Not just one but THREE WINNERS!

How cool is it that I have not just one, but THREE spots to give away in Shimelle's TRUE STORIES journaling class?! I'm so excited!

So without further ado, here are the lucky ladies! Can't wait to see you there!



Ladies, if you contact me asap at kelly(dot)goree(at)gmail(dot)com, I'll get your emails to Shimelle asap so you can get registered and started first thing tomorrow! I hope you enjoy yourselves!
I'm off for a day of football - the last season game for my boy and his Colts! Wish us luck! If we win today, we win our division! (AND that means the early game on Halloween - yes, seriously!)
xoxo,
k.

True Story!

I have been a huge fan of the adorable Shimelle Laine for quite a while. She is quirky, glittery and everything fun all in one petite little package. I would just love to be like her when I grow up so imagine how excited I was when she asked me to join her on her latest class adventure - TRUE STORIES!

True Stories is an online class that starts on the 25th of October, but it can be completed at any time. It lasts three weeks, with fifteen full-colour PDF prompts delivered straight to your inbox, Mondays through Fridays. From the beginning, there is absolutely no way to ‘fall behind’ or ‘not finish’ because it’s not that kind of class. You can follow along by working on a prompt each day if you would like, but you can also keep the prompts as a reference for when they come in useful for your own scrapbooking, blogging or other story-telling needs.

True Stories covers fifteen different ways to approach your story and commit it to paper. You can use these prompts as a scrapbooker and see your journaling evolve to something that will be a treasure to read. You can use the prompts as a blogger to make your entries feel like honest, unique and compelling tales. Or you can just use them in general as a collection of ways to add a bit more excitement to your writing if you’re feeling like you’re in a rut of writing the same way on every project.

The topic of journaling your story is very dear to my heart but when Shimelle asked me to join in, I realized just how much I have been getting away from the things I want to tell. My husband and I had even talked about it the night before - about all the little events that had happened with our boys and I realized I hadn't gotten down even ONE of them. As Shimelle says: "...Scrapbooking is [about] pretty paper and true stories. I’ve taught plenty of classes about the pretty paper. This time, we’re going to focus on True Stories."

I so hope that you'll join along with us in this adventure. I know it's going to be such an exciting journey and SO worth it! Please check it out here and get signed up today. You'll be so glad you did! And to add to the excitement, I'm going to give away ONE SPOT in TRUE STORIES to one of you fabulous readers! Simply leave a comment here telling me what you'd like to get out of this class by FRIDAY, October 22nd at 11:59 PM Eastern and you will be entered to win.

Remember CLASS STARTS MONDAY, the 25th! See you there!

xoxo, k.

Haunted Whoo-Ligans!

A couple of weeks ago I had the honor of being asked by the adorable Jamie Sorenson to be a guest blogger at Two Peas during their upcoming SpookCRAFTular Halloween event! It took me about 3 seconds to consider it. 2Peas + Halloween + scrapbooking = HECK YES!

I was especially thrilled as I completely adore Halloween - it's by far my favorite holiday (probably because my birthday is just two days later!) I love everything about it from the costumes to the candy to the cool night air, but it's the decorations that really get me excited. I start no later than the 1st of October putting out my mums, pumpkins and hay bales but I don't stop with just the outdoors. Nope, my embellishing goes throughout my entire house, especially when it comes to handmade pieces and touches.

So after my email from Jamie, I then had the fun of deciding what I wanted to make. I knew I wanted to do something decor-related ...and then I stumbled upon the adorable Whoo-Ligans line by Bo Bunny and that was it.



Can you blame me? I couldn't get enough of those little monsters and creatures and once I saw this fun album Little Yellow Bicycle, I knew exactly what my creation would be - a Haunted Whoo-Ligans banner!




To start, I first took apart the album pieces and then re-arranged them on my craft table for a bit of variety. I covered each piece with a different paper from the same Whoo-Ligans line (as well as a bit of plain cardstock) and re-punched just a single hole so I could string it with the metal rings to join each piece once I was done.




