Kraftin' Kimmie Krafty Peek - Words of Inspiration and Anything Goes Challenge

Hello krafty friends and followers!

Today is Day FOUR of the Kraftin' Kimmie January Peeks.
I hope you've been having as much fun as I have
with the new release peeks so far.

It's also an Anything Goes Challenge from our challenge hostess JENNY!  

You can create a card, scrapbook page or altered item with any stamp
but if you use a Kraftin' Kimmie stamp you'll double your chances to WIN!!
Use any sketch, any design, any embellishments because Anything Goes!
We hope you can play along for your chance to WIN
a $10 Gift Certificate to use on ANYTHING you want in the shop!!

So let's get to showing you this INSPIRING new set by artist Becky Pearce.

I just know it's going to inspire you in soooo many ways.
This set includes NINE lovely sentiments - take a look!

AMAZING right????!!!

I have two cards to share with you using 

one of the sentiments from this fabulous NEW Release.

and here is the second

I found this great paper and wooden accents at

my local craft store and knew instantly that this 

was perfect for what I had in mind for that sentiment.

I went vintage with both of these cards.

I feel like one of these has a more masculine look

and the other (first) has a more feminine appeal. 

Although vintage is not usually my go-to style, I love 

to occasionally pull out my distressing tool and 

ink up the edges for a change of pace. 

I've been challenging myself to make more cards 

in styles I don't use very often - such as vintage and CAS

and techniques such as special folds and mixed media

 (working up my courage on this one still).

I am entering my cards in the following challenges:
Fusion  - my inspiration is the wooden aspect

Papertake Weekly - It's All New
Sister Act Card Challenges #89 - Anything Goes

Are you planning to join us for our LIVE ONLINE RELEASE PARTY!!! 

The FUN and EXCITEMENT and PRIZES start TONIGHT beginning at 6pm EST!! 

Hope you can come hang out with us!

Below is a listing of all the Krafty Girls and Guests creations using this set.

Leave some love (comment) while you're hopping around because 

Kimmie is giving away a gift card and YOU could WIN 

some Krafty $$$ to spend at the shop!!!! 

{This winner will be announced at the party tomorrow!}

Happy hoppin'!

Thanks so much for visiting me today! Hugs D

Cheers to You! Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge #251 (Sketch)

Hello friends - look at that we made it to Friday!

What a week I've had, I'm still trying to catch myself

and keep thinking "what the heck happened to my time?"

In any event...it's almost the weekend - whew!

I started this card last Sunday and finally got it done last night.  

There is a sketch at Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge that I just had to play along with.

Here's the sketch for Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge #251

And here's what I made using it:

Check out those pompoms! I saw a tutorial on how to 

make them using baker's twine and this sweet image 

seemed just perfect for such a technique. 

Sorry for a short post but I do need to get through

one more day at work so I best be on my way.

In addition to the Kraftin Kimmie Challenge #251 

I'm also entering these great challenges:

 Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #117 Make Your Mark

Divas by Design - October 15th Texture

The Stamping Chef Challenge #51 - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today

I'm sure glad that  you did!

Til next time...hugs and happy crafting! D

Merry Monday #83, JUGS215 & CCC49

Hello dear friends and followers.  A quick post to share a card I made using my new Fresh Squeezed Stamps set called "Christmas Treats", for the following challenges (I apologize for the poor photo) :

Merry Monday #83

Just Us Girls #215 - Color Challenge

and

Creative Card Crew - Challenge #49 Pearls 

(used pearls for candy buttons on the gingerbread men and the snowflake on the cocoa mug).

Isn't it great how these challenges worked so perfectly together? The Stripes part of the Merry Monday challenge gave me an excuse to open up and use my Strips texture embossing folder :o).  I LOVE non-traditional colors for Christmas cards - and Red and Browns are a great combo.  

Thanks for stopping by friends - I'm sure glad that you did.  Rushing off to go teach a class today - will share the card we made later when I return. Til next time...hugs and happy crafting! D

52CCT - Embellishment Challenge #20 - Canvas

Hello and happy Saturday!  This week at 52CCT we have an embellishment challenge for you.  We'd like to see you use canvas on your beautiful Christmas cards.  I love the look of stamped images on canvas - it can be classy, whimsical or distressed.  I purchased a package of canvas pieces but I'll be darned if I can find where I hid them from myself!  That is so frustrating!! Do you ever do that?   I wonder what I was thinking when I put them where ever I put them for safe keeping - lol.  Fortunately a friend gave me a small piece to use so here's what I did with it...

