inspired by SPOT

this week for A Muse a Palooza... I created these two cards... one is the dots background that I smeared to make it look like a artsy painting....

the other is a traditional one using my favorite a muse stamps and polka dot paper in orange...

thanks for looking!!

July challenge

is up over at Artz de Scrap... I hope you alterers and non alterers head on over and check out this challenge.... This is a great beginning challenge for all the "non" alterers in the group ... its relatively easy to create a mini book using your scraps and everyone loves blue and green right?

For July, we challenge you to alter a storybook.... and use the colors of blue and green as inspiration....

Here is my little album... the kids had this baby board book of Snow White.. I loved the shape but they had outgrown the book so I altered, painted, pasted papers to create this little love story of us... I hadn't done a book about us as a family before so this was a great challenge for me!

You can check out the rest of the girls examples here... Artz de Scrap

hope everyone...

had a
wonderful 4th... while Im busy creating some Design Team projects that I cannot yet share ;) I thought I would share some pictures from our restful and stay at home 4th holiday!

1. Erin on the slip and slide... the entire neighborhood has them but somehow , everyone comes to our house to play!! rofl Love this pic of Erin.. the goggles kill me!! rofl
I think our grill has been going all summer.. There is nothing better than the smell of grilled meat... sorry to all my vege friends!!
a little Sam Adams on this appropriate holiday!!

grilled dogs..

watermelon
fireworks literally down the street at the MIddletons...

some patriotic projects I did with leftover red/white blue stuff!

be back soon with some sneaks of my projects for my design teams ARTZ de scrap and Right at HOme

peace
Kim

Twilight inspired

Okay, the next challenge for A muse a Palooza was to create something using A Muse stamps inspired by the word Twilight...
I chose this vampire stamp and the girl but only stamped her without the flowers... added a hand drawn heart...
Its hard to see here but there is a bit of blood on his lips! lol I prefer the darker vampire tales and not the lighthearted goodie two shoes type ;)

I also stamped the sentiment pucker up... all three stamps are A muse

tfl

Happy 4th

of July to all my American friends and family... Even though its not my most favorite holiday, I have so many fond memories of the 4th... and love to pass that pride and tradition to my kids....

I am sharing some patriotic projects that I made awhile ago for that class I took by LIsa Pace

Have a very safe and restful Independence Day!!!!!!!!!!!!

6 Flags New England

was very fun... I always have fun at Amusement Parks... so many happy people there just being with family, friends... good times...
I spent most of the day with my friend Melinda and Ryan who did NOT want to go on any rides.... but he was so happy and content to just sit, watch others, drink lots and enjoy the day... while Jon, Dave, Erin, Rachel and Brooke defeated the monster rides, long lines and crazy brave jumpee things.. I swear I was NEVER that brave at 10!!!
I love roller coasters myself but have pretty much done them all and Melinda doesnt' like riding ANY.. so I stayed with them to take photographs, talk, drink, chat, walk, shop, etc... we still laughed alot, and caught up!

Above are some of my key shots from the day!

We were exhausted at the end of the day... boy, I' m getting old!! rofl

peace
Kim

Artz de Scrap and A Muse A Palooza

This card is perfect for today as I have some great news!! I have recently been asked to design for the Artz de Scrap team from July through December !!!
I am so thilled as most of you know how much I love to alter things!
I posted the link in my sidebar... if you get the chance, stop by and say hi... and take on one of the challenges... tutorials... !!

Here is a card I created for challenge 2 for Amuse a palooza!! WE were to use the word "ribbon" as our inspiration...
I used the borders clear stamps to make ribbons as my background and used the party time and party chicks stamps from A Muse , Stampin Up inks, American Crafts cardstock...so
Lets Party!!

Happy Sunday!!

Kim

taking today...

to reflect on life... with the sad passings of those celebrity personas that left our world this week as well as remembering my momma (its 5 years today..) just taking a few days to reflect, think, smile and remember those that affected my life either through songs, dances, words or laughs... they will be remembered and their impact on my life is great!

Peace be to you all

Kim

Capture These Sketches TEam Search

I am trying out for the Capture these sketches design team... This is the sketch I have designed...
and here is the layout I created to go with it.... American Pride






This is the layout based on the sketch they provided for us...

and this is an oldie but a favorite of mine... Love this Christmas line from Basic Grey and how it coordinated with brown and pink.. two favorite colors right now!!

Thanks for looking!!
Kim

Americana class

by Lisa Pace ... is going on here.... Lisa Pace

Her site if full of gorgeous things.. from vintage treasures to her own creations and inspiring pictures of her beautiful family!!!
The classes are phenomenal... I usually end up doing the projects she gives us directions for and then branching out and doing extras for my home , gifts etc... so many details and fun ideas to try with great pictures and directions!!
Here are the first two projects I made from the class... the banner is actually extra crepe flowers I made and strung them together.. instead of putting them on a stick ... the firecracker display is actually a old ribbon spool .. I also added a gift iridescent bow to cover the top of the spool!
I will share the next two projects I've done tomorrow!
Tfl
Kim

ahem....

Just so excited... and thrilled to have this piece of good news...

Right At Home design team announcement

You can check out everyones personal blogs by clicking their names under the Design Team 2009 side bar..... wow, these gals are amazing... I feel so honored to serve another term with them....

Go leave them some love.. I hear there may be something in it for you... ;)

Kim

some more creations

for this fun summer weekend... we still have 8 more days of school... the countdown is on... Erin is checking off everyday.. now if only it would stop raining!!

so Im trying to knock out as many projects and cleaning type activities as I can... cause once summer starts... forget it!! lol

Here are some recent layouts I did using more My Minds Eye Bohemia , Bella lines with a bunch of Prima bling, American Crafts thickers and miscellaneous vintage embellishments...
thanks for looking!!

Kim

Have you seen this??

Details are here on their blog:

Right at Home Scrapbooking design team search

I have been designing for them since November and they are top notch!!
You should give this a go... The owners Lisa and Sharon have top notch, new stuff... everything always goes together so well.... fun stuff to design with...
and they run a great store!!

Good luck everyone.. hope to see some great new talents!!

Kim

Lets hear it for the boy...

the boy line that is... from MME.. from the very fun Breakaway collection... all supplies are available now... and you can find them here: Right AT Home scrapbooking

busy day tomorrow... softball, school carnival, yardwork... fun fun in the sun!!
Happy Friday!
Kim

next round...

of design team layouts featuring My Minds Eye papers... they have a new collection filled with summery sun kissed colors for both boys and girls...
This is the girls collection from their new Breaking Free line....

I also used some die cuts from Crate paper and new thickers from American cRafts.... I loved the shapes of the pattern papers and distressed look ... perfect for all the summer pics coming up

tomorrow, I"ll post the boys line... and at the end of the week, some art journal pages...
peace
Kim

ahhhh June...

June is dads, grads and brides!!!
This paper line from My Minds Eye is so elegant. TItled Andrea Victoria and available here
at Right at Home Scrapbooking...
They have beautiful black, greys and golds that are perfect for weddings, love, elegant pages using black and white photos, heritage, graduation and fathers or grandfathers!
A few additions of bling and ribbon and rub ons are all it needs as the papers speak for themselves.. I had alot of fun playing with this line...
more tomorrow featuring a playful new line from My Minds Eye... hint.. think summer!

peace
Kimo

design team stuff

went up.. .the first batch that is.... you can read about it here Right at HOme
I got to play with the lovely Making Memories new line called Just Chillin... at first I was a bit skeptical as I don't have teenagers and this line seemed geared to them but as I started working with it.. found all kinds of uses.. and the expressions and stars go with everything!!

Also, thanks girlies esp. Molly for the Pubster of the Day shout out.... always makes a pea feel so special... can you believe its been 4 years as a pubster?? wow!
2 peas The PUB


I am also sharing some cards I made for past mothers day... I know.. IM a bit late!! rofl... they are scraplifted from the uber talented Melissa .. .best card maker ever... I usually don't scraplift but her work is just stunning and for my mother in law... I wanted the card to be extra special!

and a few other cards just for fun... using scraps
peace
Kim

the ominous sky today just before the storm....
I deal with stress best by creating... just getting lost and absorbed into my art.. and the last few days I have done just that...
While I always embrace change.. so much is changing right now in my life that I can't keep track of whether IM coming or going and it adds stress to my already stressful existence..
This, with my friends being so busy... and I miss them so much.. to have such close team of friends to chat and laugh with and then all be so wonderfully busy and important in our lives..
I am so proud of them but miss them greatly and need them during my changes even more than ever..
so my art is my therapy.. and my music and my studio and the library and just about every and any place I can go to be alone, escape and unwind for me...
and so since this weekend "unofficially" kicks off summer... how about some summer projects...
these are my May design team projects for Right AT Home scrapbooking... I got to play with this luscious Creative Imaginations by the sea line... so so pretty... and the pics are my brother in law Josh with their sweet baby girl Sydney... lucky girl got to visit both coasts in her first year of life!!
the little mini album is filled with some favorite photos of living by the coast... both are currently over at the store... out on display!!! Go pop in if you are local!!

ahhhh summer... it will be here soon... and I cannot wait!!

kim

so over

this flu!!!!!!!I've been flat on my back for the last week with the flu.. yuck!!
and today and next few great weather is headed out this way..I have a friend who is an excellent meterologist!! rofl well, not literally but she is damn good!!
so I did manage to sit here and type this without passing out so Im sharing a few more creative projects and a quote I had on my My space blog the other day.. dedicated to a very overworked and needs to be pampered friend...
and then Im off for another nap... just in case ;
tomorrow I'll come on with some movie reviews.. been getting caught up with every girlie type movie out there... who knew there were so many... but thanks to my mother in law being out of work.. she and I are on a marathon!
so lots of reviews coming your way.. aren't you excited?? rofl
okay.. that is the nyquil making me talk silly.. better get to posting some creative stuff already before I get really giddy! ;
a pretty card made out of Prima packaging!
a layout using up a ton of old old stuff.. ! and admitting that I make stuff up is the first step...

a boyish card since two very sweet fella boys in my life just recently had May birthdays......

anyways... that is it for now... more later.. IM feeling a bit dizzy!! lol
peacefor my friends... who I miss since they have become so very busy... lets just all run away together, shall we??

kim

some things

to share to day... and I spent another day in the studio.. I finally added Instant Message and mail to our desk top so I can be in here and do work while getting distracted by my friends!! rofl

both are just because layouts... both use kit items that have been sitting here and needing to be worked with... sigh.. so much to do.. so little time! lol

more later.. Im a creative mess today!

peace

kim

National Scrapbook weekend

another NSD day with multiple online crops and yet another injury!!! rofl Ireally am a mess.. I have hurt myself so many times during these all day crops.. this time.. a battle with my paper piercer and a mild infection.. but all is well now and Im back to crafting!!

I was on a roll this weekend.. sharing my fun creations...
peace
and the fun doesn't stop there.. I have about three more pages in progress... stocked up on coffee and candy.. and a healthy thumb.. watch out!!!

dilemna and new cards

so the dilemna is.... where do I go for National Scrapbook Day??? hmmmm.. I know of many sites hosting crops, challenges etc... I have to narrow it down ! rofl
so that is the big choice for the weekend!!! Needless to say.. despite pleasant weather.. I will be crafting the day away

On to some more cards... magazine inspiration on these.. and a few new kits... tfl

designing

cards... inspired by my buddies.. they know who they are...

as the world turns..

there has been some "drama" in my little online world.. so I have not been on here much.. for that iM sorry! lol
I have been working behind the scenes lately.. as both kids have had weeks off of school.. first.. erin and this last week.. Ryan...
Moms vacation is always the week after theirs rofl
anyhow... I have a few things to share
all from various April kits.. STudio Calico and Work In progress

52 memories week 7

is up at Right AT Home 52 memories group

here is the link to the post: http://rightathomescrapbooking.ning.com/group/52memoriesgroup/forum/topics/week-7-spring-recipe

would love to see some of you join in!!
peace
kim

layout is using new PInk Paislee papers, felted tree is from Work IN progress kits... April project kit
ribbons, Maya road chipboard, pink paislee

tfl

banners banners and more banners

I took a class at Get it Scrapped taught by my scrappy buddy Trish Turay... so many inspiring banners... here are my versions... a spring one in my family room bookshelf


a pretty girlie one in Erins room. above her sheer valance

a funky glittered one in my studio

these are very very fun to make and Im a bit addicted to crepe paper now!

Off to create some layouts and cards...

peace

kim

World Autism Awareness Day

and I have chosen to show you the reason I celebrate instead of mourn today. I love my Ry guy

April is Autism Awareness month...

If you click on the letters (it is in three pages/parts) it will zoom in so you can read them !

so I will be sharing (in between crafty goodness) a bit of information I find important to share with the (IM assuming?) non autism community readers of my blog.

This is a very precious letter that was given to me by an anonymous scrapbook mom who knew of Ryan and our daily struggles. She simply said that she thought of me today (it was Mothers day) and how my mothers day has a whole different meaning than hers would have because of this article and wanted to share it with me.

I was so touched by it and it gives me such peace and comfort at times when things become unbearable .. . IM so sorry the type is small on it.. .I couldn't get it any larger without crashing blogger and its too long to retype! rofl

Its important to me and part of my job so I wanted to share with you all!

peace

Kim

another week...

Boy does life fly!
Lots happened this week too... the sun is shining and the house is clean... we are expecting some rain this weekend so we plan to take the kids out for some indoor fun later today...
I have been making more scraps for my shop as the first batch is almost sold out!!
I also have been doing some garlands and banners..... from a class with Trish Turay at
Get It Scrapped... have you discovered this place yet? I love their classes... you can check out the details here Get It Scrapped
In the mean time... I am sharing some new projects

updates...

in my store... making it more springy... TOmorrow is the first day of Spring.. what are you all doing to celebrate it?
We may get outside and start a clean up.. we'll see how the weather holds.. spring comes late to us New Englanders!
There are some wonderful blog candy I would love to share with you all today... just some of the things that are making me happy!
EAster crafts.. I love eggs....

These gorgeous beauties... from Prima... I want them all!


The crocus are up around the house!


fantastic layered shabby projects from Maya Road.. I love them!






My beautiful cousin Marisa in front of her darling store in Denver, The ALchemist... as she heads to a new journey in her life with John in California... I love this girl!






The sounds of the kids playing outside nothing sweeter and more fun!


well, do I really need to say anything?? lol Martha Stewart still amazes me.. while I may never be able to actually make something this pretty.. a girl can dream, right?


taking out my spring crafts, working on vintage easter ... lovely


and finally... having the chance to win a great collection by the generous folks at Marks Paper company... simply stunning groups of paper... just wonderful designs and rich colors... heavenly




enjoy... these things which are making me happy today
peace
Kim