Kristy's Custom Creations

OMG! I can't believe it's been so long...

2010-06-27T14:51:00.000-07:00

October??? Really??? Has it been that long since I posted?

Wow, things have been so busy here in the studio. There are several new pagekits and premades in the Etsy store. Plus I'll be adding more here this week too.

I've also vended at several crops since October and all the women I've met have been sooo sweet. The booth looks totally different with the new displays and I can't wait to share new pictures with you. I'll be vending at an event put on by the girls at Diva Designs in a few weeks so I'll be sure to add pics of the new booth display.

So for now, I ask that you stay tuned and I promise I'll be around lots more =)

Creatively Yours,
Kristy

Candy, Candy, Candy!

2009-10-07T04:00:00.000-07:00

Our newest premade layout has arrived just in time for Halloween.

I loved Halloween as a child.

We never really bought our costumes, we had to use our imaginations & creative talents and design them ourselves. It was always so much fun creating our costumes. We got to wear them to school and march in the parade. Then there were all of the Halloween parties at school and at our friends' homes. It was so much fun. When we were younger we were only allowed to Trick or Treat in our neighborhood. Then when we were older, we were allowed to venture into the small little town that I grew up in. We would do a little Trick or Treating and then attend the huge bonfire at the park by our house.

My favorite moments came after the Trick or Treating was over. Anyone that knows me knows that I am a candy fanatic. I love candy bars, bubble gum, hard candy, just about all of it. We would sort our candy treasures into piles and begin the trading process. Lucky for me, my brother liked all of the candy that I didn't like and he was usually really nice about trading with me. I would make myself so sick eating candy. I would shove piece after piece of bubble gum in my mouth to see just how big of a bubble I could blow. As far as I can remember the candy never even lasted until Thanksgiving.

We don't get Trick or Treaters in our neighborhood now, but I still buy the Halloween candy. Last year I even dressed our weenie dog up as a hotdog and had her ring the doorbell with me. My darling husband, bless his heart, gave her a puppy treat and me a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. I just can't let go of a fun holiday. lol.

I designed this layout for all of those Halloween lovers out there like me. If you like it, you can purchase it here in the Etsy store. This year take lots and lots of pictures and don't forget to take pictures of that fantastic haul of candy that you get too!

Creatively Yours,
Kristy

Halloween Greetings

2009-10-06T06:49:00.001-07:00

Halloween is right around the corner so I thought that I would share a couple of Halloween cards that are in my Etsy store.

Don't you just love how cute the little monsters and witches are? They're not scary at all, just want to help wish a friend "Happy Halloween". If you like this card, you can purchase it here.

This one is my favorite. Although there are no words to wish a Happy Halloween, the googley eyes lend just enough cute creepiness to let you know what the message is. You can see more pictures here.

I'll be posting some Halloween pagekits very soon so keep an eye out...

Creatively Yours,
Kristy

Sunday Visitor

2009-10-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

I let the doggies out this morning and was greeted by a visitor. This little turtle was taking a break in the middle of our driveway. Where he came from, I'm not sure, but once the doggies found him, he wasn't very interested in staying. Our weenie dog, Miss Lilly, was very curious about him. She sniffed around his shell, but when he stuck his head out and hissed at her she decided it was better to let sleeping turtles lie. He wasn't very shy and let me get some good close up pictures of him, sticking out his head really far and showing his huge claws on his feet. My darling husband carried him over to the flowerbed and we watched as he went on his way. I have no idea where he came from or where he was headed to, but I do know that his visit was something that brightened my day a bit.

Have you had a visitor lately that brightened your day?

Until next time,
Creatively Yours,
Kristy

Memory Round Up 2009

2009-10-03T17:23:00.000-07:00

It's that time again! The KISS Crop-n-Shop Memory Round-Up is right around the corner and we'll be vending there! If you have ever considered attending a weekend scrapbook retreat, let this be your first. Shannon, the owner of KISS (Keep It Simple Scrapping), really knows how to do it right! Enjoy 2 days of non-stop scrapping, fun classes. and fantastic shopping.
Details can be found here on the KISS site.

Hope to see you there!
Creatively Yours,
Kristy

Seventh Inning Stretch Crop

2009-07-23T14:58:00.001-07:00

This past weekend I was a vendor at a crop in Lawrence, Kansas. Diva Designs held their 36 hour long Seventh Inning Stretch Crop. It was a great time and I got to meet so many wonderful scrapbookers. My mom and friend Jean came too and we had a great time! I thought I would share a few pictures from the weekend:

This is my booth.

Here is the Embellishment Bar where you can purchase individual items instead of a whole package of something. Perfect when you only want one flip flop brad, ect.

This is a close up shot of the Embellishment Bar.

Paper piecings and goodies for your pages.

Yummy Intricacies Papers.

The Diva's - Vicki and JJ

150 scrappers still going strong!

A layout completed by Jean.

Jean being a goofball.

Jean and me.

We really did have fun and I even got some scrapping done myself. It's the first time I've worked on any personal scrapping for a very long time. I have to say that if you love to scrap and have never been to weekend crop, you really must try it. I'll be vending at a few more crops this year so look for new posts telling you all about them. Until then, Happy Scrapping!

Creatively Yours,
Kristy

Goodies from The Memory Cafe

2009-07-13T19:43:00.001-07:00

Don't you just love it when you a get a package in the mail? I know I do. Today I received a package from Suzy at The Memory Cafe. Suzy started her FaceBook fanpage last week. I jumped at the chance to become a fan because Suzy's die cuts are so amazing. Not only did I become a fan, I became her very 1st fan so she sent me a little package of goodies. How cool is that?!?!?!?

Here's what she sent me:

Now don't be jealous just because Suzy sent me these fantastic goodies. You can actually win some goodies just like these and more. How can you win? Well, let me tell you...just become of one of the first 50 fans of The Memory Cafe and you'll be entered into a drawing to win some amazing goodies. You can become a fan right here. One last thing, if you do become a fan of The Memory Cafe, be sure and tell Suzy that Kristy sent you. ;)

Something for the Furbaby in Your House

2009-07-08T13:09:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh, I just finished a custom order of puppy treat holders and posted them to my Etsy store. I'm really happy with how they turned out and honestly can't choose which one is my favorite.

Remember, even though these treat holders are already spoken for, I love custom orders. I can even create one that's personalized just for your little furbaby.

1 Creative Bug

2009-07-07T09:53:00.000-07:00

Recently I was visiting 1 Creative Bug's blog. Christy was showing some of her newest chipboard book designs and asking for comments on our favorites.

Guess what?!?!?

I received a RAK from her yesterday in the mail!
Here it is:

Isn't this the cutest little doggy album? I have the perfect subject to scrap too!
The timing couldn't be better either because in 2 weeks I'll be attending a crop in Lawrence, Kansas and will actually have a little time to scrap for myself. I guess I know what I'll be working on :)

My Subject:

This is Miss Lilly

So if you really like this chipboard album by 1 Creative Bug, I have really good news for you. She has just opened a 1 Creative Bug Etsy store and loves custom orders. I encourage you to browse her shop and see what goodies you might find.

Sunday Salad

2009-07-05T08:58:00.001-07:00

In honor of the 4th of July, I made my darling husband and I a red, white, and blue salad for dinner.

I began by grilling some boneless, skinless chicken breast. I dusted the chicken with ground ginger, onion powder, garlic powder, and cinnamon. While the chicken was cooking I started preparing the salads. I used some butter lettuce as the foundation of the salad and then added strawberries (red), blueberries (blue), and cucumbers (white). I lightly tossed the salad with a homemade strawberry vinagrette dressing while the grilled chicken was resting. Then I cubed the cooked chicken and placed it in the center of the salad. To top off the salad, I sprinkled some feta cheese over the chicken.
The end result: A wonderful, filling yet light supper that completely tasted of summertime! Bon Apetit!

Happy Independence Day!

2009-07-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

Wow! Can you believe that it's July 4th already? Where did the first half of this year go already? Things have been really busy around here. We are in the midst of the summer tourist season and my dear husband has been working alot of hours lately. As a matter of fact, he's working right now. Yes, he's working on a holiday, something that happens quite often around here since we do live and work in a tourist town. We really don't have big plans for the day, just relaxing when he gets home, a nice grilled chicken and fruit salad, and then, if he's not too tired, maybe we'll go watch some fireworks at Big Cedar Lodge.

Last Sunday night we took my mom and dad to the Honor America celebration at The College of the Ozarks. We started with a fantastic BBQ buffett dinner. there were BBQ ribs and grilled hamburgers out on the patio.

Inside we had choices of bratwurst, BBQ chicken (I had seconds), and hotdogs with all of the fixings. Potato salad, coleslaw, fresh fruits and cheeses rounded out our meal. Oh, and yes they even had miniature cupcakes that I just had to try ;)

After dinner we retired out to the patio to enjoy another beautiful ozarks sunset before the fireworks. The weather finally gave us a break and the evening air was very enjoyable. There was popcorn and strawberry lemonade, homemade ice cream and even old fashion popsicles for dessert. Then, as dusk aproached we heard the firing of the cannon letting us know the fireworks would soon begin.

We were not disappointed. The fireworks were absolutely beautiful! Blazing reds, greens, pinks and blues filled the night sky. There was oohing and aahing all around us. My husband's favorites are the ones that look like a weeping willow tree and he said it every time one of those showed up in the sky. (cute) It was a fantastic display to honor our country's birthday.

I also want to remind everyone that many, many years ago there were brave souls that risked everything for the freedoms that we have today. We now have more brave souls that continue to fight to protect those freedoms that many of us take forgranted. I want to encourage all of you that the next time you see one of our brave soldiers to simply say thank you to them. You'd be surprised how happy you make them with a simple smile and a "thanks for doing what you're doing to keep us safe".

I hope you all have a great 4th of July, be safe and take lots of pictures!

A Breath~In Stillness

2009-07-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

Recently Kristy's Custom Creations was hired by Abby Lewis of Healing Naturally to design custom cd packaging for her first cd. I wanted to take a moment to share with you about Abby and her vision.

Introducing Abby's 1st CD
A Breath~In Stillness

Stressed Out, Worried, Depressed, Frustrated, Overwhelmed, Disconnected, Addicted,
Sick & Tired, Financial Troubles, Broken Relationship, Problems in your Job.

Abby Lewis once suffered with all of this and so much more but she healed naturally and restoration took place within her spirit, her mind and her body, all through the Power of Stillness.

This CD is designed to help lead you into Stillness. It consist of three 10-15 minute powerful exercises:
Let Go & Let God Flow, Healing With Gratitude & A Journey Into Stillness, plus Abby shares
her testimony on how she healed through Stillness.

A Breath~In Stillness $15
First 100 Copies Now Ready
To purchase visit www.belovegivelove.com

Abby has a heart to teach others the importance of stillness and how to truly be still and know that He is God. She offers private one on one and group sessions/classes. Below is an article Abby recently wrote. It might help you understand her view of stillness better.

Stillness: Article written by Abby Lewis 06/26/09~Published in the In Branson Etc., Summer issue.

Do you remember the art pictures that have all the dots and when you stare at the dots long enough a picture some how appears in the midst of the dots? When I first looked at one of those pictures all I saw was dots and thought to myself how in the world could there be a picture, all I see is dots. Then the person next to you says, “I see it, I see the sailboat.” Then the thought crosses my mind, “there is no way there is a sailboat in the middle of this mess, all I see is dots.” So I try harder and persevere because if he saw it, then I can see it. After several minutes of trying I found myself getting frustrated, my eyes started to hurt and I wanted to give up. I started believing that I would never see the sailboat. I envied the person next to me because they saw it and I didn’t, and they were so joyful and happy because of it. But in the weariness I just took in a deep breath, relaxed and just sat there awhile longer because I knew that I knew that I knew that there was a sailboat and I was determined to see it. I stay focused and then out of no where, when I least expected it, the sailboat appeared in the midst of all the dots. I was overtaken with joy because I finally saw the sailboat. Each time I went back to that picture it became easier and easier to see the sailboat, to the point now, all I see is the sailboat I can’t even see the dots anymore.

