Avocado Arts and a snowman

Another day for Avocado Arts! Today I am using the snowmen from Brrr! and the Nerdy Snow Peeps! It’s a quick, fun card today. I layered up patterned papers and some die cut felt on the base. The snowman was stamped onto a separate sheet of cardstock and I added a scarf and a heart. Isn’t he cute?!?

Be sure and stop by the rest of the team to be inspired!

Avocado Arts Blog
AJ Otto
Latisha Yoast
Julia Stainton
Becky Oehlers

thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly

Supplies: Stamps-Avocado Arts (Brrr! and the Nerdy Snow Peeps), Patterned paper-Echo Park (Holly Jolly 6x6), Twine-The Twinery, Felt-National Non-Woven (100% wool felt), Spellbinders-Nested Pennants, Classic Ric Rac Edgeabilities

Remember those videos I mentioned? Hang on, they are coming tomorrow and Saturday! :)

Avocado Arts and an ornament

Yay! Its Avocado Arts day! Today everyone has projects to share with you using the December set, Brrr! and the Nerdy Snow Peeps.

This year I have decided to re-design our Christmas tree. My hubby likes to call it the department store tree, but I can’t help it. There is something so fun about creating a beautifully themed tree! This year I have large and small glittered snowflakes and burlap ribbon. I am wanting to add music somehow, sleds. I love sleds! As I looked at my stamp set, voila! There it was, a sled! Time to make ornaments!!

Instructions:

1. Die cut Classic Scallops LG from red cardstock. Add Stickles to each scallop.
2. Die cut/emboss Standard Circles LG from patterned paper. Ink edges. Stamp with snowflakes.
3. Stamp trees twice, one with light brown ink, the other ink dark brown ink.
4. Die cut/emboss same die template with a different piece of patterned paper. Free hand cut a hill. Ink edges.
5. Adhere to large circle. Add Stickles to the upper edge.
6. Stamp sled onto patterned paper with dark brown ink. Cut out. Foam mount to hill.
7. Adhere to the red scalloped circle. Punch hole in the top. Tie with twine.

Be sure and stop by the rest of the team to be inspired!

Avocado Arts Blog
AJ Otto
Latisha Yoast
Julia Stainton
Becky Oehlers

Another video tutorial is on its way tomorrow! Be sure and stop back! thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly

Supplies: Stamps-Avocado Arts (Brrr! and the Nerdy Snow Peeps, Bring on the Holiday Cheer),Patterned paper-Echo Park (Season’s Greetings), Ink-Clearsnap (Colorbox Chalk-Creamy Brown, Chestnut Roan), Distressing Ink-Ranger (Frayed Burlap), Twine-May Arts, Stickles-Ranger (Star Dust), Spellbinders-Standard Circles LG, Classic Scalloped Circles LG

congrats with a video tutorial

In October my parents celebrated 41 years of marriage! Wow! What an accomplishment! What an example!

I made this card for them using S4-351 Spiral Blossoms One and 100% wool felt. This die template makes beautiful, and easy, 3D flowers. To see how it works, I made a video tutorial for you.

For those that need the direct link: Spellbinders Spiral Blossom tutorial

This week will be full of video tutorials, so stay tuned!! :)

Hope you had a super weekend! We played golf on Thanksgiving, enjoyed a huge meal, and are still enjoying it with all the left overs, went to The Muppets, shopped till we dropped, ate out at a new restaurant in town, decorated the inside and outside of the house for Christmas, and so much more! Needless to say, we have a happy and tired little man, and maybe us too!

thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly

Supplies: Spellbinders-S4-351Spiral Blossom One, S4-328 Foliage, S4-314 Lacey Ovals, S4-110 Oval LG, Patterned paper-Crate Paper (Portrait 6x6), Sticker-Echo Park, Pearl-Hero Arts, Felt-100% Wool Felt (National Non-Wovens)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
Psalm 100:3-5

May you have a day that is filled with gratitude and love. May you be surrounded by the love of family and friends. May you know His love for you.

~kimberly

winners!

Winners, Winners!

Congrats, ladies!! You have each won Stamp Art from Klutz books! Please email me, at the address under my photo so I can pass your information along.

Angela Fehr said...

So just last week my 5 1/2 year old son got out his sisters' stamps, appropriated MY stamp pads and wanted to stamp - I would love for him to have his own set that he could create with and I think he would too! And we love Klutz craft books - we have a few of them in the house already!

November 21, 2011 8:44 AM

Mary D said...

What a great book! I would share the prize with my sister who got me hooked on stamping! Thank you for the chance to win for both of us.

November 22, 2011 3:57 PM

 

Gratitudes:

Nov 19 For Saturday mornings. My wonderful hubby gets up with the little man and they make breakfast. Sometimes they run and get breakfast and bring it home. :) Listening to them talk in the morning melts my heart. Listening to what they talk about together, wow. What a wonderful dad!

Nov 20 For medical advances. For all the care my sister is getting during her pregnancy. So thankful for doctors and their willingness to care!!

Nov 21 For great customer service. It sure is nice to have a company do what is right! Thanks amazon.com!

Nov 22 For unexpected surprises. Isn’t it great to have something you never imagine happen!?!

Nov 23 For friends. We are so lucky to have met friends here. Good friends. Good people. They moved here from MN right after we did. Our boys are the best of friends. Its great to know that someone is there to help you out, when you don’t know anyone. Its probably not luck we met them, because they are a blessing from up above!

a Klutz discount!

Ooooh! Look at what Klutz is offering to all my blog readers!!!!!

Remember you have until Tuesday night at 10 pm CDT to enter the drawing for TWO winners of the latest release from Klutz, Stamp Art.

Leave a comment ON THIS POST (click please). Let me know who you would give this to, if you were chosen as a lucky winner.

And I love their tag line, “Arts, Crafts & Laughs. The Perfect Holiday Gift for Any Child!”

Its true! :)

Enjoy shopping with your discount! :)

Klutz Stamp Art book review and a giveaway

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU. WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY.

I was asked to review the latest book from Klutz Books, Stamp Art,  and I am still waiting to get it back from the little man!  It immediately caught his attention and he begged to open it. His own stamping stuff. Not momma’s. He was pumped! It’s the perfect medium for his creative mind.

The book comes with stamps (keep in mind these are not photopolymer), a black ink pad, 3 dual-ended color pencils, and an acrylic block. Along with the idea book, which doubles as a place to stamp images.

All the stamps in the set are shapes. Not images. The book shows how to create images using the shapes. Its well illustrated with fun, bright colors, and inspiring little images to copy. Being a reader, the text was perfect for him to read on his own. Being an independent little bugger, this made him happy. He could do it “himself.”
(The suggested age range on this book is 8 years +, however, the little man is 5 and a half and he was able to use it with minimal help.)

Another look at the book pages. Look at these creative ideas!

The little man busy creating.

Stamping.

Coloring.

Visit all the Klutz links!
Product Page http://www.klutz.com/Stamp-Art?merch_location=Search%20Results%20Listing
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/KlutzBooks
And now the fun part…I have TWO (ERV $21.99) of these books to give away to my readers!! Perfect timing for Christmas! Leave me a comment telling me who you would give this book to and why. You have until Tuesday, November 22, at 10pm CDT to leave your comment. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, November 23, 2011.
Good luck and thanks for stopping by!
~kimberly

fall fun

This is an 8x8 layout I made for Spellbinders using the Presto Punch™ Machine. I used my all-time favorite photos of the little man on this. It was his first time out in the fall leaves. He was eight months old. We had gorgeous sugar maple trees filling our backyard at our first home and they filled it with red gorgeousness.

I punched out squares of patterned paper using P3-002 Square Punch Templates. Then I punched P5-001 Fall Leaves from each one. Keeping the paper in the punch template, I embossed the leaves. (everything is foam mounted to add lots of dimension)

The letters were also punch from brown cardstock using, PT-F02 Plain Jane Lower Case alphabet.

I am pretty excited about this project because it was re-created on Scrapbook Soup, the PBS show all about paper crafting!! Check your local listings for the show!

 

Gratitudes:

Nov 16 For lunch dates. When his schedule allows, I pick my hubby up for a lunch date. We try a new-to-us restaurant and get to chat without a 5 year old interjecting. Its really nice. Really, really nice.

Nov 17 For will power. Its been nine days since I have had a soda or caffeine. Its been tough, but I am determined to give them both up once and for all!

Nov 18 For Friday! :) We all look forward to the weekend to sleep in, enjoy breakfasts together, and just hang out. Enjoy your weekend!

