Hey Girlfriend!

I am getting back into the swing of things, finally. We had a big push getting VSN samples out the door, and then I had a writing assignment, and some other art due in December. Finally, I have rested my muse enough to start feeling the need to create again. Does that ever happen to you?

Well, here's a card that I made for Virtual Stamp Night, but never got around to sharing with you. I used the salting technique with alcohol inks to create this stained glass or tie dyed effect in the background. The bird is from Gina K Designs Falling For You set, the sentiment is from the You Go Girl set, and the tree is from the Strength and Hope set.

The new year is upon us. Wherever did the time go? I am working on my visions for the new year and would love to hear about your plans. Let me know you stopped by!

Ta for now!
♥ ~ky

Me and my muse

Me and my muse have been in touch again. Here are some more cards I made for the latest Virtual Stamp Night on Splitcoast.

This was created for the blue Christmas challenge, and was sent to my Dad for him to enjoy.

I had a great deal of fun creating this card for the unseasonably warm challenge to make a Christmas card with non-Christmas images. Love the Cat's Pajama's stamps - so funny!

This card was perfect for my sis-in-law and her family. I hope they enjoy their gifts. We had a great visit over thanksgiving and her husband is a darned good chef! The challenge was to make a card with six or more layers.

This tag (I love tags!) was made for the music challenge. Our projects had to feature music, so I decided to showcase what music makes me want to do - dance!

I hope you find some inspiration here. I am always happy to have you visit me! Oh, and if you need more inspiration, check out my Art Journal blog, the Gesso Dragon!

Ta!
~ky

There's Still Time!

Did you know this was VSN weekend? Did you know you still have time to play along? I didn't get all of the challenges completed because Santa came early. I plan to finish my cards and projects today or tomorrow. Yep, VSN is open until 10 p.m. EST on Monday night! Here's a sample of what I made:

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You don't have to make just cards! I channeled my inner Tim for this tag. This challenge involved making a project from packaging or wrapping paper - celebrating all those wonderful gifts we get!

I made this card for my sister because her birthday is so close to Christmas. This challenge was to find inspiration in your wardrobe. I love the Narnia reference for this challenge!

And you know I couldn't go through the night without a bunneh!! Lydia challenged us to make a project using the CUTEST bunneh photo as inspiration. We were to represent what gave us the warm fuzzies! SQUEEE!!

Ok - so there's a little sampling of all the fun you can have at Virtual Stamp Night. It is a wonderful time to share inspiration and laughter with other stampers.

Alrighty - I'm gonna be busy today. Hope to see you over there!

♥ ~ky

Upcoming Fun

Hey friends - do you know what this weekend is? It's Virtual Stamp Night over at Splitcoast Stampers! Woohoo! We are gonna have a lot of fun challenges for you!

Here's a little sneak of one of my samples. I wonder if you can guess what it is?

The fun starts at 5 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, December 9th, and we'll have a new challenge every hour until 9 p.m. Eastern. Now, don't worry - you have all weekend to do the challenges - uploads close Monday night. Here's another teaser...

I know, I'm so mean! We'll start back up on Saturday, December 10th, at noon Eastern time with a challenge just for kids, then resume the regular schedule at 1 p.m. The party goes until 11 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, so everyone will have a chance to at least come chat and hang out. It's a Winter Wonderland theme!

Ok... I'd better see you there. Promise? Great!

♥ ~ky

Greeting Farm's Customer Challenge

Hey friends and neighbors! I just wanted to let you know about the very FIRST Greeting Farm Customer Challenge event, and I was fortunate enough to be the very first hostess for this challenge! Woohoo! I feel so blessed and honored!

Our very first challenge was MOVIE NIGHT! We had an absolute blast talking about all the wonderful movies that we love. Not just the new stuff, either. Not just the outrageously popular ones, too. We went way back in time, and out to the edges of the future. It was fantastic fun just getting to sit and chat, and talk about all the WONDERFUL images the Greeting Farm has that can be used to make movie-themed cards and projects.

