CONTEST at Little Shabby Box

Our Contest Info:

We are so very excited to bring you our first ever Card Contest. We are hoping that a lot of you will join in on the fun and we can't wait to be inspired by you all. So lets move on to the details.

The Little Shabby Box Card Contest...
Who: Anyone who loves making cards (yes even overseas)
Where: www.thelittleshabbybox.blogspot.com
When: November 24th - December 14th 2009
What: Create 2 Brand New never seen before cards based off of the 2 sketches below. Post them on your blog or gallery with "The little shabby box card contest" in the details and link them to the Mr. Linky box listed on our blog under "card contest" with your Name. Please list them at the same time so it's easier for us to see both of your cards. (example Jane card #1, Jane card #2) If you put them both in one blog post that is even better. (example Jane Cards 1-2). Please be sure to post your cards by midnight PST December 14th 2009.

Now for the good stuff. We will be giving away 3 prize packages.

First place winner will win 3 months of our main kits, but you get to pick the months that you want. That's right. When you see a kit that you like send us an e-mail letting us know that you want it and we will generate a coupon for you for the price of the kit. (since our kits are different prices this is the best way.) Plus you will be a Guest Designer for us in January 2010.

Second place winner will win 2 months of our main kits and you also get to pick the months that you want. When you see a kit that you like send us an e-mail letting us know that you want it and we will generate a coupon for you for the price of the kit. (since our kits are different prices this is the best way.) Plus you will be a Guest Designer for us in February 2010.

Third place winner will win a free main kit and you also get to pick the kit that you want. When you see a kit that you like send us an e-mail letting us know that you want it and we will generate a coupon for you for the price of the kit. (since our kits are different prices this is the best way.) Plus you will be a Guest Designer for us in March 2010.

Winners will be announced on Dec 18th 2009

I"ve gathered

all my winter and Christmas type things onto my desk and hope to just have a huge craft session over the next week... It would be great if I don't actually have to put any of it back and be able to start fresh next year... here's hoping at least! ;)
I spent the morning punching die cuts with my original Sizzix since my Big Kick kicked the bucket over the weekend... Im seriously bummed because the original one hurts my hand after awhile and I cannot use my BIGZ dies on them!!! I wrote Sizzix/Ellison, hoping to see if they sell extra parts ( All I need is a replacement gear ) and the unit will be fine but bleh... until then.. Im handcutting them with my original
I have also brought out my sewing machine and am going to self teach myself how to sew... so practice practice practice...
Does anyone have any tips for threading/esp the bobbins... that is the part I get hung up on... I follow the directions but then... after a few rows of stitching... it backs up????
I really need to have someone just watch me to see what Im doing wrong??
Off to teach at ERins School for Writers Workshop and have a chat with the crayfish that is about to come home with us as a new pet.. Im going give him the rules! lol
Peace
Kim

Movin and Shakin

things around in my little ETSY store... getting it loaded for the big shopping weekend!!
Lots of supplies added too so my crafty friends can take advantage... makes great stocking stuffer/Kris Kringle type gifts... lots of items under 2!! The link for my store is to the left ;)

Here is a beginning of some cards ... a flood is about to happen! lol but today.. just these two
to share... working on more today to build up for the holidays ;)
Happy Monday
Kim

is anyone else?

beginning to feel majorly stressed???? and Thanksgiving is still a week away!!!! Yikes!
I have been so busy its not even funny.. and I have never felt this stressed so early in November like this... oy... so Today I will share a album I did for Artz de Scrap November project... It was to alter postcards into an album...
Of course, me , being me... had a zillion and one random postcards... San Francisco, U of A, Disney etc.. and I didn't want to completely cover them up because they were meaningful to me but wanted to let the places I've been show through a bit.. so I painted over them lightly and sanded off the sections I wanted to keep and did a album documenting all things and places I am grateful for... something I need to read and re-read during this turbulent time.
Peace
Kim

Design team projects

have been keeping me busy ;) and that is good!

FIrst... I am so excited to link you to the awesome card kit that just went up yesterday at THe Little Shabby Box... so great for holiday or just thank you 's etc... Its called the Be Merry kit and you can check it out here... Little Shabby Box blog... and the link to the store/site is on the blog to the right....

Second: Our November tutorial is up on the Artz de Scrap blog... the projects are stunning!!! It was probably the hardest one I ever done but Im so glad to have completed it... I may try to make another to give as a gift... directions for this on the blog

I'll be back tomorrow with some fun projects to share!

Kim

Artz de Scrap

tutorial for October was to create a handmade tic tac toe set.
I had this case from Stampin Up stamps... I wanted something light that we could take with us in the car... I also wanted it super simple (no extra bells and whistles) lol so that I could let the kids play with it for travel...
I used some papers from Lily Bee and found a huge butterfly from the craft store for the front...
American Crafts thickers had a fun playful font and painted the bottle caps brown
The insert is an old coin holder that i cut in a section to fit into the case... worked perfect to hold the game pieces/bottlecaps!!

