Happy Thanksgiving

Since next Thursday is Thanksgiving I decided our them for the week should be just that - Thanksgiving. I know it might be a little tight to mail to someone, but lets see what we come up with. Maybe I should have made a "black Friday" themed! If you aren't familiar with it black Friday is, it's the day after Thanksgiving with all the huge sales. I know they are really big here.

When I was a child, I used to love Thanksgiving because everyone would come over to our house and my parents would cook for all of us. It was everyone from my mom's side of the family. Oh the memories of sitting at the Kiddie table. My dad's stuffing is my favorite - I could eat just that. YUM! Since my parents moved out of state Thanksgiving hasn't been the same. Actually, not much has been the same, but this year we are going to visit them for Thanksgiving and I am very excited - so are they.

Do you celebrate Thanksgiving? Do you have any family traditions you always look forward to? What's your favorite dish? Do you partake in any of the Black Friday shopping?

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Crafting,

Kimmy

Tea for friends!

I joined a swap over at the Shack where we swap tea bag so we can try different flavors of tea. We had to either add some tea related stamped images or somehow decorate up our tea bags. Here is what I came up with:


I got the idea from Splitcoaststampers. I don't have an actual link to the template but I found it by searching for Tea bag holders. I (amazingly) remembered what the measurements were so I didn't have to look it up again. My mind isn't always the greatest:)

I started by cutting card stock to 4.5" x 9.75". Then I used my Score-Pal to score it at 3.25", and 6.5" on the longer side (obviously). Next I measured 1" from the bottom of the 4.5" side on the far right. Then I cut from the 6.5" score line to the 1" mark. This created an angled edge on the paper. I then glued that angled edge along the bottom and 1" side and folded it in toward the score line. Next I folded my other score. This gave me a little pocket card. (hope that makes sense) Next I stamped my image and colored it in with Prismacolor pencils blended with Gamsol. Then I used a square punch to cut out all my colored images. (we have to send in 14 for the swap). Then I inked the edges of the image with blue chalk ink. Then layered the image on pink card stock then again in green just using a photo corner punch on the upper right and lower left corners. Then I punched blue scallop square using my Marvy Uchida Giga punch and centered my layered image on that. I then cut a piece of pattern paper 4.125" x 3.125" and inked the edges of that with a pink or green chalk ink. I then glued the pattern paper to the center of the 3.25" x 4.5" card base. Then I stamped the sentiment (using my Stamp-a-ma-jig) to the lower portion of the pattern paper. I then added my layered image above the sentiment. Finally, I put my Vanilla Caramel tea bag inside the pocket.


Here is what the card looks like open. Hope the girls in the swap enjoy the card and the tea:)

Supplies: stamps - image A Muse Artstamps "cup and saucer", sentiment - Stampabilities "warmest wishes"; card stock - Bazzill; pattern paper - K & Co.; ink - VersaFine black, Colorbox chalk inks pink, green, blue; Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol; Marvy Uchida Giga scallop square punch; tea - Bigelow Vanilla Caramel.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! And Happy Crafting!
Kimmy

Kreativ Blogger Award

I am very honored to receive this award from my friend Jen. As you know we have been friends for a while and give each other challenges every week.

Here are the rules:

1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.

2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.

3. Nominate 5 blogs.

4. Put links to their blogs

5. Leave a message for your nominees.

So here are the 5 blogs I've nominated, in no particular order:

Chrissy's Creative Spot
(for being a faithful follower of my blog and always trying to play along with FFF)

Forgetfulone
(also for being a faithful follower of my blog and playing along with FFF)

Sunflowers and Dragonflies
(for being a very good friend and always inspiring me with amazing work and new techniques)

Running on Ink
(for her awesome artsy work - I wish I could create like this)

Creative Diversions
(for always having something stunning and elegant to post)

Thanks for being "Kreativ" bloggers and keeping me inspired!

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy

Happy Fall!

Sorry for my delay in today's post. It's been a little crazy in the Kowalik house today. A ton of running around to do. I don't know why it seems like everything gets crammed into 1 day. On with my card for today! As you may know the challenge this week was a fall/harvest card. Here is what I came up with :


To make this card I stamped my image on plain white card stock with black in and colored it in using my Prismacolor pencils blended with Gamsol. Then I used the scallop Nesties to cut out the image and layered it with a copper card stock then again with brown. Next I stamped my sentiment "May the blessing of the the season fill your heart and your home" on the gold card stock and layered that on brown. Next I stamped 3 leaves on different colors of card stock and cut each one out. Then I cut a piece of leaf pattern paper 5.25" x 5.25". I then glued the pattern paper to the center of my 5.5" x 5.5" card base. Next I glued my layered image to the upper left of the card, and the sentiment to the lower left. Finally I added my leaves to the right side.

Supplies : stamp - House Mouse, paper - DCWV, card stock - Bazzill, Prismacolor pencils, Gamsol, Nesties, Marvy Uchida corner rounder.

Here is a close up of my image. I think he turned out so cute!

I again want to apologize for my delay. I hate when things get overly hectic. I do want to share with everyone that my DH surprised me with an iPod touch yesterday! I was so excited. I played with it all night. I knew I was getting one, but I didn't think until Christmas.

Stay tuned I plan on having another post this evening since I got a blog award!

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy

Fall.......

Jen gave me this weeks theme and it's a favorite of hers fall themed! I know she LOVES fall and leaves. She has already made a few really cute fall/leave cards so I can't wait to see this one. I also enjoy fall. I think it's the way the leaves change colors and the air gets a bit crisp. The smell of fall is wonderful too! Ahhh.... I don't like spring just as much for the way the flowers start to bloom and smell and everything gets green. I enjoy the first few snow of winter, but then it gets old, and summer sometimes gets TOO HOT for me.

Do you have a favorite time of year? If so why? Hope you Fall lovers decide to play along with this challenge. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

Happy Crafting,

Kimmy

Thank you for your service.

Happy Fun-Filled Friday! I must start off this week by saying WOW! What a time we all live in. I will admit I voted for McCain this election after much debating, but I feel very honored to have Obama as our President Elect. What an amazing election this was. There was so much emotion from both parties and both McCain's and Obama's speeches were very moving. I now hope we can move our nation in a better direction. I know being in the state of Michigan things are pretty rough here financially. Jobs being lost all the time, homes going into foreclosure, and people not knowing how to get out of this slump. I am ready for a new year full of new opportunities.

Ok off the political rant and on with the cards:)
This week I challenged Jen to make a card for Veteran's Day. I guess it was kind of fitting with the election too. Here is what I came up with:



To make this card I started with my image. I stamped it on plain white card stock with black ink and colored it with my Prismacolor markers. Then I cut the image out and layered it on red and then blue card stock. I then layered that on white Bazzill Bling card stock leaving the lower portion longer than the rest. Then I wrapped red and blue ribbon around the bottom of the white card stock. Next I cut a piece of red card stock to 4 3/4" x 6 3/4" and layered my layered image on the red card stock centered at the top. I then stamped the sentiment to the lower part of the red card stock. Finally I glued the whole card front to my 5"x7" card base.

Stamps : image - Serendipity Stamps, sentiment - All Night Media, Card stock : Bazzill, and Bazzill Bling, Ribbon : Offray, Misc : Prismacolor Markers.


This card was put to good use. My husband and I left it at the grave site of a friend of ours. We put it in a plastic baggie so hopefully it would last a little longer. It meant alot to my husband to use it for this purpose once he saw it. It was a very special moment for me.

Well I have to thank Blogger for having scheduled posting. This week I had to work a few extra days since I was off last week and with out being able to schedule posts I probably would not have gotten this one added! Don't forget to check out Jen's card.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. I will be working so have fun for me!

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy

Let's thank a vet!

Since this Friday is Veteran's day I figured our challenge should be to make a card to say thank you to a Vet. Maybe I'll make a couple and send them to a few Veterans. This should be a fun challenge, I have a couple ideas with military style designs.

Do you have any Vets in your family? A card is such a nice way to say thank you - don't you think? We also send packages to troops overseas around Christmas to thank them and show our support for all they do. Do you do anything for the military?

Make sure you check back Friday to see our card!

Happy Crafting,

Kimmy