Once the pages were covered with paper, I set about laying out all the different chipboard creatures trying to create a scene that looked like they were going in and out of different haunted houses. (I think I was going for a Monsters, Inc. feel as I love that movie!) Little details like pen work accents, windows and doors that were layered to create depth gave it a more "real" feel. (The irony!) I think I used all but maybe 3 pieces from the entire chipboard sheet that's how much I love them!




And finally, as always I love to extend my artwork beyond the traditional surface it's being created on to give it more interest. To do this with the banner, I found some medium gauge wire and wrapped it around a pencil to create spirals. Then I used some strong tape to tape one end to the back and then poked the other end through the bottom (or top) of the chipboard piece I wanted to highlight. That way, the owl and ghost look like they are flying and the spider like it's crawling up to the house.





With a couple of pieces of ribbon at the end rings, you have an adorable spooktacular banner that took no time at all!

I hope you'll keep coming back to 2peas and enjoying all the inspiring, spooky crafts this month! Have a Happy Friday!
xoxo,
k.

Oh, Yes! It's TRUE!

We know it's what you've all been waiting for! At long last, we can finally say the words (and believe me, we're more excited than YOU are!) It's baaaaack and better than EVER...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Inspire! Motivate! Create! All in the *NEW* BasicGrey Gallery

[October, 2010]

Get lost in the inspiration… of our newly improved, recently released BasicGrey Gallery at basicgrey.com. A monumental success, the Gallery is a sorely missed staple that customers have anticipated eagerly (and anxiously), so we’re please to bring back a newly revamped, re-energized, revitalized gallery that’s ready to wow and impress. Jaws off the floor, please.

Ready for some motivation? Then “get your click on” to view projects shared by the most renowned designers in the trade, using every loved and adored BasicGrey product you can name. You’ll love the new format, which includes a “tagging” feature that allows users to highlight pages for theme, color, style, techniques, etc. When uploading items, designers can easily use this feature to filter photos into categories, making for swift searches by our Gallery guests.

Stir your own creativity... Not sure how to use those awesome rub-ons or killer stamps? Have a line of paper you’re dying to work into an album? And what kind of mini-albums can you create with BasicGrey? Search the gallery by products and get instant creation ideas.

Even Gallery guests can participate. And who doesn’t love kudos on their work? Leave comments for designers and friends who have items posted in the gallery.

We think you’ll love the new-and-improved gallery, just a short click away at basicgrey.com. To get you even more inspired to share your projects, we will be doing an Upload Drive Giveaway for the next two weeks from October 14th to 28th! Every day we will pick one project we love and offer the designer a free BasicGrey Collection Pack, or $20 gift certificate for BasicGrey.com.

BasicGrey prides itself on creating innovative, value-driven, high-quality product. Simply the best – that’s BasicGrey.

*********************************************

So what are you waiting for??! GET TO CLICKIN'! :)

Happy Happy Thursday!
xo,

k.

And the Rainbow goes to...

SHELBY VALADEZ!

HUGE congrats to Shelby for being the winner of the BIC Mark-it 36 color set of permanent markers! I know you'll put them to good use! Just email me your addy so I can send it on to my representative at BIC!

A big announcement is coming from BG VERY soon! Stay tuned, you don't want to miss it!
Happy Thursday, all!
xoxo,
k.

Wordless Wednesday

(Ahhhh! Can you feel it? It's here!)

Ok, just a couple of words - Don't forget to enter my fab giveaway below and your own personal happy rainbow could be on its way to you! Simply click here! Contest open until midnight tonight!

Happy Wednesday!
xo,
k.

My Happy Rainbow

Those of you that know me well know just how much I love color. This love affair has gone back as far as when I was a little girl and had rainbow sheets and lavender walls! (Please don't judge ;))

I adore color in my clothes, accessories, scrapbook pages and more. I can't get enough of happy rainbows of color so you can imagine how absolutely over-the-moon excited I was to be contacted by BIC and asked if I was interested in reviewing their new 36-color-set of ultra fine point permanent markers. Um, YES!

But I truly wasn't prepared for the package when it arrived just a couple of days later. First, the array of colors was just incredible. There was everything from the palest salmon pinks to the deepest plums and everything in between. I couldn't get over the variety of colors that I had never seen in a permanent marker set. When I finally got myself to open them (I love pretty packages), I was really impressed with the the opacity and fluidity of the color as well. The light colors, while very light and soft, were also considerably opaque. While I wouldn't use the lightest shades to write on dark cardstock, they were still bold enough to be seen clearly on any lighter shade you might want to use. I also tested them on textured cardstock because that's what I use most often both in scrapbooking and cardmaking. The BIC pens were much more fluid than I could have imagined for a permanent marker and because the tips are fine there was no skipping! How great, right?!

But it just gets better. As in love with this new happy rainbow of color *I* am, one of you can be as well! BIC has generously agreed to give away a set of 36 markers just like the one I have to one of my lucky readers because they know just how fabulous you are, too!



So here's how you can get in on this: Leave me a comment on what makes YOU happy as well as what pen color you'd like to see and you can be entered to win! Entries will be accepted until 11:59 PM Eastern time WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6th! So get in on this while you can!

Have a colorful day!
xo,
k.

seriously FALL perfect!

YUMMY apples + fudge + fresh-popped Kettle Corn = seriously perfect!

It's no secret that I love love loveeeeeeeeee Fall and as soon as it hit October, the weather has cooperated 100% with sunny skies and cool temps. So Saturday we headed out to Evans Orchard for some apples, fudge, kettle corn and outdoor fun. If you are anywhere near the Georgetown, KY area, you so need to get there and check it out!

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves :)

Happy Fall, y'all!
xo,
k.

Happy World Cardmaking Day!

Hello, all! Happy Saturday and Happy World Cardmaking Day!

While I never considered myself a card-maker, I have become one by default (or so I say!) and I truly love making (and receiving) homemade gems. And because of that I am so excited to share this fun card I did to help Scrapbook & Cards Today celebrate the making handmade cards with you and all their readers. For their part, they are presenting a card a month for all of 2011 - all featuring 12 different designers and 12 different card sketches (by the talented Becky Fleck)!

Apparently I'm Miss January (ha!) and I was asked to create a winter-themed card for the month which I did (see below). For more details on this card, its sketch and how to make it (complete how-tos!) along with the other 11 incredible cards and designers, be sure to visit them AND get entered to win their amazing giveaway!

Winter Greetings Card by Kelly Goree
supplies: Bazzill cardstock; BasicGrey patterned paper, button; Melissa Frances chipboard snowflake; jute; Fiskars border punch; Cuttlebug embossing folder; Colorbox (Clearsnap) ink; Pentel pen; Scrapbook Adhesives (3L) adhesive.

I also had the honor of sharing this card over at the Papercraft Inspirations blog. Papercrafts Inspirations is a UK Scrapbooking Magazine and they were having a Christmas (In October :)) party! They showcased this little Jovial card and again, full instructions appear on their site! (How cool is this?!)

Prettig Kerstfeest by Kelly Goree
Supplies: Bazzill cardstock; BasicGrey Paper, Pop sticker; Pentel pen; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L adhesive; Fiskars border punch

Finally, I drew for the winner of my EERIE Prize pack! Huge Congratulations to Wendi!! Email me at kelly(dot)goree(at)gmail(dot)com to claim your prize!



Have a wonderful fall Saturday! We're off to the apple orchard for some cider and pie! (Of course pictures to come! :))
xoxo,
k.

SpookCRAFTular October

In keeping with spookCRAFTular month of October, there just *may* be a little something from me here in the coming days. (Have I told you how much I love fall & Halloween? lol) Rumor has it, it's going to be a fantastic and inspiring event! Stay tuned and keep watching over at 2Peas!

Don't forget, the contest is still open until midnight tonight in the post below. Go there to leave your "why I love fall" comment and be entered to win the Eerie prize pack!

Happy Friday!
xoxo,
k.