My Life :)

*There is still time to enter my blog candy, just click here.*

Hey Everyone,

Sorry I've been a bit scarce in blog land lately, but I've been living life in the real world.  Not a bad thing really, it just keeps me away from stamping and blogging.

So, what's been going on I hear you asking?  Well, here ya go:

I got my card published.  I'm on page 24 in here:

Spent time with my cousins Cathy and Jenn.  This is them :)

We went to Hartville.

If they don't have it there, it doesn't exist ;)  We had a super fun day of looking, buying and eating.

We ate at the Hartville Kitchen.  Comfort food at its finest.

On a different day:

Went to Amish country with my aunt and uncle. This is them:

Can you believe these people are 80 years old?!  I should look so good...lol!

We ate lunch at the Inn at Honey Run. 

Went to the Breitenbach Winery.

And shopped in Berlin.  Ohio, not Germany ;)

And on another day:

Hubby and I went for a clambake one night at Mavis Winkles.  The night we were there they had super cute kids doing Irish step dancing in the restaurant.  Sorry no photo, you'll just have to trust me on the cuteness factor ;)

I read The Peach Keeper.  It's the book for my October book club meeting. 

I didn't love it.  A little too "chick lit" like for me. 

I'm currently reading Deeper Than the Dead, which is our November book.  So far it's just a murder mystery, but I'm not too far in.

 

I celebrated my 21st anniversary.  Twenty one years ago we looked like this:

Today we look like this:

Ha ha!  We went down to Columbus OH to visit my niece at OSU.  We took her for dinner at the world famous Schmidts.  It must be seen to be believed!  Sausages on a buffet as far as the eye can see and cream puffs the size of your head!

We stayed at the 50 Lincoln-Short North Bed and Breakfast.

Very cute inside...

And this was the breakfast area where we had french toast with peaches, bacon and yogurt parfaits.  YUM!

This was our room.

The Short North area is said to be what SoHo is to NYC.  Not sure if it's true, but it was fun in it's own small way.

We shopped the vintage shops and record stores whose name I cannot print on my wholesome blog.  Rise Against was there doing an appearance.  I marveled at the kids buying vinyl for them to sign.

We made a stop at The Book Loft.

Once again, if they don't have it, it doesn't exist.  I so could lose myself for DAYS in here!

Went to the Columbus Museum of Art.  We go to art museums whenever we are in a new city.  Doesn't matter the size or the collection, you can always learn something new.  Especially when we had a tour by a Docent by the name of Jack.  Who just learned about the new exhibit an hour before our tour started. Who constantly consulted the mangled notes in his hand.  Who thought we were in the 4th grade.  And grilled us like our teacher was going to make us write a report about what we saw an hour after we left.  So. AWESOME.  I wish I could be one of those people who just walks away and leaves.  I mean, it was free, right?  It just seems like his feelings would have been really hurt. Sigh.

Anyway, these were a couple of my favorites:

Sunflowers in the Storm

Winter, Midnight

Both are way better in person, natch.

We also shopped at Easton and made a stop at Grandpa's Cheese Barn.  Our trip would not have been complete with out it :)

We rounded out our eating extravaganza with a stop at Michael Symon's restaurant The B Spot. 

What can I say except, we need some salad!

Just not yet...I think I smell some Bacon Bits!  Woo-Hoo!  I'm over the pig sty, in hog heaven, and anything else you can think of!  Excuse me while I dust off my dancing shoes....

Read all about it right here!

Spirits and Boo-ze!

*There is still time to enter my blog candy, just click here.*

Good Morning!

Can you believe that by this weekend the calender will say October???  It's crazy how fast the time is flying for me this fall!

If you weren't in the Halloween mood yet, here is a card to help get you there.  I made it with one of the newly released Halloween stamps from DRS Designs.  I love the little addition of the spooky moon in the Halloween Spirits & Boo-ze sentiment, I just added a little color with my Copic marker.  To match up the words in the greeting with pictures, I used the Drink Line-Up stamp along the bottom of my card.  I stamped in black, and then just added a grey shadow around them. 

 

Spencer the Not So Spooky Ghost filled out the spirit part.  He was stamped in vellum and added along the side.

These stamps would make a great Halloween invite, don't you think?

