Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow...

 The other day I was working on balancing my checkbook - it has to balance to the penny - and I was so wrapped up in finding my mistake I hadn't noticed it had started to snow.  I just finished my checkbook when I heard a door slam so I looked out to find my husband home for lunch but I was even more excited to see it snowing.  I LOVE THE SNOW.  Of course, I don't have to get out in it or work in it, although I do love to go cruisin' when it starts to snow.

Ok so you probably don't really care for my checkbook issues or my love of snow, so on to todays project.  My grandson Ryan and I put the Christmas tree up over Thanksgiving weekend.  For the last several years I have decorated my tree in all snowmen or snowflake type ornaments.  Remember I told you I love snow, well I also really like snomen.  So I decided to make a tissue box cover to go with the snowman theme.  This was my first try at it and I did make a few mistakes but I decided to keep it anyway.  I hope you like it.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Fall Purse Sets

I can show these Purse Gift Sets now.  I made seven of these sets for my friend Judy who bought them for the ladies that work for her.  She is great about giving gifts for lots of different holidays and these were for Halloween, although we went with more of a fall theme.

I really like the purses that Becky Roberts creates, so I decided to design my own pattern.  This is what I came up with.  The nice thing about these purses are that they will hold 4.25 x 5.5 cards.  A lot of the patterns I have seen are for purses that will only hold 3x3 cards.

I hope the ladies at the office enjoyed them.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

September 2011 Stamp Club Projects

 My November Stamp Club is next week and I didn't even post the projects from September.  I hold my stamp clubs every other month.  This gives the ladies time to try out their new purchases before it's time to buy again.  It also works out well because we start in September and go until May so the ladies have a chance to order out of each mini.  We also finish up before summer starts.

At each club meeting we do three projects.  I usually try to do 2 cards and a 3-d project.  For September I picked a card that had several techniques involved in it - Emboss Resist, Background stamping, Tearing, Sponging - and then the second card was a clean and simple card.

For the 3-d project, although it was pretty simple to make, I still managed to slip in a couple of techniques on this project - punch art (check out the cute pumpkin) and altering punches (using a punch in a different way than intended).  We also used the big shot to make the box.

Hope you like these fall projects and thanks for looking,

Kim

 

Post-it Note Holder

This was another door prize from my Christmas Stamp-a-stack.  These would make great gifts for teachers, co-workers, secret sisters or for just anyone you want to give a little something to.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Stamp-a-Stack Door Prizes

Here is one of the door prizes from my Stamp-a-Stack last month.  It's a dry erase picture frame. 

The pumpkin was attached with velcro so if you wanted to change with the seasons, you could just pull off the pumpkin, change the background paper (which is inside the frame) and pop a new embellishment onto the front.  Fast and simple gift idea.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Best Friends Forever

Here is a quick notecard made with the set Best Friends Forever that we were given at convention.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

HOLIDAY MINI NOW AVAILABLE!

To view the new Holiday Mini Catalog, just click on the picture of the mini on the right hand side of the blog.

I warn you - your wish list will be long.

Kim

Brandy's Birthday Card

My oldest daughter Brandy turned 28 this month.  I had to stop and do the math because I couldn't believe she was 28.  Seems like I was 28 just a few years ago.

So here is her belated birthday card.  This is another image from the Easy Events set that we received at convention.  Love this set.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Workshop-in-a-Bag

Here is a card that came in our Workshop-in-a-Bag that we received at convention.  It uses the free set we got called Easy Events.  I think you will see a lot of cards from this set.

Well VBS is over for another year we had our program at church this morning.  We had a great time and a lot of kids and hopefully the seed was planted.  I was excited because my grandson Ryan came from Ohio last weekend and went to VBS with me every evening.

Yesterday Ryan's mom (my daughter Jess) and his little brother Myer came home for a few days so we celebrated my granddaughter Hydi's birthday a few days early.  Jess and the boys will be leaving Wednesday and then we won't get to see them quite as often as Ryan starts kindergarten next week and they won't be able to come home whenever they want.  That's really going to stink!

Anyway, I will be AWOL for the new few days as I will be trying to spend as much time with them as I can, but I will be settling back into a routine soon.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Convention Make-n-Takes

Here are three of the make-n-takes they had for us at convention.  I didn't think I would like the sets they gave us at convention, but they are really growing on me.  I'll share some more projects with these sets next week.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Faux Tin Ceiling

Here's the card that I made for the WOW Swap at convention.  I call it the Faux Tin Ceiling.  I've seen something similar done with the brushed silver cardstock and I've seen it done with layers of embossing powder, but for my card I used aluminum foil.

We are in full swing at VBS this year and having a great time, so my posts will be pretty short this week.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Halloween Treats

I guess since I've already started making Christmas cards, it really isn't too early to start on Halloween.  These are the new 1"x 8" bags that will be available in the Holiday Mini September 1st.  There is a ton of cool stuff in the mini, so if you would like to earn some of it free, contact me about hosting a party.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Playing with some new toys...

It was like Christmas at my house the other day, I got a big box of new Stampin' Up toys.  I was playing with one of my new embossing folders last night and this is what I came up with.

The idea all started from the little bow on the card.  I had made the bow several days ago when I was practicing the Faux Bow technique and so I just designed the card around the bow.  Hope you like it.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Easy Events Make Easy Cards

I have just a quick post today.  Here is one of the cards I made with the new stamp set Easy Events that we got free at convention.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Christmas in July

Well not exactly.  You all know I run behind so this card was actually made in August. 

I'm helping my friend Terri make cards for a fundraiser that her puppet team at Faith Fellowship Church in Hidalgo Illinois is having August 20th.  The fundraiser helps to pay for mission trips that her puppet team takes.  They just recently went to Alaska.  To find out more about her puppet ministry, the mission trips or the fundraiser go to www.puppetsfromtheheart.com. 

If your school or church is in need of puppets, Terri makes the best ones around.  I was a puppet director for several years, so I know from experience.

If you like the card, this one and many more will be up for auction so come to Faith Fellowship Saturday August 20th - I will post the time as soon as I find out when.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Now I Remember...

...why I don't like creating scrapbooks - IT TAKES FOREVER.  This is a mini scrapbook made from one piece of 12x12 Desiger Series Paper and the finished size is 3x6 closed.  The scrapbook itself only takes minutes, me deciding how to decorate it took about three hours.

My grandson Ryan played baseball here this summer while him and his mom and little brother were staying with us.  I've been meaning to make him some kind of scrapbook for weeks but I just haven't had time.  So Monday while my husband was out of town I decided to stamp all day and work on some projects that had been floating around in my head (before I forgot them).  And this was my first project.  I really didn't mean to spend so much time on it, but I'm pretty inexperienced when it comes to scrapbooking so it takes me a while.

This project uses a combination of new and retired products.  The stamp sets that I used are Just Baseball and Sporting (both retired).  I bought these sets when they were on sale for half price because I knew in the near future I would have some little athletes in the family.  I even had to mount them before using them as these sets were pre-diecut sets, I really am thrilled our sets are all diecut now.  I also used the new Pennant Punch which was great for this project.

The little baseballs you see sticking out at the top of the scrapbook is attached to inserts I made so my daughter could write down things like Ryan's coach's name and team members.  At this point you think you will never forget those details, trust me, 25 years later you will be glad you did.

Well I hope you like it, thanks for looking,
Kim

Life is a Matter of moments...

Isn't that the truth.  Here is a brag book that I demonstrated how to make at a downline meeting several months ago.  It's made using Stampin' Up's clear envelopes.

It makes a great gift which is why it ended up in my "Gift Basket" at my After Convention Party .  Everyone who came got to pick a gift from the basket, except my returning Stamp Club ladies as I already had gifts for them.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Fun Flowers Bookmarks

I have some cousins who come to Illinois to visit every year.  And every year they bring gifts.  The gifts are small gifts, but always unique or useful and sometimes both.  And every year I think, I need to give them a gift but as you already know if you have read this blog before, time gets away from me.

BUT... this year I finally managed to do it.  I made them gifts.  So here are the bookmarks that I made for them.  I think they are unique (unless you are a Stampin' up fan, then you've probably seen them a hundred times already) and they are certainly useful and they turned out pretty cute in my humble opinion LOL.  The picture doesn't do them justice as you can't see all the sparkle they have from the shimmer paint.  Anyway they really seemed to like them and I hope you do to.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day

Well with me a day is like a week and a week is like a day....Anyway my day turned into a week last week.  But I finally have a card to show you.

This was a swap card for Lyssa's Convention Quality Swap.  I was in 2 different slots for this swap, but I didn't keep my other card so I can't show you that one right now.  Maybe I can recreate it later.

For this card I cased myself, but on the original card I used grays and the critter looked like a little mouse.  But since Going Gray retired, I switched to browns - there are brown mice you know - but everyone seemed to think this looked like a bear.  So you decide - mouse or bear?  Either way, I hope you like the card and thanks for looking.

Kim

I am alive and well....

I've had a few people email asking me if everything was ok with me.  I appreciate your concern and yes I am fine, just busy.  It started Memorial Weekend when I had a houseful of company - stepson and his 5 kids, my daughter her husband and their two kids - then it continued for the next 6 weeks as my daughter and her boys stayed with us.  They left on July 8th to go home and I left on July 12th for convention - my first one - how exciting!

We've spent the first part of summer swimming in the pool that Ryan (my grandson) convinced Papa we needed, going to T-ball games, going to the fair, the 4th of July celebration at the park, and just a lot of running around in between.

I'm now trying to get back into a routine.  And about the time I do, Ryan will be back for another visit, which I'm looking forward to.  He starts kindergarten this fall, so they won't be able to come home and visit anytime they want.

Convention was awesome and I will be sharing more of that with you later.  I've also stamped a little the last few days so I have some cards to share with you also.

Well that kind of catches us up and I will be back tomorrow with one of my swap cards I made for convention.

Good night,
Kim

Friend to Friend

This card was made with some scraps that were left at my house after a "playdate" with my friend Terri.  Not only can I not throw away my scraps, I have a hard time throwing away others scraps.  So these scraps of Designer Series Paper set on my cutting table for a long time and I finally made them into a card.  I actually finished this card months ago, but I'm just getting around to posting it.  I hope you like it.

Thanks for looking,

Kim

To all you convention goer's...

I'm just curious ladies as to how many of my blogger friends are going to the Stampin' Up Convention this year.  This will be my first year going and I'm really excited. 

If you are planning on going, please leave a comment and let me know.  Maybe we can even take a moment to meet.

Kim

Workshop Leftovers

Here is a card I made from leftover cardstock from a workshop I did several months ago.  I used to just toss the leftover packets in a basket thinking I would make them into a card later, but now my basket is full and I look at the pieces of the packet and I can't remember what I made with them.  So lately I have been trying to make up the cards as soon as the workshop or stamp club is over. 

I think my favorite part of this card is the tiny little bow.  I made this bow using the "fork technique".  It's really simple and makes the cutest bows.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Here Comes the Bride....

This has to be the most difficult project I have ever tried to photograph (I'm not a good photographer under the best of circumstances).  But this brides dress is so cute in real life.

Here's the instructions to make these cute little boxes.  I had to simplify mine a bit because I didn't have all the tools that the original designer had and I was also making 16 of these for our Mother-Daughter Banquet at church.

The paper is some that I have had for several years, it has a beautiful shimmer to it, which also made it very difficult to take a good picture.  You can click on the picture to get a more detailed look at the box. 

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Totally Tess Graduates

Well we made it back from Ohio.  Steve and Jess said the Tim McGraw concert was great and they had really good seats.  Ryan, Myer and I also had really good seats - at the movie theater.  We went and saw Rio.  It was a cute movie and the boys were really well behaved.  Myer does a great job of watching the movie and he's only two.

Here's a grad card I made a few weeks ago.  This one is a 5x5 square card.  I used Concord Crush and Daffodil Delight on this card as our school colors are purple and gold.  In our area graduations are anywhere from mid to late May depending on how many snow days we use.  We seemed to use a lot this year.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

RECIPE:
Paper - Designer Series Paper Pack - In Color (hostess item), Daffodil Delight, Concord Crush, Whisper White
Stamps - Totally Tess, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink - Concord Crush, Blush Blossom, Basic Black, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip (all makers)
Accessories - 1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Extra Large, Scallop Trim Border, Scallop Trim Corner

Better than nothing right?

A really quick post is better than nothing at all, right?  So here is the Easter basket I made for my daughters this year.  They were filled with candy of course, but this is the first year my 27, 25 and 19 year old daughters didn't get a gift or as in most years lots of gifts in their Easter basket.  I'm sure they were disappointed but I explained to them that they were too old for the Easter Bunny and now he comes to see the grandkids instead of them.

After lots of tears, I think they finally accepted that.  Now what do you think will happen when I tell them Santa isn't coming to see them anymore either?

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Is anybody still there?

I don't think I have ever went this long without posting.  I wonder if anybody is still out there.  I have lots of excuses for not posting, but I'm sure you don't want to here them all so I will just get right to today's post.

These are the projects that we made yesterday at Stamp Club.   

The carrot was made with the Petal Cone Sizzix Die.  I had the hardest time with this carrot.  I wanted to make the box so it could be opened without destroying the box, so I put a brad in the leaf top so it would swivel out and the box can be easily opened.  I tried using velcro and magnets to hold the leaf top on, but that didn't work so well.

The Thank You card was made with the Sale-a-bration set Bliss.  This has turned out to be my favorite Sale-a-bration set.  I also used the Framed Tulips Embossing folder on the card base.

The Springtime Smiles card was made with the Easter Blossoms set from the Occasions Mini (this is a complete case, but I don't remember from who).  I'm really going to miss this catalog.  This has been one of my most favorite mini catalogs.  I've bought a ton of stuff from it and there are still a few more things I would like to get before it expires.

Well there you have it, I have finally posted again.  Hopefully it won't be so long next time.

Thanks for looking,

Kim

January Stamp Club 2011 Projects

Here are two of the project that we made at Stamp Club this evening.  I've already shown you a couple of the Treat Box Cards I have created.  They really are quick and easy to make once you have your first one under your belt.

And before someone points this out to me, I do know that the paper I used is retired.  But I have been trying to use up some of my stash and I didn't have any other Valentine paper, besides it is available on the Clearance Rack and so it was a great way to remind my club ladies to check it out periodically.

Do you see the candy and candles in the box?  Add a gift card in the pocket and this would make a great gift.

The card really is so much prettier in real life, but it's fuzzy in this picture.  It's been gray and gloomy here for days, so I haven't had a chance to get some better pictures.

I will post the third project later.

Thanks for looking,

Kim

Changed up just a bit...

I have to take Brandy to her doctor's appointment this morning so this is just a quick post.

This card is very similar to the one I posted HERE.  I just changed it up a bit.

 

Thanks for looking,

Kim

Filled with Fun

Fun Foam that is.  Most of this card was made with Glittered Fun Foam.  The heart was punched from Stampin' Up's new Glitter Paper, but the rest of the sparkly layers and the birds are Fun Foam.  Bet you didn't know Stampin' Up punches would punch through this did you? I used the corner trim punch and the sizzlets on this card.

Now I'm not saying you should try this at home LOL.  Stampin' Up punches are meant for paper and cardstock, so if you messed up your punch with the fun foam, I don't think it would be covered.  But I like to live on the edge, so I use my punches on Fun Foam anyway.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

ps  - I'm sorry I didn't get anything posted yesterday, things didn't go as planned.

Treat Box Card Tutorial

I'm still getting emails asking for instructions for the Treat Box Card.  I did post earlier that you could find the instructions at Splitcoaststampers.com, but I guess some people are like me - you just look at the pictures. 

Yes, it's true.  When I'm surfing through my lists of blogs, I usually just look at the projects and go on, so I can understand how some of you might have overlooked my previous post - because it didn't have any pictures!

So here is the link for the tutorial I used - http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/treatboxcard/

I hope you can all access it.  I did make one change.  I didn't like wasting paper and I felt like that was what I was doing when I cut my cardstock to 6.5 x 11.75.  So I cut mine to 6x12 then just followed the same scoring instructions.  This way I got two projects out of each sheet of paper.

If you do make one of these card boxes please leave a comment with a link to your project, I would love to see them.

Thanks for stopping by,
Kim

It had to end sooner or later...

I was on a roll with my posting, 11 in a row.  But all good things must come to an end right?  Wednesdays are pretty busy days around here.  My daughter Brandy usually comes and stays on Wednesdays along with my granddaughter Hydi.  I usually pick her up and take her to doctor's appointment then they come home with me.  Brandy is on bedrest due to complications with her pregnancy and her husband has a late class on Wednesday so they come here so I can help out.  Then they stay all day Thursday and her husband comes and picks them up after work.

So needless to say after chasing around a two year old, I don't have a lot of time to post.  She is napping right now so here I am.  I just have a second as she doesn't nap long and I'm trying to get packed for the weekend.  My husband and I are going to Ohio to see my grandsons for their birthdays.  Ryan's is today and Myer's was on the 8th.

So needless to say I won't be posting much over the next few days, but I do hope to get some things posted next week.

Oh, and I did have several people email me for directions on how to make the Treat Card Box.  I believe a few people are selling them, but I found them for free in the resource section of Splitcoaststampers.com.  I don't believe you have to be a member to view the site (it is free if you want to join though), but you do have to be a member to post on the site.

Thanks for stopping by and check back soon,

Kim

Another Treat Box Card

Here is another Treat Box Card, this time made with the new Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper.  This one has Hershey Nuggets wrapped in matching paper in the treat box, and a Thank You tag in the pocket.

I now have my Facebook page up and going.  You can visit me at www.facebook.com/KimsCrafts.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Going Green...

Here is a calendar that I made with a recycled coaster.  Again, I used the new Vintage Springtime paper available in the new Stampin' Up Occasions Mini Catalog.  And isn't that flower cute?  I love them.

I've got to run.  Today is a cardmaking day with my friend Terri.  Because of the busyness of the holidays it's been a while since we've been able to get together to stamp.

Thanks for looking,

Kim

Come and see me on Facebook

I've just started a Facebook Page for my Stampin' Up business.  So come by and visit me and while you are there how about hitting the like button?  Once I hit 25 fans, then I can get a URL,  until then the link to my page is http://www.facebook.com/pages/KimsKrafts/124641947602754?v=app_2309869772&ref=sgm#!/pages/KimsKrafts/124641947602754?v=wall

Thanks for helping me out,
Kim

Treat Box Card

Is it a card or is it a box?  It's both. 

This is my first go at a Treat Box Card.  On the left side is a little box that you can put small treats or gifts in.  I've put tealight candles in this one.  If you wanted to put jewelry or something really small in it, you could put a piece of transparency over the opening so that it couldn't fall out.  Or you could just not punch the window in it at all.

On the right side is a pocket that you could put a tag with a message on it or you could slip a gift card into it.

These are really pretty simple to create and would make great gifts for anytime - Christmas, Valentines, Birthdays.


Thanks for looking,
Kim

ps - I know it's late, but I still got my post in today.  That makes 9 days straight!

No Project Today - but check out Walker Wear

I just wanted to pop in with a quick post.  I've posted everyday this year and didn't want to break my momentum now.

I just got my house back last night.  I took Brandy to her doctor's appointment yesterday - things are going well so far, just still on bedrest - then took her back home.  Then I came home got Rob and took her back to college and after I got home last night I put on my pj's and did pretty much nothing all night.

Today I have to get my house back in order.  Carpets need swept and toilets need cleaned.  Believe me I would much rather be stamping.

I do still have several projects to show you that I completed before Brandy and Hydi came last week, but I need to take pictures of them first.  I also need to pack up what's left from my Christmas Craft Show that my daughter Jessi and I participated in.  I sold my stamped items and Jessi sold hair clips, bows, headbands, Pony O's, barrettes and tutus.  They were really cute. 

Jessi does have a few left and if you would like to see some of things that she makes check out her page on Facebook, it's - www.facebook.com/walkerwear - she does special orders and she does ship her products.  She just got a new Cricut and Big Shot for Christmas so I'm sure she will be adding a lot of new items soon.

Well I've got to run, those toilets are calling my name and the sooner I get my work done the sooner I can get into my stamp room.

I hope you all have a good weekend and thanks for stopping by,
Kim

God is and All is Well

Another quick post as my daughter is still here on bedrest and I've been watching my two year old granddaughter.  She doesn't like to stamp yet, so we have to play what she wants to play.

I believe I saw this card on Mary Fish's blog.  I changed it up a little and used Concord Crush and Basic Grey.  I love the stamp set Refuge and Strength and still pull it out often even though it's retired.  It's a pretty simple card so I'm not giving many details.  If you have any questions, just let me know.

Thanks for looking,

Kim

Happy Thoughts...

I liked the top of my Calendar Box that I posted yesterday, so I made a card to match it.  I really wish I had gotten a better picture of it.  This was a super quick card to make and would work for many different occasions.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Calendar Box

I'm not sure what these are called so I'm just going to call it a Calendar Box. I really wish I could have gotten a better picture of it, because this new Springtime Vintage paper (another hubby gift) from the new Occasions mini (click on mini on left hand side to download) is really very pretty.


You will be seeing several more projects over the next few days made with this paper, so I hope you like it.



Thanks for looking,
Kim

Out with the Old, and in with the New

The Holiday Mini ordering period is over, but don't worry, the Occasions Mini catalog is now available and you are going to love it.  There are a lot of great products and I will continue to showcase some of those items through out this week, so stay tuned.

To view the new mini, just click on the picture.  I will also have a link to it on the left hand side of my blog.  If you would like to place an order you can do so at my website - http://www.kimjenkins.stampinup.net/.  Just click on the shop now link on the top right hand corner.

Thanks for stopping by,

Kim

ps - don't forget to scroll down to see a few of the things I have made with my new products.

XOXO

Although I don't normally send Valentine cards to anyone, I do enjoy making them.  So here's the first one of the season.

I used two different embossing folders on this card  - Finial Press and Perfect Polka Dots - as well as the Pinking Heart Border Punch.  To make the heart I used Basic Black cardstock in the Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit Die and punched out the new Red Glimmer Paper with the Full Heart Punch.  The Red Glimmer Paper is another one of the gifts from my hubby that is available starting today in the new Occasions Mini Catalog.  The Glimmer Paper is great, you get all the glittery look, without all the glitter mess. The stamp club ladies will love this since my husband has banned glitter from the house. (We do break out the glitter when he's not around).  And the sentiment is a rub-on which is also available in the Occasions Mini.  That mini really has a lot of great products in it.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

First Sale-A-Bration Card

This is my first card made with my new Sale-a-Bration set (another Christmas gift from hubby).  I made this card for a teenager in our church who was born on January 1st, so this is also my first birthday card of the year.

The picture isn't so great, but the colors I used for this card were from the Stampin' Up Color Coach.  The combo was Concord Crush, Tangerine Tango, and Daffodil Delight.  I know I thought yuck at first too, but it grows on you.

The set I used is called Punch Bunch and will be available to earn during Sale-a-Bration.  All the images in the set coordinate with - you guessed it,  one of our punches.

You can also see just a peek of the inside of the card.  It's  "the thing" now to decorate the inside of your cards also.  And I've always liked decorating the envelopes with a little something.

Thanks for looking,
Kim