Winter bbbrrrrr!

I can't believe it's December already! Geesh where has the year gone? Since it's my week to give the challenge I decided something with a Winter theme. So something dealing with snow, cold, ice, snowmen whatever.

So how are you doing with you holiday shopping? I usually end up finishing up at the last minute, even though I tell myself every year I am gonig to get it done early. Thankfully I don't have as many gifts to buy this year.

Happy Crafting,

Kimmy

House Mouse fun filled friday

Well I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! It was very nice to be with my parents this year. I even got my card for today made up. I decided not to do any Black Friday shopping today. I just didn't see anything I really NEEDED. Of course there were many things I wanted, but not bad enough to get up that early and wait in line in the Minnesota cold. I might run up to JoAnn's in a bit to use my coupons and see if there's anything left.

On with Fun Filled Friday post. This week Jen challenged me to use House Mouse stamps. I decided which stamp I wanted to use before we left to visit my parents so I stamped a few images (in case I messed up), I even had a background paper all picked out, but as you will see I didn't go that route. Here is the cute little guy I decided to use:

This was a pretty simple card to make. I stamped the image on plain white card stock and colored it with my Prismacolor pencils blended with Gamsol. Then I cut out the image and layered it on blue card stock. Next I ran some really light blue (almost white) card stock through my Cuttlebug and used light green chalk to try and make it pop a bit. (that is really hard to see in the scan). Then I cut the Cuttlebugged paper into 3 pieces 1 1/4" x 3". I layered each one on the darker blue card stock. Next I glued all of the Cuttlebugged pieces to a piece of the lighter blue card stock and cut that out. Then I glued the whole piece to the center of my A2 size card base. i finally added my layered image and that was it. Don't forget to peek at Jen's card for today.

Supplies:

• Stamp - House Mouse Morning Kick Start #HMIR1014
• Card Stock - Bazzill
• Miscellaneous - Cuttlebug and swirls embossing folder, Prismacolor pencils, Gamsol, ATG gun

I stamped "Warmest Wishes" on the inside. I thought he could really help "warm" someone up this winter.

So did anyone venture out to the stores this morning? I would love to hear what you bought and what fabulous deals you got! If I make anything else while I am at my parents I'll be sure to post and share with you. Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy

House Mouse anyone?

Jen's turn for our fff challenge. This week she is challenging me to put my House Mouse stamps to use. These little mice are so cute! I love how fuzzy they look, and they have the most adorable faces. I think I know exactly what stamp I am going to use. I'm thinking something to warm us up.

Do you have any House Mouse stamps? I would love to see what you have made with them. Do you have a favorite stamp or mouse? If so which one?

Happy Crafting,

Kimmy

Sympathy Swap

I got back into swapping over at the Shack. Since it's always difficult for me to come up with sympathy cards I joined a Sympathy card swap to challenge myself and to get some ideas from the cards I get back.


Boy did I struggle with this one. I never know if flowers are too cheery, or the colors I pick not somber enough. I finally just sat down and forced myself to start. I was pretty happy with what I came up with, BUT I don't know if they fit for a sympathy card. Here is what I came up with: (If the layout looks familiar, that's because it is. After I made these I used this layout to create my Riley card last Friday.)


To make this card I started with my image. I stamped it on plain white card stock using black ink. I colored it with my Prismacolor pencils and used a colorless blender pencil to shade - I have only tried this a couple times before and was very happy with the outcome. Then I used my Marvy Uchida Giga scallop oval punch to cut out the image. I then used red ink to ink the edges. Next I cut two small slits at the bottom of the flowers and threaded black ribbon through and tied it in a knot. Next I cut a piece of red card stock to 2 1/2" x 5 3/8". Next I used my Martha Stewart Lattice border punch on both of the longer sides. Then I cut a puce of black card stock to 4 1/8" x 5 3/8". I then glued my red strip to the lower portion of the black card stock. I then used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp my sentiment along the red strip. Next I used my border punch again to punch both of the upper corners of the black card stock. Then I added 3 red brads above the red strip of card stock. I then glued that to my red A2 size card base. Finally I added my image to the left portion of the card.

Supplies:

• Stamps - image by Inky Antics; sentiment by All Night Media
• Card stock by DCWV (Die Cuts With a View)
• Inks - black VersaFine; red Colorbox Cat's Eye ink
• Embellishments - brads by JoAnn Craft Essentials; ribbon by Offray; punches - Martha Stewart Lattice Border punch; Marvy Uchida Giga Scallop Oval punch
• Miscellaneous - Prismacolor pencils and colorless blender pencil

So does it fit the occasion? I really liked my coloring and layout, but I am not sure how I feel about it as a sympathy card. I would really like some feedback on what you think, or if you have any sympathy cards to share.

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy

Happy Thanksgiving

Another week has gone by and I am starting to get a bit stressed about the holidays. I swear they really snuck up on me this year. At least I have 1 Thanksgiving card done - thanks to this weeks challenge. Make sure you stop by and see Jen's card for this weeks challenge. I got a few Riley stamps and FINALLY got them mounted on my cling mount so I was very anxious to use them. Here is what I came up with



I started by stamping my Riley image on plain white card stock using black ink. Then I colored it with my Prismacolor pencils blended with Gamsol. I then used my Marvy Uchida Mega scallop circle punch and punched him out. Then I inked the edges of the scallop with brown ink. Next I punched out the Giga scallop circle in orange and inked those edges in brown too. I then centered my image on the giga circle. I then took some brownish red card stock and cut it to 4 1/8" x 5 3/8" and used my Martha Stewart Lattice border punch along the bottom and the top corners. Next, I wrapped a piece of brown 7/8" ribbon around the center of the card stock. I then used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up my "happy thanksgiving" sentiment and stamped that in the lower right corner using the brown ink. Next I added 3 orange brads above the sentiment. Then I glued my layered image to the left side of card. I then took my orange A2 card base and inked the edges in brown. Finally I added my card front to the A2 card base.

Supplies :

• Stamps - Turkey Riley by Hanna Stamps; sentiment by Stampabilities (ER1068)

• Embellishments - brads by unknown (sorry I don't remember where I got them); ribbon by Wrights 7/8" brown

• Ink - VersaFine black; Memories art print brown

Here is a close up of my coloring :

I really had fun with this image. I can't wait to start using the rest of my Riley's.

Well, how is your Holiday planning going? I haven't started my shopping yet, but thank goodness I don't have a ton to buy. I am very excited we are going to visit my parents for Thanksgiving. It will be a short trip, but I can't wait. It's funny I have never been out of Michigan for a holiday before. My parents have spend every Thanksgiving alone since they moved so I am very happy to be able to spend the day with them.

I am hoping to get some crafting done in the next few days so I can have some blog posts for you next week. Did you make any Thanksgiving cards this year? If so I would love to see them. Leave me a link to your creation. Any challenge suggestions for me? I could use some! I love hearing from you.

Happy Crafting,
Kimmy

My NEW TOY!!!

I am so excited this past Thurs my DH surprised me with an iPod Touch. The whole thing started a few months ago when I decided I wanted an mp3 player or something for music when I work out. Then I got to talking with one of my girlfriends (who is a marathoner) about how Nike and iPod have these shoes that will calculate your speed and distance and download it to your iPod. So I started looking at iPods. I don't think I will get the Nike's though. Then my DH started looking and decided the touch has wifi and a bunch of other stuff so if I'm gonna do it might as well do it right. He is a bit of a tech geek so he really researched it. I almost got the iPhone, but the extra $30 a month right now on our phone bill would be tight.

Anyways I was so excited with it I haven't been able to put it down. Since we have wireless Internet at home I have been constantly on the Internet on my iPod. I stayed up until 5:30 in the morning playing away.

Any other iPod users out there? Got any favorite aps you would like to share with me? How about any tips? I got a power inverter so I didn't have to use just my computer to re-charge it - anything else I'll "have to have"? I love that it has Facebook! (I'm hooked on that too)

Happy iPodding
Kimmy

Blog candy winner for October!

Well, I just realized I never announced a winner for October's blog candy. So without further ado

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Traci G!!!!

Here is here card. I loved the colors she used and how the whole card turned out. Traci is also a member on the Shack. I got to meet Traci at Shackapalooza this past April and am looking very forward to seeing her next year! Thanks for playing along Traci!

Well, Jen and I have been debating whether or not to continue with FFF after the new year. Let me know what you think? I am sure we would still challenge each other, but just might not make any deadlines or anything. Do you have any suggestions? Anything you might like to see on my blog monthly/weekly/daily? Let me know .... my New Year's resolution is to become a regular blog poster instead of my current posting. I know I can do it! ha ha ha

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Crafting!

Kimmy