Thanks for dropping by today :)

Challenges for this card:

Party Time Tuesday-Anything Goes

Heart Song Inspirations-Use a ribbon or tag

KB Cute Monday-Halloween

My Craft Spot-Ribbon

Ooo La La-Punches or Dies

Paper Playtime-Halloween

Crazy 4 Challenges-Halloween

Hiding in My Craft Room-Halloween

Details not listed above- Paper: The Paper Company, Punch: EK Success, Markers: Copic, Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, Nesties, Ribbon from my supplies.

Hambo Supports OWH

*There is still time to enter my blog candy give away right here.*

Hi Everyone,

The challenge this week at the Hambo Hoedown was to make a card to support Operation Write Home.  I didn't play along to get the free digi last week, so I decided to use this Camouflage Bear that was created by them some time ago for another OWH event.  I was able to grab this when it was a freebie, so I'm happy to finally put it to use.

Since I wanted it to be easy to mail, and OWH doesn't allow glitter, I kept my embellishments to a minimum.  Besides, if a guy wanted to send this card home, I think they prefer less frilly ones anyway.

If you play along and email a photo of your card, you get a free digi to use in the next challenge.  If you send the actual card in to Hambo Stamps for their OWH event, you will get another freebie as well.  All the formal deets can be found on the challenge blog here.

Thanks for looking!  Oh, and it's my day to post at the DRS Designs blog today.  Pop on by for a look at my Halloween card, and I will have another new DRS Designs card here for you tomorrow!

Other Challenges for this card:

Cupcake Craft-Teddy Bear

Paper MakeUp Stamps-ReSize your digis

The Ribbon Girl-Green, brown and ribbon

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Markers: Copic, Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug, Punch: McGill, Ribbon from my supplies.

Week #4 of My Favorite Things Blog Candy

*Were you the winner last week?  Check this post here.*

Hi Everyone,

Well, it's the final week of my month long giveaway here at the blog.  I've had the best time featuring some of "My Favorite Things", and because of the generosity of these companies the past few weeks, I have been fortunate to give away fantastic prizes.  This last week is no exception. 

When I approached Amber, of Amber Ink about giving away a prize from her store, she was over the top generous in her sponsorship of this weeks candy.

I'm so thrilled to be able of offer up the prize of 2 digi sets from Amber Ink!  Specifically, these sets which are my all time favorites :) 

Mod Kitch Kitsch

And the matching sentiments,

Say it like it's 1959!

So cute, right?!  And keep your fingers crossed.  Amber mentioned there may be an extra surprise in the way of iPaper included with this prize package :)

I couldn't resist making a little CAS card to show them off...This one's for you Amber!

So, how do you win these fun retro digis?  Same as in previous weeks.

1. Be a follower of my blog.

2. Leave me a comment here on this post letting me know you want to be entered in the draw!

That's it!  If you want to spread the word, I would appreciate it, but it's totally optional :)

Thanks once again for all the support and kind words. Blogging papercrafters are the BEST!

Challenges for this card:

Stamps & Fun = Creativity-Anything Goes

There's Magic in the Air-3 Punches or Diecuts

Corrosive Challenge-Punches or Diecuts

Lollipop Crafts-Anything Goes

Paper Sundaes-Anything Goes

The Squirrel and the Fox-Anything Goes

AllSorts-Keep it Simple

Week #3 Winner!

Hi Everyone,

Once again I'm late in posting my winner for week #3 of my month long giveaway.  Thanks for being patient :)

Drum roll please....The winner of one digi set from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff is:

Here are your random numbers:

14

Timestamp: 2011-09-26 16:43:09 UTC

Lindsey

who said:

"Great Hallowe'en card! Of course you can add my name to the draw! :P"

Congrats!  Just email me at karinwithani@att.net and I will get you hooked up with your prize!

Once again, thanks to all who entered and I will be posting my final candy in just a bit :)

Magical Winter Moments

Hi Everyone,

I'm so glad you could join us in the Sparkle and Sprinkle blog hop ...Are you enjoying the winter themed cards along the hop so far? 

If you came from Julie's blog, you are in the right place. If you just happened by, you will want to start at the Sparkle and Sprinkle blog.  There you can get all the details on the prizes, but make sure you leave comments along the way!

My card today would make a wonderful thank you note.  We are always blessed to receive so many lovely things for the holidays, that it's nice to send a note to say how much they are appreciated.

The Swirly Reindeer (3385-414G) and the sentiment A Kind Word (3381-414AA) that I used for my card can be purchased separately or in a set named Winter Swirl (414).

