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Distinctively Diana

Creating hand-designed touches for everyday life & festive occasions

Happy Valentine’s Day! Fishies Kisses to You!

What a busy week it has been with so many cards and so much creativity being shown by the amazing team at Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps.

The February Release was yesterday so today we are celebrating all the new fabulous goodies that are NOW available in the Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps Shop! https://www.kraftinkimmiestamps.com/product…/new-goodies/

All four of our new stamp sets, plus two new stencils and a new hybrid ink colour AQUA ADVENTURE were released yesterday along with our February curated Add-On Kit, and we’re excited to share it ALL with you in a fabulous krafty HOP! So let’s check everything out as we hop around the Krafty Design Team’s blogs today! Grab a nice hot beverage, sit back and relax while we take you on the krafty tour!

First up we have our sweet Krafty Komeback set by Cheryl Grant called…LULU AND FRIENDS Next, we have an amazing and delicious set by Neda Sadreddin called… HAPPINESS IS HOMEMADE!! Third is an adorably cute critter set by Melissa Baker-Nguyen called…AWESOME POSSUMS!! And lastly we have a wonderful and funny new set by Allison Cope called…FUNNY FISHES!!

We have a gorgeous new ink colour called AQUA ADVENTURE! As always it will be available in full sized ink pads, ink cubes and ink refills! We’ve got TWO new Krafty Stencils for this month’s release to help add some funky fun to your creations! They are called…. SMOKIN’ SQUARES and BAKING BONANZA! We’ve again carefully curated an awesome ADD ON BUNDLE featuring several amazing products which coordinate beautifully with our new goodies!! You’re going to hit the ground running when your package arrives! This month’s Add On Bundle includes: An Exclusive Baking Bonanza chipboard set, Leafy Branches chipboard set, Buttons Galore Fish Button set, Doodlebug Bon Bons Washi Tape. This package is $19.99CAN and a limited number will be available in the shop!

I thought this card was a good one to share today as it is Valentine’s Day. The sentiment that came with Funny Fishes was perfect for today! I used my favourite Deco Foil technique to add the Wonderful Waves stencil from Kraftin’ Kimmie to create the background for the fishbowl stamp. I also used the Happy Hearts stencil on Blue Foil and ran it through my Big Kick to get the embossed effect. That’s the Aqua Adventure, the new ink, edging the the sentiment tag.

And don’t forget our awesome Mini Release cutie this month!! We have Tutu Sweet FREE with your order of $65 or more before shipping/tax! Won’t she be a ‘sweet’ surprise to receive with your goodies!! I used her on a Valentine treat bag, just doing a simple heat embossing treatment. Quick and fast to jazz up a red bag for some little gifts for today.

Now head on out on today’s celebration blog hop and check out all the new products in action as the Krafty Team shares their incredible designs! Then jump on over to the Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps https://www.kraftinkimmiestamps.com/product…/new-goodies/ shop and grab some of these fabulous goodies for yourself!

Thanks for spending some time with me today and happy kraftin’!

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Day 4 and we are swimming along!

It’s Day 4 of Release Week at Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps and today is actually Launch Party Day!! Whoo hoo! And to kick off the festivities today is a whole school of fun…FUNNY FISHES by artist Allison Cope.

It is a wonderful, hilariously cute set and there were so many options to choose from that I actually made three cards! I’m going to show you two here and I’ll save one for tomorrow’s hop around I think. These adorable fishies will have everyone smiling at their adventures! There are also lots of awesome accessories in this set!!

Options for birthday cards are always wonderful and this set has plenty of options! I decided to keep it somewhat simple…ok, maybe not that simple! I started with a basic square cardstock base. I used a navy cardstock and cut it to the exact size of the card base and taped it down. I then created a festive “party” layer using white cardstock, Kraftin’ Kimmie Stencils in Confetti and Deco Film Transfer Gel Duo. I used a Prima 1″ silicone brush to layer the gel through the stencil. By the way, I always tape down my stencils with the special purple tape meant especially for this. I have had too many papers ruined by other tape tearing the paper. I let the gel dry over night. The next day, I layered Deco Film in Red over the dried cardstock. When my laminator had heated really well, I put it through in my parchment layering envelope and the magic happens! I let it cool before opening up my parchment. I taped that layer down.

While all of the waiting was going on, I had stamped the fish bowl and fishes using Kraftin’ Kimmie Colours in Wicked Black Ink. For this bowl, I decided to emboss the bowl using an older Cuttlebug folder I had that has a bunch of Happy Birthday words on it. I’m thrilled with the effect. I then cut the whole bowl out.

I glued sequins to the bottom of the bowl like those pretty little rocks you put in a bowl. I decided to stick with bright colours for my fishies, so I used Copics: R29, Y06, R08, R27, R02, YR15, Y15, R37, Y02, Y08, G02, G09, G03, & G07. The little birthday hat got stuck on the unhappy little fishies head.

I die cut a couple of tags to use for the sentiments and I edged them with Kraftin’ Kimmie ink in Ruby Red using a blender brush. I popped them up with foam dots to add dimension. I added some Kraftin’ Kimmie dots in Seashore Dots as the finishing touch. One birthday card ready to swim away!

My second card is a fun thank you card; the sentiments make me laugh so I just had to make it! I also thought using the Kraftin’ Kimmie Netting Stencil with the Deco Film technique would be interesting and I’m really happy with how it came out. I used Iridescent Deco Film on Kraft paper.

This time with the glass bowl, I cut out the body of the bowl as if you could see through it. I also added Glossy Accents to the edges of it to mimic glass. I layered sequins at the bottom again. And threw a few on to finish the card.

I used bright Copics again: RV02, RV21, V01, R30, B000, GB45, BV000, BV00, BV01, BG23, R30, BG0000, RV17, RV09, BG02, Y35, YR04, B52, YR000, Y38, RV06, BG01. I used Glossy Accents to give the fish a wet, scaly look.

I also used Aqua Adventure on the edge of the sentiment tags. The cardstock I used includes paper from the Echo Park Under the Sea collection.

This card makes me smile every time I look at it.

As you hop around the design team’s blogs today you’ll be able to check out FUNNY FISHES in action in combination with a lot of our other new February Kraftin’ Kimmie products! Of course today is also Challenge Day and as always during release week, it’s Anything Goes! So create a card, scrapbook page, altered item, planner page….with some Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps products https://www.kraftinkimmiestamps.com/ for your chance to WIN the monthly prize! We can’t wait to see your creations and you have one week to enter! Feel free to link up your creation on the Kraftin’ Kimmie Blog https://kraftinkimmiestamps.blogspot.com/ and/or upload your pic to the folder in the Krafty Friends facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/703784819658640 You could WIN a gift voucher to the krafty shop!

We’ve also got a brand new sketch for you! If you’re needing a little inspiration feel free to use this sketch any time you like! Check out FUNNY FISHES in so many amazing creations today as you hop around the Krafty Team’s blogs! You’ll also see the new stencils, BAKING BONANZA and SMOKIN’ SQUARES and our new AQUA ADVENTURE hybrid ink along the way! Everything will be released after our LIVE Online Release Party TODAY! https://fb.me/e/3c2VslrGO All the fun takes place in the Krafty Friends facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/703784819658640 beginning at 2pm ET!

Thanks again for spending some time with me today. I will be at the party this afternoon so I hope to see you there!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


Happiness is Homemade!

Today is the second day of sneak peeks for the Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps February Launch and I’m back for my second day as Guest Designer! This featured stamp set today is Happiness is Homemade and it is super cute. Designed by artist Neda Sadreddin, it seems to be so right to launch this during February and the lead up to Valentine’s Day. Who can resist a freshly baked cookie?!!

I used the new stencil, Baking Bonanza, with Opal Deco Foil. As soon as I saw the stencil, I knew I had to try this technique out. I used Transfer Gel Duo, spreading it through my stencil with a Prima one inch silicone brush and let it try overnight. Then, I cut the sheet of Deco Foil to size and placed it into a folded sheet of parchment paper with a cardstock backer to add support. I let my laminating machine get hot and then put it through. I always let it cool before removing the sheet. I so loved the subtle effect of the opal foil on the white cardstock. Exactly what I wanted for this project!

I wanted to keep this card softer, so I used a pink square cardstock base. I cut the foiled cardstock down slightly smaller and taped it to the base. Next, I diecut two tags using my WR Memory Keepers Nesting Tags Die. Using the sentiments from the stamp set, Versamark watermark stamp pad and Ranger embossing power in Aqua Tinsel, I heat embossed the sentiments on the tags. I then edged both tags with the new Aqua Adventures Kraftin’ Kimmie Colours hybrid ink.

I used soft Copic marker colours on my little bakers: EOO, EO1, R20, G00, B45, E53, YR21, YR31, E47, E74, E79, BG0000, E40, C00, R00, E93, N0, C00, E43, E47. I Also used Sakura Gelly Roll marker pens in white for the buttons and #744 for the stove and the whisk handle.

The finishing touches were to add some embellishments from the Doodlebug Made with Love line. (Did I tell you I stalked this line until I could get in Canada and scooped it up right away knowing it was going to be perfect for this launch?!) I added Shape Sprinkles in Sprinkling of Love and Bake Me Happy. I also added some Stickles in Stardust around the edge of the Deco Foil layer to add a final touch of glitter. I’m so happy with the results!

Are you excited about what you’ve seen so far!? Are you ready for more? I hope your answer was yes because we’ve got more fabulous fun for you! Check out HAPPINESS IS HOMEMADE in so many gorgeous creations today as you hop around the Krafty Team’s blogs! You’ll also see how they used the new stencils and hybrid ink along the way! Be sure to leave some love at each stop on the hop because Kimmie will be giving away some krafty $$ to the shop! You’ll see more of our February goodies tomorrow and then everything will be released after our LIVE Online Release Party on Saturday afternoon at 2pm ET in the Krafty Friends facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/703784819658640 For now, check out all the yummy goodness in today’s hop! Thanks for spending some time with me today. See you tomorrow!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


Getting a little long in the tooth?

Oh what fun! Another year, another way to celebrate a friend’s birthday.

I’m always looking for another creative way to tell a special friend that I’m thinking of them on their birthday. It’s hard to find a stamp set that can be masculine and fun too.

This month, Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps introduced a new stamp in their July Krafty Klub members kit that was exactly what I needed. I had fun playing with this happy little walrus from the Long in the Tooth stamp set.

Wishing a friend a happy birthday with a little humour from Distinctively Diana by Diana Degan

I started with a basic 6×6 cardstock base from Michaels’ Reflections. I added a 6×6 piece of cardstock from one of my favourite birthday pads, DCWV’s The Birthday Wishes Stack. I used my Seriously die from Picket Fence Studios to create the title out of two colours of paper: a blue and white, and I added a blue sequin to create the dot for the i.

Next, I stamped my fat little walrus with his head popping out of the water using my Misti and KKS Wicked Black hybrid ink. I used my Copics to colour him. I used C3, 5 & 6 on his body, E000 & E42 on his tusks, R20 on his nose and tongue. For the water, I used B24, 91 & 95.

For the sentiments, I used VersaFine ink in Onyx Black. I edged the sentiment areas with the Distress Ink in Broken China and Stormy Sky.

I keep a little container of pre-diecut sentiment cards so that I can grab them as I need them. It helps make the process a little faster when I’m creating, so I’m not 100% sure which ones I used for these.

I used foam squares to pop all of the elements onto the front of the card.

Next, I created the inside. I knew that I wanted to use my KKS Confetti Stencil to create a backdrop for the entire inside panel.

I used three different shades of KKS hybrid inks: Salty Sea, Summer Sunshine and Charming Chartreuse. I blended the colour edges with my Picket Fence Studios Life Changing Blender Brushes so that they transitioned into each other. I used the Charming Chartreuse and Summer Sunshine on the tag and the blues on the main card.

I used the main sentiment from the KKS Party Piggies stamp set and the Happy Birthday came from the Party Time Sentiments stamp set. I love being able to mix and match all my stamp sets when I’m creating!

One fun little birthday card for a good friend!

Thanks for stopping by! Stay safe!