have a large image and a mini image o the main stamp.
For me, as a card maker, this opens up some great possibilities!

Today's cards show an example of cards created with each of the images: one large and one mini.
Minis are awesome for pairing with large sentiments or quote stamps.

Because of their size, they leave enough card stock space for a larger sentiment stamp, especially on A2 cards...which sometimes seem to run out of stamping space when using a large image.

If you prefer to create with smaller images, the May New Release also includes a stamp set of JUST the Cowboy Minis.

Let's take a look at today's Cowgirl and Cowboy cards.


I am a very CAS (Clean and Simple) card maker and when I create cards like this one they feel "right" tome...they feel neat...and tidy...and balanced....and very CAS.

I used the stitched rectangle die as a guide when placing my stamps into my stamp positioning tool.
In other words...I placed the card stock into my MISTI, then placed he die on top of the card stock, THEN, I placed the stamps in position, within the die space.
I removed he die and stamped the images using Midnight Navy ink.
(I LOVE how the silhouette image turned out with using the Navy ink.
As with any silhouette image stamping...getting a dense solid spot-free image is key, so I stamped and re-inked this image with the navy ink 5 x's. (Yes!..The beauty of using a stamp positioning tool!)

When I was happy with the image, I used the stitched rectangle die to die cut the image piece..
After he image piece was die cut, I left the card stock in the die and used the die itself as a stencil for doing some light green inking around the edges of the image card stock piece.
When I removed the die, I had a nice crisp white border around the edges of the inked image piece.

I chose a print and matted the image and print with with navy card stock.
Before positioning the matted print piece, I added some twine and a silver button-like embellishment.
The matted image piece was positioned with fun foam for added dimension.

I'm loving this card and am so happy that I chose to stamp the silhouette with navy ink, as opposed to
creating a usual traditional black ink silhouette.
Do you see what I mentioned above about the Mini sized images being ideal for sharing card front space with a larger sentiment?
(This sentiment isn't even THAT large...(I use lots of REALLY large sentiment and quote stamps sometimes) The mini stamped image leaves lots of room for really large sentiments on A2 card fronts.

The second card that I'm sharing today was created with the larger image from the Cowgirl and Cowboy stamp set.
I started by creating the stamped background.
I chose the Silhouette Forest stamp set because I liked that the branches would frame the stamped image.
I used a few different ink colors to stamp this image: A brown for the branch portion...some green and rd for the leaves...and a deep green for the evergreen trees at the bottom of the image.
After the Silhouette Forest image was stamped, I used the Heidi Pettie Cloud Stencil to add some clouds to the sky.
(I used a few different Distress Ink Colors to do this...some blues and a purple)

After I had finished creating the background piece, I stamped the Cowgirl and Cowboy image with Gina K Black Amalgam Black Ink and die cut it with a stitched rectangle die.
As with the card above, I used the die as a stencil to add some inking and the inked clouds
I chose metallic green and navy card stock for each of the mat layers.
I positioned the matted image piece with fun foam for added dimension.

You can see all of the detail and design elements of this card in this photo..
The clouds...the mat layers...the inking..and the offset positioning of the background piece and the image piece.

So what do you think of today's cards?
Are you loving he Mini image as much a I do?
(I think that including a mini in 4 of the New Release stamp sets is both insightful and pure genius on the part of Blue Knight Rubber Stamps that demonstrates their understanding of what card makers need.....and like)

You'll find The Cowgirl and Cowboy stamp set, the Silhouette Forest stamp set and the Cloud Stencil HERE, at the Blue Knight web site.

One final tip:
Don't forget...When doing silhouette stamping...remember to ink...stamp...re-ink...stamp...re-ink stamp and continue to do so until you have a solid, dense spot-free image.
This may take 4...5..6 re-inkings and re-stampings...but it will give you a true great looking silhouette image.
SO stamp away...re-ink until your heart's content...and then stand back and admire the silhouette image that you've created

About the Giveaway:
If you've got a USA mailing address, don't forget to leave a comment below for an entry into this week's giveaway(s)

At the end of Blue Knight Rubber Stamps Week, I'll announce the winners of these 2 Giveaway bundles, here at my blog.