I'm not exactly sure what style this card is. It seems that I've mixed a bunch of different styles to make a very individual card style all my own - lol.  I had this great idea in mind (thus the sponging) but the stamp I wanted to use on this strip didn't go on smoothly at all.  So... being very resourceful I flipped it over and started again with a more solid color image but this one didn't work too well either (the canvas is a bit rough) so I ended up coloring it in with my markers. I blobbed in the corner with the marker so then had to draw a frame around the image to cover up my error.  Good gracious - I think I should have stopped while I was ahead!

I didn't have time to make another card (nor can I find my hidden canvas) - and I really wanted to support Sarah (our 52CCT August hostess), so I decided that I would just be brave and share with you.  Maybe you'll see something in this that you like.  I promise to make another card when I find my canvas :o). 

So, I can't wait to see what you create this week using canvas! The rest of the lovely DT at 52CCT  have made some beautiful creations using canvas - please go visit them and check it out!  Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today.  Til next time... Hugs and happy crafting! D  

Sequins and Pearls - 52CCT Embellishment Challenge #18

Hello dear friends and followers! Time for another great challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown (52CCT).  Good gracious where has this past week gone?  We had such fun last week viewing your amazing ornament Christmas cards and this week we are looking forward to being wowed by your creations for the next challenge - 52CCT - Embellishment Challenge #18.  Are you ready for this?  This week at 52CCT we want to see your Christmas cards using sequins and/or pearls.

This photo evokes very pleasant memories for me.  Every year my Grandma would order one of these ornament kits for my two sisters and me.  We would take turns adding the pearls and sequins and fancy stick pins to create our own lovely ornament to hang on the Christmas tree.  I still have one of them that I put out each year that looks similar to the one in the photo (except its green).  

I was a bit panicked at first that I wouldn't have any sequins to use on my card - and I really wanted to use both (although I didn't have to).  So I dug through my stash drawer and lo and behold I found two small packages of sequins (not sure what I even bought them for but was sure glad to find them) so I set to work making my very first easel card.  Take a look...

I had a bit of trouble getting the sequins on this card - those darn little things get very staticy and want to stick to your fingers :o) but I managed to get them on (maybe not perfectly straight or even - but glued on).  I used my Big Shot and the large scalloped circle die to make the base and front panel - leaving just a wee bit of space at the top of the folded cardstock as I ran it through the machine so that the pieces would stay together.  I had never done this before so I googled it and found a great example on the Splitcoast Stampers site (thanks for that).  Wasn't nearly as challenging as I thought it would be and I can't wait to make another.

So enough about me. The rest of the lovely ladies on the DT for 52CCT have made some really wonderful Christmas cards to share with you this week as well using Challenge #18.   What will you make this week for our Embellishment challenge this week using sequins and/or pearls?  I can't wait to come visit you and see!  Til next time... hugs and happy crafting! D  

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #47 "Make Your Mark"

Hello friends and followers, so nice of you to visit me today.  Last week was the very favorite theme of "Anything Goes" at ATS&M and WOW did you all blow us away with your fabulous creations.  This week is another favorite at Addicted to Stamps and More - it's Challenge #47 "Make Your Mark".  This challenge has traditionally been one in which we want to see  you use markers (Promarkers, Copics, SU, Spectrum, etc.) but we've had some requested from folks asking to include colored pencils and watercolor crayons as well.  After a quick consideration of this we decided that this was a good idea and I personally can't wait to see the new level of creativity this brings to our challenge.

My card for this week is made using a digital image from Whoopsi Daisy.  Whoopsi Daisy has been our generous sponsor this month and I've really enjoyed using their darling, whimsical images.  I went with a more muted color scheme this week using BG72 and BG75 for the dress.  The printed image is a little over 4" square so I made my overal card base 5 1/2" square to showcase it better.  I've been going more CAS lately in the essence of time mostly (and I wanted to get better at it).  But I felt inspired to bling it up a bit this time and I'm quite please with it :o)

Just finished the most lovely of long weekends.  The weather was sunny for a bit and rainy at the right times (when I had to be inside).  Got to go to farmer's market with my family and stroll around with  cup of hot chocolate with huckleberry whip cream (yummy!).  It was sunny but only about 55 degrees so I needed something warm to sip on :o).  My son was home for the weekend and he kept us hopping as usual.  Every morning he would get up and say "what's the plan for the day Mama?"  No laying around being lazy when he's here to visit. Just little things to cherish and make my heart happy. Thanks for letting me share.

Well... time to get a move on.  I hope you will find time to play along with us this week at ATS&M. Pull out those markers, colored pencils and/or watercolor crayons and get to creating 'cause I can't wait to visit you and see what you've made!  The other loverly ladies at ATS&M have made some amazing creations for your inspiration as well so please pop in and visit them.

Til next time... hugs and happy crafting! D

Retrosketches #65 {Praying for You} cQc #190 and Paper Players #147 {with Sympathy & Love}

Hello again dear friends and followers.  I stayed up a bit late last night making cards because I get the day off work due to the Memorial Day holiday.  Sadly two ladies that are dear to my heart have lost loved ones very recently, so I used that time to make a couple of Sympathy cards.  I used the sketch at Retrosketches as inspiration for this card (see below). I never seem to have a sympathy card on hand when I need it.  It's just not a theme that I look forward to making when I'm designing and entering challenges.  I hope these cards brings a bit of comfort and peace to my friends when they receive them though.

My inspiration for the second card I made is from the colors at ColourQ #190 and the sketch from the Paper Players Sketch Challenge #147 (although it's a loose interpretation of the sketch as I have flipped the components of the sketch quite a bit).

Gotta get going for now. I'll go visit my Grandpa's grave site and spend some time with my Grandma playing cribbage today. This is always a tough day for Grandma.  Maybe we can share some laughs to help make it easier. We bet a quarter per game.  Raided my piggy bank in case I lose a few games.   Thanks for letting me share these with you today. Wherever you are - make it a great day and celebrate your blessings and loved ones. Til next time...hugs and happy crafting! D

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Embellishment Challenge

Hello dear friends and blog followers - Happy weekend to you!  Our challenge this week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown is an embellishment challenge and we want to see your wonderful Christmas cards using baker's twine.  Here's my card to share with and inspire you to play along with us this week:

I decided to make my card a Christmas thank you card.  It seems I usually focus so much on getting the greeting cards done for family and friends and then after Christmas I'm kind of scrambling to them come up with a few thank you cards for the gifts I've received.  I've also used one of my favorite non-traditional color combos for Christmas - I just love red, blue and white together.  I stamped my image with StazOn ink and then colored with some colored pencils and a blender pen.   Here's the inside:

I used the sketch from MOJO Monday #294 to make my card (see below). I saw the ribbon strip on the sketch and immediate saw that bakers twine would work great too.   

I hope that you will join us this week at 52CCT!  We so love seeing your beautiful cards each week- you new stop amazing and inspiring us.  The other gals on the DT have also made some lovely cards to share with you so please pop on over and visit them here. 

We have just recently started letting our little dogs sleep in bed with us (something I said I would NEVER do - but gave in after 3 years) and they do tend to be a bit too snuggly at times.  Last night was one of those times and I felt like I was trapped in my bed for a while.  They each weigh less than 20 pounds but I couldn't seem to get them to move over no matter how hard I pushed - lol. .  So... a short post for me tonight as I'm completely bushed and ready to go find my wonderfully comfortable bed (hopefully without two little extras tonight :o) ).   I hope you have a most wonderful weekend and thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today, I'm sure glad that  you did.  Til next time... hugs and happy crafting! D 

MOJO290 {Happy Birthday Cindi}

Hello dear friends and followers! I'm so excited to see that I have a few new followers! Welcome and thanks for being here with me.  Well,  here it is Sunday already.  That means, of course, that Monday is just right around the corner so today I'm doing laundry and balancing the checkbook and paying bills and getting ready for the start of a new work week.  Not so much fun but it must be done.  Yesterday I had the chance to make a card for my friend Cindi's birthday tomorrow  using the MOJO Monday sketch #290 (see below).

A while back Cindi had given me the most beautiful card using some of her pressed flowers.  She was kind enough to share a few extras with me also and I knew at the time I was going to return the favor to make her a card too.  Here's a close up of the flowers (aren't they delicate and lovely). 

Here's another view that shows the plastic tiles a little better. I used some retired Lovely Lilac cardstock for the base of my card along with Gumball Green and Daffodil Delight.  I just realized how cool it is that two of the colors are also flower related :o).  I sponged a little of the gumball green around the edges and across the embossing and gave it just a couple spritzes with my spritzer and the lovely lilac marker (can hardly see this in the photo). 

