September Krafty Peeks...Day FIVE! Plus a Challenge! Dear Santa and Treat Yours-ELF!!

Welcome to our SIXTH and FINAL day of
Christmas Krafty Peeks at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!

ALL of the new stamp sets you've been seeing all week will be releasing TONIGHT after the LIVE ONLINE RELEASE PARTY!

I hope you can join us for all the fun, beautiful cards, giveaways and more!

Today we have TWO whimsical holiday stamp sets from artist

Cheryl Grant!!!  Of course we have to have the big man himself AND a couple of his helpers!

First up is DEAR SANTA and I may be a little biased but I think this is the most awesome Santa stamp set I've ever seen!  ;)  PLUS he's got a furry friend which makes it even better!  The set includes the large main image PLUS SIX coordinating sentiments!

The second set is called TREAT YOURS-ELF and has a boy and a girl ELF!!!  Santa needs his little helpers at the North Pole, doesn't he??  There are TWO super cute main images PLUS FIVE coordinating sentiments!

It's also challenge day and our hostess is Krafty Girl,  TANGII!  And as always during release week, the challenge is ANYTHING GOES!  So create a card, scrapbook page or altered item with any stamp but if you use a Kraftin' Kimmie stamp you'll double your chances to WIN!!  Use any sketch, any design, any embellishments because Anything Goes!   Have some krafty fun and join us this week because we'd LOVE to see your KKS designs.  You have a week to play with this challenge and at the end of the month, we'll announce a WINNER from all of the weekly challenges for August!  We hope you can play along for your chance to WIN a $20 Gift Certificate to use on ANYTHING you want in the shop!!  Wanna win?? 

I hope you can join us for all the fun and excitement and prizes  TONIGHT beginning at 6pm EST!!  Hope you can come hang out with the me and Krafty Girls at our 

LIVE ONLINE RELEASE PARTY! 

All the Krafty Girls and Guests listed below have lots of super FUN designs to show you featuring these awesome new stamps from Cheryl!  And while you're hopping around, be sure to leave a comment because we are giving away a gift voucher!!!  You could WIN some Krafty $$$ to spend at the shop!!!!  There will be one winner from all the comments this week and it will be announced at the party tonight!

Happy hoppin'!

An InLinkz Link-up

September Krafty Peeks....Day FIVE!! Holiday Sissy and Holiday Little Bro!

So??  Are you blown away by all the amazing stamp sets so far?

Welcome to Day FIVE of the Christmas Krafty Peeks
at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!

Today we are sharing TWO MORE new stamp sets by our incredible artist, Annie Rodrigue!  These two will round out the family theme stamp sets by Annie!

First is HOLIDAY SISSY who is having a sassy time playing around with the garland decorations!  Do you remember doing this....because I do!  The set comes with the gorgeous main image plus FIVE coordinating sentiments!

Next is HOLIDAY LITTLE BRO who seems to be a tad excited about Christmas!  Like the sentiment says....There's one in every family!  Haha!  The set comes with the main image plus SIX coordinating sentiments!  And don't you love that kitty?

Be sure to join us at the LIVE Online Release Party on Saturday night at 6pm EST!  We'll be checking out ALL the NINE new clear stamp sets, sharing fabulous creations, giving away prizes and having tons of merry fun!

All the Krafty Girls and Guests listed below have lots of cheerful designs to share with you today featuring the
 HOLIDAY SISSY and HOLIDAY LITTLE BRO stamp sets!  
Be sure to hop around and leave lots of love at each and every stop because one lucky commenter will WIN a gift voucher to the krafty shop!  The winner will be announced at the shop so don't miss it!

September Krafty Peeks...Day FOUR! Holiday Daddy-O and Holiday Momma!!

Welcome back to Day FOUR of our September Krafty Peeks
at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!

Can you believe we aren't even HALF way through all of the NINE new stamp sets we are releasing?!  This is going to be an AMAZING holiday release....you have no idea!  ;)

Today we are sharing TWO out of FOUR new stamp sets by our incredible artist, Annie Rodrigue!  I know a lot of you have been waiting for these holiday goodies....and it's time!

First is HOLIDAY DADDY-O!
We've got a fabulous stamp set featuring the patriarch of the family and he's putting the star on the top of the Christmas tree!  It's a lovely large image plus four coordinating sentiments!

Next up is HOLIDAY MOMMA!

Doesn't she look like every momma?  I love her holiday sweater!  She's busy unpacking all the Christmas stockings and decorations.  And the stamp set includes five coordinating sentiments!

Be sure to join us at the LIVE Online Release Party on Saturday night at 6pm EST!  We'll be checking out ALL the NINE new clear stamp sets, sharing fabulous creations, giving away prizes and having tons of merry fun!

All the Krafty Girls and Guests listed below have lots of cheerful designs to share with you today featuring the
 HOLIDAY DADDY-O and HOLIDAY MOMMA stamp sets!  
Be sure to hop around and leave lots of love at each and every stop because one lucky commenter will WIN a gift voucher to the krafty shop!  The winner will be announced at the shop so don't miss it!

September Krafty Peeks....Day THREE! Shake It Up....Polar Bears!!

Welcome to Day THREE of our September Krafty Peeks
at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!

Today we are sharing a second fabulous set from artist, Becky Pearce!  This one is an add-on to the set from yesterday!  Did you love Shake It Up??  Well, this one is 

SHAKE IT UP - POLAR BEARS!

This sweet little 4x4 clear stamp set is full of roly poly polar bear images with lots of accessories and gorgeous sentiments!  You can use it on it's own or in addition to the Shake It Up snowglobe stamp set from yesterday's peeks for an endless combination of possibilities!!  There's a total of SIXTEEN stamp sets in this adorable set!

Be sure to join us at the LIVE Online Release Party on Saturday night at 6pm EST!  We'll be checking out ALL the NINE new clear stamp sets, sharing fabulous creations, giving away prizes and having tons of merry fun!

All the Krafty Girls and Guests listed below have lots of cheerful designs to share with you today featuring the
 SHAKE IT UP - POLAR BEARS stamp set!  
Be sure to hop around and leave lots of love at each and every stop because one lucky commenter will WIN a gift voucher to the krafty shop!  The winner will be announced at the shop so don't miss it!

September Krafty Peeks...Day TWO! Shake It Up!

Welcome to Day TWO of our September Krafty Peeks
at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!

Today we are sharing a preview featuring a fabulous new set from artist, Becky Pearce!  Who loves snow globes????

We are super excited to show you SHAKE IT UP!!

This sweet 4x6 clear stamp set features a fabulous snow globe, of course!  Plus adorable animals, accessory stamps, sentiments and more with a total of EIGHTEEN stamps for an endless combination of design possibilities!

This set was the add-on option for the Surprise Kit preorders a couple of months ago so you'll get to see some extra peeks from our krafty kustomers as you hop around the blogs today!

Be sure to join us at the LIVE Online Release Party on Saturday night at 6pm EST!  We'll be checking out ALL the NINE new clear stamp sets, sharing fabulous creations, giving away prizes and having tons of merry fun!

All the Krafty Girls and Guests listed below have lots of cheerful designs to share with you today featuring the
 SHAKE IT UP stamp set!  
Be sure to hop around and leave lots of love at each and every stop because one lucky commenter will WIN a gift voucher to the krafty shop!  The winner will be announced at the shop so don't miss it!

September Krafty Peeks...Day ONE! Santa Paws!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!
Good morning and welcome to Day ONE of the Christmas Release at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!!

We're thrilled to be sharing this super sized release featuring NINE joyful new clear stamp sets and you'll be seeing new designs all week long with the release going live on Saturday night!

We're kicking things off with this cutie patootie stamp set by artist, Emilie Goulet for all you animal lovers!  We certainly can't forget them at Christmastime!

This set features two ADORABLE images plus three coordinating sentiments at it's called SANTA PAWS!