Thanks for visiting today, My crafty and creative friends!
Let's meet tomorrow...sale time...same place for Day #4 of Blue Knight Rubber Stamps New Release & Giveaway Week, here at my blog
Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday!
Michelle.

Blue Knight Rubber Stamps New Release Week and Giveaway Day 2

Hello and welcome to Day 2 of Blue Knight Rubber Stamps New Release and Giveaway Week, here at my blog!

Today I'm sharing a card that I created with the New Release COWBOY DON'T LOOK BACK stamp set.

When I saw this stamp set, I knew that I wanted to create a tag card with the larger image and I also wanted to use the smaller stamp to create a background print.
(Did you know that the New Release Cowboy silhouette sets each come with a large image and a smaller image (and a sentiment)
I love that the sets, along with a few other Blue Knight sets have the same stamp in two sizes.

For today's  card, I stamped the image with Gina K Amalgam Ink, and used a Tim Holtz wood grain stencil and Distress Ink to create the tag.
After the image tag was created I wanted to at the tag, but I didn't like the size of the larger tag dies in the tag die set, So, I hand cut the tag mat layer.
(Using the large tag dies would have given a wider thicker mat layer and I wanted a very thin mat border...so I cut it myself!)
Next, I created the background print by stamping the smaller Cowboy, Don't Look Back image with Gina K's Skeleton Leaves ink. That ink was ideal for giving a soft , faint , sort of muted image.
I didn't want a dark very visible stamped image.
I inked the edges of the background print with a complementary Distress Ink color, using Clarity Stencil Brushes.
The Mini Cowboy image was perfect for the background print that I envisioned and wanted to create!
Oh!...I almost forgot to mention that I added a little bit, in 2 colors,  of twine to the top of the tag.

I chose  metallic bronze and black card stock for the mat layers. I  created the sentiment banner.
No dies needed: I stamped the sentiment and had cut and matted the banner.
I used fun foam to position the tag and sentiment banner for added dimension.

I am loving the fact that the New Release Silhouette stamps each have the large and small images because that opens up lots of creative possibilities for card makers like you and I.
You can find the Cowboy, Don't Look Back stamp sets along with the other New Release stamp sets HERE, at the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps web site

I hope that you enjoyed today's card and found  a little bit of inspiration here at my blog with this great New Release stamp.
Before you head over to the web site...please take a sec to share a comment below to get your daily entry for this week's Giveaways.
Yes..I've got 2 Giveaways  this week.
Please note: The Giveaway is opened to blog visitors, here at my blog, with US mailing  addresses.

You can earn one entry per day by commenting beneath each blog post that I share May 20-24th, during Blue Knight Rubber Stamps New Release Week here at my blog.

Here's a peek at the 2 Giveaways

Thanks for visiting today.
Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow for Day 3 of Blue Knight New Release Week here at my blog!
Wishing you a terrific Tuesday!
Michelle.

Blue Knight Rubber Stamps New Release Week and Giveaway Day 1

Hello hello!

I'm so happy and excited to be hosting another Blue Knight Rubber Stamps New Release Week and Giveaway. I'm also happy to share, with you, that although I have hosted Blue Knight Rubber Stamps New Release Weeks here at my blog in the past....This is the first time that I am hosting a new Release Week as Blue Knight's Design Team Coordinator.

It is my joy and pleasure to have the opportunity to to work closely with this wonderful stamp company and an amazing gathering of creative and inspiring DT members.
While I am involved with lots of DT Coordinator things behind the scenes...I will NEVER abandon my love of card making and creating.

And so it thrills me to devote this week, here at my blog, to this fabulous Blue Knight Rubber Stamps May New Release.
Yes, I still get to create!

Today I'm sharing two cards with you...both created with the COWBOY HERO stamp set.

