Kraftin' with Kraftin' Kimmie

Over at Kraftin' Kimmie stamps, they're having a "Krafty" challenge. Ya know...using Kraft paper somewhere on a project. Well, do I have the PERFECT card to enter! I made this card a little while back using the lovely Kimiko stamp from Kraftin' Kimmie.

I was inspired to recreate those little Japanese hand-carved cork dioramas. I happen to own a couple of these...they are INCREDIBLY detailed and so lovely. Here's what they look like. They usually consist of a Pagoda, some trees, a bridge and at least one crane. They are so intricate, it's hard to fathom that someone actually carved them by hand. This particular one is about 4 inches wide. Teeny.

So, here is my version. I built it on a side-step card base, so it really does fold flat (ish). I used my Cricut to cut out all the elements from Kraft cardstock (to mimic the look of cork). Kimiko is also stamped on Kraft cardsock...and I colored her with my Prismacolor pencils. I even gave her traditional Geisha makeup--with porcelain looking skin and a rose-color blush across her eyes.

That's basically all there is to this card...even though it looks really elaborate, the magic is in the assembly and placement of the elements on that stair-stepped background.

Alas, there is no crane on my little diorama...I had one cut out, but decided he looked like an afterthought, so he flew off to rest on an ATC. But, if you look closely, you'll see three little dragonflies resting on the bamboo and the sentiment. Domo very much for visiting my blog!

Here is a closer look at the beautiful Kimiko

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

• Kraftin Kimmie - #144 Let's Get Krafty 
• The Kraft Outlet - Make It Monday--Shape It Up 
• Simon Says Stamp - Put a Stamp on It

Ingredients:
Kimiko stamp - Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps
Pagoda cartridge (Cricut) - Provo Craft
Dragonfly punch - McGill
Prismacolor colored pencils
Kraft cardstock

Name Your Poison

...I think I'll call mine..."Chino".

"Chino" is short for  C21H22N2O2. That's strychnine, btw.

I've been working extra double time in the Labora-Torrey lately to get my entry ready for the Kraftin' Kimmie DT call. I made 2 cards for their call. One of them is sweet and elegant, the other is quirky and creepy. Thought I'd show them 2 sides of the many facets of Torrey.

They're having a challenge over at the Kraftin' Kimmie blog, so I thought I'd enter one of the cards I just made for their DT call-- since it fits their theme. The theme is "Lots of Dots". And, since I'm a bit "dotty" myself, this challenge was cake.

Here's my card using their "Perfect Poison" stamp set. I made the background paper by daubing acrylic paint through a piece of Punchinella. This made a whole LOTTA dots! They're subtle...but that is the ONLY thing about this card that's subtle.

Next, I drew in some Zentacles (that's Zen-speak for Zentangled tentacles) with my Micron pen then shaded them up with a purple pencil. I thought they lend an extra layer of creepiness to my poison-y theme. I stamped little Miss Ivy (get it? POISON Ivy??) onto white cardstock, then colored her in with my Prismacolor pencils. And, you're not seeing things...she has a green cast to her and yes, she's exuding  a green aura. She's toxic ya know. I hand cut an irregular "frame" around her and matted it in deep purple cardstock. Then, I added some Zubbles (yeah...Zentangle bubbles--now you're gettin' it) to give it that extra somethin'-somethin'. I consider them "dots" too.  I really love the color combo of poison green and aubergine. It's positively pernicious, dontcha think? To finish it off, I used my Xacto knife to cut around some of the Zentacles and lifted parts of them off the background. Then I wove a glowy green ribbon across the bottom and up the right side.

Ingredients:
"Perfect Poison" stamp set - Krafin' Kimmie Stamps
Corner punch - EK Success
Prismacolor Colored Pencils
Micron 01 pen - Sakura
Acrylic paint - Plaid
ribbon - Michaels
cardstock