WINNERS + Another FREEBIE

Hi, all!

I hope you're having a wonderful Tuesday! I'm sorry I wasn't back to you yesterday as promised (sidetracked as usual) but I'm here to post the winners of the autographed copy of Kimber's amazing book 100 Fun & Handmade Cards and SCT's CardMaps Today!

So without further ado, here you go! Huge congratulations to:

Lynn and Diane!

Ladies, please email me at kelly(dot)goree(at)gmail(dot)com so I can get your names to the appropriate person! :)

And now for the freebie. My sweet friend, Kayla Aimee, has written a FREE e-book detailing how to get published in the papercrafting industry. I know this is a question that gets asked of me frequently and I was delighted when Kayla asked me to give her some of my best tips when she sat down to write it.

But don't worry! There's not only my thoughts, but many many more from some of the best in the industry all compiled in Kayla's delightful writing style and sense of humor! It's an extremely helpful little book if you're wanting to take your scrapbooking to the next level and are looking to get published in magazines and books.

One more reminder before I go, the blog hop for Vicki's book Creative Foundations is still open in the post below through tonight so make sure you get in on that too! :)

xo,

kg

Introducing CREATIVE FOUNDATIONS by Vicki Boutin

Hello and Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a fantastic (And WARM like we did!) weekend and are all geared up to face this brand new daylight savings time! *yawn*

The giving keeps continuing here into the new week! I'm so excited! So let's get right to it today, shall we?! Today I'm helping my amazingly talented friend Vicki Boutin give away a couple of copies of her new book, CREATIVE FOUNDATIONS!

Let me just scratch the surface of why this book is a must-have! I'll begin by mentioning that I was an art major in college. I absolutely loved getting my hands dirty with paint, ink, canvas primer (gesso) and anything else I could think of. It was my life for those four years. Then enter working a "real job" and marriage and kids and my creative outlet disappeared. I never could figure out what was missing in my life until scrapbooking came along and once again I had an outlet for my artistic endeavors. But I never even THOUGHT to marry my love of inky, painty type stuff with my scrapbooking. And that's where Vicki comes along. When I say this girl is creative it's only because I don't have a stronger word to use to describe the incredible ideas that come out of her cute blonde head! She's a total rockstar and what's even better? She MAKES IT EASY!

Oh yes! Those of you that are reading this and thinking to themselves right now - "But *I* wasn't an art major and *I'm* not artistic!" - I'm here to say oh YES YOU ARE and Vicki will show you how....simply. (And another bonus? These techniques don't HAVE to be confined to a scrapbook page!)

Here is just a peak at one of my projects I contributed to Vicki's book. For this I not only stamped on vellum, but I also used mists for masks and several other cool techniques. Vicki helped make it approachable and ever step is SO well illustrated! I promise you NEED this book. So here's how you can get one:

Vicki is doing something creative (of course!) to give away some copies of her fabulous, must-have book. She is having everyone collect a word at each blog they visit to complete a phrase to be entered to win!

My word is "A". Simply leave a comment here to consider it "collected" and then hop on over and visit the talented Bethany Kartchner HERE to collect the word "COPY" and you're almost there! Remember, once you're done, stop back to Vicki's blog and let her know you collected all the words to "I'd LOVE A COPY OF CREATIVE FOUNDATIONS!" and you'll be entered to win one of TWO copies of her book! Fabulous, right!?! And for those of you that are impatient like me, here's a link to Amazon to buy a copy NOW!

So what are you waiting for?! Get hopping!

I'll be back a bit later to announce the winners of CARD MAPS 2 and Kimber's 100 Fun & Handmade Cards!

Have a fantastic day!

xo,

kg

100 Fresh & Fun Handmade Cards - it's a BLOG HOP & Giveaway(s)!

Hello, everyone! Happy Friday and welcome, especially, to those of you that hopped here from Rae Bartel's blog! HELLO to you!

I told you it was going to be a good week around here with quite a few giveaways and I wasn't kidding! Today's wonderful giveaway comes to you courtesy of my amazingly talented friend, Kimber McGray! Those of of you that know Kimber and her incredible work know that she's the Card Making Queen...and she has several books under her belt to prove it!

