*Flowers for you!*

Goodness gracious, it's a card! :)

 

This is an incredibly busy time for our family

 and I haven't had a chance to make a single thing, sadly.

 Our second daughter wrapping up her Senior year

 and all the trimmings that go with that ... college visits, auditions, dorm, decisions, finals, graduation!

 

And that's just one kid :)

 

 

 Today's card is my sample for my SOTC card group

and the theme with a 'new life' theme - that had me stumped!

  Since flowers were mentioned as a possibility,

 that's the direction I went with my card ...

flowers are always wonderful!

 

Here's the inside:

 

I scooped up the Tiddly Inks freebie for this week -

 isn't it the sweetest!

I colored/paired this one yellow and blue since this will go

 to one of my sisters-in-law

and it's her favorite color combination.

I've got quite a few more Mother's Day cards still to make -

including one for my own mom ♥

 

I'll enter this into the Tiddly Inks challenge this week -

flowers are always sweet to give and receive :)

I also followed an old Deconstructing Jen sketch #150 from the archives

that jumped out at me .... very inspiring!

 

  

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

card entered into:  Deep Blue Ocean - Flowers
 

DDD's say "Hello!" :)

Happy Hello to all!

 

Although it's tax day, the 15th is always the day the Dueling Darlings post our cards from card kits with a chosen theme from our hostesses
 Tami and Melina ...

"I'd pick a flower for you."

 

For those of you new to my blog, the Dueling Darlings (DDD)

is a group I dreamed up over 4 years ago and most of us original

members are still going strong!

The two opposing "dueling" teams:  The Divas (me!) and the Dazzlers

chose a card kit theme and send card kits to the other members ~

and we create a card around it ..

how fun is that!

*EDITED - updated card :)
I kept the old photo at the bottom, but it so broke my heart to look at it,
and it's just not what I wanted to present.
I ended up using up so much of the dsp that I had just scraps to work with,
and created this patchwork cheer instead ♥

 

 

 

Sadly, this month left me short of time and creativity

and I am really, really disappointed with my card :(

I plan to create a second one soon as Tami's kit was bright and

beautiful ...  the idea in my head just fell flat

and nothing like I envisioned!

I offer my humblest apologies to the team and to Tami!

 

Be sure to see what the rest of the team created

with their kits as well ~ they are in my sidebar!

 

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

 

Riley and Company ~ New Release!

Happy Friday and Happy Release day!

 

 

I hope you've enjoyed the Riley and Company sneak peeks all week ~

I'm here with another fun card from the new Inspirations Stamp line!

 

In addition to telling you about my card, I wanted to share with you the newsletter announcement ... 

  lookie, lookie! 

 Take a peek!

*****************************************************

We have a very very special announcement from Moose headquarters!  

 

Riley & Company is kicking off a brand new stamp line called Inspirations!

But wait - what's BETTER than a new stamp line? 29 new Funnybones stamps, too!

 

 

The Inspirations line is a lot like the Funnybones line - but BIGGER! The messages are still awesome, but geared towards a more personal theme. These not only make terrific statement cards, but they are fabulous for art journaling, Project Life and all those projects where you needed a really terrific saying!

  

And we are making this release even sweeter by adding 29 new Funnybones! I think this may be the best release yet!

 

The release is "officially" Friday morning, but our designers have been busy busy girls creative a LOT of wonderful sneak peeks for you to see on their blogs! Just head over to our website, and look for the designer list on the right hand side. You are going to love these! You can check out our Facebook page too - lots of great sneaks posted there also!

And what is a release without specials????

  

Special #1:  Buy the entire unmounted set of 29 new Funnybones  for only $95.00! (Save $50!) (Offer not available to wholesale customers.) Limit one per customer. Offer ends April 17th.

 

Special #2:  Buy the entire unmounted set of 25 new Inspirations stamps for only $75.00 (Save $50!) (Offer not available to wholesale customers.) Limit one per customer. Offer ends April 17th.
 

Special #3:  You can also get a set of 3 FREE Funnybones stamps (our choice) during this release by simply placing an order of $30 or more (before tax) in the first 24 hours of the release! (One per customer please.)

  

Special #4:  But wait - there's more! As an added bonus, we are giving EVERYONE FREE SHIPPING from now until Sunday night (April 12th) at midnight CST! Just enter FREESHIP

in the coupon code section! 

  

Enjoy and Share A Smile!  

Tanya Kostynuk, Head Moose

 

Thanks for reading our newsletter information!

My card today is using one of the new Inspirations stamps -

the world truly is our canvas and yours to paint!

I followed a very old Deconstructing Jen sketch to make the base

of my simple patchwork card, using up a lot of scraps in my pile

and some simple enamel dot placements  and done!

Easy and beautiful, my favorite kind of card :)

 

Be sure to check out the rest of the DT and scoop up your new

Riley and Company stamps!

