Because I’m Happy…

My smiles and happiness continues!! I found out yesterday afternoon that I was one of the winners of the Muse Challenge#69. I became a Featured Member yesterday. Yayyyy!!!! I worked really hard and it paid off.

Thank you to everyone who voted this week. Congrats to the other wonderful women who won and played along this week!!

I’m back again to play along for this weeks challenge. The Muze Challenge #70 was created by Vicki Dutcher. Vicki’s card is full of details. Take a look:

When I saw Vicki’s card, I knew I had a striped background stamp from Simon Says Stamp that I wanted to use. Plus I love the color she used and decided to use the same color from Hero Arts.

Here is my take on Vicki’s card.

The color made me feel happy and since I’ve been in a great mood, I decided to use the same color. For my background I used Simon Says Stamp Wide Stripes Background Stamp with Hero Arts Tide Pool Ink.

The striped mat was adhered to the card base with foam dimensionals.

For the mat under my sentiment die, I sponged the white card stock with same Hero Arts Tide Pool Ink very lightly in a whimsical motion, leaving some of the white card stock to show through. I was going to watercolor that mat but changed my mind.

For my sentiment piece, I rubbed my Hero Arts Tide Pool ink across my white card stock to create the same color. I used Papertrey Inks Phase Plate #4 Die to cut the ENJOY sentiment and frame.

The mat and the sentiment plate was then sewn together to represent the flagged banner across the front of Vicki’s card.

The sentiment “friends” from Papertrey Ink’s Wet Paint 3 stamp set was stamped in the window with versamark onyx ink.

I added rhinestone for an added dimension.

Was my interpretation of Vicki’s card accurate? Please let me know what you think.

~Kymona

Supplies used:

3Jun2014

Smiling Is So Contagious

Posted in Blog Challenge, CAS(E) this sketch!, Clean and Simple, June 2014, One Layer Card by Kreative Kymona

Have you ever smiled till it hurts?

Well I’ve been smiling since Saturday.

I received some good news yesterday from CAS(E) this sketch! My Seeing Stars card was chosen as one of their favorite cards!!!!! You can check out the announcement here. I was so excited. Thank you ladies for that distinction.

I’m here again with another CAS(E) this sketch! #78. Julie Day created the sketch for this challenge.

Take a look:

This was a fun sketch to work with. Since I was so happy, I wanted to stick with happy colors for this sketch.

Take a look:

I used the zig zap stamp form Life is a Journey Simon Says Stamp to create the zig zap pattern in the three different colors.

I had to use Papertrey Ink’s Wet Paint 3 Smile sentiment because I can’t stop smiling.

To give balance to the card I added some sequins and rhinestones in the colors of the ink.

Simply but classy one layer card! What do you think?

Supplies used:

Let me know what you think.

~Kymona

3Jun2014

When You Know Better, You Do Better Blogging!

Posted in Blog Tour, June 2014 by Kreative Kymona

Hello everyone, and welcome to “The What #BelleLive Taught Me Blog Tour”! You should be arriving from Jennifer Ashley’s blog. If this is your first stop you’ll want to begin at Jo Cavagnis ‘s blog so you don’t miss out on any of the fun, interesting information we are sharing.

Back on May 1 to May 3, 2014, I took this amazing class called Build A Successful Creative Blog by April Bowles-Olin on the Creative Live Website. I have to say it was totally amazing!! I’ve learned so much from April about what I’m doing and not doing right on my blog.

I wanted to share with all of you what I learned and what I’m still working on to make my blog space fun and more creative.

What I Learned:

1. Finding my own style and voice.

Prior to this class, I was having a hard time finding my own voice and style. I thought if my blog looked liked like other bloggers that I liked, I would get the results I was looking for but that wasn’t the case. April really taught me how to just be me. Do what makes me happy and comfortable. She taught me to look for things that I offer that others do not. I realized that no one but me can be me and that is what my blog offers, the authentic ME!!

2. Better visuals for my blog.

When April talked about visuals for our blogs, I was worried because my pictures were not the best at all. They were either to dark or washed out. I couldn’t figure it out at all. She talked about using your own pictures. They are more authentic than stock photos. So, I decided to reach out to a couple of bloggers who photograph cards to see what they are doing. I took their advise and WALA, I think my photos are sooo much better. I still have some work to do but boy, what an improvement. I also signed up for a photography class.

Before

After

What a difference a lens and reading the camera manual can do!!!

3. Letting people know you exist.

This was a big lesson for me. I learned in order for people to know I exist I need to put myself out there. For my craft, joining challenges are a big way to promote yourself. I’ve join so many challenges and I love it!!! I’ve learned so much from others. April also taught me to leave comments on other people blogs. I knew this but after this class I decided to leave comments on everyone’s blog that participates in the challenge.

4. Building relationship.

This class has introduced me to a lot of talented people who love to share info and wants to see you grow. I’m so grateful for this community. Everyone is willing share and teach me about things I have no clue about.

5. Setting up an email newsletter and other social media platforms.

I learned why having an email newsletter is so important. So, I want to add this to my blog. I haven’t done that yet but it’s coming shortly. Facebook is the only social media that I’m not on and want to be but I’m not sure why I have taken that step forward. There is a fear but I’m not sure what that fear is. It will happen soon, hold me accountable.

So, this is my list of things that I really learned and took personal, so that I can improve my blog. I hope you found this information interesting.

Like I said earlier, this class was awesome and if you want to check it out, visit Creative Live here.

The name of the class is Build A Successful Creative Blog by April Bowles-Olin. April’s blog is called Blacksburg Belle and you can find it here.