From time to time, we will feature guest artists who will present their unique designs. We hope you enjoy their work. Please feel free to contact them with your questions or comments.

I discovered the Lockhart Stamp Company in late 2005, and fell in love. I was living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the time. My then local stamp store, Stamp Fanci, carried these beautifully detailed stamps. The owner, knowing my love of detail, made sure to show me the adorable dresses made from vegetables and all the amazing samples that she received. The coloring was the most amazing thing I had seen in rubber stamping. I was caught, hook, line and sinker. From that point forward, I kept close tabs on the Lockhart Company website to read all of the Tips and Techinques. I knew I would jump at the chance to learn, in person, from Karen.

Fast forward to 2008 when my family moved to northern Virginia. Like any addicted stamper, I researched where the closest stamp store was located, and found Angela's Happy Stamper, in Reston, Virginia. I saw that Karen was teaching there just a couple of weeks after our move. You can bet I signed up for classes with LIGHTENING speed. Like so many of you who have attended Karen's classes, I stuck around to let Karen know how much I loved her images, as well as her coloring techniques. We had several friends in common, so we had lots to chat about. I still love when she calls to chat - few women are as inspiring as Karen Lockhart, and I'm honored to be one of her Favorite Blogs and the current guest artist.

Jennifer Ellefson
www.createdfrompaper.blogspot.com

The new Peonies stamp (2128) made me think of a classic English garden, hence the layout of this card.

I started by coloring the beautiful image with layered Prismacolor © pencils, (Lime Peel, Kelly Green, Salmon Pink, Hot Pink, Magenta and Process Red), then cutting it into a circle. I continued with a 5" square card base made from pink cardstock. I then chose two coordinating pieces of patterned paper, cut them into 2.5" squares and cut each corner with a quarter circle. I laid out the pieces in a foram English Garden format, then stitched the edges with a sewing machine. By placing the colore image right in the center, it lets it take center stage, right where this beauty belongs! To add to the sentiment, I simply stamped "Just Because" (#10047) on a strip of cardstock that I then folded and cut into a banner shape. Liquid pearls and inked edges complete this gorgeous look.