Her latest one - 100 Fresh & Fun Handmade Cards - has just been released and we're helping her celebrate with a fun blog hop....AND a giveaway of a signed copy on each of the blogs! How's that for an awesome way to start a Friday?!

I absolutely loved being a part of this book. Kimber always stretches me to my creative limits - this time by asking me to make cards with INTERACTIVE elements. Yep, that's right. This book has slider cards, shaker cards, pop up cards - you name it, it's in there! It's been so beautifully created with step by step instructions which absolutely makes this book a must have. I didn't think she could top her last one, but she really did!

This fun card is probably my favorite I created for the book. It's a pull-up gift card holder where the roof lifts up to reveal a gift card for a home improvement store. But don't worry. If the interactive part completely overwhelms you, this book shows you how to make a simple version of the card as well! There's truly something for everyone. Just click right HERE for the link to the book on Amazon if you just can't wait to see if you win a copy - and if I were you I totally wouldn't be waiting!

So let's get to the good stuff as I know you're itching to! All you have to do is leave a comment here telling me why you NEED a copy of this book (and you do!) to be entered to win. The you need to hop on over to the awesome Kim Hughes of Paper Smooches blog to visit her and be entered to win there too! We'll all be drawing the winners on Monday so there are several chances to score a copy for yourself!

One more reminder - I still have the giveaway for CardMaps Today 2 open a couple posts below until midnight tonight! Get in on that too while you're at it and double your chances of winning something amazing!

Have a great day!
xo,

kg

BG to GO: The ReaDeR

Good Morning! Happy Thursday, everyone!

Today I have to share with you a layout that I did for BasicGrey's blog. It feature one of my favorite lines ever - Oxford - and includes step by step photos and instructions should you want to create one of your own!

SUPPLIES: [OXFORD]

OXF-3363 Fencing,

OXF-3362 Midterm, OXF-3368 Deans List, OXF-3372 University, OXF-3377Element Stickers, OXF-3378 Alpha Stickers, OXF-3388 Chip Sticker Shapes.

This is my sweet Carson falling in love with his very first book - Big Nate. He even stayed up and read by the light of the night light when he first got it. I love that the reading bug has bitten him and I had to document it :)

So hop on over to the BasicGrey blog to get all the how-tos and I hope you enjoy! My giveaway for CARDMAPS TODAY 2 is still open in the post below! Don't forget to get entered for that! (And there just MIGHT be another fab giveaway in the works coming tomorrow!)

Have a great day!

xo,

kg

CardMaps Today 2 - GET YOURS NOW!

Hello, all! Happy Tuesday to you which is my Monday due to an unexpected snow day yesterday! But boy do I have a week for you this week! I have several giveways you won't want to miss out on and I am so excited to share them with you.

Today's giveaway is a must have for all you cardmakers out there!

You might remember the amazing special issue that Scrapbook & Cards Today put out last year featuring the best of Becky Fleck's CardMaps! Well it was such an amazing hit that they did it again! Oh yes, that's right! CardMaps Today 2 is just about ready to hit store shelves! With 45 brand new, never-before-seen card sketches, CardMaps Today 2 includes 80 beautifully-designed cards by 15 talented cardmakers all with instructions! New to CardMaps Today 2 this year are eight trend-setting techniques featured in photographed step-outs! This limited-edition, special issue is a must!

I was honored to be one of the designers working on this issue. I love working with sketches and Becky's are the best there are. Here is a peek at one of my favorites to give you a small taste of what you'll find inside:

For more information on this must-have book and to order your own copy of CardMaps 2, please visit this link: http://www.scrapbookandcards.com/cardmaps-welcome-2012

Of course I share this exciting news without giving you the chance to win it before you can buy it! Simply leave your name and what excites YOU about this CardMaps issue and you'll be entered to win. Please only one entry per person. Comments must be received by Friday, March 10th at 11:59 pm EST.

Have a wonderful day!

xo,

kg

Old New Borrowed Cool - March's "Feeling Lucky" edition

So March definitely wants to come in like a lion (and I'm strongly hoping it's going to go out like a lamb), but I'm feeling very fortunate and lucky today to have weathered the...well...weather. It's been a crazy mixed bag of severe thunderstorms, lightning, hail and tornadoes in my area and the destruction has been great. My prayers go out to those who have lost loved ones or suffered damage.

