Kim Times Two!!!

Remember how I told you that I had something cool in the works for yesterday?? Well, it worked out and I have pictures to show!!!

You know how I am on the Design Team for a fabulous company called My Favorite Things???? Well, do you know who lives in Florida?? Kim Vandersanden, the creator and owner of MFT!!!! She knew that we were coming to Florida on vacation and she made it a priority to see us!!! How sweet is she???

So we found a mid point between her home and our condo and figured that Lakeland would be our meeting place. We googled to find a stamp/scrapbook store to visit and we found Violette's!! So we pulled into the parking lot at almost the same time and it was so great to finally meet the lady who flattered me to no end by asking me to join her Design Team and has been so generous to me over the last few months!! And she is just as sweet in 'real life' as she is online!

Well, we walked into Violette's and our jaws hit the floor!! The place was both gigantic and full of yummalicious stuff and adorable and quaint at the same time. We thought we'd died and gone to heaven! There was SO much to look at and we hadn't even gotten around the first room, when my husband and daughter, who had scoped out the whole place in a matter of minutes, came over and told us that there were many more rooms to visit! It was at that point that they decided to go for a drive and leave Kim and I to do some serious shopping!! My honey is the bestest stampin' hubby a girl could ask for. He took off with Emileigh and they amused themselves elsewhere while letting Kim and I shop through all TEN, yes, I said TEN rooms in the store. They came back about an hour and a half later and we were just about done by then! I had Al take a couple of pics of Kim and I with Diana, the manager of Violette's!



Well, after we did some damage at Violette's, we headed over to the Lakeland Mall and had some lunch! We desperately needed nourishment to continue on our shopping journey!! We all yakked and visited while chowing down and then we were ready to shop again! We picked up a few things at different stores but the major score was at the local Disney store which was closing at that particular location. Everything in the store was 50% OFF!! Can you believe that??? We got t-shirts and pj's, mugs and toys!! We got birthday presents and Christmas presents for like, the next ten years!!! Okay, so that's a bit of an exaggeration!! But we did well. And of course, I had to think about my luggage and packing it all, so I really restrained ourselves!! I mean, it was physically painful to leave the store and all those great deals behind! I really could have gotten SO much more!

So after hours of getting to know each other while spending money, Kim had to head home again. So we headed out to the parking lot and Kim has the greatest car, a Mini Cooper! Emileigh was in love with it and I think Al fancied it too! So he took a pic of the two Kims in front of it!!



Well, it turned out to be a great day and I'm so thankful that we were able to get together! Thanks Kim, for driving all that way to meet us! We love ya, babe!!

OH, and if you sat through and read all the blabber, I am rewarding you with a picture of this lovely card!! Hahaha!



It's pretty self explanatory but I used this Tilda on the new bench and the sentiment is from the MFT set, By the Seashore. I just love the font ....and I wanted to send you some sunshine from Florida!! Heehee!!

Well, we are packing up tonight and our suitcases are fit to bursting!! I just hope we're not overweight with our luggage!! If we are, I'm throwing out some clothes, because there's no way I'm losing any of my stampin' scores!! hahaha!!! We'll be flying back to Detroit tomorrow afternoon around 4pm and then we drive home. Back to the snow! Ick!!

Whipper Snapper Best Friends

Here is a very simple card for you today. This one I made using the Whipper Snapper stamp called Best Friends. Aren't these little girlies cute?? I got the stamp and the glittery DCWV patterned paper at The Town Scrapper. I coloured the image with my Copics and used the sketchy colouring technique, not colouring to the edges of the lines, instead leaving some areas white to draw the eye. This is a great stamp for this technique. I doodled around the frame, added a couple of buttons and some wide pink grosgrain SU ribbon.

Today was quite CHILLY here in Florida, so no beach for us! Instead we went shopping!!! Our first stop was a great little sb store that I discovered online, called The Scrapbook Shoppe. It is a HUGE scrapbook store and I met a couple of super nice ladies in there who were very helpful. Unfortunately, Al and Emileigh insisted on staying in the car, so the whole time I was in there, I was thinking about them tapping their feet waiting for me. So I rushed. Do you know that feeling?? So I didn't buy a whole lot and then we continued on to a couple of big malls.

The first one was one of those with the big fancy richy rich stores and we totally felt out of place at that mall! Like people could just look at us and see that we couldn't afford anything in the place! So we went to another mall and had much better luck.

On our way back to the coast, we stopped at a Target and picked up a few things and then we happened to see a Costco. Well, I made a total score there!! You know these Tote-ally Cool Totes by All My Memories??



They are fabulous with lots of great pockets and they are on a lazy susan so they can swivel on your craft table for easy access. Well, in Canada they cost a minimum of $45 in our local scrapbook stores. I got one in Costco with a bonus of the mini tote as well....for.....get this......$14.97!!! Can you believe that??? It's such a high when you get a good bargain, isn't it?? I just hope it doesn't take up too much room in my suitcase!

Anyway, we've got something cool planned for tomorrow and I hope it works out okay. I'll take pics and tell you all about it!!!

Happy Stampin'!!!!

OH Happy Day!!!

We are having a great time here in Redington Shores, although at this moment there are thunderstorms and lightning flashing in the sky. We were just checking the news too and apparently parts of Florida have had blackouts and been without power today, so we're lucky we didn't have to deal with that!!



Yesterday we spent the day enjoying the sunshine on the white sandy beach for a couple of hours and then we did a bit of shopping in St. Petersburg. Today we took a drive and visited Myakka River State Park. Al is a bit of a nature lover and Emileigh and I.....well, we're.......not. But we actually enjoyed ourselves.




We walked through some nature trails, traveled across a canopy walk several stories above the trees, took an airboat ride and saw lots of wildlife. We saw a bunch of those little lizards (eek....I hate them) and lots of different types of birds. We caught sight of several alligators and one came right up out of the water to eat a fish and gave us a little show. On our way out of the park we saw a wild boar with several of her cute little babies, so that was kind of cute!

But here is another Magnolia card for you, this time using the new tree stamp!! I also used Tilda with her birthday cake. I used the colour combo from the Ginger Blossoms dp by SU although I didn't use that paper. I did use some of the Groovy Guava dp and a River Rock card base. I found some tiny Prima flowers that matched the Ruby Red colour, so I decided to put some blossoms in my tree. Also the tree stamp has the heart shape carved out of the trunk with a plus sign in the middle and I added the T and the E for Tilda plus Edwin! The happy day sentiment comes from a new acrylic set that I got, but obviously I'm not and home and I can't remember the name of the set. Then I used my little slot punch to make a place to add the Groovy Guava ribbon. Simple layout but cute, right??

Anyway, I'm not sure what we'll be doing tomorrow as it's going to be cool for the next couple of days. My vote is for shopping.....I'll let you know if I win!!!

We Made It.....Finally!!!

Well, we are here in Redington Beach, Florida but it was quite a day getting here, I tell ya!! We had a nice relaxing morning, had breakfast, parked the car at the park and fly thingie and took the shuttle over to the airport. We got through check in and security in lots of time and sat waiting in our designated concourse. Then about 20 mins before we were to fly out, just before we should have boarded our plane......there was this big announcement that everyone had to pick up all their belongings and head back out to the main lobby part!! There were at least a thousand people filling the entrance and we all had to wait in line to go BACK through security!! It was ridiculous! We waited about a half an hour in line and then we finally started moving. Apparently there was some sort of security issue that they had to deal with and everyone had to get out and then go back through again. It was a pain, but I'd rather do that and be safe! We ended up only being about an hour and a half behind schedule, so that wasn't too bad. But the plane ride was another story!! We had an oblivious mother and two little kids sitting behind us, jumping all over the seats, running up and down the aisles and kicking the back of our chairs for two and a half hours. Aaaahhhh!! What fun!! Anyway, we finally got to Tampa, got our rental car and drove to the condo!! Let me just tell you....the condo makes up for it all!!! It is a brand new condo complex with ceramic tile floors, granite countertops, beautiful decor and lighting fixtures, Tommy Bahama furniture aaaahhh...it's gorgeous. There is a beautiful pool right outside our door and the beach is right across the street. It's gonna be great.

Here is a little card I uploaded to blogger before we left (I may have a few more this week...heehee) and I hope you like her! This is Farmer Tilda and her little kitty!! I used soft colours and the dp is Melissa Frances! I added some Prima Flowers and brads and the ribbon is some lovely gauzy stuff that looks so soft and pretty! The sentiment is by My Favorite Things and this is one of the great things about acrylic stamps....you can bend them to your will!! I like how it's wavy lookin'!

Okay, that's all I have time for this morning....we gotta get moving and get out in the sun! Not sure what we're doing today, but it's gonna be fun! Maybe I'll have some pics to share tomorrow! Toodles!!

And We're Off!!!

Well, we are packing our suitcases and getting ready to leave for Detroit this afternoon. Emileigh and I went and got our nails done last night as a little pre-holiday treat and this morning we are both going to get our hair done!! We'll be all purdy for the millions of photos we'll be taking this week!!

We're bringing the laptop so hopefully I will be able to check in every day and post something for you all!!

The card I am going to leave you with for the weekend is a simple little card that I made for a Gina K. sketch challenge a couple of weeks ago. I used a retired Stampin' Up set called Friendships Grow and I really like the style of it. I used SU watercolour paper and dp and I used my SU markers to colour the image. The colours just go together so well and the sentiment is from an MFT set called By the Seashore and I just love the font in that set!

Well, I'll try to soak up some of that sun for you and send it back too!! I like to share, you know!!! Oh and will you do some stampin' for me, PLEASE!!!!

Ginger Blossom Tilda!!

I think this may just be my favourite Tilda card so far!!! heehee!! Do you ever have a day when the creativity is just a-flowin' and your whole card just comes together??? Well, that's what happened with this one. And I'm really happy with it!!

I stamped the bench and Tilda separately on Papertrey white cardstock using Archival Brilliance ink in Graphite Black. I used the colours from the Ginger Blossoms dp by SU to colour her in. Now I don't have a Copic marker that matches River Rock.....yet, so I went a little darker with more of a mossy green and I think it looks okay. I cut Tilda out and layered her on top of the bench. I used my new Boho Blossoms punch and the One of a Kind SU stamp set to create all the lovely bunches of flowers and attached them with a mixture of Prima brads and SU brads. I turned the Ruby Red layer and made it a little cockeyed and then attached it to the dp and wrapped the Groovy Guava ribbon around both layers and then attached the whole thing to the River Rock square base. I pop dotted the main focal image and attached it and that sentiment at the bottom is from the SU Sale-a-bration rubons!!

Well it's off to work again today. I suppose I should probably start some packing this morning too, before I head in. I'd better go try on my summer clothes and see what fits!! Do you think they would notice if I tucked a few stamps and some ink and paper in between the clothes??? I don't think they would say anything at the airport, but my husband might have a few choice words!!! Like 'This is supposed to be a vacation!!' but he doesn't get that stamping relaxes me! Guess I'll have to make due with lying on the beach and soaking up the sun!!!

Thanks a Million!

I need to get more Edwins!!! I have lots of Tildas and not many Edwins.....good thing I have a few coming from Phebe!! Heehee!!

Here is a card that I made a few weeks ago featuring Edwin doing some yardwork!! Isn't he cute in his little bubble vest and hat?? This time I stamped him in Archival Versafine Black Onyx ink on Whisper White cardstock and used my Prismacolour pencils and OMS to colour and shade him. The card base is Night of Navy with a layer of Close to Cocoa that I stamped with the Flannel Plaid background stamp by SU. I ran the layer of Certainly Celery through my Cuttlebug, I love that texture....and layered the main image on top. I usually like to mat all my focal images, but sometimes it just looks better if you don't, like in this case. I added some hardware from We R Memory Keepers and some American Crafts ribbon. The button is SU with linen thread and the sentiment is from Essential Sentiments by My Favorite Things punched out with the Word Window Punch!



CHICAGO was fabulous last night!!! It was quite a rush though as I raced home from work, Emileigh and I quickly changed clothes and got ready, then met my friend and drove to London. We went out for dinner first, which was nice and then to the show. The seats were amazing and we were in the fourth row! The dancing and singing and everything was just superb!! We really enjoyed it!!!

Okay, I have a gazillion things to do this week before we head off to Florida this weekend.........did I mention that we are going on vacation??? Yepper!!! And I need one, let me tell ya!!! So I'd better get busy before I have to head in to work!!

Have a stampin' good day!!!

OH Sweet Tilda!!!

This is going to be a quick email this morning as I'm workin' all day!!! After work Emileigh and I are going to see Chicago at the John Labatt Centre in London with some friends! It's going to be a great girls night out!! We're excited!!

Today's card features Tilda with her Bouquet.....at least, that's what I call her. I'm sure if I tried to say it in Swedish, I'd mess it up, not to mention I'd probably spit all over my monitor.....and that's just not nice.

I pulled out my new Two Scoops paper by Basic Grey that I got from Lindsey at Jacksonbelle's Embellishments!! There are some fun colours in that paper and I pulled them out to use in this design!! The SU cardstock I used was Blue Bayou and Certainly Celery and the main image was stamped on Wausau bright white cardstock using Archival Brilliance ink in Graphite Black. I find that for me, it is the best combo for using my Copic markers. The scrunchy looking ribbon is from Making Memories and the sentiment is from Purple Onion Designs. I attached some Prima flowers using the coordinating Two Scoops brads and topped her off with Stardust Stickles on her little wings! Ain't she a doll?? Toot, toooooot!! That's me, tootin' my own horn!! Baaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

A Gift from Magnolia!!!

Well this morning I had a nice little lie in! Today is Family Day and the kids get the day off school, so I didn't have to get up early to take Emileigh in for 8:20am. Aaaahhhhh. I still woke up at 7:30am but then fell back to sleep until almost 9. So that was nice. I still have to work this afternoon, but I'm hoping to get a few things done this morning.

Yesterday was a fabulous stamping day!!! Emileigh had slept over at her girlfriend's house and spent the day there watching movies and doing homework and Al went to London shopping (got some new luggage for our trip), so I stayed home and got lots of stamping done!! I also did 5 loads of laundry, sorted clothes to pack for Florida and cleaned out the fridge!! But I had a great stampin' day and the mojo was a-flowin'!!

My Magnolia Design Team package finally arrived at the end of last week so I mounted all the stamps I got and got them inky!!! They sent me several of the new Spring Collection stamps, so that was super exciting!!!

For this card I used Tilda with a Present and the scalloped tag. The dp and card base were provided by Magnolia, so I'm not sure of the brand names. I stamped the images on Wausau bright white cardstock and coloured them in using my Copic markers to coordinate with that lovely dp. I stamped the sentiment by MFT on the tag before I coloured it too. I added some fabric Prima flowers with some Making Memories brads. I added two little folded strips of American Crafts ribbon on the bottom left and pop dotted the tag. And the finishing touch was the Stardust Stickles on her wings!! Hope you likey!!

Sow the Seeds of Love.........and Shopping!!!

Well, it's Sunday and my only day off this week. I have piles of laundry to do and dishes and the floors need cleaning......and of course, there's always stamping to do!! I wonder how much I can get done before I cave in and retire to my stamp room? Heehee!

Lunch in Petrolia on Thursday was great, as usual!! This time it was Ellen, my Mom, Irene and myself and Phebe joined us later. The meal was phenomenal (I had the special which was quiche....and fries!) and we had a great chat!! Then we headed over to Phebe's for a little stamp shoppin'! I got some new Prima Sprites and Press n' Petals. LOVE Prima flowers!! The other ladies spent more than I did (for once) and picked up some High Hopes stamps and some from My Favorite Things!

Then after we left there we decided to head up to the main street to check out a store called Two Doors Down that we had heard so much about. Well, it's a discount store where places like Costco send their clothing and stuff to sell off....cheap!! Let's just say that I really scored!!! Did I mentioned to you that next weekend, Al and Emileigh and I are flying to Florida for a week??? Yippeeeeeeeee!! I REALLY need a vacation!! Anyway, the one section of this store is like a women's boutique will all sorts of beautiful clothes!!! I was able to get: 3 eyelet tank tops, a sleeveless white blouse, a short sleeve hoodie top, 2 cotton A-line skirts and a quilted winter jacket all for $100!!! It was awesome!! Now I'm all set for the warm weather!!

Anyway, I'm waiting to get my March work schedule and then we can plan another outing. I will post it on here and you can email me if you'd like to join us!!

Today's card is one I created last week for a Gina K. sketch challenge on SCS. I used an older retired SU stamp set called Friendships Grow. I got it in a trade and I just LOVE the design. If you know of any other SU sets done along the same lines or style, let me know!! This one I stamped on SU watercolour paper and used my SU markers to colour her in. The dp is Melissa Frances and I added some SU taffeta ribbon and some Prima flowers and brads. Cute huh??? Oh and the sentiment is one of the Hanna Stamps sayings.

Well, hope you have a nice quiet Sunday with a little bit of 'alone' time!! Happy Stampin'!!!

I'm Sweet On You!

Whoops!! I guess when I posted early yesterday morning, I was so bleary eyed and out of it that I forgot it was Valentine's Day!! Egad!! Well I hope you did something special with the ones you love!

Here is my final Valentine's Day card for this year....I promise!! I think this one is probably my favourite!! Baking Tilda just looks so cute and I mean you could use her with different colours for a non-Valentiney card too, like I did here.

Well, this card is pretty self-explanatory. I stamped a little heart all over the Close to Cocoa card base and the sentiment is from My Favorite Things and the little glittery heart was in a bunch of stuff I got at a scrapbook garage sale.

Today is Friday, yippee! But I have to work today and all day tomorrow...yuck! Hope you all have a great weekend!!! Happy stampin'!!

Great Scott!!!!

Well, I've got the day off today....woohoooooooo!!! I'm sorry you can't all come with us for lunch!!! You totally made me laugh with your remarks about the commute and how long it would take for you to get here!!! For those that do live closer, like not in Alberta or Texas or....the UK......I know that we will definitely be doing it again and in the spring and summer months, we can plan well in advance as the weather won't be so iffy. It'll be a big party!!

Today's card is made with the wonderful High Hopes Rubber Stamps!!! These two fellas are from the latest release. I stamped them on Wausau bright white cardstock in Archival Brilliance Graphite Black ink and coloured them in using my Copic markers. This time when I coloured them though, I didn't colour all the way out to the lines....I did more of a sketchy look leaving some areas white. I've used this technique before and I like it because the white tends to draw the eye. See how some areas around the edges are left white?? Give it a try on your next card and see if you like it too!

The colours are taken from the Creative License Simply Scrappin' Kit which is now retired. I just cracked one open yesterday for the first time and I believe I have another one too!! Heehee! The papers are fantastic and the kit comes with the textured cardstock I used too. This card is a 6x6 card and I pop dotted the main image, added some $ store buttons, a clip with matching ribbon and I stamped the sentiment on a die cut sticker. You can find these stamps at The Town Scrapper or order them directly from High Hopes!!

Hope you all have a stampin' good day!!!

Wanna Do Lunch???

Well, I have the day off from work tomorrow (Thursday) and I feel like takin' a road trip!!! My plan is to have lunch at Actors in Petrolia, Ontario at 12:30pm and then head over to The Town Scrapper to visit Phebe around 2pm!!! If you'd like to join me, zip me off a quick email, so I can make a reservation at the restaurant for enough people!!! I'd love to meet ya!!!

I know this is short notice but I wanted to make sure that the weather was going to be okay. It takes me an hour and a quarter to get there and last night we had a big dump of snow. But everything looks good for tomorrow, so I'm headin' out!!!

Kimmie's Kreation Celebration WINNERS!!!!

Well, since I'm up late, I thought I'd post the winners since I know you'll all be checkin' in to see them!!!! Heehee!!!

I just want to say that I'm amazed at the number of entries for the challenges and the talent out there is simply wonderful!!! Thanks for sharing my Birthday/Blogaversary and 100,000 hits with me!!!

So without further blathering.............here are the winners!!!!

KKCC1 - Altered Item

MARY



KKCC2 - Sketch Challenge

BONNIE



KKCC3 - Colour Challenge

SUE



KKCC4 - Lovey Challenge

FRANCES



KKCC5 - Paper Piecing Challenge

NIKKI



KKCC6 - Thinking of You Challenge

TORKELL




And I also have a SPECIAL award for our youngest stamper, DANIELLE!!!! She is a very crafty little girl and she entered two of the challenges!! Her first was this beautiful tin for the altered item challenge:



The second was this gorgeous card complete with my favourite thing about spring....butterflies!!!



Congratulations to all the winners!! Please email me with your mailing addresses and I will try to get your prizes out to you as soon as humanly possible.....although tonight it looks like a blizzard and my Jack Russell Terrier doesn't make a very good sled dog!! So I may have to wait until the weather clears up a bit!!! hahahahahaaaaaa!!!

Monkeyin' Around!!

Okay all the entries are in and votes are being tallied!! Just kiddin', there's no voting....but it sounded good. I can't believe all the amazing entries to the Kimmie's Kreation Celebration challenges!! Some people even completed ALL of the challenges!!! I'm glad that you enjoyed them! I will be looking them all over this evening and I will post the winner of each challenge sometime tomorrow!!

This is going to be a rather quick post as I'm off to work all day today.....boo. BUT, the thing that will be keeping me going all day is knowing that a new season of Big Brother begins tonight!!!! Yeeeeeehaaaaaaaaw!!! Does anyone else out there enjoy that show?? I can't wait to see what's in store for the new houseguests this year!!!



Yesterday I had the whole day off, so between dishes and laundry, I make a few cards! Gina K. Designs had a release party on Sunday night and there were trivia questions, challenges and prizes!!! And what do you know?? I won a FREE stamp set!!! Yippee!!! I'm so excited because I don't own any Gina stamps yet!! So yesterday I took the opportunity to enter three out of four of the challenges and these two cards were for one of the sketches. I love nice and simple designs because then you can either stick with the simple, or get creative and add to it!

For these cards I used an Autumn Leaves stamp set called Mindy's Zoo which is SO adorable!! I used two different monkeys on these cards and also my favourite punches by Marvy!! I used Daisy D's paper on one and retired SU paper on the other. Can anyone remember the name of this paper?? Is it Spring Showers or Spring Flowers or something like that?? Or am I way off??? Anyway they were fun and simple to make.

Hope you have a stampin' good day......I will try to, even though I won't be stampin'! :o(

E is for Excellent!!!!

I was also lucky enough to receive the E for Excellent award from not one...but TWO awesome stampers!!!! Bonnie over at the Lucky Clucker and Frances at StampOwl over in Australia!!! How awesome is that??? Thanks ladies!!!

And I would like to send on this award to several amazing stampers who I love and visit EVERY day!!!!

Inge - Patterned Paper

Michele - Paper Cuts

Lauren - My Stampendence

Sophia - Moonlight Inker

Claudia - Pretty Pressings

You Cheer Me Up Award!!!

My pal Inge over in the Netherlands awarded me with the Cheer Me Up Award!!! How nice is that???? THANK YOU Inge!!! Some days I feel like Lucy in this episode....don't you????

Anyway, in turn, I would like to nominate Bonnie!!! She is an awesome stamper and stopping at her blog ALWAYS puts a smile on my face!!! Go on over and say hello!!!

Hey Sugar!!!

I made this card a while ago and sometimes, if I don't post things right away, I forget that I haven't shown it to you yet! This is one of those cards! I had to go back in my archives and make sure I hadn't posted it already!

This is actually one of my favourite creations made using this Tilda. I used the new Hey Sugar papers by Daisy D's that I got from Lindsey at Jacksonbelle Embellishments. LOVE Lindsey! She's the best! So I chose the colours for my Tilda based on the dp. This is one of my very first cards using my Copic markers and I used some Fabriano watercolour paper to make her. The layout is my design and very simple. The Hey Sugar paper pack also came with a couple of sheets of diecuts so I used the funky heart outline and added a couple of Bellas Baubles to accent. The sentiment is one of MFT's that I punched out with the Word Window Punch, distressed a LOT using a cosmetic sponge and Walnut Stain ink by Ranger and added some Stardust Stickles to her wings.

I can't believe all the awesome entries I've received for the challenges!!! And you still have until tonight at 8pm EST, so keep it up!!!

Have a stampin' good day!!!

P.S. Hey did you notice that I passed 100,000 visitors??? Yaaaaaaaaaaay!! I'm so glad it happened during my week of celebration!!!

ELZYBELL'S IN THE HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!

I like to join in Secret Pal exchanges and I just got one in the mail on Friday!! I got lots of cute things but my FAVOURITE was the Elzybell stamp!! I SO love these little simple stamps and I got to play with her yesterday!!

One of my favourite bloggers and fellow MFT Design Team members is Michele Boyer over at Paper Cuts. She has a lovely fresh style and is also responsible for a lot of my spending!!!! Michele has such a way with design and layout and she makes all those whimsical stamps just come alive!!! If you've never been there, go check her out!! Her stuff rocks!!

Anyway, I was blurfing yesterday and I stopped by her blog (as I do every day) and her latest post features an adorable Elzybell stamp and I was really inspired by it! So I borrowed her design and used her layout for my Elzybell card!! I hope she doesn't mind!!

I just thought little Elzybell would look fabby in a pretty pink car so I pulled out a package of Lollipop Shoppe paper by Basic Grey. I bought this package at LEAST a year ago and it's never been opened......how sad. So I used Cool Caribbean for the base and the rest of the paper is from the pack. I masked the car and then stamped an oval underneath it so it didn't look like it was flying across the card!! I added some grosgrain ribbon and the sentiment is from Hanna Stamps and I punched it out using my Word Window Punch. I added some SU brads and pop dotted Elzy and there ya go!!!

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. I think we might go shopping today, so I'll let you know if I make any spectacular finds!!

Lovely Lola!!

Well, I hope you are having a wonderful Saturday!! I know I am!! Emileigh is out with her friends today and Al is sleeping after working 14 hours last night, so I have the day to myself!! I've been in my craft room all day, emerging only to take quick trips to the loo and to the kitchen to grab some sustenance!!! My kind of day!!!

I've received some wonderful entries to the challenges today and I bet more of you are working away. You have until Monday night to enter them, so lots of time.

I had a great mail day yesterday as my new Simon and Lola stamps arrived from Scotland!!! I ordered them about 10 minutes after they were released and it took about two weeks to get here, but they were worth the wait!!!

The first one is Lola with Flowers and I used some new We R Memory Keepers dp as it has this great washed out distressed look and I really like it. I coloured Lola in using my Copics and then used my Nestabilities to cut her out and emboss the frame and matted her on So Saffron. I distressed the edges of the dp more with my distressing tool and stamped the sentiment from MFT's By the Seashore....love that font. I paper pierced a line above the sentiment with my Mat Pack and then added some Prima Sprites with brads. This card was made with the Papertake Weekly Challenge in mind, which is to use Blooms of any kind on your card!!



This next card was made using Lola with her Bunny.....SO cute, right?? I lovey her!!! I used Kraft cardstock and this sparkly DCWV paper from The Town Scrapper and coloured her in accordingly using my Copics (love those things). I stamped the sentiment which is from Hanna Stamps and I added some lovely pink ribbon that I got at Michael's. I used my Mat Pack around the edges of the focal image and added a Daisy D's rhinestone heart and pop dotted the whole thing. Quick and cute!!!!

If you like the new Lola and Simon stamps by Sugar Nellie, my pal Suzanne over at Slumber Cards is having a challenge to win some!!! The challenge is to use shades of lilac or purple on your card as it is her favourite colour!!! The contest is open until next weekend, so be sure to enter!!!

Well DUH!!!!

You Are Most Like Heidi Klum

Girl next door vibe with top model looks

Which Victoria's Secret Angel Are You?

Of course, I'm like her.........we're practically TWINS!!!

