Mother's Little Helper

Long Time, No Me

Hello out there!  It's me!  I'm alive!  I'm sure many of you had given me up for dead, but never fear: I have survived a looong and tiring spring/summer of pediatric orthopedic surgery and its aftermath.  Actually, the aftermath is ongoing (aftermaths have a tendancy to do that, you know), but Carter is doing great.  We still have a ways to go until he is once again walking independently, but his legs and gait are much straighter and he is getting stronger every day.  Now that school is back in session, he uses a walker most of the time to get around, with occasional use of his wheelchair to go the long distances to the cafeteria, etc.  I'm told that its considered a high privilege amongst his classmates to get to be the person who pushes his chair on such occasions.  Leave it to Carter to convert a wheelchair into social currency! 

In case you're interested, here's a recent photo of my beautiful boys, taken on the first day of school (Aug. 9th):

Truman is now a high school sophmore, and Carter is a second grader.  Aren't they a couple of clean cut cuties?  They make their Mama's preppy little heart pitter patter (when they aren't driving her to drink).

And though I haven't done ANY stamping over the summer, I have managed to keep crafty.  Spending so much time in Minnesota (at Gillette Specialty Children's Hospital and the nearby St. Paul Embassy Suites.  Thank the good Lord for the daily Manager's Reception - free wine and snacks!) and Oklahoma City (we did about a month and a half of Lokomat therapy, four days a week, after we returned home from MN) I needed something highly portable that didn't take up a whole lot of space.  Thus, I rediscovered one of my first crafting passions: cross stitch!  I'll show you some of the projects I've finished and am working on in a different post. 

The reason I am posting today, though, is that my buddy Jen del Muro called me yesterday.  We chatted for a while, and I mentioned to her that I had just cleaned off my craft desk after months of using it as the place to pile life's random - how shall I put it? - crap.  With a clean desk, I was feeling the first itch to get inky, and wouldn't you know it: just in time for the brand new SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY!  And guess who the September SFYTT sponsor is?  KRAFTIN' KIMMIE! 

I'm a former Krafty Girl, and I adore Kimmie and all of her wonderful stamps. I especially love the Moonlight Whispers line, illustrated by the AMAZING Annie Rodrique.  Pretty much every month, I'm forced by Annie's talent to purchase a Kimmie Kit because I MUST possess each and every one of her images. Therefore, I have lots and lots of lovely rubber just waiting to get inked up.  It seemed serendipitous that my desire to stamp coincided with KKS's sponsorship, so here I am.  LUCKY FOR YOU! ;)

Enough backstory.  Ready to see this month's SFYTT?  It's a goodie, as usual:

Mr. Carter is turning 8 next Thursday, so I used CURTIS to make him a birthday card...

I'd love to say the idea for using the linen thread (from The Cat's Pajamas) to resemble a fishing line was the result of my own cleverness, but that would be a fib.  I copied the idea from my brilliant buddy, Michele Boyer - here's the card that inspired me.  I did come up with something kinda cute on my own, though.  Check out this little fish hook I created by bending a straight pin...

Not too shabby for a rusty, worn-down-to-a-nubbin stamper like myself!

Make sure you visit Jen's blog to see what she and Designer of the Month, Leslie Good, have created, and then visit my SFYTT Sisters to see what goodness they've put together to inspire you.

• Jen del Muro (you can also get all of the details about how you can participate on Jen's blog)
• Amber Hight
• Amy Sheffer
• Becky Carafa
• Jodi Collins
• Susan Liles
• Jen Tapler
• Megan Lock
• Kerry Johnson
• Tracy Shultz

As for future postings, I'm going to try to post once or twice a week, but probably no more than that.  My vida loca just won't permit it, and I've been told I'm cranky (the nerve!) when I'm stamping on a deadline.  Thus, I'll be keeping it light and aiming for that ever elusive balance.  (I can hear you snickering, you know. I agree; the idea of me and balance is akin to, say, Lady Gaga and demurity. But still. One can try.  Wish me luck!)

 

Supplies - Stamps: Curtis by Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps; Paper: Campfire 8 x 8 pad from October Afternoon, Prism Mystic Dark, PTI Ripe Avocado, Copic X-Press Blending Paper; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Accessories: Copic Markers, Mini Brads from Queen & Co; Linen Thread from The Cat's Pajamas, Jody Morrow's Foam Boosters, straight pin, PTI ribbon in Ripe Avacado.

Surprise Hop for Julee

I'm so thrilled to be able to participate in this very special surprise hop in honor of soon-to-be-Mom-to-twin-boys and all-around-wonderful person, JULEE TILMAN¹!  If you're hopping in order, you've come to me from Miss Meowy, also know as the incomparable ALMA DE LA ROSA.  If you just stumbled in and want to start from the get-go, head over to Julee's blog and/or our hop organizer, the talented TERESA KLINE's blog.  Teresa will have all of the blog participants listed on her blog if you find a broken link or get lost. 

I first got to know Julee when I was a Verve Diva back in 2008, and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her again as part of the Mojo Monday Design Team. Julee is as classy as her stamps (which are my go-to images and sentiments when I need to do some Class Act Stamping²), and I know she's going to be a terrific mom. :)

Before I show you what I've made in Julee's honor, let me give you a look-see at this week's MOJO MONDAY sketch, #229:

And here's my take on it...

I used my favorite 'New Mama' image, DIANA by Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps³, and my favorite 'New Baby' sentiment, "There Are No Small Miracles" from the BEAUTIFUL YOU⁴ set by Verve Stamps.  Diana was colored with Copic Markers on Copic X-Press Blending Cardstock, then fussy-cut.  The patterned paper is from Echo Park's new This & That - Charming 6"x6" pad.  The Carribean bakers twine is from The Twinery, and was a gift from my BSF/faux nemesis, Carolyn King, with whom I roomed⁵ at CHA.  I needed something on the card to represent twins, so that's where the wooden buttons come in.  I hope Julee likes it! :)

Teresa asked each of us to offer words of parenting wisdom.  This is tough, because as you all know, I am centuries old and very wise; to limit myself to just one pearl of wisdom... Hmm... I think it would be this: as overwhelming as babies may be at times, and as tired as you will surely get, try not to wish that first year away. Rock your babies and mindfully enjoy their infancy as much as you can.  Like my favorite parenting poem says:

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.⁶

Lucky you, you now get to go visit someone who is not only a great friend of mine, she's also one of my favorite stampers, the sensational SUSAN LILES!

Footnotes:

1.  Julee is the owner/illustrator of VERVE STAMPS, as well as the founder/chief sketcher of the weekly MOJO MONDAY sketch challenge.

2.  Class Act Stamping... it's a long story.  See this post if you want more info.

3.  DIANA is actually named for Kimmie's mom - isn't that the sweetest?  I had to leave the Kraftin' Kimmie Design Team in late November last year because I was still overwhelmed after my own mom's death and not sure I could honor DT commitments, prepare for finals and the holidays, and remain sane.  Still, I left on great terms with Kimmie, who is the soul of graciousness, and I still ADORE KKS's images.  So much so, I had to order the Gimme Kimmie Kit of all the new Moonlight Whispers released yesterday.  Go check 'em out - they're FABULOUS!

4.  BEAUTIFUL YOU is Verve's 1st anniversary set, and Julee had the wonderful idea of having design team members submit a sentiment that had meaning to them.  "There Are No Small Miracles" was mine, and here's the story behind it.

5. "... with whom I roomed" - that rhymes!

6. From 'Song For a Fifth Child' by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

 

Happy New Year!

 Welcome, welcome 2012!  2011, don't let the door hit your rear on the way out... ;)

I always enjoy fellow stampers' "Year In Review" blog posts, where they post their favorite projects from the past 12 months.  I thought I'd do likewise, even though as I culled through my posts from 2011, I was reminded once again of what a long, strange year it was. 

Anyway, here are some of my favorite cards and creations from 2011. 

January

(altered frame featuring my cute boys and The Cat's Pajamas' set, Got Love)

February

(a clean and simple number, featuring lots of color, heat embossing, and MFT's Say What Die-namic and stamp set) 

March

(an altered canvas featuring paper butteflies created with MFT's Butterflies Die-Namics and Swarovski crystals)

April

(a favorite for sentimental reasons - I used TCP's Toni's Tea Set to create an homage to my wedding china - 'Liberty' by Lenox)

May

(I really like the tennis court background I made, and the darling Krista Moonlight Whispers image from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps)

June

(Another KKS Moonlight Whispers gal, this fetching bathing beauty is Eleanor.)

July

 

(This Hula honey is Kali from Hawaii by Your Next Stamp)

August

(My Trick or Treat Banner, using lots of images from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, my favorite panel of which was Horace, a Moonlight Whisper guy)

September

(A sweet lil card featuring The Tweetest Things and Nesting sets from The Cat's Pajamas)

October

(A birthday card featuring my favorite new embellishment of 2011 - burlap - and KKS's Julie image and TCP's Circus Panels and Circus Border CutUps dies)

November

(A fun and easy little number with images from Paper Smooches' Wake Up stamp set)

December

(Last but not least, a card that can go Christmas/Valentine's/Just Because, feautring TCP's Freezin' Season set and Snowflake and Hearts Trio CutUps dies)

As my buddy Porky Pig would say, "That's all, folks!"  I hope you enjoyed my personal walk down memory lane and that you'll come back tomorrow for my first card and the first Mojo Monday sketch of 2012. 

Cheers!

Thanks, Doll!

Happy Saturday! Did you get a lot of shopping done yesterday? I did lots of online shopping; I'm not much for braving those Black Friday crowds...

Anyway!  It's time for this week's Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps challenge.  The fabulous KERRY is our Hostess, and in keeping with this week's Thanksgiving holiday, she's challenging us to create a Thank You card. One can never have enough Thank You cards...

I used the new WEDNESDAY image - one of Annie Rodrigue's Gothic Girls.  Isn't she a cutie?  I colored her with Copics, paper pieced her skirt, and shadowed her with Prismacolor pencils and odorless mineral spirits.  The patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye's 12 Days of Christmas 6"x6" pad, and the cute felt flower was created using Lil Inker Design's Fringe Flower Die.

Here's a closer look at Ms. Wednesday...

Be sure to head over to the KKS Challenge Blog to see what the participating Krafty Girls and Guests have created to inspire you and for information about how play along with us (just by doing so, you could win the image Kerry used from Cheryl Alger's SNIPS & SNAILS set).

You'll also want to do a little holiday shopping for yourself at the Kraftin' Kimmie store - Kimmie's put almost EVERYTHING on sale for 25%-75% off!  Now's the time to complete your collections!

I'll be back later today with another SNEAKY PEEK from The Cat's Pajamas.  See you soon!

Kraftin' Kimmie New Release Blog Hop!

You've been waiting patiently, and at last, it's Release Day for Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!  And, as always, we Krafty Girls and Guests are celebrating with a blog hop.  The hop started at the KKS Challenge blog, with lots of lovely stops.  If you're hopping along in order (and you really should - so many gorgeous creations!) you should have come here from the blog of one of our Krafty Guests, the hilarious and talented JENNY PETERSON (I love that gal! Seriously. She's one of my favorite new designers in the world o' stamping. You MUST check her out. That's an order, soldier).

I'm sure you've got the details down by now, but just to summarize: as usual, Kraftin' Kimmie has something for everyone this month!

• Cheryl Alger's new SNIPS & SNAILS set for all the little guys in your life
• Emilie Goulet's CANINE CAPERS 1 & 2 sets for all the dog lovers in the hizzy
• Six new GOTHIC GIRLS from Annie Rodrigue's Moonlight Whispers line
• and BONUS!  The release of the heretofore Krafty Day Exclusive BEST FRIENDS stamp, illustrated by Annie Rodrigue

It's enough to make your head spin with delight, is it not? Well, steady yourself, because I've got another of Annie's Gothic Girls to share with you.  This cute little gal is named BELLA...

I kicked it old school and did a little faux stitching around the image layer; it's been a while since I pulled that one out of my bag o' tricks! Here's a closer look at the lovely Miss Bella...

Isn't she darling?  Perfect for the cat lovers in your life.  Looking for an all-purpose friendship stamp?  Then look no further than BEST FRIENDS; I lurve this stamp! Here's a little number I made with it for Krafty Day, last month:

(Just noticed I used the same sketch for both cards!  It's October's Sketch For You To Try, and obviously, I likey... :) )

It's time to send you onward, to the oh-so-marvelous MELANIE's blog.  Just a reminder before you leave me, though.  Be sure to leave comments at all of the stops on the hop to be eligible for the drawing for packages of NEW stamps; two lucky commenters will win lots o' images, free of charge!  And when you get done with the hop, skeedaddle to the Kraftin' Kimmie Shop because all of the new images are NOW available! :)

Krafty Peeks, Day 3

Hola, hombres! It's one of my favorite stampy days of the month: the first reveal of Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps' new Moonlight Whispers images, illustrated by the crazy-talented Annie Rodrigue. This month, Annie has a collection of GOTH GIRLS for you to know and love. These'll be all the rage with the teenaged girls to whom you send cards - I guarantee it! (<-- please say like the guy in the Men's Wearhouse commercials)

Since it's Saturday, it's also time for this week's Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge (#105), and because it's release week, we have a Sketch Challenge for you. Our hostess and sketch creator is none other than PRECIOUS PAM, and here's the sketch she's put together to inspire you:

And here's what I did with it, using the brand new WILLOW image...

Here's a close up of Miss Willow, so you can check her out in all of her 'shroom-y finery:

I have to say, that sentiment cracks me up, and I can't wait to send this card to an old friend. Jennifer and I got back in touch via Facebook. We went to high school together (she's a couple of years older than me, and I was really good friends during HS with her little sister) in Barstow, CA. Yet, somehow, both of us have ended up in northeastern Oklahoma. She now lives about an hour away from me, and get this: her family business is a mushroom farm! I think she'll get a kick out of this. :)

I know you'll want to check out all of KKS/Annie's new GOTH GIRLS, so go to the KKS Challenge Blog to see what images my fellow Krafty Girls and Guests have used, as well as how they've interpreted the sketch. There, you'll also find info about how to play along in this week's challenge and be eligible to win the new WEDNESDAY image that Pam used in her sample. 

And don't forget to leave comments on all of today's participating designers showing Krafty Peeks -- two lucky/random commenters will each win three of the new GOTH GIRL images.

Happy Saturday, friends, and I'll see you tomorrow for the KKS New Release Blog Hop! :)

Krafty Peeks, Day 2

Hi there!  Ready for a look-see at one of the new images being released on Sunday by Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps?  Today, the Krafty Girls & Guests are giving you a peek at the latest from KKS illustrator, Emilie Goulet.  Emilie's got two collections of doggone C-U-T-E stamps that are perfect for dog loving crafters.

Check out this precious pup...

Ms. Poodle is from the Canine Capers 2 set.  Be sure to stop by the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge Blog for direct links to all of today's participating designers; it's a show to rival Westminster!  As usual, if you're interested in winning FREE stamps, you'll want to leave messages on all of today's Krafty Peekin' blogs; one lucky person will score Canine Capers 1, and a second will get Canine Capers 2. 

WOOF!

Support The Economy!

Hello, hello!  I know I've been absent from the blogosphere for a while; I've been sicker than a dog this week, but after a Z-Pak and several nights of cough syrup with Codeine, I'm feeling more like myself.  I don't usually get sick (I'm a good hand-washer and generally have hearty constitution), but when I get run down... it ain't pretty.  For various reasons, this has been a rougher than usual month, so I'm not surprised to have been knocked down physically, too.  When it rains, it pours, right?

Fortunately, as my gal 'Annie' always sings, I'm a big believer that the sun'll come out tomorrow... (ordinarily, I'd pop a video in here for you to watch the great Andrea McArdle show you what I'm talking about, but, again - I'm still not at 100%).

And in Annie's optimistic vein, I've created my card for today's Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge: PUT A PIN IN IT!  My good buddy, MICHELE, is today's Krafty Hostess, and she's come up with this prickly, perfect challenge.  Here's what I've created, using one of Tim Holtz's Memo Pins to fulfill the challenge requirements:

The image I've used is the new Moonlight Whispers' Everyday Girls image, SARAH SHOPPER.  In keeping with her sentiment, I used October Afternoon's 5 & Dime patterned paper.  Here's a close up of Ms. Sarah...

Sarah was colored with Copics and her hair was highlighted with Prismacolor pencils.  Her dress and bags were paper pieced. Then, she was trimmed out and popped up with Jody's fabulous Foam Boosters.  I seriously could not live without those in my arsenal.  I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch as my blueprint.  Gotta love Julie's sketches! 

For more pin-tresting creations, check out the KKS Challenge Blog to see what my fellow Krafty Girls and Guests have come up with; that's also where you'll find all of the info about how you can play along and be eligible to win a Sending Winter Hugs stamp (the image Michele used in her challenge card). 

Stay tuned for my November SFYTT Post - it will be coming up shortly!  (That's right - two posts in one day!  You know around here, it's feast or famine...)

Baby, It's Cold Outside...

It really is cold outside!  At least, it feels cold to me.  Not that I'm complaining.  I like crisp fall weather, but those first few days of it... Brrr!

Why am I free-associating about cold weather?  Well, because I used the new EVA image for this week's Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge.  Our Krafty Girl hostess is that sassy lassie from down under... Donna!  I love her.  She's so funny and talented and one of the people I know I'd hang out with if she didn't live in a different hemisphere.  Anyway, Donna's challenge is a doozie: Make a Monochromatic Card!

Here's Eva, in fetching shades of blue...

I colored Eva with Copics and used the current Mojo Monday sketch (#212) as my blueprint.  Chilly!

 Head over to the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge Blog to see what the other Krafty Girls made for this challenge and for instructions about how you could play along and win the new WINNIE image that Donna used in her card.

 Have a great Saturday, friends! Tomorrow, my Truman turns 15.  That ain’t right!  Between weeping over the fact he’ll be DRIVING in a few short months, and getting ready for his posse to invade my home tonight, I’m going to try to get a couple of stampy things done today.  Come back tomorrow to see my progress and some of the fabulous new images and dies from Your Next Stamp!

BUY THE WAY: Huge - and I mean HUGE! - sale going on at the Kraftin' Kimmie Website!!!  Kimmie may have done lost her mind; she's marked a ton of stamps down between 40-75%!  Yep, she's retiring a bunch of images (even several of my beloved Moonlight Whispers!), so get 'em while you still can.  Once they're gone, they're... collectibles! 

October Krafty Hop!

It's Krafty Release Day and the Krafty Girls and Guests are celebrating with a Krafty Blog Hop!  Be sure to start at the beginning of the hop at the KKS Challenge Blog and leave comments as you go, because two lucky commenters will receive packages of stamps from today's release!

As you sit back and enjoy today's hop, you'll see most of the new images, including:

• a trio of SNOW PEEPS from Cheryl Alger,
• Emilie Goulet's WINTER WONDERLAND quintet,
• and SIX new EVERY DAY GIRLS from the amazing Annie Rodrigue!

Ready for my contribution to today's festivities?  That's good, because like the image I'm using -- JULIE -- the party don't start 'til I walk in^*...

* - That's a lyric from 'Tik Tok,' by the way.  I've officially made the decision that it is my new go-to Karaoke song, replacing 'Love Shack,' which held that distinction for close to two decades.  Ke$ha can't sing that well, and neither can I, so it's a perfect fit.  Ponder that as I show you a close-up of party-girl JULIE...

Don't you just LOVE her?!  I know I do...

Wanna know who else I love?  My Krafty Girl-friend, ELAINE, who's next on today's hop and surely has something fantastic to share with you (that girl knows how to color, lemme tell ya)!

BUY THE WAY:  When you’re done hoppin’, be sure to head over to the Kraftin’ Kimmie shop, because ALL the new images are NOW available!  We have our Gimme Kimmies Kits for those of you who ‘need it all.' :)  The stamps are grouped together by artist and come with a discount, but only for a limited time!

Krafty Peeks, Day 3: Rock That Body!

Hip-hip-hooray!  Today's the day the Krafty Girls and our special Krafty Guests get to show you the newest Moonlight Whispers images from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!  I just love being able to do that, because I know how much I used to anticipate seeing the newest Moonlight Whispers during Krafty Peeks before I became a Krafty Girl.  I still get that way each month when Kimmie reveals the images to the design team.  What can I say?  I'M A FAN!

 {<-- hee.  that's for you, Puffy}

In addition to it being ANNIE Peek Day, it's also time for this week's Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge.  PRECIOUS Pam is our hostess, and she's put together a sketch challenge:

And here's what I did with it, using the brand-new MISSY image:

Missy's enjoying the music on her iPod so much, she doesn't even mind that she's working out!  Don't you just love her Beats?  I bought my son a pair of Beats for his birthday last year - he wore them non-stop for about 9 months.  He still wears them quite a bit, but fortunately, I don't seem to have to scream to him as much for him to hear me.  Several times, my husband and I were heard to have muttered, "I hate those damn things..."

Here's a close up of Ms. Missy...

Please note the sweet patterned paper - it's My Mind's Eye's Blink of An Eye 6"x6" pad and was a gift from my oh-so-sweet friend and fellow Okie-transplant, Megan Lock.  Thanks, chickadee!

Are you ready to see all the other new {MORE} EVERYDAY GIRLS?  Then head on over to the KKS Challenge Blog, where you'll see lots of fabulous samples, and get instructions about how you can play along with us and win the new JULIE image that Pam has featured in her card.  Also, be sure to leave comments on all of the Krafty Peeking blogs for your chance to be one of two lucky winners, each of whom will win three of the new {MORE} EVERYDAY GIRLS! 

See you tomorrow for the Krafty Blog Hop! :)

Krafty Peeks, Day 2: Chillin'...

Ready for a look at the newest Emilie's Etchings from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps?  Goody!  You're in the right place...

Another snowman!  Yay!  You can never have enough snowmen (or women) (or children), you know.  This fun guy is surrounded by little bluebirds of happiness.  And he has very fancy buttons, courtesy of Doodlebug Designs.  Yep, he's one very lucky snowperson.

You could be just as lucky; you could win all FIVE of the newest "Emilie's" just by commenting on all of the participating Krafty Girls' blogs.  How easy is that?  And to make it even easier for you?  There's a list with direct links to all of today's Krafty Peeking blogs on the KKS Challenge Blog.  So, leave a comment for me, then skedaddle on over to my peeps blogs.

And guess what's coming tomorrow?  One of my favorite days of the month... Krafty Peeks of the newest ANNIE RODRIGUE/MOONLIGHT WHISPERS images!!!  Be here or be... I don't know... out of beer?  Just be here!

 

 

Krafty Peeks, Day 1: Frosty Winter Friends

Today is the first day of Krafty Peeks for the October Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Release, and the Krafty Girls are showing off a bunch of very cute snowmen illustrated by Cheryl Alger.  Are you ready for a look-see?

I just love the little cardinals.  They seem to be telling Mr. Frosty something important.  Maybe something along the lines of "Your outfit is very cute, but could be deadly..."  This stamp comes with a sentiment that reads "Frosty Winter Friends."  Just to shake things up, I used one of Kimmie's Holiday Sentiments.  Why?  Because I'm a REBEL, that's why...

Again, my card is a little bigger than usual.  I wanted to use this week's Mojo Monday sketch, but to get it just the way I wanted it, I needed a bigger canvas than 4.25"x5.5".  Because the patterned paper I wanted to use was only 6" wide, I couldn't do a full 5"x7" card, which was my first instinct.  Instead, this measures out to 5"x6.5". 

Here's a close-up.  Hopefully you can get a better look at how sparkly it actually is in real life, thanks to the Stardust Stickles and coat of glitter along the edges of the image panel:

Head on over to the Krafty Challenge Blog for direct links to Krafty Girls previewing the latest "Cheryls."  You're bound to find something that tickles you and makes you glad winter weather is headed our way (at least it is in North America; I'm always confused about what the seasons are in Australia...). And -- if you like these cutie-pie snowpeople and free stamps, be sure to leave comments on all of today's Krafty Peeks.  Kimmie's giving away all three of Cheryl's new images to one lucky, random commenter!

As for me?  I've got so much laundry to do, I'm considering just burning it all and starting fresh. If you happen to be passing through Oklahoma and see a big ol' bonfire, don't be surprised.

 

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

Hi, friends.  It's been a while since I've blogged, but circumstances arose... and, well, life interferes with stamping and blogging at times.  My mom died unexpectedly on October 6th, and was laid to rest on October 11th.  I'm sure I will have lots more to say on that subject in the future, but for now... well, I'm at a bit of a loss. 

The only way I've been able to make it through the past several days is with a little help from my friends and family.  And, in honor of them (you) and Krafty Day (which is today), I'd like to share this card...

Here's the official verbage re: Krafty Day and this EXCLUSIVE 'Best Friends' KKS image, illustrated by the one and only Annie Rodrigue:

It's KRAFTY DAY!!! As most of you probably know, Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is
putting on a fantastic event today with all the local stampers and scrappers!!
Since most of our online friends aren't able to join us, except in spirit, we
thought we'd do something special!!

The attendees of Krafty Day will enjoy a lovely KKS tote bag filled with goodies
and one of those goodies is a special commemorative stamp, created especially
for the event!! It's called Best Friends! Well, how would YOU like to get one
too?!! Beginning today and running only until Friday, October 21st, each and
every order over $75 before shipping and taxes will receive this stamp for
FREE!! How about that??!!

I don't know about you, but I LOVE this image!  And the accompanying sentiment?  Well, don't get me started.  I'm a Beatles fanatic: I have the new coffee table book based on Martin Scorsese's new George Harrison documentary (George is/was my favorite Beatle.  I dig all of his meditation/mystical/Ravi Shankar stuff, I adore the Traveling Wilburys, and - bonus - he was the cutest (to me) ); I have every Beatles CD and countless books and biographies; I've seen 'LOVE' by Cirque de Soleil in Las Vegas, twice;  I wrote a thesis on the Beatles in film when I was in undergrad; the main artwork in my living room is a huge collage featuring the Abbey Road image of the Beatles crossing the street; and I have a Beatles cookie jar on proud display in my kitchen.  Need I go on?  

Even though I'm a Krafty Girl, I could easily find enough images I don't have to fill up my cart and get this special one for FREE, if I didn't already have it in my hot little hands.  I mean, just look at these girlies...

Supercalifragilistic-ANNIE-alidocious, wouldn't you agree?

Here's a top-down view, because apparently people like to see several angles of the same card... ;)

My card is 5"x7", to accomodate this month's SFYTT and all of the features I wanted to show.  And you know what?  It felt good to free myself from the confines of a standard 4.25" x 5.5" card.  I think I'm going to do that more often.  Maybe facing some big issues in life has empowered me?  Or maybe I just made a bigger card.  Whatever!  I'm going with it...  Want to see more gorgeous creations using this exclusive image?  Then head on over to the KKS Challenge Blog for beautiful samples by my fellow Krafty Girls.

It felt good to get inky after my circumstance-imposed hiatus, and I plan to do so again soon.  Lots to do to wrap up Mom's stuff, so I may be a little hit or miss.  Please bear with me, and thanks to all who have held me in their thoughts and prayers.  I appreciate you more than you could possibly know.

 

Get Krafty!

Happy Sunday, muchachas!  Just wanted to give you a head's up with respect to two big events that fans of Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps wont want to miss out on.

1.  In honor of World Card Making Day (which was yesterday), Kimmie's throwing a HUGE sale - over 100 stamps/sets are between 25-50% off!  The sale goes through Monday night.  This would be a perfect time to do a little early Christmas shopping for your stampy loved ones (or yourself!).

2.  KRAFTY DAY!  The second annual Krafty Day will be held on Sunday, October 17th, in Lambeth, Ontario (Canada).  Word on the street is this is one fabulous event you won't want to miss (sure wish I could be there!). 

Participants get to hang out with Kimmie and several of the Krafty Girls as they stamp, do make & takes, mix & mingle with other stampers, get lots of Krafty goodies, receive an EXCLUSIVE KKS stamp to commemorate the occasion (I just received mine today, and let me tell you, it's TO DIE FOR!) and a KKS tote bag.  They also get to shop on site, and a little birdie told me there's going to be an AMAZING raffle where people can purchase loverly cards and projects by the Krafty Girls (including several from yours truly), with all the proceeds going to charity. 

And if that wasn't reason enough to get you interested in attending, guess who else is going to be there?  ANNIE RODRIGUE, herself!  That's right - the illustrator of KKS's wildly popular Moonlight Whispers line. For this alone, I would love to be there.  I'm a huge, huge Annie fan and would love to just bask in the glow of her formidable talent.  Maybe some of it would rub off...

If you're interested in attending KRAFTY DAY, click here for all of the details.

I was hoping to show you a couple more of the installments for my Christmas banner, but the evening light and my camera wouldn't cooperate.  Be on the lookout for them later in the week, though.  In the meantime, enjoy your Sunday and I'll see you tomorrow for Mojo Monday and little somethin'-somethin' special! :)