A Flu, School and bein' Cool! :)

Hiya friends!  I've missed visiting you!  And I'm sorry I haven't been blogging either -- our lil 6 year old caught one hum-dinger of a flu and it got really rough on Monday - we were able to get his erradic breathing under control and the lovely projectile you-know-what finally subsided, but we'd be up for 12 hours with him before that.  Between lack of sleep, mountains of laundry and slinging batches and bowls of "mommy's homemade chicken soup", I haven't been able to even think crafting.   Thankfully his 72 hour bug is finally gone and he's back to eating solid foods and trying to run around - whew!  xxxx fingers xxxx ... now I'm doing this that it won't run rampid through the house!

Today also starts a new Pixie Dust Studio Challenge - School is Cool!  For this challenge, I decided to make a recipe card after finding this hilarious poem online ~ if you haven't read it, it's so funny and I want to know where I can sign up for this lunch!! :)  I made a little collage type recipe card and my favorite is lil Magnum Opus - our PDS resident bookworm!  I colored him with my prismacolor markers and added some elements in school colors.  I found the poem by K. Nesbitt at this site. 

Thanks for stopping by :)

Big Hugs,

Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

Deets: Blueberry Sky, Pure Poppy, YoYo Yellow; PTI White;

Image:  Magnum Opus from Pixie Dust Studio;

DSP - DCWV School stack;  colored with prismacolor markers; Cuttlebug, nesties, trimmer,

3d dot, misc buttons, ric-rac, tombo, brads

In addition to PDS Challenge,
this card is entered into:  The Pixie Cottage - Back To school
Allsorts Challenge - Back to School
StampInSanity - Back to School
Sentimental Sundays - Back to School

"I'm SEW glad we're friends!"

Good SONday morning!    Today's the day that the Calendar Girls post their creations based on a theme ... and this month our hostess, Debbie, challenged us to make a card/project with the "Sew glad we're friends" theme.   But wait .... she didn't stop there!  She also asked us to include this as a sentiment, add a button somewhere on the card, and stitching - either real or faux or some combination of ......  and I almost got it right! :)  Hee hee!  I actually didn't read far enough into the title and thought that's what it was ..... the title.  I knew exactly which stamp I was going to use the second I read the challenge, but since this little house mouse stamp comes with a sentiment, my mind wasn't wrapped around a different one - eek!  Hopefully, Debbie won't put me in the doghouse  mousetrap! :)

I colored up this adorable House Mouse with a lighter, subtle color pattern and once again, rummaged for some paper to match - something I've done like 3 times lately.  Change = good, right? :)  I kept it pretty simple as not to let this cutie image get lost in the card and I knew I wanted to add this wide, stitched ribbon for my stitching part, and the button for the requirements.   And, as I usually do, I had as much fun with the inside as the front!  LOVE this part of card decor! 





So be sure to take a peek at the other Calendar Girl creations - you can find the links in my sidebar and listed below!

April * Barb * Carol * Debbie * Jeanette * Kelly (you're here!) *

Michelle * Paola * Tami * Terry

Have a blessed rest of the weekend, stay safe in the storm!

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

Cardstock:  Stampin' Up:  DSP = Basic Grey; Image and sentiment: House Mouse;

Ink:  SU Stazon Black; Cuttlebug, prismacolor markers, nesties; SU Ribbon; Misc button, Kaiser pearls; twine; tombo



3 Cheers for Pumpkin Spice Lattes! :)

 

 Oh my goodness, am I happy this evening!  Dh dropped by Starbucks to pick up a coffee for me {he is such a sweetie!!} and jokingly told them that I was anxiously awaiting tomorrow's return of the Pumpkin Spice Lattes ......... and the barista said "tell Kelly that I'm sending her a present home with you!  We got our shipment in today, and I'll make her one right now, the first one of the year!"  Ohhhhhhhh the joys!!!  I'm happily sipping this warm yummy treat and grateful for a small blessing after this choatic week :)

So I made a card to commemorate!  LOL!!  I am actually meeting some friends tomorrow at my son's school for a PTA meeting - and some of the same friends that meet once a week at our local S'Bux just for fun will be there so I thought I'd create this little card to put in my binder :)  I am using the adorable image "Princess Coffee" from Pixie Dust Studio  - ha, that should be my real name!  Hee hee!  I paired her with some fall themed and autumn colored papers to match the arrival of my beloved PSLatte :) 

And I added a sentiment inside - I know, I'm modest *grin!*



The Inside view ...



Here's a wee side view ...



And a close up :)

THanks for stopping by and taking a peek!
I'm thinking of you all that are in the path of the storm and praying
for the nature to be kind under the circumstances.

Big hugs,
Bigger Blessings!~Kelly



Deets:  PTI Dark Chocolate; Pumpkin Pie; Bazzill Gold; PTI white;  DSP - Crate Paper,

Image:  Princess Coffee from Pixie Dust Studio; colored with prismacolor markers;

brads, ribbon from LSS; handmade polymer clay button; twine, tombo

Entered into: 

The Hotspot HSC7 - Color Combo

Whimsie Doodles - 3 patterned papers

Designed2Delight - Anything Goes

Tag - You're it!

Hi there!  We're still keeping an eye on Hurricane Irene and so far, the advisory looks like we'll be okay - PTL.  Schools are still open even though the torrentail rain is coming down here, but overall, we're battenin' down the hatches and I think we're as ready as we'll ever be.  I took the doggies for their walk in between the rain drizzles earlier and they were both so spooked and acting strange - sniffing the air, hiding under my legs, barking at absolutely nothing.   Eeek!

This week, Pixie Dust Studio has a new challenge -- Tag, You're it!  I enjoyed reading Pixie's Pix "Wings", the Pixie's Bookshelf August read.  I created a bookmark tag to use with "Wings", and used the digi Pearls of Wisdom by turning her into Laurel!  Laurel meets David in Anatomy class so I thought this image would be perfect for new the new high school student who's year ahead is filled with many enchanting surprises!  I added some glitter to her hair from the moment she attended the costume ball *wink!* And, the butterfly papers are to represent the wings .... but you'll have to read up on this New York Time's Best Seller book if you want to know more as that's all I'm saying!

And did you know you still have a few days left to play along with the Pixie "Wings" Challenge?  There are a few ways to win!  Come on by and see all the prizes you could win - you still have 'til August 29th!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Big hugs!
Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

Bookmark tag deets:  SU Green Galore, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, PTI White;

DSP:  K & Company Carolyn Gavin "Greenhouse", Image from Pixie Dust Studio "Pearl of Wisdom",

prismacolor markers, K & Company felt flowers, Glue pen, Martha Stewart Fine Glitter, tombo

Entered into:  The Crazy Challenge - Back to school!

Yikes - A hurricane?

Wowee, we are under siege with one serious thunderstorm outside tonight!  We just ran out in torrential rain and rescued our lawn furniture blowing across the lawn, grabbed my daughter's poor bunny cage and brought Socks inside and praying the gusts of wind leave the trampoline and swingsets in their spots!  It took dh nearly 45 minutes to find gas here today and that was after hitting 3 gas stations with the first two being "sold out".  Luckily, I did grocery shopping on Sunday so we are good to go.  We are carefully watching the news for updates on Irene and hoping that she doesn't gain strength, and of course, praying for all those in her path and projected path.   The girls had a great first day of school today and of course are crossing fingers for "hurricane days" this week - kids!!

So how about a little sunshine? :)   Today at Riley and Company Challenge blog, DT member Jovita challenged us to create a card with some sunshine - you can see the challenge blog here!  I couldn't wait to ink up this new Sunflower Riley for the challenge because I love sunflowers!  I love their colors and the brightness they bring to our kitchen table when dh brings them home - they look like bursts of sunshine :)  I cased one of my own cards, ROFL, and used up my MFT paper pack of dsp, propped up the sunflower for some added depth and used one of my wonky nesties just for fun :)  

Take a peek at the challenge blog for some more DT inspiration!  Due to the intermitent weather and sporatic signals, I will be by to visit you tomorrow in between kiddie drop offs and pick ups!  (School is open tomorrow, the rest of the week is a wait-and-see!)

And thank you SOOO much for the great comments on yesterdays card - I think I'll definitely try to color the image differently and maybe switch up the card layout as well - you are all AWESOME!!! x0x0xO

Big hugs!

Bigger Blessings!

~Kelly

Card deets:  SU Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay, Summer Sun, Riley and Company Stamp:  Sunflower Riley,
Ink:  Momento Black, colored with prismacolor markers; DSP - MFT paper pack from Cosmo Cricket; Cuttlebug, nesties, 3 d dots, cord, AC button, MM brads, tombo, trimmer
Submitted to these challenges:  Paper Creations Ink #7 - Show us your Flowers!
Stamps R Us Challenge - Anything Goes

Let's take a hike ... through the Forest!

Happy SONday to all of you!  Today's card is one I made for Jeanette's Forest Swap over on SCS - she's the Forest Ranger :)  This time around her theme was to create a card that represented something about us ... and I LOVE nature!  I love being outdoors, I love to explore and hike and enjoy the natural beauty of that which He has given to us :)  I have always had an adventurous spirit as a child and would wander through anything from farmer's fields to climb up into castle ruins when we lived in Europe.

Two summers ago we took the kids to Europe for 5 weeks and I was so blessed to take them back for the day to my old childhood home in a small town of Ulmen, Germany and walked the same old cobblestone streets I walked as a child (I often road my bike, which was NOT fun on those ancient cobblestone streets! LOL!)  They were wide-eyed with that same look I had and I kept them exploring - here's a few pictures of one trip we took to Berg Eltz, a castle  way, way up high on a mountain and the ONLY way to get to it is to walk.  Steep uphill.   For 1 hour! I thought they were going to pass out, give up, walk back down and tell me to take pictures, lol, but we made it and it was SO much fun!



NOT a 40 minute walk!  This sign Fibbed!  Big time! :)

 

 

Let's go, Mommy!  I got this!



Well .... mabye not!  a lift, please?



Half way there!  See the ruins? 

 



Guess what kids?  We're taking the path less traveled!
There's a stream!  And a log!  You can do it! :)

 

And so they did!  They definitely take after me! :)

 

And it helped that the water was only 6" deep, ROFL!!  And if you look
in the distance, there was a cross over bridge :)  This water was STONE COLD
Freezing!  It comes straight from the mountain and sakes alive, it was titanic unbearable after just
a minute or two ;)



We made it!  But they promised me there would be a Starbucks inside this old Castle!!





That's a long way back down!  And that stream looks familiar! ;)
(It was originally a moat!)  And are those are real cannon balls ...
imagine having to fire one of those?!

 Anyway, thank you for indulging me in this trip down memory lane!  I guess I should show you my card now? LOL!

I'm not overly excited about it -- I even bought this Riley stamp for this swap because I knew exactly the image I wanted to use!  I like the dsp, though it wasn't the original dsp I used for the first set of cards .... but something about it is quite off.  Maybe it's the layout ... I dunno ..... I'd love to hear your critiques if you made it this far!  This is a sample card and I'm all about making things better in the creative process!

SONday hugs to you! 

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly 

 Card meets the following challenges:  Wags 'n Whiskers - Outdoor Fun!

 Poodles Parlour - Anything Goes

Pixie Dust Studio - Candy Jar Release Day!

Hi sweet friends!  Thank you for the well wishes - so far, flu-like symptoms are leaving and as per the rapid test, No Strep!  I don't mind enduring this yuckiness as long as I know I can just let it ride it's course and I'll be back to normal in a day or so - yay! :)

Ready to see one SWEET Candy release?  You are in for a treat!  Literally!

For today's card, I used Candy Jar - filled to the brim with yummy + happy bubblegums!  I just love their sweet little faces :)  I actually colored this first (something rare for me) and then went through all my stacks of papers for a match  - and this one sure made me smile, too!  The image
is propped up on 3d dots to give it more pop {no pun intended!}

 

  

Here's a peek at the inside (sentiment is computer generated)



And a wee close up!

Want to see all the new releases available at Pixie Dust Studio today? 

 Take a peek! 

Thanks for stopping by today!

If you want to be inspired by what the DT has made with these

lovely digital images, take a peek here!

Don't forget to enter our Teen Tween Dream Challenge, too!

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

Card deets: Turquoise Sea, Pure Poppy, Pumpkin Pie, PTI White;  DSP - American Crafts;
Image from Pixie Dust Studio "Candy Jar";  primacolor markers; SU ribbon; MM brads, Tombo;
3 d dots

Time to *sneak* a Pixie Kiss! :)

  Hi friends!  Hopping on to show you a card I made for the upcoming

Pixie Dust Studio new digi release -

here's Pixie Kiss!

I'm under the weather with a horrible bug - my poor son already brought home some sniffles and a runny nose from starting school -

A healthy summer without so much as a cough or cold -

And so it begins! ;)

I colored Pixie Kiss to match the yummy dsp in hues of pink and brown +

 I thought she should have a chocolate hat :)

Please stop by and see what the DT have made

with their sneak peeks - pure cuteness, I tell ya!

Visit the Challenge blog and the store to see

more PDS images!

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

card deets: TBA

A Teen Tween's Dream!

Happy Wednesday!

  That also means it's time for another fabulous challenge at Pixie Dust Studio Challenge Blog!  This week's theme is A Teen Tween's Dream.  When I saw that title for the challenge, I knew instantly that it would be a perfect card for ...

TEAM EDWARD!!!!

Hee hee! 

 For us Twi-hards, it's an easy choice :)

I loved this sweet image called Ultimate Vamp Fan
from Pixie Dust Studio. 

 I added some fine glitter to Edward,
but it's hard to see here ...
as I jokingly tell my dh all the time that I like him to sparkle, LOL!



A close-up of  Ultimate Vamp Fan

We'd love to have you join the challenge this week!

You can link up your Teen Tween's Dream cards here!

You can also see what the DT have created as well -

take a peek!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

Card deets:  Pure Poppy, Turquiose Sea, PTI White: Image - Pixie Dust Studio "Ultimate Vamp Fan",

dsp - DCWV Farmer's Stack; cuttlebug, nesties, prismacolor markers, Martha Stewart ultra fine glitter,

AC ribbon, misc buttons; twine; spare parts flowers, twine

Farewell, Summer! Time for one last Summer Soiree Card :)

Happy Monday!  My little man started 1st Grade today - sniff, sniff!  I can't believe this summer flew by.   He had a GREAT day - he loves school and we are blessed that he has such a wonderful teacher :)  I'm so looking forward to a wonderful year ahead.   He attends a private christian school and they start a week before my 3 daughters so we're still enjoying one last week of summer doing Girly Girl fun things :)

It's also the 15th of the month and that means the Dueling Darlings are back with another friendly card kit duel!  This month, the Divas were hostessed by the fabulous Judy!  For the Divas, the theme chosen was "It's so Hot, Let's Cool Off!"  And oh my stars, this kit was so full of fabulousity, it was hard to know where to start and what to chose!  The colors and patterns of the papers were so "Miami-like" - it looked like this lil cutie was stepping right off South Beach!  I kept it pretty simple so I could hoard save some of the items for more cards .... Judy was SO generous!! 

Here is my take on the stamped image/papers/embellishments sent:

 Judy and Paola (for Team Dazzler) asked us to share our favorite way to cool off during our dog days of summer.   I'd have to say ours is definitely the beach - although we have a pool, it's so much more fun to hit the beach, hang out under the bright color umbrellas, splash in the blue ocean (not many waves here!) and of course, build Sandcastles! :) 

I hope you can stop on over and see what the rest of the Divas have made using this card kit!  I'll be back tomorrow with the links and supply list as I had 3 hours of sleep last night and I'm seeing double!

Team Divas!

       Judy * Barb * Jamie * Joan * Carol * Tami * LJ * Kelly (you're here!)

Team Dazzlers!

     Jeanette * Paola * Terry * Michelle * April * Melina * Debbie * Darlene

Big Hugs,

Bigger Blessings!

~Kelly

card deets:  SU Cardstock Tempting Turqouise; Pacific Point,Melon Mambo:  Kit - Stamped image from CTMH; colored with my prismacolor markers; dsp = margarita collection from American Crafts; ribbon; buttons; jolee sea stickers; cuttlebug, nesties; tombo, twine; cricut cut scallop

Pixie Dust Studios New Book Club!

Happy Weekend to you!!  I wanted to take a moment to tell you about a new Book Club that started at the first of this month and it's fabulous!

Take a peek at Pixie's Bookshelf!

For me, I'm an avid reader.  I love, love to bury my nose in a good book!  I would often be found at the library while my friends were running off to parties and dating boys!  Yep, confirmed bookworm here!  One of my other favorite things to do besides paper crafting is to browse old book stores or hop into B & N and just spend forever looking over new titles and the promise of ones still to arrive - love it!

Come in and meet the new Bookshelf crew!

If you love books, too, and paper crafting, then what a treat!

Our Book Pick for the month of August is

 WINGS by Aprilynne Pike.

Discover this book with Pixie and Friends and play along for the Month of August!!!

Come on by and take a peek!  We'd absolutely love for you to become followers, too!

There is also some REALLY wonderful prizes to be won -- you can read all the

deets here on this blog post!

Thanks for stopping in today - now be sure to flutter on over to Pixie's Bookshelf

and take a look around!

x0x0

Big Pixie Hugs,

Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

 

Boys will be Boys!

Hiya!  Wow, what a week!  Our 6 y/o son starts 1st Grade on Monday and it's been CAH-RAZY!  He in in private christian school and they start a week earlier than the girls - boo, sad face! :(   Speaking of boys, that's the theme for Pixie Dust Studio this week ... Boys will be Boys!   Here is my take (forgive the lighting, I'll be re-taking it tomorrow in natural light) on the theme - using  Up Up and Away.  Isn't he cute?

 

I  used the SCS CC335 color combo for this week of Kraft, Red and Yellow which is a great color combination.  I found my old Basic Grey stack with coordinating colors - green was the dessert color of the week except a tiny smidge of blue peeks out in a few spots ;)  I added twine instead of ribbon and 3d propped the balloons.   And I just love that little froggie peeking out of his bucket - so cute!

I sure you hope you can us this week!  You can link up your Boy cards here on the Challenge Blog, using a PDS image and your creativity, of course!   And did you know some of the Pixie Dust Images are on sale?  Sure are! 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

This card entered into these challenges:  A Spoon Full of Sugar - 162-Birthdays
Card Makin' Mamas - Birthdays
SSCC 101 - Use something forgotten in your stash ( My dsp!)
Stamp Something - Use a digi
Craft Us Crazy - Anything Goes
Craft your Passion - Anything Goes
Fun with Shapes and more - Use Twine
Anything Goes Challenge - Birthdays

Card deets:  SU Kraft, PTI Pure Poppy, SU Crushed Curry, PTI White:  Image: Pixie Dust Studio "UP UP and AWAY", prismacolor markers; tombo, craft rope, MM Button, twine, cuttlebug, nesties, 3d dots, Spare parts glitter brads, aileens

Let's Have *Oceans of Fun* with Riley!

Good Morning! It's Tuesday and that means it's time for the bi-weekly challenge from Riley and Company Challenge blog and guess who is the hostess this week -

little 'ol me!!

For this challenge, I'm challenging you to create a card/project using:  Let's have Oceans of Fun with Riley!  Bring out your nautical side!  Use a boat, ocean, beach (etc) and include the colors of red and blue!

If you can, link your card to the challenge blog HERE ... any other galleries, like SCS,  keyword1611.

For my card, I used Sailboating Riley - colored him with prismacolor markers and paired him with uber summer dsp from Echo Park (love this stuff!)

I made scalloped "waves" and realized a little too late that my big ol ribbon

covered them up, lol! 

I hope you can join us this week - we'd love to see your Riley Creations!

You can browse the store and look at some of the new Riley and Sophie's too -

there is a Riley and Sophie for everyone!

Want to see what the rest of the DT made with the Oceans of Fun theme?

You can find their blogs on the Riley sidebar here!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

Entered into: Raise the Bar - Anything Goes

Card deets:  GKD In the Navy, Little Boy Blue; PTI White; DSP - Echo Park;

Stamp:  Riley and Company "Sailboat Riley"; MFT scallop die; flora doodles glitter chipboard flowers;

misc ribbon/button, tombo