Big Hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

 

It's a mysterious ..... Bunny! :)

Hi everyone!  

Today is the day the 3 Musketeers post our mystery image cards :) 

 This fun trio was a group created by Jeanette

 and I was graciously invited to play along with Barb - making up the 3Ms!

This month, I'm the hostess

and sent the other 2 ladies this C.C. Designs "Bunny Lucy" image ~

 fitting for this time of year.  

I've had this stamp for ages and hadn't stamped it yet 

so it felt right for her to get a little inky.

 

              For my card design, I followed an old Retro Sketches #150

that I had in my files,

and used up some old SU! Bella Rose I've had for forever

and found when packing up the Cabana!
 

 

And as is my custom, I matched the inside of my card

but left it blank for writing a message :)
 

 

Unfortunately, my laptop has gone to computer heaven

and I'm unable to post/edit most pictures ...

so this one will have to post as is until I get back online.

Posting from the kids borrowed computer/laptops

is a bit scary, LOL!

Be sure to pop on over and see what Jeanette and Barb

have created using Bunny Lucy!

And I will be back a little later on with another

Sneak Peek from Riley and Company ... stay tuned! :)

Big hugs, Bigger blessings!

~Kelly

Find Joy ....

 

Blessings, everyone!

 

 

 

When I was little, my dad used to use the saying

"don't miss the forest for the trees!" 

It took me a little while to figure out what he meant by that :)

 

Today, as a busy mom always running to and fro,

and always on the go, go, go ...
 I remind both myself and my children to stop and enjoy the small things.

When I saw this new Inspirations stamp from Riley and Company,
I was so excited because it's very me ♥
I'm a firm believer in finding joy in the ordinary ~
life, embrace, enjoy everything around you.
It only takes a second ...
to just be in the moment, that moment of everything ordinary
and turn it into something extraordinary.
 

 Cherish the breeze blowing,

the sunshine landing just right,

the scent of the flowers on the wind,

the chirping of birds,

the dance of the butterflies in flight ...

the small things ♥

 

I've paired this stamp with some papers I had in my stash,
along with a few enamel dots.
And I decorated the inside of my card as is my custom,
 adding one of the new Funny Bones
sentiments as well with another positive message :)

As a reminder, these two stamps are part of the new release available
this Friday, April 10th.  26 new Inspirations stamps and 29 Funny Bones
will be released and you can see the sneak peeks with them all week long
on the DT blogs :)

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



Brand new from Riley and Company!

 

Good Morning ~

I hope you had a blessed holiday weekend ♥

 

 

I'm super excited to finally share some news and let the cat out of the bag :)

There is wonderful news from Riley and Company stamps,

and this week we will bring you sneak peeks of the brand new

Inspirations stamp line!

 

 

This week, we will showcase 26 new Inspirations stamps

and 29 new Funny Bones, all in this release!

The Inspirations stamps are larger, bolder, and have such

profound messages, perfect for cards and scrapbooking.

 

 

 

 

First up today, I have a coffee theme card

using one of the new Funny Bones sentiments ~

and for a coffee aficionado like me, this says a lot - LOL!

I've paired it with some floral paper with a satin

ribbon and a few buttons.

 

The DT will have card samples and sneaks up all week to show you

 the new Inspirations and Funny Bones stamps so be sure to check back! 

 The new stamps will all be available in the store this Friday, April 10 - woohoo!

 

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

Happy Easter from Riley 'n friends ♥

 

Hi everyone!

Thank you so much for the birthday wishes! 

We had an incredible weekend and I'm certainly blessed to have a loving husband and 4 super sweet, adventurous, selfless kiddies ♥

 

Wow!

Spring Break is officially over and we're back to the running around ~

 and now Easter is right around the corner ...

it snuck up on me this year :)

 

 

This week, the Riley and Company challenge is to create a card with

(oops! I the challenge as "fancy fold" ....

do I get a it was my birthday excuse? :)

Hopefully Riley will get some brownie points just for being cute!

Here he is with his friends Buster and chickie

in their Easter basket ready for some Easter fun!

 

 

 

If you'd like to play along, and we'd love it if you do,

then be sure to link up your More than one Fold cards to the blog.

If you use a gallery like SCS, please use the keyword Riley0715.

 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

 

 

Happy Birthday .... to me! ♥

Hi there!

 

Yes, today is the 'big day' and I'm 29 - again! 
 It's so much fun how that happens ........ like every year! 
 I know, right?! :)

 

By the time this posts, I will have already been in the Florida Keys,
one of my very favorite places to be :) 

Sandy beaches, blues skies, lounge chair, a mojito (or 3 or 4!)

We hoped my son would finally recover enough to keep the trip -

and he did!  We have canoeing, lots of seafood eating, snorkeling

and more on the itinerary of fun lined up ♥

Back to my card!

I am in a group on SCS, founded by Jeanette, where for one month,
 we are showered with card kits from all the other members.
The next month, we shower the next person and so on and so forth.

This month, March, I'm up - yay! :)
I'm starting out with Terry's kit first since it's a *beary special* kit
and fitting for the occasion today ~ thanks, Terry! 

 

 

I followed the current Deconstructing Jen sketch,

letting this adorable bear be the focal point,
and then added a few buttons here and there, as is my custom :)
I also decorated the inside of the card as I like to do
but I couldn't find the photo of that -
must be birthday brain!
hee hee!

Have a wonderfully fabulous weekend!
Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

Monday morning 'brews' .......

Hee hee!

 

I've got the Monday morning brews - I mean, blues!

It's Spring Break here and ours started out with the flu!

Our son came home Friday with a fever & flu like symptoms,

just to go downhill from there and struggling with this whopper of a flu -

going on day 3 :(

Poor little boy is positively miserable and

we're praying we don't start dropping like dominos,

especially our daughter who is immune compromised :(

 

Needless to say,

I've been barely sleeping and being nurse to this poor little one,

lots of TLC for him,

lots of coffee for me!
Our oldest daughter has driven to Starbucks twice this weekend

just for me - she absolutely can't stand the smell/taste of coffee

so the fact that she did that, for lil 'ol me, well it just means the world to me ♥

 

 

How 'bout this fun image !

I wish I had a S'bux the size of this cup!
Ohhhh I'd be so happy ♥

It's actually my card submission for the Mystery Image swap by Imke

on SCS ~ Jo was our hostess this month! I found these super fun

papers in my stash pile and just built a card around them.

I also decorated the inside of the card panel with this

sentiment ~ such true words!

 

 

I hope your weekend was wonderful

and Spring/sunshine has started to show it's lovely self,

wherever you may be in the world!

 

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

We're Glamorous! ♥

 

Oh la la!

Isn't this lady glamorous! 

 

I sure hope this is me when it's my birthday,

dancing around in my party dress and feather boa :)

 

 

                        It's a new mystery reveal from the Mystery Image swap,

and this one is the adorable Magda from the Stampingbella line.

 Carol is our hostess this round and sent us this cute image

and we had to create a card to go around it ~

and this is my take :)

 

 

Carol loves blue so I went with a blue hues

and she also loves her bling and glitter,

so I added some rhinestones to sparkle up the party girl.

I've had this SU! Urban Oasis dsp for forever and a day
so it was time to use it!

And, how fun to finally get inky and play in my Cabana ♥

 

 I decorated the inside of my card as well as I usually strive to do,

adding the sentiment that came with Madga

to the inside of the card.

 

Thank you for stopping by today!
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend ♥

 

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly



Challenges:   Jo's Scrap Shack - Birthdays!
Polkadoodles - Birthdays
Seize the Birthday:  Use a sentiment
Crafting with an attitude:  AG
 

What's your brew?!!

Hi sweet friends!

I'm a bit late for the tea party :)

 

 It's the time that we Dueling Darlings post our cards using

the fun theme of "What's your Brew - coffee or tea?"

It's no secret I'm a huge Starbucks fan!

In fact, I'm pretty sure I have financed the college of one barista's kid

and should probably have my own "Parking for Kelly" sign outside our local store!

I love, love, LOVE me some Starbucks ♥

But I love a good cup of tea as well,
especially being that my mum is English :)

 

So ... for today's brew, my card is using a MFT "You're my cup of tea" image

rather than the coffee image that was sent by Kadie

inside this absolutely scrumptious card kit! 

From the gorgeous papers to the wonderful embellishments,

there was so much to play with with.  My eyes kept drawing towards
the softer, homespun colors and the gorgeous teacup paper.

 I colored the image to match and framed it.
It felt a little busy so I added some enamel dots,
paper pieced the tea cup and left it at that.
The Dazzlers, with team Paola, have a different coffee/tea image
so our duel is officially on!   You can find them all in my sidebar
to see the fabulous cards of the Divas and the Dazzlers.

No matter what the 'brew',
it's nice to have a cuppa with a friends!

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

 

 

Irish you Luck! ♥

Happy March!

 

I can't believe how much time flies by in between posts ~

life is just full throttle here and doesn't slow down long enough

 for me to enjoy the Cabana and stamping time ...

until today!

 

 It's the 9th of the month and we 3 Musketeers are once again

stamping away with ink and paper and cute little images.

 

This month, Barb is our hostess and sent us Whipper Snapper's

"Irish Luck" images to create a card with.

I knew when I saw it what papers/color palette I wanted to use

but then it came to a screeching halt!

 

 

My card is really what needs the luck ~

It's a hot mess!

I started out with an old Deconstructed Jen sketch in mind

and it went way (way!) off course ~ so I just tossed

a few elements in the color palette that were on my desk

onto the card and just let it marinate a bit - LOL!

 

Time crunch = it is what it is! :)

 

Be sure to stop in and see what both girls made with

this same image and how different our cards all are!

Fabulous talent from Barb's blog and Jeanette's blog!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly


Card entered to: Craft it up - Linky Party (Green)
Crafty Secrets - Linky Party (Go Green)
Craft Hoarders Anonymous - Green/hoarded item (dsp!)
Great Impressions - Go Green
Simply Create, too - St. Patrick's Day




 

Hey, You!

 

  Yes ... you!  

 How are ya?!

 

:)

 

That's actually the name of the Basic Grey mat stack that I used

 to create today's card - "Hey You!"

It's also new card challenge time at Riley and Company stamps ...

this week, our hostess is Heather and she's asked us to paper piece!

My very, very favorite technique in crafting ♥

 

 

Today's card is sunny, cheerful, SIMPLE!

 I've used Sunflower Riley for today's card,

paper-piecing the flower :)

It's not quite the card I was aiming for or the design I saw in my head *smile!*

but I was thrilled to use up so many of the paper scraps in my bin.

 

 

We'd love for you to play along, of course!

You can link up your Riley and Company cards using any of

the stamps carried in the store to the challenge blog here!

 If you use a gallery, please use the keyword Riley0415  ~

we'll stop by and leave some love ♥

 

I hope you have a great day &

thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Big Hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

When it rains ........ we have the DDD! ♥

"When it rains, I share my umbrella ...

If I have no umbrella, I share my rain."

Isn't that the sweetest!

I hope you all had a beautiful Valentine's Day with your loved ones ♥

 

It's the 15th of the month and that means the Dueling Darlings

post our cards that we've made with the chosen theme from our hostesses:

LJ and Darlene are up this month.

And their theme ...

Our theme this month is Umbrellas!

Believe it or not, National Umbrella Day is February 10th.

Darlene and LJ thought it would be fun to think Spring,

since we've seen too much white stuff this winter.

 

 Even though I have a love of snow and winter and all that white stuff,

this was one super cute theme!

Here is my contribution using some of the gorgeous papers sent from LJ

as well as ribbons, lovely clouds and BUTTONS!!!!

I cut out a small circular pattern in the paper to let the sun/sky/cloud

paper peek through.

The image is Sophie from Whipper Snapper Designs ♥

 

 

Be sure to stop in and see what the rest of the DDD have created

with our umbrella cards this month ~

you can find them in my sidebar.

Thanks LJ and Darlene for your gorgeous and fun kits this month!

 

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

I'll enter my card to: Open Minded Crafting Fun: In the air!
  Sweet Stampin' - Song "Singing in the Rain!"
Crafts for Eternity: Twos!  two buttons, two clouds, two ribbons)

It's Funny Friday!

Happy, happy Friday!

 

It's almost Valentines, and Yolanda here certainly has the right idea -

chocolate in both hands! ♥

 

 

I just adore these Art Impression stamps!

I'm blessed to be in a mystery stamp group over on SCS

lead by my beautiful German friend, Imke :)

She was the hostess for the month of January

and sent us this terrific image to create a card with.

This card is busy!

Some paper piecing, fruit loop colored papers, sequins!

Whew!

 

 

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day so I send lots of love to you all

and hope your day is filled with all things fabulous!

 

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

Entered:  Red Rubber Designs:  So Sentimental!

Here Ye, Here Ye - Big News!

 

 

Hi friends ♥

 

It's been awhile since I've been able to post and visit :(

 Our youngest daughter has been gravely ill,

in and out of countless doctor's offices and the hospital several times.

She's finally showing improvement

and we pray that she's on the uphill side of the battle.

I can't thank you enough for the words of encouragement and prayer!

 

Onward to my card!

It's good to be back in the Cabana!

Had to 'dust off' a few things out there and look to see where

everything wandered off to, including today's

3 Musketeer Mystery image - whew!

 

 

Jeanette was the hostess this month, with an image from a company

I'm not familiar with, Kenny K digital/stamps.

What a unique image, one I confess I had no idea what to do with!

So this is my humble card offering with the image,

and you can see what Jeanette and Barb have made with it, too!

 

 

Since the News Kid image was all about the arrival of snow,

I added the prismacolor marker colored image

 to a card base of winter/snow dsp - Crate Paper's

'Bundled Up' stack, a seriously YUMMY paper pad!

You may notice the fire hydrant is propped up 3D

because I made a total mess under with a blob of marker

because it looks really cool that way!

  Hee hee!! *wink!*

Thank you, Jeanette, for providing this fun image this month!

 

Big Hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly