I have a new addiction and it's making Kaleidoscopes. This innovative software can turn your photos into fantastic designs. It is very easy to use and with a few clicks of your mouse you can produce amazing works of art that will be different from anything you've ever seen. You can make fantastic backgrounds, embellishments, scrapbook pages, cards, artist trading cards (ATC), or altered book pages. You can use this program even if you haven't gone digital because they include 104 beautiful photos to play with and with each photo your creation options are unlimited. To start off with, they have 12 different kaleidoscope shapes, and then you can move your photo in any conceivable direction to make just the right pattern. If you want a subtle background, enlarge your photo; for more detail reduce the size. You can then print your creation in any size, on any paper you desire. The applications are endless. All this for a very reasonable price, so visit their wonderful website for more great samples and tutorial at www.kaleidoscopecollections.com.

You should also check out their wonderful assortment of self-adhesive cardstock. These are beautiful heavy weight stickers with a high gloss finish, whose colors and patterns are fantastic. I love using the frame stickers to make quick and easy shaker boxes. Scrapbookers will just love the sticker sheets, which are huge, with enough stickers to make several pages and cards. They are also great for altered books and ATC.

This is a quick overview of how easy it is to use the Kaleidoscopes Kreater:

1. Edit your photo with your favorite software (if desired) then save it.
2. Open Kaleidoscopes Kreator. Click on file, then click on open image, find your image and open it.
3. Your image will appear on the screen and this is where the fun begins. Select one of the 12 different shapes from the drop down screen.
4. Then choose how much detail you want by enlarging or shrinking your image. This is done by clicking and holding the corner white box with your mouse to pull the corner in or out.
5. Move your image by clicking and holding it (a hand will appear), while dragging it with your mouse. Flip, move, or rotate your image until you see a pattern you like. Then save it.
6. You can print directly from this program but I prefer to print from my photo print software. You can print on all different surfaces, such as photo paper, matte cardstock, or vellum.

 Supplies

• Kaleidoscopes Kreator (Kaleidoscopes Collections)
• Rubber Stamps - conversation dots (Hero Arts)
• Southwest corner punch (Marvy)
• Circle punch (Marvy)
• Adirondack inkpad -bottle, Lettuce (Ranger)
• Metallic pen -copper (Posh Impressions)
• Glossy accents (Ranger)
• Black cardstock (Astrobright) 5 ½" x 11 folded
• Picture paper (Kodak)
• Charm (unknown)
• Twine
• Bottle cap
• Hammer
• Mounting tape (3m)

Directions

1. Open Kaleidoscopes Kreator and then open your photo, select the circle option. Then move the photo to a position you like. Save your image and print a 5" size onto photo paper. Repeat using northern star, print 3 ¾".
2. Trim close and outline with metallic pen.
3. Flatten bottle cap with hammer and remove plastic center. On a scrap of photo paper sponge lettuce ink. Then stamp conversation dot in bottle ink. Punch out using circle punch. Glue to bottle cap with glossy accents. Glue charm on with glossy accent.
4. Punch corners of folded card with southwest punch. Mount photos and bottle cap with foam tape. Tie twine around top.

 Supplies

• Kaleidoscopes Kreator (Kaleidoscopes Collections)
• Rubber Stamps: Definitions (Lost Coast Designs)
• Adirondack color wash - butterscotch, terra cotta (Ranger)
• Mary Matchables black inkpad (Uchida)
• White cardstock (Fox River)
• Black cardstock (Astrobright) 3 ½" x 2 ½"
• Eyelets or conchs (artist own)
• Double stick tape (Scotch)
  

Directions

1. Open Kaleidoscopes Kreator and then your photo, select the Celtic cross option. Then move the photo to a position you like. Save your image and print a 2.5" size onto photo paper. Repeat using flower, lace, and scallop options.
2. Spray one sheet of white cardstock with water followed by butterscotch and terra cotta color washes. Let dry. Cut to 2" x 3" size.
3. Stamp definition in black ink.
4. Assemble as shown.

Supplies

• Kaleidoscopes Kreator (Kaleidoscopes Collections)
• Rubber Stamps: African trio (After Midnight)
• Rubber Stamps: Art Quotes Set-(Stamp Zia)
• Versa fine - black (Tsukineko)
• Metallic pen -copper (Posh Impressions)
• White cardstock - (Fox River)
• Black cardstock (Astrobright)
• Pastel chalks (Alphacolor)
• Broken jewelry (artist own)
• Double stick tape (Scotch)
• Glue dots (Thermo O Web)

Directions

1. Open Kaleidoscopes Kreator and then Sample photo number KC01057, select the square option. Then enlarge the photo and center it over the orange clouds. Save your image and print two 5-¼" size backgrounds onto white cardstock.
2. Stamp African trio with heads in center of one background and stamp Imagination of top of other in black ink.
3. Lightly color image with chalks.
4. Trim stamped saying to 1 ½" x 5 ¼".
5. Outline both panels with metallic pen.
6. Tape to card and mount broken jewelry with glue dot.

Supplies

• Kaleidoscopes Kreator (Kaleidoscopes Collections)
• Rubber Stamps: Landscape parts (Sunday International)
• Rubber Stamps:Shadow Stamping Backgrounds (Sunday International)
• Rubber Stamps: Saying (Lasting Impressions)
• Ancient Page -Pine & Sage (Clearsnap)
• Cardstock: textured dark green (KMA) cut to:
  1 3/8" x 2 ¼", 1 ¼" x 2 1/8", 1 ¼" x 1 ¾", 3" x 1 5/8", 5 ½" x 11" and folded
• Fox River sparkle - sandstone (yellow rose) cut to:
  5 ¼" x 5 ¼", 1 3/8" x 2 3/8", 1 ¼" x 2", 1" x 1" ¾", 1 5/8" x 1 1/8"
• White vellum (CTI)
• Double stick tape (Scotch)
• Mounting tape (3M)
• Vellum tape (3M)
• Glossy accents (Ranger)
• Rose beads (artist own)
  

 Directions

1. Open Kaleidoscopes Kreator and then Sample photo number KC01038, select the square option. Then enlarge the photo and center it. Save your image and print a 5-¼ " size backgrounds onto white vellum.
2. Attach to sandstone cardstock with vellum tape, then to folded card with double stick tape.
3. Stamp saying and images in pine ink on sandstone cardstock. Stamp shadow stamp in sage randomly on sandstone cardstock. Mount on green cardstock with double stick tape.
4. Arrange images and mount with mounting tape and glue on beads with glossy accents.

Supplies

• Kreative Kaleidoscopes self-adhesive cardstock- Mormon Tea (Kaleidoscopes Collections)
• Cardstock: Sandstone (Fox River sparkle) cut to: 4 ¾" x 7 ¾" & 8 ½" x 11" and folded
• Textured dark green (KMA) cut to 5" x 8", 1 ¼" x 4", 1" x ½", 1" x 3 ¼", 1" x 2 ¼"
• Plum (KMA) 8 ¼" x 5 ½"
• Double stick tape (scotch)
  

Directions

1. 1) Mount self - adhesive cardstock and cardstock as shown.

Supplies

• Kreative Kaleidoscopes self-adhesive cardstock- Mormon Tea (Kaleidoscopes Collections
• Rubber Stamps: East Meets West 2 (Sunday International)
• Rubber Stamps: Friend (After Midnight)
• Adirondack inkpads - black & red pepper (Ranger)
• Black cardstock (Astrobright) 2 ¼" x 4 ¼" & 8 ½" x 5 ½" folded
  White cardstock
• Fiber and ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbons)
• Hole punch (Fisker)
• Double stick tape (scotch)
• Mounting tape (3M)
  

Directions

1. Spray one sheet of white cardstock with water, followed by butterscotch and terra cotta color washes. Let dry. Cut to 4" x 5 ¼" size.
2. On orange colorwashed cardstock stamp Asian text with red ink. Stamp friends in bottom corner with black.
3. Mount self-adhesive cardstock tag on black cardstock and trim. Attach fibers through hole.
4. Assemble as shown mounting tag with a double layer of mounting tape.

Supplies

• Kreative Kaleidoscopes self-adhesive cardstock- Daisies (Kaleidoscopes Collections)
• Rubber Stamps - Rubberneckers
• Ancient Page -black (Clearsnap)
• Burgundy cardstock (KMA) cut to: 8 1/2" x 11" folded
• Pink cardstock (Michaels) cut to: 8 ¼" x 5 ¼"
• Textured dark green (KMA) cut to 5" x 8",
• Acetate (Staples) cut to 3 ¾" x 4 ½" and 2" x 3 ½"
• Photo 3" x 4"
• Micro beads (unknown)
• Pink heart brad (unknown)
• Double stick tape (Scotch)
• Mounting tape

Directions

1. Stick frame sticker to acetate, turn over and line all the edges with foam tape, keeping the edge of the tape in line with the inside edge of the frame.
2. Place beads into space inside mounting tape, remove back of mounting tape and place photo centered on frame, then attach frame to white cardstock.
3. Stamp saying in black ink on acetate, trim to fit tag. Mount acetate to tag with brad. Assemble as shown with double stick tape.

Supplies

• Kreative Kaleidoscopes self-adhesive cardstock- Flag (Kaleidoscopes Collections)
• Rubber Stamps - Patriotic (Sunday International)
• Ancient Page -cardinal (Clearsnap)
• White cardstock - (Fox River) cut to: 8 ½" x 11" (and folded), 3 ¾" x 2 ¼"
• Red cardstock (Michaels) cut to: 8 ¼" x 5 ¼" , 2 ¾" x 4 ¼"
• Blue cardstock (Michaels) cut to: 8" x 5", 2 ½" x 4"
• Acetate (Staples) cut to 3 ¾" x 4 ½"
• Micro beads (unknown)
• Double stick tape (Scotch)
• Mounting tape

Directions

1. Stick frame sticker to acetate, turn over and line all the edges with foam tape, keeping the edge of the tape in line with the inside edge of the frame.
2. Cut 3 ½" off bottom of border sticker.
3. Place beads into space inside mounting tape, remove back of mounting tape and place border centered on frame, then attach frame to white cardstock.
4. Stamp saying in red ink on white cardstock. Mount it on blue than red then onto white panel. Mount panel onto blue then red then white folded card.

Directions

1. Cut up rectangles of red and white cardstock and layer on Blue cardstock.
2. Mount large photo in self-adhesive cardstock photo frame. Mount all remaining photos on white cardstock.
3. Cut words from cardstock and attach as shown.
4. Layer self-adhesive cardstock tags and borders as shown.
5. Attach eyelets.

Supplies

• Kreative Kaleidoscopes self-adhesive cardstock- Flag (Kaleidoscopes Collections)
• Die cutter -fun serif, playground (Sizzix)
• Star eyelets (KMA)
• White cardstock - (Fox River)
• Red cardstock (Michaels)
• Blue cardstock (Michaels)
• Silent eyelet setter (Provocraft)
• Hermafix adhesive (Herma)
• Glue stick (Henkela)

Supplies

• Kreative Kaleidoscopes self-adhesive cardstock- tree spirits 2 (Kaleidoscopes Collections)
• Rubber Stamps - Alphabet stamps (Stamp Camp)
• Die cutter -fun serif, playground, bookplates, oval, charm, frames (Sizzix)
• Copper Wire (Artistic Wire)
• Copper sheets (EK success)
• Black eyelets (KMA)
• Distress inkpad - walnut stain (Ranger)
• Paper: Black cardstock (Astrobright)
• Evergreen Kraft (KMA)
• Picture paper (Kodak)
• Hermafix adhesive (Herma)
• Glue dots (Therm O Web)
• Silent eyelet setter (Provocraft)
• Butane lighter (artist own)
• Tongs (artist own)
• Meat tenderizer (artist own)

Directions

1. Print photos in sepia tones. Mount larger focus photo on Kraft cardstock then black.
2. Attach Kreative Kaleidoscopes photo frame to corner of sheet of Evergreen Kraft. Mount larger photo off set on top of photo frame.
3. Mount smaller photos along bottom.
4. Cut a ¾" strip of black cardstock stock and attach it 1" from right edge.
5. Cut letters and numbers from self-adhesive cardstock border and black cardstock and attach as shown.
6. From the copper sheet cut a 1/8" strip, a medium bookplate, and rectangle charm.
7. Twist copper wire as shown.
8. Give copper a patina by crumpling it up then pounding it with a meat tenderizer then heating it with butane lighter.
9. Stamp picture paper with letters using distress ink and while still wet, gently rub to smear ink.
10. Cut a piece of Kreative Kaleidoscopes self-adhesive cardstock to fit inside charm.
11. Attach copper with eyelets or glue dots.