So, are you focused on the dots in your life or the sailboat? The dots represent the chaos. The sailboat represent the peace in the midst of the chaos, you could call this God. Maybe the dots are anxiety, constant worrying, anger, frustration, depression, judgment, control issues, sickness, relationship problems, bad circumstances, financial issues, negative attitudes, negative thoughts and words, death in the family, addictions, and the list could go on and on. Maybe you are at the state where you don’t believe there can be peace in the middle of this mess. You’re frustrated, depressed, and ready to give up because you can’t find the sailboat or maybe you don’t even believe that there is a sailboat to rescue you. So how do you find the sailboat?

Let me share with you part of my journey. A little over 7 years ago I experienced the lowest point of my life. I found myself in a pit of hell suffering with intense panic attacks, addictions, control issues, hidden anger. I was hearing voices, hallucinating, my marriage was falling apart, my face and left arm were going numb, I had acquired a lot of debt from my addictions and not one thought in my head or one word that came out of my mouth was peaceful. My life was 0% peace. I was losing everything. I wanted to give up. I became more and more frustrated with my circumstances. I had no idea what I was going to do and I was terrified. I desired peace so much but had no idea how to get it. And one day while sitting outside in nature I stumbled onto something that changed my life forever, it is called Stillness. I went outside seeking to just get away from it all and a ladybug landed on my arm. I gazed upon it and for some reason stayed focused on it for quite awhile wondering why God created it. I got lost in this little ladybug as I noticed the colors, the dots, the little legs, the wings and the way it felt on my arm as it walked around. After about fifteen minutes or so, I felt a peace come over me that I had never felt before. I remember saying to myself, “Oh my Gosh, I’m not anxious, what is this?” That experience left me craving more and more of that peace. So I went back every chance I could, seeking to find that peace again and every time I found it. Healing took place within my spirit, my mind and my body with each experience. I found my sailboat in the midst of all my dots. God met me right where I was and rescued me. Now I am aboard the sailboat. I am happy to say that I never received medical help or professional counseling or any other sort of thing you would think to heal. I healed completely naturally and became a whole person...spirit, mind & body, through the power of Stillness.

So let me ask you…are you suffering in some sort of way? Is your life or your mind full of chaos? I promise you, there is a sailboat ready to rescue you. You just have to choose to be still long enough to find it.

Be Still & Know That I Am God...Psalm 46:10

Abby Lewis is the owner and operator of a local business called Healing Naturally. She graduated from College of the Ozarks with a degree in Health and Wellness and also graduated from Professional Massage Training Center. She has an intense passion to encourage and teach others how to become a healthy whole individual and how to heal naturally through the Power of Stillness. You can purchase her new CD called A Breath~In Stillness and learn more about her by visiting her website at www.belovegivelove.com.

Choose to have the Vision of Love!!

~please feel free to share this information with other~

Abby Lewis of Healing Naturally
417.336.8234 healingnaturally@suddenlink.net

Etsy Treasury Feature

2009-06-29T03:45:00.000-07:00

We been featured in a Treasury on Esty! Suzy at The Memory Cafe put this fantastic treasury together to celebrate her youngest's 1st birthday. Absolutely great!

Our birthday layout is in the top row, center.

You can view comments on this treasury here.

Sunday Sa-Wheets

2009-06-28T04:26:00.000-07:00

Hello, my name is Kristy, and I am a cupcake-a-holic. Ahhh, sweet relief, I finally got that off my chest.

Every Sunday my husband and I go to Sunday brunch at the College of the Ozarks in Southwest Missouri. My husband earned his degree here and we like the food. (Okay, so we love the food, and his alumni discount makes it taste even better. Wink, wink.) Normally he starts with breakfast and will work his way towards the lunch area, move onto salads, and then he might have dessert.
Oh, no, not me. I have to start with lunch because I love their ham. It's fantastic and they actually raise the pigs and cure the hams right there at the college. Yummo! Shhhh, sometimes, I even go back for more ham because it's so good. Then I have to have some salad because they have the best homemade ranch dressing that I have ever had. We have even purchased it by the mason jar just to have some at home. Then I might have a smidge of dessert. I ususally have to try what ever flavor of butter cake they have that day and maybe a chocolate truffle, but not too much because my favorite item is waiting for me by the door.

You see, as you walk into the dining room there is a quaint little coffee counter that has fresh muffins and pastries showcased right in front. They're on one side of the case and on the other is my weakness, my nemesis. Sa-wheet, delectable, mouth watering, slap-yo-mamma cupcakes. Vanilla cupcakes with thick, creamy buttercream frosting. Some are topped with a white chocolate covered strawberry. Some have beautiful fondant sunflowers or butterflies resting on top of their frosting. The chocolate ones are drizzled with caramel and have crushed bits of candy bars blissfully sprinkled on topped. What you don't understand is that I cannot control myself when I see these delicious creations. I HAVE to get one. Every week, I get one. My husband knows I'm going too. I might have just said, I'm fuller than a dog tick on a hounds ear", but he knows I'll be taking one of those cupcakes home with me.

Oh, I don't eat it right when I get home. I don't even eat the whole thing all at once. I usually have half of it Sunday evening for a snack and then the other half Monday evening for dessert after dinner. Then I'm completely satisfied for the week. I know that I can hold one until Sunday rolls around again and the sweet little voices of the C of O cupcakes call my name from deep inside their glass case as I'm walking out of the dining room..."Eat me, eat me, eat me."

So, now you know my secret weakness.
Cupcakes.

"Hello, my name is Kristy and I'm a cupcake-a-holic. It's been 7 days since my last cupcake and oh my, look at the calendar, it's Sunday already, here cuppycake cuppycake."

Handmade Cards from the Heart

2009-06-25T01:26:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a few handmade cards that I made last week.

Birthday card for a girlfriend of mine.

Thinking of You card for another friend.

Another Birthday card for another friend.

Anniversary card for my husband.

I love to make handmade cards for our friends and family. There's always an extra ounce of sentiment included with the card and all of the recipients seem to love them too. Plus it's a great way to use up some scraps and they'll never have a clue :)

I hope you have a great day and remember if it's handmade, it's heartmade...

New Layouts on Etsy

2009-06-24T11:19:00.001-07:00

Here are a few new layouts that I created from last week's sneak peeks:

All three of these layouts are available in our etsy store. I hope you like them!

OUCH!!!

2009-06-22T16:44:00.001-07:00

The Graceful Scrapper strikes again!

When I began scrapbooking nobody told me that it was a dangerous hobby. Somebody should have warned me. lol. Saturday evening while scrapping with my friend Jean I stubbed my middle toe. Have you ever done that where it hurt so bad you couldn't even cry? That was me, it hurt so bad it made me sick to my stomache. Ouch!!! Okay, I admit that there was a glass of wine involved, but it really was only one. Now let's not forget that the chair that I stubbed my toe on jumped out in front of me when I wasn't paying attention because I was so excited about the layout that I was working on. Stinkin' chair, why did you have to be there?

When I got up on Sunday my whole foot hurt and my toe had started to turn a lovely shade of purple (the picture really doesn't show that lovely purple rainbow). I hobbled around as we went about our day, visiting the Titantic museum in Branson and Andy's Frozen Custard. By last night my foot was killing me so my dear husband insisted that I go to the doctor. When I told him that I didn't need to go he reminded me of an episode of House that we watched not long ago. In that particular episode there was a Dr. that became really sick and after all kinds of tests and things, they found that she had a broken toe and that's what had caused her illness.

So to put my dear husband's mind at ease, I went to the doctor this morning. After having my toe and foot examined, I was sent to the outpatient part of the hospital for xrays. Then I was sent home with some anti-inflamatory cream to put on my foot and told to elevate it until we got the results of the xrays. Later this afternoon, the nurse called and said that I did not break my toe or foot, but had badly sprained it. Thank goodness it's just a sprain, I do not have time to deal with a broken foot right now.

Moral of this story: Don't get too excited about your scrapbooking layout until you sit back down in your seat.

Six Years of Sundays

2009-06-21T05:38:00.000-07:00

Six years ago I married my best friend and soulmate. I thought that I would take a quick minute and share some pictures with you. I hope you enjoy them.

A Final Sneak Peek

2009-06-20T04:23:00.000-07:00

Here's one more teaser for you.
This brightly colored paper collection from Cosmo Cricket will be the focal point of a fun summer themed layout.

I think I'll use these fun flip flop charms on it too. What do you think?

I promise to post pictures as soon as it's ready for the store.

Another Sneak Peek

2009-06-19T03:12:00.000-07:00

Toady is my friend Malinda's birthday. We've known each other ever since we were in diapers and still talk to this day. I miss her though, she lives in Georgia and me in Missouri. How did 2 little Buckeye girls end up so far from home?

Anyhow, in honor of Malinda's birthday, I'm giving you a sneak peek of what's going into a new birthday layout for my Etsy store. These yummy little papers from bella Boulevard will be the foundation for what I hope will become a popular layout in my store. I'll be posting pictures next week of the completed item so stay tuned.

Miss you Malinda! Get well and I love you!

Sneak Peek - Made in the USA

2009-06-18T04:34:00.000-07:00

Remember when I did a post last week that featured The Memory Cafe?

This beautiful die cut is one of Suzy's custom designs. I just love it when I ask her, "Hey Suzy, can you make this?" and she says "Absolutely!". This is exactly what I had in mind when the phrase "Made in the USA" came to mind for another patriotic kit. Don't you think Suzy is the coolest?

Facebook Fanpage

2009-06-17T16:47:00.000-07:00

Did you know that we have a Facebook Fanpage? WE DO! You can become a fan here if you want to. We even have a giveaway going on right now. We currently have 20 fans, and when we reach 50, one of our lucky fans will win this fantastic collection of Stickles. Won't you join us today?

A Sunday of Sunsets

2009-06-14T05:56:00.000-07:00

On this glorious Sunday I thought that I would share some of my favorite sunset pictures. These were all taken from our back patio and look out over a beautiful lake here in Southwest Missouri. The pictures were taken during different seasons throughout this past year. So every evening my dear husband and I stop to enjoy the sunset. There have never been 2 alike (just like snowflakes) and we marvel at what a beautiful painting God has given us to end the day with.

Now, I have never claimed to be a professional photographer, but don't you think these are just divine?

Please leave a comment and tell me where you have enjoyed your favorite sunset...

The Memory Cafe

2009-06-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

Let me introduce you to a friend of mine. Her name is Suzy and she is the owner of The Memory Cafe on Etsy. Suzy designs some of the coolest die cuts and lace papers you've ever seen. Let me show you some of her yummy lace die cuts and borders:

Suzy has been a designer for over 3 years and has designed for a scrapbooking manufacturer in the past. She opened her Etsy store a few months back and is off to a great start. She is constantly amazing me with her new designs. Why have I decided to feature Suzy and her amazing designs? Well, check back and see in just a few days...

Amanda and John's Wedding

2009-06-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

I thought that I would post some pictures from Amanda and John's wedding. Can't wait to see what they look like in their new wedding scrapbook!

Custom Wedding Album

2009-06-11T14:09:00.000-07:00

My best friend got married on May 30th to the greatest guy! I'm so happy for John and Amanda, they truly are a cute couple. For their gift, I decided to make them a custom wedding album. I used their wedding colors and added lots of bling! Rhinestones, irridescent flowers, silver ribbon, and lots and lots of Stardust Stickles made this a girly girl album. I couldn't wait for her and her new husband to open it! I've posted some teaser pics here, but if you want to see more of the pages you can view them in my etsy store because, guess what? That's right, I can make one for you too!

Featured Artist on LillyShayStyle's Blog

2009-05-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited because I am being featured on another blog. This one is called LillyShayStyle and is a very cool blog. You can find a variety of fellow etsians featured on her blog as well as links to DIY tutorials, other incredible blogs, and all kinds of giveaways too. I welcome you to check it out!

Creatively Yours,
Kristy

Featured Artist on Gems by Jerri

2009-05-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was the featured artist on a fellow etsian's blog, Gems by Jerri. It was a fun featured that not only showed off some of my work but also allowed me to answer a few questions about myself and why I love scrapbooking so much.

Here's a sample of my interview:
What is your favorite item in your shop?
My favorite item right now is "our little LADYbug". It's a 2 page 12x12 scrapbooking layout that was inspired by a little girl that came into the photo studio that I work at. She was so cute and was wearing a ladybug outfit. As soon as I saw it, I knew that I needed to make a ladybug layout.

Tell me a little about you and your background in crafting?
I'm a stay at home wife that works part time at a local photography studio. My husband and I built our dream home about 2 years ago on a lake in SW Missouri. I claimed the bonus room over the garage as my studio and spend most of my time in it. I guess that I inherited my love of crafting from my mom. We made crafts every Christmas when I was growing up. Homemade ornaments, plastic canvas items, flowered swags, and even quilts. My love for scrapbooking began in the 8th grade and was reintroduced to it in the late 90's. Scrapbooking has now snowballed into a huge part of my life.

Click here to continue on with my interview.

Have a creative day!

Featured on my Handmade Registry

2009-05-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

Wow! This morning I woke up and did my usual routine of checking my email, ScrapBiz, Facebook, and of course my Etsy store. Imagine the joy that I felt when waiting for me was a convo. (For those of you not familar with Etsy, a convo is like an email that you receive through Etsy)
Excitedly I clicked on the convo and was surprised to learn that one of my listings has been featured on the front page of my Handemade Registry! Wow!
Have you seen this site before? It's way cool. Working like a gift registry at Macy's, JC Penney, or even target, you can choose all things handmade from various Etsy artists and actually register for your wedding, baby shower, even your birthday here. Then just let your loved ones know where you're registered and voila, you get all the handmade goodies you like! Well, that is, only if they purchase them. It's not exactly magic, but pretty darn close!
I encourage you to check it out today!

SPRING Wordbook

2009-04-28T19:05:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung! Here's a fun wordbook from Midnight Oil Scrapbook Designs. Each letter was covered with Bo Bunny's Alyssa line and some textured cardstock from Bazzill. We inked the edges with a touch of Pewter ink for that worn look. To finish it out, we embellished our wordbook with some fun Stardust Stickles and blinged it out with rhinestones in a variety of springtime colors. A few brightly colored ribbons around the binding, and it's completed. Now we just have to add your pictures to this lovely book.
This wordbook would be great for showing off Easter pictures, fresh flowers in your garden, or add your kiddos playing in the park!

This wordbook may be purchased in our Etsy store.

'TOAD'ally CUTE pagekit

2009-04-23T13:53:00.000-07:00

I have had this pattern paper for a while now and finally figured out what to do with it. Any little boy would be a fantastic subject for this layout. You can purchase it in our etsy store.

PreMade Pages and Page Kits

2009-04-22T16:29:00.000-07:00

Did you know that you can purchase premade pages as well as our pagekits? So, if you don't have time to put together the pagekit yourself, you can pop over to our etsy store and purchase the pagekit already assembled. If we don't have the page kit premade in our store just email us and we'll be happy to put another one together for you for a $5.00 assembly fee.

Up to a little Monkey Business

2009-04-22T16:20:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun new page kit that I designed using Reminisce's Monkey Business paper line. I love how cute the little monkey faces are AND their googley eyes just crack me up. I hope you like it too.

If you love this pagekit and cannot live without it, you can purchase it here in our Etsy store.

Only 6 days to go!

2009-04-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick reminder that the Diva Design Stress Buster Crop is this coming Saturday, April 25th in Olathe.

Here's the info again just in case you feel the need to eat lots of chocolate, laugh with your friends, and shop with all the fantastic vendors at the crop. Oh yeah, you might even get a few pages scrapped too.

9:00am to Midnight on Saturday, April 25th
Holiday Inn
101 W. 151st Street
Olathe, Kansas

This April Diva Designs presents a very special fifteen hour event. One that will help you relax, smile, and forget your worries, if only for one day. We invite you to join us in Olathe for this fifteen hour Stress Buster Crop!

We all have it at one time or another, too much stress! It can make us grumpy, tired, unhappy, and absolutely no fun to be around. Scrapbooking can be a fabulous Stress Buster, especially when done the Diva Designs way with longer hours, better prizes, and more fun! Let us help you de-stress from 9am to midnight on April 25th at the Olathe Holiday Inn located at 101 W. 151st Street in Olathe, Kansas. Start your day off with free morning coffee and enjoy our great prize giveaways, fabulous vendors, loaded sizzix station, evening cash bar, on site massage therapist, and other fun little extras. You and your friends will feel the stress melt away the minute you walk in the door!

Seats are available for $30 and tables that seat up to four are available for $100.

Cropper Registration
REGISTER ONLINE NOW!

Hope to see you there!

A Stinkin' Cute Premade Page!

2009-04-19T17:25:00.000-07:00

OMG! How cute is this layout? It definately is my favorite creation to date.

I began with Bazzill white cardstock, added a few polka dotted photo mats with more Bazzill cardstock and began to dress the page. Branches, leaves, and grass create the page's borders. They have been touched with a VersaMark ink pad. Each ladybug body is cut from Doodlebug Crushed Velvet cardstock and their wings are made from Bazzill cardstock. I added googley eyes to the larger bugs and stickled the eyes of the baby bugs. Some polka dotted ribbons and flowers with rhinestone centers finish out the page's embellishments. Finally, the title, a custom design from Kristy's Custom Creations, has been placed along the grassy border of the page and stickled for added bling.

This page is absolutely beautiful and surely will showcase your little bug! It's available for purchase as a premade item or as a page kit in our Etsy store.

Stress Buster Crop with Diva Designs

2009-04-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

Kristy's Custom Creations will be joining the ladies at Diva Designs for their Stress Buster Crop. Here are all the juicy details:

9:00am to Midnight on Saturday, April 25th
Holiday Inn
101 W. 151st Street
Olathe, Kansas

This April Diva Designs presents a very special fifteen hour event. One that will help you relax, smile, and forget your worries, if only for one day. We invite you to join us in Olathe for this fifteen hour Stress Buster Crop!

We all have it at one time or another, too much stress! It can make us grumpy, tired, unhappy, and absolutely no fun to be around. Scrapbooking can be a fabulous Stress Buster, especially when done the Diva Designs way with longer hours, better prizes, and more fun! Let us help you de-stress from 9am to midnight on April 25th at the Olathe Holiday Inn located at 101 W. 151st Street in Olathe, Kansas. Start your day off with free morning coffee and enjoy our great prize giveaways, fabulous vendors, loaded sizzix station, evening cash bar, on site massage therapist, and other fun little extras. You and your friends will feel the stress melt away the minute you walk in the door!

Seats are available for $30 and tables that seat up to four are available for $100.

Cropper Registration
REGISTER ONLINE NOW!

Hope to see you there!

Scrapbooking for Miracles - The Results

2009-03-23T19:08:00.000-07:00

Busy scrappers, working hard on their pages.

Close up of the Embellishment Bar

The Embellishment Bar

More scenes from our booth

Overall scene of our booth, including our fabulous Make-n-Takes from the girls at Midnight Oil Scrapbook Designs.

Mom and I had so much fun this weekend. The ladies were full of creativity and laughter. I think we had around 50 of them stop by our booth for our Make-n-Take. The booth was hopping most of the day with the Make-n-Take and our clearance table. The ladies enjoyed all of the games and there were lots of goodies given away. Make sure you put this crop on your list for absolute must do's for next year!!!

More Pre Made Pages

2009-03-18T07:59:00.000-07:00

To most people there is nothing more important than family. We want you to show off your family with our newest premade Family layout. We have created an elegant premade with new Bella Boulevard papers and sprinkled it with flowers just in time for spring.

We also know that for most of us, dogs are family too. With that in mind we created "and they call it Puppy Love". Custom titles, KI Memories Daisy papers and ribbons were all used to create this layout.

These Pre Made layouts are availble in our etsy store.

Scrapbooking for Miracles

2009-03-17T18:27:00.000-07:00

Saturday, March 21, 2009
8:30 am to 6:30 pm
Wesley United Methodist Church
922 W. Republic Road, Springfield, MO

A “Cropping” Event to Benefit Children’s Miracle Network
Presented by Cox Health Nursing
Cox Health North Outpatient Therapy Services
and Scrapbooking Momeez.

Registration Fee is only $40.00 ($45.00 at the door)
(includes breakfast and lunch)

Can't come for the day, then come Shop the booths!
Shopping Passes are only $5.00
Scrapbook Vendors are onsite for your shopping convenience.

Creative Memories
Close to My Heart
Stampin Up
Clear Dollar Stamps
The Scrap Nook
Scrapbooking Momeez
Kristy's Custom Creations
Conquest Keepsakes

Message Therapist

And Many More

Come join us for 10 hours of non-stop cropping fun

-Make & Takes in vendor booths
-Classes
-Free Goodie Bags for EVERY Cropper
-Door Prizes
-Giveaways

Registration is Open! Register Online

OR Call Crystal Conway at 417-269-1832 to pre-register.
Visa, Mastercard and Discover Accepted
Make checks payable to:

Children’s Miracle Network and send to
Crystal Conway, Director of Special Projects
Children's Miracle Network
3525 S. National Ave. Suite 203
Springfield , MO 65807

Hope to see you there!

Hoppin' into Spring

2009-03-17T17:38:00.000-07:00

We're hopping into springtime at Kristy's Custom Creations with new page kits. A few weeks ago we teased you with some of our new papers. Here's what we came up with. There are 2 page kits ~ one for a boy and one for a girl. To see what each kit looks like completed go to our Etsy store.

New page kits have arrived!

2009-03-09T13:53:00.000-07:00

Here are two totally different but equally cute layouts. Available in a kit or
pre-assembled these layouts are sure to be a hit in your scrapbook.
Showcase your family in our Keys to my Heart kit or document the first time your little one meets that famous mouse with our Meeting Mickey Mouse kit. If you would rather purchased them pre-assembled, you can find them here in our etsy store.

Yummy New Papers

2009-03-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

The new Bo Bunny Alissa papers have arrived. The colors are yummy and just right for springtime and Easter pictures. We thought that we would tease you with them today and show you the page kits we're making with in a few days... Stay tuned...

Find Us on Etsy

2009-03-07T09:01:00.000-08:00

We are now selling premade items in our Etsy store. This works so well for all of our customers that need a quick gift or pre-assembled layouts. You can find us at www.kcustomcreations.etsy.com

See you there!

Project 365 Week 5

2009-02-13T14:12:00.000-08:00

Friday January 30 - My Abby

Thursday January 29 - Cleaning my scrapbook room

Wednesday January 28 - 2nd day of the ice storm

Tuesday January 27 - The great ice storm of 2009

Monday January 26 - Filling Mother Hubbard's cupboard

Sunday January 25 - So much laundry after 2 weeks of vacation

Saturday January 24 - Unpacking from vacation

Week 5 of project 365. I have found that without vacation I'm finding it hard to remember to take pictures each day. Oh well, I guess it's back to everyday common life for me now. lol.
Have you found it hard to remember taking pictures too? What do you do to remember to take your pictures everyday?

Project 365 Week 4

2009-02-12T09:13:00.000-08:00

Friday January 23 - Our towel animal family

Thursday January 22 - Dancing on the ship

Wednesday January 21 - Rob on our balcony on the ship

Tuesday January 20 - Our group at the ATV site in Belize

Monday January 19 - Pancho the monkey and me at the zip lines in Honduras

Sunday January 18 - Chankanaab Park in Cozumel, Mexico

Saturday January 17 - Posing with Funship Freddy

Here are the pictures from week 4. We were on our 2nd week of vacation and spent 8 nights on the Carnival Miracle. It was a fabulous ship and we really enjoyed all of our ports of call.

Project 365 Week 3

2009-02-11T12:19:00.000-08:00

Friday January 16 - On our balcony at The Hammocks on Marathon Key

Thursday January 15 - GeoCaching in the keys

Wednesday January 14 - At the southernmost point in the USA

Tuesday January 13 - Sitting on the Dock of the Bay

Monday January 12 - The Old Towne Trolley in Key West

Sunday January 11 - The restaraunt we ate at our first night in the keys

Saturday January 10 - Packing for vacation

Well, I finally got the chance to post some pictures from vacation. My husband and I were fortunate enough to get to spend 5 nights in the Florida Keys before we went on our cruise in January. It was really hard to choose only 7 pictures from the approximately 600 pictures that I took. I basically picked ones that gave an overview of fun things we did. Stayed tuned as I will be posting pictures from our cruise in the next day or so...

How's Your Project 365 Going?

2009-01-09T14:49:00.000-08:00

Friday January 9th - went tanning to get ready for vacation

Thursday January 8th - worked on a custom card order

Tuesday January 6th - even scrap divas have to wash dishes

Monday January 5th - drove to county courthouse to renew business license

Friday January 2nd - took down Christmas decorations

Well, here's my progress for the week. There are some days that I didn't take any pictures. On those days I used memorabilia instead. For example, I have the chopstick wrapper from dinner on the 3rd, a business card from brunch on the 4th, and my nameband from an unexpected ER visit on the 7th. All in all, I have each day covered and have made a list of different things that I accomplished during the week. I still haven't decided how I am going to design my 365 album, but at least I've got the ball rolling.
I will be gone for the next two weeks on vacation so I won't be posting until at least the 26th of January. When I get back I know I'll have lots of fun vacation pictures and memorabilia to add to this project. Will you have anything new to add to yours?

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T18:32:00.000-08:00

How many of you have heard about Becky Higgins' Project 365? It's basically a new way of documenting all the little things that happen in our daily lives. Now don't get me wrong, I don't believe that this project will replace the way we scrapbook. I believe that this is a picture diary of our day to day family life.

How does it work? You can take a picture of something that inspired you that day, use a receipt from lunch with a friend, even add the tag from that new pair of jeans you treated yourself too. It's simply up to you. Then, you just add a short list of activities you did that week or label your pictures. It doesn't have to be extremely detailed either. That's the beauty of it. Be sure to check out Becky's blog for more information.

I actually started today with this picture:

It's just a simple picture of me in my slippers. It's to remind me that I spent the first day of 2009 in my comfy jammies and enjoyed a relaxing day with my husband. In my opinion it was a perfect way to spend New Years Day.

Throughout the year I will be posting samples of my Project 365. I encourage all of you to take this project on and please share yours with me as well.

I wish each and everyone of you a Happy New Year that is full of joy and blessings.

MOSD Show Off Deluxe House Album

2008-10-25T12:03:00.000-07:00

Have you ever needed a house warming gift and just didn't know what to buy? Boy, I have. So when the discussion came up between some friends and myself, I decided to call on the girls at Midnight Oil Scrapbook Designs. I asked Christy if she could design an acrylic and chipboard house album for me and this is what she came up with:

She even designed some custom Toppers and Round 'Bouts with a "home sweet home" theme. You can see them here and in our store.

So after adding some MOSD Twirly Gig Stick Ons, patterned papers from Daisy D's, flowers, buttons and ribbons from Daisy D's too, and lastly a few Making Memories snaps, I was very pleased with the results. Here's the finished product:

I just love how it turned out. It's a perfect decoration for the mantle, a bookcase, or even stretched out on top of your entertainment center. My mum decided that she wanted to make one with pictures of all of the houses that her and my dad have lived in since they got married. I've even thought about creating one with a Christmas theme of "Home for the Holidays". What do you think?
So if you know someone that just purchased or built a new home or moved into their first apartment, why not give them one of our Deluxe House Albums for their housewarming gift today? For more information on purchasing the items used to create the house album or if you would like to purchase one already completed please email us at info@kristyscustomcreations.com .

New Puppy Pages

2008-10-19T12:34:00.001-07:00

Those of you that regulary read this blog know that my best friend has two beautiful golden retrievers that I scrap. Here are their latest pictures. Jess took them to Branson Photo for their 6 month photo shoot. I think Laurie captured them perfectly. As you can tell they are growing like weeds and love to pose for the camera.
For Rusty's layout, I used lots of Bazzill cardstock, American Traditional patterned paper and Hot of the Press shaped paw print brads.
Annie's layout was created with KI Memeories patterned paper, Bazzill cardstock and Imaginiese flowers with Doodlebug brad centers.
The third layout was created with Bazzill cardstock and Doodlebug patterened paper. All of the diecuts were created with my Cricut Expressions machine and the Paper Pups cartridge. This layout is included in the puppy books that come with the puppies sold by Show Me Retrievers. You can also purchase it in the Kristy's Custom Creations store.

New Store Pictures

2008-10-12T10:35:00.000-07:00

Well, the store is finally set up the way that I wanted it. It took me long enough. Now shopping is easier during the crops or you can even drop by just for a bit of shopping. There is still a bit more to add to the store but there's definately enough goodies to shop from now. Don't you just love all of the yummy colors of Stickles that we have? I'll be adding them to the online store over the next week, along with some fantastic new patterened papers from Bo Bunny, Little Yellow Bicycle and more!

Fall is here and so are the newest page kits!

2008-10-11T10:50:00.001-07:00

There has always been something magical about this season to me. I love how the colors of the leaves seem to change overnight. Wasn't it just yesterday that they were green? And now today the hillside going down to the lake is a sea of reds and golds. It simply amazes me!
I've decided that now was the perfect time to honor those that amaze us with the Star Struck page kit. It features Bo Bunny's Star Struck patterned paper. There are plenty of die cut stars to add to the page too.
Also featured is a wonderful kit named Autumn. It was designed with Bo Bunny patterend paper also. Their Splendor line is fantastic for autumn, harvest, and Thanksgiving pages. I'll be adding these papers to the store next week.
And, finally, Little Yellow Bicycle is a wonderful line and I thought it was perfect for a Spooky page kit.
I hope you all enjoy the changing of the seasons as much as I do and take many pictures to remember the glorious colors painted among the hillsides.

Brason Pirate Wordbook

2008-09-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

Here's an example of a wordbook that features our local high school, the Branson Pirates. Papers used to cover the pages include Karen Foster designs, Doodlebug, and Bazzill cardstock. I used stickles, rub-ons, flowers, and ribbons to dress up the pages. These books are great for any student in any grade. Want a custom wordbook for your star pupil? Contact us at info@kristyscustomcreations.com .

Altered Paint Can

2008-09-25T13:18:00.000-07:00

An altered paint can makes the perfect puppy treat holder!This one has been covered with Doodlebug paper and accented with Doodlebug brads and rub-ons. Do you know someone that just got a new puppy? This beautiful paint can would be a great welcome gift for their new addition!

Autumn Daze Craft Festival

2008-09-19T19:39:00.001-07:00

The Autumn Daze Craft Festival is going on in downtown Branson this weekend (September 18 - 21)and we are there! If you've never been to this craft festival, you must come and see what the hype is all about. There are two huge tents filled with vendors from all over the country as well as individual tents lining the main street of the festival. Along with all of the beautiful handmade crafts there is food and entertainment. There's even a pet costume parade on Saturday. If you attend the festival make sure to stop and see us in tent #2. We have some Branson Pirate wordbooks, new page kits, and lots of custom gifts already made for you.
Hope to see you there!

Army Veteran Wordbook

2008-08-07T13:44:00.000-07:00

Here is a completed wordbook from MOSD. I used Bazzill cardstock from their military collection and K & Company patterened paper. I added some Army stickers from K & Company to dress it up a bit as well as fibers and ribbons. Over the next few weeks I will be completing wordbooks for all 4 branches of our military. These books will be available at the Branson Autumn Daze craft festival in September as well as in our store. If you have any questions, you may post them here or email us at info@kristyscustomcreations.com .

Midnight Oil Scrapbook Designs

2008-08-06T13:53:00.001-07:00

Wordbooks are all the rage lately, have you noticed? We're getting some custom designed books in our store soon. We talked to the girls at Midnight Oil Scrapbook Designs and they were great enough to design veteran wordbooks for us. They also created a Branson book too. (pictures coming soon) These chipboard books are great for a mini project. You can cover the pages with patterned paper, ink them, paint them, wherever your creativity takes you. Wordbooks can be made out of any word you like, though we have found that most look best with no more than 8 letters. Your child or grandchild's name, a favorite vacation spot, or even your furry pet's name all are great options for a wordbook. Want to have a custom wordbook made just for you? Email us at info@kristyscustomcreations.com .

Puppy Layouts

2008-07-25T14:15:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me, knows that my puppies are among the most important things in my life. That means that they are probably my favorite scrapping subjects. They put up with so much from me. We have lots of photo shoots and believe it or not, I think that they sort of enjoy them. They pose for me all the time. Well, because I truly believe that dogs are family too, I think they deserve special layouts. Here are a couple that I made for my friend Jessy. He raises golden retrievers and added these two little furballs to his family in April. Aren't they just too cute?

If you have a dog that is just like a family member to you, why don't you create a layout just for them today. You can find many pet themed scrapping supplies right here in our store.

Explosion Box

2008-07-23T13:18:00.000-07:00

This is an explosion box. Have you seen one of these before? I just love them. It fits perfect on a desk or coffee table and makes a great gift. When you take the lid off of the box, the sides fall open and expose photos on the inside. This particular one is designed for a baby girl. There are diecuts of baby pins, bottles, and rattles. They have all been glammed up with stickles and really compliment the design of the box.
The best thing about explosion boxes is that they can be made with so many different designs. We have explosion boxes for babies, pets, military heros, teachers, and many more subjects. If you would like to order an explosion box for that special someone, please contact us at info@kristyscustomcreations.com .

New page kits have arrived!

2008-07-21T13:06:00.001-07:00

We've added two new page kits to Kristy's Custom Creations. These page kits have Doodlebug paper and Bazzill cardstock. Even the cute little baby face diecuts have been chalked on their cheeks. These are the perfect kits to showcase your little angel's baby face. Best of all, all the cutting and designing has been done for you. Just follow the step by step instructions, and before you know it, you'll be sliding this completed layout into your baby's album.

Graduation Album

2008-07-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

Now that summer is in full swing hopefully those of you that had kids graduate from high school this year have had a chance to breathe. Now is the chance to take some of those pictures you've collected over the past four years and make an accordian album to commemorate this wonderful accomplishment. This album from EK Success is shaped like a graduation cap and will hold 16 pictures. We used Reminisce glitter and foil paper and Bazzill cardstock. Then we added some bling to jazz it up a bit! We can customize your album with your school colors and high shcool's name. Wouldn't this album make a great gift for your graduate as they leave high school behind and head off to college??? To place an order for your graduation album email us at info@kristyscustomcreations.com .

Custom Cards

2008-07-14T17:33:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone! This week I wanted to talk about the custom services that are available at Kristy's Custom Creations. We are available for large projects such as custom scrapbooks or small projects like the birthday card featured that was created for a customer's grandmother. For more information regarding our custom cards services email us at info@kristyscustomcreations.com

2008-06-27T18:00:00.000-07:00

Page Kits are coming to Kristy's Custom Creations! This particular kit is great for Fourth of July pictures of the kiddies. It features a red star Intricacy from Monday Morning Memories, Bazzill cardstock, Doodlebug patterned paper, ribbon, and a custom die cut from Kristy's Custom Creations. Includes a color photo of the completed layout and step by step instructions for assembly.

Look for more page kits to follow with wonderful summertime themes.

2008-06-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the new Intricacies line from Monday Morning Memories? They're available in all 40 Bazzill Smoothie colors and come in both 11x11 or 6x6. We carry a variety in our store and will be adding more soon. We'll be featuring a red star Intricacy in our All American Kid page kit this month. Look for customized Intricacies for Branson High School coming in the fall. If you have an idea for an Intricacy for your school, contact us at info@kristyscustomcreations.com .

Custom Wedding Album (Shown Below)

2008-06-25T18:07:00.000-07:00

This is a sample of a custom 8x8 wedding album I was hired to make. I used Bazzil Bling paper, ribbon, and lots of Stickles. I included journaling tags behind some of the photo mats.

Wedding Album for Ashley Voss

2008-06-25T18:03:00.000-07:00