It's coming soon...High Hope April Release!!!

That's right...it's time for another fun release!!

This release will get you in the mood for the upcoming warmer weather...along with some fantastic Party designs...and more! :-)

The sneak peeks will begin next Tuesday April 5th with our next challenge.

There will be more peeks on Wednesday, April 6th.

Then there will be a Blog Hop and release on Thursday, April 7th.

Do you want some of the new stamps? Then we would love you to help us spread the news about our blog hop and release on Thursday, April 7th.

To be entered into the draw:

1. Grab our blinkie from the sidebar and place on your blog. You can do this by copying the code into a html/Javascript gadget or by copying the code directly into your blog post.

If you prefer please feel free to pull the stationary badge below.

2. Tell your friends about the news, blog hop and release on April 7th.

3. Become a follower of the High Hopes stamps blog if you aren't already ;-) You don't want to miss out on the fun and there will be tons of prizes along the blog hop!!!

4. Leave a comment on this post at the High Hopes Blog with a link to your blog post sharing our news.

The contest ends 8pm EST (Midnight GMT - London) on Saturday, April 9th!!

KKS Weekly Challenge- Let's use Spring Colours!

I am the hostess this week over at the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge blog and I would like you to use Spring colours. Hopefully it will help bring Spring weather to all of us still shovelling lol. Sweet Caroline is pictured above lovingly looking at her cute belly and awaiting her new Spring Arrival. I paper pieced her dress and used more of my fun fabric paper with great pastel colours. I have a friend who is expecting and I made this card with her colouring in mind.

So come on over and join us in this week's fun and help usher in that elusive Spring!

Cheers, Andi

High Hopes Challenge- use fabric on your card

Today's challenge is to use fabric on your card. You may have to look at my close up shot to see the fabric and it's not the ribbon....it's my patterned paper. Isn't that cool! I had to get out my guioltine cutter to trim it but I didn't mind the effort as the paper is yummy and PERFECT to go with this super cute stamp by High Hopes called Spring Bunny Sampler. I have been wanting to colour up this stamp for a while as I don't usually make scene cards myself so ones that are a scene just by stamping once are a hit with me. With this stamp you can use it for a Spring or an Easter card. I hope you like it too. If you want to grab this stamp it can be purchased at any one of our High Hopes retailers which can be found on the blog.

To play along with us by using fabric on your creation (not counting ribbon) hop on over to the HHS challenge blog and see what else the DT has created for you. I cheated and looked at the pics in advance and they are beautiful!

Have a wonderful Spring Day! Andi

KKS weekly challenge- buttons buttons who has the buttons...

(click on pic to see my delish button in better detail)

This week's challenge sounds easy- made buttons your MAIN embellishment. I had to keep fighting the urge to add more things to my card. I just kept chanting- 'Let the button shine Andrea...Let.it.shine.'. And honestly- I have been hoarding this button for so long that it is well within its right to demand to be the main embellie. As my beloved  handmade button from Tessa Ann Designs has hearts on a string I matched it up with this sweet KKS krafty quote from Bette Midler. I have a few more buttons that match the set but they went back in my hoarding vault. I think you will be seeing lots of 'Quote' cards from me. I can't help but reach for them time and time again. Love them soo much.

Come play along with us over at the KKS Challenge blog to see the full details and to also see the rest of the eye candy the Krafty girls have put together for you.

Cheers, Andi

It's time for the March KKS release!

Today Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps is releasing their new MARCH stamps!

As you’ve seen over the last few days in our Krafty Peeks, Annie Rodrigue has created stamps just for YOU!! Whether you love coffee, love bubble baths, love to bake or love to read….we’ve got a stamp just for you! Our Everyday Girls include Angie, Agnes, Brigitte, Caroline, Diana and Lucy!! Each one comes with a bonus accessory stamp and TWO coordinating sentiment stamps!!

Well, shiver me timbers!!! Steven Leary has created an amazing collection of cute little PIRATES!! These little swashbucklers are perfect for all those kids cards and invitations, plus your Halloween scrapbook pages…..because who doesn’t love to dress up like a pirate? We have Barnacle Brad, Becky Broadsword, Cannonball Cameron, Cap’n Charlie and One Eyed Willie! Stinkin’ CUTE!!

We also have a brand new set of Krafty Quotes for you!! These stamps are larger in size than your average sentiment stamps and are perfect as the focal point of your scrappy cards and as an addition to your scrapbook layouts! This month’s set includes quotes from Mother Teresa, L.M. Montgomery, Bette Midler and Lauren Bacall!

As well being part of today's release hop I am happy to be part of my friend Eva's butterfly blog hop today. I met Eva at CHA and loved her immediately- what a sweetheart! I made 2 cards to share today with my awesome new KKS stamps and since I didn't have any kite papers to go with my Lauren Bacall quote I felt butterflies would be an amazing substitute. After you complete the KKS blog hop head over to Eva's blog to see more butterfly goodness. I just don't want you to get distracted and forget to leave comments on all the KKS Krafty girls and guests blogs so that you can qualify to win some new release stamps hee hee.

Again we’ve got ‘Gimme Kimmie’s Kits’ for those of you who just HAVE to have all the new images! We’ve grouped each line of stamps together and called them the ‘Gimme Kimmies Kits’!!! 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???

You will get to see most of the new images while you sit back and enjoy our Krafty Hop! You’ll see all the Krafty Girls, as well as some very special Krafty Guests along the way!! 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!! After my blog your next stop is my friend Kerry who is an amazing card creator and an incredible pear jelly maker!!

And when you’re done hoppin’, be sure to head over to the Kraftin’ Kimmie shop, because ALL the new images are NOW available!

It's anything goes for the KKS challenge this week- includes more sneaky peekys!!!

Smiling...so important but so hard to do some days. I love to smile- especially when I am feeling down. I try to cheer myself up on down days by making a point to make eye contact with someone- in the bank, a cashier or when walking by someone. One of the nice things is that I don't think most people can resist a smile and smile back and it is so great when you can see it reach their eyes. They are happy to receive common courtesy's from a fellow human being. Try it- it really does make you happy to see that you made some one else smile. Mother Teresa was so right with this quote- 'Peace begins with a Smile'. Try it..really...it's contagious. I am smiling at you right now actually ;)

This week's challenge thrown down my Kraftin' Kimmie herself is anything goes! Well I happen to have lots of new anythings on my craft table so I was happy to play along. I have my new Bo Bunny papers and embellies and they are covered in butterflies. I love love love butterflies and they really matched up well with this quote for me. For more sneak peeks of the fantastic March release and more deets on how you can play along with us this week hop on over to the KKS challenge blog! I am packing up my crafty supplies to head over to fellow Krafty girl Angie's house to help her celebrate her birthday with a crafter's bonanza- can't wait!! Andi

KKS Day 3 preview- It's a relaxing card today!

I love this stamp. Love it. I feel sooo relaxed just looking at it. In fact I am in a hot tub right now, with a glass of wine, a good book and lots of candles going while I write this. Obviously just in my head because in real life my daughter's would find it imperative that they need to talk to me/use the bathroom/fight, etc at that moment. Also the cats would be throwing themselves at the door trying to get in so all I would hear is 'thump thump thump' and my dog would be loudly sighing at all the drama. That is what bath time would really be like at my house. Which is why whenever I have gone away to a hotel I love to have a long, quiet bath...sigh...

Today the Krafty girls and Krafty guests are sharing sneak peeks of Annie's new March images like the one I shared above. I have to be honest- this release of every day women may be my favourite. I love them all. To see more of Annie's sweet ladies click here to go to the challenge blog and see which Krafty Girls are teasing you with previews today.

Cheers! Andi

Day 2 of KKS sneaky peeks...bring your eye patch and parrots!

We are sharing sneak peeks from this Sunday's release again today and we are featuring some exciting new characters from Steven Leary! These kids are sooo cute and really remind me of Fisher Price characters for some reason. My card has Becky Broadsword searching bravely for treasure- the treasure being the lucky recipient of this card of course hee hee. I coloured Becky with my copics and cut her out so I could pop her up on my card design. She was super fast to colour for my card - as a lazy crafter you gotta love that! The other thing I really like about these new characters is that they are super easy to pair together to make a scene in a card. I may even try it myself! I found this October Afternoon paper with the campground map on it and knew it would be perfect for Miss Becky. I used my cloud dies from MFT (love!) to help embellish my card. I also used a sentiment from KKS's Pirate sentiment set. If you already own the sentiments just think how perfect these little people will be in your collection!

To see the rest of the gang click here to go to the challenge blog and see what DT members and guests have for you today! Thar she blows!

KKS March Sneaky Peeky!

When you read the quote on my card today did you read it with Bette Midler singing it to you? She sings it to me every time I read it. Poor Bette - I have been keeping her busy as this quote as been in my head like crazy today while I planned my card. This quote is perfect for anyone in your life that either needs support while they reach for their dreams or to congratulate them when they are holding that brass ring in their hands. Perfect.

I am soooo uber happy that Krafty Quotes are back again in the March release. Inside or outside of a card- they are sure to strike a note. On my card I borrowed heavily from a layout from a recent PaperCrafts mag (thanks!) and some of my brand new My Little Shoebox papers. The colours are so bright and cheery I had to use them! Some twine, a button and some incredibly done faux stitching. Trust me- it's incredible- no need to look to close hee hee ;).

All of the Krafty girls with previews today are sharing cards with this month's Krafty Quotes. Hop on over to the challenge blog for more ways to use this new line of stamps with your crafting!

Cheers! Andi

High Hopes Stamps is going green!

I am soooooo Irish. My wit, I should say my dark cheeky wit. My endless stories that get better each time I tell them. My love of the accent and 'salt of the earth' kind of people. I adore the accent. I love the Country. I just love it. I have my special family in Ireland and one of my best friends live there (Hey TamTam!!). And their sayings....so fun! Their blessings, quotes and their slang bring me endless reflection and laughter. And when I go to Ireland I want to kiss the ground I feel so much like I have come home.

And the best part- fries with garlic sauce. Nothing like it.

But my heritage is not Irish. I know- blows my mind too. hee hee.

With that love of Ireland I was soo excited about this week's challenge. To go green by having green on your card or by using a 'recycled' element on your card. Well I went green baby!!! I used the super lovely saying from HHS and their shamrock border. So many possiblities to make cards with these two items let alone how it would look good on scrapbook pages. Which reminds me I still am working on scrapbooking my first trip there let alone my second one. Better get cracking on it while I am in a green frame of mind!

To play along with this week's biweekly challenge hop on over to the challenge blog and see the deets along with the DT's green cards. More lovely inspiration as always ladies!

“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”

Andi

SGD's first evah blog hop and it's all about me!!!

I am so excited to be part of SGD's first evah blog hop! I am following your first stop over at the SGD blog with our Head Diva- Sheila. Her layout is soooo her.. Love it! Now this stop is all about me! It's a nice feeling because I am usually behind the camera or scrapbooking my kids or family. In fact I had to take off the pics I had on here of my hubby and kids- that's how hard it was to focus on 'me'. But to help be a better mother, wife, friend, etc we need to focus on ourselves from time to time and remember who we are and help our children feel confident to discover and be proud of who they are.

*updated to include more about me- I forgot this step hee hee* I came back to add more about me than just what is on my page. So funny cause this is sooo just like me. hee hee. So- my page is typical of me- scattered and chaotic. All over the place- just like my personality. I will admit that I am a 'larger than life' personality and I adore making people laugh. Which can frequently lead me to be the centre of attention- which I am sooo fine with.

 Yep- I am a Drama Mama.

I am cheeky and quick to laugh which masks a soft hearted interior. I care deeply about people and animals and can't even watch the news because I get so depressed over a sad story and want to save the world.

The most important part of who I am is a Mother. I have wanted to be a mom since I was a teenager and craved children in my life. I was blessed at the age of 25 with my first child and my second at 28 years of age. They are the best thing to have ever happened to me. I am also happily married to a man that is truly my best friend for the past 16 years.

I craft to keep sane. Seriously. It brings me such calmness and happiness with not only the whole creative process (which importantly includes shopping) but also when I share my creation with someone as a card or handmade item and see how happy it makes them. I mean- it is such an honour to have someone pull out a card you gave them years ago to show you they kept it. A gift that keeps giving!

Phew- just some quick deep thoughts to go with your Sunday morning coffee or tea lol! Your next stop on the 'me' train is the super fun and talented Anja. Click on her name to go to her blog and don't forget to leave a comment on each blog along the way to qualify to win some yummy blog candy.

Cheers! Andi

KKS has me all wrapped up in this week's challenge!

I luv me some twine. I ordered gobs of it from the Twinery in all kinds of colours and couldn't wait to get to use them. Super fun and talented Jeanne challenged all of us Krafty Girls to use twine, floss, etc on our cards. I immediately went to one of my Krafty Quotes again with my new MME papers as these quotes have me by the heart strings. I can't pick a fave quote as they are all amazing to me! This card came together to help cheer me up on a dreary gray day. I figured it cheered me up to make this card and I hope whoever ends up getting up makes them feel all sunny inside as well. Stamping quotes on your pattered paper really makes them pop and helps transform quotes as something you would typically see inside of a card to an amazing focal point. Ahhh....love me some quotes.....

To play along with us pop on over to the Kraftin' Kimmie stamps challenge blog and see what else the DT has created to help inspire you today!

Kraftin' Kimmie stamps is playing with their ABC's...

Kraftin' Kimmie stamps is sponsoring this week's challenge over at the ABC Challenge Blog and we have the colour PINK!!! I didn't get a chance to make a card but my little Junior Krafty Girl Katie did. She just luuuuvvvs playing with KKS stamps- psst- they are her fave hee hee. She used Birthday cake overdose which always cracks me up. I swear I feel like that myself sometimes after a birthday party! Not going to lie- I love that my girl is a crafter like her momma. She has great talent too if I do say so myself! She loves to make up her own sayings and mix them up with the stamped sentiments to give it the 'Katie touch'. Love it!

So join us over at the ABC Challenge blog and also at the KKS blog for some eye candy in the middle of a dreary week. Cheers! Andi (on behalf of Katie)