On the 10th day of December...

I want to share with you one of my new favorite websites - Easy Canvas Prints!

As a photographer wanna-be of the highest degree, I am a sucker for good photo printing and I love it even more when that photo is printed on canvas. Since I love giving my photos as gifts I have tried several different websites especially at the holidays but the the quality at Easy Canvas Prints is just truly superior. Their shipping is fast and reasonable - if not free depending on the specials they have at the time, their packaging is very secure and the canvases are gorgeous. But for me it is the customer service that really put them over the top. They address any questions or concerns quickly and professionally and they are incredibly friendly all at the same time.

I ordered the below canvas of the boys (finally a canvas for ME!) and it came in a week including shipping. How's that for service?

Easy Canvas Prints offers great options like choosing frame depth, wrapping of the image, mirror wrap or solid color wrap. And I don't know if you can tell well from this photo, but mine has a solid color wrap (black) on the sides so it looks like it's already in a frame from the side. I love having choices.

Now I have a reason for YOU to love Easy Canvas Prints as well! They have generously offered my awesome readers a gift code for $10 off a canvas of your choice! Simply go HERE and enter the code: 063455896433

Happy Printing and have a wonderful weekend! I'll be back Monday with another special post and perhaps a bit more of my December daily! I can't wait to share it with you!

Before I go, the winner of my Nordic Holiday giveaway is MARGIE!!

Congrats, Margie!! Please contact me at kelly(dot)goree(at)gmail(dot)com to claim your prize!!!

xoxo,

kg

On the 9th Day of December...it's the HERO ARTS BLOG HOP

Hi there!

Are you ready?! I have something super-special for you today. And I'm so excited I can't stand it! Welcome,everyone, to the the 2012 Hero Arts Catalog Blog Hop!

I always love it when I can promote my favorite companies especially when I can combine them with my love for BasicGrey and today I get to do just that! The awesome folks at Hero Arts generously sent me a few of their 2012 Catalog releases and they are gorgeous!

For the below layout, you *might* be able to tell that I tried to channel my inner Stephanie Dagan (*tried* being the operative word!). I've always been a huge fan of both hers and Susan Weinroth's and the way they are able to include so much eye candy within a clean and linear style. I'm not sure I got there, but it's so much fun to play around with a different style every now and then. :)

The CL570 This is Big clear stamps ended up being just perfect for this layout about my son making his first Honor Roll! As I'm still a bit too nervous to stamp directly onto a project, I first stamped onto my chosen papers before I then punched or cut out the design. For "Whoo Hoo" I stamped with clear Versamark ink, then embossed it with white Zing! When I was done, it was just a tad *too* white for the page's creamy colors so I took some brown chalk ink and rubbed it over it just a bit to tone it down. The other stamps in this set that I used are the "This is BIG", "WOW" and "You can do it!" What a great collection, right?!

Supplies: Hero Arts Stamps CL570 THIS IS BIG; BasicGrey OXFORD papers, Element stickers, alpha stickers, glazed brads; chipboard elements; American Crafts ZING! Embossing Powder and ink; Versamark ink.

Here's a few close-ups of these amazing stamps....

I'd love it if you'd leave a comment telling me what you love about Hero Stamps, BasicGrey, stamping or all of the above! By leaving a comment, you will be entered for a chance to win one of five prize packs that include brand new 2012 Catalog stamps that will be chosen from ALL of the blog hop comments received by midnight PST on Monday, December 12, and will be announced on the Hero Arts blog shortly thereafter. So that means MANY chances to get your name in!

So hop on over to the next blog in our chain - BASICGREY!! (I know, you're shocked, right?!)

Remember, if you find a link in our hop that just doesn't work, you can always hop back to the Hero Arts Blog for a list of direct links to all the blogs in the hop.

OH! And just a couple more things I have to share:

BasicGrey has loved teaming up with Hero Arts who produces beautiful, high-quality cling rubber, wood and clear acrylic stamps with BasicGrey's collections. As an added treat for one week only, all available BasicGrey Hero Arts stamps are 20% off MSRP at basicgrey.com! Click here to see everything available! (PS, click Buy Online to filter only those available).

And my Nordic Holiday giveaway is still open in the post below! Just click here after leaving your comment for Hero Arts! (So many chances to win, why you'd think it must be CHRISTMAS! :D)

Happy Thursday!

Enjoy your day!
xoxo,

kg

On the 8th Day of December...

WINNER:

Congrats, Margie!! Please contact me at kelly(dot)goree(at)gmail(dot)com to claim your prize!!!

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....I'd love to share with you something that I hope will make your life easier!

I mean, PEOPLE! It's DECEMBER!! Gasp! If you've been in denial like I usually (ok, still) am, you're just starting to realized that with the hustle and bustle of the holidays that there's just not enough hours in the day to get all that you need to done. Right?!

So I'm here here to help!These super easy holiday cards are so quick that it will knock one more "to do" off your list in no time. These cards are no more than a few strips of paper wrapped in twine for instant hand-crafted cuteness that be sure to please anyone on your holiday card list.

I actually used our gorgeous BasicGrey JOVIAL line for these cards, but they can easily be adapted to our latest Nordic Holiday or anything else you might choose.

Here's what you'll need to get started:

Cardstock, twine/jute, glazed brads, 3 patterns of paper, snowflake diecuts, a scallop border punch, a printer and a corner rounder - if you choose.

That's really it!

So let's make some cards:

(Finished card 5"x5")

1. Trim cardstock into 5"x10" strips. Run them through printer to add your desired sentiment a 1/2" from the bottom of the strip.

2. Fold cards in half and round the bottom two corners.

3. Trim a 5"x4" block of one patterned paper and adhere across the top of each card.

4. Trim a 5"x1/4" strip of the same patterned paper and adhere just under the sentiment of each card.

5. Trim a 5"x1" strip of yuor second patterned paper (we prefer a vertical stripe here for contrast but it's up to you!) and adhere across each card 1 1/2" from the bottom.

6. Trim 5"x1/4" strips of the third paper using a scallop border punch. Adhere across each card directly under the strip from step 5.

7. Adhere a snowflake diecut (here we used our awesome Sizzix/BasicGrey template) to the horizontal strip of each card approximately 1" from the right side.

8. Wrap twine around each card and tie in a bow right over the snowflake diecut.

9. Secure snowflake with a glazed brad (or any brad/button) and you're done!

Now you can go mark one more thing off your holiday chore list! And with all that free time you have, don't forget to still check out BasicGrey's countdown to Christmas on their website (www.basicgrey.com). There are tons of great freebies and recipes and more as our little gift to you!

But you didn't think that was it, did you? Of course not! I can't let you try and make some cards without some PAPER...and some stickers as well! No way! So here's the drill:

Please leave your name and what you still have "to do" on your holiday list in the comments and you can be entered to win a NORDIC HOLIDAY collection pack of BasicGrey for your very own! This giveaway will end without any further notice so get your name in now! Please only one entry per person!

Have a wonderful day! I'll be back tomorrow with a special surprise!

xoxo,

kg

On the 5th & 6th Day of December....

I just want to pop on quickly to show a few more pages of my December Daily that some of you have asked for (I'm still caught up - It's a true Christmas miracle!) and to announce the winner of my giveaway below.

I'll be back soon with yet another giveaway and then I have something really special on Friday for you! I promise you won't want to miss that one!

So now for the new DD pages:

Day 2 brought the first visit from our "legendary" Christmas Squirrel! The boys look forward to it every year (as do we :)). I included the actual story in the little Maya Road pocket that you can see below.

Day 3 was a low-key day. Knowing we wouldn't have many of them this month, we took full advantage and had a family lazy day complete with Wii Monopoly and some homemade cookies.

Supplies: Bazzill CS; Jillibean PP, diecuts, stickers; Maya Road envie; BasicGrey number and alpha stickers

Day 5 was spent outside hanging up holiday lights. While it doesn't look like tons it did take a while and I was thrilled to get it done before the rains came (now it's been raining the past 2 days - ick!)

And then Day 5 I got to spend lunch with one of my dear friends, Shannon. We try to do those lunches fairly regularly but it had been ages since the last one. I owe her for posing for a photo...and Shan, if you're reading this, I'm still bitter about Santa not being in it with us! :P

Supplies: Bazzill CS; Jillibean PP, diecuts, stickers; BasicGrey number and alpha stickers

Today was St. Nicholas Day. The shoes were left out and filled and even the page is finished!

Supplies: Bazzill CS; Jillibean PP, diecuts, stickers; BasicGrey PP, number and alpha stickers

And finally, we have a WINNER of the Scrapbook & Cards Today's winter issue and PageMaps calendar!

Congrats, Grace! Email me at kelly(dot)goree(at)gmail(dot)com to claim your prize!

I hope you're off to a great week!

xoxo,

kg

On the 3rd & 4th day of December...

I want to share with you....

....the cover and first day of my December daily. Believe it or not (even *I* can hardly believe it!) I'm actually caught up to today (Day 4), but wasn't able to photo the finished pages due to icky rainy weather and the fact that it now gets dark at noon. :P

I must admit I am completely enamored with this little album. I have had such fun borrowing little tidbits and techniques that I've been dying to try as well as mixing a hodge-podge of different materials and manufacturers all in one little cute 6"x8" package.

Like what you might ask? Well to start, the sweet little tree on my cover. I totally swiped that from my uber-talented friend Summer Fullerton and her winter cover of Scrapbook & Cards Today. I have such an abundance of sweet little stitched brads from BasicGrey and what better way to use them? I might have actually squealed when I finished with it. It just makes me happy. And check out those old school Making Memories grommets. Those puppies have been in my stash for 5 years or more? More....and then some I'm sure, but they were just perfect here. (I always knew I'd find just the right project for them!) They fit easily into the corrugated cardboard I cut for the front and back cover. I had used a 6x6" album last year and it ended up being just a bit smaller than I'd have liked. I think this 6"x8" size is going to be a favorite.

Supplies: BasicGrey Brads, green alphas; Doodlebug alphas; Jillibean diecuts and paper; Heidi Swapp star; Making Memories grommets; twine

Then for the intro I used some easy Jillibean diecuts and a take on a fab sketch by my friend Becky Fleck at PageMaps. I'm planning on using quite a few of Beck's sketches on this project because a) they rock and b) they keep me from having to think too hard when I'm busy this season. It's the perfect combination. I also loved how Kendra McCracken included a little blurb about why do a December Daily album in hers, so I modified the wording just a bit and included it in mine as well.

Supplies: Jillibean Soup (all but); October Afternoon (snowflake paper).

And then day 1. For us Christmas begins and ends (quite literally) with our tree. This first spread is dedicated to that. I loved the shot of the tree that showed all the bokeh in the lights so I made it a full page image and then just inserted photos of my boys decorating it. It was that easy. The other page just reminds me of how tiny my guys still are even though it seems like they're growing by the second. It makes me want to smile and cry all at the same time.

Supplies: BasicGrey PP (tree/stripe), number sticker; Jillibean pp and diecuts; Heidi Swapp star

I'm feeling very accomplished right now. This AND outdoor holiday lights knocked out in a 48 hour period! ;) I am going to try my best to keep up with it as it's just one little something I'm doing for ME this holiday season.

So tell me - are you doing a DD? Want to link me to yours?! If you're not doing a DD, is there something else you're doing just for you? I think everyone deserves to treat themselves nicely and not just everyone else especially during the craziness of the holidays!

Hope your weekend was magical! And remember! I still have a giveaway open in the post below. Don't miss it as I'll probably close it up tomorrow!

xoxo,

kg

On the 2nd Day of December....

WINNER!

Congrats, Grace! Email me at kelly(dot)goree(at)gmail(dot)com to claim your prize!

...I want to give to you.....

Not only the brand new WINTER issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today that is being released just TODAY (as if that wasn't amazing enough!), but also....

...this amazing 2012 Scrapbook & Cards Today + Page Maps inspirational sketch calendar!!

I know, right?! I'm so thrilled to be a part of both of these amazing publications and I am MORE thrilled to be sharing them with you! Just check out that amazing cover Summer Fullerton did for the winter issue. I'm in love with it (and plan on doing one of those brad trees myself on a project this holiday (hello, December Daily?!) and that's just the cover! Seriously - the issue is THAT amazing!

Then there's that 2012 calendar. What better way to keep you organized than with inspirational sketches and layouts all year long? It's spectacular and has tons of new features not one of which is step out photography for great techniques that you're going to want to try!

And yes! I want to give one of each to one of you!! Falalaaaaa!
Please leave your name and one of your favorite things about the holidays (or the mag or calendar) and you'll be entered to win! Please only one entry per person! I'm not sure when I'm going to close this contest so get in now!

p.s. Scrapbook & Cards Today is having a 12 days of Christmas inspiration going on at their website now featuring some awesome designers if I do say so myself ;) so you won't want to miss that OR BasicGrey's 25 Days of Christmas on their site! Both are going to get you so ready for the holidays!

Have a wonderful day!

xoxo,

kg

On the 1st day of December...

....I want to give to you....

my heartfelt thanks for sticking with me during 2011! I know I've been a sporadic blogger but I truly appreciate all those that still come around and have interest in me, my family and my scrappy endeavors :) You guys are truly the best and I can't tell you that enough. As a sign of my thanks and in the spirit of giving, I have a few things I want to share with you.

First up - BasicGrey is hosting a 25 days of Christmas on their website.

Each day when you visit, you can click on the advent calendar image below selecting the day and there will be a special surprise for you! How fun is that?

Even more fun is this FREE desktop calendar wall paper also from BasicGrey. Get one of your very own by clicking here. Mine is already up and getting me in the holiday spirit every time I look at it!

I'll be back tomorrow with even more - starting with Scrapbook & Cards Today's WINTER ISSUE! Trust me, it's GORGEOUS...and it doesn't stop there!

Here's to a wonderful December!
xoxo,

kg

Meet me at the KISSING BOOTH!

HELLO, everyone!!

First let me start by saying Happy 11.11.11 (how cool is that?!), but even more importantly - HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY!! As the daughter, granddaughter, niece or wife of men who have bravely and honorably served our country in several branches of the armed forces, I can't say thank you enough for your selfless sacrifice and dedication to our freedom. God bless you all.

And in *my* mind what better way to honor those service men we love than with kisses?! That's right - BasicGrey is so excited to announce the launch of its brand new line dedicated to love, kisses and all things mushy!! Let me introduce you to KISSING BOOTH!

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Hey you love birds – get a (crafting) room! We normally don’t kiss and tell, but we had to spill the beans about our adorable Kissing Booth collection. Step right up and get a big ol’ smooch of petal-perfect pinks and love-me-tender reds mixed with some sinfully sweet chocolate. Whether you go for a peck or a full-on snogfest (yes, we're Harry Potter fans at BasicGrey ;)), we think Kissing Booth is the perfectly lovely way to craft whatever or whomever you are passionate about. Sensational style, opulent color, and precious, sav

ory patterns … all sealed with a kiss.

(Just look how tiny my little man was in these photos! *sob*)

I'm so excited about this line. Not only am I a true romantic at heart and lover of all things girlie and pink (what else would a girl in a houseful of boys be?!), but I am truly in LOVE with all the new products and new ways of packaging things we've done in Kissing Booth. Here, let me show you...

First, we have the gorgeous papers. As always there are 18

sheets of double-sided patterned papers, but rather than have only one color of solid on the back sides, there are now two. So there are two solid reds, two solid browns and so on. LOVE that! Oh...and those ledger papers? *dying*

Check out our new ALPHA STICKERS! Oh my gosh! I've been begging for what seems like forever to get multiple fonts on one alpha sheet and now it's HERE!! Check out those tiny pink letter tabs! The best part? It comes WITH the collection pack. It's almost like a bonus!

Then there's the mini envies! They come in both transparent vellum and cardstock and are so stinkin' cute with their mini buttons and string I can't stand it!

So now we come to what I think is my FAVORITE new product - the layered trims. Holy cuteness. I used one on my layout below and I love them. They are such a great easy accent. And for a girl who doesn't sew, what's better than having it already done for you?!

Check out the new way we're doing chipboard! It's been a while since we've released new chipboard alphas, but we are again - and this time with chip sticker shapes! So you get two sheets of each in one package! Brilliant! I'm telling you - I LOVE this release!

And my littlest not so little anymore...oy. I'm not ready for his infatuations. Of all my guys, he's the biggest ladies man. He told his brother and dad last week that he has quote "24 girlfriends and they're all HOT!" Help me. Seriously!

Finally here are a couple of cards using Kissing Booth. The one on the left was adapted from an adorable one I fell in love with on Pinterest (I've professed my adoration of this site many times).

One last thing before I go - I want to announce the winner of the Kelly Purkey SketchPad giveaway! Congratulations CHAR!!! (Sorry this is a bit late!) Please contact me at kelly(dot)goree(at)gmail(dot)com to claim your prize!

Have a wonderful day and please - thank a vet today.

xoxo,

kg

Friday Giveaway!

HAPPY FRIDAY, everyone!!!

I have to say it's been quite the busy week so I'm so excited for a couple of days of rest....that is until Sunday night when my oldest plays in his 5th FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. Then I'll be going crazy - GOOOOOO COLTS!

I told you yesterday that I'd have a fun giveaway today and what could be more fun than a sketch class? I know I know! A sketch class from my friend KELLY PURKEY! Trust me, you're going to love it! First, here are the deets:

Sketchpad is a brand-new class from Kelly Purkey, spinning off from her series of successful Sketchbook classes. Sketchpad is a downloadable, self-paced class featuring 12 original sketches, 35 exclusive layouts from Kelly + and her talented contributors, 35 MORE sketches made from those layouts, and 12 amazing cards based on the sketches from the talented, Kristina Werner... all in a full-color 75 page PDF. Visit Kelly's blog for more details on the class and how to purchase.

Here's a peek at the project I did for her class to give you a very small taste of what is included:

(and yes, more HALLOWEEN! But this time I'm ahead of the game -they're THIS year's photos! ;))

KP has generously agreed to let me give away a spot in her class to one of my lucky readers! So here's what you have to do:

Simply leave a comment (one per person, please) between now and Sunday night November 6th at 11:59 pm Eastern telling me what you love about sketches and what this class would do for you and you'll be entered to win! Winner announced Monday!

