Double Take Thursday - Birthday/Cuttlebug

Today is Double Take Thursday, and it was Beth's turn to challenge me! Her challenge was to make a card that you would give for a birthday, but you also had to use the Cuttlebug on your card.

I decided to break in my new set from SU and use the flower from Embrace Life. I stamped and embossed with white on vellum, then coloured it from the back with Copic Markers. I then used the Spica Glitter Gold pen to do the stamen on the flower. I also thought I would give the reverse ink cuttlebug technique a try, and I love it! I used SU light plum to ink the folder. I used shimmer paper on all of the card except the flower. The sentiment is from Inkadinkado.

I looked thru all my stamps and can you believe I don't have a Happy Birthday stamp? What's up with that? I have TONS of sayings and sentiments, but not a HB?? Gonna have to fix that! So this sentiment I used is something I would typically use on a birthday card for a girlfriend.

Be sure to stop by Beth's blog and see her beautiful card!! She used a neat fold on her card, and beautiful colours!

Have a great day and thank you for stopping by!
:)

Boho Flower - MFT

Evening Everyone,

I started making this card yesterday, but couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with it, or how to lay it out. So, I put it away and left it until this morning. It's not at all what I had planned to do, but that is what's fun about stamping! lol...It's fun to just let whatever happens.....happen!

All stamps used on this card are from the Boho set from My Favorite Things. I just adore their stamps, but don't get nearly enough time to play with them! I did a few things I don't normally do, like run my circles and corners thru the cuttlebug, using the textile embossing folder. I also went thru all my embellishments last week, and decided it's time to start using them, instead of just collecting! So I used one of my bookplates on this card. It felt good to use something from my stash instead of running out and buying more! I know you all know what I mean! lol

I hope you have all had a Happy Easter!

Thanks for stopping by today!
:)

Double Take Thursday - Baby Cards

Well, it was my turn to set the challenge for Beth and I. I chose Baby Cards. I had no idea in mind of what I was going to do at all! So I just played awhile and this is what happened! lol I had this little piece of patterned paper that I really wanted to use, plus a new punch. Anyway, I do like how it turned out, a bit different for me, and that's a bonus! lol

Be sure to stop by Beth's blog to see her beautiful card!! Thanks for playing Beth!!

Thanks for stopping by!

:)

Double Take Thursday - Basic Grey

Afternoon Everyone,

Today Beth challenged me to use Basic Grey patterned papers! I love their papers, so I really enjoyed this challenge! I stamped and embossed on ivory c/s, then layered with Bazzill and Basic Grey. The image is coloured in with Copic Markers. A simple card this time....and I got called in for a different shift, so I am uploading it now instead of later!

Stop by Beth's blog to see her beautiful card, it will be uploaded sometime today as well!

Thank you for the challenge Beth, and for playing again!!

:)

Card and Box

Morning Everyone!

All stamps used are from Inque Boutique Petals Set. It really is a pretty set of flourishes, petals and leaves and very reasonably priced as well! I coloured in areas with my copic markers, and then went over all coloured areas with the Copic Spica glitter pens. In real life it's so nice and sparkly! I had a bit of a hard time taking a picture from the top so you could see the flower that is there, but you get the drift! I also used alot of velvet paper and the cuttlebug to emboss the velvet, it really adds a nice touch! Opps, the sentiment is from Hero Arts! Forgot about that!

Thanks for stopping by this morning! I will be posting my card for Double Take Thursday when I get home from work, about 7 tonight! So check back if you can!

Have a great day!
:)

Peanut Butter Pie and SU Party

Afternoon everyone!

I had an SU party on Friday night and served this pie. I didn't even think of taking a picture, but boy was it good! lol It just melts in your mouth, it's more of a cheesecake than a pie. Anyway, the girls asked me to post the recipe on my blog for them, so here we go:

Ingredients:

1 Chocolate Crust ( I just used Oreo crumbs and becel light, the directions are on the box)

1/2 low fat Peanut Butter
4 ozs. tub style light creme cheese
4 ozs. brick style light cream cheese
1/2 cup splenda
1/4 cup skim milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 cups fat free Cool Whip, thawed

1 tablespoon chocolate fudge sauce

Steps:

1. In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream the peanut butter and the cream cheeses. Add the splenda, milk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Fold in whipped topping and spoon into crust.

2. Warm the fudge sauce and drizzle back and forth accross the top of the pie in a decorative fashion. (You don't have to warm the sauce if you don't want, it just flows easier)

3. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Per serving:

210 calories
Carbs - 20 grams
Protiens - 7 grams
Fat - 11 grams
Fiber 1 gram

This recipe is from the Splenda cookbook, and there are many awesome recipes in there. Even if you are diabetic as I am, you could still have a small slice of this and feel so fulfilled! lol....Anyway, hope you try this pie....you won't regret it!!! lol

Julie posted pictures of the projects we did on Friday night, have a peak if you like! They were super and Yvonne is such a patient SU Demo! We always have such a blast with her!

Have fun!
:)
Kim

Kids Cards

Evening!!

Wow, I really did struggle with kids cards. This was the monthly theme at Embellish-It Online. The gallery is now open, so if you have a chance, please go have a look at the beautiful cards and projects that the design team has uploaded!! There is some major talent there for sure! The board also has an awesome new forum, so check that out while your there too! lol

These are some of the kids cards I did for this theme. I haven't really used my Cuttlebug for a long time, but pulled it out today and had fun playing! Barb also has some of the NEW folders, die cuts, stamps, embellishments, papers for sale at her STORE as well! Shopping is wonderful there!! I have a couple more cards to finish, and will share with you tomorrow as well!

Thanks for stopping by, and I know these cards seem really simple, but honestly, they took me forever to do? I can do a Stampsmith card and finish it in about 15 minutes, but these, hmmm...FOREVER!!! lol

Have a great evening!
:)
Kim

Double Take Thursday!

Evening Everyone,

Urgh, I almost forgot to upload this!! I just sat down to do some blog hopping, went to Beth's blog, and saw her card and remembered I have to upload mine! lol

This week I challenged Beth to make a kids card. Now, when I started making my card I had something else in mind, but this is what happened! lol...I think this would be ok to give a young girl. But I will be making some more kid cards and hopefully I can come up with something a bit more cutesy than this one. I did use bright coloured papers, bling and a pretty bright flower brad, and it's all about being happy!

Papers used are from Basic Grey. Main image stamp is from Paperbag Studios, and all the rest of the stamps are clear stamps from Sandylion! I was shocked to see they are making stamps, and they are just gorgeous, inexpensive as well!

Please stop by Beth's blog and see her awesome card!! Her's is definitely a kid card! She rose to the challenge....I just kinda kneeled I think! I will try again tomorrow! Isn't it funny how you issue a challenge and you have a problem making a card for it? Hmmmm.....lol

Thanks for playing this week again Beth! Can't wait til next week!

Have a great evening everyone,
Thanks for stopping by!
:)
Kim

Last Tuesdays Byhand Challenge - Bunny Template

Morning All!

Last weeks Byhand Challenge was to use a bunny template that Suzanne posted from Quietfire Design! I have to say I was completely stumped on this one. Everyday I looked at my bunny and wondered what the heck was I going to do! Hmmm....a serious challenge. I ended up making this late last night. I ended up doing a resist on glossy paper. First you stamp your images on the bunny with Versamark, then heat set. Next using a make up sponge, I rubbed on a light pink dye ink, then after that a darker pink, then for my top coat of ink I used a lavender colour. You have to rub the ink quite aggressively so that you create your resist with the images you stamped with versamark ink. I then overstamped the sentiment with black ancient page dye ink. On the black layer, I stamped Flourishes and them embossed with black powder. All stamps used on this project are from Quietfire Design, please stop by and have a look! You will be tempted and enabled for sure!

Thanks for looking!

:)
Kim

Have you ever.....

Have you ever walked into a stamp/scrap store and seen a stamp and run to grab it because you know you HAVE to have it? Well, that was me last week! I saw this new stamp by Artful Stamper and knew it was meant to be mine! lol...it really was calling my name! I knew I could use this image for some many different occassions, so here is my first card made with it. The idea isn't mine though, they had a sample from Artful Stamper, and I pretty much cased it. I used copic markers to colour in the hearts, then used Dimensional Glaze over top of the hearts to make them pop. I took a side picture and a close up of the hearts so you can see just how dimensional this card is. I can't wait to ink this stamp up again!

Thanks for stopping by today!
:)
Kim

Double Take Friday - Cosmo Cricket

Hello Everyone,

Beth and I decided to have DT on Friday this week, as we have both been busy, and I have been sick, so we missed a week. Things are getting back to normal, so here we are with a challenge! Beth challenged me to use Cosmo Cricket papers! I was so excited as I just love their papers! They have one line that I just hoard, WANTED. So, I decided to pull out my cowboy/cowgirl stamps and make a couple cards this time! I had a blast with this weeks challenge! I wanted the cards to be a bit grundgy looking, keeping a real western theme. So many times I wanted to start over again cause it didn't look perfect, but I was determined not to let it get to me! A bit to much ink in one spot, a dot of ink here, a print of ink there....lol...relax Kim....lol...that is what I kept saying to myself!

Please be sure to stop by Beth's blog to see her gorgeous creation!! And, she also has awesome tutorials on her blog, check it out!

Anyway, all the stamps for these cards are from Rubber Stamp Avenue. They have a delicious selection of stamps. I used Cosmo Cricket papers, charms are from Frost Creek, and I even threw in some hemp cord. On the bottom card, I punched holes and sewed the hemp thru the card, and added quite a few teeny brads. I used the new Tim Holtz ruler, and it is amazing! Everything lines up so nicely when you are able to use all the grids that are on the ruler. And the holes, tons of them....at 1/8" apart. So you have alot more choice when decided how close or how far apart to space your brads! I just can't say enough about this ruler, and the price is fantastic!

Well, thanks for dropping by today!

:)
Kim

Quietfire Guest Designer for February

I know I shared with you my excitement when Suzanne from Quietfire Design asked me to be Guest Designer for the month of February. Today the newsletter was released and I wanted to share a link to it! If you scroll close to the bottom you will see my project, just click on the picture and it will take you to the directions! Plus all each member of the Design Team has a beautiful project in the newsletter with full directions, so if you have time, stop by and have a look!

Quietfire Design February Newsletter

All stamps used for the box and card are from Quietfire Design

I was inspired to try something new because of one of blogs I visit all the time, Sharon, from No Time to Stamp! Please do go have a look, she does AMAZING work! I went and bought the book she was talking about, and have been trying a few different things! Thanks for the great tip on the book, and for the inspiration we all get from your work!

I have been sick for a few days and will probably be off for the rest of the week. I have a nasty sinus infection, and infection in my lungs, all started from a simple head cold? Urgh...what can you do! I will rest lots and hopefully create while I am off as well. Stamping relaxes and calms me!

Thanks for stopping by today!

:)
Kim

Created Byhand Challenge - Glossy Paper

Afternoon Everyone!

This weeks challenge at Created Byhand is to use glossy paper on a card. The glossy on my card is the Stampsmith Photostamp, she is stamped on glossy paper with Ancient Page black ink. I think painted the image in softly with Zig Photo Markers and a watercolour brush. After that, I stippled Tim Holtz Distress inks over top, then darker around the edges of the image, hoping to give it more of an aged look. All other stamps used are from Quietfire Design. Suzannes stamps are just GORGEOUS, and such a treat to use! I also used swarovski crystals in the corners of the sentiment panel, but I couldn't seem to pick up the beautiful sparkle of them.

Thank you for the challenge ladies! That was fun!

:)

Kim

Picture of my Sons

Evening Everyone!

Tonight I wanted to share a picture of my boys with you. I don't often post personal pictures, but I have a weakness when it comes to my sons! lol Shawn is on the left with Wendy and Mike is on the right with his g/f Debra. Aren't they a great looking bunch? I think so...lol...but I am a bit biased! lol

I do have a few things to post, but I have to wait until they come out in the newsletter from Quietfire Design before I put them on my blog. I think it's tonight or tomorrow, then I can post everything!

Have a great evening Everyone!

:)
Kim

Last Tuesdays Byhand Challenge

Morning Everyone,

I have finally gotten a picture taken of my House card for the Byhand Challenge. My battery died in my camera, and I was running behind schedule. Sorry it's so late! :)

All the stamps used on this are from Quietfire Design, except for the photo stamp of the young boy and dog, that is from The Stampsmith. I tried something I haven't tried before and that is the Maya Road sheer flowers. I just rubbed some pigment ink on them, put some embossing powder on, and I had flowers to match my project! I would highly recommend them!

The template is also available at the Byhand Challenge site, so go check it out and maybe build yourself a house!

Thanks for dropping by!

Kim

Award from Jennifer...

