Fun with Friends!!



Obviously I've been in a 'scrappy' mood this weekend, what with Virtual Scrapbook Night and all!! So here's another one of my submissions for a challenge!! This one was to use chipboard on your layout, so I took some Basic Grey Lucky paper and these photos of Emileigh a few years ago with a couple of her friends! Aren't they so cute....and goofy!!

The layout is a Kimmie original (I just played around with the photos I had) and I used several of the coordinating BG papers. The 'Fun' and 'Friends' parts of the title are done with chipboard and the 'with' is done with the Cuttlebug and attached with my trusty Xyron. The ribbon is the stitched grosgrain by Stampin' Up and the charm on the upper left says 'Friends Forever' and the ribbon slider on the right says 'laughter'. The chipboard tag has a rubon that says 'laugh often' and wouldn't you know, I just HAPPENED to get these perfectly matching Prima flowers on Saturday!! What are the odds??

And hey....some good news for all you busy scrappers!! The deadline for submissions to the VSBN challenges has been extended until Wednesday night!! So get scrappin' and don't forget to do my challenge and post your link on this posting....you could be a lucky Kimmie's Kandy winner!!!!

A Scrappin' Challenge!!!!!!


Do ya scrap?? Well if so, this weekend is Virtual Scrapbooking Weekend on Splitcoaststampers!! And I am one of the hostesses for the challenges!! This is my sample page for my 'Focus on Yourself' challenge and I'm extremely pleased with the way that it turned out!!

Here is the description of my challenge:

As women we are constantly thinking of everyone and everything else.....our children, our husbands, our families, our jobs, our homes!! Sheesh! I'm getting pooped just thinkin' about it!! The whole idea of a 'Spa Getaway' is that you take some much needed time for yourself and focus on just YOU, for the day or the weekend! Get a relaxing full-body massage, a seaweed wrap, get a spunky new hairdo, a cleansing facial, get a beautiful manicure.........because, let's face it.....you deserve it!!! And you need to stop and take good care of yourself, so that you are able to then, turn around and take good care of others!

So I want you to Focus on YOU for this challenge!! What I want you to do is to take one single picture and make that the entire focus of your layout. This must be a one page layout, it must include ONLY one photo, be it a 4x6 or a 5x7 or an 8x10!! There will be bonus points for larger pictures, bonus points for flourishes (stamps, rubons etc.) and bonus points for using a photo of YOU!!

Don't forget to use the provided sketch!!

So my challenge to YOU, scrappers...is to do this challenge!! In order to be in the running for the winners on Splitcoast you need to complete your page in under two hours and upload to the SCS gallery by Monday evening. But if you want to spend more time on your layout or you just want to be included in MY challenge, then you can comment in this thread with a link to your layout by Friday, May 4th at noon EST!! You can also email me the photo of your creation if you prefer. The winner of this challenge will receive some Kimmie's Kandy!!!! Not sure what it will be yet, but I'm sure you will love it!!!

So check the thread for inspiration and scrap those pics!! I don't care if your hair was a mess or you didn't have any makeup on or if you looked dorky in those clothes!! *giggle* And you don't HAVE to scrap a pic of yourself, it can be any picture, just get scrappin'!!! I can't wait to see what you create!!

More Bella Fun!!! (and a winner)

This morning I asked Emileigh to pick a number and she picked this entry:

Kimberly said:
I'M LOVIN THE BELLA'S RIGHT NOW. CONGRATS ON THE HITS

I've sent an email to Kimberly requesting her snail mail address. And hey, look how close I am to 15,000 posts!! Maybe some more Kimmie's Kandy in the near future...??


Well, I've had quite a bit of fun breakin' in my new Bellas!! So here are a couple that I made the other day. Firstly, I LOVE Grumpabella. The only thing different between us is that I don't use curlers!!! And I picked up this sentiment totally with her in mind!!



I started out with the patterned paper 'cause I just love the colours and figured they would be good for bathrobes and coffee! I stamped the Stampinbella Funky Frame (which I LOVE) and then stamped Grumpabella in the middle. I used my trusty SU markers to colour her in and shade her. I used Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery, Blush Blossom and Pretty in Pink, then shaded around the right side of her with Sahara Sand. I mounted the pp on Close to Cocoa and wrapped some perfectly matching grosgrain ribbon around it and matted the whole thing on Regal Rose. Love that colour! I added some bronzey coloured brads after using the ticket corner punch and some yummy Prima Daisies with a brad. I stamped the sentiment directly onto the pp with Chocolate Chip ink and it says: "With enough caffeine, I could rule the world!" I pop dotted Grumpabella and she's all done!



Next, I had been itching to use this scrumptious patterned paper that I got at my local scrapbook store. Don't ask me what the company is, because it doesn't say but there are several designs to coordinate with it and I got them all!! So I started out with the paper and grabbed my matching SU markers in Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Pumpkin Pie, Taken with Teal, Sahara Sand, Ballet Blue and Almost Amethyst and then some So Saffron for the popcorn. This is PMSabella but I just feel like she's maxin' and relaxin in front of the tube watchin' Dancin' wit da Stars or somethin'! Can anyone relate?? Anyway, I coloured her in and added the sentiment, 'Chill Out' with my Karen Foster Snap Stamps and doodled around the edge. I also added some sparklies with my Stardust gel pen. She's matted on Pumpkin Pie and Certainly Celery and popdotted on the main card. I wanted to do a different size so the whole card is actually 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 in Taken with Teal. I added some dots around the edge with my black Sakura glaze pen and some photo corners in Certainly Celery. I also had some matching prima flowers and added them with an antique bronze brad. I REALLY like the way she turned out!! If you've never done a square card, give it a try. They are super fun.

If you've never been to the Stampingbella website, go have a peek. They are a riot and Emily's always adding more. Which Bella resembles you or your personality the most?? I love Grumpabella and Elizabella but I'd have to say (and my husband would agree with me) that Jammybella was made for me!!!

Now........what shall I play with today???? Things that make you go HMMMMMMMMM!!!

Bella-wonderful Mail!!!!!!!!!!

This has been the best mail week ever!! Don'tcha just love mail that isn't a bill?? It's happy mail!! And Tuesday I got a puffy padded envelope that some of you just may be familiar with......and inside it were some lovely ladies all packed up in their little plastic sleeping bags!!! See???



So I HAD to let them out and play with them!!! Heehee!! I didn't have to go in to work until 5pm yesterday so I had a chance to do the Sketch Challenge on Splitcoast!! It was a good one and of COURSE I had to use a Bella!!

I pulled out Jammybella, because I think she is my fave.........today!! *giggle* She lives in her favourite pyjamas....and don't we all wanna do that?? Pyjamas are my favourite fashion statement, and my husband will tell ya so!! He says I have waaaaaaaay too many pairs of pj's but can ya really have too many?? I say no!!



So I chose some patterned paper that I thought felt like some warm flannel jammies and took my colours from there. I stamped the Funky Frame first and then Jammybella inside it using black Stazon ink. I coloured her in using SU markers in Blush Blossom, Brocade Blue, Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa and Old Olive and then shaded around her and did the ground using Sahara Sand. I also added a little bit of glitter on the flowers on her pj pants, hair and teddy with my Stardust pen. I sponged the edges of the paper with blue, stamped the little flower from Delight in Life on the Old Olive mat and ran the card base through my Cuttlebug. I added some American Crafts polka dotted ribbon and just the 'warm and fuzzy' part of the sentiment and then punched it out with the Word Window Punch and added an eyelet. I pop dotted the main frame of course, and all done!!

Don't forget that today is the last day for Kimmie's Kandy, so if you haven't thrown your name in the hat yet, you might wanna!!!

Tag, You're It .... and Basic Stampin'!!!

In the last few days, I have been tagged about a dozen times!! Well, not that many, but LOTS!! There are 'Tag Games' going around Bloggin' Land and they are kind of fun, so I'm gonna join in.!

I was tagged first by Angie, Julee and Monika to share my 5 most favourite blogs!! Well, since that is just completely impossible, I'm gonna do something different. I have so many blogs that are in my favourites, I could never pick just 5!! (Plus most of them have already been tagged!!!) So instead, I will just ask you to visit a couple of the blogs that I have listed on my sidebar over there. >>>>>> Which reminds me, I need to update that thing. My list is MUCH longer than that!! There are so many talented stampin' and scrappin' bloggers out there with so many fabulous ideas to share. Go have a boo!!

The second game of Tag is to share 7 facts about yourself!! Well, let's see if I can find 7 semi-interesting things about me to tell ya, before you get bored and move onto the next blog........ahhahahaaaaaa!!!

1. I went to Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario and I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a double major in English and Sociology. It's only taken me 15 years to find a job that actually utilizes my education!!!! (My parents are happy about that........baaaaaaahahaha!!)

2. Speaking of my job, I work at the local library in the information department. I just got promoted from the circulation department. I work 23 hours a week and really love it!!! I am also an avid reader (whoda thunk!!) and I always have a book on the go!! Right now I am reading the new Joy Fielding book, a Charlaine Harris mystery and am listening to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince on cd!!

3. My husband and I met in a computer course at the local college. We joke that we can't remember anyone else that was in the class other than each other (we probably can't remember anything we learned either!!). We started dating in December of 2004, he proposed to me in August of 2005 and we got married 5 weeks later on September 30th, 2005. It was an amazingly beautiful wedding in my SILaw's backyard garden with beautiful flowers, arbours, twig garden furniture etc. I'll have to share some pics sometime!!

4. I love reality shows and my faves are Survivor, Amazing Race, Dancing with the Stars and I can't wait for Big Brother each summer!! Emileigh and I are also Friends fanatics and my daughter has the entire series on DVD. Between the two of us we can probably answer any Friends trivia questions you can throw at us!! Try us, we're serious!!!!!

5. I love all things Tink!!! If you ever see a Tinkerbell stamp...let me know!! Can you believe I don't have one?? She's just too cute!! I love her so much that when we were on holidays in Florida a couple of months ago, I bought some cute little t-shirts with Tinkerbell on them.....I could even fit in the large kid's size (they don't make too many cute Tink shirts in adult sizes!!)

6. Which leads me to #6....I have recently lost 30 pounds!! I started the South Beach Diet last September and by Christmas I had lost the weight!! It's really exciting for me and I'm so proud of myself....and so is my family. I was a size 14 (good grief, did I just admit that?) and I'm now a size 6!! I haven't been that size since before I was married!!! I LOVE to shop for clothes now, where it used to make me cry to go shopping and try stuff on. I also LOVE to have my picture taken now....very different from a year ago!!

