1.31.2011

SSCC #74 {Believe in Miracles}



I've witnessed several "real" miracles in my life and truly believe that He gifts to us those moments to remember them, make them ours, to share them with others and shape who we are.   I recently had the great priviledge to share my daughter Victoria's miracle with a women's fellowship and although it has taken me years to talk about it, the warmth and love that eminated from the room as I spoke was immeasurable.  There was no judging, no contempt, just a love in Christ from fellow christian moms that just filled my heart with blessings.   When I saw the SSCC this week, I started to make a card and it all just flowed!
This week, the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge shared with us this scripture:

Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."


Challenge: Use the colors blue (still waters) and green (green pastures) as the predominate colors in your card/project.


What a joy!  That is my favorite color combination!   I used a cardstock base of Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze & Night of Navy with PTI white and one of my cherished DSP's - Urban Garden!
The butterflies are from SSNS called "Everyday Miracles", colored with my prismacolor markers in matching shades.  I decorated the inside as well so that I can write my daughter a very special note as she is one my very true miracles!


I followed this sketch at Papertake Weekly to create my card :) 




  Challenges:  
 Scrap-Creations - Friendshid
 Tip-Top Tuesdays - Girly
CES Challenge: Bold and Bright
                                        
Thanks for stopping by today!
Blessings,
~Kelly

Deets:  Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Night of Navy by SU!, PTI White; DSP = SU! Urban Garden; Image and sentiment from SNSS; sketch by PW; colored with prismacolor markers;

1.29.2011

Hello, Sunshine! :)






Who needs some sunshine?!  I know most of you are buried under winter cold and snow, but here in sunny South Florida, one blogger (me!) is missing her some winter! :)   I thought I'd share some warm sunshine with you Deedee's style!   This little "Hello, Sunshine" digi is a new release - you can scoop it up exclusively over at CDAC and will also be available as a Dollar Digi in a couple of weeks!

This little sunshine digi  just squeals with happiness!  For my card, after coloring the sushine and cloud, I added stickles and very fine glitter to make them both shine a bit ;)  I do hope the sun is shining for you today and it won't be long before spring is here!

Did you know if you play along in the Happy Monday Challenge, you are automatically entered for the next week's Dollar Digi!  If you are a winner, there is a digi of your chosing - how sweet is that!  And .... even better .... make sure to stop by and see the the DT creations each day for lots of inspiration and creative ideas :)

Blessings to you!
~Kelly


Entered into these challenges!
1. Fab 'n' Funky - Delight in your digis
2. PaperPlay challenge  - layer it up!

Card deets:  SU! Crushed Curry, Cool Carribbean, PTI White, DSP = K & Company, Image: Deedee's Digis "Hello Sunshine!", Cuttlebug, nesties, prisma color markers, twill ribbon, 3 d dots, tombo, yellow stickles, Martha Stewart very fine glitter, button, twine.

1.28.2011

I'm Miss February! :)




Hi there!  Today is a most exciting day - the premiere posting day for the Calendar Girls, a sensational group of blogging friends joined together by the fabulous Jeanette!  Her idea of having her own blog group filled with lots of fun chat, challenges and paper goodness blossomed and here we are!  We are affectionally known as the Calendar Girls because each of us have an assigned month from Jan to October - this month our hostess is Jeanette :)  

Her challenge?  1.  Make a card showing off YOUR month - since I'm Miss February, lots of red, hearts and even red hot came to mind!  (okay, so not red hot ...... bwahaha!) 
2.  Use your favorite embellishments - mine are buttons!  I cannot get enough of buttons!
3.  To use our new/newest tool or item that we have gotten - my shopping is down to zero so I have to use the newest thing that I remember and that's the wonderful paper trimmer from dh from Christmas - it's so special to me becuase he went into Michaels all by himself, lost as all get up, to find one!  I'm also using the scallop edge that is new-ish but already debuted last week ;)



My card is a reflection of my personality, too :) I LOVE color.  I love to use colors that are bright and fun and whimsical.    So my "Valentine" card is actually pretty out there as per non-traditional, lol, but I'm not a pink girly girly kinda girl ;)  I used my My Mind's Eye "Love me Do" dsp from (last year!)  and used a sort of spin off of a TSG sketch from a few months back.   The stamp is a sweet little heart bear from Elzybells.  For the heart, I carried over the dsp by paper piecing, one of my fave techniques!


