It's a Krafty Klear-Out!

I actually have a few more cards I made with the most recent release that I hadn't posted yet. I have to say this planning my colouring days has really kept me ahead of the game- so unlike me! I paper pieced most of this image using my DCWV Linen Closet paper and of course Raymond here- he's a handsome fella eh!

Right now Kimmie is having a sale and Friday is the last day. I have shared the deets below to help you celebrate ringing in the New Year! Happy New Year!!!

**Krafty News!**

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is having a

Boxing Week Sale!!!

From Dec. 26th-31st

most of our inventory is

20 to 50% off!!

This is our BIGGEST sale of the year!!

The store will be closed from December 23rd to December 27th and again from December 30th to January 4th. You are free to place orders during these times and they will be shipped out as soon as we are back in the office!!

High Hopes....Love is in the Air....

It's High Hopes Christmas break but I can't stop playing with the December new releases. It was fun to colour something different than Winter images for a bit and these Valentine ones hit the spot. I used Tip Toe Hippo, Wild Flower Froggy and Ton of Love Ellie. They are smaller stamps that are just perfect for note card sized Valentine's day cards or any card that you want to share with someone you love. My youngest DD is already in love with them and wanting to make special cards for her bff's this year. How can I say no? That's right...I can't lol!

Yesterday more members of the DT also shared some creations they made over the holiday break. Click here to go to the High Hopes Stamps blog and see more delish eye candy! Don't forget you can always pick up your High Hopes stamps from the site directly or also at SGD and Paper Romance.

Oh and I have to share this photo of my youngest DD with one of her 2 ginormous chocolate bars she received for Christmas. From us. Her parents. What on earth where we thinking????

I call this photo....."No such thing as too much chocolate...or is there?" You can click on it for a closer view- to see the chocolate all over her teeth even! Oy!

 

EAD Designs Monday Hop

How was your Christmas? I hope you had a fabulous time surrounded by those you care about. We did and then some lol! I think I have a turkey hangover lol! Just can't stay away from turkey with cranberrys..mmmmmmm. And stuffing....oooooohhh the stuffing......Jason put dried cranberries, toasted pinenuts, sausage in with a homemade loaf of stuffing bread (thanks mom) and I polished off the last of it last night. Sitting right under my new Cafe sign in my kitchen actually! This is actually the very first thing I picked out when joining the team and it really goes well in my kitchen which I like to think I have a Parisian Cafe theme going on. Barely but its there lol! I literally had this prepped and up on the wall in under 10 mins- gotta love that!

It is my last week with EAD so I have some more creations to share throughout the week so I am not saying goodbye yet. In fact, I am already lusting after some of the new stickers they have now in the store- so super cute. They are Bee Mine, Keys to my heart, neverland, ohlala, Peacock Love, Postage Love, Sweet Treats, Valentine Friends, Valentine Garden and Nightmare town. I have shared them below so you can check them out. Also if you are already hopping along you would have came from Jenn's page and her lovely creations. If you are just starting then go to the EAD Designs blog to get started otherwise I am your last stop! Feel free to hop on over to the EAD Designs store and perhaps spend some of your Christmas money if you were lucky enough to get some. Cheers!

EAD Designs Monday-Blog Hop

Today is Monday so it's EAD Designs play day for me! EAD has a colour challenge on right now that you can play along with. It's using the fun colours you see above.I used the 'Peace in the Hood' stickers and still have tons left to work with. Everyone who plays gets a 25% off Coupon and one lucky winner will get a $25 Gift Certificate!! Click here to see the picture to inspire you and also the challenge deets. If you are already hopping along you would have come here from my friend Stephanie's blog. Your next stop is Amy T. And of course if you are just starting click here to go to the challenge blog to begin. 

Happy Crafting! Cheers, Andi

Help! My craft room has been taken hostage by my husband!!!!

**Please note that this is my second post today. Scroll down for my Oh Alice post**

I am freaking out right now! Our challenge for Kraftin' Kimmie stamps this week is for the men in our life to make a card. So this is Jason's card that he made almost completely by himself- I only cut the paper for him- and he decided he really like my copic markers. NNNOOOOOooooooooo.......