So express my thankfulness, I am excited to share something with you today. Once again I find it the first of the month (seriously!) and time for my OLD NEW BORROWED COOL challenge at Scrapbook & Cards Today. This month is *all* about the luck - and letting those you love know just how lucky you feel for having them in your life. Hop on over to the SCT blog where I will walk you step by step to make a set of these adorable St. Patty's Day cards for yourself. The best part? It is a great way to use up a bunch of scraps of your favorite green-hued papers!

Have a wonderful day and Happy MARCH!
xo,

kg

HAPPY 40th KIMBER McGRAY!!!

Hello, everyone!!

Please join me in wishing my dear friend, Kimber, the QUEEN of Cards, celebrate her HUGE milestone birthday today - the big 4-0!

And what better way to recognize such an amazing, funny, talented lady than with a smattering of birthday cards all designed by some of her biggest fans and friends in the industry! A huge thank you to Jill of Jillibean Soup for organizing this fantastic blog hop to share our cards with both Kimber and you!

Here's my contribution:

Sources: BasicGrey Life of the Party PP, alpha stickers, element stickers; Zig pen; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

I wish you only the best of years to come, Kimber! Thank you for being such a talented and inspiring lady and a great friend to boot! Love you tons!

Please hop on over to Kim Hughes' blog - the creator of PAPER SMOOCHES - for an incredible card and another tribute to Kimber! For those of you just popping in, if you'd like to start at the beginning of our birthday blog hop head on over to the Jillibean Soup blog here. And finally, if you'd like to visit Kimber's blog and share some birthday wishes with her you can do so here. She needs all the birthday spankings (er best WISHES ;)) she can get!

Have a great weekend! I'm off to Pinewood Derby! Wish us luck!
xoxo,

kg

Old New Borrowed Cool - February edition

Hi all and welcome to FEBRUARY! Yes. I said it! February!

I'm so excited to have a special project to share with you today. On January 1st I started a special year-long blog series with the amazing Scrapbook & Cards Today Magazine called "Old, New, Borrowed, Cool."

The premise is really simple but TONS of fun. Each month on the first of the month I'll be bringing you a new post that incorporates something OLD from my stash, something NEW that I might have just picked up and something BORROWED from wherever I can get it (and let's expand our minds here on this one and see how creative we can get) - to whip together to create something COOL to share with you!

This month I started out creating some adorable accordion ornaments with BasicGrey's brand new Kissing Booth...but once I got started it morphed into something out of my control (at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it)!! Here's a little peek at what I created.

To find out more including full images along with the complete supply list, visit Scrapbook & Cards Today right HERE.

Also because I was a bit missing in action in January, I didn't post my creation for that month which is one of my favorite projects in a while. Here's a small peak at it and you can find out all the details as well as my "official" introduction to the series HERE.

Have a great hump day and enjoy this gorgeous weather. (65 degrees on Feb. 1st?!)

xoxo,

kg

More from BasicGrey at CHA!

Hello! HAPPY TUESDAY & HAPPY CHA!

Since I'm not at the show this year, I thought I'd pass the time until BasicGrey returns with several more of my projects that I did for the booth. I had such an amazing time working on these projects and I think it really shows. Some of them are my favorites in a long time :)

Here is a link to the full releases of:

KONNICHIWA
and
PLUMERIA

Both of these lines will ship the end of February.

And then our April release:
PB&J

and

WHAT'S UP?

Thank you so much to the wonderful ladies who lent me photos of their little ladies for me to scrapbook. I truly appreciate you, Emilie Ahern, Tessa Ann Watte, Darcy Holsopple, Kayla Aimee, and Shelby Valadez.

Konnichiwa:

Photos by Shelby Valadez

Photos by Darcy Holsopple

based on a collage by Nichol Magourik

Photo by Emilie Ahern

Plumeria:

Photos by Darcy Holsopple

Photo by Tessa Ann Watte

based on a sketch by the uber-talented Becky Fleck

and now PB&J:

And What's Up:

based on an awesome sketch by Heather Landry

based on a sketch by Becky Fleck

Thanks so much for letting me share! I'll be back tomorrow with a special feature that I'm super excited to share with you!

xo,

kg

AMY TANGERINE + me

HEY THERE!!

I have something fun to share and it involves the amazing Amy Tangerine! I have been a huge fan of Amy Tan's for quite a while - as much for her darling t-shirts as scrapbook pages - and it was such a fun honor to be asked to join her for this brand new class at Studio Calico. Here are the details:

Are you ready to jumpstart the way you look at supplies? Tired of letting your kits pile up month after month without touching them? Ready to pull out the tools you have on hand and put them to use? Amy Tan is here to help show you how to see the Studio Calico Main kits in new ways and get those supplies onto your pages. She’s ready to share tips and tricks on making your kit supplies stretch to create beautiful page after page.

For Stretch Your Kit, Amy is joined by creative powerhouses Kelly Goree, Celine Navarro, and Jen Jockisch who will all share inspiration for using ONLY the Studio Calico Main kit. You’ll see their process for getting started on a layout, selecting which supplies to pull from the kits, and tips for using their favorite tools and techniques.

Sounds amazing, right?! Here is just a small sneak at one of the pages I did for this class. This class actually uses January's kit though you don't have to use that kit to play along. However should you want to, the kit is still available for purchase HERE!

Now hurry over and sign up TODAY!! Registration ends tomorrow and classes start FEBRUARY 1st! (WHA?! February already?)

Click here for more information and to sign up for this amazing, unique class. Don't forget that subscribers receive 10% off all classes and Rewards Members save 25%.

Happy Monday and here's to an amazing February! :D

xo,

kg

Fly away with us and WHAT'S UP?!

HAPPY FRIDAY, everyone!

If simjply just being Friday wasn't enough, today I get to share with you what is probably our most FUN line from BasicGrey's CHA-W releases - WHAT'S UP?

From feltie clouds to flair to little toothpick flags this line just begs to be used. Add in the gorgeous color palette and some vintage maps and you can't go wrong!

You’ll go balloonistic (don't you love that word?!) for our newest line – What’s Up! Something is surely in the air with this billowy group of nostalgic, whimsical prints featuring a parade of hot air balloons, a banner-filled skyline, and jet planes zipping across the horizon. This fanciful and free-wheeling collection of lilac purple, sunrise turquoise, Parisian pink, and a chic pop of poppy red is your ticket to take off on an around-the-world adventure. You’ll be consumed by that floating-at-the-festival feeling as your creativity balloons out of control.

And here are a couple of pages I created with this line. Have I even mentioned how this line is so up my alley. Vintage images with a modern twist. It's what I aspire to be. Aspire being the word with emphasis here!

Fly High

(Note my little monkey and his missing tooth at the end of the past summer. He's growing up too fast, I swear.)

Stay tuned to the BasicGrey blog for the full reveal of What’s Up on Sunday, January 29th– the first day of the Winter 2011 Craft and Hobby Show.

So I know you want a chance to win What’s Up before you can buy it. Just leave a comment HERE letting us know what you think about our newest collection and we’ll select THREE lucky commenters at random to receive a What’s Up Tcollection pack! Comment must be posted by 11:59p MST.

Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you again on Sunday!!

xo,

kg

PB&J, anyone?

Hello!! Happy Thursday to you!

Today I get to share with you what was probably my favorite collection of our entire CHA-W release. And looking at it, I bet you never guessed that this collection not only spoke to me, it screamed! I LOVE the summery, fun, bold colors of this line. So how about some PB&J?! Anyone? ;)

(Can I say right here that I NEED that bike?! And the new alpha stickers? Swoon! Sorry - back to the regularly scheduled blurbs....)

Jam-packed with a hearty helping of heartfelt style, PB&J is the perfect blend of classic comfort and down-home design. As you prepare your creative spread using this signature collection, your options are limitless. Maybe a mixture of banana yellow and strawberry-preserves red is a personal favorite, or perhaps you’re a fan of trimming away those crusts . . . No matter how you slice it, your sweet treat is sure to impress as you create paper projects and preserve your memories.

Here are a couple of samples I did using this fabulous new line:

Hilton Head Island

(I think this is one of my two favorite layouts I did for the entire show!)

You Three

Don't forget to stay tuned to the BasicGrey Blog (and here, too!) for the full reveal of PBJ on Sunday, January 29th– the first day of the Winter 2011 Craft and Hobby Show. We’ll also be bringing you peeks of the final our our four lines debuting this week.