7. Hmmm........one more thing!! I left the best 'til last! In case you didn't already know by my endless photos and scrapbook pages and constant bragging about her, I have an amazing 15 year old daughter, Emileigh. She is the absolute shining star in my life!! We are mother and daughter, but best friends too!! In fact, close friends often tell me how they envy our relationship and a couple of people have told us that we remind them of the Gilmore Girls!! How funny. She is a bright and generous soul with a heart for others. She is a very strong individual and is not afraid to stand on her own and stand up to others for what she believes or what she thinks. She is a leader, not a follower. Not sure where she got that!! I'm so proud of her and the girl she is today and the woman she will be tomorrow. And let's just face it..........the girl is gorgeous!!! We're gonna have our hands full when she starts dating........which WON'T be for a while!!!

Okay, so that's it for this round of tag. I guess I gotta tag someone else!! Umm...probably someone who hasn't been tagged yet....how about Beate, Lindsey and Cindy!!

Also I thought I'd share a couple of cards with ya!! This past weekend I did a Stamp Camp for about twelve ladies and most of them had never stamped before. Soooo, I had to design cards for them that were easy......so I tried to come up with simple cards, single layers, basic stuff right?? I tried, I mean I really tried...but it was painful!! I couldn't just do a one layered card!!! I couldn't help myself from adding a layer....or two....and ribbon.....and brads.....aaggghhhh!! They just didn't look right! Do you know what I'm saying?? Anyway I ended up with some gorgeous cards....if I do say so myself but I stuck to just basic one or two step stamping, no fancy techniques or anything. That's simple and basic right??? So here are three of the cards that we did!!



This one uses Flower Filled and is very simple. I used Always Artichoke, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron and Rose Red. I also added some of the designer paper for matting and a brad. Easy peasy, right?? Right.



Ya know how I love colouring in lined images with my SU markers....so I had to use Unfrogettable on a card. We stamped the base card in Certainly Celery with Itty Bitty Backgrounds and the dragonfly, added a strip of Almost Amethyst and coloured in the froggie with assorted colours. We pop dotted the main image and added some black gingham. Totally simple!



And of course, I HAD to let them see how simple it is to make an elegant and gorgeous card with the Roses in Winter set!! A couple of layers but just straight stampin'!! I used my fave colour combo with RIW....Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Mellow Moss and Pretty in Pink for the tiny flowers!! LOVE it!!

Friends Challenge!!


No, I'm not talkin' about the awesome TV show, Friends......although I could totally go toe to toe with you on any Friends trivia challenge too!! I'm referring to a challenge that I completed yesterday for the Virtual Scrapbooking Preview Party!!

For challenge C, you had to complete a layout which incorporates Friends or friendship and uses the provided sketch. Also there had to be blue on your layout and the square cutout piece which you will notice on the upper left corner of my left page!!

This layout is using pictures from Emileigh's Track and Field day of 2004! It's always a super fun day for her and all her little friends. I usually take the day or half day off from work and Mom and I go and spend the day taking pictures and filming with the video camera!! The sketch was for a one page layout and I used it on the left page, but of course I had many pics and needed a two pager so I made the right page without a sketch. I got to use my new Doodle Alphabet for the title and some awesome paper (that I don't know the name of....sorry). I added some orange ric rac and stamped the sentiment on the bottom of the right page which says: "A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same". I sponged the edges of almost all the papers and pieces to make them stand out and cut out a few flowers from one of the patterned papers.



It was nice to get some pages done as I've been spending more time on cards lately. I hope to get more done this weekend during Virtual Scrapbooking Night!! Feel free to join in the fun and you can get more details here!!!

Spring Wish-RAK!!!


Another super-fun thing at Splitcoaststampers is the Wish-RAK forum!! First of all, a RAK is a Random Act of Kindness!! And in the Wish-RAK forum you can make wishes and grant other people's wishes!! For example, I don't have any Whipper Snapper animal stamps, and I haven't seen them in Canada anywhere, so I made a wish for some stamped images with those stamps. So hopefully someone who has one of those stamps will stamp me a few and mail them to me. And I have some Bella stamps or Pink Cat Studio stamps or High Hopes Stamps that other people have wished for images of and I will grant their wishes by sending them a few!!

Well, today I had the day off from work and I almost NEVER have the time to join in on one of the card challenges that they post on SCS each day. But today I was able to join in the fun! The challenge (TLC113) was to do a card with a little tab on it!! Well heck!! Half the cards I make have little tabs on them!! So away I went!!

My good friend Linda Palmer sent me a WHACK of stamped images the I had wished for when she was my secret friend in the Wish-RAK forum and I knew I would find a great image in that stack!! So I chose this one of flowers in a vase and I don't know who makes the image, but isn't it cute?? I coloured it in with my SU markers in Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Pale Plum, Almost Amethyst and Pretty in Pink. Then I shaded around the edges of the images with Sahara Sand. I also used my Stardust gel pen to add some shimmer in the centers of all the flowers. I doodled around the edge of the frame and matted it on Barely Banana and Bashful Blue cardstock.

I got the colours actually, from the pretty patterned paper that I chose from the DCWV Spring Stack (guess I shoulda said that first, huh?). I ran the pp through my Cuttlebug using the Bloomin' Dots embossing folder and mounted it on Certainly Celery paper which I had paper pierced around the frame using my mat pack. I added some narrow pink organdy ribbon and used the Round Tab Punch to make my tab. I stamp 'all you need is love' from Cute Converse on the tab. I then used my new long Flowers die from Cuttlebug to make the flower. I pop dotted everything (as per my usual) and Bob's yer uncle!! I was really happy with my Technique Challenge card!!

Oh and don't forget to comment on the last post to be entered in for some yummy Kimmie's Kandy!! Heehee!!

10,000+ Visitors!!! Yay!!


WOW!! I can't believe I've had over 10,000 visitors and this is my 60th post, just since February!! That's so totally exciting! You all make me feel so loved!!! Heehee!!

SOOOOOOOOOOO, in order to return that love, I thought it was time for a little bit of Kimmie's Kandy!!! I picked out some coordinating fun stuff to give away from the Spring Fling line at Michael's!! The winner will receive: a package of 2 darling sticky notes pads, two rolls of delicious ribbon and a Marvy Uchida Fashionable Storage container for your markers and pens!! Aren't they pretty colours and designs? I have some of these for myself and in fact I used some of the ribbon on my Paisley Butterfly card a few posts ago!!

In order to win this batch of Kimmie's Kandy please tell me what your favourite stamp set or line of stamps right now....this minute!! (Mine can change at the drop of a hat!!! **snicker**) I'd love to hear what everyone is liking right now or would like to see more of. Or let us know if you've found a great new stamp company that maybe a lot of people haven't heard of yet. I especially like to hear of Canadian stamp companies so that I can order stuff without having to pay duty or brokerage fees.....know what I mean?? Can I get a, 'Yes, ma'am!!'??

Anyway, post your comment on this post in order to get a chance to win and I will leave this open until Thursday, April 26th at midnight EST!!

Watercoloured Delights!!


Since I showed you my third attempt at watercolouring yesterday (see that post for the tutorial), and you didn't boo and throw tomatoes at me.....I'll share with you my first and second attempts at using my Aquapainter!

This was my very first venture into the Watercolouring world!! Let's just say I was a little nervous about trying it out. I used the Delight in Life set from SU's Sellabration time and it is a great one for masking and using this technique with. I used the watercolour paper again (it really does make a HUGE difference) and stamped the images using the masking technique. The ink colours I used are Cool Caribbean, Regal Rose and Chocolate Chip. I painted the flowers and then decided to paint all the bare space around the outside and when I first started doing it, I really thought I had ruined the whole thing!!! But as I added a little more here and there and then finished putting the whole thing together, it ended up pretty nice!! I was extremely pleased with my first attempt! And hey, I can only get better right??? .....right???!



This one was my second attempt. I decided to use the same stamps and layout, just change up the colours. This time I used Night of Navy, Rose Red and Always Artichoke. I really like this one too.

I'm really enjoying this new-to-me technique. I find it very relaxing and enjoyable!! Have you tried it yet????

Watercolouring "Tutorial"!!




Howdy, howdy, howdy!!! Thanks for stopping by my blog today!! I have something that I'd like to share..........don't I always?? Now, you all know that I am a compulsive blog-hopper and one of the reasons I LOVE blogs, is the wealth of knowledge that is out there! I love to learn new things and pick up great tips and tricks!!! So today I want to share a little tutorial with you and I hope you like it........'cause I've been working on it for ages and it was a lot of work....so just SAY you enjoyed it!!!!! Baahhaahaaaaaaaa!!!

Now remember, I am new to this whole watercolouring thing, so when I say "tutorial", just picture me using my finger quotations!! I am learning this as I go, so I'm just sharing my observations and experiences and hope this helps you in discovering what works for you!! I am in NO WAY a Watercolouring Wizard or anything....but DO feel free to try this at home!! Heehee!!

I created this little card and took a ton of pics as I went, so I'm just going to post them and share what I did to make it, kay?? Ya with me???




First, I chose the stamp that I wanted to use, which was this pretty Pansy stamp from The Artful Stamper. I've found that my favourite paper to use for watercolouring is, of course, watercolour paper by Stampin' Up. It is a little on the spendy side, but totally worth it. And of course I used my black Stazon ink, so that it doesn't bleed with all the ink and water you will be slopping on it!!




I stamped one pansy in the middle of the paper and also stamped a couple more on a spare piece of cardstock and cut them out. These will be used to mask my image to make them look layered.





Then I chose the colours that I wanted to use. For this card I am using Elegant Eggplant and Always Artichoke. I use the refill inks in the lids of my stamp pads and my SU Aquapainter.



I painted my flowers using a light layer of the EE ink and water. The more water you use, the lighter your shade of colour. You want to do a lighter layer first so that you can go back and shade in certain areas darker.





Here I went in with straight EE ink on my brush and did the centres of the flowers darker and also around the edges.



Then I went around the whole image with Always Artichoke and made it darker around the flowers.



So again, (in case you had forgotten what it looked like waaaaaaaaaay back up at the top of this post...hahaha!!) here is the final card. I used kraft cardstock and stamped the Weathered background stamp in Creamy Caramel on it. I matted the main image on EE and AA cardstock and added some green wide organdy ribbon. I stamped the sentiment from Sincere Salutations and walaah!! Here it is, the finished card!! I mean, it is no professional card by any means!! It's only like my second or third try with the aquapainter, but I think it turned out okay!! And my goal is just to share my experiences with you and hopefully we can learn together!!!

Now go on and give it a whirl!! I'd love to see what you make if you care to share!! Just link it in your comment!! Come on, I wanna see, I wanna see!!!

P.S. OOHHHHHHHH!! And you KNOW how much I love Prima flowers right?? Well, I just found this awesome Prima share on my pal, Janet's blog!! She is Canadian and the prices are fantastic!! If you wanna get in on it, just go HERE to get all the details!!!

P.P.S. OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! And know what else??? FOUR of my posts are featured on today's latest Carnival at the online magazine, Craft Critique!! This week it's all about Markers and you know how much I looooove my SU markers!! Check it out!!

