Challenge #130 at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps: Sentimental

Hey, there!  Surprise!  I managed to sneak in one more post and a new card before the move.  I'm going to make this post quick though, because I have a mountain of boxes waiting for some attention.

This week at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, the Hostess with the Mostest is non-other than Sharon!  Sharon is super talented and beyond clever.  She is tasking us with adding a sentiment to our card creations this go round.  That's a fabulous challenge because just last week KKS released those wonderful Trinket stamps designed by our very own Nicole Aspinall.  They are so much fun to use and perfect for this challenge.  I have paired one up with one of the sassy new fairies designed by Emilie Goulet.  Find both of these stamps in the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps shop.  Drop in at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge Blog and check out what the team created for Sharon's week.  Also, if you join the challenge and are randomly selected, you could win the fabulous image Sharon is featuring on her card.

Okay, that's it for me ;D  I will definitely be scarce next week, but until then, you stay krafty, ya hear!

A Card for Mom

Hey, all!  Welcome back.  I usually don't do a Monday post, but I had a  card to share so I thought I would make an exception.  

A couple of weeks ago, I made a Mother's Day card for my mom and featured it on my blog as part of a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps challenge, but I thought it would be better to make her something that she hadn't already seen.  I decided to use one of those sweet images from Penny Black penned by Mo Manning.  Each one is absolutely adorable and crazy fun to color.  This one is called You Are a Peach and I just love the expression on her face.  So full of delight.  Mo does an incredible job with these images. 

Not only are they fun to color, but they are on the large side too, so there's no need to fuss with the layout or a bunch of embellishments.  The image becomes the star of the show.  A couple of little details to make it more interesting, but that's about it.  You got to love that.  

The other reason I wanted to pop in today, was to mention that I will probably be thin on posts for the next couple of weeks.  We are in the final stages of packing up our townhouse this week and will do the big move over the long weekend.  WOO HOO!  We are in the last leg of this journey and couldn't be more thrilled.  Next time I load a post, it might just be from our new location.  Wish us luck ;D

Okay, that's it for now.  Until next time, stay crafty!    

May Release at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!

Well, it's finally here!  The day you have all been waiting for...Release Day at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!!! We're celebrating with a KRAFTY HOP and you are invited to join the fun!  This month we saw so many incredible new designs added to the Kraftin' Kimmie repertoire, we can't wait to share our hop creations with you.  

Over the last few days in our Krafty Peeks, we have shared lots of ADORABLE new stamps from all our artists!  We've got something for everyone!!  Lulu is back from Cheryl Alger....we know how much you love her, so we have a new set called LULU ON THE MOVE!  We also have TWO fantastic sets of whimsical FAIRIES from Emilie Goulet called FLIRTY FAIRIES 1 and FLIRTY FAIRIES 2!!!  And, of course, we have an amazing new set of six EVERYDAY GIRL stamps from Annie Rodrigue, featuring stamps for the teacher, nurse, wedding/anniversary, graduation, I love you cards and get well cards!!!  Oh, and don't forget the BRAND NEW line of stamps EVERYDAY TRINKETS by the lovely Nicole Aspinall!!!

You will get to see most of the new images today as you sit back and enjoy our MAY Krafty Hop!  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 these incredible 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!

AND, as always, we have our Gimme Kimmies Kits available for those of you who "need it all"!  The stamps are grouped together by artist and are available at a discount, but only for a limited time!

You should have arrived from Kerry's super swanky blog where she greeted you with something fabulous.  Your next stop on this rubber stamp adventure is Amanda's lovely blog and she'll have something spectacular waiting to knock your socks off so have a spare pair handy ;D  I've used one of the new Lulu's for my card and she is so dang happy with her hoola hoop, she makes me harken back to being a kid again.  I've also added a Trinket to give it a simple, but special sentiment.  I love these new circle Trinkets and stamped up a bunch to quickly add to cards.  These are absolute MUST HAVES!

Okay, krafty peeps, off you go to enjoy the rest of the hop!  I'll have something new tomorrow to share, so please pop back in ;D  Until then, stay krafty! 

May Previews at Kraftin Kimmie Stamps and Challenge #129!

Welcome to Day 4 of May's Krafty Peeks!  We are not only showcasing Annie Rodrigue's newest images today, but it's also time to announce the latest challenge at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps.  Today's challenge hostess is the incomparable Pam Varnell and she has given us a sketch to work with.  You all know my opinions about sketch based challenges...I LOVE THEM!!!  Be sure to join the fun this week and you could randomly win the image that Pam has featured on her card. 

As mentioned earlier, today we are sharing 6 new images designed by Annie Rodrigue and they are fantastic!  She has given us 6 new Everyday images featuring a wedding couple, a teacher, a nurse, etc.  You'll just have to make the rounds to see them all ;D  I have used the beautiful Tara and she is signing "I love you".  I just adore this image!

As you're dropping by the blogs, be sure to leave a comment on each one and you'll increase your chances of being randomly selected to win some of these images.  Come on!  Free stamps are the best stamps!  

Tomorrow all of the designs featured over the past few days will be available in the shop!  How many of the new images have you added to your wish list?  ;D

Okay, folks...that's it for me!  Until next time, stay krafty! 

May Previews at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps: Day 3!

Welcome back to Day 3 of the Krafty Peeks for May at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!  Today we are featuring the fabulous designs of Emilie Goulet and this month she is treating us to 2 sets of fairy stamps that are sure to make you smile ;D  These lovely fairies are fun to color and guaranteed to add a bit of whimsy to all of your paper themed projects.  

I chose to give my sweet fairy a bit of a green complexion.  I think she wears it well...lol!  Be sure to stop by all of the Krafty Girl's blogs to see the other designs and to leave them a comment.  Kimmie will be giving away some of these wonderful images and you might just be the lucky random winner!  These stamps will be available in the shop on Sunday along with all of the other amazing images we have shared with you.    

Okay, I better skeddadle.  Once again, I'm up late and I can hear the call of the Sandman beckoning me to rest my weary head.  Oy vey, so dramatic!  LOL!  Catch ya tomorrow with new Annie Rodrigue images.  You won't want to miss them!  Until then, stay krafty!  

May Previews at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps: Day 2!

Hey, there!  Welcome back to Day 2 of the May Previews at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!  Today we are featuring a brand new set of Lulu's by Cheryl Alger.  In this set, you'll find Lulu rollerblading, hoola hooping (is that a word...lol!), and riding her trike.  Yep, she's a darling girl!  Pair her with one of Nicole Aspinall's new trinket sentiments and you've got yourself a fabulous card for someone special.  

Start at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge Blog and hit all of the Krafty Girls blogs, leaving comments as you go, and Kimmie might randomly select you to win a free set of these images.  Woo hoo!  

These images along with the trinkets, will be available in the shop on Sunday.  Join us tomorrow and we will feature new designs by Emily Goulet and let's just say...they are fabulous!  Until then, stay krafty!      

May Previews at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps: Day 1!

Hello, good people of Blogland!  Did you think I got lost trying to find my way back to The Ink Trap?  It sure does seem that way.  Truth is, the clock is ticking and we have less than 2-weeks to finalize things with the sale of our house and the purchase of our next house, pack up all of our belongings, and get moved.  I am feeling the pressure, especially when I am scrambling with those last minute details and the packing, and my husband is sitting back saying "Don't stress, we have plenty of time." Just that statement alone causes my stress to go through the roof.  Folks who know me, know that this is not an exaggeration.  I am a natural born worrier...yes, you read that right...I said "worrier" not "warrior".  The townhouse was appraised on Monday and all I could think was "What if it appraises lower than what the buyers are financing and the bank denies their loan"?  "What if I have to unpack the 500 boxes I have already packed and put everything back"?  "What if we have to live in this tiny townhouse forever"?  Oy vey!  Luckily that didn't happen.  It appraised fine.  PHEW!  Now, time to worry about the next item on the list...the inspection.  Heaven help me.  If I make it through this entire process, I am sure my hair will be completely white and I will have wrinkles on top of my wrinkles.  Double oy vey!

Okay, you did not stop by to offer me a cheese plate to go with my whine, so I'll move along now.  What you're here to see is a preview of a new line of stamps offered at Kraftin' Kimmie.  Let me introduce Trinkets!  These are stylish sentiment stamps designed by our incredibly talented Krafty Girl, Nicole Aspinall.  They are fantastic for creating beautiful, quick and easy cards.  Layer them on interesting papers and die cuts to make them the focal point of your paper creation or add them to one of the fabulous images available in the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps shop.  Super versatile!  I can already tell that I will be using these  little gems A LOT!  And the best part...they fit inside of a 1 3/4" or 1 3/8" circle punch!  It doesn't get any easier than that!

I used my circle nesties for my card and added them to a fancy die cut.  I also embossed large dots onto a black piece of kraft resist paper to create some texture.  This card came together really fast.  I'll be making more of these to keep on hand.  

This is release week, so be sure to leave comments on all of the Krafty Girl's blogs today and Kimmie will randomly select a winner to receive a set of these wonderful sentiments.  Look for these in the shop on Sunday available for purchase.  

Come back tomorrow and we'll have a little fun with Lulu ;D  Until then, stay krafty!      

Challenge #127 at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps: A Card for Mom!

Hola!  Welcome back!  You've arrived just in time for Challenge #127 at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps and it's near and dear to my heart, because I'm the hostess this week.  Yay, me!!!  With Mother's Day lurking just around the corner, I thought it might be nice to create a little something with mom in mind.

I love this Asian inspired image by Annie Rodrigue and I know mom is particularly fond of this release, as well.  I also added a Tim Holtz "inspire" tag, because mom is a constant source of inspiration to me.  As most of you know, mom is an avid card maker and her talent is AMAZING!  Best of all, we get to share this crazy awesome hobby!  We have the best time shopping for new tools and every once in awhile, during one of our visits, we find some time to sit down and make cards together.  We even met in Roswell last year to take the classes that Tim Holtz taught in that tiny city's scrapbook mega store.  What a great time!

I'm hoping you'll join the challenge this week and share your mom inspired card with us at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps.  If your creation is randomly selected, you'll receive the lovely Natsuko, which I featured on my card.  While you're out and about in Blogland, stop by the Kraftin' Kimmie shop and check out all of the wonderful images that have been released lately.  Each on is incredible!

Catch ya later!  Until next time, stay krafty!    

Feel Better...A Penny Black Cutie by Mo Manning

Hey, everybody!  I know my posts have started to become even fewer and further between than they were a few weeks ago, and they might become even more scarce as we move through May and into June, but I have a pretty good excuse.  Kirk and I sold our townhouse!  WHOOP WHOOP!  The timing could not have been any more perfect.  

We had made a contingency offer on another house almost a month ago.  Everything was coming together perfectly except for one tiny detail...we needed to sell our house before we could move forward on the other one.  One momentary delay or timing difference might mean we could lose this house to someone else.  Oh, yeah!  NO PRESSURE!!!  

The days slowly, almost agonizingly crept by and what only amounted to 28 days felt like 28 years.  Everyday, sometimes more than once, I would pull up the listing on the other house to make sure it was still on the market.  This was a completely insane, compulsive action on my part, because we had First Right of Refusal if they received another offer, meaning they would contact our realtor to see if we could remove the contingency and proceed with the purchase.  What did I think?  That the realtors were going to get together and conspire on ways to break my heart, laughing maniacally behind the scenes as I burst into tears as someone swept in and secretly bought this house out from under us?  I don't know a lot of realtors, so yes, maybe.  Actually, that's not how it works.  If another offer came in, we would get a call, however, it wouldn't really change anything.   We, like lots of folks, would not be able to juggle 2 mortgages, so selling our townhouse was an absolute must.  

Each time a realtor scheduled a showing, I was put off when an offer didn't arrive the next day.  Strange dialogues danced through my head...What?!  You don't like my house?!  My house is GREAT!!  What's wrong with YOU!!!!  Soon these thoughts turned into...nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I think I'll go eat worms.  Emotionally I became a super needy 12-year old, and not selling our house became a symbol for how I could not attain society's approval...LOL!!!  Deep stuff, I know!  

Friday, after I had decided to sit down and throw myself a Pity Party, complete with an Evite to my friends and a creepy party clown, we received the news.  A couple had made an offer on our house!  And not a moment too soon.  We found out that another offer was received on the other house just 3 hours after we lifted the contingency!  That is crazy timing!  I'm kind of thinking we were meant to buy this house.  Too many signs too numerous to list have pointed us in the direction of this new place.  

I know, we are very blessed to have sold our house in under a month, but when you're in the midst of selling a house, you just don't know what tomorrow is going to bring.  Will one month turn into two?  Three?  Six?  Twelve?  So many uncertainties.  So many horror stories.  Lucky for us, ours has a happy ending.  To anyone with their home on the market right now, I'm sending out positive home selling vibes.  May your home sale be swift and without complications, and may your dream home be just around the corner :)

By the way, I made a card.  It has absolutely nothing to do with this marathon post, but I'll tell you a wee bit about it.  I used an image by Mo Manning for Penny Black called Wishing You Well.  These images that Mo is doing for PB just really make my heart skip a beat.  They are a joy to color and make the perfect focal point for a card.  No need to add a bunch of embellishments, because the images are so fabulous.  I picked up this one and several more from my local stamp store, China Phoenix 2, and I just can't wait to squeeze in some more coloring time to use them.  If you're in or around the Albuquerque area, drop by the shop to check them out, otherwise, find them online in the Penny Black Store. 

That's it for now.  Until next time, stay crafty!