I'm entering this card into the following Challenges:
  A Spoon full of Sugar -- Valentines
  Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge - Love is in the air
  The Beary Scrap Design - #18 Love or Friendship
Creative Craft World - Cute and Cuddly
Everybody Art - My favorite thing (teddy bear)
Creative Card Crew - country colors (red, white, blue + yellow for our soldiers)
Riley & Co - Hearts


Want to see what the other Calendar Girls have made?  Be sure to check out the CG's blogs - I know I can't wait to see what they've made!

Ms. January {Jeanette) *  Ms. February (you're here!)   * Ms. March (April) *  Ms. April (Terry)
*  Ms. May (Barb)  *  Ms. June (Carol)  * Ms. July (Michelle) *  Ms. August (Debbie) 
     * Ms. September (Paola) *  Ms. October (Tami)  *

Next month is my turn to hostess and you won't want to miss what's in store for these girls! :)
                                    Muah!
                                Blessings!
                   ~Kelly

Card Details:  Cardstock PTI = Pure Poppy, Lemon Tart, Aqua Mist, Stamper's Select White;
DSP = My Mind's Eye "Love Me Do" collection; Image + sentiment by Elzybells; Yellow Seam Binding, Fancy Pants button, Embroidery floss; Scallop die; Aileens, Cuttlebug, Nestie, trimmer, scissors, Fiskars border punch

1.26.2011

I love Latte Bouquets! :)






Good morning!  I hope your middle of the week is going well! I'm all off schedule from being gone and the kids starting school again yesterday ;)  Homework and missed work from one day was piled higher than my mountain of vacation laundry!  ::: eek! :::

Fresh Brewed Designs has a new challenge this week - this floral photo inspiration:
And my take on this photo was to make a recessed window card! I have a treasured Whirly bird glitter paper pad with a nearly identical patterned paper as the pillows, alas, I must have used it as it wasn't with the rest of the pack!
So I pulled from the green pillow to use as a backdrop - created the window area with similiar colors and added ribbons and flowers and glitter brads to round it out.  The image is FBD's Latte bouquet - I need to grow one of these in my garden! :)


You can find the current challenge HERE!
And to see this coffee digi image and more, be sure to stop in and see all the goodies in the shop!

Thanks for stopping by today!
~Blessings!


Card details:  Cardstock by Martha Stewart + Stamping Up; My Mind's Eye "whirly Bird' paper collection pack; Image: Latte Bouquet by Fresh Brewed Designs; prismacolor markers; misc flowers, S.E.I glitter brads, lime gingham ribbon; 3d dots, Tombo

Entered into:  PaperCutz Challenge (anything Goes)
Cutie Sunday - (as you like it!)
Sundays with Crissy (ribbon)
The Pixie Cottage - flowers
top tip tuesday - flowers

1.25.2011

It's a N.E.W. Raise the Bar Challenge!


Hello Blogger friends!  We are home storming the Orlando theme parks from the moment they opened til closing!  It's with very blurry eyes and still riding the theme parks high that I finally get to the computer!  We had soooo much fun, and aside from a small bit of very cold weather on day #2 (which I loved!!!), it was a perfect trip and my son was so excited to finally ride all the "big boy" rides  and keep up with  his daredevil sisters {and mom .... hee hee!} 

I left my laptop at home so recharge and have fun with the family - to have brought it would have meant peeking at it here or there on the 'net!  So without further waiting, the blog candy winner via RNG (which will not link over as a picture for some reason) is ....