For the first card, I did some inking with Distress Ink(s) and a Tim Holtz stencil.
The silhouette image was stamped with Gina K's AMALGAM INK (my current favorite ink for silhouette stamping)
NOTE: When doing silhouette stamping it's helpful to use a stamp positioning tool so that you can do repetitive stamping in order to stamp...re-ink...stamp...re-ink...multiple times to get a solid image.
Even with the Gina K ink, I stamped and re-inked  6 x's to get a good solid image.
After all, that's what a silhouette image is all about...a solid dark non-spotty image.
So ink away, my friends, when you do your silhouette stamping.
No spotty washed out images allowed when you create your Blue Knight Cowboy silhouettes!

I stamped, inked and matted the sentiment banner, which I hand cut
(It's a cinch to cut your own banners for sentiments...No dies needed....trust me)
I chose chocolate brown, orange and gold metallic card stock for matting
The matted image piece and the sentiment banner were positioned with fun foam for added dimension.

My second COWBOY HERO  card  (below) has a totally different look...and a totally different color palette.
(And I am loving it)

I paired the COWBOY HERO stamps set with THE DIRT ROAD stamp to create this card, using The Dirt Road as the background print.
And...I've got a little secret to share (aka Helpful hint) about this card.
The paper that the images are stamped on is from a large paper pad that I picked up last year.
The entire pad consists of 12 x 12 paper that looks like it's been water colored.

I love to water color, so at any given time I always have 50...60 water colored card front sized pieces of card stock water colored and ready to go. But this paper pad caught my eye and I thought that I might use it as a water coloring short cut...for those times when I might not have a water colored piece ready to go, in a particular color.
Creating this card seemed like a great time to give this paper pad a try.

So..that's the secret.
If you aren't a card maker who enjoys water coloring, but like the look of water color....a pad like this is ideal for you.

I was very happy with the color palette that I went with for this card. It all came together easily and nicely, thanks to that water color paper.
I did add some light inking to The Dirt Road image (the grassy areas)
and I added some stamped grass to the smaller image with the grass stamp that is part of the GALLOPING HORSES stamp set.
I hand cut the sentiment banner and chose mat colors that complemented the images and water color-look paper.
The cowboy image and sentient banner were positioned with fun foam for added dimension.

I really enjoyed creating both of today's cards, and surprised myself (in a good way!) with the color palette that I chose for the second card.

If you're looking for a great Father's Day stamp set..this is IT!
You can find each of the stamp sets used to create today's card at the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps web site: HERE

BUT...before you head over to the web site...please take a sec to share a comment below to get your daily entry for this week's Giveaways.
Yes..I've got 2 Giveaways  this week.
Please note: The Giveaway is opened to blog visitors, here at my blog, with US mailing  addresses.

You can earn one entry per day by commenting beneath each blog post that I share May 20-24th, during Blue Knight Rubber Stamps New Release Week here at my blog.

Here's a peek at the 2 Giveaways
(Notice my photo edit typo over the Giveaway photo?...I typed COUD Stencil, instead of CLOUD STENCIL...of course I didn't see that until NOW!)

Thanks for visiting today!

I'll see you tomorrow, for Day 2 of Blue Knight New Release Week, here at my blog!
Wishing you a marvelous Monday!
Michelle

Creating Cards with Long Ago Colored Images from My "Stash"

It's been almost 2 months since Ive shared a card here at my blog.

I've been MIA for good reasons...

Life has been busy...and good.
And now, I am finding my way back to card making
I've missed spending time in my studio...creating.
It feels good to "be back"

Today, I'm making up for the absence of cards here at my blog

by sharing a dozen cards!
Yes...a dozen cards!

A local book shop sells my cards

and reached out to me the other day to say 

that they were in desperate need of cards.
My display rack was empty.

I knew, immediately, how I would deliver the cards within a few days.

I would go to my big stash of colored images.
The images that I color whenever I want to do something creative on vacation.
the images that I have colored when I've gone to an all day Crop.
The images that I have colored...and never used to create cards.

