Beautiful YOU!

Hi friends!

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Today I had some quiet time while all the kids were out of the house

and my husband was on the couch snoring watching tv :)

He even later helped me move my craft desk to smack dab 

in the middle of our formal living room!

 I'm so blessed that he's very supportive of this hobby of mine ♥

Due to lack of space, I've been at a small desk 

and using the dining room table

but it's not conducive at all for crafting. 

By the time I set it out to create,  it's time to move it all again to eat, LOL!

There's a new Featured Stamper at Splitcoaststampers this week

and it's Claudette.  

I chose this card from her gallery  

It stood out for me because it reminded me of this card I made

which I absolutely loved!

So combining the two, I came up with these two cards

with slight differences!

.
Here is the first card (but the second one made, as a replacement!)

I've used Beautiful You, a clear stamp set from STAMPlorations.

It's a lovely silhouette style floral set with quite a few sentiments

which makes it very versatile :)

.

Both cards are made using white cardstock,

and they were run through my Gemini Jr to get a base.

I masked off the area I only wanted to get distress ink on  ~

and used a trio or different color inks.

I didn't intend for it to look like a stopllight - LOL!

(Here, I've used Coral, straw and spring green!) 

Next, using Stazon black ink, I stamped the flower and 2 of the sentiments.

Last, I added sequins and popped it up onto the cardstock with foam.

On the insides (not show), there is a message:  Happy Birthday!

I hope you were able to get inky and crafty this weekend, too!

I didn't make as many cards as I'd hoped

but did get MANY pieces done for easy card assembly ~

backgrounds, stenciling, cutting out images for this week's cards!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly

National Fossil Day ~ CCEE1942

Hi friends!

It must be my birthday - it's National Fossil Day!

Hee hee!

I sure feel that old most days

with a hip that doesn't want to walk and a foot that won't work ;)

It's time for a new challenge at the CCEE Stampers blog!

I'm the hostess for the month of October and thought it would be neat

to showcase cards based on Nat'l Fossil Day, which was yesterday.

 

  A fossil is a preserved impression of a once-living thing

 from a past geological age, including plants, animals, shells, and more.
  The challenge this week is to create a card including anything that has been found as a fossil -- dinosaurs, leaves, amber, footprints, etc.

 

For my card today,

I've used a sweet stamp set called Prehistoric

by Neat and Tangled.

Ohhhh I absolutely adore this stamp company!

I think this set is retired now ~ it was released in 2017 .. I think!

 I stamp/cut/colored the images with copic markers

 and set those aside to create the scene.

I used distress oxide inks, blended to create a night sky,

The little stars are a white signo pen just dotted about

and the mountains are from a die-namic from My Favorite Things.

 

In hindsight, I needed a bigger card base... one that was longer!

The card seems a bit squished now that I see it,

trying to fit all the focal points on but it's still sweet :)

You can see the design team cards here on the blog post,

as well as link up yours, too!

We'd LOVE to see what you make with the fossil theme!

Thanks for stopping by!

Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly

RSG ~ Celebrating Webster!

 Hi friends!

Thank you so so SO much for your sweet words

and lovely comments that made my heart melt!

Seriously, I had little happy tears ~

you're encouragement and kindness made my day!

I'm humbled  ...

and yes!

Very VERY excited!!!!

Today's card is for the Ready, Set, Go challenge card group ~

a challenge to create a card that's a little a lot out of the box!

They aren't ordinary card challenges and, as Jeanette says,

ones that are quite extreme with themes that make you say hmmm!

But it's also tons of fun!

Our hostess this month is Jeanette and she is getting book smart!

This is her challenge: 

Every year on October 16, the United States celebrates National Dictionary Day in honor of Noah Webster, the Father of the American Dictionary, who was born on this day in 1758. The objective of this day is to emphasize the importance of dictionary skills and to seek to improve vocabulary. Webster began to write his dictionary at the age of 43 and it took him 27 years to finish it.

So here's the challenge... when creating your card, you must include three things that start with any three consecutive letters of the alphabet. For instance, (BCD - the color Brown, Coffee, and a dog... or RST - Ribbon, Sequins, and a Truck... you get the idea). 

Ready, Set, Go!

How fun!

Here's my card ↓

 

The letters I went with:

B:  Brown dog

C:  Chocolate Chip cardstock

D: dots (enamel)

I've also used the sketch from today's challenge at

Splitcoaststampers as a springboard to my card design.

You can find it by checking out SCS here!

 Such a fun theme and I can think of so many combinations of letters

that would make a fun card!

I think I'll definitely use this Webster's A, B, C again.

You can see what Jeanette created here

and what Barb created here!

Thanks for stopping by!

Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly

Some big big BIG news!

Oh friends, I have some really REALLY big news to share!!

I'm still pinching myself to make sure it's really REALLY real ♥

When I first started this stamping/card making hobby about 12 years ago,

I could have only dreamed of a few moments ...

like this ...

and wished

and hoped

and prayed

that one day it could be real .....

and now it is!

... and never, ever imagined it would be me!I am feeling like the luckiest girl in the whole world ♥

.

If you are familiar with Splitcoaststampers,

and are familiar with the Dirty Dozen,

a group of ladies chosen to represent Splitcoaststampers,

I am the newest 'Dirty Girl!"

I am OVER THE MOON EXCITED!!!

.

I am so grateful to each of you that follow me,
leave me warm and kind and inspiring messages here on my blog!
It means the world to me and I'm truly grateful for you all ♥


As a small way of saying thank you,
I'm going to have a giveaway!

I will actually have one on my blog here
and one will be over on my Instagram
(yes, two different giveaways!)
 

Stay tuned for details!

Big big BIG squishy hugs!
Blessings,
Kelly

TPB: Nice shoes!

Hi friends!

I had a productive card making weekend and this week my blog will be hopping!

Up first,  my card for The Project Bin today ~

the day I traditionally post over on the blog. 

I've created a Surprise Inside Peek-A-Boo Halloween card.

This style of card is always fun to make ... 

because the outside is actually on the inside :)

When you life the flap, the funny stamped sentiment is revealed!

 

 

 

The stamp set I've used from The Project Bin is called Haunt it!

It's from last year's collection but still so fabulous

and perfect for the theater buffs, too!

(Wizard of Oz, anyone?!)

  Here's a full view of the opened card:

 

You can see the stamp set here in the shop,

 along with many cards created with it.

 Thanks so much for your visit!

I have some news coming up soon ....

I hope you can stop back by!

Big hugs, bigger blessings!
~Kelly

Hot Mess ~ Success #3: Wrap it up!

Hi friends!

A little late getting online today as the Boy Scout troop

had a FUN-raising garage sale today starting at 6 am.

way. too. early!

 

 

You may remember from this post that once a month,

my crafty group of friends invited me to join them in making Hot Messes!

We take a technique with any messy quality and turn it into a card ~

and Barb, the hostess for October, said make it a Halloween theme.

  I previously saw this technique 'string wrap block art' on Splitcoaststampers

and thought it looked intriquing.

I kept putting it to the 'try this later' shelf and finally did.

And it IS fun ...

 Just not for me, LOL!

The idea is you dip the block of wood wrapped with string into paint ~

I chose to use ink.

I just daubed up the string by inverting an ink pad in varied colors.

By pressing it directly to the white cardstock,

it leaves a variety of blocked colors 

and you can basically create any number of patterns you want!

I've used Frightfully Sweet by My Favorite Things stamps,

last year's very popular Halloween stamp set :)

I colored the images with prisma color markers in colors to match the ink stripes,

and they are popped up on 3d foam dots.

The sentiment is a quick stamp with Picket Fence Studios black ink.

And that's October's messy card!

I wish I had more photos to show you on the process

but I could't find them on my phone.

You can see what the rest of the messy crew made today by

visiting Barb, Jeanette and Terry!

I'm sure they're SPOOK-tacular!

Tried a new techinique - check!

Made a mess - check!

Success!

Thanks for stopping by!

.

Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly

Crafters of Faith: Thankful for .......

 Hi friends!

I've been playing 'catch up' with my card making 

as most of August and September 
went by at lightening speed! 

.

Thankfully, STAMPtember has continued into ARTober! :)

.

.

I fell head over heels IN LOVE with so many of the Simon Says Stamp

STAMPtember releases last mionth!

I was so excited to see so many of the reveals

and had to purchase a few of them, like this one from Mama Elephant.

It's called Snow Kittens and it's just. so. cute!

In September, for the Crafters of Faith card group,

Jeanette asked us to create a card based on the scripture John 1:3.
The challenge was include something on your card (or project) that you are especially thankful that God created. 

 I thought about being cheeky and making a coffee themed card, hee hee! 

 However, one thing I am absolutely sure that I am thankful for -
 the seasons, especially winter and Christmastime!
  Here is my card ↓

.

 .

 I chose seasons as my theme.

I absolutely ADORE places where there are actual seasons ~

from gorgeous and breezy springs,

to hot and warm summers,

and snowy, cozy winter! 

Winter is my very VERY favorite season!

For this card, I used a white piece of card stock and 

did my favorite cardmaking technique - distress oxide-ing!  

I blended several shades of pink Ranger Distress Oxide inks

and added a die cut snowy border from glittery paper.

I cut/colored the images from the snow kittens set

and popped them up on foam from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

Finally, I stamped the matching sentiment from the set

with Momento Tuxedo black ink and created a

a very meowy Christmas card!

 I''ll enter my card into the Simon Says Stamps Wednesday challenge:  Christmas

and the SSSIGChallenge:  Favorite Technique.

Thanks for stopping by ~

wishing you a purr-fect day!

Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly

CCEE1941: World Rainforest Week!

 Hello hello!

 Did you hear about the man who went to the movies

and saw a tiger sitting next to him?

 "Are you a tiger?" the man asked, surprised. 

"Yes," said the tiger.

"What are you doing at the movies?" 

The tiger replied, "Well ...  I liked the book!" 

 

Ba Dum Tss! :)

.

Happy Thursday, friends!

It's time for another challenge at the CCEE Stampers

and through the month of October, I'll be choosing the themes!

This week is World Rainforest Week (October 10-16). 
  My challenge is to create a card showing the rainforest or any animal you'd find in it and/or trees, rivers, etc.)

I've chosen ... the tiger! 

.

 They say you can hear a tiger's roar up to 2 miles away - yikes!

It's no wonder my son is appropriately named Tony

(as in ... Tony the Tiger!)

He is the LOUDEST kid I know! :)

My card today is using My Favorite Things "Fierce Friends"

stamps and dies and I've colored them with copic markers.

Using several diffrent dies and the gingham paper,

I arranged them and popped them up on foam from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

It seemed to need a little bit of something so I added

some carnival dew drops from Honey Bee Stamps.

 Be sure to pop in over to the CCEE Stampers blog

and see what the DT has made this week!

Lots of wonderful things to see in the trip to the rainforest!

If you'd like to add your card, too, we'd love to see it!

There is a link option if you scroll to the very bottom of the post.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly

3M: Alice's Birthday ♥

Hello!

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Today I have a very special card that was created for a very special lady

 ~ my little granddaughter, Alice, who just turned ONE on Sunday. 

 I can barely believe it!

 I feel like we blinked and the year flew by!

I'll post photos of her birthday soon ♥

 

It's my turn to host the monthly card group challenge with the 3M.

That would be Barb, Jeanette and myself ...

and the creative genius behind the 3 Musketeers is Jeanette!

The idea is we take turns sending a stamped image to each other,

once a month, create a card with it

and post it on the 9th of each month.

This month, I chose Neat and Tangled's Piece of Cake.

I saw this stamp set on the website and just had. to. have. it! 

I started with a simple background of sponged distress oxide inks

and let it dry for a few hours.

Once it was, I colored and cut the stamped image and foam

mounted it to the card stock base.

I did decorate the inside with a note for Alice ♥

In hindsight, I wish I'd done a little something else to the front 

but she's only a 1 year old!

Her mama will put this away in a keepsake box, I'm sure.

 

You can see Barb's card here and

Jeanette's card here!

I still need to play catch-up with last month's image

and it's crunch time now that the big party is over :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly

Feline better?

Hi there!

Tuesdays are the day I'm up on the blog over at The Project Bin

and today I'm sharing a Get Well card.

Because when someone is sick,

we always hope they are feline better ♥

 

 I know that the card world is filled with all things fall ~
pumpkins, fall colors, scarecrows and more.

My daughter's kitty, Finny, has been in an out of the the vet 

for 2 weeks now.

We're not sure what the real dx is

 or what the final treatment outcome will be,

and my daughter is just beside herself.

I thought a pick me up card was in order,

along with a note that I'll be taking her to her favorite dinner spot

when she's comfortable with going.

AND ...

the last 2-3 weeks have been absolutely bonkers crazy

and we all need some R & R around here! :)

I've used Feline Good from The Project Bin

and used this photo from SCS Inspiration as my guide.

Something about all those funky colorful arrows grabbed my eye

and I ad-libbed the riest :)

  How I love pun-ny cards!

Give me a good joke, one liner or tell me something punny

 and I'm a happy girl!

Luckily, my daughter shares my sense of hunor :)

Measure your life in laughter, I say!

Big hugs, bigger blessings!
~Kelly

CCEE1940 ~ National Techies Day!

Hi friends ~

Happy October!

I'm the hostess for the month of October at the CCEE Stampers blog 

which means I'll be bringing you a month of challenges!

For my first challenge, we're celebrating National Techies Day!

I think it's a given that most of us are VERY happy to have 

our laptops, computers, cell phones and more :)

Like that fun meme says ...

I love my computer - that's where all my friends live!

For my card, I channeled my son because when I think techy, it's him!

He's like most of the kids in this generation - face stuck in the iPhone :)

If it's not his Mac, it's the iPhone, or the Xbox, Or PS4 ...

and MOST of the time, it comes in handy for me!

I've used Zac - Tech Stuff from Stamp Anniething.
I added it to the card base of gamer papers

and he's colored with prismacolor makers and popped up on foam dots.

The LOL is also part of the stamp set 

and just one of the many texts he sends in a day!

I'm very lucky to be the recipient of many texts from my kids 

though-out the day ~ some informative, some thoughtful,

some I have NO CLUE but most of them very, very endearing ♥

But I do know ~ texting is GR8!

You can see all the DT card samples here on the blog

as well as link up your cards with the linky at the bottom.

We'd love to see what you make with a techy theme!

Thanks for stopping by!
Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly