Happy Easter!

Time sure flies when you're having fun....

I have been such a blog slacker. Last weekend was Shackapalooza! I was so excited to go and I need to post some of the pictures from the trip. I didn't take any, but I have some the girls sent me. I also made a few projects and got 30 Christmas cards done (whew!) and 20 more started. Hopefully this year I can be ahead of the game with the Christmas cards. I still haven't unpacked all my crafty bags from the trip:) That's on the agenda for this week. Along with playing with all my new goodies and techniques I learned. We had a SU! demo, TAC demo, Amuse demo and Ippity demo there... I didn't go TOO overboard. ha ha ha..

Yesterday I walked (key word is walked) my first 5k! I was pretty proud of myself for finishing under an hour - I think it was 58 mins:) My sister and brother-in-law did it with me. I will admit I was pretty nervous that I wouldn't be able to finish or would be super slow (not that 58 mins is fast). But we did it! What an accomplishment for me. Until that my distance "walking" was on an elliptical or in a pool (to minimize impact on my hip joint). I still don't have the all clear to run but maybe next year I will.

I am still trying to figure out how to manage my time between working, working out and crafting. It sure seems like it's taking much longer to adjust to working again than I thought it would. Who would have thought working after 2 years off could be such a change - but it's a good change I am loving my job! Plus I was taking water aerobics 3 days a week. This May it's only offered 2 nights a week so a few days a week I can go to the gym earlier.  I am taking advice from a friend of mine and making a "crafty to do list". I am trying to be practical about it too. I have a few challenges to complete this week. Grey and yellow, make something using what I have learned from my Shadows and Shading book, and there was a sketch challenge I wanted to play along with. 3 things shouldn't be too tough! Should I add get some cards ready to send for publishing - I keep putting that off (maybe fear of rejection LOL!)

Well, that's my update! Thanks to all my blog friends who still follow me through sporadic postings. Stay tuned I promise I will work on something to post soon!

Happy Crafting!!
Kimmy

DeNami Designs Monochromatic Blog Hop!

I am so excited to be a part of the DeNami Designs April Blog Hop! This month's theme is Monochromatic. Here are all the blog hop details.

When: 

The blog hop starts on April 10 at 6 AM,PST. However, you have until April 11, 2011, 11:59pm PST, to leave comments on all the blogs (to be eligible for a prize).

Why: 

To be inspired by beautiful creations featuring DeNami Design stamps and also the chance to win mini shopping sprees on the DeNami Design website!

Prizes: 

Denami Designs is giving away THREE $20 gift certificates to their website! One gift certificate to a random participant (DT members not eligible) and then they'll also be giving away TWO gift certificates to TWO people who comment along the hop! (so make sure you comment!)

Extra Challenge: 

For anyone with monochromatic projects to share. There will be a link widget on the DeNami blog hop post where you can upload monochromatic creation(s). One winner will be chosen and be guaranteed a spot in the next blog hop AND they'll get to choose a few stamps of their choice!

If you arrived from Samantha Mann's blog then you are on the right track. If you would like to start at the beginning of the hop visit the DeNami Designs blog.

I don't have a ton of DeNami Designs stamps (yet) so my choices were a little limited. I hope you enjoy what I came up with:

Supplies : stamp by DeNami Designs - Owl Trio, ink -  Momento Tuxedo black and Versa Mark, Paper by The Paper Company, Cuttlebug Houndstooth embossing folder, Copic markers, Spellbinders Nestabilities, ribbon by American Crafts, brads by Joann Essentials.

The next blog on the hop is Pattie Goldman's blog. 

Thanks for stopping by enjoy the Hop and good luck!

Happy Crafting,

Kimmy

Blog candy winner!

I have decided I am going to complete the challenges you girls posted. I am going to Shackapalooza this upcoming weekend so I plan on working on these. Stay tuned to see what I create! 

And now for the blog candy winner...

Big drum roll please! ....................................

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......................................................................

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And here's the results from Random.org 

True Random Number Generator 

Min:  

Max:   

Result: 1 

Powered by RANDOM.

So the winner is  

Jumbledhutch

Congrats Kim! I'll be sending your package in a few days (I have your addy unless it's recently changed)

Happy Crafting, 

Kimmy 

Only a few hours left....

I will be drawing the winner of my blog candy tomorrow morning so you just have a few hours left to get your entries in! All you need to do is leave a comment on the BLOG CANDY post with some sort of challenge you would like to see me try and for an additional entry share my blog candy giveaway with friends:)

Good Luck!

Blog candy!!!

Here's what the winner will receive :

 

After reading through this book (since I won a copy on a blog hop) I decided I would order one as my blog candy prize. I haven't tried anything out of the book yet, but it is so full of wonderful information! You have a couple chances to win too:) I will draw a winner using Random.org on Saturday April 9th so you have until 11:59 PM (EST) Friday, April 8th to leave a comment on this post. For this comment to count you have to suggest a challenge for me to try. It can be anything a recipe, color combo, new technique whatever you think.

For a second entry please share this post with your friends via your blog or whatever other way you think of. Just post a comment stating you have done so. 

Good luck and I am sure the winner will be very happy! 

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy!

I haven't forgotten!

I still have a blog candy giveaway coming soon, things just got a little busy. I got a new job last week and my first day was Monday. I'm loving it. I am trying to adjust to working again, keeping up with my gym routine, and we had a couple appointments this week so that's what's been keeping me preoccupied. 

Good news I also won a blog hop this week! I won a copy of Marianne Walker's book Shadows and Shading. I can't wait to see what's inside - that's just what I need! 

Stay tuned! 

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy

Blog-a-versary

Today is my blogaversary I can't believe I have had a blog for 3 years! I was going to have a little blog candy give away all ready to go, but I got busy this past weekend and the beginning of the week. So it will be slightly delayed - so stay tuned!

Today is also my birthday so Hubby and I are going to a nice dinner this evening (he won't tell me where yet). Maybe I'll even get some time to spend in my craft room:)

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy

Easter Greetings

A while back I stamped a ton of images to take with me somewhere (I can't remember where right now) so that I could color to pass the time. I found a box full of images some colored some not. I figured I better put them to use. I forgot how cute this darn Riley (from Riley and Company stamps) was and had to color him!

After coloring the image, I added some glitter to the egg with my Spica pens (sorry you can't see that in the pic). Then I cut Riley out with my Nestabilities egg die. I inked the edges. Then I cut out a piece of purple card stock in the next largest egg size and ran it through my cuttlebug using the D'vine Swirls embossing folder. Next I added some yellow brilliance in to the embossed parts.  Then I got some ribbon and put everything together. The sentiment is a Studio G stamp I got for $1 at Michaels. 

Thanks for stopping by hope you enjoyed my Easter Riley!

Happy Crafting, 

Kimmy

Riley ATC's

I was looking through my previous ATCs and realized I never posted any of my Riley and Company ATCs. So here's a few I made :

This was a Riley swap and one of my favorite stamps. I can't believe what you can fit in an ATC space.

This was for a Halloween swap

From a Breast Cancer swap

  

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Crafting,

Kimmy

Spring is in the air!

I love spring! I can't wait for the warmer weather and more sunshine (and no more white stuff). Today's card is from a swap I was in over at The Stamp Shack. 

The stamp is DeNami Designs, I stamped it 4 times and colored all the little chicks with copics. Then I cut them out using my Nestabilities Labels 8 cutting off enough of the top to fit my "spring" sentiment. I then stamped the sentiment using Martha Stewart clear letters. I inked the edges and stamped the sentiment with a Brilliance purple ink. I added the ribbon on the top of the image since I didn't like the line from where I cut the paper. I ran the pink piece that was cut with Labels 8 through my Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots embossing folder then layered my chicks on that. I then put the whole piece on a yellow card base that I rounded the edges with my corner rounder. Finally I added some self adhesive rhinestones which I colored with my copics to match. 

Hope you enjoyed todays card! Thanks for stopping by. I love hearing from you so let me know you came by and any thoughts you have to share.

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy

SPAM anyone?

First off I wanted to send prayers to Japan - What a devastation! Also to those in California and Hawaii - alot of my hubby's family is in California so I hope they are all safe and sound.

I took a break from ATCs to share some fun pics from our trip to the SPAM (yes I said SPAM) museum yesterday. I have wanted to go for years and we always seem to run out of time or forget about it. I was curious if Save Ferris would be playing over a speaker through the whole place LOL! (in case you are a fan of Save Ferris and curious their song "SPAM" didn't even get mentioned). I must say it was a blast though. Who would have thought a canned meat could be so entertaining! Even the brochure is funny! It's free (minus souvenirs) and there are alot of interactive things to do and history.

I had the most fun with the "can your own spam" activity. First you got to dress up like a Hormel factory worker, then they had bean bag shaped like spam you had to put into cans, cook in the oven, put the lid on, add the label and get ready for shipping. Yes I am sure this is mostly for kids, but I had to jump in the fun! Had there been a crowd I may have spent less time LOL!

Love the piggy doors! I also couldn't resist a SPAM hat and trying it on. 

Just down the street there was this adorable sign we had to have a picture of it. 

It was a very fun day! If we are friends on Facebook you can see all of my pictures. 

Happy Crafting, 

Kimmy

Ok I hope no one is sick of ATCs yet. Just a few more today and then some tomorrow. Next week it's back to new projects.

This ATC is from a "things that fly" swap I did many months ago. 

 

This was from a "recipe" swap. We had to use a stamped image, pattern paper, a 3-d embellishment, and ribbon. 

This one is from a "cupcake" swap. I do love cupcakes! 

and finally, we have one from a St Patty's Day swap. 

Thanks for stopping by today! 

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy

More ATCs!

Good morning everyone! 

I hope no one gets sick of seeing ATCs. I joined a ton of ATC swaps before I had my hip surgery and a few after I was well on my way to recovering. I am still in Minnesota and enjoying my visit. As an early birthday present my mom surprised me with a day at the salon. I got a cut, color, and highlights. 

I am a very happy girl:) 

So today I am going to share a couple ATCs I made using Happy Hoppers! Both were colored with Copics. They are such cute stamps! The first one is from a "baby" themed swap. I used my Just Rite Stamper for the boarder saying. 

And this one was from the "in the tub" swap. I feel relaxed just looking at it. 

 

Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to leave a comment I love hearing from my visitors:) Tomorrow I will be continuing with the ATC theme and next week I should have some new creations to share. (I just realized my blogaversay is just a few weeks away - stay tuned for BLOG CANDY!)

Happy Crafting,

Kimmy

ATC's anyone???

This week I am in MN visiting my parents. My sister and I decided that we would hop in the car and make the the 12 hour drive to surprise my mom. It is VERY rare that both of us visit together. My dad was in on the plan but mom sure was surprised! Since I didn't bring any stamping supplies I figured I would share a few ATCs I made over the past few months for swaps over at The Stamp Shack.

Here are a couple from Christmas and winter themed swaps. (sorry I don't have my supply list with my but I'll add that info when I get back to MI)

 

 

 

( I think the one above is my favorite I just LOVE that stamp)

 

Hope you enjoyed some of my ATCs stay tuned tomorrow for a few more:)

And if you are in Michigan or anyplace that has Packzi's have one for me, I am really missing them right now! Happy Fat Tuesday!

Happy Crafting,

Kimmy

Just Rite Stampers challenge #49

I finally am participating in one of the Just Rite Stampers challenges! I say I am going to every time and end up forgetting about it or something comes up. This challenge was the direct to rubber challenge so I used a marker to color the areas of the Easter stamp I wanted to use. And this is the final product :

and here is a close up of the cross so you can see how I only inked a portion of the stamp. I also used my Copic markers to color in the rhinestones on the purple flowers. The white flowers were made using a punch and some brads.

I liked this so much that I am going to use the same idea for an ATC swap I am in.

supplies: paper by The Paper Company, stamp - Just Rite (Favorite Occasions Borders and Centers), ink Zig Marker and Copic marker, Purple flowers by Prima, rhinestones by Kaiser, flower punch by Paper Shapers, brads by Joann Craft Essentials, Spellbinders cross and nestabilities circles and scallop circles.

Thanks for looking and Happy Crafting,
Kimmy

Blog Candy opportunity

Beth over at Sunflowers and Dragonflies is giving away a huge blog candy package.
Check it out here.

Stay tuned next week I have some projects to share!
Happy Crafting,
Kimmy

DeNami Design's Beautiful Buttons Blog Hop!

Welcome to DeNami Designs Beautiful Buttons Blog Hop! 

Here are the details for the blog hop:

When: The blog hop starts on February 13,2011, 6:00am PST, however you have until February 14, 2011, 11:59pm PST to leave comments on all the blogs (to be eligible for prizes)

Why: to be inspired by beautiful creations featurnig DeNami Design stamps and also the chance to win mini shopping sprees on the DeNami Designs website!

Prizes: DeNami Designs is giving away THREE $20 gift certificates to their website! Tey will be giving away on gift certificate to a random participant and also TWO gift certificates to two people who comment along the hop!

If you arrived from Linda Nomura's blog then you are on the right track if not please go to DeNami Design's blog to start the blog hop.

Here is my Beautiful Buttons Creation:

The stamp is (of course by) DeNami Designs I actually stamped it three times and colored it with Copics. Then I cut it out using my Nestabilities. I also used the Martha Stewart Crafts punch Daisy Fun. The card stock is all by Paper Factory, and the buttons by Hero Arts.

The next stop on the Hop is :

Jenny Wagener !

And don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win a DeNami Designs gift certificate!

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy

Warm Wishes....

Well, it's been a while! It feels good to be back and have a project to share with my small group of followers :) I am really looking forward to getting back into blogging now that I am feeling much better.

My good friend Jennifer over at Ink N' Scrap Habits challenged me to use a crimper (since both of ours have been collecting dust). So I thought what a perfect idea for a hot cocoa swap I was in. I got the idea from Splitcoast it's called the crimped envelope technique. And since there is a blizzard outside I figured it was perfect timing for something warming. Here is the finished project :

and a view of it closed :



Supplies: image by Stamps N' More- Mocha #9242-I, sentiment by Rubber Stampede, envelope A2 size from Office Depot, Ribbon by Bobbie M. Designs, card stock by Bazzill Bling, Copic markers, Fiskars paper crimper, Nestabilities large oval and scallop oval and labels ten, Momento black ink, Memories artprint brown ink, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists.

ETA: To make the background I used Tim Holtz distressing inks around the edges, I used faded blue jeans and vintage photo. Then to stay with the brown and blue feel I was going with I got out my Tattered Angel Glimmer Mists and sprayed the blue and brown on the envelope. All the inking, and spraying were done before I cut the envelope and ran the bottom portion through the crimper. 

I am in the process of changing my blog look, but for some reason blogger wasn't cooperating tonight. Maybe it's the weather. Hope you enjoyed today's project!

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy