Welcome to KLSNS *Sparkly* BLOG HOP!!

**This post will stay at the top until Friday, August 7th when the Blog Hop officially ends. Please scroll down to see newer posts. Thanks!!
Good Friday Morning!! I'm so excited that you've joined the HOP!! You should have arrived from Carolyn's Blog and if not, you will want to start at the KLSNS DT blog so that you get all the words to complete the SPARKLY phrase at the end to be entered in the drawing to win the GRAND PRIZE! (all the deets are on the DT blog - link above)
The theme for this blog hop is "SPARKLE" so I made a butterfly card (using 2 of the pages from a chipboard album) and it has lots of sparkle!! The Butterfly Tilda on the front has 4 colors of stickles on her wings, and I put clear and pink gems all down the wings.
I found some phrases about butterflies that I just LOVED, so I printed them on my computer and cut them out using my oval Nesties and oval scalloped Nesties. I also added clear stickles to the swirlies. The paper is from BG's new Lemonade Collection.
Here's the back of the card. And here is a close up of my Tilda, which is watercolored and paper pieced :) Her wings really are white not purple, lol. The crystals are picking up the colors around it and looking purpley in this photo.

My word for you is "like" and from here you'll want to make your way over to Heidi's Blog.

Reminder: you must leave a comment on the DT blog and all DT member blogs to be eligible for the GRAND SPARKLY prize along with sending the correct phrase to steinrn@yahoo.com with "KLSNS SPARKLES" in the subject line by 9pm Saturday August 8th.

Want a 2nd entry for the Grand Prize?? We would love for you to make your own Sparkly creation- if you post it on your blog and then use Mr. Linky on the KLSNS Blog (and leave us a comment there also) you'll be entered a second time for the GRAND PRIZE!!

Plus, Kelly has 2 other "Sparkly" prizes to give away on a couple of the DT's blogs, but even WE don't know where she's hidden them, so be sure to leave a comment on ALL the DTs blogs!

Would you like to win my Sparkly Butterfly chipboard card that I've just shown you?? Then just add our "Blog Hop" blinky (top of this post) to your blog to help us advertise and then leave me a comment <OVER HERE> telling me you did and I will draw a winner next Friday, 8/7!! Thanks for joining the HOP!!

Tomorrow's the Day!!

Just a li'l reminder that tomorrow (7/31) - starting at 10 a.m. (EST) we will be having a "SPARKLY" Blog Hop at KL Stampin N Scrappin!! Lots of prizes to be won, so hope you plan on hopping with us!!

You've GOT to See THESE!!

Well, I didn't get an Inky card made today :( ... BUT, I have some AWESOME eye candy to share with you!! My friend Helen just got her first Magnolia stamps and has made some SERIOUSLY ROCKIN' cards with them...inside and out! You've GOT to go take a lookie!! :) I'm sure she'd be so thrilled to read some comments from you girls, so please leave some luv while you're there! You won't be disappointed!!

A {Recycled} Inky Challenge

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another Inky Impressions Challenge! This week we want to see something recycled in/on your projects! There are some fabulous items over on the challenge blog for your inspiration. If you upload, please use the word inkyimpressions -all one word, so we can see what you create, or link it up on the challenge blog. I hope to have mine uploaded here later today... it's been so busy here this week with VBS and all, so no promises...but I'll try! ☺

REMEMBER... only 1 more week to apply for the Inky Design Team, deadline is August 3rd!!

An October Afternoon - JBelle Challenge

Happy Tuesday!! We have another challenge for you to try over at Jacksonbelle Embellishments!! The challenge this week is to use products from October Afternoon or Pink Paislee :) If you have anything at all from either of these companies, we'd really LOVE for you to play along with us! Be sure to use keyword JBE064 when uploading to SCS or you can link your card to the challenge blog!

So I used some of this awesome paper from October Afternoon (love this stuff!) and I combined it with a new blog challenge that one of our very own Rockstars, Mitzi Koons has just issued called the Greeting Card Challenge! It's a really good one you guys, so go take a look at the inspired piece and see her beautiful creation!

More about my card: I stamped this tree from Thoughts and Prayers (SU!) onto the OA paper, and then I outlined the white clouds with clear stickles. Here's where the inspiration part comes in (from her challenge card). I decided to tie hearts in the tree and have them swinging in the clouds. Of course, I had to add stickles to the hearts as well! ;P After the glitter glue dried I stitched the layers with my sewing machine and tied some ribbons and added a charm & brads.

See what the other JBelle Rockstars have created!!
Tobi Crawford / Stephanie Hargis / Mitzi Koons / Loretta Lock / Jimmi Mayo / Bethany Paull / Michelle Philippi / Carly Robertson / Trudee Sauer / Shemaine Smith / Lynda Benden / Melissa Bove / Jennifer Buck / Jill Dunn / AJ Otto / Heather Lee-Reppen / Lindsey Botkin *Owner*

Product of the Week at Jacksonbelle:

Provocraft Cuttlebug folders & dies

Thanks for dropping in today! Hope you'll join in the challenge, or just enjoy hopping to see all the wonderful creations out there, but whatever you do... stay cool!! (suppose to be in the 100's all week here!)

KL Stampin N Scrappin BLOG HOP

Mark your calendars!! This Friday starts our KLSNS BLOG HOP!! Our theme this time is "SPARKLE" and will feature all things sparkly! :0) It's going to be a lot of fun! There's going to be at least 3 fabulous PRIZES to win, including a "Jackpot Prize" for one lucky winner who guesses the correct phrase by collecting words at each of the DT's blogs! (not too bad considering there are only 7 of us! lol)

Want a hand crafted item by me?? Just place the badge at the top of this post on your blog between now and Friday, 8/7 (the sooner the better!) and leave me a comment on this post telling me you added it and I will draw one winner on Friday!! :0)

Recipe Swap - Appetizers

So...I joined Abra Leah's recipe swap a while back and I forgot to take a picture of them before I sent them out! Figures! :) However, I got them back so now I can share. I'm not sure if it's okay to show the other swappers cards, so I will try to link you to their blog posts, if I can find them all, LOL. They were all wonderful and so I'm signing up for next month's swap... Grillin' ☺

For my card, I used this sweet Hanglar image that was sent to me from the lovely Lim, which happened to be perfect for my recipe as I made Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips--YUMM!! My family LOVED this one, and it's perfect for summer appetizer/snack whenever since fruit is aplenty right now. :) I used watercolor and markers and then pop dotted her on. This paper was in my stash and I have no idea where it came from?? SORRY! :P

So, here were the entries that I could find links for. If I miss someone, it's because you didn't have your blog link on the back of your recipe card, so please just leave a comment here so I can link you up! :) THANKS!

Abra Leah / Debbie Pamment / Helen Phelps / Kathy Winter / Michele Robinson

A Sweet R.A.K. and CFASA-2

This card came in the mail a couple days ago from my very sweet friend Lisa Hjulberg! She is the sweetest ever, and she wrote inside that this was her and I doing the "happy dance"...me of course being the "redhead"... and her with the gorgeous flower lei and "coconut bra" lol. Ok, maybe it's not made out of coconuts, heehee, and I never thought I could wear red...until NOW!! These Anyas are just the cutest!! She also stamped me a whole bunch of Anya images (from The Greeting Farm) as a swap for some Inky Impressions.

And since today is Sunday, it's time for Lisa's 2nd ever "Challenge for a Sunday Afternoon"!! She always has a great prize up for grabs if you participate, and you can even combine this challenge with ANY other you have going!! As well, if you decide to place the following badge on your blog to help promote this weekly challenge, and link it to Challenge for a Sunday Afternoon, she will be doing random RAK's from those peeps as well!! :)

Thanks again Lisa for the gorgeous card and images!! Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday and a blessed week ahead. I'll try to keep up my posting but it might be tough as this is VBS week for us...and it's suppose to be in the 100's all week! (no ac in my craft room -- ugh!) Stay Cool!! :)

Wishing You a TON of Fun!!

Happy Saturday friends!! I have another card made with this cute elephant from Magnolia's Pet Collection. Remember the lion card I made a couple days ago? Well this one is for his older brother who just turned 8. I printed the sentiment using a fun FREE font called "Woodcut" but I literally had less than 1/2 an hour to make this card from idea to envelope and get out the door, so I forgot to color in the wood letters with brown. Oh well...I'm sure he didn't mind, LOL. It says "Wishing you a TON of fun on your Birthday!!" You may recognize this sketch as I used last week's Friday Sketchers again. What can I say...it's a really GOOD one!! :) I also used Basic Grey's new paper, June Bug, which is really awesome because it has something for everyone in it!

