Crafters of Faith meets the Calendar Girls!

Hi friends!  I have two cards for you in today's post as both of my beloved blogging groups - the Crafters of Faith and the Calendar Girls - both have a card due today!  So fun!  

First up, the hostess this month for our Crafters of Faith SCS group is Tami!  Tami gave us a wonderful challenge this month, take a peek:

I have a crafting tool that I just had to have and have hardly used.  Does that sound remotely familiar?!  I think you all may have the same tool in your arsenal.  I would like you to drag out your scoring tool. Scor-Pal mini, biggie, Martha mini, biggie or if you do not have one of those, I am sure that you may have a scoring blade on your paper cutter. SCORE!!! It would be fun to see how you all incorporate scoring onto your card. You know I am into 'use what'cha got', so if you do not have a scoring tool of any sort, please create without this element. Oh and I do not mean just a score to fold your cardbase in half! LOL 

While it is a 'lovely' month February, let's create a card that is not Valentine's themed. That being said, it is the second part of this challenge. Let's not use Valentine theme, red, pink or white colors anywhere on our cards. That includes the paper you stamp your image on....*gasp*!

For our third element, how about we place both an image and a sentiment on the front of the card.

Well, that ought to keep us busy {now what am I going to do?! LOL} I am looking forward to seeing your projects. I get the best ideas from you girls.

So!  While I did not use ANY designer paper on this card, I got into a slight battle with the scoring!  What's a paper crafter to do - use an embossing folder =)  I embossed the teal cardstock to give the paper its' floral dimensions and then crimped the kiwi kiss paper with the scor-pal to create the according panel.   I went with brown/green/blue - my VERY fave color combo! - to avoid the traditional reds/pinks but oopsie, I did not read about the white!  I'm sorry, Tami!  For my image, I cut out a heart from a cardboard box (got plenty of those layin' around!!) and ripped the top layer off to get the same pleated, lined look - and added the rejoice to get a sentiment in.  
Ta-da!  I almost passed! =)

For my second card, the Calendar Girls had me as their hostess this month :) And since I'm Miss February, I had to include a little bit of love in there but with a twist!  I asked the Calendar Girls to create a card with the theme "Share the Love" using non-Traditional Valentines colors.  Take a peek - again!

It’s February, the month of LOVE ♥ I’m thrilled to be your hostess this month and offer you a challenge of a different sort Rather than go for the traditional Valentine’s card, I wanted to ask that you each make a card – as a reflection of yourself – and share a little LOVE! 

This month, please create a card (or project) that shows what YOU love .. something that when we look upon your car, we will know exactly what that ONE thing is that you love so much!

*You may use any colors you would like but extra brownie points for using non -traditional colors!! * Please include one thing only! 

Whew, I exhausted my own self on my own challenge, LOL!  But ... I did know exactly what I wanted to 'showcase' when creating.  Yes, I LOVE my Starbucks!  YES, I LOVE the beach, flip-flops year round and sandcastles!  Yes, I LOVE to volunteer oodles of hours at my kids schools and so enjoy being mommy!  But from the depths of my being, deep within my soul, what I love most of all is sharing God's word and having a foundation of faith to carry me through each of my days.  Can I get an AMEN?!

I also LOVE using bright, bold colors - never shy of those when I'm crafting!  The more vivid the colors, the happier I am!  So I went with a non-traditional color palette of Rich Razzleberry, Dusty Durango and Crumb Cake, paired with DCWV papers.  I even inked up this grunge cross set from Our Daily Bread that has never seen ink (LINY card!) and stamped it out in Razzleberry ink as well - both the image and the sentiment.  I fussy cut the flowers from the dsp to add as embellies, inside and out.   Here's my card!

 And the last 'extra credit' part of the challenge was to actually Share the Love and sent the card to someone as a blessing ~ unexpected or in need and my card is already en route =)

Whew, if you made it this far, thank you!  I'm so blessed that you stopped by and read this novel of a post - it's a busy blogging day and I'm grateful for all these ladies in both groups that make my heart huge with LOVE! :)

Be sure to stop by and see what they each have made if you can!  Both groups are listed in my sidebar right over there -----}  

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings!

~Kelly

I'm all WASHI-d up with Bugaboo!

Hi there! 

 Today is an extra fun posting day for me as it's tutorial day at Catch the Bug ~ Bugaboo Stamp's inspiration blog.

For today's tutorial post, I thought I'd show you a great way to create a card, or project, without using any designer paper ~ surprise!  I adore my layers upon layers on my cards and I'm crazy for my mix 'n match designer papers :)

However, one of the most beautiful style of cards is CAS cards - easy breazy and super pretty!  

So what's one way of creating a card without the use of any designer papers?  

Grab some Washi Tape! =)

 Using a digi stamp like the ones at Bugaboo and Washi tape, it's an easy way to brighten up a card and keep it simple and let the image shine!

For today's card, I am showcasing the adorable Puppy Love digi - available in the store.  Any color/size/style of washi tape will do for your card or project.

For today's card, I used navy blue, hot pink and soft yellow washi tape and cardstock -and that's it!  Not a stitch of dsp anywhere! :)

I started with these few rolls and a classic design ....

                                     

That's it for today's tutorial! 

 I hope you are able to color up your Bugaboo stamps 

and play with the many challenges that go on each week!

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly  

Entered into: Oldie but Goodie Challenge - Bright Colors
Corrosive Challenge - Fave Color Combo
Digital Tuesday - Birthday

Time for a color Challenge! :)

Blessings, all!  

I hope your weekend is off to a good start :)   Forgive my quick post this evening ~ dh is out of town with one of our daughters at a chorus trip and we've been here, there and everywhere!  I still have a book to snuggle up with (personal) and one to review so I'm getting ready to put on my jammies, have a cup of hot green tea and prop up my feet! 

There is a new Color Challenge at Bugaboo Challenge blog and it's a beauty!  The colors are so elegant and striking and just drew me right in.  Take a peek!

My card using the color inspiration photo is using the digi Girl Bear.  I paired it with the vintage papers from SU - lovingly called "grandma papers" by my sweet friend, Tami :)  The flower is one from my hoarded supply that I picked up while walking into a stempel shoppe in Germany last summer :) 

Thanks for stopping by today and be sure to check in over at Catch the Bug to see the rest of the DT card inspirations  and of course, link up your photo inspired creations - we'd love to see them!

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings!

~Kelly

Entered into:  One Stop Craft Challenge - One for the kids

Give thanks to the Lord ...

I met God at the beach a few days ago :)   As I was jogging around the small trail near the mangroves, ducking the branches and side-stepping root-lifted cracks,  I stopped right in my tracks.  This breath of faith just washed over me and I felt His presence so clearly, so purely.

I know it’s God’s answer to never ending questions I have.  The ones I ask myself in wonder.  And wait for His reply.  I didn't finish that jog.   I sat one the beach instead, watching the sun share it's warmth over the water, twinkly like nature's glitter.  

And I knew - the answers will be here when they are meant to.  Be patient, child.  And I also knew that I am completely, humbly loved. 

I am thankful.

When I saw today's Deconstructed Sketch, I fell in love with it and got to crafting right away.  Lately, I'm drawn to the blue and yellow combination which is so lovely - I'm sure it's the contrasting hues, but I like it!  I also inked up for the first time my quite lonely Verve stamp (LINY card!) It's a simple card, but it's calming and quiet and not my usual "busy" cards that I love to make with lots of layers and gobs of buttons!

Sometimes simple is good, especially in the year of Simplicity :)

Blessings to you this day!

Big hugs,

Kelly

Entered into:  Craft us Crazy - Favorites (Faith stamps!)
Inspire me Fridays - anything goes

Guten Tag from Germany! :)

Wie Gehts?!  How I *wish* I were really posting from Germany -
 how blessed that would be!  

 I'm showcasing this adorable Germany card today because it's Time for an Oldie But Goodie day at the Bugaboo blog and ...

February 22nd is International World Thinking Day!

I was Über excited to see this charming AKV World Flags - Germany! I lived all   over Europe as a child and even spent years in Germany -  my 2nd home, as I call it :)   I scooped up this image to create my International inspired card, 

keeping the colors in tune to their flag.

I found/followed this amazing sketch from I {heart} sketches.  Due to the image layout, I added the heart buttons to the opposite side of the image so hopefully that's ok :)

This adorable AKV Germany digi can be found here in the store, along with many other countries, cuties and charmers!
Take a peek!

And you can find the challenge blog here with many challenges to play along with as well as a lot of DT inspiration - see here! :)

And don't forget to stop by the Catch the Bug blog on Friday as there is a freebie give-away you won't want to miss!

Big hugs,
Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

An Inside-Out Card - Riley Challenge!

Hi there!   

Today's card is an especially fun one - one I call an Inside-Out card :)  For this week's Riley and Company Challenge, Joy asked us to create a card using a sentiment.

YAY!!  Have you seen the Funny Bones sentiments?  Have mercy, they are hilarious!!   I tell you, when I crack up before I can get the ink to the paper :)  They make me smile and brighten my day - and add in stamping/crafting time, well ... that's a whole vacation right there!

I call this card my 'inside-out' card because the sentiment, which I always add to the inside of my cards, is on the front and the image, which I always add to the outside of my cards, is now on the inside!  Clear as mud, right? :)

Okay, so I'll just show you!  

Here it is!  Using a scrumptious Parisian styled paper from MME, I came up with today's card.   Although I've used a similiar design on my cards before, this is the first time I have used the half moon design and can I just say .... I love it!  It gives the image (sentiment) a whole new look.  On the inside, I have stamped the new retro girl, Ethel.  I'm 'tickled pink' with this card!

We'd love to see what you create this challenge and hope you can ink up your Funny Bones (etc), too!  If you upload your card to a gallery, please use the keyword RILEY0413 as we'd love to see what you create.  And check out what the Riley and Company DT have created as well:  

• Cindy Haffner
• Frances Byrne
• Jovita Torres
• Joy Stagg
• Kelly Santi (you're here!)
• Laurie Clout
• Michele L
• Silke Kittmann

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

Entering into: A Gem of a Challenge - Use your Dies
Stampavie - #187 - Lots of Layers!
Raise the Bar - Anything Goes
Fab and Funky - Decorate the inside, too

A Little Duel of Love!

IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE!

It's the 15th of the month and that means it's time for the blogging group Dueling Darlings to have a friendly battle with card kits!

Judy is our hostess this month for Team Divas and she sent us this lovely kit and image showcasing Love! :)

In Judy's words: It’s February and your Dueling Darling hostess’s Paola for the Dazzlers and Judy for the Divas have chosen this theme of love based on the Bible verses from Corinthians 13: 4,7,13 ~  “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud….It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres… And now these three remain:  faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.” (NIV)  There is so much about love to celebrate in February besides the forever traditional day of love, 

Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14th. 

 For my card, I actually kept it pretty simple and let image be the main focal point :) This was actually one of the first SU stamp sets I bought!  I adored the sketch look to it and yet I think it's seen ink maybe twice! 

 I even considered leaving the image uncolored and untouched at first but it didn't look quite right ;)  So  ... I colored it very lightly instead to have a muted look, almost a soft water color without the watercolors, LOL! 

And how I love the inside of this card, too - it's using my treasured PSX stamp  "Near the sea we forget to count the days."  I hunted high and low for this stamp years ago after seeing it in a magazine not realizing PSX had gone out of business!  I've had it for many years now and love when it gets to come out and play ~ it felt perfect for this image!

 Thanks Judy and Paola for a fabulous theme this month:)

The second part of our challenge is this:

With this theme in mind we would like you to sow the seeds of love and kindness you have received in your life.  You are challenged to pay it forward by performing a kind gesture and doing it anonymously!  The week of  the 10th – 16th may be the perfect opportunity for you to do this.

One of the joys of living a life of faith is knowing that the christian walk is filled with intentional acts of kindness.  Nearly every day, I strive to teach my children, and myself, to share the love of Christ with others and to make intentional, purposeful decisions to show the Grace of God through actions and words.  I'm such a proud mommy to know how much my children have come to love God.  Being saved, and know how much Jesus has done for us, what a small price it is to do something that means the world to someone else when it seems like it's nothing at all.  Smile today!  You may never know that your smile, a gesture, a kind word, or the prayer you can share with someone else could make all the difference to them.

May God bless you so richly today :)

Please be sure to stop in at the rest of the DT blogs off to my right and see what the rest of the Divas did with this matching card kit and the Dazzlers with theirs! 

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings,

~Kelly

I'm filling in for Cupid!

Happy Wednesday!!  

Wednesdays are always fun days at Bugaboo stamps!

Did you know that February 15th is Singles Awareness Day?  LOL!

Among many of the challenges Bugaboo has, this one is 

Humor Me Wednesday using of my very favorites, Stella!

For today's card, I've used "Stella - I'm filling in for Cupid" and it just cracked me up when I saw it!  

Singles Awareness Day!  Hee hee!

I created my card based on this week's Stella Says Sketch #130, too!

 Here's the awesome sketch: 

This card has lots and lots of layers!
 I gave it a pop of blue for a small splash of extra color.

The inside of the card - sentiment also from Bugaboo with the Stella "I'm Filling in for Cupid"

Of course, we'd love to see what you create with the challenges this week!

If you want to use the sketch challenge, please enter your card here!

To see more DT inspiration and see the designers creations this week, take a peek here :)

You can find Stella and many more funny digis in the shop here!

And I'm wishing you the VERY happiest, most blessed Valentines Day!

From my heart to yours, much love!

Big hugs,

Bigger blessings!
~Kelly

Going to the dogs!

We live on a funny street.  We are blessed to have lots of dogs in our neighborhood and I know most of them by name.  I see them on my daily walks as I'm being pulled by with Buddy and Buster, which is quite a scene for the neighbors, I'm sure :)  We meet all the puppies at the fences and there is lots of tail waggin' and excited barking always going on.

But their names are hilarious!  Next door to us, we have Brownie - a young English bulldog.  Across the street is Bubblegum.  And Twinkie lives 2 doors down.  I laugh and think "where their owners hungry when they named them?!"  *Smile!*

But I digress!  Today is actually Mystery Image reveal for the SCS Mystery swappers.  This month, our hostess is Linda and she gave us this fantastic image called "Tail Wagger" from Stampotique.  Isn't it the cutest!  This is my first time coloring up a Stampotique (and first time hearing of them, too!)  Lucky girls, we are!

 

My card is a bit 'off-color' for a puppy card, I realize.  But I'm working with 
super limited supplies as most of all of it is still .......... in boxes!  My front living room currently looks like I'm waiting on a U-Haul truck to arrive O~o

The sentiment on the inside is one I have had from my treasured Elzybells collection, which will be the LAST of my stamps to go, should they ever - how I cherish them!  It was a perfect match so inside the card it went :)

Thank you, Linda!  This image was a joy to craft with this month!

Big tail wags to all of you,

and Blessings!

~Kelly

Hit the books!

Our oldest daughter is venturing off to college this summer, hoping to get a jump start on her studies and acclimating herself with college life.  We have spent a lot of time, and prayer, with her as she filled out the applications like a child with a Christmas list for Santa :)

Thanks to my husband's foresight to pre-pay our children's colleges at birth, we knew she would stay somewhere in Florida.  Unless, of course, she scholarships to any of the out of state Ivy League schools all her friends are clamouring for :)   Praise be to God, she received her 2nd acceptance letter to both of her top 2 choices just on the heals of yet another 'Dear John' letters from the others.  Even though they weren't her top choices, those letters are never nice to receive and I knew it was heavy on her heart.

So what's a momma to do?  Plan a field trip!  She had a day off of school last week and we planned a "mommy and me" playdate.   I asked her to locate the school on her GPS, hopped into the car (as a passenger, yes ma'am, I could get us to this!) and she found the campus spot on.  We took the morning to wander leisurely through the vast campus, walk through the hospital, visit the 'hot spots', and of course, one of the book stores.  It was the size of a mall!  

I looked around and told her with a campus this size, and this energetic, you'll have to hit the books - at home! 

I could tell in her eyes she felt 'home'.  At one point, I stopped walking with her and slowly walked off to the side.  There was a smile peeking out from the  normally neutral and unabashed look on her face.  From the smiles and waves she received from other students, I could tell she knew - this is it.  We had a wonderful lunch on the lawn by one of the lakes, laughing and having a good time.  

I'm so proud of her :)

In my Operation-Pack-Up-the-Cabana, I've stumbled up on all kinds of fun things I forgot I had found laying around :*)  Like this image!  Pre-colored and all!  I have been in several image swaps in the past few years and can't remember where this came from or who the maker is, but it was a just too cute not to make a card with :)  Since I had previously colored it, I used papers that would be a good match.  And as you might have noticed from my rounded cards lately, yes, I found my corner round punch, too!  Hee hee!

And twine.  I feel very lucky that my kids get a kick out of a 'special mommy card' so I just had to make this for my daughter.  Her favorite color is purple, unlike her mother! ;)  I'm also back on my twine kick again ~ saw it, loved it, had to have it, bought it in every color, then it just sat.  It's nice that it gets to come out and play again!

I pray you have a safe and warm weekend ~ some of the news footage we see of the storm heading East has been frightening.  Stay safe!

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings!

~Kelly

Entered into:  Addicted to Stamps: Make your mark!
Oozak:  Favorite Color Combo (daughters!)
365 cards - Girly

Crabby Cathy .... needs Coffee! :)

Hee hee!  How 'bout a little humor to start the day! 

 Hopefully it will be WITH coffee! :)

Today's Catch the Bug Challenge is Humor Me Wednesday and I'm crabby!  Well .. Crabby Cathy anyway :)  Isn't she a hoot!  

And did you know that February 9th is "Be Nasty Day?"  ROFL!  What a riot ~ okay, we don't really want you to be nasty ... but maybe a little crabby would be okay *wink!* :)

I'm having a good time thus far as a Guest Designer at Bugaboo!

  We'd love to see your creations, too, of course ~ 

You can find the list of challenges here and of course, the month long Anything Goes Challenge here! :)

 Lots to see and do at Bugaboo!

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings!

~Kelly

Crafts and Me - Favorite Color Combo (green, brown)

Happy (Non-Traditional) Valentines!

Hi there!

Don't you just love a challenge that makes you think outside the box?  One that 'breaks' tradition and allows for creative freedom?  I do! :)

So for this bi-weekly Riley and Company challenge, I tossed down just this challenge!  I'm the hostess this round and would love to see your cards celebrating this beautiful month of love with a little exception - no reds, no pinks!  That's right - bring on your blues, grab your greens, put on some purple - just to name a few!   

*Our challenge this week:  Show some Love!  Make a Valentines/Love card using non-traditional colors.*

For my card, I went with a simple Funny Bones sentiment "Life is short".  Honestly, it just speaks volumes and I really wanted it to be the focal point of this card :)  I left the inside blank as well since I already know where this is heading and plan to write a special message inside :)  

Be sure to link up your cards here on the Riley and Company blog.  If you use a gallery, please use the keyword Riley0313.   Check out what the DT have created as well ~ you can find them on my sidebar!  

I'll be around to see you soon!  I'm a bit behind in blogging and visits as I'm currently undergoing Operation Pack-up-the-craftroom and it's quite a feat!  Who knew how much stuff a person could amass in 5-ish years of crafting :)
Happy Stamping!

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings,

~Kelly

There's *Music* in the Forest :)

Happy SONday! :) 

Today's card is for a music card swap hosted by my funny, fiesty and faith-ful friend Jeanette, whom I met on SCS probably around the time I joined up (at least I think that's when it was - cuz I'm gettin' old!)  

She hosts the coolest swap dubbed her "Forest Swaps" in which there is always a new theme each time.  This time around, it was a musical swap!  Due to time constraints, I've missed quite a few of them but since I have a musical trio of daughters, I thought I should join up!  They are the chattiest bunch of women ever to exist, I tell ya - can't get a word in edgewise 'cuz by the time you find the swap and go to post, you're already 10 pages behind, ROFL!!!  I jest, I jest .... but no. Seriously. They are chatty! :)~

For me, I get so excited to be in a Forest swap - not just for the laughs and awesomely creative talent, but it gives me the chance to connect with Jeanette in a busy world  :)  I adore her and consider her one of my bestest, sweetest online friends.   I know that she knows a lot about me - and loves me anyway, faults and all :)  She has been a rock when she may not have even known she was.  When my husband fell ill with an unexpected, shocking and heart-breaking illness, I wandered through the days of his critical hospitalization praying.  She never faltered in texting and asking for an update, not just for her, but passing it on to our friends in common for further prayer.  I remember calling her, sobbing and and clearly not making any sense, and she sat quietly by, I'm sure nodding her head and just let me babble on.   Thank you, Jeanette, for your musical friendship, colorful humor and your faithful presence in a world where that can be quite rare :)

I am grateful.  I am humbled.  I am blessed.

Love you, my friend!

*** wiping a teary eye *** Back to my card!  I went with a funky combination of plum, soft yellow and baby blue!   In order to fully grasp use of a new paper pack (a splurge compliments of my mom - woot, thanks Mom for the Joann's GC!)  It has beautiful pages and pages filled with flowers and I found some that I paired together and loved - these colors you see!  Not sure they are the most "musical" but they went with the idea I had in my head ~ to use up my very old TGF guitar Anya and ...... drumroll ....... this ancient set of stamps from SU - Office Accoutrement.  I knew I wanted to use a big accent flower and went through my stacks of SU stamps and saw this and it felt right!  I stamped it up in SU Lovely Lilac to keep it in the same color family, too :)

And that's my musical card! :)

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings!

~Kelly

Bugaboo's "Hey Foxy!"

T.G.I.F! ~ Happy Friday!

  I am very excited the weekend is here ...  

and even more excited that today is the first day of my Guest DT spot for Bugaboo, one of my all-time favorite companies!

Introducing.... Foxy!

Today's card is using this adorable Valentine Fox digi ~ perfect for showing someone you love them :) 

I paired the sweet little friend with some heart papers, cranberry and red colors and these adorable heart buttons I found in the craft aisle at Target :/

 Have you seen the weekly challenges at Catch the Bug?  Be sure to stop by ~ there is always something fun happening there!  And, of course, we'd love for you to play along - you can link up your card creations, too :)

And Friday also means ........ freebie digi day!  Jodi, owner at Bugaboo, is such a sweet and generous lady - each Friday there is a new and oh-so-adorable image to scoop up ~ take a peek ~ in addition to all the wonders you can find in the Bugaboo shop.  You will be enamored! :)

Thanks bunches for stopping by today!

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings!

~Kelly

Entered into:  Hiding in my Craft Room - Valentines
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Hearts/Love
The Cupboard Trilogy - Sprinklying of Red
The Stamp Spot - Valentines