Year in Review - 2015!

Hi friends!

It's hard to believe in just a few more hours, it will be 2016!

Looking back at my card year in review,

it sure was slim pickins :/

Last year was definitely my least crafty blogging year.

While I did make more cards than I was able to share here,

the rush-around from each day left little time to

photograph/edit/blog them all!

One thing I cherish from last year's review is knowing that my cards posted

are not necessarily the ones I liked the best.

They are not my best card creations.

They are the cards that hugged my heart ♥

This review are the smiles and warm fuzzies 

from groups of friends that I've been crafting with for years!

It's the formulations of new card groups and brand new friends ...

It's playing with images from unheard of companies that were new to me,

it's the inking up of stamps that have been in my collection 

and never seen ink, up until now ....

it's all the wonderful things that bring us to this fabulous crafty world!
 

January

 February 

March

 April 

 

May

June 

July 

August 

September 

October

 November 

December

2015 has seen the closing up my huge craft Cabana

and moving all that I decided to keep to a tiny little corner,

crafting on an even tinier little wooden desk.

But when you love something, you find a way ♥

So from the tiny little space that I call my own, 

I can't imagine what 2016 but I'm sure excited to find out!

Thanks for stopping by and 

have a safe, blessed New Year!

Big hugs, Bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly

*Big MOOSE - I mean, NEWS!*

2016 is bringing exciting changes to Riley & Company!

As of January 1st,  "Head Moose" Tanya, owner of Riley & Company, home of the Funny Bones, Inspirations and Riley the Moose stamp lines, will be moving to a new umbrella site called The Ink Spot.

 

But wait! There's more! :)

 The Ink Spot home will also be home the Cornish Heritage Farms 

line of stamps, including the popolar Thomas Kinkade series

. PLUS, a fabulous new addition to the line up will be

the Prickly Pear Rubber Stamps. 

The Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps store will be back up on January 1st

 (and accepting orders), but until then you can check out the Facebook Page (don’t forget to like it!!) and the Blog.

With this change, the Riley & Company blog has been transformed into a terrific comprehensive site that includes samples for all of our lines; Riley & Company, Funny Bones, Inspirations, Cornish Heritage Farms, Thomas Kincade 

and the new Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps. 

It’s still a work in progress, but please go take a look.

Not only will you find tutorials on how to color Riley and how to color 

Thomas Kinkade, you will be able to check out why Prickley Pear is so innovative, find the products that work best with the Inspirations line and learn about digital images too. 

There will be TONS of card samples, challenges, games and more. 

All on one great stamping site!

Also being introduced on The Ink Spot this year is a new Stampers Club kit. 

 This kit will contain 7 stamps (comprised of a combination of Funny Bones, Inspirations and Riley), 4 collector design cards with photos and instructions and an exclusive Tickle My Funny Bones monthly button.

Subscribers will find the Tickle My Funny Bones Stamp Kit automatically ships out on the 15th of every month. You can click this link to sign up. Time is running out to sign up for the very first kit. Note, shipping outside of the USA will have additional shipping fees.

Club Members will be privy to a super secret Facebook page where they can find more designs to make with stamps in the kit. Members can also interact with the Design Team and share ideas with each other.

The Tickle My Funny Bone button that comes with each kit can be used in special random contests to win free product (or perhaps discounts??). The buttons will never be for sale and only Club Members can get them.

Kits are sold by subscription only and a minimum of three months is required. Your credit card or Paypal account will be charged when you sign up and then every 30 days afterward. Customers are responsible for cancelling after three months, if desired (but why would you want to?). Every 12 months of membership, you will receive a FREE special thank you kit.

So, head on over to The Ink Spot and take a look around!. Then, swing by the Card Club site and make sure you’re signed up for the fun.

Here's to an incredible, fun 2016!

~Kelly

Merry Christmas, 2015!

Good Morning, friends!

A few more sleeps and Santa will be here!  :) 

Just a few more batches of cookies to make here and I'll finally be ready.

Today, after a round of dental appointments,

 we are making homemade bird seed ornaments as the kids

wanted to hang them to the trees outside 

for all our feathered friends that visit the yard ♥

I have two words on the top of my holiday wish list:

sleep and relaxing! ♥

If I could just stay still, I'd be a happy mama!