Paisley Butterfly!!


Have you ever done an Inspiration Challenge on SCS before?? They post an image or a piece of artwork or a pretty pattern on something and ask you to create a card inspired by that image. Well, this week I joined in on my first Inspiration Challenge and it was fun!!

This week's challenge IC71, was called 'Unmentionables' because the Inspiration was a Fruit of the Loom ad which was a 'butterfly' made from different pairs of their new ladies underwear line!! Isn't that a hoot!! So funny!! Go here to see the pic!!

I LOVE butterflies so I had to find time to play with this challenge!! And I had the perfect butterfly stamp to use....a new Pink Cat Studio stamp!! So I stamped the Paisley Butterfly on shimmery white paper with black Stazon ink and then, with this yummy new ribbon from Michael's $ spot in mind, I chose my colours from there. I used my SU markers to colour in the image with Sage Shadow, Pretty in Pink and Almost Amethyst. I punched it out using the Mega Circle Punch and then punched a layer of Sage Shadow with the Giga Scalloped Circle Punch to put it on. I sponged the edges of the scalloped piece and also around the SS square which I mounted on a square card. I stamped the matted SS piece with a matching Paisley stamp and mounted it on the card base, adding the pretty ribbon, an Almost Amethyst photo corner and some tiny Prima flower with Icicle Stickles in the centres. I stamped the 'Thinking of You' sentiment with a Michael's $ acrylic stamp in black and went over it with a Stardust pen and also added some Stardust to the butterfly image. Not sure how well you can see it in the photo, but it really shimmers in real life!!

Friends Fur-Ever!!!



It's been so much FUN playin' with my new Pink Cat stamps!! This one is Emileigh's favourite one so far!!

I started out with this awesome patterned paper from Paper Studio and chose my colours for the image from there. I stamped the Furry Friends image on shimmery white paper with black Stazon ink. Then I coloured in the image using my Stampin' Up markers in Sahara Sand, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip. Then I doodled around the frame of the image and layered it on some Close to Cocoa cardstock.

Then I stamped the Friends Fur-ever sentiment straight onto the patterned paper in Chocolate Chip craft ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder. Then I added the three Prima flowers and an antique copper brad and pop dotted the main image. The body of the card is Close to Cocoa. Emileigh just loves this card of the pretty little puppies at the salon!! Notice they've gone shopping too!! Must have been over to the local Hobby Lobby, I'm sure!!! **giggle**



Today I also wanted to show you what an awesome Secret Pal I had over Easter!! My new pal Julee, from Poetic Artistry sent me this awesome reveal package!! (Wasn't a big surprise, as we had figured out who the other one was around about week 2!!) She sent me a lovely mini album to fill and decorate, some Rhona Farrar clear acrylic stamps, these awesome rhinestone flowers, 2 Sakura gel pens and see those awesome Amuse stamps?? I love them!! And she saw me mention on a blog once how much I NEEDED that skinny oval stamp to ground my Bella images, and she sent me one of my very own!!! She is the bestest!! Thanks Julee!!

Pink Cat Studio Debut!!!



I was so excited to receive my new rubbah this weekend and I couldn't wait to play with it!!! You ALL know what I'm talkin' about!!! The feel, the smell....aaahhh!! And these ones are so CUUUUUUUUUUTE!!! This is my first time playin' with the Pink Cat Studio stamps and they are just too much fun!!!

This one is called the Strolling Dog but she just looks like a Diva to me!! I stamped her with black Stazon ink on shimmery white paper and used my Sahara Sand and Pink Passion markers to colour and shade her. I doodled around the edge and added the "diva" with my Karen Foster Snap Stamps. Then I used my new Mega Scalloped Square Punch to make the frame with four punches put together to form the big one. Then I used my Stardust Sakura pen to make her all sparkly!! I used Pink Passion cardstock for the base which is a 4 1/4 X 4 1/4 square and the patterned paper is Doodlebug Design. I used my ticket corner punch on the pp and added faux brads with my black Glaze Sakura pen. Don'tch love the wide bright pink organdy ribbon with the big bow on the side?? I pop dotted the main image and added some Prima flowers and some pink rhinestones for some bling!!!

I have LOTS more Pink Cat Studio designs to share with ya, but I can't show them to you all at once!! You'll have to wait and see what comes next!!!

OH!!! And do you see my bee-utiful new watermark???!! Isn't it gorgeous?? Well, I WON it!! Yep!! On Beth's blog the other day!! I was so excited when she emailed me and told me to pick one out!! So she created this pretty watermark for me and now it will go on all my creations!! Thanks Beth!!!

And can you believe I'm almost at 10,000 visits??? Maybe some "Kimmie Kandy" will be in order.......so check back often!!! You never know when it will show up!!! **wink**

Got Visa??


I don't know what I would do without my Stampin' Up markers! I LOVE using them with my Stamping Bella images, as well as all my other lined images. They are just crying to be coloured in!!

I don't often have time to do the daily card challenges on Splitcoaststampers, but this morning I whipped up this card for the Ways to Use It challenge, which was to use your markers. I didn't come up with any cool or unusual way to use them....I just coloured in my Elizabella image from Stampingbella!!

As usual, I began with my patterned paper. I chose this retro feeling paper from Paper Reflections (I got it on clearance from Target....love a deal!!) and chose my SU markers to match the colours. I used Blush Blossom for her skin tone, So Saffron for her hair and then Bashful Blue, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery and Basic Black. Using my bella also gave me a chance to use my NEW oval shadow stamp from Amuse, that my bestest pal Julee sent me...you so rock, sistah!! Now my bellas don't have to look like they are floating on the card...they actually have somewhere to stand!!

So I coloured her in and then added some black polka dots on her dress with my black Sakura glaze pen to mimic the polka dots on the patterned paper. I used Bashful Blue for the card base and used the ticket corner punch on the pp. I doodled around the bella and added the sentiment, 'Got Visa?' with my Karen Foster Snap Stamps. I matted her on Basic Black and Regal Rose and pop dotted the main image. Then I added some super cool pink velvet ric rac ribbon that I got from my local scrapbook store and also a couple of Prima flowers and a glittery brad!!

Bellas, bellas, so much fun!!!

Also I wanted to thank everyone for their kind comments about my 'news' yesterday!! I can't express how much your encouragement means to me...you da bomb!!!

A Little Announcement....

Can I just tell you that Tuesday was the absolute BEST day ever, in my crafting world??!! I was so over the moon that I was bouncin', bouncin', bouncin' all day!! And I would like to share with you why I was so excited!!!

For some time now, I've wanted to send my 'artwork' out to some publications and companies for consideration, but it is really outside of my comfort zone to do something like that. Firstly, I don't like to toot my own horn and secondly, I hate rejection!! But who doesn't, right?? So I took the plunge.

You may have seen my Chickie creations a few posts back. Well these stamps are by a company called High Hopes Rubber Stamps and everyone left such positive feedback here and on my SCS gallery and the family members that I gave them to really raved over them. So that gave me the confidence to email Tina Russell, the owner and tell her how much I loved her line of stamps!! I also mentioned that if she was ever looking for a Design Team member in the future, to check out my galleries and consider me for the job!!! Well, on Tuesday morning she emailed me back and said she loved my stuff and would I like to join the team!!! I was so overwhelmed that I had to blink back tears!!! I was walkin' on air all day!!!

So when I got home from work (can you believe I had to work all day after that news??) I was feeling really super, so I did something else!! It had been so good for my confidence, hearing from Tina, that I decided to apply at another of my FAVOURITE stamp companies!! I figured, heck, what's the worst she can say...."Your stuff sucks??"....of course not!! She'll just say "I'm sorry, I'm not looking for any team members right now." So I took the plunge and emailed Melissa at Pink Cat Studios. I just about choked when she emailed me back in like, an hour and said she likes my work and thinks my style would work well with her stamps!!! Are you kidding?? This is like, the best day EVER!!!!!!

I am so glad that I had the courage to put myself and the artwork that is so close to my heart, out there. Because it really paid off and I feel like a million bucks!!! Am I a dork?? You all know where I'm coming from don't you?? Yes you do.

Soooo, as you have now guessed, my little announcement is that I am now a Design Team for High Hopes Rubber Stamps and Pink Cat Studios!!! How cool is that??



This card was made using Kathy the Quilting Angel and the sentiment 'You're sew sweet!' by High Hopes and I whipped it up yesterday before work! (Can ya tell I'm a little eager to get started?) These stamps are so cute and so much fun to colour!! I just LOVE their little critters too....the moose, racoon, frog, beaver, I could go on!! For this card I used Certainly Celery by SU for the card base and the soft plaid patterned paper I thought would go perfectly with the sewing theme, is from the DCWV Spring Stack. I stamped Kathy on Whisper White with black Stazon ink and coloured her in using an assortment of SU markers. I then doodled around the edge in a quilt-like sort of pattern (don't judge me...I don't sew...*snort*) and matted it on Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery. Then I pop dotted the main image. I then cut another strip of the pp and matted it on CC and stamped the sentiment in black and added some Prima flowers and brads. And THAT is my first design as a High Hopes Design Team Member!!

I can't wait to get my new rubbah in the mail!! Believe you me, I will be stalkin' the mail lady until it arrives!! I should have some Pink Cat Studios stamps by the weekend, so hopefully I can have a few debut cards for ya next week!!!

I just want to say thank you to all my friends and family for their support of my crafting endeavours. You all make me feel so gooooooood!! Hugz!!

Dirty Roses!!


One of my all-time favourite Stampin' Up sets is Roses in Winter. I hope it NEVER retires from the catalogue......and I don't think it will. (Watch them prove me wrong!) It is so easy to make a super elegant card with this set! It is so much fun to 2 or 3-step stamp...don't you think?

For this card, I started out with some Wonderland double-sided patterned paper by Cosmo Cricket as my inspiration. The one side is light cream with a burgundy filigree type pattern on it and the flip side has a dark caramel colour. I used Bravo Burgundy as my card base and put a layer of the first side of pp on it. I then used the dark caramel side of the paper as my main layer to stamp on.

For the roses themselves, I started with the biggest rose layer first in Creamy Caramel. The second layer was Bravo Burgundy stamped off once and the last layer was BB full strength. Then I stamped the leaves and stems in stamped off and full strength Old Olive and the little blossoms were done in continuous stamping in BB, so I stamped the first blossom in full strength BB, then without reinking I stamped another one, so it was a little lighter and then a third time without reinking so it was super light. I sponged around the edge of the main image with Creamy Caramel and put it on another layer of BB, added some wide organdy ribbon and an oval hodgepodge piece with Many Thanks from All Year Cheer in there. I think it looks really classy.

Hugs and Fishes!!!! xoxoxoxox


I hope everyone had a lovely Easter weekend!!! It wasn't very springy here....pretty cold and snowy!! How rude is that?? When was the last time it snowed over Easter weekend??

