Springy Bunny Beauties!

Goooood Morning!  I hope you are off to a good start this week!   The kids have standardized testing this week so it's full steam ahead here!

** Lagene - winner of my blog candy, I would love to hear from you!  Please contact me via email and I will get your candy win out to you!**

This week, Deedee's Happy Monday Challenge blog brings you a new challenge - Easter!  For my card, I actually colored up this image when it was first released weeks ago ~ again, coloring before the card!  I set it aside and never made it into a creation until now - timing is everything, right? :)

I colored this, not as a traditional soft, spring Easter pastel colors but more to match the stuffed Easter Bunnies my mom would put in my brother's and my Easter baskets growing up.  She would always make sure a bunny was in the baskets: his usually purple or blue and mine was always pink :)  Such fond memories of the wonders of Spring I have and created this card to match.  And I'll send this card to mom and see if she remembers, too :P    The Bunnies are from the set "All Ears"  and the sentiment is from the set called "Gifts of Spring" - you can find them both here, in the shop!

Link up your card to the HMC Blog here and we'd love to see your Easter creations, too!

Blessings to you!

~Kelly

Cardstock:  Lavendar Lace, Pretty in Pink; PTI White;  Basic Grey DSP:  Green at heart;  Image:  Deedee's Digis "All Ears and Gifts of Spring";  cuttlebug, nesties, SU Ribbon Regal Rose; Basic Grey Buttons; Tombo

Entered into the following Challenges: 
Aly's Sunday Challenge - Bunnies
Paper Sundaes - Childhood Memories

KitCat Sunday is hitting the beach!

 Happy SONday to you!

 It's time for another Kit-Cat creation, the once a month traveling image/card kit ingredients that's a surprise to us until we open it!  This month, our hostess was the uber fab Jeanette!  After months of a long hard winter, Jeanette was ready for some sunshine, warmth and beach radiance ~ so off to the beach with TGF's Cheeky Beach!   She must have known this was on my GOTTA HAVE IT LIST!  I {heart} this image!  She sent us this yummy image, patterned paper and some of the cutest beach embellishments to go with!

I wanted to do something fun for this card and chose another tent card - these are a labor of love ...  but fun, fun, fun! I set up cheeky beach in a sun-soaked circular platform surrounded by a netting full of seashells and water drops :)  I just couldn't resist giving her some bling so she's wearing some diamonds to the beach *wink!*  I grabbed my tropical colors of cardstock in turquiose & sunset colors - which also played off the colors in the whimsical dsp she sent.

And coincidentally today I will be at the beach!  We are off to play in the surf and sand and have a nice lunch at the restaurant on the docks.  The weather here in Miami has been picture perfect for the beach so off we go!   I hope you can also stop by and see what the other kittens have created with this identical kit!  Thank you, Jeanette, for this awesome tropical card kit this month! x0x0

                                          Jeanette  *  Lorie  *  Michelle  *  Susan

And before I go, I wanted to announce the random.org winner of my Resurrection Blog Hop candy ...... Lagene, come on down!
Candy is on it's way!

Congratulations and thank you to everyone for stopping by on the hop - it truly breaks my heart to only have one winner and wish I could give out candy to everyone.  x0x0

Blessings to all,

~Kelly

Card deets:  Cardstock:  GKD Turqoise Sea, Mango, SU Summer Sun;  DSP = Paper Studios; Image:  Cheeky Beach from The Greeting Farm;  colored with prismacolor markers; Aileens; Tombo; Cuttlebug, nesties, web/netted ribbon from Creative Impressions; seashell brads; paper studio gems

Jesus is the Reason - Blog Hop and candy Give-away!

Long post!  Please read all the way down :)

Good Morning Blessings to you!   I'm so glad you could stop in today and share with us on this "Jesus is the Reason" Blog hop!   You should have arrived from talented Heather's wonderful blog - if so, you're in the right place!  

Because this post is so long and I wanted you to get a first glance peek at the photos, here is the candy that is being posted for just the 3 days of the hop for one lucky commenter!  I'll let my friend random.org pick a winner at the hop's end (Midnight 4/9) so check back and see if you've won!

Blessed be the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In His great mercy

He has given us a new birth

to a living hope through the resurrection

of Jesus Christ from the dead

and to an inheritance

that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.

It is reserved in heaven for you,

who because of your faith in God

are being protected by His power

until the salvation

that is ready to be revealed at the end of time.
~unknown

Easter for me is a time of ultimate joy knowing the very sacrifice He has made for us!  In my daily walk of life, I try to remember to keep my faith steadfast and strong as He is the very reason that I am who I am today :)   I did want to share with you that it's an honor to blog about my beliefs and faith and have so many of you stop by and share with me your thoughts, too!  One of my favorite passages is from 1 Peter, and it tells us "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..."
~ 1Peter 1:3 
Rejoice, friends, Rejoice!!
With that,  I will close and let you enjoy the hop! Blessings to you always! 