I can just see it...my craft studio will become 'our' craft studio. My copic markers will become 'our' copic markers. I am getting sweaty just thinking about it. I better start messing around with his video games so that the world is all right again. 

Okay- drama aside tee hee. Jason was up for the challenge this week and used Willard. He chose Willard because he looked 'all stressed out' and his card is titled 'I shouldn't have had that 3rd frappacino'. Snicker. He picked out his own paper and colours and they had to be very manly. Apparently yellow Christmas paper says man to him lolz! I am very proud of his card and don't really mind sharing my markers with him at all. 

I would also like to mention that this will be the last challenge for 2010 and it will remain open until our first challenge of 2011, which will be on January 8th. Also today (Saturday) will be the last day to take advantage of the Kustomer Appreciation Special. So go shopping while you can for great deals.  

I am happy to share that many of the men in our lives played along with this challenge for our DT and Guest DT members. Click here to go to the challenge blog and see more eye candy and also how the man in your life can help you win your own Clint the Cowboy stamp. 

Cheers! Andi

Oh Alice in a Winter Wonderland....

 

CHAPTER 44: `Curiouser and curiouser!' 

 

`Curiouser and curiouser!' cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English); `now I'm opening out like the largest telescope that ever was! Good-bye, feet!' (for when she looked down at her feet, they seemed to be almost out of sight, they were getting so far off). `Oh, my poor little feet, I wonder who will put on your shoes and stockings for you now, dears? I'm sure _I_ shan't be able! I shall be a great deal too far off to trouble myself about you: you must manage the best way you can; --but I must be kind to them,' thought Alice, `or perhaps they won't walk the way I want to go! Let me see: I'll give them a new pair of boots every Christmas.'

 

Hello from all of us here in Wonderland! This week we are curiouser and curiouser to see if you are willing to play along with our weekly challenge. The challenge is a simple one, and one that most of us should be able to play along with, we would like to take Wonderland and turn it into a Winter Wonderland! Yes, that's right.....put your boots on, hats, mittens and lets play in the snow! Alice, with a hat on? Rabbit in the snow? Anything that reflects a Winter Wonderland. Have fun with it!

This week we are being sponsored by SUGAR NELLIE / FUNKYKITS. The prize for this week will be 1 set of 6, Leanne Ellis Alice in Wonderland stamps. I think the whole DT wishes we were able to win this one. This set of stamps are fantastic!

I used a Whiff of Joy image I had stamped recently from my good friend Krista and I couldn't wait to colour it up. I have to admit it is now on my must own list tee hee! Then I used some of last year's basic gray Christmas paper and my card base was shaped using one of the new Grand Calibur Spellbinder dies. Sheila has them out at her store to try so try it I did. I *may* have cut a few card bases out to use lolz. I can attest it works great. 

PLEASE NOTE~We will be taking a short time away to play in our Wonderlands through the holidays. We will resume in the new year with more challenges and fun giveaways!  

Cheers! Andi

EAD Designs Blog Hop featuring PaperCrafts magazine's Betsy Veldman

This week's E.A.D Designs blog hop is inspired by Betsy Veldman from PaperCrafts Magazine. You can see her card which I used for inspiration above.

This is my card using Celebrate the Season stickerz. I have to say this card only took 20 mins. I adore stickers but I have wrecked them many times when I put them on- usually crooked- and when I go to move them they tear. I tried it with these stickers and they peeled off so easily and went right back on! Andrea- I mean- mistake proof! One more Christmas card down and 30 to go lol!

Betsy actually has 2 cards for inspiration today! To start at the beginning of the hop and see both cards click here to go to the E.A.D. Designs blog or if you are already hopping along click here to go to Amy T's blog. I am heading there myself to see her lovely creation!.

Hope you have a fabulous winter day. Cheers, Andi

It's Release day for Kraftin' Kimmie stamps

Today Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps is releasing their new December images! As you’ve seen over the last few days in our Krafty Peeks, Annie Rodrigue has created some totally awesome DUDES this month! There are six images in the complete set and they are Clint the Cowboy, Curtis, Prince Charming, Private Message, Raymond the Golfer and Valentine Willard! Each one comes with one or two bonus sentiment stamps!!

And if you’ve been hammered with the white stuff over the last week or so, like we have, Steven Leary’s images will be right up your alley!! He’s back with MILES THE MOUSE and his pals and they are having some frosty winter fun! You’ll get to check them all out in today’s December release day KRAFTY HOP!! You’ll meet Sharin’ Some Cocoa, Sledding Pals, Shovelling Miles (as seen on my card), Snowmobilin’ Fun and Snowshoe Fun!

If you are already hopping along your next stop after me is one of my fave people in the world- Pam. If you want to start from the beginning, just head over to the Kraftin’ Kimmie Challenge Blog! As you hop from blog to blog, be sure to leave a comment at each and every stop because some lucky stampers will win packages of stamps from the new release!! And when you’re done hoppin’, be sure to head over to the Kraftin’ Kimmie shop, because ALL the new images are NOW available!

Also we’ve got ‘Gimme Kimmie’s Kits’ again!! For those of you who just HAVE to have all the new images, we’ve got the perfect thing for you! It’s called the ‘Gimme Kimmies Kit’!!! Instead of clicking on each image that you’d like, you only have to click once to pick up a Gimme Kimmies Kit AND it’s at a discounted price!! What could be better???

**ALSO** for the next week, we are having a little special to thank all of our loyal customers who shop with us throughout the year!!! It's called Kimmie's Kustomer Appreciation!!! And all orders of $50 or more before shipping and taxes, will receive a FREE STAMP of our choosing!!! That's right!! It will be a surprise gift, so no requests, please. This special runs from Sunday, December 12th to Saturday Decemer 18th!!!

Last sneak peek before the release! Introducing Valentine Willard

This is my last sneak peek before KKS's Sunday release and I saved one of my fave cards evah to share to help build the anticipation. I am going to toot my own horn here- I am so proud of the way I coloured Willard! I owe it all to Krista my fellow Krafty girl as she took some time to show me her colouring techniques and I feel I have learned so much from her. Thanks again Krista!

Now back to Willard. Poor Willard. He is just trying to be someone's sweetheart and there was a bee in his bouquet. Just like last month's Willard who looked all bundled up then he realized he needed to use the washroom this month's Willard has him finding trouble again. I used my copics to colour him and then used some of my fave DCWV Linen Closet paper. I added some of my treasured brown glittered candy dots and then left it at that to help keep in theme with this week's challenge of using 'manly' colours. I hope you like him too.

For more eye candy and deets on this week challenge click here to go to the Kraftin' Kimmie challenge blog. I hope you have a great winter weekend! Andi

Oh Alice Challenge- Red, Green + 1

CHAPTER 43:CHRISTMAS-GREETINGS. [FROM A FAIRY TO A CHILD.]

LADY dear, if Fairies may
For a moment lay aside
Cunning tricks and elfish play,
'Tis at happy Christmas-tide.

We have heard the children say—
Gentle children. whom we love—
Long ago, on Christmas Day,
Came a message from above.

Still, as Christmas-tide comes round,
They remember it again—
Echo still the joyful sound
"Peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Yet the hearts must childlike be
Where such heavenly guests abide;
Unto children, in their glee,
All the year is Christmas-tide!

Thus, forgetting tricks and play
For a moment, Lady dear,
We would wish you, if we may,
Merry Christmas, glad New Year!

Christmas, 1867.

Welcome down the rabbit hole once again my friends. For our challenge this week let's get into the Christmas spirit. The challenge is to use red, green, + one color. You can still use other colors for hair and skin. Just make the main use of color red, green, + one (I used white).

Our wonderful sponsor this week is Pixie Dust Studio. The lucky winner will receive your choice of 2 digital images.

Click here to see what our DT have created for you this week!

So get your Santa hat on, turn on your favorite holiday music and get crafty for your chance to win your choice of 2 digital images! You have until Friday the 17th of Dec to play long with us!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

KKS Dec Sneak Peek number two....Sharing a cup of Cocoa

**Please scroll down for my Paper Romance post, thanks!**

Good Morning Krafty Peeps! Welcome to Kraftin' Kimmie stamps second day of sneak peeks. For today's card I used the new Miles and Maisie stamp- Sharing a cup of cocoa. Awwww....so sweet! I made this into a Valentine's day card and when I think of Valentine's day I think over the top pink, red, hearts, chocolate, sparkly things, etc. I think I did a pretty good job of getting most of that category on my card *snicker*. Yes I know it's decorated a wee bit on the other side of too much but this is a girl who when we figured out we couldn't have the honeymoon in Europe like we wanted decided to go tacky all the way and spent my honeymoon in Niagara Falls. And ever since then my love cards tend to be influenced by heart shaped tubs and tacky wallpaper lol!

To see more sneak peeks from some of the DT and also some of our AMAZING krafty guests click here to go to the challenge blog and enjoy!!! Cheers, Andi

PRC Weekly Challenge...Heavy Metal

This week's Paper Romance challenge is to go Heavy Metal. I have to admit I got so excited at first and pulled out my Guns 'N' Roses t-shirts, feathered my hair and layered on the black eyeliner and got ready to rock out to my fave music. Then I read a bit further that the challenge was to use any kind of metal somewhere on your card and I thanked the Lord I didn't leave the house looking like this hee hee! Yes- I was a heavy metal queen growing up in the 80's and still love GNR, Poison, Whitesnake, Metallica but I have to admit I don't listen to them often and my playlist is more current with Muse or honestly- 95% it's Sarah McLachlan. So different from the younger me- good thing I didn't know it then or I would have been so ashamed of the older me lol! And...I really enjoy Classical. Yep the younger me would have fainted and fallen straight back as my super tight pinned jeans wouldn't have let me bend my legs LMBO!!

So once I calmed down and brushed out my feathered hair I made this card using Three Pane Santa and some JillyBean Soup paper and embellishments. I added a metal clip and metal jewelled brads to bling up my card. To play along with us click here to go to the Paper Romance Challenge blog and see more inspiration from the PR DT!  Cheers, Andi- your Heavy Metal Queen (see pic below hee hee)

btw- those sunglasses had fake blue snakeskin on the sides- sooo hip

Kraftin' Kimmie stamps December Sneak Peeks

Okay, I so couldn't resist playing around with my photo editing software to give Clint the Cowboy an western look. Don't you just picture an old Saloon with the bartender wiping glasses with the probably filthy cloth lol. I have been looking forward to this KKS release because it's 'For the Dudes' and all of Annie's images are for the men in our life. Clint is amazing and I have to say I can think of a few 'cowboys' in my life I can give this card to. Real or pretend ones hee hee.

To see more Dec peeks click here to go to the KKS challenge blog where we have some special Dec Krafty guests joining us to give the DT a holiday in Dec. You can see I chose not to take the time off because let's face it- I wanted to make cards with these stamps! So hop on over and please leave some love for our special guests. Cheers, Andi xo

I am EAD Designs December Guest Woot Woot

I am so excited to share my last secret that I have been keeping for months! I am the December Guest DT for EAD Designs and I flipped out when I was asked. I adore wall art and stickers so this was a real treat to be able to pick out my DT products for the month and get started.

This week's hop is focused around calendars or organization. An area my girls always need help with is to remember what to do for school each day. I got them these super funky chalkboards of an owl and a retro TV that peel and stick to their walls. My youngest DD had to first put on hers that it is a snow day here for her. My oldest wanted to put on it things to remember during the week and then decided to act and make up her weekly reminders hee hee. What a ham! I have to say my girls and I put these up in minutes and are super easy. To remove you just warm with a hair dryer and peel it off. And to clean them you just need a damp cloth. That's it! No nails to hang up a chalkboard- nothing!

To start the hop head over to the EAD Designs blog and if you have already hopped your way here from there  your next stop is my friend Stephanie. I got to finally meet Stephanie in person last September and we got along right away like a house on fire. Thank you so much Stephanie for thinking of me for this guest spot.

Also, if you want a chance to win some free $$ to spend at EAD Designs go over to play along at 365 cards where they are the  sponsors this week.

Cheers and if you are like us today- enjoy your snow day! Andrea

KKS weekly challenge is asking to Let It Snow!

** Please note this is my second post for today- please scroll down for my Oh Alice weekly Challenge **

Happy Saturday! I have to say I am loving that we finally have some snow on the ground. I am one of those weird people who love snow. Yep just love it! I like to look at it from out my window while in my warm house sipping tea and seeing it sparkle. When I was younger it was the only sport season I did okay in as I loved to toboggan and skate for hours and hours. I would also just lie down on the ground and look up at the grey sky with it's thick flakes drifting down and just feel the magic. By March I will have had enough and will be out there with my embossing gun helping Mother Nature melt it but now- we are bff's.

This week the challenge is to have snow on your card anywhere and the snowmen on my card is representing my snow. I have to say my card turned out no where near the image I had in my mind lol. My hubby liked it though so it stayed as it is. Or he wanted to go to bed- either way worked for me hee hee. I used Skiing Miles and my copics to help create my card.

FYI that KKS is having a massive sale right now too. Click here to read all the deets then click here to go to the challenge blog and play along to win some free stamps.

Have a fabulous day- Me and my Bff Snow plan too ;) Andi

Oh Alice and Some Odd Girl play together

CHAPTER 42: The Flowers are Talking!

`O Tiger-lily,' said Alice, addressing herself to one that was waving gracefully about in the wind, `I wish you could talk!'

`We can talk,' said the Tiger-lily: `when there's anybody worth talking to."

Alice was so astonished that she could not speak for a minute: it quite seemed to take her breath away. At length, as the Tiger-lily only went on waving about, she spoke again, in a timid voice -- almost in a whisper. `And can all the flowers talk?'

`As well as all can,' said the Tiger-lily. `And a great deal louder.'

Hello from all of us in Wonderland! This week we would like you to have a go at making your own flowers! So get fun creating, we can't wait to see what you come up with! I have to be honest on mine- a friend of mine made my flower specially for me :) So I cheated but she wanted to see her flowers on my blog so really I did it for her ;) lol. I also played around with my photo at a cool free photo editing website picnik.com. My new fave thing to spend time on- don't the pics look so cool! I played around with some vintagey settings to go with my 'Some Odd Girl' digi stamp of the cloud and rainbow.

This week we are being sponsered by 'Some Odd Girl', who have gorgeous Digi Stamps that the DT have been luckily enough to create with this week. So get creating your own flowers for your chance to win some of your very own ' Some Odd Girl' Images!

You have until Friday the 10th of Dec to play long with us! Click here to go to the challenge blog to play along and see what the rest of the DT have created.

Cheers, Andi xo

Paper romance weekly challenge- it's time to winterize!

Wow- it's time to winterize. Get the snow tires on, dig out the ice scraper for my car. And just where did I put my gloves last year? It's Dec 2nd and I am winterizing- including this card. The Paper Romance DT have been challenged to winterize their cards and now we challenge you to do the same and play along with us!

I used another brand spanking new image from High Hopes released yesterday called Travelin' Snow bird and his idea of winterizing is going somewhere warmer. I had a card kit from my friend Krista leftover from a recent class of hers and when I was designing my card I thought it was just perfect. It has Winter/Christmas images yet fun and perhaps tropical colours- perfect! Thanks for the card kit and layout Krista ;)

To play along with us click here to go to the PRC challenge blog to read the full details and to also see more lovely inspiration from the DT. I would also like to welcome the brand-spanking new team that are joining Amy, Cindy and I- glad to have you with us ladies!

Woot Woot- It's High Hopes Stamps Release day!!

Today we are kicking off High Hopes Stamps new massive release with a blog hop and prizes along the way. I used the uber adorable 'Lockhart Bear' for my card and paired it with my Bo Bunny Crazy Love paper. These two go together like salt and pepper!

There are over 100 new images to chose from. FOR REAL!!!!!!! So many to drool over and stock up to last you until the next release. You can buy these at many locations you can find through the hop including from High Hopes directly, Scrappingreatdeals and Paper Romance.

If you are already hopping along your next stop is Tanya's blog. If you are just starting click here to go to Jeanette's blog at the beginning of the hop and don't forget to leave a comment at each blog along the way. There will be 3 comments randomly chosen from the DT and guests blogs so you have lots of chances to win!

High Hopes Weekly challenge with a sneak peek

So excited to party like an animal for this week's HHS challenge! We are challenging you to make a card with an animal on it- a party animal if you can. I used another one of the new images to party with and to also give you another sneak peek. FYI- this is our last challenge of the year until they resume again in January. While there are no challenges there will be High Hopes cards shared using the new images by the DT through December. Click here to go to the challenge blog and read more about how you can play to win and see some delish samples with more new images. Enjoy! Andi

High Hopes Stamps- Yay- it's time for our first sneaky peeky!

Good Morning!!! I am sooo super excited to share my first sneak peek of the massive Dec release from High Hopes stamps! I fell in love with the image above the moment I saw it as I have a huge thing for stamps with cats. I made this cat a ginger and loved adding layers of colour to him. Honestly- I played around with this image for 2 hours to colour it. What a sweet stamp! You will be able to grab this stamp along with many many many others starting Wed at either:

Scrappingreatdeals

Paper Romance

High Hopes

So many places to get your HHS fix. Come back tomorrow for another sneak peek and as well hop along to the other HHS DT blogs for my peeks. We all posted using different stamps so that you get to see as many different ones as possible. Click here to go to the HHS Challenge blog to get started. Enjoy! Andi

KKS weekly challenge- All I can see are spots everywhere!

This week Kraftin' Kimmie herself has challenged us to use spots and dots on our cards. I used Skating Polar Pal on my card today and some of my beyooootiful My Minds Eye winter paper. I tried to add my spots and dots a few ways- in my paper, on my brad, on his nose and with my pearls. So no you don't need to adjust your monitor- you really are seeing spots everywhere. To play along with us and see the rest of the DT creations click here to go to the KKS challenge blog.

Now I am off to get my hubby cleaning and cooking up a storm for my krafty friends coming over today- yippee!! My sweetie is treating us to his homemade coconut shrimp...mmmmm....Hope your day is amazing too! Cheers Andi

PRC- Tag your it!

Tag your it!!!!

Cindy over at the PRC challenge blog has asked us to use a tag (or ticket in my case) on your creation. I used the Unity Itty Bitty What's Shakin'. This was a super fast and easy card for me to make. I started with a 4x4 card base and scrunched up some paper to make a paperish ribbon. I have to say a new to me toy is the Tim Holtz mini stapler and I am in love!! I used it all over this card...maybe a wee bit too much...as it was super easy and fun to use. Love it! It's been ages since I used a stapler on a card and it used to be my fave thing to do- I think it's time for a comeback :)

For more eye candy hop on over to the PRC challenge blog and see how inspiration hits you. Have a great day! Andi

High Hopes stamps- Let's get sketchy....

This week's challenge is my favourite kind- sketches. Love when I don't have to put together a card layout! Mind you when I do I think mine all look the same lol! I used a stamp from the Laurie Furnell line - High Flyin' Mouse. I have a soft spot for furry critters and I adore colouring up mice. Just don't show me a real mouse... Isn't it amazing how such a small little creature can cause so many of us to jump up on furniture and screech lol! I used paper from the Linen Closet line from DCWV and some embellies I had laying around- including a hand crotched flower from my friend Angela A- thanks Angela! More please nudge nudge wink wink-hee hee! 

Luckily for me I have access to these stamps at Scrappingreatdeals.com and also at Paper Romance. Both places I get my goodies at regularly. And of course you can also get them at High Hopes.

If you feel like getting sketchy with us hop on over to our challenge blog to play along and win some free High Hopes stamps. Also- more eye candy to inspire from the DT.

Hope you all have a craft-licious day, Cheers! Andi

Kraftin' Kimmie stamps weekly challenge- Krafty girls get Krafty....

**Please note this is my second post for today- please scroll down for my 'Oh Alice' challenge post**

Today our challenge is to get krafty- with kraft cardstock that is! I used the new Mona stamp from KKS and coloured her up to match my patterned paper. I remember these old types of sewing machines with the huge foot pedal. My parents had a black and yellow one and I just loved to play with it. I added a lace doiley and pearls to give it the heritage look I was going for. To see what 'krafty' creations the rest of the Krafty girls made click here and read how you can also play along to win. Cheers! Andrea

Oh Alice challenge...Hooka are you?

"Who are YOU?" said the Caterpillar.

This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, "I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then."

~Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,Chapter 5

Welcome to the mad world of Wonderland! Once again we are here to inspire you to create great things! The Caterpillar (Absalom) was the wisest creature in Wonderland. At least he thought so, and so did most of the others.

He is a fascinating character because of his wisdom, and his lack of understanding metamorphosis. Kind of a weird oxymoron, don't you think? Our challenge this week is to use either a caterpillar or a butterfly in your project. If you'd like to go one step farther, use a definition or dictionary paper in your design (any subject is fine).

If you are fortunate, you may find yourself wisely winning your choice of three 4x6 reprints from our sponsor, Maigan Lynn Beaudoin Shaw. FanTASTic!! Maigan is such a delightful artist, and the team appreciates the chance to work with one of her images! I actually worked with Maigan's mermaid images awhile back on the very first DT I was ever on so colouring up this image was a nice trip down memory lane.

Click here to go to the 'Oh Alice' Challenge blog to see the challenge details and the eye candy the DT created with this fun image. Cheers...Andi xoxo

Impression Obsession stamp handle- oh how I love thee....

Those of you who have met me have probably heard me RAVING about Impression Obsessions magnificent stamp block. I have had the privilege of meeting the owner of IO Mitra this past summer and I saw her demo'ing stamping backgrounds with background stamps. I have to say at first I wasn't very interested when I saw what she was doing because I HATED stamping backgrounds as I always miss parts of the image no matter how hard I try. So I am standing there not paying too much attention until out of the corner of my eye I see her roll the background stamp once onto her paper...and it came out perfect!!! So of course I elbowed my way to the front of the group to see more of what she just did. I asked very nicely (aka demanded) if she could do that again. She inked a large 5.75x5.75 stamp....positioned it on her paper...rolled it once...and again it was perfect.

HOLY COW.........

 I asked how it worked for finely detailed stamps and she very nicely showed me. She placed a much smaller detailed stamp on her large block, inked, rolled and out came a perfect image.

THUD....sorry that was me fainting.

I found my new love. I could not stop telling Mitra how much I loved loved loved this handle and must have one asap! She hooked me up quickly...perhaps to get the crazy woman professing her undying love away from her hee hee... and off I went. I ran home with my new handle and forced Sheila at SGD to carry these in her store now..now...NOW!!!!!!

I have become a very brave stamper let me tell you! I used to very hesitantly get my stamp ready for inking, tried lots of different layers, foams, soft surfaces, hard surfaces, etc etc etc and would stamp my image and no matter what it always took me a few tries to get a clean image. I tried everything everyone told me with no luck. I don't know if it's because of not being strong enough but I had terrible luck. Mind you, my stamper friends pretty much all shared this feeling and our garbage was filled with wasted (pricey) paper with half stamped images on it. Now with my IO handle I stamp once with ease and brag about it to everyone I know. Constantly. And again if you have met me you can vouch for that hee hee! Not only does it stamp super well for me but I can also fit more than one stamp on the handle and often stamp multiple images at a time. You read that right! And of course I do it with more bragging and a cocky look on my face lol! Rarely does it not stamp cleanly and if it doesn't I know before I even look at it because I knew my roll across my paper didn't have pressure on all sides of the block.

Ahhh Mitra....sooo happy I met you. And I have to say I have been buying up the Impression Obsession stamps like crazy! Must haves are the beautiful amazing swirls (I took this to a crop and it was one of the most used and borrowed items) and also any of the cover a card stamps- my fave being the branches. Now all us SGD diva's have one and truth be told it's usually on back order and doesn't get a chance to hit the floor because of the waiting list to get one. Which you should probably put your name on ;)

For a picture tutorial on how to use the Rocker Block (actually called the Mega mount but I have always called it rocker block because it rocks my world lol) click below to go to the IO blog and see one of their DT's picture tutorial!

Tutorial

Below I have included a card I made using the deelish swirl stamp..sigh..bliss. Okay enough chatter from me today. Here is one of my fave crafty sayings that applies here....If you are having trouble sleeping at night...it's because you don't own this must have tool. Just sayin! Cheers- Andrea

**Please note I am not being paid or anything by IO or SGD to rate this product. I just love it that much**

Cute Card Thursday with Kraftin' Kimmie stamps...

Kraftin' Kimmie stamps is sponsoring this great sketch from Cute Card Thursday this week. I used one of the new Kraftin' Kimmie stamps 'Lavender the Quilter'. I actually made this card specifically for someone and I used their favourite colours...let's see if they visit my blog today and can figure out that it's for them hee hee.

Now...of course I have to admit purple is my fave colour too and as I have shared on my blog before it is clearly the best colour in the world!!!!!! Just sayin' hee hee. If you are feeling crafty today hop on over to the CCT Challenge blog to see how you can plan along and don't forget you can also get KKstamps at Paper Romance and they have a great weekly challenge blog too. Lots of ways to play, win and be inspired!! Cheers..Andi

Winner of the Kraftin' Kimmie stamps from my giveaway!!!!

The moment you have been waiting for....the winner of the stamps according to Random.org is.......

Manhattan Mandie

Congrats and please email me with your mailing info at ajmurdock@hotmail.com!

High Hopes Challenge- Make a Masculine Card...

Today's challenge over at the High Hopes Challenge blog is to make a masculine card. This was a bit of a challenge for me as I couldn't use my glitter and bling. At least according to my hubby most boys don't like those things lol. As per his advice I kept this card clean and simple- but couldn't resist putting glossy accents glaze on the froggy and the water hee hee. Had to make is shine some how! I used the High Hopes stamp Hangin' Around which can be purchased at:

High Hopes Stamps

Scrappingreatdeals

Paper Romance

Click here to go to the HHS challenge blog and see the rest of the DT creations and also how you can play along with us to win! Cheers, Andi

It's Kraftin' Kimmie stamps release time!!

**Please note Junior Krafty girls Jaime and Katie will be back later with their cards :)**

Today Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps is releasing their new November images! As you’ve seen over the last few days in our Krafty Peeks, Annie Rodrigue has created some totally awesome KRAFTY GIRLS this month! There are six images in the complete set and they are The Krafty Stamper, Annie the Artist, Mona the Seamstress, Natalie the Knitter, Lavender the Quilter and Sabrina the Spinner (who is shown on my card above)! Each one comes with it’s own matching accessory stamp and a bonus coordinating sentiment!

And Steven Leary is back with MILES THE MOUSE and his pals and they are having some frosty winter fun! You’ll get to check them all out in today’s November release day KRAFTY HOP!! You’ll meet Miles on Ice, Miles and Winter Friends, Skating Polar Pal, Skiing Miles and Mice Angels! Two of them come with sentiments too!!

If you have already been hopping along the next stop for you today is the super sweet and talented Tara. If you want to start from the beginning, just head over to the Kraftin’ Kimmie Challenge Blog! As you hop from blog to blog, be sure to leave a comment at each and every stop because some lucky stampers will win packages of stamps from the new release!! And when you’re done hoppin’, be sure to head over to the Kraftin’ Kimmie shop, because ALL the new images are NOW available!

Also we’ve got ‘Gimme Kimmie’s Kits’ again!! For those of you who just HAVE to have all the new images, we’ve got the perfect thing for you! It’s called the ‘Gimme Kimmies Kit’!!! Instead of clicking on each image that you’d like, you only have to click once to pick up a Gimme Kimmies Kit AND it’s at a discounted price!! What could be better???

Cheers, Andi

A KKS challenge with Sneak Peek #3

**Please note this is my second post for the day. Please scroll down for my Oh Alice post**

Today's challenge over at Kraftin' Kimmie stamps is to use funky fibres on our creations. I have had this red fibre since I very first started stamping as it was one of my first purchases from Stampin' Up lol! All these years I have hoarded it and finally put in a box to sell at the next garage sale and lo and behold it finally came in hand lol! I used another one of my new Miles images and more of last year's papers. Plus the cuttlebug folder I bought last year and didn't use before now. Boy oh boy I am so proud of myself using up my stash like this. I also added white flocking to his coat to help keep the poor guy warm as his tushy must be so cold from sitting right on the ice.

For the full challenge details and to see the rest of the DT creations click here to go to the KKS challenge blog. Cheers! Andrea