My main image was stamped in Versamark(99702) and sprinkled with Burgundy (EP117) embossing powder.  Further details can be found at Sparkle and Sprinkle.

Your next stop on this magical hop is Jill! 

Have fun...The full list is below if you need it!

Linda Loew http://www.lindamloew.blogspot.com/

Shona Erlenborn http://shonasstampingstage.blogspot.com/

Barbara Bruder http://www.artandsoulcreations.blogspot.com/

Julie Zippel http://backtobasicsandbeyond.blogspot.com/

(You Are Here) Karin Martin http://karin-withaniforpaper.blogspot.com/

Jill Jacobsen http://www.stampinhands.com/

Dawn Thomas http://belladonnasgarden.blogspot.com/

Marie Berquist http://craftemarie.blogspot.com/

Sandy Meier http://simplysandylee.blogspot.com/

Kim Jaime http://kim-paperandlace.blogspot.com/

Donna Ellis http://creativesmiles2.blogspot.com/

Welcome in the Holidays

Hi Everyone,

Tomorrow is Sparkle and Sprinkles Magical Winter Moments Blog Hop!  The hop will begin at the Sparkle and Sprinkle blog, and as always, there will be lots of prizes up for grabs...I hope that you can participate!

To get you in the mood for winter, I'm showing off my Holiday Door card that I made using the Snowflakes stamp (3383-414A) from the Winter Swirl set (414).  I made a card similar to this last year, with an dry embossed background.  I never posted it, but over the summer a friend of mine mentioned it, and I thought I would try making it, with a traditional stamp.  I stamped in Versamark (99702) first, and then heat set the snowflakes after sprinkling on White Detail (EP298) embossing powder.

This idea for the door didn't originate with me.  Long before I had a blog, I saw someone make a similar kind of card, but they didn't list the dimensions of the plain card stock rectangles they used for the door.  Too lazy to figure it out for myself, the idea was hatched sometime later, when I realized these dies cuts would work.

The door was created using the Long Rectangle dies from Spellbinders.  After they were cut out, I kept the die in place and sponged on some chalk to highlight the panels.

To make the spray on the door, I punched out my branches, pressed them in Versamark, dipped them in Forest Green (EP282) embossing powder, and heat set. Tied a bow from some ribbon and attached everything on my card with some 1/4" Tear-ific Tape (SAT01).

Remember, there will be many more winter themed cards coming your way tomorrow...Hope to see you along the hop!

Oh, and one more thing!  Sparkle and Sprinkle has a Design Team call out right now.  If you like what you have seen me create with their products, check out the details right here!  Good luck :)

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, brad and ribbon from my supplies.

Candy Corn Halloween

Hi Everyone,

I'm so excited about my Halloween card today! DRS Designs has just recently released some great new stamps for the fall crafting season. I knew that this Candy Corn Wreath was going to be a clear favorite of mine the moment I saw it. Why? Well, I couldn't wait to color it up and fit the darling Candy Corn Buzz Bee (a favorite from last year) right in the center. Can you see her sparkly wings in the my photo?

Of course I had to make some backing papers and for those I used the Interlocking Circles, and Starry Background. After stamping the stars on my yellow paper, I went ahead and dry embossed right over them for some added texture.

The Happy Halloween is also a new stamp this month. It's a small one, so it works great with those punches we all have. I love the fun colors of this season, it makes stamping so much fun!

DRS Designs is also sponsoring the sketch challenge over at Tuesday Morning Sketches, pop on by for your chance to win!

Challenges for this card:

Wee Memories-No Patterned Paper

Details not listed above: Paper: The Paper Company, Ink: Memento, Stampin' Up!, Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug, Punches: Stampin' Up!, EK Success, Nesties, Stickles, Ribbon from my supplies.

Week #3 of My Favorite Things

*Were you the winner last week?  Check this post here!*

Hi Everyone,

I'm back with week #3 of my blog candy giveaway. 

When I approached Lindsay about buying something for my give away this week, she said that she would go ahead and sponsor it for me.  I'm so fortunate to know so many kind and generous people in blog land, and I'm just thrilled to be able to offer you a set of your choice from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff! 

I can't say enough sweet things about Lindsay herself, she's like the Energizer bunny when it comes to crafty ideas. Please stop by her personal blog, The Frugal Crafter.  She always has something new to share. She gave me my very first DT spot and I will always be grateful to her for giving a newbie like me a chance.

