I Come in Peace(s!)

Hi friends!

In just one month, it will be Valentine's Day!

Time to start thinking of the cards 

we'll be making for our loved ones ♥ 

 

Today's card is ~ literally ~ out of this world :)

And it cost me 2 cents!

As in 2 American pennies ...

it's a slider card!

 

 Slider cards are always fun to make 

and really make interactive cards come to life.

I got my Ranger Ink distress oxides out this weekend

and created a galaxy background.

It took a couple of tries to get the blending right as I really wanted

a darker outer band and a lighter middle - ta da!

The stamp set I used today is Milky Way by The Project Bin.

Nothing scary about this Area 51 cutie ;)

After completing the background, 

I used a circular swirly die from American Crafts

and kept the cutout part for a multi layered look.

I popped up the top panel with 3d foam and glued the other one to the bottom. 

For the alien, as with most slider cards, I glued a penny to the inside 'swirl'

before adding the top panel.  I popped some 3D foam on the bottom penny,

and then added one to the back of the alien.

He's super cute to see him zip around the galaxy and a fun, interactive card!

This card will definitely be for my son ~

he's a fun guy and truly a really REALLY sweet boy! 

 

Here's another look at the full Milky Way stamp set.

Included is 16 stamps and a matching steel die ..

now that's far out! 

 Thanks so much for dropping by!

Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly

 

Room for leftovers!

Hi friends!

Yep...

It's Monday!

And I sure wish we had some 'leftover' weekend! :)

Today's card is part of my new year's goal

to use up my leftovers ~

all the scraps and pieces and little bits from card making.

I call the series 'Room for Leftovers!'

and thought it would be fun this year to try to make a second card

with the pieces left over from crafting whenever possible.

Yesterday's card was a perfect example.

The watercolor glitter card started with a panel that I painted

and then trimmed to a smaller size.  

The two outer pieces were too pretty to toss,

and I had an amazing idea - use them up!

Looking at the tiny pieces, I knew I'd need a tiny stamp or die.

The small tree die is one that I've had for quite some time ~

it's from CC Designs.  

The trees were taller and wider than the watercolor ink areas

so I thought how neat it would be to make them snow covered trees.

Thinking outside the box - check!

 And here's my completed card:

 The sentiment is from a Hero Arts stamp set

and I thought it was a perfect match.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Big hugs, bigger blessings 

~Kelly

Hot Mess Success #6 ~ Sparkle!

 Hi friends ....

happy weekend!

Today's card is card #6 for the *Hot Mess ~ Success* card group 

where the best item on the crafting menu is whatever is the messiest! :)

Each month, the hostess chooses a theme 

and we (Barb, Jeanette, Terry and I) create 

a messy card using a messy technique.

This month, our hostess is Jeanette and her theme is sparkle.

The fun part about this group is that I have been pushing

 the boundaries of my comfort zone

and trying new things each month.

So for January ..

no better time than like now to play with my watercolor glitter inks!

This is the first time I've used the Brea Reese Watercolor inks

and I must say ...  these inks are a super!

I'm using the word ink ~ it's a liquid bottle

and trust me - one drop goes a LONG way!

They are sparkly and glittery and very - VERY - messy

which made for lot of fun :) 

The Brea Reese watercolors are so rich and vibrant.

They have tons of pigment and are very concentrated - 

you have to shake, shake, shake your booty the bottle to activate the sparkle!

The mica settles to the bottom and you have to be vigorous 

with the shaking/mixing but once you do - it's worth it!

If I had to sum it up in one word,

 I'd say it's similiar to Tattered Angels glimmer mist spray in the form of peerless watercolors.  almost. 

I used a paintbrush, only a couple drops of ink, and water ~

and brushed the watercolor onto cardstock. 

It dries VERY fast ...

I didn't even have time to get the heat gun out, it was that fast!
 

My card is using the reindeer from CC Designs

and a little scene of snowbanks with vellum paper 

and placed behind the triple stitched frame. 

I added a couple drops of water to the BR watercolor inks

and brushed it across a piece of heavyweight cardstock.

I wish the photograph could show you the true shimmer and sparkle.
If you see the close up above, it SHINES!

It's like fairy dust over the photo just gleaming!

 

There is also a little bit of shimmer in the vellum I chose.
It's actually a leftover from a previous project and I saw it,
ran it through the cutter with a snow bank die cut.  
Perfect!
No throw aways!

You can also see Barb, Jeanette, Terry's 
messy cards on their blogs today.

I'm smiling (at myself) for creating a card with Christmas

and holiday lights since we took "Christmas' down from our house

on the 1st day of January when The Kid was home on winter break.

It's all back to normal and nothing is out of place ♥

↑
Except ... note to self ...

 next time, wear gloves.

Because once it's on your hands, it stays on your hands, LOL!

Thanks for stopping by!
Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly

Card entered into:  As you see it #216 - sparkle

CCEE2002 ~ Law Enforcement Appreciation Day!

 Hi friends!

This is my 8th card I've made so far this year 

and 7 of them have been hues of blue.

It's funny how a color just grabs your attention

and inspires you to work with it :)

Which is perfect ~ since today's card is for 

the CCEE Stampers challenge of the week:

celebrating Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

  Lynn is our hostess for January and gave us today's challenge. 

 I don't personally have any cops in my family ~

on one side, it's all doctors

and on the other side, military!

I've used the Pure Innocence stamp from My Favorite Things

and did a quick coloring 

and a pretty classic card layout.

I'm pretty sure this card will be a giveaway ~

as I don't have anyone to give it to!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly

COF: Get well soon!

Good Morning, friends!

Today I have a card to share for the Craft of Faith,

a faith based card group over on Splitcoaststampers.

Each month, the hostess gives us a scripture and a challenge ~

it's such an amazing mix of adding faith into our cardmaking!

My sweet stamping friend Shelly, who is also a nurse, 

gave us a wonderful challenge:

Scripture:  2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. For as Christ’s sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow.”

Challenge: As a Christian and a nurse, January is very busy in the hospital 

with those who are afflicted with illnesses. Let's make a Get well card for our January challenge and send it to someone to put a smile on his/her face.

Thank you, Shelly! I love your theme!
*edited - I made 2 more cards tonight to share!*

I used Birdie Brown's Bedside Manner from My Favorite Things stamps.

I was so happy when MFT released this adorable doctor ♥

I purchased this stamp set to make a card 

for my husband who works tirelessly with his patients.

He does so much good and has such an incredible compassion.

And, right now, he's in such horrible pain from passing a kidney stone

yet you wouldn't know it from his demeaner.  

He's wonderful!

The cat and the puppy are a nod to the 2 strays 

that my daughter 'gifted' us, LOL and my husband said 

'It's okay. Give them a chance."

She came home from college one weekend with a kitten in tow

and the puppy was running in and out of traffic on the highway.

The kitty/puppy stamp is from a WPlus 9 stamp set.

And that's it for me today!

Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly 

Some-fin special about you!

 Happy Monday, friends!

you. are. jawsome!

There's some-fin really special about you! 

 I'm playing along with the inspiration at Splitcoastampers challenge

that gave us a wonderful site of wall murals.

My son loves

LOVES

sharks!

And I love stamping them!

win/win! :) 

I've used Friends with fins from My Favorite Things stamps

and he's certainly one of the cuter sharks I've seen.

 

 This card was a labor love!

To create this one, I did a lot of oxide blending with different shades of blue

distress inks. Once they were blended, I ran them through my Gemini Jr

with a cloud die, turned upside down for the waves.

I stamped/cut/colored the shark from the My Favorite Things stamp set

Friends with Fins and used the shark image.

It's popped up on 3d foam for a jumping out of the water effect.

Once that was finished, I added a simple die frame panel to the front.

Here's the mural that inspired my photo

↓

 

photo courtesy of Murale Design

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly

Drink up the Sunshine!

Happy weekend, friends!

School starts back up for the kids here 

after a long winter's nap!

Oh it's going to be rough ~

we've been having too much fun and enjoying the holiday break :)

Today's card was so much fun to make!

I live in sunny South Florida

so for us, it's always summer :)

 The CCEE Stampers card group has resumed this week

(silly me! I thought it started next week with the school schedules.  oops!)

with Lynn as our hostess. Her challenge is June in January ~

a nod to those that live in Australia that are currently in summer weather, too.

My heart aches watching the news with the raging Australian wildfires

and the tremendous loss that's being shown.

I am not sure what I can do from my little corner of the globe

but I am certainly on bended knee.

I decided to create a card based on MFT Stamps sketch challenge ~

it's intriguing!

The second I saw the sketch, my mind went to water panels

and memories of lazy rivers, 

which we go on often on our vacations.

I created the panels first by using Ranger distress oxide inks

and blending them on white cardstock.

I cut them down to size to fit the A2 card,

and then cut and colored the images and sentiment to place it on the water,

popping them up on foam.

Here's the sketch and I'll enter this into their challenge:

Today I'm off to organize my son's room ~

changing his room furniture around and purging out some old clothes.

Who knew teenage boys grew by the WEEK! :)

Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly

One Plus Twelve - January!

Hello friends!

Last year, I had an idea to use my stamps

in a more creative way.

The idea is to take one stamp 

- just one - 

and use it once a month on a card.

 I call the challenge:  One Plus Twelve!

The one = the stamp I've chosen
The twelve = the twelve months in the year.

The hardest part is actually in choosing which ONE stamp :)

Since my word of the year is bloom,

I knew I wanted to use a flower stamp.

I love love LOVE flower stamps!

And, I wanted to set a personal challenge for myself this year ~

coloring larger images with lots of nooks and crannies!

(I have some pretty bad eyeballs!)