Speaking of "TON" there's a ton of sales and new items in the store right now!! :) Remember if you spend $50, you get $10 OFF with coupon code JULY50!! What a deal!! See store blog for new & preorder items. (P.S. If you haven't seen the new Magnolia Summer Collection, pop on over for a looksee--Kelly's taking preorders as we 'speak'!!) ☺

Happy Stampin' N Scrappin'!!

♫ Happy Birthday Tonya ♫

Tonya Hopkins is one of our Inky Impressions DT leaders and today is her birthday--Happy Birthday Tonya!! So in honor of your birthday, I'd like to throw you a little "virtual" birthday party!! Angelica's all dressed up in her fashionable hearts outfit and purse...all ready for the party :) Where are we going, you ask?? We're going to visit all our Inky Friends!! Won't you come along?!

♥ Inspirational Inkettes ♥

Cami / Chris / Christine / Heike / Kristen / Maria /Michelle /

Naoual / Nicole / Sem / Shary / Tanja / Tina / Tonya

Hope you are enjoying your special day...you certainly deserve it!! Thank you Tonya for all you do in keeping us all organized, and being so supportive of each and every one of us! I'm so lucky to have a friend like you...AND get to be on a Design Team with you as well. Big Hugs!! Now go eat some yummy cake!!

No LION... You're the Best

Inside: Happy Birthday!

Here's a card I made for a boy turning 5 yesterday. His favorite color is green. :) I decided to use this sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday.

STAMPS: lion from Magnolia's Pet Collection

PAPER: Lime Ricky paper

ACCESSORIES: chipboard piece , lime acrylic paint, silver shimmerz , orange twill, turquoise stickles, buttons.

Cheryl just made a card with this cute lion as well, and you can see it at the KLSNS blog. I just love what she does with ribbons! ☺

Well, it's our County Fair this week and my girls are doing 4-H projects at the fair. Today after I get off work I've gotta get them down there so they can shoot off their rockets. We'll be there most of the day/evening after that. I'm also busy decorating the church for our VBS program which is next week. And to top it all off, it was 95 degrees today--UGH!! Anyway, hope you are having a great week?!

A New Challenge with a Prize

Lisa is hosting her very first blog challenge that started on Sunday, and it's SUPER EASY...well, if you're like me and like to stash things away to use later. Come On! ... I know there are some hoarders out there! LOL. All you have to do is "incorporate something laying around your work station or that you've been saving aside for a looooong time to use someday!" You can also combine this challenge with ANY other challenge you have going!! :) Then use Mr. Linky on her post and you could be the winner of a brand new Lelo Stamp!

**OH, and be sure to check out her gorgeous card while you're there and see what li'l treasure she found "lying around"! Come Play!!

Inky Impressions 2nd DT Call

Have You Heard? Inky Impressions is now taking applications for their next DT term!! (3 mo.s) You have until August 3rd to get your submissions in. There's been a change for the entry challenge... there will no longer be a color challenge!! You just need to post a favorite card and a favorite (non-card) project that both require coloring in images. Please read all the deets on the challenge blog HERE! Please tell all your friends! ☺

So for my entry, I made this card [above] using Angelica's Daydream, with this week's Mojo Monday sketch, and also for Lisa's newest challenge, "Challenge for a Sunday Afternoon." This week her challenge is to use something that's been lying around for a long time. Well Lisa...can't believe I'm saying this, but I've had this background sitting in a box for at least a couple of months and never used (by me...although my sister used it when she visited! LOL) So your challenge was perfect! Got me to get it out and ink it up. The paper is from the new June Bug collection by Basic Grey, and I added stickles to all the li'l flowers and the sun.

And then, for my project, some of you may remember (it wasn't too long ago) when I posted this Tic-Tac-Toe Game! I LOVE this project, and have seen lots of different sizes and styles over in the SCS gallery. You can click that link to read all the deets on my original post. HEY, Guess What else??!! Today is INKY Challenge Wednesday!! There's a new challenge posted on the Inky Impressions Challenge blog. If you have some of these beautiful stamps, we'd love for you to play along!! If you do, please leave a link to your card on the challenge blog so they can find it. Have a Wonderful Wednesday!!

A {Birdie-ful} JBelle Tuesday

Happy Tuesday!! Are you having a "Birdie-ful" day so far? ☺ We have another cute sketch for you to try over at Jacksonbelle Embellishments this week! We'd really LOVE for you to come play along!! Please use keyword JBE063 if you upload to SCS or you can link your card to the JBelle challenge blog!

This Lemonade series paper from Basic Grey is quickly becoming my fave!! You can go pretty and elegant... or cute and whimsy!! Love it! These cute birds are from BG's new set, Bird Trio Bitsy and are very fun to pair up. OK...the more I look at this card, the more I think..."WOW, it's busy!" LOL. But that's okay...I think it's pretty anyway! ☺ The oval layer is cuttlebugged with the Swiss Dots Folder, and I used my sewing machine to add zigzags.

See what the other JBelle Rockstars have created!!
Tobi Crawford / Stephanie Hargis / Mitzi Koons / Loretta Lock / Jimmi Mayo / Bethany Paull / Michelle Philippi / Carly Robertson / Trudee Sauer / Shemaine Smith / Lynda Benden / Melissa Bove / Jennifer Buck / Jill Dunn / AJ Otto / Heather Lee-Reppen / Lindsey Botkin *Owner*

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Also...you don't want to miss out on the SALE going on right now at Jacksonbelle Embellishments... ALL Inkadinkado is 25% OFF all week long! and the cherry on top is that all week we will be showcasing some of the Rockstar creations using Inkadinkado products!! :) Really cute stuff...go take a look! ☺

JUST IN: Basic Grey "Lemonade" and "June Bug" paper pads now in stock! Lots of Martha Stewart Crafts now in stock as well!

PRE-ORDERS: for new release Martha Stewart punches!

Need a Friend... I'm All EARS!

Today is Saturday which means it's my day to post over at the KL Stampin N Scrappin Blog! (sorry I'm a little late posting, but I'm having internet connection probs...again!) Have you seen the amazing new Magnolias in the store?? They are super duper CaUUUUTE!! This elephant is from the Magnolia Pet Collection, (which is now in stock!). I used this week's Friday Sketchers sketch as well as the color challenge from the KLSNS Girls' PCP group this month. Come join us!! The colors are Bashful Blue, Real Red, and Chocolate Chip (or colors close to that). There's always great prizes to be won including a free Magnolia stamp!!

I generated the sentiments on my computer and I cut out the one on the front using the Nestabilities Tags Trio, which reminds me...there's ONE of these sets left and it's 25% OFF right now!! I also double stamped the ears and pop dotted those with big fat pop dots:

Kelly is now taking preorders for the brand new Magnolia Lazy Days of Summer Collection!! If you haven't seen these yet, I suggest popping on over there and taking a look--they are too cute for words! And remember, preorder or not, if you spend $50, you get $10 OFF using coupon code JULY50 til the end of this month!! =0)

Have a super weekend, and thanks for you comments on my new blog template. I hear that it loads much faster now...especially for those of you with dial up. YAY...it was worth it. :0)

Are You Lost?

I am so sorry if I'm confusing you, but I changed up my template...again! (and I just KNOW I'm gonna hear it from my BBFF Lisa! - how long did it take you to realize you were at "Kristine's" blog Lisa?? LOL) Anyway, I was hoping that by changing up the placement of my sidebar and a couple other things that it would load faster for most people (including me). And I figured while I was at it, I might as well change the look, cause... you know me... gotta keep things interesting around here and my readers on their toes! =) Hope you like it. I do (for the time being)~

I promise (Lord willing) that I will have a card to share tomorrow (Saturday) for KL Stampin N Scrappin! I got a couple new Magnolias in from the Pet Collection and am so excited to use them. Hope you'll swing on by a li'l later!

Inky Impressions 2nd DT Call

Inky Impressions is now having a Design Team Call...open to everyone!! See all the deets HERE!

SIDE NOTE: Is anyone else out there having trouble getting my blog to load?? I heard that blogs load from left to right so if your sidebar is on the left and is full of blinkies and things your main posts might take longer to load. Just wondering what you all thought if I switched my sidebar to the right side...or if you even care, LOL!! Not a big deal I'm sure. But I know if can be frustrating when someone's page takes forever to load. Thanks!

Happy Birthday LiLi

Welp... I didn't make the Wednesday upload as it's now early Thursday morning, but here's my card. I used yesterday's SCS sketch#237 with Inky Impressions challenge (stitch it up--I used faux stitching although I much prefer my sewing machine...however it's so late and the girl's bedroom is right on the other side of this wall!) Might take a better picture in natural light tomorrow after work. Thanks for dropping by!! Have an Inky Day!!

CARD RECIPE:
Stamps: Spring LiLi (http://www.inkyimpressions.com/)
Paper: Basic Grey "Lemonade"; pixie pink; white
Accessories: white gel pen, pixie marker, wc pencils, aqua painter, stickles, pop dots, scallop border punch, satin ribbon, buttons, classic ink pads

**Side Note**
I had a really nice day yesterday at the Fun Center with my mom and the girls. Forgot to take my camera, but I did get a few on my cell phone camera...if only I could figure out how to get them from there to here! (anyone? anyone??) LOL -- It was a little too toasty for my taste however, a whopping 94 degrees! I think I'll make a Christmas card soon--ya, with lots of SNOW!! LOL!

*Inky* Challenge Wednesday

Happy Wednesday!! Have any of you gotten your hands on these GORGEOUS stamps yet?? If so, we'd ♥ to have you join us for this week's challenge (#6)... "Stitch it Up" - use sewing on your card (ie. faux stitching, sewing machine, sewing tape, etc)... show us whatcha got!! Be sure to stop by the challenge blog to see what some of the Inspirational Inkettes have stitched up as well!!

As for me, I get to take the day off work and go play today! I'm driving my mom (and kids) to the eye doctor and then going to the FUN CENTER (go carts, mini-golf, tons of arcade games -kinda like Chuck E Cheese?). I might have a challenge card to share later today--we'll see! ;P

Jacksonbelle Tuesday Sketch

It's Tuesday again and we have another fabulous sketch for you to try this week at Jacksonbelle Embellishments. Hope you will play along and if you do, please leave a link to your card on the challenge blog, or use JBE062 as a keyword when uploading to SCS (or both!)

I have a couple of projects to share with you using this sketch! The first one is all about the cherries! I used Basic Grey's new paper pad called Lemonade, along with their new stamp set called Critters & Treats! (You've gotta go see all the cute stamps in this set!! Perfect for summer)

I printed the sentiment on my computer. Which reminds me...I have a funny brain-storming session to share. My dad was here visiting when I was making this card and he's usually really clever with sayings so I asked him what I could put with this card. His first reply was, "Life's not just a bowl of cherries...it's the pits!" OH, Come On!!! LOL. Although kindof funny, I didn't want it have a negative annotation..., so I thought this was much *sweeter* ☺ Plus, I'm always in need of birthday cards.

Some of you might remember this tree frame I made last year? It still sits on my counter in my craft room, and when I saw these fabulous October Afternoon papers that Lindsey sent me-- it became my inspiration for this cute tree card:
I realize it may be a far stretch as far as the sketch goes, LOL... but I did add the rectangle in the middle, and added the raffia across with a chipboard flower! :) Here's what the inside looks like:
Sentiment reads, "Have a Birdie-ful Day." I used Basic Grey's new stamp set called Birdie Trio, and paper pieced part of her with BG's new paper pad called Lemonade.

The chipboard flower is part of a pack of 59 different self-adhesives, also from Basic Grey. I painted the flower with a celery acrylic paint and then before it dried, I applied some Hi-Ho Silver Shimmerz Blingz, and then outlined it with a turqoise stickles, as well as various parts of the birdie. Very sparkly IRL ☺
Ya know...as I was creating this I had this feeling that I've seen a very similar tree somewhere... and then I remembered where I saw it! After I finished my card I went to her blog and sure enough... found it! My friend Melissa had made one with the same tree trunk paper, and different pattern for the top. Hers was made from a chipboard album. OH GOODNESS Melissa, I totally didn't mean to CASE yours...LOL!!! I was really bummed after I remembered that because she made her tree for the same company and I was like OH KRIS!! you can't upload that now! lol, BUT... I already put all this work into it, so I decided to share it anyway. I really didn't think of it when I started my project though (And to be perfectly honest, Melissa's is much prettier than mine!) Please go take a look !!

See what the other JBelle Rockstars have created!!
Tobi Crawford / Dawn Easton / Stephanie Hargis / Mitzi Koons / Loretta Lock / Jimmi Mayo / Bethany Paull / Michelle Philippi / Carly Robertson / Shemaine Smith / Lynda Benden / Melissa Bove / Jennifer Buck / Jill Dunn / AJ Otto / Heather Lee-Reppen / Lindsey Botkin *Owner*

One more thing: ALL Daisy D products are marked down considerably all this week at Jacksonbelle Embellishments! Go see what fabulous finds are over there!! Have a great Tuesday ☺