In light of the true meaning of Easter, we friends of faith have gathered
together to celebrate and share the Good News.  We invite you to join us:

Heather http://joemamainks.blogspot.com/
Kelly http://sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/  **You are here!!**
Maria http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/
Sammi http://stuffbysammi.blogspot.com/
Lorie http://thethinkinspot.blogspot.com/
Stacy http://impressionsofaribbonaddict.blogspot.com/
Kadie http://mymindseyecreations.blogspot.com/
Carolyn http://utsukushiikami.blogspot.com/
Paola http://paola-sama.blogspot.com/
Linda http://stamperstouch.blogspot.com/
Susan http://pinkflannelpajamas.blogspot.com/
Karen http://krbskorner.blogspot.com/
Catherine http://paperaddictcatherine.blogspot.com/


From here you will be hopping to Maria's blog and see what she has for you to see!

The entire line up of the blog hop is below if you need help along the way.

Blessings and May the peace and love of this Easter time be yours abundantly :)

We would like to also invite you to celebrate this most beautiful time and post your own creations!   There is a place to link on Catherine's blog, and a prize is up for grabs for one randomly selected card/project.

x0x0

Blessings to all!
~Kelly

Card deets:  Chocolate Chip, Bazzill light yellow, DSP = SEI papers;

 Image:  Fresh Brewed Designs:  Religious Easter; 3d dots, cuttlebug, nesties,

prima flower, SU Buttons, twine, crinkle ribbon, border punch, tombo

Entered into:  Digital Tuesday - Easter Parade

Tuesday Throwndown #43 - Spring

Stamp with Fun:  Easter

Craft us Crazy - Spring

April Showers bring FBD flowers!

Hola!   It's Wednesday, and that means FBD has a brand new challenge for you!  This week's challenge - April showers bring May flowers, which means use flowers on your card or projects ~ super festive, fresh and fabulous!  You can see the DT cards as inspiration and link your flower card HERE at the FBD challenge blog!

My card for you today is using Ewe are So sweet - you can find this ever so precious image available already here in the shop!  

I added a bow - what do you think, bow or no bow? :)

  And FBD has sentiments to match!  So sweet indeed!

And did you scoop up your brand new, sweet as pie FBD kit yet?  The picture is right off to the right, in my sidebar!   Absolutely amazing kit filled with scrumptious goodies galore! 

Blessings to you!

T.I.P. 3 ~ "Whoever Shall Trust in the Lord ... " Prov 16:20

Hiya!!  Welcome to Tuesday Inpirational Passages #3,  I'm so glad you're here! Today's T.I.P. is inspired by Proverbs 16:20.  AND ... I don't normally make a CAS card, but I have been soooo inspired by my friend, Yuki's incredible CAS cards, that I had to give it a try!  Sometimes it's nice to step outside our comfort zones and try something new, and different.  Not sure it's working for me, but it was fun none-the-less!  :)

“Whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he”  ~ Prov. 16:20

Blessings to you this day!

I was inspired by this verse, and ultimately my card creation, last week by my daughter.  My 16 y/o  daughter  was in the final stages of a struggle with a really good friend of hers she met at her high school.  They didn't grow up together like most of her other friends or go to the same elementary or middle schools, but they became fast friends.   For the past few months, the "real" friend has surfaced and it has rocked my daughter to the core of her being.   I kept telling her "be patient, be kind, be understanding", not realizing the sheer magnitude of hurt and ugliness being spewn her way.   Many tears, texts, talks and hugs later, I could tell,  she had had enough.   I told her to give it one last try ~ one last prayer.  You never, ever know what's in someone's heart and He can fill any void, any hurt, any dismay!  She thought I had finally lost my mind, but trusted me anyway.  Things have a way of working out just as they should!

Rmember that He always knows our hearts and often uses that chance  to witness to others and fellowship with those hurting beyond all measures.   We are so wonderfully made in the image of our Savior and He is the only affirmation we will ever need!  Friendships and fellowships are the added bonus in the journey of that road of happiness.  Trust in the Lord today.  Even through the unknown, He will lead you through it!   And today I wish you .......... happiness always!

Blessings to you!

~Kelly

Deets:  Cardstock: SU Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi; PTI white; DSP - Springtime Vintage;

Stamps:  SU Happy Harmony, Cuttlebug, nestie, SU ribbon, SU ink Pink Pixie and Kiwi Kiss and Crumb Cake; 3d dots

Entered into:  SCRS #37 - Neutral w/ splash of color

Plant Seeds of Kindness ...

And watch friendships grow!  I hope your weekend was a wonderful one and your week ahead will bring you many blessings :)   Today's card is for this week's Happy Monday Challenge at Deedee's Digis ~ a fun challenge indeed ~ use polka dots, checks and stripes in any combination!   I used an easle style card this week, which is always a fun fold to use especially to include this fabulous sentiment that comes with this digi image!

This image and sentiment are being released TODAY!  Be sure to stop in to the fabulous shop - you'll see this new $1 digi there among many other wonderful digi singles and sets. 

Closed card view

Close up and one VERY FABULOUS message! :)

Now we'd love to see what you create this week using

dots, checks and stripes!

Enter your card at the Happy Monday Challenge

HERE!

Blessings to you!
~Kelly

Card deets:  Cardstock by Martha Steweart, PTI white; DCWV: Farmer's Market;  Deedee's Digi "Seeds of Kindness", Prismacolor markers, nesties, cuttlebug, ric-rac die, packing twine, Button from MM: Vintage collection, Tombo

Dude, You're cool :)

Hi - Here's wishing you all a happy weekend!  I'm heading out for a long weekend with dh and little man - the girls are off on a trip this weekend so we're taking full advantage!  Friday morning we bid adieu and we're off to a belated bday celebration - YAY!  I need the time away desperately to refocus, rest (ha!) and recoop! x0x0

So just to share with you the card I made for this month's SOTC card swap with April as our hostess - her son challenged us to make a card for teeenage boys - love it!  Here was my take on it!  I did have to get create with the paper, lol, and made 2 of each design.   Hope April doesn't mind too much!

Blessings to you all!

xoxo

~Kelly

Hey, sweetie - whatcha got cookin'?!

Welcome to another Fresh Brewed Designs Challenge!  This week, we are cookin' up something really sweet with our card creations with this week's challenge theme - Cook it up!  For my card, I am using Angel Cakes Bakes from the Angel Cakes series - you can see the delicious line up HERE.    Did you know that FBD has a Mocha Monday freebie?  That's right!  And this Monday coming up (4/4), you'll want to stop in here and check out what Heather, owner and designer of FBD, has in store!    And did you get a chance to pick up your card kit - you can see it in my sidebar off the right - fabulous, fresh, so much fun!  {click the picture to find all the details!}

For my card, I actually did something I never do - colored my image first and added some super fine glitter!  I almost always plan out a card in reverse :)  I used some paper from a mat stack I found in my scraproom from Sevengypies "Victoria" collection with matching hues - not sure how it's working for me as a finished product, lol, but as we say in crafting - no mistakes, just works in progress!

Close- up of Miss Angel Cakes!

Inside

We hope you play along this week, too! 

 You can find this week's Challenge #41, Cook it up,  @ the challenge blog HERE!

Blessings to you!
~Kelly

Tuesday Inspirational Passage (T.I.P. 2) - Matthew 7:13

First and most importantly, thank you all sooo much for the wonderful birthday wishes!  It made my heart smile!  I'm truly blessed to have "bumped" into so many of you online and in the blog world - you brighten my days and inspire me daily!  Thank you - you are a blessing!

For this Tuesday's T.I.P, I was inspired by something one of my daughter's asked me when she was little.  We were deep in the dirt, planting a vegetable garden with hopes of wonderful summer fruits in a variety of colors and kinds.   We ran into the typical coral rock that grows just inches below the soil here, bugs of every type and it was hot.  Like seriously hot!  In the midst showing her to pull the bull thistle and pennywort growing wildly about, she asked why we were pulling those ~  They were cute!  Not cute, I explained, especially when it grows rampant and they were just weeds.  I remember her asking me, "Well, why does God make the weeds if we are just going to pull them and throw them away?"  And I found myself without the right answer ~ I was stumped as I wasn't expecting the question and all I could remember was if you don't pull up the weeds, eventually they will take over the garden and our vegetables wouldn't grow.  

I thought of that recently moment recently when I was posting some of my bible study to my friends internet site for our chat.  I found myself in the wrong site but was intriqued by a poem that someone had posted there.   I wanted to share it with you all as well :)

Ladies of His Garden

We are ladies of His garden,

tending His fields with care

planting gospel seeds of faith,

sprinkling sunshine here and there.

Guiding to the narrow gate,

those seeking peace within,

offering them the Word of God

freedom from all sin.