This week's Inspiration Challenge at Riley and Company Stamps

is celebrating Christmas.

I've kept this one simple, coloring Riley with prismacolor markers,

stickles for the star and using up basket scraps for the design.

I have to resnap a picture of the inside of the card

and post it, too! 

Wishing you all a wonderful, warm and blessed Christmas celebration

with your families and friends!

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly 

3 Musketeers - Flakey Friends!

Hi friends! 
 Today's card is for the 3 Musketeers monthly post :)

 If you are one of my newer blog readers, 

the 3 Musketeers are Jeanette, Barb and I ...

a group  created by Jeanette 

and I am so gracious that she invited me

to be a part of this monthly image exchange ♥

In short, the 3M is where we take turns sending a random image

to each other, then make a card based on that stamped image,

using whatever cardstock, papers and embellishments we have on hand,

and then post on the 9th of every month. 

This month, Barb was our hostess and ... hmmmm....
 I do wonder why Barb sent us this image ...

Flakey Friends?

Whatcha tryna say, Barb!!

LOL!

Actually, Barb LOVES her some Whipper Snapper stamps!

Her collection is probably bigger than the WS store :)

And, as you can see, I either can't count days or I'm really late!

Truth be told, I got permission from Barb :)

I did text her and tell her my DT card blocked that day 

but my Flakey Friends card was done and I'd post on Sunday.

Thank you, Barb!

Here is my colorful and cheerful take on the Flakey Friends image,

 inside and out. I just absolutely adore this image!

I think this is my favorite holiday card of the year ♥

I adore the snow and miss it terribly.

Being in Miami, we don't even experience the sensation of winter,

let alone have my beloved snow!

So making snow, snowmen and winter cards are among my very faves.

 

I hope Barb and Jeanette like my take on being Flakey Flakey Friends!

Be sure to stop in and see what they've made with this same image,

though Jeanette is super flakey {tee hee!} currently moving 

and will have her card up shortly! 

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

May the *Moose* be with you!

Hee hee! 

Happy almost weekend! 

What a wild week this has been so far,

and an even more hectic weekend we're heading into .......

 but such is life in the busy Santi family :)

Today's card is for this week's Inspiration challenge

at Riley and Company Stamps.

Our challenge this week is brought to us by Frances,

and in her words:

Today is National Brownie Day,

so for our challenge this week include something on your card

that relates to the a Brownie

(this could include: the color brown; chocolate image or sentiment; cupcakes etc)

  How fun is that! 

Brown is one of the most earthy, natural and beautiful colors to work with ...

and based on how fast I fly through a stack of SU! Chocolate Chip,

I should probably order in bulk!  LOL :)

I actually had a completely different card made for this challenge,

which I will save and share at another time.

Reason being ...

I had an inspiration moment at 2 am!

Star Wars is about to hit theaters!

I'm seeing crazy things in the news.

My daughter works at a popular restaurant which isn't far from a movie theater,

and a few days ago, the lines started with people in tents, coolers, etc!

UNREAL!

Hence, the inspiration for my card is Darth Vadermoose!

Isn't he a riot!

And, being a coffee {starbucks!} fanatic,

I just HAD to pair it with this hilarious funnybones "Good or Evil" ~

and the rest of the card is my usual layers, inside décor and some dots ♥

And that's it for this card! :) 

Most of you know I always decorate the inside of my cards as well,

including this one :)

But since the sentiment was on the front as well as the image,

the inside is just matching paper and cardstock ♥ 

 Here's a closer look:

 Be sure to stop in and see what the Riley and Company DT has created

with this inspiration challenge!

Big hugs, Bigger blessings!
~Kelly

I'll share my card over at Inspiration Destinations,

Crafting by Designs, and Crafty Gals Corner!

From T-giving to Christmas!

And it's here ......... holiday season! 

We managed to get through Thanksgiving with wonderful memories,

good food and family and visitors.

Now here we are - Christmas!

Our tree is up, the house is fully decorated inside and out,

and the Christmas baking, wrapping, planning, etc is under full swing.

 

This hilarious birdbrain,

 rushing about dropping things as he goes,

 is literally ME!  

In fact, this card challenge at

From the Heart Stamps closes in about an hour - 

talk about 'last minute rush!'