And a little freebie for you today, too! BasicGrey has put up their free desktop calendar for November - it's adorable! Get yours HERE!

Have a fantastic weekend!

xo,

kg

A Tiny Sampler & a Tutorial of Sorts

Hi, everyone!

First, I want to thank you so much for your wonderful birthday wishes. I feel so blessed to have so many good friends both in person and online who made the day so special for me. I love you all :)

Next, I wanted to share something really fun with you. Most of you know that BasicGrey has been doing fabric for quite a while now, but fewer of you might know that we are now doing NOTIONS!! Yep - vintage buttons and fabric/felt flowers and all kinds of wonderful goodies. My head just swims with it all!

One of my favorite items we have debuted are these adorable samplers. They come in several sizes and styles, but this one has to be my favorite. It's called the Small Rook Sampler and is an 8"x10" size. It's absolutely perfect for a little splash of color somewhere - for me that somewhere is my scraproom! AND since I am so not a seamstress (hellloooo - I FAKE stitch on all my layouts and projects!), I decided to do an all paper sampler rather than using fabric. I really loved how it came out, especially these sweet little flower details!

Supplies: BasicGrey Small Rook Sampler, Picadilly and Out of Print papers, Stitched & Glazed Brads

Other: Uni-ball & Pentel Pens, Fiskars scallop scissors, Fiskars Scallop circle & heart punch.

Here's a close up of the flowers to let you really see how cute and in a minute how EASY they are to make!

So before we get any further, I have to first 'fess up -I saw these adorable little flowers in fabric from my friend Kimber and decided they would look adorable in paper as well. I followed the simple tutorial she linked me to on Pinterest and these were the results.

1. Punch one circle base to hold the flower (size depends on the size you're making the flower. Here it was 1.5" and the scallop circles were 2") and eight scalloped circles.

2. Fold the scalloped circles into quarters.

3. Adhere four folded quarter circles around the base circle with scallops at the edge as shown.

4. Add more adhesive to this layer and add the remaining four folded circles on top of the first layer, off-set slightly for variety.

5. Punch hole in center of flower once layers are all added.

6. Add brad to center to secure the petals.

7. Gently separate the petal layers to add dimension to your flower and there you have it! Just right for embellishing your project!

Have a wonderful day! I'll be back tomorrow with yet another giveaway! (YAY!)

xoxo,

kg

It's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS.....

I know! I know! We just finished Halloween (which I promise to post about soon!) and I'm skipping entire months here by saying this...but Christmas is FAST approaching (excuse me while I go stick my head in the sand in denial). To help me get into the spirit (and pull my head back up), the wonderful people at Silhouette America were kind enough to send me their beautiful Limited Edition Advent calendar to play with.

I have to say, I LOVE advent calendars but have never owned one. I've been on the hunt for many years to find just "the" one. Now I have it. I absolutely adore this wonderful white shadow box frame and its deep cubbies. It's couldn't be more perfect for my decor AND it's large enough to stash all kinds of goodies and surprises!

The download card that comes with the calendar gives you the option of either boxes or drawers to fill your calendar spaces. And since I can never make a decision (hence the reason I never had a calendar before!) so I chose to do BOTH and mixed up both the drawers and adorable boxes for my own custom look. All the papers and embellishments here are from BasicGrey's JOVIAL line - perhaps my favorite holiday line ever and on sale now at basicgrey.com (at little enabling there) - with just a little hint of some cardstock and BASICS paper.

Supplies: BasicGrey's Jovial - patterned paper, stitched brads, glazed brads, alpha stickers (micro & mini), die-cut pieces, rub-ons, Small Details; BasicGrey Basics Paper; BasicGrey Origins, Basics and Studio Calico exclusive alphas

Other: BoBunny cardstock, Fiskars punches, McGill punches

I'm already on the hunt for wonderful things to fill it and I'm not quite sure I can wait until the holidays to hang it up!

I absolutely love the way it turned out! You can make one too AND right now Silhouette is offering this limited edition advent calendar for $29.99 (regular price is $39.99!!) now through November 11th. Just click THIS LINK and enter promo code BASIC to receive the discount.

And finally for the winner of the Bazzill goodies giveaway:

Congratulations to JENNIFER COWAN!! Please email me at kelly(dot)goree(at)gmail(dot)com to claim your prize!

Have a wonderful day! I'm off to celebrate my birthday (but not getting older! ;))

xo,

kg