You might remember the Surprise Kit that was available for preorder a couple of months ago and this was one of the stamp sets in the kit!  And all the krafty kustomers who purchased the kit were invited to help out with the peeks today so you'll see lots of extra guest designers as you hop around the blogs today!  Bonus!

I know you'll agree that this set is just perfect for the 

HOWL-idays!!

Be sure to join us at the LIVE Online Release Party on Saturday night at 6pm EST!  We'll be checking out ALL the NINE new clear stamp sets, sharing fabulous creations, giving away prizes and having tons of merry fun!

All the Krafty Girls and Guests listed below have lots of cheerful designs to share with you today featuring the SANTA PAWS stamp set!  Be sure to hop around and leave lots of love at each and every stop because one lucky commenter will WIN a gift voucher to the krafty shop!  The winner will be announced at the party so don't miss it!

Kraft-tember challenge... Don't forget the inside!

Hey yall!  Krafty Girl Tangii here with our final challenge for the day.  I think that adding even a little something to inside makes a card look so much more "finished" (of course, I frequently forget to do the inside of my cards, lol), so today let's decorate the insides!

For today's card I used BUD'S & BLOOM'S (more details on the making of my card are on my blog, >here<).  For the inside, I added just added some Washi and one of the sentiments from the set.!  Easy Peasy!!!  I like the look, and I still have plenty of room for writing inside!

Here's the outside/front of my card.  I decided I wanted to make the front panel of my card wonky (that peach cs that you see is actually the inside of the card!).   Ok, now it's YOUR turn!  You can take one of the cards you've already made today for one of our other challenges and jazz-up the inside, or you can start a new one... up to you!!  You have all week to get these challenges done, and when you're ready be sure to share them on the KKS Friends FB page (we have folders for each challenge for you to add your pics to!).  Happy stamping!

Kraft-Tember Krafty Crop - 3PM Edition from Danielle

Hello krafty friends!

Hope you are enjoying your weekend?

Are you getting krafty and playing along with us for

the special KRAFT-TEMBER KRAFTY CROP going

on in the Kraftin' Kimmie Facebook Friends Group?

There's already been some fabulous challenges

put out there by my fellow Krafty Girls! 

It's my turn to issue the 3pm EST challenge!

The challenge, should you decide to accept it...

is to make a seasonal card featuring an animal.

I just can't stop playing with the new release from

last month! So many adorable critters - owls, bats,

a cat, and a little friendly goat.  EEEE so CUTE! 

This is a FALL card that could also be used for

halloween.  LOVE the rich beautiful colors

in this patterned paper.  Here's the inside with

some more adorable critters.

Stamp sets used are: Autumn Wishes (goat & front

sentiment) and Harvest Blessings (inside).

Come join us for the fun and prizes!

You have until September 18th to submit

your entries in the photo folders in the 

Facebook Group.  Stay tuned for the last 

challenge of the day from Krafty Girl Tangii!

Kraft-tember Tutorial/Challenge - Larisa (Flowers)

Hello!  Welcome to Kraft-tember! Larisa here sharing a fun Krafty Tutorial and Challenge! It's all about FLOWERS!  I see so many posts from fellow crafters who struggle with arranging paper flowers and ask for advice so I thought I would pop in here and share a little tutorial about what works for me.

 

Scroll down to the bottom of page for Challenge Details. 

 

First I start with my card... I decided to use one of the adorable Gnomes from the Whimsical Gnomes Set to create a Christmas card.  I masked in a little candy cane which will be available in one of the new sets that will preview this week! 

 

 

Then, I gather my supplies.  I typically use paper flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, but I found these poinsettias at Hobby Lobby in the Christmas section and I thought they would be perfect for my card.  I also picked up some long red stamens in the same section.  The leaves are from Wild Orchid Crafts, and I always use my glue gun to attach paper flowers.  Out of all the products I've used, it think it works the best for adhering them quickly and securely. 

