Katemade Designs: February 2016

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Lasting Hearts Card Drive

It's a miserable rainy day. I don't want to leave the house so the package heading to Long Beach, California full of cards I made for the Lasting Hearts Card Drive will have to wait until I go to work tomorrow.

I learned about this card drive on Jennifer McGuire's blog and felt the need to join in. Lasting Hearts helps comfort mothers who have lost a child, whether in pregnancy or older. Losing a child is one of the hardest pains a parent can endure. I have lost a parent, and the grief was horrible. I can't imagine losing a child.

I used a stamp set illustrated by Phyllis Harris, from Unity Stamp Co called "Too Beautiful for Earth." I first saw Phyllis's work in Highlights for Children Magazines when my son was little. I am a big fan.

Each card has shimmery wings, a white dress, green grass and orange butterflies. Flowers are different colors. Hair and skin color are different, and card base colors are different. I don't mind mass producing a stamped image but making everything the same color is a bit dull.

I pray for all those moms, and dads, who have lost a child. I also pray for all those preemies out there struggling to fatten up, fill out and grow strong enough to go home. Each press of the stamp, each flick of the marker was a prayer. Grow strong little ones. I pray especially for my niece who was born last Monday weighing only 2lb 1oz.

Happy Crafting,

Monday, February 1, 2016

Use Every Stamp Challenge

Hello. My name is Katie, and I am a stampaholic. I love buying cute stamps and sometimes I don't use them before buying new stamps. It is especially true during the holidays. You know all those Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

I have a non-crafty friend who doesn't understand my need for new stamps. She issued a challenge that I use "Every single stamp in your collection" before you buy a new set. I have already failed. I just received "Map Love" and "Tree Hugs" from Concord & 9th, and I am looking forward to playing with these new stamps.

But my friend has a point. I have A LOT of stamps. I should make use of them, or let them go to someone who will. So in the words of Barney Stinson, "Challenge accepted!"

Each week I will feature one stamp company, or illustrator, or theme. I will post all cards on Instagram tagged with #UseEveryStampChallenge and the feature of the week, along with any other tags that seem appropriate.

As I go through the stamp sets, I will find sets that no longer fit my style or needs. I will list these stamps for sale in my Etsy shop. I know I also have a few oops stamps. You know, those items you accidently hit two instead of 1 when purchasing. These will be given away as prizes when I feature the stamp manufacturer.

I know using every stamp will be different for each of you — So want to play? You can do this challenge along with “The Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge”. The 30-day coloring challenge encourages you to color at least 5 minutes a day from February 1 - March 1. I am going to accept that challenge plus I am going to Use Every Stamp I can during that time. I will need to stamp a lot longer than 30 days. Like I said before — I have a lot of sets to go through.