 

thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly

Supplies-Spellbinders-Presto Punch, P3-002 Square Punch Templates, P5-001 Fall Leaves, PT-F02 Plain Jane (lower case), Patterned paper-My Mind’s Eye (Stella and Rose; Mabel 6x6), October Afternoon (Seaside Seashells 8x8 ), Stickers-My Mind’s Eye (Stella and Rose ), Ink-Ranger (Distressing-Frayed Burlap), Buttons-my stash, Twine-May Arts, Cardstock-Bazzill

Fall Sneak Peek Blog Hop for Crafters Home Day Three

Join Spellbinders™ Paper Arts and Crafters Home as we celebrate a Fall Sneak Peek!

Spellbinders and participating stores in the Crafters Home Buying Group are excited to introduce three new die template sets sold exclusively through Crafters Home stores through January! You’ll have to wait until February to find these die template designs in non-member stores.

These new dies are in stock! Get yours now at a participating Crafters Home store! See Spellbinders website for a complete list.

Visit the Spellbinders Blog November 14 - 16 to see a new Spellbinders die template revealed each day! Visit designer blogs to enter the daily contests and see inspiring projects using the new releases. Comment on Designers Blogs and the Spellbinders Blog count as entries into daily drawings. Daily winners receive all three of the new designs!

Today's new die is S5-350 Nested Tea Cups:

S4-350 Tea Cups $19.99

Small Cup: 1 ¼ x 1 1/8”

Small Handle ½ x 5/8”

Medium Cup 2 1/8 x 1 7/8”

Medium Handle ¾ x 1 ½”

Large Cup 3 x 2 5/8”

Large Handle 1 1/8 x 2”

My favorite flower is the Lily of the Valley. My great-grandmother grew them and they were her favorite. And I remember picking them at my grandma’s house. Those flowers had been transplanted from my great-grandmother’s home. The sweet smell takes me back to her kitchen and listening to her Swedish lilt as she talked and called me her “sweetie peach.”

Which leads me to my project, as I was turning the tea cups around and around, planning out my project, I immediately saw that they looked like Lily of the Valley flowers when upside down.

I die cut and embossed the middle sized tea cup from white cardstock. The stems of the flower were die cut/embossed from green patterned paper, using the handles from Nested Tea Cups. I wanted them to hang down like real flowers, so the edge of the card is where I placed them.

I added grass to the bottom using E8-002 Classic Bracket Edgeabilities. The sentiment was stamped onto S5-028 Nested Pennants.

Visit these designers!

Windy Robinson

Christine Emberson

Kimberly Crawford

Beth Pingry

Contest Details

Participants wishing to be included in the daily drawing for the Spellbinders Summer Surprise contests need to adhere to all of the following rules.

• The Fall Sneak Peek starts November 14, and ends November 16, 2011. It consists of three individual contests, one each day.
• Each Fall Sneak Peek Bog will accept comments as entries from 12:00 am until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time, on its scheduled day.
• Each comment counts as one entry. One entry per person, per blog please.
• One winner each day will receive the three new die templates available exclusively at Crafters Home stores.
• All three winners will be announced on the Spellbinders Blog on November 17. The winners will have 48 hours to respond to the email address on the winning post to claim their prize. If a winner fails to respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.
• By entering, you allow Spellbinders to publish your first name, city, state, and country of residence and a quote from you, on the Spellbinders Blog, website, and in promotional materials.
• Spellbinders Designers, contractors, employees and immediate family members are not eligible to win.
• The invitation to the Fall Sneak Peek Blog Hop is extended to all, we are happy to ship prizes worldwide.

Any questions regarding this contest should be sent to ContestQuestions@Spellbinders.us

thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly

Supplies: Spellbinders-S5-350 Nested Tea Cups, E8-002 Classic Bracket Edgeabilities, S5-028 Nested Pennants, Grand Calibur, Echo Park (Springtime 6x6), Stamps-Flourishes (Tag Lines ), Ink-Memento (Tuxedo Black), Enamel Accents (White)

a holiday hello with Avocado Arts

Its another project day with Avocado Arts!! And its time to start making those Christmas cards. Scary thought, but Christmas is only40 days away!

I started by stamping stars onto the aqua background paper, using November’s kit, Bring on the Holiday Cheer!

For the snow, I hand cut the patterned paper to fit the card base. I stamped the trees on different patterned papers and cut them out. Simple and very easy to mail.

For the not-so-mailable part, these darling mini jingle bells! I have been on a mission to find card-sized jingle bells for a long time and I finally found some at Michael’s! Too much fun to not add to a card! :)

Be sure and stop by the rest of the team to be inspired!

Avocado Arts Blog
AJ Otto
Latisha Yoast
Julia Stainton
Becky Oehlers

Gratitudes:

Nov 12 For family get-aways. We escaped for the weekend and it was wonderful to hang out, eat out, and swim in the pool.

Nov 13 For coupons in the paper. I love cutting them out, knowing I can get a good deal. Hey, it’s the little things. :)

Nov 14 For a wonderful husband, who is an amazing father! He left work early to watch our little man at his swimming lessons. The look on the little man’s face was priceless!

Nov 15 For my mom! Its her birthday today! She’s my mom and she is great!!!

thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly

Supplies: Stamps-Avocado Arts (Bring on the Holiday Cheer), Patterned paper-Echo Park (Holly Jolly Christmas 6x6), Ink-Memento (Tuxedo Black), Palette (Water Lily), Twine-May Arts, Jingle Bells-Michael’s

And happy birthday to my sister-in-law, Michelle today!!!

gratitude and photo Friday

I love berries. Probably because they are red.

Nov 8

For the right to vote. So many gave their lives for this freedom. It’s a responsibility that I am grateful for and one to pass on to the little man as an important part of his citizenship.

Nov 9

For my Graceful Parenting Bible study. This group meets twice a month and we are all moms of elementary aged children. Such a wonderful group! Its nice to know that you aren’t the only one dealing with issues and concerns and fears. Our speakers have been wonderful-full of encouragement and inspiring ideas to try at home. I recommend that everyone find a group of moms to meet with!

Nov 10

For music. I love music. Listening to it, singing, playing my piano. Its so moving and fills a place in my soul.

Nov 11

For our veterans. For our service men and women. For their families who also sacrifice. We honor you.

Have  a wonderful weekend! thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly

publications

I am always thrilled to have work published and these issues are the latest from Paper Crafts magazine.

Paper Crafts Holiday Cards and More Volume 6.

GREAT ideas for cards and gifts!!

This is a fun card to make and very mail-able! The cardstock was stamped with the music image. Then the holly leaves and berries were stamped with black ink. Distressing inks from Ranger were used to “paint” the leaves and berries. I pushed the ink pads into a mat and misted with water. A water color paintbrush made it easy to apply the ink. If you try this, press your paper underneath a heavy book to allow it to flatten out as it dries.

Supplies: Stamps-Hero Arts (Get Merry!, Music Background, Classic Holly), Inks-Ranger Distress Inks (Peeled Paint, Fired Brick, Scattered Straw, Frayed Burlap), Memento (Tuxedo Black), Patterned paper-Basic Grey (Jovial)

Paper Crafts special issue 365 Cards.

Clever issue!  There is a card for each day of the year, including silly days, like Watermelon Day. It’s a great resource for card makers and senders!!! So many excuses to make a card, or shop for supplies to make that card. :)

This was a fun way to make a flower. I started by die cutting a piece of cardstock using Spellbinders Pinking Circles Small. Then I wrapped baker’s twine around it to create a pattern. (Each of the ends are taped to the back.) The center is a brad from Prima. I added leaves die cut from patterned paper using Spellbinders Foliage.

Supplies-Stamps-Hero Arts (Graph Background, Thank you for being my Friend), Twine-Divine Twine (Brown Sugar), Patterned paper-Graphic 45 (Once Upon), Ink-Palette (Burnt Umber), Memento (Tuxedo Black), Distress ink (Vintage Photo), Brad-Prima, Spellbinders-S4-172 Pinking Circles SM, S4-328 Foliage

Gratitude for Nov 7

Ah, Monday morning. I look forward to it actually, because I am volunteering at my son’s school. Not only do I get to work in his classroom, I also get to work with another student and his reading. It is so great to be back in a school setting, doing the things that I did before mommy hood. Teaching has forever been a passion in my life. I forgot how much I enjoy it. How much it is a part of who I am. This time around, I get to observe my little man at school and he how he is doing. What a change of viewpoint, being a parent. So grateful for it. So one day, if I decide to teach again, I will be able to bring an even deeper passion and perspective to my job.

thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly

a loss

It is with a very heavy heart that I write to you to let you know that Katie Renz has passed. Early in the  morning, Monday, November 7, at 5:10am PST. She passed peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her family until the very end.