 

After, I have gathered my supplies, I try to get a general idea of where I would like the flowers to go.  Almost always, I try to anchor them in the corner of my stamped image.  I find that if you have them "floating" in the middle of the card, it just looks a little off.  So I usually put them in one of the bottom or top corners. 

 

Somewhere along the line, I heard that it's best to arrange flowers in odd numbers so I do try to stick to this, although it doesn't ALWAYS happen that way.  Sometimes they end up being even, but I always start out with the intention of using an odd number. 

 

I start with the largest flower first and put it in the corner of my image.  Then I place my smaller flowers on the sides and create a little fame-effect.  If I have more than two sizes of flowers I want to use, I just start with the largest and work my way down.  Tiny flowers are perfect for tucking into the arrangement at the end. 

 

The next step is to add in any extras.  This might be leaves, sprays, pearls, die cut swirls, die cut branches or foliage, etc.  For my card, I will be adding a couple of paper leaves and the red long stamens.  For the stamens, I like to bend them in half so that

one side is just a little longer than the other.  These particular ones have a wire center so they hold their shape after you bend them.  When adding something like leaves, I try to balance the arrangement out.  The flowers are mostly on the right side so I add my leaves to the left side.  Also, notice I'm adding two leaves so that I will still have an odd number of items in my arrangement.  :)

 

 

I lay everything out on my card and make sure it's where I want it.  Notice I tucked the stamen in as well.  I like to create a sense of height with items like these so I will usually put them at the top and one on the bottom, extending the little frame arrangement.  Then I just add a little here and there where I feel like there's an open spot. 

 

Once I've laid it all out and I'm happy with it, then I glue it down with my glue gun.  I start with the bottom layer first so I glue down the leaves, then the stamen and finally the flowers.  After I finished, it still felt like the arrangement needed something so I added some tiny pinecones that I also found in the Christmas section at Hobby Lobby. 

 

 

I added a little banner and button and here you have it, my finished card!  Hope this tutorial was helpful.  If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to ask. 

 

Now it's your turn!  Grab those paper flowers you have laying around and get busy Krafting! 

 

KRAFT-TEMBER CHALLENGE- Use Flowers!!  Don't have any paper flowers or maybe it's not your thing?  No problem, just use flowers somewhere on your card.  Maybe in the image or paper, or a die cut!  You have all week to play along and don't forget to check back in two hours for another fabulous Tutorial/Challenge!  You can upload your creations under the correct folder in the Facebook Group!  Happy Krafting! 

 

Kraft-tember Challenge - Alexis

Hey all Krafty Friends!!!!

Krafty Girl Alexis here with your 11AM challenge.

My challenge to you is to create something using your favorite colors!

For my favorite colors I used pink and teal!

I used TEACUP FAIRY on my card and used the same colors for her!!

You will notice that I colored her dress in teal and her wings have a mixture of both colors.

Don't forget to post your creation in the photo album on the Krafty Friends Facebook Group!!

Come back in another 2 hours for another fun challenge.

Kraft-tember Challenge - Lisa

Anyone awake and ready for todays Krafty Krop? 

Lisa here, and I'll give you the first Challenge.
Make a CAS Card!

I've made a video coloring my image with Copic Markers 

followed by putting the card together. 

Fasten your seatbelts and don't be to scared at the beginning... lol

Check back for next challenge in 2 hours,

and don't forget to keep an eye at Kraftin Kimmie's Krafty Friends fb group too!

Have fun!

/ Lisa

Challenge #348. Shaped Cards

Hi everyone! Welcome to another challenge at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!

We always enjoy your creations so be sure to submit them so you can have a chance to WIN a $20 gift card to the Shop!! Show us your stuff!! In keeping in line with the rest of our challenges (Wonderful Wednesday and our NEW Krafty Scrappy Challenge), we will be drawing one winner per month from all Saturday Challenge entries to win a $20 gift card!! You can enter as many times per month as you'd like!!

Have you joined the Kraftin Kimmie's Krafty Friends fb group??  It's the best place to keep up with all of the goings on as well as sharing YOUR creations and getting inspired by other Krafty Friends' creations!!!

Lots of fun stuff going on at KKS... you still have until the 12th to get your submissions in for the Krafty Guest Contest!

You have until Sunday to MAKE YOUR OWN SALE!!  Use code LETSGETKRAFTY to get 25% off your order from the Krafty Store!  Happy shoppin' yall!!

Last but certainly not least... did you see the Krafty Komeback news?!?  Be sure to head on over to the Kraftin Kimmie Stamps Friends FB page for all of the details on these events!!

OH!!!! and yeah, peeks start this coming MONDAY!!!!  It's a doozy of a release so jam-packed with cuteness, we had to start a couple of days early!!

In addition to the great Krafty Challenges & Wonderful Wednesday, each month we will post a Sketch.  The sketch will last all month long and if you use it in ANY of our Challenges or WW's during that month you will get an additional chance to win a store gift card!  You do NOT have to use the sketch, it's just a little extra boost for your mojo if ya need it!  Here is September's sketch...

Now create a card, scrapbook page or altered item with a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp or any other stamp and be sure to use our THEME as a starting point for your creation!!!  You will have until September 23rd at 11:55 pm EST to get your entries in!

Pull out those fabby stamps and play along!  Have some krafty fun and join us this week!! 

This week our theme is to create A Shaped Card!
 Here is my card using the Ice Ice Baby set

I Hope You Can Join us!

Wonderful Wednesday

It's Wonderful Wednesday time!!  We hope you can play along!!  As always....it's ANYTHING GOES!!  Break out your Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps and get krafty!!

Holy snickerdoodles!!!  So much good stuff going on!  First off, you still have until the 12th to get your submissions in for the Krafty Guest Contest!

The Krafty Krop is this Saturday!!!  Join Kimmie and some of the Krafty Girls for a day of online "hangin' out"!

Last but certainly not least... did you see the Krafty Komeback news?!?  Be sure to head on over to the Kraftin Kimmie Stamps Friends FB page for all of the details on these events!!

OH!!!! and yeah, peeks start this coming MONDAY!!!!  It's a doozy of a release so jam-packed with cuteness, we had to start a couple of days early!!

Oh, and one more thing... the winner for the August WW's is Amanda A, congratulations!!!  Please email Kimmie for your prize!

We want EVERYONE to be able to play along so your submission can use ANY stamp and can be any theme, any style, any design and it can be a card, a scrapbook page, an altered item....you name it!!  It must be a NEW creation and you can enter on this post until September 20th at midnight!  At the end of the month one random winner will be chosen from all the submissions for the whole month and will receive a $20 Gift Card to the shop!!!  What do you think.....wanna WIN??  Let's see your krafty stuff!!

In addition to the great Krafty Challenges & Wonderful Wednesday, each month we will post a Sketch.  The sketch will last all month long and if you use it in ANY of our Challenges or WW's during that month you will get an additional chance to win a store gift card!  You do NOT have to use the sketch, it's just a little extra boost for your mojo if ya need it!  Here is September's sketch...

Hello! Larisa here hosting this week's Wonderful Wednesday.   Have you started on your Christmas Cards yet?  Less than four months left!  Haha!  No worries, you have plenty of time and this adorable set is perfect!  Today, I'm sharing a card featuring No Peeking. Isn't it just the cutest set ever!  Love it! 

Can't wait to see what you create! 

   

Krafty Tips and Tutes - Stamping 101

Happy Monday Everyone! Here in Canada we are celebrating Labour day which means a day of getting krafty for me.  Are you able to get some krafty time in today?

We had a wonderful lady awhile back ask about stamping basics so I am here today to talk about tips and tricks I have come to find helpful when working with my stamps.

What I like to do first when I get my stamps from Miss Kimmie is clean them. Sometimes in the manufacturing process there is residue left on them. I like to either use baby wipes or a stamp cleaner with a scrubbie. Once cleaned I will then prime my stamps. What I will do is ink it up and stamp the image a few times on scrap paper I have. This allows you to not only check the stamp(s) for defects but also gets some ink on there before you start stamping up your images on your good paper.

Storage:
You will definitely want to store your stamps whether in the bags them came in or a storage container. This keeps dust off the semi-tacky stamps which will hold that dust. Do NOT use baggies as the stamps react and can melt the baggies. You will also want to keep them out of direct sunlight as UV rays are not good for the stamps. Below are the bags I use to store my stamps that don't have their own packaging.

Ink Pads:
You can use whichever kind of ink you would like. There is a little controversy over what effect Solvent based ink (Staz-On) have on the stamps. I haven't found any issue with this type of ink however just to be careful I ink, stamp, and clean right away - I don't leave this type of ink on my stamps for too long.

Ways of getting ink on a stamp:
OK here is the fun part!!! It is so interesting learning how each person does this differently!
I have met people who press their stamps into their ink pad and people who pat the ink pad onto the stamp. I actually tend to hold my stamp on my block in one hand and pat the stamp pad on the stamp with the other.
How do you ink yours?

Stamping:

When I stamp my image I prefer to do this on a surface which has a little give. One of the best and inexpensive ways I found to do this is to put your paper on a thin mouse pad and then stamp on it. I use my Close to My Heart mat which has a foam pad under the surface. The reason I like to stamp on something that gives is so that the middle of image comes out cleanly. I found with some larger stamps that the full image doesn't come out if I am stamping on a hard surface. Other stampers prefer not to however I would suggest try stamping your images on copy paper on a multitude of surfaces and see what you prefer.

To the left is an example of what can sometimes happen.
Photo credit: Krafty Girl Stephanie 

Cleaning: 
As mentioned above I prefer to use baby wipes, or a spray with my scrubbie. For my baby wipes I prefer to get an unscented alcohol free brand (alcohol I have also read is not a good thing for the stamps either).  There are a few things I wouldn't suggest using such as Kleenex or paper towels as these may leave lint on the stamps which will then transfer when you stamp your next image. Lawn Fawn has also recently come out with a shammy which I have been told is pretty awesome.  One product I also wouldn't suggest using on photopolymer is Staz-On cleaner. I have talked to several people that have had bad experiences with this product and photopolymer stamps.

Paper: 
I generally use different types of mediums so I work with a multitude of different types of papers. I have used and have great results with copic papers (X-press It, Neenah, Spectrum Noir, Cryogen), watercolor paper, and plain cardstock (staples).

I must note though this is what I generally do. I know each stamper has their own way with working with their own stamps. What I suggest is to use this as a starting point in figuring out what works for you!

I would love to hear from you about what you think or if there is anything you find that works for you!

Cheers,
Krafty Girl Alexis

Welcome our New Krafty Girl!

Please forgive me for being so behind with introducing our newest addition to the Krafty Girl team!!  I'm so thrilled to have her join us with her fabulous creations and artistic talents!
You may remember her as being a Guest Designer in the past, so be sure to say hello and welcome, BRIANNA!

Hello my name is Brianna aka The Happy Scrapper in crafting world. I'm beyond excited to be joining the Krafty Crew! I've been privileged to guest design for Kimmie multiple times, so there was no hesitation when she asked me if I'd be a Full time Krafty Girl. I just adore this company and everyone involved in it! I have been blogging since March of 2012 but have been crafting way before then. I have always had a love for Rubberstamping. I remember coming across my momma's wooden stamps when I was about 5 years old and haven't looked back since. I come from a pretty crafty family, but I'd have to say I'm the most obsessed lol. Other than paper crafts I also enjoy; crocheting, sewing and beading. When I'm not crafting you can typically find me at home in quiet Northern Minnesota, spending time with family. I just celebrated 7 years of marriage with my wonderful hubby Jeffrey. We have two amazing little boys together, Jayden(5) and Braxtyn(1). I also work full time as a Manager at our local UPS store and have happily been doing so for the past 10 years. I can't wait to get to know you all better and I know we will have an amazing Krafty relationship.