But I do love my stamp choice!
I've chosen Beautiful Bloom by My Favorite Things ↓

 I started out with this vibrant blue for the Pantone color of the year ~

Classic Blue.

There will be a garden of colors by the end of the year, I'm sure!

This one is colored with Zig Clean Brush markers

and, as you can see, it was definitely a learning curve!

*I also need to retake this photo!*

I heat embossed the sentiment and added it to the front,

popped up on 3d foam and scattered some sequins on it.

My friends Barb and Jeanette are playing along 

with the One Plus Twelve, too.

If you are looking for a great challenge this year, try it!

I think you'll love what you see in December, looking back

at all the way you used just ONE stamp ♥

 Thanks for stopping by!

Big hugs, bigger blessings!
~Kelly

Challenge/Simon Says Stamps:  Something New (flower)
color dare #375 (blue)

2020: Word of the Year ♥

Hello 2020!

I am convinced I must have been Cinderella in my past life.

Yes, I married my prince charming :)

And while I occasionally wear glass slippers wish for a fairy Godmother,
I know that I'm very VERY blessed ♥

But here it is - nearly midnight on the first day of the new year -

and I'm already watching the clock nearly strike twelve!

I do love the freshness of a new year ...

 the clean slate, the chance to start anew.

There's a certain magic in knowing the next 365 days of the year

can be anything you want them to be.

Every year,

 and for the past 8 years here on my blog,

I have a Word of the Year that becomes my 'mantra.'

It's one that inspires me, and often nudges me,

and reminds me to grow as a person on different levels.

 

The funny things about my Word of the Year

 is that I don't choose them. 

They always chose me ♥ 

My husband wanted to go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve this year.

 I find that a lot of my funniest thoughts happen when I'm sitting in church.

{You might remember this year when I was daydreaming in church

and I got my WOTY ... loud and clear!}

This year - as righteous as holy water - there it was again.

I was on my phone sitting in the pews, lost to the latin prayers being said,

and took a quick scripture quiz on what my WOTY could be.

After 20 or biblical questions, it was the exact word I'd been contemplating!

:::: cue the angelic music and rays of light ::::

And I just knew.

I said it out loud for a couple of days,

trying it on for size.

And, unlike most of my clothes, it fit.

Bloom.

 By definition, bloom, as a verb, means:

 to mature into achievement of one's potential;

to flourish in freshness or excellence;

to shine out.

I'd been thinking of this particular word

because there is so much growing I hope to do.

As a wife.

mom.

grandmother.

steward.

daughter.

sister.

friend.

crafter.
writer.

It's more than just living - growing - in the moment ...

it's thriving, reaching, exploring, soaring!

Bloom.

On a creative level, my hopes are to carry this into my card making.

In order to bloom best, I'm also giving myself the gift of creative freedom.

If the 'one a week for 52 weeks' didn't work,

I'll just adjust the way I set out my potted self to grow :)

This is, after all, a wonderfully FUN journey of paper, stamps and ink!

What do I have planned for this year?

This!.

1. There's room for leftovers!

For this card series, I'll create a card with anything left over

from a crafting session.

Goal: Try to keep/use as many bits and pieces as I can in a creative way
and add them to a card.

2. Carded, Twice.
The world needs us - now, more than ever.
We're big on recycling ~ in our home, as volunteers locally helping to clean up our waterways, previously in classrooms.
Goal: Finding ways to reuse an item of a recycled nature on a card!
Items will be used, not tossed, on CARD + for the second time (Twice!)

Waste not, Want not!

3.  Grab it and Add it!

Don't you love having a stamp set with 8-10 stamps on it?

And then sometimes we use ........ one stamp.

In this series, I'll create a card by GRABBING a random stamp set

and ADD on as many stamps as I can from the set on to one card.

Goal:  Once a month,  using a different stamp company/set.

4. A grateful he(art)

Becoming an Oma to my darling granddaughter, Alice, 

has gifted me a love I could have not imagined.

She is the greatest treasure and my sweetest joy!

Seeing life through her eyes has given me a sense of grace and beauty

that I want to carry over into everything ♥ 

Goal:  Reach into my joy jar and pull out a word at random

and create a card based on that one little word ~
this will be a quarterly project!

In addition to these, I'll still continue on with The Project Bin design team,
the CCEE Stampers challenges,
 my One Plus Twelve card challenge for the second year,
 the 3 Musketeers, the Ready Set Go

 and Hot Mess Success challenges and the Crafters of Faith card groups.
And my newest venture, Stamp What? as created by my son
to use my 'old dusty Stampin' Up stamps'
 and he'll surprise me by choosing which one!

So, while I don't have a Jaq or Gus and I can't wave a "bibbidi-bobbidi-boo",

I'm excited to see what 2020 holds!

"Have enough courage to start and enough heart to finish." 

- Jessica Yourko

I always believe there's room to grow.

and thrive. and reach. and explore.  and soar.

I just hope I'm on time for it!

Happy New Year!

Big hugs, bigger blessings ♥

~Kelly