You can see everyone elses takes here

Artz de Scrap mid month tutorial
Thanks!!!

Happy 10th Ryan

age 6














age 8

















age 10















My boy.. .growing up so so fast... Thank you for teaching me lessons everyday about life, acceptance, change, organization and compassion!!
Have a day full of circus school, roller coasters, books, cake and all your favorite things!!
Love you little fella....
Love mom

Its Beginning to Look alot like

well, okay, not really.. but you get what I mean ;)

These went up in my ETSY ... much more to come

Kim

Yellow all around

me.. I'm not sure if its the dark dreary skies or the thought that ole Jack Frost is right around the corner but lately, I have been using alot of yellow in my projects... love how cheery, and homey it makes things looks...

Do you have a preferred color sometimes? I'm curious if other people have "streaks" like this as well?

This is my latest.. a card, a scrap (handmade embellishment) for my store and a layout.. all using this warm, fun color....

Peace,
Kim

Getting Ready for the Holidays

Now that November is here... its time for me to purge, clean, re organize again ... every season I do this to make room for all the new goodies that will go into my shop and cover my walls here in the studio.....
Here are a few new goods that snuck in to the shop over the weekend


and of course... more to come soon ;)

Are we all....

in a candy comatose this morning?? rofl We had a great Halloween, pleasant weather, NO RAIN until after 9 pm yay... and gave out a ton of candy.. of course, I was giving fist fulls so we would not be stuck this year... but no fret.. the kids each have small bags and Jon and I stashed a few faves ;)

Opened up an email this am to see this lovely gesture... from a fellow favorite ETSY seller... she created a Treasury today through Tuesday and I thought I would share the link here since one of my items is featured in it...
My Attic Treasures treasury of xmas items

also, check out the other shops featured... some darling things to get so we can get creating for Christmas... yep... NO rest for the creative weary!!!

Hope you have a lovely Sunday
Kim

Design team projects part two

and some exciting news to share (:

First... Here are the other projects I did using Pink Paislee collection for Right At Home Scrapbooking

The other projects are in a prior post from Wednesday.. (my last blog entry if you are interested ) (;

Second... I can finally share my great news!!!!
I made a design team for a card kit club called THe Little Shabby Box!!!
It has great trims and vintage pieces mixed with the latest and greatest papers .. I cannot wait! See the announcement here
Little Shabby Box blog

and on a roll with publications lately, I had a card featured on the CARDS magazine blog yesterday.. its a bit batty! ;) lol sorry, couldn't resist!!

Happy Friday everyone!!

Kim

Design Team projects

for Right at Home Scrapbooking... lucky me.. I got to play with some wonderful Pink Paislee papers, stickers, tags and stamps... and in addition were these yummy brads, ribbons and cardstock.... Here are the first group of projects... be back tomorrow or friday with the rest...

Peace
Kim

Paper Trey Ink Blog hop time

friends.... This month our theme was to share we what have begun doing for the upcoming holidays...
Its still a bit early for ME to think of Christmas... so I put together a little notebook using some Basic Grey paper to cover the new Paper Trey vintage creme notepads I also used the stamp sets from the brand spankin and highly coveted Giga Guide Lines for the message and the flower. I added some rub on flowers from Bo Bunny and stamped inside using a sentiment from the Mega Mixed Sentiments set


I thought this little notebook would be great as a hostess gift for a Thanksgiving dinner!!
Have fun hopping all and I ll see you in the forum!!

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge 18

Dawn McVey has done it again..
Raspberry Suite challenge
is up.. and this color combo is gorgoeus!! I had just received some Crate papers from Right at Home Scrapbooking to do for design team work and they were perfect for this combination!!

Thanks for peeking!!

Kim

cards again 2k4y

I sit down and try so hard to create a whole mess of layouts and I get going and tons of cards and NO layouts get done.. hee hee.. I don't think I should complain as Im more likely to sell or publish cards anyways ;) Not to mention, they are more fun!! lol

So here are some cards based on 2S4Y #36 and 37



Lauras sketch 36 a past sketch I used this sketch to embellish an envelope.






















and Lauras sketch 37... this weeks sketch which I loved..
Be back tomorrow with more cards ;)

Kim

its getting spoooooky

around here... okay, who am I kidding.. us crafty types have been doing Halloween since August!! rofl but seriously, I don't like to post Halloween stuff back in early fall... so I am just sharing these with you guys...
some cards...using scraps

tfl

In the world

of make believe this weekend... lots of hide and seek, tag, indoor rainy day activities to keep the littles busy....

Here is a page showing one of the little pups, with a handmade costume (by me) it helps to have a crafty momma ;)
I have been hoarding last years PInk Paislee line for autumn and added some new Prima, new acetate K and co strips and other goodies for this page
another day in our very imaginative life
Happy Saturday!
Peace,
Kim

ahhhh autumn

yes, the trees are looking splendid.. and the sky is much bluer against the crisp amber touched leaves... and then the storm came in...

an entire next 5 days of 40 * HIGH temperatures... bleh... feels more like winter... and the sky is pretty grey so I decided to stay positive... stick myself into my studio and create some design team projects that are due and make a holiday planner while Im at it....
IN the mean time... I will pretend that this is what its like outside instead!!

ENjoy!

ETSY inspiration

some days I just love to browse online and become inspired .... oooooo and aaaahhhhh and just drool at how much amazing talent is there...
Here are some favorites from this weekends search

Little things from Ms t cranberry sweater







this awesome bag from Miss Oceans Shop































this amazing soap... how yummy is this? and super pretty !!!!
candied apple soap




















I'll be back tomorrow with some more faves from ETSY.. check it out!!

Raspberry Suite color challenge 17

really loved the colors on this!!!

Here is my card..... my take on these colors together...
tfl

India Inspiration

This was a favorite... I love the bling... so being inspired by the gorgeous bold colors and rich jewels of India was very inspiring to me...
Here is my card based on this challenge

Australia inspiration

Here is my card based on the inspiration of Australia... mainly Aboriginal colors and paintings...

I added some white paint dots along the branches and stuck to the earthy colors some prominent amongst Australian art

Inspired by Mexico

For the second card... I was inspired by Mexico's bright fluid colors... the vivid crisp images and the intricate details...
Here is my take

WCMD challenges at PaperTrey

Inspired by Japan.... this card was my interpretation of being inspired by Japan... I chose a bright pink for the base... painted a bold wispy flower stamp and stamped it to the front of the card... the black bold rub ons act as the stem... simple, elegant and artistic... just like Japan

World Cardmaking Day

is today.... I am staying in and starting cards.... all occasions... building up my stash for the holidays
World Cardmaking Day website

Lots of fun contests, challenges and bloghops over there... and of course... tons of inspiration!! So I am off to check things out and of course....
CREATE cards.... Have fun and I will see you back here tomorrow with hopefully tons of stuff to share!!
Peace, Kim

are you ready?

It will be here tomorrow World Cardmaking Day


.... and I will be doing lots of these to start building up my stash again.... Any other card makers out there? WOuld love to hear from you what your process is for doing cards.. do you use sketches, look in books, just use scraps??
I do use sketches when I'm in a hurry but mostly, I just sit down with some favorite products and have fun ... cards are like mini layouts.. I can do them much easier because I always get caught up in the journaling part of scrapbooking... one sentiment is so much easier!! lol

Here are some more cards I've done in the past
week or so... ps. several of these will go into my ETSY store (link on side) if interested!
Have a great day! See you tomorrow with lots of fun card making (and some scrapbooking) goodness and maybe a giveaway hint hint

Kim

Beacon of Hope

I have always had a thing for lighthouses...so living on the East Coast in New England is very inspiring for me... This little cutie is a replica of an older original from Maine... They have it on show at Mystic Seaport and I took several pics of it...
It gives me hope knowing that there is more out there than just my little world... a reminder of the big picture I suppose...
Just wanted to share this today...

Spending the last few days "working" literally fine-tuning my marketing and business plan.. figuring out my costs and loading up my ETSY shop.
I don't want anything full time but at least a bit more than a hobby...

I will share a few cards I created as we lead up to World Card Making Day this Saturday

Peace,
Kim

Paper Trey Ink blog hop

Its time again for the blog hop... This months theme was greening our stamping... We were to creatively use some product or packaging to create with.
I used the clear package that the stamp sets come in... (i've actually been hoarding these! lol)
I wanted to create a fun package for some cookies to give to neighbors and friends...
I used papers from MME and Papertrey Ink.... as well as some fun Papertrey Ink stamps of course...
birdie is from BIRD WATCHING set and stars are STAR PRINTS... and paper is BITTY DOT BASICS set

Thanks for stopping by!

Kim

so much

on my mind lately.... with the kids back in school and Jon back at work (after a nice 4 weeks) I am patiently planning out my strategy to reclaim my life back a little...
I really try to enjoy and relax but when Jon or the kids are here.. my system just gets so thrown off...
so I have been planning... a weeks worth of dinners, meetings, volunteer stuff, girl scouts etc. so that this week can be really all mine... and let me tell you.. I will fill those hours in... It amazes me how much I do in a week for a "non working" mom ;)
Today we had a birthday party at Dave and Busters and I am tired!! That place exhausts me..
so we are now unwinding, doing a bit of laundry, showers and getting ready to begin again this week


Posted is a school type layout I did with the Noel Mignon September kit... I am just sitting down to play around with aug/sept kits I ordered... next up.. Halloween and fall stuff... cannot wait!
Peace
Kim