It was a real honour to find out that Jennifer gave me this blog award! Jennifer is one of the sweetest, talented and most encouraging people I have ever known. Please stop by her blog Thimbles, bobbins, paper and ink to see her gorgeous work! I know she already received this award, but if she could have another, I would award her with it again! Thank you again Jennifer, you are a sweetheart!

According to the rules I will now pass on the blog of excellence award to the following people who's blogs I find outstanding and EXCELLENT:

http://blog.papermonkey.org/ - Suzy

http://artsbyflowers.blogspot.com/ - Holly

http://notimetostamp.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/ - Sharon

http://manicstamper.blogspot.com/ - Sheila

You know what, I would love to award this to everyone whose blog I link to. I stop at every one of their blogs daily and drool over their beautiful designs. So if you are listed in my inspiring artist on the right hand side, please consider yourself awarded!! It would just take me too long this morning to post each and everyone in this post! Work really gets in the way of my stamping and blogging! lol

Thank you for the inspiration ladies, and thank you for this very special award Jennifer!!!!

:)
Kim

Double Take Thursday!!

Hi Everyone!

Today for our Thursday Double Take, I challenged Beth to make an extra special Valentines card with bling. It only seemed fitting as it's Valentines Day today! I started out making a totally different card, and it just didn't seem to work for me, so I decided to do a vintage photo stamp card! There is bling, but it's a bit more subtle that I had in mind when I issued the challenge! Oh well, what can you do! lol

The main image is from Stampsmith, there is a link on the right hand side of my blog to Estelle's gorgeous stamps! The rest of the images are from Inkadinkado. They have such a wonderful selection of stamps...I want them ALL though! lol I used a wider ribbon and a ribbon charm on this card as well as some beautiful brads from K & Co. The patterned paper is from Cosmo Cricket, I can't wait to see all their new papers in person! lol

Please be sure to stop by and check out Beth's challenge card! I am on my way there now...I know it's going to be gorgeous!

Thank you for dropping by today, and HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!
:)
Kim

Created Byhand Challenge

Evening!

I am late in getting the Created Byhand challenge done, but my printer wouldn't work, so I had to get someone else to print out the collage image for me (thank you Deborah)! The challenge this week was to use the free clip art image from Quietfire Design, and use it on a project. I also used all Quietfire Design stamps on this card. They are so gorgeous, check out those flourishes!! And the verses are so thought provoking....Suzanne's calligraphy is simply beautiful!

Sorry about my photo, I couldn't seem to get the words to show well, they are silver embossed.

Thank you for stopping by!!

:)
Kim

Double Take Thursday!

Todays challenge from Beth was to use Buttons on a card...yikes....that was a huge challenge for me! It took me forever to figure out what I was going to do, but I finally found a stamp that would go perfectly! The image and saying is from Creative Chaos. Paper is from Junkitz that I have had forever! I used a bit of distress inks on the image to give it a bit of colour.

I haven't been over to Beth's blog yet, but I am heading right over to see her card, I know it's going to be beautiful!! Why don't you pop over there too if you have a chance!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
:)
Kim

Valentines Cards

Hi everyone!

Today I have a couple cards to show. One is stamping on acetate, and the other is using non-traditional colours on a valentines card.

The first card is done using Basic Grey Pheobe papers available at Embellish-It, sentiment from Quietfire Design, and the heart stamp is from My Favorite Things. I stamped and embossed with versamark, then Moss Green embossing powder from Artful Stamper. I used a swarovski crystal in the center of the heart, and on the four corners, just for a bit of bling. I like the way this card turned out....and they are colours I don't really use much! lol

The second card is using Basic Grey Two Scoops paper, Basic Grey Swirlies and Sweet Sentiments, all available at Embellish-It. The stamp is done on acetate using pink Stazon ink. I was surprised how fast this dried! But, I think I pressed to hard on the acetate because it seems a bit of the ink came off? I will try some more and see what happens. The image is from Inkadinkado, and I think it's just so cute! I stamped with Java Brilliance, then embossed with ice diamonds embossing powder, so it's quite sparkly. I coloured a bit with Copic Markers. I also used a Martha Stewart border punch for the bottom of the card. I know this one is pink...but it's a Valentine card...lol...any excuse will do!

I know these cards aren't my typical style, it's fun though to try something different!

Stop by tomorrow and see what the Double Take Thursday challenge is!!

Thanks for dropping by, and have a great day!
:)
Kim