So if you are the winner, the choice is yours!  Will you choose and SVG set?  Digi Papers? Or digi stamps???

You might want to choose my new favorite set, the Halloween Doodles. Here is my card made with that cute little vampire :)

All you need to do to win is:

1.) Be a Follower

and

2.) Leave me a comment saying you wish to be entered on this post.

Then all you have to do is check back next Monday and see if you were the winner! Isn't that simple?  Thanks for dropping by today and for all your support these past couple of years.

Have a great start to your week!

Challenges for this card:

Aly's Sunday Challenge-Bow

Card Cupids-Anything Goes

Corrosive Challenge-Punches or Dies

The Hybrid Chick-Buttons

The Squirrel and the Fox-Anything Goes

Digi Designs-Anything Goes

Send a Smile 4 Kids-Cute Halloween

Cardmadfairys Digi Days-Lots of Layers

Card Makin Mamas-Punches

Delicious Doodles-Cute as a Button

Frosted Designs-Punches

Floweret-Halloween

Inspire Me Friday-Anything Goes

Sew Many Cards-Halloween

Creatalicious Challenge-Anything Goes

4 Crafty Chicks-Embossing

Crafty Ribbons-Anything Goes

Little Miss Muffet-Thing with Wings

Shelly's Images-Anything Goes

Papercraft Star-Anything Goes

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Cordinations, Cosmo Cricket, Stamps: Studio G, Embossing Folder and Die cuts: Cuttlebug, Punch: Martha Stewart, Markers: Copic, Shimmerz spray, Ribbon and button from my supplies. 

Week #2 Winner!

Good Morning!

Here is the winner of week #2 of my month long blog candy.  The winner of 2 digis from Hambo Stamps is:

Here are your random numbers:

9

Timestamp: 2011-09-19 11:22:28 UTC

E. Marie

who said:

I have not heard of this company. It will be fun to see what they have. Very cute cards and thanks for the chance to win!!

Congratulations!  Please contact me at karinwithani@att.net and I will get you all set up to receive your prize!

Thanks to all who entered, and be sure to enter week #3!

Music Saves My Soul Saturday

Hi Everyone,

Here is my choice for the Linky Party on Marcea's Blog this week.

This band opened for The Decemberists when I went to the concert this summer.  However, since I now hear this song in a credit card commercial, it's much less cool ;)

Have a great weekend!

Sing Your Art Out

*There is still time to enter my blog candy.  Just click here. (It's being sponsored by Hambo Stamps!)*

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to "Sing Your Art Out" sponsored by Hambo Stamps! Today Hambo friends, customers, and the Bacon Bits Design Team are bringing you fun creations that depict song titles. It might be our favorite song, or just one that was fun to design. If you arrived here from Gloria's Blog you are in the right place! If not, you might want to start back at the beginning at the Hambo blog to make sure you are eligible for the hopper prize!

A prize will be awarded to one participant whose song-themed creation tickles the Bacon Bits’ fancy in a singin' wingin' way. Another prize will be awarded randomly to a hopper who comments on all the blogs along the hop. The winners will be announced on the Hoedown blog, as well as on the Hambo company blog, Talk to the Ham, on Wednesday, September 21.

At first glance, you may think my song choice was "Frosty the Snowman", but it's really "Winter Wonderland."  I couldn't stop singing the line, "In the meadow we can build a snowman..." the entire time I was coloring up that darling Snow Pig (3219) stamp! I knew he would make a great Christmas card.  Since I didn't have any Hambo holiday sentiments, I used a felt embellishment that was bought on sale at the end of last season.  Oh, and the red webbed weave is from the ribbon liquidation sale that's going on at Hambo. Not sure what is left, but you can click here to check it out.

Next up on this musical hop is Debbie!  I know you won't want to miss her fantastic project :) 

Thanks for stopping by!