Kimmie's Kreation Celebration Challenge #6!! Last One!

This is the final challenge for my week long celebration and I hope you've enjoyed everything so far!! You have ALL weekend to work on any of these challenges, so have fun!!

Since today's challenge is the last one, I thought I'd make it a little more special!! I want you to make something....and then do something!!! We all have lots of special people in our lives whether they are friends or family and we rarely tell them how much we love and appreciate them. We also make all these beautiful cards and gifts, but how often do we actually send them out?? I know that I am guilty of forgettting special dates and creating all these cards and then never mailing them out!!! Well, that is your challenge today!!

Challenge #6 is to create a Thank You or Thinking of You or You are Special to Me creation!! My card was made for someone who is a totally generous and unselfish person and does so much for others! (She's already received it, so I am free to post it now!!) I wanted to let her know how much I appreciated her, so I made her this card!

It features Sitting Tilda and I stamped her and coloured her in with my Copics and then cut and embossed the rectangle with my Nestabilities. The dp is by SEI and I embellished the top corner with my Photo corner punch by SU, added some brads, a few large Prima flowers and that scrumptious brown satin ribbon!! I sparkled up her little wings and stamped the sentiment which is from my go-to sentiment set, Essential Sentiments by My Favorite Things!!

Now don't forget the rules for these challenges: your creations must be NEW creations, you have until Monday, February 11th at 8pm EST to link up your designs in the appropriate post on my blog OR email me with a small pic, if you don't have a blog or gallery. If you do upload your creations to Splitcoast please use the corresponding code in your keywords, so that we can all check them out!!! The keyword for today's challenge is KKCC6!! ALSO for this challenge, please tell me in your keywords WHO you made this for and WHY they are so special!!

Just to make it a little easier for you, here are all the links to each of my challenges for this past week:

KKCC1 - Altered Challenge

KKCC2 - Sketch Challenge

KKCC3 - Colour Challenge

KKCC4 - Valentine/Lovey Challenge

KKCC5 - Paper Piecing Challenge

KKCC6 - You're Special to Me Challenge - right here!!

Oh and the winner of THIS challenge will receive a whole package of goodies including a High Hopes Rubber Stamp, a Sugarloaf woodmounted birthday stamp (provided by Phebe at the Town Scrapper), some yummy ribbons and embellishments!!!

Have a Happy Friday and .........go on, get stampin'!!!

Kimmie's Kreation Celebration Challenge #5!!!

See! I told you I'd come back!! *giggle*

Today's Kreation Challenge is Paper Piecing!!! You know you've all wanted to try it!! It's so much fun! Like playing paper dolls, really!!! And so easy!! You can give all your images cute little trendy clothes!! hahaha!!

Anyway, for your inspiration pleasure, here is a card using Tilda in the Wind that I got from Phebe at the Town Scrapper (she's my Magnolia dealer, you know.....she helps me with my 'addiction'). I stamped the image on white and then stamped it again on patterned paper, cut it out and layered it over the white image. I used the Stampin' Up designer paper called Fall Flowers. The colours are Soft Sky, Really Rust and Old Olive. I also used some punches to make flowers from some more of the coordinating papers. I pop dotted the whole image, added some ribbon and buttons....and of course I coloured her in using my SU markers on watercolour paper. The 'friendship' sentiment is from the MFT set Boho Blossoms. I just love the font on that set. So there ya have it! Another fun challenge....only one more left!!

Now don't forget the rules for these challenges: your creations must be NEW creations, you have until Monday, February 11th at 8pm EST to link up your designs in the appropriate post on my blog OR email me with a small pic, if you don't have a blog or gallery. If you do upload your creations to Splitcoast please use the corresponding code in your keywords, so that we can all check them out!!! The keyword for today's challenge is KKCC5!!

In case you plan on joining in all my challenges this week (and I hope you are), I will keep a running tally of links to find each challenge:

KKCC1 - Altered Challenge

KKCC2 - Sketch Challenge

KKCC3 - Colour Challenge

KKCC4 - Valentine/Lovey Challenge

KKCC5 - Paper Piecing Challenge - you're here!!!

So glad you are enjoying the challenges and I can't wait to see more of them!!!

Whoops!!!

Okay, so I forgot to come back yesterday and post some more Teasers!! I was so busy creatin' yesterday and getting ready for last night's release party, that I totally forgot to post another one for ya!! So how about I just post them all?? How would that be??? Heehee!!



This card features two new sets....Eggstra Special Easter and Twisted Sentiments. I just LOVE this new little bunny and his big ol' ears. I used this yummy new Imaginisce paper called For Peep's Sake! It has lovely soft colours with just a little sparkle! And of course, I used my Copics to colour him in!



This little guy cracks me up!! I just whipped up this little square card and I used the Monkey from It's a Jungle Out There and stuck a little flower in his hand.....he's so hopeful!! *giggle* The sentiment is from the new Twisted Sentiments set. I was thinking of putting this in my husband's lunchpail one day....but he really doesn't need any encouragement!! Baaaahahahaha!



This one features two of the little chickies from Eggstra Special Easter. I stamped them together and used my Nestabilities to layer them up and I added Diamond Stickles to make them all sparkly just like the paper. I added three Bellas Baubles in green above the sentiment which comes with the set.




I was trying to find a stamp that would go with this new Twisted Sentiment and then I remembered how SASSY all those Bellas are!! Well, I hadn't even inked up Ipodabella yet and she was PERFECT! I'll tell you a secret too.....you see that ribbon?? Well, I pulled it off a Christmas gift!! My parents gave me a pair of flannel jammies from La Senza and they were tied up with a pretty bow and I pulled it off and saved it! Isn't is yummalicious?? And I just discovered something else pretty awesome!! I didn't have a dark pink Prima flower that would match, so I took a white one and coloured it with my Copic marker!!! Haha!! Dried super quick, and matches perfectly! Then I attached them with some rhinestone brads...that I got at the DOLLAR store!! I love a bargoon like that!!



And this last one just makes me laugh out loud!! I don't know who came up with this one, but it wasn't me!!! Each of the Design Team Members came up with sentiments to add to this set and mine were some of the tamer ones....Let's Monkey Around, Better Than Sex and Good Gossip. I will NOT take any blame for the racier ones. That's for Carole and Cammie to deal with!! It's all their fault!! Hahahaha!!! But this one just makes me snort! I knew immediately that I wanted to make a sign for my craft room door!! Think that'll keep 'em out?? Heehee!!! It's a chipboard coaster covered in dp and decorated using the new Serenity Now stamp set, some Primas, some ribbon and some Bellas Baubles!

Anyway, all three new sets, Eggstra Special Easter, Serenity Now and Twisted Sentiments are now available at www.mftstamps.com so head on over and pick them up.

I'll be back later with today's challenge!! I promise!! I won't forget!!

Kimmie's Kreation Celebration Challenge #4!!!

WOW!! We are on Challenge #4 already!! Woohoo!! This party is rockin'!! I'm so glad you are all joining in the fun!!

Today's challenge will be to make a Valentine or Lovey type card!!! I'm sure some of you still have some V-day cards to make and if not, just make a card or sb page telling someone that you lerrrrrrrrv them!!! Heehee!!

The card I am posting for some inspiration is one I made using this adorable Tuxedo Kitty stamp by Whipper Snapper Designs that I snapped right up at The Town Scrapper!!! Oh and by the way, today's challenge is sponsored by Phebe!! But I'll tell you about the prize later......I love to make you wait!! *snicker*

The card is a very simple layout and design. I stamped the Kitty on Papertrey white cardstock and coloured him in using my Copic markers. I punched him out using my Mega Circle punch and then punched out the Basic Black layer using my Giga Scalloped Circle punch. The card base is textured Real Red by SU and the heart brads are from Hot Off the Press, which I also got at TTScrapper. I paper pierced across the bottom over to the sentiment which is from Essential Sentiments by MFT and punched out using the Word Window Punch! I pop dotted the Kitty, added some dots in each scallop using my white gel pen and tied on some polka dotted black ribbon! Super simple!

Now don't forget the rules for these challenges: your creations must be NEW creations, you have until Monday, February 11th at 8pm EST to link up your designs in the appropriate post on my blog OR email me with a small pic, if you don't have a blog or gallery. If you do upload your creations to Splitcoast please use the corresponding code in your keywords, so that we can all check them out!!! The keyword for today's challenge is KKCC4!!

In case you plan on joining in all my challenges this week (and I hope you are), I will keep a running tally of links to find each challenge:

KKCC1 - Altered Challenge

KKCC2 - Sketch Challenge

KKCC3 - Colour Challenge

KKCC4 - Valentine/Lovey Challenge - you're here!!!

Oh and the prize for today's challenge is.........the Mini Set, Be Mine by My Favorite Things!!! Wooohoooooo!!

Speaking of MFT, I'll be back a little later with a final MFTeaser!!!! Heehee!

Another MFTeaser!!!

Here is another Teaser card featuring the new mini set by My Favorite Things called Serenity Now!!! I think that's going to be my new fave saying! Instead of 'Calgon, take me away!!', I'll use 'Serenity NOW!!'. You'll find me puttering around the house, mumbling to myself!! Hahaha!!

Anyway, for this card I used some of this beautiful Bali Breeze dp by Stampin' Up! Love it! And I coloured yoga girl in using my Copic markers and just added some pretty Prima Hydrangeas with a lovely pearlized brad!! Hope ya like her!!

Be sure to make time to stop in on Wednesday night and check out all the new releases in the MFT forum over on Splitcoast!!!

Kimmie's Kreation Celebration Challenge #3!!!

Today's challenge is a COLOUR challenge!!! I don't know about you, but I'm gettin' kind of sick of the cold and snow! I'm ready for some springy weather, so your colour challenge is to create a card using SPRING COLOURS!! We need to brighten someone's day with a nice peppy SPRING card!!!

The card I have for your inspiration pleasure, is made using Little Missy by High Hopes Rubber Stamps!! Isn't she a doll? I coloured her in using the my Copic markers and taking the colours from the K&Co. dp. I'm having a blast with them! The card base is Kraft by SU and the sentiment is by C.C. Designs. I also added some of those pretty Prima Hydrangeas and some Bellas Baubles in the centres!!

Now don't forget the rules for these challenges: your creations must be NEW creations, you have until Monday, February 11th at 8pm EST to link up your designs in the appropriate post on my blog OR email me with a small pic, if you don't have a blog or gallery. If you do upload your creations to Splitcoast please use the corresponding code in your keywords, so that we can all check them out!!! The keyword for today's challenge is KKCC3!!

In case you plan on joining in all my challenges this week (and I hope you are), I will keep a running tally of links to find each challenge:

KKCChallenge #1

KKCChallenge #2

KKCChallenge #3 - you're here...bahahahahaaa!

OH and the winner of Challenge #3 will win.........Little Missy!!!

MFTeaser!!!

So I said I'd be back later.......well, it's MUCH later!! I ended up having a bit of a nap before I went in to work and didn't get back on the computer until after supper!! Ooops!!

Well, here is a card I posted on SCS this morning as a My Favorite Things Teaser!!! As you may or may not be aware, MFThings will be releasing 3 new stamp sets on Wednesday, Feb. 6th and we are having a Cocktail Release Party in the MFT Forum over on SCS from 9-11pm EST!! You won't wanna miss it! It's fast paced fun and foolishness and you can find out how YOU, yes YOU, can become a MFThings Guest Designer!!! Be sure to meet me there on Wednesday night!!!

One of the new sets is called Twisted Sentiments and is an absolute riot!!! All the DT members had input into the 'adult' sentiments that went into this set.....let's just say mine are several of the tamer variety!! I swear!!! Anyway, they have been a lot of fun to play with!

This card features the mini set How Sweet It Is along with one of the sentiments that I had a hand in!! I stamped the gal eating chocolates on Wausau bright white cardstock and coloured her in with my Copics. I also stamped a couple of chocolate kisses and a sundae, coloured them in and then ran them through my Cuttlebug with my Nestabilities. I also made the rectangular frame using my Nesties too. Then I added crystal lacquer to all the chocolates to make them look yummy and shiny!! The dp is Ginger blossoms by SU and the sketch is actually an MFT Sketch Challenge for this week! Now isn't that sentiment just a stitch??? Don't tell Al I made it up, now will ya!?

Now LOOKING at chocolate is about all I can do for right now. We have planned a trip to Florida for the last week in February and since I plan to be spending most of my time in a bathing suit, I figured I'd better lose a few pounds! So I've started on the South Beach diet again. I lost 30 pounds the first time and kept it off for over a year now. I've gained 3 or 4 back, so I figured it's time to nip it in the bud before it turns into 10! Anyway, the first two weeks of SBeach are murder.....no sugar, no bread, no potatoes, no fruit....no chocolate!!! I won't drink coffee either because I can't have sugar in it and what's coffee without sugar.....motor oil!!! So I'm not drinkin' it!! And I absolutely detest water.....I cannot begin to tell you how much....there are no words. But I am choking it down. Anyway, think good thoughts for me....or rather for my family and coworkers as they are the ones that will have to deal with me and my crankiness over the next couple of weeks!!! hahaha!!!

I'll see you tomorrow with another fun challenge!!!

Kimmie's Kreation Celebration - Day 2!!

This is gonna be fun, I can tell!! Sounds like you gals are up for anything!!!! I'm so glad.....'cause I am too!! Sorry my post is a little late this morning! I had to take Emileigh to school for her first day of the second semester of Grade 10, then go to the grocery store and pick up a bunch of 'South Beach Diet' foods and then go and get the sticker for my card renewed, as I forgot to do that before my birthday!!! So it's been a busy morning already and I'm draggin' because I haven't had any coffee....but more about that later!!!

Today's challenge is my favourite kind - a SKETCH challenge!!!! This card features the cute Whipper Snapper stamp called Kindhearted Bug and don't ask me how I came up with the colour combo, but it seems to work!! I like the starkness of the black against the soft colours.

Anyway, use this card as inspiration for the layout on your card or scrapbook page....your entry can be either! Don't forget the rules for these challenges: your creations must be NEW creations, you have until Monday, February 11th at 8pm EST to link up your designs in the appropriate post on my blog OR email me with a small pic, if you don't have a blog or gallery. If you do upload your creations to Splitcoast please use the corresponding code in your keywords, so that we can all check them out!!! The keyword for today's challenge is KKCC2!!

Also you can enter each challenge as many times as you like, but you can't enter one creation into more than one challenge.....know what I mean?

So do you wanna know what you're playin' for today?? Of course, you do!! Since these contests are helping to celebrate my birthday, the winner of the Sketch Challenge will receive a whimsical Whipper Snapper stamp, perfect for making those always needed birthday cards......Clown Car!!! Isn't he too cute?? And today's prize is generously supplied by Phebe from The Town Scrapper!!

Alright, well there ya have it!! Go off and create!! I'll be back later this morning with another post featuring a My Favorite Things TEASER!!! Heeheehee!!!

I Have GREAT Friends!!!

Since today is my actual birthday (10:45am to be exact), I thought that I might share with you how lucky I am!!

You already saw how great my hunny-pie is!! Well, I've also received a few pretty b-day cards and packages this past week too!! The first thing I received was a wonderful box of stampin' goodies from the lovely and generous Tina Russell, owner of High Hopes Rubber Stamps!! I was overwhelmed with the packages of flowers and punches and embellies that I have been playing with ever since I tore open the box.....hence the lack of photo....they are all over my stamp room now!!

I also received a padded envelope FULL of brads and clips and bookplates and all sorts of treats from an 'unknown sender'....but being the detective that I am, I discovered that they were from the lovely and sweet Phebe, owner of The Town Scrapper.

The following are some yummy cards I also got in the mail!!!



Firstly, the mailman brought me this amazing card all the way from the Netherlands from my colouring guru, Inge!!! I am so thrilled and excited to be on TWO Design Teams with her!!



Next is a card I received from my MOMMY!! Heehee!! Isn't it so perky and bright and cheerful?? Just like me, huh??!! Baaaaahahahahaaaaaa!!! Go on over to NanaDiana's gallery on Splitcoast and check out her lovely creations!!



I also received this amazing card from another of my High Hopes Design Team members, Ila!! Not only is she a fellow Canadian, she is a total artist and I LOVE her designs!! She has such a unique style, so be sure to go over to Artfully Ila and say hello!!



And lastly, I just received this beauty yesterday from a fellow coworker, stamper and friend, Donna!!! She used my favourite new stamp set and punch by SU and I feel so special because she used not one, not two, but THREE of those blingalicious rhinestone embellishments from Doodlebug Designs!! It's so beautiful!! Be sure to head over to her blog and check her out too!!

So thanks to everyone for wishing me a Happy '29th' Birthday! It's been a great day so far and I'm so excited to be able to share everything with you!!!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for another Celebration Challenge!!!