I was fortunate enough to also have Monday off from work -- that's one bonus feature of working for the city!! Heehee!! So I had four days off total, but it still doesn't seem like enough!!!

Anyway, I got a few crafty things done and I will be posting them over this week, so stay tuned!!! There are some cool cards, a scrapbooking layout, a cute mini album and even a tutorial!! So be sure to come on back and check often!!!

You may already know my friend Julee at Poetic Artistry!! Well she is not only an amazingly talented stamper, but a super nice person, too!! Anyway, hers is one of the blogs that I check daily because I'm so inspired by her artwork!! Well a week or so ago, she posted a challenge involving a card sketch and the winner will receive a set, (that's right, a SET.....not just one) of Amuse stamps!! I have never seen Amuse stamps in Canada, plus I loved the simple sketch design, so you KNOW I had to enter the contest!!!



So here is my 'Hugs and Fishes' entry for her contest!! I used a new stamp by The Artful Stamper from here in Ontario. It is this cute little image of three fishies!! I took the sketch that Julee provided and turned it sideways. Then I chose this super fun double sided paper by Fancy Pants. Don'tcha love those colours?? I stamped the fish in black Stazon ink on Whisper White cardstock and coloured them in with my SU markers in Gable Green, Tempting Turquoise and Real Red. I then doodled around the outside and used my Stardust gel pen on the fins to give those girls some sparkle!! I backed it on red cardstock and then on the flipside of the pp. I used the flipside of the pp again on the corner piece and attached it with SU brads, after stamping the sentiment 'Hugs and Fishes!!" in Basic Black with my Karen Foster Snap Stamps. I pop dotted the main image over a strip of red organdy ribbon. I felt that it still needed a little something so I added a bunch of folded pieces of grosgrain ribbon and then it was just right!!!

I hope ya like it....but more importantly, I hope Julee likes it!!! And if you want to enter, I think there is still time!! Just go here for the challenge information!!! Bonne chance!!

My First Mailbox!!!



If you remember the mailbox craze in SCS a few months back, you will remember that Target had these awesome little containers in the dollar spot!! Well, the story was that each store had a small number of them because the company was not making them anymore. Well, when one person posted them on SCS, everyone else ran out the stores and bought them all up!!

Of course, we don't have any Targets in Canada, so a very sweet friend sent me some and I had a hoot decorating one for my Secret Bunny, Julee!! It took a little trial and error getting that patterned paper on there because the little arm thing gets in the way and makes life difficult, but I think it turned out okay!!



I used some Easter Bunny paper from the Spring Stack by DCWV to decorate the body of the mailbox and edged the paper with some matching grosgrain ribbon. I used Lil' Peep by High Hopes Rubber Stamps with my Prismacolour pencils and odorless mineral spirits, and backed it with a Lavender Lace Giga Scalloped Circle Punch and pop dotted the whole image. Then I just added some Prima flowers and a fancy brad!

Easter Chicks!!!

A friend of mine sent me these little chick stamps from High Hopes Rubber Stamps last year and I've been waiting until Easter time to use them!!! (*note to Mom* - Don't look if you don't wanna see your card!!! heehee!) We were supposed to be going to visit my parents and brother this weekend, but Mom is unwell (hope you're feeling better soon), so we aren't making the trip down. **insert pouty face here**

But here are several designs I made using just the High Hopes Chicks, sentiment and my Karen Foster Snap Stamps!!



First off, this one I made specifically for my girlfriend's kiddos who are 7 and 4 1/2. They will love the little chickies!! I stamped the images on shimmery white cardstock with black Stazon ink. Then I coloured them in using my Prismacolour pencils, blending the colours using odourless mineral spirits and blending stumps. I have not had a lot of luck with this technique before but I think I have figured out why!!! The paper you use makes a BIG difference!! I used Whisper White cs before but I got some of the shimmery white, which is a little more expensive, but makes a total difference with this technique. It seems to be smoother and makes the blending much easier! Also I finally found some stumps that are made in Taiwan, and the ones I had before were made in China. I found them for 20 cents each at local stampin' store and I scooped up a few to try!! There has been some talk on Splitcoaststampers about this and it seems......they were right!!

Anyway, I punched the image of Lil' Chirp and Lil' Peep using the Mega Oval Punch and then used the Giga Scalloped Oval punch for the Bliss Blue (retired colour) layer. The patterned paper I used is from the Pocket Full of Posies paper pad from DCWV and I ran it through the Cuttlebug with the D'vine Swirl embossing folder and punched the corners with the Ticket Punch by Stampin' Up. The card base is Bliss Blue and the sentiment, "to our favourite peeps!" is made using Karen Foster Snap Stamps and then I added a Prima Flower and Liquid Pearls in the center of the flower. I also stamped "Happy Easter!" on the inside.



For this one, I used the new Marigold Morning colour for the card base and Bliss Blue for the mat behind the patterned paper. I used Lil' Peep and punched it with the Small Tag Punch and matted it using the Large Tag Punch in BB. I pop dotted the main image and used Mustard and Apricot grosgrain ribbon and I stamped the 'peep' sentiment and doodled along the MM strip at the bottom. Then it says "Happy Easter!" on the inside.



For this third one, I got to use my Olivia Alphabet with my Cuttlebug by Provocraft and I ran the letters through the Xyron 250 (which I got with a 40% off coupon at Michael's)! I pop dotted the main image and added some blue gingham ribbon! On the inside I stamped Lil' Chirp and 'peep, peep' on the bottom right hand corner.



On this last one I stamped Lil' Peep three times in a row, matted on Bliss Blue and punched each end with the Double Circle punch by Stampin' Up. I added the blue gingham through the ends and knotted it. Then I used my Mat Pack by Stampin' Up to do the faux stitching on the sides of the Marigold Morning mat and pop dotted the whole piece. Then I stamped the sentiment "to some of our favourite peeps" using the Karen Foster Snap Stamps, in Basic Black directly onto the patterned paper. Inside I stamped "Happy Easter!" and Lil' Chirp.

I suppose I could have just made one design and duplicated it the same for everyone....but I was having WAAAAAAAAY too much fun with these cute little chickies!!

Happy Easter and may God bless you and your family!!

Thankful Butterfly!!


Hey, hey, hey!!! It's Kraaaaaaaaaaftin' Kimmie!!!! (*think the beginning to the Fat Albert show......man am I dating myself......and NO, I was NOT gonna say Fat Kimmie!!*) I hope you are all enjoying some time off this weekend and sharing a meal or a visit with your family!!! Unfortunately, here in Southwestern Ontario it is more like Christmas than Easter, what with all the darn snow (which, if you ask me, is a four letter word and therefore a swear!!!)! This morning I had to dig out my winter coat and leather gloves, which I thought I wasn't going to see again until the end of the year! And after work tonight I had to brush the snow off my car before I could drive home!!! Disgusting!! So there goes my brilliant idea of taking family photos on the green grass in the park this weekend!! Hmph!!

Anyhoo, pardon the rant. I'm done now.

Here is a spring and fresh new card that I made last night with a lovely Rhona Farrar stamp that a special friend sent to me!! I was determined to use it to make a card last night, so I stamped it on shimmery white paper in black Stazon ink. I watercoloured the butterfly with Certainly Celery ink, making it a little darker where the black swirlies are on the wings. I also used Bashful Blue to shade around the outside of the wings and on the antennae. I punched out a CC Giga Scallop and used my black pen to do the dots. I used Bashful Blue for the card base with Basic Black to mat the LilyKate Basic Grey patterned paper. Then I stamped the Hero Arts sentiment on BB paper in black, added some black dots and then I used my new Stardust Gelly Roll pen to go over the swirlies and the antennae and the sentiment. You can't see it in the picture but it's glittery and purrrrrrrrrty!! I added a bit of blue gingham ribbon and pop dotted the main image!!

Hope your weekend is springy like this card and not snowy like my back yard!!!! Hey!! That rhymed....**snort**!!

Thoughtful......


I am always in need of Thank You cards....in fact, that's probably the most common type of card that I make. So here is one I did just the other day, using the watercolour technique!

I started out by stamping my Doodle This images on watercolour paper in black Stazon Ink. Then I used my SU Aquapainter and my reinkers to 'paint' my images. This is only like, the third or fourth time I've done this technique, so don't look too closely, but I think I'm improving. And that's the whole point of this stampin' thing, right??? Right.

So I tend to do a light layer of the colour that I'm doing over the whole area and then go back in and darken it up in certain areas. I think this gives it depth and shading. I chose Bravo Burgundy, Always Artichoke and Summer Sun for my colours. I also used a tiny bit of Bordering Blue to shade around the images. I stamped the AA base card with the flowers and doodles from Doodle This in AA and then stamped 'thoughtful' by Hero Arts in Basic Black. I matted the main image on Bravo Burgundy cardstock and added some grosgrain ribbon. That's it!! Easy peasy!! And now I have another Thank You card for when I need it....which is right now!!!

Love Layout!!


Happy Monday morning everyone!! Does it seem like the weekend was just waaaay too short, or is it just me?? That always happens to me when I have to work the weekend. And it's rainy, crummy weather here today, so that doesn't help!!

Anyway, this is a layout I finished and submitted for the monthly contest at the new local sb store for April. They gave us the sheet of dark purple cardstock, 2 sheets of Serendipity patterned papers, the heart shaped chipboard, the white rick rack and the metal embellies! This is the layout I came up with and I'm very happy with it. I trimmed down the pp and did the edges with the direct-to-paper technique using Taken With Teal craft ink to give it some more depth. I used some Lavender Lace cardstock to mat the 5x7 picture (aren't we cute?) and played around a bit with the chipboard. I dtp'd the chipboard piece with TWTeal craft ink and put a piece of the LLace behind it to make it pop. Then I added a Heid Swapp ghost heart shape on it and used some Lavender Stickles around the edge. I then used some Pressed Petals Chip Chatter for the letters, which have a great texture to them, so I sponged them with Lavender Lace. I added the rick rack and also the provided metal embellishments on the top right-hand corner. I also used some awesome Prima flowers with a large silver brad in the middle and dressed it up with some more Stickles! My favourite part though is the song lyric I used at the bottom which I think goes so well with the mood of the second picture. These pics were actually taken by our daughter when we were on vacation last month. We were at St. Pete Beach in Florida and it was such a wonderful sunset and we had also just seen a school of dolphins jumping and playing in the surf near us. Anyway, the lyrics I used say: The way we fit together, it's like we're meant to be; and right here and right now, this is paradise to me. It is from a song by Bryan Adams called Where Angels Fear to Tread. Bryan is one of my fave songwriters and singers....okay probably my favourite!! Are you listening Bryan???? I luuuuuuuuv you!! *snort*

P.S. If you live in the St. Thomas area and happen to stop in at The Cat's Kaboose, feel free to vote for my layout if you like it the best!!! I could win a gift certificate for the store........thanks!!!
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