               True Random Number Generator
               Min: 1
               Max: 54
               Result: 5
               Powered by RANDOM.ORG ........

And if I counted right that means Jimmylynn is a winner!  Congratulations and please contact me at Kelnkids@aol.com to get your mailing information.  Thanks to all who played and stay tuned for some Birthday Blog Candy coming up! 

And much to my dismay, I see my card didn't launch on Friday!  I was so excited to learn when I played along in the Raise The Bar Challenge that I scored a guest spot in the upcoming challenge (now current challenge - check it out here!)  The theme is N.E.W. - to use nesties, embellishements and a mostly white card.   This was my take and this card was sent to a very dear friend last week to let her know how much she is appreciated and her hard work, fellowship and friendship is never far from my heart :)  



Big hugs to all!   I can't wait to see what you've all been up to on your blogs!
Blessings!
x0x0x0
~Kelly

Entered into the following Challenge:
  Mark's Finest Paper {sympathy}
AIFactory: Anything Goes
DigiDoodle Shop:  Anything Goes
                            

1.20.2011

"I'm going to Disney World!" :)

Teehee!   I always wanted to say that when I'm rich and famous and they ask "what are you going to do now?!"

And we really are going ......... in fact, we've already left!   I'll miss you!  Due to being out of town on candy ending day, I'll draw a random.org winner on the 24th when we return! {sorry for the delay! xoxo}

Blessings and Happy Blogging!
xoxo
~Kelly

1.19.2011

Ready for a Fresh Brewed Blog Hop?!

For my Blog Candy,
Click HERE! {ends this week!} :)

Good morning!  Welcome to the FRESH BREWED DESIGNS Valentine's Blog Hop and New Image Release!  If you're arriving from Lawren's blog then you are at the right place! If not, then please go back to Heather's Coffee Break, the start of the hop.  Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to hop along with us.  This hop will feature some of the many newly released Valentine's digis available TODAY in the Fresh Brewed Designs Shop!






My card for you today was made using Daisy the Elephant - sooo cute!   She's gracing the front of this Valentine's card using shades of blue, cream and red :)  I kept the paper theme and color scheme on the inside using a sentiment that I share with my son all the time "I Love you Big!" 


Now here is some really fun news!  Everyone hopping today will be entered in a random drawing for a Fresh Brewed Prize, so be sure  to leave a comment on each blog you hop to. Everyone who snagged the Jan 19 blog badge and emailed Heather will be entered twice!  For every 10 hop participants, there will be an extra image added to the prize package for this hop, which means the more you share; the more there will be to win.   Thank you so much for coming by today - your next stop on the hop is  Audrey!


Before you leave I want to let you in on a little secret! Fresh Brewed Designs is getting ready for another Rubber Stamp Release!!! Heather has designed several new stamps to add to the shop including the Cutie Pie featured on the badge below and some new coffee girls. The hop and release will be on March 1. 

Heather has created this badge and is asking us all to help spread the word by adding it to our sidebar and linking it back to Freshly Brewed Challenges

Cutie Pie Rubber Badge

If you do add the badge, head over to the challenge blog, email Heather and let her
know. She will add you to a drawing for a special prize that will be announced after the March 1st hop. Thanks again for hopping with us at Fresh Brewed Designs!


Blessings,
~Kelly

Card deets:  GKD Lipstick Red, SU! Bashful Blue, PTI White;  Image:  Fresh Brewed Designs "Daisy the Elephant", primsa markers, Cuttlebug, nesties, Ribbon,  Button, embroidery floss, MM Brads, Tombo, 3d dots ....

1.17.2011

Love you more than Chocolate!





And that sure says A LOT! :)

Isn't that cute and catchy and fab?!  My card today is for the Deedee's Crafting Challenge Blog - have you stopped in?  This week the challenge is hearts{and did you know if you play along using a Deedee's Digis, you will be automatically sent the $1 digi for the following week - how's that for sweet!}

I was originally making this card for my dd16 who is a HUGE choc-o-holic!  That girl has a serious sweet tooth!   There is a running joke in my house that mine would probably say "I love you more than salad" lolol!  Yes, I love me some greens :)  

However!!!  After making this card, I added the matching DP to the inside of the card and what do my eyes see but these 2 little words:  Forever Yours.   And I just fell in love with those words being in the card!  I {hearted} it with my white Signo pen, added a tiny smile and knew instantly this was NOW for my dh :)  He is such a sweetie and keeps all the cards I make for him ~ although he was at the table with me when I was coloring up this Deedee's image ;)   This was my last sheet nearly full sheet of chocolate brown cardstock and I knew I wanted to use this color, so I had to make one of my favorite shaped cards - elongated!  It's actually a 3" x 7".  I colored this fun chocolate candy image with prismacolor markers and added the sentiment that comes with the image!  My "hearts" are on the DSP and I cut out some hearts from the flip side of the dsp and added those ....... and then drew one :)

Thanks for stopping by today -- hope to see you, too, over at the challenge blog this week!

Blessings,
Kelly

Entered into the following Challenges: 
1.  If the Shoe fits (Photo inspired)
2.  Mark's Finest Papers - Hearts!
3.  The Lollipop Ladies - use black!

Cards Deets:  GKD cardstock Chocolate Brown + Passionate Pink; PTI White; SU! Pink Pirouette;  
DSP = Bo Bunny 'a gift of love'; Image and sentiment = More than Chocolate from Deedee's Digis;
prismacolor markers, Cuttlebug, trimmer, nesties, SU! Fairy Tale ribbon, Border punch Fiskars, White signo pen

1.16.2011

Sweet Award!

One of the BEST blessings about blogging is keeping in touch with friends and making new ones along the way!  One of those new friends I've met in blogland is Andrea ~  She is so sweet and included me in her list of 8 peeps to pass on this award to .... thank you!  I'm truly humbled :)   One of the rules for accepting this award is to pass it on to 8 more blogging friends and list 8 things about me ........ so here goes!



1..   I married my High School sweetheart (my Fab dh!) and we're still going strong, 27 years and 4 kids later ;)

2.  I love the sound of rain!

3. I always dreamed of being a writer and wrote short stories and poetry since Middle School. In High School, I had a teacher tell me I had no talent and to stop wasting the world’s time with worthless script :( It broke my heart and I put down the pen for many, many years. I ended up running into her at our HS reunion and said hello ~ she said “oh, I remember you! You were the wonderful, creative writer! Are you a journalist? Author?” I learned later that she had been going through a nasty, bitter divorce and hated the world and was mean-spirited due to personal reasons…. And no, I never did tell her that she crushed my world!

4. I’m a book geek! I browse bookstores for hours and speed read – I often read a book or two a day when time permits. I just got a Kindle for Christmas so I’m REALLY stoked!

5. I absolutely ADORE cooking …. I think I was a chef in a former life. I love to try new foods and flavors and prepare dishes from just about everywhere.

6 . I’m a vegetarian ~ meat in any form gives me the heebie jeebies! I do buy/prepare it for my carnivorous family, but I won’t go anywhere near it.

7. My dream vacation is to go white water rafting … preferably before I get too old to go!

8. I celebrated my 40th birthday with my dh, children and my mom in Walt Disney World :) Right at the exact minute I turned 40, the night fireworks went off at the castle and my daughter said “Mommy! That was for you!” I’ll never forget it :)

Passing this on is really hard, especially since I have so many wonderful blogging friends, but I thank the following 8 friends that inspire me each and every day ....

Heather - My sistah in Christ and faithful prayer buddy :)
Yuki ~  xiumaiyuki!
Jeanette, Lorie, Michelle and Susan - The best litter of kittens evah!
Carol - "just one more order......"  rofl!
Kate  :)

Have a great weekend, everyone!  Dh and dd14 are about to arrive after a 5 day trip away from home and I cannot wait!!  x0x0
~Kelly

1.15.2011

DDD Challenge - You're my blue haired friend!! :)

Hola!   It's time for another Dueling Darling Challenge - a group of SCS friends that bonded together to send a card kit out and see what everyone does with the same image!  This month our hostess  for the Divas is the fabulous Judy!  (her blog is still in the works, but feel free to peek at her awesome SCS gallery!)    The theme this month was "Fun and Laughter" and Judy sent us this hilarious Edna stamped image and all this yummy paper and flowers and buttons and ribbon goodness to go with!  I think I used nearly everything in her kit, I love it all!  :)


The bright, bold and whimsical colors of the papers and embellies Judy sent to us just made me smile!  The are such happy and fun colors :)  I hope the card I made did justice to her sending us all these wonderful elements - I had a blast making this one!


Want to see what the other Divas made using this same image?
 Take a peek here!

And for the Dazzlers card kit creations, start here at Jeanette's blog and follow the trail of paper goodness!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Blessings to you!
~Kelly

Deets:  Cardstock: Carribbean Sea, Crush Curry, Pumpkin Pie: Dsp = unk;  Image:  Edna by Rubbernecker; sentiment computer generated; colored with prismacolor markers; Cuttlebug, nesties, button brads; orange sheer ribbon, turquoise grosgrain, misc flowers, buttons

1.14.2011

A Treat for Valentine's Day! :)



Happy Friday!  Today I bring you a treat for Valentine's Day! :)



Today's post will be a set using Deedee's Digis!  I know many of you have seen these cute little metal mailboxes in many places out in the crafting world and I'm excited to have finally made one, too :) With a little themed paper and some awesome digis from Deedee, I was able to create this darling set!







First up, I have a mailbox with a 3 x 3 notecard - how easily a stack could fit in here for easy reach and go or even set of cards, tied together in a little bundle and bow! For the mail box, I used a sentiment from Deedee's Valentine's sentiments - available in the store! The heart on the front is also a digi, from the set "Stitched with love". I matched the small 3 x 3 with another sentiment from the Valentine's sentiments set.  Lastly, for the larger card, I kept the theme and added the blowing kisses digi set to this card, paired with matching flowers and ric rac ribbon and buttons!

Have you heard of Deedee's digis?  And the awesome challenge blog?  Be sure to hop on over to the Crafting Challenge blog and enter your card to this week's challenge - make a card or project using the colors pink and red!  Easy peasy!   You can even "try before you buy" - just click on the tab under the header :)


Blessings!
~Kelly

 Entered into this challenge:   Stampfairy Challenge, layers and buttons

Card details: Cardstock = PTI White, Pure Poppy, Hibiscus Burst; American Crafts DSP "Tainted Love", Deedee's digis "Blowing kisses, Stitched with Love, Valentine's sentiments"; ric-rac, basic grey buttons, prima flowers, embroidery floss, 3D dots, Tombo, Kaiser bling, colored with prismacolor markers, Cuttlebug, nesties



1.12.2011

a little love CANDY Give-away!! :)



Blessings to my wonderful blogging friends!  I appreciate so much your kind words and sweet sentiments when you stop by my blog and I wanted to say thank you ... LOVE you muchly! :)

Since Valentine's Day is soon to arrive and I LOVE my blogging friends, I wanted to send this little care package to one random.org winner!  Due to the theme, this will be a short candy time and I'll leave it up until January 20th (my mom's bday!)   Make sure to leave a comment below with your name and if you want to add it to your sidebar/follow, that would be wonderful but not necessary!   Sorry for the picture quality!  You will receive:

~ MFT "Heartbreaker" stamp set, new in package
~ Double sided dsp by GCD "Cloisonne" 25 sheets
~ 8 yards of theme satin ribbon (2 yards of 4 colors w/ wooden pegs)
~ Felt hearts
~ Pink alphabet letter set

Thanks for stopping by for this mini candy!   I will be having a HUGE bday candy coming soon, so stay tuned! :)

Blessings and LOVE you all!
~Kelly
(samples of paper!)

Somebunny loves you!

Good Morning!  I'm late, very late for my FBD post  - so very sorry! I was actually done last night .... woke up today feeling really run down and saw my card and gasped!  It was *that bad!*  Seriously.   So I kept the image and put together another one - still not liking it much, but at least it's up and on my blog.  This is going to be a re-do .......  I didn't want not to showcase the image so here he is - sweet little bunny from Fresh Brewed Designs!  Isn't he adorable!!  You can find him here!




This week our challenge at FBD is to use Black and white and ......... a color!  I chose PINK (can't go wrong with pink!) 

Be sure to link up your cards here!   And if you want to vote, Fresh Brewed Designs is in the top 100 sites here!  Woohoo, go FBD! :)

Blessings,
~Kelly

1.09.2011

Cupid ... draw back your bow ...



And let your arrow go
Straight to my lover's heart for me ...

I loved listening to this Sam Cook song on the radio growing up :)  And this Cupid is an adorable new release image from Inktegrity!   The uber sweet Joni, owner and designer, has him available for you to use on all your upcoming Valentine's cards, scrapbook pages and projects! 


For my card, I wanted to use some non-traditional  Valentine's colors.    I added some glitter to cupid's wings but it was a bit hard to photograph ;)  Since the theme of romance was in the air, I broke open my new Immortal Love stack from DCWV - gaaaaaaaaah, one of the best paper collections evah!  You'll be seeing this gorgeous "Twilight inspired" paper on my blog all week!!! 

Take a peek at Joni's blog for more wonderful Inktegrity inspiration and make sure to stop by the store, too - so many super adorable images to chose from.   So glad you stopped by today :)

Blessings!
~Kelly


Entered into the following challenges for consideration: 
 SSCC #71 - Wings
Aly's Sunday Challenge - things with wings

Card deets:  PTI White Cardstock, SU! Bravo Burgundy, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel;  Cupid image from Inktegrity;  DVWV "Immortal Love" Collection; prismacolor markers; SU! Choc Chip ribbon, Basic Grey buttons; Prima flower, floss, Tombo, 3D dots, Cuttlebug, nesties

1.07.2011

A Simple Wish .....




Afternoon and TGIF, that's all I can say!  It's been a hectic, sleep deprived week here ... and hence, a very simple card to post.  My dd14 is applying to high school this week - yes, applying ... rofl!  I get asked a lot "did you say applying?!  Doesn't everyone go?"   Yes and no!  We have a Magnet high school  (a mini Julliard! ) which is a performance high school for voice and musical theater ..... dd was BORN for it!  But the competetion is fierce and literally a thousand (yes, thousand!) applicants try out for less than 80 spots.  We are crossing our fingers and toes that she will make the deadline and receive an audition and I'm literally sick to my stomach just thinking of it.  I know she is terribly worried but isn't showing it :)  She has picked a wonderful Italian song that really accentuates her soprano voice but it's really a waiting game that has us so much on edge - the waiting, the wondering, the hoping!  I feel like I"m a real life Glee episode paired against Vocal Adreneline, lol! ;)

So all this rambling!!!!!  I made a card for Chrissy today and put it in her backpack - I even tucked it into her music folder and with a note from mommy on the inside of the card :)  It's not so fancy, just a simple note to remind her that through the waiting and wondering, we just need to keep the faith, stay focused and positive and pray for a good audition!! :)

Using scrap SU! cardstock, some paper from Fancy Pants Fall collection, I stamped a simple sentiment from SNSS, added a border of felt flowers and voila!  She texted me during lunch to tell me she loved my card but mostly that she loved me more ........ sniff, sniff!  I'm so blessed!

Have a FAB weekend! x0x0