Counting it a privilege

to share the truth of Christ,

the least that we can toil

for Him,

for “He” is our sacrifice.

~Lisa R. Gaines


 With the first day of Spring just gone by, I hope you take some time to play in the garden of life :)  I hope you take time to look through the pages of life and throw out the weeds and tend to the gardenin your heart, mind and soul.  When the weeds are gone, we have so much more room for happiness and joy abundant! Let peace be the seed you plant today and His love with shower you with all the rest!

As always, Blessings to you!
~Kelly

Cardstock by SU! Soft Subtles, DSP - Tea Party, Image:  Swiss Pixies, Momento Ink; Prismacolor markers, misc. flowers, twine, cuttlebug, nesties, 3d dots, SU! Border punch, Aileens, Tombo

Entered into the following challenges:  Delightful Sketches - Pastel/ribbon
Wee Memories - Anything Goes
Delicious Doodles - Floral Fantasy
Creative Stamp Friends - Spring

It's my Birthday! ~ Let's go to the beach! :)

Ouch! Today is my birthday - eek!  Another year older and I'm feelin' it!   I woke up the morning with my daughter running down the hall saying I had to check the table, to see this yummy cup waiting for me!  A Starbucks with my name and Happy Birthday on it, lol!   They sent dh at 6:30 am and boy do they know my heart!  *Muah!*   This afternoon, dh and I are sneaking in some alone time and he's taking me to one of my favorite restaurants at the beach - the tables are right on the water, overlooking the gorgeous ocean and the waves lap right up next to you!  It's heaven on earth, I tell you!   I feel very, very Blessed!

Today is also Calendar Girl posting day and our hostess this month is April!  She gave us 3 rules to follow for our challenge this month:
1. a sketch to follow
2. the instructions to use something we are normally afraid to use in crafting and
3. to show something we are looking forward to!

For my card, I followed the sketch (mostly!), I added stickers which I steer clear of on card making, and something I'm looking forward to is summer - I love having my children home with me and the endless, carefree days we spent at the beach!  (Of course, I'll look as good as Florence in my next life! *g*)

Here is her sketch for us:

And my bright, sunny Florida card! :)

The stamped in the inside was gifted to me in a beautiful tropical beach  stamp set from my fabulous friend, Jeanette!  Thank you!

Now be sure to stop on over and see what the other Calendar Girls have created using this same sketch!

Blessings!

~Kelly

Card deets:  SU Green Galore, Yo Yo Yellow, Joanns green cardstock; PTI White (image); DSP = Doodlebug; Kraftin' Kimmie Florence stamp, primscolor markers; "Sand" embossing powder; Cuttlebug, nesties; Doodlebug stickers, Crate Paper ribbon

HMC - Kids need love, too :)

Good morning!  I'm having some blogging trouble it seems!  Today is a *special* day and I hope to share this post to start a busy blogging day :)  This week at Deedee's Digis Happy Monday Challenge, we were asked to make and send a card to the kids!  Mine will be sent to a little boy that my friend, Heather, told me about that is just 4 years old and battling cancer.   That just breaks my heart to hear and my prayers go out to him and his family!

My card is using Deedee's Digi "Unconditional Love" and I paired it with some bold and cheery papers to match this sweet little boy image.  I had fun coloring this, and of course, I couldn't resist doing the inside as well in a matching theme :) 

Blessings to you!
~Kelly

Deets:  SU!  Kraft, Real Red, Brocade Blue, and PTI White:  DSP = Cosmo Cricket; Image and sentiment from Deedee's Digis "Unconditional Love";  Buttons from Basic Grey; Cuttlebug, Nesties, thread, 3d dots, Tombo, prismacolor markers

Entered into:  Card Makin Mamas - Animals!
Sentimental Sundays - Cute and Cuddly
 Phindy's Place - Animals
Stampin' B's  - For the Guys

Java good Friday, everyone! :)

Mornin!  Rushing through with a quickie casual Friday post ~ I seem to have my addictive coffee theme this week!    Actually, I don't have a clue what image this is -- I received it in an image swap last year on SCS and I am wondering if it's actually chicken soup!  LOL!   I managed to turn it into a ginormous coffee mug and wish it were mine right about now :)

Blessings to you all - forgive the quick post ..... off to dr appt this morning and then help the little Kindergarteners have their Dr. Suess Ice cream party :)    My back won't let me participate much but at least I can be a great cheerleader! 

Blessings!
~Kelly

Kind hearts are the garden ......

Hey Hey!  Longfellow, anyone? :)   I love, love English + American Lit ~ I took those classes as electives in school/undergrad college when my friends were busy with pompoms and boyfriends :)  {yes, we're all still friends, and my nose is still buried in a book all the time!} :)  I thought this small quote would be a perfect addition to my flower card that I put together for this Wednesday's FBD Challenge! 

My card for you today is using Fresh Brewed Designs Flower Mug!  It's so fresh and fun, I couldn't wait to make a vibrant card to bring in the beauty of spring :)   You can find sooo many digis available here in the store - so many of them are less than a cup of coffee!  And the challenge this week?  Use 2 or more embellishments - I went with ribbon, brads, buttons!  The small flower on the coffee card is paper pieced to match, and I propped it up using 3D dots. 

I decorated the inside as well, keeping the theme of the dsp + flowers ..
the inside poem reads:

"Kind hearts are the gardens;
 kind thoughts are the roots;
 kind words are the flowers;
 kind deeds are the fruits."

Blessings to you!
~Kelly

Card deets:  GKD Sweet Corn, Dusty Durango by SU: inside - Joann's white paper; dsp = Basic Grey Origins; Image - Fresh Brewed Designs; cuttlebug, nesties, BG button, SU seam binding in cream; brads; glue, 3d dots, marker

Entered into these challenges: 
Amber's Crafts - Anything Goes
Paper Cutz - Anything Goes
Stamp Something - Something sweet!
Scrap Creations - Welcome Spring!

T.I.P. #1 ~ Tuesday's Inspirational Passages: Phil 4:6

While fellowshipping with a friend last week, an idea came to me to start a post weekly on things that inspire me scripturally.   I tend to lean towards passages and live by the goodness and power of His Word ~ hence, T.I.P. was born!  (Tuesday's Inspirational Passages) 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 4:6, 7

This was the blessed verse that greeting me this morning as I awoke -  it is humbling, beautiful, perfect!  

First, I need to thank my wonderfully sweet daughter, Kaitlyn!  In my drugged stupor, I was able to give her very little information on my unfinished post that was due but she came through!   Although the mom is me shuddered at her less than stellar grammar and sentence structure *wink!*,  I am proud of her and it was uber sweet that she went through the trouble with her already full schedule to post my card for me :)  I hoped to make a new card and finish this post, but ....     ** Telegram version - I'm okay ~ today is a new day! I'm badly bruised, have big time pain and soreness, and will have to walk a whole lot slower in the next few days, but nothing broken from a slip and slide through the dining room to the kitchen!  Our poor doggie is battling terminal cancer and makes water messes when she drinks - being a mastiff, she doesn't drink in her water bowl,  she  *swims*!  And it goes everywhere.   We try to catch her, but missed this one - and I slid right into her water mess .... I started in the dining room and didn't stop sliding/falling/twisting/crashing til I got 12 feet into the kitchen.   Ouch!!   I have a "bruised spine" - which is a very super cool way of saying I hurt my back, go home and kick the feet up.  If I weren't in agony, I'm sure kicking my feet up would be pretty cool! :)   Alas ....

I tell you, I have honestly felt that my life has been in constant upheaval this past month ~ no matter what I seem to do, adversity seems to be 2 steps ahead of me.  I try to stay upbeat, positive .... I think push onward, keep going - it will get better!  And I'm knocked right back down again, falling faster and harder than the time before!   What to do?  Keep getting up!  Eventually I'll be standing on my own two feet again.   I just keep reminding myself that we are not the ones in control and NOTHING is bigger than my God! At the end each day, everything - and I mean everything - will fall into place!  Can I get an AMEN?!

 

So ... in seeing that daily verse, I was inspired to create today's card.  Luckily, I already had it stamped out and the papers chosen!   I followed the Mojo Monday sketch #183 to pull it together, and was inspired to submit this as well to SSCC #81 which challenges us to create  a card with something hidden from view - in this case, my prayer note is on the inside :)

I hope today finds you filled with joy abundant :)  I'm off for a follow up with my regular dr today and really hope PT/a Chiro is not in my near future.  I am praised that my dh is home with me, taking such good care of me and the kids and the house and the dogs and !!!!!!!!!  I've got my Starbucks to ease the pain, hee hee ... and I was able to get much needed rest and stay off my feet for many hours {not to mention a personal blogging assistant - oh a girl can get used to this! *wink!*}

Blessings! 
~Kelly

Entered into these challenges for consideration:
1.  Mojo Monday #183 - Sketch
2.  SSCC #81 - Hidden from view

Deets:  Pixie Pink; Old Olive by SU!  PTI, white:  Image and sentiment - Verve; dsp by Basic Grey; Cuttle bug, nesties, Momento Black ink; border punch, 3D dots, ribbon from London, England; BG buttons, embroidery thread, Tombo