Sunday 27 December 2015

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps 2015 Year in Review



As we are nearing the end of 2015, it's a great time to look back and reflect on the year and what we have accomplished. I have had the great pleasure of working as part of the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps team for just over a year. It has been an amazing experience and I look forwards to new year ahead.

In looking back on my work for 2015, it was really hard to select my favourites. I love creating cards, however, I took the opportunity to create a number of other paper projects like boxes and my favourite note pad holders. Here is a selection of some of my favourite projects from each month's release.

January


In January the You Are Beautiful set really stood out. This image was so fun to colour and really great for a card with LOTS of layers. A great set for a birthdays or just to let someone know you are thinking about them. (original post here).
February


For all of you book lovin' fantasy krafty friends, I would say Gandalf  would be an great stamp for your collection. Stamps are not just for cards. Here is a look at a bookmark that made as gift for a great friend. (Original post here).

March

For March, there was NO way for me to pick just one favourite. This month there were two amazing images from Annie Rodrigue that were named after my two girls. This of course made my daughters very excited and thinking they were now famous.


The first project for my youngest daughter was an altered clipboard that I made with Elisha the Mage. A great gift for kids,  friends and teachers too. (Original post here).
 

For my eldest daughter I created a note pad holder using Kiersten the Knight. I LOVE creating note holders and they can be made and adapted for a number of types and sizes of notepads. They are one of my go to projects this year. (Original blog post here).
April


Another of my go to projects are gift boxes. This was my first coffee K-cup box that I made using I {Heart} Coffee. The fun box is great for small gifts and can be made a variety of sizes. (Original post here).

May



Spring and summer are popular wedding times and it's always nice to have a few sets in your stamp stash for those special events. I used Happily Ever After and decorated a small gift box to hold a larger (lots of layers) card. (Original post here).

June


Masculine cards are not ones I create a lot, however it has been a lot of fun working with some of the newer sets like Let's Roll, Dude! I always love the masculine papers and have really enjoyed creating more cards and projects for the men in my life. (Original post here).

Other favourite for this month was this card made using Fin-tastic friends (which is now sold out in the shop). I had so much fun creating this card with the twine, pearls and cheese cloth (original post here).


July


Cards for little girls are easy for me and there are ones I need a lot for my own girls, nieces, and friends of my daughters. I just adore this Pretty As a Princess set from our July release (Original post here).

August


I don't usually make a lot of Halloween cards, however I do love making projects and gifts for my kids, their teachers and classmates. Here was a box I created using You're A Scream. (Original post here).
September


In September our Krafty releases turns cold, as we look to winter and Christmas creations. I loved all of the sets from this month, so it was really hard to pick a favourite. I selected this card using Angel Voices because I had the chance to work a few techniques into my card. I really love how the image looked with the distressed sky and heat embossed snowy background. (Original post here).

Another favourite creations from this month was a couple of journal cards I made for a scrapbook layout using the Magic of Christmas sentiment set and Made By Elves set.


October


This year I have been challenging myself to create more clean and simple cards. I really enjoyed the results, however despite being so few in layers, the cards still take me awhile to create. Here is one of my CAS favourites from the October release using Snow Days. (Original post here).

Other favourites from this month's release was using the Happy Winter Days set.



November


I can say that I have gotten into the planner craze, however I prefer the handmade style for organizing my life and activities. I have a handmade personal planner and family calendar which I used the Perfect Planner set. This calendar will also make a nice addition to my scrapbook once the month is over. (Original post here).

December


To end out the year, our creations turn to love and I returned to something I love, books, reading and paper craft projects. I made a bookmark using Love Chemistry. This set is great and can be used for a number of creations. (Original post here).

I hope you enjoyed this review of my favourites projects featuring the amazing stamps from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps. If you head over to the blog post for today, you can see a some of the other Krafty girls favourites from this past year.


Right now there is an amazing Boxing week SALE in the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps shop. ALL of the stamps are on sale for 10-60% off. The sale goes until December 31 and only while supplies last.

If you want to keep up with all the Krafty happenings, you should join our Krafty Friends Group on Facebook. It's a great chance to share your Krafty creations, see what the Krafty Girls and Kim are creating, chat and join in with some of the challenges we have each month (Saturday, Wonderful Wednesday and Scrappy Challenge).

Thank you for stopping by and sharing in my Krafty review.

Tuesday 22 December 2015

Your Next Stamp December Feature

Welcome to the December YOUR NEXT STAMP feature post. Each month the design team posts creations to inspire you, using specific themes or stamps. This month our feature theme is WINTER!

My WINTER themed cards, are ones I made as a thank you cards for my staff at work. I used Stitched Fishtail Tag Two, along with the Snowflake from the Winter Fun tag set and the Fancy Thanks die. I had 10 of these cards to make, so I kept the design simple. 



I added glitter to the snowflake by running it through my Xyron sticker maker, then applying Glitter Ritz Micro fine glitter. In the centre of the snowflake I added a Gumdrop.



PRIZE ALERT!!!!

Head over to to the YNS blog to see all of the DT members sharing projects for today's feature. Leave a comment on the blog post for the December feature and you will have a chance to win a prize. One lucky stamper will win a YNS stamp set of their choice!


Supplies
Dies: Stitched Fishtail tag two, Winter Fun tag (snowflake), Winter Fun tag (snowflake)
Other: Glitter Ritz Microfine Glitter, Gumdrops

Friday 18 December 2015

Your Next Stamps Sketch/Colour Challenge # 29

Welcome to our sketch and colour challenge # 29 at Your next Stamp.


Create a project based on the sketch and/or colour inspiration. If you are working with the colours, use at least 3 of the colours. You can add only additional neutrals.

For my card I used the super sweet Word Critter Cats and Dogs and the Stitched Square Dies. The paper is Simple Stories We are Family.


I love the puppy in this set. After colouring the image I fussy cut it out and made the dog look like he is relaxing on my card. The sentiment is heat embossed using white embossing powder on brown cardstock. The letters were cut out with a little matting of the brown.


On the inside I used the fun little paper air planes from this set and added a sentiment from Whatnot Sentiments Two set.


Due to Christmas holidays, you have an extended time to play along with challenge #29. This challenge ends on January 7, 2016 at midnight EST.

One random participant will WIN a $15 gift card to the YNS store. If you feature a YNS stamp or die (must be the main focal point) you will receive and additional $5. When you use a YNS image there is also a chance of being selected as a YNS Top Pick. That's right, bragging rights for you and a fabulous badge to show off on your blog! Sounds exciting right? Ink up your stamps and show us your crafty stuff!

Supplies:
Stamps: Word Critters Cats and Dogs, Whatnot Sentiments Two (Your Next Stamp)
Dies: Stitched Square (Your Next Stamp)
Paper: Simple Stories We Are Family

Tuesday 15 December 2015

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps December Scrappy Challenge (One Cup at a Time)

Hello and welcome to our December Scrappy challenge at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps.

These challenges are a lot of fun and give you the chance to use your stamps in different ways. Your creations can be ANYTHING you would like to create but NOT a card! That leaves a lot of room for creativity, including calendar, planner pages, bookmarks, pocket pages and traditional scrapbook pages. You MUST use a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp for this challenge! You have all month to play along, so grab some stamps, pictures and let's get KRAFTY!

Our December theme is: ANYTHING GOES

Last week I had a them of notebook covers and this week it's all about BOOKMARKS! I love to read and I love to make bookmarks for my book lovin' friends. Here is one for a read that also enjoys a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. I used the ONE CUP AT A TIME set and paper from Simple Stories (We Are Family).


I hope you play along with this month's SCRAPPY Challenge! You can head over to the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps blog to see more creations from the Krafty Girls as well as the full details about the challenge.

Create any project (other than a card) featuring a Kraftin' Kimmie image. You have one month to play along and you can enter as many times as you like. Once the challenge reaches 5 entries, a random winner will be drawn.

Christmas is a great time to make a few paper KRAFTY gifts.....like a bookmark.

Thanks for stopping by today.


Supplies Used:
Stamp: One Cup at a Time (Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps).
Die: Large Bookmark/tag die (Your Next Stamp)
Paper: Simple Stories We Are Family

Monday 14 December 2015

Your Next Stamp DT Dare (Java Geek)


Welcome for the last Design Team Dare of 2015 for the Your Next Stamp design team. Each month we given a special challenges to show off the newest stamps and dies of our current release. For the month of December our challenge is....... MY FAVOURITE THINGS. Please feel free to sign along if you know the words. I have had this song in my head for a week now!

My favourite things, I do have many.  Especially from the latest release! Consider this challenge ACCEPTED.

I used the new JAVA GEEK and the LARGE BOOKMARK die. I decorated this coffee themed bookmark with paper from Echo Park (The Story of Our Family) and embellished with GUMDROPS (Love Me Some Latte) and a handmade tassel.


There are a few of my favourite things capture in this picture. Coffee (in my favourite mug, hint also from one of my favourite books), books (mostly fantasy, another about the mug), stamps, pretty paper, and embellishments (Gumdrops of course).


If you head over to the Your Next Stamp blog for the December DT Dare post, leave a comment and there will be a chance for you to win! Prizes, another favourite thing of mine! You could WIN a stamp of your choice.

When I was coming up with a list of my personal favourite things, I realized I had enough for my own version of the song. Keep in mind the tune for the Sound of Music My Favourite Things as you read about some of my personal favourites. It's a little nerdy, but I had fun. My family does think I am a little crazy, because I am now singing my version.


What are some of your favourite things?

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!


Supplies Used:
Stamps: Java Geek (Your Next Stamp)
Dies: Large Bookmark/tag die (Your Next Stamp)
Paper: Echo Park (The Story of Our Family)
Other: Love Me Some Latte Gumdrops (Your Next Stamp), embroidery thread, Versa Fine Onyx Black ink

Sunday 13 December 2015

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps December Release Blog Hop


Hello and welcome to the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps December release blog hop. This is our final release of December, grab yourself a drink and maybe a snack, sit back and enjoy the blog hop.

This month our release was filled with a lovely collection of clear stamps perfect for Valentine's or just to let someone know you care. Today's release hope will feature projects from all of the sets previewed over the last week.

We started off our week with two sets from artist Becky Pearce called Love Chemistry and Love Story. Next was that groovy set from Emilie Goulet called You're Nifty. Then we had an inspiring set from Cheryl Grant called You Lift Me Up and finally we finished off with two beautiful stamps from Annie Rodrigue featuring those magical characters Belle and The Beast!

I am coming down to the wire with a few final handmade gifts for the holidays. These amazing sets are versatile and can be used for more than love and Valentine's day. I used the Love Chemistry set and created a bookmark that will make a great gift for that bookworm on your Christmas list.


These glasses are so fun. I stamped them out with Versa Fine Onyx black and then sprinkled with clear embossing powder and heat set for a little extra sparkle. The tassel I made with thread (this was my first try and it's a bit long).


Supplies Used
Stamps: Love Chemistry (Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps)
Dies: Large Bookmark/tag die (Your Next Stamp)
Paper: Bo Bunny You're Invited
Other: Versa Fine Onyx Black ink, Recollection Clear Embossing powder, Twine (Doodlebug), gems (Recollection)

I hope you are enjoying all of the projects featured in our December Release blog hop. There is a lot of inspiration today and this hop features all of the images from this amazing release.

All of the new stamps will be available later today after our online release party.

Facebook Release Party

Join Kimmie and the Krafty Girls as we party and celebrate the December release. The party will be on the Facebook events page (here) on Sunday December 13 at 2:00 pm (EST). Hope to see you there.


You will be able to find all of the December images in the NEW STAMPS section of the store. If you just love it all (like me), you may wanna check out the Gimmie Kimmie Kits which feature all of the images from the December release at a discount. These are for a limited time only. You will want to check out the store and see all of the other goodies (paper, mounting supplies, embellishments) you can get. 

Thanks for stopping in and have a wonderful day!


Friday 11 December 2015

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps December Preview: Day Four - You Lift Me Up!



Hello everyone! Welcome back to the forth day of previews for the November release at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps.


Today we have a darling set from artist Cheryl Grant called YOU LIFT ME UP. This sweet set is not only nice for Valentine's cards, but will also look amazing on a thinking of your, great job, love you type card too.




I coloured up the darling Lulu and made this card using Bo Bunny You're Invited 6x6 paper pad. I love how this paper really pops with the black matting.



On the inside of the card, I added Lucas stamped in a mint green ink (Heidi Swapp) and added another of the sentiments from this set.


Supplies Used:
Stamps: You Lift Me Up
Paper: Bo Bunny You're Invited
Other: Doodlebug Sprinkles (Beetle Black), Memento Tuxedo black ink. Heidi Ink (Mint Green)

Now it's time for you to hop along and check out all of the fabulous projects from the Krafty Girls. Leave a comment on each of the blogs as you hop along. There will be one lucky winner selected from all of the comments this week to WIN some Krafty $ to spend in the KKS store.

All of the December new release stamps will be available Sunday afternoon after the release party!

Facebook Release Party

Join Kimmie and the Krafty Girls as we party and celebrate the December release. The party will be on the Facebook events page (here) on Sunday December 13 at 2:00 pm (EST). Hope to see you there.



Thursday 10 December 2015

Your Next Stamp December Release Blog Hop


Hello and welcome to the Your Next Stamp December new release blog hop.

This month we are featuring a variety of stamps, including cute animals, fun backgrounds, and my favourite LOTS of coffee related goodies. The dies this month are wonderful too, including a sweet treat box and long awaited stitched oval dies!

This release there is theme to my projects. I am still working on a few final handmade gifts and this month I made a number of new decorated notepad holders. They make a great gift for a teacher, boss, and friends. My first notepad holder, is one made for 3x3 sticky notes. I used the cute Word Critters Cats and Dogs set to decorate this easel style note holder. The paper is Simple Stories We Are Family.


I fussy cut the darling cat and hung him from the heat embossed sentiment. I used embroidery thread to create a ball of yarn to decorate the holder.


The back of the note holder was also decorated.


Here is a look at the stamp set used:


For my second project, I made a book style cover for a 5 x 8 inch notepad and decorated using the fabulous and fun Java Geek and Coffee Rings.


I paper pieced the cute coffee take away cup and featured it on the pattern paper cut using the stitched oval dies. The coffee title was heat embossed on navy cardstock using white embossing powder.


Here is a look at the inside of the holder. I created pockets to hold the notepad, so they can be changed out when they are empty.


Here is a look at the stamp and dies used:


In celebration of this month's release, Karen has a fabulous deal for you.


Thanks for hopping along with us today. Remember to leave a comment on each of the blogs as you go. There is a fabulous prize available to one lucky stamps ($25 YNS gift certificate). All of the blogs are listed below. The hop continues until December 14th (EST) at midnight. Come back and join us on November 14th to see the winner from the blog hop comments and check out the latest Design Team Dare.

Have a great day, happy hopping.