For the first time ever, I actually completed a card while sitting in a 

school auditorium.  I only got a few odd looks ~ overall, it was a success - LOL!

Following the weekly sketch #129, and flipping it sideways, 

 I quickly put together this card 

using the stamp of the month "Deck the Halls".

I hope to catch up and will be by your blogs very soon :)

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His loving kindness is everlasting ~
1 Chronicles 16:34

Happy day, friends!

In just a few more days, it will be Thanksgiving ♥

We have so much to be grateful for and our blessings far outnumber our troubles.

I'm so looking forward to cooking, having the kids all home for wonderful meals,

family time, no work, and holiday decorating!

(and if I'm lucky - craft time!) :)

Today is a new Inspirations challenge from the Riley and Company Design Team -

with a theme of Thanksgiving!

This is one of the two cards I made,

and will showcase this one today, one in which we can all probably relate!

Using Retro Folks "Walter" and a new Funnybones "Thanksgiving AKA"

here is my card for today's post:

Thank you for stopping by! 

I wish you all a blessed, safe and lovely Thanksgiving holiday!

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

RIley and Co ~ New Stamp release continues!

Hi friends!

By now, you've seen many of the new stamps being released this week

 by Riley and Company Stamps, 

as well as wonderful inspirations in card forms!

Here are two more from the new release - available today!

 

  

 I hope you've enjoyed the new stamp release!

Each one gets funnier and funnier :)

Make sure to head over to the Inspiration Blog

for more of the DT card samples ~

you can find it here!

 Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

Riley and Company - New stamp release Day 3!

Hi friends! 

 Happy Veteran's Day!

Having grown up in a military family,

this day brings a special meaning to us.

I am so grateful to all the men and women that have served our country

and it's a blessing, and a privilege, to honor them today.

My son's Boy Scout troop will be in a parade today,

as well as being the Color Guard for an veterans group today -

paying it forward ♥

It's also Day 3 of the new Riley and Company Stamp release -

as you may have read in the previous posts,

 all stamps will be available this Friday, November 13th!

 

Today's card is super CAS for me!  

I decided to let the image be the focal point and just added a few

scraps of paper and enamel dots to give it some extra dimension.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Big Hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

Riley and Company - New Stamp Release Day 2!

Happy Tuesday!

A quick post to show you another new stamp

 being released from Riley and Company ~

available in the store this Friday, November 13th!

17 new FunnyBones stamps and 9 Inspirations stamps

 will make their way to the store to join the incredible selection of stamps.

Today's card is using one of the new FunnyBones ~ Horrible idea! Hee Hee!!

I can think of like 4 friends that would LOVE this! ♥

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

Riley and Company - New Stamp Release! :)

Good Morning, friends!!  

First, thank you SO MUCH for the sweet words on my son's card! 

He was super embarrassed, turned a few shades of red, but said "thank you to all the nice people!"

So, thank you Nice People! :)

I can't believe it's already Monday!!

This weekend was action packed and over so quickly

We spent the weekend camping in the Everglades

 with our little guy and his Boy Scout troop :)

Now, I am so not a camper!  

But seeing these young men growing and learning,

gaining such incredible life experience through these outings is truly priceless ♥

I did manage to make some cards last week ~

including two you'll see posted today since it's the 9th (the day the 3M's post)

and a brand new Riley and Company week of releases!

Stay tuned, as this new release has 17 new Funny Bones satmps

and 9 Inspiration stamps.

And funny they are!  As I was creating my cards,

I was home alone just laughing (out loud!) by myself ..

These stamps are available to purchase in the Riley and Company Store Friday, Nov. 13th!

For today's card, since it's Monday, and we've been camping allllllllll weekend

and well, I love my coffee!!!!, I thought I'd show you one of my favorites of the new release:

Without my Coffee ...

 I hope you can stop back to see my 3M card, too - 

AND, all week, the Riley and Company Inspiration Team 
will be showcasing all the wonderful new stamps!  Stay tuned! :)

And here it is :)
This image was sent to us by Jeanette this month, her turn to host!
It's a gorgeous leaf image which is a beautiful reflection of Fall!
I didn't really know how to incorporate such a striking image into a card,
and can't say I'm happy with my end result, 
but I decided to stop messing with it and "leaf" it alone :)
Thank you, Jeanette and Barb, for your friendship!

  Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

I"ll enter the first card into:  Craft Your Passion - AG
 Whoopsi Daisy- Lots of Layers 
613 Avenue Create - AG 
 

Sending Harvest Blessings!

Hi, friends!

Gosh, it's been forever since I've had a chance to blog or get crafty!

We are a busy group, bustling from sun up to sun down ♥

Even now I'm scrambling to get my progressive

card done since it's the last day of the month ~

I've missed nearly all of October's crafting - eeeeek!

Now that's scary :)

This card is my entry into the FTHS using the progressive image.

There is a beautiful Thanksgiving sentiment that goes with it as well,

but I did not have time to do the inside of my card like I usually do *gasp!*

This gorgeous cornucopia image is a beautiful way to share a card with

just about anyone this upcoming Thanksgiving.  

 

 You can read all about FTHS and Faith's gorgeous digital images here

and I'll enter this into the challenge for the month of October :)

However, there is a card on my blog today for another progressive challenge

that trumps mine!

 This scarecrow beauty is from Deedee's Digis, a lovely little company

that I was blessed to DT for a couple of years ago :)

But I didn't make this card - my son did!

From top to bottom, from ink to paper and glue and YES!

  Even that button!

(he is his mama's son, lol!)

I printed it out a couple of weeks ago and left it on my craft desk.

He walked in and in the midst of telling me the exciting topic of the moment,

he spied it and asked if he could color it :)

Absolutely!

 

See, art is not his thing - although he would occasionally hand me 3 buttons,

3 different card stocks, etc and challenge me to make a card with it :)

This time, he colored this card, picked out the paper, lined it up (the best he could, lol), added a strip of burlap, a little button 

and even put in a handwritten sentiment, 

decorating the INSIDE of his card, too!

 

 I'm so proud of this little man :)

We'll enter this one into Deedee's Digis Progressive Challenge -

Before I go, I did want to announce the winner of my Blog Candy
Asian Girl coloring contest!
By an OVERWHELMING majority, blue and green won that challenge
and it made it so much easier to chose with help from friends!
With all the names from Instagram and here on my blog,
the winner chosen at Random is SHONA!
Please email me at Kelnkids@aol.com to I can get your prize package out to you!
Thank you to everyone who voted,  I wish I could have sent a prize to all :(

Wishing you a beautiful, safe Harvest and Halloween if you are going out tonight :)

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

Can I get your VOTE, please! :)

Hi friends!

Just stopping in with a quick colored image that I did late last night.
Excuse the bad coloring, this is just a sample :)

 I am absolutely torn on which one to use.

Normally, I chose my image, pick paper to match, 

then color the image to match the paper :)

Since I've been playing along in the Daily Marker Challenge, 

I color up images daily, including this one -

without regard to card design, paper choice, etc!

So here I am, 

and I need your help, please :)

I would LOVE for you to cast a vote in the comment section

telling me which one you like better or are drawn to ....

If you could either vote PINK or GREEN!

   

And to THANK YOU for your vote,

I'll print out the names of all that cast a vote here and Instagram,

and pick one winner from all the comments/votes using random.org

and send you a prize package!

[*It will be a surprise but including 

stamps, papers, embellishments, etc!*]

Thank you so much for your vote!

Sometimes you just need an outside voice,

and this is one of those times! :)

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

DDD - FALLing into new Friendships!

Hi friends!

 It's time for another card duel with the Dueling Darlings!

Our lovely hostesses this month, Judy and Deb, came up with

one of the BEST themes - FALL into new friendships 

Judy was our hostess and sent us the most

generously packed, Autumn gorgeousness kit ever!

You've heard the saying legs for days?

This was Fall card kit for days!

I do confess that time got the best of me 

and I struggled a bit on how to put this all together.

I so wanted to use the small tree and leaves die cuts,

sequins and foil papers, too!

So, I spy future cards ... lots of 'em.

Thank you, Judy! ♥

  

 

 Be sure to see what the rest of the Divas and Dazzlers

 have made with their Fall themed card kits!

You won't be disappointed!

You can find them in my sidebar ♥

Thanks for stopping by :)

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings! ♥

~Kelly