I went through the stack of colored images 

and pulled out 36 that caught my eye.
Some were one of a kind.
Some were in duplicate...triplicate...quadruplicate.
I had lots to work with.

The images were all stamped and colored on 1/4 sheets of card stock.
So the first thing I did was crop them...or die cut them.
Next...I added backgrounds to the ones that I wanted to have color in the background.

Then.I started matching mat colors and print s to the images.
After I selected the mats and prints..I began cutting....and trimming.

My card making style is truly CAS

so the sketch/design of the cards would be very CAS
which worked out well especially this time

because I needed to crank out the cards...

and crank them out fast.

I had the best time making these cards.
I LOVED having a big varied stack of colored images to start out with.
I stated this little project Saturday evening
and finished it up Sunday,

In the end, I had 36 completed cards.

Today, I'm sharing 12 of the cards.
(I'll share the other 12 tomorrow)
I created 36 cards...but some were in duplicate
So I've got 24 different card pics....not 36.

So here we go.
A look at a dozen cards
created with colored images form my stash

and an assortment of sentiments that I added as I put the cards together.
(PS...some of the images were colored 4...5...6 years ago
using stamp sets that I've long since given away.

So this truly was a card making trip down memory lane for me,

The first few cards were created with Crocus stamps

from Divinity Designs
(previously known as Our Daily Bread Designs)

This beautiful cake image

is by Catherine Scanlon
(Art Gone Wild)
and it's called Birthday Cake

We all know and love Reilly...

He's always a cutie to create a few cards with

I love the wood grain print paper.

These next few images leave me with a big question mark

hanging over my head.
I want to say Stampin Up.

But I'm not sure.

And I mean Stampin from a longgg time ago.
But again...I'm not sure.

Here's another that I am clueless about

I have no idea about the details of either the floral stamps
or the sentiment stamp
(The sentiment stamp might be from PTI (Papertrey Ink)
but again, don't bet on me being right about that.

How about these blasts from the past!

This stamp set is called Golden Oldies..

and yes...the images are oldies

and the stamp set is a Stampin Up oldie...

Let's face it..

These are oldies.

No matter how we look at it!

How about this cutie...

from High Hopes.

I believe that this stamp set might be called

Best Day Ever

PS...I have a MAJOR HOARD of PTIs dotted print paper

in every color they ever made it in

I will sob if and when I use the last piece.
(By then I will be approximately 97...may 98 years old

because the hoard is a significant one)

The next few cards are Stampin Up images

The first 2 are from a set called Topiary (something or other)
I don't know the full name of this stamp set.
I look at the first 2 cards and think...
WHY did I give that set away?
(I still kinda like it.)
By the way...

I always thought the blue and pink foil paper was ugly

But....I gave it a chance with these 32 cards...and I like it.
A lot.

Stampin Up: Totally Trees

I love this sentiment stamp

But have no clue as to who makes it.

This bird is a Hero Arts Layering stamp.

I need to get this stamp set out and make a few more cards with it
I like it
But had forgotten all about it
until I came across this stamped image in my stash of colored images.
One of the book shop owners loved this card when she saw it...
(She always likes the bird cards that I make)

She also liked this one

(I have no idea who makes this sweet little stamp...sorry)

This card was water colored with a pre-printed image on a small pad 

of water color-able images...

                                        These big bold flowers are from Dare to Be Artzy
                                                              Always a fave of mine.
                                            I've made countless cards with this stamp set called 

                                                                  Vines of Love

And last but not least...

these cuties.

Art Impressions Fur-Ever.
I just love thee two
The dogs expression cracks me up.

So..

those are the first 12 cards I have to share with you.
I'll be back to share the remaining 12 with you
in a day or two.

Thanks for visiting today...
I hope that you found a little bit of inspiration here at my blog.
If you are one of the many people who commented 

when I posted a photo Saturday evening when I started making these cards

and said hat you also have a stash of colored images...

I say...get them out...
and use them!
I had such a nice, fun and relaxing time creating these cards

and  think that you will too!

Have a terrific Tuesday!
Michelle.