And finally (you knew this was coming, didn't you?!) we always want to give you a chance to win it before you can buy it so hop on over to the BG blog and leave a comment letting us know what you think about this newest collection and we’ll select THREE lucky commenters at random to receive a PBJ collection pack! Please note: comment must be posted by January 26, 2012 at 11:59p MST. That's TONIGHT! :)

Have a wonderful day!

xo,

kg

Introducing BasicGrey's PLUMERIA....

As promised here is the second of the four new lines BasicGrey will be debuting at the Craft & Hobby Association trade show this weekend in Anaheim! This one is a modern vintage - is that a term? (I'm claiming it as one. I mean, really. Look at those buttons!) - line that had me at the gorgeous herringbone and honeycomb patterns + the deep purple. Talk about a gorgeous line for the Spring, right?!

Breathe in the deep hues and experience the calming effects of delicate florals, striking geometric shapes, and watercolor-style prints in our blooming Plumeria collection. An assortment of dusky lavender, dramatic midnight purple, mossy green and a thrilling pop of orange cascade through this line of long-stemmed imagination. Take time to stop and smell not only the roses, but all of the natural wonders found in this classically intriguing line.

Mama & Baby

photo by Shelby Valadez

You at 8

Stay tuned to the BasicGrey blog (and here too :)) for the full reveal of Plumeria on Sunday, January 29th– the first day of the Winter 2011 Craft and Hobby Show. We’ll also be bringing you peeks of the TWO additional lines were debuting this week.

And once again, we can't show you a BRAND NEW LINE without giving you a chance to win some of your very own so hop on over to the BasicGrey blog and leave a comment letting us know what you think about our newest collection and we’ll select THREE lucky commenters at random to receive a Plumeria collection pack! Comment must be posted by January 26, 2012 at 11:59p MST.

Have a wonderful day!
xoxo,

kg

And she's BACK....& with a SNEAK PEEK!

Yes, She's ALIVE!! And yes, it's been a long time since December 13th!

Thank you to those who have written and inquired so sweetly as to my whereabouts and if I'm okay. Totally okay though the end of December got crazy with sick kiddos and the holidays and then all of January has been packed with CHA-W (the Craft & Hobby Association Winter trade show) preparation, travel, class development and truly I haven't been up for air since...

well...since December 13th!

I hope you can forgive me when I come back to say I'm here to introduce to you KONNICHIWA!! (And a good afternoon to you all! :)) This is the first of BasicGrey's brand new lines debuting this weekend at CHA-W! I know I say it a lot, but this one has to be one of my all-time favorites even if it's not overly boy-ish for this mom of boys. But the colors had me at "Hello!" Seriously! They make me swoon - and just check out some of the brand new embellishments we're releasing with this line:

Just picture it! Delicate clouds of white lotus fill the sky. Outdoor street markets are alive with dangling lanterns and vivacious colors. Original, angled rooftops and architecture line the streets … You must be in Japan! Welcome. Or, more appropriately, “Konnichiwa!” Fill your mind with wonderment and the beautiful spirit that is found in this unique collection of mesmerizing fuchsia, cherry blossom pink, bonsai-tree green and soft sky blue.

Here are a couple of examples I did using this gorgeous new line. A special thank you to Emilie Ahern and Shelby Valadez for letting me scrap their gorgeous daughters! I'm so grateful!

Rylee at Two

photo by Shelby Valadez

Sisters & Friends

photo by Emilie Ahern

Be sure to stay tuned to the BasicGrey blog for the full reveal of Konnichiwa on Sunday, January 29th – the first day of the Winter 2011 Craft and Hobby Show.

We’ll also be bringing you peeks of the THREE additional lines were debuting this week.

And of course I can't introduce a brand new collection to you without giving you a chance to win some of your own! So click on over the the BasicGrey Blog and leave a comment letting us know what you think about our newest collection and we’ll select THREE lucky commenters at random to receive a Konnichiwa collection pack! Comment must be posted by January 26, 2012 at 11:59p MST. Awesome right?!!

Still not good enough?! Well how about this - registration for MONCTON's CROP & CREATE is now OPEN!! I'm so beyond excited to be a part of these events and I promise you, you won't want to miss them. Please check out this LINK to learn more and get registered for classes! Hurry though - it's selling fast fast fast! :D

Now do you forgive me?!

xoxo,

kg