Well duties call so I better get going for now. Thanks so much for stopping by - I'm sure glad that you did. Until next time...hugs and happy crafting! D

52CCT - Ribbons & Bows, Merry Monday #54, ABC Christmas - F is for Felt and MOJO Monday

Hello dear blog friends and followers - hope this post finds you all doing exceptionally well.  Time for another challenge over at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - whoo hoo!  I feel so lucky to be part of this design team as we have such a great team and I get the opportunity to make a Christmas card each week of the year.  I don't know about you, but I find it extremely hard to make myself purchase Christmas cards from a store when I know how much more special it feels to send someone a handmade card - and I know the recipients love it too.    By just making a card a week, by the time November rolls around I will have a great stash to send out to family and friends without the last minute stress of trying to make a bunch. LOVE it!!

So on to the challenge for this week.  Louise is the hostess for a couple more weeks and this week she has picked the theme of ribbons and bows.  Here's what I've prepared for your inspiration this week - hope you like it!

Now the inside:

I am entering this card in the following challenges which helped me with my inspiration:

ABC Christmas Challenges - F is for Felt or Fabric

Merry Monday #54 - Snowman Theme

MOJO Monday #285

 

Hope you will decide to pop on over to the 52CCT site and see what the other lovely ladies have made and then decide to link up your own gorgeous Christmas card creations using ribbons and bows!  Til next time... hugs and happy crafting! 

Animals, Sparkle and Bling and a Sketch - 52CCT, Merry Monday #53 and CCAYR

Hello dear friends and followers - a quick and short post tonight as I am exhausted!!! after a rough week at work and was rushing to get my card done in time for Louise's great Theme Challenge at 52CCT this week. Louise wants to see animals on your Christmas card - but she has specified "no birds". Well, this darling polar bear was my obvious choice this week as I just think he is quite cute! (note: I apologize for the terrible photo).   

 

I'm also using the sketch from Merry Monday which inspired me to get this card together so very quickly and have added lots of sparkle and bling so that I can participate in the Christmas Cards All Year Round March Challenge - Sparkle & Bling.   Hope you like it and I do hope you will play along with us this week at 52CCT!  The gals on the DT have come up with some terrific inspiration for you. 

 
Til next time.... Hugs and happy crafting!! D

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - FELT, PPA153 and ABC Christmas Challenge - D is for Designer Paper

Hello and happy weekend! How have you FELT this week?  I have FELT like it was a long week and am glad for the weekend myself. This is the last week that I get to be the hostess for the month of February at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown. I've had so much fun this month and have really been impressed with what many of the participants at 52CCT have come up with each week.  My challenges have been a bit "unusual" I guess you could say - maybe even a bit difficult.  I think a couple of my challenges have really pushed some of you out of your comfort zone - but wow did you rise to the challenge! 

This week's challenge might also be a bit tough for some of you. For me it was easy because I discovered a stash of Christmas felt embellishments in  my craft drawer a while back and decided a good way to use them up would be to use them for a challenge.  I realize that felt isn't something many of you might have just stashed in a drawer but you can use a piece of felt (a square, a circle, a strip, etc.), a felt embellishment, a felt bow, a felt covered button, felt letters... you get the idea.  Just use felt somewhere or somehow on your Christmas card this week.  I sure hope this doesn't stop many of you from joining in on the fun at 52CCT this week.  It wasn't my intent to pick a hard challenge - really it wasn't.   Maybe you will be glad that this is my last week??

Before I show you my card I'd like to give a warm HELLO to my newest follower Sue.  Sure glad to  have you :o)

So here's my card to share with you this week:

and here's the inside:

I'd like to pat myself on the back for just a small moment and tell you that I have only fallen off my New Year's resolution once regarding decorating the inside of my cards.  They are not always spectacular (maybe just a sentiment) so I don't always photograph them to share - but I've been really good about keeping up with it (thank you Ruth :o) ).
 
My card is based off the sketch challenge at Pals Paper Arts.  I really should say its "loosely" based on the sketch as I was trying to do it from memory and it doesn't exactly follow the sketch - but its pretty close.  Think I'm gonna try another one this weekend because I do really like that sketch (see below).  I'm also entering this card in the ABC Christmas Challenge - D is for Designer Paper (I used the Snow Festival DSP from the Stampin Up Christmas mini catalog):

Thank you so much for stopping in to visit me today!  I'd love for you to pop into the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown Challenge and see what the other talented and lovely ladies have come up with.  I was especially tickled with Louise's creativity - I don't want to spoil the surprise for you, you must go check it out though (I dare you not to giggle with joy).  Til next time... Hugs and Happy Crafting! D

Freshly Made Sketches #69, Dynamic Duos #36 (Red & Black w/Valentine), 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #125 - Pearls

Hello friends and Happy Monday!  For some of you this is a holiday.  I had to work for part of the day so I stayed up late last night to get this done and posted this morning.  Yes, I do have a serious addicition to cardmaking.  But, I'm willing to guess that many of you reading have the same problem :o)  In any event, I'm sure glad you stopped by to visit me today.  I saw this split image idea on one of the challenge blogs I visit and thought it would be fun to give it a try.  It's a fun effect and I think I'm going to have to try it again on something else.  I used the other half of the heart on the inside, have a look:

I made this card to enter in three great challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches #69

Dynamic Duos #36 {Red & White w/Valentine Theme}

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #125 Pearls, Pearls, Pearls

 

I do hope you like this and thanks again for stopping by to visit.  Til next time...hugs and happy crafting.  