Here is the entire blog hop list if you need it :)

Talk to the Ham - Hambo blog - http://hambostamps.blogspot.com/

Gloria - http://girlgonescrappin.blogspot.com/

(You are Here)  Karin - http://karin-withaniforpaper.blogspot.com/

Debbie - http://inklingtostamp.blogspot.com/

Dawn A. - http://www.alwayscrafting.blogspot.com/

Bonnie - http://theluckyclucker.blogspot.com/

Jen - http://jetstudio.blogspot.com/

Lynn - http://creativecraftsbylynn.blogspot.com/

NoraAnne - http://www.robinsonsnest.blogspot.com/

Lindsay - http://awaytosayhello.blogspot.com/

Karen -http://busybusyhoneybee.wordpress.com/
 Libby - http://stampinlibby.blogspot.com/

Carla - http://scrappypug.blogspot.com/

Dawn M. - http://art-orsomethinglikeit.blogspot.com/

Paula - http://heyheypaula-heyheypaula.blogspot.com/

Mary - http://www.mystampinhide-away.blogspot.com/

Jenn - http://www.jaxbeanstalks.blogspot.com/

Paige - http://www.shewhomuststamp.blogspot.com/

Marcie - http://www.cardmakinchaos.blogspot.com/

Leslie - http://thecrookedstamper.blogspot.com/

Pat - http://patacakespages.blogspot.com/

Beverly - http://beestamper.blogspot.com/

Yolanda - http://yolanda-imaginemakeshare.blogspot.com/

Judy - http://jarfullofjoy.blogspot.com/

Challenges for this card:

Papercraft Star-Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp-Song as Inspiration
Oldie but Goodie-Christmas in September
Paper and Such-Tic Tac Toe (Ribbon, Designer Paper, Felt)
Party Time Tuesday-Ribbon Trim and Fibers
Forever Friends-Animal and use you Dies
Stamps & Fun=Creativity-Animals
WoodWare USA-Christams or Winter holiday

Details not listed above- Paper: The Paper Company, Heidi Grace, Markers: Copic, Nesties, Punch: Martha Stewart, Ribbon and gems from my supplies.

September Sale

* If you want a chance to win this weeks blog candy, click here.*

Hi Everyone,

I don't have a card share today, but I thought I would pop in to let you know that Lindsay's Stamp Stuff is having a sale these next few days...

Here's a look at some seasonal items you may want to grab while they are on special!

Halloween Favors

Halloween Doodles

Vintage Halloween Lables

If you stop by Lindsay's blog The Frugal Crafter, I know you can get a peek at something great to get your crafty fix for the day!

Have a good one and I will "see" you tomorrow!

Inspiration Challenge Christmas Card

*Please scroll down to the previous post to enter my blog candy this week!*

Hi Everyone

DRS Designs is sponsoring The Play Date Cafe this week, and I love this inspiration challenge.  Starry, Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh is one of our favorite paintings.  Not really a stretch, I'm sure it's a favorite of many, but I used that picture in the far right corner as the main inspiration for my card today.

I love that I was able to make another Christmas card for myself (I'm up to 20 now!) and here are the links to the stamps I used for it:

Starry Background

Three Wise Men Peace

The colors and the stars were the obvious choices from the photo, but I really like how the swirly border punch echos the swirls in the painting.

DRS Designs is also one of the sponsors of the last challenge at Stamp Something, where the challenge is to simply stamp. The prize is worth a whopping $50.00!   Hope you can play along! If you fancy a peek at a Halloween card, pop by the DRS Designs blog to see my card posted over there!

Have a great day!

Challenges for this card-

I Did it Creations-Anything Goes

Christmas Inspirations-Glitter

One Stitch at a Time-Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas-Swirls

Easy Craft Projects-Yellow

Fun with Shapes-Punch or Diecut and Anything Goes

The Rubber Cafe-No Designer Paper

Details not listed above- Paper: The Paper Company, Ink: Stampin' Up, Punch: EK Success, Nesties, Stickles, Gems from my supplies

Week #2 of My Favorite Things

Hi Everyone!

It's week number 2 of My Favorite Things Giveaway. Were you the winner last week?  Check this post here.

When I was thinking about my month long blog candy party, I knew right away that I wanted to include one of my favorite companies of all time...

Hambo Stamps

When I contacted Monica (the owner) about how to go about setting up my winner with the prize from their store, she generously offered to donate the prize this week!  Unbelievable...Not only are their designs some of the most adorable and hilarious stamps on the market, the owners are so sweet!  I am a customer for life.

So, this week my prize is 2 digis of your choice from Hambo Stamps.  If you have never seen their digital images, click here too see them all...Totally cute :)

Here are a few of my cards made using their adorable digis:

How do you win? This week you must:

1. Be a Follower

2. Leave me a comment on this post before 10:00 pm EST on Sunday September 18th. 

3. If you want to post about my candy, it is appreciated, but not required :)

Easy Peasy...Thanks and good luck!