There was such overwhelming support for the Swimming for Katie hop and fundraiser, and it was so greatly appreciated. The donation link is still live, as is the static page with the fundraising items for sale. All the information is HERE.  If  you feel moved, you still have the opportunity to purchase or donate.

Sympathy cards can be sent to:

The Renz Family
PO Box 5913
Bellingham, WA 98227-5913

Also, in case you're interested, the twins, Nate and Will, will be turning 6 on Nov. 19th and Hunter will be 12 on Dec. 1. It would be wonderful if we could shower them with cards for their special day, just like their mom would do. Kevin's birthday is November 17.

Please keep Kevin and the boys in your prayers. And for more than just the next few days…

Rest in peace, Katie.

gratitude

Nov 4
The kindness of strangers. Today at the Starbucks the pay it forward game was on. If you don’t know what that is, you pay for the order of the person behind you. Apparently it had been going all day and we stopped at 3 pm! We gladly played along. What a great way to add a little smile to someone’s day!

Nov 5
My husband. Well, I could say that pretty much every day! He is amazing. He is so supportive, thoughtful, helpful, kind, a wonderful father, and on and on. But maybe what means the most, are the million little things he does for our family every day. He is such a gift. I am blessed!

Nov 6
For my sister. She makes me laugh all the time. Her humor is such a gift. I absolutely adore her!

Hope your weekend was great! thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly

photos on Friday

I am taking a photography class that is giving me great assignments to work on during the week. A couple of weeks ago, it was about lighting and more specifically, lighting from different sides of the object. This is one of my back lighting shots. Back lighting is gorgeous and is something I want to get better at.

Day 3-
Today I am thankful for my health. I take it completely for granted. I pray for all those who are sick and hurting, that they can feel some relief quickly.

Day 4-
For the wonderful school/district that the little man is attending. Wow. Its just so impressive. What a committed staff who go the extra mile. It sure makes it easier to put him on the bus every morning. He loves it so much, he sprints to it! :)

Have a wonderful weekend! thanks for stopping by!

The rays of happiness, like those of light, are colorless when unbroken.
Henry W. Longfellow

month of gratitude-day 2

Nov 2
Today I am grateful for Facebook and my “little” cousins. We all grew up playing together at family functions (and of course I was the oldest girl/bossiest :)). Now they are all beautiful women, wonderful mothers, and talented professionals. We are all on Facebook and we can continue to be a part of each other’s lives, even when we all live far apart. Its so great to chat about our kiddos, their schools, our parents and grandparents, and sharing all the ups and downs. I am truly blessed to know each of them and even better, be related to them!


Spellbinders and Annie’s Attic are releasing a new book come January! This is filled with beautiful projects all about entertaining. You can pre-order this book now and see a bunch of sneak peeks here Spellbinders Quick and Easy Crafts for Entertaining.

And I guess the most exciting part about this book is, the projects on the cover are mine!! I am still in complete shock and so super excited!!

Have a wonderful day! thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly

month of gratitude

Last November I participated in a month of gratitude. For each day of the month I expressed gratitude for all the blessings, big and small, that I have in my life. It was a wonderful project for me and I recently found out that it was for some of you as well. So, again, this month, I will be posting something everyday that I am grateful for. A couple of days might be posted together, but that’s ok. I hope that you will join me. Either on your own blog, or in a journal that you keep, or any way that works for you.

November 1

Today I am grateful for email. Not the junk ones, although coupons are great, but for the encouraging messages that I am so fortunate to receive. Some days we all wonder if what we are doing is the right path for us. Some days its hard to see God’s plan for our lives. Am I really following His path or my own? Yesterday, a beautifully-souled woman emailed me about her experience with last year’s month of gratitude. Let me just say that doing something so easy, caused a ripple effect and touched several lives in return. Could you ask for any more? To spread His love to those you have never met? I am so blessed today. I am so overwhelmed by God’s goodness and timing. Be encouraged in His love for you today, my dear readers.

thanks for stopping by!

~kimberly