Shiny, sparkly wishes for 'ABC' Challenges - Happy New Year

Hello friends - enjoyed a break from some of my DT responsibilities over the Christmas season with my family, but it felt really good to get back in my craft room and create again. Hope you had a Merry Christmas as well and are ready to start playing along with us again at 'ABC' Challenges! The challenge this week at 'ABC' Challenges is to make a card with something sparkly or shiny on it. My card is reflective of a celebration of a shiny New Year. For me, 2012 felt like it contained more struggles than joys. But as we all know, we have to take the good with the bad. I choose to believe that 2013 is going to be far better than 2012 and will be full of blessings! So my glass is more than half-full and I'm excited to see what the New Year will bring. How will you celebrate 2013? Do you make resolutions? What wonderful things will you have to be thankful for this next year? Hope there are lots for you! The champagne bottle in my card is made from the Apothecary Accents Sizzix Framelit die. I then added the top by hand-cutting the bottle neck and putting a band of brushed gold around the top to represent the label around the bottle. The "Celebrate" sentiment (embossed with gold powder) is a sneak peek from a stamp set that will be coming out soon in the Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration catalog. Please pop on over to the 'ABC' Challenges site and see what the rest of the fabulous DT has prepared for your inspiration. I hope you will decide to share your sparkly/shiny card with us :o) Til next time...Hugs and Happy crafting.

'ABC' Challenges ' Holiday Card w/Bling

Hello friends and dear blog followers - hope today finds you in a blessed state :o)  Our challenge this week at 'ABC' Challenges is to make a holiday card with some bling.  The sentiment is from a SU stamp set called Greetings of the Season (in the holiday mini).  I hunted around in my stash and found these fun sparkly swirls and then was even more delighted to find the red rhinestone button and the circle bling.  The flowers were also in my "to use someday" basket.  Sometimes it really pays to go through our secret stash :o) not to mention that it looks so much prettier on a card to send someone than sitting in a box or basket.  Do you have some blingy stash to use this week?  Perhaps you have a newer blingy purchase that you just can't wait to do something with.  Well... good news... now's the perfect time to use it!  And then we would love for you to share it with is us week at 'ABC' Challenges - Holiday w/Bling. 

I layered three of the petals to give this flower more depth.  Here's another look that shows the dimension of the card a little better (finished card size is 5 1/4" square):

The other DT members at 'ABC' Challenges have created some amazing samples to awe and inspire you - pop in and visit them too.  Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today - I'm sure glad that you did.  Til next time.... Hugs and Happy Crafting! 

A snowman for Crazy 4 Challenges (C4C165) and the Paper Players #124

Hello friends - so happy that you've stopped by today to visit me.  The gals over at Crazy 4 Challenges have a fun challenge this week. They want to see our creations with a snowman on it.  Thankfully we don't have snow here yet.  I'm hoping it will hold out til closer to Christmas.  I don't mind the snow if I can sit and watch it fall while I'm snuggled up under a blanket with my cocoa or latte. But..I'm just not ready for it yet :o)   The theme challenge this week at the Paper Players #124 is "Snowmen" also - they must be wishing for snow too :o). 

Anway... I had just found these fun snowglobe type stickers at my local craft store.  Purchased them because they were so stinkin' cute that I just had to have them - even if I wasn't sure yet what to do with them.  So how perfect is the timing of the challenges at C4C#165 and Paper Players #124?  When you shake this card the snow flies around in there - soo cool! I put that fun sticker on one of my Sizzlit Framelit labels to help it stand out a bit more on the card.  I used my Northern Flurry textured embossing folder on the card base.  When I first made this card I left the rhinestones off - and it was pretty (see below) but then I got the idea that I needed to add the red rhinestones.  I like it both ways - but I do think the rhinestones add a bit of fun to it.  Here's what it looked like pre-rhinestones (a more CAS look):

Well... better get going for now. Got some Christmas shopping to do while I have a couple hours to myself.  Til next time...Hugs and Happy Crafting!!