This first card uses my trusty Best Mates set together with Tim Holtz Idea-ology Kraft Resist Paper map. I used the big star stamp in the set to clear emboss over the map so I could add some distress inks to it. Love that effect! Totally matched up with my ideas of Pirates of the Caribbean!

Then I thought back on some of the older movies that I have loved, and another stamp that's a little older too. I love Izzy (Twinkle Tots), and I colored her like more Victorian-era beach attire.

Yes, the movie I'm representing here is Beaches. That movie tore me up, and is probably single-handedly responsible for turning me away from chick-flicks. I avoid those movies like the plague. But this card? Yeah, I could watch this card forever!

Got a movie in your head now? Good! Go grab your Greeting Farm images (or buy a digi!) and get to creating. You have until Monday, Nov 14th at 9 p.m. Central (US) time. You can combine this challenge with VSN (Virtual Stamp Night), so go rock it out! Details for this challenge can be found by CLICKING HERE. There are two full clear stamp sets up for grabs! What are you waiting for?

Go!
~ky

Halloween Wristers

Lately, I have been drawn back to an old love, crocheting. I made these wristers in one day. Yep, both gloves, one day. I love projects that go like that. It makes you feel so accomplished.

I used a free pattern Easy Crochet Wristers from Coats & Clark. It takes some careful counting but it was an easy pattern to follow, even for my rusty crochet memory.

Yesterday was Hallowe'en, so you know I just had to carve some pumpkins! Here's the witch:

And of course I have to have a spider (because I just love those creatures, and they are sooooo Hallowe'enie)!

Today marks the beginning of National Novel Writing Month (nanowrimo) and National Non-stop Journaling Month (nanojoumo) - I hope you will be participating. If you do, stop in and leave me a link so I can check out what you're doing. Alrighty - I'm off to write and journal and do laundry and all kinds of other stuff.

Ta!
 ♥ ~ky

Oldie!

Oops - I've left my blog unattended! No telling what someone could have stopped by and stuck on it. Ok - here's a little project I made awhile back but didn't have time to blog about at the time.

I used Verve's Beautiful You set for this card, and I really love how it turned out. It was one of the sketches the Verve gals post for the monthly challenge, back in September (week 3). I really love their challenges, and they are so sweet to let you play with any stamps.

I really liked the center band - it's a page out of an old book I have, that I folded into an accordion, then colored with Distress Inks. There's just a hint of Sakura glitter pen, and a pearl for the flower. This card makes me really happy. 

I hope you've had a happy day. See you again soon! I promise not to leave the blog alone nearly as long!

Ta!

♥ ~ky

Recipe:

Gina K Designs pure luxury cardstock, tan leather

SEI patterned papers, Granny's Kitchen (retired)

Verve Beautiful You stamp set

Misc Spellbinders dies

EK Success border punches

Offray ribbon

Bazzill brads, misc pearl, Gina K button

Memento and Distress inks

Book paper

A bit ago, I made a part of a set of Christmas cards. I finally got back around to finishing the last 2 in that set. Life has been crazy lately! So - here they are all together!

I used Gina K Design's My True Love Gave to Me set to make these. I think they make a great set. All of these are on their way to Operation Write Home. Thanks for stopping by!

♥ ~ky

Retro at the Farm

I have a quick little project for you today. The Greeting Farm has a challenge over at the Farm Fresh blog, and I made this card to play in it. I hope you'll come play along too!

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The challenge is to use older stamps (these are from 2008), and animals (stamps, paper or embellishments). The set is Best Mates and I just adore those cut monkeys - especially the one with pizza!!

Here's a little close-up of the button flower I created. Fast and easy! I hope you like this little project and it can bring a smile to you. I'm sending it to Operation Write Home because I think a family member would love it.

Thanks for stopping by today!
♥ ~ky

Recipe
Gina K Designs pure luxury cardstock
My Minds Eye patterned paper, Lost and Found Market Street
The Greeting Farm stamp set Best Mates
McGill and SU punches
Spellbinders tag and oval dies
Cuttlebug embossing folder, paisley
Robin's Nest dew drops
Heidi Grace rhinestone
Copic markers
Gina K button, misc jute twine

Suggles

Aahhh we've been enjoying such lovely weather the last 2 weeks. We've even had to turn on the air conditioner! I'm pleased to say we are returning to more autumnal weather in a few days.

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I like to play the Greeting Farm challenges. I really loved the Friday Spy-Day challenge where the DT picks a card from the gallery and we get to use it for inspiration. I decided to use the sample layout for my inspiration. I recently won this set over at the Greeting Farm's SCS forum on their release day. He's part of the My Guy Ian set. I lurrrves him!

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This little cutie is Snuggles! Can you guess why I love this image?? Tee hee! Just so many cute ways you could work this image. It was a special gift (thanks, Jess!) that I will treasure for a long time. I made this card to play another Greeting Farm challenge to use black, white and just one other color.

Speaking of snugly bunnies and warm weather...

There's Miss Tinker hanging out during our bunny romp time. All the buns just love their grassy yard, and sunshine. I really thought we would be stuck indoors by this time of the year, but not just yet...

I'm so glad you stopped by today. Don't forget, you can still donate to Operation Julie's Smile (button, top right)! Have a great day!

♥ ~ky

Recipes:
Ian - 
The Greeting Farm, My Guy Ian stamp
Gina K Designs, Holiday Greetings
Distress and Memento inks
Gina K pure luxury cardstock
Misc pieces of very old patterned paper
Copic markers
Jute twine
Robin's Nest dew drops
EK Success and SU punches


Snuggles-
The Greeting Farm, Snuggles
Gina K pure luxury cardstock
My Mind's Eye Lost and Found patterned paper, Breeze
Distress inks with Spellbinder's die mask
Gina K button
Copic markers
Hobby Lobby ribbon
Twinery twine pom pom
Robin's Nest dew drops
Cuttlebug embossing folder

Operation Julie's Smile!

Welcome to my blog! We're here today to join together to help fellow crafter, Julie Ranae, get her smile back! If you've come here from Eva Dobilas' blog, then your in the right place. If you just happened upon my blog today, we'd love to have you start at the Sweet Stamp Shop and see all the wonderful projects!

The Problem

Julie Ranae had some pretty major dental surgeries in her lifetime due to medication she had to take as a child. It was in her plans to think about having all of her teeth replaced at some point in the next 5 years, a decision that was pretty easy to plan out. But then it happened…she chipped her front teeth on a weekend a month ago. The dentist told her there was no way to save them and that it was his recommendation that she give in and have them all her teeth removed soon, but for that day, they needed to get her front teeth done so her gums could begin to heal.


He said he would 'work out payments with her to have ALL this work done...but when she called to make her appt for the first step of impressions, they told her the amount of money that was needed and that the 'payments' applied only to the two teeth that were extracted that day. Her husband Paul was with her and that too, was his understanding as well. So this is how she has found herself in this situation…Needing at least $4000 to get started and another $3000 to finish the process…a total of $7000.

The FIX

Nicole Rixon, owner of Sweet Stamp Shop, put together this benefit after finding out about this situation and before Julie Ranae knew it, it took flight! Because Julie is an event organizer by trade, she has taken on the job of organizing all of the blogs in this hop as her way of ‘working overtime’ for what she needs, the same as if she were able to work overtime at an outside job to pay for the work to be done.

It is the goal of all of these generous friends and sponsors to help make this situation more do-able for our friend so that she can share a brand new smile with all of us soon. If there is anything you can do to help with a financial donation, please click the link below to a secure PayPal donation site.  Any amount is appreciated and ALL DONORS will be eligible for prizes from our sponsor pool of over $2500.

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I'm so glad you joined us on the hop today, and I hope you can participate. I made this card while thinking that some of the best gifts in life do not fit in a box or come with a bow.

I'd like to give a big, warm SHOUT OUT to Kellie Winnell of Tickled Pink Stamps for gifting me this beautiful image of Christina, which was the PERFECT image for Operation Julie's Smile. Thanks, Kellie, and I hope you are feeling better!

Thank you so much for stopping by - remember, a simple donation puts your name in the hat for one of the many generous prize packages up for grabs! There's over $2,500 in amazing product that's going to be given away, so leave a comment, donate, and keep on hopping for Julie's Smile!

Your next stop is one of our wonderful sponsors - The Twinery!

Happy hopping!
♥ ~ky

Recipe: 
Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Cardstock, Smoky Slate, Sweet Corn
Authentique Patterned Paper, Blissful
Tickled Pink Stamps, Lil Victorian Christmas Lolita Christina
Papertrey Ink, flower die Beautiful Blooms II #1
Sizzix Alterations, Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die, Regal Flourishes embossing folder
Stampin' Up, scalloped punch
McGill, branch punch
EK Success border punch
Spellbinder's Nestabilities punches
Hobby Lobby crocheted trim
Michael's metallic ribbon and rhinestone brad
Sakura Star Dust glitter pen
Inkssentials Glossy Accents
Ranger Ink Distress Inks, Wild Honey, Barn Red
Copic markers
Misc sewing thread

Old News is Good News

Yeah, so you've probably heard by now, but it bears repeating. The Greeting Farm is the newest member company of Splitcoast Stampers! Woohoo!!

They had a wonderful release party full of chatting, prize drawings, and all around fun over on their new forum. Yep - a whole new forum with challenges and contests and, oh yeah - their heART journaling forum, too!

Speaking of release... did you see their new, totally Ca-UTE sets? They are doing some of their sets in clear photopolymer acrylic. Now, I haven't bought any of these yet to try them out, but the reviews indicate that their polymer is superior to those cheaper, tear-prone, hard to ink polymers. I'm gonna try them really soon!

This is Furever - and it's adorrrrbz! You don't need to have pets to need this set. How fun would it be to keep in touch with these cuties? Or how about some tea??

YES it's Tea-rrific! Totally ready for an Alice-style tea party. I think these are gotta-haves!

Ok - so TGF is also having a special World Card Making Day/SCS challenge. The gist is to CASE (copy and share everything) a member of the design team. You have until Thursday night to play along (please see the link for details).

I decided to CASE Joni Wilson's card:

Isn't this DARLING? I adore the black and white, with just a hint of warm grey. I didn't have the exact paper or image, so I just played as closely to her elements as I could. This is what I made:

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I just love the Sweet and Toxic set. It's perfect for so many applications. I colored her up with my Copics, added just a hint of the subtle greyed-yellow from the SU! paper, and a little Tim Holtz embossing folder. I really like how this came together.

It's your turn, now! Go play the challenge, and upload your card. Check out the new forum, and the BRAND NEW design team. Jump on in, the water's fine!

Ta!
♥ ~ky

OWH Blog Hop

Welcome to my blog! If you've stumbled here, join us - just click the button to whisk yourself to the beginning of the hop!



Hippity hoppity - are you having fun? I bet you've seen so many beautiful things today. Do you have your shopping done? I have a Christmas wish... maybe you could help me with it?

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I love making cards. I don't mind buying all the paper and ink and spending my free time doting on soldiers and families I'll never meet. It fills my heart with JOY!

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I don't mind buying envelopes, cataloging them, and paying to ship them to my favorite shipper! However, to get those cards into the hands of those soldiers - we have NEEDS! Do you have a few bucks to share? Please? Then I will have my Christmas wish!

{donation code removed, please visit Operation Write Home for donation information}

Thanks for stopping by!!
♥ ~ky

Recipe: Gina K Designs pure luxury cardstock, Gina K Designs My True Love Gave to Me stamp set, BoBunny Father Christmas patterned paper, misc ribbon, brads, rhinestones; Copic markers, GKD A Very Merry Christmas stamp set, GKD Vintage Borders stamp set, and a little glossy accents.

CASEing Deb Felts

Deb Felts, as you may know, is a VERY, VERY DIRTY GIRL. And I adore her! She makes the most beautiful cards, and Stamp TV's challenge this week is to Copy And Share Everything, or CASE, Deb! Woohoo!

I picked this card to copy:

{Please note, this card is DEB's property - respect it!}

I just love the perfectly coordinating paper she used - look at those happy bunnies sharing a little laugh!

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I wanted my bunnies to be on a fall background, because they go to Operation Write Home, now. So, I changed the color palette to some Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg and Gina K Mango papers.

Instead of grass between the bunnies, I made a little trellis. We have 2 neighborhood (i.e. wild) bunnies that convene in our backyard almost every morning. They sit by the fences in the yard, and look a bit like this. I gave them some Flower Soft cotton tails - tee hee!

As usual, Deb made the perfect little sentiment setting, so I simply followed her lead. I hope you got a little smile from my work.

Please note, we're having a Blog Hop for Operation Write Home on Oct. 1 showcasing great Christmas cards. I hope you'll join us - OWH hops are always a LOT of fun!

THEN, Oct 3rd-5th is the benefit hop for Operation Julie's Smile. You definitely won't want to miss this hop, and your chance at some of the $2,100 worth of donated prizes!

Both hops give you a chance to connect with fabulous designers and companies, share the camaraderie with others, contribute to an amazing cause, and show why crafters are simply the BEST.

Ok - got to go get my bunnies to bed. They've had a busy day indoors for a change. Hope you all have a wonderful Monday!

Ta!
♥ ~ky

Recipe: Gina K Pure Luxury cardstock, Cosmo Cricket patterned paper, Gina K stamp set Basket Blessings by Melanie Muenchinger, Gina K ribbon, Prismacolor pencil coloring, Memento ink, Heidi Grace bling, Spellbinder's dies and EK Success punch.

Let a White Out Greet You

Yeah, I'm looking forward to snow. Hey, somebody's got to do the lovin' of snow! The Greeting Farm Fresh Friday challenge last week was to make a mostly white card - a White Out. Now, that got me excited. Talk about a challenge! Here's what I made:

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I recognized 2 directions this challenge could go - clean and simple, or built up and textural. I chose the latter. I love this older set, called Set Sail. I stamped it in Rich Cocoa, Memento ink, then added just enough warm grey Copic coloring to give hints of shading.

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I stacked a punched flower (SU), a button (Gina K), a beading flower (Michael's), and some liquid pearls (Ranger). Love how that looks! The eyelets on the first class tag are stars from probably 10 years ago, and I added a gem to the center of each.

I had a wonderful time yesterday teaching art journaling to two young ladies and their mom. I'm so excited to be taking this adventure with them! I'll be back tomorrow with my art journaling play-along with the Greeting Farm. Thanks so much for stopping by.

Don't forget we're getting ready for Operation Julie's Smile. The prizes they've gathered are amazing, with more rolling in every day. Every person who donates money, no matter how small the amount, will be put in the hat for the drawing of many prizes - about $1,800 worth so far! Come join us!!

Click for more information.

Ta!
♥ ~ky

Recipe: Cardstock, Gina K pure luxury, Set Sail stamp set by the Greeting Farm (retired) and 'first class' sentiment from Gina K's Special Deliver set by Tami Mayberry, Memento Rich Cocoa ink, Copic markers, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Gina K ribbon, button,  Michaels star eyelets and rhinestones, Spellbinder's dies, SU punch, Gina K button, Michaels bead flower, Ranger's liquid pearls.

Wiped Out Wednesday!

It's been a busy week. I don't know why - it probably isn't really any busier than usual. I didn't get a card made today, but here's one from last week.

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I used the Stamp TV release challenge by Donna to use her color block sketch. I really like that sketch. I decided to add some texture to the bottom squares and highlight them with Distress and white Memories inks.

I used Rupa Shevde's Magic of Christmas set, and some older My Mind's Eye paper I've hoarded - old school Christmas set called Frost (2006). I colored the dove with Copic markers. The next card also used the Magic of Christmas set, and our challenge was to use non-traditional colors for a Christmas card.

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This time, it's my hoarded My Mind's Eye in Ooh La La for Him (2009). I tell ya, when I go back in time, I go waaaaay back! The sketch was by Amy Sheffer (ooh just LOVE her style!) for Verve.

Ok - it's time for me to start on the next round of challenges - I hope you follow along and join in! Don't forget, we've still got a big charity hop coming for Operation Julie's Smile! It's not too late to get involved. Over $1200 in prizes have been contributed to be split among the donors! Click the logo for more info.

Thanks for stopping by!

♥ ~ky