It's picnic time! :-)

It's Fall, it's Fall!

The weather is just absolutely beautiful here,
a nice contrast from our scorching hot, humid summers  :)

I was driving my son to his Boy Scout pack meeting
the other night and just couldn't get enough of the lovely night.
 The sun was just setting, creating a
kaleidoscope of colors, a most gorgeous Indian summer eve ♥
We had the windows down and a faint, familiar smell waifed in through the open
windows and I could tell his curiousity was peeked.

In the distance, somewhere out wherever, we could smell
smoke and fire drifting on the wind, probably miles and miles away
from burning piles of leaves and brush.
Oh, that smell!
It's such a *Fall* smell - burning leaves ~ it's pure bliss ♥

It's time to be outdoors, every day, all day!
It's the perfect weather for nature walks,
biking, playing in the park, and having a lovely little picnics!

It's my day to post on the Just For Fun Rubber Stamps inspiration blog :)
I was inspired by one of my creations from some time ago
to create a little picnic basket w/ a set of notecards
and tried my hand at another one :)

I made this picnic basket out of cardstock, brads and tombo -
super easy!
It stands upright to hold notecards,
perfect for a teacher's desk, office or church colleague!
I made simple notecards to go inside
w/ space to write a quick message - even easier!

Here is a list of the stamps I used to create this set:

To create the cards for the basket:
Stamptangle Fancy Pear,
Stamptangle Macintosh apple,
Let's talk sentiment, and
We're a perfect pair sentiment.
On the front is the sideview butterfly (what' a picnic without bugs!)
I stamped it twice and
then propped up with 3d foam dots
and topped off with a little piece of twine!

All these gorgeous, deeply etched fine rubber stamps are
all available in the shop.
You can also find us on Facebook and 'like' us there
for more inspiration and trunk shows and more!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Be safe out there this weekend
and enjoy the festivities if you celebrate Harvest/Halloween :)

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

Riley and Company + Calendar Girls = 1 card, 2 challenges!

                                         Hello friends!

 

Do you remember playing with Spirograph as a young child?

Me, too!

It kept my brother and I busy for hours playing with it,

creating intricate designs and zig-zag pictures in a variety of colors.

I was so nostalgic when I saw the TLC Spirelli challenge on SCS

 and just knew I had to play along ♥

 

My finished card is actually a two-fer ....

The Calendar Girls and Riley and Company built into one!

 

Barb is the hostess for our Calendar Girls this month

and challenged us to make a card using Black and only one other color

(white in the image base was acceptable!)

and ....
Kerin is the hostess for the new Riley and Company Challenge this week,
which is create a pink monotone card in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness.

So in order to create this card,
I chose pink as the color to work with and nestled the Funnybones
sentiment into the Spirelli inspired floret.
(you can find the tutorial on SCS here:)
The sentiment really resonates that any battle,
especially one with a life changing diagnosis of cancer,
takes courage.

Here is my finished card, inside and out -
 

 



 

Here's the wonderful beginning to the Spirelli technique ~
embroidery twine and a scallop edge.

 

The finished floret!



 Isn't this a fun technique!

I know I'll be using this again and again :)

 

Please be sure to check out the Riley and Company DT creations -

you can find them listed in my sidebar!

Also, if you want to upload your card to play along to a gallery,

please use the keyword Riley2214.

 

And of course stop on over and see what my Calendar Girl sisters

 have created, too!

 

That's it for me!

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!

~Kelly

 

Pumpkins everywhere!

I love this time of year! 

 Pumpkins are bountiful and at every corner,
there's a pumpkin something :)

Now I'm in love with Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Pumpkin stew, pumpkin bread,
 pumpkin cheesecake and so much more!
I love the flavors and scents of Fall ♥
We're picking up our pumpkins for carving from the patch today ~
a little late in the season for us but we just ran out of time.

This week, the Cornish Heritage Farms girls have a new challenge ~
Maureen is our hostess and asked us to create anything with a pumpkin.
Today's creation is a card.
I adore this image of this sweet little boy carrying the pumpkin from
grandma and grandpa's farm ...
at least that's how I imagine him!

And the inside of the card:

Want to play along???

If you would like to play along with us of course we would love to have you!

To play create a card using CHF images. You can use either CHF digi or rubber stamps to create a card or project.... anything you like as long as the stamps are Cornish Heritage Farms. (Yes, they can be older stamps).

Once you have created your card/project come back here and use inlinkz to link to your card/project so that we can see what you created. If you upload your card/project to Splitcoast Stampers please use the keyword CHF64. We can't wait to see what you create!

Don't forget to check the Cornish Heritage Farms Design Team's cards on their blogs!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Big Hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

Happy Autumn ♥

Good Morning, friends!

  Happy Friday and Happy Autumn!

 

This is such a wonderful time of year,

the promise of all the gorgeous Fall activities ahead!

There is something so incredible soul-searching about

the crisp new nip in the air, the leaves changing their colors

and all the smells of pumpkin and spice - yum!

It makes me want to bake like crazy!

 

Today's card is using a lovely stamp from Just For Fun stamps

called Corn Husk Swag. 

I've paired it with some Crate Paper paper I've had for

ages and pull out every Autumn, it seems!

Colored with my prismacolor markers and adored a little with ...

 

buttons! ♥

 

 

The inside is using a "thinking of you" sentiment from the

UM Words Set and completes this card ~

Perfect for a little gift giving or just to show you care.

 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Tonight is Homecoming for my Senior-year

and the hair and make up soon begins :)

 

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

I'll enter this into:  Stamping Sensations: Warm Autumn Colors
My Sheri Crafts - Autumn Abundance
Docerela - Fall Colors
 

DDD: Eat, Drink and Be Scary!

 

Booooooo! 

Did I scare you?

 I'm sure I didn't since this sweet little witch is just too cute too spook!

 Even with her green hair! :)

 

Today is the the day the DDD group post our cards! Yay!

I'm using a card kit sent from the Divas' hostess, Laurajean
and the Dazzlers have a kit from Terry.

Their super fun theme this month is:
  Eat, Drink and Be Scary!

LJ's kit was quintessentially Halloween and oh so fun ♥
I colored up the cute witch from MFT {Birdie Brown, Witch Way is the Candy?}
with prismacolor markers and added buttons -
I love buttons!!
My eyes zeroed right in on those when I saw LJ's kit :)
I added them haphazardly around the image so it would remain the focal point
and followed the fabulous sketch from TMS {see below} to complete the look!

So here's my card, inside and out!
I'm really tickled with how it turned out ♥

 

Part 2 of this challenge was to talk about our favorite H'ween candy
when we went Trick or Treating, if we did.
I remember mentioned that when we lived in Europe, the custom didn't exist.
We found that out the hard way, lol!
But here in the US, we went T or Ting on military bases where
'back in the day' everyone knew everyone and life was simple and good.
None of this craziness you see now :(
My very, very, very favorite candy to receive while out was
to see a honest to goodness, freshly made Candy Apple hit my sack!
Oh me oh my, those were the good 'ol days!

Thank you LJ and Terry for the Hallo-scream fun
for this month!
Only 15 more days 'til Halloween!!

Card entered into:  TMS #221 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Please be sure to visit my other DDD gal pals -

you can find them in my sidebar :)

 

Big Hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

Shiver Me Timbers!

 

Sail ho! Avast ye! 

 If ye be looking for some mighty fine fun and costume party attire for Halloween then ye've come to the right starboard blog, mate! 

 

Shiver me timbers!

Did you know September 19 was "Talk like a Pirate Day"?

Arrrrrrrrrrrrr! ♥

Imagine walking around all day being pirates? LOL!

 

It's also time for Riley and Company's brand new challenge for the week
 - Halloween -
 and it's brought to us by Joy.

Not a huge fan of Halloween, but when you have kids, it's par for the course
that Harvest fun is going to sneak in :)
I do get a kick out of seeing the kids pick or make a costume
 and go Trick or Treating.   I LOVE passing out the candies and seeing all the little costumes coming up to the door!

 

So, I went the non-traditional Halloween route w/ my card -

after all, dressing up in costume is (mostly!) for Halloween :)

This is Captain Hook Riley, paired with one of the newer FunnyBones sentiments.

I think this paper is a really old SU! stack - it fit :)

The inside of the card has bones as well.

 

 

Yarrrrr!  Me hearties, be sure to add yer cards to thee challenge blog.

Yo-ho-ho!

Ye can find it right here!

 

Oh! And if you want to link it to a gallery like SCS,

please use the keyword Riley2114!

 

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

 

 I'll enter this into:  My Craft Spot - Too Cute to Spook

 SFC220 - For a Man or Boy

Scrappyhands - Use 3 (sequins)

 

Well ... butter my buns!

 

 Hi friends!

I am jumping for joy - It's Friday AND we have internet!  WOOT WOOT!

 

That was a rough 5 days!

Nothing like a Friday funny to cheer us up, right?!

 

I'm in a wonderful blog group of ladies that share a monthly mystery image.

It's sent at the first of the month and we all create a card

and send it back to the hostess that sent the image.

Super fun!

This month, Jo, sent us this High Hopes Party cow.

I call her Buttermilk but her colorful spots tell me she's more

of a party girl than she lets on *smile!*

When our first daughter was born, we had a sweet little Dalmation.

She was born around the same time as my daughter and

they were raised together ♥

She had the sweetest temperament and reminded me so much

of Nana from Peter Pan ~ always watching the kids (that we kept having, lol)

and took her job as "baby watcher" VERY seriously!

She wasn't one to play.

 

They would toss her a ball.  Or Frisbee.

And there she would sit in the lawn.

Looking at said ball.  Or Frisbee.

I could always see the bubble caption over her head and

laugh even now at remembering it!

 

"You want me.  To get up.  And go fetch?

Uh no.  But thanks."

 

She was a good sport - nonetheless!

One day I came out in the backyard and found the kids had

'repainted' all her spots ....

from black and white to all the colors of the rainbow.

The poor dog just sat there, looking miserable as all get up!

 But my did she look pretty in shades of magenta and buttercup and ocean blue!

I had a lot of fun with this card design - I have an obsession with banners,
as you can see from all my cards lately!
And burlap.
And buttons.
Maybe I have an obsession with all things crafty with B's! :)
 

I wish you all a wonderful weekend!

Tomorrow my brand new Cub Scout son is attending a Boy Scout

Family Fun day jamboree and I'm hoping it will be all the fun

he dreams it will be - bow and arrows, bb guns, oh the joys for boys!

 

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

 

 



COF ~ Kind Hearts ♥

 

Hi friends! 

 

Today is the day that the COF (Carriers of Faith) post our cards

reflecting a theme that the hostess has chosen. 

 This month, Shelly has chosen a theme of forgiveness,

and these are her words for us:

 

We had a priest come to a prayer group one evening, and he said in confessions the number one comment people make is how they struggle with Forgiveness. I am one who struggles with that as well, so I choose that as my topic for October and our final month together.

"Therefore I tell you, all you ask for in prayer , believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive your transgressions." Mark 11:24-25
So make a card- tell someone you have trouble forgiving that you love them and send it off in the  mail to them! 
 

Well, I'm pretty sure I failed at this challenge as

I didn't have any stamps that really fit the theme.

I remembered one of my very favorite stamps from ODBD

that beautifully talks of kindness.

And in Ephesians 4:32 it tells us ...
 

 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

 as God in Christ forgave you.

 

I do think sharing kind words, doing acts of kindness for people

and wonderful services for those in need make this world

such an incredibly more beautiful place.

It takes but a second sometimes to do so,

and sometimes we are just too rushed, too busy, too distracted ...

I really feel that time is the one thing that can often be unforgiving.
I know that's way off topic, and another post altogether :)
But in this hustle and bustle world, and in our family alone,
we are just so incredibly busy with so much to do.
I hear so often "enjoy it while you can!  They grow so fast!" and we do!

It's not easy.
It's not always fun.
It's not always forgiving ~
but through the grace of all that God gives us, asks of us,
truly praying for others and letting go of anything weighing down the soul
is a beautiful gift you can give yourself and others :)

Sadly, this will be my last COF post - for all the reasons above,
time hasn't been in my favor for 'online' life.
The group of ladies have meant the world to me
and I'm grateful for the time we have spent together -
thank you so much for being women of faith and women of my heart!
I ♥ you all :)

Thanks for stopping by today!
Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly
 

 

 I'll enter this into:  ODBD:  Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - AGhttp://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/

Favorite childhood story - CHF

Hi friends!

We are still w/out internet and awaiting the big reveal of what the troubles could be.  Crossing fingers (and toes) that whatever it is, it's manageable!  Posting from the iPhone is no bueno :)

Today is my turn to post on the Cornish Heritage Farms challenge blog and I chose the theme of favorite childhood book.  This quote from the book stole my heart as a little girl and still makes me smile today ❤️

"Real isn't how you are made, It's a thing that happens to you.
When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with,
 but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
- Skin Horse, The Velveteen Rabbit

I loved the book The Velveteen Rabbit growing up and in turn read it to my children as well. While it has it's sad moments, it brought to mind that sometimes the unexpected brings us full circle. I used to think the Nursery Fairy visited while I was away and all my treasured dollies and stuffed animals would come to life! 

My card reflects the rabbit from the story, using a digi Bunny profile and adding it to festive colored papers in both the garden colors and of the fairy pinks :)

 

For the inside of my card, I used a piece of notebook paper

which was also reminiscent of school days :)

 

Please be sure to hop on over to the CHF blog to see what

the teamies have created with this theme

and enter your cards with your CHF stamps and digis.

If you upload to a gallery, please use the keyword CHF63!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

Orange Pumpkins ...

My 4 children are huge supporters and fans of my work ♥

 

Now, by work, I mean the 'mommy's cards' that grace their walls and bookshelves. 

 Birthdays, Christmas, all the major card exchange days, they give me the biggest smiles, kindest words and best hugs when they carefully open up an envelope and see a card tailored for them.

 

It warms my heart and soul :)

 

My son, newly 10 years old, is as naturally funny as he is sweet.

His off-the-cuff one liners have me often wondering where he gets his sense of humor from but we sure love him for it.

 

Like when I was making this card .... 

I'm up to my elbows in acrylic paint, swatch of leftover screen from the patio
(yup, screen!)
 and paper that won't stay still no matter how many strips of painters tape I have on it.

 

"Hey mommy, watcha doing?" he asked,

in between dropping more sandwich crumbs on the floor than on his shirt. 

 

"Oh, making a card, babe. Pumpkins!  Orange pumpkins.

Would you like to see?"  I ask.

 

"Sure", he replies. "But what's the screen for?"

 

Insert his sideway, sly-smile look, deciphered immediately because I have that "mom code" for all sideways, sly smile glances: 

{Oh, does DAD know you have that screen!}

{Can I have one, too!}

{That could be my new ................}

 

"Well, that's for giving the paper some background", I quickly averted interjected.

  See, I lay it down and then paint all through-out the screen

and when it blends through, you get a neat little random design of orange paint.

It makes a great backdrop for the card I'm making."

 

He looks at the card, then at me, then back at the card again.

He doesn't need to speak.

I can see those invisible gears clicking around in his head,

his thoughts formulating before they are even spoken.

I know my son :)

 

"Wow.  Cool.  But .... if you wanted to paint the paper orange,

why didn't you just ......... paint the paper orange."

Touche'.

 

Now the artist in me wants to jump up and down!

Yes!

You're right!

But look! 
See the incredible dimension, the shape, the feel of the card!

The texture it gives, the ridges, all the nooks and crannies!

 

My sweet boy.

 My sweet, sweet boy.

He looks at my painted ridged bumpy shapely touchy feely orange background,

then looks up at me with those blue, blue eyes of wonder and sweetness ....

 

and tells me ...

 

"It kinda looks like Iowa."

O-kay then! 
 Today's my turn to post on the Just For Fun Rubber Stamps Challenge blog.
For my card today,  I used the gorgeous stamptangle (zentangle stamps) Large Pumpkin.

In our house, the pumpkins come out in all shapes starting in the Fall
and end up in everything from pies to coffee to scented candles!
Like that funny cartoon you see every fall -
Beware!  Pumpkin flavored everything is coming!

And I'm sure they have pumpkins in Iowa, too :)

Pretty cool screen AND it's a great crafting tool! :)

 

 

You can find these stamps - both the Large Pumpkin

and the sentiment stamp (lots of holiday words in this set!)

in the Just For Fun Stamps store here.

 

Thanks for stopping by today!
Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly