Birthday wishes for dad

My Dad's birthday is today! He is a huge fan of fishing so here is what I came up with for him:

Of course I used my Nesties on this card :) It was a pretty easy card to make. The sentiment is actually a lot longer, but I cut out the part that I wanted. I used my white glaze pen to add a little touch to the splash the fish made. I hope he enjoys it.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Supplies :

• stamps - image by DRS Designs, sentiment by Paper Inspirations
• paper - card stock by Bazzill, pattern paper by Chatterbox Scrapbook Walls Varsity Argyle
  
• miscellaneous - Prismacolor pencils, mineral spirits, EK Success paper shapers corner stone punch, Spellbinders Nestabilities, eyelets by Oriental Trading, Versa Fine black and brown inks, white gelly roll Glaze pen by Sakura.

I hope you enjoyed yesterday's post about the Cuttlebug. It was fun to look though some of my supplies and find something to write about.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's metallic Fun-Filled Friday.

Happy Crafting,

Kimmy

What's that Wednesday????

I have decided to start a new segment on my blog "What's that Wednesday?". Want to know how that works? Thinking of buying something but now sure if it's right for you? Just want to know the pros and cons to a product? Want to try a new technique, but not sure? Is there an easier way to do something? Well I am here to help. I know I have tried tons of different types of products in my many years of crafting. Some I have bought simply because they were on sale, or cheap. Other items I just had to have. I have been both very excited and disappointed my different products I have. Some items took some getting used to and now I love. I thought maybe I could help some of you out there save some money and time by sharing some of my product and technique reviews.

I am going to start this off with a favorite product of mine :

The Cuttlebug by Provo Craft

The Cuttlebug is basically a portable machine for die cutting and embossing. You have to purchase the embossing folders and dies separately. It folds up when not in use and has a pop up handle for easy transportation. When you open your Cuttlebug it has a suction feature the holds it in place on your table or counter top. I have only used the Cuttlebug embossing folders, but I know there are several other brands that are compatible, you just need to know the "recipe". I have used Cuttlebug, Sizzix, and Spellbinders dies without any problems. The nice thing is the crafting world has figured out ways to use this with so many other brands and items that it's so versatile. The Cuttlebug comes with 4 plates to put your materials between; 1 A plate, 2 B plates, and 1 C plate. The order of the plates, dies/embossing folder and your material being cut make up the "recipe". I have heard of several people having one of the plates crack after alot of use. I don't know how to prevent this, but the plates are pretty cheap to replace.

Here are a few of the recipes I frequently use :
(I wrote these to be placed face up in the order you read them)

To use with your Cuttlebug Embossing folders
A Plate
B Plate
Embossing folder (with paper in it)
B Plate

To use with Cuttlebug Die
A Plate
B Plate
paper
Cuttlebug Die
B Plate

To use with Spellbinder Nestabilities
A Plate
B Plate
paper
Nestabilities die
C plate

***NOTE : I like to see what I am cutting so I like to cut with my Nesties face up. I am also trying to do all of the "cutting" on my B plate - just my preference no special reason. The recipes can be placed in different order.***

Many other recipes can be found online. The internet is so full of information and tutorials. Check out You Tube for video tutorials - they are very helpful.

I will admit I have had times where this item sat on a shelf collecting dust, but lately it's right next to me. I also will honestly say this is not a product I would expect someone just starting out to purchase right away, but if you can afford it I highly recommend it. I was lucky enough to get mine for a birthday gift :)

Just a couple of money saving tips. If you are looking to buy a Cuttlebug remember Michaels and Joann's offer 40% off coupons almost every week on non-sale items. The Cuttlebug usually retails for about $79.99. For Spellbinders Nestabilities I suggest the http://www.ucutathome.com/ online store. You can sign up for the V.I.P. club and receive a 40% off coupon in your email monthly. Hobby Lobby also has weekly coupons, but I don't have one close enough to shop at frequently. You can always check store ads online, or look for sales at online stores. I always try to use a coupon to save some cash.

Please let me know if there is anything you would like to see reviewed or have questions about. If I don't have it or have never used it, I'll do some research for you - or if it's something on the more affordable side I'll pick one up and let you know what I think. If you have some tips or tricks you want to share please let me know I am always excited to learn something new. If you disagree with my reviews (or strongly agree) please share, someone may learn from something you have to say. Feel free to email me.

Next week I am going to share with you a product that also works with the Cuttlebug, I am very excited about this one.

**Remember these are my opinions on how things work for me, you might love something I don't - it just depends on your style of crafting. ***

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy

Sorry no project today....

Sorry I don't have a project to share with you today. I was very busy this past weekend. I was gathering up projects for a couple of design teams that I decided to apply for. Wish me luck:) it was fun looking through the progression of my work. I have improved from my first card. I wanted to share with you all a new segment I starting tomorrow, I'm calling it "what's that Wednesday".. Here is what it is all about.

Thinking of buying something but now sure if it's right for you? Just want to know the pros and cons to a product? Want to try a new technique, but not sure? Is there an easier way to do something? Well I am here to help. I know I have tried tons of different types of products in my many years of crafting. Some I have bought simply because they were on sale, or cheap. Other items I just had to have. I have been both very excited and disappointed my different products I have. Some items took some getting used to and now I love. I thought maybe I could help some of you out there save some money and time by sharing some of my product and technique reviews.

I'm not sold on the name but it will do for now - let me know if you have any suggestions. I hope you check in tomorrow for my first review.

I promise next week will have more projects.

Happy crafting,
Kimmy

What's gold, silver and bronze all over???

Riddle for the day : What's gold, silver and bronze all over???

This weeks Fun-Filled Friday challenge!

That's right this week Jen's challenge is a Precious Metals challenge. So we have to use golds, silvers, bronzes (is that a word???), and metal embellishments. This should be fun and very elegant! Make sure you stay tuned Friday to see what we come up with.

Do you enjoy using metal embellishments, or metallic colors on your work? If you do please play along - if not why don't you give it a try this week.

Well, I have a busy week ahead of me - guess I better get going on this challenge!

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy

Get Well Riley!

It's Fun-Filled Friday! This week was a Riley challenge. I took it to the extreme and made a whole Moose Week. I hope you aren't sick of them yet. What's the plural of moose anyways - mooses? Today's card is also my "get well" card of the week for my friend Monica. I am making her a card a week until she recovers from her surgery. Here is what I came up with :

This card is using alot of the same elements you have been seeing all week - Nesties, border punches, and of course a Riley Moose. This one was super easy to make too. I actually started with my paper and colored my image based on that. I love how the coloring came out too. I used my Nesties Labels 1 on this one. I added some stickles to the pattern paper to bling it up a little.

Supplies :

• stamp - Hanna Stamps Sick Riley
• paper by KI Memories "it's a girl paisley", card stock by Bazzill
• miscellaneous - Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 1; Stickles; Prismacolor pencils; gamsol; Martha Stewart Doiley Edge Punch;

So did you join out Fun-Filled Friday challenge this week? I would love to see what you came up with. Let me know if there's anything you would like to see me try. I love to be challenged!

I am very happy to say I am doing well with my resolutions this year. I'm back on my diet, crafting more often and keeping my blog updated. And I was getting back into working out again until I slipped shoveling snow and then again in the garage. I am a big klutz and me and ice don't get along all that well :) My foot, arm, and knees have been recovering from my falls so I am taking it easy with the working out for a few days.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy

Moose Week Day 2

Here is another moose card for you :

I made this card with my Mom in mind. It's actually for her birthday. This is so her! Every morning she has her cup of coffee and a cupcake :) Not a big, yummy, homemade cupcake, just a small Hostess sized cup cake. This one was also simple, I used my Nesties and based the colors off of the cupcake ribbon I have been itching to use. I hope my Mom likes her birthday card - and notices the similarities:)

Supplies :

• stamps - Hanna Stamps Coffee Riley Moose; Stampin' Up Riveting "it's your day"
  
• card stock - Bazzill, the glittery card stock I don't know the manufacturer of
• miscellaneous - ribbon by Michaels; black Versa Fine ink; Prismacolor pencils; gamsol; Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 2 set, circles, and scallop circles; Cuttlebug; Sizzix crease mat; Fiskars Threading Water border punch; red Stickles
  

Here's a close up of my sentiment, and you can see the cute ribbon. I added red stickles to the cherries on all the cupcakes. I also put it on Riley's cupcake too.

I decided to cut down on my "how I made this card" segment of blog posts. Let me know what you think? Would you prefer detailed instructions for every card? Hope you are having a great week. Tonight is my last night of work then 4 days off - I can't wait!

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy

Moose Week!

Since this week's Fun-Filled Friday is to use Riley images, I decided to have a week of full of Moose cards. It may be silly, but I was having so much fun coloring them the other day I thought why not make a few extras.

Here is Monday's Moose card :

My DH was nice enough to let me purchase some Nesties for Christmas. I got a full circle set, and the Labels 1 and Labels 2 sets. I was so excited to play with them - used them over and over again (so you will be seeing alot of them). One of my girlfriends had heard about using the Sizzix Crease mat with your Nesties to cut and emboss all in one run through your Cuttlebug. I must say it worked very well. I recommend trying it. I had to play around to get the right size shim and I always run it back and forth in my Cuttlebug a couple times, but that's just what I do.

You can't see it very well in the picture, but I cut and embossed the scallop circle right on the card base, then again on the pattern paper. I then placed a lighter blue card stock on the inside of the card. Next, I colored and cut out Riley and glued him to the center of my lighter blue card stock. I also used my Just Rite stamp set to stamp the Relax sentiment. This was a very simple and quick card to make.

Supplies :

• stamp - Hanna Stamps Coffee Riley Moose
• card stock - Bazzill
• pattern paper - Scrap Works pacific vibrant
• miscellaneous - Prismacolor pencils, Gamsol, Nestabilities Scallop Circles, Cuttlebug.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you enjoyed today's card. I have had a busy weekend having to work Friday, Saturday, Sunday and now today and Tuesday. I work 12 hour shifts on midnights so my work days tend to drag. Well, check in tomorrow for another moose card I made this weekend. I am trying to keep up my 5+ posts a week - so if you have any suggestions or comments let me know.

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy